Patents by Inventor Michiharu Yamamoto

Michiharu Yamamoto 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: 10620276
    Abstract: A magnetic detection device that is reduced in size and thickness, but also accurate, includes a substrate and an element disposed on the substrate and including a magneto-sensitive wire sensing an external magnetic field component in an extending direction and a detection coil looping around the magneto-sensitive wire. The magnetic detection device further includes a magnetic field deflector deflecting an external magnetic field around the magneto-sensitive wire, and having a nonmagnetic material core part and a soft magnetic material shell part covering an outer side of at least part of the core part. The magnetic field deflector has a hollow, rather than solid, structure of soft magnetic material. The soft magnetic material volume is therefore significantly smaller, and the hysteresis caused in the magnetic field deflector is remarkably reduced. With the magnetic detection device, the magnetic field component orthogonal to the substrate is also detected with higher accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Shimoto, Jun Nakamura, Ryusuke Yamashita, Tomohiko Nagao, Michiharu Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20200110420
    Abstract: In an operation method of marker system (1) in which laying position information indicating a position where a magnetic marker (10) is laid is provided to a vehicle (3) side for achieving control for assisting driving of the vehicle (3) by using the magnetic marker (10), since positional accuracy required when laying magnetic markers (10) can be relaxed, the laying position information of the magnetic marker (10) positioned on the vehicle (3) side which performs the control for assisting driving is used as correction information to correct the laying position information indicating the position where the magnetic marker (10) is laid, and laying cost of magnetic markers (10) can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiharu YAMAMOTO, Tomohiko NAGAO, Hitoshi AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20200103230
    Abstract: A ball rotation amount measurement system which includes a magnetic sensor fixed to a ball to measure geomagnetism in at least one axis direction, and a computation unit configured to compute the rotation amount of the ball using data of a large number of the geomagnetism time-sequentially acquired by the magnetic sensor. The computation unit includes a difference data calculation unit configured to calculate a difference between two of the time-sequential geomagnetic data to thereby time-sequentially obtain a large number of difference data, a difference waveform calculation unit configured to determine a difference waveform that represents a time variation waveform of a large number of the difference data, and a rotation amount calculation unit configured to calculate the rotation amount of the ball, based on information of zero cross points at which the difference waveform crosses a straight line indicating zero-difference within a predetermined period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiharu YAMAMOTO, Kazuo URAKAWA, Masaki MORI
  • Publication number: 20200088902
    Abstract: In a marker detection method for detecting magnetic markers (10) laid in a road by sensor units (11) attached to a vehicle (5), in a marker detection system (1) including two sensor units (11) arranged so as to be separated in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle (5) and two magnetic markers (10) arranged at spacings equal thereto so as to be simultaneously detectable by the two sensor units (11), magnetism generation sources simultaneously detected by the two sensor units (11) are detected as the magnetic markers (10), thereby reducing erroneous detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiharu YAMAMOTO, Tomohiko NAGAO, Hitoshi AOYAMA
  • Patent number: 10591637
    Abstract: A ball rotational direction detecting system includes a magnetic sensor that is fixed in a ball, an acceleration sensor, a bearing recording unit that records a moving bearing, a magnetic dip recording unit that records a magnetic dip ? of geomagnetism, and a calculating unit. The calculating unit calculates the orientation of the rotation axis and the rotational direction of the ball with respect to a traveling direction F and a gravity direction G of the ball, based on a geomagnetism vector m, an acceleration vector a, the moving bearing, the magnetic dip ?, and time variations in the geomagnetism vector m or the acceleration vector a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michiharu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10539701
    Abstract: A minute magnetic body detecting sensor includes: a magnetic impedance element, with two magneto-sensitive bodies disposed in substantially two-dimensional directions such that an angle formed by respective sensitive axes is substantially 90 degrees; and a signal processing device, including a signal processing circuit, processing and amplifying damped oscillating voltages output by the two magneto-sensitive bodies that detected a local magnetic field due to a minute magnetic body that is a foreign substance, two square operating elements, squaring output signals, an adder, adding the squared signals, and a square root operating element, performing square root computation on the addition output and outputting a square root output, and enables high-precision detection of existence or non-existence of a minute magnetic body without detection overlooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Kawano, Hideo Arakawa, Michiharu Yamamoto, Hitoshi Aoyama, Kazuo Urakawa
  • Publication number: 20200012294
    Abstract: In an installation method for laying magnetic markers (10) in a road for driving assist control on a vehicle side, a laying work vehicle (2) sequentially lays the magnetic markers (10) while moving along the road without performing a prior survey or the like of laying positions, and then by using a positioning work vehicle (3) including a magnetic sensor capable of detecting magnetism, the laid magnetic markers (10) are detected and the laying positions are identified to generate position data regarding the magnetic markers (10), thereby allowing reduction of cost of laying the magnetic markers (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiharu YAMAMOTO, Tomohiko NAGAO, Hitoshi AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20190393367
    Abstract: The invention provides highly fluorescent materials comprising a single (i=0) or a series (i=1, 2, etc.) of heterocyclic systems. The chromophores are particularly useful for absorption and emission of photons in the visible and near infrared wavelength range. The photo-stable highly luminescent chromophores are useful in various applications, including in wavelength conversion films. Wavelength conversion films have the potential to significantly enhance the solar harvesting efficiency of photovoltaic or solar cell devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: MILA RACHWAL, Michiharu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10509080
    Abstract: (Subject) To provide a differential magnetic sensor capable of accurate magnetic detection of a local weak magnetic field even when there is a difference in detection sensitivity of a plurality of magnetic sensors used as a differential type magnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Kawano, Hitoshi Aoyama, Michiharu Yamamoto, Hideo Arakawa
  • Patent number: 10509081
    Abstract: A magneto-sensitive wire for a magnetic impedance sensor and a method of manufacturing the same are provided which can prevent generation of abnormal noise in an output voltage and deterioration in hysteresis characteristics and enable higher-accuracy measurement than conventional magneto-sensitive wires. The magneto-sensitive wire (1) comprises an amorphous wire for detecting magnetism. The magnetic impedance sensor (6) has the magneto-sensitive wire (1) and a detection coil (3) around the magneto-sensitive wire (1). The magnetic impedance sensor (6) is configured to apply a pulse current to the magneto-sensitive wire (1) and detect a voltage generated in the detection coil (3) thereby capable of measuring strength of a magnetic field. The voltage has magnitude in response to strength of an external magnetic field. The magneto-sensitive wire (1) is a Co-based amorphous wire manufactured using an in-rotating liquid spinning method and finished by wire drawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norihiko Hamada, Akihiro Shimode, Michiharu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10461201
    Abstract: The invention provides highly fluorescent materials comprising a heterocyclic systems represented by formula (I): wherein i is 0 and Het is wherein X is selected from the group consisting of —N(A0)-. The chromophores are particularly useful for absorption and emission of photons in the visible and near infrared wavelength range. The photo-stable highly luminescent chromophores are useful in various applications, including in wavelength conversion films. Wavelength conversion films have the potential to significantly enhance the solar harvesting efficiency of photovoltaic or solar cell devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Mila Rachwal, Michiharu Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20190284471
    Abstract: Described herein are wavelength conversion films which utilize photostable organic chromophores. In some embodiments, wavelength conversion films and chromophores exhibit improved photostability. In some embodiments, a wavelength conversion film comprising luminescent compounds is useful for improving the solar harvesting efficiency of solar cells, solar panels, or photovoltaic devices. In some embodiments, a wavelength conversion film comprising multiple luminescent compounds is useful for greenhouse roofs. Some embodiments provide an improved solar light wavelength profile for improved plant nutrition and/or growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Tao Gu, Hongxi Zhang, Weiping Lin, Wan-Yun Hsieh, Michiharu Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20190212169
    Abstract: A learning system (1) for vehicles for learning a neutral point of a measurement sensor equipped in a vehicle by using a magnetic marker disposed in a traveling road includes a sensor unit (11) which detects the magnetic marker and measures a lateral shift amount of the vehicle with respect to the magnetic marker, a route information acquiring part which acquires route information indicating a shape of the traveling road, and a learning determination part which determines whether a learning condition as a condition for performing learning of the neutral point of the measurement sensor is satisfied, wherein a fluctuation range of a lateral shift amount measured by the sensor unit (11) when the vehicle is traveling a learning road as a traveling road in a constant shape is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold is set at least as the learning condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiharu YAMAMOTO, Tomohiko NAGAO, Hitoshi AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20190194886
    Abstract: A magnetic marker (1), laid in or on a road so as be detectable by a magnetic sensor (2) attached to a bottom surface side of a vehicle (5), that is used for vehicle-side drive assist control for assisting driving is an isotropic ferrite plastic magnet, molded into a columnar shape, that contains a magnetic powder of iron oxide, i.e. a powder of a magnetic material, dispersed in a polymer material. In a marker system (1S) including this magnetic marker (1), magnetic markers (1) accommodated in holes (530) bored in a road surface (53) are arranged along the center of a lane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Aichi Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Michiharu YAMAMOTO, Tomohiko NAGAO, Hitoshi AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20190196496
    Abstract: A vehicular system (1) includes a lateral shift amount measurement part that has a plurality of magnetic sensors that senses magnetism of magnetic markers (10) arrayed along a vehicle width direction and measures a lateral shift amount that is a positional deviation of a vehicle (5) in a vehicle width direction with respect to the magnetic markers (10) and a course estimation part that uses a difference between the lateral shift amounts with respect to two magnetic markers (10) disposed with a space provided therebetween in a road surface (100S) where the vehicle (5) travels and estimates a deviation of the vehicle (5) in a traveling direction with respect to a line segment direction connecting the positions of the two magnetic markers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiharu YAMAMOTO, Tomohiko NAGAO, Hitoshi AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20190155305
    Abstract: Provided is a driving assistance system using a magnetic marker capable of providing more pieces of information. In the driving assistance system for assisting driving of a vehicle, a magnetic marker (1) including a magnet sheet (11) serving as a magnetism generating unit which generates a magnetic field and also an RFID tag (15) as an information providing unit which provides information to a vehicle side is laid on a travelling road of the vehicle, and the vehicle includes a magnetic sensor serving as a magnetism detecting unit which magnetically detects the magnetic marker (1) and also a tag reader as an information acquiring unit which acquires the information provided by the RFID tag (15) included in the magnetic marker (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Aichi Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Michiharu YAMAMOTO, Tomohiko Nagao, Hitoshi Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20190137536
    Abstract: Provided is a rotary machine in which the output of a magnetic sensor is hardly lowered even if the rotation speed of a rotor becomes high. The rotary machine includes a rotor, a housing, a magnet, and a magnetic sensor. The rotor axially rotates around a rotation axis. The housing is formed of a conductive material and contains the rotor. The magnet is attached to the rotor such that an arrangement direction of a pair of magnetic poles is in a radial direction of the rotor. The magnetic sensor is attached to the housing. The magnetic sensor detects a time variation of a magnetic field generated from the magnet to detect the rotation speed of the rotor. The magnetic sensor is located on the outside than the magnet in the radial direction. The magnetism sensing direction of the magnetic sensor is orthogonal to the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiharu YAMAMOTO, Tomohiko NAGAO, Takeshi KAWANO, Koei GEMBA
  • Publication number: 20190098468
    Abstract: Provided is a driving assistance system capable of providing more pieces of information to a vehicle side by using magnetic markers. A driving assistance system (1A) is a system including magnetic markers (1) laid on a travelling road so as to be magnetically detectable and also be able to provide code information to a vehicle side, a vehicle (5) configured to be able to magnetically detect the magnetic markers (1) and also read the code information, and a base station (6) configured to make a reply with corresponding information when receiving the code information from the vehicle (5) reading the code information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Aichi Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Michiharu Yamamoto, Tomohiko Nagao, Hitoshi Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20190031076
    Abstract: Provided are an installing method for efficiently installing a magnetic marker and a work vehicle. In a magnetic marker installing method for installing a magnetic marker to be laid on a road so as to be detectable by a magnetic sensor attached to a vehicle in order to achieve vehicle-side control to achieve assist in driving operation of the vehicle by a driver or automatic driving not relying on operation of the driver, a placing process P103 of placing the magnetic marker before magnetization on the road and a magnetizing process P106 of magnetizing the magnetic marker placed on the road by acting on the magnetic marker with a magnetic field are performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiharu YAMAMOTO, Tomohiko NAGAO, Hitoshi AOYAMA
  • Patent number: 10191123
    Abstract: A magnetic field measurement device capable of accurate measurement of a magnetic field even after a sensitivity of an MI sensor varies is provided. A magnetic field measurement device (1) includes an MI sensor (2) and a sensitivity calculation means (3). The MI sensor (2) includes a magneto-sensitive body (20), a detection coil (21) and a magnetic field generation coil (22) that generates a magnetic field upon energization. The sensitivity calculation means (3) varies a current flowing in the magnetic field generation coil (22) in a state where an outside-sensor magnetic field HO acting on the magneto-sensitive body (20) from outside the MI sensor (2) is constant. Consequently, the magnetic field acting on the magneto-sensitive body (20) is varied to calculate a sensitivity a by dividing a variation in an output voltage of the detection coil (21) by a variation in the magnetic field acting on the magneto-sensitive body (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko Nagao, Michiharu Yamamoto