Patents by Inventor Takanobu Kameda

Takanobu Kameda 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: 6076981
    Abstract: There are provided a printing apparatus and a method of making a mask pattern for exposure by the use of the printing apparatus. A temperature of a thermal head is detected, and a plurality of split pulses formed by dividing a strobe pulse applied to the thermal head are sequentially applied with quiescent periods interposed therebetween. There is stored in advance pulse-applying data of settings of a cumulative period of pulse-applying periods over which the plurality of split pulses are respectively applied, a number of the split pulses, the split pulse-applying periods, and the quiescent periods, defined in a manner corresponding to values of the temperature of the thermal head. Appropriate pulse-applying data is read out according to the temperature detected, and application of the split pulses is controlled according to the appropriate pulse-applying data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, King jim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hayama, Yoshiyuki Yanagisawa, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Tomoyuki Shimmura
  • Patent number: 6072584
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a character information processor in which limitation is imposed on an allowable number of a character string to be printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6062749
    Abstract: A dial input device is provided. A dial is rotatably arranged on a support member and has a plurality of kinds of characters circumferentially allocated thereto. n (n.gtoreq.1) first contact member(s) arranged in a manner concentric with the dial is/are circumferentially divided into s (s.gtoreq.2) divisional parts and formed by electrically conductive portions and electrically non-conductive portions arranged in a mixed manner. A second contact member is arranged in a manner concentric with the dial and circumferentially divided into m (m.gtoreq.2) parts each of which is formed by an electrically conductive portion alone. n.times.s first brushes are arranged on the dial in a manner circumferentially corresponding to the s divisional parts of each of the n first contact member(s). A second brush is arranged on the dial in a manner corresponding to the second contact member. The characters are expressed by k (k.ltoreq.2.sup.(n.times.s) .times.m) identifying patterns out of 2.sup.(n.times.s) .times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Oikawa, Hiroshi Kuriyama, Eiji Tukahara, Kenichi Nakajima, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Tomoyuki Shimmura
  • Patent number: 6064802
    Abstract: A character information processor which can be applied to a tape printing device. The character information processor is provided with a read-only memory in which a table containing the levels of alternatives of a menu hierarchical structure set correspondingly to each edition function is stored. When an edition level is selected by an operator by keying, only edition operations, which are available at the selected edition level, are displayed on the screen of a display unit as choices. An example of the function of editing a character string is a function for enabling the restoration of a text, on which an edition operation such as an input operation and a deleting operation has been once performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Yoshiya Toyosawa, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6058336
    Abstract: There is provided an electronic apparatus for carrying out physical processing on a workpiece removably mounted in a pocket formed in a body of the apparatus, based on internal data. The mounting of the workpiece is detected. An alarm is given to indicate that no workpiece is mounted in the pocket, if the mounting of the workpiece is not detected after the electronic apparatus is started. In another form, text data used last time is deleted based on results of discrimination as to whether or not a workpiece different in kind from one mounted last time is mounted, based on results of detection of the kind of the mounted workpiece. There is also provided an electronic apparatus for carrying out exposure as physical processing on a workpiece having a portion formed of a photosensitive resin having a temperature-dependent property, based on internal data. Internal data defining exposure time periods corresponding to ambient temperatures is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hayama, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Tomoyuki Shimmura
  • Patent number: 6050734
    Abstract: The present invention aims to produce a label which has a size, margins and a character arrangement as a user desired, and aims to reduce a wasteful consumption of tape.In a tape printing device of the present invention, there is established an enlargement printing mode in which a large pseudo label, whose width is wider than the width of tape, can be obtained when the tape is divided into division portions in the longitudinal direction of the tape and when the division portions are arranged in the direction of the width of the tape. When printing in this mode, the tape printing device prints not only a character string but a marker which indicates the dividing positions in the longitudinal direction of the tape, with the intention of improving the quality of the pseudo label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Yoshiya Toyosawa, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6045277
    Abstract: A tape printing apparatus selects one of a plurality of kinds of print formats as a designated print format. Characters entered are arranged to form a character string. Print image data is formed by editing the character string based on the designated print format. Printing is carried out on a recording medium in the form of a tape being fed, based on the print image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Chieko Aida
  • Patent number: 6042284
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for driving and controlling a thermal head used in a printing device, such as a tape printer, in response to the temperature variations of the printing device environment and the thermal head. According to the present invention, in the printing operation of the tape printer, measurements are made of the initial temperature T1 immediately after the power is switched on, the temperature prior to printing T2, and the ambient temperature of the thermal head each time the thermal head prints T3 (i). If the temperature difference between the initial temperature T1 and the temperature prior to printing T2 is small, the duration of the current signals provided to the thermal head is controlled in accordance with the temperature prior to printing T2, which is the most recently measured thermal head ambient temperature best reflecting the printing device environmental temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, King Jim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Yanagisawa, Susumu Takatsu, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Tomoyuki Shimmura
  • Patent number: 6025051
    Abstract: A plate-making sheet in the form of a strip having two longer-sides and two shorter-sides includes a base sheet and an adhesive sheet laminated on the base sheet. The adhesive sheet has a label portion formed in the middle thereof for being printed with an image. The label portion is defined by a cutting line formed in the adhesive sheet. A plate-making sheet group includes a plurality of types of plate-making sheets having respective label portions different from each other, which are distinguished from each other in respect of color of at least one of the base sheet and the adhesive sheet. A printing apparatus for printing a stamp image on the label portion of the plate-making sheet comprises a printing mechanism for printing a stamp image on the label portion, a feed mechanism for feeding the plate-making sheet through the printing mechanism, and a sensor for detecting feeding of the plate-making sheet into the printing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, King Jim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yanagisawa, Hiroshi Kuriyama, Eiji Tukahara, Kenichi Nakajima, Hideki Oikawa, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Tomoyuki Shimmura
  • Patent number: 6016749
    Abstract: A stamp-making apparatus is provided in which a transparent presser plate is arranged such that the presser plate is parallel with a stamp-making object material, an ink ribbon having a stamp image formed thereon is urged against the stamp-making object material via the presser plate, and exposure of the stamp-making object material to light is carried out via the ink ribbon as a mask. A ribbon feeder rolls out an ink ribbon wound around one end portion thereof to a position facing the stamp-making object material, and then rolls up the ink ribbon around another end portion thereof. A relative translation of the presser plate and the stamp-making object material is made toward each other by moving at least one of the presser plate and the stamp-making object material to thereby urge the ink ribbon against the stamp-making object material. Guide means guides the ink ribbon when the ink ribbon is fed, to space between the presser plate and the stamp-making object material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation and King Jim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Tukahara, Hideki Oikawa, Kenichi Nakajima, Hiroshi Kuriyama, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Tomoyuki Shimmura
  • Patent number: 6006661
    Abstract: A stamp-making apparatus is provided in which a transparent presser plate is arranged such that the presser plate is parallel with a stamp-making object material, an ink ribbon having a stamp image formed thereon is urged against the stamp-making object material via the presser plate, and exposure of the stamp-making object material to light is carried out via the ink ribbon as a mask. A ribbon feeder rolls out an ink ribbon wound around one end portion thereof to a position facing the stamp-making object material, and then rolls up the ink ribbon around another end portion thereof. A relative translation of the presser plate and the stamp-making object material is made toward each other by moving at least one of the presser plate and the stamp-making object material to thereby urge the ink ribbon against the stamp-making object material. A guide guides the ink ribbon when the ink ribbon is fed, to space between the presser plate and the stamp-making object material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, King Jim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Tukahara, Hideki Oikawa, Kenichi Nakajima, Hiroshi Kuriyama, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Tomoyuki Shimmura
  • Patent number: 5993086
    Abstract: The character printing apparatus according to the present invention, in which an input character string is printed on a print medium, includes: eligible-subject-component-character displaying means for displaying an eligible subject component character; subject-component-character selecting means for selecting a desired subject component character out of the eligible subject component characters; display control means for storing the desired subject component character, and causing a display portion to display a control symbol representing that the desired subject component character is inputted and an input position for an object component character in such a manner that the input position for an object component character is located immediately after the control symbol; judging means for judging, when a character to be combined with the subject component character is inputted, whether or not the input character is a character allowed to be combined with the subject component character; composing means for p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 5984545
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a character information processor having a function by which the user can obtain a character to be inputted by inputting a code corresponding to the character.The character information processor of the present invention includes: code input means through which the code is inputted; and a plurality of code-character conversion tables which are associated with different code systems and each of which contains relationships between codes and their corresponding characters under the code system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 5980134
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for driving and controlling a thermal head used in a printing device, such as a tape printer, in response to the temperature variations of the printing device environment and the thermal head. According to the present invention, in the printing operation of the tape printer, measurements are made of the initial temperature T1 immediately after the power is switched on, the temperature prior to printing T2, and the ambient temperature of the thermal head each time the thermal head prints T3(i). If the temperature difference between the initial temperature T1 and the temperature prior to printing T2 is small, the duration of the current signals provided to the thermal head is controlled in accordance with the temperature prior to printing T2, which is the most recently measured thermal head ambient temperature best reflecting the printing device environmental temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, King Jim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Yanagisawa, Susumu Takatsu, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Tomoyuki Shimmura
  • Patent number: 5975779
    Abstract: A character information processor for carrying out the processing for printing an input character string, includes: a contact-command receiving section for receiving a contact command which commands to print at a character pitch of 0 between the adjacent two characters; and a printing control section for causing to print two characters, which are defined by the contact command, at a character pitch of 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Hitoshi Hayama, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 5961232
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a character information processor which can operate either in an ordinary state in which ordinary operations are performed or in a demonstration state in which demonstrating operations, including demonstration display and demonstration printing, are performed. The character information processor according to the present invention includes: a first operation state switch for switching the ordinary state to the demonstration state when receiving operation signals of a first number during the ordinary state; and a second operation state swtich for switching the demonstration state to the ordinary state when receiving operation signals of a second number during the demonstration state, the second number being smaller than the first number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 5947619
    Abstract: A background pattern print image-forming method and device are provided. A plurality of kinds of unit background pattern image data formed of a dot matrix which defines a group of image-forming dots representative of a unit printing portion of a background pattern to be printed on a printing object are stored in a memory device. One kind of unit background pattern image data from the plurality of kinds of unit background pattern image data stored in the memory device is selected as a unit background pattern tile. The selected unit background pattern tile is read from the memory device, and modified to thereby form a different kind of unit background pattern image data from the selected one kind of unit background pattern image data. The different kind of unit background pattern image data is arranged in a manner such that the background pattern is formed, to thereby form background pattern print image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, King Jim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Chieko Aida
  • Patent number: 5937725
    Abstract: A laminated sheet cutting method and apparatus for making consistent cuts partially through a laminated sheet without requiring high precision control of the cutter cutting depth are provided. The method for cutting partially through an adhesive tape comprising a base tape and a backing paper cuts only the base tape of the adhesive tape to a particular planar shape without cutting the backing paper. The adhesive tape is placed on a flexible member with the backing paper of the adhesive tape in contact with flexible member. The adhesive tape is held immobile on flexible member. The cutter having a beveled cutting edge is then pressed into the flexible member with the leading edge of the cutting edge descending to a specific cutting depth. The cutter is moved relative to the adhesive tape to cut only the base tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, King Jim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kamijo, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Tomoyuki Shimmura
  • Patent number: 5934191
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus has a body formed with a pocket for mounting a plurality of types of access objects each having an end surface for being accessed, therein from above. The body has an access block arranged therein for accessing the end surface of each of the plurality of types of access objects. Main support bosses are provided in the pocket in a manner extending upward for having each of the access objects being fitted thereon. The access object is comprised of a receiving member having an access surface (the end surface) for being accessed by the access block, a receiving member-attaching portion to which the receiving member is attached, and a receiving member-holding part for holding the receiving member-attaching portion. A cap is removably fitted on the access object in a manner such that the receiving member thereof is covered by the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, King Jim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Tukahara, Hiroshi Kuriyama, Kenichi Nakajima, Hideki Oikawa, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Tomoyuki Shimmura
  • Patent number: 5926618
    Abstract: A character information processor which can be applied to a tape printing device. The character information processor is provided with a read-only memory in which a table containing the levels of alternatives of a menu hierarchical structure set correspondingly to each edition function is stored. When an edition level is selected by an operator by keying, only edition operations, which are available at the selected edition level, are displayed on the screen of a display unit as choices. An example of the function of editing a character string is a function for enabling the restoration of a text, on which an edition operation such as an input operation and a deleting operation has been once performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Yoshiya Toyosawa, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa