Patents by Inventor Norimasa Osawa

Norimasa Osawa 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: 20230152272
    Abstract: A calibration liquid (1) is used for calibrating a water quality measurement device (100). The water quality measurement device (100) includes a plurality of sensors to be brought into contact with a measurement target liquid so as to measure concentrations of a plurality of types of target components contained in the measurement target liquid, and measures the concentrations of the plurality of types of target components. The calibration liquid (1) includes a solution which contains the plurality of types of target components at respective concentrations determined for the target components, and the solution has a pH within a predetermined pH range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Shunsuke KAMEI, Keisuke TASHIMA, Norimasa OSAWA, Kazusei TAMAI, Junji KOJIMA, Yasukazu IWAMOTO, Hiroshi NAGAI
  • Publication number: 20230054730
    Abstract: A water quality measurement device (100) includes a flow channel (130), an ion sensor having a responsive film portion whose surface is disposed in the flow channel (130), a glass-electrode-type sensor having a glass electrode whose surface is disposed in the flow channel (130), a drive section (115), a first opening-closing section, and a second opening-closing section. When a storage condition is satisfied, the water quality measurement device (100) puts the first opening-closing section in a first closed state and puts the second opening-closing section in a second closed state, thereby producing a state in which the surface of the responsive film portion and the surface of the glass electrode are present in a common closed space (135) whereby the closed space (135) is put in a wet state without the surface of the responsive film portion being immersed in the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Shunsuke KAMEI, Keisuke TASHIMA, Norimasa OSAWA
  • Patent number: 10996196
    Abstract: A particulate sensor (10) to be attached to a gas flow pipe EP through which a gas to be measured EG containing particulates S flows. The particulate sensor (10) includes a gas introduction discharge pipe (31); a discharge element (60) including a discharge electrode member (62) maintained at a discharge potential DV and which electrifies particulates contained in the gas under measurement, and a sealed portion (60C) located on a proximal end side GK of an element distal end portion and in which the discharge electrode member is disposed and insulated from the outer surface (60CS) thereof; a surrounding member (38, 39) maintained at a first potential SGND; and an electrically conductive glass seal (37) which establishes electrical communication between the surrounding member and the pipe (31), and is in close contact with the outer surface of the sealed portion of the discharge element to provide gastight sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norimasa Osawa, Masayuki Motomura, Keisuke Tashima
  • Publication number: 20190368971
    Abstract: A fine particle detection system which can appropriately detect the amount of fine particles contained in a gas under measurement is provided. In the case where it is determined by insulation test means 221, 230 that the degree of insulation does not fall within the allowable range, heater energization means 221, 223 performs heater energization (S5 to S7) for energizing a heater 105 to thereby heat a gas contact portion 100s. In the case where it is determined by the insulation test means without performance of the heater energization that the degree of insulation falls within the allowable range, sensor drive means 210, 221, 240 drives a fine particle sensor 10 after that (step S3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Masayuki MOTOMURA, Norimasa OSAWA
  • Patent number: 10401273
    Abstract: A particle detection system (1) includes a particle sensor (10) having a detection section (11) exposed to a gas under measurement EG. The particle sensor (10) includes an insulating member (121, 100), and a heater section (150, 105) for heating at least a portion of the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) of the insulating member (121, 100). The particle detection system (1) includes adhesive restraining energization means (225, 223, S4, S10) for heating the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) to an adhesion restraining temperature Td at which adhesion of the particles S to the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) is restrained as compared with the case where the heater section is not energized, wherein adhering particles SA which are particles adhering to the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) burn at the particle burning temperature Tb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sugiyama, Masayuki Motomura, Norimasa Osawa, Hirokazu Murase
  • Publication number: 20190064112
    Abstract: A particulate sensor (10) to be attached to a gas flow pipe EP through which a gas to be measured EG containing particulates S flows. The particulate sensor (10) includes a gas introduction discharge pipe (31); a discharge element (60) including a discharge electrode member (62) maintained at a discharge potential DV and which electrifies particulates contained in the gas under measurement, and a sealed portion (60C) located on a proximal end side GK of an element distal end portion and in which the discharge electrode member is disposed and insulated from the outer surface (60CS) thereof; a surrounding member (38, 39) maintained at a first potential SGND; and an electrically conductive glass seal (37) which establishes electrical communication between the surrounding member and the pipe (31), and is in close contact with the outer surface of the sealed portion of the discharge element to provide gastight sealing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norimasa OSAWA, Masayuki MOTOMURA, Keisuke TASHIMA
  • Patent number: 10209173
    Abstract: A particulate sensor includes: an inner metallic member which is maintained at a first potential and which has a gas introduction pipe into which a target gas is introduced; a tubular outer metallic member which surrounds the radially outer circumference of the inner metallic member and which is attached to a gas flow pipe to thereby be maintained at a ground potential; and an insulating spacer which is interposed between the inner metallic member and the outer metallic member so as to electrically insulate them from each other and which has a tubular gas contact portion which is exposed to the interior of the gas flow pipe and comes into contact with the gas under measurement. The insulating spacer has a heater for heating the gas contact portion. The heater includes a heat generation resistor embedded in the insulating spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sugiyama, Masayuki Motomura, Norimasa Osawa, Keisuke Tashima, Toshiya Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 10006883
    Abstract: A particulate sensor (1) includes an ion source (15) and a reference potential member (45). The particulate sensor (1) detects particulates S contained in a gas under measurement EG by means of ions CP. The ion source (15) includes a ceramic structure (100) having a ceramic laminate (101) and a discharge electrode member (110). The discharge electrode member (110) has an inter-layer portion (112A, 111) embedded between the layers of the ceramic laminate (101) and an exposed portion (112B) extending from the inter-layer portion (112A, 111) to a position outside the ceramic laminate (101). The discharge electrode member (110) generates the gaseous discharge between the reference potential member (45) and the exposed portion (112B) including one or more needle-shaped distal end portions (1125) upon application of a constant DC discharge potential PV2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sugiyama, Masayuki Motomura, Norimasa Osawa, Keisuke Tashima, Hirokazu Murase, Toshiya Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20170307498
    Abstract: A particle detection system (1) includes a particle sensor (10) having a detection section (11) exposed to a gas under measurement EG. The particle sensor (10) includes an insulating member (121, 100), and a heater section (150, 105) for heating at least a portion of the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) of the insulating member (121, 100). The particle detection system (1) includes adhesive restraining energization means (225, 223, S4, S10) for heating the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) to an adhesion restraining temperature Td at which adhesion of the particles S to the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) is restrained as compared with the case where the heater section is not energized, wherein adhering particles SA which are particles adhering to the gas contact surface (121s, 101s) burn at the particle burning temperature Tb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi SUGIYAMA, Masayuki MOTOMURA, Norimasa OSAWA, Hirokazu MURASE
  • Publication number: 20170045435
    Abstract: A particulate sensor includes: an inner metallic member which is maintained at a first potential and which has a gas introduction pipe into which a target gas is introduced; a tubular outer metallic member which surrounds the radially outer circumference of the inner metallic member and which is attached to a gas flow pipe to thereby be maintained at a ground potential; and an insulating spacer which is interposed between the inner metallic member and the outer metallic member so as to electrically insulate them from each other and which has a tubular gas contact portion which is exposed to the interior of the gas flow pipe and comes into contact with the gas under measurement. The insulating spacer has a heater for heating the gas contact portion. The heater includes a heat generation resistor embedded in the insulating spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi SUGIYAMA, Masayuki MOTOMURA, Norimasa OSAWA, Keisuke TASHIMA, Toshiya MATSUOKA
  • Patent number: 9476807
    Abstract: A particulate sensor including a sensor unit (300) having an ion generation section (611, 361, 322); an electric charge section (612) for electrically charging at least portion of particulates S using ions PI; a capture section (616, 617, 316, 326, 362) for trapping at least portion of the ions PI not used for electrically charging the particulates S; and a sensor ground section (340, 310v, 330v3) connected to the capture section and having a first floating potential corresponding to the amount of the ions PI trapped by the capture section. The sensor unit can detect the amount of the particulates S in the gas on the basis of the electric potential of the sensor ground section. The sensor ground section is covered with insulating ceramic at that outer portion of the sensor unit which comes into contact with the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Motomura, Takeshi Sugiyama, Keisuke Tashima, Norimasa Osawa, Toshiya Matsuoka, Hitoshi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 9360448
    Abstract: A gas sensor (1) includes at least a sensor element (12) which measures the concentration of a specific gas component, a housing (13) which accommodates the sensor element (12), and a base portion (21) which is attached to the housing and is formed of resin. The base portion includes a first base portion (22) which is a portion of the base portion located on the side toward the housing and which is molded integrally with the housing, and a second base portion (23) which is molded separately from the first base portion, which is a portion of the base portion located opposite the housing, and which has a connector portion (23c) in which a plurality of terminals (26) electrically connected to the sensor element are disposed such that they extend in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Yonezu, Hisaharu Nishio, Norimasa Osawa, Tomohiro Tajima
  • Patent number: 9335311
    Abstract: A gas sensor (200) in which individual ones of connection terminals (30) have, at a rear end portion, a first connection portion (31) connected to a corresponding connector terminal (60). Individual ones of the connector terminals have, at an end portion on a side toward separator (40), a second connection portion (61) connected to the first connection portion. One of the first and second connection portions assumes the form of an insertion piece (61g), and the other assumes the form of a female portion (31g) into which the insertion piece is inserted. At least one of the insertion piece and the female portion has an elastic portion (31a). The insertion piece is fitted into the female portion, and the elastic portion thereby elastically bends, whereby the first and second connection portions are elastically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Yonezu, Norimasa Osawa, Hisaharu Nishio
  • Patent number: 9322680
    Abstract: A thin plate member which has a groove portion recessed toward the inside in a radial direction with a gap interposed between the thin plate member and the outer surface of a site on the front end side of a main body section. At least one end of the thin plate member is joined to the outer surface of the main body section and is provided radially outside the site on the front end side of the main body section. A seal member is disposed in the groove portion and has elasticity due to resin. Since the gap functions as a heat-insulating layer and is interposed between the seal member and the main body section, heat conduction from the main body section, that is, heat conduction through a first pathway is reduced, and thus deterioration of the seal member due to heat is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Yonezu, Toshiya Matsuoka, Norimasa Osawa, Hisaharu Nishio, Tomohiro Tajima
  • Publication number: 20150192545
    Abstract: A particulate sensor (1) includes an ion source (15) and a reference potential member (45). The particulate sensor (1) detects particulates S contained in a gas under measurement EG by means of ions CP. The ion source (15) includes a ceramic structure (100) having a ceramic laminate (101) and a discharge electrode member (110). The discharge electrode member (110) has an inter-layer portion (112A, 111) embedded between the layers of the ceramic laminate (101) and an exposed portion (112B) extending from the inter-layer portion (112A, 111) to a position outside the ceramic laminate (101). The discharge electrode member (110) generates the gaseous discharge between the reference potential member (45) and the exposed portion (112B) including one or more needle-shaped distal end portions (1125) upon application of a constant DC discharge potential PV2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi SUGIYAMA, Masayuki MOTOMURA, Norimasa OSAWA, Keisuke TASHIMA, Hirokazu MURASE, Toshiya MATSUOKA
  • Publication number: 20150020574
    Abstract: A particulate sensor including a sensor unit (300) having an ion generation section (611, 361, 322); an electric charge section (612) for electrically charging at least portion of particulates S using ions PI; a capture section (616, 617, 316, 326, 362) for trapping at least portion of the ions PI not used for electrically charging the particulates S; and a sensor ground section (340, 310v, 330v3) connected to the capture section and having a first floating potential corresponding to the amount of the ions PI trapped by the capture section. The sensor unit can detect the amount of the particulates S in the gas on the basis of the electric potential of the sensor ground section. The sensor ground section is covered with insulating ceramic at that outer portion of the sensor unit which comes into contact with the gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Motomura, Takeshi Sugiyama, Keisuke Tashima, Norimasa Osawa, Toshiya Matsuoka, Hitoshi Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20140020446
    Abstract: A gas sensor (200) in which individual ones of connection terminals (30) have, at a rear end portion, a first connection portion (31) connected to a corresponding connector terminal (60). Individual ones of the connector terminals have, at an end portion on a side toward separator (40), a second connection portion (61) connected to the first connection portion. One of the first and second connection portions assumes the form of an insertion piece (61g), and the other assumes the form of a female portion (31g) into which the insertion piece is inserted. At least one of the insertion piece and the female portion has an elastic portion (31a). The insertion piece is fitted into the female portion, and the elastic portion thereby elastically bends, whereby the first and second connection portions are elastically connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Kunihiko YONEZU, Norimasa OSAWA, Hisaharu NISHIO
  • Publication number: 20130312485
    Abstract: A thin plate member which has a groove portion recessed toward the inside in a radial direction with a gap interposed between the thin plate member and the outer surface of a site on the front end side of a main body section. At least one end of the thin plate member is joined to the outer surface of the main body section and is provided radially outside the site on the front end side of the main body section. A seal member is disposed in the groove portion and has elasticity due to resin. Since the gap functions as a heat-insulating layer and is interposed between the seal member and the main body section, heat conduction from the main body section, that is, heat conduction through a first pathway is reduced, and thus deterioration of the seal member due to heat is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Kunihiko YONEZU, Toshiya MATSUOKA, Norimasa OSAWA, Hisaharu NISHIO, Tomohiro TAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20130074578
    Abstract: A gas sensor (1) includes at least a sensor element (12) which measures the concentration of a specific gas component, a housing (13) which accommodates the sensor element (12), and a base portion (21) which is attached to the housing and is formed of resin. The base portion includes a first base portion (22) which is a portion of the base portion located on the side toward the housing and which is molded integrally with the housing, and a second base portion (23) which is molded separately from the first base portion, which is a portion of the base portion located opposite the housing, and which has a connector portion (23c) in which a plurality of terminals (26) electrically connected to the sensor element are disposed such that they extend in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiko YONEZU, Hisaharu NISHIO, Norimasa Osawa, Tomohiro TAJIMA
  • Patent number: 7189363
    Abstract: Of a gas detector 100, a chamber 105 formed between a center cover 150 and a cover 160 is a part of an air flow channel AF. A first shielding plate 165 is provided in the chamber 105. Water droplets that have entered the chamber from a chamber entrance 103 with air hit and adhere to an entrance-opposed surface 165E of the first shielding plate 165. The water thus adhering to the surface is pushed by the air flowing along the entrance-opposed surface 165E and by gravity, to thereby advance downward. The water then drips downward and is accumulated on a bottom wall surface 105WD which serves as an upper surface of a bottom wall section 161WD. The water is pushed by the flow of air, to thereby advance toward a chamber exit 104. The water is then drained downward from the chamber exit 104.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norimasa Osawa, Kazuto Hirai, Yuichi Koyama