Patents by Inventor Hidetaka Osawa

Hidetaka Osawa 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: 11971339
    Abstract: A particle size distribution measurement device includes a cell holding body 31 that holds a measurement cell 2 containing a measurement sample and a dispersion medium and a reference cell 6 containing a reference sample and is rotated by a motor 322, and a cell discrimination mechanism 7 that discriminates the cells 2, 6 passing through a predetermined rotation position by using a magnetic force or electrostatic capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: Horiba, Ltd., Eppendorf Himac Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Hitoshi Watanabe, Hidetaka Osawa, Ken Asakura, Kenichi Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20230294113
    Abstract: A washing liquid distribution element attached to an upper portion of a rotor body includes an upper distribution element and a lower distribution element. A washing liquid is supplied from a washing liquid introduction port during rotation of a rotor and enters a recessed inner portion of the lower distribution element. The washing liquid entered in the inner portion moves from the vicinity of rotation center toward a radially outer side to climb an inclined part by centrifugal force. Washing liquid passages are formed in a radial pattern at a lower annular part at a tip of the inclined part, and the washing liquid is discharged radially outward from discharge ports of the washing liquid passages. Formation of the inclined part makes it possible to evenly distribute the washing liquid into test tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Eppendorf Himac Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Sato, Masayuki Shiina, Hidetaka Osawa, Ken Asakura, Hiroshi Hayasaka
  • Publication number: 20220184639
    Abstract: In a cell washing centrifuge for washing living cells such as blood cells, control of the remaining amount of a supernatant according to the related art greatly depends on controlling the rotation speed of a motor, and thus a highly accurate motor control part is required to prevent overshooting or the like. In place of the related art, an easy control method is required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Eppendorf Himac Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Shiina, Hidetaka Osawa, Ken Asakura, Hiroshi Hayasaka
  • Publication number: 20220011213
    Abstract: A particle size distribution measurement device includes a cell holding body 31 that holds a measurement cell 2 containing a measurement sample and a dispersion medium and a reference cell 6 containing a reference sample and is rotated by a motor 322, and a cell discrimination mechanism 7 that discriminates the cells 2, 6 passing through a predetermined rotation position by using a magnetic force or electrostatic capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Tetsuji YAMAGUCHI, Hitoshi WATANABE, Hidetaka OSAWA, Ken ASAKURA, Kenichi NEMOTO
  • Patent number: 9981274
    Abstract: A centrifuge including: a rotor configured to hold a sample and configured to be detachably mounted, a rotation chamber accommodating the rotor, a plurality of motors configured to be rotationally driven by three-phase AC power, and a control device configured to control centrifuging operation, wherein one of the plurality of motors is a centrifuge motor configured to rotate the rotor, and the control device is configured to change distribution of power supplied to the centrifuge motor and power supplied to another motor of the plurality of motors during one operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Inaniwa, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Kouichi Akatsu, Hisanobu Ooyama, Yuki Hodotsuka, Hidetaka Osawa
  • Patent number: 9452437
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes a rotor which accommodates a sample, a motor which rotationally drives the rotor and a chiller which cools a rotor chamber, and is provided with a transformer which has a plurality of secondary side taps, converts an AC voltage which is input from a primary side to a plurality of voltages, and outputs, and a voltage switching unit which is connected to the plurality of secondary side taps of the transformer, selects any one of outputs of the secondary side taps, and outputs to the chiller. The microcomputer controls the voltage switching unit corresponding to the power supply frequency which is determined using the output of the zero-crossing detection circuit, and supplies the desired driving voltage to the chiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Osawa, Kousuke Maeno, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9375730
    Abstract: A centrifuge including: a rotor configured to be driven by a motor and to hold a sample, a centrifuge inverter, a chamber accommodating the rotor, a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the chamber, a cooling machine configured to cool the chamber and including a compressor, a compressor inverter, a compressor motor configured to be controlled in a variable speed and a control device, wherein the control device carries out a feedback control of the compressor motor based on a preset temperature and a detected temperature of the temperature sensor when the rotation number of the compressor motor is larger than a predetermined rotation number, and the control device carries out an intermittent control for turning ON-OFF the cooling function of the compressor when the rotation number of the compressor motor is smaller than a predetermined rotation number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Inaniwa, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Kouichi Akatsu, Hisanobu Ooyama, Yuki Hodotsuka, Hidetaka Osawa
  • Publication number: 20140045669
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes a rotor which accommodates a sample, a motor which rotationally drives the rotor and a chiller which cools a rotor chamber, and is provided with a transformer which has a plurality of secondary side taps, converts an AC voltage which is input from a primary side to a plurality of voltages, and outputs, and a voltage switching unit which is connected to the plurality of secondary side taps of the transformer, selects any one of outputs of the secondary side taps, and outputs to the chiller. The microcomputer controls the voltage switching unit corresponding to the power supply frequency which is determined using the output of the zero-crossing detection circuit, and supplies the desired driving voltage to the chiller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Hidetaka Osawa, Kousuke Maeno, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140031191
    Abstract: A centrifuge including: a rotor configured to hold a sample and configured to be detachably mounted, a rotation chamber accommodating the rotor, a plurality of motors configured to be rotationally driven by three-phase AC power, and a control device configured to control centrifuging operation, wherein one of the plurality of motors is a centrifuge motor configured to rotate the rotor, and the control device is configured to change distribution of power supplied to the centrifuge motor and power supplied to another motor of the plurality of motors during one operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Inaniwa, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Kouichi Akatsu, Hisanobu Ooyama, Yuki Hodotsuka, Hidetaka Osawa
  • Publication number: 20120260687
    Abstract: A centrifuge including: a rotor configured to be driven by a motor and to hold a sample, a centrifuge inverter, a chamber accommodating the rotor, a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the chamber, a cooling machine configured to cool the chamber and including a compressor, a compressor inverter, a compressor motor configured to be controlled in a variable speed and a control device, wherein the control device carries out a feedback control of the compressor motor based on a preset temperature and a detected temperature of the temperature sensor when the rotation number of the compressor motor is larger than a predetermined rotation number, and the control device carries out an intermittent control for turning ON-OFF the cooling function of the compressor when the rotation number of the compressor motor is smaller than a predetermined rotation number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro INANIWA, Hiroyuki TAKAHASHI, Kouichi AKATSU, Hisanobu OOYAMA, Yuki HODOTSUKA, Hidetaka OSAWA
  • Patent number: 7618589
    Abstract: An automatic dispenser includes a dispensing head, a transporter, a controller, sensors, and an adjustor. The dispensing head accommodates a plurality of dispensing tips and draws liquid into and ejects liquid from the dispensing tips. The transporter moves the dispensing head within an XYZ space. The controller controls drawing and ejecting of liquid by the dispensing head and movement of the dispensing head by the transporter. The sensors detect whether dispensing tips are mounted in the dispensing head. The adjustor aligns the reference positions of the dispensing head and the sensors in the XY plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Masataka Morita, Hidetaka Osawa, Tadashi Ohkawara
  • Patent number: 7390460
    Abstract: In reagent reaction experiments using microplates, a desired period of time can be set for determining the time to introduce a reaction stop solution after introduction of a reagent. The set time is measured starting from the introduction of the reagent and the reaction stop solution is introduced immediately after expiration of the set time. A control device for an automatic liquid handling system having the above-described reaction time managing feature is also provided with a self-diagnosing function that is capable of determining whether scheduled processes are executable or not during the time set before execution of the processes and informing an operator of the results of determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Osawa, Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara
  • Patent number: 7374720
    Abstract: In reagent reaction experiments using microplates, the operator cannot just set dispensing tips in all the fixing holes of the dispensing tip container. It is necessary to carry out the time-consuming task of deciding in advance on a suitable arrangement of positions for the dispensing tips. It is also necessary for the operator to carry out the time-consuming task of determining in advance the quantity of reagent used and how the reagent is to be arranged. These problems are solved by providing a control device that includes a dispensing tip arrangement calculator and reagent quantity and arrangement calculator, and that can inform the operator of these results. The dispensing tip arrangement, the reagent quantity used, and the reagent arrangement is calculated from the information set in advance on specific reagent, the quantity of reagent dispensed into one well of the microplate, the range of wells in the microplate into which reagent is dispensed, and the direction of dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Hidetaka Osawa, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara
  • Publication number: 20060051246
    Abstract: An automatic dispenser includes a dispensing head, a transporter, a controller, sensors, and an adjustor. The dispensing head accommodates a plurality of dispensing tips and draws liquid into and ejects liquid from the dispensing tips. The transporter moves the dispensing head within an XYZ space. The controller controls drawing and ejecting of liquid by the dispensing head and movement of the dispensing head by the transporter. The sensors detect whether dispensing tips are mounted in the dispensing head. The adjustor aligns the reference positions of the dispensing head and the sensors in the XY plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Masataka Morita, Hidetaka Osawa, Tadashi Ohkawara
  • Publication number: 20040208795
    Abstract: In order to eliminate any mistakes regarding attachment or removal of dispensing tips to and from a dispensing head provided in an automatic liquid handling system used for dispensing an object to be examined, reagent, enzymes or the like into wells of a microplate, a dispensing tip sensor is provided to sense if the dispensing tips are attached to the head. The sensor includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit which are disposed above and diagonally opposite positions of a disposal container in which used dispensing tips are disposed of. The dispensing head with some dispensing tips attached thereto moves to traverse the light path of the sensor, thereby enabling sensing of the dispensing tips attached to the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Hidetaka Osawa, Tadashi Ohkawara
  • Patent number: 6773927
    Abstract: A position of a piston fluid-tightly sliding along an inner surface of a pipette is instantaneously changed by a short distance to jet a portion of a liquid in the pipette through the nozzle of the pipette as a drop. The instantaneously changed position is provided by a motor which is commonly used for moderately changing the position of the piston to taking-in and taking-out the liquid. The instantaneous minute position changing may be provided with a piezoelectric actuator. An attachable nozzle cap having a nozzle-cap nozzle (through hole) of which diameter is smaller than that of the nozzle of the pipette may be used. The portion of the liquid jetted from the pipette may be detected. The instantaneous changing may be repeated to jet a desired amount of said liquid. The short distance may be adjusted in accordance with the desired amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Osawa, Masahiro Inaniwa, Toyosaku Sato
  • Publication number: 20040096365
    Abstract: In reagent reaction experiments using microplates, the operator cannot just set dispensing tips in all the fixing holes of the dispensing tip container. It is necessary to carry out the time-consuming task of deciding in advance on a suitable arrangement of positions for the dispensing tips. It is also necessary for the operator to carry out the time-consuming task of determining in advance the quantity of reagent used and how the reagent is to be arranged. These problems are solved by providing a control device that includes a dispensing tip arrangement calculator and reagent quantity and arrangement calculator, and that can inform the operator of these results. The dispensing tip arrangement, the reagent quantity used, and the reagent arrangement is calculated from the information set in advance on specific reagent, the quantity of reagent dispensed into one well of the microplate, the range of wells in the microplate into which reagent is dispensed, and the direction of dispensing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Hidetaka Osawa, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara
  • Publication number: 20040096366
    Abstract: In reagent reaction experiments using microplates, a desired period of time can be set for determining the time to introduce a reaction stop solution after introduction of a reagent. The set time is measured starting from the introduction of the reagent and the reaction stop solution is introduced immediately after expiration of the set time. A control device for an automatic liquid handling system having the above-described reaction time managing feature is also provided with a self-diagnosing function that is capable of determining whether scheduled processes are executable or not during the time set before execution of the processes and informing an operator of the results of determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Hidetaka Osawa, Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara
  • Patent number: 6701219
    Abstract: An automatic centrifugal machine comprises a handling apparatus for shifting a test specimen from a predetermined position, a rotor equipped with a bucket accommodating the test specimen, a drive motor for rotating the rotor, a chamber surrounding the rotor, and a refrigerator for cooling the chamber, and the automatic centrifugal machine has a height equal to or less than 1,450 mm. A conveyor line, conveying the test specimen, has a height in a range from 750 mm to 850 mm. The handling apparatus of the test specimen is formed by a link arm mechanism including first and second sliders, first and second arms, and a manipulator hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Hoshiba, Masahiro Inaniwa, Hidetaka Osawa, Hiroshi Hayasaka
  • Publication number: 20010016358
    Abstract: A position of a piston fluid-tightly sliding along an inner surface of a pipette is instantaneously changed by a short distance to jet a portion of a liquid in the pipette through the nozzle of the pipette as a drop. The instantaneously changed position is provided by a motor which is commonly used for moderately changing the position of the piston to taking-in and taking-out the liquid. The instantaneous minute position changing may be provided with a piezoelectric actuator. An attachable nozzle cap having a nozzle-cap nozzle (through hole) of which diameter is smaller than that of the nozzle of the pipette may be used. The portion of the liquid jetted from the pipette may be detected. The instantaneous changing may be repeated to jet a desired amount of said liquid. The short distance may be adjusted in accordance with the desired amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Osawa, Masahiro Inaniwa, Toyosaku Sato