Patents by Inventor Masayoshi Sakai

Masayoshi Sakai 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: 5825144
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive control apparatus for a rotating machine having a movable part which is rotatably driven by a motor.The apparatus has a fail-safe construction which gives an output of logic value "1" when the movable part is stopped, wherein, to enable supply of motor current to start a motor (2) at the motor start-up time under a condition of the movable part stopped, motor drive permission is granted by a logical product output which is obtained by a logical product operation of a start signal generated by switching a start switch on, and a logical sum output obtained by a logical sum operation of an output of a current sensor (3) generating an output of logic value "1" when the motor current does not flow and an output of a rotation sensor (4) generating an output of logic value "1" when the movable part is rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignees: Kao Corporation, The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Suzuki, Koichi Futsuhara, Masayoshi Sakai
  • Patent number: 5818681
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic relay drive circuit which generates an electromagnetic relay excitation signal after first verifying that the electromagnetic relay make contact points are off. A forced-operation electromagnetic relay with make contact points and break contact points having complementary relationship with each other is used, and when the break contact points are on, that is to say the make contact points are off, a trigger input signal of logic value "1" with a predetermined level range is applied to a trigger input terminal of a self hold circuit. When an input signal IN of logic value "1" within a predetermined level range is applied to a reset terminal while the trigger input signal is being applied, the relay is excited and the make contact points switch on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Futsuhara, Masayoshi Sakai
  • Patent number: 5798703
    Abstract: The invention relates to a highly reliable mat sensor which can also detect temporary faults in a sensor portion. Two sensor portions are provided, and agreement or disagreement of an ON/OFF condition of the output from the two sensor portions is detected, and when the output conditions of the two sensor portions are in agreement, then a normal judgment signal for both sensor portions is generated. When the normal judgment signal is generated and the two sensor portions are OFF, an operation permit signal for a movable portion of a machine is generated. Moreover, the presence or absence of a body is detected from a change in value of the electrostatic capacity of one sensor portion. In this way, a temporary poor contact attributable to deterioration of the sensor portion can also be detected, and the movable portion of the machine can be stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sakai, Koichi Futsuhara, Toshihito Shirai
  • Patent number: 5734269
    Abstract: A bridge circuit monitoring apparatus which can accurately detect a fault in a bridge circuit of a sensor circuit even when multiple faults occur. Changes in the imbalance output signal of a bridge circuit (11) are monitored with a first window comparator (WC1), while changes in the bridge circuit (11) power source current, which does not require amplifying, are monitored with a second window comparator (WC2). At the time of an output of logic value "1" indicating that the monitoring outputs are both normal, an output of logic value "1" indicating that the bridge circuit (11) is normal is generated from an AND gate (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sakai, Toshihito Shirai, Hiroji Anzai, Koichi Futsuhara
  • Patent number: 5717302
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor stopped verification apparatus for verifying if a motor has stopped rotating, and in particular to rotation sensor technology for sampling rotation signals from a motor. With a first aspect of the invention, a high frequency current signal is supplied to the winding of a tachometer generator incorporated in a motor. This high frequency signal is modulated by an output signal from the tachometer generator, and the modulated signal made a motor rotation detection output from a rotation sensor. With a second aspect of the invention, a transducer coil is utilized as a part of an oscillator, and the motor rotation is converted to a change in the oscillation frequency of the oscillator and then sampled. With a third aspect of the invention, the motor rotation is converted by means of a resonance circuit incorporating the transducer coil, into a change in terminal voltage of the resonance circuit and then sampled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sakai, Toshihito Shirai, Hiroji Anzai, Koichi Futsuhara
  • Patent number: 5675317
    Abstract: A residual pressure sensor for verifying that a residual pressure is zero, and to a monitoring apparatus for monitoring for faults in the residual pressure sensor. In order to detect that a residual pressure has completely gone, the residual pressure sensor detects change conditions in the output therefrom, and an output for no residual pressure is not generated while there are changes. Moreover, an electrical power supply condition to a drive solenoid (21) of a solenoid valve for opening/closing a pressure supply line, is monitored using a fail-safe current sensor (21) which outputs a logic value "0" when the presence of a current is detected, and which outputs a logic value "1" when the presence of a current is not detected. Fault monitoring of the residual pressure sensor is then carried out based on the monitoring output conditions of the current sensor and the output conditions of the residual pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignees: Nagano Keiki Seisakusho, Ltd., The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Ichikawa, Koichi Futsuhara, Masayoshi Sakai
  • Patent number: 5668706
    Abstract: This invention relates to a load driving circuit having a fail-safe breaking mechanism for breaking a primary power source when a failure occurs. This invention also relates to a load driving circuit capable of saving electricity in driving an inductive load and reducing a delay in stopping the load. The breaking mechanism for braking the primary power source has no contact. The load driving circuit includes a power supply circuit involving a semiconductor switching element that turns ON and OFF the supply of power to the load. There is arranged a detector for detecting a failure in the semiconductor switching element. When detecting a failure, the detector provides an output signal to activate the breaking mechanism. To drive the inductive load, the power supply circuit may have two power supply sources. In response to a load driving instruction signal, the two power supply sources together apply a high voltage to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sakai, Koichi Futsuhara
  • Patent number: 5666081
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fail-safe on-delay circuit which uses an an electronic circuit. An input signal higher than a power source potential is input to a PUT oscillating circuit and a pulse signal generated with a predetermined time constant, is once changed in a level conversion circuit to a level within a range of the power source potential, and then is phase inverted and a rising differential signal of the phase inverted signal is formed. The input signal to the PUT oscillation circuit is applied to one input terminal of a fail-safe two input window comparator, and the differential signal is input to the other input terminal, and self held. After a predetermined delay time an output of logic value 1 is generated from the window comparator. As a result a fail-safe on-delay circuit can be made wherein, in the event of a fault in the elements of the circuit the delay time is not shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sakai, Koichi Futsuhara
  • Patent number: 5638043
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a warning apparatus which can continuously monitor a normal condition wherein an alarm sound can be produced. When a high level judgement signal (W) indicating safety is input, an inaudible frequency signal is supplied from a V-F converter (11) to a speaker (13) so that a warning sound of an inaudible frequency is generated, while when a low level (zero) judgement signal (W) indicating danger is input, an audible frequency signal is supplied from the V-F converter (11) to the speaker (13) so that a warning sound of an audible frequency which can be heard by personnel is generated. Furthermore, when an output current of an inaudible frequency or an audible frequency is supplied to the speaker (13), the output current is sampled by a current transformer (21) of a monitoring circuit (20), and amplified and rectified to give a direct current output signal (SN), thereby enabling verification that the warning apparatus is normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.,
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sakai, Koichi Futsuhara
  • Patent number: 5619110
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety ensuring apparatus for ensuring the safety of an operator.A mechanical moving part is surrounded by a safety enclosure with a door of the safety enclosure provided with a door lock device constructed such that the door lock device releases a door lock when a current is supplied from outside to excite a solenoid incorporated therein. The apparatus is constructed such that a lock is released when the mechanical moving part is stopped. Moreover, the construction incorporates a moving part monitoring sensor which monitors if the mechanical moving part is stopped. When mechanical moving part is stopped, the moving part monitoring sensor generates, without a negative operation, an output signal of logic value 1 corresponding to a high energy condition, and the solenoid of the door lock device is excited by this output signal.As a result, the lock of the door lock device is released once the mechanical moving part has stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignees: KAO Corporation, The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd., Yamatake & Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Sugimoto, Masatoshi Suzuki, Koichi Futsuhara, Masayoshi Sakai, Ritsuo Mihira
  • Patent number: 5578987
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for an alarm device for situations wherein the alarm device is provided at a location remote from the alarm device drive side, which can verify from the alarm device drive side if an audible alarm has sounded. The drive of the alarm device (1) is stopped by switching off a drive switch (12) on the alarm device drive side (A). After stopping the drive of the alarm device (1) an audible alarm generation sensed signal from the response device (2) on the alarm device side (B)is received at the alarm device drive side (A) though the feeder (a). Then, after the audible alarm generation sensed signal has stopped, and on receipt of a verification signal verifying that the alarm device drive side (B) has returned to the original condition, a verification output (F3) for the audible alarm generation is generated at the alarm device drive side (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhou XuYang, Koichi Futsuhara, Masayoshi Sakai
  • Patent number: 5574320
    Abstract: The invention relates to a load drive circuit which is able to detect an "on" fault of a switch element for controlling power to a load, and reliably interrupt the load current. A monitoring sensor is provided which generates an output when energy is supplied to the switch element of the switch circuit from outside the circuit, and a received signal level of the energy is a high level with the switch element "off", but does not generate an output when a received signal level of the energy is a low level with the switch element "on". Through logical processing of the output of the monitoring sensor and a load drive signal for driving the switch element, using a logical sum operating circuit and a self-hold circuit, the relay contact points can be prevented, at the time of an "on" fault of the switch element, from following the load drive signal, and from "hunting".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihito Shirai, Masayoshi Sakai, Koichi Futsuhara
  • Patent number: 5568059
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a current sensor for detecting current flowing in a current line, and a motor rotation sensor which utilizes this current sensor. A first transformer is inserted in a current line which is connected in parallel with a motor, so that a high frequency signal generated by a signal generator is transmitted to the current line by means of the first transformer. This high frequency signal is extracted by a second transformer inserted into another current line, and is transmitted to a receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Futsuhara, Masayoshi Sakai
  • Patent number: 5568131
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a judgement circuit for determining rotation or non-rotation of a motor, and to a motor stopped verification apparatus using such judgement circuit. A signal from a rotation sensor which detects rotation of the motor is input to the judgement circuit and a threshold value judgement made using a fail-safe two input window comparator. That is, respective predetermined threshold value ranges (windows) are set for each terminal of the window comparator, so that when the motor is stopped and the judgement circuit and the sensor are normal, the level of the signal input to each terminal comes within the range of the window, and an output of logic value 1 is generated from the window comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sakai, Koichi Futsuhara
  • Patent number: 5519598
    Abstract: This invention relates to a load driving circuit having a fail-safe breaking mechanism for breaking a primary power source when a failure occurs. This invention also relates to a load driving circuit capable of saving electricity in driving an inductive load and reducing a delay in stopping the load. The breaking mechanism for breaking the primary power source has no contact. The load driving circuit includes a power supply circuit involving a semiconductor switching element that turns ON and OFF the supply of power to the load. There is arranged a detector for detecting a failure in the semiconductor switching element. When detecting a failure, the detector provides an output signal to activate the breaking mechanism. To drive the inductive load, the power supply circuit may have two power supply sources. In response to a load driving instruction signal, the two power supply sources together apply a high voltage to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sakai, Koichi Futsuhara
  • Patent number: 5508697
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an airplane detection system to surely detect an airplane moving along a runway or a taxiway. The system employs a wheel detection sensor for providing a wheel detected output when emitted electromagnetic waves are blocked by the wheels of the airplane and a fuselage detection sensor for providing a fuselage detected output when receiving the reflection of the emitted electromagnetic waves from the fuselage of the airplane. According to the output signals from both the sensors, the system detects the airplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Kato, Masayoshi Sakai, Koichi Futsuhara, Kiyoaki Inaba
  • Patent number: 5285721
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a fail-safe slide operation control device for a press of simple structure when the electronic circuit by fail-safe signal processing as a circuit for monitoring overrun and confirming the OFF condition of an operation button, which is important function to control the slide, is used instead of a contact circuit composed of relays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Sugimoto, Souichi Kumekawa, Masao Mukaidono, Masayoshi Sakai, Koichi Futsuhara