Patents by Inventor Takashi Minami

Takashi Minami 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: 20240383157
    Abstract: A substrate transfer robot includes: a hand that supports a substrate; and an arm that operates the hand. The hand includes an adsorption holder that holds a back surface of the substrate by adsorption, and is stretchable to lower a height position of an upper end thereof, a friction holder that holds the back surface by friction in a state where the adsorption holder supporting the substrate contracts, and a non-contact holder that holds the back surface in a non-contact manner, in a state where the adsorption holder and the friction holder hold the back surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Koji NAGAFUCHI, Makoto TARUNO, Hiroki SANEMASA, Takashi MINAMI
  • Publication number: 20240312821
    Abstract: An automatic teaching apparatus for semiconductor manufacturing equipment includes: an equipment front end module (EFEM); one or more load ports provided along an edge of one side of the EFEM to be connected to an inside of the EFEM; a transfer robot disposed in the inside of the EFEM and configured to transfer a wafer to the one or more load ports by an end effector to process the wafer, and a load port teaching unit configured to detect a fixed position of the end effector in a state of unloading the wafer such that the wafer is placed in the fixed position within the load port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Jung-ho YUN, Yonggu KANG, Mid Uem RYU, Hiroki SANEMASA, Takashi MINAMI, Daisuke HIGASHITARUMIZU
  • Publication number: 20240278433
    Abstract: A robot system includes a robot that supports and transfers a substrate W using a hand, a target capable of being placed instead of the substrate, a sensor provided on the hand to detect the target in a non-contact manner while facing the target a first detector that detects a position of the target in the first direction based on a detection result of the sensor facing the target long the first direction and a position of the sensor, and a second detector that controls the robot to move the sensor along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and detects a position of the target in the second direction based on a change in the detection result of the sensor due to movement along the second direction and the position of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Koji NAGAFUCHI, Hiroki SANEMASA, Takashi MINAMI
  • Patent number: 12021819
    Abstract: The disclosed technique provides a message communication method comprising: receiving, from a client providing a message delivery service to a user of the client, an address of the user and a message to be transmitted to the address, the address being a phone number of the user or an address equivalent to the phone number; searching a database by using the address and outputting a first search result; associating the address with an opt-in status and storing the address in the database in a case where the first search result indicates that there was no hit for the address; controlling transmission of the message in such a manner as to inhibit the transmission of the message to the address in a case where the first search result indicates that the address has an opt-out status, and to transmit the message to the address in a case where the first search result indicates that the address has an opt-in status or that there was no hit for the address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: ACCRETE, INC.
    Inventors: Yusei Tanaka, Keiichi Kamikawa, Takashi Minami
  • Publication number: 20240186175
    Abstract: A substrate transfer apparatus includes a hand that transfers a substrate from a cassette that accommodates substrates in multiple stages in a vertical direction; a movement mechanism that moves the hand; a controller that controls the movement mechanism; and a first detection unit that detects the substrate. The controller includes an offset amount change unit that changes an offset amount by which the hand is moved up and down from a substrate support height of the cassette when the hand loads and unloads the substrate with respect to the cassette, according to a thickness or a deflection amount of the substrate detected by the first detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2023
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Takashi MINAMI, Yoshiki KIMURA, Hiroki SANEMASA
  • Publication number: 20240178043
    Abstract: A substrate transfer robot system teaches a transfer position of a substrate to a substrate transfer robot that transfers the substrate. The substrate transfer robot includes: a hand that transfers the substrate; a movement mechanism that moves the hand in horizontal and vertical directions; and first and second sensors that are provided on the hand and radiates a scanning line in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. The substrate transfer robot system includes: a controller that controls the hand and the movement mechanism; and a first portion to be detected and a second portion to be detected. The controller operates the hand to detect the first portion by the first and second sensors and detect the second portion by the second sensor, and calculates and stores the transfer position based on position information of the hand when the first and second portions are detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2023
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Hiroki SANEMASA, Koji NAGAFUCHI, Takashi MINAMI
  • Publication number: 20240109200
    Abstract: A transfer system includes a robot that loads and unloads a substrate to and from a cassette that accommodates a plurality of substrates in multiple stages; and a controller configured to control an operation of the robot. The robot includes: a hand that transfers the substrate, a horizontal movement mechanism that moves the hand in a width direction of the cassette in a front side of the cassette, and a lift mechanism that moves up and down the hand in the front side of the cassette. The hand includes a reflective sensor on a distal end side thereof facing the cassette to detect an object in the cassette. The controller operates the horizontal movement mechanism causing the reflective sensor to perform a horizontal scanning such that the reflective sensor facing the substrate scans in the width direction of the substrate accommodated in the cassette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Koji NAGAFUCHI, Keisuke HIGASHI, Takashi MINAMI
  • Publication number: 20230300099
    Abstract: The disclosed technique provides a message communication method comprising: receiving, from a client providing a message delivery service to a user of the client, an address of the user and a message to be transmitted to the address, the address being a phone number of the user or an address equivalent to the phone number; searching a database by using the address and outputting a first search result; associating the address with an opt-in status and storing the address in the database in a case where the first search result indicates that there was no hit for the address; controlling transmission of the message in such a manner as to inhibit the transmission of the message to the address in a case where the first search result indicates that the address has an opt-out status, and to transmit the message to the address in a case where the first search result indicates that the address has an opt-in status or that there was no hit for the address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Yusei TANAKA, Keiichi KAMIKAWA, Takashi MINAMI
  • Patent number: 11638998
    Abstract: A transfer system includes a hand that supports a workpiece to be transported; an arm that moves the hand; a scanning controller that moves the hand by the arm along a scanning direction that intersects sides which are provided to be fixed to the hand and not parallel with each other, such that the sides pass a known reference position in a transfer path of the workpiece; and a position detector that detects a positional deviation of the hand in a direction intersecting the scanning direction, based on a timing at which one of the side reaches the reference position and a timing at which the other side reaches the reference position RP, while the scanning controller is moving the hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Takashi Minami, Yoshiki Kimura
  • Publication number: 20200189115
    Abstract: A transfer system includes a hand that supports a workpiece to be transported; an arm that moves the hand; a scanning controller that moves the hand by the arm along a scanning direction that intersects sides which are provided to be fixed to the hand and not parallel with each other, such that the sides pass a known reference position in a transfer path of the workpiece; and a position detector that detects a positional deviation of the hand in a direction intersecting the scanning direction, based on a timing at which one of the side reaches the reference position and a timing at which the other side reaches the reference position RP, while the scanning controller is moving the hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Takashi Minami, Yoshiki Kimura
  • Patent number: 10580676
    Abstract: A robot system includes a robot including a first hand, a second hand, an arm mechanism, and an elevator. The first hand is to hold a substrate. The second hand is to hold the substrate. The arm mechanism supports the first hand and the second hand to provide a height difference between the first hand and the second hand in a height direction of the robot. The elevator is to move the arm mechanism in the height direction within a moving range larger than the height difference. Both the first hand and the second hand put the substrate in the holder. Circuitry is configured to control the robot to move the arm mechanism in the height direction by the elevator to pass the substrate from the first hand to the second hand via the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Takashi Minami, Yoshiki Kimura
  • Patent number: 10134620
    Abstract: A robot system includes: a robotic hand configured to load and unload a workpiece into and from a cassette in which a plurality of workpieces are aligned in a first direction; a sensor configured to detect the workpiece; a transporter configured to change a relative position of the sensor with respect to the cassette in the first direction and in a second direction; and circuitry configured to: control the transporter to arrange the sensor at a first position; command the sensor to scan in the first direction, to acquire first mapping data; control the transporter to arrange the sensor at a second position by changing the relative position of the sensor in the second direction; command the sensor to scan in the first direction, to acquire second mapping data; and determine that one or more of the workpieces are inclined based on the first and second mapping data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Shinichi Katsuda, Takashi Minami
  • Patent number: 10105307
    Abstract: Provided is a makeup cosmetic which has a good feeling of use, without showing tautness or stiffness as in the case of using a silicone-based resin film or an offensive odor as in the case of using polyisoprene, and exhibits a good effect of preventing color migration. This makeup cosmetic is characterized by comprising polyisobutylene having a relative mass of 30,000-100,000 and a volatile hydrocarbon oil. Also provided are a top coating agent, which can be appropriately applied on the aforesaid makeup cosmetic, imparts glossiness and shows little color migration or blurring, a makeup kit comprising the aforesaid makeup cosmetic and the top coating agent, and a makeup method using the makeup kit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: SHISEIDO COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Noriko Tomita, Hirotaka Takada, Hiroyuki Kakoki, Takashi Minami, Yoriko Mune, Takayuki Miyazaki, Yuko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10048680
    Abstract: A robot system includes a robot including a robot arm, and a first hand and a second hand which are connected to the robot arm and which are provided to independently rotate about an axis on the robot arm; and a controller configured to control an operation of the robot. When the robot arm and the first hand are operated so that the first hand reaches a predetermined target position, teaching values for the first hand in the target position is generated. When the first hand and the second hand are rotated based on the teaching values for the first hand, a relative error in rotation amount around the axis between the first hand and the second hand is acquired and stored in a memory. Teaching values for the second hand is generated from the teaching values for the first hand based on the acquired relative error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventor: Takashi Minami
  • Patent number: 10046308
    Abstract: A production method comprising: adding a hydroxycarboxylic acid to an aqueous solution containing a Ce salt, a Zr salt, an Al salt, and at least one selected from a La salt, an Mg salt, and a Ca salt, to produce a gel, heating the gel to obtain a solid product by decomposition of the salts, firing the solid product to obtain a fired product containing a ceria-zirconia-based regular array phase precursor and an aluminate-based composite oxide precursor, performing a reducing heat treatment of the fired product to obtain a first composite having mutually dispersed therein a pyrochlore phase and an aluminate-based composite oxide, and performing an oxidizing heat treatment of the first composite to obtain a second composite in which at least part of the pyrochlore phase is transformed into a ? phase; and an oxygen storage material having mutually dispersed therein the composite oxide and the regular array phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Minami, Satoshi Nagao
  • Publication number: 20180090357
    Abstract: A robot system includes: a robotic hand configured to load and unload a workpiece into and from a cassette in which a plurality of workpieces are aligned in a first direction; a sensor configured to detect the workpiece; a transporter configured to change a relative position of the sensor with respect to the cassette in the first direction and in a second direction; and circuitry configured to: control the transporter to arrange the sensor at a first position; command the sensor to scan in the first direction, to acquire first mapping data; control the transporter to arrange the sensor at a second position by changing the relative position of the sensor in the second direction; command the sensor to scan in the first direction, to acquire second mapping data; and determine that one or more of the workpieces are inclined based on the first and second mapping data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Shinichi KATSUDA, Takashi MINAMI
  • Patent number: 9908236
    Abstract: A transfer system includes a robot including a hand configured to transfer a substrate, a transfer chamber within which the robot is disposed, a plurality of substrate-storing cassettes disposed side by side on a sidewall of the transfer chamber in a plan view, and a robot control device configured to control an operation of the robot based on teaching information. The robot control device includes an operation controller configured to cause the robot to transfer the substrate to a storage position while slanting a hand centerline toward the robot away from a storage centerline with respect to a first cassette and while superimposing the hand centerline on the storage centerline with respect to a second cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Takashi Minami, Daisuke Shin
  • Patent number: 9751075
    Abstract: A satisfactory oxygen storage material and a method for producing it are provided. The oxygen storage material comprises zirconia particles with a ceria-zirconia complex oxide supported on the zirconia particles. The ceria-zirconia complex oxide includes a pyrochlore phase and has a mean crystallite diameter of 10 nm to 22.9 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION NAGOYA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Satoshi Nagao, Takashi Minami, Shinichi Matsumoto, Hirohito Hirata, Masakuni Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20170178938
    Abstract: A robot system includes a robot including a first hand, a second hand, an arm mechanism, and an elevator. The first hand is to hold a substrate. The second hand is to hold the substrate. The arm mechanism supports the first hand and the second hand to provide a height difference between the first hand and the second hand in a height direction of the robot. The elevator is to move the arm mechanism in the height direction within a moving range larger than the height difference. Both the first hand and the second hand put the substrate in the holder. Circuitry is configured to control the robot to move the arm mechanism in the height direction by the elevator to pass the substrate from the first hand to the second hand via the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Takashi MINAMI, Yoshiki KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20170151551
    Abstract: A production method comprising: adding a hydroxycarboxylic acid to an aqueous solution containing a Ce salt, a Zr salt, an Al salt, and at least one selected from a La salt, an Mg salt, and a Ca salt, to produce a gel, heating the gel to obtain a solid product by decomposition of the salts, firing the solid product to obtain a fired product containing a ceria-zirconia-based regular array phase precursor and an aluminate-based composite oxide precursor, performing a reducing heat treatment of the fired product to obtain a first composite having mutually dispersed therein a pyrochlore phase and an aluminate-based composite oxide, and performing an oxidizing heat treatment of the first composite to obtain a second composite in which at least part of the pyrochlore phase is transformed into a ? phase; and an oxygen storage material having mutually dispersed therein the composite oxide and the regular array phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi MINAMI, Satoshi NAGAO