Patents by Inventor Kouji Okuda

Kouji Okuda 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: 20170016556
    Abstract: A positioner includes: a displacement amount detector that outputs a pair of detection signals; an interconnection board that includes an interconnection layer which is disposed between two insulating layers and has a pair of signal interconnections, having the pair of detection signals supplied thereto, formed therein; a circuit board on which an electronic circuit generating a control signal for controlling a valve opening of the regulating valve on the basis of the pair of detection signals is formed; and a housing. The interconnection board is bonded to the housing by a conductive adhesive member in at least a portion of a surface of any one of the insulating layers, and the adhesive member has a measured value of hardness, which is obtained by a type D durometer after hardening, being in a range of equal to or greater than D20 and equal to or less than D90.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: Azbil Corporation
    Inventor: Kouji OKUDA
  • Publication number: 20170017242
    Abstract: A positioner includes: a displacement amount detector that outputs a pair of detection signals; a multi-layered board that propagates a pair of detection signals; a circuit board on which an electronic circuit generating a control signal for controlling a valve opening of the regulating valve, on the basis of the pair of detection signals is formed; and a housing that accommodates at least the multi-layered board and the circuit board. The multi-layered board includes a first interconnection layer having a first interconnection pattern formed therein, and a second interconnection layer that has a pair of signal interconnections formed therein and is disposed on the first interconnection layer through an interlayer insulation film. The first interconnection pattern is electrically connected to the housing and is formed so as to overlap the pair of signal interconnections formed in the second interconnection layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: Azbil Corporation
    Inventor: Kouji OKUDA
  • Patent number: 9360026
    Abstract: In a comparing circuit, the value of a control signal from a higher-level device and a normal range that is set for the control signal are compared, and the result is sent to a control unit. The control unit, when sent the result indicating that the value of the control signal is outside of the normal range, forcibly adjusts the electric current signal (the adjusted electric current) to the electropneumatic converter to zero, regardless of the deviation between the value indicated by the control signal and the value indicated by the valve opening signal. The adjustment of the electric current in the control unit is performed using a normal function that is possessed by the control unit, that is, the function for changing continuously the value of the electric current signal in accordance with the deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouji Okuda
  • Patent number: 9280170
    Abstract: A field device has a primary power supply generating circuit that generates a primary power supply from an electric current that is supplied through a pair of electric wires from a higher-level system, and a calculation processing portion and various functional circuit portions, which operate based on a supply of an operating power supply electric current produced from the primary power supply. The field device also has an operating power supply electric current supplying unit that supplies the operating power supply electric current to a calculation processing portion with maximum priority. The calculation processing portion receives the operating power supply electric current supplied with maximum priority, clears a self-reset operation after starting up itself, and then directs sequentially, following a predetermined sequence, supply of the operating power supply electric current to each of the various functional circuit portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Okuda, Kentaro Ohya, Hiroaki Nagoya
  • Patent number: 9092018
    Abstract: The range of electric currents that can be assumed by a supply electric current is categorized into a plurality of electric current ranges, where, for each electric current range category, there are combinations of functions, wherein the total value for the electric current required is less than the upper limit value, and no less than the lower limit value, for the electric current range established, and a table wherein these combinations are established is stored in memory. An actual value is detected for a supply current I to ascertain the category of electric current to which the supply electric current I applies, the combination of functions established for the applicable category of electric currents is read out from the table, and operation of the function circuit portions for the functions of the combination that has been read out is enabled, and operation of the other function circuit portions is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichirou Murata, Kouji Okuda, Hiroaki Nagoya
  • Patent number: 9025300
    Abstract: A voltage/current converting circuit is provided in a stage prior to a communication circuit. An over-current preventing circuit is incorporated into the voltage/current converting circuit. The voltage/current converting circuit converts a DC voltage signal into a DC electric current signal, and converts an AC voltage signal into an AC electric current signal. Moreover, the voltage/current converting circuit keeps the excessively large electric current that would flow into the internal circuitry thereof to no more than a predetermined electric current value (for example, no more than 30 mA) when the positioner is connected in error to the voltage source side without a load resistance connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventor: Kouji Okuda
  • Patent number: 9002527
    Abstract: A coil of an electro-pneumatic converting portion is connected in parallel with a constant voltage circuit. An electric current regulating portion is provided in a supply line for an electric current to the coil. The regulating value for the electric current in this electric current regulating portion is controlled by an instruction from a CPU. The CPU detects, as a present supply electric current, an actual value for the supply electric current from a higher-level system, and evaluates whether or not there is, in the present supply electric current, a surplus electric current that can be directed to the electro-pneumatic converting portion. The supply electric current can be in excess of 4 mA and is the surplus electric current, and if there is a surplus electric current, then a command is sent to the electric current regulating portion so as to allocate that surplus electric current to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Okuda, Hiroaki Nagoya, Kouichirou Murata
  • Patent number: 8955821
    Abstract: A power supply controlling function is provided in a controlling portion. The power supply controlling function defines a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, a third pressure sensor, and an oscillation detecting sensor as sensors to which power may be supplied, and turns switches that are provided in the supply circuits of the power supply to the individual sensors to which power may be supplied ON and OFF so that a plurality of these sensors to which power may be supplied does not operate simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Okuda, Takashi Nomiyama
  • Patent number: 8878685
    Abstract: To provide reliable notification of a fault state when a power supply to a calculation processing portion is in the OFF state when a power supply to a communication processing portion is in the ON state. An isolating circuit, an inverting circuit inverting a signal branch-outputted through an output line of the isolating circuit, and a selecting circuit that uses the signal outputted from the output line of the isolating circuit as a first input and the inverted signal from the inverting circuit as a second input, to select either the first input or the second input, depending on a selection setting status thereof, to output the selected signal to the communication processing portion are provided. A +5 V voltage is applied through a resistor to the output line of the isolating circuit. This +5 V voltage is produced through the power supply supplied from the second double-wire transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Okuda, Hiroaki Nagoya, Kouichirou Murata
  • Patent number: 8807522
    Abstract: A variable impedance circuit is provided as an active load between an input line L1 and an output line L2. This circuit has low impedance with respect to a DC electric current signal and has high impedance with respect to an AC electric current signal, structured from a series circuit of resistors R1, R2, and R3 connected between lines L1 and L2; a transistor Q1 having the collector connected to the line L1 and the base connected between the resistors R2 and R3; a resistor R4 connected between the emitter of the transistor Q1 and the line L2; a capacitor C1 with one end connected between the resistors R2 and R3; a resistor R5 connected between the other end of the capacitor C1 and the line L2; a capacitor C2 having one end connected between the resistors R1 and R2; and a resistor R6 connected between the other end of the capacitor C2 and the line L2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Okuda, Hiroaki Nagoya, Yoshio Maehana
  • Patent number: 8766837
    Abstract: The disclosed device easily and precisely satisfies a requested output range, and is provided with: a ??-modulator (12) which converts a digital input signal to a pulse signal; an input comparison device (11) which compares an input value that corresponds to the digital input signal, and a pre-set threshold value; and a thinned output control unit (14) which, when the result of the comparison by the input comparison device (11) shows that the input value is less than the threshold value, reduces the output value corresponding to the input value in accordance with the size of the difference between the input value and the threshold value, and sets the output value to 0 when the input value is 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kajita, Seita Nashimoto, Naoki Nagashima, Kouji Okuda
  • Publication number: 20140102549
    Abstract: In a comparing circuit, the value of a control signal from a higher-level device and a normal range that is set for the control signal are compared, and the result is sent to a control unit. The control unit, when sent the result indicating that the value of the control signal is outside of the normal range, forcibly adjusts the electric current signal (the adjusted electric current) to the electropneumatic converter to zero, regardless of the deviation between the value indicated by the control signal and the value indicated by the valve opening signal. The adjustment of the electric current in the control unit is performed using a normal function that is possessed by the control unit, that is, the function for changing continuously the value of the electric current signal in accordance with the deviation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouji OKUDA
  • Publication number: 20130282191
    Abstract: A field device has a primary power supply generating circuit that generates a primary power supply from an electric current that is supplied through a pair of electric wires from a higher-level system, and a calculation processing portion and various functional circuit portions, which operate based on a supply of an operating power supply electric current produced from the primary power supply. The field device also has an operating power supply electric current supplying unit that supplies the operating power supply electric current to a calculation processing portion with maximum priority. The calculation processing portion receives the operating power supply electric current supplied with maximum priority, clears a self-reset operation after starting up itself, and then directs sequentially, following a predetermined sequence, supply of the operating power supply electric current to each of the various functional circuit portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji OKUDA, Kentaro OHYA, Hiroaki NAGOYA
  • Publication number: 20120286982
    Abstract: The disclosed device easily and precisely satisfies a requested output range, and is provided with: a ??-modulator (12) which converts a digital input signal to a pulse signal; an input comparison device (11) which compares an input value that corresponds to the digital input signal, and a pre-set threshold value; and a thinned output control unit (14) which, when the result of the comparison by the input comparison device (11) shows that the input value is less than the threshold value, reduces the output value corresponding to the input value in accordance with the size of the difference between the input value and the threshold value, and sets the output value to 0 when the input value is 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kajita, Seita Nashimoto, Naoki Nagashima, Kouji Okuda
  • Publication number: 20120248356
    Abstract: A power supply controlling function is provided in a controlling portion. The power supply controlling function defines a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, a third pressure sensor, and an oscillation detecting sensor as sensors to which power may be supplied, and turns switches that are provided in the supply circuits of the power supply to the individual sensors to which power may be supplied ON and OFF so that a plurality of these sensors to which power may be supplied does not operate simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: YAMATAKE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Okuda, Takashi Nomiyama
  • Publication number: 20120249019
    Abstract: A coil of an electro-pneumatic converting portion is connected in parallel with a constant voltage circuit. An electric current regulating portion is provided in a supply line for an electric current to the coil. The regulating value for the electric current in this electric current regulating portion is controlled by an instruction from a CPU The CPU detects, as a present supply electric current, an actual value for the supply electric current from a higher-level system, and evaluates whether or not there is, in the present supply electric current, a surplus electric current that can be directed to the electro-pneumatic converting portion. The supply electric current can be in excess of 4 mA and is the surplus electric current, and if there is a surplus electric current, the a command is sent to the electric current regulating portion so as to allocate that surplus electric current to the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Yamatake Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Okuda, Hiroaki Nagoya, Kouichirou Murata
  • Publication number: 20120249231
    Abstract: To provide reliable notification of a fault state when a power supply to a calculation processing portion is in the OFF state when a power supply to a communication processing portion is in the ON state. An isolating circuit, an inverting circuit inverting a signal branch-outputted through an output tine of the isolating circuit, and a selecting circuit that uses the signal outputted from the output line of the isolating circuit as a first input and the inverted signal from the inverting circuit as a second input, to select either the first input or the second input, depending on a selection setting status thereof, to output the selected signal to the communication processing portion are provided. A +5 V voltage is applied through a resistor to the output line of the isolating circuit. This +5 V voltage is produced through the power supply supplied from the second double-wire transmission path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: YAMATAKE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Okuda, Hiroaki Nagoya, Kouichirou Murata
  • Publication number: 20120248896
    Abstract: A switch is provided in a supply line for an operating power supply from an operating power supply generating circuit to a main circuit, An electric current detecting circuit and a comparison evaluating circuit are provided as a controlling circuit portion for controlling the ON/OFF state of the switch. The electric current detecting circuit inputs a voltage in accordance with the value of an electric current supplied from an higher-level system, and inverts and amplifies the voltage to produce an output voltage. The comparison evaluating circuit inputs the output voltage from the electric current detecting circuit, compares the output voltage to a reference voltage, and turns the switch ON if the output voltage is higher than the reference voltage. The reference voltage is set in advance in accordance with a lower limit electric current value for the electric current that must be supplied for the main circuit to operate properly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: YAMATAKE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouji Okuda
  • Patent number: D868995
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuumi Tanaka, Kouji Okuda
  • Patent number: D871608
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Okuda, Motohiro Tanaka