Patents by Inventor Toshiyuki Higuchi
Toshiyuki Higuchi 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).
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Patent number: 11543488Abstract: An optical safety sensor is inexpensively implemented. An optical safety sensor includes: a plurality of light projectors/receivers (a first light projector/receiver and a second light projector/receiver), which includes light projecting portions and light receiving portions; distance measurement portions, which measure distances using the time from light projecting to light receiving; and detection portions, which detect, based on measurement results, an abnormality occurring in any one of the plurality of light projectors/receivers; each of the light receiving portion provided in the plurality of light projectors/receivers receives reflected light caused by the light projected from the light projecting portions of all the plurality of light projectors/receivers.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2018Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: OMRON CorporationInventors: Xiaoguang Ning, Toshiyuki Higuchi
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Publication number: 20220379471Abstract: A technique allows verification of a robot operation without any cost for an additional robot or for a person entering a monitoring area. A robot control system includes a monitored robot for which a monitoring area is defined and a robot controller that controls the monitored robot in a plurality of modes including a first mode to change an operation of the monitored robot in response to an object detected in the monitoring area being a robot.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventor: Toshiyuki HIGUCHI
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Patent number: 10875180Abstract: Provided is a highly safe robot system. A robot system includes: an arm operation control unit that controls operations of an arm; and a storage unit that records hazardous part information related to at least any one of a grip unit of the arm and a work target gripped with the grip unit, and the arm operation control unit causes the arm to operate such that the hazardous direction of the hazardous part is different from a moving direction of the grip unit on the basis of the hazardous part information.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: OMRON CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki Higuchi, Yoshiharu Tani, Kazunori Osako, Minoru Hashimoto, Daichi Kamisono, Masaki Fujita
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Patent number: 10800032Abstract: An industrial robot having high operability for a user is provided. An industrial robot includes a manipulator, a controller which controls an operation of the manipulator, and a detection device attached to the manipulator and detecting a gesture input. The controller executes a process corresponding to the detected gesture input.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: OMRON CorporationInventors: Daichi Kamisono, Yoshiharu Tani, Kazunori Osako, Toshiyuki Higuchi, Minoru Hashimoto, Masaki Fujita
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Patent number: 10521625Abstract: A safety control device, a method of controlling safety control device, and a recording medium are provided. A detection zone in which the safety of an operator can be secured and a decrease in an operation rate of a machine can be minimized is set. A safety controller sets a detection zone for executing a safety operation when it is determined that an operator has entered for each operator.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: OMRON CorporationInventors: Masatoshi Takeshima, Yoshiharu Tani, Kazunori Osako, Toshiyuki Higuchi, Minoru Hashimoto, Daichi Kamisono, Tetsuya Akagi
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Patent number: 10452939Abstract: A monitoring system, a monitoring device, and a monitoring method are provided. The monitoring system includes a detection part that detects a position of a worker intruded into a work area, a first specifying part that specifies a worker movable area on the basis of a position of the worker, an image capturing part that captures an image of an area including at least the worker movable area and a predetermined robot occupied area, a second specifying part that specifies a robot movable area from the image of the area, a third specifying part that specifies a human body area of the worker from the image of the area, a measuring part that measures the distance between the robot movable area and the human body area, and a restricting part that restricts movement of the robot when the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2017Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: OMRON CorporationInventors: Yoshiharu Tani, Toshiyuki Higuchi, Ikuo Matsukawa, Kazuhiro Kudo, Tetsuya Akagi, Satoru Shimokawa, Kazushige Matsuoka
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Publication number: 20190277944Abstract: An optical safety sensor is inexpensively implemented. An optical safety sensor includes: a plurality of light projectors/receivers (a first light projector/receiver and a second light projector/receiver), which includes light projecting portions and light receiving portions; distance measurement portions, which measure distances using the time from light projecting to light receiving; and detection portions, which detect, based on measurement results, an abnormality occurring in any one of the plurality of light projectors/receivers; each of the light receiving portion provided in the plurality of light projectors/receivers receives reflected light caused by the light projected from the light projecting portions of all the plurality of light projectors/receivers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2018Publication date: September 12, 2019Applicant: OMRON CorporationInventors: Xiaoguang NING, Toshiyuki HIGUCHI
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Publication number: 20190270199Abstract: Provided is a robot system with improved safety and workability. A robot system includes: a movable machine control part, controlling operation of a movable mechanical part operating in a first mode and a second mode; a teaching content registration part, registering teaching content input by applying an operating force to the movable mechanical part; a first sensor, monitoring a first monitoring area set around the movable mechanical part; and an operating mode switch part, switching between a first mode in which the operation of the movable mechanical part is decelerated or stopped when intrusion of an object into the first monitoring area is detected and a second mode in which the teaching content can be accepted and executed while contact of a user with the movable mechanical part is being detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2018Publication date: September 5, 2019Applicant: OMRON CorporationInventors: Xiaoguang NING, Toshiyuki HIGUCHI
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Patent number: 10379513Abstract: A monitoring system, a monitoring device, and a monitoring method that can facilitate designing of a working environment are provided. Positions of a worker and a robot in a three-dimensional space are specified, at least one protection area to secure safe work of the worker and the robot is set, whether at least one of the worker and the robot intrudes into the protection area is determined, the motion of the robot is limited when at least one of the worker and the robot intrudes into the protection area, a protection area for executing the determination is being switched from multiple set protection areas, and it is possible to set the protection area when the worker works in a common area in which a work area of the worker and a work area of the robot overlap and set the protection area when the robot works in the common area.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: OMRON CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki Higuchi, Tetsuya Akagi, Yoshiharu Tani, Ikuo Matsukawa
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Publication number: 20190061155Abstract: Provided is a technology which secures safety of a moving body and prevents collision between a robot and the moving body. A detection unit detects a relative positional relationship between a robot arm which is able to move about a support pointy and a moving body by a sensor attached to the robot arm. A control unit generates a drive control signal of an actuator which causes the robot arm to be able to move on the basis of a change in the relative positional relationship between the robot arm and the moving body detected by a detecting unit. An output unit outputs the drive control signal generated by the control unit to the actuator. The control unit generates the drive control signal which changes a speed at which the robot arm is able to move in accordance with the change in the relative positional relationship with the moving body.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Applicant: OMRON CorporationInventors: Minoru HASHIMOTO, Yoshiharu TANI, Kazunori OSAKO, Toshiyuki HIGUCHI, Daichi KAMISONO, Masaki FUJITA
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Patent number: 10186390Abstract: Provided is a relay unit that is inexpensive and has a long life, and a method for controlling a relay circuit. A series circuit of mechanical switches is connected in series to a load and a load power supply, and a control unit selects one of the mechanical switches as a selected switch, and performs a switching timing shift, which is constituted by at least one of a first operation in which the selected switch is switched to the closed state after the mechanical switch other than the selected switch, and a second operation in which the selected switch is switched to the open state prior to the mechanical switch other than the selected switch.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: OMRON CorporationInventors: Tetsuya Fukumoto, Toshiyuki Higuchi
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Publication number: 20190006138Abstract: A miniature and inexpensive relay device is provided. A relay device, i.e., a relay unit, includes a breakdown detection unit that does not detect breakdown of an operation of a first switching element and detect breakdown of an operation of a second switching element. When a switching control unit switches an external load circuit from non-conductivity to conductivity, the switching control unit switches the second switching element from non-conductivity to conductivity after switching the first switching element from non-conductivity to conductivity. When the switching control unit switches the load circuit from conductivity to non-conductivity, the switching control unit switches the first switching element from conductivity to non-conductivity after switching the second switching element from conductivity to non-conductivity.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Applicant: OMRON CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki HIGUCHI, Daichi KAMISONO, Tetsuya FUKUMOTO
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Publication number: 20180349654Abstract: A safety control device, a method of controlling safety control device, and a recording medium are provided. A detection zone in which the safety of an operator can be secured and a decrease in an operation rate of a machine can be minimized is set. A safety controller sets a detection zone for executing a safety operation when it is determined that an operator has entered for each operator.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Applicant: OMRON CorporationInventors: Masatoshi TAKESHIMA, Yoshiharu TANI, Kazunori OSAKO, Toshiyuki HIGUCHI, Minoru HASHIMOTO, Daichi KAMISONO, Tetsuya AKAGI
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Publication number: 20180333854Abstract: Provided is a highly safe robot system. A robot system includes: an arm operation control unit that controls operations of an arm; and a storage unit that records hazardous part information related to at least any one of a grip unit of the arm and a work target gripped with the grip unit, and the arm operation control unit causes the arm to operate such that the hazardous direction of the hazardous part is different from a moving direction of the grip unit on the basis of the hazardous part information.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2018Publication date: November 22, 2018Applicant: OMRON CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki HIGUCHI, Yoshiharu TANI, Kazunori OSAKO, Minoru HASHIMOTO, Daichi KAMISONO, Masaki FUJITA
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Publication number: 20180311814Abstract: An industrial robot having high operability for a user is provided. An industrial robot includes a manipulator, a controller which controls an operation of the manipulator, and a detection device attached to the manipulator and detecting a gesture input. The controller executes a process corresponding to the detected gesture input.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2018Publication date: November 1, 2018Applicant: OMRON CorporationInventors: Daichi KAMISONO, Yoshiharu TANI, Kazunori OSAKO, Toshiyuki HIGUCHI, Minoru HASHIMOTO, Masaki FUJITA
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Publication number: 20180304469Abstract: There is provided a robot system that maintains productivity with high safety and with high operation efficiency. A robot system includes an arm operation control unit configured to control an operation of an arm and a moving subject detection unit configured to detect whether a moving subject is present in an operation direction region of the arm. When the moving subject detection unit has detected the moving subject, the arm operation control unit operates the arm at an operation speed that is different from an operation speed of the arm when no moving subject has been detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2018Publication date: October 25, 2018Applicant: OMRON CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki HIGUCHI, Yoshiharu TANI, Tetsuya AKAGI
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Publication number: 20180232593Abstract: A monitoring system, a monitoring device, and a monitoring method are provided. The monitoring system includes a detection part that detects a position of a worker intruded into a work area, a first specifying part that specifies a worker movable area on the basis of a position of the worker, an image capturing part that captures an image of an area including at least the worker movable area and a predetermined robot occupied area, a second specifying part that specifies a robot movable area from the image of the area, a third specifying part that specifies a human body area of the worker from the image of the area, a measuring part that measures the distance between the robot movable area and the human body area, and a restricting part that restricts movement of the robot when the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2017Publication date: August 16, 2018Applicant: OMRON CorporationInventors: Yoshiharu TANI, Toshiyuki HIGUCHI, Ikuo MATSUKAWA, Kazuhiro KUDO, Tetsuya AKAGI, Satoru SHIMOKAWA, Kazushige MATSUOKA
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Patent number: 10049842Abstract: Provided is a relay unit that can sufficiently suppress defects that are caused by an insulation failure of insulating member that insulates and separates a load power supply from a device power supply, and a method for controlling a relay circuit. A control unit includes an insulating member diagnosis unit that performs diagnosis of an insulation failure of the capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: OMRON CorporationInventors: Tetsuya Fukumoto, Toshiyuki Higuchi, Kohei Murakami, Satoshi Fujii
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Patent number: 9997316Abstract: The reliability of testing a normally closed contact in a relay unit may involve the following. While the load is de-energized, sending a test signal to a normally closed contact (b1, b2) and detecting the state of the returning test signal sent. Resending a test signal when a detection result does not satisfy a predetermined criteria, and re-detecting the state of the returning test signal resent. The state of the returning test signal resent may be assessed as normal when the re-detection result satisfies the predetermined criteria.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2015Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: OMRON CorporationInventors: Tetsuya Fukumoto, Toshiyuki Higuchi, Kohei Murakami, Keishi Yayama, Satoshi Fujii
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Publication number: 20180120804Abstract: A monitoring system, a monitoring device, and a monitoring method that can facilitate designing of a working environment are provided. Positions of a worker and a robot in a three-dimensional space are specified, at least one protection area to secure safe work of the worker and the robot is set, whether at least one of the worker and the robot intrudes into the protection area is determined, the motion of the robot is limited when at least one of the worker and the robot intrudes into the protection area, a protection area for executing the determination is being switched from multiple set protection areas, and it is possible to set the protection area when the worker works in a common area in which a work area of the worker and a work area of the robot overlap and set the protection area when the robot works in the common area.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Applicant: OMRON CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki HIGUCHI, Tetsuya AKAGI, Yoshiharu TANI, Ikuo MATSUKAWA