Patents by Inventor Takao SONODA

Takao SONODA 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: 20240117984
    Abstract: Provided is an air conditioner including an indoor unit provided with a microphone element for receiving voice instructions, such that a voice instruction spoken by an operator is acquired with high quality and control based on the voice instruction spoken by the operator is likely to be ensured. The air conditioner includes an indoor unit, a transmission unit, and a reception unit. The indoor unit has a main body and a microphone element. The main body has formed therein a blow-out port through which air-conditioned air is blown out toward a space to be air-conditioned. The microphone element accepts a voice instruction captured from a voice capturing portion arranged at a position that deviates from a ventilation space through which the air blown out from the blow-out port flows, in such a manner as to face the space to be air-conditioned. The transmission unit transmits the voice instruction accepted by the microphone element to an outside as a signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Kousuke TSUBOI, Takao SONODA, Makoto IKEDA, Tetsushi TSUDA, Yu OTA, Yuuichi KITA, Kenji AMANO, Atsushi MATSUBARA, Tomomi KUKITA, Naoko KURIYAMA, Tomoyoshi ASHIKAGA, Gen KUMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 11920553
    Abstract: A hydroelectric power generation system includes a water turbine disposed in a channel that carries a flow of a fluid, a generator driven by the water turbine, and a controller that performs a first control. The channel includes a first channel located on an inflow side of the water turbine. The controller controls, in the first control, a flow rate or a head of the water turbine so that any one of a pressure of the fluid in the first channel, a flow rate of the fluid in the first channel, and a liquid level of the fluid in a first reservoir from which the fluid flows out to the first channel approaches a first target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Harada, Atsushi Suhara, Takao Sonoda
  • Patent number: 11898532
    Abstract: A hydroelectric power generation system is included in a channel control system. The channel control system includes a command section that outputs a command value of a flow rate or pressure of a fluid, an opening degree control unit that calculates a target opening degree based on the command value, and a motor-operated valve installed in a channel through which the fluid flows. The valve opens and closes in accordance with the target opening degree. The hydroelectric power generation system includes a water turbine disposed in the channel, a generator driven by the water turbine, and a generator control unit that controls at least one of a torque and a number of rotations of the generator based on opening degree information that indicates a measured value of an actual opening degree of the valve or an opening degree estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Abe, Atsushi Suhara, Takao Sonoda, Takahiro Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 11781771
    Abstract: An operating system that can control any apparatus is provided. The operating system includes an input receiving device, a first information processing device, a second information processing device, and an infrared output device. The operating system operates a first-type apparatus operable by communication of an infrared pattern and a second-type apparatus operable via a network. The first information processing device is connected to the input receiving device and configured to analyze operation information corresponding to an input operation. The second information processing device is configured to control the second-type apparatus (controlled apparatus (B)) via the network based on a control instruction. The infrared output device is configured to output an infrared pattern corresponding to a control instruction to the first-type apparatus (controlled apparatus (A)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Ikeda, Kousuke Tsuboi, Takao Sonoda
  • Patent number: 11629875
    Abstract: An infrared output device is installed in a fixed apparatus whose position is fixed in a predetermined space. An input receiving device is configured to receive, through voice input, a control command to a first-type apparatus controllable by infrared ray. Upon the input receiving device receiving the control command, the infrared output device is configured to output infrared ray to the first-type apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Ikeda, Kousuke Tsuboi, Takao Sonoda
  • Patent number: 11629876
    Abstract: An operating system includes an air conditioner and an infrared output device. The air conditioner includes an indoor unit. The infrared output device is configured to receive first information on an instruction to a first-type apparatus other than the air conditioner and operable by an infrared signal and transmit an infrared signal corresponding to the first information to the first-type apparatus. The air conditioner further includes a management device configured to manage the first-type apparatus. The management device includes a command information receiving unit configured to receive second information on a command content, and a determination unit configured to determine whether there is a deviation between a behavior of the first-type apparatus and the command content, based on the behavior of the first-type apparatus and the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Ikeda, Kousuke Tsuboi, Takao Sonoda
  • Publication number: 20230082877
    Abstract: An infrared output device is installed in a fixed apparatus whose position is fixed in a predetermined space. An input receiving device is configured to receive, through voice input, a control command to a first-type apparatus controllable by infrared ray. Upon the input receiving device receiving the control command, the infrared output device is configured to output infrared ray to the first-type apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Makoto IKEDA, Kousuke TSUBOI, Takao SONODA
  • Publication number: 20220235733
    Abstract: A hydroelectric power generation system includes a water turbine disposed in a channel that carries a flow of a fluid, a generator driven by the water turbine, and a controller that performs a first control. The channel includes a first channel located on an inflow side of the water turbine. The controller controls, in the first control, a flow rate or a head of the water turbine so that any one of a pressure of the fluid in the first channel, a flow rate of the fluid in the first channel, and a liquid level of the fluid in a first reservoir from which the fluid flows out to the first channel approaches a first target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki HARADA, Atsushi SUHARA, Takao SONODA
  • Publication number: 20220213864
    Abstract: A hydroelectric power generation system is included in a channel control system. The channel control system includes a command section that outputs a command value of a flow rate or pressure of a fluid, an opening degree control unit that calculates a target opening degree based on the command value, and a motor-operated valve installed in a channel through which the fluid flows. The valve opens and closes in accordance with the target opening degree. The hydroelectric power generation system includes a water turbine disposed in the channel, a generator driven by the water turbine, and a generator control unit that controls at least one of a torque and a number of rotations of the generator based on opening degree information that indicates a measured value of an actual opening degree of the valve or an opening degree estimated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Takahiro ABE, Atsushi SUHARA, Takao SONODA, Takahiro YOKOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220026093
    Abstract: An operating system includes an air conditioner and an infrared output device. The air conditioner includes an indoor unit. The infrared output device is configured to receive first information on an instruction to a first-type apparatus other than the air conditioner and operable by an infrared signal and transmit an infrared signal corresponding to the first information to the first-type apparatus. The air conditioner further includes a management device configured to manage the first-type apparatus. The management device includes a command information receiving unit configured to receive second information on a command content, and a determination unit configured to determine whether there is a deviation between a behavior of the first-type apparatus and the command content, based on the behavior of the first-type apparatus and the second information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Makoto IKEDA, Kousuke TSUBOI, Takao SONODA
  • Publication number: 20220026091
    Abstract: An operating system that can control any apparatus is provided. The operating system includes an input receiving device, a first information processing device, a second information processing device, and an infrared output device. The operating system operates a first-type apparatus operable by communication of an infrared pattern and a second-type apparatus operable via a network. The first information processing device is connected to the input receiving device and configured to analyze operation information corresponding to an input operation. The second information processing device is configured to control the second-type apparatus (controlled apparatus (B)) via the network based on a control instruction. The infrared output device is configured to output an infrared pattern corresponding to a control instruction to the first-type apparatus (controlled apparatus (A)).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Makoto IKEDA, Kousuke TSUBOI, Takao SONODA
  • Publication number: 20220026092
    Abstract: An infrared output device is installed in a fixed apparatus whose position is fixed in a predetermined space. An input receiving device is configured to receive, through voice input, a control command to a first-type apparatus controllable by infrared ray. Upon the input receiving device receiving the control command, the infrared output device is configured to output infrared ray to the first-type apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Makoto IKEDA, Kousuke TSUBOI, Takao SONODA
  • Patent number: 11168914
    Abstract: An operating system that can control any apparatus is provided. The operating system (1001) includes an input receiving device (1060), a first information processing device (1100), a second information processing device (1200), and an infrared output device (1070). The operating system (1001) operates a first-type apparatus (1010) operable by communication of an infrared pattern and a second-type apparatus (1020) operable via a network. The first information processing device (1100) is connected to the input receiving device (1060) and configured to analyze operation information corresponding to an input operation. The second information processing device (1200) is configured to control the second-type apparatus (1020) (controlled apparatus (B)) via the network based on a control instruction. The infrared output device (1070) is configured to output an infrared pattern corresponding to a control instruction to the first-type apparatus (1010) (controlled apparatus (A)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Ikeda, Kousuke Tsuboi, Takao Sonoda
  • Publication number: 20210080141
    Abstract: Provided is an air conditioner including an indoor unit provided with a microphone element for receiving voice instructions, such that a voice instruction spoken by an operator is acquired with high quality and control based on the voice instruction spoken by the operator is likely to be ensured. The air conditioner includes an indoor unit (12), a transmission unit, and a reception unit. The indoor unit has a main body (100) and a microphone element. The main body has formed therein a blow-out port (120) through which air-conditioned air is blown out toward a space to be air-conditioned. The microphone element accepts a voice instruction captured from a voice capturing portion (P1) arranged at a position that deviates from a ventilation space through which the air blown out from the blow-out port flows, in such a manner as to face the space to be air-conditioned. The transmission unit transmits the voice instruction accepted by the microphone element to an outside as a signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Kousuke TSUBOI, Takao SONODA, Makoto IKEDA, Tetsushi TSUDA, Yu OTA, Yuuichi KITA, Kenji AMANO, Atsushi MATSUBARA, Tomomi KUKITA, Naoko KURIYAMA, Tomoyoshi ASHIKAGA, Gen KUMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20200141607
    Abstract: An operating system that can control any apparatus is provided. The operating system (1001) includes an input receiving device (1060), a first information processing device (1100), a second information processing device (1200), and an infrared output device (1070). The operating system (1001) operates a first-type apparatus (1010) operable by communication of an infrared pattern and a second-type apparatus (1020) operable via a network. The first information processing device (1100) is connected to the input receiving device (1060) and configured to analyze operation information corresponding to an input operation. The second information processing device (1200) is configured to control the second-type apparatus (1020) (controlled apparatus (B)) via the network based on a control instruction. The infrared output device (1070) is configured to output an infrared pattern corresponding to a control instruction to the first-type apparatus (1010) (controlled apparatus (A)).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Makoto IKEDA, Kousuke TSUBOI, Takao SONODA