Patents by Inventor Tomohiro KITAURA

Tomohiro KITAURA 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: 20260089812
    Abstract: A heating cooker includes a heating chamber and an imaging device. The heating chamber has a panel member surrounding an inner space capable of accommodating a heating object, and heats a heating object using an electromagnetic wave. The imaging device is arranged outside the heating chamber, and captures the inner space through an opening portion formed in a part of the panel member. The opening portion has a shape corresponding to a shape of a captured image captured and used by the imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2025
    Publication date: March 26, 2026
    Inventors: Mariko YACHI, Shigenori MORIMOTO, Tomohiro KITAURA
  • Publication number: 20260089814
    Abstract: A heating cooker includes a heating chamber and an imaging device. The heating chamber has a panel member surrounding an inner space capable of accommodating a heating object, and heats a heating object using an electromagnetic wave. The imaging device is arranged outside the heating chamber, and captures the inner space through an opening portion formed in a part of the panel member. The panel member includes a support frame in which the opening portion is formed, and a panel body in which a through hole communicating with the opening portion is formed and to which the support frame is fixed. The imaging device is fixed to the panel body by the support frame in a state of being integrated with the support frame interposed between them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2025
    Publication date: March 26, 2026
    Inventors: Mariko YACHI, Tomohiro Kitaura, Shigenori Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20260089815
    Abstract: A heating cooker includes a heating chamber, an imaging device, and a shutter. The heating chamber has a panel member surrounding an inner space capable of accommodating a heating object, and heats a heating object using an electromagnetic wave. The imaging device is arranged outside the heating chamber, and captures the inner space through an opening portion formed in a part of the panel member. The shutter is movable between the closed position where the shutter closes the opening portion and the open position where the shutter opens the opening portion. The shutter is electrically connected to the panel member at least when the shutter is at the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2025
    Publication date: March 26, 2026
    Inventors: Shigenori MORIMOTO, Mariko YACHI, Tomohiro KITAURA
  • Publication number: 20260089813
    Abstract: A heating cooker includes a heating chamber, first glass, and an imaging device. The heating chamber has the panel member surrounding the inner space capable of accommodating a heating object, and heats a heating object using an electromagnetic wave. The first glass closes the opening portion formed in a part of the panel member. The imaging device is arranged on the outer side of the heating chamber and captures the inner space through the first glass. A heat insulating layer is located between the first glass and the imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2025
    Publication date: March 26, 2026
    Inventors: Shigenori MORIMOTO, Mariko Yachi, Tomohiro Kitaura
  • Publication number: 20260068007
    Abstract: A heating cooker includes a heating chamber, electromagnetic wave shielding glass, and a connecting portion. The heating chamber has a panel member surrounding an inner space capable of accommodating a heating object, and heats a heating object using an electromagnetic wave. The electromagnetic wave shielding glass closes the opening portion formed in a part of the panel member. The connecting portion is located on the panel member and electrically connects a metal mesh of the electromagnetic wave shielding glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2025
    Publication date: March 5, 2026
    Inventors: Mariko YACHI, Shigenori MORIMOTO, Tomohiro KITAURA
  • Patent number: 12442535
    Abstract: A heating cooking apparatus includes a microwave supply unit (15), and a drawer portion (2). The microwave supply unit (15) is positioned below a heating cooking chamber (100A) and configured to supply microwaves (M) to the heating cooking chamber (100A). The drawer portion (2) is configured to be pulled out with respect to the heating cooking chamber (100A). The drawer portion (2) includes a placing portion (22) made of non-metal and a wall portion (20) made of metal. The placing portion (20) includes a placing surface (22A) on which an object to be heated is placed. The wall portion (20) extends in a first direction (D1) intersecting the placing surface (22A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2025
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kitaura, Shinji Asami, Masahiro Nishijima, Hiromi Suenaga, Masayuki Iwamoto, Yu Shinohara, Tsuyoshi Ootani, Kiyonori Nakamura
  • Patent number: 12339570
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus is attachable to a heating cooker that heats food. The image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit and a blower unit. The image capturing unit is configured to perform image capturing. The blower unit is supported by the heating cooker, the blower unit being freely attachable to and detachable from the heating cooker. The blower unit supports the image capturing unit and disposes the image capturing unit at a position facing the heating cooker. The blower unit is configured to generate an air current that flows through a gap between the heating cooker and the image capturing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kitaura, Kota Nakamura, Ryunosuke Makino, Yuuki Okamoto, Osamu Shimizu, Hiroshi Mizuno
  • Patent number: 12201240
    Abstract: A heating cooking apparatus includes a heating cooking chamber (100A), a first air sending unit (14), and a second air sending unit (13). The heating cooking chamber (100A) accommodates an object to be heated. The first air sending unit (14) supplies a first hot air (F1) to the heating cooking chamber (100A). The second air sending unit (13) supplies a second hot air (F2) to the heating cooking chamber (100A) from a direction different from the supply direction of the first hot air (F1) supplied by the first air sending unit (14). The heating cooking chamber (100A) includes an accommodation space (120) that accommodates an object to be heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Nishijima, Masayuki Iwamoto, Shinji Asami, Tsuyoshi Ootani, Hiromi Suenaga, Tomohiro Kitaura, Yu Shinohara
  • Patent number: 12117182
    Abstract: A heating cooking apparatus includes a heating cooking chamber (100A) and an air sending unit (14). The heating cooking chamber (100A) accommodates an object to be heated. The air sending unit (14) supplies hot air (F1) to the heating cooking chamber (100A). The air sending unit (14) includes a suction hole portion (14D) positioned on a predetermined side of the heating cooking chamber (100A) and a blow-out hole portion (14C) positioned on the predetermined side. The air sending unit (14) suctions air inside the heating cooking chamber (100A) through the suction hole portion (14D) and blows air into the heating cooking chamber (100A) through the blow-out hole portion (14C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Nishijima, Masayuki Iwamoto, Shinji Asami, Tsuyoshi Ootani, Hiromi Suenaga, Tomohiro Kitaura, Yu Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20240176216
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus is attachable to a heating cooker that heats food. The image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit and a blower unit. The image capturing unit is configured to perform image capturing. The blower unit is supported by the heating cooker, the blower unit being freely attachable to and detachable from the heating cooker. The blower unit supports the image capturing unit and disposes the image capturing unit at a position facing the heating cooker. The blower unit is configured to generate an air current that flows through a gap between the heating cooker and the image capturing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kitaura, Kota Nakamura, Ryunosuke Makino, Yuuki Okamoto, Osamu Shimizu, Hiroshi Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20230057676
    Abstract: A heating cooking apparatus includes a microwave supply unit (15), and a drawer portion (2). The microwave supply unit (15) is positioned below a heating cooking chamber (100A) and configured to supply microwaves (M) to the heating cooking chamber (100A). The drawer portion (2) is configured to be pulled out with respect to the heating cooking chamber (100A). The drawer portion (2) includes a placing portion (22) made of non-metal and a wall portion (20) made of metal. The placing portion (20) includes a placing surface (22A) on which an object to be heated is placed. The wall portion (20) extends in a first direction (D1) intersecting the placing surface (22A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Tomohiro KITAURA, SHINJI ASAMI, MASAHIRO NISHIJIMA, HIROMI SUENAGA, MASAYUKI IWAMOTO, YU SHINOHARA, TSUYOSHI OOTANI, Kiyonori NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20230048380
    Abstract: A heating cooking apparatus (1) includes a heating cooking chamber (10), a lid portion (20), and heat supply units (31), (32), and (34). The heating cooking chamber (10) includes an accommodation space 1A and an opening 11A. The opening 11A communicates with the accommodation space 1A. The lid portion (20) is configured to close the opening 11A. The lid portion (20) includes a see-through window portion (21). The see-through window portion (21) makes the accommodation space 1A visible. The see-through window portion (21) includes at least three glass plates (210). The at least three glass plates (210) include a heat-ray reflecting glass (212) that reflects heat rays, a first glass plate (213) located proximate to the accommodation space 1A, and a second glass plate (211) located opposite to the accommodation space 1A. The heat-ray reflecting glass (212) is located between a first glass plate (213) and a second glass plate (211).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: MASAYUKI IWAMOTO, SHINJI ASAMI, HIROMI SUENAGA, MASAHIRO NISHIJIMA, Tomohiro KITAURA, YU SHINOHARA, TSUYOSHI OOTANI
  • Publication number: 20230008337
    Abstract: A heating cooker includes a drawer body, a turntable, a magnetron, and a rotor. The turntable is arranged in the drawer body. The magnetron heats a to-be-heated object Hm placed on the turntable. The rotor rotates the turntable. Power of the rotor acts on a side surface of the turntable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: MASAYUKI IWAMOTO, Tomohiro KITAURA
  • Publication number: 20220325903
    Abstract: A heating cooking apparatus includes a heating cooking chamber (100A) and an air sending unit (14). The heating cooking chamber (100A) accommodates an object to be heated. The air sending unit (14) supplies hot air (F1) to the heating cooking chamber (100A). The air sending unit (14) includes a suction hole portion (14D) positioned on a predetermined side of the heating cooking chamber (100A) and a blow-out hole portion (14C) positioned on the predetermined side. The air sending unit (14) suctions air inside the heating cooking chamber (100A) through the suction hole portion (14D) and blows air into the heating cooking chamber (100A) through the blow-out hole portion (14C).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: MASAHIRO NISHIJIMA, MASAYUKI IWAMOTO, SHINJI ASAMI, TSUYOSHI OOTANI, HIROMI SUENAGA, Tomohiro KITAURA, YU SHINOHARA
  • Publication number: 20220248901
    Abstract: A heating cooking apparatus includes a heating cooking chamber (100A), a first air sending unit (14), and a second air sending unit (13). The heating cooking chamber (100A) accommodates an object to be heated. The first air sending unit (14) supplies a first hot air (F1) to the heating cooking chamber (100A). The second air sending unit (13) supplies a second hot air (F2) to the heating cooking chamber (100A) from a direction different from the supply direction of the first hot air (F1) supplied by the first air sending unit (14). The heating cooking chamber (100A) includes an accommodation space (120) that accommodates an object to be heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: MASAHIRO NISHIJIMA, MASAYUKI IWAMOTO, SHINJI ASAMI, TSUYOSHI OOTANI, HIROMI SUENAGA, Tomohiro KITAURA, YU SHINOHARA
  • Patent number: 10337744
    Abstract: A heat cooking device comprises a casing, a heating chamber, and an exhaust duct having an outlet provided on a rear edge side of an upper surface of the casing such that exhaust air from an inside of the casing is blown out forward. An upper outer wall surface of a rear surface plate of the casing is covered by the exhaust duct to form an exhaust passage between the casing and the exhaust duct. A guidance part is provided inside the exhaust passage, and guides the water infiltrating into the exhaust passage through the outlet of the exhaust duct, downward inside the exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kitaura, Yoshikazu Kitaguchi, Noriko Izumi, Mari Nishide, Junichi Takeuchi, Yasuhiko Kamii, Yoshihiro Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20160370014
    Abstract: A heat cooking device comprises a casing, a heating chamber, and an exhaust duct having an outlet provided on a rear edge side of an upper surface of the casing such that exhaust air from an inside of the casing is blown out forward. An upper outer wall surface of a rear surface plate of the casing is covered by the exhaust duct to form an exhaust passage between the casing and the exhaust duct. A guidance part is provided inside the exhaust passage, and guides the water infiltrating into the exhaust passage through the outlet of the exhaust duct, downward inside the exhaust passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro KITAURA, Yoshikazu KITAGUCHI, Noriko IZUMI, Mari NISHIDE, Junichi TAKEUCHI, Yasuhiko KAMII, Yoshihiro OKAMOTO