Patents by Inventor Koji Shiotani

Koji Shiotani 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: 20240033153
    Abstract: A posture holding mat according to the present invention is a mat which has a predetermined thickness to hold a posture, the posture holding mat includes: an elastic foam; and a cuttable line which allows the mat to be cut to a predetermined size and in the cuttable line, cuts penetrating in the direction of the thickness are provided at a predetermined interval. In this way, the posture holding mat can be cut by an operator with fingers without use of a cutting tool such as a cutter, can be bent to be used and can be used for holding the posture of a subject during an operation in orthopedics, surgery or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Koji SHIOTANI, Hirotake HIRAKAWA, Masayoshi TACHIBANA, Kazuhisa YAMADA, Ryuichi YANAGIYAMA
  • Patent number: 9995704
    Abstract: A gas sensor element which has water-permeable electrodes, and water-impermeable leads connected to the electrodes A first electrode (133) has a space exposure portion (133b) exposed to internal space (160) of a gas sensor element (10) which communicates with an ambient atmosphere. A first lead (137) is connected to the first electrode (133). The first electrode (133) includes a first connection portion (133d) which is disposed at a position not exposed to the internal space (160) and connected to the first lead (137), and which is a portion of the first electrode (133) located most distant from the internal space (160). The entire first connection portion (133d) is located in a region A1 which extends from the internal space (160) over a distance of 1.0 mm or less. Also enclosed is a gas sensor including the gas sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kamada, Masaki Nakagawa, Koji Shiotani
  • Patent number: 9719958
    Abstract: A gas sensor controller (100) controls a gas sensor element (10) which has a first pump cell (111), a second pump cell (113), and an oxygen concentration detection cell (112). The controller includes first chamber control means (51) to (53) which pumps oxygen out of or into a first measurement chamber MR1 such that a concentration voltage Vs becomes equal to a target voltage Vr; target voltage changing means S72, S75 which changes the target voltage Vr from a first target voltage Vr1 to a second target voltage Vr2; current detection means (55) which detects the magnitude of a concentration current Ip2 flowing between first electrode (145) and second electrode (147); and deterioration determination means S7 which determines the deterioration state of the gas sensor element from a change which occurs in the concentration current Ip2 due to the change in the target voltage Vr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Yoshida, Kenji Kato, Koji Shiotani
  • Patent number: 9719957
    Abstract: A first electrode (133) has an exposure portion (133b) exposed to a second measuring chamber (160), and a connection portion (133d) which is disposed at a position not exposed to the second measuring chamber (160) and is connected to the first lead (137) and which is a portion of the first electrode (133) located most distant from the second measuring chamber (160). The entire connection portion (133d) is located in a region A1 which extends from the second measuring chamber (160) over a distance of 1.0 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kamada, Masaki Nakagawa, Koji Shiotani
  • Patent number: 9551684
    Abstract: A gas sensor element which has water-permeable electrodes, and water-impermeable leads connected to the electrodes A first electrode (133) has a space exposure portion (133b) exposed to internal space (160) of a gas sensor element (10) which communicates with an ambient atmosphere. A first lead (137) is connected to the first electrode (133). The first electrode (133) includes a first connection portion (133d) which is disposed at a position not exposed to the internal space (160) and connected to the first lead (137), and which is a portion of the first electrode (133) located most distant from the internal space (160). The entire first connection portion (133d) is located in a region A1 which extends from the internal space (160) over a distance of 1.0 mm or less. Also enclosed is a gas sensor including the gas sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kamada, Masaki Nakagawa, Koji Shiotani
  • Publication number: 20160334360
    Abstract: A gas sensor element which has water-permeable electrodes, and water-impermeable leads connected to the electrodes A first electrode (133) has a space exposure portion (133b) exposed to internal space (160) of a gas sensor element (10) which communicates with an ambient atmosphere. A first lead (137) is connected to the first electrode (133). The first electrode (133) includes a first connection portion (133d) which is disposed at a position not exposed to the internal space (160) and connected to the first lead (137), and which is a portion of the first electrode (133) located most distant from the internal space (160). The entire first connection portion (133d) is located in a region A1 which extends from the internal space (160) over a distance of 1.0 mm or less. Also enclosed is a gas sensor including the gas sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro KAMADA, Masaki NAKAGAWA, Koji SHIOTANI
  • Patent number: 9494549
    Abstract: A gas sensor control apparatus for controlling a gas sensor element, the gas sensor element including first and second measuring chambers and the gas sensor control apparatus including first chamber control unit for controlling an oxygen concentration in the first chamber; second chamber control unit for applying a second chamber pump voltage to disassociate an oxygen-containing specific gas contained in the second chamber and thereby generate a concentration-dependent current; current detecting unit; voltage changing unit for changing the second chamber pump voltage; and deterioration determination unit for determining the deterioration state of the gas sensor element based on a transient response of the concentration-dependent current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Yoshida, Kenji Kato, Koji Shiotani
  • Patent number: 9453815
    Abstract: In a gas sensor element of a gas sensor, reference oxygen chamber (113) assumes the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. A reference electrode (111) is disposed on a surface of a third solid electrolyte body (73) which is exposed to the reference oxygen chamber (113). A second outer electrode (117) is disposed opposite the reference electrode, on a surface of a second solid electrolyte body (77) which is exposed to the reference oxygen chamber. Further, a porous, insulative protection layer (165) is formed so as to cover the entire surface of the second outer electrode. A gap (167) is present between the reference electrode and the insulative protection layer. The thickness of the gap is greater than that of the insulative protection layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Nakagawa, Koji Shiotani, Tomohiro Wakazono
  • Patent number: 9234868
    Abstract: An NOX sensor control apparatus (10) is connected to an NOX sensor (100) which includes a first pumping cell (110) and a second pumping cell (130) through which a second pumping current flows corresponding to an NOX concentration in a to-be-measured gas. The NOX sensor control apparatus (10) includes a first pumping current detection unit; a second pumping current detection unit; an oxygen concentration calculation unit (60) for calculating oxygen concentration on the basis of the first pumping current and corrected in accordance with the pressure of the to-be-measured gas, oxygen (first) pressure correction information set for the NOX sensor, and pressure information; and an NOX concentration calculation unit (60) for calculating NOX concentration on the basis of the first pumping current and corrected in accordance with pressure of the to-be-measured gas, NOX (second) pressure correction information set for the NOX sensor, and pressure information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ishiguro, Takayuki Sumi, Akihiro Kobayashi, Hisashi Sasaki, Koji Shiotani
  • Publication number: 20150377822
    Abstract: A gas sensor controller (100) controls a gas sensor element (10) which has a first pump cell (111), a second pump cell (113), and an oxygen concentration detection cell (112). The controller includes first chamber control means (51) to (53) which pumps oxygen out of or into a first measurement chamber MR1 such that a concentration voltage Vs becomes equal to a target voltage Vr; target voltage changing means S72, S75 which changes the target voltage Vr from a first target voltage Vr1 to a second target voltage Vr2; current detection means (55) which detects the magnitude of a concentration current Ip2 flowing between first electrode (145) and second electrode (147); and deterioration determination means S7 which determines the deterioration state of the gas sensor element from a change which occurs in the concentration current Ip2 due to the change in the target voltage Vr.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Akihiro YOSHIDA, Kenji KATO, Koji SHIOTANI
  • Patent number: 9053306
    Abstract: An authentication system 100 includes an authentication server 10 and a service providing server 20 for providing a service. When a user requests authentication, the authentication server lets the user input login information, transmits the login information to the service providing server 20, and calculates a first hash value from the login information using a hash function. The service providing server 20 calculates a second hash value from the login information using the same hash function if the login information transmitted from the authentication server 10 matches information that is registered in advance. The authentication server 10 establishes a session with a terminal 30 if the first hash value and the second hash value match each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Solution Innovators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Yoshigaki, Koji Shiotani
  • Patent number: 8877024
    Abstract: [Objective] An object is to provide a sensor control apparatus and a sensor-control-apparatus control method which can reduce variation in startup time among a plurality of times of execution of detection processing, in consideration of variation in output characteristic among a plurality of gas sensors. [Means for Solution] In a sensor control apparatus, before drive control (S55 to S80) is started, preliminary control is executed so as to supply a constant current to a second oxygen pump cell over a constant time, to thereby control to a constant level the amount of oxygen pumped from a second measurement chamber to the outside of the second measurement chamber (S40 to 50). The preliminary control is executed under control conditions of the sensor control apparatus which are determined for each gas sensor and are associated with the amount of oxygen pumped from the second measurement chamber to the outside thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kawai, Hiroshi Inagaki, Koji Shiotani, Hirotaka Onogi, Satoshi Teramoto
  • Publication number: 20140238853
    Abstract: A gas sensor control apparatus for controlling a gas sensor element, the gas sensor element including first and second measuring chambers and the gas sensor control apparatus including first chamber control unit for controlling an oxygen concentration in the first chamber; second chamber control unit for applying a second chamber pump voltage to disassociate an oxygen-containing specific gas contained in the second chamber and thereby generate a concentration-dependent current; current detecting unit; voltage changing unit for changing the second chamber pump voltage; and deterioration determination unit for determining the deterioration state of the gas sensor element based on a transient response of the concentration-dependent current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro YOSHIDA, Kenji KATO, Koji SHIOTANI
  • Publication number: 20140190827
    Abstract: A gas sensor element which has water-permeable electrodes, and water-impermeable leads connected to the electrodes A first electrode (133) has a space exposure portion (133b) exposed to internal space (160) of a gas sensor element (10) which communicates with an ambient atmosphere. A first lead (137) is connected to the first electrode (133). The first electrode (133) includes a first connection portion (133d) which is disposed at a position not exposed to the internal space (160) and connected to the first lead (137), and which is a portion of the first electrode (133) located most distant from the internal space (160). The entire first connection portion (133d) is located in a region A1 which extends from the internal space (160) over a distance of 1.0 mm or less. Also enclosed is a gas sensor including the gas sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro KAMADA, Masaki NAKAGAWA, Koji SHIOTANI
  • Publication number: 20140190828
    Abstract: A first electrode (133) has an exposure portion (133b) exposed to a second measuring chamber (160), and a connection portion (133d) which is disposed at a position not exposed to the second measuring chamber (160) and is connected to the first lead (137) and which is a portion of the first electrode (133) located most distant from the second measuring chamber (160). The entire connection portion (133d) is located in a region A1 which extends from the second measuring chamber (160) over a distance of 1.0 mm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro KAMADA, Masaki NAKAGAWA, Koji SHIOTANI
  • Publication number: 20130269007
    Abstract: An authentication system 100 includes an authentication server 10 and a service providing server 20 for providing a service. When a user requests authentication, the authentication server lets the user input login information, transmits the login information to the service providing server 20, and calculates a first hash value from the login information using a hash function. The service providing server 20 calculates a second hash value from the login information using the same hash function if the login information transmitted from the authentication server 10 matches information that is registered in advance. The authentication server 10 establishes a session with a terminal 30 if the first hash value and the second hash value match each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: NEC SOFTWARE KYUSHU, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Yoshigaki, Koji Shiotani
  • Patent number: 8512536
    Abstract: A NOx sensor includes a sensor element equipped with first and second pumping cells to define first and second measurement chambers. The first pumping cell exerts an oxygen pumping action against the first measurement chamber to adjust the oxygen concentration in the gas under measurement within the first measurement chamber to a given level. The second pumping cell exerts an oxygen pumping action against the second measurement chamber to produce a pumping cell current according to the NOx concentration in the gas under measurement. When the moisture content of the gas under measurement changes from 2 vol % to 8 vol %, the NOx sensor allows a variation of NOx concentration detection value based on the pumping cell current in such a manner that the NOx concentration detection value reaches a transient peak value of 20 ppm or smaller and converges to ±5 ppm of a reference value within 5 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kato, Hisashi Sasaki, Koji Shiotani
  • Patent number: 8377274
    Abstract: A gas sensor including a gas sensor element having a first measurement chamber (16); a first pumping cell (11); a second measurement chamber (18) into which a gas to be measured having a controlled oxygen partial pressure is introduced; and a second pumping cell (13) having a second inner pump electrode (13b) and a second counterpart electrode (13c) pump electrode configured to detect a specific gas component. The second inner pump electrode is made of a material that contains, as a principal ingredient, two kinds of Pt particles having different particle sizes and whose particle size ratio measured by a sedimentation particle-size distribution ranges from 1.75 to 14.2. A mixing ratio between large Pt particles and small Pt particles has a mass ratio of 10/90 to 50/50. A 10 kHz-1 Hz resistance value across the second pumping cell at 600° C. is 150? or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Ohya, Tomohiro Wakazono, Kenji Kato, Koji Shiotani
  • Patent number: 8361306
    Abstract: There is provided a control apparatus for a gas sensor, which has a sensor element equipped with first and second oxygen pumping cells. The sensor control apparatus is configured to drive the first oxygen pumping cell to adjust the oxygen concentration of gas under measurement, drive the second oxygen pumping cell to produce a flow of electric current according to the amount of oxygen pumped out of the oxygen concentration adjusted gas by the second oxygen pumping cell, perform specific drive control to control the amount of oxygen pumped by the second oxygen pumping cell to a predetermined level after startup of the sensor element and before the application of the drive voltage between the electrodes of the second oxygen pumping cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Teramoto, Hirotaka Onogi, Koji Shiotani, Kenji Kato, Takashi Kawai
  • Publication number: 20130019655
    Abstract: In a gas sensor element of a gas sensor, reference oxygen chamber (113) assumes the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. A reference electrode (111) is disposed on a surface of a third solid electrolyte body (73) which is exposed to the reference oxygen chamber (113). A second outer electrode (117) is disposed opposite the reference electrode, on a surface of a second solid electrolyte body (77) which is exposed to the reference oxygen chamber. Further, a porous, insulative protection layer (165) is formed so as to cover the entire surface of the second outer electrode. A gap (167) is present between the reference electrode and the insulative protection layer. The thickness of the gap is greater than that of the insulative protection layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki NAKAGAWA, Koji SHIOTANI, Tomohiro WAKAZONO