Patents by Inventor Kazunari Takahashi

Kazunari Takahashi 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: 10900535
    Abstract: A manipulation device has a manipulation body rotationally operated by the manipulator, a support body rotatably supporting the manipulation body, and a rotational load imparting mechanism. The rotational load imparting mechanism has a movable member engaged with the rotational axis of the manipulation body, a magnetism generating mechanism facing the movable member with a gap intervening, and a magnetic viscous fluid, its viscosity changing according to the strength of a magnetic field. The magnetism generating mechanism has a coil generating a magnetic field and a first yoke provided so as to enclose the coil. The first yoke has a first opposing part and second opposing part, which are separated by slits, on a side facing the movable member. The magnetic viscous fluid is filled in the gap, which is between the first opposing part and the movable member and between the second opposing part and the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunari Takahashi, Atsushi Goto
  • Patent number: 10845840
    Abstract: An operation feel imparting type input device includes a fixed part, a rotating body rotatably supported by the fixed part, a rotatable operation knob fixed to the rotating body, a rotation angle detection unit configured to detect a rotation angle of the rotating body, a brake application unit configured to apply a braking force to the rotating body, a torque application unit configured to apply a torque to the rotating body, a control unit configured to control the brake application unit and the torque application unit, and an operation torque detection unit configured to detect the magnitude of an operation torque applied to the rotating body. When the rotating body is rotated from an endstop, brake release is performed according to the magnitude of the operation torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Goto, Kazunari Takahashi, Ryuichiro Yasuhara
  • Publication number: 20200332846
    Abstract: An input device includes a brake applying unit configured to apply a braking force to a rotating body and a torque applying unit configured to apply a driving torque to the rotating body. The brake applying unit includes a rotary plate rotatable together with the rotating body, magnetic viscous fluid disposed in a gap between a fixed portion and the rotary plate, and a brake applying coil configured to apply a magnetic field to the magnetic viscous fluid. The torque applying unit includes a stator and a rotor. One of the stator and the rotor includes a magnet and the other includes torque applying coils inducing magnetic fields for generating the driving torque. A controller is provided to control currents applied to the brake applying coil and the torque applying coils. The torque applying unit is disposed to surround an outer periphery of the brake applying unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Asuka KOIKE, Yoshihiro KUGE, Kazunari TAKAHASHI, Misuzu TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20200326746
    Abstract: An input device includes a fixed unit, a rotary member rotatably supported by the fixed unit, a rotation-detecting unit that detects a rotation angle of the rotary member, a brake-applying unit that applies a braking force to the rotary member, a torque-applying unit that applies a driving torque to the rotary member, and a control unit that controls the brake-applying unit and the torque-applying unit. The brake-applying unit includes magnetorheological fluid, a brake-applying coil that applies a magnetic field to the magnetorheological fluid, a shaft to which braking torque that changes with viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid is applied, and a transmission gear provided on the shaft and that is in mesh with a gear provided on the rotary member. The shaft is positioned on an outer side with respect to the rotary member in a radial direction of the rotary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Asuka KOIKE, Takeaki MAEHATA, Ryuichiro YASUHARA, Kazunari TAKAHASHI, Atsushi GOTO
  • Patent number: 10768657
    Abstract: An operation device includes an operation unit including an operation body worked by an operator's manipulation; a position detecting part detecting a position of the operation body; and a display unit displaying a position of the operation body. The display unit includes an operation member, a supporting body, and a movable load applying mechanism including a movable member, a magnetic generating mechanism, a magnetorheological fluid, and an operation controlling part. The display unit includes a display part displaying the operation position. A display controlling part PS controls a display. A controller is included to control the operation controlling part and the display controlling part. In a control method of the operation device, the controller controls to display a state of the operation position of the operation body on the display part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Goto, Kazunari Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10738854
    Abstract: A manipulation device has a manipulation body operated by the manipulator in a manipulation direction, a support body freely supporting the operation of the manipulation body, and a movable load imparting mechanism imparting a load to the manipulation body. The movable load imparting mechanism has a movable member engaged with the movable axis of the manipulation body, a magnetism generating mechanism having a coil that generates a magnetic field and a first yoke provided so as to enclose the coil, and a magnetic viscous fluid, its viscosity changing according to the strength of a magnetic field. The magnetic viscous fluid is filled in a first gap between the first yoke and the movable member. In the gap, a first buffering layer not harder than the movable member is provided on at least one of the opposing plane of the first yoke and the opposing plane of the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunari Takahashi, Atsushi Goto
  • Publication number: 20200243288
    Abstract: An input device includes a first part and a second part configured to move relative to each other according to an input operation, a magnetic viscous fluid whose viscosity changes according to a magnetic field, and a magnetic-field generator that generates the magnetic field applied to the magnetic viscous fluid. The second part includes a first surface and a second surface that are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a direction of relative movement between the first part and the second part. Gaps are formed between the first surface and the first part and between the second surface and the first part, and the magnetic viscous fluid is present in at least a part of the gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroshi WAKUDA, Kazunari TAKAHASHI, Atsushi GOTO, Ryuichiro YASUHARA
  • Publication number: 20200243289
    Abstract: An input device includes a first part and a second part configured to move relative to each other according to an input operation, a magnetic viscous fluid whose viscosity changes according to a magnetic field, and a magnetic-field generator that generates the magnetic field applied to the magnetic viscous fluid. The second part includes a first surface and a second surface that are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a direction of relative movement between the first part and the second part. Gaps are formed between the first surface and the first part and between the second surface and the first part, and the magnetic viscous fluid is present in at least a part of the gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroshi WAKUDA, Kazunari TAKAHASHI, Atsushi GOTO, Ryuichiro YASUHARA
  • Patent number: 10725492
    Abstract: An operation device includes an operation body, a support body, and an operational feeling variable unit; wherein the operational feeling variable unit includes a movable load applying mechanism and a magnetic click mechanism; the movable load applying mechanism includes a movable member, a magnetic generating mechanism including a first coil and a first yoke, and a magnetic viscous fluid configured to change in viscosity according to a strength of a magnetic field; wherein the magnetic viscous fluid is filled in a first gap between the first yoke and the movable member; the magnetic click mechanism includes a first magnetic body configured to move in an interlocked manner with the motion of the operation body, and a second magnetic body facing the first magnetic body. The first magnetic body and/or the second magnetic body are magnetized such that different magnetic poles alternate along a movement direction of the operation body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunari Takahashi, Atsushi Goto
  • Patent number: 10711533
    Abstract: A threaded pipe joint, when acted upon by a tensile load, does not break on the female thread-side of a first thread section of a second thread series that extends from an intermediate shoulder. The threaded pipe joint reliably undergoes tensile rupture on the female thread-side of a first thread section of a first thread series, which is the original critical cross-section site. The threaded pipe joint is configured so that when the male and female threads of the intermediate shoulder are screwed together, the load flank-side thread gaps L1G and L2G of a first thread series, which is the radially inward thread series, and a second thread series, which is the radially outward thread series, on the two sides of the intermediate shoulder always satisfy the relationship L1G<L2G.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Yoshikawa, Kazunari Takahashi, Taro Kanayama, Jun Takano, Takamasa Kawai, Tsuyoshi Yoneyama
  • Publication number: 20200158191
    Abstract: A torque generating device includes a magnetic disk configured to rotate around a rotation axis, first and second yokes located on opposite sides across the magnetic disk, a coil disposed to overlap the magnetic disk along a direction of the rotation axis, a third yoke of which at least a region proximity to the magnetic disk is located outside the magnetic disk and the coil and that makes up a magnetic path of a magnetic field generated by the coil with the first and second yokes, and a magnetic viscous fluid filled between the magnetic disk and the first and second yokes. The third yoke has a magnetic gap between the third and first yokes. The magnetic gap is formed at a position outside an outer peripheral edge of the magnetic disk or overlapping the outer peripheral edge of the magnetic disk along the direction of the rotation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Asuka Koike, Kazunari Takahashi, Misuzu Takahashi, Yoshihiro Kuge, Atsushi Goto
  • Patent number: 10658139
    Abstract: An input device includes a first part and a second part configured to move relative to each other according to an input operation, a magnetic viscous fluid whose viscosity changes according to a magnetic field, and a magnetic-field generator that generates the magnetic field applied to the magnetic viscous fluid. The second part includes a first surface and a second surface that are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a direction of relative movement between the first part and the second part. Gaps are formed between the first surface and the first part and between the second surface and the first part, and the magnetic viscous fluid is present in at least a part of the gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Wakuda, Kazunari Takahashi, Atsushi Goto, Ryuichiro Yasuhara
  • Publication number: 20200127550
    Abstract: An operating device includes a magnetic disk capable of rotational motion around a rotation axis, a first yoke located on one side and a second yoke located on an other side across the magnetic disk, a coil disposed to overlap the magnetic disk when viewed in a direction along a direction in which the rotation axis extends, a magnetic viscous fluid filled between the magnetic disk and each of the first yoke and the second yoke, a magnetic measurement portion for measuring magnetism caused by a magnetic field using the magnetic viscous fluid, the magnetic disk, the first yoke, and the second yoke as a magnetic path, and a control unit configured to acquire a measured value from the magnetic measurement portion and control a magnetic field that is generated by the coil based on the measured value to change a viscosity of the magnetic viscous fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Asuka Koike, Kazunari Takahashi, Atsushi Goto, Yoshihiro Kuge, Misuzu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10443765
    Abstract: A threaded joint for pipes including a pin and a box, characterized in that the relationship 0.05 degrees??sb??sp?2.0 degrees is satisfied, where ?sb is an angle of an insertion surface of the female thread on the box side relative to a plane perpendicular to an axis of pipe, and ?sp is an angle of an insertion surface of the male thread, which faces the insertion surface of the female thread, on the pin side relative to the plane perpendicular to the axis of pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Nagahama, Hiroshi Chikatsune, Kazunari Takahashi, Masaki Yoshikawa, Jun Takano, Masateru Ueta, Takamasa Kawai
  • Publication number: 20190286184
    Abstract: An operation device includes an operation body, a support body, and an operational feeling variable unit; wherein the operational feeling variable unit includes a movable load applying mechanism and a magnetic click mechanism; the movable load applying mechanism includes a movable member, a magnetic generating mechanism including a first coil and a first yoke, and a magnetic viscous fluid configured to change in viscosity according to a strength of a magnetic field; wherein the magnetic viscous fluid is filled in a first gap between the first yoke and the movable member; the magnetic click mechanism includes a first magnetic body configured to move in an interlocked manner with the motion of the operation body, and a second magnetic body facing the first magnetic body. The first magnetic body and/or the second magnetic body are magnetized such that different magnetic poles alternate along a movement direction of the operation body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Kazunari TAKAHASHI, Atsushi GOTO
  • Patent number: 10352379
    Abstract: A rotating body is rotatably supported on a holding section. The holding section includes a rotation detection unit, a torque-applying unit, and a brake-applying unit. The torque-applying unit includes an A-phase torque-applying coil and a B-phase torque-applying coil, and a resistance torque and a pull-in torque applied to a rotor (magnet) are caused to vary as a result of controlling supply of current to each of the coils. In addition, a braking force can be controlled by supplying current to a brake-applying coil included in the brake-applying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunari Takahashi, Atsushi Goto
  • Publication number: 20190179356
    Abstract: An operation feel imparting type input device includes a fixed part, a rotating body rotatably supported by the fixed part, a rotatable operation knob fixed to the rotating body, a rotation angle detection unit configured to detect a rotation angle of the rotating body, a brake application unit configured to apply a braking force to the rotating body, a torque application unit configured to apply a torque to the rotating body, a control unit configured to control the brake application unit and the torque application unit, and an operation torque detection unit configured to detect the magnitude of an operation torque applied to the rotating body. When the rotating body is rotated from an endstop, brake release is performed according to the magnitude of the operation torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Atsushi GOTO, Kazunari TAKAHASHI, Ryuichiro YASUHARA
  • Patent number: D879038
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Asuka Koike, Kazunari Takahashi
  • Patent number: D880421
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Asuka Koike, Kazunari Takahashi
  • Patent number: D906966
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Asuka Koike, Misuzu Takahashi, Kazunari Takahashi