Patents by Inventor Kentarou Nishikawa

Kentarou 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: 10159455
    Abstract: An X-ray diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes an X-ray tube, judging circuitry, and grid controlling circuitry. The X-ray tube is configured to radiate X-rays. The judging circuitry is configured to judge whether a voltage should be applied to a grid of the X-ray tube or not, in accordance with a radiation condition. The grid controlling circuitry is configured to apply the voltage to the grid, if the judging circuitry has determined that the voltage should be applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Takanaka, Kunio Shiraishi, Shinsuke Ooie, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 10066665
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a wheel, including a sensor unit associated with one of outer and inner members that serve as a stationary member. The sensor unit includes a strain generator member that has at least three fixation contact segments fixedly in contact with the stationary member and at least two strain sensors mounted on the strain generator member. A first load estimator is provided to estimate load acting on the bearing assembly, using an average value of output signals of the sensors. A second load estimator is provided to estimate load acting on the bearing assembly, using the average value and an amplitude value of output signals of the sensors. An estimated load provider is provided to sum these outputs from the load estimators in a ratio that depends on wheel rotation speed, for outputting an estimated load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Ayumi Akiyama, Takayuki Norimatsu, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20170144482
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member and double row rolling elements contained between outer raceway surfaces and inner raceway surfaces, respectively, of the outer member and the inner member. A vibration damping mechanism is mounted on a portion of the outer member or the inner member except at portions engaging with mating components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuhisa SHIGEOKA, Hiroto SUMA, Kentarou NISHIKAWA, Makoto SEKI
  • Publication number: 20170144483
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member and double row rolling elements contained between outer raceway surfaces and inner raceway surfaces, respectively, of the outer member and the inner member. A vibration damping mechanism is mounted on a portion of the outer member or the inner member except at portions engaging with mating components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuhisa SHIGEOKA, Hiroto SUMA, Kentarou NISHIKAWA, Makoto SEKI
  • Patent number: 9518609
    Abstract: A sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly, in which a continuous estimated load can be obtained depending on various inputted load conditions is provided. The sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly includes a sensor unit provided in a stationary member, and a load estimating unit. The load estimating unit includes a load estimation calculating section for calculating the load using an estimation calculating equation, an evaluation value calculation section for calculating an evaluation value, which provides a parameter switching index in the estimation calculating equation, from sensor output signals, and a parameter switching section for switching the parameter based on a comparison result of the evaluation value with a threshold value. The load estimation calculating section includes a calculation correcting block for correcting the calculation result on both sides of the threshold value within a predetermined evaluation value region containing the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ayumi Akiyama, Toru Takahashi, Kentarou Nishikawa, Takayuki Norimatsu
  • Patent number: 9404540
    Abstract: At least one or more sensor for detecting a load acting on a wheel support bearing apparatus is provided in such bearing device, a signal processor for processing an output signal of those sensors to generate a signal vector and a load calculator for calculating the load, which acts on a vehicle wheel, from the signal vector, are provided. The load calculator has a function of determining the presence or absence of a predetermined state of a vehicle, which may affects a result of calculation of the load, and performing two types of calculation process appropriate to the presence or absence. The presence or absence of the predetermined state of the vehicle, which is determined by the load calculator is, for example, ON/OFF of a brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Kentarou Nishikawa, Wataru Hatakeyama
  • Publication number: 20160095568
    Abstract: An X-ray diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes an X-ray tube, judging circuitry, and grid controlling circuitry. The X-ray tube is configured to radiate X-rays. The judging circuitry is configured to judge whether a voltage should be applied to a grid of the X-ray tube or not, in accordance with a radiation condition. The grid controlling circuitry is configured to apply the voltage to the grid, if the judging circuitry has determined that the voltage should be applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto TAKANAKA, Kunio SHIRAISHI, Shinsuke OOIE, Kentarou NISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20150267742
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly is provided which performs high-accuracy load estimation without providing with another sensor, even in a state where a ground contact load on a wheel supported by the bearing is very low as compared to other wheels. The assembly includes: a plurality of sensor units (20) detecting a load on a wheel support bearing segment (100); sensor signal calculator (31) processing sensor signals (S) from the units; and load calculation processor (32) calculating a load on a road surface contact point on a wheel, based on the processed information. The processor (32) determines whether a target wheel is in a predetermined low load state, based on information of a detected load on a wheel other than the target wheel; and switches a load calculation scheme in accordance with a result of the determination to calculate a load on the wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru HATAKEYAMA, Toru TAKAHASHI, Kentarou NISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20150260590
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly capable of estimating an accurate load value without depending on the frequency of fluctuation that occurs in an input load, is provided. A vehicle-wheel bearing (100) is provided with a plurality of sensors (20) for detecting a load applied thereto. The vehicle-wheel bearing (100) is provided with a signal processor (31) for generating signal vectors from output signals of the sensors, a load calculation processor (32) for calculating a load acting on a wheel, based on the signal vectors, and an input load fluctuation detector (33) for detecting a fluctuation component of the input load which is included in the output signals of the sensors (20). The load calculation processor (32) calculates the load by applying a load calculation scheme that shifts in accordance with the fluctuation component detected by the input load fluctuation detector (33).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru HATAKEYAMA, Toru Takahashi, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9011013
    Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly, including rolling elements interposed between raceway surfaces of an outer member and an inner member, one of the members serving as a stationary member, a plurality of sensor units, each including a strain generator member having at least two fixation contact segments and at least two sensors mounted on the strain generator member to sense strain in the strain generator member. The strain generator members are formed of a single band-shaped strain generator body continuously joining the plurality of sensor units. The at least two fixation contact segments are arranged at the same axial positions and spaced from each other along a circumferential direction of an outer diametric surface of the stationary member. Load on the wheel support bearing assembly is estimated by an estimator based on output signals of the at least two sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Norimatsu, Kentarou Nishikawa, Toru Takahashi, Ayumi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9014992
    Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly includes rolling elements interposed between outer and inner members, and sensor units are fitted to one of the outer and inner members, which serves as a stationary member. Each of the sensor units includes a strain generating member, having two or more contact fixing segments fixed to the stationary member, and two or more sensors fitted to the strain generating member for detecting strains occurring in the strain generating member. The two or more contact fixing members are arranged at the same axial positions of the outer diametric surface of the stationary member in a fashion spaced in a circumferential direction. A calculating section is provided for estimating the load acting in the wheel support bearing assembly by the sum of respective output signals of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Hiroshi Isobe, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9008899
    Abstract: A sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly having good assemblability with a compact structure and capable of accurately detecting load acting on a bearing of a vehicle wheel is provided. One of an outer member and an inner member that serves as a stationary member has a vehicle body fitting flange to be fitted to a knuckle. One or more load detecting sensor unit is provided on the stationary member and includes a strain generating member having two or more contact fixing segments fixed to the stationary member, and one or more sensors fitted to the strain generating member for detecting a strain occurring in the strain generating member. A circuit fixing stay is provided on a side face of the vehicle body fitting flange and a calculation processing circuit is fitted to this stay for calculating and processing an output signal of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kentarou Nishikawa, Takayuki Norimatsu, Toru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8855944
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly capable of accurately detecting the load acting on the bearing assembly is provided. The sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly includes a sensor unit in an outer member that serves as a stationary member. The sensor unit includes a strain generating member, having two or more contact fixing segments to be fixed to the stationary member, and two or more sensors for detecting strain in the strain generating member. The contact fixing segments are spaced from each other in a direction circumferentially of the stationary member at the same axial positions. An estimating section is provided in the bearing assembly for estimating load thereon based on the difference between respective output signals from the sensors by calculating amplitudes of the output signals or values corresponding to such amplitudes from the difference between the respective output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Hiroshi Isobe, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20140212081
    Abstract: At least one or more sensor for detecting a load acting on a wheel support bearing apparatus is provided in such bearing device, a signal processor for processing an output signal of those sensors to generate a signal vector and a load calculator for calculating the load, which acts on a vehicle wheel, from the signal vector, are provided. The load calculator has a function of determining the presence or absence of a predetermined state of a vehicle, which may affects a result of calculation of the load, and performing two types of calculation process appropriate to the presence or absence. The presence or absence of the predetermined state of the vehicle, which is determined by the load calculator is, for example, ON/OFF of a brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Kentarou Nishikawa, Wataru Hatakeyama
  • Publication number: 20140086517
    Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly, including rolling elements interposed between raceway surfaces of an outer member and an inner member, one of the members serving as a stationary member, a plurality of sensor units, each including a strain generator member having at least two fixation contact segments and at least two sensors mounted on the strain generator member to sense strain in the strain generator member. The strain generator members are formed of a single band-shaped strain generator body continuously joining the plurality of sensor units. The at least two fixation contact segments are arranged at the same axial positions and spaced from each other along a circumferential direction of an outer diametric surface of the stationary member. Load on the wheel support bearing assembly is estimated by an estimator based on output signals of the at least two sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Norimatsu, Kentarou Nishikawa, Toru Takahashi, Ayumi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8596146
    Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly includes rolling elements interposed between double row rolling surfaces of outer and inner members, which are opposed to each other. Electronic components including a plurality of the sensor units, a signal processing IC for processing respective sensor output signals thereof and a signal cable for transmitting the processed output signal to the outside of the bearing assembly are arranged inwardly of an annular protective covering to provide an annular sensor assembly. The sensor assembly is fitted to a peripheral surface of a stationary member in a fashion coaxial with the stationary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Ono, Kentarou Nishikawa, Koji Kametaka, Takayuki Norimatsu, Kentaro Ikki, Toru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8578791
    Abstract: A sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly, in which the load imposed on the wheel support bearing assembly or a tire tread of a wheel tire can be accurately detected without being affected by the rolling elements, includes rolling elements interposed between plural opposed rolling surfaces defined in outer and inner members. One of the outer and inner members that serves as a stationary member is provided with one or more sensor unit. The sensor unit includes a strain generating member, having two or more contact fixing segments fixed to the stationary member, and a sensor for detecting such strain. The strain generating member in the sensor unit is arranged at a position departing from a line passing through a center of the rolling elements and extending in a direction defined by the rolling element contact angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Ikki, Takayuki Norimatsu, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8567260
    Abstract: A sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly includes rolling elements interposed between double row rolling surfaces defined respectively in outer and inner members in face-to-face relation with each other. One of the inner and outer members, which serves as a stationary member, has an outer diametric surface provided with three or more sensor units. Each of the sensor units includes a strain generating member having two or more contact fixing segments, fixed to the outer diametric surface of the stationary member in contact with therewith, and one or more strain sensors fitted to the strain generating member for detecting a strain occurring in the strain generating member. A load estimating section is provided for estimating a radial load and an axial load in the wheel support bearing assembly, from respective output signals of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kentarou Nishikawa, Toru Takahashi, Takayuki Norimatsu, Yujiro Ono, Kentaro Ikki
  • Patent number: 8540431
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly includes a sensor unit provided in an outer member, which serves as a stationary member. The sensor unit has a strain generator and a sensor for detecting a strain occurring in the generator. A principal load estimator estimates the load acting on the wheel, with the use of an average value of a signal from the sensor, and an amplitude processed load estimator estimates the load, using amplitude of a signal wave outputted from the sensor, resulting from passage of rolling elements. A drift amount estimator estimates a drift amount of an estimated load output utilizing the average value and the amplitude, which is used to correct the estimated load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kentarou Nishikawa, Toru Takahashi, Takayuki Norimatsu, Kentaro Ikki
  • Patent number: 8531672
    Abstract: A lubricant deterioration detecting device includes an arcuate optical fiber having one end positioned in face-to-face relation with a light emitting element and also having the opposite end positioned in face-to-face relation with a light receiving element, and a measuring gap for intervening a lubricating agent is provided in a portion of the arcuate optical fiber. In the vicinity of the measuring gap, a resistance element, the amount of deformation of which varies with change in state of lubrication performed with the lubricating agent, is provided for flowing of the lubricating agent within the measuring gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Kentarou Nishikawa