Patents by Inventor Hidetomo Nagahara
Hidetomo Nagahara 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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Patent number: 11874159Abstract: Ultrasonic sensor (1) includes piezoelectric element (7), first acoustic matching layer (2), and second acoustic matching layer (5) which are laminated and bonded together, piezoelectric element (7) having a rectangular bonding surface. First acoustic matching layer (2), which is adjacent to piezoelectric element (7), is bonded to piezoelectric element (7) using thermoplastic resin injected from a thickness direction of first acoustic matching layer (2) in a manner that a flow direction of the thermoplastic resin matches a longitudinal direction of piezoelectric element (7). With this configuration, ultrasonic sensor (1) that exhibits excellent temperature characteristics against such as thermal shock is provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoki Masuda, Yudai Ishizaki, Hidetomo Nagahara
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Publication number: 20230145490Abstract: The present disclosure provides an ultrasonic transceiver capable of stably measuring a fluid of high temperature and high humidity for a long period, and provides an ultrasonic flowmeter, an ultrasonic flow velocimeter, and an ultrasonic densitometer each including the ultrasonic transceiver. An ultrasonic transceiver (1) comprises a piezoelectric body (3) and an acoustic matching body (2) disposed in one face of the piezoelectric body (3), wherein the acoustic matching body (2) includes: a top plate, a bottom plate, and a side wall that define a closed space; and a perpendicular partition wall formed substantially perpendicular to the bottom plate and adhering to the top plate and the bottom plate, thereby dividing a closed space.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2021Publication date: May 11, 2023Inventors: Makoto NAKANO, Masamichi HASHIDA, Tomoki MASUDA, Yuuji NAKABAYASHI, Hidetomo NAGAHARA
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Publication number: 20230077798Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor that is less affected by humidity change is obtained. Ultrasonic sensor (1) is configured by sequentially laminating piezoelectric element (2), metal housing (3), first acoustic matching layer (4), and second acoustic matching layer (5). First acoustic matching layer (4) adjacent to piezoelectric element (2) with metal housing (3) interposed therebetween includes a thermoplastic resin and an inorganic filler. The weight fraction of the inorganic filler in first acoustic matching layer (4) is set to less than or equal to 30% and the weight fraction of the hollow structure filler in the inorganic filler is set to less than or equal to 50%.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2021Publication date: March 16, 2023Inventors: TOMOKI MASUDA, YUDAI ISHIZAKI, HIDETOMO NAGAHARA
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Publication number: 20220228894Abstract: There are provided piezoelectric element, case having conductivity, first acoustic matching layer bonded on case, and second acoustic matching layer stacked on and bonded to first acoustic matching layer. A joining part between first acoustic matching layer and second acoustic matching layer is located inside an outer periphery of a joining surface of first acoustic matching layer that is joined to second acoustic matching layer. This configuration can prevent indirect wave generated in first acoustic matching layer from propagating to second acoustic matching layer, and can therefore reduce reverberation of an ultrasonic wave.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2020Publication date: July 21, 2022Inventors: YUDAI ISHIZAKI, TOMOKI MASUDA, HIDETOMO NAGAHARA
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Publication number: 20220163378Abstract: Ultrasonic sensor (1) includes piezoelectric element (7), first acoustic matching layer (2), and second acoustic matching layer (5) which are laminated and bonded together, piezoelectric element (7) having a rectangular bonding surface. First acoustic matching layer (2), which is adjacent to piezoelectric element (7), is bonded to piezoelectric element (7) using thermoplastic resin injected from a thickness direction of first acoustic matching layer (2) in a manner that a flow direction of the thermoplastic resin matches a longitudinal direction of piezoelectric element (7). With this configuration, ultrasonic sensor (1) that exhibits excellent temperature characteristics against such as thermal shock is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2020Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: TOMOKI MASUDA, YUDAI ISHIZAKI, HIDETOMO NAGAHARA
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Publication number: 20220081595Abstract: An ultrasonic transceiver includes a case having conductivity, a piezoelectric body having a piezoelectric electrode, and an adhesive member that bonds the case to the piezoelectric body. The adhesive member includes an adhesive and conductive particles, and secures electrical continuity between the case and the piezoelectric electrode. An adhesive layer formed of the adhesive member provided between the case and the piezoelectric electrode has a thickness equal to or less than a particle diameter of the conductive particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2020Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: YUDAI ISHIZAKI, HIDETOMO NAGAHARA
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Patent number: 11226220Abstract: An ultrasonic transceiver includes: a piezoelectric body including opposing surfaces having a first electrode and a second electrode respectively, piezoelectric body being segmented into a plurality of elements by a groove recessed from a surface having first electrode among the opposing surfaces; conductor electrically connected to first electrode on each of elements. The ultrasonic transceiver further includes reinforcement section provided in a part of second electrode, the part corresponding to a bottom of the groove. With this configuration, a decrease in a strength of piezoelectric body in the bottom of the groove, which is caused by a groove provided in piezoelectric body, can be prevented and occurrence of a crack can be prevented.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2018Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Yudai Ishizaki, Hidetomo Nagahara, Masanobu Teraji, Masato Satou, Yuuji Nakabayashi
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Patent number: 11162829Abstract: A multilayer body includes a piezoelectric body and a first acoustic matching layer in direct or indirect contact with the piezoelectric body. The first acoustic matching layer includes a plastic foam containing a plurality of closed pores. An average pore size of the closed pores is not smaller than 1 ?m and not larger than 100 ?m. The first acoustic matching layer has a density of not less than 10 kg/m3 and not more than 100 kg/m3.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2018Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidetaka Sugaya, Tomoki Masuda, Hidetomo Nagahara
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Publication number: 20210208111Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes metal member having flat plate, piezoelectric element bonded to first surface of flat plate, first acoustic matching layer adhered to second surface of flat plate, and adhesive that adheres first acoustic matching layer to flat plate. First acoustic matching layer of the ultrasonic sensor has opening on a surface adhered to flat plate and void that communicates with opening, in which adhesive is filled in void, adhesive solidifies in void, and thus an anchor effect can be obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2019Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: MASAMICHI HASHIDA, TOMOKI MASUDA, MASAKI NOBUNAGA, HIDETOMO NAGAHARA, YUDAI ISHIZAKI
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Patent number: 10830624Abstract: A gas meter includes a meter entrance that allows a fluid to flow in, a meter exit that allows the fluid to flow out, and a flow rate measurer that measures a flow rate of the fluid. In addition, the flow rate measurer includes a plurality of flow rate measuring units having the same shape and composed of a flow passage portion with a rectangular cross section shape on the outer side and a sensor portion disposed on one face of the flow passage portion. The plurality of flow rate measuring units are integrally configured by bonding faces having no sensor portion so as to serve as bonding faces of the flow rate measuring units.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2016Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Masaki Sugiyama, Hideaki Morihana, Hidetomo Nagahara, Yuuji Nakabayashi, Hideki Kinoshita
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Publication number: 20200088557Abstract: An ultrasonic transceiver includes: piezoelectric body including opposing surfaces having first electrode and second electrode respectively, piezoelectric body being segmented into a plurality of elements by groove recessed from a surface having first electrode among the opposing surfaces; conductor electrically connected to first electrode on each of elements. The ultrasonic transceiver further includes reinforcement section provided in a part of second electrode, the part corresponding to a bottom of groove. With this configuration, a decrease in a strength of piezoelectric body in the bottom of groove, which is caused by groove provided in piezoelectric body, can be prevented and occurrence of a crack can be prevented.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2018Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: YUDAI ISHIZAKI, HIDETOMO NAGAHARA, MASANOBU TERAJI, MASATO SATOU, YUUJI NAKABAYASHI
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Patent number: 10514286Abstract: A gas flowmeter includes: device body (1) which accommodates a fluid to be measured; inlet pipe (4) through which the fluid to be measured flows into device body (1); and outlet pipe (5) through which the fluid to be measured flows out from device body (1) through connecting pipe (7). The gas flow meter also includes: ultrasonic flow rate measuring unit (9) which has a first end side connected to outlet pipe (5) and performs flow rate measurement of the fluid to be measured which flows in ultrasonic flow rate measuring unit (9); and connecting pipe (7) which is disposed between ultrasonic flow rate measuring unit (9) and outlet pipe (5), and is connected to outlet pipe (5). The gas flow meter further includes support member (10) which supports a second end side of ultrasonic flow rate measuring unit (9).Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2015Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideaki Morihana, Masato Satou, Hidetomo Nagahara, Masanobu Teraji, Naoto Naganuma
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Patent number: 10317263Abstract: A gas flowmeter includes: a device body which air-tightly accommodates a fluid to be measured; an inlet pipe through which the fluid to be measured is made to flow into the device body; and an outlet pipe through which the fluid to be measured is made to flow out from the device body. The gas flowmeter further includes: an ultrasonic flow rate measuring unit which is connected to the outlet pipe and measures a flow rate of the fluid to be measured which flows in the ultrasonic flow rate measuring unit; a connecting pipe which is connected to the outlet pipe; and a flow passage member which is connected to the connecting pipe and has a flow passage shape identical to a shape of the ultrasonic flow rate measuring unit. The gas flowmeter is provided with a support member which fixes the ultrasonic flow rate measuring unit and the flow passage member to each other. With such a configuration, a gas flow meter capable of performing stable flow rate measurement can be implemented.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2015Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Masato Satou, Masanobu Teraji, Hidetomo Nagahara, Hideaki Morihana, Naoto Naganuma
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Publication number: 20190041250Abstract: A gas meter includes a meter entrance that allows a fluid to flow in, a meter exit that allows the fluid to flow out, and a flow rate measurer that measures a flow rate of the fluid. In addition, the flow rate measurer includes a plurality of flow rate measuring units of a same shape composed of a flow passage portion having a rectangular cross section shape on the outer side and a sensor portion disposed on one face of the flow passage portion. The plurality of flow rate measuring units are integrally configured by bonding faces having no sensor portion as bonding faces of the flow rate measuring units.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2016Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: MASAKI SUGIYAMA, HIDEAKI MORIHANA, HIDETOMO NAGAHARA, YUUJI NAKABAYASHI, HIDEKI KINOSHITA
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Publication number: 20190025102Abstract: A multilayer body includes a piezoelectric body and a first acoustic matching layer in direct or indirect contact with the piezoelectric body. The first acoustic matching layer includes a plastic foam containing a plurality of closed pores. An average pore size of the closed pores is not smaller than 1 ?m and not larger than 100 ?m. The first acoustic matching layer has a density of not less than 10 kg/m3 and not more than 100 kg/m3.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: HIDETAKA SUGAYA, TOMOKI MASUDA, HIDETOMO NAGAHARA
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Patent number: 10184816Abstract: A measurement unit includes a fluid inlet to let a fluid flow in, a fluid outlet to let the fluid flow out, and a single flow path connecting the fluid inlet with the fluid outlet. The measurement unit further includes a plurality of partition boards and a measuring instrument. The plurality of partition boards are disposed along a current of the fluid and between facing side surfaces of the flow path. The plurality of partition boards define M flow path segments (where M is an integer of 2 or greater) between the facing side surfaces. The measuring instrument measures a flow rate of the fluid flowing through N successively adjacent flow path segments (where N is an integer of 1 or greater and less than M).Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Masaki Sugiyama, Hideaki Morihana, Hidetomo Nagahara, Yuji Nakabayashi, Hideki Kinoshita
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Publication number: 20180188086Abstract: A measurement unit includes a fluid inlet to let a fluid flow in, a fluid outlet to let the fluid flow out, and a single flow path connecting the fluid inlet with the fluid outlet. The measurement unit further includes a plurality of partition boards and a measuring instrument. The plurality of partition boards are disposed along a current of the fluid and between facing side surfaces of the flow path. The plurality of partition boards define M flow path segments (where M is an integer of 2 or greater) between the facing side surfaces. The measuring instrument measures a flow rate of the fluid flowing through N successively adjacent flow path segments (where N is an integer of 1 or greater and less than M).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2016Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Masaki SUGIYAMA, Hideaki MORIHANA, Hidetomo NAGAHARA, Yuji NAKABAYASHI, Hideki KINOSHITA
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Patent number: 9778084Abstract: A flow-rate measurement device which measures a flow rate of a fluid flowing through a fluid flow channel unit includes a tubular measurement flow channel unit that is stored in the fluid flow channel unit and has an inside in communication with the fluid flow channel unit. The flow-rate measurement device also includes a pair of sealing materials that blocks a flow of a fluid and is provided to encircle outer peripheries of the measurement flow channel unit at a first end and a second end; and a measurement unit including a substrate, on which a measurement circuit is mounted, and a pair of ultrasonic transducers. Further, the pair of ultrasonic transducers is electrically and fixedly connected to the substrate in the measurement unit, and the measurement unit is disposed between the pair of sealing materials on the measurement flow channel unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2015Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Masato Satou, Yuji Nakabayashi, Hidetomo Nagahara, Akihisa Adachi, Aoi Watanabe
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Patent number: 9551603Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter device comprises a fluid passage forming section including a measurement fluid passage, and an opening facing a bottom surface of the measurement fluid passage; a pair of ultrasonic transducers which transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave via the opening; a partition plate which partitions the measurement fluid passage; and an identification section provided on an end surface of the partition plate and used to identify an obverse surface and a reverse surface of the partition plate.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2014Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masato Satou, Hidetomo Nagahara, Yuji Fujii
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Publication number: 20160377468Abstract: A flow-rate measurement device which measures a flow rate of a fluid flowing through a fluid flow channel unit includes a tubular measurement flow channel unit that is stored in the fluid flow channel unit and has an inside in communication with the fluid flow channel unit. The flow-rate measurement device also includes a pair of sealing materials that blocks a flow of a fluid and is provided to encircle outer peripheries of the measurement flow channel unit at a first end and a second end; and a measurement unit including a substrate, on which a measurement circuit is mounted, and a pair of ultrasonic transducers. Further, the pair of ultrasonic transducers is electrically and fixedly connected to the substrate in the measurement unit, and the measurement unit is disposed between the pair of sealing materials on the measurement flow channel unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2015Publication date: December 29, 2016Inventors: MASATO SATOU, YUJI NAKABAYASHI, HIDETOMO NAGAHARA, AKIHISA ADACHI, AOI WATANABE