Patents by Inventor Masafumi Ooba

Masafumi Ooba 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: 11161697
    Abstract: A work robot system includes, a work robot configured to perform a predetermined operation to a target part on an object moved by a conveyer device, a work robot controller, a sensor disposed at a predetermined position, and configured to detect a position of a detection target on the object moved by the conveyer device, and a force detector that is used when force control is performed. When the predetermined operation is performed by the work robot, the work robot controller performs force control while controlling the work robot based on a detection result of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi Ooba
  • Patent number: 11161239
    Abstract: A work robot system includes, a work robot and a work robot control unit that perform work on a target part of an object conveyed by a conveyer device, a measurement robot, a sensor that is attached to the measurement robot and that detects a position of a detection target of the object conveyed by the conveyer device, a measurement robot control unit that moves, through control of the measurement robot, the sensor in accordance with conveyance of the object, in order to detect the position, and a force detector that is used when force control is performed. When the work robot performs the work, the work robot control unit performs force control while performing control of the work robot based on a detection result of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi Ooba
  • Patent number: 11141864
    Abstract: A detection system includes a first detection apparatus that detects an object that is being moved, within a predetermined detection region, a number of times, a work-data creation device that creates, every time the first detection apparatus detects the object, work data having a first data element that indicates at least a position of the object obtained by the first detection apparatus and a second data element that includes at least an index related to the object and obtained at the time of the detection, and a work-data storage unit that stores the work data created by the work-data creation means. The work-data storage unit selects, as the work data that should be stored, one of the work data that is newly created for the object and the work data for the object that has been stored by the work-data storage unit, on the basis of the index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi Ooba
  • Patent number: 11049287
    Abstract: A sensing system provided with a target detecting unit which applies predetermined processing to data obtained by a detecting device and thereby detects a target object, the sensing system including an augmented-reality-image creating unit which creates an image corresponding to a candidate in a plurality of candidates that appear in the processed data to which the predetermined processing has been applied, a predetermined parameter of the candidate being equal to or greater than a detection threshold, and creates a candidate image corresponding to a candidate in the plurality of candidates, the predetermined parameter of the candidate for the candidate image is less than the detection threshold and equal to or greater than a detection candidate threshold, and a display device that displays the image and the candidate image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi Ooba
  • Patent number: 11036191
    Abstract: A machine learning device, which performs a task using a plurality of industrial machines and learns task sharing for the plurality of industrial machines, includes a state variable observation unit which observes state variables of the plurality of industrial machines; and a learning unit which learns task sharing for the plurality of industrial machines, on the basis of the state variables observed by the state variable observation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi Ooba, Taketsugu Tsuda, Tomoki Oya
  • Publication number: 20210170592
    Abstract: A robot task system includes: a robot; a transfer device configured to be driven to transfer a plurality of workpieces thereon by a specific distance at a time, the plurality of workpieces being placed within the specific distance; a driving management unit configured to manage a driving distance and a driving start timing of the transfer device for driving the transfer device each time; a task position generation unit configured to generate a plurality of task positions at the driving start timing managed by the driving management unit, the plurality of task positions being positions for the robot to execute a predetermined task on the plurality of workpieces; a task unit configured to update, according to the driving of the transfer device, the plurality of task positions generated by the task position generation unit and generate a task command to cause the robot to execute the predetermined task on the plurality of workpieces while following the plurality of workpieces; and a control unit configured to co
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi OOBA
  • Publication number: 20210174555
    Abstract: A display device includes an augmented reality display part that displays a virtual robot that operates in accordance with a predetermined program together with objects in real space, a position detection part that detects the position of a work target in real space by measuring a distance to the work target from the augmented reality display part, and a control part that causes the virtual robot displayed on the augmented reality display part to operate based on the position of the work target detected by the position detection part to perform predetermined work on the work target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi OOBA, Wataru MIYAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20210170581
    Abstract: The controller includes a program storage that stores programs specifying a plurality of operations associated with at least one operable unit; a program executor that executes the programs; an operation executor that causes the operable unit to operate according to the programs; and an operable unit manager that manages control of the programs. When a program is called from one of the programs, the operable unit manager obtains control of a group associated with the operable unit and specified in the called program, and releases control of a group other than the group associated with the operable unit and specified in the called program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi OOBA
  • Publication number: 20210154844
    Abstract: A simulation device includes an image sensor which captures an image of a real space including an actual robot and a peripheral device arranged at the periphery of the actual robot, an augmented reality display section which displays a virtual robot overlaid on the actual robot shown in the captured image, a workpiece management section which manages a position of a moving workpiece, and a motion control section which controls a motion of the virtual robot on the basis of the position of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Masafumi OOBA, Taiki KATAGIRI
  • Publication number: 20210114231
    Abstract: The present invention provides a robot system capable of, regardless of the type of the robot, precisely measuring the positional relationship between an AR device and markers, and comparatively easily and with high precision recognizing the position or orientation of the robot with the AR device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taiki KATAGIRI, Masafumi OOBA
  • Publication number: 20210094137
    Abstract: A machine system includes a machine which performs an operation on a workpiece passing through an operational area, a miss detection section which detects that a workpiece has passed through an operation limit line of the machine in an incomplete operation state, and a notification section which notifies information related to the missed workpiece based on information of the miss detection section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Ooba, Kentaro Koga
  • Publication number: 20210094181
    Abstract: To provide a robot control system that performs a process by a robot for a continuously-moving process target or a repeatedly-moving/stopped process target, the robot control system being configured so that even in a case where the robot process cannot be properly performed in the robot control system, disadvantages such as occurrence of damage of equipment can be avoided by sensing of such failure in the robot process. The robot control system includes a robot that performs a process for a process target, a control unit that controls drive of the robot, a first area setting unit that sets a first area where the process is performed for the process target, and a second area setting unit that sets a second area outside the first area such that the robot performs a retraction motion when a working apparatus provided at the robot moves out of the first area and enters the second area while the robot is following the moving process target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi OOBA
  • Publication number: 20210094135
    Abstract: A machine system includes a transport control section which controls transport of a workpiece based on a transport deceleration line provided upstream of an operation limit line of a machine in a direction of travel of the workpiece and a transport acceleration line provided upstream of the transport deceleration line, wherein the transport control section reduces a transport speed of the workpiece when the workpiece passes through the transport deceleration line in an incomplete operation state and increases the transport speed of the workpiece after the operation on the workpiece present between the operation limit line and the transport acceleration line has completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Ooba, Kentaro Koga
  • Publication number: 20210094136
    Abstract: The detection system includes a height measurement sensor which measures height of a moving workpiece, a two-dimensional sensor which acquires two-dimensional information of the workpiece, an execution management section which manages execution timing of at least one of the height measurement sensor and the two-dimensional sensor, and a workpiece detection section which detects at least a position of the workpiece based on the measured height and the acquired two-dimensional information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Masafumi Ooba
  • Publication number: 20210086366
    Abstract: A controller of the robot apparatus performs approaching control for making a second workpiece approach a first workpiece and position adjustment control for adjusting a position of the second workpiece with respect to a position of the first workpiece. The approaching control includes control for calculating a movement direction and a movement amount of a position of the robot based on an image captured by a first camera, and making the second workpiece approach the first workpiece. The position adjustment control includes control for calculating a movement direction and a movement amount of a position of the robot based on an image captured by the first camera and an image captured by the second camera, and precisely adjusting a position of the first workpiece with respect to the second workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventor: Masafumi OOBA
  • Publication number: 20210064009
    Abstract: The present disclosure is intended to accurately simulate a flow of articles in an environment similar to an actual worksite. A conveyance simulation device includes: a virtual conveyance unit that operates virtually; a first virtual article feeding unit that feeds virtual articles to the virtual conveyance unit under a predetermined condition; and a virtual article management unit that sequentially updates positions of the virtual articles in accordance with a virtual movement of the virtual conveyance unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi OOBA
  • Publication number: 20210039261
    Abstract: A robot control system includes: a selector configured to perform a selection of a task object from among a plurality of workpieces by using a first vision sensor; and an operation control section configured to control a robot to perform a task on the task object by using a tool. The selection and the task are executed simultaneously and in parallel, the selector transmits the information of the selected task object to the operation control section before the task, and the operation control section controls the robot based on the transmitted information of the task object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventor: Masafumi OOBA
  • Publication number: 20210031372
    Abstract: A robot control system includes a relative relationship calculating section configured to calculate a relative relationship between a first member and a second member at least at one of a plurality of points based on data acquired by a vision sensor, a contact point determination section configured to determine a contact point between the first member and the second member based on the calculated relative relationship, a control point setting section configured to set a control point based on the determined contact point, and a fitting control section configured to control fitting of the plurality of points based on the set control point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventor: Masafumi OOBA
  • Publication number: 20210004598
    Abstract: A sensing system with a detecting device that is used to detect a position of a target and a controller, where, for display on a display device or projection by a projection apparatus, the controller creates an augmented-reality image that shows: at least one of a setting related to detection of the target using the detecting device, a setting of a moving apparatus, and a setting of a robot that performs work on the target, a position of the target being recognized by the controller, a result of the detection of the target, a work plan of the moving apparatus, a work plan of the robot, a determination result of the controller and a parameter related to the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi OOBA
  • Patent number: 10885340
    Abstract: A sensing system with a detecting device that is used to detect a position of a target and a controller, where, for display on a display device or projection by a projection apparatus, the controller creates an augmented-reality image that shows: at least one of a setting related to detection of the target using the detecting device, a setting of a moving apparatus, and a setting of a robot that performs work on the target, a position of the target being recognized by the controller, a result of the detection of the target, a work plan of the moving apparatus, a work plan of the robot, a determination result of the controller and a parameter related to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi Ooba