Patents by Inventor Toshio Shibuya

Toshio Shibuya 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: 8355563
    Abstract: A photovoltaic devices inspection apparatus and method of determining defects in photovoltaic devices that uses electroluminescence can find both the quality of the photovoltaic devices from the state of electroluminescence and the possibility of the photovoltaic devices becoming defective in the future by applying constant electric current to the photovoltaic devices causing electroluminescence of the photovoltaic devices (S7), photographing the light emitted from each photovoltaic cell of the photovoltaic devices (S10), dividing the photographed image of the photovoltaic cell into a bright region and dark region by using a threshold value and displayed as an enhanced image by binarization, analyzing as classifying each photovoltaic cell defect according to defect types and comparing a shape of the dark region with the defect types (S50), determining the existence of the defect to perform a positive-negative quality judgment on the photovoltaic devices, and displaying images of the problematic regions for vi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Masato Kasahara, Toshio Shibuya
  • Patent number: 8004270
    Abstract: The present invention provides an inspecting apparatus for photovoltaic devices which electrifies the photovoltaic devices in a forward direction thereof to make the photovoltaic devices emit electro-luminescence light and which has a simple-structured and cheap darkroom. The inspecting apparatus of the present invention includes a darkroom 110 provided with a flat upper surface 111, a transparent plate 112 which is provided in the upper surface of the darkroom for disposing the photovoltaic devices as an inspecting object 200, a camera 120 which is provided in the darkroom and a driving mechanism to move the camera in the darkroom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Masato Kasahara, Toshio Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20110025354
    Abstract: The present invention provides an inspection apparatus for photovoltaic devices which electrifies the photovoltaic devices in a forward direction thereof to make the photovoltaic devices emit electro-luminescence light and which has a simple-structured and cheap darkroom. The inspecting apparatus of the present invention includes a darkroom (110) provided with a flat upper surface (111), a transparent plate (112) which is provided in the upper surface of the darkroom for disposing the photovoltaic devices as an inspecting object (200), a reflector (140) which is disposed in the darkroom (110) at an oblique angle to the transparent plate, and a shading member for covering a camera (120) which is provided in the darkroom (110), the photovoltaic devices as the inspecting object on the darkroom and a guide member for transporting the photovoltaic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: NISSHINBO INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Shimotomai, Toshio Shibuya, Hikaru Ichimura
  • Publication number: 20100266196
    Abstract: A photovoltaic devices inspection apparatus and a method of determining defects in photovoltaic devices using electroluminescence of the photovoltaic devices. The apparatus and method can not only determine whether the photovoltaic devices are defective or non-defective at the moment, but also whether the devices have a possibility to become defective in the future. A constant electric current is applied to the photovoltaic cells to cause electroluminescence (S7), the light emitted from each cell is photographed cell by cell (S10), and the photographed cell image is enhanced and a shape of a dark region is analyzed (S50) to determine whether the cell is defective or non-defective. The defective region that is determined to be defective is enhanced and displayed visually (S16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: NISSHINBO INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Masato Kasahara, Toshio Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20100002932
    Abstract: A photovoltaic devices inspection apparatus and method of determining defects in photovoltaic devices that uses electroluminescence can find both the quality of the photovoltaic devices from the state of electroluminescence and the possibility of the photovoltaic devices becoming defective in the future by applying constant electric current to the photovoltaic devices causing electroluminescence of the photovoltaic devices (S7), photographing the light emitted from each photovoltaic cell of the photovoltaic devices (S10), dividing the photographed image of the photovoltaic cell into a bright region and dark region by using a threshold value and displayed as an enhanced image by binarization, analyzing as classifying each photovoltaic cell defect according to defect types and comparing a shape of the dark region with the defect types (S50), determining the existence of the defect to perform a positive-negative quality judgment on the photovoltaic devices, and displaying images of the problematic regions for vi
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: NISSHINBO HOLDINGS INC.
    Inventors: Masato Kasahara, Toshio Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20090102453
    Abstract: The present invention provides an inspecting apparatus for photovoltaic devices which electrifies the photovoltaic devices in a forward direction thereof to make the photovoltaic devices emit electro-luminescence light and which has a simple-structured and cheap darkroom. The inspecting apparatus of the present invention includes a darkroom 110 provided with a flat upper surface 111, a transparent plate 112 which is provided in the upper surface of the darkroom for disposing the photovoltaic devices as an inspecting object 200, a camera 120 which is provided in the darkroom and a driving mechanism to move the camera in the darkroom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: NISSHINBO INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Masato KASAHARA, Toshio SHIBUYA
  • Patent number: 5754829
    Abstract: A parallel computer system in which a plurality of host computers are connected in a network and a plurality of servers having different attributes are allocated to the plurality of host computers. One of the plurality of host computers is previously designated as a manager node. Each of the host computers judges whether or not the own host computer is the manager node when started. The host computer decided as the manager node issues through the network to the other host computers a request demanding report of information on respective resources possessed by the other host computers on a broadcast transmission basis. In response to the broadcast transmission, the other host computers transmit information on their own resources through said network to said manager node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahisa Motohiro, Toshio Shibuya
  • Patent number: 4160392
    Abstract: In an automatic power transmission including hydrodynamic torque transmitting means such as a torque converter or a fluid coupling and fluid-operated direct-drive clutch means combined with the torque converter or fluid coupling, control valve means is provided so that the direct-drive condition is achieved from the top-gear condition at a retarded timing after the top gear has been attained under low-load conditions of the engine although direct-drive condition is established simultaneously when an upshift is made to the top gear under high-load operating conditions of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1979
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshio Sunohara, Kunio Ohtsuka, Wataru Ishimaru, Takahiro Yamamori, Toshio Shibuya
  • Patent number: 3987864
    Abstract: A safety device of a motor car comprises a neutral switch connected in the starting circuit of the engine and arranged to be closed when the speed change gear is in the neutral or parking position, a seat switch closed when the driver sits on the seat, a safety switch closed when the driver wears a safety belt, an interlocking controller responsive to the closure of said three switches for discriminating the sequence of operations thereof, and an interlocking relay connected in the ignition circuit of the engine and controlled by the interlocking controller whereby it is possible to start the engine when the speed change gear is maintained in its neutral or parking position and to operate the engine only when the seat switch and the safety switch are closed at a predetermined sequence while the speed change gear is in its drive position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1974
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1976
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Iijima, Toshio Shibuya