Patents by Inventor Tadamitsu Sato

Tadamitsu Sato 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: 12103040
    Abstract: A vibration generating device includes a housing; a diaphragm supported by the housing, and configured to generate sound by vibrating in a first direction; and a vibration providing part attached to the housing, and configured to vibrate the housing. The vibration providing part vibrates the housing in the first direction at a first frequency, and vibrates the housing in a second direction at a second frequency lower than the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunio Sato, Hiroshi Wakuda, Tadamitsu Sato
  • Patent number: 11794448
    Abstract: A sensor device has an insulative non-woven fabric and a conductive fabric forming an electrode. The conductive fabric is joined to one surface of the non-woven fabric by at least one of fusion and seaming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadamitsu Sato, Sascha Kunzmann, Unmesh Ghoshdastider, Martin Oehler
  • Publication number: 20210387231
    Abstract: A vibration generating device includes a housing; a diaphragm supported by the housing, and configured to generate sound by vibrating in a first direction; and a vibration providing part attached to the housing, and configured to vibrate the housing. The vibration providing part vibrates the housing in the first direction at a first frequency, and vibrates the housing in a second direction at a second frequency lower than the first frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Kunio SATO, Hiroshi WAKUDA, Tadamitsu SATO
  • Publication number: 20200298530
    Abstract: A sensor device has an insulative non-woven fabric and a conductive fabric forming an electrode. The conductive fabric is joined to one surface of the non-woven fabric by at least one of fusion and seaming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Tadamitsu SATO, Sascha KUNZMANN, Unmesh GHOSHDASTIDER, Martin OEHLER
  • Patent number: 8077057
    Abstract: A capacitive input pad is provided at a position near input keys constituting a keyboard input unit. A left palm detecting unit and a right palm detecting unit are provided both sides of this input pad. When the left palm detecting unit and the right palm detecting unit detect both palms, an input operation, corresponding to a space key input area, an L-key input portion, or an R-key input portion, is performed through an operation of the input pad. When the left palm detecting unit and the right palm detecting unit do not detect both palms, a coordinate input operation is performed using the input pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Ohshita, Yasuji Hagiwara, Tadamitsu Sato
  • Patent number: 7893921
    Abstract: An input device contains a plurality of push switch elements that are connected to a single switch signal line. When a switch signal is detected from the switch signal line, it is determined which push switch element is enabled based on coordinate data obtained from a primary input sensor. By using the coordinate data, only a single switch signal line is used to determine which push switch element is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadamitsu Sato
  • Patent number: 7821506
    Abstract: An input device is provided. The input device includes a first position detection unit having a detection section which detects the absolute position of a predetermined operation tool in a predetermined region. A second position detection unit has a detection section, which detects contact or approach of the operation tool. An input control unit that controls an input operation on the basis of an input signal obtained from the first position detection unit or the second position detection unit, or a complex input signal combining an input signal obtained from the first position detection unit and an input signal obtained from the second position detection unit. The detection section of the second position detection unit is provided to partially or entirely enclose the outer circumference of the detection section of the first position detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadamitsu Sato, Shuzo Ono
  • Patent number: 7796124
    Abstract: An input device and electronic apparatus are provided. The input device includes a detecting region that is operative to detect a change in capacitance between electrodes. The detecting region extends from an image display region that displays an image and has a predetermined area to a non-display region that is adjacent to the image display region and does not display the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadamitsu Sato, Shuzo Ono
  • Patent number: 7593001
    Abstract: An image-processing apparatus includes an input unit for inputting operational signals. The input unit includes an operation surface and outputs, as the operational signals, a position detection signal representing a detected operation position of an operation instrument moving on the operation surface and a selection confirmation signal generated when a selection operation is confirmed on the operation position. The image-processing apparatus further includes a display unit and a display-controlling unit for controlling the display state of the display unit based on the operational signals. The display-controlling unit highlights an index corresponding to the operation position when the position detection signal is output in a state in which indices to be selected are displayed on the display unit, and reads and displays main data corresponding to the highlighted index when the selection confirmation signal is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadamitsu Sato
  • Patent number: 7589713
    Abstract: A composite capacitance between a common electrode and an X detection electrode having a plurality of detours is small, whereas lengths of parallel electrodes of the X detection electrode are set to have large values. A comprehensive composite capacitance is set to be constant by increasing a composite capacitance between the common electrode and the X detection electrode. For this reason, although the detours are formed in the electrode patterns, a coordinate position can be detected with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadamitsu Sato
  • Publication number: 20090194404
    Abstract: A pressing-type input device includes an operation part and pressure sensors that are provided on the lower surface of the operation part. The operation part includes an operation region where the pressure sensors are provided, and an outer region that is formed outside the operation region. An inner portion of the operation region is locally more flexible than the outer region that is formed outside the operation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshizo Kubo, Shinji Hirano, Hideki Ito, Masaru Komatsu, Tadamitsu Sato
  • Publication number: 20090065267
    Abstract: An input apparatus includes a surface plate, an electrostatic capacitive sensor disposed under the surface plate, and a strain sensor disposed between the electrostatic capacitive sensor and the surface plate and fixed to the back surface of the surface plate. As a first input operation, when a finger is moved on an operation area of the surface plate, the movement position can be detected by the electrostatic capacitive sensor. As a second input operation, when the operation area is pressed down, the pressing force can be detected by the strain sensor. A series of the first input operation and the second input operation can be performed without leaving the finger from the operation area. Therefore, the input operation can be simply performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventor: Tadamitsu Sato
  • Patent number: 7492169
    Abstract: A shielding member is provided as an electrostatic protection device in extension lines that extend from a sensing area to switching devices via extension areas correspondingly. As a result, even if a body to be detected such as a finger contacts the extension area, it is possible to reduce the amount of the change of an electrostatic capacitance with respect to the movement of the body to be detected. Therefore, it is possible to reduce influences exerted on data to be detected, and an electrostatic detection apparatus having improved coordinate detection accuracy can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadamitsu Sato, Shuzo Ono
  • Publication number: 20080266143
    Abstract: A capacitive input pad is provided at a position near input keys constituting a keyboard input unit. A left palm detecting unit and a right palm detecting unit are provided both sides of this input pad. When the left palm detecting unit and the right palm detecting unit detect both palms, an input operation, corresponding to a space key input area, an L-key input portion, or an R-key input portion, is performed through an operation of the input pad. When the left palm detecting unit and the right palm detecting unit do not detect both palms, a coordinate input operation is performed using the input pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Kazuhito Ohshita, Yasuji Hagiwara, Tadamitsu Sato
  • Patent number: 7358741
    Abstract: A shielding member is provided as an electrostatic protection device in extension lines that extend from a sensing area to switching devices via extension areas correspondingly. As a result, even if a body to be detected such as a finger contacts the extension area, it is possible to reduce the amount of the change of an electrostatic capacitance with respect to the movement of the body to be detected. Therefore, it is possible to reduce influences exerted on data to be detected, and an electrostatic detection apparatus having improved coordinate detection accuracy can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tadamitsu Sato, Shuzo Ono
  • Patent number: 7359999
    Abstract: An input device includes a flat first input unit for a first input operation, a second input unit for a second input operation, a display unit having a display portion displaying data, and a control unit controlling each unit. The control unit gives an operator feedback by provisionally displaying input data obtained from the first input operation, and then confirms the input by the second input operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Tadamitsu Sato
  • Patent number: 7339577
    Abstract: An input device including a main device composed of a coordinate input device, an operating surface having input portions displayed thereon, and a switch device having switches connected in parallel, and a control device which selects one of a first mode in which an item signal is generated in accordance with an indication item at an input portion when the input portion is operated, and a second mode in which a position signal corresponding to an operating position on the operating surface is generated independently of the indication item at the input portion. The item signal is generated on the basis of an absolute coordinate signal output from the coordinate input device and a switch signal output from the switch device in the first mode, and the position signal is generated on the basis of a relative coordinate signal output from the coordinate input device in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadamitsu Sato, Akihisa Itoh, Hiroshi Shigetaka
  • Patent number: 7321361
    Abstract: A coordinate input device includes a coordinate input unit which performs a coordinate input operation by sliding an operating member on an operation surface which is formed in a convex shape, a concave shape, or the shape of a polyhedron. More specifically, the coordinate input device includes a capacitive sensor substrate formed by laminating two electrode layers with an upper substrate (dielectric layer) therebetween, each electrode layer including a plurality of electrodes arranged in a striped pattern. In addition, the coordinate input device also includes the operation surface formed in a convex (or concave) shape which is used for performing a coordinate input operation by sliding the operating member thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadamitsu Sato, Masahiro Soma
  • Patent number: 7312790
    Abstract: An input apparatus includes a flat input device of a pressure-sensitive type or a capacitive type, and an indicator sheet on which indication marks are formed is fixed on the surface of the flat input device. A tactile-feel-generating unit is provided behind the flat input device. The tactile-feel-generating unit includes dome-shaped inversion plates which are disposed at positions corresponding to the indication marks. When one of the indication marks is pressed setting an input mode, an operation signal is generated in accordance with an item represented by the indication mark, and a tactile feel is generated by a reaction force of the corresponding inversion plate. When an indication mark is touched, while in an input mode, the control unit recognizes the resulting signal to be a coordinate data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadamitsu Sato, Katsumi Kato, Yasuji Hagiwara, Masahiro Soma
  • Patent number: RE41443
    Abstract: An input device includes a pressure-sensitive or capacitive planar input unit with an indicator sheet which has input sections being secured to the surface of the planar input unit. A tactile feedback generator is provided at the back side of the planar input unit. The tactile feedback generator includes dome-shaped inversion plates that are separately provided at locations corresponding to the input sections and provide feedback to the operator. When an input section is pressed, an operation signal in accordance with what is indicated at the pressed input section is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kato, Yasuji Hagiwara, Masahiro Soma, Tadamitsu Sato