Patents by Inventor So Kato

So Kato 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).

  • Publication number: 20260202923
    Abstract: A pen input device sheet for a position detection region of a position detecting sensor, which includes an elastic material layer that has elasticity and is composed of layer portions stacked in a thickness direction of the pen input device sheet. A side opposite of a side of the position detecting sensor in the elastic material layer is a writing input surface to which writing input with an electronic pen is made. The pen input device sheet is configured such that a vibration frequency characteristic of a kinetic friction coefficient when the electronic pen is moved at a predetermined speed on the writing input surface of the pen input device sheet matches the vibration frequency characteristic of the kinetic friction coefficient when a predetermined writing material is moved at the predetermined speed on a predetermined writing medium. A material having elasticity in the elastic material layer is polyurethane resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2026
    Publication date: July 16, 2026
    Applicant: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: So KATO, Masamitsu ITO
  • Patent number: 12591318
    Abstract: Provided is a pen input device sheet disposed over a position detection region of a position detecting sensor, the pen input device sheet including an elastic material layer that is composed of a plurality of layer portions stacked in a thickness direction and has elasticity, an opposite side of a side of the position detecting sensor in the elastic material layer being employed as a side of a writing input surface to which writing input with an electronic pen is made, and the pen input device sheet being configured such that a vibration frequency characteristic of a kinetic friction coefficient when the electronic pen is moved at a predetermined speed on the writing input surface of the pen input device sheet matches a vibration frequency characteristic of a kinetic friction coefficient when a predetermined writing material is moved at the predetermined speed on a predetermined writing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: So Kato, Masamitsu Ito
  • Publication number: 20260086690
    Abstract: A position detection device including a sensor, a position detection circuitry, a spacer member, a board cover member, and a housing. In the sensor, a plurality of first electrodes arranged in a first direction and a plurality of second electrodes arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction are stacked. The position detection circuitry, in operation, detects an indicated position on the sensor based on output signals from the first electrodes and the second electrodes of the sensor. The spacer member has a predetermined thickness. The board cover member adheres to a surface of the spacer member. The board cover member closes and seals an opening of a protective member. The housing houses at least the sensor and has a first surface serving as an operation surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2025
    Publication date: March 26, 2026
    Applicant: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: So KATO
  • Publication number: 20260070405
    Abstract: Even when a motor is connected to a PTO shaft to make a vehicle hybrid, it is possible to drive a mounted equipment. A motor drive device 100 for outputting motor drive force for a hybrid vehicle includes a motor 21; a first output shaft 22 configured to be connected to a PTO shaft for extracting engine drive force from the hybrid vehicle; a power transmission mechanism 23 connecting the motor and the first output shaft; a second output shaft 24 configured to be connected to a drive source 11 for a mounted equipment on the hybrid vehicle; and a switching mechanism 25 configured to selectively connect the first output shaft to the second output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2024
    Publication date: March 12, 2026
    Inventors: Yoshihisa HAMANAKA, So KATO, Tomohiro ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20260070399
    Abstract: Protects an inverter from vibration. An electric axle device 100 for a vehicle includes an axle housing 1 for containing a differential device; a reduction gear 2 attached to the axle housing; an electric motor 3 attached to the reduction gear, an inverter 4 attached to at least one of the reduction gear and the electric motor, and a dynamic damper 50 attached to the inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2024
    Publication date: March 12, 2026
    Inventors: Yoshihisa HAMANAKA, So KATO, Tomohiro ISHIKAWA, Koji OGAWA
  • Publication number: 20260070371
    Abstract: Improves ease of assembly and reliability. The electric axle device 100 for a vehicle includes an axle housing 1 for containing a differential device, a reduction gear 2 attached to the axle housing, an electric motor 3 attached to the reduction gear, and an inverter 4 attached to at least one of the reduction gear and the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2024
    Publication date: March 12, 2026
    Inventors: Yoshihisa HAMANAKA, So KATO, Tomohiro ISHIKAWA, Koji OGAWA
  • Patent number: 12511005
    Abstract: Provided is a position detection device including a sensor in which a plurality of first electrodes arranged in a first direction and a plurality of second electrodes arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction are stacked, a position detection circuitry that, in operation, detects an indicated position on the sensor based on output signals from the first electrodes and the second electrodes of the sensor, and a protective member that is formed in a bag shape and houses at least the sensor inserted from an opening, the protective member having a surface serving as an operation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2025
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: So Kato
  • Publication number: 20250328201
    Abstract: A pen input device sheet is disposed over a position detection region of a position detecting sensor. The pen input device sheet includes an elastic material layer that has elasticity and has a side opposite to a side of the position detecting sensor employed as a side of a writing input surface to which writing input with an electronic pen is to be made. The elastic material layer has a first uneven pattern formed along a direction orthogonal to a thickness direction of the elastic material layer and a second uneven pattern that is formed along a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction of the elastic material layer and is different from the first uneven pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2025
    Publication date: October 23, 2025
    Inventors: So KATO, Yutaka KAMADA
  • Patent number: 12334282
    Abstract: An input device is provided, which includes an operation shaft and a case configured to house the operation shaft such that a tilting operation to tilt an axial direction of the operation shaft to a desired direction can be performed. A coil constituting a resonant circuit for performing signal interaction through electromagnetic induction coupling with a position detection sensor is housed in the operation shaft, such that a direction of magnetic flux penetrating the coil is in the axial direction of the operation shaft. The operation shaft can be tilted to a desired direction within the case, with a predetermined position between a first end side and a second end side of the operation shaft in the axial direction of the operation shaft serving as a rotation center, so that a direction of tilt of the operation shaft and a magnitude of an angle of the tilt are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: So Kato, Katsuhito Obi
  • Patent number: 12277281
    Abstract: Disclosed is an input device including a position detection sensor, an operation including a position indicator which, in operation, indicates a position through interaction with the position detection sensor and accepts a predetermined operation, the operation part being disposed on an input surface that serves as a position detection region of the position detection sensor, an operation detection circuit that, in operation, detects the operation accepted by the operation part, based on the interaction between the position indicator of the operation part and the position detection sensor, and a control signal output circuit that, in operation, outputs a control signal corresponding to the operation detected by the operation detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: So Kato, Tatsunosuke Tobita, Shigeru Yamashita
  • Patent number: 12271551
    Abstract: A position detecting circuit detects an indicated position on an input surface of a sensor as absolute coordinates. A relative coordinate calculating circuit which, in operation, sequentially obtains the absolute coordinates from the position detecting circuit and calculates relative coordinates indicating the position indicated by an indicator on the input surface, from a difference between previous absolute coordinates and present absolute coordinates. An output absolute coordinate value calculating circuit which, in operation, assumes that an indication input is performed on an input area positioned on an output absolute coordinate region corresponding to a display screen, and calculates an output absolute coordinate value of the indicated position corresponding to the indication input by using the relative coordinates from the relative coordinate calculating circuit. The calculated output absolute coordinate value is output through an output circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: So Kato, Tomo Asakura
  • Patent number: 12271535
    Abstract: Input of various kinds of information to an image processing device by use of a foot part of a user is enabled in order not to cause a difference between an image that changes and a feeling with respect to the motion of the body of the user. Position indicators are disposed at a sole back part of a foot-part position indicating instrument. A foot-part position detecting device receives a position indication signal from the position indicators, detects whether the foot-part position indicating instrument makes forward movement that is movement in the extension direction of a line extended in a direction from a heel-side part toward a toe-side part or makes backward movement that is movement in the extension direction of a line extended in a direction from the toe-side part toward the heel-side part, and indicates the forward movement and the backward movement to the image processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: So Kato, Tatsunosuke Tobita
  • Publication number: 20250000387
    Abstract: A foot input system includes a foot position indicating instrument configured to be located on a sole of a user, and a foot position detecting device. The foot position indicating instrument includes one or more position indication signal transmitting units configured to transmit a position indication signal. The foot position detecting device includes a position detecting unit that forms an operation surface on which the foot position indicating instrument moves and that receives a position indicated by the foot position indicating instrument; a position detecting sensor provided on a lower side of the position detecting unit to detect the position indicated by the foot position indicating instrument; and a detecting circuit configured to be supplied with a detection output from the position detecting sensor and detect and output the position indicated by the foot position indicating instrument. The position detecting unit has a concentric uneven structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2024
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: So KATO, Takeshi KOBORI
  • Publication number: 20240411387
    Abstract: Provided is a pen input device sheet disposed over a position detection region of a position detecting sensor, the pen input device sheet including an elastic material layer that is composed of a plurality of layer portions stacked in a thickness direction and has elasticity, an opposite side of a side of the position detecting sensor in the elastic material layer being employed as a side of a writing input surface to which writing input with an electronic pen is made, and the pen input device sheet being configured such that a vibration frequency characteristic of a kinetic friction coefficient when the electronic pen is moved at a predetermined speed on the writing input surface of the pen input device sheet matches a vibration frequency characteristic of a kinetic friction coefficient when a predetermined writing material is moved at the predetermined speed on a predetermined writing medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: So KATO, Masamitsu ITO
  • Publication number: 20240231509
    Abstract: Input of various kinds of information to an image processing device by use of a foot part of a user is enabled in order not to cause a difference between an image that changes and a feeling with respect to the motion of the body of the user. Position indicators are disposed at a sole back part of a foot-part position indicating instrument. A foot-part position detecting device receives a position indication signal from the position indicators, detects whether the foot-part position indicating instrument makes forward movement that is movement in the extension direction of a line extended in a direction from a heel-side part toward a toe-side part or makes backward movement that is movement in the extension direction of a line extended in a direction from the toe-side part toward the heel-side part, and indicates the forward movement and the backward movement to the image processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: So KATO, Tatsunosuke TOBITA
  • Patent number: 11977689
    Abstract: Input of various kinds of information to an image processing device by use of a foot part of a user is enabled in order not to cause a difference between an image that changes and a feeling with respect to the motion of the body of the user. Position indicators are disposed at a sole back part of a foot-part position indicating instrument. A foot-part position detecting device receives a position indication signal from the position indicators, detects whether the foot-part position indicating instrument makes forward movement that is movement in the extension direction of a line extended in a direction from a heel-side part toward a toe-side part or makes backward movement that is movement in the extension direction of a line extended in a direction from the toe-side part toward the heel-side part, and indicates the forward movement and the backward movement to the image processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: So Kato, Tatsunosuke Tobita
  • Publication number: 20240086022
    Abstract: Provided is a position detection device including a sensor in which a plurality of first electrodes arranged in a first direction and a plurality of second electrodes arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction are stacked, a position detection circuitry that, in operation, detects an indicated position on the sensor based on output signals from the first electrodes and the second electrodes of the sensor, and a protective member that is formed in a bag shape and houses at least the sensor inserted from an opening, the protective member having a surface serving as an operation surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventor: So KATO
  • Publication number: 20230360870
    Abstract: An input device is provided, which includes an operation shaft and a case configured to house the operation shaft such that a tilting operation to tilt an axial direction of the operation shaft to a desired direction can be performed. A coil constituting a resonant circuit for performing signal interaction through electromagnetic induction coupling with a position detection sensor is housed in the operation shaft, such that a direction of magnetic flux penetrating the coil is in the axial direction of the operation shaft. The operation shaft can be tilted to a desired direction within the case, with a predetermined position between a first end side and a second end side of the operation shaft in the axial direction of the operation shaft serving as a rotation center, so that a direction of tilt of the operation shaft and a magnitude of an angle of the tilt are detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: So KATO, Katsuhito OBI
  • Publication number: 20230297187
    Abstract: A position detecting circuit detects an indicated position on an input surface of a sensor as absolute coordinates. A relative coordinate calculating circuit which, in operation, sequentially obtains the absolute coordinates from the position detecting circuit and calculates relative coordinates indicating the position indicated by an indicator on the input surface, from a difference between previous absolute coordinates and present absolute coordinates. An output absolute coordinate value calculating circuit which, in operation, assumes that an indication input is performed on an input area positioned on an output absolute coordinate region corresponding to a display screen, and calculates an output absolute coordinate value of the indicated position corresponding to the indication input by using the relative coordinates from the relative coordinate calculating circuit. The calculated output absolute coordinate value is output through an output circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: So KATO, Tomo ASAKURA
  • Publication number: 20230244332
    Abstract: Disclosed is an input device including a position detection sensor, an operation including a position indicator which, in operation, indicates a position through interaction with the position detection sensor and accepts a predetermined operation, the operation part being disposed on an input surface that serves as a position detection region of the position detection sensor, an operation detection circuit that, in operation, detects the operation accepted by the operation part, based on the interaction between the position indicator of the operation part and the position detection sensor, and a control signal output circuit that, in operation, outputs a control signal corresponding to the operation detected by the operation detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: So KATO, Tatsunosuke TOBITA, Shigeru YAMASHITA