Patents by Inventor Takeaki Maehata

Takeaki Maehata 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: 11874684
    Abstract: An operation input device to be mounted on a vehicle includes a support part to be attached to the vehicle, an operating member supported by the support part and configured to be operated by a person, an operation sensing part configured to sense an operation on the operating member, a tactile feedback generating part provided inside the operating member and configured to give tactile feedback to the person, and a control part configured to control the tactile feedback generating part to produce the tactile feedback when the operation is sensed in the operation sensing part, the operating member is provided so as to extend from the support part in a first direction intersecting the traveling direction of the vehicle, and the operating member is restricted so as not to rotate in a swing operation in which a direction intersecting the first direction serves as the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Asuka Koike, Takeaki Maehata
  • Publication number: 20240001982
    Abstract: An input device including a rotatable input unit by which it is possible to perform a plurality of types of operations is provided. The input device includes an input unit that can rotate about a rotational center shaft; an electrostatic sensor provided around the input unit; and an operation position detecting unit configured to detect, based on an output of the electrostatic sensor, a position of an operational input that is performed on the input unit or around the input unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Ryuichiro YASUHARA, Toshiyuki HOSHI, Takeaki MAEHATA, Hidemitsu KONDO, Houda MORCHID
  • Patent number: 11810738
    Abstract: An input device includes an manipulating part, a movable member fixed to the manipulating part and having a rotating shaft, a fixing member configured to rotatably support the rotating shaft so that the movable member is rotatable, a flex sensor disposed on the manipulating part and configured to detect flexing of the manipulating part, a switch disposed on the movable member or the fixing member, pressed by a rotating operation of the movable member, and configured to switch between an on state and an off state when a flexing amount of the manipulating part reaches a predetermined amount, and a signal processor configured to output a control signal, based on a first output signal of the flex sensor, and a second output signal of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Tomiyama, Takeaki Maehata, Yoshihiro Hashimoto, Yukio Miura, Kazunari Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11604488
    Abstract: An input device includes a fixed unit, a rotary member rotatably supported by the fixed unit, a rotation-detecting unit that detects a rotation angle of the rotary member, a brake-applying unit that applies a braking force to the rotary member, a torque-applying unit that applies a driving torque to the rotary member, and a control unit that controls the brake-applying unit and the torque-applying unit. The brake-applying unit includes magnetorheological fluid, a brake-applying coil that applies a magnetic field to the magnetorheological fluid, a shaft to which braking torque that changes with viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid is applied, and a transmission gear provided on the shaft and that is in mesh with a gear provided on the rotary member. The shaft is positioned on an outer side with respect to the rotary member in a radial direction of the rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Inventors: Asuka Koike, Takeaki Maehata, Ryuichiro Yasuhara, Kazunari Takahashi, Atsushi Goto
  • Publication number: 20220187865
    Abstract: An operation input device to be mounted on a vehicle includes a support part to be attached to the vehicle, an operating member supported by the support part and configured to be operated by a person, an operation sensing part configured to sense an operation on the operating member, a tactile feedback generating part provided inside the operating member and configured to give tactile feedback to the person, and a control part configured to control the tactile feedback generating part to produce the tactile feedback when the operation is sensed in the operation sensing part, the operating member is provided so as to extend from the support part in a first direction intersecting the traveling direction of the vehicle, and the operating member is restricted so as not to rotate in a swing operation in which a direction intersecting the first direction serves as the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Asuka KOIKE, Takeaki MAEHATA
  • Publication number: 20210287862
    Abstract: An input device includes an manipulating part, a movable member fixed to the manipulating part and having a rotating shaft, a fixing member configured to rotatably support the rotating shaft so that the movable member is rotatable, a flex sensor disposed on the manipulating part and configured to detect flexing of the manipulating part, a switch disposed on the movable member or the fixing member, pressed by a rotating operation of the movable member, and configured to switch between an on state and an off state when a flexing amount of the manipulating part reaches a predetermined amount, and a signal processor configured to output a control signal, based on a first output signal of the flex sensor, and a second output signal of the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro TOMIYAMA, Takeaki MAEHATA, Yoshihiro HASHIMOTO, Yukio MIURA, Kazunari TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20200326746
    Abstract: An input device includes a fixed unit, a rotary member rotatably supported by the fixed unit, a rotation-detecting unit that detects a rotation angle of the rotary member, a brake-applying unit that applies a braking force to the rotary member, a torque-applying unit that applies a driving torque to the rotary member, and a control unit that controls the brake-applying unit and the torque-applying unit. The brake-applying unit includes magnetorheological fluid, a brake-applying coil that applies a magnetic field to the magnetorheological fluid, a shaft to which braking torque that changes with viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid is applied, and a transmission gear provided on the shaft and that is in mesh with a gear provided on the rotary member. The shaft is positioned on an outer side with respect to the rotary member in a radial direction of the rotary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Asuka KOIKE, Takeaki MAEHATA, Ryuichiro YASUHARA, Kazunari TAKAHASHI, Atsushi GOTO
  • Patent number: D679841
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeaki Maehata, Takuya Nagai, Yoshihiro Someno