Patents by Inventor Tadanori Shirasawa

Tadanori Shirasawa 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: 20230019724
    Abstract: A gas meter (10) includes a normal measurement mode in which the flow rate is measured in a predetermined sampling period and a detailed measurement mode in which the flow rate is measured in a sampling period shorter than the predetermined sampling period in the normal measurement mode. A center device (40) gives an instruction to the gas meter (10) to measure the flow rate in the detailed measurement mode. The center device (40) further collects flow rate data measured in the detailed measurement mode from the gas meter (10), and generates, based on the collected flow rate data, failure diagnosis information for diagnosing a failure in a gas appliance. With this configuration, the failure part in the gas appliance can be remotely identified, which accelerates the repair work.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: TADANORI SHIRASAWA, MITSUO YOKOHATA
  • Patent number: 11137277
    Abstract: A gas meter includes flow rate measurer that measures a flow rate of gas in time series and storage unit that stores the flow rate measured by flow rate measurer as flow rate data. The gas meter also includes storage condition setting unit that determines a condition for storing the flow rate data in storage unit and communication unit that communicates with center device. Storage unit stores the flow rate data to satisfy the condition set by storage condition setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadanori Shirasawa, Nobuaki Murabayashi, Yoshikuni Tamura, Kazuki Shiota
  • Patent number: 11112289
    Abstract: Gas meter and center device are provided. Gas meter includes flow rate measurer that measures a flow rate of gas in time series. Center device receives and analyzes flow rate data from gas meter, and monitors states of use of gas appliances. Gas meter detects the start of operation of gas appliances, and transmits flow rate data during predetermined periods before and after the start of operation in accordance with a request from center device. Center device monitors the states of use of gas appliances based on the received flow rate data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Murabayashi, Yoshikuni Tamura, Tadanori Shirasawa, Kazuki Shiota
  • Patent number: 11002561
    Abstract: Gas meter and center device are included. Gas meter is installed in a residence or the like of each customer, and includes flow rate measurer. Center device collects information obtained by gas meter. In addition, center device manages positional information indicating a position of gas meter, and displays information including a result of analyzing information obtained from gas meter, together with the position of gas meter on a map. By employing this configuration, the information obtained from gas meter is collected by center device, and information based on collected data is displayed on a map on which gas meter is positioned. This enables the information obtained from gas meter to be visually reported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kawauchi, Yoshikuni Tamura, Nobuaki Murabayashi, Tadanori Shirasawa
  • Patent number: 10935393
    Abstract: A gas meter and a center device, including an analyzer, analyze a cause of an abnormality determination. The center device requests analysis-use data necessary to analyze the cause of the abnormality determination from the gas meter, through a communication by a center communication unit, based on the abnormality type data received from the gas meter. The gas meter transmits the analysis-use data requested by the center device to the center device by a meter communication unit, and the analyzer of the center device determines the cause of the abnormality determination based on the received analysis-use data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Shiota, Tadanori Shirasawa, Nobuaki Murabayashi, Yoshikuni Tamura
  • Publication number: 20200284613
    Abstract: There are equipped: gas meter; and center device including analyzer to analyze a cause of a determination of abnormality. Center device requests analysis-use data necessary to analyze the cause of the determination of abnormality from gas meter, through a communication by center communication unit, based on the abnormality type data received from gas meter. Gas meter transmits the analysis-use data requested from center device to center device by meter communication unit, and analyzer of center device determines the cause of the determination of abnormality based on the received analysis-use data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: KAZUKI SHIOTA, TADANORI SHIRASAWA, NOBUAKI MURABAYASHI, YOSHIKUNI TAMURA
  • Publication number: 20200182654
    Abstract: Gas meter and center device are included. Gas meter is installed in a residence or the like of each customer, and includes flow rate measurer. Center device collects information obtained by gas meter. In addition, center device manages positional information indicating a position of gas meter, and displays information including a result of analyzing information obtained from gas meter, together with the position of gas meter on a map. By employing this configuration, the information obtained from gas meter is collected by center device, and information based on collected data is displayed on a map on which gas meter is positioned. This enables the information obtained from gas meter to be visually reported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: AKIYOSHI KAWAUCHI, YOSHIKUNI TAMURA, NOBUAKI MURABAYASHI, TADANORI SHIRASAWA
  • Publication number: 20200182674
    Abstract: Gas meter and center device are provided. Gas meter includes flow rate measurer that measures a flow rate of gas in time series. Center device receives and analyzes flow rate data from gas meter, and monitors states of use of gas appliances. Gas meter detects the start of operation of gas appliances, and transmits flow rate data during predetermined periods before and after the start of operation in accordance with a request from center device. Center device monitors the states of use of gas appliances based on the received flow rate data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: NOBUAKI MURABAYASHI, YOSHIKUNI TAMURA, TADANORI SHIRASAWA, KAZUKI SHIOTA
  • Publication number: 20200116541
    Abstract: A gas meter includes flow rate measurer that measures a flow rate of gas in time series and storage unit that stores the flow rate measured by flow rate measurer as flow rate data. The gas meter also includes storage condition setting unit that determines a condition for storing the flow rate data in storage unit and communication unit that communicates with center device. Storage unit stores the flow rate data to satisfy the condition set by storage condition setting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: TADANORI SHIRASAWA, NOBUAKI MURABAYASHI, YOSHIKUNI TAMURA, KAZUKI SHIOTA
  • Patent number: 8442696
    Abstract: Setting safety function, as appropriate, according to a user environment is enabled, thereby enhancing safety function. According to selection information from a safety function selection unit 120, a function setting unit 116 sets arbitrary function among a plurality of functions as safety function pertaining to usage of a gas. When operating conditions for safety function are fulfilled, a monitoring unit 112 detects malfunction, which would arise during usage of a gas, and outputs a safety signal to a control unit 114 in accordance with the set safety function. In accordance with a safety signal from the monitoring unit 112, the control unit 114 cuts off a gas supply when an event fulfilling operating conditions for the set function has arisen. When an event fulfilling operating conditions for an unset function has arisen, a communication unit 124 reports occurrence of malfunction pertaining to unset function to the monitoring center 200.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Yokohata, Hirozumi Nakamura, Tadanori Shirasawa, Kazuo Kubo, Mitsuo Namba, Hisashi Saito
  • Patent number: 8250932
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to make it possible to set security functions as necessary depending on usage environment, etc. and to improve the security functions; a function setting section 1116 sets security function information received from the outside via a communication line as security functions regarding the user of gas. According to the set security function, in the case that the operation conditions of the security function are satisfied, a monitoring section 112 detects a problem during the use of gas and outputs a security signal to a control section 114. Based on the security signal from the monitoring section 112, the control section 114 shuts off the supply of gas in the case that a phenomenon satisfying an operation condition of the set function having been set has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Yokohata, Hirozumi Nakamura, Tadanori Shirasawa, Kazuo Kubo, Mitsuo Namba, Hisashi Saito
  • Publication number: 20110010110
    Abstract: A challenge to be met by the present invention is to enable appropriate setting of safety function according to a use environment and enhance safety function. An IC card (118) stores data pertaining to the quantity of available gas and at least one safety function program. An IC card reading unit (122) reads information stored in the IC card (118). From the read information, an IC card determination unit (126) determines whether or not the IC card (118) is normal. A safety function detection unit (128) detects a safety function program from the read information and stores the program in a safety function storage unit (130). When the IC card (118) is normal, a function setting unit (116) imparts a safety function program to a monitoring unit (112). A remaining available quantity count unit (124) determines a remaining quantity of available gas from the read quantity of available gas and a flow determined by a flow computing unit (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Yokohata, Hirozumi Nakamura, Tadanori Shirasawa, Kazuo Kubo, Mitsuo Namba, Hisashi Saito
  • Publication number: 20110004353
    Abstract: Setting safety function, as appropriate, according to a user environment is enabled, thereby enhancing safety function. According to selection information from a safety function selection unit 120, a function setting unit 116 sets arbitrary function among a plurality of functions as safety function pertaining to usage of a gas. When operating conditions for safety function are fulfilled, a monitoring unit 112 detects malfunction, which would arise during usage of a gas, and outputs a safety signal to a control unit 114 in accordance with the set safety function. In accordance with a safety signal from the monitoring unit 112, the control unit 114 cuts off a gas supply when an event fulfilling operating conditions for the set function has arisen. When an event fulfilling operating conditions for an unset function has arisen, a communication unit 124 reports occurrence of malfunction pertaining to unset function to the monitoring center 200.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Yokohata, Hirozumi Nakamura, Tadanori Shirasawa, Kazuo Kubo, Mitsuo Namba, Hisashi Saito
  • Publication number: 20110000310
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to make it possible to set security functions as necessary depending on usage environment, etc. and to improve the security functions; a function setting section 1116 sets security function information received from the outside via a communication line as security functions regarding the user of gas. According to the set security function, in the case that the operation conditions of the security function are satisfied, a monitoring section 112 detects a problem during the use of gas and outputs a security signal to a control section 114. Based on the security signal from the monitoring section 112, the control section 114 shuts off the supply of gas in the case that a phenomenon satisfying an operation condition of the set function having been set has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicants: Panasonic Corporation, The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan
    Inventors: Mitsuo Yokohata, Hirozumi Nakamura, Tadanori Shirasawa, Kazuo Kubo, Mitsuo Namba, Hisashi Saito
  • Publication number: 20100330515
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to appropriately control the use limit function of an appliance according to the concentration level of CO gas. A gas shutoff device is made up of a flow rate registration unit 28 for registering as an appliance flow rate, an average flow rate found by classifying and storing in a flow rate storage unit 26 after flow rate detection, a CO gas leakage determination unit 29 for inputting an output signal responsive to the concentration level of CO gas from a CO alarm 20, an appliance estimation unit 30, when a signal is output by the CO gas leakage determination unit 29 and the flow rate is registered in the flow rate registration unit 28, for storing a flow rate pattern group stored in the flow rate storage unit 26 and the registered flow rate and estimating a CO gas leakage appliance, an appliance flow rate storage unit 31 for storing the flow rate pattern group, and a communication unit 35 for reporting appliance information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Ueki, Kazutaka Asano, Tadanori Shirasawa, Mitsuo Yokohata, Hirozumi Nakamura, Kazuo Kubo, Mitsuo Namba, Hisashi Saito