Patents by Inventor Yasuo Tanigawa

Yasuo Tanigawa 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).

  • Systems and methods for inspecting coatings, surfaces and interfaces
    Patent number: 7220966
    Abstract: A system for detecting defects in paint coatings includes a temperature manipulation apparatus configured to change the temperature of a surface and a coating applied to the surface. The system may further include an infrared sensor for measuring the change in temperature (over time) of the surface and coating and a processor to compare the measured change in temperature of the surface and coating to an expected change of temperature (over time) in order to determine anomalies in the coatings. A self-referencing method of determining defects is also disclosed, wherein surrounding pixels are utilized as a reference in the detection process for calculating the change in temperature of each pixel. In addition, application of the inventive aspects to inspection of adhesion interfaces is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kozo Saito, Mohammed I. Hassan Ali, Akira Numasato, Mohammed A. Omar, Masahito Sakakibara, Toshikazu Suzuki, Yasuo Tanigawa
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INSPECTING COATINGS
    Publication number: 20070051891
    Abstract: A system for detecting defects in paint coatings includes a temperature manipulation apparatus configured to change the temperature of a surface and a coating applied to the surface. The system may further include an infrared sensor for measuring the change in temperature of the surface and coating and a processor to compare the measured change in temperature of the surface and coating to an expected change of temperature in order to determine anomalies in the coatings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: Kozo Saito, Mohammed Hassan Ali, Akira Numasato, Mohammed Omar, Masahito Sakakibara, Toshikazu Suzuki, Yasuo Tanigawa
  • Systems and methods for inspecting coatings
    Patent number: 7129492
    Abstract: A system for detecting defects in paint coatings includes a temperature manipulation apparatus configured to change the temperature of a surface and a coating applied to the surface. The system may further include an infrared sensor for measuring the change in temperature of the surface and coating and a processor to compare the measured change in temperature of the surface and coating to an expected change of temperature in order to determine anomalies in the coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc., University of Kentucky Research Foundation
    Inventors: Kozo Saito, Mohammed I. Hassan Ali, Akira Numasato, Mohammed A. Omar, Masahito Sakakibara, Toshikazu Suzuki, Yasuo Tanigawa
  • Systems and methods for inspecting coatings, surfaces and interfaces
    Publication number: 20050186327
    Abstract: A system for detecting defects in paint coatings includes a temperature manipulation apparatus configured to change the temperature of a surface and a coating applied to the surface. The system may further include an infrared sensor for measuring the change in temperature (over time) of the surface and coating and a processor to compare the measured change in temperature of the surface and coating to an expected change of temperature (over time) in order to determine anomalies in the coatings. A self-referencing method of determining defects is also disclosed, wherein surrounding pixels are utilized as a reference in the detection process for calculating the change in temperature of each pixel. In addition, application of the inventive aspects to inspection of adhesion interfaces is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Kozo Saito, Mohammed Ali, Akira Numasato, Mohammed Omar, Masahito Sakakibara, Toshikazu Suzuki, Yasuo Tanigawa
  • Systems and methods for inspecting coatings
    Publication number: 20050023468
    Abstract: A system for detecting defects in paint coatings includes a temperature manipulation apparatus configured to change the temperature of a surface and a coating applied to the surface. The system may further include an infrared sensor for measuring the change in temperature of the surface and coating and a processor to compare the measured change in temperature of the surface and coating to an expected change of temperature in order to determine anomalies in the coatings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Kozo Saito, Mohammed Hassan Ali, Akira Numasato, Mohammed Omar, Masahito Sakakibara, Toshikazu Suzuki, Yasuo Tanigawa
  • Apparatus for opening and closing a vehicle door which is located in a line for manufacturing a vehicle
    Patent number: 4702666
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically opening and closing a door of a vehicle body which is transferred by a conveyor or is stopped at a predetermined position in a manufacturing process. The apparatus accurately controls the opened angle of the door with the guidance of the combination between an engagement member and an opening thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nomura Iwao, Takayuki Masuyama, Yasuo Tanigawa, Hirofumi Hasimoto
  • Apparatus for opening and closing a vehicle door which is located in a line for manufacturing a vehicle
    Patent number: 4636136
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically opening and closing a door of a vehicle body which is transferred by a conveyor or is stopped at a predetermined position in a manufacturing process. The apparatus accurately control the opened angle of the door with the guidance of the combination between an engagement member and an opening thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iwao Nomura, Takayuki Masuyama, Yasuo Tanigawa, Hirofumi Hasimoto