Patents by Inventor Masashi Sekine

Masashi Sekine 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: 11573142
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a diaphragm of a thin plate shape, the diaphragm forming part of a wall surface of a pressure chamber into and out from which a measurement target fluid flows. Multiple recesses are formed in the diaphragm on a side in contact with the measurement target fluid, and an interval between adjacent two of the multiple recesses is 10 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Niimura, Takuya Ishihara, Masaru Soeda, Masashi Sekine
  • Patent number: 11313746
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a movable electrode formed in a movable region of a diaphragm, and a fixed electrode formed opposite to the movable electrode. A pressure receiving surface of the diaphragm is held in an inactive state. The inactive pressure receiving surface of the diaphragm is in a state in which molecules of gas to be measured are hard to absorb onto the pressure receiving surface. The pressure receiving surface of the diaphragm can be made inactive by predetermined surface treatment. A layer for making the pressure receiving surface of the diaphragm inactive is formed by the surface treatment, and the pressure receiving surface of the diaphragm is held inactive with the presence of the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Soeda, Takuya Ishihara, Masashi Sekine
  • Publication number: 20210255048
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a diaphragm of a thin plate shape, the diaphragm forming part of a wall surface of a pressure chamber into and out from which a measurement target fluid flows. Multiple recesses are formed in the diaphragm on a side in contact with the measurement target fluid, and an interval between adjacent two of the multiple recesses is 10 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke NIIMURA, Takuya ISHIHARA, Masaru SOEDA, Masashi SEKINE
  • Patent number: 11054331
    Abstract: An electrode pair that forms a pressure-sensitive capacitance Cx in the central portion of a diaphragm is called a first electrode pair (pressure-sensing electrode pair), and another electrode pair that forms a reference capacitance Cr in the circumferential portion of the diaphragm is called a second electrode pair (reference electrode pair). The ratio ?Cx/?Cr of a change ?Cx in the pressure-sensitive capacitance Cx, which is obtained from the pressure-sensing electrode pair at the time of evacuation, to a change ?Cr in the reference capacitance Cr, which is obtained from the reference electrode pair at the time of evacuation, is calculated as an index for malfunction detection ?. Then, the index for malfunction detection ? thus calculated is compared with the reference value ?ref, which represents the index observed during normal operation, and whether deformation due to a cause other than pressure has been generated in the diaphragm is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Ishihara, Masaru Soeda, Masashi Sekine
  • Publication number: 20210003467
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a movable electrode formed in a movable region of a diaphragm, and a fixed electrode formed opposite to the movable electrode. A pressure receiving surface of the diaphragm is held in an inactive state. The inactive pressure receiving surface of the diaphragm is in a state in which molecules of gas to be measured are hard to absorb onto the pressure receiving surface. The pressure receiving surface of the diaphragm can be made inactive by predetermined surface treatment. A layer for making the pressure receiving surface of the diaphragm inactive is formed by the surface treatment, and the pressure receiving surface of the diaphragm is held inactive with the presence of the layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Soeda, Takuya Ishihara, Masashi Sekine
  • Patent number: 10670481
    Abstract: A pressure introducing chamber is provided with a baffle plate which is positioned with one surface thereof facing in a direction orthogonal to a direction of travel of a measured medium introduced through a pressure introducing hole into the pressure introducing chamber. A first distance between a pressure receiving surface of a sensor diaphragm and an inner surface of the pressure introducing chamber facing the pressure receiving surface and a second distance between the pressure receiving surface of the sensor diaphragm and the other surface of the baffle plate facing the pressure receiving surface are both smaller than a mean free path of the measured medium in the entire region of the pressure receiving surface of the sensor diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: AZBILL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Ishihara, Masaru Soeda, Masashi Sekine
  • Patent number: 10620072
    Abstract: A base plate has pressure introducing holes at positions facing a diaphragm support portion. A thickness portion (thick portion) of the diaphragm support portion and a sensor base joined to the diaphragm support portion thus serves as a heat dissipating or absorbing portion and hinders the transfer of thermal energy of a measured medium to a sensor diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Soeda, Takuya Ishihara, Masashi Sekine, Hidenobu Tochigi
  • Patent number: 10585010
    Abstract: A temperature difference calculation unit determines a temperature difference between a temperature measured by a first temperature measurement mechanism and a temperature measured by a second temperature measurement mechanism. The first temperature measurement mechanism is disposed on an outer wall surface of an inner container at a position corresponding to an element-arrangement-side space in the inner container. The second temperature measurement mechanism is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of a heater. The heater is disposed outside an outer container that accommodates the inner container and positioned on a wall surface of the outer container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Sekine, Takuya Ishihara, Masaru Soeda, Hidenobu Tochigi
  • Patent number: 10520385
    Abstract: A state determination unit compares an output value obtained by a measuring unit with a reference characteristic value that serves as a reference, counts the number of times an excessive pressure application state occurs in which the output value is determined to be equal to or larger than the reference characteristic value, and determines whether the number of times reaches an upper limit that is set. An alarm output unit outputs an alarm when the state determination unit determines that the number of times the output value is equal to or larger than the reference characteristic value reaches the set upper limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Soeda, Takuya Ishihara, Masashi Sekine, Hidenobu Tochigi
  • Publication number: 20190226936
    Abstract: An electrode pair that forms a pressure-sensitive capacitance Cx in the central portion of a diaphragm is called a first electrode pair (pressure-sensing electrode pair), and another electrode pair that forms a reference capacitance Cr in the circumferential portion of the diaphragm is called a second electrode pair (reference electrode pair). The ratio ?Cx/?Cr of a change ?Cx in the pressure-sensitive capacitance Cx, which is obtained from the pressure-sensing electrode pair at the time of evacuation, to a change ?Cr in the reference capacitance Cr, which is obtained from the reference electrode pair at the time of evacuation, is calculated as an index for malfunction detection ?. Then, the index for malfunction detection ? thus calculated is compared with the reference value ?ref, which represents the index observed during normal operation, and whether deformation due to a cause other than pressure has been generated in the diaphragm is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya ISHIHARA, Masaru SOEDA, Masashi SEKINE
  • Patent number: 10336502
    Abstract: Containment systems, containers, and methods can be comprised of first through fourth sidewalls; a bottom wall connected to the first through fourth sidewalls; and first through fourth lid flaps connected to respective first through fourth sidewalls via respective first through fourth hinges. A single sheet of paperboard can make up the sidewalls, the bottom wall, and the lid flaps. In a fully open configuration, the third lid flap can be folded at the third hinge such that a flap body thereof is adjacent to the third sidewall, the fourth lid flap can be folded at the fourth hinge such that a flap body thereof is adjacent to the fourth sidewall, and a flap wing of each of the third lid flap and the fourth lid flap can be under the bottom wall such that each of the flap wings is against the bottom wall and maintained under the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: AJINOMOTO WINDSOR, INC.
    Inventors: Koichi Kunishima, Craig Epperson, Masashi Sekine
  • Patent number: 10213545
    Abstract: A body-wall-contact-type water tank (12) is equipped with: a water-tank body for storing a fluid to be supplied into a body cavity, and positioned so as to contact a body wall (120); a through-hole which conveys the fluid stored in the water-tank body into the body cavity via an incision formed in the body wall (120), and which is formed in the bottom section of the water-tank body; and a connecting means for connecting, in a fluid-tight manner, the water-tank body to the body wall (120) and/or to a retractor (110) attached to the incision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: NIKKISO COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Teranuma, Tatsuo Igarashi, Masashi Sekine, Yukio Naya, Rongfu Lu, Masanori Niiyama, Yoshihiko Kinoshita, Takuji Asano, Manami Koshizuka
  • Publication number: 20190047746
    Abstract: Containment systems, containers, and methods can be comprised of first through fourth sidewalls; a bottom wall connected to the first through fourth sidewalls; and first through fourth lid flaps connected to respective first through fourth sidewalls via respective first through fourth hinges. A single sheet of paperboard can make up the sidewalls, the bottom wall, and the lid flaps. In a fully open configuration, the third lid flap can be folded at the third hinge such that a flap body thereof is adjacent to the third sidewall, the fourth lid flap can be folded at the fourth hinge such that a flap body thereof is adjacent to the fourth sidewall, and a flap wing of each of the third lid flap and the fourth lid flap can be under the bottom wall such that each of the flap wings is against the bottom wall and maintained under the bottom wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: AJINOMOTO WINDSOR, INC.
    Inventors: Koichi KUNISHIMA, Craig EPPERSON, Masashi SEKINE
  • Patent number: 10161821
    Abstract: A pressure change measuring unit causes a temperature control unit to operate and vary the temperature of a sensor chip in a predetermined temperature range, and measures changes in pressure value output from the sensor chip whose temperature is being varied. A temperature characteristic calculating unit calculates a temperature characteristic of the sensor chip from changes in the temperature of the sensor chip caused by the operation of the temperature control unit and changes in pressure value measured by the pressure change measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Ishihara, Masaru Soeda, Masashi Sekine, Hidenobu Tochigi
  • Publication number: 20180259409
    Abstract: A temperature difference calculation unit determines a temperature difference between a temperature measured by a first temperature measurement mechanism and a temperature measured by a second temperature measurement mechanism. The first temperature measurement mechanism is disposed on an outer wall surface of an inner container at a position corresponding to an element-arrangement-side space in the inner container. The second temperature measurement mechanism is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of a heater. The heater is disposed outside an outer container that accommodates the inner container and positioned on a wall surface of the outer container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Sekine, Takuya Ishihara, Masaru Soeda, Hidenobu Tochigi
  • Publication number: 20180238756
    Abstract: A pressure introducing chamber is provided with a baffle plate which is positioned with one surface thereof facing in a direction orthogonal to a direction of travel of a measured medium introduced through a pressure introducing hole into the pressure introducing chamber. A first distance between a pressure receiving surface of a sensor diaphragm and an inner surface of the pressure introducing chamber facing the pressure receiving surface and a second distance between the pressure receiving surface of the sensor diaphragm and the other surface of the baffle plate facing the pressure receiving surface are both smaller than a mean free path of the measured medium in the entire region of the pressure receiving surface of the sensor diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Ishihara, Masaru Soeda, Masashi Sekine
  • Publication number: 20180238757
    Abstract: A base plate has pressure introducing holes at positions facing a diaphragm support portion. A thickness portion (thick portion) of the diaphragm support portion and a sensor base joined to the diaphragm support portion thus serves as a heat dissipating or absorbing portion and hinders the transfer of thermal energy of a measured medium to a sensor diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru SOEDA, Takuya ISHIHARA, Masashi SEKINE, Hidenobu TOCHIGI
  • Publication number: 20180224347
    Abstract: A pressure change measuring unit causes a temperature control unit to operate and vary the temperature of a sensor chip in a predetermined temperature range, and measures changes in pressure value output from the sensor chip whose temperature is being varied. A temperature characteristic calculating unit calculates a temperature characteristic of the sensor chip from changes in the temperature of the sensor chip caused by the operation of the temperature control unit and changes in pressure value measured by the pressure change measuring unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya ISHIHARA, Masaru SOEDA, Masashi SEKINE, Hidenobu TOCHIGI
  • Patent number: 9974324
    Abstract: By interposing a batter containing trehalose between a microwave-absorbing heat generator which generates heat with microwave energy and a noodle-strip food, a crisp texture and a freshly pan-fried flavor and aroma can be exhibited by the batter upon microwave cooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: AJINOMOTO WINDSOR, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuya Hori, Masashi Sekine, Koichi Kunishima
  • Publication number: 20170299458
    Abstract: A state determination unit compares an output value obtained by a measuring unit with a reference characteristic value that serves as a reference, counts the number of times an excessive pressure application state occurs in which the output value is determined to be equal to or larger than the reference characteristic value, and determines whether the number of times reaches an upper limit that is set. An alarm output unit outputs an alarm when the state determination unit determines that the number of times the output value is equal to or larger than the reference characteristic value reaches the set upper limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru SOEDA, Takuya ISHIHARA, Masashi SEKINE, Hidenobu TOCHIGI