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).

  • Publication number: 20130233583
    Abstract: A remote controlled actuator includes an elongated spindle guide section and a distal end member fitted to a distal end thereof for alteration in attitude. The distal end member rotatably supports a spindle for holding a tool. The spindle guide section includes a rotary shaft for transmitting rotation of a tool rotation drive source to the spindle. An attitude altering member inserted in a guide hole is selectively advanced or retracted by an attitude control drive source. An initial attitude hold control unit controls the attitude control drive source so that an initial attitude holding force necessary to maintain the distal end member in the initial attitude can be applied to the attitude altering member. An attitude alteration control unit controls the attitude control drive source so that the attitude of the distal end member can be altered by a force larger than the initial attitude holding force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukihiro Nishio, Hiroshi Isobe, Yoshitaka Nagano
  • Patent number: 8523446
    Abstract: This wheel support bearing assembly includes an outer member, an inner member, and a plurality of rows of rolling elements between opposed rolling surfaces in both members. At least one sensor unit is provided on the outer diametric surface of the outer member, which is stationary. The sensor unit is made up of a strain generating member having two or more contact fixing segments adapted to be fixed to an outer diametric surface of the outer member in contact therewith and a sensor fitted to the strain generating member for detecting a strain induced in this strain generating member. A groove is provided in the outer diametric surface of the outer member at a location adjacent to the neighboring two contact fixing segments of the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Toru Takahashi, Takayoshi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 8511195
    Abstract: A remote controlled actuator includes a spindle guide section of an elongated configuration, a distal end member fitted to a tip end of the spindle guide section for alteration in attitude, and a drive unit housing to which a base end of the spindle guide section is connected. The distal end member rotatably supports a spindle then holding a tool. The spindle guide section includes a hollow outer shell pipe, a rotary shaft and a guide pipe, and an attitude altering member for altering an attitude of the distal end member is inserted within the guide pipe. A hollow of the outer shell pipe includes a round hole portion at a center and a grooved portion depressed radially outwardly from the round hole portion. The rotary shaft is arranged within the round hole portion whereas the guide pipe is arranged within the grooved portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Takayoshi Ozaki, Yoshitaka Nagano, Yukihiro Nishio
  • Publication number: 20130192420
    Abstract: A link actuating device connects an output member to an input member through three or more link mechanisms for alteration in posture. Each of the link mechanisms includes end portion link members on input and output sides, and an intermediate link member. The link mechanisms are of such shapes that geometric models representing the link members by straight lines are such that input and output side portions are symmetrical to each other relative to an intermediate portion of each of the intermediate link members. Immobilizing mechanisms are provided in all of the link mechanisms to immobilize the output member in an arbitrary attitude relative to the input member. A structure body is provided to connect the input and output member to each other while being in contact with contacted portions formed in the input and output member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Yukihiro Nishio, Yoshitaka Nagano
  • Publication number: 20130184863
    Abstract: An actuator main body (6) mounted on an operating bench (50) includes a main body base end housing (4) fixed to the operating bench (50), an elongated spindle guide section (3) having its base end connected with the main body base end housing (4), a distal end member (2) fitted to a front end thereof for alteration in attitude, and a tool (1) rotatably provided in the distal end member (2). Within the spindle guide section (3), a rotary shaft (22) for transmitting a rotation of a tool rotation drive source (41) to the tool (1) and an attitude altering member (31) for altering the attitude of the distal end member (2) are provided. Within the main body base end housing (4), an attitude altering drive mechanism (43) for selectively advancing or retracting the attitude altering member (31) when driven by an attitude altering drive source (42) is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Yoshitaka Nagano
  • Patent number: 8449194
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly capable of accurately detecting load without affected by hysteresis is provided. The assembly includes a vehicle body fitting flange having bolt holes at respective circumferential portions in the form of projecting pieces. A sensor unit including a strain generating member having contact fixing segments to be fixed to the stationary member and a cutout portion, and a sensor element for detecting strain in a periphery of the cutout portion is provided with the contact fixing segments at positions of the same size in an axial direction relative to the outer diametric surface of the stationary member. The contact fixing segments are spaced each other an angle about an axis of the stationary member, and the angle between the contact fixing segments at respective end portions of the sensor unit is smaller than half the angle between the projecting pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Toru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8439899
    Abstract: A remote controlled actuator includes an elongated spindle guide section and a distal end member fitted to a distal end thereof for alteration in attitude. The distal end member rotatably supports a spindle for holding a tool. The spindle guide section includes a rotary shaft for transmitting rotation of a tool rotation drive source to the spindle. An attitude altering member inserted in a guide hole is selectively advanced or retracted by an attitude control drive source. An initial attitude hold control unit controls the attitude control drive source so that an initial attitude holding force necessary to maintain the distal end member in the initial attitude can be applied to the attitude altering member. An attitude alteration control unit controls the attitude control drive source so that the attitude of the distal end member can be altered by a force larger than the initial attitude holding force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Nishio, Hiroshi Isobe, Yoshitaka Nagano
  • Patent number: 8434947
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly, in which a load imposed on the wheel can be accurately detected without influences from hysteresis is provided. This wheel support bearing assembly includes an outer member having a plurality of rolling surfaces, an inner member having rolling surfaces opposed respectively to the rolling surfaces of the outer member, and rolling elements between the rolling surfaces. A sensor unit is provided in a stationary member of one of the outer and inner members, which unit includes a strain generating member having two contact fixing segments to be fixed to the stationary member and a sensor fitted to the strain generating member for detecting a strain induced in this strain generating member. The two contact fixing segments are arranged at respective positions held at the same phase in a direction circumferentially of the stationary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Toru Takahashi, Takayoshi Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20130077061
    Abstract: An illuminator includes: a light source section including a laser light source; an optical element through which a laser beam from the laser light source passes; a driving section oscillating the optical element; and a control section controlling, in a driving operation performed by the driving section, the driving operation to allow an oscillating amplitude value of the optical element in a startup period of the optical element to be equal to or less than the oscillating amplitude value of a steady-state operation period of the optical element that is subsequent to the startup period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 8397590
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a vehicle wheel with a sensor in which load acting on the bearing assembly and/or a tread surface is accurately detected is provided. The bearing assembly includes rolling elements between outer and inner members, a load detecting device in one of the outer and inner members provided as a stationary member, for detecting load acting on the bearing assembly, a rotation detecting device for detecting the rotation of the other member provided as a rotating member, an averaging circuit for calculating rotational speed of the rotating member from output of the rotation detecting device, determining from the calculated rotational speed a time period required for the rolling elements to revolve a pitch of arrangement thereof and calculating average value of output of the load detecting device during the period, and an estimating circuit for estimating the load from the average value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 8393242
    Abstract: A remote controlled actuator includes a spindle guide section (3) of an elongated configuration, a distal end member (2) fitted to a distal end of the spindle guide section (3) through a distal end member connecting unit (15) for alteration in attitude, a tool (1) rotatably provided to the distal end member (2), a tool rotating drive source (41) for rotating the tool, and an attitude altering drive source (42) for manipulating the attitude of the distal end member. The distal end member rotatably supports a spindle (13) then holding the tool (1). The spindle guide section (3) includes a rotary shaft (22) for transmitting rotation of the tool rotating drive source to the spindle and a guide hole (30a). A flexible attitude altering member (31) capable of altering the attitude of the distal end member is reciprocally movably inserted within the guide hole (30a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 8393793
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly capable of accurately detecting load acting on the vehicle wheel by reducing concentration of strain on a cutout portion corner area of a strain generating member in a sensor unit is provided. The wheel support bearing assembly having rolling elements interposed between rolling surfaces in outer and inner members, includes at least one sensor unit provided in a stationary member, which is one of the outer and inner members. The sensor unit includes a strain generating member, having two or more contact fixing segments secured to the stationary member in contact therewith, and a sensor fitted to the strain generating member for detecting a strain in the strain generating member. The strain generating member has a cutout portion between the contact fixing segments, and corner area of such cutout portion is of an arcuately sectioned shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Kentarou Nishikawa, Toru Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20130055843
    Abstract: An output member is connected with an input member through three sets of link mechanisms for alteration in attitude. The link mechanism includes end portion link mechanisms on an input side and an output side, respectively, and an intermediate link member. The link mechanism is such that a geometric model of each of the link members expressed by lines represents such a shape as an input side portion and an output side portion relative to a center of the intermediate link member are symmetrical with each other. By actuating two or more sets of the link mechanisms by means of a link mechanism drive source, the attitude of the output member is controlled. Through the inside of an arrangement of the link mechanisms, a flexible wire is provided for transmitting a rotational force in a direction of arrangement of the input and output members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Takayoshi Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20130016136
    Abstract: An illumination device includes: a light source section including a laser light source, and allowing a laser light beam emitted from the laser light source to be outputted intermittently at a predetermined frequency; an optical element through which the laser light beam passes; and a driver section changing a coherency of the laser light beam by driving the optical element at a predetermined drive frequency. Expressions (1) |2×f2?n1×f1|?20 or (2) |2×f2?n2×f1|?3, (3) f2?20 or (4) f2?3, and (5) |f2?n1×f1|?20 or (6) |f2?n3×f1|?3 are satisfied, where f1 denotes the frequency in Hz, f2 denotes a variation frequency of luminance in illumination light outputted from the optical element in Hz, the variation frequency being generated by the driving of the optical element, n1 denotes an arbitrary integer of 0 to 10 both inclusive, and n2 and n3 denote respective predetermined integers of 0 to 10 both inclusive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshifumi Yasui, Hiroshi Isobe, Kazuyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8346490
    Abstract: There is provided a sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly including an outer member having an inner periphery formed with a plurality of rolling surfaces defined therein, an inner member having an outer periphery formed with rolling surfaces opposed to those rolling surfaces and a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between those rolling surfaces. One of the outer and inner members serving as a stationary member is provided with a strain amplifying mechanism for amplifying a strain in the stationary member, which occurs when the rolling elements pass by. A strain sensor element is provided for detecting the strain amplified by the strain amplifying mechanism. A calculator is provided for calculating from an output of the strain sensor element, the load acting on the bearing assembly or the load acting between the vehicle wheel and the road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Toru Takahashi, Takayoshi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 8316961
    Abstract: A remote controlled work robot including a remote controlled actuator and a support device therefor. The remote controlled actuator includes a spindle guide section of an elongated configuration, a distal end member fitted to a distal end of the spindle guide section through a distal end member coupling structure for alteration in attitude, and a drive unit housing connected with a base end of the spindle guide section. The distal end member rotatably supports a spindle for holding a tool. The support device includes a single degree-of-freedom system, in which the remote controlled actuator has a degree of freedom in one direction, or a multi-degrees-of-freedom system, in which the remote controlled actuator has a two or more degrees of freedom relative to a base on which the support device is installed. A drive source and is also provided for driving the degree-of-freedom system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Takayoshi Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20120255750
    Abstract: A remote-controlled actuator assembly includes a distal end member fitted to a tip end of a spindle guide section for alteration in attitude, a tool rotatably provided in the distal end member, a tool rotation drive source for rotating the tool, and an attitude altering drive source for operating the attitude of the distal end member. The spindle guide section has a rotary shaft for transmitting a rotation of the tool rotation drive source to the spindle and an attitude altering member to alter the attitude of the distal end member. The attitude altering drive source includes a reduction unit to reduce a speed of input rotation from the attitude altering drive source, a motion converter mechanism to convert a rotational output from the reduction unit to advance/retraction motion, and an output member to cause the attitude altering member to advance/retract according to an output of the motion converter mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Takayoshi Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20120240694
    Abstract: A flexible wire assembly of a compact structure that can transmit the torque for a high speed rotation even in a bent condition is provided. The flexible wire assembly (A) includes a flexible outer tube (1), in which a flexible inner wire (2) having its opposite ends defining rotation input and output ends (2a and 2b), respectively, is rotatably supported by means of a plurality of rolling bearings (3). Spring elements (4I and 4O) are employed for applying preloads to those rolling bearings (3). The use is also made of a speed reducing mechanism (22) for reducing in speed and outputting rotation of the inner wire (2). The spring elements (4I and 4O) includes inner ring spring elements (4I) and outer ring spring elements (4O) that are alternately arranged over the length of the inner wire (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Takayoshi Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20120229522
    Abstract: There are provided an illumination unit and a display apparatus which are capable of improving convenience for users. The illumination unit includes a light source section including a laser light source, an optical device allowing a laser beam from the laser light source to pass therethrough, a drive section allowing the optical device to oscillate, and a control section performing one or both of control of decreasing brightness of emitted light from the light source section and control of outputting to the outside information that oscillation of the optical device has been stopped when the oscillation of the optical device has been stopped during drive operation by the drive section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 8221398
    Abstract: A remote-controlled actuator includes a spindle guide section of an elongated shape, a distal end member fitted to a distal end of the spindle guide section for alteration in attitude and rotatably supporting a tool, and a drive unit housing having a base end of the spindle guide section connected therewith. A rotary shaft for transmitting rotation of a tool rotation drive source within the drive unit housing to the tool and an attitude altering member for altering the attitude of the distal end member by the drive of an attitude altering drive source within the drive unit housing are accommodated within the spindle guide section. A cutting force estimator is provided for estimating the magnitude of at least one component force of a principle force, a radial force and a feed force in a cutting force which the tool applies to a work to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Yukihiro Nishio, Yoshitaka Nagano, Takayoshi Ozaki