Patents by Inventor Tomoaki Hirai
Tomoaki Hirai 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).
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Patent number: 11908625Abstract: A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a multilayer body including stacked ceramic layers, internal conductive layers stacked on the ceramic layers, first and second main surfaces opposing each other in a height direction, first and second side surfaces opposing each other in a width direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the height direction, and first and second end surfaces opposing each other in a length direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the height direction and the width direction, and external electrodes connected to the internal conductive layers. The internal conductive layers include holes having a different area equivalent diameter. When an area equivalent diameter in which a cumulative value in a cumulative distribution of area equivalent diameters of the holes in each of the internal conductive layers becomes about 99% is defined as an area equivalent diameter D99, the area equivalent diameter D99 is about 8.0 ?m or less.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Tomoaki Hirai
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Publication number: 20220406528Abstract: A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a multilayer body including stacked ceramic layers, internal conductive layers stacked on the ceramic layers, and external electrodes each connected to the internal conductive layers. The internal conductive layers each include holes each having a different area equivalent diameter. The holes include first holes including ceramic pillars therein and second holes not including ceramic pillars therein. The ceramic pillars connect ceramic layers on sides of the internal conductive layers. When an area equivalent diameter in which a cumulative value in a cumulative distribution of area equivalent diameters of the holes existing in each of the internal conductive layers is 90% is defined as an area equivalent diameter D90, an abundance ratio of the first holes in a first population including holes each having the area equivalent diameter D90 or more is about 14% or more.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2022Publication date: December 22, 2022Inventor: Tomoaki HIRAI
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Publication number: 20220406527Abstract: A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a multilayer body including stacked ceramic layers, internal conductive layers stacked on the ceramic layers, and external electrodes each connected to the internal conductive layers. The internal conductive layers each include holes each having different shapes and area equivalent diameters. When an area equivalent diameter in which a cumulative value in a cumulative distribution of area equivalent diameters of the holes existing in each of the internal conductive layers is about 90% is defined as an area equivalent diameter D90, an average value of circularity of the holes in a first population including holes each having the area equivalent diameter D90 or more is about 0.7 or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2022Publication date: December 22, 2022Inventor: Tomoaki HIRAI
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Publication number: 20220012978Abstract: A gaming machine that provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit receives an operation of a player. The display unit displays a rotating selector device including a plurality of cells arranged in a grid. The grid has a column and a plurality of rows. A reel strip having a plurality of segments is associated with the column. Each segment has a plurality of segment symbol positions. Each segment symbol position having an associated symbol. During a game, the control unit displays and rotates the selector device and establishes a stop segment based on the timing of player input. The control unit select a symbol position of the stop segment to establish an outcome of the game.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Yuji Taniguchi
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Patent number: 10970958Abstract: A gaming machine that provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit receives an operation of a player. The display unit displays a rotating selector device including a plurality of cells arranged in a grid. The grid has a column and a plurality of rows. A reel strip having a plurality of segments is associated with the column. Each segment has a plurality of segment symbol positions. Each segment symbol position having an associated symbol. During a game, the control unit displays and rotates the selector device and establishes a stop segment based on the timing of player input. The control unit select a symbol position of the stop segment to establish an outcome of the game.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Yuji Taniguchi
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Patent number: 10726679Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a skill-based wagering game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine a processor programmed to initiate a skill contest game and display a skill contest game on a display device, and determine a number of skill events being included in the skill contest game. Each skill event includes an image being displayed in a corresponding user input button for a predefined event time period. The processor determines a reference point total as a function of the number of skill events, and determines a normalized skill game point total based on the total amount of base points and the reference point total, determines an award as a function of the normalized skill game point total, and adjusts the credit balance based on the award.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Toru Omoto
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Patent number: 10699533Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a skill-based wagering game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine includes a controller programmed to display the skill-based wagering game on a display device, receive a signal indicating a wager being received from the player, and initiate the skill-based wagering game. The controller generates a skill event associated with the skill-based wagering game and randomly selects a skill event record associated with the skill event from a database. The controller receives a player's selection input from a user input device in response to the displayed skill event, determines a player skill level value based on the received player's selection, determines an award value included in the selected skill event record based on the player skill level value; and adjusts the credit balance based on the determined award value.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2018Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Toru Omoto
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Patent number: 10497944Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell stack has a surface from which via conductors for drawing a current are exposed. Collector plates are disposed on the surfaces of the fuel cell stack so that one main surface of the collector plates faces the via conductors. Fixing plates are fixed to the collector plates. Spacers are disposed between the fuel cell stack and the fixing plates. An adhesive fixes the fixing plates to the fuel cell stack through the spacers.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignees: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., TOKYO GAS CO., LTD.Inventors: Yosuke Tomoshige, Tomoaki Hirai, Yasuhiro Sayo, Takuya Ito, Takuto Kushi, Toru Hatae
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Patent number: 10453310Abstract: A gaming system for providing a tournament skill-based game to players is described herein. The gaming system includes a plurality of gaming machines including a host gaming machine and a plurality of node gaming machines. Each of the plurality of gaming machines is configured to provide a skill-based game to a player. The host gaming machine is configured to transmit a data file to each participating node gaming machine indicating the selected musical soundtrack, the associated number of skill events, and the associated sequential display pattern. The host gaming machine is configured to transmit an initiation signal to each participating node gaming machine causing each participating node gaming machine to initiate the tournament skill game in coordination with the host gaming machine. Each participating gaming machine simultaneously conducts a round of the tournament skill game including displaying the skill events in the sequential display pattern with the selected musical soundtrack.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Toru Omoto, Shoki Kogure
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Publication number: 20190188974Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a skill-based wagering game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine includes a controller programmed to display the skill-based wagering game on a display device, receive a signal indicating a wager being received from the player, and initiate the skill-based wagering game. The controller generates a skill event associated with the skill-based wagering game and randomly selects a skill event record associated with the skill event from a database. The controller receives a player's selection input from a user input device in response to the displayed skill event, determines a player skill level value based on the received player's selection, determines an award value included in the selected skill event record based on the player skill level value; and adjusts the credit balance based on the determined award value.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2018Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Toru Omoto
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Publication number: 20190102998Abstract: A gaming system for providing a tournament skill-based game to players is described herein. The gaming system includes a plurality of gaming machines including a host gaming machine and a plurality of node gaming machines. Each of the plurality of gaming machines is configured to provide a skill-based game to a player. The host gaming machine is configured to transmit a data file to each participating node gaming machine indicating the selected musical soundtrack, the associated number of skill events, and the associated sequential display pattern. The host gaming machine is configured to transmit an initiation signal to each participating node gaming machine causing each participating node gaming machine to initiate the tournament skill game in coordination with the host gaming machine. Each participating gaming machine simultaneously conducts a round of the tournament skill game including displaying the skill events in the sequential display pattern with the selected musical soundtrack.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2017Publication date: April 4, 2019Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Toru Omoto, Shoki Kogure
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Publication number: 20190096193Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a skill-based wagering game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine a processor programmed to initiate a skill contest game and display a skill contest game on a display device, and determine a number of skill events being included in the skill contest game. Each skill event includes an image being displayed in a corresponding user input button for a predefined event time period. The processor determines a reference point total as a function of the number of skill events, and determines a normalized skill game point total based on the total amount of base points and the reference point total, determines an award as a function of the normalized skill game point total, and adjusts the credit balance based on the award.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Toru Omoto
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Patent number: 10121328Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a skill-based wagering game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine includes a controller programmed to display the skill-based wagering game on a display device, receive a signal indicating a wager being received from the player, and initiate the skill-based wagering game. The controller generates a skill event associated with the skill-based wagering game and randomly selects a skill event record associated with the skill event from a database. The controller receives a player's selection input from a user input device in response to the displayed skill event, determines a player skill level value based on the received player's selection, determines an award value included in the selected skill event record based on the player skill level value; and adjusts the credit balance based on the determined award value.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Toru Omoto
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Patent number: 10019873Abstract: A game machine is provided with a center unit which holds a lottery to select at least one option from a plurality of options by a relative movement between a roulette ring having a plurality of pockets corresponding respectively to the plurality of options and a ball and a center monitor which makes predetermined effects to a lottery in the center unit. The game machine controls the center monitor so as to make the effects when a temporal condition which is a lapse of a predetermined time after the lottery is started and a positional condition under which a JP pocket corresponding to a specific option among the plurality of options and the ball are in a predetermined positional relationship are satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2012Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.Inventors: Masato Okuaki, Tomoaki Hirai, Toru Omoto
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Publication number: 20180075692Abstract: A gaming machine that provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit receives an operation of a player. The display unit displays a rotating selector device including a plurality of cells arranged in a grid. The grid has a column and a plurality of rows. A reel strip having a plurality of segments is associated with the column. Each segment has a plurality of segment symbol positions. Each segment symbol position having an associated symbol. During a game, the control unit displays and rotates the selector device and establishes a stop segment based on the timing of player input. The control unit select a symbol position of the stop segment to establish an outcome of the game.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2016Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Yuji Taniguchi
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Publication number: 20180075707Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a skill-based wagering game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine includes a controller programmed to display the skill-based wagering game on a display device, receive a signal indicating a wager being received from the player, and initiate the skill-based wagering game. The controller generates a skill event associated with the skill-based wagering game and randomly selects a skill event record associated with the skill event from a database. The controller receives a player's selection input from a user input device in response to the displayed skill event, determines a player skill level value based on the received player's selection, determines an award value included in the selected skill event record based on the player skill level value; and adjusts the credit balance based on the determined award value.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2016Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Toru Omoto
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Publication number: 20170162879Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell stack has a surface from which via conductors for drawing a current are exposed. Collector plates are disposed on the surfaces of the fuel cell stack so that one main surface of the collector plates faces the via conductors. Fixing plates are fixed to the collector plates. Spacers are disposed between the fuel cell stack and the fixing plates. An adhesive fixes the fixing plates to the fuel cell stack through the spacers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: YOSUKE TOMOSHIGE, Tomoaki Hirai, Yasuhiro Sayo, Takuya Ito, Takuto Kushi, Toru Hatae
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Patent number: 9653739Abstract: A method for manufacturing solid oxide fuel cells, which includes preparing an electrical connection material, preparing a stacked body by stacking a plurality of power generation cells with the electrical connection material interposed therebetween, and firing the stacked body while applying pressure on the stacked body in a direction of stacking the power generation cells. The electrical connection material includes a ceramic porous layer and a ceramic dense layer stacked on the ceramic porous layer, the ceramic dense layer having a porosity lower than a porosity of the ceramic porous layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kenji Nakamura, Tomoaki Hirai
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Patent number: 9619971Abstract: A game machine includes a roulette game unit that selects at least one of pockets each of which is associated with a predetermined privilege by a lottery using motion of a ball, and uses a lottery result of the roulette game unit for provision of the predetermined privilege so that a predetermined privilege associated with a pocket selected by the roulette game unit is provided. And, the game machine stops the provision of the predetermined privilege using the lottery result of the roulette game unit when the roulette game unit satisfies a predetermined stop condition, selects at least one of ball images each of which is associated with the predetermined privilege by an electronic lottery using a video lottery screen, and provides a predetermined privilege associated with a ball image.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2012Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.Inventors: Masato Okuaki, Masao Mizoguchi, Tomoaki Hirai
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Publication number: 20160197359Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells, a metallic layer disposed between adjacent fuel cells, a first conductive material layer disposed between the metallic layer and a first fuel cell of the adjacent fuel cells so as to electrically connect the metallic layer and the first fuel cell, and a second conductive material layer disposed between the metallic layer and a second fuel cell of the adjacent fuel cells so as to electrically connect the metallic layer and the second fuel cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2016Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventors: YOSUKE TOMOSHIGE, Kimihiro Mizukami, Tomoaki Hirai