Patents by Inventor Tomoko Katsuhara

Tomoko Katsuhara 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: 11301046
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes an apparatus body, a pressure detector, and a controller. The apparatus body includes a principal surface, and a peripheral surface that is held by a user. The pressure detector is arranged on the peripheral surface, and detects a holding force that acts on the peripheral surface. The controller controls an operation of the apparatus body according to a temporal change in the holding force detected by the pressure detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Shoei, Tomoko Katsuhara, Ichirou Higuchi, Takeshi Koizumi, Norikatu Ito
  • Publication number: 20220049997
    Abstract: A pressure sensor is a pressure sensor that includes: a capacitive sensor electrode layer that includes a plurality of sensing units; a first reference electrode layer that faces a first surface of the sensor electrode layer; a second reference electrode layer that faces a second surface of the sensor electrode layer; an elastic layer disposed between the first reference electrode layer and the sensor electrode layer; and a gap layer disposed between the second reference electrode layer and the sensor electrode layer. In the pressure sensor, the sensor electrode layer, the first reference electrode layer, and the second reference electrode layer have a slit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Tomoko KATSUHARA, Kei TSUKAMOTO, Hiroshi MIZUNO, Taizo NISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20220034728
    Abstract: A sensor includes a sensor electrode layer including a capacitive sensing unit, a first reference electrode layer provided to face a first surface of the sensor electrode layer, and a first elastic layer that is provided between the first reference electrode layer and the sensor electrode layer, and is configured to be elastically deformed by shear force added in an in-plane direction. At least one of the first reference electrode layer or the first elastic layer includes a first probe portion that is displaced in an in-plane direction in accordance with elastic deformation of the first elastic layer, and changes an electrostatic capacitance of the sensing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Tomoko KATSUHARA, Yoshiaki SAKAKURA, Manami MIYAWAKI
  • Patent number: 11069328
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus according to the present technology includes a housing, a display section, a pressure-sensitive sensor, and a control section. The housing has a front surface and a sub-surface including an operation area and is capable of being held by a user. The display section is arranged on the front surface. The pressure-sensitive sensor detects a pressure value with respect to the sub-surface. The control section identifies a status that the operation area is operated by the user and a status that the operation area is held by the user on the basis of the pressure value, and executes predetermined processing on the basis of an operation by the user with respect to the operation area in a case where the status is determined that the operation area is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Munetake Ebihara, Kimihiko Kogure, Akira Fujisawa, Ken Kobayashi, Tomoko Katsuhara, Tetsuro Goto, Fumiko Shiga
  • Publication number: 20210208012
    Abstract: A sensor includes: an electrostatic-capacity-type sensor electrode layer having a plurality of sensing units; a reference electrode layer opposed to one main face of the sensor electrode layer; and a deformable layer disposed between the reference electrode layer and the sensor electrode layer, the deformable layer being to deform elastically due to application of pressure. The deformable layer is recessed between the sensing units or discontinuous between the sensing units. The reference electrode layer has a shaped portion between the sensing units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoko KATSUHARA, Hiroto KAWAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210181897
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: an exterior body; a pressure-sensitive sensor having a sensing face; and a support supporting the pressure-sensitive sensor such that inner faces the exterior body is opposed to the sensing face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoko KATSUHARA, Akira EBISUI, Taizo NISHIMURA, Ken KOBAYASHI, Tetsuro GOTO, Yoshiaki SAKAKURA, Kei TSUKAMOTO, Hayato HASEGAWA, Manami MIYAWAKI
  • Publication number: 20210109627
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor including a sensor electrode unit including: a sensing unit of a capacitance type that detects pressing; and a temperature detection sensing unit of a capacitance type provided in an area corresponding to the sensing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuro GOTO, Tomoko KATSUHARA, Akira EBISUI
  • Patent number: 10936128
    Abstract: The sensor device includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, an electrode substrate, a first support, and a second support. The first conductive layer is formed to be deformable sheet-shaped. The second conductive layer is disposed to be opposed to the first conductive layer. The electrode substrate includes multiple first electrode wires and multiple second electrode wires and is disposed to be deformable between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the multiple second electrode wires being disposed to be opposed to the multiple first electrode wires and intersecting with the multiple first electrode wires. The first support includes multiple first structures, the multiple first structures connecting the first conductive layer and the electrode substrate. The second support includes multiple second structures, the multiple second structures connecting the second conductive layer and the electrode substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroto Kawaguchi, Shogo Shinkai, Kei Tsukamoto, Tomoko Katsuhara, Hayato Hasegawa, Fumihiko Iida, Takayuki Tanaka, Tomoaki Suzuki, Taizo Nishimura, Hiroshi Mizuno, Yasuyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 10871846
    Abstract: A sensor panel includes a sensor section that detects magnetic force of a contacting surface or a region in the vicinity of the contacting surface on a basis of a change in capacitance and is allowed to output a signal depending on the change in capacitance along with information on a position where the change in capacitance has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taizo Nishimura, Hiroto Kawaguchi, Hiroshi Mizuno, Shogo Shinkai, Fumihiko Iida, Akira Ebisui, Kei Tsukamoto, Tomoko Katsuhara
  • Publication number: 20200348191
    Abstract: A sensor includes a capacitive sensor electrode layer, a reference electrode layer, and an elastic layer provided between the sensor electrode layer and the reference electrode layer. A thickness of the elastic layer is 100 ?m or less, and a weight per unit area of the elastic layer is less than 3 mg/cm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: KEN KOBAYASHI, AKIRA EBISUI, YOSHIAKI SAKAKURA, TOMOKO KATSUHARA, HAYATO HASEGAWA, MANAMI MIYAWAKI
  • Publication number: 20200225752
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes an apparatus body, a pressure detector, and a controller. The apparatus body includes a principal surface, and a peripheral surface that is held by a user. The pressure detector is arranged on the peripheral surface, and detects a holding force that acts on the peripheral surface. The controller controls an operation of the apparatus body according to a temporal change in the holding force detected by the pressure detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Akihiro SHOEI, Tomoko KATSUHARA, Ichirou HIGUCHI, Takeshi KOIZUMI, Norikatu ITO
  • Patent number: 10671180
    Abstract: Provided are an input device and an electronic apparatus each including capacitive elements and being capable of allowing a plurality of information items to be separately input by simple operations. The input device includes: a capacitive element; a conductor that can be electrostatically coupled to the capacitive element; an operation portion that allows a load to be applied to the conductor; and a retaining portion that retains the conductor apart from the capacitive element. The retaining portion is capable of displacing the conductor with respect to the capacitive element in a stepwise manner in accordance with the load that is applied to the conductor through intermediation of the operation portion, and is capable of retaining the conductor at a plurality of positions with respect to the capacitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taizo Nishimura, Hiroto Kawaguchi, Hiroshi Mizuno, Takashi Itaya, Akira Ebisui, Tomoko Katsuhara, Yoshiteru Taka
  • Publication number: 20200168182
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a technology that prevents processing from being executed against a user's intention when the user holds a housing. [Solving Means] An information processing apparatus according to the present technology includes a housing, a display section, a pressure-sensitive sensor, and a control section. The housing has a front surface and a sub-surface including an operation area and is capable of being held by a user. The display section is arranged on the front surface. The pressure-sensitive sensor detects a pressure value with respect to the sub-surface. The control section identifies a status that the operation area is operated by the user and a status that the operation area is held by the user on the basis of the pressure value, and executes predetermined processing on the basis of an operation by the user with respect to the operation area in a case where the status is determined that the operation area is operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Munetake EBIHARA, Kimihiko KOGURE, Akira FUJISAWA, Ken KOBAYASHI, Tomoko KATSUHARA, Tetsuro GOTO, Fumiko SHIGA
  • Patent number: 10627297
    Abstract: A sensor includes a base layer and a pressing unit protruding with respect to the base layer. The pressing unit includes a first structure unit and a hollow second structure unit disposed on the first structure unit and having a bottom side opened. The second structure unit has a shape portion on a surface facing the base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Ebisui, Hiroshi Mizuno, Tomoko Katsuhara, Taizo Nishimura, Yoshiaki Sakakura, Toshio Kano, Toshiyuki Onodera, Takeshi Takahashi, Toru Takahashi, Tatsuo Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20200097106
    Abstract: The sensor device includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, an electrode substrate, a first support, and a second support. The first conductive layer is formed to be deformable sheet-shaped. The second conductive layer is disposed to be opposed to the first conductive layer. The electrode substrate includes multiple first electrode wires and multiple second electrode wires and is disposed to be deformable between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the multiple second electrode wires being disposed to be opposed to the multiple first electrode wires and intersecting with the multiple first electrode wires. The first support includes multiple first structures, the multiple first structures connecting the first conductive layer and the electrode substrate. The second support includes multiple second structures, the multiple second structures connecting the second conductive layer and the electrode substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroto Kawaguchi, Shogo Shinkai, Kei Tsukamoto, Tomoko Katsuhara, Hayato Hasegawa, Fumihiko Iida, Takayuki Tanaka, Tomoaki Suzuki, Taizo Nishimura, Hiroshi Mizuno, Yasuyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 10525230
    Abstract: This sleep assistance apparatus includes a stimulation generation unit that generates stimulation, a user being capable of receiving the stimulation; a detection unit that detects biological information of the user; and a control unit that decides optimal stimulation on the basis of the detected biological information, and causes the stimulation generation unit to generate the optimal stimulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshio Goto, Tomoko Katsuhara, Yukari Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 10394339
    Abstract: A sensor is provided with a conductor layer, a sensor layer including a plurality of sensor units, and a separating layer which separates the conductor layer from the sensor layer, the sensor unit is formed of alternately arranged first and second electrode elements, and sensitivity on an outer periphery of the sensor unit is higher than the sensitivity in a central portion of the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Ebisui, Hiroto Kawaguchi, Tomoko Katsuhara, Hiroshi Mizuno, Taizo Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10316828
    Abstract: This actuator includes: a holder; a slider; a wire; and a pair of electrode units. The slider is slidably held by the holder. The wire is a member that is locked at the slider, the wire causing the slider to slide by contracting in at least a line length direction when being energized. One end of the wire is bonded to one of the electrode units, and the other end of the wire is bonded to the other of the electrode units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroto Kawaguchi, Tomoko Katsuhara, Yasuhiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10282041
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor device, including: a deformable first surface; a second surface facing the first surface; an electrode board between the first surface and the second surface, the electrode board including a plurality of capacitive elements arranged in a matrix; a support including a first support layer and a second support layer, the first support layer including a plurality of first columns, the second support layer being layered on the first support layer, the support being deformable following deformation of the first surface, the support connecting at least one of the first surface and the second surface to the electrode board; and a conductor layer supported by the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Shinkai, Hiroto Kawaguchi, Hiroshi Mizuno, Taizo Nishimura, Fumihiko Iida, Kei Tsukamoto, Hayato Hasegawa, Tomoko Katsuhara
  • Publication number: 20190107447
    Abstract: A sensor includes a base layer and a pressing unit protruding with respect to the base layer. The pressing unit includes a first structure unit and a hollow second structure unit disposed on the first structure unit and having a bottom side opened. The second structure unit has a shape portion on a surface facing the base layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: AKIRA EBISUI, HIROSHI MIZUNO, TOMOKO KATSUHARA, TAIZO NISHIMURA, YOSHIAKI SAKAKURA, TOSHIO KANO, TOSHIYUKI ONODERA, TAKESHI TAKAHASHI, TORU TAKAHASHI, TATSUO SUZUKI