Patents by Inventor Junji Obata

Junji Obata 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: 11916563
    Abstract: Provided are an analog-to-digital (AD) converter, a sensor processing circuit, and a sensor system capable of improving responsiveness of feedback control. AD converter includes input part, AD conversion part, first output part, and second output part. The analog signal output from sensor is input to input part. AD conversion part digitally converts an analog signal to generate first digital data and second digital data. First output part outputs the first digital data to control circuit. Second output part outputs the second digital data to sensor before first output part outputs the first digital data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun'Ichi Naka, Koji Obata, Junji Nakatsuka, Hiroki Yoshino, Masaaki Nagai
  • Patent number: 11539248
    Abstract: A power estimator calculates first estimated power values based on levels of test signals received from power receiver apparatuses, each first estimated power value indicating estimated received power of a corresponding power receiver apparatus when a power transmitter apparatus transmits power to the power receiver apparatuses. A signal transmitting circuit transmits each first estimated power value to a corresponding power receiver apparatus. A signal receiving circuit receives second estimated power values from the power receiver apparatuses, each second estimated power value indicating estimated received power of a corresponding power receiver apparatus when other power transmitter apparatuses transmit power to the power receiver apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akito Murai, Tetsuya Nosaka, Junji Obata
  • Patent number: 11313907
    Abstract: A control panel includes power supply circuits for supplying power supply voltages to loads and a connection part for connecting wiring. The control panel comprises a system current detection unit that is for detecting a sudden increase in system current that is from a power system and flows through the control panel and includes a second current transformer, and individual current detection units that are for detecting a sudden increase in the individual current of one of the power supply circuits and include first current transformers. An arc discharge detection unit identifies an arc discharge occurring within the control panel separately from a surge flowing into the system based on a system current detection signal and individual current detection signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Marumo, Yasushi Kawashima, Hajime Umeki, Junji Obata, Keisuke Yano
  • Publication number: 20220060059
    Abstract: A power estimator calculates first estimated power values based on levels of lest signals received from power receiver apparatuses, each first estimated power value indicating estimated received power of a corresponding power receiver apparatus when a power transmitter apparatus transmits power to the power receiver apparatuses. A signal transmitting circuit transmits each first estimated power value to a corresponding power receiver apparatus. A signal receiving circuit receives second estimated power values from the power receiver apparatuses, each second estimated power value indicating estimated received power of a corresponding power receiver apparatus when other power transmitter apparatuses transmit power to the power receiver apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Akito MURAI, Tetsuya NOSAKA, Junji OBATA
  • Patent number: 10756771
    Abstract: A wireless switch comprising: a movable section provided to be freely displaceable; an operation unit elastically held by the movable section and, when in a non-neutral state, vibrating as a result of an action of elastic force that causes return to a neutral state and displacing the movable section in a direction corresponding to a direction of the vibration; a power generation unit generating a voltage of a polarity corresponding to a direction of displacement when the movable section has been displaced; a wireless transmission unit wirelessly transmitting a signal on the basis of power generated by the power generation unit; and a voltage supply control circuit, when the operation unit in the neutral state has been operated such that the operation unit is brought into a non-neutral state, supplying a voltage to the wireless transmission unit using power generated by the power generation unit at a time of an initial state change of the operation unit and then disabling voltage supply to the wireless transmi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Marumo, Yasushi Kawashima, Hajime Umeki, Junji Obata, Keisuke Yano
  • Publication number: 20200228153
    Abstract: A wireless switch comprising: a movable section provided to be freely displaceable; an operation unit elastically held by the movable section and, when in a non-neutral state, vibrating as a result of an action of elastic force that causes return to a neutral state and displacing the movable section in a direction corresponding to a direction of the vibration; a power generation unit generating a voltage of a polarity corresponding to a direction of displacement when the movable section has been displaced; a wireless transmission unit wirelessly transmitting a signal on the basis of power generated by the power generation unit; and a voltage supply control circuit, when the operation unit in the neutral state has been operated such that the operation unit is brought into a non-neutral state, supplying a voltage to the wireless transmission unit using power generated by the power generation unit at a time of an initial state change of the operation unit and then disabling voltage supply to the wireless transmi
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya MARUMO, Yasushi KAWASHIMA, Hajime UMEKI, Junji OBATA, Keisuke YANO
  • Publication number: 20200185903
    Abstract: A control panel includes power supply circuits for supplying power supply voltages to loads and a connection part for connecting wiring. The control panel comprises a system current detection unit that is for detecting a sudden increase in system current that is from a power system and flows through the control panel and includes a second current transformer, and individual current detection units that are for detecting a sudden increase in the individual current of one of the power supply circuits and include first current transformers. An arc discharge detection unit identifies an arc discharge occurring within the control panel separately from a surge flowing into the system based on a system current detection signal and individual current detection signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya MARUMO, Yasushi KAWASHIMA, Hajime UMEKI, Junji OBATA, Keisuke YANO
  • Patent number: 10547396
    Abstract: A state display apparatus includes a plurality of state display LEDs and a plurality of margin display LEDs, and when receiving a radio signal indicating that a state of a management object has changed, performs light on/off control of a state display LED associated with the management object, and controls a margin display LED arranged above the state display LED so that whether or not a reception strength of the received radio signal is equal to or higher than a prescribed threshold is indicated by a lighted state/a turned-off state of the margin display LED on/off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Soji Ohmae, Hajime Umeki, Junji Obata, Yasushi Kawashima, Hiroshi Okabe
  • Patent number: 10453634
    Abstract: A wireless switch includes a cover member, a button member, a first plunger, a second plunger, a trigger spring, a return spring, a shaft, a housing, and a power generation module. An intermediate member constituted of the first plunger, the second plunger, the trigger spring, the return spring, and the shaft is connected between the button member and the power generation module. The intermediate member prevents a position of the shaft making contact with the power generating shaft of the power generation module from changing, and causes stress to build up in the trigger spring, until a movement distance of the button member reaches a predetermined distance. The intermediate member releases the stress built up in the trigger spring and pushes the power generation shaft with the shaft using the released stress upon the movement distance of the button member reaching the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Marumo, Ken Tamura, Kazuyuki Tsukimori, Hiroshi Shiino, Yasushi Kawashima, Hajime Umeki, Junji Obata, Keisuke Yano
  • Patent number: 10304639
    Abstract: A wireless switch includes a button member, a power generation module, an RF module, and a notification unit. The button member is mounted in a housing, and is configured to move. The power generation module is configured to generate power using energy produced by the movement of the button member. The RF module is connected to the power generation module, and is configured to transmit a switch signal using power generated by the power generation module. The notification unit is configured to operate using power generated by the power generation module. The RF module controls the notification unit in one or more notification states according to a strength or details of a reception state signal corresponding to the transmitted switch signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Marumo, Ken Tamura, Kazuyuki Tsukimori, Hiroshi Shiino, Yasushi Kawashima, Hajime Umeki, Junji Obata, Keisuke Yano
  • Publication number: 20180309524
    Abstract: A state display apparatus includes a plurality of state display LEDs and a plurality of margin display LEDs, and when receiving a radio signal indicating that a state of a management object has changed, performs light on/off control of a state display LED associated with the management object, and controls a margin display LED arranged above the state display LED so that whether or not a reception strength of the received radio signal is equal to or higher than a prescribed threshold is indicated by a lighted state/a turned-off state of the margin display LED on/off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Soji OHMAE, Hajime UMEKI, Junji OBATA, Yasushi KAWASHIMA, Hiroshi OKABE
  • Publication number: 20180158626
    Abstract: A wireless switch includes a button member, a power generation module, an RF module, and a notification unit. The button member is mounted in a housing, and is configured to move. The power generation module is configured to generate power using energy produced by the movement of the button member. The RF module is connected to the power generation module, and is configured to transmit a switch signal using power generated by the power generation module. The notification unit is configured to operate using power generated by the power generation module. The RF module controls the notification unit in one or more notification states according to a strength or details of a reception state signal corresponding to the transmitted switch signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya MARUMO, Ken TAMURA, Kazuyuki TSUKIMORI, Hiroshi SHIINO, Yasushi KAWASHIMA, Hajime UMEKI, Junji OBATA, Keisuke YANO
  • Publication number: 20180158632
    Abstract: A wireless switch includes a cover member, a button member, a first plunger, a second plunger, a trigger spring, a return spring, a shaft, a housing, and a power generation module. An intermediate member constituted of the first plunger, the second plunger, the trigger spring, the return spring, and the shaft is connected between the button member and the power generation module. The intermediate member prevents a position of the shaft making contact with the power generating shaft of the power generation module from changing, and causes stress to build up in the trigger spring, until a movement distance of the button member reaches a predetermined distance. The intermediate member releases the stress built up in the trigger spring and pushes the power generation shaft with the shaft using the released stress upon the movement distance of the button member reaching the predetermined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya MARUMO, Ken TAMURA, Kazuyuki TSUKIMORI, Hiroshi SHIINO, Yasushi KAWASHIMA, Hajime UMEKI, Junji OBATA, Keisuke YANO
  • Patent number: 7127997
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a friction drive conveyor including carriers 1, which can be propelled along a track by frictional wheels 30 fitted along the track. Each frictional wheel 30 can be driven by a brakeless motor 29. A sensor 32 senses whether each frictional wheel 30 is in contact with any one frictional surface 15 of the carriers 1. The track includes a section along which the frictional wheels 30 are supported at regular intervals equal to or slightly shorter than the total length L of the frictional surfaces 15 on each side of each carrier 1. On the basis of a signal output from each sensor 32, a controller 24 so controls the associated brakeless motor 29 as to start rotating the associated frictional wheel 30 in contact with any one frictional surface 15 when the forward next wheel 30 gets free of the frictional surfaces 15, and as to stop driving the frictional wheel 30 having got free of the frictional surfaces 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Nishihara, Hiroyuki Murakami, Kazuhiko Miyoshi, Susumu Morita, Toshiyuki Iba, Junji Obata
  • Publication number: 20040261648
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a friction drive conveyor including carriers 1, which can be propelled along a track by frictional wheels 30 fitted along the track. Each frictional wheel 30 can be driven by a brakeless motor 29. A sensor 32 senses whether each frictional wheel 30 is in contact with any one frictional surface 15 of the carriers 1. The track includes a section along which the frictional wheels 30 are supported at regular intervals equal to or slightly shorter than the total length L of the frictional surfaces 15 on each side of each carrier 1. On the basis of a signal output from each sensor 32, a controller 24 so controls the associated brakeless motor 29 as to start rotating the associated frictional wheel 30 in contact with any one frictional surface 15 when the forward next wheel 30 gets free of the frictional surfaces 15, and as to stop driving the frictional wheel 30 having got free of the frictional surfaces 15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Nishihara, Hiroyuki Murakami, Kazuhiko Miyoshi, Susumu Morita, Toshiyuki Iba, Junji Obata