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: 8433089
    Abstract: A microphone unit is disposed in the inside of a first housing of a voice input apparatus. The microphone unit includes: a second housing; a diaphragm which is disposed in the inside of the second housing; and an electric circuit portion which processes an electric signal that is generated based on a vibration of the diaphragm. In the voice input apparatus, a first sound guide space which guides a sound outside the first housing to a first surface of the diaphragm and a second sound guide space which guides a sound outside the first housing to a second surface of the diaphragm 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: April 30, 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: 8280092
    Abstract: A voice sound input apparatus, adapted to be inputted a sound and configured to output sound data, includes: a display unit; a first microphone, related to a first sound hole; a second microphone, related to a second sound hole; a signal processing unit; and a microphone holding unit, formed with the first sound hole, and adapted to extend toward a sound source predicted position; wherein a distance between the first sound hole and the second sound hole is a distance that a phase component of a sound strength ratio is lower than or equal to 0 dB, the sound strength ratio being a ratio between a strength of a sound component contained in differential sound pressure of sounds entered to the first sound hole and the second sound hole and a strength of sound pressure of the sound entered to the first sound hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Rikuo Takano, Toshimi Fukuoka, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8249273
    Abstract: A sound input device includes a differential microphone, configured to receive sound including noise, and generate a first signal in accordance with the sound; a detector, configured to detect the noise, and generate a second signal in accordance with the detected noise; and a controller, configured to control at least one of suppression of high-frequency components of the first signal and changing of a frequency band to be suppressed of the first signal based on the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Shigeo Maeda, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Publication number: 20120201410
    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: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicants: 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 CHOJI, Takeshi INODA
  • Patent number: 8218796
    Abstract: A microphone unit includes a substrate. The substrate includes a first face formed with a first recess, a second face opposite to the first face, and a through hole communicating the second face to a bottom part of the first recess. A diaphragm unit includes a diaphragm, and at least a part of which is disposed in the first recess so that the diaphragm opposes the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Takeshi Inoda, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 8180082
    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 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    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
  • Patent number: 8155707
    Abstract: A voice input-output device includes a voice input section and a voice output section. The voice input section includes a microphone unit, the microphone unit including a housing that has an inner space, a partition member that 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 that outputs an electrical signal that is the first voice signal based on vibrations of the diaphragm, 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 being formed in the housing. The voice output section includes: an ambient noise detection section that detects ambient noise during a call based on the first voice signal; and a volume control section that controls volume of the speaker based on a degree of the detected ambient noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    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
  • Patent number: 8150086
    Abstract: A voice sound input apparatus, adapted to be inputted a sound and output sound data, includes: a first microphone, related to a first sound hole; a second microphone, related to a second sound hole; a signal processing unit, configured to perform a signal processing; and a wireless transmission unit, configured to transmit the sound data based on an output signal of the signal processing unit, wherein a distance between the first sound hole and the second sound hole is a distance that a phase component of a sound strength ratio is lower than or equal to 0 dB, the sound strength ratio being a ratio between a strength of a sound component contained in differential sound pressure of sounds entered to the first sound hole and the second sound hole and a strength of sound pressure of the sound entered to the first sound hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Rikuo Takano, Toshimi Fukuoka, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8135144
    Abstract: A microphone system, includes: a housing, adapted to be placed in a reference position relative to a sound source; a first microphone, configured to receive sound from the sound source at a first position within the housing; a second microphone, configured to receive sound from the sound source at a second position within the housing; and a differential signal generator, wherein: the first and second positions are arranged on a first line; and the first line perpendicularly intersects a second line that is extended from the sound source at a third position which is not between the first and second positions, and obliquely intersects a third line that is extended from the sound source at a fourth position which is between the first and second positions, when the housing is placed at the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Ryusuke Horibe, Shigeo Maeda, Fuminori Tanaka, Toshimi Fukuoka
  • Publication number: 20120026572
    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: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicants: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Wu WENG, Toshimi Fukuoka, Tetsuya Higuchi, Masao Suzuki, Masatoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 8098853
    Abstract: A microphone unit includes: a partition member, including a vibration film configured to be vibrated by sound; a housing, defining an inner space, and formed with a first opening and a second opening, the inner space being divided into a first space and a second space by the partition member, the first space adapted to be communicated with an outer space via the first opening, and the second space adapted to be communicated with the outer space via the second opening; and a shutter, configured to close one of the first and second openings; and an amplifier, configured to: amplify an electric signal at a first gain when the shutter closes the one of the first and second openings; and amplify the electric signal at a second gain that is larger than the first gain when first and second openings are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Shigeo Maeda, Takeshi Inoda, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Publication number: 20110235841
    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: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicants: 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
  • Publication number: 20110195745
    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: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicants: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 7995262
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochromic display device comprising: a first substrate; a first electrode; a second substrate; a second electrode; and an electrochromic composition layer, wherein the device is of a passive matrix drive where the device performs a display by an energization between the electrodes, and performs a erasion of the display, wherein the first electrode comprises electrodes, the second electrode comprises a plurality of transparent display electrodes, a pixel is formed where the electrodes are in a grade separated crossing, at least a surface of the electrodes is respectively oxidized, the electrochromic composition layer comprising (i) insulative partition walls and (ii) an electrochromic composition including a supporting electrolyte, a polar solvent, and a leuco dye, and wherein the device displays a selected pixel by applying a voltage of a first potential difference, and applies the voltage of a second potential difference so as not to cause any energization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Higuchi, Masao Suzuki, Toshimi Fukuoka, Wu Weng
  • Publication number: 20110176698
    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: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Takeshi Inoda, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Publication number: 20110176690
    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: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Takeshi Inoda
  • Publication number: 20110172996
    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 that represents a difference 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicants: 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, Takeshi Inoda
  • Publication number: 20110170726
    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: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Hideki Chouji, Takeshi Inoda
  • Publication number: 20110158454
    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: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Takeshi Inoda
  • Publication number: 20110158450
    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: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicants: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Takeshi Inoda, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono