Patents by Inventor Shigeki Fukunaga

Shigeki Fukunaga 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: 9603761
    Abstract: A walking assist apparatus includes a pair of wheels, at least one first driving unit that drives the pair of wheels, a main body that rotatably supports the pair of wheels, and a grip that is disposed at one end of the main body to be able to be gripped. The walking assist apparatus includes a sensor unit configured to detect an angular change in an inclination angle of the main body in a pitch direction, and a first control unit configured and programmed to control an operation of the at least one first driving unit based on an output of the sensor unit such that the angular change of the main body is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Fukunaga, Arata Suzuki, Kenichi Shirato
  • Patent number: 9128488
    Abstract: In a movement direction control apparatus and a non-transitory computer readable medium, a reaction torque accompanying rotation of a rotor is utilized to control a rotation angle of a body in a yaw direction. A specification of a yaw angle of a wheel as a target of the movement direction is received, and information of a friction torque is acquired. A rotation angular acceleration in the yaw direction is calculated, based on the yaw angle, the specification of which has been received, and the reaction torque is calculated, based on the calculated rotation angular acceleration in the yaw direction. An operation instruction to a motor for yaw is generated, based on the calculated reaction torque and the acquired information of the friction torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Tsuji, Shigeki Fukunaga, Mitsuhiro Namura, Koji Kawai, Kenichi Shirato
  • Publication number: 20130306120
    Abstract: A walking assist apparatus includes a pair of wheels, at least one first driving unit that drives the pair of wheels, a main body that rotatably supports the pair of wheels, and a grip that is disposed at one end of the main body to be able to be gripped. The walking assist apparatus includes a sensor unit configured to detect an angular change in an inclination angle of the main body in a pitch direction, and a first control unit configured and programmed to control an operation of the at least one first driving unit based on an output of the sensor unit such that the angular change of the main body is zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki FUKUNAGA, Arata SUZUKI, Kenichi SHIRATO
  • Patent number: 8548679
    Abstract: An overturn prevention control device for a two-wheel vehicle having a vehicle body, a front wheel, an actuator that steers the front wheel, a rear wheel, and a rear-wheel driving portion, includes an angular velocity sensor and a control unit arranged to output a steering angle command signal for controlling the actuator. The angular velocity sensor includes a detection axis, is mounted on the vehicle body such that the detection axis is downwardly inclined at a predetermined angle relative to a forward direction of the vehicle body, and detects an angular velocity about the detection axis. The angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor includes an angular velocity in a lateral direction of inclination and an angular velocity in an azimuthal direction. The zero-set error and offset noise are incorporated into the azimuth angle command. Thus, the two-wheel vehicle can be prevented from overturning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Hirata, Shigeru Tsuji, Tomonari Watanabe, Shigeki Fukunaga, Koichi Yoshikawa, Koji Kawai
  • Patent number: 8335612
    Abstract: A falling prevention controlling device includes a wheel, and a main body arranged to swing in a pitch direction and a roll direction above the wheel, an advance/retreat command receiving unit arranged to receive an advance or a retreat command of the wheel, a target pitch angle calculating unit arranged to calculate a target pitch angle based on the received command and a rotation velocity deviation in the pitch direction derived from the detected rotation angle, a pitch inclined angle estimating unit arranged to estimate a pitch inclined angle with respect to a balanced state, from the detected pitch angular velocity and a pitch torque command generated based on the target pitch angle, and a pitch torque command generating unit arranged to generate the pitch torque command based on the target pitch angle and the pitch inclined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Tsuji, Shigeki Fukunaga, Mitsuhiro Namura, Koji Kawai, Kenichi Shirato
  • Patent number: 8333009
    Abstract: An aligning device for electronic components and a bonding device using the aligning device. The aligning device includes a chamber, a flexible bellows within the chamber, two block used to hold an electronic component, a driving unit configured to move either of the two blocks relative to each other and located in an airtight chamber and an image port having a window through which one of the electronic components can be observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Hirata, Shigeki Fukunaga, Shigeki Yamane, Mitsuhiro Namura, Arata Suzuki, Tomonari Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20120010783
    Abstract: In a movement direction control apparatus and a non-transitory computer readable medium, a reaction torque accompanying rotation of a rotor is utilized to control a rotation angle of a body in a yaw direction. A specification of a yaw angle of a wheel as a target of the movement direction is received, and information of a friction torque is acquired. A rotation angular acceleration in the yaw direction is calculated, based on the yaw angle, the specification of which has been received, and the reaction torque is calculated, based on the calculated rotation angular acceleration in the yaw direction. An operation instruction to a motor for yaw is generated, based on the calculated reaction torque and the acquired information of the friction torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru TSUJI, Shigeki FUKUNAGA, Mitsuhiro NAMURA, Koji KAWAI, Kenichi SHIRATO
  • Patent number: 8015696
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting a light emitting element, enabling positioning on an object with precision with reference to the optic axis of a light emitting element, and mounting the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeki Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20110166713
    Abstract: A falling prevention controlling device includes a wheel, and a main body arranged to swing in a pitch direction and a roll direction above the wheel, an advance/retreat command receiving unit arranged to receive an advance or a retreat command of the wheel, a target pitch angle calculating unit arranged to calculate a target pitch angle based on the received command and a rotation velocity deviation in the pitch direction derived from the detected rotation angle, a pitch inclined angle estimating unit arranged to estimate a pitch inclined angle with respect to a balanced state, from the detected pitch angular velocity and a pitch torque command generated based on the target pitch angle, and a pitch torque command generating unit arranged to generate the pitch torque command based on the target pitch angle and the pitch inclined angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru TSUJI, Shigeki FUKUNAGA, Mitsuhiro NAMURA, Koji KAWAI, Kenichi SHIRATO
  • Patent number: 7540080
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting a light emitting element, enabling positioning on an object with precision with reference to the optic axis of a light emitting element, and mounting the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeki Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20090133248
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting a light emitting element, enabling positioning on an object with precision with reference to the optic axis of a light emitting element, and mounting the element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: Shigeki Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20080249684
    Abstract: An overturn prevention control device for a two-wheel vehicle having a vehicle body, a front wheel, an actuator that steers the front wheel, a rear wheel, and a rear-wheel driving portion, includes an angular velocity sensor and a control unit arranged to output a steering angle command signal for controlling the actuator. The angular velocity sensor includes a detection axis, is mounted on the vehicle body such that the detection axis is downwardly inclined at a predetermined angle relative to a forward direction of the vehicle body, and detects an angular velocity about the detection axis. The angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor includes an angular velocity in a lateral direction of inclination and an angular velocity in an azimuthal direction. The zero-set error and offset noise are incorporated into the azimuth angle command. Thus, the two-wheel vehicle can be prevented from overturning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko HIRATA, Shigeru TSUJI, Tomonari WATANABE, Shigeki FUKUNAGA, Koichi YOSHIKAWA, Koji KAWAI
  • Publication number: 20080245472
    Abstract: An aligning device that can reliably correct misalignment between electronic components for increasing the accuracy in aligning the electronic components, a bonding apparatus equipped with the aligning device, and an aligning method. The aligning device comprises a chamber; a flexible bellows configured to define an airtight chamber therein with the chamber; a driving unit configured to move one of a first block member and a second block member relative to the other, the first block member being for holding a first electronic component and being provided in the airtight chamber, and the second block member being for holding a second electronic component and being provided in the airtight chamber; and an image-taking port protruding inward from an outer surface of the chamber so as to define a space, the image-taking port having an observation window through which at least one of the first electronic component and the second electronic component is observed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Hirata, Shigeki Fukunaga, Shigeki Yamane, Mitsuhiro Namura, Arata Suzuki, Tomonari Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7200926
    Abstract: A suction head is inserted between first and second cameras relatively disposed facing one another with aligned optical axes, so that the first camera takes images of a head reference mark on the suction head, and the second camera of a first part suctioned to the suction head. Next, a stage is inserted between the first and second cameras so that the first camera takes images of a second part held on the stage, and the second camera of a stage reference mark thereupon. The relative positions between the first part and the suction head, and between the second part and the stage, are calculated based upon image information from the cameras, and the suction head and the stage are positioned, the first and second parts being relatively positioned based upon positional information and relative positional information from the first and second cameras, and mounting is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeki Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7134188
    Abstract: A suction head is inserted between first and second cameras relatively disposed facing one another with aligned optical axes, so that the first camera takes images of a head reference mark on the suction head, and the second camera of a first part suctioned to the suction head. Next, a stage is inserted between the first and second cameras so that the first camera takes images of a second part held on the stage, and the second camera of a stage reference mark thereupon. The relative positions between the first part and the suction head, and between the second part and the stage, are calculated based upon image information from the cameras, and the suction head and the stage are positioned, the first and second parts being relatively positioned based upon positional information and relative positional information from the first and second cameras, and mounting is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeki Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20060209910
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting a light emitting element, enabling positioning on an object with precision with reference to the optic axis of a light emitting element, and mounting the element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventor: Shigeki Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20050229392
    Abstract: A suction head is inserted between first and second cameras relatively disposed facing one another with aligned optical axes, so that the first camera takes images of a head reference mark on the suction head, and the second camera of a first part suctioned to the suction head. Next, a stage is inserted between the first and second cameras so that the first camera takes images of a second part held on the stage, and the second camera of a stage reference mark thereupon. The relative positions between the first part and the suction head, and between the second part and the stage, are calculated based upon image information from the cameras, and the suction head and the stage are positioned, the first and second parts being relatively positioned based upon positional information and relative positional information from the first and second cameras, and mounting is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventor: Shigeki Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20040163242
    Abstract: A suction head is inserted between first and second cameras relatively disposed facing one another with aligned optical axes, so that the first camera takes images of a head reference mark on the suction head, and the second camera of a first part suctioned to the suction head. Next, a stage is inserted between the first and second cameras so that the first camera takes images of a second part held on the stage, and the second camera of a stage reference mark thereupon. The relative positions between the first part and the suction head, and between the second part and the stage, are calculated based upon image information from the cameras, and the suction head and the stage are positioned, the first and second parts being relatively positioned based upon positional information and relative positional information from the first and second cameras, and mounting is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeki Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 6583637
    Abstract: A load-control type actuator is provided, in which the impact load applied to a workpiece is reduced enabling damages in the workpiece to be small. A load-control-type actuator includes a nozzle which comes into contact with a workpiece, a nozzle holder for supporting the nozzle via a spring, and a voice-coil motor which can control a thrust driving force to the nozzle holder. The spring constant of the spring is set so that the spring reaction force of the spring within the response time of the voice-coil motor is reduced smaller than the maximum impact load when the nozzle touches the workpiece. The nozzle is suspended and supported by the spring and the initial load thereof is set to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Fukunaga, Shigeru Tsuji, Kenichiro Maki
  • Publication number: 20020063481
    Abstract: A load-control type actuator is provided, in which the impact load applied to a workpiece is reduced enabling damages in the workpiece to be small. A load-control-type actuator includes a nozzle which comes into contact with a workpiece, a nozzle holder for supporting the nozzle via a spring, and a voice-coil motor which can control a thrust driving force to the nozzle holder. The spring constant of the spring is set so that the spring reaction force of the spring within the response time of the voice-coil motor is reduced smaller than the maximum impact load when the nozzle touches the workpiece. The nozzle is suspended and supported by the spring and the initial load thereof is set to zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Shigeki Fukunaga, Shigeru Tsuji, Kenichiro Maki