Patents by Inventor Atsushi Chiba

Atsushi Chiba 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: 9777740
    Abstract: A water pump includes a mechanical seal provided between a housing and a rotary shaft for preventing cooling water from leaking from a whirl chamber. The housing forms a space into which cooling water leaked from between the mechanical seal and the rotary shaft is flown and a water vent for discharging cooling water flown into the space. The housing is joined with a thermostat cover to form a reservoir communicating with the water vent. The reservoir has a drain for releasing evaporated cooling water to the air and a control wall for preventing cooling water remaining as liquid from flowing out through the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Chiba, Itsuro Hashiguchi, Megumi Onozuka
  • Patent number: 9772034
    Abstract: A power unit having a crankcase and peripheral devices wherein a driving source for a gear shifting device is disposed so as to be displaced below the crankcase. An engine includes a gear speed change mechanism having a plurality of gear pairs for changing the speed of a rotational force of a crankshaft. A gear shifting device includes at least a plate-shaped shift arm rocking about a shift spindle to perform a gear pair changing operation on the gear speed change mechanism. A crankcase houses the gear speed change mechanism and the gear shifting device with an oil pan attached to a lower portion of the crankcase. A communicating hole communicating with the oil pan is formed in a bottom portion of the crankcase with the bottom portion being located below the shift arm, and a rocking range of the shift arm partly overlaps the communicating hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Chiba, Tensei Hayashi, Masazumi Naito
  • Patent number: 9766093
    Abstract: A position detecting system includes: a capsule medical device having therein a magnetic field generation coil for generating a magnetic field; detection coils configured to detect the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation coil, and to output detection signals; at least one reference coil configured to detect a magnetic field and to output a detection signal, and arranged at a position where a signal-to-noise ratio to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation coil is smaller than a signal-to-noise ratio in each of the detection signals detected by the detection coils; and a magnetic field correction unit configured to correct magnetic field detection values based on the detection signals respectively output from the detection coils, using at least one reference magnetic field detection value that is a detection value of the magnetic field based on the detection signal output from the at least one reference coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Iida, Atsushi Chiba, Yusuke Suzuki, Atsushi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20170188883
    Abstract: A position detection system includes: a capsule medical device having therein a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field; magnetic field detectors for detecting the magnetic field and outputting detection signals; and a processor including hardware. The processor is configured to: calculate a position of the capsule medical device using at least one of the detection signals; determine whether or not proper position detection of the capsule medical device based on the detection signals is possible using a threshold that is a value based on at least one of output values of the detection signals output by the magnetic field detectors under a predetermined condition; decide a determination value using at least one of the output values of the detection signals; and determine that the proper position detection of the capsule medical device is not possible when the determination value is smaller than the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi CHIBA
  • Publication number: 20170181661
    Abstract: A position detection system includes a capsule medical device having therein a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field, magnetic field detectors configured to detect the magnetic field and output detection signals, and a processor including hardware. The processor is configured to: calculate a position of the capsule medical device by using at least one of the detection signals; determine whether the position of the capsule medical device falls within a predefined detection target region for the capsule medical device; determine whether proper position detection for the capsule medical device based on the detection signals is possible; and set a threshold to be used for determining whether the proper position detection for the capsule medical device is possible, based on the position of the capsule medical device if the position of the capsule medical device falls within the predefined detection target region for the capsule medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi CHIBA
  • Patent number: 9638320
    Abstract: A shift position detecting device where a shift position determining member is provided for determining a shift position based on a combination of switching modes of three switches corresponding to at least one of a plurality of projection rows each having a plurality of projection portions in a one-by-one basis, and “1, 1, 1” indicative of an ON state of each switch is allocated as a detection logic at a neutral position arranged between a first speed position and a second speed position, wherein a change in friction at the time of a shift operational to the neutral position is alleviated thus giving an operational feeling with no discomfort to a rider. Two projection rows that are objects to be detected by two specified switches among the three switches are formed so as to change switching modes of the specified switches from an OFF state to an ON state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Hotei, Takashi Tetsuka, Dai Arai, Atsushi Chiba
  • Publication number: 20170108356
    Abstract: A position detecting system includes: a capsule medical device having therein a magnetic field generation coil for generating a magnetic field; detection coils configured to detect the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation coil, and to output detection signals; at least one reference coil configured to detect a magnetic field and to output a detection signal, and arranged at a position where a signal-to-noise ratio to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation coil is smaller than a signal-to-noise ratio in each of the detection signals detected by the detection coils; and a magnetic field correction unit configured to correct magnetic field detection values based on the detection signals respectively output from the detection coils, using at least one reference magnetic field detection value that is a detection value of the magnetic field based on the detection signal output from the at least one reference coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro IIDA, Atsushi CHIBA, Yusuke SUZUKI, Atsushi KIMURA
  • Patent number: 9591991
    Abstract: A position detection system for detecting a position of a capsule medical device is provided. The capsule medical device has a coil constituting a part of a resonance circuit to generate an AC magnetic field. The position detection system includes: sensing coils that detect the AC magnetic field and output detection signals; and a calculation unit that calculates the position of the capsule medical device based on the detection signals. The calculation unit: determines a sensing coil having a maximum amplitude of the AC magnetic field as a reference coil among the sensing coils based on amplitude values of the AC magnetic field detected by the sensing coils, the amplitude values being calculated based on the detection signals; and determines a polarity of each sensing coil based on a first detection signal from the reference coil and a second detection signal from each sensing coil other than the reference coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Iida, Atsushi Kimura, Atsushi Chiba, Ryoji Sato
  • Publication number: 20170020375
    Abstract: A capsule medical device guide system includes: a guide unit configured to guide a capsule medical device by a magnetic field; a position detecting unit configured to detect positional information of the capsule medical device; a display unit configured to display information relating to the capsule medical device within a subject; a scale displayed on the display unit and representing a position of the capsule medical device within the subject; a mark representing, on the scale, an area where the magnetic field is in capable of guiding the capsule medical device; a first indicator representing, on the scale, a boundary position of a range in the area; a second indicator representing, on the scale, a current position of the capsule medical device; and a control unit configured to control positions of the first and second indicators on the scale based on the positional information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi CHIBA, Hironao KAWANO
  • Patent number: 9517001
    Abstract: A capsule endoscope system includes: a capsule endoscope configured to be introduced into a subject; a guiding unit that generates a magnetic field to guide the capsule endoscope; a guidance magnetic field control unit that switches between ON and OFF of the magnetic field; a body posture discriminating unit that discriminates a body posture of the subject; a model extracting unit that extracts a body posture model according to the body posture of the subject, from among prepared body posture models, and extracts an organ model according to the body posture of the subject, from among prepared organ models; and a display control unit configured to: superimpose the organ model according to the body posture of the subject, on the extracted body posture model when the magnetic field is ON; and display the extracted body posture model and to hide the organ model when the magnetic field is OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Chiba, Hironobu Takizawa, Ryoji Sato, Hironao Kawano, Kazuhiko Takahashi, Takuto Ikai
  • Patent number: 9506138
    Abstract: The second compression ring is formed such that the outer peripheral surface shape has a tapered face, and the radial cross-sectional shape is a rectangular ring, a scraper ring, or a Napier ring, and has a piston ring base and a hard film provided at least on an outer peripheral sliding surface thereof. The piston ring base is composed of a low-alloy steel or carbon steel having a Vickers hardness of Hv 350 Hv 550. The outer peripheral sliding surface is formed so that the axial length is from 0.01 to 0.30 mm between the outer edge end part of the tapered outer peripheral sliding surface and an imaginary line contacting with a lower end surface where a curved surface having a diameter that decreases gradually inward from the outer edge end part toward the lower end in the axial direction is parallel to a ring underside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Nippon Piston Ring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sugiura, Atsushi Chiba, Makoto Kajiwara, Kazuhiro Fujimura, Katsuaki Ogawa, Kazuhiro Sameshima
  • Patent number: 9464717
    Abstract: Provided is a piston ring such that it is possible to sufficiently inhibit adhesive wear when the piston ring is mounted to a piston for a diesel engine in which at least the piston ring groove in the piston is formed from steel or cast iron. Disclosed is a piston ring mounted to a piston for a diesel engine, wherein the load length ratio (Rmr2) (in accordance with JIS B0601:2001) of the top surface and bottom surface of the piston ring satisfies each of the following conditions: Rmr2 (0.5%, 0.3[mu]m)=20% and Rmr2 (0.5%, 0.4[mu]m)=40%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON PISTON RING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michihiro Ito, Naoyuki Akimoto, Iwao Hiraishi, Makoto Kajiwara, Atsushi Chiba
  • Patent number: 9383011
    Abstract: A shift position detecting device that determines a shift position based on a detection logic formed of a combination of turning on or off of a plurality of switches that are fixedly arranged at least one by one at positions corresponding to a plurality of detecting object portion rows mounted on a shift drum. An accurate shift position can be detected even if there is an irregularity in switching timings of switching modes of the plurality of switches. A shift position detecting member establishes the shift position as a new shift position and outputs shift position information, while when the detection logic after the transition is a detection logic other than the detection logic corresponding to the changeable shift position, sets the new shift position not yet established and outputs information corresponding to non-establishment of the shift position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Tetsuka, Takashi Hotei, Dai Arai, Atsushi Chiba, Kenichi Tamura
  • Publication number: 20160166133
    Abstract: A capsule endoscope system includes: a capsule endoscope configured to be introduced into a subject; a guiding unit that generates a magnetic field to guide the capsule endoscope; a guidance magnetic field control unit that switches between ON and OFF of the magnetic field; a body posture discriminating unit that discriminates a body posture of the subject; a model extracting unit that extracts a body posture model according to the body posture of the subject, from among prepared body posture models, and extracts an organ model according to the body posture of the subject, from among prepared organ models; and a display control unit configured to: superimpose the organ model according to the body posture of the subject, on the extracted body posture model when the magnetic field is ON; and display the extracted body posture model and to hide the organ model when the magnetic field is OFF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi CHIBA, Hironobu TAKIZAWA, Ryoji SATO, Hironao KAWANO, Kazuhiko TAKAHASHI, Takuto IKAI
  • Publication number: 20160143559
    Abstract: A position detection system for detecting a position of a capsule medical device is provided. The capsule medical device has a coil constituting a part of a resonance circuit to generate an AC magnetic field. The position detection system includes: sensing coils that detect the AC magnetic field and output detection signals; and a calculation unit that calculates the position of the capsule medical device based on the detection signals. The calculation unit: determines a sensing coil having a maximum amplitude of the AC magnetic field as a reference coil among the sensing coils based on amplitude values of the AC magnetic field detected by the sensing coils, the amplitude values being calculated based on the detection signals; and determines a polarity of each sensing coil based on a first detection signal from the reference coil and a second detection signal from each sensing coil other than the reference coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro IIDA, Atsushi KIMURA, Atsushi CHIBA, Ryoji SATO
  • Publication number: 20160100771
    Abstract: A position detection device detects a position of a capsule medical device having therein a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field. The position detection device includes: magnetic field detection units each configured to detect the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator and to output a detection signal; and a position calculation unit that calculates the position of the capsule medical device based on the detection signal output from each magnetic field detection unit. The magnetic field detection units are arranged on a single plane, the plane having: a first region formed by projecting a closed detection target space for detecting the capsule medical device on the plane; and a second region that is a closed region on the plane and includes the first region and is larger than the first region by a predetermined ratio. The magnetic field detection units are arranged in the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi CHIBA
  • Publication number: 20160084259
    Abstract: A water pump includes an impeller, a whirl chamber, a pump body including the impeller and the whirl chamber, a cover case portion and a gasket portion being positioned between the pump body and the cover case portion. The cover case portion is formed with an inlet flow passage in which a fluid is introduced to the whirl chamber and an outlet flow passage in which the fluid is discharged from the whirl chamber. The gasket portion is formed with an inlet hole opening from the whirl chamber to the inlet flow passage and an outlet hole opening from the whirl chamber to the outlet flow passage. The gasket portion includes a portion covering at least one of the inlet flow passage and the outlet flow passage in a state where the portion of the gasket portion is exposed by not being in contact with the pump body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi CHIBA, Kazuma SASANAMI, Kenichi KOMAI
  • Patent number: 9211084
    Abstract: A medical guidance system and a control method of a medical device are provided, which may increase the drive force of a medical device and improve controllability thereof. The medical guidance system has a medical device that includes a biologic information acquisition unit that acquires biologic information of the inside of a body cavity and a magnet that generates drive force in response to a magnetic field exerted from the outside of a body, a magnetic field generation unit 101 that generates the magnetic field to be exerted on the magnet from the outside of a body, and a displacement detection unit 105 that detects displacement being an angle formed between the magnetization direction of the magnet and the field direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation unit 101 at the position of the medical device; wherein the magnetic field generation unit 101 is controlled based on the displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Uchiyama, Atsushi Chiba, Hironao Kawano
  • Publication number: 20150276056
    Abstract: A power unit having a crankcase and peripheral devices wherein a driving source for a gear shifting device is disposed so as to be displaced below the crankcase. An engine includes a gear speed change mechanism having a plurality of gear pairs for changing the speed of a rotational force of a crankshaft. A gear shifting device includes at least a plate-shaped shift arm rocking about a shift spindle to perform a gear pair changing operation on the gear speed change mechanism. A crankcase houses the gear speed change mechanism and the gear shifting device with an oil pan attached to a lower portion of the crankcase. A communicating hole communicating with the oil pan is formed in a bottom portion of the crankcase with the bottom portion being located below the shift arm, and a rocking range of the shift arm partly overlaps the communicating hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi CHIBA, Tensei HAYASHI, Masazumi NAITO
  • Publication number: 20150225836
    Abstract: The second compression ring is formed such that the outer peripheral surface shape has a tapered face, and the radial cross-sectional shape is a rectangular ring, a scraper ring, or a Napier ring, and has a piston ring base and a hard film provided at least on an outer peripheral sliding surface thereof. The piston ring base is composed of a low-alloy steel or carbon steel having a Vickers hardness of Hv 350 Hv 550. The outer peripheral sliding surface is formed so that the axial length is from 0.01 to 0.30 mm between the outer edge end part of the tapered outer peripheral sliding surface and an imaginary line contacting with a lower end surface where a curved surface having a diameter that decreases gradually inward from the outer edge end part toward the lower end in the axial direction is parallel to a ring underside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroyuki SUGIURA, Atsushi CHIBA, Makoto KAJIWARA, Kazuhiro FUJIMURA, Katsuaki OGAWA, Kazuhiro SAMESHIMA