Patents by Inventor Suguru Sato

Suguru Sato 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: 11970204
    Abstract: A steering device includes a steering column for supporting a steering shaft coupled to a steering wheel; an upper bracket fixed to a vehicle body and supports the steering column; and two lower brackets independently fixed to the vehicle body on both sides of the steering column to support the steering column in such a manner that allows the steering column to sway in a vertical direction. The lower brackets each includes a fixed portion facing the vehicle body and disposed on an outside of the steering column in a vehicle width direction, a pivot portion facing the steering column and having an attachment hole into which a pin member for coupling the steering column to the lower bracket is inserted, and a pair of rib portions each connected to the fixed portion and the pivot portion by a bent portion shaped into a bent plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Sato, Tomohiro Ikuta, Suguru Sugishita, Hirotaka Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11965468
    Abstract: A vehicle control system, a vehicle control method, and a storage medium are provided. A stopping process stops fuel supply to one or more stopping cylinders and supplies fuel to one or more remaining cylinders during a load operation of an engine. During execution of the stopping process, a compensating process compensates for a decrease in output of the one or more stopping cylinders due to the execution of the stopping process by increasing output generated by combustion in the one or more remaining cylinders. The system control circuit causes, when the engine rotation speed of the engine is the same, the output after being increased by the compensating process to decrease as a shaft torque of the crankshaft of the engine increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinnosuke Honda, Yoshinori Fujitake, Suguru Kumazawa, Motohiko Taniyama, Keita Sato, Yuki Iizawa, Yoshiyuki Shogenji, Yasutaka Tsuchida
  • Publication number: 20240128064
    Abstract: There is provided a component replacement method comprising: a) connecting a component replacement device to a chamber of a processing device configured to process a substrate; b) inserting an end effector disposed at a tip end of a transfer arm in the component replacement device into the chamber, and measuring a first distance from a predetermined position in the chamber to the end effector using a distance sensor provided on the end effector; c) moving the end effector until a difference between the first distance and a predetermined second distance becomes less than a predetermined third distance; d) capturing a feature disposed at a predetermined position in the chamber by a camera provided on the end effector; e) moving the end effector so that the feature is captured in a predetermined position in an image captured by the camera; and f) replacing a component in the chamber using the end effector with reference to a position of the end effector in a state where the feature is captured in the predetermin
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki ENDO, Suguru SATO
  • Patent number: 11940520
    Abstract: For a complex image to be complexly added, appropriate phase correction is executed by a simple method to prevent occurrence of an artifact in a signal region and to reduce noise in a background region. Two or more types of smoothing processing with different smoothing degrees are executed on a phase image of the complex image to obtain two or more types of smoothed phase images having different smoothing degrees. A weight for each of these smoothed phase images is calculated based on a signal value (SNR) of an intensity image, and addition is performed by a weight for each signal value to obtain a smoothed phase image for correction. After a phase of the complex image is corrected using the smoothed phase image, a phase-corrected complex image is complexly added. As a result, phase correction equivalent to phase correction in which a smoothing degree is weakened in the signal region and a smoothing degree is strengthened in the background region is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Healthcare Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Sato, Suguru Yokosawa, Toru Shirai, Kazuho Kamba, Yoshitaka Sato, Masahiro Takizawa
  • Patent number: 11912333
    Abstract: A steering device includes a steering shaft, a steering column, a bracket, and a fastening mechanism. An upper column includes a clamp, a cylindrical part, a pair of protrusions, and contact ribs. The clamp includes a continuous clamp and a spaced clamp. The protrusions include a continuous protrusion and a spaced protrusion. The contact ribs include first contact ribs disposed each of which is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the clamp, second contact ribs each of which is disposed on a side surface of the protrusion and disposed opposite to the first contact rib with respect to a long groove, and at least one third contact rib disposed on a side surface of the spaced protrusion and between the first contact rib and the long groove. The third contact rib has a protrusion amount greater than those of the first contact rib and the second contact rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ikuta, Yoshiyuki Sato, Suguru Sugishita, Hirotaka Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20230071478
    Abstract: There is a substrate processing apparatus comprising: a chamber including a sidewall having an opening; a substrate support disposed in the chamber; a support member disposed above the substrate support; an inner wall member having a ceiling portion disposed above the substrate support and below the support member; a contact member attached to one of the support member and the inner wall member and configured to detachably fix the inner wall member to the support member by applying a spring reaction force to the other of the support member and the inner wall member in a horizontal direction; and an actuator configured to move the inner wall member downward to release the fixing of the inner wall member to the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki Endo, Nozomu Nagashima, Suguru Sato, Koei Ito, Taisei Seguchi, Dai Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20220122818
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus is provided. The substrate processing apparatus comprise: a first chamber including a sidewall providing an opening, the first chamber further including a movable part movable upward and downward within the first chamber; a substrate support disposed within the first chamber; a second chamber disposed within the first chamber and defining, together with the substrate support, a processing space in which a substrate mounted on the substrate support is processed, the second chamber being separable from the first chamber and transportable between an inner space of the first chamber and the outside of the first chamber via the opening; a clamp releasably fixing the second chamber to the movable part extending above the second chamber; a release mechanism configured to release the fixing of the second chamber by the clamp; and a lift mechanism configured to move the movable part upward and downward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Atsushi SAWACHI, Jun HIROSE, Takuya NISHIJIMA, Ichiro SONE, Suguru SATO
  • Publication number: 20210407768
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a first chamber having an inner space and an opening, a substrate support disposed in the inner space of the first chamber, an actuator configured to move the substrate support between a first position and a second position, a second chamber that is disposed in the inner space of the first chamber and defines a substrate processing space together with the substrate support when the substrate support is located at the first position, and at least one fixing mechanism configured to detachably fix the second chamber to the first chamber in the inner space of the first chamber. The second chamber is transferred between the inner space of the first chamber and an outside of the first chamber through the opening when the substrate support is located at the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Atsushi SAWACHI, Jun HIROSE, Takuya NISHIJIMA, Ichiro SONE, Suguru SATO
  • Publication number: 20210339350
    Abstract: A part replacement system includes a part storage device configured to store an unused consumable part, and a replacement device that is connected to a processing device and the part storage device, the replacement device being configured to replace a used consumable part installed in the processing device with the unused consumable part stored in the part storage device. The replacement device is moved to a position of the processing device having the used consumable part that requires replacement, and the replacement device is connected to the processing device, and the part storage device is moved to a position of the replacement device connected to the processing device having the used consumable part that requires replacement, and the part storage device is connected to the replacement device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Atsushi Sawachi, Ichiro Sone, Suguru Sato, Takuya Nishijima
  • Publication number: 20210175055
    Abstract: A measuring device for a vacuum processing apparatus including a processing chamber having a first gate for loading and unloading a substrate and a second gate different from the first gate is provided. The measuring device includes a case having art opening that is sized to correspond to the second gate of the processing chamber and is airtightly attachable to the second gate, a decompressing mechanism configured to reduce a pressure in the case, and a measuring mechanism accommodated in the case and configured to measure a state in the processing chamber through the opening in a state where the pressure in the case is reduced by the decompressing mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Atsushi SAWACHI, Ichiro SONE, Takuya NISHIJIMA, Suguru SATO
  • Publication number: 20210020416
    Abstract: There is provided a method for driving a member provided in a processing chamber. The method includes irradiating to the member measurement light having a wavelength that penetrates the member, detecting intensity distribution of reflected light based on reflected light from an upper surface of the member and reflected light from a bottom surface of the member, calculating an optical path difference by applying Fourier transform to a spectrum indicating the intensity distribution, and determining a driving amount of the member based on the optical path difference. The method further includes driving the member based on the determined driving amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Rumiko MORIYA, Takanori BANSE, Suguru SATO, Yuuji AKIDUKI, Takehiro TANIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10825662
    Abstract: There is provided a method for driving a member provided in a processing chamber. The method includes irradiating to the member measurement light having a wavelength that penetrates the member, detecting intensity distribution of reflected light based on reflected light from an upper surface of the member and reflected light from a bottom surface of the member, calculating an optical path difference by applying Fourier transform to a spectrum indicating the intensity distribution, and determining a driving amount of the member based on the optical path difference. The method further includes driving the member based on the determined driving amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Rumiko Moriya, Takanori Banse, Suguru Sato, Yuuji Akiduki, Takehiro Tanikawa
  • Publication number: 20190355557
    Abstract: There is provided a method for driving a member provided in a processing chamber. The method includes irradiating to the member measurement light having a wavelength that penetrates the member, detecting intensity distribution of reflected light based on reflected light from an upper surface of the member and reflected light from a bottom surface of the member, calculating an optical path difference by applying Fourier transform to a spectrum indicating the intensity distribution, and determining a driving amount of the member based on the optical path difference. The method further includes driving the member based on the determined driving amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Rumiko MORIYA, Takanori BANSE, Suguru SATO, Yuuji AKIDUKI, Takehiro TANIKAWA
  • Patent number: 6132869
    Abstract: A monofilament prepared from a vinylidene fluoride resin and satisfying the following relationship between the elastic modulus at a tensile elongation of 15% (Y15) and the initial elastic modulus (Y0): 0.85.ltoreq.(Y15/Y0).ltoreq.1.3, and a Y15 value ranging from 200 to 350 kg/mm.sup.2 ; and a fishing line prepared from the monofilament and having a feature that undesirable curling is difficult to occur and, even when curling occurs, it can be readily relieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Kureha Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Ohira, Kazuyuki Munakata, Suguru Sato, Fumiya Mizuno
  • Patent number: 4197492
    Abstract: A first and a second full-wave rectifying network are respectively connected with both ends of generating coils of a generator for respectively generating alternating current thereat. A switching device has normally closed contacts for making voltage differences among the input terminals of the second full-wave rectifying network zero, whereby the coils act as a star-connected current generating winding so long as the contacts are held closed. The switching device also has an energizing coil for actuating the normally-closed contacts to open when the rotational speed of the generator exceeds a predetermined value. When the normally-closed contacts are opened, the coils no longer act as the star-connected winding but an independently generating winding, to thereby increase the output current from the generator even when the generator operates at a relatively high rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1980
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suguru Sato, Kazumasa Mori
  • Patent number: 4141613
    Abstract: To prevent unusually high or low voltage output from an automotive-type alternator, in case of failure of connection from the alternator rectifier output to the automotive vehicle battery, a connecting network is provided connecting an auxiliary alternator output terminal to the voltage sensing circuit to control the voltage sensing circuit to in turn control the field current to the alternator to prevent excessive output voltages. Additionally, a further voltage sensing circuit is connected to the auxiliary terminal to provide limited energization to the field for self-excitation of the generator if the vehicle engine, driving the generator is started, for subsequent transfer of control to the main voltage sensing circuit, but to prevent continuous field current flow at full field current value to prevent burnout of the field in case the engine is not started, but the main vehicle switch, typically the ignition switch, is left closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Mori, Suguru Sato
  • Patent number: 4117390
    Abstract: To provide a-c output at a voltage substantially higher than normal automotive voltage of 12-24 V, for example output voltage in the 80 to 90 V range to operate windshield and other glass pane heaters, a three-phase alternator is star-connected and has two armature windings which, for example, may be serially connected or may be separately wound, on the same stator, one winding being of comparatively few turns of heavy wire and connected to a rectifier to provide normal d-c on-board voltage for the vehicle, stored in a battery, the voltage being controlled by a voltage regulator connected to the d-c output terminals; the other winding, for example of a much larger number of turns of finer wire providing the high-voltage output at terminals adapted for connection to the heater wires in the windshield, or rear windows, or other window panes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1978
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Yoriaki Iwata, Suguru Sato
  • Patent number: 4035714
    Abstract: A pair of diodes, which has an input terminal connected with a neutral point of a Y-connected output winding of an alternating current generator, is provided in addition to a full-wave bridge rectifier connected across a battery. A field winding of the alternating current generator is supplied with filed current from the battery or the full-wave bridge rectifier and further from the pair of diodes which are energized by the voltage appearing at the neutral point. The field current supply from the pair of diodes is not limited by a voltage regulator for controlling the output voltage of the generator, whereby a large increase of output power of the generator can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Suguru Sato
  • Patent number: 4024456
    Abstract: A first and a second full-wave rectifying network are respectively connected with both ends of phase coils of a current generator for respectively generating alternating current thereat. A first and a second additional diode are respectively connected between both positive and negative direct current terminals of the first and second full-wave rectifying network. A switching device has normally closed contacts connected across the positive and negative terminals of the second full-wave rectifying network, whereby the phase coils act as a star-connected current generating winding so long as the contacts are held closed. The switching device also has an energizing coil for actuating the normally-closed contacts to open by the electromotive force thereof when the rotational speed of the generator exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1977
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suguru Sato, Kazumasa Mori
  • Patent number: D770724
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: TOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Koga, Hisaya Takahashi, Suguru Sato