Patents by Inventor Tomohiko Kawai

Tomohiko Kawai 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: 11956896
    Abstract: A printed wiring board includes a first insulating layer, a conductor layer, and a second insulating layer. The conductor layer includes first and second circuits such that space is formed between the circuits, the first circuit has first and second side walls, the second circuit has third and fourth side walls such that the second wall faces the third wall, the first circuit has first, second and third portions, the second circuit has fourth, fifth and sixth portions such that the first and fourth portions, the second and fifth portions and the third and sixth portions face each other, the first circuit is formed such that the second wall of the second portion is recessed from the second wall of the first and third portions, and the first insulating layer has recess between the second and fifth portions such that the second insulating layer is filling the space and recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: IBIDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiko Murata, Yoshiteru Hashimoto, Yoshiki Kawai, Hideyuki Goto
  • Patent number: 10866574
    Abstract: A machine tool controller includes: a servo control unit that generates a positional error based on a difference between a position command for moving a tool and a present position of the tool and generates a drive command for a motor that moves the tool based on the positional error; and a displacement meter that measures a machining surface displacement amount of the workpiece. The servo control unit includes: a compensation amount calculating unit that calculates a shape error of the workpiece with respect to a desired shape for each rotation angle of the workpiece based on the measured machining surface displacement amount and obtains a compensation amount of the positional error based on the calculated shape error of the workpiece; and a first compensation unit that compensates the positional error for each rotation angle of the workpiece based on the calculated compensation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto Sonoda, Tomohiko Kawai, Haruhisa Yago
  • Publication number: 20190163161
    Abstract: A machine tool controller includes: a servo control unit that generates a positional error based on a difference between a position command for moving a tool and a present position of the tool and generates a drive command for a motor that moves the tool based on the positional error; and a displacement meter that measures a machining surface displacement amount of the workpiece. The servo control unit includes: a compensation amount calculating unit that calculates a shape error of the workpiece with respect to a desired shape for each rotation angle of the workpiece based on the measured machining surface displacement amount and obtains a compensation amount of the positional error based on the calculated shape error of the workpiece; and a first compensation unit that compensates the positional error for each rotation angle of the workpiece based on the calculated compensation amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Naoto Sonoda, Tomohiko Kawai, Haruhisa Yago
  • Patent number: 8038385
    Abstract: A spindle device driven by driving fluid, having accurate rotation and superior quietness. The device includes a stator having at least one inlet for introducing the driving fluid, a rotor having at least one flange arranged outside of the stator and provided with nozzles for jetting the driving fluid, and a static-pressure fluid bearing for rotatably supporting the rotor with respect to the stator. The stator has a first inner path for conducting the driving fluid introduced from the inlet to the rotor and the rotor has a second inner path communicating with the first inner path of the stator for conducting the driving fluid to the nozzles. The driving fluid introduced from the inlet of the stator is jetted from the nozzles of the rotor through the first and second inner paths to rotate the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Tomohiko Kawai, Kenzo Ebihara, Takeshi Ooki
  • Patent number: 7905691
    Abstract: An ultra-precision machine tool capable of accurately detecting a machining start position, in which movable axes are supported by fluid bearings. A workpiece is mounted on a rotary table of a B axis, and the rotary table is mounted on an X axis that is a linear motion axis. A tool is mounted on a Y axis. The Y axis is mounted on a Z axis. The X axis is moved reciprocally each time the Z axis is moved a predetermined amount, a machining surface of the workpiece is scanned, and it is determined whether or not position deviation of the X, Y and B axes reaches or exceeds a reference value. The Y axis is driven and the tool is moved toward the workpiece a predetermined amount, and the above-described scan is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Fanu Ltd
    Inventors: Yonpyo Hon, Kenzo Ebihara, Tomohiko Kawai
  • Patent number: 7901477
    Abstract: An interior of a machine tool and a machining area are divided for communication by a labyrinth. The machining area is covered by a cover. Air discharged from an air bearing flows from the machine tool interior into the machining area through the labyrinth. The cover for the machining area is provided with an exhaust unit for discharging the air from the air bearing or a mist produced in the machining area to the outside of the machine tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Tomohiko Kawai, Kenzo Ebihara, Takeshi Ooki
  • Patent number: 7874497
    Abstract: A temperature control system for a machine tool capable of quickly responding to an ambient temperature change. A mechanical section of the machine tool is surrounded by a machine cover. Gas of which temperature is controlled by a temperature controller is discharged from bearing portions of gas bearings in the mechanical section to a region surrounded by the machine cover through a pipe and a gas bearing channel. A branch pipe is provided for directly introducing a part of gas discharged from the temperature controller to a temperature sensor inside the machine cover. The temperature sensor measures the temperature of gas mixture obtained by mixing the gas introduced directly from the pipe with air inside the machine cover in a predetermined ratio. The result of measurement by the temperature sensor is fed back to the temperature controller to control the temperature of the gas supplied to the gas bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Tomohiko Kawai, Kenzo Ebihara, Hiroshi Minami
  • Patent number: 7850406
    Abstract: A method for setting a working origin for a rotary tool in contact with a work piece to be machined, having: applying to a main spindle which holds the rotary tool, with a tip of a cutting edge of the rotary tool in contact with an outer surface of the work piece fixed to a work table, a load torque to such an extent that the rotary tool is not caused to be rotated; applying the load torque to the main spindle, and moving either the work table or the main spindle in a jog feed in a direction of any one of feed shafts such that the tip of the cutting edge is moved away from the outer surface along an axial direction of the rotary tool or in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction; and setting a coordinate at the moment when the main spindle starts rotation as a working origin of the jog feed in the direction of the any one of the feed shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Tomohiko Kawai, Kenzo Ebihara, Yonpyo Hon
  • Patent number: 7852031
    Abstract: A machine tool capable of automatically correcting an orientation of a workpiece or machining attachment based on detection results from position detectors that the machine tool inherently has. The machine tool comprises: position detectors; position deviation determining means; contact detection means that detects a contact between a probe and a surface of the workpiece or the machining attachment based on a position deviation; movable axis stopping means; coordinate value detection means; inclination determining means; and correction means. The inclination determining means moves linear axes to perform detection of contacts between the probe and the surface of the workpiece or the machining attachment at least two different points, and determines an inclination of the workpiece or the machining attachment using the obtained coordinate values. The correction means corrects a mounting error of the workpiece or the machining attachment, or corrects the machining program based on the determined inclination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Yonpyo Hon, Kenzo Ebihara, Tomohiko Kawai
  • Patent number: 7651272
    Abstract: A method of assembling an air bearing, the air bearing having a guide on a fixed side, and a slider having a pair of opposing members arranged on opposite sides of the guide, the slider being float-supported so as to be able to move relative to the guide, the method having: contacting a first opposing member of the pair of opposing members to the guide; supplying compressed air of a predetermined pressure between the first opposing member and the guide contacting each other, so as to form a temporary gap twice as large as a target bearing gap between the first opposing member and the guide; maintaining contact between the guide and a second opposing member of the pair of opposing members; and supplying compressed air of a predetermined pressure between the first opposing member and the guide as well as the second opposing member and the guide, so as to form respective target bearing gaps between first and second opposing members and the guide, in place of the temporary gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Tomohiko Kawai, Kenzo Ebihara, Hiroshi Minami
  • Publication number: 20090229246
    Abstract: A spindle device driven by driving fluid, having accurate rotation and superior quietness. The device includes a stator having at least one inlet for introducing the driving fluid, a rotor having at least one flange arranged outside of the stator and provided with nozzles for jetting the driving fluid, and a static-pressure fluid bearing for rotatably supporting the rotor with respect to the stator. The stator has a first inner path for conducting the driving fluid introduced from the inlet to the rotor and the rotor has a second inner path communicating with the first inner path of the stator for conducting the driving fluid to the nozzles. The driving fluid introduced from the inlet of the stator is jetted from the nozzles of the rotor through the first and second inner paths to rotate the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Tomohiko KAWAI, Kenzo EBIHARA, Takeshi OOKI
  • Patent number: 7578228
    Abstract: An air balance structure that compensates for the weight load of a movable member driven in a straight line along the vertical axis, with a simplified structure and at reduced cost. The box-shaped movable member has an open bottom that accommodates the stationary member therewithin, in which state the movable member is movably supported in the vertical direction by an air bearing created using a gap between the stationary member and the movable member. An air balance chamber that contains pressurized air is formed inside the movable member. After pressure-adjusted air is supplied from the outside to the gap from a jet port through a pipe inside the stationary member, the air flows into the air balance chamber. This flow seals the pressurized air inside the air balance chamber. Pressurized air exhaust is exhausted externally from an exhaust port through a pipe and a flow adjusting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: FANUC Ltd
    Inventors: Tomohiko Kawai, Kenzo Ebihara
  • Patent number: 7528561
    Abstract: A linear drive apparatus comprising: a guide having an internal body; a slider moved along the guide, a driving mechanism for generating a driving force by magnetic interaction of the slider with the guide so as to linearly drive the slider; and a magnetic measurement unit having a magnetic scale and a detector which are opposed to each other and change a relative position relative to each other in order to obtain the relative position of the slider relative to the guide, wherein an opposing direction of the magnetic scale and the detector is the direction of the outer circumference of the guide, and the detector detects a signal from the magnetic scale in accordance with the relative position of the slider, whereby the relative position of the slider is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Tomohiko Kawai, Kenzo Ebihara, Osamu Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20090067764
    Abstract: Materials with different thermal expansion coefficients are selected individually for a bearing guide and a slider that constitute a fluid bearing. The guide and the slider are combined in close contact with each other (i.e., with a zero bearing clearance between the two) in a temperature environment different from a temperature at which the fluid bearing is actually used. In consequence, the bearing clearance at the operating temperature can be adjusted based on a difference from the temperature for the fluid bearing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Tomohiko KAWAI, Kenzo EBIHARA
  • Patent number: 7492066
    Abstract: A sliding member having an attached tool reciprocates along a guide member. Permanent magnets are placed at both ends of the reciprocating motion path of the sliding member and permanent magnets are also placed in positions on the guide member that correspond to stroke ends of the sliding member. At the points at which the motion of the sliding member reverses, the permanent magnets approach one another and generate a repulsive force, thereby accelerating the sliding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Tomohiko Kawai, Kenzo Ebihara
  • Publication number: 20090033271
    Abstract: A machine tool capable of automatically correcting an orientation of a workpiece or machining attachment based on detection results from position detectors that the machine tool inherently has. The machine tool comprises: position detectors; position deviation determining means; contact detection means that detects a contact between a probe and a surface of the workpiece or the machining attachment based on a position deviation; movable axis stopping means; coordinate value detection means; inclination determining means; and correction means. The inclination determining means moves linear axes to perform detection of contacts between the probe and the surface of the workpiece or the machining attachment at least two different points, and determines an inclination of the workpiece or the machining attachment using the obtained coordinate values. The correction means corrects a mounting error of the workpiece or the machining attachment, or corrects the machining program based on the determined inclination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Yonpyo HON, Kenzo EBIHARA, Tomohiko KAWAI
  • Publication number: 20090030560
    Abstract: A temperature control system for a machine tool capable of quickly responding to an ambient temperature change. A mechanical section of the machine tool is surrounded by a machine cover. Gas of which temperature is controlled by a temperature controller is discharged from bearing portions of gas bearings in the mechanical section to a region surrounded by the machine cover through a pipe and a gas bearing channel. A branch pipe is provided for directly introducing a part of gas discharged from the temperature controller to a temperature sensor inside the machine cover. The temperature sensor measures the temperature of gas mixture obtained by mixing the gas introduced directly from the pipe with air inside the machine cover in a predetermined ratio. The result of measurement by the temperature sensor is fed back to the temperature controller to control the temperature of the gas supplied to the gas bearings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Tomohiko Kawai, Kenzo Ebihara, Hiroshi Minami
  • Publication number: 20090030637
    Abstract: A machine tool position detection error measurement method that eliminates the effects of pitch, yaw, and roll of the axes at the point of machining of a CNC machine tool and improved machining accuracy. The method comprises a step of compensating positioning accuracy of a positioning-error-measuring linear scale using a laser distance-measuring device, a step of mounting the compensated positioning-error-measuring linear scale parallel to a linear axis of the machine tool, and a step of comparing a motion amount obtained from the position detector by moving the linear axis a certain amount and a motion amount read from the positioning-error-measuring linear scale mounted parallel to the linear axis and storing a difference therebetween as error data of the position detector for the machine tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Tomohiko KAWAI, Kenzo EBIHARA, Takayuki ODA
  • Publication number: 20080314004
    Abstract: An interior of a machine tool and a machining area are divided for communication by a labyrinth. The machining area is covered by a cover. Air discharged from an air bearing flows from the machine tool interior into the machining area through the labyrinth. The cover for the machining area is provided with an exhaust unit for discharging the air from the air bearing or a mist produced in the machining area to the outside of the machine tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Tomohiko KAWAI, Kenzo EBIHARA, Takeshi OOKI
  • Publication number: 20080249741
    Abstract: An image display method for displaying a surface shape by measuring the surface shape of an object surface of a work piece to be measured with a contact probe placed on a machine and displaying the surface shape of said object surface on a screen based on measured shape data of the object surface, the method having: measuring a multiplicity of measuring positions on the object surface to be measured with the probe while relatively moving the probe on the object surface in order to obtain continuous shape data of the object surface; and displaying the surface shape of the object surface in real time based on the continuous shape data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Yonpyo HON, Kenzo EBIHARA, Akira YAMAMOTO, Tomohiko KAWAI