Patents by Inventor Toru Shimura

Toru Shimura 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: 11287294
    Abstract: In order to improve the adaptability of diagnosis of an operating state of a field device, a field device 10 according to the present disclosure has a diagnoser 17 configured to diagnose an operating state of the field device 10 by hierarchically implementing a plurality of diagnostic processes. The diagnoser 17 can select whether to enable or disable a diagnostic result of at least one diagnostic process of a plurality of diagnostic processes in a diagnostic process after the one diagnostic process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Iwashita, Toru Shimura
  • Patent number: 10698388
    Abstract: A field device, which measures a physical quantity in a plant or processes the physical quantity, includes: an instruction unit configured to output a verification execution instruction signal for instructing execution of verification of the field device; an operation verifying unit configured to verify an operation of at least one element of the field device in response to the verification execution instruction signal and to verify an operation of the field device based on the verification result; and an output unit configured to output the verification result which is a result of verification of the operation by the operation verifying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ikuhiko Ishikawa, Toru Shimura, Daisuke Harigane, Shinnosuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10557745
    Abstract: An electromagnetic flow meter includes a flowtube including a coil disposed in the vicinity of a measurement tube, and electrodes disposed on the measurement tube, a converter including an excitation unit configured to generate an excitation signal and output the excitation signal to the coil through an excitation cable, and a detection signal receiving unit configured to receive a detection signal from the electrodes through a signal cable, and generate a flow rate signal, and a miswiring detection unit configured to perform miswiring diagnosis on the excitation cable or the signal cable on the basis of a difference between a change amount of the flow rate signal when the excitation signal is being output and a change amount of the flow rate signal when the excitation signal is not being output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Shimura
  • Publication number: 20200003591
    Abstract: In order to improve the adaptability of diagnosis of an operating state of a field device, a field device 10 according to the present disclosure has a diagnoser 17 configured to diagnose an operating state of the field device 10 by hierarchically implementing a plurality of diagnostic processes. The diagnoser 17 can select whether to enable or disable a diagnostic result of at least one diagnostic process of a plurality of diagnostic processes in a diagnostic process after the one diagnostic process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Iwashita, Toru Shimura
  • Patent number: 10514285
    Abstract: A drive circuit includes a primary power supplier which supplies a primary electric power in accordance with a state of the drive circuit, a secondary power supplier which supplies an operation electric power and an excitation electric power, an excitation current supplier which supplies an excitation current to an excitation coil, a power supply monitor which compares the voltage value of the operation electric power with a voltage threshold and outputs monitoring information, and a controller which determines whether a short circuit has occurred in the excitation coil based on the monitoring information, and stops supplying the excitation current if the short circuit has occurred. The voltage threshold is higher than a lowest voltage value with which the controller operates, and the voltage threshold is a voltage value representing that the short circuit has occurred in the excitation coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Shimura, Gouki Nakayama, Junichi Iwashita
  • Patent number: 10495498
    Abstract: A field device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a sensor, an analog-digital converter configured to continuously convert detected signals output from the sensor to digital signals, and a calculator configured to convert the digital signals to process values. The calculator starts acquisition of the digital signals output from the analog-digital converter at a first point in time that is delayed by a processing time required for the conversion process of the analog-digital converter from a start point of a timing signal defining a sampling section of the detected signals, and finishes the acquisition of the digital signals output from the analog-digital converter at a second point in time that is delayed by the processing time from an end point of the timing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Iwashita, Toru Shimura, Daisuke Harigane, Wandong Li
  • Patent number: 10274358
    Abstract: A first detection electrode that outputs a first flow rate signal and a second detection electrode that outputs a second flow rate signal, a differential circuit that outputs a differential flow rate signal obtained by obtaining a difference between the first flow rate signal and the second flow rate signal, an AC signal generation circuit that causes a first AC current to flow between the first detection electrode and the ground electrode and causes a second AC current with a reverse phase at the same frequency as that of the first AC current to flow between the second detection electrode and the ground electrode, and a diagnosis unit that diagnoses an abnormality of at least either of the first detection electrode or the second detection electrode based on a differential flow rate signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Shimura
  • Publication number: 20180038721
    Abstract: A drive circuit includes a primary power supplier which supplies a primary electric power in accordance with a state of the drive circuit, a secondary power supplier which supplies an operation electric power and an excitation electric power, an excitation current supplier which supplies an excitation current to an excitation coil, a power supply monitor which compares the voltage value of the operation electric power with a voltage threshold and outputs monitoring information, and a controller which determines whether a short circuit has occurred in the excitation coil based on the monitoring information, and stops supplying the excitation current if the short circuit has occurred. The voltage threshold is higher than a lowest voltage value with which the controller operates, and the voltage threshold is a voltage value representing that the short circuit has occurred in the excitation coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toru SHIMURA, Gouki NAKAYAMA, Junichi IWASHITA
  • Publication number: 20170350748
    Abstract: An electromagnetic flow meter includes a flowtube including a coil disposed in the vicinity of a measurement tube, and electrodes disposed on the measurement tube, a converter including an excitation unit configured to generate an excitation signal and output the excitation signal to the coil through an excitation cable, and a detection signal receiving unit configured to receive a detection signal from the electrodes through a signal cable, and generate a flow rate signal, and a miswiring detection unit configured to perform miswiring diagnosis on the excitation cable or the signal cable on the basis of a difference between a change amount of the flow rate signal when the excitation signal is being output and a change amount of the flow rate signal when the excitation signal is not being output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Toru SHIMURA
  • Patent number: 9726526
    Abstract: A flowmeter includes an exciter configured to excite fluid which is a measurement target, a state detector configured to detect a state of the fluid excited by the exciter, a driver configured to supply exciting current for driving the exciter, a first current detector that is disposed between the exciter and the driver, the first current detector being configured to detect the exciting current, and a processor configured to diagnose insulation deterioration of the exciter in accordance with a change of a detection result of the first current detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Shimura
  • Publication number: 20170184440
    Abstract: A first detection electrode that outputs a first flow rate signal and a second detection electrode that outputs a second flow rate signal, a differential circuit that outputs a differential flow rate signal obtained by obtaining a difference between the first flow rate signal and the second flow rate signal, an AC signal generation circuit that causes a first AC current to flow between the first detection electrode and the ground electrode and causes a second AC current with a reverse phase at the same frequency as that of the first AC current to flow between the second detection electrode and the ground electrode, and a diagnosis unit that diagnoses an abnormality of at least either of the first detection electrode or the second detection electrode based on a differential flow rate signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Toru SHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20170160727
    Abstract: A field device, which measures a physical quantity in a plant or processes the physical quantity, includes: an instruction unit configured to output a verification execution instruction signal for instructing execution of verification of the field device; an operation verifying unit configured to verify an operation of at least one element of the field device in response to the verification execution instruction signal and to verify an operation of the field device based on the verification result; and an output unit configured to output the verification result which is a result of verification of the operation by the operation verifying unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ikuhiko ISHIKAWA, Toru SHIMURA, Daisuke HARIGANE, Shinnosuke YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20160313155
    Abstract: A field device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a sensor, an analog-digital converter configured to continuously convert detected signals output from the sensor to digital signals, and a calculator configured to convert the digital signals to process values. The calculator starts acquisition of the digital signals output from the analog-digital converter at a first point in time that is delayed by a processing time required for the conversion process of the analog-digital converter from a start point of a timing signal defining a sampling section of the detected signals, and finishes the acquisition of the digital signals output from the analog-digital converter at a second point in time that is delayed by the processing time from an end point of the timing signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi IWASHITA, Toru SHIMURA, Daisuke HARIGANE, Wandong LI
  • Patent number: 9340158
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is an outer mirror in which an outer mirror main body is attached to an outer mirror attaching part of a vehicle body via an outer mirror base, characterized in that the outer mirror base has a shared base main body configured to support the outer mirror main body, and an exclusive spacer having one end abutting the shared base main body and the other end pressed against the outer mirror attaching part of the vehicle body via a gasket, wherein the exclusive spacer abuts and is fixed to the shared base main body, and an attaching screw passing through the outer mirror attaching part is threadedly attached to the exclusive spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiichi Nishimura, Toru Shimura
  • Publication number: 20160011025
    Abstract: A flowmeter includes an exciter configured to excite fluid which is a measurement target, a state detector configured to detect a state of the fluid excited by the exciter, a driver configured to supply exciting current for driving the exciter, a first current detector that is disposed between the exciter and the driver, the first current detector being configured to detect the exciting current, and a processor configured to diagnose insulation deterioration of the exciter in accordance with a change of a detection result of the first current detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru SHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20150321608
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is an outer mirror in which an outer mirror main body is attached to an outer mirror attaching part of a vehicle body via an outer mirror base, characterized in that the outer mirror base has a shared base main body configured to support the outer mirror main body, and an exclusive spacer having one end abutting the shared base main body and the other end pressed against the outer mirror attaching part of the vehicle body via a gasket, wherein the exclusive spacer abuts and is fixed to the shared base main body, and an attaching screw passing through the outer mirror attaching part is threadedly attached to the exclusive spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiichi NISHIMURA, Toru SHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20150138658
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is a door mirror having a door mirror main body attached to a door mirror attaching part of a vehicle body, the door mirror including a shared base fixed to the door mirror attaching part and configured to support the door mirror main body, which is shared, and an exclusive cover configured to cover a peripheral region of the door mirror attaching part and selected from a group of different types of exclusive covers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiichi Nishimura, Toru Shimura
  • Patent number: 8047080
    Abstract: An electromagnetic flowmeter for giving a magnetic field to a measurement fluid, detecting an electric signal occurring in the measurement fluid according to the magnetic field, and computing a flow quantity value based on the electric signal includes a zero point measurement section for measuring a zero point of the measurement fluid; a storage section for storing the measured zero point measurement value; a determination section for determining whether or not the difference between the preceding zero point measurement value stored in the storage section and the present zero point measurement value is beyond a predetermined value range; and at least either a transmission section for transmitting the determination result or a display section for displaying the determination result when the determination section determines that the difference is beyond the predetermined value range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ikuhiko Ishikawa, Yasumi Koike, Toru Shimura
  • Patent number: 8032257
    Abstract: A field equipment includes: a signal processing section; a first calculation control section for generating a first control signal which controls a start of a signal processing of the signal processing section; first and second insulating sections coupled to the first calculation control section; and a second calculation control section coupled to the first and second insulating sections and the signal processing section, the second calculation control section receiving the first control signal and then transmitting a second control signal corresponding to the first control signal to the signal processing section. The signal processing section generates a processed signal based on the second control signal. The second calculation control section receives the processed signal, then transmits data related to the first signal to the first calculation control section via the second insulating section, and then shifts to a low power consumption mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasumi Koike, Ikuhiko Ishikawa, Toru Shimura
  • Publication number: 20090024254
    Abstract: A field equipment includes: a signal processing section; a first calculation control section for generating a first control signal which controls a start of a signal processing of the signal processing section; first and second insulating sections coupled to the first calculation control section; and a second calculation control section coupled to the first and second insulating sections and the signal processing section, the second calculation control section receiving the first control signal and then transmitting a second control signal corresponding to the first control signal to the signal processing section. The signal processing section generates a processed signal based on the second control signal. The second calculation control section receives the processed signal, then transmits data related to the first signal to the first calculation control section via the second insulating section, and then shifts to a low power consumption mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasumi KOIKE, Ikuhiko Ishikawa, Toru Shimura