Patents by Inventor MASATOSHI NISHIO

MASATOSHI NISHIO 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: 20240127635
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes: an in-vehicle device configured to communicate with a cloud server configured to manage vehicle data; and an expansion unit that is detachably attached to the in-vehicle device. The expansion unit includes: an input line for each communication protocol of input data; an output line for each communication protocol of output data; a connector for connecting the output line to the in-vehicle device; and a processing unit configured to perform processing on input data and cause the output line to output the output data. The in-vehicle device includes: a controller configured to generate the vehicle data based on the received output data; and a communication unit configured to transmit the vehicle data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Masatoshi KOMIYAMA, Keisuke NISHIO, Shigeru KAJIOKA, Makiko TAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20240127637
    Abstract: By a data processing method or a communication system, input data is acquired, first processing that is processing of reducing a data amount of the input data is performed, second processing of converting data obtained by the first processing into data having a preset format configured to be handled by an in-vehicle device unit is performed, third processing of converting data obtained by the second processing into normalization data configured to be handled by a cloud server is performed, and vehicle data is provided to the cloud server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Masatoshi Komiyama, Keisuke Nishio, Shigeru Kajioka, Makiko Tauchi
  • Patent number: 11896929
    Abstract: A laser device includes a laser oscillator, a dehumidifier, and a controller controlling an operation of the dehumidifier. The controller controls the dehumidifier such that the dew point inside the laser oscillator is lower than the first dew point when a monolayer or less of water molecules is adsorbed, or such that the dew point is equal to or higher than the second dew point when more than a monolayer of water molecules is adsorbed inside the laser oscillator, and is lower than the third dew point at which the dew condensation starts to occur inside the laser oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Ryudo, Masatoshi Nishio, Jingbo Wang
  • Patent number: 11806812
    Abstract: A detector is configured to detect an output of a reflected beam from an exit end surface of a parallel plate. A determination unit is configured to determine that an abnormality occurs in the parallel plate when a detection value of the detector is smaller than a determination threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Nishio, Jingbo Wang, Hitoshi Nishimura, Motoki Morioka
  • Publication number: 20230219166
    Abstract: Laser processing device (100) includes a laser oscillator that generates laser beam (LB), laser head (60) that irradiates a workpiece with laser beam (LB), and manipulator (40) on which laser head (60) is mounted. Manipulator (40) includes robot arm (41), arm tip shaft (J6) provided at a tip of robot arm (41) in a manner rotatable about axis (RA), and connector component (50) that connects arm tip shaft (J6) and laser head (60). Connector component (50) is provided with gauge attachment portion (51a) to which gauge (80) is attached removably. Gauge (80) has a reference point corresponding to the focal position of laser beam (LB).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: YOICHI FUKUMITSU, TAKAYASU OHARA, MASATOSHI NISHIO
  • Patent number: 11565345
    Abstract: Laser processing device (1) includes: laser-beam switching apparatus (70) that switches between a first optical path and a second optical path as an optical path along which a laser beam is to travel, the first optical path including first fiber (11), the second optical path including second fiber (21) that has a core diameter that is larger than a core diameter of first fiber (11); and processing head (80) that illuminates a same processed point on workpiece (900) with a laser beam that has passed through the first optical path or the second optical path. When illumination with laser beam that has passed through the first optical path is performed for a predetermined period of time, laser-beam switching apparatus (70) switches from the first optical path to the second optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Doukei Nagayasu, Hitoshi Nishimura, Jingbo Wang, Makoto Ryudo, Masatoshi Nishio, Hideaki Yamaguchi, Yoshiaki Takenaka, Kiyotaka Eizumi, Ryo Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20230001506
    Abstract: Laser processing head 10 includes housing 11 and a plurality of optical components. Housing 11 is provided with partition wall 11a, first and second light entrance ports 12a, 12b through which first and second laser beams A, B respectively enter, and light irradiation port 13. Laser processing head 10 includes first and second photodetectors 91b, 92a provided around first and second light entrance ports 12a, 12b, respectively. First photodetector 91b is disposed opposite to second photodetector 92a across partition wall 11a. First photodetector 91b receives light in the second wavelength band including the wavelength of second laser beam B, and second photodetector 92a receives light in the first wavelength band including the wavelength of first laser beam A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Hisayuki OGUCHI, Masatoshi NISHIO
  • Publication number: 20220326478
    Abstract: Laser apparatus (10) includes at least: a laser oscillator that emits laser light (LB); reflection mirrors (M1), (M2) that are disposed on an optical path of laser light (LB) and change the optical path; actuators (ACT1), (ACT2) that are respectively coupled to reflection mirrors (M1), (M2) and displace reflection mirrors (M1), (M2); optical axis deviation detector (16) that is disposed to surround the optical path of laser light (LB) and detects an optical axis deviation of laser light (LB); and a controller that drives actuators (ACT1), (ACT2) on the basis of a detection result of optical axis deviation detector (16) to displace reflection mirrors (M1), (M2) and correct the optical axis deviation of laser light (LB).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: MASATOSHI NISHIO, MANABU NISHIHARA, YOSHINORI SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20220297231
    Abstract: The control unit executes: a first execution step of executing a processing program to set a target value to a value defined by a processing program and performing feedback control on a driving current of a laser oscillator; a detection step of detecting an output fluctuation during execution of the first execution step; a specification step of specifying a physical quantity for which a measured value within a predetermined monitoring time before an occurrence timing of the output fluctuation does not satisfy a predetermined condition as an abnormal physical quantity from a plurality of physical quantities measured during execution of the first execution step; and a program update step of detecting appearance of a predetermined feature in an abnormal physical quantity as a fluctuation factor during execution of a post-update processing program, and updating the processing program to correct the driving current to reduce a difference between the laser output power and the target value compared with when the ou
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Masatoshi NISHIO, Manabu NISHIHARA, Takamichi KOMATSU
  • Patent number: 11333833
    Abstract: There is provided an optical axis alignment mechanism between the laser oscillator and the optical fiber. The laser oscillator emits laser light, which then emerges from the emission end of the optical fiber via the axis alignment mechanism. Part of the laser light is received on the light-receiving surface of the CCD camera of a laser light evaluator. Thus, the laser light evaluator acquires a light intensity distribution. The light intensity distribution is used by the optical axis alignment mechanism to align the axis of the laser oscillator with the axis of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Eizumi, Makoto Ryudo, Doukei Nagayasu, Hitoshi Nishimura, Jingbo Wang, Masatoshi Nishio, Hideaki Yamaguchi, Yoshiaki Takenaka, Ryo Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20220118557
    Abstract: Provided is a laser processing head including: shield holder (23) that has opening (23b) formed through shield holder (23) and optical sensor mounting hole (23c) formed in an inner peripheral surface of opening (23b); optical sensor (24) that has light receiving surface (24a) facing the inside of opening (23b) through optical sensor mounting hole (23c) and is attached to shield holder (23); and second protective glass (25) that has an outer peripheral surface facing light receiving surface (24a) of optical sensor (24) and is provided in opening (23b), second protective glass (25) transmitting a laser beam emitted by a laser oscillator to emit the laser beam toward a workpiece, and second protective glass (25) including reflective coating film (25a) formed in a region in the outer peripheral surface except an opposed region facing light receiving surface (24a) of optical sensor (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: JINGBO WANG, MASATOSHI NISHIO, KENZO SHIBATA, MANABU NISHIHARA
  • Patent number: 11285564
    Abstract: A laser processing head includes parallel plate (17) that shifts an optical axis of a laser beam to be emitted from a top to a bottom of body case (6) from a first optical axis to a second optical axis, parallel plate (19) that shift the optical axis of the laser beam from the second optical axis to a third optical axis, and body case (6) that accommodates holders (7 and 18) that respectively hold parallel plates (17 and 19). The laser processing head further includes a rotation mechanism that rotates holders (7 and 18) around a first rotary axis. Opening (7a) that a laser beam reflected by an incident surface of second parallel plate (19) passes through is formed in holder (7), and light receiving part (6a) that receives the laser beam having passed through opening (7a) is disposed in body case (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Ryudo, Doukei Nagayasu, Hitoshi Nishimura, Jingbo Wang, Masatoshi Nishio, Hideaki Yamaguchi, Yoshiaki Takenaka, Kiyotaka Eizumi, Ryo Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20220088709
    Abstract: Laser welding device (1000) includes: laser oscillator (100); optical fiber (300) that transmits a laser beam (LB) generated in laser oscillator (100); laser beam emitting head (400) that is attached to the emission end of optical fiber (300) and emits laser beam (LB) toward workpiece (600); manipulator (500) with laser beam emitting head (400) attached thereto; and controller (200) that controls laser beam emitting head (400) so as to cause laser beam (LB) to be scanned three-dimensionally on the surface of workpiece (600). Controller (200) controls laser beam emitting head (400) so as to change a focal position of laser beam (LB) in accordance with a shape of a welded portion in workpiece (600).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: JINGBO WANG, MASATOSHI NISHIO, KENZO SHIBATA, MANABU NISHIHARA
  • Publication number: 20220072661
    Abstract: A laser processing device includes a laser oscillator, an optical fiber that is a multi-clad fiber, a beam control mechanism provided in the laser oscillator, and a laser light emitting head attached to the optical fiber. The beam control mechanism includes a condenser lens, an optical path changing and holding mechanism that is disposed between the condenser lens and an incident end face of the optical fiber and changes an optical path of laser light LB, and a controller that controls an operation of the optical path changing and holding mechanism. The beam control mechanism controls a power distribution of the laser light by changing an incident position of the laser light on the incident end face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: JINGBO WANG, MASATOSHI NISHIO, KENZO SHIBATA, MANABU NISHIHARA
  • Publication number: 20220072655
    Abstract: A laser processing device includes a laser oscillator, first to third optical fibers, a beam control mechanism, and first to third laser light emitting heads attached to the first to third optical fibers, respectively. The beam control mechanism includes a condenser lens, first to third optical path changing mechanisms provided on an optical path of laser light LB after being transmitted through the condenser lens, and a controller that controls operations of the first to third optical path changing mechanisms. The beam control mechanism causes the laser light to be emitted from the first laser light emitting head via the selected first optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: JINGBO WANG, MASATOSHI NISHIO, KENZO SHIBATA, MANABU NISHIHARA
  • Publication number: 20220072662
    Abstract: A laser processing device includes a laser oscillator, optical fiber (90), beam control mechanism (20), and a laser light emitting head. The laser oscillator includes first and second laser oscillation units that generate first and second laser light rays (LB1) and (LB2), respectively. Beam control mechanism (20) includes optical path changing and holding mechanism (40) that is disposed between second condenser lens (32) that condenses second laser light (LB2) and dichroic mirror (33) that multiplexes first and second laser light rays (LB1) and (LB2) and causes the multiplexed light to be incident on optical fiber (90). Beam control mechanism (20) changes an incident position of second laser light (LB2) on optical fiber (90).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: JINGBO WANG, MASATOSHI NISHIO, KENZO SHIBATA, MANABU NISHIHARA
  • Patent number: 11060905
    Abstract: A laser device includes: a laser resonator for emitting a laser beam; a condenser lens for collecting the laser beam emitted from the laser resonator; an optical fiber for transmitting the laser beam collected by the condenser lens; at least one light sensor opposing a light receiving surface of the condenser lens and outside an optical path of the laser beam, the at least one light sensor detecting an amount of return light from the condenser lens; and a controller for determining a presence of an abnormality when a value of the amount detected by the at least one light sensor is greater than a predetermined maximum threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jingbo Wang, Doukei Nagayasu, Yoshiaki Takenaka, Hitoshi Nishimura, Makoto Ryudo, Kiyotaka Eizumi, Hideaki Yamaguchi, Ryo Ishikawa, Masatoshi Nishio, Takasi Kakutani, Yasushi Mukai, Mitsuru Mukai, Hiroyuki Hayashikawa
  • Publication number: 20210146481
    Abstract: A first detector detects an output of a reflected beam from an exit end surface of a first parallel plate. A determination unit determines that an abnormality occurs in the first parallel plate when the detection value of the first detector is smaller than a predetermined determination threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Masatoshi NISHIO, Jingbo WANG, Hitoshi NISHIMURA, Motoki MORIOKA
  • Patent number: 10955618
    Abstract: A fiber coupling device (100) includes the following components: a wedge plate (102) for receiving light and refracting the light in a predetermined direction, a condenser lens (104) for collecting the light refracted by the wedge plate (102); and an optical fiber (107) having an incident surface for receiving the light collected by the condenser lens (104). The wedge plate (102) is held rotatable around the optical axis (200) of the light incident on the wedge plate (102). The light refracted by the wedge plate (102) and collected by the condenser lens (104) is incident on a different point on the incident surface depending on the rotation angle of the wedge plate (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Nishio, Hitoshi Nishimura, Jingbo Wang, Makoto Ryudo, Doukei Nagayasu, Hideaki Yamaguchi, Yoshiaki Takenaka, Kiyotaka Eizumi, Ryo Ishikawa, Yasushi Mukai
  • Publication number: 20210077946
    Abstract: A laser device includes a laser oscillator, a dehumidifier, and a controller controlling an operation of the dehumidifier. The controller controls the dehumidifier such that the dew point inside the laser oscillator is lower than the first dew point when a monolayer or less of water molecules is adsorbed, or such that the dew point is equal to or higher than the second dew point when more than a monolayer of water molecules is adsorbed inside the laser oscillator, and is lower than the third dew point at which the dew condensation starts to occur inside the laser oscillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Makoto RYUDO, Masatoshi NISHIO, Jingbo WANG