Patents by Inventor Yasuo Muneta

Yasuo Muneta 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: 7813813
    Abstract: Safety units 1d to 1f for executing a safety function processing are connected to a non-safety controller constituted by connecting a plurality of units 1b, 1c including CPU units 1a. A CPU bus 10 to be connected with the CPU units and a safety dedicated bus 11 for mutually connecting the safety units are provided to the safety units. Since the safety dedicated bus is isolated from the non-safety system, reliability of the safety function can be secured. The CPU unit can read out data through the CPU bus irrespective of the safety unit and the non-safety unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Muneta, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Teruyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7555353
    Abstract: This invention provides an input device of safety unit which enables an error diagnosis result referred to in a process of input processing for generating a control data from raw input signal to be referred by a side using the control data also in a safety unit such as a safety master and safety slave. An input device contains a function of outputting status data indicating the error diagnosis result referred to when input signal is converted to control data and the control data obtained by the conversion in pair, so that when the logical value of the control data is “LOW”, whether it originates from that the raw logical value is “LOW” or that “LOW” is compulsorily set due to an error in the terminal can be determined from the logical value of the status data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Teranishi, Yasuo Muneta, Chiaki Koshiro, Naoaki Ikeno, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Hiromu Suganuma, Asahi Matsui, Katsufumi Yoshida, Shohei Fujiwara, Takehiko Hioka
  • Patent number: 7486997
    Abstract: A safety condition setting support device is used for a safety network to which an input device and an output device are connected and the output device serves to stop a controlled apparatus based on a detection signal outputted from the input device when the input device has detected a danger condition. The support device serves to set safety conditions for stopping the controlled apparatus within a specified time period and includes an apparatus data memory for storing data related to internal processing times of safety devices connected to the safety network including the input and output devices, data obtaining device obtaining connection data showing connection relationship among the safety devices and transmission intervals among the safety devices or a safety distance between the input device and the controlled apparatus, and a calculating device for obtaining the safety conditions based on these obtained data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Muneta
  • Patent number: 7472106
    Abstract: A safety PLC 1 serving as a master and a safety slave 2 are connected through a safety network 3 to constitute a network system. The safety slave has non-safety information storing unit 26 for storing individual information and a state information of the connected safety device, the state information monitors a state of the operating safety device and a stored content is updated based on its monitored result. Then, when the non-safety information satisfying a fixed condition, at least the non-safety information satisfied the condition is transmitted to the safety PLC. That processing is performed by an MPU 23. Thus, unnecessary non-safety information is not transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Muneta, Toshiyuki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20080306613
    Abstract: Safety units 1d to 1f for executing a safety function processing are connected to a non-safety controller constituted by connecting a plurality of units 1b, 1c including CPU units 1a. A CPU bus 10 to be connected with the CPU units and a safety dedicated bus 11 for mutually connecting the safety units are provided to the safety units. Since the safety dedicated bus is isolated from the non-safety system, reliability of the safety function can be secured. The CPU unit can read out data through the CPU bus irrespective of the safety unit and the non-safety unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Yasuo Muneta, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Teruyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7430451
    Abstract: Safety units 1d to 1f for executing a safety function processing are connected to a non-safety controller constituted by connectting a plurality of units 1b, 1c including CPU units 1a. A CPU bus 10 to be connected with the CPU units and a safety dedicated bus 11 for mutually connecting the safety units are provided to the safety units. Since the safety dedicated bus is isolated from the non-safety system, reliability of the safety function can be secured. The CPU unit can read out data through the CPU bus irrespective of the safety unit and the non-safety unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Muneta, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Teruyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7369902
    Abstract: A network system is constructed by connecting a safety PLC constituting a master unit and safety slaves 2 to each other through a safety network 3. The safety slaves each have a device information storage unit 25 for storing individual information and status information of the safety devices connected. The individual information is acquired and stored in advance, while the stored contents of the status information are updated based on the result of monitoring the status of the safety devices in operation. These processes are executed by a MPU 23. In response to a request from the safety PLC, the device information stored are transmitted, so that the safety PLC can collect and manage the device state as well as the normal state of the slave units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Teruyuki Nakayama, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Yasuo Muneta
  • Patent number: 7162311
    Abstract: A safety PLC 1 and at least a safety slave unit 2 are connected through a safety network 3. The safety slave unit has the safety information transmission function for transmitting the safety information for determining whether a safe state prevails or not and the unsafety information transmission function for transmitting the unsafety information containing no safety information. The unsafety information transmission function transmits the unsafety information on condition that the safety slave unit is in a safe state. Specifically, in the case where it is determined that no safe state prevails at the timing of transmitting the unsafety information, the unsafety information is not sent but the safety is transmitted. A safety controller, upon receipt of the unsafety information, estimates that the safety slave unit at the transmitting end of the particular unsafety information is in a safe state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Muneta, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Teruyuki Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20060271833
    Abstract: This invention provides an input device of safety unit which enables an error diagnosis result referred to in a process of input processing for generating a control data from raw input signal to be referred by a side using the control data also in a safety unit such as a safety master and safety slave. An input device contains a function of outputting status data indicating the error diagnosis result referred to when input signal is converted to control data and the control data obtained by the conversion in pair, so that when the logical value of the control data is “LOW”, whether it originates from that the raw logical value is “LOW” or that “LOW” is compulsorily set due to an error in the terminal can be determined from the logical value of the status data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Keiichi Teranishi, Yasuo Muneta, Chiaki Koshiro, Naoaki Ikeno, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Hiromu Suganuma, Asahi Matsui, Katsufumi Yoshida, Shohei Fujiwara, Takehiko Hioka
  • Publication number: 20060259837
    Abstract: A safety device of the invention includes at least one of an input unit having one or more input terminals and an output unit having one or more output terminals, a testing unit having one or more test terminals, a rewritable nonvolatile memory configured to store setting information of a terminal specification which can be set from outside via the tool, and wherein the terminal specification of the one or more test terminals included in the testing unit is determined in accordance with the setting information of the terminal specification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventors: Keiichi Teranishi, Yasuo Muneta, Chiaki Koshiro, Naoaki Ikeno, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Hiromu Suganuma, Asahi Matsui, Katsufumi Yoshida, Shohei Fujiwara, Takehiko Hioka
  • Patent number: 7120505
    Abstract: A safety network system is constructed by connecting a safety PLC to a safety slave through a safety network. The safety slave obtains safety input informations from a plurality of safety devices connected thereto and transmits information based on the plurality of safety input informations in response to a request from the safety PLC. At this time, the safety slave determines whether or not a safety condition is satisfied based on the plurality of safety input informations, includes two notification modes, that is, a result notification mode in which a result of determination of safety determined by the above determination is transmitted and a detailed information mode in which the plurality of safety input informations are transmitted as they are as aggregated data, and returns a safety response in any of the modes according to a command from the safety PLC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Nakamura, Yasuo Muneta
  • Patent number: 7050860
    Abstract: The safe PLC1 and the safe slaves 2 are connected with each other via the safe network 3. The safe PLC has the function of transmitting a request of safety information by broadcast message to the safe slaves. The safe slaves are each provided with a safety information transmission function for transmitting safety information indicative of whether the safe slave is in a safe condition or not; and a changing function for changing a priority of a transmission frame which carries the safety information. As a result, when the safe slaves send back safe responses at once in response to the broadcast message, safety information (danger) with a higher priority is transmitted ahead of others to the safe PLC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Muneta, Toshiyuki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20060040792
    Abstract: A safety condition setting support device is used for a safety network to which an input device and an output device are connected and the output device serves to stop a controlled apparatus based on a detection signal outputted from the input device when the input device has detected a danger condition. The support device serves to set safety conditions for stopping the controlled apparatus within a specified time period and includes an apparatus data memory for storing data related to internal processing times of safety devices connected to the safety network including the input and output devices, data obtaining device obtaining connection data showing connection relationship among the safety devices and transmission intervals among the safety devices or a safety distance between the input device and the controlled apparatus, and a calculating device for obtaining the safety conditions based on these obtained data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventor: Yasuo Muneta
  • Publication number: 20050017875
    Abstract: A network system is constructed by connecting a safety PLC constituting a master unit and safety slaves 2 to each other through a safety network 3. The safety slaves each have a device information storage unit 25 for storing individual information and status information of the safety devices connected. The individual information is acquired and stored in advance, while the stored contents of the status information are updated based on the result of monitoring the status of the safety devices in operation. These processes are executed by a MPU 23. In response to a request from the safety PLC, the device information stored are transmitted, so that the safety PLC can collect and manage the device state as well as the normal state of the slave units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Teruyuki Nakayama, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Yasuo Muneta
  • Publication number: 20040215354
    Abstract: A safety network system is constructed by connecting a safety PLC to a safety slave through a safety network. The safety slave obtains safety input informations from a plurality of safety devices connected thereto and transmits information based on the plurality of safety input informations in response to a request from the safety PLC. At this time, the safety slave determines whether or not a safety condition is satisfied based on the plurality of safety input informations, includes two notification modes, that is, a result notification mode in which a result of determination of safety determined by the above determination is transmitted and a detailed information mode in which the plurality of safety input informations are transmitted as they are as aggregated data, and returns a safety response in any of the modes according to a command from the safety PLC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Nakamura, Yasuo Muneta
  • Publication number: 20040210326
    Abstract: Safety units 1d to 1f for executing a safety function processing are connected to a non-safety controller constituted by connectting a plurality of units 1b, 1c including CPU units 1a. A CPU bus 10 to be connected with the CPU units and a safety dedicated bus 11 for mutually connecting the safety units are provided to the safety units. Since the safety dedicated bus is isolated from the non-safety system, reliability of the safety function can be secured. The CPU unit can read out data through the CPU bus irrespective of the safety unit and the non-safety unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Yasuo Muneta, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Teruyuki Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20040210323
    Abstract: The safe PLC1 and the safe slaves 2 are connected with each other via the safe network 3. The safe PLC has the function of transmitting a request of safety information by broadcast message to the safe slaves. The safe slaves are each provided with a safety information transmission function for transmitting safety information indicative of whether the safe slave is in a safe condition or not; and a changing means for changing a priority of a transmission frame which carries the safety information. As a result, when the safe slaves send back safe responses at once in response to the broadcast message, safety information (danger) with a higher priority is transmitted ahead of others to the safe PLC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Yasuo Muneta, Toshiyuki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040210620
    Abstract: A safety PLC 1 serving as a master and a safety slave 2 are connected through a safety network 3 to constitute a network system. The safety slave has non-safety information storing unit 26 for storing individual information and a state information of the connected safety device, the state information monitors a state of the operating safety device and a stored content is updated based on its monitored result. Then, when the non-safety information satisfying a fixed condition, at least the non-safety information satisfied the condition is transmitted to the safety PLC. That processing is performed by an MPU 23. Thus, unnecessary non-safety information is not transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Yasuo Muneta, Toshiyuki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040181296
    Abstract: A safety PLC 1 and at least a safety slave unit 2 are connected through a safety network 3. The safety slave unit has the safety information transmission function for transmitting the safety information for determining whether a safe state prevails or not and the unsafety information transmission function for transmitting the unsafety information containing no safety information. The unsafety information transmission function transmits the unsafety information on condition that the safety slave unit is in a safe state. Specifically, in the case where it is determined that no safe state prevails at the timing of transmitting the unsafety information, the unsafety information is not sent but the safety is transmitted. A safety controller, upon receipt of the unsafety information, estimates that the safety slave unit at the transmitting end of the particular unsafety information is in a safe state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Yasuo Muneta, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Teruyuki Nakayama