Patents by Inventor Taro Tadano

Taro Tadano 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: 10546281
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and programs for billing for electric power. A billing method may include generating billing information for an amount related to electric power transmitted by a power supply device, performing a billing process based on the billing information, and selectively transmitting electric power based on the result of the billing process. A power supply device may include a billing information generating unit, a billing processing unit, and a power control unit. Another billing method may include determining whether billing information has been received, performing a billing process after it is determined that the billing information has been received, transmitting a response signal to a power supply device, and providing notice regarding information related to the billing process. A power receiving device may include a billing processing unit, a power control unit, and a notice control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sako, Taro Tadano, Takanori Washiro, Kazuyoshi Takemura, Kuniya Hayashi, Isao Soma, Kayoko Tanaka, Satoshi Higano, Kazutoshi Serita
  • Patent number: 10372088
    Abstract: There is provided a power consumption management device including a power measurement unit configured to measure power consumption of an electrical device, an environmental factor measurement unit configured to measure a factor of an environment in which the electrical device is used, a storage unit configured to store a predicted value related to the power consumption in which a value of the factor of the environment is designated as a parameter, and a calculation/control unit. The calculation/control unit obtains the predicted value related to the power consumption stored in the storage unit based on the value of the factor of the environment measured by the environmental factor measurement unit and compares the obtained predicted value related to the power consumption to an actual measurement value related to the power consumption obtained based on a power consumption value measured by the power measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sako, Takanori Washiro, Kazutoshi Serita, Taro Tadano, Kazuyoshi Takemura, Kuniya Hayashi, Kayoko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10317438
    Abstract: A signal processing system is provided and includes: a measurement apparatus that measures current and voltage which are supplied to a plurality of electric devices; and a processing apparatus that is connected to the measurement apparatus that estimates operation conditions of the respective electric devices. The measurement apparatus includes a detection unit that detects analog waveform data, a conversion unit that samples the analog waveform data and converts the sampled analog waveform data into digital waveform data, and a transmission unit that transmits the digital waveform data to the processing apparatus. The processing apparatus includes a reception unit that receives the digital waveform data, a storage unit that stores the digital waveform data, a separation unit that separates the stored digital waveform data into pieces, and an operation estimation unit that analyzes the pieces of digital waveform data and estimates the operation conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Informetis Corporation
    Inventor: Taro Tadano
  • Patent number: 10097244
    Abstract: Devices and methods for supply or receiving electric power. A power supply method may include specifying a type of a power source, specifying a power receiving capability of a power receiving device, performing collation of the specified type of the power source with the specified power receiving capability, and controlling transmission of electric power from the power source of the specified type to the power receiving device based on the collation. A power receiving method may include specifying a type of a power source, specifying a power receiving capability of a power receiving device, performing collation of the specified type of the power source with the specified power receiving capability, and controlling, based on the collation, selective conversion of electric power transmitted from the power source of the specified type to the power receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sako, Takanori Washiro, Kazuyoshi Takemura, Isao Soma, Kuniya Hayashi, Kayoko Tanaka, Taro Tadano, Satoshi Higano, Kazutoshi Serita
  • Patent number: 9880578
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power demand forecast device including: an absence detection section adapted to detect whether a consumer is absent at a given location; and a power demand forecast section adapted to forecast a power demand on a forecasted date and time in future based on an absence detection result obtained by the absence detection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Taro Tadano
  • Patent number: 9672663
    Abstract: There is provided a management apparatus for an electrical apparatus, the management apparatus including a communication unit configured to receive conduction state information from an electrical apparatus, a storage unit configured to store reference conduction state information of the electrical apparatus, and a determination unit configured to compare the conduction state information of the electrical apparatus with the reference conduction state information of the electrical apparatus to determine a state of the electrical apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sako, Taro Tadano, Kayoko Tanaka, Miki Shibuya, Kazuyoshi Takemura, Kuniya Hayashi, Isao Soma, Takahiro Suzuki, Kazutoshi Serita, Jiang Wu
  • Patent number: 9588145
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electric power management apparatus including: an electric power measurement block configured to measure an electric power consumption amount of an electric power consumer; and an electric power comparison block configured to make a comparison between an electric power consumption amount measured by the electric power measurement block and an electric power demand forecast amount indicative of a forecast amount of an electric power demand of the electric power consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryoki Honjo, Taro Tadano
  • Patent number: 9577472
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power management apparatus including: a power-demand forecasting section configured to forecast a power demand made by an electric-power demander at a future time; a power measurement section configured to acquire a power consumption of the electric-power demander for the time; a demand control section configured to determine a demand for urging the electric-power demander to adjust the amount of electric power consumed by the electric-power demander on the basis of the power demand forecasted by the power-demand forecasting section and the power consumption acquired by the power measurement section; and a demand issuance section configured to issue the demand determined by the demand control section to the electric-power demander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Junko Saito, Taro Tadano, Ryoki Honjo
  • Publication number: 20160238639
    Abstract: A signal processing system is provided and includes: a measurement apparatus that measures current and voltage which are supplied to a plurality of electric devices; and a processing apparatus that is connected to the measurement apparatus that estimates operation conditions of the respective electric devices. The measurement apparatus includes a detection unit that detects analog waveform data, a conversion unit that samples the analog waveform data and converts the sampled analog waveform data into digital waveform data, and a transmission unit that transmits the digital waveform data to the processing apparatus. The processing apparatus includes a reception unit that receives the digital waveform data, a storage unit that stores the digital waveform data, a separation unit that separates the stored digital waveform data into pieces, and an operation estimation unit that analyzes the pieces of digital waveform data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Taro TADANO
  • Publication number: 20160124022
    Abstract: A signal processing system includes a data detection part that detects analog data of a current and a voltage supplied to a plurality of electrical devices, a data conversion part that converts the analog data into digital data, a separation part that separates the digital data into individual pieces corresponding to the plurality of electrical devices, an operation estimation part that estimates status of each of electrical devices by analyzing the individual digital data, and an output part that outputs the status of each electrical device based on an estimation result from the operation estimation part to allow visual recognition, wherein the output part outputs an image indicating the status onto an area image indicating an area in which the electrical device is installed, the operation status image includes a character image displayed on the area image when the estimation result by the operation estimation part satisfies a predetermined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventor: Taro Tadano
  • Patent number: 9275354
    Abstract: A power management device includes a power demand predicting section, demand control section, demand issuing section, and acceptance receiving section. The power demand predicting section calculates a first predicted amount of power demand, representing a result of prediction of power demand of a power consumer on a date and time in a future, and a second predicted amount of power demand, being calculated after the first predicted amount of power demand, and represents a result of prediction of power demand of the consumer on the date and time in the future. The demand control section determines a demand for prompting the consumer to adjust the amount of power demand based on the first and the second predicted amounts of power demand. The demand issuing section issues the demand determined by the demand control section to the consumer. The acceptance receiving section receives acceptance of the issued demand by the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junko Saito, Taro Tadano, Ryoki Honjo
  • Publication number: 20160041575
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power demand forecast device including: an absence detection section adapted to detect whether a consumer is absent at a given location; and a power demand forecast section adapted to forecast a power demand on a forecasted date and time in future based on an absence detection result obtained by the absence detection section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Taro Tadano
  • Patent number: 9219374
    Abstract: A battery control unit includes: a storage section holding remaining amount data that indicates a remaining amount of a battery; and a control section managing the battery in a fashion of separating the battery into a first region and a second region, by a way of separating the remaining amount data into first remaining amount data and second remaining data and of allowing the storage section to hold the first and second remaining amount data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori Washiro, Taro Tadano, Kazuyoshi Takemura, Kuniya Hayashi, Kayoko Tanaka, Yoichiro Sako, Kazutoshi Serita
  • Patent number: 9135582
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power demand forecast device including: an absence detection section adapted to detect whether a consumer is absent at a given location; and a power demand forecast section adapted to forecast a power demand on a forecasted date and time in future based on an absence detection result obtained by the absence detection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Taro Tadano
  • Publication number: 20150028690
    Abstract: Devices and methods for supply or receiving electric power. A power supply method may include specifying a type of a power source, specifying a power receiving capability of a power receiving device, performing collation of the specified type of the power source with the specified power receiving capability, and controlling transmission of electric power from the power source of the specified type to the power receiving device based on the collation. A power receiving method may include specifying a type of a power source, specifying a power receiving capability of a power receiving device, performing collation of the specified type of the power source with the specified power receiving capability, and controlling, based on the collation, selective conversion of electric power transmitted from the power source of the specified type to the power receiving device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sako, Takanori Washiro, Kazuyoshi Takemura, Isao Soma, Kuniya Hayashi, Kayoko Tanaka, Taro Tadano, Satoshi Higano, Kazutoshi Serita
  • Publication number: 20150006343
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and programs for billing for electric power. A billing method may include generating billing information for an amount related to electric power transmitted by a power supply device, performing a billing process based on the billing information, and selectively transmitting electric power based on the result of the billing process. A power supply device may include a billing information generating unit, a billing processing unit, and a power control unit. Another billing method may include determining whether billing information has been received, performing a billing process after it is determined that the billing information has been received, transmitting a response signal to a power supply device, and providing notice regarding information related to the billing process. A power receiving device may include a billing processing unit, a power control unit, and a notice control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sako, Taro Tadano, Takanori Washiro, Kazuyoshi Takemura, Kuniya Hayashi, Isao Soma, Kayoko Tanaka, Satoshi Higano, Kazutoshi Serita
  • Publication number: 20140114610
    Abstract: There is provided a management apparatus for an electrical apparatus, the management apparatus including a communication unit configured to receive conduction state information from an electrical apparatus, a storage unit configured to store reference conduction state information of the electrical apparatus, and a determination unit configured to compare the conduction state information of the electrical apparatus with the reference conduction state information of the electrical apparatus to determine a state of the electrical apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro SAKO, Taro TADANO, Kayoko TANAKA, Miki SHIBUYA, Kazuyoshi TAKEMURA, Kuniya HAYASHI, Isao SOMA, Takahiro SUZUKI, Kazutoshi SERITA, Jiang WU
  • Publication number: 20140028265
    Abstract: A battery control unit includes: a storage section holding remaining amount data that indicates a remaining amount of a battery; and a control section managing the battery in a fashion of separating the battery into a first region and a second region, by a way of separating the remaining amount data into first remaining amount data and second remaining data and of allowing the storage section to hold the first and second remaining amount data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Takanori Washiro, Taro Tadano, Kazuyoshi Takemura, Kuniya Hayashi, Kayoko Tanaka, Yoichiro Sako, Kazutoshi Serita
  • Publication number: 20140018967
    Abstract: There is provided a power consumption management device including a power measurement unit configured to measure power consumption of an electrical device, an environmental factor measurement unit configured to measure a factor of an environment in which the electrical device is used, a storage unit configured to store a predicted value related to the power consumption in which a value of the factor of the environment is designated as a parameter, and a calculation/control unit. The calculation/control unit obtains the predicted value related to the power consumption stored in the storage unit based on the value of the factor of the environment measured by the environmental factor measurement unit and compares the obtained predicted value related to the power consumption to an actual measurement value related to the power consumption obtained based on a power consumption value measured by the power measurement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sako, Takanori Washiro, Kazutoshi Serita, Taro Tadano, Kazuyoshi Takemura, Kuniya Hayashi, Kayoko Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20140008994
    Abstract: There is provided a power management device including a storage unit configured to hold a correspondence relationship between first identification information held by a power supply target and second identification information held by a user in advance, and a power management unit configured to issue a power supply instruction to a power supply device that supplies power to the power supply target based on the correspondence relationship between the first identification information and the second identification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Washiro, Taro Tadano, Kazuyoshi Takemura, Kuniya Hayashi, Kayoko Tanaka, Yoichiro Sako, Kazutoshi Serita