Patents by Inventor Yoichi Yamada

Yoichi Yamada 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: 20070206973
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image bearing member on which a latent image is formed, a plurality of developing devices for developing the latent image, each of the developing devices containing developer, and a turnable turning member on which the plurality of developing devices are mounted. The turning member is caused to turn based on a turn history of the turning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Takayuki Shiraki, Tatsuro Osawa
  • Publication number: 20070189802
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: a developer moving element that moves developer in order to transfer the developer onto a medium by rotating with the developer being borne on the developer moving element; and a collector for collecting the developer that has not been transferred onto the medium and remains on the developer moving element, the collector having a scraper blade that can abut against and separate from the developer moving element and that is for scraping off the developer on the developer moving element by abutting against the developer moving element, a sealing member that can contact with and separate from the developer moving element and that is for preventing, by contacting the developer moving element, the developer from spilling outside the collector, a ventilation opening for moving air in the collector outside the collector, and a valve for adjusting an amount of air passing through the ventilation opening, and the collector being made such that when either one of the scraper blade
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Maeda, Yoichi Yamada, Mamoru Mizunokura, Takatomo Fukumoto, Fuyuto Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20070177908
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing body that is rotatable about a central axis thereof, and that bears a dot-like latent image, on a surface of the image bearing body, in each of a plurality of divided regions that are arranged in rows along a direction that intersects an axial direction of the central axis at a predetermined intersection angle; and a developer bearing roller that is rotatable in order to make visible, as a developer image, the dot-like latent images borne by the image bearing body, using a developer borne on a surface of the developer bearing roller, the developer bearing roller opposing the image bearing body such that an axial direction of the developer bearing roller is parallel to the axial direction of the image bearing body, and that includes a helical groove portion on the surface of the developer bearing roller, the helical groove portion being inclined at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the axial direction of the developer bearing roller and bein
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro ARUGA, Yoichi YAMADA, Noboru SAKURAI, Takatomo FUKUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20070167203
    Abstract: A first collision determination area and a second collision determination area moving concurrently with a motion of a player character are set, and a collision of the first or second collision determination area against an object is detected. Each time a collision of the first collision determination area against an object is detected, an influence to be exerted on the object which has collided against the first collision determination area is determined as being one of a plurality of preset influences at a predetermined probability. Each time a collision of the second collision determination area against an object is detected, an influence to be exerted on the object which has collided against the second collision determination area is determined as being a predetermined influence. The display state of each object is changed to a display state in accordance with the respectively determined influence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Hideya Akasaka, Masaaki Tatsumi
  • Publication number: 20070147860
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is operable to form an image on a recording medium. An image carrier is adapted such that a toner image is formed thereon by developing an electrostatic latent image. An intermediate transfer member is adapted such that the toner image is primarily transferred thereto. In a transfer device, a roller member is adapted to come in contact with the intermediate transfer member. A first bias voltage applier is operable to provide a transfer voltage, thereby applying a first bias voltage between the roller member and the intermediate transfer member to secondarily transfer the toner image onto the recording medium in order to obtain the image. A charge eliminator is disposed in the vicinity of the roller member. A second bias voltage applier is operable to apply a second bias voltage to the charge eliminator to eliminate charges on the recording medium which has been subjected to the application of the first bias voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikio Furumizu, Masahiro Maeda, Yoichi Yamada, Takatomo Fukumoto
  • Publication number: 20070147906
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a developing agent carrier of a hollow or solid cylindrical shape having an outer peripheral surface and an irregularity section formed on the outer peripheral surface to carry a developing agent is provided. The method comprises a step of preparing a base material of a hollow or solid cylindrical shape which is to become the developing agent carrier, the base material having an outer peripheral surface; and a step of forming the irregularity section by pressing dice for formation of the irregularity section against the outer peripheral surface of the base material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noboru SAKURAI, Yoichi YAMADA, Junichi NAKAHARA, Masanao KUNUGI, Tomohiro ARUGA, Katsumi OKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 7233757
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus has a plurality of developing devices. Each developing device has developer that includes a predetermined ratio, in volume of developer particles having a diameter of a predetermined value or less, with respect to an entire volume of toner. Each developing device is capable of developing a latent image using the developer. A color image is formed by successively performing development operations so as to superimpose different kinds of developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Takayuki Shiraki, Tatsuro Osawa
  • Patent number: 7229349
    Abstract: A multi-player game system includes number-of-players detection means for detecting the number of players participating in the game; primary game field data storage means for storing primary game field data; secondary game field data storage means for storing at least two units of secondary game field data 150, such that each unit of secondary game field data is associated with a different number of participating players; secondary game field data selection means for selecting, in accordance with the number of participating players as detected by the number-of-players detection means, one of the at least two units of secondary game field data from the secondary game field data storage means; game field generation means for combining the primary game field data with the secondary game field data to generate a game field. A plurality of players are allowed to play a game on the generated game field. Thus, in a multi-player game, it is possible to vary data concerning the game field, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20070116326
    Abstract: A video game device calculates an angle of an object 71, etc., with respect to a reference direction in a three-dimensional space. Then, the video game device defines a virtual cylindrical model for each of a plurality of objects so that a bottom surface of each cylindrical model is perpendicular to the reference direction. The video game device defines a plurality of cylindrical models for a predetermined object if the inclination of the predetermined object with respect to the reference direction is greater than a predetermined angle. Then, the video game device determines whether or not the defined cylindrical models have an overlap therebetween. Then, if two cylindrical models are determined to be overlapping with each other, the video game device gives a predetermined change to the two objects in response to the collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.,
    Inventors: Eiji Aonuma, Yoichi Yamada, Hajime Nakamura, Hiroshi Umemiya
  • Publication number: 20070110481
    Abstract: A developing device includes a toner particle-bearing roller that bears toner particles on its surface and develops a latent image borne by an image-bearing member with those toner particles, the toner particle-bearing roller has a projection portion disposed on its surface, the projection portion having a top surface having a flat portion, and a width of the top surface being equal to or more than a volume average particle diameter of the toner particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi YAMADA, Tomohiro ARUGA, Noboru SAKURAI, Katsumi OKAMOTO, Hiroshi KATO, Masanao KUNUGI, Takatomo FUKUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20070110484
    Abstract: A developing device includes a container that contains toner particles that are for developing a latent image borne by an image bearing body, and a toner-particle bearing roller that has a helical groove portion on a surface thereof that is for bearing the toner particles, the helical groove portion having an inclination with respect to an axial direction and a circumferential direction of the toner-particle bearing roller and being formed having a uniform pitch in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi YAMADA, Tomohiro ARUGA, Noboru SAKURAI, Masanao KUNUGI, Katsumi OKAMOTO, Hiroshi KATO
  • Publication number: 20070091083
    Abstract: An area, in a virtual game world, for arranging a plurality of objects and a minimum allowed distance between objects to be arranged therein are set. A position of an object is changed for temporarily arranging the object to an arbitrary position in the area set in the virtual game world until arrangement of the object is finalized, and the distance between the temporarily arranged object and an object whose arrangement in the area is completed is calculated. When the calculated distance is equal to or greater than the minimum allowed distance, arrangement of the temporarily arranged object is finalized and a plurality of objects whose arrangement is finalized are displayed on a display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Koji Kitagawa, Shinko Takeshita, Kazuaki Morita
  • Publication number: 20070060234
    Abstract: In an attack operation receiving step, an input of an operation for attacking an enemy object is received. In a determination step, when the input of the operation for attacking is received, it is determined whether or not a body strength value of the enemy object is within a predetermined range. When it is determined that the body strength value of the enemy object is within the predetermined range, a setting step of setting the enemy object to substantially the same state as where the body strength value of the enemy object is zero, regardless of the degree of damage caused by the attack motion, is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Yoshiyuki Oyama, Keisuke Nishimori, Kazuaki Morita
  • Patent number: 7190923
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus with an image bearing member on which a latent image is formed, with a plurality of developing devices for developing the latent image, each of the developing devices containing developer, and with a turnable turning member on which the plurality of developing devices are mounted. The turning member is caused to turn based on a turn history of the turning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Takayuki Shiraki, Tatsuro Osawa
  • Publication number: 20070047982
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image bearing member on which a latent image is formed, a plurality of developing devices for developing the latent image, each of the developing devices containing developer, and a turnable turning member on which the plurality of developing devices are mounted. The turning member is caused to turn based on a turn history of the turning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Takayuki Shiraki, Tatsuro Osawa
  • Publication number: 20060239698
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a rotatable rotating body to and from which a plurality of developer containers can be attached and detached, each of the developer containers being capable of containing developer of a different color. When the image forming apparatus continuously forms images on a plurality of number of sheets of media using the developer of a single color contained in one of the developer containers attached to the rotating body, the image forming apparatus causes rotational movement of the rotating body at least once at least either when the image forming apparatus starts to continuously form the images, or when the image forming apparatus ends the continuous formation of the images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Keiichi Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7123863
    Abstract: A development rotary unit is made loadable with a development cartridge having no conditioning fin and containing a black toner in addition to a development cartridge containing a black toner and having a conditioning fin for agitating and re-supplying the toner contained therein. In the case of formation of an image which necessitates an operation of re-supplying a toner by rotating the development rotary unit in order to form it with the development cartridge, the formation of the image is started by moving the development cartridge to the developing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Ken Ikuma
  • Publication number: 20060210314
    Abstract: A development rotary unit is made loadable with a development cartridge having no conditioning fin and containing a black toner in addition to a development cartridge containing a black toner and having a conditioning fin for agitating and re-supplying the toner contained therein. In the case of formation of an image which necessitates an operation of re-supplying a toner by rotating the development rotary unit in order to form it with the development cartridge, the formation of the image is started by moving the development cartridge to the developing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Ken Ikuma
  • Publication number: 20060181968
    Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided to obtain editing effects using an optical disc in the same sense as an analog record disc is manipulated. An audio editing apparatus for playing back an optical disc such as a CD is provided with a rotatable jog dial, detecting device for detecting the amount of rotation of the jog dial, and sensing device for sensing the presence or absence of a pressing force on the jog dial. When the jog dial is rotated while being depressed with a predetermined pressing force, processing for providing sound effects is performed on the playback data to be played back from the optical disc in response to the amount of rotation detected by the detecting device. It is thereby possible to provide the same feeling of operation as provided by rotating an analog record disc through hand operations to produce playback sounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Tomohiko Kimura, Koichiro Sakata, Takeaki Funada, Hiroyuki Isobe, Junichi Takagaki, Tetsuya Kikuchi, Gen Inoshita, Ko Atsumi
  • Patent number: 7085520
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a rotatable rotating body to and from which a plurality of developer containers can be attached and detached, each of the developer containers being capable of containing developer of a different color. When the image forming apparatus continuously forms images on a plurality of number of sheets of media using the developer of a single color contained in one of the developer containers attached to the rotating body, the image forming apparatus causes rotational movement of the rotating body at least once at least either when the image forming apparatus starts to continuously form the images, or when the image forming apparatus ends the continuous formation of the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Keiichi Taguchi