Patents by Inventor Akio NIU

Akio NIU 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: 20170120458
    Abstract: A robot includes a robot arm having a first member rotatably provided on a base, a second member rotatably provided on the first member, a third member rotatably provided on the second member, and a fourth member rotatably provided on the third member. The fourth member has an arm rotatable about a rotation axis in an axis direction different from an axis direction of a rotation axis of the first member with respect to the base. In a first state, the first member, the second member, and the third member overlap. In a second state, at least one of a distal end of the robot arm and an end effector provided on the distal end of the robot arm overlaps with the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Kazushige AKAHA, Kazuto YOSHIMURA, Hiroaki FUJIMORI, Akio NIU
  • Publication number: 20160375581
    Abstract: A robot includes: a base; a first arm rotatably coupled to the base about a first axis of rotation; a second arm rotatably coupled to the first arm about a second axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation being an axis perpendicular to the first axis of rotation or being an axis parallel to an axis perpendicular to the first axis of rotation; a third arm rotatably coupled to the second arm about a third axis of rotation, the third axis of rotation being an axis parallel to the second axis of rotation; a first angular velocity sensor installed to the first arm and having an angular velocity detection axis parallel to the first axis of rotation; and a second angular velocity sensor installed to the third arm and having an angular velocity detection axis parallel to the third axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventor: Akio NIU
  • Publication number: 20160318186
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, first and second arms, first and second drive sources, first and second inertia sensors, and first and second angle sensors. A rotation axis of the first arm and a rotation axis of the second arm are orthogonal to each other. The first inertia sensor is installed at the first arm, and the second inertia sensor is installed at the second arm. The first angle sensor is installed at the first drive source, and the second angle sensor is installed at the second drive source. Angular velocities obtained from the first inertia sensor and the first angle sensor are fed back to a first drive source control unit. Angular velocities obtained from the second inertia sensor and the second angle sensor are fed back to a second drive source control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Akihiro GOMI, Akio NIU, Masaki MOTOYOSHI
  • Patent number: 9452529
    Abstract: A robot includes: a base; a first arm rotatably coupled to the base about a first axis of rotation; a second arm rotatably coupled to the first arm about a second axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation being an axis perpendicular to the first axis of rotation or being an axis parallel to an axis perpendicular to the first axis of rotation; a third arm rotatably coupled to the second arm about a third axis of rotation, the third axis of rotation being an axis parallel to the second axis of rotation; a first angular velocity sensor installed to the first arm and having an angular velocity detection axis parallel to the first axis of rotation; and a second angular velocity sensor installed to the third arm and having an angular velocity detection axis parallel to the third axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akio Niu
  • Patent number: 9409293
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, first and second arms, first and second drive sources, first and second inertia sensors, and first and second angle sensors. A rotation axis of the first arm and a rotation axis of the second arm are orthogonal to each other. The first inertia sensor is installed at the first arm, and the second inertia sensor is installed at the second arm. The first angle sensor is installed at the first drive source, and the second angle sensor is installed at the second drive source. Angular velocities obtained from the first inertia sensor and the first angle sensor are fed back to a first drive source control unit. Angular velocities obtained from the second inertia sensor and the second angle sensor are fed back to a second drive source control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Gomi, Akio Niu, Masaki Motoyoshi
  • Publication number: 20160151914
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, a first arm which is rotatable around a first rotating axis with respect to the base, a second arm which is rotatable around a second rotating axis orthogonal to the first rotating axis, a third arm which is rotatable around a third rotating axis parallel to the second rotating axis, a first angular velocity sensor provided in the first arm, and a second angular velocity sensor provided in the third arm. The angle between a detection axis of the first angular velocity sensor and the first rotating axis is a predetermined first angle. The angle between a detection axis of the second angular velocity sensor and the second rotating axis is a predetermined second angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Atsushi ASADA, Akio NIU, Hiroaki HOSOMI
  • Patent number: 9339930
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, a first arm rotatably connected to the base around a first rotating axis, a second arm rotatably connected to the first arm around a second rotating axis, a third arm rotatably connected to the second arm around a third rotating axis, a first angular velocity sensor provided in the first arm and having a first angular velocity detection axis parallel to the first rotating axis, a second angular velocity sensor provided in the second arm and having a second angular velocity detection axis parallel to the second rotating axis, and a third angular velocity sensor provided in the third arm and having a third angular velocity detection axis parallel to the third rotating axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akio Niu
  • Patent number: 9327409
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, a first arm which is rotatable around a first rotating axis with respect to the base, a second arm which is rotatable around a second rotating axis orthogonal to the first rotating axis, a third arm which is rotatable around a third rotating axis parallel to the second rotating axis, a first angular velocity sensor provided in the first arm, and a second angular velocity sensor provided in the third arm. The angle between a detection axis of the first angular velocity sensor and the first rotating axis is a predetermined first angle. The angle between a detection axis of the second angular velocity sensor and the second rotating axis is a predetermined second angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Asada, Akio Niu, Hiroaki Hosomi
  • Patent number: 9327402
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, a first arm rotatably connected to the base around a first rotating axis, a second arm rotatably connected to the first arm around a second rotating axis orthogonal to the first rotating axis, a third arm rotatably connected to the second arm around a third rotating axis parallel to the second rotating axis, a first angular velocity sensor provided in the first arm and having an angular velocity detection axis parallel to the first rotating axis, and a second angular velocity sensor provided in the second arm and having an angular velocity detection axis parallel to the third rotating axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akio Niu
  • Publication number: 20160107311
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, a first arm rotatably connected to the base around a first rotating axis, a second arm rotatably connected to the first arm around a second rotating axis orthogonal to the first rotating axis, a third arm rotatably connected to the second arm around a third rotating axis parallel to the second rotating axis, a first angular velocity sensor provided in the first arm and having an angular velocity detection axis parallel to the first rotating axis, and a second angular velocity sensor provided in the second arm and having an angular velocity detection axis parallel to the third rotating axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventor: Akio NIU
  • Publication number: 20160101521
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, a first arm that rotates around a first rotation axis, a second arm that rotates around a second rotation axis extending in a direction different than the first rotation axis, a third arm that rotates around a third rotation axis extending in a direction parallel to the second rotation axis, a first inertia sensor at the first arm, a second (a) inertia sensor at the third arm, a first angle sensor at a first drive source, a third angle sensor at a third drive source, and the drive sources rotate the respective arms. Angular velocities from the first inertia sensor and the first angle sensor are fed back to a first drive source control unit. Angular velocities from the second (a) inertia sensor and the third angle sensor are fed back to a second drive source control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Akihiro GOMI, Masaki MOTOYOSHI, Akio NIU
  • Publication number: 20160089794
    Abstract: A robot includes an nth arm (n is a natural number), an (n+1)th arm rotatably supported with respect to the nth arm, and a connection destination selection part that can select a connection destination of a cable routing present inside of the nth arm from a cable routing present outside of the nth arm and a cable routing present inside of the (n+1)th arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Akio NIU, Sho NAKANO
  • Publication number: 20160089778
    Abstract: A robot includes a curved arm including a first member, a second member, and a coupling member and bending in a longitudinal direction, the first member couples to a distal end of the coupling member in the longitudinal direction, and the second member couples to a base end of the coupling member in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Masato YOKOTA, Jun SAKURADA, Akio NIU
  • Patent number: 9242377
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, a first arm that rotates around a first rotation axis, a second arm that rotates around a second rotation axis extending in a direction different than the first rotation axis, a third arm that rotates around a third rotation axis extending in a direction parallel to the second rotation axis, a first inertia sensor at the first arm, a second (a) inertia sensor at the third arm, a first angle sensor at a first drive source, a third angle sensor at a third drive source, and the drive sources rotate the respective arms. Angular velocities from the first inertia sensor and the first angle sensor are fed back to a first drive source control unit. Angular velocities from the second (a) inertia sensor and the third angle sensor are fed back to a second drive source control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Gomi, Masaki Motoyoshi, Akio Niu
  • Publication number: 20150224644
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, first and second arms, first and second drive sources, first and second inertia sensors, and first and second angle sensors. A rotation axis of the first arm and a rotation axis of the second arm are orthogonal to each other. The first inertia sensor is installed at the first arm, and the second inertia sensor is installed at the second arm. The first angle sensor is installed at the first drive source, and the second angle sensor is installed at the second drive source. Angular velocities obtained from the first inertia sensor and the first angle sensor are fed back to a first drive source control unit. Angular velocities obtained from the second inertia sensor and the second angle sensor are fed back to a second drive source control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Akihiro GOMI, Akio NIU, Masaki MOTOYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20150151432
    Abstract: A robot includes a plurality of joints including a first joint and a second joint that rotates in a direction different from a rotation direction of the first joint, a plurality of arm members including a first arm member provided to be rotatable with respect to a base via the first joint, and a first angular velocity sensor provided in the first arm member or the first joint. A first inertial sensor is provided in the first arm member (or a portion that rotates together with the first arm member in the first joint). The plurality of joints are controlled on the basis of an output of the first inertial sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Akihiro GOMI, Masaki MOTOYOSHI, Shunsuke TOSHIMITSU, Akio NIU, Atsushi ASADA
  • Patent number: 9037293
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, first and second arms, first and second drive sources, first and second inertia sensors, and first and second angle sensors. A rotation axis of the first arm and a rotation axis of the second arm are orthogonal to each other. The first inertia sensor is installed at the first arm, and the second inertia sensor is installed at the second arm. The first angle sensor is installed at the first drive source, and the second angle sensor is installed at the second drive source. Angular velocities obtained from the first inertia sensor and the first angle sensor are fed back to a first drive source control unit. Angular velocities obtained from the second inertia sensor and the second angle sensor are fed back to a second drive source control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Gomi, Akio Niu, Masaki Motoyoshi
  • Publication number: 20140365008
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, a first arm which is rotatable around a first rotating axis with respect to the base, a second arm which is rotatable around a second rotating axis orthogonal to the first rotating axis, a third arm which is rotatable around a third rotating axis parallel to the second rotating axis, a first angular velocity sensor provided in the first arm, and a second angular velocity sensor provided in the third arm. The angle between a detection axis of the first angular velocity sensor and the first rotating axis is a predetermined first angle. The angle between a detection axis of the second angular velocity sensor and the second rotating axis is a predetermined second angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Asada, Akio Niu, Hiroaki Hosomi
  • Publication number: 20140309779
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, a first arm rotatably connected to the base around a first rotating axis, a second arm rotatably connected to the first arm around a second rotating axis orthogonal to the first rotating axis, a third arm rotatably connected to the second arm around a third rotating axis parallel to the second rotating axis, a first angular velocity sensor provided in the first arm and having an angular velocity detection axis parallel to the first rotating axis, and a second angular velocity sensor provided in the second arm and having an angular velocity detection axis parallel to the third rotating axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akio Niu
  • Publication number: 20140309777
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, a first arm rotatably connected to the base around a first rotating axis, a second arm rotatably connected to the first arm around a second rotating axis, a third arm rotatably connected to the second arm around a third rotating axis, a first angular velocity sensor provided in the first arm and having a first angular velocity detection axis parallel to the first rotating axis, a second angular velocity sensor provided in the second arm and having a second angular velocity detection axis parallel to the second rotating axis, and a third angular velocity sensor provided in the third arm and having a third angular velocity detection axis parallel to the third rotating axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akio Niu