Patents by Inventor Takahiro MINATANI

Takahiro MINATANI 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: 11566723
    Abstract: A flow path switching valve includes (a) a valve body in a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a predetermined surface and an opposite surface, the valve body including an open flow passage having an opening on the predetermined surface, (b) a main body including a plurality of ports having a respective opening on a facing surface thereof facing the predetermined surface, and a plurality of connection flow passages each connected to respective one of the plurality of ports, (c) a pair of plate springs attached to opposite ends of the valve body to support the valve body with a predetermined gap formed between the predetermined surface and the facing surface, the plate springs applying elastic force to the valve body in accordance with an amount of movement of the valve body in a predetermined direction, and (d) an actuator for reciprocating the valve body in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Ito, Masayuki Kouketsu, Keiichi Nishikawa, Yasuhisa Hirose, Takahiro Minatani
  • Publication number: 20220187027
    Abstract: A heat exchange system is arranged between a chiller device and a temperature control member, and is provided with: supply line for supplying a refrigerant from the chiller device to the temperature control member; a return line for returning the refrigerant from the temperature control member to the chiller device; a bypass line for bypassing the supply line and the return line; a latent heat storage member arranged closer to the chiller device relative to a first connection point connecting the return line and the bypass line; and a flow distribution unit that is arranged at a second connection point connecting the outgoing line and the bypass line, and that is for adjusting a ratio for distributing refrigerant to the temperature control member and the bypass line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro ITO, Takahiro MINATANI, Shinichi NITTA
  • Patent number: 11125342
    Abstract: A spool valve includes: a cylindrical tubular sleeve that extends in an axial direction and comprises a first port and a second port separated from each other in the axial direction, and a cylindrical columnar spool that extends in the axial direction and comprises a diameter reduced portion. The cylindrical columnar spool moves in the axial direction through the sleeve and opens and closes the first port to cause the first port to or not to communicate with the second port, and the first port has a first through hole having a first width in a circumferential direction of the sleeve, and a second through hole having a second width different from the first width in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Hirose, Takahiro Minatani, Keiichi Nishikawa, Yoshinori Tanaka, Naofumi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20210108737
    Abstract: A flow path switching valve includes (a) a valve body in a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a predetermined surface and an opposite surface, the valve body including an open flow passage having an opening on the predetermined surface, (b) a main body including a plurality of ports having a respective opening on a facing surface thereof facing the predetermined surface, and a plurality of connection flow passages each connected to respective one of the plurality of ports, (c) a pair of plate springs attached to opposite ends of the valve body to support the valve body with a predetermined gap formed between the predetermined surface and the facing surface, the plate springs applying elastic force to the valve body in accordance with an amount of movement of the valve body in a predetermined direction, and (d) an actuator for reciprocating the valve body in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Akihiro ITO, Masayuki KOUKETSU, Keiichi NISHIKAWA, Yasuhisa HIROSE, Takahiro MINATANI
  • Patent number: 10907748
    Abstract: The flow path switching valve includes (a) a valve body having an open flow path which opens on a predetermined surface over a predetermined length in a predetermined direction, (b) a main body having a plurality of ports which open on a facing surface facing the predetermined surface at an interval shorter than the predetermined length in the predetermined direction, and a plurality of connection flow paths connected to the plurality of ports, (c) plate springs attached on both ends of the valve body in the predetermined direction so as to support the valve body such that a predetermined gap is formed between the predetermined surface and the facing surface, the plate springs applying elastic force onto the valve body according to a movement amount of the valve body in the predetermined direction, and (d) an actuator which drives the valve body back and forth in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Ito, Masayuki Kouketsu, Keiichi Nishikawa, Yasuhisa Hirose, Takahiro Minatani
  • Publication number: 20200208745
    Abstract: A spool valve includes: a cylindrical tubular sleeve that extends in an axial direction and comprises a first port and a second port separated from each other in the axial direction, and a cylindrical columnar spool that extends in the axial direction and comprises a diameter reduced portion. The cylindrical columnar spool moves in the axial direction through the sleeve and opens and closes the first port to cause the first port to or not to communicate with the second port, and the first port has a first through hole having a first width in a circumferential direction of the sleeve, and a second through hole having a second width different from the first width in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Hirose, Takahiro Minatani, Keiichi Nishikawa, Yoshinori Tanaka, Naofumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10553463
    Abstract: A temperature control system includes a first temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a first temperature; a second temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a second temperature higher than the first temperature; a low-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the first temperature adjustment unit; a high-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the second temperature adjustment unit; a bypass flow path for circulating fluid; a combination flow path for passing fluid from the low-temperature flow path, the high-temperature flow path, and the bypass flow path merged at a merging part; a temperature adjustment part that passes fluid from the combination flow path and cools/heats a member of a semiconductor manufacturing device; and a control device that controls valve positions of variable valves attached to the three flow paths upstream of the merging part and adjusts the flow rate distribution ratio for the three flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Atsuhiko Tabuchi, Hideki Wakai, Kazutoshi Itoh, Yasuhisa Hirose, Keiichi Nishikawa, Takahiro Minatani
  • Publication number: 20190011052
    Abstract: The flow path switching valve includes (a) a valve body having an open flow path which opens on a predetermined surface over a predetermined length in a predetermined direction, (b) a main body having a plurality of ports which open on a facing surface facing the predetermined surface at an interval shorter than the predetermined length in the predetermined direction, and a plurality of connection flow paths connected to the plurality of ports, (c) plate springs attached on both ends of the valve body in the predetermined direction so as to support the valve body such that a predetermined gap is formed between the predetermined surface and the facing surface, the plate springs applying elastic force onto the valve body according to a movement amount of the valve body in the predetermined direction, and (d) an actuator which drives the valve body back and forth in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Akihiro ITO, Masayuki KOUKETSU, Keiichi NISHIKAWA, Yasuhisa HIROSE, Takahiro MINATANI
  • Publication number: 20180269090
    Abstract: A temperature control system includes a first temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a first temperature; a second temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a second temperature higher than the first temperature; a low-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the first temperature adjustment unit; a high-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the second temperature adjustment unit; a bypass flow path for circulating fluid; a combination flow path for passing fluid from the low-temperature flow path, the high-temperature flow path, and the bypass flow path merged at a merging part; a temperature adjustment part that passes fluid from the combination flow path and cools/heats a member of a semiconductor manufacturing device; and a control device that controls valve positions of variable valves attached to the three flow paths upstream of the merging part and adjusts the flow rate distribution ratio for the three flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Atsushi KOBAYASHI, Atsuhiko TABUCHI, Hideki WAKAI, Kazutoshi ITOH, Yasuhisa HIROSE, Keiichi NISHIKAWA, Takahiro MINATANI
  • Patent number: 9984908
    Abstract: A temperature control system includes a first temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a first temperature; a second temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a second temperature higher than the first temperature; a low-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the first temperature adjustment unit; a high-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the second temperature adjustment unit; a bypass flow path for circulating fluid; a combination flow path for passing fluid from the low-temperature flow path, the high-temperature flow path, and the bypass flow path merged at a merging part; a temperature adjustment part that passes fluid from the combination flow path and cools/heats a member of a semiconductor manufacturing device; and a control device that controls valve positions of variable valves attached to the three flow paths upstream of the merging part and adjusts the flow rate distribution ratio for the three flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Atsuhiko Tabuchi, Hideki Wakai, Kazutoshi Itoh, Yasuhisa Hirose, Keiichi Nishikawa, Takahiro Minatani
  • Publication number: 20140262199
    Abstract: A temperature control system includes a first temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a first temperature; a second temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a second temperature higher than the first temperature; a low-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the first temperature adjustment unit; a high-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the second temperature adjustment unit; a bypass flow path for circulating fluid; a combination flow path for passing fluid from the low-temperature flow path, the high-temperature flow path, and the bypass flow path merged at a merging part; a temperature adjustment part that passes fluid from the combination flow path and cools/heats a member of a semiconductor manufacturing device; and a control device that controls valve positions of variable valves attached to the three flow paths upstream of the merging part and adjusts the flow rate distribution ratio for the three flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: Tokyo Electron Limited, CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Atsuhiko Tabuchi, Hideki Wakai, Kazutoshi Itoh, Yasuhisa Hirose, Keiichi Nishikawa, Takahiro Minatani
  • Publication number: 20100116484
    Abstract: The temperature control device comprises a heating pathway that heats and circulates the fluid in the temperature adjustment unit, a cooling pathway that cools and circulates the fluid in the temperature adjustment unit, a bypass pathway that circulates the fluid in the temperature adjustment unit without passing the fluid through the heating pathway and the cooling pathway, an adjustment means that adjusts a flow ratio of the fluid that is supplied from the heating pathway, cooling pathway, and bypass pathway to the temperature adjustment unit, and a flow means that flows the fluid in order to circulate the fluid, and wherein a heating unit for heating the fluid is arranged in the heating pathway, and the flow means is disposed downstream from the heating unit along at least one of the pathways for circulating the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicants: CKD CORPORATION, TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Norio KOKUBO, Yasuhisa HIROSE, Kazuhiko KUSAKA, Keiichi NISHIKAWA, Takahiro MINATANI