Patents by Inventor Kentaro Nagai

Kentaro Nagai 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: 20240248496
    Abstract: A fluid control device in which a fluid control valve, an upstream pressure sensor, a fluid resistance element, and a downstream pressure sensor are arranged in this order from an upstream side, includes: an actual flow rate calculation unit that calculates a flow rate on basis of pressures measured by the upstream pressure sensor and the downstream pressure sensor; a delayed flow rate calculation unit that calculates a delayed flow rate by generating a response delay in the calculated flow rate calculated by the actual flow rate calculation unit; and a flow rate output unit that compares an absolute difference between a predetermined reference value and the calculated flow rate and an absolute difference between the reference value and the delayed flow rate, and outputs the calculated flow rate or the delayed flow rate having a smaller absolute difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Kazuhiro MATSUURA, Kentaro NAGAI, Sota MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20240210965
    Abstract: In order to prevent unnatural behavior of a calculated flow rate, provided is a fluid control device in which a fluid control valve and upstream and downstream pressure sensors are provided on a flow path. The device includes a calculation unit configured to calculate a flow rate based on measured pressures; and an output unit configured to output the calculated flow rate, and exhibit a zero output function of outputting a zero value regardless of the calculated flow rate when the valve is in a closed state. The device is further configured to switch between execution and stop of the zero output function, and when the valve is in an open state and a difference between the measured pressures of the pressure sensors is larger than a threshold, stop the zero output function and cause the flow rate output unit to output the calculated flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2024
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Sota MATSUMOTO, Kentaro NAGAI, Yosuke HISAMORI, Kazuhiro MATSUURA
  • Patent number: 11953924
    Abstract: In order to prevent unnatural behavior of a calculated flow rate, provided is a fluid control device in which a fluid control valve and upstream and downstream pressure sensors are provided on a flow path. The device includes a calculation unit configured to calculate a flow rate based on measured pressures; and an output unit configured to output the calculated flow rate, and exhibit a zero output function of outputting a zero value regardless of the calculated flow rate when the valve is in a closed state. The device is further configured to switch between execution and stop of the zero output function, and when the valve is in an open state and a difference between the measured pressures of the pressure sensors is larger than a threshold, stop the zero output function and cause the flow rate output unit to output the calculated flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sota Matsumoto, Kentaro Nagai, Yosuke Hisamori, Kazuhiro Matsuura
  • Patent number: 11789435
    Abstract: Provided is a flow rate control device capable of diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred while continuing to supply a predetermined flow rate. The flow rate control device calculates an inflow/outflow rate of a fluid into a volume on the basis of a downstream pressure that is the pressure in the volume; estimates a valve flow rate that is a flow rate of the fluid that flows out of the volume through the downstream valve on the basis of the resistance flow rate and the inflow/outflow flow rate; controls the downstream valve so that the difference between the set flow rate and the valve flow rate decreases; calculates a diagnostic parameter on the basis of the resistance flow rate or the inflow/outflow flow rate in a pressure change state in which the upstream side pressure increases or decreases; and diagnoses an abnormality based on the diagnostic parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro Takijiri, Kentaro Nagai, Tsai Wei Tseng
  • Publication number: 20230229177
    Abstract: A fluid control device includes a fluid resistance element provided to a channel, an upstream pressure sensor configured to detect an upstream pressure of the fluid resistance element, a downstream pressure sensor configured to detect a downstream pressure of the fluid resistance element, a flow rate calculating unit configured to calculate a flow rate flowing through the channel based on the upstream and downstream pressures, a valve provided upstream of the upstream pressure sensor or downstream of the downstream pressure sensor, and a valve control unit configured to control the valve based on the calculated flow rate. When the valve is fully closed, the flow rate calculating unit is configured to calculate the flow rate by switching a first flow rate calculation formula that is used when the valve is open, to a second flow rate calculation formula that is different from the first flow rate calculation formula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Kentaro NAGAI, Kazuhiro MATSUURA, Yoshiki MIYATA, Sota MATSUMOTO, Yosuke HISAMORI
  • Patent number: 11686603
    Abstract: A pressure type flowmeter includes a fluid resistance element provided in a flow path through which fluid flows, and in which a resistance flow path communicating with the flow path is formed, an upstream-side pressure sensor that detects upstream-side pressure of the fluid resistance element, and a downstream-side pressure sensor that detects downstream-side pressure of the fluid resistance element, in which the fluid resistance element is sandwiched and fixed by a pair of sandwiching components sealing components having a sheet-like shape are provided between the fluid resistance element and the sandwiching components and protrusions that partially press the sealing components are formed on at least one of the fluid resistance element and the sandwiching components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Horiguchi, Tadahiro Yasuda, Kentaro Nagai
  • Patent number: 11609146
    Abstract: In order to accurately judge whether or not there is a seat leakage in the first valve and the second valve in a short period of time, a fluid control apparatus comprises a fluid resistor arranged in a flow channel, a first valve arranged upstream of the fluid resistor, a first pressure sensor that measures a pressure in a first volume between the first valve and the fluid resistor in the flow channel, a second valve arranged downstream of the fluid resistor, a second pressure sensor that measures a pressure in a second volume between the fluid resistor and the second valve, a valve controller that controls the first or second valve, and a seat leakage judging part that judges whether or not there is a seat leakage in the valve valves based on the pressure sensors in a state where the valves are fully closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sota Matsumoto, Kentaro Nagai, Yuko Imasato
  • Publication number: 20220413521
    Abstract: In order to prevent unnatural behavior of a calculated flow rate, provided is a fluid control device in which a fluid control valve and upstream and downstream pressure sensors are provided on a flow path. The device includes a calculation unit configured to calculate a flow rate based on measured pressures; and an output unit configured to output the calculated flow rate, and exhibit a zero output function of outputting a zero value regardless of the calculated flow rate when the valve is in a closed state. The device is further configured to switch between execution and stop of the zero output function, and when the valve is in an open state and a difference between the measured pressures of the pressure sensors is larger than a threshold, stop the zero output function and cause the flow rate output unit to output the calculated flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Sota MATSUMOTO, Kentaro NAGAI, Yosuke HISAMORI, Kazuhiro MATSUURA
  • Patent number: 11481789
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprising a traffic line information generation unit configured to generate, based on information provided from an image capturing apparatus arranged in a store, traffic line information in the store of a customer who visits the store, an acquisition unit configured to acquire purchased product information associated with a product purchased by the customer in the store, a purchase information generation unit configured to generate purchase information based on the purchased product information by associating the traffic line information and the purchased product with the customer, and a display information generation unit configured to generate, based on the purchase information, display information for displaying information about one of a customer and a product in association with a time taken to select the purchased product and a selection order of the purchased product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kentaro Nagai
  • Patent number: 11340635
    Abstract: In order to provide a flow rate control apparatus capable of reducing pressure loss due to a downstream valve while enhancing responsiveness in flow rate control, a controller is designed to control the downstream valve on the basis of a flow rate deviation when a valve opening of the downstream valve is smaller than a predetermined valve opening. The controller is designed to control an upstream valve on the basis of the flow rate deviation when the valve opening of the downstream valve is the predetermined valve opening or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kentaro Nagai
  • Patent number: 11306687
    Abstract: An engine exhaust manifold including exhaust inlet parts at four locations corresponding to a plurality of exhaust ports, one exhaust outlet part, and an exhaust confluence part to collect exhaust gas from each of the exhaust inlet parts and send to the exhaust outlet part. An EGR passage part to send EGR gas toward an intake passage is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro Nagai, Ryutaro Komura, Takashi Yamaguchi, Kumiko Sakaguchi, Takahiro Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20220082416
    Abstract: A pressure type flowmeter includes a fluid resistance element provided in a flow path through which fluid flows, and in which a resistance flow path communicating with the flow path is formed, an upstream-side pressure sensor that detects upstream-side pressure of the fluid resistance element, and a downstream-side pressure sensor that detects downstream-side pressure of the fluid resistance element, in which the fluid resistance element is sandwiched and fixed by a pair of sandwiching components sealing components having a sheet-like shape are provided between the fluid resistance element and the sandwiching components and protrusions that partially press the sealing components are formed on at least one of the fluid resistance element and the sandwiching components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroshi HORIGUCHI, Tadahiro YASUDA, Kentaro NAGAI
  • Patent number: 11262222
    Abstract: In order to provide a fluid device that makes it possible for operation command signals other than existing operation command signals to be received without a software modification having to be implemented in an already constructed system, in a fluid device that measures or controls physical quantities of a fluid, there are provided a command signal receiving unit that receives a predetermined plurality of types of operation command signals, and also command signal modes, which are values thereof or time series variations of the values thereof, and a command signal recognition unit that, when the command signal mode of a predetermined operation command signal received by the command signal receiving unit falls outside predetermined conditions that have been set in advance, recognizes the predetermined operation command signal that contains the command signal mode as being a different type of operation command signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Shakudo, Kentaro Nagai, Kazuhiro Matsuura
  • Patent number: 11078872
    Abstract: An engine with an EGR device includes an engine case, and an EGR pipe that introduces an EGR gas into an intake path. The EGR pipe is arranged to pass through an inside of the engine case. A part of the EGR pipe in the engine case is arranged to face a cooling water path in the engine case. The engine case is defined by a cylinder head. The cooling water path is arranged to surround a whole circumference of the EGR pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Takemoto, Hideyuki Goto, Takahito Hamasaki, Kentaro Nagai, Tomoya Akitomo, Kumiko Sakaguchi
  • Publication number: 20210199074
    Abstract: An engine exhaust manifold including exhaust inlet parts at four locations corresponding to a plurality of exhaust ports, one exhaust outlet part, and an exhaust confluence part to collect exhaust gas from each of the exhaust inlet parts and send to the exhaust outlet part. An EGR passage part to send EGR gas toward an intake passage is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Kentaro NAGAI, Ryutaro KOMURA, Takashi YAMAGUCHI, Kumiko SAKAGUCHI, Takahiro YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20210173388
    Abstract: Provided is a flow rate control device capable of diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred while continuing to supply a predetermined flow rate. The flow rate control device calculates an inflow/outflow rate of a fluid into a volume on the basis of a downstream pressure that is the pressure in the volume; estimates a valve flow rate that is a flow rate of the fluid that flows out of the volume through the downstream valve on the basis of the resistance flow rate and the inflow/outflow flow rate; controls the downstream valve so that the difference between the set flow rate and the valve flow rate decreases; calculates a diagnostic parameter on the basis of the resistance flow rate or the inflow/outflow flow rate in a pressure change state in which the upstream side pressure increases or decreases; and diagnoses an abnormality based on the diagnostic parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro TAKIJIRI, Kentaro NAGAI, Tsai Wei TSENG
  • Patent number: 10941684
    Abstract: A cylinder head cover that prevents the gas outlet for the blow-by gas from being cooled by structural improvements so that the gas outlet does not freeze or become clogged in a cold condition. A cylinder head cover includes: a gas passage through which blow-by gas from a crankcase passes; and a gas outlet portion protruding upward from a head cover upper wall. The gas outlet portion includes a protruding case portion bulging upward from the head cover upper wall so as to form an outlet passage through which blow-by gas passes, and an air layer is formed outside the outlet passage in the protruding case portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro Nagai, Takahiro Yamazaki, Reo Yoshida, Tomoya Akitomo, Shoichi Okimi
  • Patent number: 10890475
    Abstract: The present invention intends to more accurately diagnose a function of a flow rate sensor regardless of a variation in measurement ambient condition. The present invention includes: a flow rate sensor for measuring the flow rate of fluid; a correction part adapted to measure an output value of the flow rate sensor or a value related to the output value (hereinafter collectively referred to as an “output-related value”), relates the measured output-related value and a corresponding measurement ambient condition to each other, and in accordance with the measurement ambient condition in measurement data, correct the output-related value or a reference value that is predetermined in order to determine whether the output-related value is normal; and a diagnostic part adapted to compare the output-related value and the reference value on the basis of a correction result by the correction part and correct the function of the flow rate sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Shakudo, Kentaro Nagai, Kazuhiro Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20200292407
    Abstract: In order to accurately judge whether or not there is a seat leakage in the first valve and the second valve in a short period of time, a fluid control apparatus comprises a fluid resistor arranged in a flow channel, a first valve arranged upstream of the fluid resistor, a first pressure sensor that measures a pressure in a first volume between the first valve and the fluid resistor in the flow channel, a second valve arranged downstream of the fluid resistor, a second pressure sensor that measures a pressure in a second volume between the fluid resistor and the second valve, a valve controller that controls the first or second valve, and a seat leakage judging part that judges whether or not there is a seat leakage in the valve valves based on the pressure sensors in a state where the valves are fully closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Sota Matsumoto, Kentaro Nagai, Yuko Imasato
  • Patent number: 10754361
    Abstract: In order to provide a flow rate control apparatus that estimates a flow rate actually flowing at a control point without a large amount of noise, there are provided a fluid resistor that is provided on a flow path, a downstream-side valve that is provided on a downstream side of the fluid resistor, a resistance flow rate measurement mechanism that measures a resistance flow rate that flows through the fluid resistor, and flows into a volumetric space located on the flow path between this fluid resistor and the downstream-side valve, a subject flow rate estimation part that estimates a valve flow rate based on the flow rate characteristics stored in the flow rate characteristics storage part, and a flow rate control unit that controls the downstream-side valve based on a set flow rate, and on the valve flow rate estimated by the subject flow rate estimation part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koutaro Takijiri, Kentaro Nagai, Yuko Imasato, Tsai Wei Tseng, Kazuhiro Matsuura