Patents by Inventor Kazuo Watabe

Kazuo Watabe 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: 20250027834
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a structure evaluation system according to an embodiment includes a plurality of sensors, a vehicle number estimator, and an evaluator. The plurality of sensors detect elastic waves generated inside a structure. The vehicle number estimator estimates the number of vehicles passing through the structure on the basis of a plurality of elastic waves detected by each of the plurality of sensors. The evaluator evaluates a state of deterioration of the structure using vehicle information relating to the number of vehicles estimated by the vehicle number estimator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Hidefumi TAKAMINE, Takashi USUI, Kazuo WATABE
  • Publication number: 20250012662
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a structure evaluation system of an embodiment includes a plurality of sensors, a position locator, a distribution generator, and an evaluator. The plurality of sensors detect elastic waves generated inside a structure. The position locator locates positions of one or more elastic wave generation sources on the basis of a plurality of elastic waves detected by each of the plurality of sensors. The distribution generator generates an elastic wave source density distribution representing a density distribution of the one or more elastic wave generation sources on the basis of a position location result of the one or more elastic wave generation sources obtained by the position locator. The evaluator evaluates damage to the structure on the basis of one or more reference distributions generated on the basis of a simulation including a random number and the elastic wave source density distribution generated by the distribution generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takashi USUI, Hidefumi TAKAMINE, Yuki UEDA, Kazuo WATABE
  • Patent number: 12169189
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a structure evaluation system according to an embodiment includes a plurality of sensors, a position locator, a corrector, and an evaluator. The plurality of sensors detect elastic waves generated from a structure. The position locator locates the position of a generation sources of a plurality of elastic waves on the basis of the plurality of elastic waves detected by the plurality of sensors. The corrector corrects information based on the position locating performed by the position locator using a correction value set in correspondence with an impact. The evaluator evaluates a deterioration state of the structure on the basis of the corrected information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Kyoto University
    Inventors: Hidefumi Takamine, Yuki Ueda, Kazuo Watabe, Tomoki Shiotani
  • Patent number: 12116513
    Abstract: An adhesion/peeling method according to an embodiment includes adhering a first surface side of an electrically peelable adhesive sheet to a predetermined position of a fixation target object, wherein the electrically peelable adhesive sheet is formed of an electro-peeling adhesive having adhesiveness on the first surface side and a second surface side thereof, and the adhesiveness of the electro-peeling adhesive is lowered due to an input of a voltage; adhering a first electrode of an adherend including the first electrode formed of a conductor to the second surface side of the electrically peelable adhesive sheet; containing a liquid at the predetermined position of the fixation target object to temporarily form a second electrode with conductivity on a surface of the fixation target object; and inputting a predetermined voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode to peel of the electrically peelable adhesive sheet from the fixation target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Usui, Tetsuya Kugimiya, Kazuo Watabe, Keisuke Ueno, Hidefumi Takamine, Junko Hirokawa, Yongfang Li, Yuki Ueda
  • Patent number: 12104986
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a structure evaluation system includes at least three or more sensors, a position locator, and an evaluator. The three or more sensors are arranged on surfaces different from a surface to which an impact is applied with respect to a structure at different intervals in a first direction of the structure and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and detects elastic waves generated from the structure. The position locator locates a position of a source in which the elastic waves are generated on the basis of the elastic waves detected by each of the three or more sensors. The evaluator evaluates a deterioration state of the structure on the basis of information based on a position location process of the position locator and information indicating a position where the impact is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Usui, Hidefumi Takamine, Yuki Ueda, Keisuke Ueno, Yousuke Hisakuni, Kazuo Watabe
  • Publication number: 20240319038
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a structure evaluation system according to an embodiment includes a plurality of first sensors, one or more second sensors, a vehicle information estimator, and an evaluator. The plurality of first sensors detect elastic waves generated from the inside of a structure on which a vehicle travels. The one or more second sensors detect passage of the vehicle without depending on damage in the structure. The vehicle information estimator estimates vehicle information including at least information of the number of vehicles passing on the structure on the basis of detection results from the one or more second sensors. The evaluator evaluates a deterioration state of the structure on the basis of a plurality of elastic waves detected by the plurality of first sensors and the vehicle information estimated by the vehicle information estimator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takashi USUI, Hidefumi TAKAMINE, Kazuo WATABE
  • Patent number: 12098976
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a structure evaluation system includes an impact imparting unit, a plurality of sensors, a position locator, and an evaluator. The impact imparting unit applies impacts to a second region different from a first region of a structure to which traveling sections of a vehicle, which travels on the structure, apply impacts. The plurality of sensors detect elastic waves generated in the structure. The position locator locates a position of a source of the elastic waves on the basis of the elastic waves detected by each of the plurality of sensors. The evaluator evaluates a deterioration state of the structure on the basis of a position location result of the position locator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yousuke Hisakuni, Hidefumi Takamine, Yuki Ueda, Keisuke Ueno, Takashi Usui, Kazuo Watabe
  • Patent number: 12038349
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inspection system of an embodiment is an inspection system for inspecting a bogie including a plurality of side beams extending in a front-rear direction and disposed apart from each other in a left-right direction and a cross beam connecting the plurality of side beams. The inspection system includes one or more sensors and a position locator. The one or more sensors are installed on at least one of the plurality of side beams and the cross beam and detect elastic waves. The position locator identifies a beam in which the elastic waves have been generated or locates a position of an elastic wave source on the basis of the elastic waves detected by the one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Usui, Toshiki Takayasu, Kazuo Watabe, Atsuro Oonishi, Hiroshi Takahashi, Takamitsu Sunaoshi
  • Patent number: 12007363
    Abstract: A measuring method in an embodiment includes detecting elastic waves generated in a structural object formed of a solid material in a non-contact manner and estimating a position of an occurrence source of the elastic waves on the basis of information regarding an intensity of a signal of the detected elastic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Usui, Kazuo Watabe
  • Patent number: 12001195
    Abstract: A state evaluation system includes a sensor, a filter, a signal processor, and an evaluator. The sensor detects elastic waves which are generated from industrial equipment in operation. The filter can pass elastic waves having frequency characteristics based on abrasion which is generated in the industrial equipment. The signal processor extracts a plurality of feature values using the elastic waves passing through the filter. The evaluator evaluates an abnormality of the industrial equipment on the basis of a combination of the extracted plurality of feature values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Mori, Hidefumi Takamine, Kazuo Watabe, Hayato Toda
  • Patent number: 11946906
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a damaged region determination system of the embodiment includes a plurality of sensors, a position locator, and a determiner. The plurality of sensors detects elastic waves generated in a target object related to a railway which is a determination target of a damaged region. The position locator locates positions of sources of a plurality of elastic waves based on the plurality of elastic waves detected by each of the plurality of sensors. The determiner determines the damaged region in the target object based on the positions of the sources of the plurality of elastic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Toshiki Takayasu, Takashi Usui, Kazuo Watabe, Atsuro Oonishi, Hiroshi Takahashi, Takamitsu Sunaoshi
  • Publication number: 20240094166
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a structure evaluation system according to an embodiment includes a plurality of sensors, a position locator, a corrector, and an evaluator. The plurality of sensors detect elastic waves generated from a structure. The position locator is configured to locate positions of sources of a plurality of elastic waves detected by the plurality of sensors on the basis of the plurality of elastic waves. The corrector is configured to correct information based on the position location in the position locator using a correction value which is determined according to a temperature of the structure. The evaluator is configured to evaluate a deterioration state of the structure on the basis of the corrected information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takashi USUI, Hidefumi TAKAMINE, Kazuo WATABE, Tetsuya KUGIMIYA
  • Patent number: 11879815
    Abstract: A non-contact non-destructive inspection system according to an embodiment includes a sensor, a velocity detection unit, and a damage detection unit. The sensor detects a second elastic wave emitted to a medium surrounding an inspection object due to a first elastic wave propagating through the inspection object. The velocity detection unit detects a velocity of the first elastic wave based on a wavefront angle of the second elastic wave and a velocity of the second elastic wave. The damage detection unit detects damage to the inspection object based on the velocity of the first elastic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takashi Usui, Hiroshi Ohno, Kazuo Watabe
  • Publication number: 20230324345
    Abstract: A sensor module according to an embodiment includes a sensor; a sensor holder that holds the sensor and includes a pressing force application portion to apply a pressing force to press the sensor toward a measurement target object side; an adhesion portion that adheres the sensor holder to the measurement target object by an adhesion force; and a change mechanism that changes a relative magnitude relationship between the pressing force and the adhesion force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hidefumi TAKAMINE, Junko HIROKAWA, Kazuo WATABE, Tetsuya KUGIMIYA, Keisuke UENO, Takashi USUI, Yongfang LI, Yuki UEDA
  • Publication number: 20230302542
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sensor attachment/detachment device of the embodiment includes a sensor, a bonding member, a support portion, and a release execution portion. The bonding member is bonded to a first surface of the sensor and has a function of decreasing an adhesive force. The support portion can support the sensor by directly contacting a second surface of the sensor or via another functional portion. The release execution portion performs a process of releasing the bonding member from the object by decreasing the adhesive force of the bonding member after the sensor is attached to the object by the bonding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kazuo WATABE, Keisuke UENO, Hidefumi TAKAMINE, Yongfang LI, Takashi USUI, Junko HIROKAWA, Yuki UEDA, Tetsuya KUGIMIYA
  • Publication number: 20230295474
    Abstract: An adhesion/peeling method according to an embodiment includes adhering a first surface side of an electrically peelable adhesive sheet to a predetermined position of a fixation target object, wherein the electrically peelable adhesive sheet is formed of an electro-peeling adhesive having adhesiveness on the first surface side and a second surface side thereof, and the adhesiveness of the electro-peeling adhesive is lowered due to an input of a voltage; adhering a first electrode of an adherend including the first electrode formed of a conductor to the second surface side of the electrically peelable adhesive sheet; containing a liquid at the predetermined position of the fixation target object to temporarily form a second electrode with conductivity on a surface of the fixation target object; and inputting a predetermined voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode to peel of the electrically peelable adhesive sheet from the fixation target object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takashi USUI, Tetsuya KUGIMIYA, Kazuo WATABE, Keisuke UENO, Hidefumi TAKAMINE, Junko HIROKAWA, Yongfang LI, Yuki UEDA
  • Patent number: 11754530
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a structure evaluation system includes a wave guide, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a calculation part. The wave guide is formed in a rod shape, is inserted into a hole that is formed at a predetermined depth from a surface of a measurement target, and has one end fixed to a deepest portion of the hole. The first sensor is provided at the other end of the wave guide at a position that is substantially the same as the surface. The second sensor is provided on the surface of the measurement target. The calculation part estimates a depth of damage occurring in the measurement target from the surface on the basis of a first detection value of an elastic wave transmitted to the measurement target which is detected by the first sensor through the wave guide and a second detection value obtained by an elastic wave which is detected by the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hidefumi Takamine, Yuki Ueda, Keisuke Ueno, Takashi Usui, Kazuo Watabe
  • Publication number: 20230280235
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a structure evaluation system includes a plurality of sensors, an acquirer, a calculator, and an evaluator. The plurality of sensors detects elastic waves generated from the structure. The acquirer acquires detection information for an evaluation target period in which information on at least an amplitude of each elastic wave detected by each of the plurality of sensors is associated with time information on the time when each elastic wave is detected. The calculator calculates an evaluation value, which is a slope of an amplitude scale-based frequency distribution of elastic waves, every predetermined period based on the acquired detection information for the evaluation target period. The evaluator evaluates a deterioration state of the structure based on the time-series data of each evaluation value calculated every predetermined period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Kyoto University
    Inventors: Takashi USUI, Kazuo WATABE, Tomoki SHIOTANI
  • Patent number: 11718084
    Abstract: An object adhesion/peeling method according to an embodiment includes adhering a adhesion target object to a second surface side of an adhesive sheet, wherein the adhesive sheet includes adhesive surfaces on a first surface side and the second surface side, and a first electrode and a second electrode provided to be adjacent to the first electrode are provided on the first surface side; adhering the first surface side of the adhesive sheet to a fixation target surface; inputting a predetermined voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode to generate a potential difference based on the predetermined voltage in a direction orthogonal to a layer thickness direction of the adhesive sheet; and causing an electrochemical reaction on the first surface side of the adhesive sheet to peel off the adhesive sheet from the fixation target surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Usui, Kazuo Watabe, Tetsuya Kugimiya
  • Publication number: 20230194382
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a structure evaluation system includes an impact imparting unit, a plurality of sensors, a position locator, and an evaluator. The impact imparting unit applies impacts to a second region different from a first region of a structure to which traveling sections of a vehicle, which travels on the structure, apply impacts. The plurality of sensors detect elastic waves generated in the structure. The position locator locates a position of a source of the elastic waves on the basis of the elastic waves detected by each of the plurality of sensors. The evaluator evaluates a deterioration state of the structure on the basis of a position location result of the position locator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yousuke HISAKUNI, Hidefumi TAKAMINE, Yuki UEDA, Keisuke UENO, Takashi USUI, Kazuo WATABE