Patents by Inventor Yuichi Matsushita

Yuichi Matsushita 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: 9207612
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller configured to perform operations including: controlling an exposing unit to expose a first ratio to a full scan width and thus to form a first exposed section, and to expose a second ratio smaller than the first ratio thus to form a second exposed section, controlling a detecting member to acquire: a first voltage in a case where a first test current flows in the first exposed section; a second voltage in a case where the first test current flows in the second exposed section; a third voltage in a case where a second test current larger than the first test current flows in the first exposed section; and a fourth voltage in a case where the second test current flows in the second exposed section; and identifying the photosensitive member based on the first to fourth voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Hayakawa, Yuichi Matsushita
  • Patent number: 9146494
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charging member for charging a surface of a photosensitive member to a first potential, an exposing member for partially exposing the charged surface of the photosensitive member such that a potential of the exposed portions becomes a second potential smaller than the first potential, a developer carrier for feeding developer onto the photosensitive member, a discharging-beam member for irradiating a discharging beam onto the photosensitive member having a developer image, and a control device configured to: control a developing bias to become a third potential larger than the second potential and smaller than the first potential; and control a discharging bias such that a potential of portions on the photosensitive member where the developer image has not been formed becomes a fourth potential not smaller than the third potential and smaller than the first potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Matsushita
  • Patent number: 9122215
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a controller includes a memory stores control parameters for use in adjustment to be made in at least one of a print density and a color alignment in accordance with a surrounding condition, a print-mode execution module executes a print-mode process of causing the image forming unit to perform image formation, and an adjustive test-mode execution module executes an adjustive test-mode process of causing the image forming unit to perform a test print, thereby determining a control parameter. The print-mode execution module retrieves a relevant control parameter corresponding to a current surrounding condition from the memory, if available, while it causes the adjustive test-mode execution module to execute the adjustive test-mode process, thereby determining a relevant control parameter if the relevant control parameter is not stored in the memory. The retrieved or determined relevant control parameter is applied to the image formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20150086223
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller configured to perform operations including: controlling an exposing unit to expose a first ratio to a full scan width and thus to form a first exposed section, and to expose a second ratio smaller than the first ratio thus to form a second exposed section, controlling a detecting member to acquire: a first voltage in a case where a first test current flows in the first exposed section; a second voltage in a case where the first test current flows in the second exposed section; a third voltage in a case where a second test current larger than the first test current flows in the first exposed section; and a fourth voltage in a case where the second test current flows in the second exposed section; and identifying the photosensitive member based on the first to fourth voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Masahiko Hayakawa, Yuichi Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20150023675
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a controller includes a memory stores control parameters for use in adjustment to be made in at least one of a print density and a color alignment in accordance with a surrounding condition, a print-mode execution module executes a print-mode process of causing the image forming unit to perform image formation, and an adjustive test-mode execution module executes an adjustive test-mode process of causing the image forming unit to perform a test print, thereby determining a control parameter. The print-mode execution module retrieves a relevant control parameter corresponding to a current surrounding condition from the memory, if available, while it causes the adjustive test-mode execution module to execute the adjustive test-mode process, thereby determining a relevant control parameter if the relevant control parameter is not stored in the memory. The retrieved or determined relevant control parameter is applied to the image formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20140375625
    Abstract: A display device includes display panel includes a first source driver including a first input terminal and a first output terminal connected to the display panel; a first gate driver including a first input-output terminal, a second input-output terminal connected to the first input-output terminal, and a second output terminal connected to the display panel; a timing controller including a first terminal for outputting or inputting a first signal to or from the first input-output terminal and a second terminal; a first signal line connected to the first terminal; a second signal line connected to the second terminal; and a third signal line connected to the first source driver and the timing controller for transmitting a second signal indicating a display direction of the image data. The first source driver operates according to the first signal from the first terminal or the second terminal selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Yukinobu WATANABE, Yuichi MATSUSHITA
  • Patent number: 8797599
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing device which converts multi-gradation pixels configuring a multi-gradation image of image data to be used in a color image forming apparatus, into unit dither patterns. The image forming apparatus includes photosensitive members on which developer images are formed by supplying developer to electrostatic latent images, and an exposure device which exposes the photosensitive members. The developer images on the photosensitive members are transferred to a transferred medium which is moved while contacting the photosensitive members. The image processing device includes a processing unit which converts a multi-gradation pixel of a first color into unit dither patterns, each unit dither pattern consisting of a first line extending in a predetermined direction and a second line extending in a direction intersecting with the first line when a gradation value of the multi-gradation pixel is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Furukawa, Yuichi Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8791973
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including plural photosensitive members on which developer images are formed by supplying developer to electrostatic latent images, respectively, an exposure device which illuminates light beams onto surfaces of the photosensitive members to form the electrostatic latent images, respectively. The developer images on the respective photosensitive numbers are transferred to a transferred medium which is moved in a moving direction while contacting the respective photosensitive members. The exposure device is configured such that a beam diameter of light beam exposing a most-upstream photosensitive member in the moving direction on a surface of the most-upstream photosensitive member is larger than a beam diameter of light beam exposing a most-downstream photosensitive member in the moving direction on a surface of the most-downstream photosensitive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Matsushita, Toshio Furukawa, Yosuke Sugiyama, Minoru Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20140093264
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charging member for charging a surface of a photosensitive member to a first potential, an exposing member for partially exposing the charged surface of the photosensitive member such that a potential of the exposed portions becomes a second potential smaller than the first potential, a developer carrier for feeding developer onto the photosensitive member, a discharging-beam member for irradiating a discharging beam onto the photosensitive member having a developer image, and a control device configured to: control a developing bias to become a third potential larger than the second potential and smaller than the first potential; and control a discharging bias such that a potential of portions on the photosensitive member where the developer image has not been formed becomes a fourth potential not smaller than the third potential and smaller than the first potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8676075
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveying belt; a first photosensitive member; and a second photosensitive member; a first transfer member; a second transfer member; a first pushing member; a second pushing member; and a changing unit, wherein the first photosensitive member is disposed on the upstream side of the second photosensitive member in a conveying direction of the transfer receiving member, and the changing unit changes the pushing force of the second transfer member that is disposed on the downstream side of the first photosensitive member in a conveying direction of the transfer receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Matsushita, Masahiko Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20130286441
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing device which converts multi-gradation pixels configuring a multi-gradation image of image data to be used in a color image forming apparatus, into unit dither patterns. The image forming apparatus includes photosensitive members on which developer images are formed by supplying developer to electrostatic latent images, and an exposure device which exposes the photosensitive members. The developer images on the photosensitive members are transferred to a transferred medium which is moved while contacting the photosensitive members. The image processing device includes a processing unit which converts a multi-gradation pixel of a first color into unit dither patterns, each unit dither pattern consisting of a first line extending in a predetermined direction and a second line extending in a direction intersecting with the first line when a gradation value of the multi-gradation pixel is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio FURUKAWA, Yuichi MATSUSHITA
  • Publication number: 20130258024
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including plural photosensitive members on which developer images are formed by supplying developer to electrostatic latent images, respectively, an exposure device which illuminates light beams onto surfaces of the photosensitive members to form the electrostatic latent images, respectively. The developer images on the respective photosensitive numbers are transferred to a transferred medium which is moved in a moving direction while contacting the respective photosensitive members. The exposure device is configured such that a. beam diameter of light beam exposing a most-upstream photosensitive member in the moving direction on a surface of the most-upstream photosensitive member is larger than a beam diameter of light beam exposing a most-downstream photosensitive member in the moving direction on a surface of the most-downstream photosensitive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Matsushita, Toshio Furukawa, Yosuke Sugiyama, Minoru Matsuura
  • Patent number: 8521057
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier, a developing unit housing which rotatably supports the developer carrier, a side seal member which comes into slidable contact with both ends of the developer carrier, a sheet-like elongated seal member which extends in the axial direction of the developer carrier so as to come into slidable contact with the developer carrier, a side seal attachment surface which is formed in the developing unit housing and to which the side seal member is attached, and a support portion which is formed in the developing unit housing and protrudes toward the developer carrier from the side seal attachment surface to support the elongated seal member. The elongated seal member is attached onto the support portion in a state where both ends thereof overlap the side seal member and are opposite the side seal attachment surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Matsushita, Fan Xu, Mitsuru Horinoe, Takashi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8478158
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier, a developing unit housing which rotatably supports the developer carrier, a side seal member which comes into slidable contact with both ends of the developer carrier, a sheet-like elongated seal member which extends in the axial direction of the developer carrier so as to come into slidable contact with the developer carrier, a side seal attachment surface which is formed in the developing unit housing and to which the side seal member is attached, and a support portion which is formed in the developing unit housing and protrudes toward the developer carrier from the side seal attachment surface to support the elongated seal member. The elongated seal member is attached onto the support portion in a state where both ends thereof overlap the side seal member and are opposite the side seal attachment surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Matsushita, Fan Xu, Mitsuru Horinoe, Takashi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8405438
    Abstract: In a semiconductor circuit, a high frequency level detecting unit detects a level of a high frequency component adjusted with a first adjusting unit, and a first control unit controls a first gain of the adjusting unit according to the level of the high frequency component thus detected. Further, a low frequency level detecting unit detects a level of a low frequency component adjusted with a second adjusting unit. A second control unit controls a second gain according to the level of the high frequency component and the level of the low frequency component thus adjusted, so that a difference between the level of the high frequency component adjusted with the first adjusting unit and the level of the low frequency component adjusted with the second adjusting unit becomes smaller than a specific level determined in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiko Satani, Yuichi Matsushita, Takahiro Imayoshi
  • Patent number: 8301056
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier which carries a developer, a developing unit housing which rotatably supports the developer carrier, a side seal member which comes into slidable contact with both ends of the developer carrier, a sheet-like elongated seal member which extends in the axial direction of the developer carrier so as to come into slidable contact with the developer carrier, a side seal attachment surface which is formed in the developing unit housing and to which the side seal member is attached, and a support portion which is formed in the developing unit housing and protrudes toward the developer carrier from the side seal attachment surface to support the elongated seal member. The elongated seal member is attached onto the support portion in a state where both ends thereof overlap the side seal member and are opposite the side seal attachment surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Matsushita, Fan Xu, Mitsuru Horinoe, Takashi Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20120269539
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier, a developing unit housing which rotatably supports the developer carrier, a side seal member which comes into slidable contact with both ends of the developer carrier, a sheet-like elongated seal member which extends in the axial direction of the developer carrier so as to come into slidable contact with the developer carrier, a side seal attachment surface which is formed in the developing unit housing and to which the side seal member is attached, and a support portion which is formed in the developing unit housing and protrudes toward the developer carrier from the side seal attachment surface to support the elongated seal member. The elongated seal member is attached onto the support portion in a state where both ends thereof overlap the side seal member and are opposite the side seal attachment surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Matsushita, Fan XU, Mitsuru HORINOE, Takashi YASUDA
  • Publication number: 20120269538
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier, a developing unit housing which rotatably supports the developer carrier, a side seal member which comes into slidable contact with both ends of the developer carrier, a sheet-like elongated seal member which extends in the axial direction of the developer carrier so as to come into slidable contact with the developer carrier, a side seal attachment surface which is formed in the developing unit housing and to which the side seal member is attached, and a support portion which is formed in the developing unit housing and protrudes toward the developer carrier from the side seal attachment surface to support the elongated seal member. The elongated seal member is attached onto the support portion in a state where both ends thereof overlap the side seal member and are opposite the side seal attachment surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Matsushita, Fan XU, Mitsuru HORINOE, Takashi YASUDA
  • Publication number: 20120070171
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveying belt; a first photosensitive member; and a second photosensitive member; a first transfer member; a second transfer member; a first pushing member; a second pushing member; and a changing unit, wherein the first photosensitive member is disposed on the upstream side of the second photosensitive member in a conveying direction of the transfer receiving member, and the changing unit changes the pushing force of the second transfer member that is disposed on the downstream side of the first photosensitive member in a conveying direction of the transfer receiving member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi MATSUSHITA, Masahiko HAYAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20120038403
    Abstract: In a semiconductor circuit, a high frequency level detecting unit detects a level of a high frequency component adjusted with a first adjusting unit, and a first control unit controls a first gain of the adjusting unit according to the level of the high frequency component thus detected. Further, a low frequency level detecting unit detects a level of a low frequency component adjusted with a second adjusting unit. A second control unit controls a second gain according to the level of the high frequency component and the level of the low frequency component thus adjusted, so that a difference between the level of the high frequency component adjusted with the first adjusting unit and the level of the low frequency component adjusted with the second adjusting unit becomes smaller than a specific level determined in advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Norihiko SATANI, Yuichi Matsushita, Takahiro Imayoshi