Patents by Inventor Keiichi Nishikawa

Keiichi Nishikawa 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: 11965607
    Abstract: A butterfly valve to be placed on a pipe between a vacuum chamber provided with a pressure sensor and a vacuum pump is configured to control the pressure in the vacuum chamber. The butterfly valve includes a servo motor, a butterfly valve element to be rotated about a rod connected to the servo motor in an opening or closing direction, and a control unit to adjust an opening degree of the butterfly valve element based on a pressure value of the vacuum chamber detected by the pressure sensor. The control unit is provided with an abnormal vibration detection program configured to whether or not abnormal vibration is occurring in the servo motor based on a variation amount of the opening degree of the butterfly valve element within a monitoring time while at least the pressure value of the vacuum chamber is stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuko Suzuki, Keiichi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 11566723
    Abstract: A flow path switching valve includes (a) a valve body in a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a predetermined surface and an opposite surface, the valve body including an open flow passage having an opening on the predetermined surface, (b) a main body including a plurality of ports having a respective opening on a facing surface thereof facing the predetermined surface, and a plurality of connection flow passages each connected to respective one of the plurality of ports, (c) a pair of plate springs attached to opposite ends of the valve body to support the valve body with a predetermined gap formed between the predetermined surface and the facing surface, the plate springs applying elastic force to the valve body in accordance with an amount of movement of the valve body in a predetermined direction, and (d) an actuator for reciprocating the valve body in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Ito, Masayuki Kouketsu, Keiichi Nishikawa, Yasuhisa Hirose, Takahiro Minatani
  • Publication number: 20210301941
    Abstract: A butterfly valve to be placed on a pipe between a vacuum chamber provided with a pressure sensor and a vacuum pump is configured to control the pressure in the vacuum chamber. The butterfly valve includes a servo motor, a butterfly valve element to be rotated about a rod connected to the servo motor in an opening or closing direction, and a control unit to adjust an opening degree of the butterfly valve element based on a pressure value of the vacuum chamber detected by the pressure sensor. The control unit is provided with an abnormal vibration detection program configured to whether or not abnormal vibration is occurring in the servo motor based on a variation amount of the opening degree of the butterfly valve element within a monitoring time while at least the pressure value of the vacuum chamber is stable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuko SUZUKI, Keiichi NISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11125342
    Abstract: A spool valve includes: a cylindrical tubular sleeve that extends in an axial direction and comprises a first port and a second port separated from each other in the axial direction, and a cylindrical columnar spool that extends in the axial direction and comprises a diameter reduced portion. The cylindrical columnar spool moves in the axial direction through the sleeve and opens and closes the first port to cause the first port to or not to communicate with the second port, and the first port has a first through hole having a first width in a circumferential direction of the sleeve, and a second through hole having a second width different from the first width in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Hirose, Takahiro Minatani, Keiichi Nishikawa, Yoshinori Tanaka, Naofumi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20210108737
    Abstract: A flow path switching valve includes (a) a valve body in a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a predetermined surface and an opposite surface, the valve body including an open flow passage having an opening on the predetermined surface, (b) a main body including a plurality of ports having a respective opening on a facing surface thereof facing the predetermined surface, and a plurality of connection flow passages each connected to respective one of the plurality of ports, (c) a pair of plate springs attached to opposite ends of the valve body to support the valve body with a predetermined gap formed between the predetermined surface and the facing surface, the plate springs applying elastic force to the valve body in accordance with an amount of movement of the valve body in a predetermined direction, and (d) an actuator for reciprocating the valve body in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Akihiro ITO, Masayuki KOUKETSU, Keiichi NISHIKAWA, Yasuhisa HIROSE, Takahiro MINATANI
  • Patent number: 10907748
    Abstract: The flow path switching valve includes (a) a valve body having an open flow path which opens on a predetermined surface over a predetermined length in a predetermined direction, (b) a main body having a plurality of ports which open on a facing surface facing the predetermined surface at an interval shorter than the predetermined length in the predetermined direction, and a plurality of connection flow paths connected to the plurality of ports, (c) plate springs attached on both ends of the valve body in the predetermined direction so as to support the valve body such that a predetermined gap is formed between the predetermined surface and the facing surface, the plate springs applying elastic force onto the valve body according to a movement amount of the valve body in the predetermined direction, and (d) an actuator which drives the valve body back and forth in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Ito, Masayuki Kouketsu, Keiichi Nishikawa, Yasuhisa Hirose, Takahiro Minatani
  • Publication number: 20200208745
    Abstract: A spool valve includes: a cylindrical tubular sleeve that extends in an axial direction and comprises a first port and a second port separated from each other in the axial direction, and a cylindrical columnar spool that extends in the axial direction and comprises a diameter reduced portion. The cylindrical columnar spool moves in the axial direction through the sleeve and opens and closes the first port to cause the first port to or not to communicate with the second port, and the first port has a first through hole having a first width in a circumferential direction of the sleeve, and a second through hole having a second width different from the first width in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Hirose, Takahiro Minatani, Keiichi Nishikawa, Yoshinori Tanaka, Naofumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10553463
    Abstract: A temperature control system includes a first temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a first temperature; a second temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a second temperature higher than the first temperature; a low-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the first temperature adjustment unit; a high-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the second temperature adjustment unit; a bypass flow path for circulating fluid; a combination flow path for passing fluid from the low-temperature flow path, the high-temperature flow path, and the bypass flow path merged at a merging part; a temperature adjustment part that passes fluid from the combination flow path and cools/heats a member of a semiconductor manufacturing device; and a control device that controls valve positions of variable valves attached to the three flow paths upstream of the merging part and adjusts the flow rate distribution ratio for the three flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Atsuhiko Tabuchi, Hideki Wakai, Kazutoshi Itoh, Yasuhisa Hirose, Keiichi Nishikawa, Takahiro Minatani
  • Publication number: 20190011052
    Abstract: The flow path switching valve includes (a) a valve body having an open flow path which opens on a predetermined surface over a predetermined length in a predetermined direction, (b) a main body having a plurality of ports which open on a facing surface facing the predetermined surface at an interval shorter than the predetermined length in the predetermined direction, and a plurality of connection flow paths connected to the plurality of ports, (c) plate springs attached on both ends of the valve body in the predetermined direction so as to support the valve body such that a predetermined gap is formed between the predetermined surface and the facing surface, the plate springs applying elastic force onto the valve body according to a movement amount of the valve body in the predetermined direction, and (d) an actuator which drives the valve body back and forth in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Akihiro ITO, Masayuki KOUKETSU, Keiichi NISHIKAWA, Yasuhisa HIROSE, Takahiro MINATANI
  • Publication number: 20180269090
    Abstract: A temperature control system includes a first temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a first temperature; a second temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a second temperature higher than the first temperature; a low-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the first temperature adjustment unit; a high-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the second temperature adjustment unit; a bypass flow path for circulating fluid; a combination flow path for passing fluid from the low-temperature flow path, the high-temperature flow path, and the bypass flow path merged at a merging part; a temperature adjustment part that passes fluid from the combination flow path and cools/heats a member of a semiconductor manufacturing device; and a control device that controls valve positions of variable valves attached to the three flow paths upstream of the merging part and adjusts the flow rate distribution ratio for the three flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Atsushi KOBAYASHI, Atsuhiko TABUCHI, Hideki WAKAI, Kazutoshi ITOH, Yasuhisa HIROSE, Keiichi NISHIKAWA, Takahiro MINATANI
  • Patent number: 9984908
    Abstract: A temperature control system includes a first temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a first temperature; a second temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a second temperature higher than the first temperature; a low-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the first temperature adjustment unit; a high-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the second temperature adjustment unit; a bypass flow path for circulating fluid; a combination flow path for passing fluid from the low-temperature flow path, the high-temperature flow path, and the bypass flow path merged at a merging part; a temperature adjustment part that passes fluid from the combination flow path and cools/heats a member of a semiconductor manufacturing device; and a control device that controls valve positions of variable valves attached to the three flow paths upstream of the merging part and adjusts the flow rate distribution ratio for the three flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Atsuhiko Tabuchi, Hideki Wakai, Kazutoshi Itoh, Yasuhisa Hirose, Keiichi Nishikawa, Takahiro Minatani
  • Publication number: 20140262199
    Abstract: A temperature control system includes a first temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a first temperature; a second temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a second temperature higher than the first temperature; a low-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the first temperature adjustment unit; a high-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the second temperature adjustment unit; a bypass flow path for circulating fluid; a combination flow path for passing fluid from the low-temperature flow path, the high-temperature flow path, and the bypass flow path merged at a merging part; a temperature adjustment part that passes fluid from the combination flow path and cools/heats a member of a semiconductor manufacturing device; and a control device that controls valve positions of variable valves attached to the three flow paths upstream of the merging part and adjusts the flow rate distribution ratio for the three flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: Tokyo Electron Limited, CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Atsuhiko Tabuchi, Hideki Wakai, Kazutoshi Itoh, Yasuhisa Hirose, Keiichi Nishikawa, Takahiro Minatani
  • Publication number: 20100116484
    Abstract: The temperature control device comprises a heating pathway that heats and circulates the fluid in the temperature adjustment unit, a cooling pathway that cools and circulates the fluid in the temperature adjustment unit, a bypass pathway that circulates the fluid in the temperature adjustment unit without passing the fluid through the heating pathway and the cooling pathway, an adjustment means that adjusts a flow ratio of the fluid that is supplied from the heating pathway, cooling pathway, and bypass pathway to the temperature adjustment unit, and a flow means that flows the fluid in order to circulate the fluid, and wherein a heating unit for heating the fluid is arranged in the heating pathway, and the flow means is disposed downstream from the heating unit along at least one of the pathways for circulating the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicants: CKD CORPORATION, TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Norio KOKUBO, Yasuhisa HIROSE, Kazuhiko KUSAKA, Keiichi NISHIKAWA, Takahiro MINATANI
  • Publication number: 20090095364
    Abstract: A fluid flow distribution and supply unit for distributing and supplying a fluid is adapted to immediately control a flow rate of a fluid to be distributed and promptly output the fluid at a predetermined flow distribution ratio. The fluid flow distribution and supply unit comprises a flow rate control device for controlling a flow rate of the fluid and a plurality of on/off valves connected to a secondary side of the flow rate control device. The on/off valves are duty controlled to open and close by determining one cycle corresponding to an operation period of the on/off valves and time-dividing the one cycle at the flow distribution ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Itoh, Yasunori Nishimura, Keiichi Nishikawa, Akihito Sugino
  • Patent number: 6016959
    Abstract: A head assembly moving along a long side of a magnetic card, more than one magnetic head rotating in the head assembly for reading/writing data, a rotary transformer and a carriage with a card holding mechanism for keeping a card at a predefined position are provided in a card reader of the present invention. A rotating part of the rotary transformer in the head assembly receives and sends a signal to the magnetic head and a fixing part of the rotary transformer is connected to a reading/writing circuit. On the card of the present invention, which is usually rectangular, there are tracks defined by plural arcs. The arcs are on plural same-size circles whose centers are aligned on one line along the long side of the card. A magnetic card or an optical card can be used for the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kamo, Kazuo Hasegawa, Atsuo Onoda, Yuuji Oomura, Masao Sato, Hidetada Nagaoka, Yukio Izumi, Akira Hashimoto, Keiichi Nishikawa, Yoichi Muratomi, Yasutaka Mizutani
  • Patent number: 5996111
    Abstract: An identification sequence issuing device comprising a code converter portion for converting an identification sequence character string that may include letters, numerals, and the like, into a string of character codes having one-to-one correspondence to the characters in the character string, and a check and selection portion for selecting as an identification sequence the character string corresponding to a character code string that is determined to meet a Reed-Solomon code rule with each character code being a symbol of the Reed-Solomon code and the character code string length being the length of the Reed-Solomon code. The identification sequence is issued based on the Reed-Solomon code of a generating polynomial having a plurality of initial elements as roots, and for additional issuing, identification sequences are issued based on the Reed-Solomon code with the number of roots of the generating polynomial reduced by 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Yoshida, Takahiko Nakamura, Keiichi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 5942744
    Abstract: A head assembly moving along a long side of a magnetic card, more than one magnetic head rotating in the head assembly for reading/writing data, a rotary transformer and a carriage with a card holding mechanism for keeping a card at a predefined position are provided in a card reader of the present invention. A rotating part of the rotary transformer in the head assembly receives and sends a signal to the magnetic head and a fixing part of the rotary transformer is connected to a reading/writing circuit. On the card of the present invention, which is usually rectangular, there are tracks defined by plural arcs. The arcs are on plural same-size circles whose centers are aligned on one line along the long side of the card. A magnetic card or an optical card can be used for the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kamo, Kazuo Hasegawa, Atsuo Onoda, Yuuji Oomura, Masao Sato, Hidetada Nagaoka, Yukio Izumi, Akira Hashimoto, Keiichi Nishikawa, Yoichi Muratomi, Yasutaka Mizutani
  • Patent number: 5870248
    Abstract: A flexible disk drive unit including a spindle motor for driving to rotate a magnetic disk; magnetic heads opposing the magnetic disk; a carriage attached to a frame and movable in a radius direction of the magnetic disk; wherein the frame and a motor base constitute a common member and the spindle motor is of a sensorless drive system and is directly attached to the frame; and wherein the frame is provided with an attaching hole for erecting a bearing of the spindle motor of the sensorless drive system on the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Akutsu, Kazuya Oda, Katsumi Kurita, Hideto Nishimura, Koichi Okubo, Hiroshi Ito, Yukio Izumi, Hidetada Nagaoka, Keiichi Nishikawa, Atsuo Onoda, Yuji Ohmura
  • Patent number: 5616994
    Abstract: A brushless motor driving circuit is provided for obtaining a reliable starting and stable rotation driving irrespective of the load condition of the motor. The brushless motor driving circuit has a terminal voltage detector located at each phase of the armature windings of the motor, a terminal voltage compensator for adding or subtracting a compensation value to/from the terminal voltage of the armature windings detected at respective phases during actual driving periods, and a comparator for comparing respective terminal voltages to obtain a rotor location signal after compensation has been performed. The compensation value is determined by a resistor of the armature winding and a winding current. The armature windings are driven by the rotor location signal detected at the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetada Nagaoka, Atsuo Onoda, Yukio Izumi, Keiichi Nishikawa, Yuuji Oomura, Mitinaga Suzuki, Kiyotaka Hoshi
  • Patent number: 5327299
    Abstract: A method of encoding position information of each recording portion on a recording medium with a predetermined number of information units, which includes the step of composing position information codes such that the first position information code of the first recording portion is different by one information unit from the second position information code of the second recording portion which is spaced by one recording portion from the first recording portion, by two information units from the third position information code of the third recording portion which is spaced by two recording portions, and by three information units or more from the fourth position information code of the fourth recording portion which is spaced by three recording portions or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Nishikawa, Yuji Ohmura