Patents by Inventor Akira Soma

Akira Soma 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: 9231446
    Abstract: A motor drive device includes a motor including a high-speed drive winding and a low-speed drive winding, a winding switching portion switching the connection states of the high-speed drive winding and the low-speed drive winding of the motor, a power conversion portion connected to the motor, and a plurality of case portions housing at least the motor, the winding switching portion, and the power conversion portion, while the plurality of case portions are coupled to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Akira Soma, Hidenori Hara, Yushi Takatsuka
  • Patent number: 8975908
    Abstract: An embodiment disperses a force acting on a border portion between an extending portion and a pedestal portion or a reinforcing member to prevent breakage of a probe tip portion of a probe. An electrical test probe includes a probe main body, a recess provided at an end of the main body and having an inner surface, and a probe tip having a part received in the recess. The inner surface has a central area and two lateral areas on both sides of the central area, and the part of the probe tip is located at the central area and at least at either one of the lateral areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventors: Takayuki Hayashizaki, Akira Soma, Hideki Hirakawa
  • Publication number: 20140202781
    Abstract: A motor drive device includes a motor including a high-speed drive winding and a low-speed drive winding, a winding switching portion switching the connection states of the high-speed drive winding and the low-speed drive winding of the motor, a power conversion portion connected to the motor, and a plurality of case portions housing at least the motor, the winding switching portion, and the power conversion portion, while the plurality of case portions are coupled to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Akira SOMA, Hidenori HARA, Yushi TAKATSUKA
  • Patent number: 8546926
    Abstract: The present power converter includes a power conversion semiconductor device, an electrode connection conductor which electrically connects multiple electrodes having the same potential, and also has a generally flat upper surface for electrically connecting to an exterior portion, and a sealing material provided so as to cover the power conversion semiconductor device, and also to expose the generally flat upper surface of the electrode connection conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kawanami, Masato Higuchi, Akira Sasaki, Akira Soma, Tasuku Isobe, Tetsuya Ito
  • Publication number: 20130241327
    Abstract: This motor driving device includes a motor including a high speed drive coil and a low speed drive coil, a coil switching portion arranged in a direction along a rotating shaft of the motor with respect to the motor, a power converter arranged in a direction intersecting with the rotating shaft with respect to the motor, and a plurality of case portions storing at least the motor, the coil switching portion, and the power converter. The plurality of case portions are coupled with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Akira Soma, Hidenori Hara, Yushi Takatsuka
  • Publication number: 20130241458
    Abstract: This motor driving device includes a motor including a high speed drive coil and a low speed drive coil, a coil switching portion switching connection states of the high speed drive coil and the low speed drive coil of the motor, a power converter connected to the motor, and a single first case portion storing at least the motor, the coil switching portion, and the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Akira Soma, Hidenori Hara, Yushi Takatsuka
  • Publication number: 20120211767
    Abstract: The present power converter includes a power conversion semiconductor device, an electrode connection conductor which electrically connects multiple electrodes having the same potential, and also has a generally flat upper surface for electrically connecting to an exterior portion, and a sealing material provided so as to cover the power conversion semiconductor device, and also to expose the generally flat upper surface of the electrode connection conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Yasuhiko KAWANAMI, Masato HIGUCHI, Akira SASAKI, Akira SOMA, Tasuku ISOBE, Tetsuya ITO
  • Publication number: 20120068726
    Abstract: An embodiment disperses a force acting on a border portion between an extending portion and a pedestal portion or a reinforcing member to prevent breakage of a probe tip portion of a probe. An electrical test probe includes a probe main body, a recess provided at an end of the main body and having an inner surface, and a probe tip having a part received in the recess. The inner surface has a central area and two lateral areas on both sides of the central area, and the part of the probe tip is located at the central area and at least at either one of the lateral areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA NIHON MICRONICS
    Inventors: Takayuki HAYASHIZAKI, Akira SOMA, Hideki HIRAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20110273848
    Abstract: It is possible to provide a small-size and light-weight control device having a structure which prevents detaching of a board even when an external shock is applied without using a screwed connection. The control device is formed by a case including at least one board, a radiator, and a protection cover. The case includes at least one latch portion in an upper part or a lower part of a board support frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventor: Akira Soma
  • Patent number: 8004837
    Abstract: It is possible to provide a small-size and light-weight control device having a structure which prevents detaching of a board even when an external shock is applied without using a screwed connection. The control device is formed by a case (1) including at least one board (2, 3), a radiator (5), and a protection cover (4). The case (1) includes at least one latch portion (7, 8) in an upper part or a lower part of a board support frame (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventor: Akira Soma
  • Patent number: 7862733
    Abstract: The present invention provides a probe manufacturing method in which, after a metal material for a probe is deposited on a base table, the probe can be detached from the base table relatively easily. A sacrificial layer is formed on a base table. The sacrificial layer is partially removed so as to form a recess in the sacrificial layer. A mask that exposes an area formed in a desired probe flat surface shape containing the recess is formed on the sacrificial layer. A probe material exhibiting different etching resistance characteristics from those of the sacrificial layer is deposited in the area exposed from the mask. By the deposition of the material, a coupling portion corresponding to the recess and a probe that is integral with the coupling portion are formed. After the mask is removed, the sacrificial layer is removed with use of etchant. Thereafter, the probe held on the base table at the coupling portion is detached from the base table together with the coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventors: Takayuki Hayashizaki, Hideki Hirakawa, Akira Soma, Kazuhito Hamada
  • Patent number: 7816931
    Abstract: A contact comprises a contact body at least provided with an arm region extending in the right-left direction, and a tip region extending downward from the front end portion of the arm region. The tip region is provided with a pedestal portion integrally continuous to the lower edge portion on the front end side of the arm region, and a contact portion projecting downward from the lower end portion of the pedestal portion and having a tip to be brought into contact with an electrode of a device under test at the lower end. The pedestal portion includes an underside region having at least four inclined faces located around the contact portion when the tip region is seen from below, and inclined such that a portion closer to the side of the contact portion becomes lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventors: Hideki Hirakawa, Takayuki Hayashizaki, Akira Soma, Yuko Yamada
  • Patent number: 7736690
    Abstract: A probe tip section of an electrical test probe has a laminated structure consisting of a first deposition portion and a second deposition portion covering the first deposition portion, and by the laminated structure, a maximum cross-sectional area portion at which the cross-sectional area of the probe tip section is increased to a base portion is provided between a tip end of the probe tip section and the base portion in the probe tip section. At the maximum cross-sectional area portion, a dimension in the X direction as seen on a flat surface perpendicular to a protruding direction of the probe tip section is increased in a one-dimensional way, and in addition, a dimension in the Y direction perpendicular to the X direction is increased from the tip end toward the base portion, as a result of which the cross-sectional area of the probe tip section can be increased in a two-dimensional way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventors: Hideki Hirakawa, Yuko Yamada, Yosuke Yoshizawa, Takayuki Hayashizaki, Akira Soma, Shinji Kuniyoshi
  • Patent number: 7721429
    Abstract: A probe formed on a base table is detached from the base table without giving damage on the probe. The present invention provides a probe manufacturing method comprising the steps of forming on a sacrificial layer on a base table a recess exposing the sacrificial layer with a resist, depositing a probe material in the recess to form a probe and then removing the resist, leaving part of the sacrificial layer and removing the rest by an etching process, and detaching from the base table the probe held on the base table by the remaining part of the sacrificial layer. In the recess of the resist are formed a main body part corresponding to a flat surface shape of the probe and an auxiliary part continuing into the main body part. The probe is formed by deposition of the material at the main body part, and a holding portion is formed by deposition of the material at the auxiliary part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventors: Akira Soma, Takayuki Hayashizaki, Yosuke Yoshizawa, Hideki Hirakawa
  • Publication number: 20100103617
    Abstract: It is possible to provide a small-size and light-weight control device having a structure which prevents detaching of a board even when an external shock is applied without using a screwed connection. The control device is formed by a case (1) including at least one board (2, 3), a radiator (5), and a protection cover (4). The case (1) includes at least one latch portion (7, 8) in an upper part or a lower part of a board support frame (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventor: Akira Soma
  • Patent number: 7679389
    Abstract: A probe includes an arm region extending in the back and forth direction, and a tip region extending downward from the front end portion of the arm region. The tip region has a pedestal portion integrally continuous to a lower edge portion at the front end side of the arm region and having an underside inclined to an imaginary axis extending in the vertical direction; and a contact portion projected from the underside of the pedestal portion and having a tip orthogonal to an imaginary axis. Thus, the position of the tip can be accurately determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventors: Shinji Kuniyoshi, Hideki Hirakawa, Akira Soma, Takayuki Hayashizaki
  • Patent number: 7629807
    Abstract: A probe for electrical test comprises a plate-shaped main portion having a base end to be attached to a support board and a tip end opposite the base end, and a probe tip portion arranged at the tip end of the main portion and having a probe tip to contact an electrode of a device under test, the main portion being made of a tenacity material. The main portion includes a conductive material extending from the base end to the tip end and at least part of which is buried within the tenacity material, and the tenacity material has higher resiliency than that of the conductive material while the conductive material has higher conductivity than that of the tenacity material. As a result, disorder of a signal provided via the probe is decreased without losing elastic deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventors: Hideki Hirakawa, Akira Soma, Takayuki Hayashizaki, Shinji Kuniyoshi, Masahisa Tazawa
  • Publication number: 20090230982
    Abstract: A contact comprises a contact body at least provided with an arm region extending in the right-left direction, and a tip region extending downward from the front end portion of the arm region. The tip region is provided with a pedestal portion integrally continuous to the lower edge portion on the front end side of the arm region, and a contact portion projecting downward from the lower end portion of the pedestal portion and having a tip to be brought into contact with an electrode of a device under test at the lower end. The pedestal portion includes an underside region having at least four inclined faces located around the contact portion when the tip region is seen from below, and inclined such that a portion closer to the side of the contact portion becomes lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA NIHON MICRONICS
    Inventors: Hideki HIRAKAWA, Takayuki HAYASHIZAKI, Akira SOMA, Yuko YAMADA
  • Patent number: 7586321
    Abstract: An electrical test probe comprises a probe tip portion and a probe main body portion having a pedestal portion on which the probe tip portion is formed to be protruded. The probe main body portion is made of a conductive material that is greater in toughness than the probe tip portion, and the probe tip portion is made of a conductive material that is higher in hardness than the material of the probe main body portion. On the pedestal portion is provided a probe tip reinforcement portion that contacts at least one side surface of the probe tip portion, extends toward a tip of the probe tip portion, and permits the tip of the probe tip portion to be protruded from its extending end in the extending direction. Also, the probe tip portion may be in a multi-layer structure having a first metal material layer that is higher in hardness than the tough metal material forming the probe main body portion and a second metal material layer that is greater in toughness than the first metal material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventors: Hideki Hirakawa, Akira Soma, Takayuki Hayashizaki, Shinji Kuniyoshi
  • Patent number: 7523539
    Abstract: In a probe manufacturing method, after a metal material for a probe is deposited on a base table, the probe can be detached from the base table relatively easily without damaging the probe. A recess corresponding to a flat surface shape of a probe is formed by a resist mask on a sacrificial layer on a base table, and a probe is formed by depositing a probe material in the recess. Thereafter, the resist mask is removed, and further the sacrificial layer is removed by an etching process with a part of the sacrificial layer remaining. For the purpose of forming an opening for control of the remaining part of the sacrificial layer in the etching process in the probe so as to let the opening pass through the probe in its plate thickness direction, a hole-forming portion for the opening is formed in the resist mask. Etching of the sacrificial layer in the etching process is promoted from an edge of the opening formed in the probe by this hole-forming portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventors: Takayuki Hayashizaki, Hideki Hirakawa, Akira Soma, Shinji Kuniyoshi