Patents by Inventor Mutsuro Aoyama

Mutsuro Aoyama 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: 9400206
    Abstract: A weight detection sensor disposed in a fixing unit fixing a seat side fixing member to a floor side fixed member and measuring a load of a passenger sitting in the seat, includes: a strain body fixed to both end portions of a mounting surface formed on one of the floor side fixed member and the seat side fixing member and arranged in the fixing unit; a connection member fixed to a central portion of the strain body in a vertical direction and fixed to the other one of the floor side fixed member and the seat side fixing member; a strain detection element unit including first to fourth strain detection elements; and a Wheatstone bridge circuit where the first and third strain detection elements are arranged on sides facing each other and the second and fourth strain detection elements are arranged on sides facing each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mutsuro Aoyama, Kan Ichihara, Hiroyuki Fujii, Kazumasa Seo, Koji Washino
  • Patent number: 9389116
    Abstract: A weight detection sensor interposed between a seat side fixing member and a floor side fixed member to measure a load of a passenger sitting in the seat, includes: a strain body fixed to both end portions of a mounting surface formed on one of the floor side fixed member and the seat side fixing member at a predetermined distance from the mounting surface; a connection member fixed to a central portion of the strain body in a vertical direction and fixed to the other one of the floor side fixed member and the seat side fixing member; and a Wheatstone bridge circuit where first and third strain detection elements are arranged on sides facing each other and second and fourth strain detection elements are arranged on sides facing each other, each of the strain detection elements being a variable resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mutsuro Aoyama, Kan Ichihara, Hiroyuki Fujii, Kazumasa Seo, Koji Washino
  • Publication number: 20140338989
    Abstract: A weight detection sensor interposed between a seat side fixing member and a floor side fixed member to measure a load of a passenger sitting in the seat, includes: a strain body fixed to both end portions of a mounting surface formed on one of the floor side fixed member and the seat side fixing member at a predetermined distance from the mounting surface; a connection member fixed to a central portion of the strain body in a vertical direction and fixed to the other one of the floor side fixed member and the seat side fixing member; and a Wheatstone bridge circuit where first and third strain detection elements are arranged on sides facing each other and second and fourth strain detection elements are arranged on sides facing each other, each of the strain detection elements being a variable resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mutsuro AOYAMA, Kan ICHIHARA, Hiroyuki FUJII, Kazumasa SEO, Koji WASHINO
  • Publication number: 20140338990
    Abstract: A weight detection sensor disposed in a fixing unit fixing a seat side fixing member to a floor side fixed member and measuring a load of a passenger sitting in the seat, includes: a strain body fixed to both end portions of a mounting surface formed on one of the floor side fixed member and the seat side fixing member and arranged in the fixing unit; a connection member fixed to a central portion of the strain body in a vertical direction and fixed to the other one of the floor side fixed member and the seat side fixing member; a strain detection element unit including first to fourth strain detection elements; and a Wheatstone bridge circuit where the first and third strain detection elements are arranged on sides facing each other and the second and fourth strain detection elements are arranged on sides facing each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mutsuro AOYAMA, Kan Ichihara, Hiroyuki Fujii, Kazumasa Seo, Koji Washino
  • Patent number: 8448529
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a seat occupancy includes a load detecting portion provided between one of a front portion and a rear portion of a seating portion of a seat for a vehicle that includes a lifting function for changing a height position of the seating portion relative to a floor for the vehicle, the seat including a seat back at the rear portion of the seating portion of the seat, the load detecting portion detecting a seating load applied to the seating portion, and a seat occupancy determining portion comparing the seating load detected by the load detecting portion with a predetermined threshold value and determining a seat occupancy state of the seat, the seat occupancy determining portion changing the threshold value based on the height position of the seating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mutsuro Aoyama, Hideki Kawabata, Muneto Inayoshi, Kan Ichihara, Kazumasa Seo, Isao Honda, Takeshi Kuwabara, Hiroyuki Fujii
  • Patent number: 8086375
    Abstract: A method for adjusting sensitivity of a load detecting device of a seat for a vehicle includes a seat assembling step for assembling the seat with plural load sensors assembled, a zero point adjusting step for obtaining a non-load output value by totaling output values of the load sensors when no load is applied on the seat and memorizing the non-load output value in a memory of a processing device, an adjusted output value calculating step for obtaining an adjusted output value by subtracting the non-load output value from a total of the output values of the load sensors when a predetermined load is applied on the seat, a trimming coefficient calculating step for calculating a trimming coefficient by dividing a designed output value by the adjusted output value, and a trimming coefficient memorizing step for memorizing the trimming coefficient in the memory of the processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama, Akira Enomoto, Minoru Izawa
  • Publication number: 20110094317
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a seat occupancy includes a load detecting portion provided between one of a front portion and a rear portion of a seating portion of a seat for a vehicle that includes a lifting function for changing a height position of the seating portion relative to a floor for the vehicle, the seat including a seat back at the rear portion of the seating portion of the seat, the load detecting portion detecting a seating load applied to the seating portion, and a seat occupancy determining portion comparing the seating load detected by the load detecting portion with a predetermined threshold value and determining a seat occupancy state of the seat, the seat occupancy determining portion changing the threshold value based on the height position of the seating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mutsuro AOYAMA, Hideki Kawabata, Muneto Inayoshi, Kan Ichihara, Kazumasa Seo, Isao Honda, Takeshi Kuwabara, Hiroyuki Fujii
  • Patent number: 7559249
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle has a load detecting device arranged between a floor-side fixing member adapted to be fixed to a floor of the vehicle and a seat-side fixing member adapted to be fixed to a seat for the vehicle and for measuring a load of an occupant seated on the seat. The load detecting device includes: a strain member; a connecting member vertically fixed to an intermediate portion of the strain member; strain gauges attached to a surface of the strain member; an upper bracket having a first and second fixed portions both fixed to the other surface of the strain member. The upper bracket further has an attachment portion connecting the first and second fixed portions and extending in a lateral direction of the seat; and an amplifier unit attached to a surface of the attachment portion of the upper bracket corresponding to the strain member so as to be coplanar with the strain member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidoshi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satohiko Nakano, Muneto Inayoshi, Mutsuro Aoyama, Hideki Kawabata, Kenichiro Akizuki, Minoru Izawa
  • Patent number: 7555960
    Abstract: An occupant load sensor of a seat for a vehicle includes a strain member, a connecting member, first and second strain gauge plates, an upper bracket, an amplifier substrate, and an FPC substrate. The strain gauge plates are attached to a surface of the strain member and respectively arranged between a central portion and both end portions of the strain member. Each strain gauge plate includes two strain detecting elements forming a half bridge circuit of a Wheatstone bridge circuit. The FPC substrate is connected to the amplifier substrate and to the strain gauge plates between the both end portions and the central portion of the strain member. Further, the FPC substrate includes a plurality of wiring patterns. The Wheatstone bridge circuit is formed with the plurality of wiring patterns and the half bridge circuit formed at each strain gauge plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satohiko Nakano, Muneto Inayoshi, Mutsuro Aoyama, Satoshi Sato, Hirofumi Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7509871
    Abstract: An occupant load sensor for a vehicle includes a strain member, a connecting member fixed at the strain member, a strain gauge attached to the strain member, an upper bracket having a fixed portion and an attachment portion connecting each fixed portion and extending at a side of the strain member in a lateral direction of the seat, an amplifier case attached to the attachment portion and arranged in parallel with the strain member, an amplifier substrate enclosed in the amplifier case and placed on an identical plane to the strain member, an FPC substrate connected to the strain gauge and the amplifier substrate, a coating portion for coating a connection portion between the FPC substrate and the strain gauge; and a low pressure molded portion molded with a hot melt resin by low pressure molding in the amplifier case to cover the amplifier substrate and the connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama, Akira Enomoto
  • Patent number: 7490523
    Abstract: An occupant load detecting device of a seat for a vehicle includes a strain member arranged between a floor-side fixing member and a seat-side fixing member and having a strain gauge, a connecting member fixed to the strain member and securely connected to one of the floor-side fixing member and the seat-side fixing member, a first supporting member relatively immovably fitted into a fixing hole and fixed to an attachment surface formed at the other one of the floor-side fixing member and the seat-side fixing member to support the strain member, a second supporting member fitted into an attachment hole and fixed to the attachment surface, and a bracket including first and second fixing portions and an amplifier case fixing portion continuous with the first and second fixing portions and extending at a side of the strain member in a lateral direction of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazunori Sakamoto, Hideki Kawabata, Muneto Inayoshi, Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7487687
    Abstract: An occupant load sensor of a seat for a vehicle includes a metal-made bracket fixed to a strain member and having an attachment portion extending in a lateral direction from the strain member, an amplifier substrate for amplifying a signal transmitted by the strain gauge. One surface of the amplifier substrate is covered by the attachment portion of the metal-made bracket and the other surface thereof is covered by a metal-foil ground pattern. The occupant load sensor further includes a resin-made amplifier case fixed to the attachment portion of the metal-made bracket and arranged in parallel to the strain member. The resin-made amplifier case houses therein the amplifier substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chiaki Sumi, Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama, Kazunori Sakamoto, Hideki Kawabata, Muneto Inayoshi, Hajime Shiohara
  • Publication number: 20080156103
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle has a load detecting device arranged between a floor-side fixing member adapted to be fixed to a floor of the vehicle and a seat-side fixing member adapted to be fixed to a seat for the vehicle and for measuring a load of an occupant seated on the seat. The load detecting device includes: a strain member; a connecting member vertically fixed to an intermediate portion of the strain member; strain gauges attached to a surface of the strain member; an upper bracket having a first and second fixed portions both fixed to the other surface of the strain member. The upper bracket further has an attachment portion connecting the first and second fixed portions and extending in a lateral direction of the seat; and an amplifier unit attached to a surface of the attachment portion of the upper bracket corresponding to the strain member so as to be coplanar with the strain member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satohiko Nakano, Muneto Inayoshi, Mutsuro Aoyama, Hideki Kawabata, Kenichiro Akizuki, Minoru Izawa
  • Publication number: 20080134797
    Abstract: An occupant load sensor for a vehicle includes a strain member, a connecting member fixed at the strain member, a strain gauge attached to the strain member, an upper bracket having a fixed portion and an attachment portion connecting each fixed portion and extending at a side of the strain member in a lateral direction of the seat, an amplifier case attached to the attachment portion and arranged in parallel with the strain member, an amplifier substrate enclosed in the amplifier case and placed on an identical plane to the strain member, an FPC substrate connected to the strain gauge and the amplifier substrate, a coating portion for coating a connection portion between the FPC substrate and the strain gauge; and a low pressure molded portion molded with a hot melt resin by low pressure molding in the amplifier case to cover the amplifier substrate and the connection portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama, Akira Enomoto
  • Publication number: 20080127752
    Abstract: An occupant load sensor of a seat for a vehicle includes a strain member, a connecting member, first and second strain gauge plates, an upper bracket, an amplifier substrate, and an FPC substrate. The strain gauge plates are attached to a surface of the strain member and respectively arranged between a central portion and both end portions of the strain member. Each strain gauge plate includes two strain detecting elements forming a half bridge circuit of a Wheatstone bridge circuit. The FPC substrate is connected to the amplifier substrate and to the strain gauge plates between the both end portions and the central portion of the strain member. Further, the FPC substrate includes a plurality of wiring patterns. The Wheatstone bridge circuit is formed with the plurality of wiring patterns and the half bridge circuit formed at each strain gauge plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, MINEBEA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satohiko Nakano, Muneto Inayoshi, Mutsuro Aoyama, Satoshi Sato, Hirofumi Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20080114517
    Abstract: A method for adjusting sensitivity of a load detecting device of a seat for a vehicle includes a seat assembling step for assembling the seat with plural load sensors assembled, a zero point adjusting step for obtaining a non-load output value by totaling output values of the load sensors when no load is applied on the seat and memorizing the non-load output value in a memory of a processing device, an adjusted output value calculating step for obtaining an adjusted output value by subtracting the non-load output value from a total of the output values of the load sensors when a predetermined load is applied on the seat, a trimming coefficient calculating step for calculating a trimming coefficient by dividing a designed output value by the adjusted output value, and a trimming coefficient memorizing step for memorizing the trimming coefficient in the memory of the processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama, Akira Enomoto, Minoru Izawa
  • Publication number: 20080098823
    Abstract: An occupant load sensor of a seat for a vehicle includes a metal-made bracket fixed to a strain member and having an attachment portion extending in a lateral direction from the strain member, an amplifier substrate for amplifying a signal transmitted by the strain gauge. One surface of the amplifier substrate is covered by the attachment portion of the metal-made bracket and the other surface thereof is covered by a metal-foil ground pattern. The occupant load sensor further includes a resin-made amplifier case fixed to the attachment portion of the metal-made bracket and arranged in parallel to the strain member. The resin-made amplifier case houses therein the amplifier substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chiaki Sumi, Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama, Kazunori Sakamoto, Hideki Kawabata, Muneto Inayoshi, Hajime Shiohara
  • Publication number: 20080098822
    Abstract: An occupant load detecting device of a seat for a vehicle includes a strain member arranged between a floor-side fixing member and a seat-side fixing member and having a strain gauge, a connecting member fixed to the strain member and securely connected to one of the floor-side fixing member and the seat-side fixing member, a first supporting member relatively immovably fitted into a fixing hole and fixed to an attachment surface formed at the other one of the floor-side fixing member and the seat-side fixing member to support the strain member, a second supporting member fitted into an attachment hole and fixed to the attachment surface, and a bracket including first and second fixing portions and an amplifier case fixing portion continuous with the first and second fixing portions and extending at a side of the strain member in a lateral direction of the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazunori Sakamoto, Hideki Kawabata, Muneto Inayoshi, Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama
  • Patent number: 5160162
    Abstract: An automotive shock absorber producing a variable damping force. The absorber comprises a cylinder, a piston slidably fitted in the cylinder, two hydraulic chambers partitioned from each other by the piston inside the cylinder, a passage permitting the two chambers to communicate with each other, a rotary valve capable of varying the area of the passage, an acceleration sensor fitted in the cylinder, and an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU controls the rotary valve according to the acceleration detected by the sensor which includes a vibrating diaphragm and a piezoelectric device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Mouri, Kouji Hirao, Mutsuro Aoyama
  • Patent number: 5053669
    Abstract: An ultrasonic motor is provided in which a detector will detect the amplitude of a traveling wave generated on the stator. An oscillator approximates frequency of the travelling wave with respect to the resonance frequency of the stator while the amplitude of the traveling wave is decreased. If the oscillator approaches the frequency of the traveling wave to the resonance frequency of the stator, the amplitude of the traveling wave can be maintained against increasing pressure of the increased torque load of the ultrasonic motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Saeki, Shoji Okada, Mutsuro Aoyama, Yasuo Kuwabara