Patents by Inventor Yuji Nakabayashi

Yuji Nakabayashi 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: 10451470
    Abstract: A flow rate measurement device of the present invention includes a flow rate signal detection unit for detecting a flow rate signal of a fluid to be measured flowing through flow path, flow rate calculation unit for calculating a flow rate from the flow rate signal detected by the flow rate signal detection unit, and oscillation circuit for generating a reference clock. Furthermore, the flow rate measurement device includes temperature calculation unit for calculating a temperature from a frequency change resulting from a temperature change of oscillation circuit, and flow rate correction unit for correcting the flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculation unit by obtaining an offset flow rate at a desired temperature based on the temperature calculated by temperature calculation unit. Thus, accuracy of flow rate measurement can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumikazu Shiba, Yuji Nakabayashi, Kouichi Takemura, Yuji Fujii
  • Patent number: 10184816
    Abstract: A measurement unit includes a fluid inlet to let a fluid flow in, a fluid outlet to let the fluid flow out, and a single flow path connecting the fluid inlet with the fluid outlet. The measurement unit further includes a plurality of partition boards and a measuring instrument. The plurality of partition boards are disposed along a current of the fluid and between facing side surfaces of the flow path. The plurality of partition boards define M flow path segments (where M is an integer of 2 or greater) between the facing side surfaces. The measuring instrument measures a flow rate of the fluid flowing through N successively adjacent flow path segments (where N is an integer of 1 or greater and less than M).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Sugiyama, Hideaki Morihana, Hidetomo Nagahara, Yuji Nakabayashi, Hideki Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20180188086
    Abstract: A measurement unit includes a fluid inlet to let a fluid flow in, a fluid outlet to let the fluid flow out, and a single flow path connecting the fluid inlet with the fluid outlet. The measurement unit further includes a plurality of partition boards and a measuring instrument. The plurality of partition boards are disposed along a current of the fluid and between facing side surfaces of the flow path. The plurality of partition boards define M flow path segments (where M is an integer of 2 or greater) between the facing side surfaces. The measuring instrument measures a flow rate of the fluid flowing through N successively adjacent flow path segments (where N is an integer of 1 or greater and less than M).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Masaki SUGIYAMA, Hideaki MORIHANA, Hidetomo NAGAHARA, Yuji NAKABAYASHI, Hideki KINOSHITA
  • Patent number: 9778084
    Abstract: A flow-rate measurement device which measures a flow rate of a fluid flowing through a fluid flow channel unit includes a tubular measurement flow channel unit that is stored in the fluid flow channel unit and has an inside in communication with the fluid flow channel unit. The flow-rate measurement device also includes a pair of sealing materials that blocks a flow of a fluid and is provided to encircle outer peripheries of the measurement flow channel unit at a first end and a second end; and a measurement unit including a substrate, on which a measurement circuit is mounted, and a pair of ultrasonic transducers. Further, the pair of ultrasonic transducers is electrically and fixedly connected to the substrate in the measurement unit, and the measurement unit is disposed between the pair of sealing materials on the measurement flow channel unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Satou, Yuji Nakabayashi, Hidetomo Nagahara, Akihisa Adachi, Aoi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9726532
    Abstract: A flow meter device includes plural fluid passages which are provided between an inlet section into which a fluid flows and an outlet section from which the fluid flows out, and through which the fluid flows and flow value measuring units installed in the plural fluid passages, respectively. The flow value measuring units are configured to measure flow values of the fluid flowing through the fluid passages. The flow meter device further includes a control unit configured to determine whether or not to cause one or more of the flow value measuring units to stop a measuring operation of the flow value based on the flow values measured by the flow value measuring units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihisa Adachi, Yuji Fujii, Yuji Nakabayashi, Hirokazu Gotou, Yukio Sakaguchi, Aoi Watanabe, Yasuharu Kawano
  • Patent number: 9664549
    Abstract: A gas meter device of the present invention includes an inlet into which a fluid flows, and an outlet from which the fluid flows out, and is configured to derive a flow value of the fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Sakaguchi, Akihisa Adachi, Yuji Fujii, Yuji Nakabayashi, Hirokazu Gotou, Yasuharu Kawano, Aoi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20160377468
    Abstract: A flow-rate measurement device which measures a flow rate of a fluid flowing through a fluid flow channel unit includes a tubular measurement flow channel unit that is stored in the fluid flow channel unit and has an inside in communication with the fluid flow channel unit. The flow-rate measurement device also includes a pair of sealing materials that blocks a flow of a fluid and is provided to encircle outer peripheries of the measurement flow channel unit at a first end and a second end; and a measurement unit including a substrate, on which a measurement circuit is mounted, and a pair of ultrasonic transducers. Further, the pair of ultrasonic transducers is electrically and fixedly connected to the substrate in the measurement unit, and the measurement unit is disposed between the pair of sealing materials on the measurement flow channel unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: MASATO SATOU, YUJI NAKABAYASHI, HIDETOMO NAGAHARA, AKIHISA ADACHI, AOI WATANABE
  • Patent number: 9528624
    Abstract: A shutoff valve according to the present invention includes: a motor configured to cause a rotating shaft to rotate; a lead screw formed on the rotating shaft; a lead nut into which the lead screw is screwed; and a valve element configured to block a passage, the valve element being configured to move in an axial direction in accordance with rotation of the rotating shaft. A dry lubricating coating is formed on a contact surface where the lead screw and the lead nut come into contact with each other. A thread pitch of the lead screw is set such that a current applied to the motor, the current being in relation to an inductance of the motor, is in a range that does not cause explosion of the fuel gas and that allows thrust force necessary for moving the valve element to be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoto Naganuma, Yuji Nakabayashi, Hideaki Morihana, Masaki Sugiyama, Hiroshi Nakai, Akihisa Adachi
  • Patent number: 9500508
    Abstract: A gas meter device of the present invention comprises plural measurement fluid passages provided in parallel between an inlet into which a fluid flows, and an outlet from which the fluid flows out; flow value measuring sections provided in the measurement fluid passages, respectively, and configured to obtain flow values of fluids flowing through the measurement fluid passages, respectively; memories configured to store coefficient data which are values corresponding to the measurement fluid passages, respectively and indicating a relation between the flow values of the fluids flowing through the measurement fluid passages, respectively, and a total flow value of the fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet; and total flow value estimation sections configured to estimate total flow values of the fluids based on the flow values obtained by the flow value measuring sections, respectively, and the coefficient data stored in the memories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Gotou, Akihisa Adachi, Yuji Fujii, Yuji Nakabayashi, Yukio Sakaguchi, Yasuharu Kawano, Aoi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9453748
    Abstract: A flow meter device includes: an inlet portion, into which a fluid flows; an outlet portion, from which the fluid flows out; a plurality of measurement passage portions provided parallel to each other between the inlet portion and the outlet portion; and at least one flow rate measurement unit, each flow rate measurement unit being configured to measure a flow rate of the fluid that flows through a passage in a corresponding one of the measurement passage portions. Shapes of passages in the respective measurement passage portions coincide with each other. The plurality of measurement passage portions include: the one measurement passage portion(s), which is/are each provided with the flow rate measurement unit; and the other measurement passage portion(s), which is/are not provided with the flow rate measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yasuda, Akihisa Adachi, Yuji Fujii, Yuji Nakabayashi, Yukio Sakaguchi, Hirokazu Gotou, Yasuharu Kawano, Aoi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9304022
    Abstract: To measure the propagation time of an ultrasonic signal, the flow rate measuring device of the present invention has amplifier for amplifying a received signal, reference-voltage changing part, reference-voltage setting part, and reference comparator for comparing between the received signal waveform and reference voltage. Reference-voltage changing part changes the reference voltage according to the amplification degree of the amplified waveform of the received signal in amplifier. Comparing the changed reference voltage with the received signal waveform enhances stability in calculation of the propagation time. This prevents measurement accuracy of the flow velocity and the flow rate of fluid to be measured from degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Gotou, Yuji Nakabayashi, Akihisa Adachi
  • Publication number: 20150323365
    Abstract: A flow meter device of the present invention comprises plural fluid passages which are provided between an inlet section into which a fluid flows and an outlet section from which the fluid flows out, and through which the fluid flows; flow value measuring units installed in the plural fluid passages, respectively, and configured to measure flow values of the fluid flowing through the fluid passages; and a control unit configured to determine whether or not to cause one or more of the flow value measuring units to stop a measuring operation of the flow value based on the flow values measured by the flow value measuring units, and whether or not to cause the one or more of the flow value measuring units to resume the measuring operation of the flow value, based on the flow value measured by the flow value measuring unit as a monitoring measuring unit which is other than the one or more of the flow value measuring units and is activated to perform the measuring operation of the flow value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Akihisa ADACHI, Yuji FUJII, Yuji NAKABAYASHI, Hirokazu GOTOU, Yukio SAKAGUCHI, Aoi WATANABE, Yasuharu KAWANO
  • Publication number: 20150323364
    Abstract: A gas meter device of the present invention includes an inlet into which a fluid flows, and an outlet from which the fluid flows out, and is configured to derive a flow value of the fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Yukio SAKAGUCHI, Akihisa ADACHI, Yuji FUJII, Yuji NAKABAYASHI, Hirokazu GOTOU, Yasuharu KAWANO, Aoi WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20150253166
    Abstract: A flow meter device includes: an inlet portion, into which a fluid flows; an outlet portion, from which the fluid flows out; a plurality of measurement passage portions provided parallel to each other between the inlet portion and the outlet portion; and at least one flow rate measurement unit, each flow rate measurement unit being configured to measure a flow rate of the fluid that flows through a passage in a corresponding one of the measurement passage portions. Shapes of passages in the respective measurement passage portions coincide with each other. The plurality of measurement passage portions include: the one measurement passage portion(s), which is/are each provided with the flow rate measurement unit; and the other measurement passage portion(s), which is/are not provided with the flow rate measurement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Kenji Yasuda, Akihisa Adachi, Yuji Fujii, Yuji Nakabayashi, Yukio Sakaguchi, Hirokazu Gotou, Yasuharu Kawano, Aoi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150153211
    Abstract: A gas meter device of the present invention comprises plural measurement fluid passages provided in parallel between an inlet into which a fluid flows, and an outlet from which the fluid flows out; flow value measuring sections provided in the measurement fluid passages, respectively, and configured to obtain flow values of fluids flowing through the measurement fluid passages, respectively; memories configured to store coefficient data which are values corresponding to the measurement fluid passages, respectively and indicating a relation between the flow values of the fluids flowing through the measurement fluid passages, respectively, and a total flow value of the fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet; and total flow value estimation sections configured to estimate total flow values of the fluids based on the flow values obtained by the flow value measuring sections, respectively, and the coefficient data stored in the memories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Gotou, Akihisa Adachi, Yuji Fujii, Yuji Nakabayashi, Yukio Sakaguchi, Yasuharu Kawano, Aoi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150135850
    Abstract: To measure the propagation time of an ultrasonic signal, the flow rate measuring device of the present invention has amplifier for amplifying a received signal, reference-voltage changing part, reference-voltage setting part, and reference comparator for comparing between the received signal waveform and reference voltage. Reference-voltage changing part changes the reference voltage according to the amplification degree of the amplified waveform of the received signal in amplifier. Comparing the changed reference voltage with the received signal waveform enhances stability in calculation of the propagation time. This prevents measurement accuracy of the flow velocity and the flow rate of fluid to be measured from degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Gotou, Yuji Nakabayashi, Akihisa Adachi
  • Publication number: 20150114078
    Abstract: A flow rate measurement device of the present invention includes a flow rate signal detection unit for detecting a flow rate signal of a fluid to be measured flowing through flow path, flow rate calculation unit for calculating a flow rate from the flow rate signal detected by the flow rate signal detection unit, and oscillation circuit for generating a reference clock. Furthermore, the flow rate measurement device includes temperature calculation unit for calculating a temperature from a frequency change resulting from a temperature change of oscillation circuit, and flow rate correction unit for correcting the flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculation unit by obtaining an offset flow rate at a desired temperature based on the temperature calculated by temperature calculation unit. Thus, accuracy of flow rate measurement can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Fumikazu Shiba, Yuji Nakabayashi, Kouichi Takemura, Yuji Fujii
  • Patent number: 8972208
    Abstract: In a flow meter device of the present invention, a time measuring section of the flow meter device includes a first counter which starts counting at a starting point of measurement of propagation time; and a second counter which starts counting at an end point of the measurement of the propagation time, and performs counting at a higher speed than the first counter. A propagation time TO is finally obtained by subtracting time ?t which is measured by the second counter and passes from the end point until the first counter counts up, from time T which is measured by the first counter and passes from a starting point until the first counter counts up after the end point. A flow calculating section calculates a flow with high accuracy using the propagation time TO. Thus, lower electric power consumption can be achieved, and accuracy of measurement of flow can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Takemura, Fumikazu Shiba, Yuji Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 8671775
    Abstract: When a flow rate is equal to or more than a reference flow rate, a reference voltage is changed to a level capable of measuring stably to thereby realize the improvement of measurement accuracy at the time of a large amount of flow rate. A flow rate determination means compares a flow rate calculated by a flow rate calculation means with the reference flow rate. When the calculated flow rate is larger than the reference flow rate, the reference voltage set by a reference voltage setting means is changed, whereby the zero cross point can be detected stably at the portion where the degree of the influence of the change in the amplitude of the received signal is small. Thus, it is possible to provide a flow rate measuring device capable of measuring a flow rate stably with high accuracy even when a fluid flow is disturbed due to a large amount of flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Gotou, Aoi Watanabe, Yuji Fujii, Kouichi Takemura, Yuji Nakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20130306893
    Abstract: A shutoff valve according to the present invention includes: a motor configured to cause a rotating shaft to rotate; a lead screw formed on the rotating shaft; a lead nut into which the lead screw is screwed; and a valve element configured to block a passage, the valve element being configured to move in an axial direction in accordance with rotation of the rotating shaft. A dry lubricating coating is formed on a contact surface where the lead screw and the lead nut come into contact with each other. A thread pitch of the lead screw is set such that a current applied to the motor, the current being in relation to an inductance of the motor, is in a range that does not cause explosion of the fuel gas and that allows thrust force necessary for moving the valve element to be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto Naganuma, Yuji Nakabayashi, Hideaki Morihana, Masaki Sugiyama, Hiroshi Nakai, Akihisa Adachi