Patents by Inventor Toshimi Fukuoka

Toshimi Fukuoka 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: 9357313
    Abstract: A microphone unit includes a microphone substrate. A plurality of diaphragm units are disposed on the microphone substrate. Each of the diaphragm units includes a diaphragm. A plurality of partition walls are disposed on the microphone substrate. Each of the partition walls surrounds the diaphragm so as to define a first area. A signal processor is disposed at a second area outside the first area and is configured to process signals output from the diaphragm units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Takeshi Inoda, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 9190145
    Abstract: In a drive method for a memory element that includes an insulating substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode provided on the insulating substrate, and an inter-electrode gap portion provided between the first electrode and the second electrode and having a gap of the order of nanometers where a phenomenon of a change in resistance value between the first and second electrodes occurs, and that can perform a transition from a predetermined low-resistance state to a predetermined high-resistance state and a transition from the high-resistance state to the low-resistance state, a current pulse is applied to the memory element by a constant current circuit upon the transition from the high-resistance state to the low-resistance state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignees: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Yuichiro Masuda, Shigeo Furuta, Touru Sumiya, Masatoshi Ono, Yutaka Hayashi, Toshimi Fukuoka, Tetsuo Shimizu, Kumaragurubaran Somu, Hiroshi Suga, Yasuhisa Naitou
  • Patent number: 9135990
    Abstract: A memory element includes an insulating substrate; a first electrode and a second electrode on the insulating substrate; and an inter-electrode gap portion that causes a change in resistance value between the first and second electrodes. Applied to the memory element from a pulse generating source is a first voltage pulse for shifting from a predetermined low-resistance state to a predetermined high-resistance state, and a second voltage pulse for shifting from the high-resistance state to the low-resistance state through a series-connected resistor, by which current flowing to the memory element after the change to a low resistance value is reduced. When shifting from the high to the low-resistance state, a voltage pulse is applied such that an electrical resistance between the pulse generating source and the memory element becomes higher than the electrical resistance shifting from the low to the high-resistance state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignees: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Yuichiro Masuda, Shigeo Furuta, Touru Sumiya, Masatoshi Ono, Yutaka Hayashi, Toshimi Fukuoka, Tetsuo Shimizu, Kumaragurubaran Somu, Hiroshi Suga, Yasuhisa Naitou
  • Patent number: 9025794
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a circuit board (1200?), the circuit board including a first diaphragm (714-1) that forms a first microphone, a second diaphragm (714-2) that forms a second microphone, and a differential signal generation circuit (720) that receives a first voltage signal obtained by the first microphone and a second voltage signal obtained by the second microphone, and generates a differential signal that indicates a difference between the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Shigeo Maeda, Fuminori Tanaka, Takeshi Inoda, Hideki Choji
  • Patent number: 8948432
    Abstract: A microphone unit includes a case; a diaphragm arranged inside the case; and an electric circuit unit that processes an electric signal generated in accordance with vibration of the diaphragm. The case has a first sound introducing space that introduces a sound from outside of the case to a first surface of the diaphragm via a first sound hole; and a second sound introducing space that introduces a sound from outside of the case to a second diaphragm, via a second sound hole. A resonance frequency of the diaphragm is set in the range of ±4 kHz based on the resonance frequency of at least one of the first sound introducing space and the second sound introducing space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Takeshi Inoda, Masatoshi Ono, Rikuo Takano, Toshimi Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 8824698
    Abstract: There is provided an integrated circuit device having a wiring board 1200?, the wiring board 1200? including: a first vibrating membrane 714-1 which forms a first microphone; a second vibrating membrane 714-2 which forms a second microphone; and a differential signal generating circuit 720 which receives a first voltage signal obtained in the first microphone and a second voltage signal obtained in the second microphone and generates a differential signal indicating a difference between the first and second voltage signals, and a voice input device and an information processing system including the same. Accordingly, it is possible to realize a voice input element having a small size and a noise removal function with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Takeshi Inoda
  • Patent number: 8774429
    Abstract: A voice input device, a method for manufacturing the same, and an information processing system are provided. The voice input device has a function of removing a noise component and includes a first microphone 710-1 that includes a first vibrating membrane, a second microphone 710-2 that includes a second vibrating membrane, and a differential signal generation section 720 that generates a differential signal between a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal. The first and second vibrating membranes are disposed so that a noise intensity ratio is smaller than an input voice intensity ratio that represents the ratio to intensity of an input voice component. The differential signal generation section 720 includes a delay section 730 and a differential signal output section 740 that generates and outputs a differential signal with respect to a signal to which a delay is applied by the delay section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Takeshi Inoda
  • Patent number: 8731693
    Abstract: A voice input device includes a first microphone (710-1) that includes a first diaphragm, a second microphone (710-2) that includes a second diaphragm, and a differential signal generation section (720) that generates a differential signal that indicates a difference between a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm being disposed so that a noise intensity ratio is smaller than an input voice intensity ratio (input voice component intensity ratio), and the differential signal generation section (720) including a gain section (760) that amplifies the first voltage signal by a predetermined gain, and a differential signal output section (740) that generates and outputs a differential signal that indicates a difference between the first voltage signal amplified by the gain section and the second voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Shigeo Maeda, Fuminori Tanaka, Takeshi Inoda, Hideki Choji
  • Patent number: 8649545
    Abstract: To provide a downsized microphone unit in which a differential microphone is densely mounted thereon. The microphone unit has a cover portion 30 and a microphone substrate 10, in which a first substrate internal space 15 is communicated with a cover portion internal space 32 via a first substrate opening 11 and a cover portion opening 31, and is communicated with the outside via a second substrate opening 12, a second substrate internal space 16 is communicated with the cover portion internal space 32 via a third substrate opening 13 and a cover portion opening 31, and is communicated with the outside via a fourth substrate opening 14, a partition portion 20 covers a communication aperture between the first substrate opening 11 and the cover portion opening 31, and a diaphragm 22 covers at least a part of the communication aperture between the first substrate opening 11 and the cover portion opening 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co. Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Takeshi Inoda, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 8638955
    Abstract: A voice input device includes a first microphone (710-1) that includes a first diaphragm, a second microphone (710-2) that includes a second diaphragm, and a differential signal generation section (720) that generates a differential signal that indicates a difference between a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm being disposed so that a noise intensity ratio is smaller than an input voice intensity ratio (input voice component intensity ratio), and the differential signal generation section (720) including a delay section (730), and a differential signal output section (740) that generates and outputs a differential signal based on a signal delayed by the delay section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Shigeo Maeda, Takeshi Inoda, Hideki Choji
  • Patent number: 8605930
    Abstract: A microphone unit 1 of the present invention includes a case 10 having an internal space 100, a partition member 20 which is provided in the case, and at least partially composed of a vibrating membrane 30, that splits the internal space into a first space 102 and a second space 104, and an electrical signal output circuit 40 that outputs an electrical signal on the basis of vibration of the vibrating membrane. A first through hole 12 through which the first space 102 and an external space of the case are communicated with each other, and a second through hole 14 through which the second space 104 and the external space of the case are communicated with each other are formed in the case 10. In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to provide a high-quality microphone unit whose outer shape is small and which is capable of performing thorough noise cancellation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Hideki Chouji, Takeshi Inoda
  • Patent number: 8565465
    Abstract: Provided is a microphone unit having flat frequency characteristics. A microphone unit includes a casing, a first substrate, a second substrate, a vibrating unit, a diaphragm, an ASIC, and a dummy component. The dummy component is attached to the substrate to be located below an opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 8526656
    Abstract: A microphone unit includes: a housing; a diaphragm which is disposed in the inside of the housing; and an electric circuit portion which processes an electric signal that is generated based on a vibration of the diaphragm. In the housing, a first sound guide space which guides a sound outside the housing to a first surface of the diaphragm via a first sound hole and a second sound guide space which guides a sound outside the housing to a second surface, that is, an opposite surface of the diaphragm via a second sound hole are formed. The electric circuit portion is disposed in either one of the first sound guide space and the second sound guide space; and an acoustic resistance portion which adjusts at least one of a frequency characteristic of the first sound guide space and a frequency characteristic of the second sound guide space is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Takeshi Inoda, Masatoshi Ono, Rikuo Takano, Toshimi Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 8526095
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochromic display device comprising: a first and a second substrates; a first and a second electrodes; and an electrochromic composition layer, wherein the device is of a passive matrix drive where the a display and an erasion are performed by an energization in reverse directions between the electrodes, the first and the second electrodes respectively comprise a plurality of electrodes, a pixel is formed where the electrodes are in a grade separated crossing, and the display is performed by voltage application processing where: (i) the first electrode is set as negative, and the second electrode is set as positive, to apply a voltage of a first potential difference, immediately followed by (ii) the first electrode being set as positive, and the second electrode being set as negative, to apply a voltage of a second potential difference equal to or more than the first potential difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Tokai University Educational System, Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimi Fukuoka, Wu Weng, Tetsuya Higuchi, Masao Suzuki, Rikuo Takano, Makoto Omodani
  • Publication number: 20130170285
    Abstract: In a drive method for a memory element that includes an insulating substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode provided on the insulating substrate, and an inter-electrode gap portion provided between the first electrode and the second electrode and having a gap of the order of nanometers where a phenomenon of a change in resistance value between the first and second electrodes occurs, and that can perform a transition from a predetermined low-resistance state to a predetermined high-resistance state and a transition from the high-resistance state to the low-resistance state, a current pulse is applied to the memory element by a constant current circuit upon the transition from the high-resistance state to the low-resistance state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicants: National Institute of Advance Industrial Science and Technology, Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Yuichiro Masuda, Shigeo Furuta, Touru Sumiya, Masatoshi Ono, Yutaka Hayashi, Toshimi Fukuoka, Tetsuo Shimizu, Kumaragurubaran Somu, Hiroshi Suga, Yasuhisa Naitou
  • Patent number: 8472656
    Abstract: A microphone unit includes: a housing which has an inner space; a partition member which is provided in the housing and divides the inner space into a first space and a second space, the partition member being at least partially formed of a diaphragm; and an electrical signal output circuit which outputs an electrical signal based on vibrations of the diaphragm. In the housing, a first through-hole through which the first space communicates with an outer space of the housing and a second through-hole through which the second space communicates with the outer space are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Hideki Choji, Takeshi Inoda
  • Publication number: 20130155757
    Abstract: A memory element includes an insulating substrate; a first electrode and a second electrode on the insulating substrate; and an inter-electrode gap portion that causes a change in resistance value between the first and second electrodes. Applied to the memory element from a pulse generating source is a first voltage pulse for shifting from a predetermined low-resistance state to a predetermined high-resistance state, and a second voltage pulse for shifting from the high-resistance state to the low-resistance state through a series-connected resistor, by which current flowing to the memory element after the change to a low resistance value is reduced. When shifting from the high to the low-resistance state, a voltage pulse is applied such that an electrical resistance between the pulse generating source and the memory element becomes higher than the electrical resistance shifting from the low to the high-resistance state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicants: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Yuichiro Masuda, Shigeo Furuta, Touru Sumiya, Masatoshi Ono, Yutaka Hayashi, Toshimi Fukuoka, Tetsuo Shimizu, Kumaragurubaran Somu, Hiroshi Suga, Yasuhisa Naitou
  • Patent number: 8467119
    Abstract: An electrochromic display device including: a first substrate; first electrodes parallely extending on the first substrate; a second substrate opposite to the first substrate; second electrodes parallely extending in a direction orthogonal to the first electrodes on the second substrate; and an electrochromic composition layer between the substrates, wherein the device is passive-matrix driven to perform a display by energization between the electrodes, and to perform erasing of the display by energization in a reverse direction, a pixel is formed in a portion where the first electrodes sterically intersect with the second electrodes, and metal electrical wires extending over the regions between the second electrodes and the second substrate along the second electrodes, each of metal electrical wires being conductively connected to each of the second electrodes corresponding to any one of the regions, and insulated from each of the second electrodes corresponding to the other regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wu Weng, Toshimi Fukuoka, Tetsuya Higuchi, Masao Suzuki, Masatoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 8457342
    Abstract: A differential microphone includes a housing having a first space and a second space formed therein, and a first diaphragm arranged within the housing. A first opening connecting the first space to outside and a second opening connecting the second space to the outside are formed in the housing. A dimension of the first opening and the second opening in a first direction perpendicular to a straight line passing through centers of both openings is longer than a dimension of the first opening and the second opening in a second direction parallel to the straight line passing through the centers of both openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Takeshi Inoda, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 8446660
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochromic display device, including, a first substrate, first electrodes provided on an upper surface of the first substrate, a second substrate provided to be opposed to the first substrate above the first substrate, the second substrate being formed of a transparent material, second electrodes provided on an undersurface of the second substrate, at least a part of the second electrodes being formed of a transparent electrode material, and an electrochromic composition layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. The electrochromic composition layer contains an electrochromic composition including a supporting electrolyte, a polar solvent, a leuco dye, a hydroquinone derivative and/or a catechol derivative, a ferrocene derivative, and a compound having a carbonyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Suzuki, Tetsuya Higuchi, Wu Weng, Toshimi Fukuoka