Patents by Inventor Yoshihiro Natsume

Yoshihiro Natsume 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: 11480447
    Abstract: A fader device includes a conductive shaft, a conductive moving body, and a conductive portion. The conductive moving body is movable in the longitudinal direction of the shaft and includes a gap between it and the conductive shaft. The conductive portion brings the shaft and the moving body into electrical continuity. A signal generation portion generates a touch sense signal. A detection portion detects contact with the conductive moving body based on a signal output according to a capacitance generated between the conductive shaft and the conductive moving body in response to the touch sense signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Natsume, Yoshihiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20210239495
    Abstract: A fader device includes a conductive shaft, a conductive moving body, and a conductive portion. The conductive moving body is movable in the longitudinal direction of the shaft and includes a gap between it and the conductive shaft. The conductive portion brings the shaft and the moving body into electrical continuity. A signal generation portion generates a touch sense signal. A detection portion detects contact with the conductive moving body based on a signal output according to a capacitance generated between the conductive shaft and the conductive moving body in response to the touch sense signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Yoshihiro NATSUME, Yoshihiro SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 11002570
    Abstract: A fixed element is provided to be used in a position detection device for detecting a position of a movable element that moves on the fixed element. The fixed element includes a substrate, a plurality of first electrodes and a second electrode. The substrate has as first surface, a second surface and a low-dielectric constant area. The second surface faces in an opposite direction to the first surface. The low-dielectric constant area has a lower-dielectric constant than other portions of the substrate. The first electrodes are disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The first electrodes include three or more phases arranged one-dimensionally in a repeating pattern in a movement direction of the movable element. The second electrode is disposed on the first surface of the substrate and is arranged in the movement direction of the movable element adjacent the first electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku Ueda, Yoshihiro Suzuki, Yoshikatsu Matsubara, Yoshihiro Natsume, Hisakazu Kato
  • Patent number: 10768021
    Abstract: A position detection device includes a fixed element, a movable element, a plurality of first electrodes, a second electrode, a third electrode and a first detection circuit. The movable element is movable relative to the fixed element. The first electrodes are arranged on either the fixed element or the movable element, and the second electrode is on the other of the movable element or the fixed element. The first electrodes include two or more phases with electrical signals having mutually different phases. The third electrode is provided on the fixed element and opposing the electrode that is on the movable element while the movable element is in a prescribed position. The first detection circuit detects when the movable element is in the prescribed position based on electrical signals generated in the second and third electrodes in accordance with the electrical signals supplied to the first electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku Ueda, Yoshihiro Suzuki, Yoshihiro Natsume
  • Publication number: 20190025092
    Abstract: A position detection device includes a fixed element, a movable element, a plurality of first electrodes, a second electrode, a third electrode and a first detection circuit. The movable element is movable relative to the fixed element. The first electrodes are arranged on either the fixed element or the movable element, and the second electrode is on the other of the movable element or the fixed element. The first electrodes include two or more phases with electrical signals having mutually different phases. The third electrode is provided on the fixed element and opposing the electrode that is on the movable element while the movable element is in a prescribed position. The first detection circuit detects when the movable element is in the prescribed position based on electrical signals generated in the second and third electrodes in accordance with the electrical signals supplied to the first electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Taku UEDA, Yoshihiro SUZUKI, Yoshihiro NATSUME
  • Publication number: 20190025090
    Abstract: A fixed element is provided to be used in a position detection device for detecting a position of a movable element that moves on the fixed element. The fixed element includes a substrate, a plurality of first electrodes and a second electrode. The substrate has as first surface, a second surface and a low-dielectric constant area. The second surface faces in an opposite direction to the first surface. The to low-dielectric constant area has a lower-dielectric constant than other portions of the substrate. The first electrodes are disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The first electrodes include three or more phases arranged one-dimensionally in a repeating pattern in a movement direction of the movable element. The second electrode is disposed on the first surface of the substrate and is arranged in the movement direction of the movable element adjacent the first electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Taku UEDA, Yoshihiro SUZUKI, Yoshikatsu MATSUBARA, Yoshihiro NATSUME, Hisakazu KATO
  • Patent number: 8562162
    Abstract: A manipulation device has a board and a manipulation panel to cover the board. The board has a printed circuit, a light emitting element mounted on the board for emitting light, a light guide having a incidence part to guide the light incident from the incidence part to a predetermined direction along a surface of the board, and a retention cover to retain the light guide. The retention cover is positioned such that the incidence part of the light guide faces the light emitting element. The retention cover covers a surface of the light guide opposite to the surface of the board. The manipulation panel has a light transmission part formed at a position corresponding to an emission part of the light guide to discharge the light emitted from the light guide to an outside through the light transmission part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Natsume, Ryuichi Izumi
  • Patent number: 8213642
    Abstract: A slide manipulation device is mountable in a manipulator panel and includes a manipulator, a frame configured to slidably support the manipulator, and a circuit board. The frame has an opposing part facing the inside of the manipulation panel when the frame is mounted to the manipulation panel, the frame extending in a direction intersecting the opposing part and extending in a slide direction of the manipulator. The manipulator extends outward from the interior of the frame and is slidable in the slide direction to indicate a parameter for use in an electronic equipment. The circuit board is disposed at the outside of the frame along the extending direction of the frame, and is mounted to the frame for carrying out overall control to signalize a parameter set by the manipulator and to transmit the signalized parameter to the electronic equipment, and otherwise to receive the parameter from the electronic equipment and to slide the manipulator in response to the received parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Natsume, Ryuichi Izumi
  • Publication number: 20090244883
    Abstract: A manipulation device has a board and a manipulation panel to cover the board. The board has a printed circuit, a light emitting element mounted on the board for emitting light, a light guide having a incidence part to guide the light incident from the incidence part to a predetermined direction along a surface of the board, and a retention cover to retain the light guide. The retention cover is positioned such that the incidence part of the light guide faces the light emitting element. The retention cover covers a surface of the light guide opposite to the surface of the board. The manipulation panel has a light transmission part formed at a position corresponding to an emission part of the light guide to discharge the light emitted from the light guide to an outside through the light transmission part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro NATSUME, Ryuichi Izumi
  • Publication number: 20090241759
    Abstract: A slide manipulation device is mountable in a manipulator panel and includes a manipulator, a frame configured to slidably support the manipulator, and a circuit board. The frame has an opposing part facing the inside of the manipulation panel when the frame is mounted to the manipulation panel, the frame extending in a direction intersecting the opposing part and extending in a slide direction of the manipulator. The manipulator extends outward from the interior of the frame and is slidable in the slide direction to indicate a parameter for use in an electronic equipment. The circuit board is disposed at the outside of the frame along the extending direction of the frame, and is mounted to the frame for carrying out overall control to signalize a parameter set by the manipulator and to transmit the signalized parameter to the electronic equipment, and otherwise to receive the parameter from the electronic equipment and to slide the manipulator in response to the received parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Natsume, Ryuichi Izumi
  • Patent number: 7245489
    Abstract: An air conditioning structure for an electrical appliance, which is capable of air-cooling at least one heat-generating electrical component part in a housing of the electrical appliance while suppressing leakage of operation noise from an air intake fan to the outside, and also capable of achieving a muffling effect and even enhancing the rigidity of the front part of the housing by the front part being constructed of a double structure. The housing accommodates at least one electrical component part group. In the housing, a double plate assembly has a double structure and is comprised of a front plate and a rear plate. The housing has a rear plate provided with two windows and two exhaust fans, which form an exhaust section. The front plate is formed therein with two outer air intake openings, while the rear plate is formed therein with an inner air intake opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Natsume, Ryutaro Sugimoto, Chikara Ute
  • Patent number: 6980432
    Abstract: There is provided an electronic apparatus that is free of the problems with the prior art and is capable of achieving higher efficiency of cooling the interior of the casing without sacrificing cost reduction and designing compact in size. A casing houses a plurality of circuit boards having electronic parts mounted thereon and at least one high load part that generates heat. The casing has exhaust ports formed therein for heat radiation and exhaust ports for heat radiation. The plurality of circuit boards are comprised of a first circuit board and a second circuit board. The first circuit board is disposed to extend substantially horizontally, and the second circuit board is disposed to extend substantially vertically with a horizontal gap provided between the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The at least one high load part is arranged below the horizontal gap, and the exhaust ports are arranged above the horizontal gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Natsume, Yutaka Toyama, Takashi Kato, Naohide Kohyama
  • Publication number: 20050195567
    Abstract: An air conditioning structure for an electrical appliance, which is capable of air-cooling at least one heat-generating electrical component part in a housing of the electrical appliance while suppressing leakage of operation noise from an air intake fan to the outside, and also capable of achieving a muffling effect and even enhancing the rigidity of the front part of the housing by the front part being constructed of a double structure. The housing accommodates at least one electrical component part group. In the housing, a double plate assembly has a double structure and is comprised of a front plate and a rear plate. The housing has a rear plate provided with two windows and two exhaust fans, which form an exhaust section. The front plate is formed therein with two outer air intake openings, while the rear plate is formed therein with an inner air intake opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Natsume, Ryutaro Sugimoto, Chikara Ute
  • Publication number: 20040066631
    Abstract: There is provided an electronic apparatus that is free of the problems with the prior art and is capable of achieving higher efficiency of cooling the interior of the casing without sacrificing cost reduction and designing compact in size. A casing houses a plurality of circuit boards having electronic parts mounted thereon and at least one high load part that generates heat. The casing has exhaust ports formed therein for heat radiation and exhaust ports for heat radiation. The plurality of circuit boards are comprised of a first circuit board and a second circuit board. The first circuit board is disposed to extend substantially horizontally, and the second circuit board is disposed to extend substantially vertically with a horizontal gap provided between the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The at least one high load part is arranged below the horizontal gap, and the exhaust ports are arranged above the horizontal gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Natsume, Yutaka Toyama, Takashi Kato, Naohide Kohyama
  • Patent number: 5516100
    Abstract: In production of a tennis or badminton racket frame in a mould under application of heat with pressure, an impervious tube is inserted into an FRP tubular material, a pair of such tubular materials are arranged in a spaced juxtaposition in the mould, a string guide strip having transverse, through string holes is inserted between the pair off tubular materials with it string holes being directed normal to the juxtaposition, and internal pressure is applied into the tubular materials during application of heat with pressure. Formation of the string holes is carried out concurrently with mould shaping of the racket frame, thereby greatly simplifying the process with reduction in cost. Absence of the conventional string hole drilling results in smooth opening of the string holes in the end product, thereby avoiding undesirable string breakage during setting under tension to the head of the racket frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Natsume
  • Patent number: 5290031
    Abstract: In construction of an attachment-type string protector for racket frames including a base strap and a number of sleeves aligned on the base strap, the base strap is made of a relatively rigid synthetic resin, and a number of tubular vibration absorbers made of a soft synthetic material are inserted into respective sleeves almost over the entire length of the latter in full surface contact with strings. Full surface contact of the vibration absorbers with the strings over an increased length assures high degree of impact damping at shooting balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Natsume
  • Patent number: 4903656
    Abstract: A gas engine of a pre-chamber type in which a pre-chamber is arranged in communication to a main combustion chamber, an intake passage is arranged to supply lean mixture to the main chamber, a gas pipe is provided to form rich mixture by fuel gas in the pre-chamber, and a spark plug adapted to ignite the rich mixture in the pre-chamber prior to the combustion of lean mixture in the main combustion chamber, is characterized in that an area of a section of the pre-chamber gradually decreases toward the main combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Yanmar Deisel Engine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Touru Nakazono, Yoshihiro Natsume, Takashi Furuta