Patents by Inventor Toshimitsu Tsuboi

Toshimitsu Tsuboi 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: 20240077373
    Abstract: A force sensor module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of force sensors. Each of the force sensor includes a plurality of sensor sections having force detection directions different from each other, and a flexible rubber member that is provided to cover the plurality of sensor sections. The rubber member is configured to transmit a force inputted from outside to the plurality of force sensors by deformation corresponding to the force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: TOMOKO KATSUHARA, HIDETOSHI MIYASHITA, RUI KAMADA, KIYOKAZU MIYAZAWA, TOSHIMITSU TSUBOI, HAYATO HASEGAWA
  • Patent number: 11897138
    Abstract: An apparatus capable of smoothly injecting contents in an object into another object, an injection method, and an injection program. The apparatus includes a robotic arm device configured to grip a first container, and circuitry configured to recognize a flowrate of contents while injecting an amount of the contents from the first container into a second container, and control a tilt of the first container using the robotic arm device to inject the contents into the second container according to the recognized flowrate of the contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Tsuboi, Ryo Terasawa
  • Publication number: 20230381972
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a control apparatus, a robot apparatus, a control method and a program for a robot apparatus that can detect and grip an end portion of a piece of cloth not spread. [Solving Means] A control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes an acquisition unit, an operation command generation unit, and a determination unit. The acquisition unit acquires an output of a first pressure distribution sensor arranged on a gripping surface of a first hand and an output of a second pressure distribution sensor arranged on a gripping surface of a second hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: TOSHIMITSU TSUBOI, SATOSHI SATO, KEN KOBAYASHI, FUMIKO SHIGA
  • Patent number: 11820019
    Abstract: There is provided a robot control apparatus including a determination unit configured to determine whether or not an end condition of a task is satisfied when a robot performs the task, and a switching unit configured to perform switching to a next task corresponding to the end condition in a case where the end condition is satisfied. With this configuration, it is possible to optimally switch tasks of the robot depending on the situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Tsuboi
  • Publication number: 20230330866
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus (30) includes: an operation control unit (321) that operates at least one of a first finger and a second finger to change contact positions with a target object in a state where the first finger and the second finger grip the target object; and an estimation unit (322) that estimates a shape of the target object on a basis of a relationship between the contact positions and postures of the first finger and the second finger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: TAKARA KASAI, TOSHIMITSU TSUBOI, SATOKO NAGAKARI, HIROYUKI SUZUKI, TAKUYA KOMAMI, TOMOHARU HARAGUCHI, ATSUSHI SAKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 11696814
    Abstract: Proposed is a mechanism capable of securing both convenience and safety in regard to surgery performed by inserting an endoscope into a human body. A medical arm system including a multi-joint arm which has a plurality of links connected by joints and a distal end to which an endoscope is connectable and a control unit which sets a virtual plane in a body cavity of a patient and controls the multi-joint arm so as to constrain a predetermined point of the endoscope in the body cavity on the virtual plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Nagao, Toshimitsu Tsuboi, Yasuhiro Matsuda, Tetsuharu Fukushima
  • Patent number: 11633245
    Abstract: There is provided is a robot arm apparatus including an arm unit made up of a plurality of links joined to each other by one or a plurality of a joint unit, the arm unit being connectable to an imaging unit; and a drive control unit that controls driving of the arm unit by causing each joint unit to be driven cooperatively. The drive control unit uses relative position information of a reference position with respect to the arm unit, the relative position information being based on a state of the arm unit and distance information about a distance between the imaging unit and the reference position, to control the driving of the arm unit in a manner that the reference position is positioned on an optical axis of the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takara Kasai, Yasuhisa Kamikawa, Yohei Kuroda, Wataru Kokubo, Toshimitsu Tsuboi, Tetsuharu Fukushima, Yasuhiro Matsuda, Atsushi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11583348
    Abstract: Provided is a medical robot arm apparatus including a plurality of joint units configured to connect a plurality of links and implement at least 6 or more degrees of freedom in driving of a multi-link structure configured with the plurality of links, and a drive control unit configured to control driving of the joint units based on states of the joint units. A front edge unit attached to a front edge of the multi-link structure is at least one medical apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuharu Fukushima, Wataru Kokubo, Toshimitsu Tsuboi, Atsushi Miyamoto, Kenichiro Nagasaka, Kenji Hirose
  • Patent number: 11458637
    Abstract: [Object] To enable further suppression of the movement amount of an arm section when switching states. [Solution] There is provided a control apparatus configured to execute a current tracking control on a basis of a measurement value of a torque sensor of an actuator provided in at least one of multiple joint sections included in an arm section of a medical support arm apparatus, the current tracking control causing a motor of the actuator to output torque by which a position and an attitude of the arm section are maintained, and switch a first state in which the motor is driven in accordance with a predetermined control method, and a second state in which the joint section is locked using a brake of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yohei Kuroda, Tetsuharu Fukushima, Fumiyasu Suzuki, Toshimitsu Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 11287599
    Abstract: A medical observation device includes an imaging unit configured to photograph an image of an operation site, and a holding unit configured to be connected with the imaging unit and have rotary shafts which are operable with at least six degrees of freedom. Among the rotary shafts, at least two shafts are active shafts whose driving is controlled based on states of the rotary shafts, and at least one shaft is a passive shaft which is rotated according to direct external manipulation accompanying contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC., SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Hirose, Tetsuharu Fukushima, Atsushi Miyamoto, Wataru Kokubo, Toshimitsu Tsuboi
  • Publication number: 20210394363
    Abstract: An apparatus capable of smoothly injecting contents in an object into another object, an injection method, and an injection program. The apparatus includes a robotic arm device configured to grip a first container, and circuitry configured to recognize a flowrate of contents while injecting an amount of the contents from the first container into a second container, and control a tilt of the first container using the robotic arm device to inject the contents into the second container according to the recognized flowrate of the contents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshimitsu TSUBOI, Ryo TERASAWA
  • Publication number: 20210394362
    Abstract: It is possible to transfer an object smoothly. An information processing device includes a control unit (12, 11) that controls a manipulator so that a moving speed of an object gripped by the manipulator maintains continuity when the object is transferred to a transfer target person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinao SODEYAMA, Tetsuya NARITA, Yasuhiro MATSUDA, Kazuo HONGO, Toshimitsu TSUBOI
  • Publication number: 20210394365
    Abstract: [Object] Provided is an apparatus for arranging objects in such a manner as to permit the user to handle the objects more easily. The information includes a robotic arm device configured to arrange one or more objects, and circuitry configured to determine one or more characteristics of a user, determine an arrangement position of each object of the one or more objects to be arranged based on the one or more determined characteristics of the user, and initiate control of the robotic arm device to arrange each object according to the determined arrangement position of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo HONGO, Toshimitsu TSUBOI, Shunsuke YAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20210369363
    Abstract: Provided is a surgical imaging apparatus that includes a multi-link, multi-joint structure including a plurality of joints that interconnect a plurality of links to provide the multi-link, multi-joint structure with a plurality of degrees of freedom, at least one video camera being disposed on a distal end of the multi-link, multi-joint structure; at least one actuator that drives at least one of the plurality of joints; and circuitry that detects a joint force experienced at the at least one of the plurality of joints in response to an applied external force, and controls the at least one actuator based on the joint force so as to position the video camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuharu FUKUSHIMA, Wataru KOKUBO, Toshimitsu TSUBOI, Atsushi MIYAMOTO, Kenichiro NAGASAKA, Kenji HIROSE
  • Patent number: 11129682
    Abstract: Provided is a surgical imaging apparatus that includes a multi-link, multi joint structure including a plurality of joints that interconnect a plurality of links to provide the multi-link, multi joint structure with a plurality of degrees of freedom, at least one video camera being disposed on a distal end of the multi-link, multi-joint structure; at least one actuator that drives at least one of the plurality of joints; and circuitry that detects a joint force experienced at the at least one of the plurality of joints in response to an applied external force, and controls the at least one actuator based on the joint force so as to position the video camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuharu Fukushima, Wataru Kokubo, Toshimitsu Tsuboi, Atsushi Miyamoto, Kenichiro Nagasaka, Kenji Hirose
  • Patent number: 11109927
    Abstract: A joint driving actuator that includes an ultrasonic motor that generates driving force for driving a joint, the ultrasonic motor including a stator fixed to a side of one arm that relatively rotates in the joint and a rotor fixed to a side of another arm that relatively rotates in the joint, the stator including a piezoelectric element that generates ultrasonic vibration, a torque sensor that detects external force applied to the joint, and an encoder that detects a rotational angle of the ultrasonic motor, the encoder being mounted on the one arm, the stator being fixed on the side thereof, and the torque sensor being mounted on the another arm, the rotor being fixed on the side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Kokubo, Tetsuharu Fukushima, Toshimitsu Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 11072068
    Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a grasping section that grasps an object, a recognition section that recognizes a graspable part and a handing-over area part of the object, and a grasp planning section that plans a path of the grasping section for handing over the object to a recipient by the handing-over area part. The robot apparatus further includes a grasp control section that controls grasp operation of the object by the grasping section in accordance with the planned path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunori Kawanami, Toshimitsu Tsuboi, Tsutomu Sawada, Masakuni Nagano, Akinori Kamoda
  • Publication number: 20210213611
    Abstract: [Problem] To optimally switch tasks of a robot depending on the situation. [Solution] According to the present disclosure, there is provided a robot control apparatus including: a determination unit configured to determine whether or not an end condition of a task is satisfied when a robot performs the task; and a switching unit configured to perform switching to a next task corresponding to the end condition in a case where the end condition is satisfied. With this configuration, it is possible to optimally switch tasks of the robot depending on the situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventor: TOSHIMITSU TSUBOI
  • Patent number: 10923980
    Abstract: In order to realize a movable mechanism capable of being configured more compactly and also capable of ensuring higher safety. A motor is provided. Also, an electrically active part is provided with an insulating structure so that insulating properties between the electrically active part and one or more conductors near the electrically active part satisfy a certain safety standard regarding medical electrical equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Kokubo, Yasuhisa Kamikawa, Toshimitsu Tsuboi, Yohei Kuroda, Jun Arai
  • Publication number: 20210030510
    Abstract: [Problem to be Solved] Proposed is a surgery system, an image processor, and an image processing method that make it possible to know distribution of tissue inside a biological organ more exactly. [Solution] A surgery system including a surgical camera and an image processor. The surgical camera performs imaging of a biological organ to acquire an image of the biological organ. The image processor specifies element tissue included in a three-dimensional region being a portion of the biological organ during surgery on the basis of three-dimensional distribution information of element tissue included in the biological organ and superimposes a representation of the specified element tissue on the image of the biological organ.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo NEISHI, Toshimitsu TSUBOI, Tomoyuki OKI, Hisakazu SHIRAKI