Patents by Inventor Shun SAKUMA

Shun SAKUMA 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: 10883959
    Abstract: A plate-shaped sensor element (10) including at least a first layer (150), a second layer (130), and a third layer (140) being stacked in a stacking direction. The first layer and the third layer are mainly formed of ceramic. The second layer is disposed between the first layer and the third layer in the stacking direction. The second layer has an air introduction hole (131) opened at an end surface. In a cross-section perpendicular to a direction of an axis O, a length L1 of a shortest line segment P1 connecting an upper end surface (10a, 10b) of the sensor element and the centroid G1 of the sensor element and a length L2 of a shortest line segment P2 connecting the upper end surface of the sensor element and the centroid G2 of the air introduction hole, satisfy a relationship of |L2?L1|/L1?0.05.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ai Igarashi, Kouji Toida, Shun Sakuma
  • Patent number: 10830730
    Abstract: A plate-shaped sensor element (10) including at least a first layer (150), a second layer (130), and a third layer (140) being stacked in a stacking direction. The first layer and the third layer are mainly formed of ceramic. The second layer is disposed between the first layer and the third layer in the stacking direction. The second layer has an air introduction hole (131) opened at an end surface. In a cross-section perpendicular to a direction of an axis O, a length L1 of a shortest line segment P1 connecting an upper end surface (10a, 10b) of the sensor element and the centroid G1 of the sensor element and a length L2 of a shortest line segment P2 connecting the upper end surface of the sensor element and the centroid G2 of the air introduction hole, satisfy a relationship of |L2?L1|/L1?0.05.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ai Igarashi, Kouji Toida, Shun Sakuma
  • Patent number: 10481122
    Abstract: A gas sensor element comprises a solid electrolyte layer; a detection electrode provided on one surface of the solid electrolyte layer; a reference electrode provided on another surface of the solid electrolyte layer; a first layer provided on a side where the other surface of the solid electrolyte layer is present, and having a reference gas flow path; and a heater layer provided on a side opposite to a side where the solid electrolyte layer is provided. In the gas sensor element, an introduction flow path is formed as a flow path for guiding the reference gas from outer surfaces of the gas sensor element to the reference gas flow path. The introduction flow path has an opening provided at an outer surface that is perpendicular to a stacking direction of the gas sensor element and is provided on a side opposite to the heater layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Ai Igarashi, Kouji Toida, Shun Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20180356363
    Abstract: A plate-shaped sensor element (10) including at least a first layer (150), a second layer (130), and a third layer (140) being stacked in a stacking direction. The first layer and the third layer are mainly formed of ceramic. The second layer is disposed between the first layer and the third layer in the stacking direction. The second layer has an air introduction hole (131) opened at an end surface. In a cross-section perpendicular to a direction of an axis O, a length L1 of a shortest line segment P1 connecting an upper end surface (10a, 10b) of the sensor element and the centroid G1 of the sensor element and a length L2 of a shortest line segment P2 connecting the upper end surface of the sensor element and the centroid G2 of the air introduction hole, satisfy a relationship of |L2?L1|/L1?0.05.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ai IGARASHI, Kouji TOIDA, Shun SAKUMA
  • Publication number: 20170315081
    Abstract: A gas sensor element comprises a solid electrolyte layer; a detection electrode provided on one surface of the solid electrolyte layer; a reference electrode provided on another surface of the solid electrolyte layer; a first layer provided on a side where the other surface of the solid electrolyte layer is present, and having a reference gas flow path; and a heater layer provided on a side opposite to a side where the solid electrolyte layer is provided. In the gas sensor element, an introduction flow path is formed as a flow path for guiding the reference gas from outer surfaces of the gas sensor element to the reference gas flow path. The introduction flow path has an opening provided at an outer surface that is perpendicular to a stacking direction of the gas sensor element and is provided on a side opposite to the heater layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Ai IGARASHI, Kouji TOIDA, Shun SAKUMA
  • Patent number: 9753020
    Abstract: A gas sensor element has a protection layer smaller in heat capacity than a conventional protection layer formed by a dipping process. A gas sensor includes the gas sensor element. The gas sensor element is manufactured by a method of manufacturing. The gas sensor element includes at least one space formed between a protection layer and an element body. The space is positioned over at least one of four vertexes of a forward end of the element body at a location at which the thickness of the protection layer is likely to become small. Therefore, it is possible to restrain breakage of the vertexes of the forward end of the element body which could otherwise result from thermal shock stemming from adhesion of water. The protection layer of the gas sensor element can be reduced in thickness and thus in heat capacity as compared with a conventional protection layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Iwano, Masaki Onkawa, Tatsuhiko Muraoka, Shun Sakuma, Shigehiro Ohtsuka, Masaki Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9694387
    Abstract: A gas sensor element in an air/fuel ratio sensor includes an element body and a protection layer having two layers (a first layer and a second layer). The gas sensor element has at least one separation portion in the form of a space between the first layer and the second layer. The gas sensor element can temporarily accumulate, in the at least one separation portion, water which adheres to the surface of the protection layer and penetrates into the protection layer. Thus, as compared with a protection layer which is identical in thickness to the protection layer, but does not have separation portions, water adhering to the protection layer is less likely to reach the element body. Therefore, there can be restrained breakage of an end of the element body which could otherwise result from thermal shock stemming from adhesion of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Onkawa, Shun Sakuma, Toru Iwano, Tatsuhiko Muraoka, Shigehiro Ohtsuka, Masaki Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9689834
    Abstract: A gas sensor including a plate-shaped detecting element is disclosed, wherein the detecting element has a pair of principle surfaces and a pair of side surfaces adjacent to the pair of principle surfaces, in a radical direction thereof, wherein a first chamfered portion is provided between at least one first principal surface of the pair of principal surfaces and the rear end surface of the detecting element, and wherein the angle between a first axis ridgeline portion formed by the first principal surface and a first side surface that is one of the pair of side surfaces and extending in the direction of the axis, and a first width ridgeline formed by the first principal surface and the first chamfered portion and extending in a width direction is larger than 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun Sakuma, Shigeki Mori, Masaki Mizutani, Yuichi Yamada, Shohei Yoshiyasu, Hirotaka Tsukamatsu, Makoto Shimoide
  • Patent number: 9476863
    Abstract: A gas sensor element comprises an elongated plate-like element including, at a forward end portion, a detecting section comprising a solid electrolyte body having an outer surface and a back surface, a detection electrode on the outer surface and a reference electrode on the back surface, and a porous layer covering the detection electrode. The coating layer includes a first protection layer entirely covering the detecting section, and a second protection layer circumferentially covering the first protection layer and extending at least from a forward end of the first protection layer to a position located rearward of the porous layer. The thickness of the first protection layer on the porous layer is larger than that of the first protection layer rearward of the porous layer. The thickness of the second protection layer rearward of the porous layer is larger than that of the second protection layer above the porous layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun Sakuma, Masaki Onkawa, Toru Iwano, Tatsuhiko Muraoka, Shigehiro Ohtsuka, Masaki Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20160281103
    Abstract: The Vrs1 gene was found to be highly expressed in the pistils of sterile lateral spikelets of two-row barley, showing that the VRS1 protein suppresses the fertility of florets in lateral spikelets. In addition, it was also found that the introduction of siRNA specific to the Vrs1 gene into two-row barley successfully restored the fertility of lateral spikelets and thus can increase the number of grains. The vrs1 gene derived from wheat was isolated for the first time, and the expression site of the gene was found to be specific to upper florets to be sterile in spikelets. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the introduction of siRNA specific to the wheat Vrs1 gene into wheat successfully increased the number of florets and the number of grains per spikelet, enabling provision of a method and an agent for increasing the number of grains per spikelet of wheat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AGROBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
    Inventors: Takao Komatsuda, Takashi Matsumoto, Shun Sakuma, Taiichi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9176093
    Abstract: A gas sensor element having a chamfered portion. The chamfered portion has a leading end chamfered portion formed in a leading end portion of the gas sensor element, a rear end chamfered portion formed in a rear end portion of the gas sensor element, and an intermediate chamfered portion linking the leading end chamfered portion and rear end chamfered portion. The chamfer angle of the rear end chamfered portion is formed so as to be larger than the chamfer angle of the leading end chamfered portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun Sakuma, Masaki Mizutani, Makoto Shimoide
  • Publication number: 20150114085
    Abstract: A gas sensor element has a protection layer smaller in heat capacity than a conventional protection layer formed by a dipping process. A gas sensor includes the gas sensor element. The gas sensor element is manufactured by a method of manufacturing. The gas sensor element includes at least one space formed between a protection layer and an element body. The space is positioned over at least one of four vertexes of a forward end of the element body at a location at which the thickness of the protection layer is likely to become small. Therefore, it is possible to restrain breakage of the vertexes of the forward end of the element body which could otherwise result from thermal shock stemming from adhesion of water. The protection layer of the gas sensor element can be reduced in thickness and thus in heat capacity as compared with a conventional protection layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Toru IWANO, Masaki ONKAWA, Tatsuhiko MURAOKA, Shun SAKUMA, Shigehiro OHTSUKA, Masaki MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20150114102
    Abstract: A gas sensor element in an air/fuel ratio sensor includes an element body and a protection layer having two layers (a first layer and a second layer). The gas sensor element has at least one separation portion in the form of a space between the first layer and the second layer. The gas sensor element can temporarily accumulate, in the at least one separation portion, water which adheres to the surface of the protection layer and penetrates into the protection layer. Thus, as compared with a protection layer which is identical in thickness to the protection layer, but does not have separation portions, water adhering to the protection layer is less likely to reach the element body. Therefore, there can be restrained breakage of an end of the element body which could otherwise result from thermal shock stemming from adhesion of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Masaki ONKAWA, Shun SAKUMA, Toru IWANO, Tatsuhiko MURAOKA, Shigehiro OHTSUKA, Masaki MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20150075254
    Abstract: A gas sensor element comprises an elongated plate-like element including, at a forward end portion, a detecting section comprising a solid electrolyte body having an outer surface and a back surface, a detection electrode on the outer surface and a reference electrode on the back surface, and a porous layer covering the detection electrode. The coating layer includes a first protection layer entirely covering the detecting section, and a second protection layer circumferentially covering the first protection layer and extending at least from a forward end of the first protection layer to a position located rearward of the porous layer. The thickness of the first protection layer on the porous layer is larger than that of the first protection layer rearward of the porous layer. The thickness of the second protection layer rearward of the porous layer is larger than that of the second protection layer above the porous layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Shun SAKUMA, Masaki ONKAWA, Toru IWANO, Tatsuhiko MURAOKA, Shigehiro OHTSUKA, Masaki MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20130233708
    Abstract: A gas sensor element having a chamfered portion. The chamfered portion has a leading end chamfered portion formed in a leading end portion of the gas sensor element, a rear end chamfered portion formed in a rear end portion of the gas sensor element, and an intermediate chamfered portion linking the leading end chamfered portion and rear end chamfered portion. The chamfer angle of the rear end chamfered portion is formed so as to be larger than the chamfer angle of the leading end chamfered portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun SAKUMA, Masaki MIZUTANI, Makoto SHIMOIDE