Patents by Inventor Akihiro Noda
Akihiro Noda 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).
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Publication number: 20200410664Abstract: A measurement device includes: an obtainer that obtains a plurality of images of a support member that movably supports a structure, the plurality of images being captured at mutually different times while the structure is subjected to varying loads; and a measurer that measures displacement of the support member based on the plurality of images obtained by the obtainer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: Taro IMAGAWA, Hiroya KUSAKA, Akihiro NODA
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Publication number: 20200408586Abstract: An axle load measuring apparatus includes a displacement calculator, a storage, and an axle load calculator. The displacement calculator detects displacements of positions on a road caused by an axle load using a captured image of the road and a vehicle thereon. When a certain amount of load is applied to a predetermined position of the road, the storage stores a displacement function representing shape information of a spatial distribution of a displacement of the road originated from the predetermined position. The axle load calculator calculates the axle load based on the displacements of the positions and the displacement function.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: Taro IMAGAWA, Akihiro NODA, Hiroya KUSAKA
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Publication number: 20200378900Abstract: An inspection device that inspects a structure with a crack, including: an obtainer that obtains images of the structure captured at mutually different times while the structure is subjected to varying loads; a crack detector that detects a crack on a surface of the structure in each image; a motion estimator that divides each image into blocks having a predetermined size, and derives motion vectors of the blocks based on a positional relation between a position of each block relative to a reference in a first image and a position of each block relative to the reference in a second image, the reference being a tip of the crack detected, the first and second images being included in the images; and an inspector that determines safety of the structure based on a difference between ones of the motion vectors of symmetric positions with respect to the crack.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Taro IMAGAWA, Hiroya KUSAKA, Akihiro NODA
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Publication number: 20200209049Abstract: A double tire determination device includes an image input unit and a determination unit. The image input unit receives input of a captured image including a tire mounted on a vehicle. The determination unit determines whether the tire is a double tire, based on a ratio between a first area and a second area. The first area is an area of a first wheel region that is a part of a region of a wheel holding the tire and that is located on a side in a first direction with respect to a position of a rotation center of the tire. The second area is an area of a second wheel region that is a part of the region of the wheel holding the tire and that is located on a side in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, with respect to the position of the rotation center.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: AKIHIRO NODA, TARO IMAGAWA, HIROYA KUSAKA
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Patent number: 10697821Abstract: A calibration device is a calibration device configured to calibrate a load meter that measures an axle load of a vehicle. The calibration device includes a detector and a calibrator. The detector detects a displacement amount corresponding to displacement caused on a road by the axle load of the vehicle. The calibrator aggregates the displacement amounts detected by the detector to generate a histogram of the displacement amounts, and updates a displacement coefficient for calculating the axle load of the vehicle based on a shape of the histogram. The calibrator updates the displacement coefficient base only on the shape of the histogram corresponding to a first axle serving as a forefront axle of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2018Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Taro Imagawa, Akihiro Noda, Hiroya Kusaka
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Publication number: 20200202555Abstract: A lift-up determining device includes a detector and a determination unit. The detector acquires a captured image including a tire on an axle of a vehicle and detects the tire from the captured image. The determination unit determines, based on a detection result by the detector, whether the axle is lifted up.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2020Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: AKIHIRO NODA, TARO IMAGAWA, HIROYA KUSAKA
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Patent number: 10616458Abstract: A lighting unit includes a plurality of light sources that respectively emit plural rays of illumination light. An imaging unit that simultaneously images plural rays of reflected light obtained by the plural rays of illumination light being reflected by a subject so as to obtain information about a plurality of colors, and generates a captured image including the information about the plurality of colors. A memory stores sensitivity information items that correspond to the plurality of light sources respectively. An arithmetic unit performs an arithmetic operation to generate a plurality of separated images from the captured image by using the sensitivity information items. The plurality of separated images correspond to the plurality of light sources respectively, and each of the plurality of separated images only includes information about a corresponding one of the plural rays of reflected light.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property ManagementInventors: Shunsuke Yasugi, Hiroya Kusaka, Taro Imagawa, Akihiro Noda
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Patent number: 10609292Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a detector, a calculator, and a controller. The imaging unit captures an image of a road on which a vehicle runs, and generates the captured image of the road. The detector detects a contact position at which the vehicle is in contact with the road in the captured image. The calculator calculates a first brightness range based on brightness distribution in a first road surface area on the road and the first road surface area includes the contact position. The controller determines an imaging condition for the imaging unit based on the first brightness range, and controls the imaging unit using the determined imaging condition.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Taro Imagawa, Akihiro Noda, Hiroya Kusaka
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Publication number: 20200041394Abstract: A rigidity measurement apparatus is a rigidity measurement apparatus that measures rigidity of an object to be measured and includes a load estimator, a displacement calculator, and a rigidity calculator. The load estimator estimates a load applied to a measurement point set on the object to be measured by using a captured image of the object to be measured. The displacement calculator calculates a displacement of the measurement point by using the captured image. The rigidity calculator calculates the rigidity of the object to be measured by using the load and the displacement.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Inventors: Taro IMAGAWA, Akihiro NODA, Hiroya KUSAKA
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Publication number: 20190376439Abstract: Provided is an engine cooling apparatus capable of preventing deterioration in reliability of a cylinder head of an engine during cold engine operation. The engine cooling apparatus comprises an engine cooling water path, a heater core cooling path, and a radiator cooling water path, and further comprises a switching valve for switching among these cooling water paths. The switching valve is operable, when the temperature of an area around an exhaust valve is raised to a value greater than, e.g., 150° C., even in a situation where the temperature of cooling water for cooling the engine is equal to or less than, e.g., 50° C., to switch from the in-engine cooling water path to the heater core cooling water path.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2018Publication date: December 12, 2019Applicant: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Takayoshi Fujita, Takafumi Nishio, Kouichi Miyamoto, Tatsuya Takahata, Yasushi Nakahara, Akihiro Noda
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Patent number: 10488311Abstract: A rigidity measurement apparatus is a rigidity measurement apparatus that measures rigidity of an object to be measured and includes a load estimator, a displacement calculator, and a rigidity calculator. The load estimator estimates a load applied to a measurement point set on the object to be measured by using a captured image of the object to be measured. The displacement calculator calculates a displacement of the measurement point by using the captured image. The rigidity calculator calculates the rigidity of the object to be measured by using the load and the displacement.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Taro Imagawa, Akihiro Noda, Hiroya Kusaka
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Publication number: 20190265020Abstract: A displacement measuring apparatus measures a displacement of a measurement object by using a captured image where the measurement object and a load object are imaged. The displacement is caused by the load object in contact with the measurement object at a contact position. The displacement measuring apparatus includes a position detector, an area setting unit and a displacement calculator. The position detector detects a position, of the load object, in the captured image. The area setting unit sets a position and a size of a detection area in the captured image by using distance information and the position of the load object detected by the position detector, the distance information spatially indicating a distance between the measurement object when the load object is not on the measurement object and an imaging device that generates the captured image. The displacement calculator calculates the displacement by using only an image in the detection area in the captured image.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: AKIHIRO NODA, HIROYA KUSAKA, TARO IMAGAWA
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Patent number: 10379035Abstract: An appearance inspection apparatus includes a lighting unit, an imaging unit, a memory, an operating unit, a detecting unit, and a determination unit. The lighting unit has a plurality of light sources emitting single-wavelength light with relative spectral distributions different from one another, and substantially simultaneously irradiates a photographic subject with illumination light. The imaging unit captures light discharged by the photographic subject. The memory stores information about sensitivity characteristics of the imaging unit for each color. The operating unit separates an image into a first, a second, and a third image, for each component of the single-wavelength light, using the information. The detecting detects information about a specific area of the photographic subject using the first and the second image. The determination unit extracts an amount of image characteristics corresponding to a characteristic part present in the specific area using the first and the third image.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihiro Noda, Hiroya Kusaka, Taro Imagawa, Shunsuke Yasugi
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Publication number: 20190242693Abstract: An axle-load measuring apparatus measures an axle load of a vehicle by using a captured image where a road and the vehicle on the road are imaged, and the axle-load measuring apparatus includes a displacement calculator, a correction information obtaining unit, and an axle-load calculator. The displacement calculator detects a displacement of the road by using the captured image. The displacement is caused by receiving the axle load. The correction information obtaining unit obtains correction information. An axle-load calculator calculates the axle load by using the displacement and the correction information.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2019Publication date: August 8, 2019Inventors: AKIHIRO NODA, HIROYA KUSAKA, TARO IMAGAWA
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Publication number: 20190226904Abstract: A load meter includes a detector, a storage unit, and a load calculator. The detector detects, by using a captured image obtained by capturing a road and a vehicle present on the road, a displacement amount in the captured image, the displacement amount corresponding to displacement caused on the road by application of a load of the vehicle. The storage unit stores information indicating a relation between the load and the displacement amount. The load calculator calculates the load based on the displacement amount and the information.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2019Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: TARO IMAGAWA, AKIHIRO NODA, HIROYA KUSAKA
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Publication number: 20190218676Abstract: A water electrolysis system includes a water electrolysis stack, a gas-liquid separator, a water supply path, a water introduction unit, a water lead-out unit, a water discharge path, and a circulation pump. The water lead-out unit includes a first water lead-out unit and a second water lead-out unit, which are provided in the water electrolysis stack. The water introduction unit is positioned in a stacking direction between the first water lead-out unit and the second water lead-out unit, together with being disposed in a water electrolysis cell which is positioned between both ends in the stacking direction among a plurality of the water electrolysis cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Akihiro NODA, Tadashi NISHIYAMA, Hiroshi SHINKAI
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Publication number: 20190212223Abstract: A monitoring system includes an axle weight measurer and a state estimator. The axle weight measurer detects a surface displacement of a road from a first captured image obtained by imaging the road when a vehicle passes at a predetermined spot of a structure having the road that the vehicle passes, and calculates an axle weight of the vehicle from the surface displacement and a displacement coefficient of the road. The state estimator generates an axle weight distribution from the axle weight calculated by the axle weight measurer, and estimates a deterioration degree of the structure, using the axle weight distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2019Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventors: HIROYA KUSAKA, TARO IMAGAWA, AKIHIRO NODA
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Publication number: 20190194813Abstract: A hydrogen communication hole of a water electrolysis apparatus is formed to penetrate in a stacking direction through an anode separator, an electrolyte membrane, and a cathode separator. A communication hole body, which is disposed between an anode current collector and the hydrogen communication hole, includes an inside member facing toward the hydrogen communication hole, and an outside member facing toward the anode current collector. On the outside member, there are provided accommodating chambers in which seal members are accommodated, and an opposing surface that faces toward the inside member without the seal members being interposed therebetween. The accommodating chambers and the hydrogen communication hole communicate via through holes, which are formed in the inside member in a manner so that openings on one end thereof face toward the opposing surface, and openings on another end thereof face toward the hydrogen communication hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2018Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Tadashi Nishiyama, Hiroshi Shinkai, Akihiro Noda
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Patent number: 10321618Abstract: A motor related to a reel cassette among a plurality of the reel cassettes, in the condition where there is a shortage of a component in a component supply tape and an error has occurred (for example, a component adsorption error, or an image processing error) attributable to the supplied component, is operated so that a sprocket driving mechanism portion is lowered against a spring, a sprocket is lowered to a retract position, engagement of the sprocket with a sprocket hole of the component supply tape is released, and a clamp state of the reel cassette is released with a clamp member retracted downward from the reel cassette. Moreover, a display unit of an operation panel displays that only the reel cassette subjected to automatic clamp release is in a clamp release state.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2012Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: FUJI CORPORATIONInventor: Akihiro Noda
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Publication number: 20190037115Abstract: A lighting unit includes a plurality of light sources that respectively emit plural rays of illumination light. An imaging unit that simultaneously images plural rays of reflected light obtained by the plural rays of illumination light being reflected by a subject so as to obtain information about a plurality of colors, and generates a captured image including the information about the plurality of colors. A memory stores sensitivity information items that correspond to the plurality of light sources respectively. An arithmetic unit performs an arithmetic operation to generate a plurality of separated images from the captured image by using the sensitivity information items. The plurality of separated images correspond to the plurality of light sources respectively, and each of the plurality of separated images only includes information about a corresponding one of the plural rays of reflected light.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Inventors: SHUNSUKE YASUGI, HIROYA KUSAKA, TARO IMAGAWA, AKIHIRO NODA