Patents by Inventor Shinobu Adachi

Shinobu Adachi 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: 11344466
    Abstract: In an assistance apparatus, when assisting a user in walking with an object, a motor generates, in a gait phase of a left leg, a tension less than a second threshold value in a first wire during a fifth period other than a first period during which a tension greater than or equal to a first threshold value is generated in the first wire, and a tension greater than or equal to the second threshold value in a second wire during a sixth period other than a second period during which a tension greater than or equal to the first threshold value is generated in the second wire, and generates, in a gait phase of a right leg, a tension less than the second threshold value in a third wire during a seventh period other than a third period during which a tension greater than or equal to the first threshold value is generated in the third wire, and a tension greater than or equal to the second threshold value in a fourth wire during an eighth period other than a fourth period during which a tension greater than or equal
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Murakami, Stephen William John, Hiroki Takeuchi, Shinobu Adachi
  • Patent number: 11246789
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes wires, each of which couples an upper-body belt and one of left and right knee belts to each other, and a motor. To promote implementation of first assistance for a user in walking while carrying an object, the motor generates a tension greater than or equal to a third threshold value in a second wire and a fourth wire, a tension greater than or equal to the third threshold value in the second wire and a third wire, and a tension greater than or equal to the third threshold value in a first wire and the fourth wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Murakami, Stephen William John, Hiroki Takeuchi, Shinobu Adachi
  • Patent number: 11103414
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes a first wire and a second wire that couple an upper-body belt and a left knee belt to each other, respectively, a third wire and a fourth wire that couple the upper-body belt and a right knee belt to each other, respectively, and a motor. When assistance is stopped, the motor is configured to reduce tension of the first wire during a first stop period starting in a boundary period in a first period and ending in a start period of a second period, generate no tension in the second wire during the second period, reduce tension of the third wire during a second stop period starting in a boundary period in a third period and ending in a start period of a fourth period, and generate no tension in the fourth wire during the fourth period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Murakami, Stephen William John, Hiroki Takeuchi, Shinobu Adachi
  • Patent number: 11103410
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes a first wire and a second wire that couple an upper-body belt and a left knee belt to each other on or above a front part and back part of the body of a user, respectively, a third wire and a fourth wire that couple the upper-body belt and a right knee belt to each other on or above the front part and back part of the body of the user, respectively, a motor, a left sensor on the left hand of the user, and a right sensor on the right hand of the user. When a force is applied to the left sensor and no force is applied to the right sensor, the motor makes the tension of the second wire and the third wire greater than the tension of the first wire and the fourth wire. When a force is applied to the right sensor and no force is applied to the left sensor, the motor makes the tension of the first wire and the fourth wire greater than the tension of the second wire and the third wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Murakami, Stephen William John, Hiroki Takeuchi, Shinobu Adachi
  • Patent number: 11103413
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes wires, each of which couples an upper-body belt and one of left and right knee belts to each other, and a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Stephen William John, Kenta Murakami, Hiroki Takeuchi, Shinobu Adachi
  • Patent number: 11096857
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes a first wire and a second wire that couple an upper-body belt and a left knee belt to each other on or above a front part and back part of the body of a user, respectively, a third wire and a fourth wire that couple the upper-body belt and a right knee belt to each other on or above the front part and back part of the body of the user, respectively, a motor, a left sensor on the left hand of the user, and a right sensor on the right hand of the user. When a left sensor value of the left sensor is larger than a right sensor value of the right sensor, the tension of the first wire and the second wire is made greater than the tension of the third wire and the fourth wire. When the right sensor value is larger than the left sensor value, the tension of the third wire and the fourth wire is made greater than the tension of the first wire and the second wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Murakami, Stephen William John, Hiroki Takeuchi, Shinobu Adachi
  • Patent number: 11052013
    Abstract: There is provided an assistance apparatus in which when assistance provided to a user in walking is to be stopped, a motor reduces a tension of a first wire and a tension of a second wire, which couple an upper-body belt and a left knee belt to each other on or above a front part and a back part of a body of the user, to less than a second threshold value during a first stop period in a gait phase of a left leg of the user, the first stop period being a period from a period included in a first period and including a timing at which the left leg shifts from a stance phase to a swing phase to a start period of a second period, and reduces a tension of a third wire and a tension of a fourth wire, which couple the upper-body belt and a right knee belt to each other on or above the front part and back part of the body of the user, to less than the second threshold value during a second stop period in a gait phase of a right leg of the user, the second stop period being a period from a period included in a third pe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Murakami, Stephen William John, Hiroki Takeuchi, Shinobu Adachi
  • Patent number: 10945909
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes first to eighth wires that couple an upper body belt to be worn on an upper body of a user to a first knee belt and a second knee belt to be worn above a left knee and a right knee of the user, respectively, and a motor. In a case of assisting the user in turning left, the motor generates, when a left leg is in a swing phase and a right leg is in a stance phase, a tension in each of the second, third, sixth, and seventh wires at an identical timing. In a case of assisting the user in turning right, the motor generates, when the left leg is in a stance phase and the right leg is in a swing phase, a tension in each of the second, third, sixth, and seventh wires at an identical timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Murakami, Stephen John, Mayumi Komatsu, Shinobu Adachi
  • Patent number: 10888488
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes wires that couple an upper body belt to be worn on an upper body of a user to first and second knee belts to be worn above left and right knees of the user, and a motor. In a case of assisting the user in turning left, the motor generates a tension in second and fourth wires in a period of 65% or more and 100% or less of a first gait phase of a left leg and a period of 0% or more and 20% or less of a second gait phase of the left leg, and generates a tension in sixth and eighth wires in a period of 65% or more and 100% or less of a first gait phase of a right leg and a period of 0% or more and 20% or less of a second gait phase of the right leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Murakami, Stephen William John, Mayumi Komatsu, Shinobu Adachi
  • Patent number: 10881574
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes first to eighth wires that couple an upper body belt to be worn on an upper body of a user to a first knee belt and a second knee belt to be worn above a left knee and a right knee of the user, respectively, and a motor. In a case of assisting the user in moving to turn left, the motor generates a tension larger than or equal to a first threshold in each of the second wire, the third wire, and the fourth wire at an identical timing in a swing phase of a left leg of the user, and generates a tension larger than or equal to the first threshold in each of the fifth wire, the sixth wire, and the eighth wire at an identical timing in a swing phase of a right leg of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Murakami, Stephen John, Mayumi Komatsu, Shinobu Adachi
  • Patent number: 10842402
    Abstract: A determination system includes a head electrode that is located on a left head portion of a user when an intention of the user to move a portion on a right side of a body of the user is detected and that is located on a right head portion of the user when an intention of the user to move a portion on a left side of the body of the user is detected; an ear hole electrode that is located in an ear hole of the user; an electroencephalogram signal measurer that obtains a voltage between the head electrode and the ear hole electrode; and a determiner that determines whether or not a change in the voltage includes the intention to move the portion on the right side of the body or the intention to move the portion on the left side of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinobu Adachi, Jun Ozawa
  • Patent number: 10792213
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes first to eighth wires that couple an upper body belt to be worn on an upper body of a user to a first knee belt and a second knee belt to be worn above a left knee and a right knee of the user, respectively, and a motor. When the assistance apparatus assists the user in turning left, the motor generates a tension larger than or equal to a first threshold in each of the second wire, the fourth wire, the sixth wire, and the eighth wire. When the fourth wire or the second wire is broken, the motor changes the wire in which a tension is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Murakami, Stephen John, Mayumi Komatsu, Shinobu Adachi
  • Patent number: 10772787
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes a first and second wires coupling an upper-body belt and a left knee belt to each other on or above a front and back parts of a body of a user, respectively, a third and fourth wires coupling the upper-body belt and a right knee belt to each other on or above the front and back parts, respectively, a motor, a first sensor that detects at least tensions of the first and third wires, and a control circuit. The control circuit controls the motor to generate, when the first wire is broken, in the second wire, a tension less than a tension of the second wire during no break in the first wire, and to generate, when the third wire is broken, in the fourth wire, a tension less than a tension of the fourth wire during no break in the third wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Murakami, Stephen William John, Hiroki Takeuchi, Shinobu Adachi
  • Patent number: 10717185
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes first to eighth wires that couple an upper body belt to be worn on an upper body of a user to a first knee belt and a second knee belt to be worn above a left knee and a right knee of the user, respectively, and a motor. In a case of assisting the user in turning left, the motor generates, when a right leg of the user is in a stance phase, a tension larger than or equal to a first threshold in each of the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth wires at an identical timing. In a case of assisting the user in turning right, the motor generates, when a left leg of the user is in a stance phase, a tension larger than or equal to the first threshold in each of the first, third, fifth, and seventh wires at an identical timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Murakami, Stephen John, Mayumi Komatsu, Shinobu Adachi
  • Patent number: 10646140
    Abstract: A risk-of-falling determination apparatus includes a walk information obtainer that obtains walk information of a user, a myoelectric sensor that measures a first myoelectric potential difference on an anterior surface of a thigh of the user and a second myoelectric potential difference on a posterior surface of the thigh, a control circuit that identifies an interval of a stance phase by using the walk information, calculates a degree of co-contraction at a corresponding leg of the user on the basis of the first and second myoelectric potential differences for the stance phase, and determines whether the degree of co-contraction is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and an outputter that outputs a signal indicating that the user has a high risk of falling if the degree of co-contraction is greater than or equal to the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Properly Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Souksakhone Bounyong, Shinobu Adachi, Jun Ozawa, Misaka Kimura, Yuya Watanabe, Keiichi Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20190224063
    Abstract: There is provided an assistance apparatus in which when assistance provided to a user in walking is to be stopped, a motor reduces a tension of a first wire and a tension of a second wire, which couple an upper-body belt and a left knee belt to each other on or above a front part and a back part of a body of the user, to less than a second threshold value during a first stop period in a gait phase of a left leg of the user, the first stop period being a period from a period included in a first period and including a timing at which the left leg shifts from a stance phase to a swing phase to a start period of a second period, and reduces a tension of a third wire and a tension of a fourth wire, which couple the upper-body belt and a right knee belt to each other on or above the front part and back part of the body of the user, to less than the second threshold value during a second stop period in a gait phase of a right leg of the user, the second stop period being a period from a period included in a third pe
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: KENTA MURAKAMI, STEPHEN WILLIAM JOHN, HIROKI TAKEUCHI, SHINOBU ADACHI
  • Publication number: 20190151184
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes wires that couple an upper body belt to be worn on an upper body of a user to first and second knee belts to be worn above left and right knees of the user, and a motor. In a case of assisting the user in turning left, the motor generates a tension in second and fourth wires in a period of 65% or more and 100% or less of a first gait phase of a left leg and a period of 0% or more and 20% or less of a second gait phase of the left leg, and generates a tension in sixth and eighth wires in a period of 65% or more and 100% or less of a first gait phase of a right leg and a period of 0% or more and 20% or less of a second gait phase of the right leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: KENTA MURAKAMI, STEPHEN WILLIAM JOHN, MAYUMI KOMATSU, SHINOBU ADACHI
  • Publication number: 20190125617
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes a first wire and a second wire that couple an upper-body belt and a left knee belt to each other on or above a front part and back part of the body of a user, respectively, a third wire and a fourth wire that couple the upper-body belt and a right knee belt to each other on or above the front part and back part of the body of the user, respectively, and a motor. When assistance is stopped, the motor reduces the tension of the first wire during a first stop period starting in a boundary period in a first period and ending in a start period of a second period, generates no tension in the second wire during the second period, reduces the tension of the third wire during a second stop period starting in a boundary period in a third period and ending in a start period of a fourth period, and generates no tension in the fourth wire during the fourth period. The boundary period includes a timing at which each leg of the user shifts from a stance phase to a swing phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: KENTA MURAKAMI, STEPHEN WILLIAM JOHN, HIROKI TAKEUCHI, SHINOBU ADACHI
  • Publication number: 20190125610
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes a first wire and a second wire that couple an upper-body belt and a left knee belt to each other on or above a front part and back part of the body of a user, respectively, a third wire and a fourth wire that couple the upper-body belt and a right knee belt to each other on or above the front part and back part of the body of the user, respectively, a motor, a left sensor on the left hand of the user, and a right sensor on the right hand of the user. When a force is applied to the left sensor and no force is applied to the right sensor, the motor makes the tension of the second wire and the third wire greater than the tension of the first wire and the fourth wire. When a force is applied to the right sensor and no force is applied to the left sensor, the motor makes the tension of the first wire and the fourth wire greater than the tension of the second wire and the third wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: KENTA MURAKAMI, STEPHEN WILLIAM JOHN, HIROKI TAKEUCHI, SHINOBU ADACHI
  • Publication number: 20190125616
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes wires, each of which couples an upper-body belt and one of left and right knee belts to each other, and a motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: STEPHEN WILLIAM JOHN, KENTA MURAKAMI, HIROKI TAKEUCHI, SHINOBU ADACHI