Patents by Inventor Yuichi Nishihara
Yuichi Nishihara 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).
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Publication number: 20230271413Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a first discharge section that has a first piezoelectric element and discharges liquid by driving the first piezoelectric element with a driving signal; a driving signal generation section that generates the driving signal; a first selection section that performs a selection operation of selecting whether or not to apply each voltage of a plurality of driving waveforms included in the driving signal to the first piezoelectric element, based on a print data signal; a residual vibration detection section that detects residual vibration of the first discharge section after a voltage of a first driving waveform among the plurality of driving waveforms is applied to the first piezoelectric element; and a control section that generates the print data signal, in which the control section stops the driving signal generation section when causing the residual vibration detection section to detect the residual vibration.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: Yuichi NISHIHARA, Toru MATSUYAMA
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Patent number: 9649846Abstract: An ink tank 25A includes an ink containing portion 120, an ink injection portion 113, an ink supply portion 117, and a pair of electrode pins 140a and 140b. The ink containing portion 120 has a visual check portion 114 that enables the position of the liquid surface of ink contained in the ink containing portion 120 to be visually checked from the outside in a reference posture, which is a posture at the time when the ink is supplied from the ink tank 25 to the print head portion 32. The ink supply portion 117 is connected to a lower portion 122A located below a lower end of the visual check portion 114 in the reference posture. Leading end portions 143a and 143b of the electrode pins 140a and 140b are arranged in the lower portion 122A.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2016Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Naomi Kimura, Munehide Kanaya, Yuichi Nishihara, Masaki Tsukida
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Patent number: 9457583Abstract: A liquid storage container includes the first electrode, the second electrode which penetrate from an outside to an inside of a storage portion and extend in a direction intersecting a vertical direction, and a support portion which is provided in the storage portion and supports the first electrode. In the vertical direction, a height of the second electrode is equal to a height of the first electrode or is lower than the height of the first electrode. The support portion includes a support wall which supports the first electrode and a side wall intersects the support wall and is wide from the support wall in the vertically downward direction. The support wall is capable of being protruded to the second electrode side further than a meniscus formed in the ink between the first electrode and the support wall in the second electrode of the first electrode.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Naomi Kimura, Yasuyuki Kudo, Yuichi Nishihara, Masashi Kamiyanagi
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Publication number: 20160263905Abstract: An ink tank 25A includes an ink containing portion 120, an ink injection portion 113, an ink supply portion 117, and a pair of electrode pins 140a and 140b. The ink containing portion 120 has a visual check portion 114 that enables the position of the liquid surface of ink contained in the ink containing portion 120 to be visually checked from the outside in a reference posture, which is a posture at the time when the ink is supplied from the ink tank 25 to the print head portion 32. The ink supply portion 117 is connected to a lower portion 122A located below a lower end of the visual check portion 114 in the reference posture. Leading end portions 143a and 143b of the electrode pins 140a and 140b are arranged in the lower portion 122A.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2016Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Naomi KIMURA, Munehide KANAYA, Yuichi NISHIHARA, Masaki TSUKIDA
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Patent number: 9417112Abstract: A liquid consumption device of the present invention has a holder in which an opening section is provided in a position to face a prism of an ink cartridge, a light emitting section, and a light receiving section. The holder has a region that changes a light amount of the reflected light emitted from the light emitting section and received by the light receiving section in a position spaced apart from the opening section at a predetermined distance in a main scanning direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Junpei Yoshida, Yuichi Nishihara, Takayuki Yazawa, Hidetoshi Yokoyama
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Publication number: 20160009098Abstract: A liquid storage container includes the first electrode, the second electrode which penetrate from an outside to an inside of a storage portion and extend in a direction intersecting a vertical direction, and a support portion which is provided in the storage portion and supports the first electrode. In the vertical direction, a height of the second electrode is equal to a height of the first electrode or is lower than the height of the first electrode. The support portion includes a support wall which supports the first electrode and a side wall intersects the support wall and is wide from the support wall in the vertically downward direction. The support wall is capable of being protruded to the second electrode side further than a meniscus formed in the ink between the first electrode and the support wall in the second electrode of the first electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2014Publication date: January 14, 2016Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Naomi KIMURA, Yasuyuki KUDO, Yuichi NISHIHARA, Masashi KAMIYANAGI
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Patent number: 9205662Abstract: A liquid consuming apparatus 200 includes a photosensor 80 capable of facing a prism 320 provided in a liquid container, and a control unit 100. The control unit 100 performs remaining status determination processing for determining remaining status of liquid in the liquid container, based on a detection signal detected by the photosensor 80 due to reflection from the prism 320 when light is emitted by the photosensor 80, performs ambient light determining processing for determining whether or not the remaining status determination processing is affected by ambient light, based on the detection signal detected by the photosensor 80 when light is not emitted by the photosensor 80, and continues printing until the end of printing on a sheet that is being printed, even if the control unit 100 determines that the influence of ambient light is present, by the ambient light determination processing during execution of printing.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2015Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masaki Tsukida, Yuichi Nishihara
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Publication number: 20150239255Abstract: A liquid consuming apparatus 200 includes a photosensor 80 capable of facing a prism 320 provided in a liquid container, and a control unit 100. The control unit 100 performs remaining status determination processing for determining remaining status of liquid in the liquid container, based on a detection signal detected by the photosensor 80 due to reflection from the prism 320 when light is emitted by the photosensor 80, performs ambient light determining processing for determining whether or not the remaining status determination processing is affected by ambient light, based on the detection signal detected by the photosensor 80 when light is not emitted by the photosensor 80, and continues printing until the end of printing on a sheet that is being printed, even if the control unit 100 determines that the influence of ambient light is present, by the ambient light determination processing during execution of printing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2015Publication date: August 27, 2015Inventors: Masaki Tsukida, Yuichi Nishihara
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Patent number: 9102144Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a liquid receptacle, a head, a driving unit for the head, a detection unit that detects a remaining state of a liquid, and a control unit that controls the driving unit and, in the case where the liquid receptacle and the detection unit are in a predetermined positional relationship, determines whether or not there is liquid remaining in the liquid receptacle based on a detection signal from the detection unit. In the case where the control unit has determined that greater than or equal to a specified value of the liquid in the liquid receptacle has been consumed without the liquid receptacle and the detection unit arriving at the predetermined positional relationship, the control unit performs forced detection control that sets the liquid receptacle and the detection unit to the predetermined positional relationship and causes the detection unit to detect the remaining state of the liquid.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2013Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yuichi Nishihara
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Patent number: 9086312Abstract: A printing device has a detecting section in which a light emitting section and a light receiving section are provided, liquid reservoirs for storing liquid in which a prism is provided to reflect light emitted from the light emitting section corresponding to a remaining state of the liquid, and a control section. The control section determines whether a process for air bubbles that is a process corresponding to an adhesion state of air bubbles in the prism is to be conducted or not based on a signal of light reception results obtained by receiving reflected light from the prism by the light receiving section.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2013Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yuichi Nishihara
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Patent number: 8727467Abstract: A liquid consumption device includes a liquid container, a prism, a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit and a control unit. The prism is provided to the liquid container, and configured to receive light that is made incident from outside and to emit the incident light toward the outside according to a liquid residual state inside the liquid container. The control unit is configured to determine a threshold value of the liquid container for determining a light radiation volume by the light emitting part and/or the liquid residual state, based on a light volume of reflected light reflected by an outer surface of the prism and received by the light receiving unit upon radiation of the light by the light emitting unit. The control unit is configured to determine the liquid residual state based on a light volume of the light received by the light receiving unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2012Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yuichi Nishihara
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Patent number: 8662648Abstract: A liquid consumption apparatus includes a detection portion in which a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion are arranged, a liquid container that houses a liquid and in which a prism having a cavity is disposed, a carriage with respect to which the liquid container is attachable and detachable, and in which an opening is provided in a position that opposes the prism, and a light shielding portion disposed in the opening in the carriage. When a driving portion moves the carriage in a direction in which the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are arranged, noise light produced by the prism bottom surface or cavity portion is suppressed, as a result of the light shielding portion blocking part of irradiated light.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masashi Kamiyanagi, Yuichi Nishihara, Junpei Yoshida
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Publication number: 20130320248Abstract: A liquid consumption device of the present invention has a holder in which an opening section is provided in a position to face a prism of an ink cartridge, a light emitting section, and a light receiving section. The holder has a region that changes a light amount of the reflected light emitted from the light emitting section and received by the light receiving section in a position spaced apart from the opening section at a predetermined distance in a main scanning direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2013Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Junpei YOSHIDA, Yuichi NISHIHARA, Takayuki YAZAWA, Hidetoshi YOKOYAMA
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Publication number: 20130321505Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a liquid receptacle, a head, a driving unit for the head, a detection unit that detects a remaining state of a liquid, and a control unit that controls the driving unit and, in the case where the liquid receptacle and the detection unit are in a predetermined positional relationship, determines whether or not there is liquid remaining in the liquid receptacle based on a detection signal from the detection unit. In the case where the control unit has determined that greater than or equal to a specified value of the liquid in the liquid receptacle has been consumed without the liquid receptacle and the detection unit arriving at the predetermined positional relationship, the control unit performs forced detection control that sets the liquid receptacle and the detection unit to the predetermined positional relationship and causes the detection unit to detect the remaining state of the liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2013Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yuichi Nishihara
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Publication number: 20130320247Abstract: A printing device has a detecting section in which a light emitting section and a light receiving section are provided, liquid reservoirs for storing liquid in which a prism is provided to reflect light emitted from the light emitting section corresponding a remaining state of the liquid, and a control section. The control section determines whether a process for air bubbles that is a process corresponding to an adhesion state of air bubbles in the prism is to be conducted or not based on a signal of light reception results obtained by receiving reflected light from the prism by the light receiving section.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2013Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Yuichi NISHIHARA
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Publication number: 20120293590Abstract: A liquid chamber for a liquid ejecting apparatus includes a prism disposed on a bottom portion of the liquid chamber. The prism includes a first reflection surface having a first reflection region by which light incident on the prism from a light emitting element is reflected when liquid does not make contact with the first reflecting region. The prism includes a relief that includes a first relief surface opposed to the first reflection region. The thickness of the prism between the first reflection region and the first relief surface is substantially constant. The constant thickness of the prism between the first reflection region and the first relief surface suppresses deflection of the first reflection region, thereby improving sensitivity for the detection of liquid in the liquid chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Junpei Yoshida, Yuichi Nishihara
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Patent number: 8177319Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus receives delivery of liquid from a liquid delivery system including a delivery system-side terminal. The liquid jetting apparatus includes a apparatus-side terminal, a contact sensing portion and a remaining level sensor portion. The apparatus-side terminal contacts the delivery system-side terminal when receiving delivery of liquid from the liquid delivery system. The contact sensing portion supplies a first electrical signal to the apparatus-side terminal to sense contact between the apparatus-side terminal and the system-side terminal. The remaining level sensor portion supplies a second electrical signal different from the first electrical signal to the apparatus-side terminal to sense a liquid volume in the liquid delivery system.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2009Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yuichi Nishihara
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Publication number: 20110291663Abstract: The printing apparatus applies a first waveform to the liquid detection sensor, and measures a second waveform output from the liquid detection sensor in response to the application of the first waveform. Based on a measurement result of the second waveform, the printing apparatus inspects whether the liquid detection sensor can be driven. Further, prior to the application of the first waveform to the liquid detection sensor, the printing apparatus measures the first waveform itself, and performs an inspection based on a measurement result of the first waveform.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Yuichi Nishihara
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Patent number: 8066343Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid detecting apparatus that drives a liquid detecting unit that outputs two detection signals having phases opposite to each other in accordance with the amount of liquid. The liquid detecting apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes: a driving unit that outputs a driving signal to the liquid detecting unit; a differential amplifying unit that performs differential amplification on said two detection signals that are output from the liquid detecting unit on the basis of the driving signal so as to output a differential amplification detection signal; and a signal detecting unit that makes a judgment as to whether the amount of liquid is not less than a predetermined amount or not by means of the differential amplification detection signal input from the differential amplifying unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2008Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yuichi Nishihara
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Patent number: 8052266Abstract: A liquid detection device that drives a liquid detecting portion includes a driving portion, a signal detecting portion, a high-pass filter portion, a first switch, and a control portion. The driving portion supplies a driving signal or a preliminary charging voltage to the liquid detecting portion. The signal detecting portion receives a detection signal from the liquid detecting portion. The high-pass filter portion has a capacitor portion and is arranged between the liquid detecting portion and the signal detecting portion. The first switch is arranged between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion, and electrically connects or interrupts a line between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion. The control portion controls the driving portion and the first switch to execute detection of liquid.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2008Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yuichi Nishihara