Patents by Inventor Kotaro Sabe

Kotaro Sabe 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: 20050187658
    Abstract: A robot apparatus is provided. A CPU 15 determines an output of a feeling model based on signals supplied from a touch sensor 20. The CPU 15 also deciphers whether or not an output value of the feeling model exceeds a pre-set threshold value. If the CPU finds that the output value exceeds the pre-set threshold value, it verifies whether or not there is any vacant area in a memory card 13. If the CPU finds that there is any vacant area in a memory card 13, it causes the picture data captured from the CCD video camera 11 to be stored in the vacant area in the memory card 13. At this time, the CPU 15 causes the time and date data and the feeling parameter in the memory card 13 in association with the picture data. The CPU 15 also re-arrays the picture data stored in the memory card 13 in the sequence of the decreasing magnitude of the feeling model output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Kotaro Sabe, Masahiro Fujita
  • Publication number: 20050187659
    Abstract: A robot apparatus is provided. A CPU 15 determines an output of a feeling model based on signals supplied from a touch sensor 20. The CPU 15 also deciphers whether or not an output value of the feeling model exceeds a pre-set threshold value. If the CPU finds that the output value exceeds the pre-set threshold value, it verifies whether or not there is any vacant area in a memory card 13. If the CPU finds that there is any vacant area in a memory card 13, it causes the picture data captured from the CCD video camera 11 to be stored in the vacant area in the memory card 13. At this time, the CPU 15 causes the time and date data and the feeling parameter in the memory card 13 in association with the picture data. The CPU 15 also re-arrays the picture data stored in the memory card 13 in the sequence of the decreasing magnitude of the feeling model output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Kotaro Sabe, Masahiro Fujita
  • Publication number: 20050187662
    Abstract: A robot apparatus is provided. A CPU 15 determines an output of a feeling model based on signals supplied from a touch sensor 20. The CPU 15 also deciphers whether or not an output value of the feeling model exceeds a pre-set threshold value. If the CPU finds that the output value exceeds the pre-set threshold value, it verifies whether or not there is any vacant area in a memory card 13. If the CPU finds that there is any vacant area in a memory card 13, it causes the picture data captured from the CCD video camera 11 to be stored in the vacant area in the memory card 13. At this time, the CPU 15 causes the time and date data and the feeling parameter in the memory card 13 in association with the picture data. The CPU 15 also re-arrays the picture data stored in the memory card 13 in the sequence of the decreasing magnitude of the feeling model output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Kotaro Sabe, Masahiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 6934604
    Abstract: A CPU 15 determines an output of a feeling model based on signals supplied from a touch sensor 20. The CPU 15 also deciphers whether or not an output value of the feeling model exceeds a pre-set threshold value. If the CPU finds that the output value exceeds the pre-set threshold value, it verifies whether or not there is any vacant area in a memory card 13. If the CPU finds that there is any vacant area in a memory card 13, it causes the picture data captured from the CCD video camera 11 to be stored in the vacant area in the memory card 13. At this time, the CPU 15 causes the time and date data and the feeling parameter in the memory card 13 in association with the picture data. The CPU 15 also re-arrays the picture data stored in the memory card 13 in the sequence of the decreasing magnitude of the feeling model output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kotaro Sabe, Masahiro Fujita
  • Publication number: 20050182514
    Abstract: A robot apparatus is provided. A CPU 15 determines an output of a feeling model based on signals supplied from a touch sensor 20. The CPU 15 also deciphers whether or not an output value of the feeling model exceeds a pre-set threshold value. If the CPU finds that the output value exceeds the pre-set threshold value, it verifies whether or not there is any vacant area in a memory card 13. If the CPU finds that there is any vacant area in a memory card 13, it causes the picture data captured from the CCD video camera 11 to be stored in the vacant area in the memory card 13. At this time, the CPU 15 causes the time and date data and the feeling parameter in the memory card 13 in association with the picture data. The CPU 15 also re-arrays the picture data stored in the memory card 13 in the sequence of the decreasing magnitude of the feeling model output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventors: Kotaro Sabe, Masahiro Fujita
  • Publication number: 20050177278
    Abstract: A robot apparatus is provided. A CPU 15 determines an output of a feeling model based on signals supplied from a touch sensor 20. The CPU 15 also deciphers whether or not an output value of the feeling model exceeds a pre-set threshold value. If the CPU finds that the output value exceeds the pre-set threshold value, it verifies whether or not there is any vacant area in a memory card 13. If the CPU finds that there is any vacant area in a memory card 13, it causes the picture data captured from the CCD video camera 11 to be stored in the vacant area in the memory card 13. At this time, the CPU 15 causes the time and date data and the feeling parameter in the memory card 13 in association with the picture data. The CPU 15 also re-arrays the picture data stored in the memory card 13 in the sequence of the decreasing magnitude of the feeling model output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Kotaro Sabe, Masahiro Fujita
  • Publication number: 20050171643
    Abstract: A robot apparatus is provided. A CPU 15 determines an output of a feeling model based on signals supplied from a touch sensor 20. The CPU 15 also deciphers whether or not an output value of the feeling model exceeds a pre-set threshold value. If the CPU finds that the output value exceeds the pre-set threshold value, it verifies whether or not there is any vacant area in a memory card 13. If the CPU finds that there is any vacant area in a memory card 13, it causes the picture data captured from the CCD video camera 11 to be stored in the vacant area in the memory card 13. At this time, the CPU 15 causes the time and date data and the feeling parameter in the memory card 13 in association with the picture data. The CPU 15 also re-arrays the picture data stored in the memory card 13 in the sequence of the decreasing magnitude of the feeling model output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Kotaro Sabe, Masahiro Fujita
  • Publication number: 20050171640
    Abstract: A robot apparatus is provided. A CPU 15 determines an output of a feeling model based on signals supplied from a touch sensor 20. The CPU 15 also deciphers whether or not an output value of the feeling model exceeds a pre-set threshold value. If the CPU finds that the output value exceeds the pre-set threshold value, it verifies whether or not there is any vacant area in a memory card 13. If the CPU finds that there is any vacant area in a memory card 13, it causes the picture data captured from the CCD video camera 11 to be stored in the vacant area in the memory card 13. At this time, the CPU 15 causes the time and date data and the feeling parameter in the memory card 13 in association with the picture data. The CPU 15 also re-arrays the picture data stored in the memory card 13 in the sequence of the decreasing magnitude of the feeling model output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Kotaro Sabe, Masahiro Fujita
  • Publication number: 20050171642
    Abstract: A robot apparatus is provided. A CPU 15 determines an output of a feeling model based on signals supplied from a touch sensor 20. The CPU 15 also deciphers whether or not an output value of the feeling model exceeds a pre-set threshold value. If the CPU finds that the output value exceeds the pre-set threshold value, it verifies whether or not there is any vacant area in a memory card 13. If the CPU finds that there is any vacant area in a memory card 13, it causes the picture data captured from the CCD video camera 11 to be stored in the vacant area in the memory card 13. At this time, the CPU 15 causes the time and date data and the feeling parameter in the memory card 13 in association with the picture data. The CPU 15 also re-arrays the picture data stored in the memory card 13 in the sequence of the decreasing magnitude of the feeling model output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Kotaro Sabe, Masahiro Fujita
  • Publication number: 20050171641
    Abstract: A robot apparatus is provided. A CPU 15 determines an output of a feeling model based on signals supplied from a touch sensor 20. The CPU 15 also deciphers whether or not an output value of the feeling model exceeds a pre-set threshold value. If the CPU finds that the output value exceeds the pre-set threshold value, it verifies whether or not there is any vacant area in a memory card 13. If the CPU finds that there is any vacant area in a memory card 13, it causes the picture data captured from the CCD video camera 11 to be stored in the vacant area in the memory card 13. At this time, the CPU 15 causes the time and date data and the feeling parameter in the memory card 13 in association with the picture data. The CPU 15 also re-arrays the picture data stored in the memory card 13 in the sequence of the decreasing magnitude of the feeling model output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Kotaro Sabe, Masahiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 6728598
    Abstract: An arithmetic processing device for inter-object data communication has an object manager for connecting objects so as to enable exchange of data between the objects, and a connection data supplying unit for supplying the object manager with connection data necessary for achieving the connection between the objects. Disclosed also are an inter-object communication method and a robot incorporating the arithmetic processing device. The robot may be designed to enable a user to replace parts thereof, thus changing the robot configuration. The robot preferably includes a part detection unit for detecting parts attached to the robot, and outputting a part detection result in accordance with the detection. An information storage unit stores information corresponding to the part detection result for each configuration obtained by replacement of the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Fujita, Takayuki Sakamoto, Kotaro Sabe, Tsuyoshi Takagi
  • Patent number: 6668211
    Abstract: An arithmetic processing device, an object-to-object communication method and a robot, such as an entertainment robot, in which software suited to a current robot configuration is set. The software is changed corresponding to the configuration based on a comparison result of information corresponding to a component detection result stored for each configuration and a component detection result associated with the current configuration. Objects are connected so that data can be exchanged based on the connection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Fujita, Takayuki Sakamoto, Kotaro Sabe, Tsuyoshi Takagi
  • Patent number: 6650965
    Abstract: A behavior decision system (70) includes a perceptual information acquisition unit (90) which acquires a cause factor being external or internal information acquired by a CCD camera (20), distance sensor (22), microphone (23) or the like and which influences a behavior and a motivational information acquisition unit (81) which acquires an occurrence tendency of a behavior influenced by the cause factor based on the cause factor from the perceptual information acquisition unit (90), a behavior selecting processor (82) which compares occurrence tendencies corresponding to two or more behaviors, acquired by the perceptual information acquisition unit (90) and motivational information acquisition unit (81) and belonging to the same group, to thereby select one of the behaviors, and an output semantics converter module (68) which controls moving parts based on the behavior selected by the behavior selecting processor (82) for expressing the selected behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Takagi, Masahiro Fujita, Rika Hasegawa, Kotaro Sabe, Craig Ronald Arkin
  • Publication number: 20030182122
    Abstract: Sentences corresponding to internal statuses of a robot device or the like are created and uttered, thereby expressing the internal statuses. The robot device or the like comprise means for recognizing an external status, and means for generating an emotion based on the internals status, whereby a change in the emotion is reflected upon a dialogue. The internal status is not associated with a sentence, but it exists independently of the system and is always varied depending on various external inputs and internal changes of the system. Accordingly, even when the same question is made on the robot device or the like, the contents of a reply are changed depending on the internal status at that time, and a manner of providing a reply also differs depending on the internal status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Rika Horinaka, Masahiro Fujita, Atsushi Okubo, Kenta Kawamoto, Gabriel Costa, Masaki Fukuchi, Osamu Hanagata, Kotaro Sabe
  • Publication number: 20030097202
    Abstract: An arithmetic processing device for inter-object data communication has an object manager for connecting objects so as to enable exchange of data between the objects, and a connection data supplying unit for supplying the object manager with connection data necessary for achieving the connection between the objects. Disclosed also are an inter-object communication method and a robot incorporating the arithmetic processing device. The robot may be designed to enable a user to replace parts thereof, thus changing the robot configuration. The robot preferably includes a part detection unit for detecting parts attached to the robot, and outputting a part detection result in accordance with the detection. An information storage unit stores information corresponding to the part detection result for each configuration obtained by replacement of the parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Fujita, Takayuki Sakamoto, Kotaro Sabe, Tsuyoshi Takagi
  • Patent number: 6505097
    Abstract: An arithmetic processing device for inter-object data communication has an object manager for connecting objects so as to enable exchange of data between the objects, and a connection data supplying unit for supplying the object manager with connection data necessary for achieving the connection between the objects. An inter-object communication method and a robot incorporating the arithmetic processing device are also provided. The robot may be designed to enable a user to replace parts thereof, thus changing the robot configuration. The robot preferably includes a part detection unit for detecting parts attached to the robot, and outputting a part detection result in accordance with the detection. An information storage unit stores information corresponding to the part detection result for each configuration obtained by replacement of the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Fujita, Takayuki Sakamoto, Kotaro Sabe, Tsuyoshi Takagi
  • Publication number: 20020198717
    Abstract: A robot apparatus (1) is capable of audibly expressing an emotion in a manner similar to that performed by a living animal. The robot apparatus (1) utters a sentence by means of voice synthesis by performing a process including the steps of: an emotional state discrimination step (S1) for discriminating an emotional state of an emotion model (73); a sentence output step (S2) for outputting a sentence representing a content to be uttered in the form of a voice; a parameter control step (S3) for controlling a parameter for use in voice synthesis, depending upon the emotional state discriminated in the emotional state discrimination step (S1); and a voice synthesis step (S4) for inputting, to a voice synthesis unit, the sentence output in the sentence output step (S2) and synthesizing a voice in accordance with the controlled parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Pierre Yves Oudeyer, Kotaro Sabe
  • Publication number: 20020156751
    Abstract: A behavior decision system (70) includes a perceptual information acquisition unit (90) which acquires a cause factor being external or internal information acquired by a CCD camera (20), distance sensor (22), microphone (23) or the like and which influences a behavior and a motivational information acquisition unit (81) which acquires an occurrence tendency of a behavior influenced by the cause factor based on the cause factor from the perceptual information acquisition unit (90), a behavior selecting processor (82) which compares occurrence tendencies corresponding to two or more behaviors, acquired by the perceptual information acquisition unit (90) and motivational information acquisition unit (81) and belonging to the same group, to thereby select one of the behaviors, and an output semantics converter module (68) which controls moving parts based on the behavior selected by the behavior selecting processor (82) for expressing the selected behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Takagi, Masahiro Fujita, Rika Hasegawa, Kotaro Sabe, Craig Ronald Arkin
  • Patent number: 6453055
    Abstract: An identifying apparatus and method and a robot apparatus capable of reliably identifying other moving objects or other objects, a position detecting apparatus and method and a robot apparatus capable of accurately detecting the position of a moving object or itself within a region, and a color extracting apparatus capable of accurately extracting a desired color are difficult to be realized. Objects are provided with identifiers having different color patterns such that the color patterns are detected and identified through image processing. Also, the objects of interest are given color patterns different from each other, such that the position of the object can be detected by identifying the color pattern through image processing. Further, a plurality of wall surfaces having different colors are provided along the periphery of the region, such that the position of an object is detected on the basis of the colors of the wall surfaces through image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Naohiro Fukumura, Osamu Hanagata, Kotaro Sabe, Makoto Inoue
  • Patent number: 6381515
    Abstract: In a robot device, its functions and performance can be improved with ease. According to the present invention, control device detachably mounted on a prescribed component unit for driving and controlling each of the component units in a prescribed state is provided and thereby, the control device can be easily exchanged for a new one. Thus the robot device in which its functions and performance can be improved can be realized. Further, according to the present invention, a robot device comprises storing device detachably mounted on the prescribed component unit for storing desired behavior type information and thereby, the storing device can be readily exchanged for storing device storing behavior type information different from the behavior type information stored in the former storing device. Thus, the robot device in which its functions and performance can be improved with ease can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Inoue, Naoyasu Hosonuma, Kyoko Furumura, Kotaro Sabe