Patents by Inventor Michiharu Tanaka
Michiharu Tanaka 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).
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Publication number: 20140365708Abstract: A control apparatus includes a signal processing module. The signal processing module includes a field programmable gate array and a volatile memory. The volatile memory is configured to store configuration information of the field programmable gate array. The field programmable gate array has access to the volatile memory after a configuration of the field programmable gate array.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2014Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKIInventors: Yoshihiro IWATA, Naoyoshi ISHIBASHI, Michiharu TANAKA
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Patent number: 8364313Abstract: The safety of an operator which may be endangered by an erroneous instruction by the operator or a robot control system is ensured by making more stringent a condition regarding the separation of the operator from the vicinity of a robot when an operation program of the robot is activated. An interlock to which a condition regarding activation of the operation program of the robot is added is provided in a feeding unit which is connected to a robot controlling unit by wireless connection for charging a teaching unit, so as to provide a robot system which improves the safety of the operator.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2007Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa DenkiInventors: Akira Akashi, Michiharu Tanaka
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Patent number: 8180488Abstract: A robot system includes a robot and a robot controller including a drive unit, a memory that stores an arm-occupied region and a movement-forbidden region, a target position calculation unit that outputs a target position of a tool or a workpiece, a movement-forbidden region entry monitoring unit that checks whether the arm-occupied region based on the target position enters the movement-forbidden region and outputs a stop request if it is checked that the arm-occupied region enters the movement-forbidden region, and a predicted-coasting-position calculating unit that calculates a predicted coasting position of each axis and a coasting position of the tool or the workpiece in the case that the robot is urgently stopped. The movement-forbidden region entry monitoring unit checks whether the arm-occupied region at the coasting position enters the movement-forbidden region and outputs another stop request if it is checked that the arm-occupied region enters the movement-forbidden region.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2010Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa DenkiInventors: Hirokazu Kariyazaki, Shinichi Maehara, Minoru Yamamoto, Michiharu Tanaka
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Patent number: 8155788Abstract: To provide an automatic machine system for readily and reliably selecting a desired mechanism part from among the automatic machine systems composed of a plurality of mechanism parts and teaching the mechanism part. Each of a plurality of mechanism parts such as robots includes a first communication part. A teaching operation part includes a second communication part with directivity. When the second communication part of the teaching operation part is oriented to the first communication part included in a target mechanism part to select the same, the second communication part transmits selection request information to the first communication part. A controller for controlling the mechanism parts places the target mechanism part in an operable state based on the selection request information thereby operating the target mechanism part with the operation of the worker on the teaching operation part.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2007Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa DenkiInventors: Shingo Ando, Michiharu Tanaka
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Patent number: 8032253Abstract: In an automatic machine system comprising a mechanism unit (1) including at least one driving mechanism, a controller (2) for controlling a driving operation of the mechanism unit (1), and a teaching unit (3) for operating the mechanism unit (1), the teaching unit (3) includes a teaching unit communicating portion for carrying out a wireless communication with the controller (2) and a first field intensity monitoring portion (13) for monitoring a field intensity of communication data in the teaching unit communicating portion, and the controller (2) includes a controller communicating portion for carrying out a wireless communication with the teaching unit (3), a second field intensity monitoring portion (26) for monitoring a field intensity of communication data in the controller communicating portion, and a driving portion for driving the mechanism unit (1) based on an operation signal sent from the teaching unit (3) in the controller communicating portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2006Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa DenkiInventors: Hideo Nagata, Michiharu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20100292843Abstract: A robot system includes a robot and a robot controller including a drive unit, a memory that stores an arm-occupied region and a movement-forbidden region, a target position calculation unit that outputs a target position of a tool or a workpiece, a movement-forbidden region entry monitoring unit that checks whether the arm-occupied region based on the target position enters the movement-forbidden region and outputs a stop request if it is checked that the arm-occupied region enters the movement-forbidden region, and a predicted-coasting-position calculating unit that calculates a predicted coasting position of each axis and a coasting position of the tool or the workpiece in the case that the robot is urgently stopped. The movement-forbidden region entry monitoring unit checks whether the arm-occupied region at the coasting position enters the movement-forbidden region and outputs another stop request if it is checked that the arm-occupied region enters the movement-forbidden region.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2010Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKIInventors: Hirokazu Kariyazaki, Shinichi Maehara, Minoru Yamamoto, Michiharu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20100161123Abstract: To provide an automatic machine system for readily and reliably selecting a desired mechanism part from among the automatic machine systems composed of a plurality of mechanism parts and teaching the mechanism part. Each of a plurality of mechanism parts such as robots includes a first communication part. A teaching operation part includes a second communication part with directivity. When the second communication part of the teaching operation part is oriented to the first communication part included in a target mechanism part to select the same, the second communication part transmits selection request information to the first communication part. A controller for controlling the mechanism parts places the target mechanism part in an operable state based on the selection request information thereby operating the target mechanism part with the operation of the worker on the teaching operation part.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2007Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKIInventors: Shingo Ando, Michiharu Tanaka
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Patent number: 7605558Abstract: The present invention provides a safe robot system adapted to always and clearly indicate a worker whether an emergency stop operation can be performed by an emergency stop operation section in an unwired portable teaching operation section, thereby to prevent occurrence of a misconception. A portable teaching operation portion 3 includes a display section (13) configured to indicate whether an emergency stop operation to be conducted by an emergency stop operation section (9) can be performed.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2006Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa DenkiInventors: Kenji Matsukuma, Michiharu Tanaka, Yasuyuki Inoue
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Patent number: 7515993Abstract: A robot control apparatus for controlling a robot based upon a work program registered in storage means. A program display means is provided for displaying said work program in a list form. A child program list producing means retrieves another work program which is called by said work program and produces a child program list thereof A mother program list producing means retrieves another work program which calls said work program, and produces a mother program list. A related program storage means stories both said child program list and said mother program list in said storage means. A display selecting means selects a display way when said work program is displayed in the list form.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2003Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa DenkiInventors: Michiharu Tanaka, Ryuichi Morita
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Publication number: 20090069943Abstract: The safety of an operator which may be endangered by an erroneous instruction by the operator or a robot control system is ensured by making more stringent a condition regarding the separation of the operator from the vicinity of a robot when an operation program of the robot is activated. An interlock to which a condition regarding activation of the operation program of the robot is added is provided in a feeding unit which is connected to a robot controlling unit by wireless connection for charging a teaching unit, so as to provide a robot system which improves the safety of the operator.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2007Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKIInventors: Akira Akashi, Michiharu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20090030550Abstract: In an automatic machine system comprising a mechanism unit (1) including at least one driving mechanism, a controller (2) for controlling a driving operation of the mechanism unit (1), and a teaching unit (3) for operating the mechanism unit (1), the teaching unit (3) includes a teaching unit communicating portion for carrying out a wireless communication with the controller (2) and a first field intensity monitoring portion (13) for monitoring a field intensity of communication data in the teaching unit communicating portion, and the controller (2) includes a controller communicating portion for carrying out a wireless communication with the teaching unit (3), a second field intensity monitoring portion (26) for monitoring a field intensity of communication data in the controller communicating portion, and a driving portion for driving the mechanism unit (1) based on an operation signal sent from the teaching unit (3) in the controller communicating portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2006Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKIInventors: Hideo Nagata, Michiharu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20090009125Abstract: The present invention provides a safe robot system adapted to always and clearly indicate a worker whether an emergency stop operation can be performed by an emergency stop operation section in an unwired portable teaching operation section, thereby to prevent occurrence of a misconception. A portable teaching operation portion 3 includes a display section (13) configured to indicate whether an emergency stop operation to be conducted by an emergency stop operation section (9) can be performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2006Publication date: January 8, 2009Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKIInventors: Kenji Matsukuma, Michiharu Tanaka, Yasuyuki Inoue
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Patent number: 7391178Abstract: A robot control apparatus with great safety is provided by detecting access of a teacher to a robot and automatically reducing the operating speed of the robot when the teacher accesses the robot. The robot control device equipped with a pendant (10) to be manipulated by a teacher, for controlling the operation of a robot on the basis of an operation command from the pendant (10), includes a detecting device (8) for detecting the position of the teacher; a signal processing unit (11) for receiving a signal from the detecting device to produce the position information of the teacher; and a limited speed selecting unit (12) for selecting the operating speed of the robot on the basis of the position information. The robot is controlled at the maximum speed set at the operating speed selected by the limited speed selecting unit (12) on the basis of the operation command from the pendant (10).Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2003Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa DenkiInventors: Michiharu Tanaka, Hirokazu Kariyazaki, Minoru Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20080057968Abstract: A wireless operating system is provided which can be applied even to such an environment that a plurality of controllers and a plurality of operating terminals are mixed with each other, and also, can readily establish communications within a short time. A first wireless station transmits a calling instruction to a second wireless station via a connection-purpose channel which has been set, and when the first wireless station receives a response, the first wireless station switches the connection-purpose channel to a communication-purpose channel contained in the response data.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2004Publication date: March 6, 2008Inventors: Kenji Matsukuma, Michiharu Tanaka, Ryuichi Morita, Naoyuki Motomura, Hiroyuki Handa, Seiichiro Okada
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Patent number: 7337014Abstract: When a teach pendant is passed from one hand to the other hand in operating the teach pendant having two enable devices (three-position switches) at right and left sides, a problem arises that an operation is inhibited when the teach pendant is shifted from one hand to the other hand. Even when the three-position switches are operated by both the hands during shifting the teach pendant from one hand to the other hand, the operation can be performed Until a prescribed time passes. Thus, the teach pendant can be shifted from one hand to the other hand and can be continuously operated. When an operating time by both the hands exceeds the prescribed time, the operation is inhibited, so that a safety is ensured.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2004Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa DenkiInventors: Keijiro Yuasa, Takeshi Horibe, Michiharu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20070163322Abstract: When a brake is released by worker's operation, a subject automatic machine is specified so as to prevent an accident due to an error, such as misconception. An automatic machine control device includes a brake releasing unit that releases a brake when a motor is not driven, and a brake release indication unit that is provided on the automatic machines or in the vicinities of the automatic machines. When brake releasing is made by worker's operation, the fact is indicated on the brake release indication unit of a subject automatic machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2005Publication date: July 19, 2007Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKIInventors: Kiyoshi Hirakawa, Michiharu Tanaka
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Patent number: 7166977Abstract: Since a release voltage to a brake is applied by a plurality of series-connected contacts and at least one contact is a normally open contact of a relay for controlling a driving power supply of a motor, a control apparatus having a high safety characteristic for an industrial-purpose robot is provided, while even when fusion of a contact happens to occur, the control apparatus can firmly interrupt the application of the release voltage to the brake. Also, the control apparatus for the industrial-purpose robot is provided which need not be equipped with a power supply for releasing the brake by an operator in a manual manner.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2004Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa DenkiInventors: Shigenori Takayama, Michiharu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20060202556Abstract: A control apparatus of an automatic machine is provided, while the control apparatus supplies electric power of a power supply in high reliability with respect to a driving apparatus of the automatic machine, and further, has no problem as to ensuring of safety. In a control apparatus of an automatic machine having a breaker (22) connected to a power supply (21), and a driving apparatus (32) for supplying electric power of the power supply (21) to a driving unit (35) of the automatic machine via a relay apparatus (31) connected to the breaker (21), which controls the driving apparatus (32), the control apparatus is comprised of: a current control rectifying element (33) connected to the relay apparatus (31); and a current controlling device (29) for feed-controlling the current control rectifying element (33) after a contact of the relay apparatus (31) has been closed when supplying of the electric power to the driving unit (35) is turned ON.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2003Publication date: September 14, 2006Inventors: Michiharu Tanaka, Keijro Yuasa
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Publication number: 20060192515Abstract: Since a release voltage to a brake is applied by a plurality of series-connected contacts and at least one contact is a normally open contact of a relay for controlling a driving power supply of a motor, a control apparatus having a high safety characteristic for an industrial-purpose robot is provided, while even when fusion of a contact happens to occur, the control apparatus can firmly interrupt the application of the release voltage to the brake. Also, the control apparatus for the industrial-purpose robot is provided which need not be equipped with a power supply for releasing the brake by an operator in a manual manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2004Publication date: August 31, 2006Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa DenkiInventors: Shigenori Takayama, Michiharu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20060138989Abstract: There has been a problem that in the operation of a teach pendant having two enable devices (3-position switches) on the right and left sides, shifting it from one hand to the other results in prohibition of operation. In that operation is made possible until a predetermined time elapses even if the 3-position switches are operated by both hands in shifting the teach pendant from one hand to the other, shifting it from one hand to the other is allowed, making continuous operation of the teach pendant possible, while ensuring security in that when the time of operation with both hands exceeds the predetermined time, operation is inhibited.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2004Publication date: June 29, 2006Inventors: Keijiro Yuasa, Takeshi Horibe, Michiharu Tanaka