Patents by Inventor Hideyuki SUNAGA

Hideyuki SUNAGA 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: 11754516
    Abstract: A neutron emission unit is configured to emit neutrons such that a center axis (Nh) of a neutron emission intersects a center axis direction of collimators (23a to 23e). A calculation unit is capable of generating information about an inspection object in the center axis direction of the collimators, based on position information of a neutron detector and/or position information of the neutron emission unit, information about an angle (?1) at which the center axis of the neutron emission intersects the center axis direction of the collimators, and a neutron amount detected by the neutron detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: Topcon Corporation, RIKEN
    Inventors: Hisashi Tsukada, Shigenori Nagano, Yoshie Otake, Hideyuki Sunaga, Yuichi Yoshimura, Koji Ikado
  • Patent number: 11747288
    Abstract: A non-destructive inspection system 1 includes a neutron radiation source 3 capable of emitting neutrons N, and a neutron detector 14 capable of detecting neutrons Nb produced via an inspection object 6a among neutrons N emitted from the neutron radiation source 3. The neutron radiation source 3 includes a linear accelerator 11 capable of emitting charged particles P accelerated; a first magnet section 12 including magnets 12a and 12b facing each other, the magnets 12a and 12b being capable of deflecting the charged particles P in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of emission of the charged particles P from the linear accelerator 11; and a target section 13 capable of producing neutrons N by being irradiated with the charged particles P that have passed through the first magnet section 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Topcon Corporation, RIKEN
    Inventors: Shigenori Nagano, Hisashi Tsukada, Yoshie Otake, Koji Ikado, Yuichi Yoshimura, Hideyuki Sunaga
  • Patent number: 11614415
    Abstract: A non-destructive inspection system includes: a neutron emission unit 12 capable of emitting neutrons pulsed; a neutron detector capable of detecting the neutrons emitted from the neutron emission unit and penetrating through an inspection object; a storage unit storing attenuation information indicating a relationship between a material of the inspection object and attenuation of the neutrons; and a calculation unit capable of calculating distance information indicating a position of a specific portion in the inspection object in accordance with time change information which is information on a change over time in an amount of the neutrons detected by the neutron detector. The calculation unit is capable of generating information related to an amount of the specific portion from information based on the amount of the neutrons according to the time change information, using the distance information and the attenuation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: Topcon Corporation, RIKEN
    Inventors: Shigenori Nagano, Satoru Ishiguro, Yoshie Otake, Hideyuki Sunaga, Yuichi Yoshimura, Koji Ikado
  • Patent number: 11609190
    Abstract: The non-destructive inspection method includes: a water absorbing or drying step of changing a water-content state of a test piece; a transmission image capturing step of irradiating, with a radiation, the test piece absorbed water or dried for a predetermined time in the water absorbing or drying step and capturing a transmission image created by visualizing the radiation transmitted through the test piece; and an evaluation step of evaluating the test piece on the basis of the water-content state of the test piece determined from the transmission image captured in the transmission image capturing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignees: Topcon Corporation, RIKEN
    Inventors: Yuichi Yoshimura, Maki Mizuta, Hideyuki Sunaga, Yoshie Otake
  • Patent number: 11513084
    Abstract: A non-destructive inspection system 1 includes a neutron detecting unit 4 and an arithmetic unit 60. The neutron detecting unit 4 includes a collimator 30 and a neutron detector 20 integrated together. The collimator 30 has a wall defining a through passage P. The wall is made from a material that absorbs neutrons produced via an inspection object. The neutron detector 20 is capable of detecting neutrons that have passed through the collimator 30. The arithmetic unit 60 generates information on a position and composition of the inspection object, based on information on the neutrons detected by the neutron detector 20, positional information indicating the position of the neutron detecting unit 4, and posture information indicating the posture of the neutron detecting unit 4. The positional information and the posture information are detected by a position and posture detecting unit 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: Topcon Corporation, RIKEN
    Inventors: Shigenori Nagano, Hanako Aikoh, Yoshie Otake, Yuichi Yoshimura, Hideyuki Sunaga
  • Publication number: 20220128489
    Abstract: The neutron emission unit is configured to emit neutrons such that a center axis (Nh) of neutron emission intersects a center axis direction of collimators (23a to 23e). A calculation unit is capable of generating information about an inspection object in the center axis direction of the collimators, based on position information of the neutron detector and/or position information of the neutron emission unit, information about an angle (?1) at which the center axis of the neutron emission intersects the center axis direction of the collimators, and a neutron amount detected by the neutron detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicants: Topcon Corporation, RIKEN
    Inventors: Hisashi TSUKADA, Shigenori NAGANO, Yoshie OTAKE, Hideyuki SUNAGA, Yuichi YOSHIMURA, Koji IKADO
  • Publication number: 20220082514
    Abstract: A non-destructive inspection system includes: a neutron emission unit 12 capable of emitting neutrons pulsed; a neutron detector capable of detecting the neutrons emitted from the neutron emission unit and penetrating through an inspection object; a storage unit storing attenuation information indicating a relationship between a material of the inspection object and attenuation of the neutrons; and a calculation unit capable of calculating distance information indicating a position of a specific portion in the inspection object in accordance with time change information which is information on a change over time in an amount of the neutrons detected by the neutron detector. The calculation unit is capable of generating information related to an amount of the specific portion from information based on the amount of the neutrons according to the time change information, using the distance information and the attenuation information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicants: Topcon Corporation, RIKEN
    Inventors: Shigenori NAGANO, Satoru ISHIGURO, Yoshie OTAKE, Hideyuki SUNAGA, Yuichi YOSHIMURA, Koji IKADO
  • Publication number: 20220003690
    Abstract: A non-destructive inspection system 1 includes a neutron detecting unit 4 and an arithmetic unit 60. The neutron detecting unit 4 includes a collimator 30 and a neutron detector 20 integrated together. The collimator 30 has a wall defining a through passage P. The wall is made from a material that absorbs neutrons produced via an inspection object. The neutron detector 20 is capable of detecting neutrons that have passed through the collimator 30. The arithmetic unit 60 generates information on a position and composition of the inspection object, based on information on the neutrons detected by the neutron detector 20, positional information indicating the position of the neutron detecting unit 4, and posture information indicating the posture of the neutron detecting unit 4. The positional information and the posture information are detected by a position and posture detecting unit 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicants: Topcon Corporation, RIKEN
    Inventors: Shigenori NAGANO, Hanako AIKOH, Yoshie OTAKE, Yuichi YOSHIMURA, Hideyuki SUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20210396688
    Abstract: A non-destructive inspection system 1 includes a neutron radiation source 3 capable of emitting neutrons N, and a neutron detector 14 capable of detecting neutrons Nb produced via an inspection object 6a among neutrons N emitted from the neutron radiation source 3. The neutron radiation source 3 includes a linear accelerator 11 capable of emitting charged particles P accelerated; a first magnet section 12 including magnets 12a and 12b facing each other, the magnets 12a and 12b being capable of deflecting the charged particles P in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of emission of the charged particles P from the linear accelerator 11; and a target section 13 capable of producing neutrons N by being irradiated with the charged particles P that have passed through the first magnet section 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicants: Topcon Corporation, RIKEN
    Inventors: Shigenori NAGANO, Hisashi TSUKADA, Yoshie OTAKE, Koji IKADO, Yuichi YOSHIMURA, Hideyuki SUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20210168925
    Abstract: A target structure includes a target and a cooling portion. The target generates neutrons by being irradiated with a charged particle beam. The cooling portion includes a front surface and a back surface that face to sides opposite to each other. The target is joined directly or indirectly to the front surface. A flow path for flowing of cooling liquid including hydrogen elements is formed in the cooling portion. When viewed in a thickness direction of the cooling portion from the front surface to the back surface, the flow path is positioned off a center portion of the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: RIKEN
    Inventors: Tomohiro KOBAYASHI, Yoshie OTAKE, Hideyuki SUNAGA, Xiaobo LI
  • Publication number: 20210131981
    Abstract: The non-destructive inspection method includes: a water absorbing or drying step of changing a water-content state of a test piece; a transmission image capturing step of irradiating, with a radiation, the test piece absorbed water or dried for a predetermined time in the water absorbing or drying step and capturing a transmission image created by visualizing the radiation transmitted through the test piece; and an evaluation step of evaluating the test piece on the basis of the water-content state of the test piece determined from the transmission image captured in the transmission image capturing step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicants: Topcon Corporation, RIKEN
    Inventors: Yuichi YOSHIMURA, Maki MIZUTA, Hideyuki SUNAGA, Yoshie OTAKE