Patents by Inventor Tomoaki Sugawara

Tomoaki Sugawara 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: 20190103548
    Abstract: An element 1 includes a pair of electrodes 2 and 3, and an intermediate layer 4 having deformability, arranged between the pair of electrodes 2 and 3, and containing, as a material, a silicon compound including an unpaired electron. The intermediate layer 4 may contain a particle including the unpaired electron. The intermediate layer 4 may have rubber elasticity. The intermediate layer 4 may have at least one peak at a g value between 2.070 and 2.001 when being measured at an environment temperature of ?150° C. by using an electron spin resonance (ESR) device. The intermediate layer 4 may have at least one peak at a g value between 2.070 and 2.001 when being measured at an environment temperature of ?150° C. by using the electron spin resonance (ESR) device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Tomoaki SUGAWARA, Tsuneaki KONDOH, Yuko ARIZUMI, Junichiro NATORI, Mizuki OTAGIRI, Mayuka ARAUMI, Megumi KITAMURA, Takahiro IMAI, Makito NAKASHIMA, Hideyuki MIYAZAWA
  • Patent number: 10248241
    Abstract: A digital signage system includes a transducer configured to transform a pressure to an electrical signal; a control apparatus configured to change information in association with the intensity of the electrical signal; and an output apparatus configured to output the information to an output target based on a command of the control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuneaki Kondoh, Tomoaki Sugawara, Yuko Arizumi, Junichiro Natori, Mizuki Otagiri, Takahiro Imai
  • Publication number: 20190089353
    Abstract: An input element includes: a first electrode and a second electrode that face each other; and an intermediate layer disposed between the first and the second electrodes and made of rubber or a rubber composition, the rubber or rubber composition containing siloxane. The intermediate layer is made of rubber or a rubber composition, the rubber or rubber composition containing siloxane that has a silicon atom bound to three to four oxygen atoms. The intermediate layer has concentration profiles such that, while oxygen increases from one side to the other side of a thickness direction thereof and has a maximal value, carbon decreases from the one side to the other side thereof and has a minimal value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Mayuka ARAUMI, Yuko ARIZUMI, Makito NAKASHIMA, Megumi KITAMURA, Tomoaki SUGAWARA, Tsuneaki KONDOH, Takahiro IMAI, Junichiro NATORI, Hideyuki MIYAZAWA, Mizuki OTAGIRI
  • Publication number: 20190061179
    Abstract: Emergency stop pressure sensors 17 are installed on both side surfaces of a movable link 11 of a robot arm 14 of an assembly robot. When a worker S unintentionally walks in a swing range Ra of the robot arm 14 and contacts the emergency stop pressure sensor 17, a detection signal is transmitted to a control unit 19, and the control unit 19 shuts power transmission to a driving source swinging the robot arm. The emergency stop pressure sensor 17 has a first electrode and a second electrode constituting a pair of electrodes and an intermediate layer formed of rubber or a rubber composition, which is disposed between the pair of electrodes, the intermediate layer generating power upon deformation caused by contact with a contacted body (the worker). A side of the intermediate layer in a laminate direction undergoes surface modification treatment and/or inactivation treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Junichiro NATORI, Tsuneaki KONDOH, Tomoaki SUGAWARA, Mayuka ARAUMI, Takahiro IMAI, Hideyuki MIYAZAWA, Mizuki OTAGIRI
  • Publication number: 20190030732
    Abstract: A gripping device 18 is provided at the front end of an arm of an assembly robot 2. The gripping device 18 includes a pair of grippers 20 and 22 capable of opening and closing. The side configured to come into contact with a part 4, of each gripper 20, 22 includes a pressure-sensitive sensor 24. The pressure-sensitive sensor 24 includes a first electrode and a second electrode serving as a pair of electrodes and an intermediate layer formed of rubber or a rubber composition between the pair of electrodes. The intermediate layer is configured to generate electricity when deformed by contact with an object (part 4). The side configured to come into contact with the object, of the intermediate layer is subjected to a surface modification treatment and has a higher hardness than the opposite side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Tsuneaki KONDOH, Tomoaki SUGAWARA, Yuko ARIZUMI, Mayuka ARAUMI, Mizuki OTAGIRI, Junichiro NATORI, Megumi KITAMURA, Takahiro IMAI, Hideyuki MIYAZAWA, Makito NAKASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20180156639
    Abstract: A sensor includes an electrode, an insulator, a pressure receiver, and a pressure imparting unit. The insulator is disposed at a position facing the electrode and away from the electrode. The pressure receiver is disposed on a surface of the insulator on a side opposite to the electrode. The pressure imparting unit presses a part of the insulator toward the electrode at a position different from the pressure receiver to contact the insulator with the electrode. The insulator generates power by contact charging or separation charging with respect to the electrode, to output the power as a signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Hideyuki MIYAZAWA, Tsuneaki KONDOH, Tomoaki SUGAWARA, Yuko ARIZUMI, Junichiro NATORI, Mayuka ARAUMI, Takahiro IMAI, Makito NAKASHIMA, Kimio AOKI, Mizuki OTAGIRI, Megumi KITAMURA, Yuki HOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20180149685
    Abstract: A sensor includes a first detector and a second detector. The first detector detects an electromagnetic noise varying according to a distance between the sensor and a human body and changes an output according to the electromagnetic noise detected. The second detector detects a detection load applied to a detection surface of the sensor and changes an output according to the detection load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Makito NAKASHIMA, Tsuneaki KONDOH, Tomoaki SUGAWARA, Junichiro NATORI, Yuko ARIZUMI, Mayuka ARAUMI, Hideyuki MIYAZAWA, Kimio AOKI, Takahiro IMAI, Mizuki OTAGIRI, Megumi KITAMURA, Yuki HOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20180145244
    Abstract: A sensor includes a plurality of elements and an insulating layer. The plurality of elements is deformable to generate power. The insulating layer is interposed between the plurality of elements. Each of the plurality of elements includes a pair of electrodes and an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is disposed between the pair of electrodes and formed of one of a rubber and a rubber composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Mizuki OTAGIRI, Tsuneaki KONDOH, Yuko ARIZUMI, Tomoaki SUGAWARA, Junichiro NATORI, Mayuka ARAUMI, Hideyuki MIYAZAWA, Makito NAKASHIMA, Kimio AOKI, Takahiro IMAI, Megumi KITAMURA, Yuki HOSHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9960714
    Abstract: A power generating element is provided. The power generating element includes a piezoelectric body and a pair of electrodes. The piezoelectric body is expandable and contractible in response to a movement of a moving body. The piezoelectric body undergoes a deformation when expanding or contracting and generates power when undergoing the deformation. The pair of electrodes extracts the power generated as the piezoelectric body undergoes the deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuneaki Kondoh, Tomoaki Sugawara, Mayuka Araumi, Yuko Arizumi, Mizuki Otagiri, Junichiro Natori, Megumi Kitamura, Takahiro Imai, Hideyuki Miyazawa, Makito Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20180054141
    Abstract: To provide an element including: a first electrode; an intermediate layer; and a second electrode, the first electrode, the intermediate layer, and the second electrode being disposed in this order, the intermediate layer including an organic polymer material, where a molecular structure of the organic polymer material includes a structure represented by the following formula (1) where R1 is a carbonyl group, an ether group, a thioether group, or organopolysiloxane, and R1 may form a cyclic structure (an imide group) with R2; and R2 to R6 are organic groups that may be identical or different, where each of the organic groups may have a valency of 2 or more and may form another structure:
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Junichiro NATORI, Tsuneaki KONDOH, Tomoaki SUGAWARA, Yuko ARIZUMI, Takahiro IMAI, Mizuki OTAGIRI
  • Patent number: 9893652
    Abstract: An electricity-generating element unit including a plurality of electricity-generating elements, each of the plurality of electricity-generating elements including a first electrode, an intermediate layer, and a second electrode disposed with the intermediate layer being between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a coupling unit coupling the plurality of electricity-generating elements to each other, wherein when an external force is applied to at least one of the plurality of electricity-generating elements to bring the first electrode and the second electrode of the at least one of the plurality of electricity-generating elements close to each other, a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode of the electricity-generating element or each of the electricity-generating elements to which an external force is not applied is increased by the coupling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mizuki Otagiri, Tsuneaki Kondoh, Tomoaki Sugawara, Yuko Arizumi, Junichiro Natori, Takahiro Imai
  • Publication number: 20180013057
    Abstract: An element including: a first electrode; an intermediate layer made of a silicone rubber composition containing a silicone rubber; and a second electrode, where the first electrode, the intermediate layer, and the second electrode are disposed in this order, wherein a peak intensity ratio (1095±5 cm?1/1025±5 cm?1) of an infrared absorption spectrum of the intermediate layer varies along a vertical direction relative to a surface of the first electrode, and to a surface of the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Yuko ARIZUMI, Tsuneaki KONDOH, Mizuki OTAGIRI, Junichiro NATORI, Tomoaki SUGAWARA, Takahiro IMAI
  • Publication number: 20170324023
    Abstract: An element, including a first electrode, an intermediate layer, and a second electrode, the first electrode, the intermediate layer, and the second electrode being laminated in this order, wherein the intermediate layer has flexibility, and wherein a deformation amount on a side of the first electrode of the intermediate layer is different from a deformation amount on a side of the second electrode of the intermediate layer when a pressure is applied to the intermediate layer in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the intermediate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuneaki KONDOH, Junichiro NATORI, Tomoaki SUGAWARA, Yuko ARIZUMI
  • Publication number: 20170214338
    Abstract: A power generating element is provided. The power generating element includes a pair of electrodes, an intermediate layer being insulating, and a substrate being flexible. The intermediate layer is disposed between the electrodes. The substrate is configured to support the electrodes and the intermediate layer. When the substrate undergoes a deformation, the intermediate layer is separated from or pressed against one of the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Mizuki OTAGIRI, Tsuneaki KONDOH, Tomoaki SUGAWARA, Yuko ARIZUMI, Junichiro NATORI, Mayuka ARAUMI, Takahiro IMAI, Hideyuki MIYAZAWA, Makito NAKASHIMA, Megumi KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20170207729
    Abstract: A power generating element is provided. The power generating element includes a piezoelectric body and a pair of electrodes. The piezoelectric body is expandable and contractible in response to a movement of a moving body. The piezoelectric body undergoes a deformation when expanding or contracting and generates power when undergoing the deformation. The pair of electrodes extracts the power generated as the piezoelectric body undergoes the deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Tsuneaki KONDOH, Tomoaki SUGAWARA, Mayuka ARAUMI, Yuko ARIZUMI, Mizuki OTAGIRI, Junichiro NATORI, Megumi KITAMURA, Takahiro IMAI, Hideyuki MIYAZAWA, Makito NAKASHIMA
  • Patent number: 9705429
    Abstract: A power generating element is provided. The power generating element includes a pair of electrodes and an intermediate layer disposed between the pair of electrodes. The intermediate layer includes an insulating elastic body. The power generating element is flexibly bendable when receiving an external force, while causing a sliding transfer between at least one of the electrodes and at least one surface of the intermediate layer which faces the at least one of the electrodes, due to a difference in curvature between the electrodes and the intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Sugawara, Junichiro Natori, Tsuneaki Kondoh, Yuko Arizumi, Takahiro Imai, Mizuki Otagiri, Mayuka Araumi, Megumi Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20170170749
    Abstract: A power generating device is provided. The power generating device includes an element and a moving member. The element is deformable and generates power when deforming. The moving member moves when receiving a vibration, and contacts the element when moving. When the moving member contacts the element, the element deforms into another state or returns to a previous state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Yuko Arizumi, Tsuneaki Kondoh, Takahiro Imai, Mizuki Otagiri, Mayuka Araumi, Tomoaki Sugawara, Junichiro Natori, Megumi Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20170149357
    Abstract: A power generating element is provided. The power generating element includes an electrode pair and an intermediate layer. The electrode pair includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The intermediate layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The intermediate layer is insulating and has a first side facing the first electrode and a second side facing the second electrode. The first electrode and the intermediate layer together operate as a contact/separation mechanism configured to perform a contact/separation operation, when an external force is applied to the power generating element to generate power. In the contact/separation operation, the contact/separation mechanism transitions between a contact or close state in which the first electrode and the first side are brought into contact with each other or close to each other, and a separation state in which the first electrode and the first side are separated from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Mizuki OTAGIRI, Tsuneaki Kondoh, Yuko Arizumi, Tomoaki Sugawara, Junichiro Natori, Mayuka Araumi, Takahiro Imai, Megumi Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20170148973
    Abstract: A power generating device is provided. The power generating device includes an element having flexibility and a support to support at least one portion of the element. The element is capable of undergoing a deformation when receiving a vibration and capable of generating power when undergoing the deformation. The deformation includes at least one of a bending deformation, a torsional deformation, and a bending-torsional complex deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Takahiro IMAI, Tsuneaki KONDOH, Tomoaki SUGAWARA, Yuko ARIZUMI, Junichiro NATORI, Mayuka ARAUMl, Mizuki OTAGIRI, Megumi KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20170093305
    Abstract: A power generating element is provided. The power generating element includes a pair of electrodes and an intermediate layer disposed between the pair of electrodes. The intermediate layer includes an insulating elastic body. The power generating element is flexibly bendable when receiving an external force, while causing a sliding transfer between at least one of the electrodes and at least one surface of the intermediate layer which faces the at least one of the electrodes, due to a difference in curvature between the electrodes and the intermediate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Tomoaki SUGAWARA, Junichiro Natori, Tsuneaki Kondoh, Yuko Arizumi, Takahiro Imai, Mizuki Otagiri, Mayuka Araumi, Megumi Kitamura