Patents by Inventor Koichi Hirota
Koichi Hirota 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).
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Publication number: 20170365384Abstract: An R—Fe—B base sintered magnet is provided consisting essentially of R (which is at least two rare earth elements and essentially contains Nd and Pr), M1 which is at least two of Si, Al, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Pt, Au, Hg, Pb, and Bi, M2 which is at least one of Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, and W, boron, and the balance of Fe, and containing an intermetallic compound R2(Fe,(Co))14B as a main phase. The magnet contains an R—Fe(Co)-M1 phase as a grain boundary phase, the R—Fe(Co)-M1 phase contains A phase which is crystalline with crystallites of at least 10 nm formed at grain boundary triple junctions, and B phase which is amorphous and/or nanocrystalline with crystallites of less than 10 nm formed at intergranular grain boundaries and optionally grain boundary triple junctions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2017Publication date: December 21, 2017Applicant: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichi Hirota, Tetsuya Kume, Masayuki Kamata
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Patent number: 9742248Abstract: A method for assembling a rotor used in connection with an interior permanent magnet (IPM) rotary machine, the rotor having an axis of rotation and comprising a rotor yoke having bores and a plurality of permanent magnet segments disposed in the bores of the rotor yoke, each permanent magnet segment consisting of a plurality of magnet pieces. The method comprises the steps of: inserting the plurality of magnet pieces in each bore of the rotor yoke, with each of the magnet pieces for each of the magnet segments being kept loose from each other, for axially stacking the magnet pieces in the bore, and fixedly securing the stacked magnet pieces in the bore of the rotor yoke.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2014Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuhito Doi, Takehisa Minowa, Hajime Nakamura, Koichi Hirota
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Publication number: 20170140856Abstract: An R—(Fe,Co)—B base sintered magnet consisting essentially of 12-17 at % of R containing Nd and Pr, 0.1-3 at % of M1 (typically Si), 0.05-0.5 at % of M2 (typically Ti), B, and the balance of Fe, and containing R2(Fe,Co)14B as a main phase has a coercivity of at least 10 kOe. The magnet contains a M2 boride phase at a grain boundary triple junction, and has a core/shell structure that the main phase is covered with a grain boundary phase. The grain boundary phase is composed of an amorphous and/or nanocrystalline R?—(Fe,Co)-M1? phase consisting essentially of 25-35 at % of R? containing Pr, 2-8 at % of M1? (typically Si), up to 8 at % of Co, and the balance of Fe. A coverage of the main phase with the R?—(Fe,Co)-M1? phase is at least 50%, and the bi-granular grain boundary phase has a width of at least 50 nm.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2016Publication date: May 18, 2017Applicant: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichi Hirota, Masayuki Kamata, Takahiro Hashimoto, Hajime Nakamura
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Publication number: 20170098503Abstract: A rare earth sintered magnet is an anisotropic sintered body comprising Nd2Fe14 B crystal phase as primary phase and having the composition R1aTbMcSidBe wherein R1 is a rare earth element inclusive of Sc and Y, T is Fe and/or Co, M is Al, Cu, Zn, In, P, S, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Ga, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Hf, Ta, or W, “a” to “e” are 12?a?17, 0?c?10, 0.3?d?7, 5?e?10, and the balance of b, wherein Dy and/or Tb is diffused into the sintered body from its surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2016Publication date: April 6, 2017Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroaki Nagata, Yuuji Gouki, Kazuaki Sakaki, Tadao Nomura, Koichi Hirota, Hajime Nakamura
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Publication number: 20160293304Abstract: The invention provides an R—Fe—B sintered magnet consisting essentially of 12-17 at % of Nd, Pr and R, 0.1-3 at % of M1, 0.05-0.5 at % of M2, 4.8+2*m to 5.9+2*m at % of B, and the balance of Fe, containing R2(Fe,(Co))14B intermetallic compound as a main phase, and having a core/shell structure that the main phase is covered with grain boundary phases. The sintered magnet exhibits a coercivity of at least 10 kOe despite a low or nil content of Dy, Tb and Ho.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Applicant: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichi Hirota, Hiroaki Nagata, Tetsuya Kume, Masayuki Kamata, Hajime Nakamura
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Publication number: 20160293303Abstract: The invention provides an R—Fe—B sintered magnet consisting essentially of 12-17 at % of Nd, Pr and R, 0.1-3 at % of M1, 0.05-0.5 at % of M2, 4.8+2*m to 5.9+2*m at % of B, and the balance of Fe, containing R2(Fe,(Co))14B intermetallic compound as a main phase, and having a core/shell structure that the main phase is covered with a grain boundary phases. The sintered magnet has an average grain size of less than 6 ?m, a crystal orientation of more than 98%, and a degree of magnetization of more than 96%, and exhibits a coercivity of at least 10 kOe despite a low or nil content of Dy, Tb, and Ho.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Applicant: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichi Hirota, Hiroaki Nagata, Tetsuya Kume, Hajime Nakamura
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Publication number: 20160293307Abstract: The invention provides an R—Fe—B sintered magnet consisting essentially of 12-17 at % of R, 0.1-3 at % of M1, 0.05-0.5 at % of M2, 4.8+2*m to 5.9+2*m at % of B, and the balance of Fe, containing R2(Fe,(Co))14B intermetallic compound as a main phase, and having a core/shell structure that the main phase is covered with a HR-rich layer and a (R,HR)—Fe(Co)-M1 phase wherein HR is Tb, Dy or Ho. The sintered magnet exhibits a coercivity ?10 kOe despite a low content of Dy, Tb, and Ho.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Applicant: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichi Hirota, Hiroaki Nagata, Tetsuya Kume, Hajime Nakamura
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Publication number: 20160138941Abstract: An operation detection device for a vehicle includes: a capacity measurement section that measures a change amount of capacitance of an operation section; a determination section that determines that there is an approaching operation of a user to the operation section if a state where an absolute value of a time change rate of the change amount of the capacitance is equal to or less than a second threshold value is continued for a first time after the change amount of the capacitance is equal to or greater than a first threshold value; and an output section that outputs a control signal to an object to be controlled based on a determination result of the determination section.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koichi HIROTA, Takaya AIYAMA, Hitoshi TAKAYANAGI
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Publication number: 20160139579Abstract: An operation detecting device of an opening and closing body for a vehicle, includes: a detecting section that detects an operation by a user with respect to an opening and closing body of a vehicle; an input section that receives an opening and closing body motion signal which indicates whether or not the opening and closing body is in motion or idle; a determination section that determines whether or not the operation is performed using different detection conditions for a case in which the opening and closing body is in motion and a case in which the opening and closing body is idle; and an output section that outputs a control signal which causes the opening and closing body to move or stop based on the determination result of the determination section.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koichi HIROTA, Takaya AIYAMA, Hitoshi TAKAYANAGI
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Publication number: 20150315839Abstract: An opening-closing control device of a slide door that is configured to slide along a body side surface of a vehicle in a vehicle front-back direction using a motor as a drive source in order to open and close an entrance of the vehicle may include a touch panel for performing an opening-closing operation of the slide door, which touch panel is attached to an outer surface of a member constituting an outer shell of the vehicle, wherein the touch panel has a plurality of manipulating portions, and light sources corresponding to the manipulating portions, and wherein the light sources corresponding to the manipulating portions that are operable in accordance with opening-closing conditions of the slide door are configured to be turned on, so that images of the operable manipulating portions are illuminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2014Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takeshi SHIGEMOTO, Katsumi ITO, Takuma KITO, Koichi HIROTA, Norio FUKUI
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Patent number: 9156439Abstract: An automatic opening and closing apparatus of an opening and closing member for a vehicle includes an opening and closing member driving portion, a receiving portion configured to receive a radio signal transmitted from a radio transmitter and indicating identification information for identifying the vehicle, a non-contact detection sensor including a detection range that is specified to an inner side than an outermost position of the vehicle in a direction towards an outer side of a vehicle interior from the opening and closing member in a state where the opening and closing member is closed, and a control portion configured to control the opening and closing member driving portion in a case where the non-contact detection sensor detects an object in a state where the identification information is correlated to the vehicle on a basis of the radio signal received from the radio transmitter.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2013Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koichi Hirota, Shintaro Suzuki, Hitoshi Takayanagi
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Patent number: 8983736Abstract: A grille shutter control device is provided with a control section configured so as to open and close a shutter adapted to be provided in an air introduction path for introducing air ahead of the vehicle into an engine compartment. The grille shutter control device drives and controls first and second drive units. The grille shutter control device is provided with: an abnormality detecting section configured to detect an abnormality in the operation of the shutter on the basis of the condition of the shutter after the start of operation thereof; and an informing section for informing, on the basis of an abnormality in the operation detected by the abnormality detection section, the user of the abnormality in the operation of the shutter.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koichi Hirota, Yoshimasa Asano, Hitoshi Takayanagi, Masayuki Nomura, Tatsuya Shimizu, Hironori Kanasaki
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Patent number: 8975850Abstract: There is provided a driving control device of an opening and closing body, which drives the opening and closing body in a closed state by a motor through an idling section thereof. The device includes a calculation section for calculating a rotation speed difference between a rotation speed of the motor in the idling section and a current rotation speed of the motor; and an insertion detection section for detecting insertion of a foreign member based on the calculated rotation speed difference and a predetermined threshold value. The threshold value monotonously decreases according to an increase in the rotation amount of the motor to coincide with a fully-closed state threshold value at a predetermined rotation amount of the motor within an error range of the rotation amount corresponding to the fully-closed state, and to maintain the fully-closed state threshold value to a maximum rotation amount in the error range.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toytota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koichi Hirota, Nobuyasu Bessho, Masato Yamada, Shinichiro Noda, Tomomasa Inoue, Yoshiki Ishikawa, Tomoharu Tamaya
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Publication number: 20140365080Abstract: An opening/closing body control device for a vehicle includes: a drive section for driving the opening/closing body; a manipulation input section operated to open or close the opening/closing body; a manipulation input detector for detecting a manipulation input performed on the manipulation input section; a controller for controlling the drive section; and a measuring section for measuring a duration of the manipulation input. The controller is capable of controlling the drive section in the driving mode selected from a plurality of driving modes to which are set different speeds of actuation of the opening/closing body, and to switch, if the duration exceeds a predetermined time, the driving mode to a high speed actuation mode in which the actuation speed is greater than that in the driving mode before the predetermined time is exceeded.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2013Publication date: December 11, 2014Inventors: Koichi Hirota, Masato Yamada, Takeshi Nishikibe, Hitoshi Takayanagi
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Publication number: 20140312920Abstract: A non-contact operation detection device for a vehicle includes: a spacer; a sensor electrode supported on a first surface of the spacer; a first electrode supported on a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface of the spacer; and a determination unit determining a change in capacitance detected by the sensor electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: KOICHI HIROTA, HIROSHI URASE, HITOSHI TAKAYANAGI
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Patent number: 8826592Abstract: A window regulator device including an object pinching detection unit which includes an input-side rotational member; an output-side rotational member coupled to an output shaft; an elastic member interposed between the input-side rotational member and the output-side rotational member; a cam formed respectively on opposed surfaces of the input-side rotational member and the output-side rotational member; and an object pinching detection switch for performing a switching operation based on the axial movement of the output-side rotational member.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2010Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hidefumi Katayama, Ryoichi Fukumoto, Ryujiro Akizuki, Koichi Hirota
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Publication number: 20140245597Abstract: An interior permanent magnet (IPM) rotary machine comprises a rotor comprising a rotor yoke having bores and a plurality of permanent magnet segments disposed in the bores of the rotor yoke, each permanent magnet segment consisting of a plurality of magnet pieces. The rotor is assembled by inserting the plurality of unbound magnet pieces in each bore for stacking the magnet pieces, and fixedly securing the stacked magnet pieces in the bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2014Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuhito Doi, Takehisa Minowa, Hajime Nakamura, Koichi Hirota
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Patent number: 8823235Abstract: An axial gap-type permanent magnetic rotating machine comprises a rotor comprising a rotating shaft having an axis of rotation, a rotor yoke of disc shape radially extending from the shaft, and a plurality of permanent magnet segments circumferentially arranged on a surface of the rotor yoke such that each permanent magnet segment may have a magnetization direction parallel to the axis of rotation, and a stator having a plurality of circumferentially arranged coils and disposed to define an axial gap with the rotor. In the rotor, each permanent magnet segment is an assembly of two or more divided permanent magnet pieces, and the coercive force near the surface of the magnet piece is higher than that in the interior of the magnet piece.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2010Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Watanabe, Yuhito Doi, Takehisa Minowa, Hajime Nakamura, Koichi Hirota
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Patent number: 8756793Abstract: An interior permanent magnet (IPM) rotary machine comprises a rotor comprising a rotor yoke having bores and a plurality of permanent magnet segments disposed in the bores of the rotor yoke, each permanent magnet segment consisting of a plurality of magnet pieces. The rotor is assembled by inserting the plurality of unbound magnet pieces in each bore for stacking the magnet pieces, and fixedly securing the stacked magnet pieces in the bore.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2010Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuhito Doi, Takehisa Minowa, Hajime Nakamura, Koichi Hirota
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Publication number: 20140167895Abstract: A sintered Nd base magnet segment has a coercive force high at the periphery and lower toward the inside. A method for preparing the magnet includes the steps of: (a) providing a sintered Nd base magnet block having surfaces and a magnetization direction, (b) coating the surfaces of the magnet block excluding the surface perpendicular to the magnetization direction with a Dy or Tb oxide powder, a Dy or Tb fluoride powder, or a Dy or Tb-containing alloy powder, (c) treating the coated block at a high temperature for causing Dy or Tb to diffuse into the block, and (d) cutting the block in a plane perpendicular to the magnetization direction into a magnet segment having a coercive force distribution on the cut section that the coercive force is high at the periphery and lower toward the inside and a constant coercive force distribution in the magnetization direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2014Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Koji Miyata, Takehisa Minowa, Hajime Nakamura, Koichi Hirota, Masakatsu Honshima