Patents by Inventor Naoki Sugano

Naoki Sugano 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).

  • Publication number: 20240128294
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a plurality of light receiving parts arrayed regularly, a first light blocking member including a plurality of first openings arrayed corresponding respectively to the plurality of light receiving parts, and a plurality of microlenses arrayed corresponding respectively to the plurality of first openings. Each light receiving part included in the plurality of light receiving parts includes a plurality of light receiving pixels arrayed in a first direction as a main scanning direction. Each microlens included in the plurality of microlenses is object side telecentric. The plurality of microlenses, the first light blocking member and the plurality of light receiving parts are arranged so that light reflected by an object and passing through the microlens and the first opening corresponding to the microlens enters the plurality of light receiving pixels included in the light receiving part corresponding to the first opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki KAWANO, Naoki NAKAGAWA, Takeshi ONO, Shigeru TAKUSHIMA, Naoyuki TOKIDA, Akira OTA, Miki SUGANO
  • Publication number: 20230015109
    Abstract: A specimen machining device includes an illumination system that illuminates a specimen; a camera that photographs the specimen; and a processing unit that controls the illumination system and the camera, and acquires a machining control image which is used for controlling an ion source and a display image which is displayed on a display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Tatsuhito Kimura, Munehiro Kozuka, Naoki Sugano
  • Publication number: 20210324605
    Abstract: A blade operation control part of a blade control device controls operation of a blade such that when a blade load is equal to or less than a first load threshold value and a position deviation is equal to or greater than a position threshold value, the blade is lowered to make the position deviation approach zero. The blade operation control part controls operation of the blade such that the blade is raised regardless of the position deviation when the blade load is equal to or greater than a second load threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd.), KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki SUGANO, Satoshi MAEKAWA, Shohei UEMURA, Daisuke NODA, Yusuke KAMIMURA
  • Publication number: 20210324604
    Abstract: In a blade control device, a blade operation control part outputs a command for raising and lowering a blade such that a position deviation between a blade position calculated by a blade position calculating part and a blade target position approaches zero in a case where a blade load is equal to or less than a second load threshold value, and outputs a command for raising the blade in a case where the blade load is greater than the second load threshold value. In a case where an update condition is satisfied, the update condition being set in advance so as to associate the blade load and a first load threshold value with each other, a target position setting part updates the blade target position using the blade position obtained when the update condition is satisfied as a reference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd.), KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki SAWAMURA, Satoshi MAEKAWA, Naoki SUGANO, Daisuke NODA, Yusuke KAMIMURA
  • Publication number: 20210254313
    Abstract: In a blade control device, in a case where an update condition set in advance is satisfied, a virtual design surface setting part sets a virtual design surface, using a blade position when the update condition is satisfied as a reference, at an angle equivalent to a vehicle body angle, and a blade operation control part restricts raising and lowering operation of a blade such that the blade conducts the raising and lowering operation above the virtual design surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd.), KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shohei UEMURA, Naoki SUGANO, Satoshi MAEKAWA, Daisuke NODA, Yusuke KAMIMURA
  • Patent number: 11008733
    Abstract: An energy regeneration device which can regenerate energy of a working fluid discharged from an actuator while controlling a flow rate of the working fluid, and a work machine including the device. The regeneration device includes a boom cylinder, an inertial fluid container, an oil tank, an accumulator, a low-pressure-side opening/closing device, and a high-pressure-side opening/closing device. A calculation unit calculates an opening area of each of the low-pressure-side opening/closing device and the high-pressure-side opening/closing device in accordance with a desired flow rate of a hydraulic fluid discharged from the boom cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Sugano, Satoshi Maekawa
  • Patent number: 10920757
    Abstract: A liquid pressure rotary machine in which a rotation delay of a retainer with respect to a cylinder block is reduced and contact of pistons placed between the retainer and the cylinder block with peripheral members is suppressed is provided. A piston pump includes a rotation shaft, a cylinder block, piston heads, piston rods, a retainer, a swash plate, and a tilt adjustment mechanism. When the tilt adjustment mechanism swings the swash plate, a discharge amount of the piston pump becomes variable. The retainer to be rotated together with the piston heads and the piston rods is supported by a retainer bushing provided in the rotation shaft. By engaging ball pins of the retainer bushing with spherical surface pin grooves of the retainer, the retainer and the retainer bushing are integrally rotatable about the center axis of the rotation shaft and the retainer is swung about the spherical surface center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Morita, Naoki Sugano, Satoshi Maekawa
  • Patent number: 10895063
    Abstract: Provided are an energy regeneration device which can regenerate energy of a working fluid discharged from an actuator while controlling a flow rate of the working fluid, and a work machine including the foregoing device. The regeneration device (100) includes a boom cylinder (20), an inertial fluid container (102), an oil tank (110), an accumulator (105), a low-pressure-side opening/closing device (103), and a high-pressure-side opening/closing device (104). A calculation unit (151) calculates a duty ratio for opening/closing the low-pressure-side opening/closing device (103) and the high-pressure-side opening/closing device (104) in accordance with a desired flow rate of a working fluid discharged from the boom cylinder (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Sugano, Satoshi Maekawa
  • Patent number: 10808686
    Abstract: A hydraulic rotary machine configured to reduce sliding resistance of a reciprocating piston and to suppress a reduction in volumetric efficiency corresponding to an amount of leakage of hydraulic oil. A piston pump includes a rotor shaft, a cylinder block, a piston head, a piston rod, a retainer, a swash plate, and a tilt regulation mechanism. When the tilt regulation mechanism rocks the swash plate, the amount of discharge from the piston pump is variably changed. The retainer which rotates with both the piston head and the piston rod is supported by a retainer bush provided to the rotor shaft. The retainer sphere section of the retainer and the retainer bush sphere section of the retainer bush have spherical shapes having the same curvature. During the regulation of tilt, the retainer rocks while the retainer bush sphere section is in sliding contact with the retainer bush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Maekawa, Naoki Sugano, Kei Morita
  • Patent number: 10801181
    Abstract: An energy regeneration device capable of controlling flow of a working fluid discharged from an actuator while regenerating energy from the working fluid, and a work machine including the foregoing device, include a boom cylinder, an inertial fluid container, an oil tank, an accumulator, a low-pressure-side opening/closing device, and a high-pressure-side opening/closing device. A calculation unit calculates a duty ratio for opening/closing the low-pressure-side opening/closing device and the high-pressure-side opening/closing device in accordance with a desired flow rate of a hydraulic fluid discharged from the boom cylinder. A regeneration control unit selects alternately the low-pressure-side opening/closing device and the high-pressure-side opening/closing device as a destination with which the inertial fluid container communicates in accordance with the calculated duty ratio, and supplies the discharged hydraulic fluid to an accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Maekawa, Naoki Sugano
  • Patent number: 10794512
    Abstract: Provided is an electrically-driven flow rate control valve capable of controlling a flow rate of fluid while application of a high pressure of the fluid to a sub valve body connected to an electric motor is suppressed. A flow rate control valve includes a casing, an elevation drive device, and a main valve body. When the sub valve body moves upward by the elevation drive device, oil in a back pressure chamber is discharged. Moreover, the oil in a first oil chamber flows into the back pressure chamber while the flow rate of the oil is regulated. A balance among pressures in the back pressure chamber, the first oil chamber, and the second oil chamber changes, and the main valve body opens. When the main valve body is closed, a direct application of the pressure of the back pressure chamber to the sub valve body is blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Morita, Naoki Sugano, Satoshi Maekawa, Takayuki Igaue
  • Patent number: 10767787
    Abstract: Provided is an electrically-driven flow rate control valve capable of controlling a flow rate of a fluid flowing between two inlet/outlet ports, restraining a high pressure of the fluid from being applied to a sub valve body connected to an electric motor. The flow rate control valve has a casing, a raising/lowering drive device, a supply-switching valve, a main valve body, a valve-closing spring. When the electric motor of the raising/lowering drive device moves the sub valve body upward, oil of a back pressure chamber is discharged from a discharge oil passage through a sub valve body communication port and a sub valve body oil passage to open the main valve body. When the main valve body is closed, a pressure of the back pressure chamber is inhibited from being directly applied to a lower end face of the sub valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Morita, Naoki Sugano, Satoshi Maekawa, Takayuki Igaue
  • Patent number: 10738798
    Abstract: The energy recovery system includes an inertial fluid container, a low pressure container, a high pressure container, a low pressure valve, and a high pressure valve, a valve flow conduit, and a valve controller. The valve controller switches, in response to a decrease in volume of the fluid chamber, the inertial fluid container between communicating with the low pressure container and the high pressure container, thereby generating inertial forces of the working fluid flowing toward the low pressure container in the inertial fluid container, and causing the working fluid to flow into the high pressure container by the inertial forces. The valve controller sets a switching frequency for the valves to a frequency close to an Nth-order (where N is a natural number) anti-resonance frequency of a flow conduit for the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., Kochi Prefectural Public University Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Maekawa, Naoki Sugano, Yoshio Inoue, Motomichi Sonobe
  • Patent number: 10704229
    Abstract: A hydraulic driving apparatus that drives a plurality of driving subjects and regenerates energy thereof. This hydraulic driving apparatus includes: a first pump motor; a second pump motor that is switchable between a state of moving a first driving subject by hydraulic oil discharged from the first pump motor and a state of being operated as a pump by means of energy of the first driving subject; a first pump motor line that couples the first and second pump motors with each other; a first accumulator connected to the first pump motor line; a regeneration subject hydraulic actuator that moves a second driving subject; a second accumulator that receives hydraulic oil from the regeneration subject hydraulic actuator; a second pump motor line that couples the second accumulator with the first pump motor; and a pressure release changeover valve that opens/closes the second pump motor line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shohei Uemura, Naoki Sugano, Naoto Hori, Satoshi Maekawa
  • Publication number: 20200149250
    Abstract: Provided are an energy regeneration device which can regenerate energy of a working fluid discharged from an actuator while controlling a flow rate of the working fluid, and a work machine including the foregoing device. The regeneration device (100) includes a boom cylinder (20), an inertial fluid container (102), an oil tank (110), an accumulator (105), a low-pressure-side opening/closing device (103), and a high-pressure-side opening/closing device (104). A calculation unit (151) calculates a duty ratio for opening/closing the low-pressure-side opening/closing device (103) and the high-pressure-side opening/closing device (104) in accordance with a desired flow rate of a working fluid discharged from the boom cylinder (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd)
    Inventors: Naoki SUGANO, Satoshi MAEKAWA
  • Publication number: 20200063723
    Abstract: A hydraulic rotary machine configured to reduce sliding resistance of a reciprocating piston and to suppress a reduction in volumetric efficiency corresponding to an amount of leakage of hydraulic oil. A piston pump includes a rotor shaft, a cylinder block, a piston head, a piston rod, a retainer, a swash plate, and a tilt regulation mechanism. When the tilt regulation mechanism rocks the swash plate, the amount of discharge from the piston pump is variably changed. The retainer which rotates with both the piston head and the piston rod is supported by a retainer bush provided to the rotor shaft. The retainer sphere section of the retainer and the retainer bush sphere section of the retainer bush have spherical shapes having the same curvature. During the regulation of tilt, the retainer rocks while the retainer bush sphere section is in sliding contact with the retainer bush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Satoshi MAEKAWA, Naoki SUGANO, Kei MORITA
  • Publication number: 20200018298
    Abstract: A liquid pressure rotary machine in which a rotation delay of a retainer with respect to a cylinder block is reduced and contact of pistons placed between the retainer and the cylinder block with peripheral members is suppressed is provided. A piston pump includes a rotation shaft, a cylinder block, piston heads, piston rods, a retainer, a swash plate, and a tilt adjustment mechanism. When the tilt adjustment mechanism swings the swash plate, a discharge amount of the piston pump becomes variable. The retainer to be rotated together with the piston heads and the piston rods is supported by a retainer bushing provided in the rotation shaft. By engaging ball pins of the retainer bushing with spherical surface pin grooves of the retainer, the retainer and the retainer bushing are integrally rotatable about the center axis of the rotation shaft and the retainer is swung about the spherical surface center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventors: Kei MORITA, Naoki SUGANO, Satoshi MAEKAWA
  • Publication number: 20200011444
    Abstract: Provided is an electrically-driven flow rate control valve capable of controlling a flow rate of a fluid flowing between two inlet/outlet ports, restraining a high pressure of the fluid from being applied to a sub valve body connected to an electric motor. The flow rate control valve has a casing, a raising/lowering drive device, a supply-switching valve, a main valve body, a valve-closing spring. When the electric motor of the raising/lowering drive device moves the sub valve body upward, oil of a back pressure chamber is discharged from a discharge oil passage through a sub valve body communication port and a sub valve body oil passage to open the main valve body. When the main valve body is closed, a pressure of the back pressure chamber is inhibited from being directly applied to a lower end face of the sub valve body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: KEI MORITA, NAOKI SUGANO, SATOSHI MAEKAWA, TAKAYUKI IGAUE
  • Publication number: 20200011452
    Abstract: Provided is an electrically-driven flow rate control valve capable of controlling a flow rate of fluid while application of a high pressure of the fluid to a sub valve body connected to an electric motor is suppressed. A flow rate control valve includes a casing, an elevation drive device, and a main valve body. When the sub valve body moves upward by the elevation drive device, oil in a back pressure chamber is discharged. Moreover, the oil in a first oil chamber flows into the back pressure chamber while the flow rate of the oil is regulated. A balance among pressures in the back pressure chamber, the first oil chamber, and the second oil chamber changes, and the main valve body opens. When the main valve body is closed, a direct application of the pressure of the back pressure chamber to the sub valve body is blocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Kei MORITA, Naoki SUGANO, Satoshi MAEKAWA, Takayuki IGAUE
  • Publication number: 20190368514
    Abstract: The energy recovery system includes an inertial fluid container, a low pressure container, a high pressure container, a low pressure valve, and a high pressure valve, a valve flow conduit, and a valve controller. The valve controller switches, in response to a decrease in volume of the fluid chamber, the inertial fluid container between communicating with the low pressure container and the high pressure container, thereby generating inertial forces of the working fluid flowing toward the low pressure container in the inertial fluid container, and causing the working fluid to flow into the high pressure container by the inertial forces. The valve controller sets a switching frequency for the valves to a frequency close to an Nth-order (where N is a natural number) anti-resonance frequency of a flow conduit for the working fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.), Kochi Prefectural Public University Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi MAEKAWA, Naoki SUGANO, Yoshio INOUE, Motomichi SONOBE