Patents by Inventor Tomoaki Toratani

Tomoaki Toratani 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: 7999534
    Abstract: A rotation sensor including: a main rotor that integrally rotates with a rotor to be measured; a sub-rotor that rotates in accordance with rotation of the main rotor with a different number of revolutions from that of the main rotor; a first detector detecting rotation of the main rotor; and a second detector detecting rotation of the sub-rotor. The rotation sensor detects an absolute rotation angle of the rotor to be measured from detection signals from the first detector and the second detector. Respective detection signals obtained from the first detector and the second detector are cyclically output in accordance with rotation of each rotor, and the following relationship is satisfied: (Tm?Tc×i)×n=Tm (i and n are positive integers), wherein Tc is a cycle of the detection signal from the first detector, and Tm is a cycle of the detection signal from the second detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Hori, Shinichiro Iizuka, Tomoaki Toratani, Shinya Saito, Kousuke Yamawaki
  • Publication number: 20100114524
    Abstract: A rotation angle detection apparatus has angle detection means that has detection circuits each including a detection element part having a coil and a resistor and that also has inductance changing means that changes the inductance of the coil in accordance with the rotation of a rotation measurement target. The rotation angle detection apparatus further has reference pulse voltage generating means for causing the detection circuits to generate output signals; and calculating means for calculating the output signals of the detection circuits. The calculating means obtains an integral by integrating, for a predetermined time, a transient output voltage occurring when a reference pulse voltage generated by the reference pulse voltage generating means is input to the detection circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: THE FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD
    Inventors: Shinya Saito, Shinji Hori, Tomoaki Toratani
  • Publication number: 20100088062
    Abstract: A rotation angle detecting device comprises a first rotation detecting unit (50) and a second rotation detecting unit (72), that are for detecting continuously a rotation angle of a measurable rotation body (S) with different cycles between each other, wherein the individual rotation detecting units are provided for increasing and decreasing individual output signals, that are obtained in response to a rotation of the measurable rotation body, in a same direction corresponding to a rotational direction of the measurable rotation body, a difference is evaluated for between the individual output signals obtained from the first rotation detecting unit and from the second rotation detecting unit in response to the rotation of the measurable rotation body, and the output difference is used for a detection of an absolute rotation angle within a detectable rotation angle defined by a least common multiple of a cycle of a first output signal obtained from the first rotation detecting unit and a cycle of a second outp
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: THE FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD
    Inventors: Shinji Hori, Tomoaki Toratani
  • Publication number: 20090219014
    Abstract: A rotation sensor including: a main rotor that integrally rotates with a rotor to be measured; a sub-rotor that rotates in accordance with rotation of the main rotor with a different number of revolutions from that of the main rotor; a first detector detecting rotation of the main rotor; and a second detector detecting rotation of the sub-rotor. The rotation sensor detects an absolute rotation angle of the rotor to be measured from detection signals from the first detector and the second detector. Respective detection signals obtained from the first detector and the second detector are cyclically output in accordance with rotation of each rotor, and the following relationship is satisfied: (Tm?Tc×i)×n=Tm (i and n are positive integers), wherein Tc is a cycle of the detection signal from the first detector, and Tm is a cycle of the detection signal from the second detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: The FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Hori, Shinichiro Iizuka, Tomoaki Toratani, Shinya Saito, Kousuke Yamawaki
  • Patent number: 6945126
    Abstract: A rotation sensor functioning as both a rotation-angle sensor and a torque sensor is provided which, when applied to a steering sensor for an automobile, for example, permits reduction in the number of components and thus in the weight of the automobile and contributes to conservation of global environment. The rotation sensor has slip rings covered with conductive synthetic resin having small coefficient of friction, allowing the contact pressure of brushes disposed in sliding contact with the slip rings to be kept low and the life duration of the slip rings to be prolonged. Further, no metal powder is produced when the brushes slide on the respective slip rings, and it is therefore possible to prevent the formation of unwanted insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Toshiro Yamamoto, Hiroshi Morimoto, Kyutaro Abe, Masahiro Hasegawa, Akira Noguchi, Kosuke Yamawaki
  • Patent number: 6820504
    Abstract: A rotation sensor functioning as both a rotation-angle sensor and a torque sensor is provided which, when applied to a steering sensor for an automobile, for example, permits reduction in the number of components and thus in the weight of the automobile and contributes to conservation of global environment. The rotation sensor has slip rings covered with conductive synthetic resin having small coefficient of friction, allowing the contact pressure of brushes disposed in sliding contact with the slip rings to be kept low and the life duration of the slip rings to be prolonged. Further, no metal powder is produced when the brushes slide on the respective slip rings, and it is therefore possible to prevent the formation of unwanted insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Toshiro Yamamoto, Hiroshi Morimoto, Kyutaro Abe, Masahiro Hasegawa, Akira Noguchi, Kosuke Yamawaki
  • Publication number: 20040182174
    Abstract: A rotation sensor functioning as both a rotation-angle sensor and a torque sensor is provided which, when applied to a steering sensor for an automobile, for example, permits reduction in the number of components and thus in the weight of the automobile and contributes to conservation of global environment. The rotation sensor has slip rings covered with conductive synthetic resin having small coefficient of friction, allowing the contact pressure of brushes disposed in sliding contact with the slip rings to be kept low and the life duration of the slip rings to be prolonged. Further, no metal powder is produced when the brushes slide on the respective slip rings, and it is therefore possible to prevent the formation of unwanted insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Toshiro Yamamoto, Hiroshi Morimoto, Kyutaro Abe, Masahiro Hasegawa, Akira Noguchi, Kosuke Yamawaki
  • Patent number: 6782028
    Abstract: A single semiconductor laser device used in a semiconductor laser module of an optical amplifier and having a first light emitting stripe with a diffraction grating and at least one other light emitting stripe with a diffraction grating and which are aligned to respectively emit a first laser beam and at least one other laser beam through one edge surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Tsukiji, Junji Yoshida, Masaki Funabashi, Toshio Kimura, Takeshi Aikiyo, Takeo Shimizu, Toshiro Yamamoto, Tomoaki Toratani, Hiroshi Matsuura, Mieko Konishi, Masashi Nakae
  • Patent number: 6765935
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser module includes a single semiconductor laser device having a first light emitting stripe and at least one other light emitting stripe which are aligned to respectively emit a first laser beam and at least one other laser beam through one edge surface. It also includes a first lens positioned so that the first laser beam and the at least one other laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser device are incident thereon, the first lens configured to separate the first laser beam and the at least one other laser beam. A beam synthesizing member is included and has a first input part on which the first laser beam is incident, at least one other input part on which the at least one other laser beam is incident, and an output part from which the first laser beam emerging from the first input part and the at least one other laser beam emerging from the at least one other input part are multiplexed and emitted as a multiplexed laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Kimura, Masashi Nakae, Takeo Shimizu, Naoki Tsukiji, Junji Yoshida, Masaki Funabashi, Takeshi Aikiyo, Toshiro Yamamoto, Tomoaki Toratani, Hiroshi Matsuura, Mieko Konishi
  • Patent number: 6725734
    Abstract: A rotation sensor functioning as both a rotation-angle sensor and a torque sensor is provided which, when applied to a steering sensor for an automobile, for example, permits reduction in the number of components and thus in the weight of the automobile and contributes to conservation of global environment. The rotation sensor has slip rings covered with conductive synthetic resin having small coefficient of friction, allowing the contact pressure of brushes disposed in sliding contact with the slip rings to be kept low and the life duration of the slip rings to be prolonged. Further, no metal powder is produced when the brushes slide on the respective slip rings, and it is therefore possible to prevent the formation of unwanted insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Toshiro Yamamoto, Hiroshi Morimoto, Kyutaro Abe, Masahiro Hasegawa, Akira Noguchi, Kosuke Yamawaki
  • Publication number: 20040069074
    Abstract: A contact type rotation sensor includes a contact brush having a contact and an electrical resistor disposed for sliding motion relative to the contact. The contact brush provided at a side face of an arm portion with a projecting piece has asymmetric shape and asymmetric weight distribution about its longitudinal axis, and is large in moment of inertia in a direction of torsion. During relative sliding motion, suppressed torsional vibration of the contact occurs not only at natural frequencies but also at dispersed frequencies other than natural frequencies, reducing the sound pressure of sliding sound. A stable contact state is ensured between the contact and the electrical resistor, resulting in improved durability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicants: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo Cosmos Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Toshiro Yamamoto, Hiroshi Morimoto, Akira Noguchi, Kosuke Yamawaki, Toshiaki Yasujima, Yukiaki Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 6715368
    Abstract: A contact type rotation sensor includes a contact brush having a contact and an electrical resistor disposed for sliding motion relative to the contact. The contact brush provided at a side face of an arm portion with a projecting piece has asymmetric shape and asymmetric weight distribution about its longitudinal axis, and is large in moment of inertia in a direction of torsion. During relative sliding motion, suppressed torsional vibration of the contact occurs not only at natural frequencies but also at dispersed frequencies other than natural frequencies, reducing the sound pressure of sliding sound. A stable contact state is ensured between the contact and the electrical resistor, resulting in improved durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignees: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo Cosmos Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Toshiro Yamamoto, Hiroshi Morimoto, Akira Noguchi, Kosuke Yamawaki, Toshiaki Yasujima, Yukiaki Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20040040395
    Abstract: A rotation sensor functioning as both a rotation-angle sensor and a torque sensor is provided which, when applied to a steering sensor for an automobile, for example, permits reduction in the number of components and thus in the weight of the automobile and contributes to conservation of global environment. The rotation sensor has slip rings covered with conductive synthetic resin having small coefficient of friction, allowing the contact pressure of brushes disposed in sliding contact with the slip rings to be kept low and the life duration of the slip rings to be prolonged. Further, no metal powder is produced when the brushes slide on the respective slip rings, and it is therefore possible to prevent the formation of unwanted insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Toshiro Yamamoto, Hiroshi Morimoto, Kyutaro Abe, Masahiro Hasegawa, Akira Noguchi, Kosuke Yamawaki
  • Publication number: 20020105984
    Abstract: A laser beam synthesizing member of a semiconductor laser module used as an optical amplifier that has a prism configured to correct respective optical paths of a plurality of laser beams, a beam synthesizing member configured to synthesize the plurality of laser beams once passed from the prism, and a holder member configured to integrally hold the prism and the beam synthesizing member, and where the beam synthesizing member has a first input part on which a first laser beam is incident, at least one other input part on which an other laser beam is incident, and an output part from which the first laser beam emerging from the first input part and the other laser beam emerging from the at least one other input part are multiplexed and emitted as a multiplexed laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: THE FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiro Yamamoto, Tomoaki Toratani, Toshio Kimura, Naoki Tsukiji, Junji Yoshida, Masaki Funabashi, Takeshi Aikiyo, Takeo Shimizu, Hiroshi Matsuura, Mieko Konishi, Masashi Nakae
  • Publication number: 20020097766
    Abstract: A single semiconductor laser device used in a semiconductor laser module of an optical amplifier and having a first light emitting stripe with a diffraction grating and at least one other light emitting stripe with a diffraction grating and which are aligned to respectively emit a first laser beam and at least one other laser beam through one edge surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: THE FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Tsukiji, Junji Yoshida, Masaki Funabashi, Toshio Kimura, Takeshi Aikiyo, Takeo Shimizu, Toshiro Yamamoto, Tomoaki Toratani, Hiroshi Matsuura, Mieko Konishi, Masashi Nakae
  • Publication number: 20020093738
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser module includes a single semiconductor laser device having a first light emitting stripe and at least one other light emitting stripe which are aligned to respectively emit a first laser beam and at least one other laser beam through one edge surface. It also includes a first lens positioned so that the first laser beam and the at least one other laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser device are incident thereon, the first lens configured to separate the first laser beam and the at least one other laser beam. A beam synthesizing member is included and has a first input part on which the first laser beam is incident, at least one other input part on which the at least one other laser beam is incident, and an output part from which the first laser beam emerging from the first input part and the at least one other laser beam emerging from the at least one other input part are multiplexed and emitted as a multiplexed laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: THE FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshio Kimura, Masashi Nakae, Takeo Shimizu, Naoki Tsukiji, Junji Yoshida, Masaki Funabashi, Takeshi Aikiyo, Toshiro Yamamoto, Tomoaki Toratani, Hiroshi Matsuura, Mieko Konishi
  • Publication number: 20010028765
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical equalizer comprising a body to which optical fibers can be connected, two or more lenses adapted to optically couple the optical fibers together, and two or more etalon filters held by two or more corresponding filter holders and having different free spectrum areas, and wherein, when the two or more filter holders are set in holder insertion holes of the body, respectively, the respective etalon filters held by the filter holders are installed substantially in cascade between the two or more lenses, and the respective filter holders set in the holder insertion holes can be rotated around rotation axes perpendicular to an optical axis independently, and, when the respective filter holders are rotated, planes defined by normal vectors of the two etalon filters held by the adjacent filter holders do not become parallel with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Toshiro Yamamoto, Mamichi Tuyuki