Patents by Inventor Shoichi Sunagawa

Shoichi Sunagawa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6560103
    Abstract: When an electronic device (e.g., a notebook personal computer) (5) is mounted on an accessory (1), functions of the electronic device (5) are added. To detach the electronic device 85) from the accessory (1), operation levers (37) provided at the rear portions of both sides of the accessory (1) are operated. Since any force necessary to detach the electronic device (5) is not applied until the operation levers (37) are opened to a predetermined angle, the operability of the operation levers (37) does not deteriorate even if the operation levers (37) are so designed as not to project from the accessory (1) in view of the appearance of the accessory (1). To prevent the electronic device from being stolen, a control plate provided in the accessory (1) is set in a predetermined position, and a key (10) is inserted into a lock part (9) fitted to the accessory (1) and rotated so as not to allow the operation levers (37) to be opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidemi Dohi, Shoichi Sunagawa, Toshio Ikeuchi
  • Patent number: 6522533
    Abstract: The function of an electronic device (e.g., a portable personal computer) (5) is extended when the electronic device is mounted on an accessory (1). An operation lever (37) attached to the accessory (1) is operated to separate the electronic device (5) from the accessory (1). Operation parts (30, 31) are operated to take out mechanical equipment (8, 15) housed in the accessory (1). There is a setting which enables both the operation lever (37) and the operation parts (30, 31) to be operated, a setting which enables the operation lever (37) to be operated and unables the operation parts (30, 31) to be operated, and a setting which unables both the operation lever (37) and the operation parts (30, 31) to be operated. The user can select a desired setting by position operation of a lock object selecting part (46). The position operation of the lock object selecting part (46) is inhibited by inserting a key (10) into a locking part (9) attached to the accessory (1) and by turning the key (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Ikeuchi, Hidemi Dohi, Shoichi Sunagawa
  • Patent number: 6236571
    Abstract: A separation type feature expanding device comprises an attachment device comprising a bottom supporting flat portion on which a notebook personal computer is mounted, and a port replicator portion provided in a rear end of the bottom supporting flat portion and having a terminal portion to which a terminal portion provided on the back surface of the notebook personal computer is removably connected, and a feature expanding unit containing one or more feature expanding devices of the notebook personal computer, having its upper end surface on which the bottom supporting flat portion in the attachment device is mounted, and having a terminal portion to which the terminal portion of the port replicator portion in the attachment device is removably connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Shimane Sanyo Industrial Co.
    Inventors: Hidemi Dohi, Shoichi Sunagawa, Shinichi Yamaguchi, Toshio Ikeuchi, Mikio Adachi
  • Patent number: 5959835
    Abstract: A separation type feature expanding device comprises an attachment device with a bottom supporting flat portion on which a notebook personal computer is mounted, and a port replicator portion provided in a rear end of the bottom supporting flat portion and having a terminal portion to which a terminal portion provided on the back surface of the notebook personal computer is removably connected, and a feature expanding unit of the notebook personal computer, having its upper end surface on which the bottom supporting flat portion in the attachment device is mounted, and having a terminal portion to which the terminal portion of the port replicator portion in the attachment device is removably connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., LTD., Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., LTD., Shimane Sanyo Industrial Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidemi Dohi, Shoichi Sunagawa, Shinichi Yamaguchi, Toshio Ikeuchi, Mikio Adachi
  • Patent number: 5737541
    Abstract: A docking station box for functional expansion of portable electronic equipment that has a table with a vertically upstanding back wall to which is mounted a part of a connector corresponding to a connector part of the electronic equipment. The box includes at least one hook that is moved from a position below the table to one above the table to engage the electronic equipment to mount it securely thereon. The docking station box also includes a mechanism for thrusting the electronic equipment away from the position in which the connector parts of the box and the electronic equipment are engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Shimizu, Shoichi Sunagawa, Hidemi Dohi, Yoshiaki Matsuoka, Yoshio Tanioka, Norimitsu Asano