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).
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Patent number: 9400206Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 27, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mutsuro Aoyama, Kan Ichihara, Hiroyuki Fujii, Kazumasa Seo, Koji Washino
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Patent number: 9389116Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 27, 2014Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mutsuro Aoyama, Kan Ichihara, Hiroyuki Fujii, Kazumasa Seo, Koji Washino
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Publication number: 20140338989Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2014Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mutsuro AOYAMA, Kan ICHIHARA, Hiroyuki FUJII, Kazumasa SEO, Koji WASHINO
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Publication number: 20140338990Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2014Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mutsuro AOYAMA, Kan Ichihara, Hiroyuki Fujii, Kazumasa Seo, Koji Washino
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Patent number: 8448529Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 27, 2010Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mutsuro Aoyama, Hideki Kawabata, Muneto Inayoshi, Kan Ichihara, Kazumasa Seo, Isao Honda, Takeshi Kuwabara, Hiroyuki Fujii
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Patent number: 8086375Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama, Akira Enomoto, Minoru Izawa
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Publication number: 20110094317Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2010Publication date: April 28, 2011Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mutsuro AOYAMA, Hideki Kawabata, Muneto Inayoshi, Kan Ichihara, Kazumasa Seo, Isao Honda, Takeshi Kuwabara, Hiroyuki Fujii
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Patent number: 7559249Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidoshi Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satohiko Nakano, Muneto Inayoshi, Mutsuro Aoyama, Hideki Kawabata, Kenichiro Akizuki, Minoru Izawa
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Patent number: 7555960Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satohiko Nakano, Muneto Inayoshi, Mutsuro Aoyama, Satoshi Sato, Hirofumi Otsuka
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Patent number: 7509871Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama, Akira Enomoto
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Patent number: 7490523Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazunori Sakamoto, Hideki Kawabata, Muneto Inayoshi, Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama
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Patent number: 7487687Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Chiaki Sumi, Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama, Kazunori Sakamoto, Hideki Kawabata, Muneto Inayoshi, Hajime Shiohara
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Publication number: 20080156103Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2007Publication date: July 3, 2008Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satohiko Nakano, Muneto Inayoshi, Mutsuro Aoyama, Hideki Kawabata, Kenichiro Akizuki, Minoru Izawa
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Publication number: 20080134797Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2007Publication date: June 12, 2008Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama, Akira Enomoto
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Publication number: 20080127752Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, MINEBEA CO., LTD.Inventors: Satohiko Nakano, Muneto Inayoshi, Mutsuro Aoyama, Satoshi Sato, Hirofumi Otsuka
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Publication number: 20080114517Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2007Publication date: May 15, 2008Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama, Akira Enomoto, Minoru Izawa
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Publication number: 20080098823Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2007Publication date: May 1, 2008Applicant: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Chiaki Sumi, Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama, Kazunori Sakamoto, Hideki Kawabata, Muneto Inayoshi, Hajime Shiohara
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Publication number: 20080098822Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2007Publication date: May 1, 2008Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazunori Sakamoto, Hideki Kawabata, Muneto Inayoshi, Satohiko Nakano, Mutsuro Aoyama
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Patent number: 5160162Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 20, 1991Date of Patent: November 3, 1992Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoki Mouri, Kouji Hirao, Mutsuro Aoyama
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Patent number: 5053669Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 29, 1990Date of Patent: October 1, 1991Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takao Saeki, Shoji Okada, Mutsuro Aoyama, Yasuo Kuwabara