Patents by Inventor Kiyoshi Matsumoto

Kiyoshi Matsumoto 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: 20170172823
    Abstract: The travelling apparatus according to exemplary embodiments includes front wheels, which are driving wheels, an upper frame, first linear motion mechanisms configured to be extendable and retractable and couple the front wheels to the upper frame, middle wheels configured to be disposed at a back of the front wheels, second linear motion mechanisms configured to be extendable and retractable and couple a riding part to the middle wheels, rear wheels configured to be disposed at a back of the middle wheels, lower links configured to couple the middle wheels to the rear wheels, respectively, rear links configured to couple the lower links to the upper frame, and a third linear motion mechanism configured to change an angle between the upper frame and the rear links.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicants: THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaru ISHIKAWA, Kiyoshi MATSUMOTO, Tomoyuki TAKAHATA, Isao SHIMOYAMA, Takashi IZUO, Yoshihiro KUROKI, Taro TAKAHASHI, Yusuke KOSAKA
  • Publication number: 20170131168
    Abstract: A pressure sensor which detects variation in pressure, the pressure sensor including a cantilever which bends according to a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of a cavity in a sensor main body, and a first gap, a second gap, and a third gap which are formed on a proximal end portion of the cantilever. The first to third gaps electrically partition the proximal end portion of the cantilever into a first support portion, a second support portion, a first displacement detection portion, and a second displacement portion in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in which the proximal end portion and a distal end portion of the cantilever are connected to each other in plan view. The first and second displacement detection portions detect displacement according to the bending of the cantilever between the first and second support portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicants: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC., THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Isao SHIMOYAMA, Kiyoshi MATSUMOTO, Hidetoshi TAKAHASHI, Minh-Dung NGUYEN, Takeshi UCHIYAMA, Manabu OUMI, Yoko SHINOHARA
  • Patent number: 9645032
    Abstract: The present invention achieves a pressure-sensitive sensor which can detect information on a pressure, a sound pressure, acceleration, gas and the like, with high sensitivity. The pressure-sensitive sensor includes: a cantilever (22); a frame (23) which is provided around the cantilever (22) and holds a base end of the cantilever (22); a gap (24) formed between the cantilever (22) and the frame (23); and a liquid (28) which seals the gap (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Binh-Khiem Nguyen, Minh-Dung Nguyen, Hoang-Phuong Phan
  • Patent number: 9551621
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a sensor body which has a first surface and a cavity with an opening in the first surface, a cantilever which has a base end portion supported on the first surface and a distal end portion provided to form a gap from a peripheral edge of the opening inside the opening, is flexurally deformed according to a pressure difference between an inside and an outside of the cavity, and is formed of a semiconductor material, and a displacement measurement unit which measures a displacement of the cantilever vibrating according to the pressure difference at a frequency larger than a lower limit frequency fLOW (Hz) defined by Expression (1), where a width (?m) of the gap is represented by G, a volume (ml) of the cavity is represented by V, and a proportional constant is represented by k.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignees: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC., THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Hidetoshi Takahashi, Minh-Dung Nguyen, Yoko Shinohara, Takeshi Uchiyama, Manabu Oumi, Masataka Shinogi
  • Patent number: 9546948
    Abstract: A gas sensor is proposed, which can detect a gas by a novel configuration while reduction in size is achieved. The gas sensor (1) does not need a light absorption path as in a prior art so that the size can be reduced correspondingly. Further, in the gas sensor (1), a gas is absorbed in an ionic liquid (IL), and a dielectric constant of the ionic liquid (IL) that changes by absorbing the gas can be measured according to a change in light intensity that occurs by a surface plasmon resonance phenomenon in a metal layer (7). Thus, the gas sensor (1) including the novel configuration that can detect a gas based on the change in the light intensity can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Tetsuo Kan, Yusuke Takei, Hidetoshi Takahashi, Koutaro Ishizu, Masahito Honda
  • Publication number: 20160349130
    Abstract: A pressure sensor which detects variation in pressures, the pressure sensor including a cantilever which is bent according to a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of a cavity in a sensor main body, and an intra-lever gap which is formed on a proximal end portion of the cantilever. The proximal end portion is partitioned into a first support portion and a second support portion by an intra-lever gap in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in which the proximal end portion and a distal end portion are connected to each other in plan view. A doped layer which is provided on a portion of the first and second support portions forms a first displacement detection portion and a second displacement detection portion. Lengths of the first and second displacement detection portions are shorter than those of the first and second supports along the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicants: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC., THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Isao SHIMOYAMA, Kiyoshi MATSUMOTO, Hidetoshi TAKAHASHI, Minh-Dung NGUYEN, Takeshi UCHIYAMA, Manabu OUMI, Yoko SHINOHARA, Masayuki SUDA
  • Patent number: 9504417
    Abstract: To propose an oral cavity sensor capable of analyzing tongue movements in more detail than before. In an oral cavity sensor (1) which is even provided with a sensor element (7) having a mechanical configuration capable of measuring each of external force components in three axis directions, the sensor element (7) can be protected by an elastic body (9), and the whole of the elastic body (9) is covered with the coating film (11a) made of a biocompatible material. Thereby, the sensor element (7) and the elastic body (9) can be safely attached in an oral cavity (MT) of a subject (EXA), and can measure each of the external force components in the three axis directions. As a result, on the basis of the external force components in the three axis directions, complicated tongue movements at the time of mastication or swallowing in the oral cavity (MT) can be analyzed in more detail than before.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignees: THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO, MEIJI CO., LTD., OSAKA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Yusuke Takei, Kentaro Noda, Yoshio Toyama, Toshihiro Ohmori, Takashi Tachimura
  • Publication number: 20160327523
    Abstract: According to embodiments, a sensor includes a structure body, a container, a liquid and a sensing unit. The structure body includes a supporter, and a film unit. The film unit includes a first region. The first region includes a first end portion supported by the supporter, and a first portion being displaceable. The film unit includes an opening. The container is connected to the structure body. A first space is defined between the film unit and the container. The liquid is provided inside the first space. The sensing unit senses a displacement of the first portion accompanying a displacement of the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Isao SHIMOYAMA, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Binh Khiem Nguyen, Hidetoshi Takahashi, Minh Dung Nguyen, Hiroto Tamura, Quang Khang Pham, Takahiro Omori, Osamu Nishimura, Akihiro Kasahara
  • Patent number: 9310265
    Abstract: A tactile sensor and a multi-axial tactile sensor are provided, each of which is thin and can measure shearing force. A multi-axial tactile sensor 1 includes a sensor element 2 provided in a plane substantially at the same level as the surface of a substrate 6, and an outer package member 42 covering around the sensor element 2 and transmitting external force to the sensor element 2. The sensor element 2 includes a flexible beam 7 (8) having at least one end supported by the substrate 6. The sensor element 2 detects deformation of the beam 7 (8), the deformation being caused in the direction in parallel with the surface of the substrate 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Akihito Nakai, Hidetoshi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20160064679
    Abstract: Provided is a photodetector including: an organic semiconductor (20) having protrusions; a metal layer (30) added onto the organic semiconductor (20), for promoting at least one of localized plasmon resonance and surface plasmon resonance in which electrons are excited through irradiation of detection light; and a semiconductor (40) forming a junction with the metal layer (30), for allowing electrons excited through the plasmon resonance to pass through the junction (40a) with the metal layer (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicants: OLYMPUS CORPORATION, The University of Tokyo, KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiharu AJIKI, Isao SHIMOYAMA, Kiyoshi MATSUMOTO, Tetsuo KAN, Koichi KARAKI, Yasuo SASAKI, Masayuki YAHIRO, Akiko HAMADA
  • Patent number: 9250210
    Abstract: A gas sensor that can enhance gas detection sensitivity more than the conventional sensors with a simple configuration is proposed. An electric double layer including a gate insulating layer is formed in an ionic liquid (IL), a change of a state of the gate insulating layer in the ionic liquid (IL) that occurs by absorbing a gas is directly reflected in a source-drain current (Isd) that flows in a carbon nanotube (8). Therefore, the gas detection sensitivity can be enhanced more than in the conventional sensors. Further, since the ionic liquid (IL) can be simply provided on a substrate (2) to be in contact with the carbon nanotube (8) and a gate electrode (7), the configuration that chemically modifies a surface of the carbon nanotube with a plurality of polymers as in the conventional gas sensors is not needed, and the configuration can be simplified correspondingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Yusuke Takei, Hidetoshi Takahashi, Noboru Kiga, Masahito Honda
  • Publication number: 20150362394
    Abstract: The present invention achieves a pressure-sensitive sensor which can detect information on a pressure, a sound pressure, acceleration, gas and the like, with high sensitivity. The pressure-sensitive sensor includes: a cantilever (22); a frame (23) which is provided around the cantilever (22) and holds a base end of the cantilever (22); a gap (24) formed between the cantilever (22) and the frame (23); and a liquid (28) which seals the gap (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Binh-Khiem Nguyen, Minh-Dung Nguyen, Hoang-Phuong Phan
  • Patent number: 9188497
    Abstract: There is provided a differential pressure sensor capable of measuring a pressure fluctuation with a simple structure. The differential pressure sensor includes a main body formed with an air chamber, and an opening that causes an interior of the air chamber to be in communication with an exterior, and a detector provided at the opening. The detector includes a cantilever provided in a manner tiltable so as to block off the opening, and the cantilever is formed with a Piezo resistor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Tomoyuki Takahata, Tetsuo Kan, Kenta Kuwana, Hidetoshi Takahashi, Minh-Dung Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20150323482
    Abstract: To propose a gas sensor and a gas sensor structural body that can improve detection sensitivity of gas more than in the conventional gas sensors with a simple configuration. A graphene (8) between a source electrode (3) and a drain electrode (4) is provided in an ion liquid (L), whereby a state change of charges in the ion liquid (L) caused by absorption of gas is directly reflected on a source-drain current (Isd) that flows in the graphene (8). Therefore, it is possible to improve detection sensitivity of the gas more than in the conventional gas sensors. The graphene (8) only has to be provided to be disposed in the ion liquid (L). Therefore, unlike in the conventional gas sensors, a configuration in which carbon nanotubes are surface-chemically modified by a plurality of polymers is unnecessary. Therefore, it is possible to simplify a configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Yusuke Takei, Akira Inaba, Kwanghyun Yoo, Masahito Honda, Hiroshi Imamoto
  • Patent number: 9005796
    Abstract: A power storage unit includes a battery module housed in a battery case. The battery module has, as components, a plurality of battery cells stacked and arranged in a direction (direction Y) crossing a transverse direction. Reinforcing members arranged at a predetermined spacing are provided between the battery cells. The power storage unit of this structure can prevent damage to the power storage unit disposed between seats adjacent to each other in the transverse direction, when frame members provided in the seats are moved in the transverse direction in the event of a crash of a moving conveyance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shishido, Yoshinori Noritake, Kiyoshi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20150096388
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a sensor body which has a first surface and a cavity with an opening in the first surface, a cantilever which has a base end portion supported on the first surface and a distal end portion provided to form a gap from a peripheral edge of the opening inside the opening, is flexurally deformed according to a pressure difference between an inside and an outside of the cavity, and is formed of a semiconductor material, and a displacement measurement unit which measures a displacement of the cantilever vibrating according to the pressure difference at a frequency larger than a lower limit frequency fLOW (Hz) defined by Expression (1), where a width (?m) of the gap is represented by G, a volume (ml) of the cavity is represented by V, and a proportional constant is represented by k.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicants: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC., THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Hidetoshi Takahashi, Minh-Dung Nguyen, Yoko Shinohara, Takeshi Uchiyama, Manabu Oumi, Masataka Shinogi
  • Publication number: 20150009503
    Abstract: A gas sensor is proposed, which can detect a gas by a novel configuration while reduction in size is achieved. The gas sensor (1) does not need a light absorption path as in a prior art so that the size can be reduced correspondingly. Further, in the gas sensor (1), a gas is absorbed in an ionic liquid (IL), and a dielectric constant of the ionic liquid (IL) that changes by absorbing the gas can be measured according to a change in light intensity that occurs by a surface plasmon resonance phenomenon in a metal layer (7). Thus, the gas sensor (1) including the novel configuration that can detect a gas based on the change in the light intensity can be realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Tetsuo Kan, Yusuke Takei, Hidetoshi Takahashi, Koutaro Ishizu, Masahito Honda
  • Publication number: 20140346042
    Abstract: A gas sensor that can enhance gas detection sensitivity more than the conventional sensors with a simple configuration is proposed. An electric double layer including a gate insulating layer is formed in an ionic liquid (IL), a change of a state of the gate insulating layer in the ionic liquid (IL) that occurs by absorbing a gas is directly reflected in a source-drain current (Isd) that flows in a carbon nanotube (8). Therefore, the gas detection sensitivity can be enhanced more than in the conventional sensors. Further, since the ionic liquid (IL) can be simply provided on a substrate (2) to be in contact with the carbon nanotube (8) and a gate electrode (7), the configuration that chemically modifies a surface of the carbon nanotube with a plurality of polymers as in the conventional gas sensors is not needed, and the configuration can be simplified correspondingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Yusuke Takei, Hidetoshi Takahashi, Noboru Kiga, Masahito Honda
  • Publication number: 20140343373
    Abstract: To propose an oral cavity sensor capable of analyzing tongue movements in more detail than before. In an oral cavity sensor (1) which is even provided with a sensor element (7) having a mechanical configuration capable of measuring each of external force components in three axis directions, the sensor element (7) can be protected by an elastic body (9), and the whole of the elastic body (9) is covered with the coating film (11a) made of a biocompatible material. Thereby, the sensor element (7) and the elastic body (9) can be safely attached in an oral cavity (MT) of a subject (EXA), and can measure each of the external force components in the three axis directions. As a result, on the basis of the external force components in the three axis directions, complicated tongue movements at the time of mastication or swallowing in the oral cavity (MT) can be analyzed in more detail than before.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicants: The University of Tokyo, Meiji Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Yusuke Takei, Kentaro Noda, Yoshio Toyama, Toshihiro Ohmori, Takashi Tachimura
  • Publication number: 20140224037
    Abstract: A tactile sensor and a multi-axial tactile sensor are provided, each of which is thin and can measure shearing force. A multi-axial tactile sensor 1 includes a sensor element 2 provided in a plane substantially at the same level as the surface of a substrate 6, and an outer package member 42 covering around the sensor element 2 and transmitting external force to the sensor element 2. The sensor element 2 includes a flexible beam 7 (8) having at least one end supported by the substrate 6. The sensor element 2 detects deformation of the beam 7 (8), the deformation being caused in the direction in parallel with the surface of the substrate 6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Akihito Nakai, Hidetoshi Takahashi