Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Isobe

Hiroshi Isobe 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: 11154983
    Abstract: In a link actuation device, a distal end side link hub is coupled to a proximal end side link hub via three or more link mechanisms such that a posture of the distal end side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal end side link hub, and a posture of the distal end side link hub relative to the proximal end side link hub is arbitrarily changed by actuators provided to two or more link mechanisms. The manipulating device includes a posture acquirer for acquiring a distal end posture represented by a bending angle and a turning angle, from a coordinate position at which a distal end side spherical link center is projected onto a two-dimensional rectangular coordinate system that has an origin located on an extension of an axis of the proximal end side link hub and is orthogonal to the extension of the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Marui, Hiroshi Isobe, Seigo Sakata
  • Patent number: 11154994
    Abstract: A work device is configured to perform a work with use of an end effector and have six degrees of freedom. The work device including: a linear motion unit obtained by combining three linear motion actuators, to have three degrees of freedom; and a rotation unit obtained by combining a plurality of rotation mechanisms each having one or more degrees of rotational freedom, to have three degrees of freedom. A base portion of the linear motion unit is fixed to a mount. A base portion of the rotation unit is fixed to an output portion of the linear motion unit. The end effector is mounted to an output portion of the rotation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Kenzou Nose, Naoki Marui, Hiroyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 11141915
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping device includes: a discharge head for discharging fluidic raw material through a nozzle; a shaping table on which a shaped product is to be molded; a linear motion mechanism; and a rotation unit. The linear motion mechanism moves the shaping table relative to the discharge head in three mutually orthogonal axial directions. The rotation unit tilts the shaping table relative to the discharge head. An operation of curing, on the shaping table, the raw material discharged through the nozzle is repeated while the relative position between the discharge head and the shaping table is being changed by the linear motion mechanism and the rotation unit, thereby molding a shaped product in which the cured raw material is stacked in layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Katsunori Sone
  • Patent number: 11130225
    Abstract: A working device includes: a linear motion unit having three degrees of freedom and obtained by combining three linear motion actuators; and a rotary unit having three degrees of freedom and obtained by combining a plurality of rotating mechanisms each having one or more rotational degrees of freedom. The linear motion unit is mounted on a mount such that a base portion of the linear motion unit is fixed to the mount. A base portion of the rotary unit is fixedly mounted on an output portion of the linear motion unit. End effectors are mounted on both the output portion of the linear motion unit and an output portion of the rotary unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Kenzou Nose, Naoki Marui, Hiroyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 11130229
    Abstract: An operation command generator includes: an area division unit configured to divide a line on a flat work surface of a target workpiece W into a straight area and a corner area, using a sharp boundary surface; a straight area operation command generation unit configured to generate a command for operating only the linear motion mechanism while keeping the posture of the parallel link mechanism fixed, in the straight area; and a corner area operation command generation unit configured to generate a command so that an acting point of the end effector passes on the boundary surface at a substantially constant speed by the linear motion mechanism and the parallel link mechanism performing coordinated operations in the corner area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seigo Sakata, Yuuki Shimura, Hiroshi Isobe, Naoki Marui
  • Patent number: 11072066
    Abstract: A working device (1) using a parallel link mechanism includes: a parallel link mechanism (10) by which end effectors (4, 5) are supported so as to be changeable in posture; and posture-controlling actuators (11) which actuate the parallel link mechanism (10). In the parallel link mechanism (10), a distal-end-side link hub (13) is connected to a proximal-end-side link hub (12) via three or more link mechanisms (14) so as to be changeable in posture of the distal-end-side link hub (13) relative to the proximal-end-side link hub (12). The end effectors (4, 5) are mounted to the distal-end-side link hub (12), and includes one main end effector (4) which performs a main work on a workpiece (3) and one or multiple sub end effectors (5) which perform an auxiliary work on the workpiece (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoya Konagai, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Publication number: 20210197362
    Abstract: A link actuation apparatus includes: a parallel link mechanism including a proximal-side link hub, a distal-side link hub, and three or more link mechanisms each coupling the distal-side link hub to the proximal-side link hub such that a posture of the distal-side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal-side link hub; posture control drive sources; and a control device. The control device includes an abnormality detector including: a measurement section configured to measure a predetermined state value which is affected by abnormality in revolute pair parts of a link actuation apparatus body constituted by the parallel link mechanism and the posture control drive sources; and a determination section configured to determine if any of the revolute pair parts has abnormality in on the basis of a measurement result obtained by the measurement section. For example, the measurement section measures rigidity, or driving torque or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: KENZOU NOSE, HIROSHI ISOBE
  • Publication number: 20210183927
    Abstract: An image sensor that includes a sensor substrate provided with a sensor surface on which a photodiode is arranged in a planar manner, a sealing resin applied to a side of the sensor surface of the sensor substrate, sealing glass bonded to the sensor substrate via the sealing resin, and a reinforcing resin made of a resin material having higher rigidity than the sealing resin and formed on an outer periphery of the sealing resin to bond the sensor substrate and the sealing glass. The sealing resin is formed to have a smaller area than each of the sensor substrate and the sealing glass, so that the reinforcing resin is formed to fill a gap provided on the outer periphery of the sealing resin, the sensor substrate and the sealing glass facing each other through the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventor: HIROSHI ISOBE
  • Patent number: 11000946
    Abstract: In the link operating device, a distal-end-side link hub is connected to a proximal-end-side link hub so as to be changeable in position relative thereto via at least three link mechanisms. Each link mechanism includes a proximal-side end link member, a distal-side end link member, and a center link member. Position-controlling actuators and speed reduction mechanisms are provided to two or more of the link mechanisms. The proximal-side end link member includes a bent portion and a pair of rotational connection bodies disposed at one end of the bent portion. The speed reduction mechanism is disposed between the pair of rotational connection bodies, and includes an output shaft fixed to one of the rotational connection bodies, and an input shaft rotatably supported by the other one of the rotational connection bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzou Nose, Hiroshi Isobe, Seigo Sakata
  • Publication number: 20210111172
    Abstract: The present technique relates to an electrostatic protective element that enables protective performance with respect to static electricity to be improved and to an electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: HIROSHI ISOBE, TAKAAKI TATSUMI
  • Publication number: 20210086350
    Abstract: In a link actuating device, a distal end side link hub is coupled to a proximal end side link hub via three or more link mechanisms. A posture control drive source configured to arbitrarily change the posture of the distal end side link hub is provided to each of two or more link mechanisms. The link actuating device includes a storage unit configured to store therein an operating position of the posture control drive source when the distal end side link hub is in a defined posture. In each of the two or more link mechanisms, a positioning portion is provided to at least one of the proximal side end link member, the distal side end link member, and the intermediate link member. A positioning member configured to position the distal end side link hub in the defined posture is dismountably mounted between a plurality of the positioning portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzou NOSE, Hiroshi ISOBE
  • Publication number: 20210074688
    Abstract: A display unit includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposed to each other, a plurality of light emitting devices provided on the first surface of the substrate, a mounting member provided in a selective region of the second surface of the substrate, a base that is provided to be opposed to the substrate and has an opening through which the mounting member is inserted with a gap therebetween, and a rigid member that is provided in the gap and is in contact with the base and the mounting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventor: HIROSHI ISOBE
  • Publication number: 20210068266
    Abstract: A glass wiring substrate includes: a glass substrate 10 including a first surface 10A and a second surface 10B, having a first wiring portion 20 formed on a first surface side, and having a second wiring portion 30 formed on a second surface side; a through hole 40 formed in a region of the glass substrate 10 in which neither the first wiring portion 20 nor the second wiring portion 30 is formed; and a through hole portion 42 formed on an inner wall 41 of the through hole 40, having one end extending to the first wiring portion 20, having another end extending to the second wiring portion 30, and including a hollow portion 43 corresponding to a central portion of the through hole 40, in which a filling member 61 blocking at least a part of the through hole 40 is provided on a region 10C surrounding an edge portion of the through hole 40 of the first surface 10A, and the filling member 61 includes a glass material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroshi ISOBE, Daisuke MIZUTA
  • Patent number: 10890236
    Abstract: An operation method for a link actuating device provided with a target value input unit having a height direction target value input portion that allows input of a movement amount in a height direction or a coordinate position in the height direction, which causes the distal end posture of the link actuating device to be changed only in the height direction along a central axis of a proximal end side link hub. An input converter is provided to calculate, by using an inputted value, a target distal end posture of the link actuating device. The input converter further calculates a command operation amount of each actuator from the result of the calculation, and inputs the command operation amount to the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seigo Sakata, Yukihiro Nishio, Hiroshi Isobe, Naoya Konagai, Hiroyuki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20200384642
    Abstract: A working device includes a link actuation device and a control device for the link actuation device. The control device includes: a storage unit configured to store a plurality of the target positions; a calculation unit configured to sequentially read out the respective target positions stored to calculate movement amounts and movement speeds of the respective actuators between the target positions; and a control unit configured to operate the respective actuators by the movement amounts and at the movement speeds of the respective actuators calculated by the calculation unit. The control unit is capable of changing acceleration and deceleration times of the actuators for each of the target positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Marui, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 10828779
    Abstract: A diagnostic device is to be used for a link actuation device. A distal end side link hub to be coupled to a proximal end side link hub via three or more link mechanisms such that posture of the distal end side link hub is changeable. Each of the three or more link mechanisms is to be associated with a respective one of actuators. A predetermined action is to be carried out under a predetermined condition by driving each of the actuators. A preload applicator is to cause a preload to be applied to the link actuation device. A torque detector is to detect a drive torque of each of the actuators while a preload is being applied. A determiner is to determine whether or not the torque that is detected by the torque detector lies within a predetermined range. A notifier is to notify the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Marui, Hiroshi Isobe, Yukihiro Nishio, Seigo Sakata
  • Publication number: 20200340911
    Abstract: In a measurement apparatus or a measurement method, an information processing apparatus executes: a process of specifying a bunch of grapes to be measured on the basis of detection of grasping of the bunch of grapes by a gripper; and a process of starting to measure the number of pieces of the specified bunch of grapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Hidetoshi Kabasawa, Ichiro Ujiie, Tomonori Masuno
  • Patent number: 10780574
    Abstract: A distal end side link hub is coupled to a proximal end side link hub via three or more link mechanisms. Each link mechanism has a proximal side end link member, a distal side end link member, and an intermediate link member. The proximal side end link member has a bent portion and rotation shaft mounting portions. A rotation shaft is mounted to the rotation shaft mounting portion. A bevel gear, forming a part of a gear mechanism for transmitting rotary motion of a posture control actuator to the proximal side end link member, is mounted on the rotation shaft mounting portion and disposed in a space between two virtual planes obtained by extending a radially inner edge and a radially outer edge of one end of the bent portion in a longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzou Nose, Hiroshi Isobe, Seigo Sakata
  • Publication number: 20200206897
    Abstract: A link actuation device includes a proximal-end-side link hub, a distal-end-side link hub, three or more link mechanisms each coupling the link hubs such that a posture of the distal-end-side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal-end-side link hub. Each link mechanism includes a proximal-side end link member, a proximal-side intermediate link member, a distal-side intermediate link member, and a distal-side end link member. Actuators for arbitrarily changing the posture and a distance from the distal-end-side link hub to the proximal-end-side link hub are provided to three or more link mechanisms of the three or more link mechanisms. A control unit calculates a rotation angle of the proximal-side end link member according to a targeted posture of the distal-end-side link hub and a targeted distance between the centers of the spherical links, and controls the respective actuators so as to attain the calculated rotation angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Naoki Marui, Seigo Sakata, Kenzou Nose
  • Publication number: 20200198132
    Abstract: The parallel link mechanism is applied to a work device in which a link actuation device and a combined-side actuator are combined. A control device includes a storage that stores a plurality of work coordinates as well as a work-point movement velocity as a target velocity of an end effector and a posture change velocity as a target angular velocity to be set for changing the posture of the end effector. A controller includes a switching function unit that switches the target velocity used for calculating movement velocities of the respective posture control actuators and a movement velocity of the combined-side actuator, to the work-point movement velocity and to the posture change velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki MARUI, Hiroshi Isobe