Patents by Inventor Toru Kasamatsu

Toru Kasamatsu 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: 10148167
    Abstract: A power supply device includes: a first transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding; a first control circuit controlling a switching operation of a switch element, and cause the primary winding to generate a first AC voltage; an application circuit receiving a second AC voltage generated in the secondary winding by mutual induction with the primary winding, and apply an output voltage according to the second AC voltage to a load; a voltage detection circuit detecting a magnitude of a DC voltage obtained by rectifying the first AC voltage or the second AC voltage; and an output circuit outputting a stop signal indicating stop of the power supply device, when a result of comparison between the magnitude of the DC voltage and a threshold value set according to a magnitude of the load satisfies a predetermined condition, after reception of an instruction to stop voltage supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Toru Kasamatsu, Mikiyuki Aoki, Kouei Cho
  • Patent number: 10133218
    Abstract: A phase control device includes: at least one switching element connected to an AC power source, the switching element being capable of: turning on and off at specified timings; delivering AC power to a load upon turn-on and cutting it off upon turn-off; and keeping an on-time from the start to the end of turn-on and an off-time from the start to the end of turn-off, the on-time and off-time being variable; a timing setting portion that sets a turn-on and turn-off timing for turning on and off the switching element; a judgment portion that judges whether or not the turn-on and turn-off timing are on at a phase within a first or second phase range; and a processor that starts turning on and off the switching element at the turn-on and turn-off timing, the processor being capable of adjusting the on-time and off-time depending on the judgment result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Junichi Masuda, Mikiyuki Aoki, Toru Kasamatsu, Masahiro Nonoyama, Akimasa Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10069425
    Abstract: A power supply device having a transformer and a control circuit for controlling a power input to the transformer in accordance with a set value of an output voltage is provided. The power supply device includes an auxiliary winding provided in the transformer and a control power supply circuit configured to rectify AC power produced in the auxiliary winding to output a control voltage for operating the control circuit. The control power supply circuit includes a smoothing capacitor which is connected between output terminals for the control voltage and is to be charged with power obtained by rectifying the AC power, and a charge thinning circuit configured to intermittently charge the smoothing capacitor so that a voltage value between both ends of the smoothing capacitor reaches a set value of the control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kouei Cho, Mikiyuki Aoki, Toru Kasamatsu
  • Publication number: 20180120742
    Abstract: A phase control device includes: at least one switching element connected to an AC power source, the switching element being capable of: turning on and off at specified timings; delivering AC power to a load upon turn-on and cutting it off upon turn-off; and keeping an on-time from the start to the end of turn-on and an off-time from the start to the end of turn-off, the on-time and off-time being variable; a timing setting portion that sets a turn-on and turn-off timing for turning on and off the switching element; a judgment portion that judges whether or not the turn-on and turn-off timing are on at a phase within a first or second phase range; and a processor that starts turning on and off the switching element at the turn-on and turn-off timing, the processor being capable of adjusting the on-time and off-time depending on the judgment result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Junichi MASUDA, Mikiyuki AOKI, Toru KASAMATSU, Masahiro NONOYAMA, Akimasa ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9927759
    Abstract: A first rectification circuit includes a bypass element connected to both ends of a rectification element. The bypass element is smaller in voltage drop amount than the rectification element. A power supply device is configured to perform switching between a first mode and a second mode based on at least one of information showing a magnitude of electric power that is being supplied to a load and information showing a magnitude of electric power that is to be supplied to the load. In the first mode, an AC voltage is rectified in a path including the rectification element. In the second mode, the AC voltage is rectified in a path including the bypass element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Toru Kasamatsu, Mikiyuki Aoki, Kouei Cho
  • Publication number: 20180026524
    Abstract: A power supply device includes: a first transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding; a first control circuit controlling a switching operation of a switch element, and cause the primary winding to generate a first AC voltage; an application circuit receiving a second AC voltage generated in the secondary winding by mutual induction with the primary winding, and apply an output voltage according to the second AC voltage to a load; a voltage detection circuit detecting a magnitude of a DC voltage obtained by rectifying the first AC voltage or the second AC voltage; and an output circuit outputting a stop signal indicating stop of the power supply device, when a result of comparison between the magnitude of the DC voltage and a threshold value set according to a magnitude of the load satisfies a predetermined condition, after reception of an instruction to stop voltage supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Toru KASAMATSU, Mikiyuki AOKI, Kouei CHO
  • Publication number: 20170271994
    Abstract: A power supply device having a transformer and a control circuit for controlling a power input to the transformer in accordance with a set value of an output voltage is provided. The power supply device includes an auxiliary winding provided in the transformer and a control power supply circuit configured to rectify AC power produced in the auxiliary winding to output a control voltage for operating the control circuit. The control power supply circuit includes a smoothing capacitor which is connected between output terminals for the control voltage and is to be charged with power obtained by rectifying the AC power, and a charge thinning circuit configured to intermittently charge the smoothing capacitor so that a voltage value between both ends of the smoothing capacitor reaches a set value of the control voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kouei Cho, Mikiyuki Aoki, Toru Kasamatsu
  • Publication number: 20170261910
    Abstract: A first rectification circuit includes a bypass element connected to both ends of a rectification element. The bypass element is smaller in voltage drop amount than the rectification element. A power supply device is configured to perform switching between a first mode and a second mode based on at least one of information showing a magnitude of electric power that is being supplied to a load and information showing a magnitude of electric power that is to be supplied to the load. In the first mode, an AC voltage is rectified in a path including the rectification element. In the second mode, the AC voltage is rectified in a path including the bypass element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Toru Kasamatsu, Mikiyuki Aoki, Kouei Cho
  • Patent number: 9645541
    Abstract: Image forming apparatus comprises an electric power supply circuit board, an electric power control unit, functional circuits, and an electrical power saving circuit. The electric power control unit executes constant voltage control, to make electrical potential of a remote sensing location constant. The functional circuits are connected with the electric power supply circuit board. The electrical power saving circuit switches the state of functional circuits between the state in which they are provided with electric power and the state in which they are not provided with electric power. The electrical power saving circuit sets the contact point of the input side of the circuit, in which the consumption electrical current or the behavior guarantee minimum electrical voltage is the largest, out of the electrical power saving circuit and functional circuits provided with electric power, as the remote sensing location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kouei Cho, Toru Kasamatsu, Mikiyuki Aoki, Yohei Yamada
  • Patent number: 9423743
    Abstract: A unit checking device is provided which checks whether a unit detachably provided to a device body is new or old. The unit checking device includes a transistor for checking provided in the unit and configured to be destructed by power supplied from the device body; and an inspection device provided in the device body and configured to determine whether or not the transistor is destructed by applying a voltage to the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yohei Yamada, Mikiyuki Aoki, Toru Kasamatsu
  • Publication number: 20160209793
    Abstract: A unit checking device is provided which checks whether a unit detachably provided to a device body is new or old. The unit checking device includes a transistor for checking provided in the unit and configured to be destructed by power supplied from the device body; and an inspection device provided in the device body and configured to determine whether or not the transistor is destructed by applying a voltage to the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yohei YAMADA, Mikiyuki AOKI, Toru KASAMATSU
  • Patent number: 9372470
    Abstract: The apparatus includes first and second terminals, an electrical conductor placed around at least the second terminal, a first current applying unit, an abnormal circumstances determining unit, a second current applying unit, and an informing unit. The first current applying unit applies current between the first terminal and the second terminal. The abnormal circumstances determining unit determines whether there is an abnormal circumstance at the connection between the apparatus and the unit side circuit, under the condition that the current is applied by the first current applying unit. The second current applying unit applies current between the first terminal and the second terminal, in case that the abnormal circumstances determining unit determined that there is not an abnormal circumstance of the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yohei Yamada, Toru Kasamatsu, Mikiyuki Aoki, Kouei Cho
  • Patent number: 9335710
    Abstract: An electric power supply control device comprises a first converter, at least one second converter, and an electrical voltage control unit. The second converter can work in intermittent oscillation, and converts outputting electrical voltage from the first converter. The electrical voltage control unit controls the outputting electrical voltage of the first converter, so that the outputting electrical voltage is equal to or less than a minimum value of upper limits of operating electrical voltage of the second converter, and is more than or equal to a maximum value of lower limits of operating electrical voltage of the second converter, and at least one of the second converter performs low electric power behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Mikiyuki Aoki, Taku Kimura, Yohei Yamada, Morio Kinoshita, Toru Kasamatsu, Kouei Cho
  • Publication number: 20160085199
    Abstract: An electric power supply control device comprises a first converter, at least one second converter, and an electrical voltage control unit. The second converter can work in intermittent oscillation, and converts outputting electrical voltage from the first converter. The electrical voltage control unit controls the outputting electrical voltage of the first converter, so that the outputting electrical voltage is equal to or less than a minimum value of upper limits of operating electrical voltage of the second converter, and is more than or equal to a maximum value of lower limits of operating electrical voltage of the second converter, and at least one of the second converter performs low electric power behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Mikiyuki AOKI, Taku KIMURA, Yohei YAMADA, Morio KINOSHITA, Toru KASAMATSU, Kouei CHO
  • Patent number: 9256188
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having image supporting members and developing devices provided for a plurality of colors respectively, and a developing bias source. The developing bias source includes DC power circuits provided for the colors respectively, an AC power circuit provided for use in common for all of the colors, and an element provided for at least one of the colors other than black. The developing bias source generates developing biases by superimposing an AC voltage output from the AC power circuit on DC voltages output from the DC power circuits and applies the developing biases to the respectively corresponding developing devices. The element maintains a constant voltage having a potential of an opposite polarity to a potential of charged toner used for the development. The developing bias source further superimposes the constant voltage on the developing bias for the at least one of the colors other than black.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Toru Kasamatsu, Mikiyuki Aoki, Yohei Yamada, Kouei Cho
  • Publication number: 20150268617
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having image supporting members and developing devices provided for a plurality of colors respectively, and a developing bias source. The developing bias source includes DC power circuits provided for the colors respectively, an AC power circuit provided for use in common for all of the colors, and an element provided for at least one of the colors other than black. The developing bias source generates developing biases by superimposing an AC voltage output from the AC power circuit on DC voltages output from the DC power circuits and applies the developing biases to the respectively corresponding developing devices. The element maintains a constant voltage having a potential of an opposite polarity to a potential of charged toner used for the development. The developing bias source further superimposes the constant voltage on the developing bias for the at least one of the colors other than black.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicants: c/o Konica Minolta, Inc., KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Toru KASAMATSU, Mikiyuki AOKI, Yohei YAMADA, Kouei CHO
  • Publication number: 20150229231
    Abstract: Image forming apparatus comprises an electric power supply circuit board, an electric power control unit, functional circuits, and an electrical power saving circuit. The electric power control unit executes constant voltage control, to make electrical potential of a remote sensing location constant. The functional circuits are connected with the electric power supply circuit board. The electrical power saving circuit switches the state of functional circuits between the state in which they are provided with electric power and the state in which they are not provided with electric power. The electrical power saving circuit sets the contact point of the input side of the circuit, in which the consumption electrical current or the behavior guarantee minimum electrical voltage is the largest, out of the electrical power saving circuit and functional circuits provided with electric power, as the remote sensing location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kouei CHO, Toru KASAMATSU, Mikiyuki AOKI, Yohei YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20150177681
    Abstract: The apparatus includes first and second terminals, an electrical conductor placed around at least the second terminal, a first current applying unit, an abnormal circumstances determining unit, a second current applying unit, and an informing unit. The first current applying unit applies current between the first terminal and the second terminal. The abnormal circumstances determining unit determines whether there is an abnormal circumstance at the connection between the apparatus and the unit side circuit, under the condition that the current is applied by the first current applying unit. The second current applying unit applies current between the first terminal and the second terminal, in case that the abnormal circumstances determining unit determined that there is not an abnormal circumstance of the connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yohei YAMADA, Toru KASAMATSU, Mikiyuki AOKI, Kouei CHO
  • Patent number: 9031444
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of heaters 56 for heating the fixing roller 52, a plurality of temperature sensors 57 for detecting the temperatures of the areas to be heated by the plurality of heaters 56 respectively, and a control unit 11 for turning on and off the plurality of heaters 56 on the basis of the temperatures detected by the plurality of temperature sensors 57. If one of the heaters 56 is on when the area to be heated by the other heater cools down to the ON temperature, the control unit 11 turns on the other heater with the same timing as the one heater is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Akinori Kimata, Yoshihito Sasamoto, Tadayuki Ueda, Toru Kasamatsu, Eiji Nishikawa, Takanobu Shiki
  • Patent number: 8941845
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which allows a user to freely select a desired image quality is provided. The control unit 60 sets a of registration set value A1 for determining a color registration error suppression level and a dropout set value A2 for determining a dropout occurrence suppression level. Also, the control unit 60 sets a differential circumferential speed which is the difference between the circumferential speed of photoreceptor drums 1Y to 1K and the circumferential speed of an intermediate transfer belt 6 on the basis of the color registration set value A1 and the dropout set value A2. Then, the control unit 60 controls the belt drive motor 61 and the drum drive motor 62 on the basis of the differential circumferential speed which is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tadayuki Ueda, Yoshihito Sasamoto, Toru Kasamatsu, Eiji Nishikawa, Satoshi Miyajima, Takanobu Shiki