Patents by Inventor Hiroyuki Minato

Hiroyuki Minato 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: 11933771
    Abstract: A first liquid sending controller of an analysis control device controls a first liquid sender such that a mobile phase is supplied to a fluorescence detector through an analysis column and a junction during an analysis of a sample. A sample introduction controller controls a sample introducer such that the sample is introduced into a mobile phase by the sample introducer at a position farther upstream than the analysis column during the analysis of the sample. The second liquid sending controller causes a second liquid sender to start supplying a fluorescent reaction liquid such that the fluorescent reaction liquid arrives at the junction later than a point in time at which supply of the mobile phase starts and before the sample introduced into the mobile phase arrives at the junction during the analysis of the sample. A generator generates a chromatogram based on an output signal of the fluorescence detector during the analysis of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Minato, Masahide Gunji
  • Publication number: 20230349868
    Abstract: A column accommodation device (1) includes a housing in which a column accommodation space (4) is provided, and a chip column (6) having a plate-shape and having an internal flow path (40) filled with a separation medium (41) is accommodated in the column accommodation space (4). An outer surface of the chip column (6) is provided with openings (42) respectively communicating with both ends of the internal flow path. Inside of the column accommodation space (4) is provided with a guide (18) for guiding the chip column (6) to a predetermined position. The column accommodation device (1) includes a seal device (32) for connecting and releasing pipes (44) to and from the openings (42) of the chip column (6), and a controller (46) configured to perform operation control of the seal device (32), and the controller (46) is configured to fluidly connect the pipes (44) with respect to the openings (42) of the chip column (6) when it is determined that the chip column (6) is arranged at the predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Shotaro ANDO, Takashi INOUE, Tsutomu WATANABE, Hiroyuki MINATO, Nobumitsu FUKUSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20230104759
    Abstract: A liquid chromatograph includes a sample supplier that supplies a sample into a mobile phase, a chip column having a flow path that functions as a separation column on a substrate, a packed column, a switcher configured to be switchable between a first state in which a mobile phase and a sample are guided from the sample supplier to the chip column and a second state in which a mobile phase and a sample are guided from the sample supplier to the packed column, and a detector that detects a sample that has passed through the chip column and a sample that has passed through the packed column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Hiroyuki MINATO, Shotaro ANDO
  • Publication number: 20230057667
    Abstract: A first attachment portion to which a packed column is attachable and a second attachment portion to which a chip column is attachable are housed in a column oven. Designation of a temperature of the column oven is received by a designated temperature receiver. In a case in which the chip column is not attached to the second attachment portion, an upper limit temperature of the column oven is set to a first temperature by a setter. An upper limit temperature of the column oven is set to a second temperature lower than the first temperature in a case in which the chip column is attached to the second attachment portion. A temperature of the column oven is adjusted to a received temperature by a temperature adjuster in a case in which the received temperature is equal to or lower than an upper limit temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Hiroyuki MINATO, Nobumitsu FUKUSHIMA, Erika BABA
  • Publication number: 20220291178
    Abstract: A needle driver moves a sampling needle. A display controller displays a layout input portion for receiving input of layout information in regard to an additional sample container in a display unit. A position information acquirer acquires position information representing positions of a predetermined count of containing portions in an additional sample container based on teaching work. A storage stores the input layout information and the acquired position information. A designation information acquirer acquires designation information designating a containing portion. A movement controller controls the needle driver based on the stored layout information, the stored position information and the acquired designation information such that the sampling needle is moved to the containing portion designated by the designation information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroyuki MINATO, Takashi INOUE
  • Patent number: 11366133
    Abstract: The sample plate has a principal plane in which a plurality of wells is arranged. The sample plate has a plurality of through-holes each allowing a sampling needle to pass through in a region of the principal plane where the wells are not provided, and positions of the wells and positions of the through-holes are designed such that when two pieces of the sample plates are arranged up and down with a predetermined positional relationship in a state in which respective principal planes are arranged in parallel each other, the through-holes of the sample plate arranged on an upper side is arranged at positions directly above respective wells of the sample plate arranged on a lower side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Minato, Takashi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20220018818
    Abstract: A first liquid sending controller of an analysis control device controls a first liquid sender such that a mobile phase is supplied to a fluorescence detector through an analysis column and a junction during an analysis of a sample. A sample introduction controller controls a sample introducer such that the sample is introduced into a mobile phase by the sample introducer at a position farther upstream than the analysis column during the analysis of the sample. The second liquid sending controller causes a second liquid sender to start supplying a fluorescent reaction liquid such that the fluorescent reaction liquid arrives at the junction later than a point in time at which supply of the mobile phase starts and before the sample introduced into the mobile phase arrives at the junction during the analysis of the sample. A generator generates a chromatogram based on an output signal of the fluorescence detector during the analysis of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroyuki MINATO, Masahide GUNJI
  • Patent number: 10955390
    Abstract: An autosampler sucks cleaning liquid from a tip side of a sampling needle and holds the cleaning liquid in the sampling channel before sucking analysis liquid from the tip of the sampling needle, and, after dispensing of the analysis liquid is finished, discharges the cleaning liquid from the tip of the sampling needle, so as to clean the inside of the sampling needle and the sampling channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Minato, Takaaki Fujita
  • Patent number: 10876887
    Abstract: A spectroscopic detector includes a light source, a flow cell, a diffraction grating, a diffraction grating drive unit, an optical sensor and a diffraction grating position adjustment unit. The diffraction grating drive unit is configured to adjust a rotation position of the diffraction grating within a range that light of a specified wavelength region of plus side diffracted light and light of the specified wavelength region of minus side diffracted light among diffracted light caused by the diffraction grating is selectively guided to the flow cell. The diffraction grating position adjustment unit is configured to adjust the rotation position of the diffraction grating unit in order to selectively guide one of the light of the specified wavelength region of the plus side diffracted light and the light of the specified wavelength region of the minus side diffracted light among the diffracted light caused by the diffraction grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Minato
  • Publication number: 20200241030
    Abstract: The sample plate has a principal plane in which a plurality of wells is arranged. The sample plate has a plurality of through-holes each allowing a sampling needle to pass through in a region of the principal plane where the wells are not provided, and positions of the wells and positions of the through-holes are designed such that when two pieces of the sample plates are arranged up and down with a predetermined positional relationship in a state in which respective principal planes are arranged in parallel each other, the through-holes of the sample plate arranged on an upper side is arranged at positions directly above respective wells of the sample plate arranged on a lower side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroyuki MINATO, Takashi INOUE
  • Publication number: 20200200717
    Abstract: An autosampler sucks cleaning liquid from a tip side of a sampling needle and holds the cleaning liquid in the sampling channel before sucking analysis liquid from the tip of the sampling needle, and, after dispensing of the analysis liquid is finished, discharges the cleaning liquid from the tip of the sampling needle, so as to clean the inside of the sampling needle and the sampling channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroyuki MINATO, Takaaki FUJITA
  • Publication number: 20200049553
    Abstract: A spectroscopic detector includes a light source, a flow cell, a diffraction grating, a diffraction grating drive unit, an optical sensor and a diffraction grating position adjustment unit. The diffraction grating drive unit is configured to adjust a rotation position of the diffraction grating within a range that light of a specified wavelength region of plus side diffracted light and light of the specified wavelength region of minus side diffracted light among diffracted light caused by the diffraction grating is selectively guided to the flow cell. The diffraction grating position adjustment unit is configured to adjust the rotation position of the diffraction grating unit in order to selectively guide one of the light of the specified wavelength region of the plus side diffracted light and the light of the specified wavelength region of the minus side diffracted light among the diffracted light caused by the diffraction grating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventor: Hiroyuki MINATO
  • Patent number: 10191620
    Abstract: In a sample-analyzing system including an analyzer (10) for analyzing a sample, an auto-sampler (20) for sequentially introducing a plurality of samples into the analyzer (10), and a controller (40) for controlling operations of the analyzer (10) and the auto-sampler (20), the auto-sampler (20) is provided with a sample rack holder (24) for holding a sample rack (21) having a plurality of wells (22) in which sample containers (23) are to be set and a sample rack imager (27) for taking, directly from above or obliquely from above, an image of the sample rack (21) held in the sample rack holder (24), whereby an incorrect input of the position information of the sample container (e.g. the well number or rack number) into an analysis schedule table is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Minato
  • Publication number: 20180341825
    Abstract: In an automatic sampling device for automatically collecting a sample from a sample-holding container having a top surface on which a plurality of sample-holding portions as well as one or more reference points for position adjustment whose relative position to the sample-holding portions is previously known are provided, the automatic sampling device includes: a housing having an opening on a front side for allowing the sample-holding container to be set inside, the housing configured so that a closed space is formed inside when the opening is closed; a sample collector for collecting a sample from any one of the sample-holding portions of the sample-holding container set within the housing; and an appearance information acquisition assistant which assists in an acquisition of appearance information including the sample collector and the one or more reference points for position adjustment of the sample-holding container set within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki MINATO
  • Patent number: 9891104
    Abstract: Provided is a spectroscopic detector including: a light source for generating polychromatic light 11; a single diffraction grating 13; an excitation optical system for guiding the light from the light source 11 onto the diffraction grating 13, for selecting one wavelength from the light diffracted by the diffraction grating 13, and for casting the selected wavelength of light into a sample as excitation light; a detection optical system for guiding observation light emitted from the sample irradiated with the excitation light onto the diffraction grating 13 to disperse the observation light; and a photodetector 15 for detecting the observation light dispersed by the detection optical system. By using one diffraction grating 13 in both the excitation optical system and the detection optical system, the number of diffraction gratings is reduced, whereby both the cost reduction and the downsizing of the device are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Minato
  • Patent number: 9752934
    Abstract: Provided is a method for performing a wavelength calibration of a monochromator with a diffraction grating by casting light from a standard light source whose emission intensity contains a change with a predetermined cycle onto the diffraction grating and measuring an intensity of light reflected by the grating. The method includes the steps of: measuring at least two times the intensity of the reflected light from the grating within the aforementioned cycle at each of the rotational positions of the grating corresponding to a range of wavelengths including a peak wavelength of a bright line spectral light generated by the standard light source; determining an intensity value 201 at each rotational position based on all the measured values obtained at the rotational position; and locating, as the peak wavelength of the bright line spectral light, a wavelength at which the intensity value 201 is maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Minato
  • Publication number: 20170010157
    Abstract: Provided is a spectroscopic detector including: a light source for generating polychromatic light 11; a single diffraction grating 13; an excitation optical system for guiding the light from the light source 11 onto the diffraction grating 13, for selecting one wavelength from the light diffracted by the diffraction grating 13, and for casting the selected wavelength of light into a sample as excitation light; a detection optical system for guiding observation light emitted from the sample irradiated with the excitation light onto the diffraction grating 13 to disperse the observation light; and a photodetector 15 for detecting the observation light dispersed by the detection optical system. By using one diffraction grating 13 in both the excitation optical system and the detection optical system, the number of diffraction gratings is reduced, whereby both the cost reduction and the downsizing of the device are achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Minato
  • Publication number: 20160202854
    Abstract: In a sample-analyzing system including an analyzer (10) for analyzing a sample, an auto-sampler (20) for sequentially introducing a plurality of samples into the analyzer (10), and a controller (40) for controlling operations of the analyzer (10) and the auto-sampler (20), the auto-sampler (20) is provided with a sample rack holder (24) for holding a sample rack (21) having a plurality of wells (22) in which sample containers (23) are to be set and a sample rack imager (27) for taking, directly from above or obliquely from above, an image of the sample rack (21) held in the sample rack holder (24), whereby an incorrect input of the position information of the sample container (e.g. the well number or rack number) into an analysis schedule table is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Minato
  • Patent number: 9046533
    Abstract: Provided is a system for synchronously driving light-dispersing elements capable of synchronously and sequentially changing an excitation-light wavelength and a fluorescence wavelength at high speeds. The system includes: a first light-dispersing unit having a first light-dispersing element and a first pulse motor; a second light-dispersing unit having a second light-dispersing element and a second pulse motor; a memory section for storing light-dispersing element information relating to a change in the wavelength of the monochromatic light and the dynamic characteristics information of the pulse motors; a drive condition setting section for allowing an operator to set synchronous drive conditions; a pulse transmission pattern creator; and a pulse transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Minato
  • Patent number: 9007293
    Abstract: This display includes a driving voltage output portion outputting a driving voltage when receiving a display-on signal. The driving voltage output portion includes a delay circuit portion provided between a first switching element and a second switching element for delaying output timing for the driving voltage with respect to input timing for the display-on signal by delaying switching of the second switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Funai Electri Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Minato