Patents by Inventor Takafumi Oshima

Takafumi Oshima 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: 11958583
    Abstract: This automatic setting device for automatically setting control devices for a plurality of ship propulsion apparatuses for generating ship propulsion forces is provided with: an input operation setting unit that sets an input operation for a ship; a target behavior acquisition unit that acquires a target behavior of the ship corresponding to the input operation set by the input operation setting unit; a ship information acquisition unit that acquires ship information about the position and/or the bearing of the ship; an actual behavior calculation unit that calculates the actual behavior of the ship on the basis of the ship information acquired by the ship information acquisition unit; and a propulsion force setting unit that sets the magnitudes and the directions of the propulsion forces generated by the respective ship propulsion apparatuses on the basis of the actual behavior of the ship acquired by the actual behavior calculation unit and the target behavior of the ship acquired by the target behavior acq
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Shirao, Marino Akita, Takafumi Oshima
  • Patent number: 11834143
    Abstract: A control device for an outboard motor controls a plurality of outboard motors included in a ship. Each outboard motor includes a propulsion unit and a steering actuator. The ship includes an operation unit that operates the steering actuator and the propulsion unit. The operation unit can be positioned at a first position at which the outboard motors do not generate a propulsion force for the ship, a second position at which the outboard motors generate a propulsion force for moving the ship in a leftward-rightward direction, and a third position at which the outboard motors generate a propulsion force for moving the ship in an oblique direction that forms an acute angle with the leftward-rightward direction. A forward-backward direction component of a propulsion force in the oblique direction which is generated by the outboard motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Shirao, Marino Akita, Takafumi Oshima
  • Publication number: 20230294803
    Abstract: A watercraft of an automatic maneuvering system includes an actuator configured to generate a propulsive force and a turning moment, an operation unit, and a watercraft control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Masato SHIRAO, Marino AKITA, Takafumi OSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20230227135
    Abstract: A watercraft control system includes a watercraft and a communication device. The communication device includes a communication unit configured to transmit information indicating a location of the communication device to the watercraft. The watercraft includes a communication unit configured to receive the information indicating the location of the communication device and a difference calculation unit configured to calculate a difference between the location of the communication device and a location of the watercraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Masato SHIRAO, Marino AKITA, Takafumi OSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20230211859
    Abstract: This automatic ship handling system includes a ship and a communication device, the ship includes an actuator that has a function of generating a propulsion force for the ship and a function of generating a turning moment on the ship, an operation unit that receives an input operation for activating the actuator, and a ship control device that activates the actuator on the basis of at least the input operation received by the operation unit, the ship control device has a manual ship handling mode in which the actuator is activated on the basis of the input operation received by the operation unit, and an automatic ship handling mode in which the actuator is activated without a need for the operation unit to receive the input operation, and in the automatic ship handling mode, the ship control device controls a speed of the ship on the basis of a relative distance between the ship and the communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Masato SHIRAO, Marino AKITA, Takafumi OSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20220306262
    Abstract: This automatic setting device for automatically setting control devices for a plurality of ship propulsion apparatuses for generating ship propulsion forces is provided with: an input operation setting unit that sets an input operation for a ship; a target behavior acquisition unit that acquires a target behavior of the ship corresponding to the input operation set by the input operation setting unit; a ship information acquisition unit that acquires ship information about the position and/or the bearing of the ship; an actual behavior calculation unit that calculates the actual behavior of the ship on the basis of the ship information acquired by the ship information acquisition unit; and a propulsion force setting unit that sets the magnitudes and the directions of the propulsion forces generated by the respective ship propulsion apparatuses on the basis of the actual behavior of the ship acquired by the actual behavior calculation unit and the target behavior of the ship acquired by the target behavior acq
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Masato SHIRAO, Marino AKITA, Takafumi OSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20220306263
    Abstract: A ship propulsion device controller controls a plurality of ship propulsion devices disposed on a rear portion of a hull of a ship. The ship includes an operation unit configured to operate the ship propulsion devices. The operation unit is able to be positioned at a first position where the ship propulsion devices do not generate propulsion forces for the ship and a second position where the ship propulsion devices generate propulsion forces for moving the ship in a right direction, a right-forward direction, or a right-backward direction or a third position where the ship propulsion devices generate a propulsion force for moving the ship in a left direction, a left-forward direction, or a left-backward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Masato SHIRAO, Marino AKITA, Takafumi OSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20220081085
    Abstract: A control device for an outboard motor controls a plurality of outboard motors included in a ship. Each outboard motor includes a propulsion unit and a steering actuator. The ship includes an operation unit that operates the steering actuator and the propulsion unit. The operation unit can be positioned at a first position at which the outboard motors do not generate a propulsion force for the ship, a second position at which the outboard motors generate a propulsion force for moving the ship in a leftward-rightward direction, and a third position at which the outboard motors generate a propulsion force for moving the ship in an oblique direction that forms an acute angle with the leftward-rightward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Masato SHIRAO, Marino AKITA, Takafumi OSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20220063785
    Abstract: This outboard motor control device controls a plurality of outboard motors disposed on a rear portion of a hull of a boat. Each of the outboard motors includes a propulsion unit and a steering actuator. A boat includes an operation unit configured to operate the steering actuator and the propulsion unit. The operation unit is able to be positioned at a first position where the outboard motors do not generate a propulsion force of the boat and a second position where the outboard motors generate a propulsion force for moving the boat in a left-right direction. When the operation unit is moved from the first position to the second position and maintained at the second position, the outboard motors generate a first propulsion force during a first period from a first timing when the operation unit is moved to the second position to a second timing and subsequently generate a second propulsion force greater than the first propulsion force during a second period after the second timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Masato SHIRAO, Marino AKITA, Takafumi OSHIMA
  • Patent number: 7341694
    Abstract: In an ammonia sensor (1), lead portions (7) and (9) are provided on an insulating substrate (5); a pair of comb-shaped electrodes (11) and (13) are connected to the lead portions (7) and (9), respectively; a sensitive layer (15) is provided on the comb-shaped electrodes (11) and (13); and a protective layer (17) is provided on the sensitive layer (15). Particularly, the sensitive layer (15) is formed of a gas-sensitive raw material predominantly containing ZrO2 and containing at least W in an amount of 2 to 40 wt. % as reduced to WO3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nishiyama, Shiro Kakimoto, Ryuji Inoue, Hitoshi Yokoi, Noboru Ishida, Takafumi Oshima, Satoshi Sugaya, Koichi Imaeda, Tadashi Hattori, Atsushi Satsuma
  • Patent number: 7306712
    Abstract: This invention provides a gas sensor including a proton-conductive polymer electrolyte layer and a method for measuring gas concentration, that are capable of measuring gas concentration at high accuracy notwithstanding the presence of water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Watanabe, Norihiko Nadanami, Tomonori Kondo, Ryuji Inoue, Takafumi Oshima, Noboru Ishida
  • Patent number: 7276141
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor capable of accurately measuring hydrogen concentration of a measurement gas atmosphere in the presence of a variety of interfering gasses such as H2O and CO. In the hydrogen gas sensor, the flow sectional area of a diffusion-rate limiting portion 6 is rendered small; the electrode surfaces of first and second electrodes 3 and 4 are rendered large; and/or a solution containing a polymer electrolyte which may be identical to that of a proton-conductive layer 2 is applied onto the surfaces of the first and second electrodes 3 and 4 to thereby form a layer containing the polymer electrolyte. Thus, the rate of conduction of protons from the first electrode 3 to the second electrode 4 becomes greater than the rate at which protons are derived from hydrogen which is introduced onto the first electrode 3 via the diffusion-rate limiting portion 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiko Nadanami, Norobu Ishida, Takafumi Oshima, Ryuji Inoue, Tomonori Kondo
  • Patent number: 7189364
    Abstract: A hydrogen sensor includes a first electrode 3 and a second electrode 4 provided in contact with a proton conduction layer 2; a gas diffusion controlling portion 6 provided between a measurement gas atmosphere and the first electrode 3; and a support element (1a, 1b) for supporting the proton conduction layer 6, the first electrode 3, the second electrode 4, and the gas diffusion controlling portion 6. Hydrogen contained in a measurement gas introduced via the gas diffusion controlling portion 6 is dissociated, decomposed, or reacted by applying a voltage between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 4 to thereby generate protons. Hydrogen concentration is obtained on the basis of a limiting current generated as a result of the generated protons being pumped out via the proton conduction layer 2 from the first electrode 3 side of the proton conduction layer to the second electrode 4 side of the proton conduction layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiko Nadanami, Tomonori Kondo, Masaya Watanabe, Ryuji Inoue, Noboru Ishida, Takafumi Oshima
  • Patent number: 7080543
    Abstract: A detecting-element assembly (40) is configured such that a piezoelectric element (51) is housed in a casing body portion (43) of a casing (42), and is attached to a housing portion (22) of a flow path formation member (20) via a flange portion (41). Therefore, the path between the piezoelectric element (51) and the position of attachment of the detecting-element assembly (40) is elongated, whereby ultrasonic waves which leak into the interior of the detecting-element assembly (40) from the piezoelectric element (51) become unlikely to reflectively return from a joint. Thus, the influence of, for example, noise stemming from reflected waves is reduced, thereby enhancing the accuracy of detection. An average clearance of 1 millimeter or more is provided along the outer circumferential surface of the casing body portion (43) of the detecting-element assembly (40), whereby a problem of collected foreign matter is unlikely to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Ishikawa, Yoshikuni Sato, Keigo Banno, Masashi Sakamoto, Noboru Ishida, Takafumi Oshima
  • Publication number: 20060049048
    Abstract: A gas sensor capable of reversibly and continuously measuring the concentration of a catalyst poison gas such as CO without specially needing recovering means such as a heater, and measuring the catalyst poison gas concentration without being affected by H2O concentration. The electrical circuit (15) of the gas sensor has an AC power supply (19) for applying an AC voltage between both electrodes (3), (5), an AC voltmeter (21) for measuring an AC voltage (AC effective voltage V) between the both electrodes (3), (5), and an AC ammeter (23) for measuring a current (AC effective current I) running between the both electrodes (3), (5). An impedance is determined from the AC effective voltage V and the AC effective current I generated when the AC voltage is applied to the both electrodes (3), (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2003
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Tomonori Kondo, Shoji Kitanoya, Norihiko Nadanami, Noboru Ishida, Takafumi Oshima
  • Patent number: 6923902
    Abstract: A method for detecting the concentration of a specific component in gas discharged from an internal combustion engine, which includes detecting the concentration of the specific component under certain driving conditions to determine a zero point, which indicates a zero concentration of the specific component, of the detection output; calibrating the detection output of the gas sensor based on the determined zero point; and detecting the concentration of the specific component in exhaust gas based on the calibrated detection output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Ando, Noboru Ishida, Satoshi Sugaya, Takafumi Oshima, Norihiko Nadanami, Takaki Otsuka, Yoshikuni Sato, Tatsuo Okumura, Yasuhisa Kuzuya
  • Patent number: 6886412
    Abstract: An ultrasonic-wave propagation-time measuring method and gas concentration sensor are disclosed in which a reception wave which has been transmitted and received by an ultrasonic element 5 is subjected to full-wave rectification in order to obtain a full-wave-rectified wave, which is then integrated by an integration circuit 37 to obtain an integral value. A peak value of the integral value is held by a peak-hold circuit 39. As to detection of gas concentration, a threshold-level calculation section 21e sets a reference value on the basis of the peak value, and a point in time when the amplitude of a reception wave having undergone full-wave rectification is judged by a comparator 43 to have reached the reference value is regarded as an arrival time. Subsequently, a gas concentration is determined on the basis of a period between the emission time and the arrival time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keigo Banno, Hideki Ishikawa, Yoshikuni Sato, Noboru Ishida, Takafumi Oshima
  • Patent number: 6812821
    Abstract: A humidity sensor comprising an insulating substrate, a detection electrodes and a moisture-sensitive layer, wherein the moisture-sensitive layer is a porous layer and has a thickness not greater than 200 &mgr;m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Fujita, Tetsuo Yamada, Satoshi Sugaya, Kenji Kato, Noboru Ishida, Takafumi Oshima
  • Patent number: 6805003
    Abstract: A mass flow sensor includes a semiconductor substrate 1, an insulating thin film 2, heaters 311 and 312, temperature measurement resistors 321 and 322, and a protective layer 4. The heaters 311 and 312 are formed on the surface of the insulating thin film 2, and are provided adjacently such that the heater 311 is provided upstream the heater 312 and the heater 312 is provided downstream the heater 311. A cavity 5 is formed below the heaters 311 and 312, and the heaters are thermally insulated from the remaining portion of the semiconductor substrate. The temperature measurement resistors 321 and 322 are formed on the top surface of the insulating thin film 2, and are provided at opposite sides of the heaters 311 and 312, such that the resistors are aligned with respect to the flow passage of a fluid. In the mass flow sensor and the mass flowmeter including the sensor, the flow rate and flow direction of a fluid can be detected by means of merely the heaters 311 and 312, which are active elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ueki, Takio Kojima, Yoshinori Tsujimura, Kouichi Ikawa, Yoshihiko Kohmura, Takafumi Oshima
  • Patent number: 6797151
    Abstract: A CO sensor and a CO-concentration measurement method which enables accurate measurement of CO concentration irrespective of the hydrogen concentration of a gas under measurement. By applying a first predetermined voltage between first and second electrodes 7 and 8, hydrogen contained in a gas under measurement which has been introduced into a first measurement space 2 via a first diffusion-controlling section 1 dissociates, decomposes, or reacts with another element to generate protons. The thus-generated protons are transported from the first electrode 7 to the second electrode 8 via a first proton-conductive layer 5 or protons are transported from the second electrode 8 to the first electrode 7 via the first proton-conductive layer 5 (when the hydrogen concentration of the measurement gas is extremely low), so that the hydrogen concentration within the first measurement space 2 is controlled to a constant level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiko Nadanami, Tomonori Kondo, Ryuji Inoue, Noboru Ishida, Takafumi Oshima