公开(公告)号：US10177689B2

公开(公告)日：2019-01-08

申请号：US14914854

申请日：2014-05-15

Applicant: TRI-FORCE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

Inventor： Kazuhiro Okada ,  Satoshi Era ,  Miho Okada

IPC: H01L41/113 ,  H02N2/18 ,  H01L41/053

Abstract: The power generation efficiency is to be enhanced by converting vibration energy including various direction components into electric energy without waste. A cantilever structure is adopted, in which a first plate-like bridge portion (120) and a second plate-like bridge portion (130) extend in a shape of a letter U from a fixing-portion (110) fixed to the device housing (200) and a weight body (150) is connected to the end. On the upper surface of the cantilever structure, a common lower layer electrode (E00), a layered piezoelectric element (300) and discrete upper layer electrodes (Ex1 to Ez4) are formed. The upper layer electrodes (Ez1 to Ez4) disposed on a center line (Lx, Ly) of each plate-like bridge portion take out charge generated in the piezoelectric element (300) due to deflection caused by the Z-axis direction vibration of the weight body (150). The upper layer electrodes (Ex1 to Ex4, Ey1 to Ey4) disposed on both sides of the center line (Lx, Ly) of the plate-like bridge portion take out charge generated in the piezoelectric element (300) due to deflection caused by the X-axis or Y-axis direction vibration of the weight body (150).

公开(公告)号：US11499878B2

公开(公告)日：2022-11-15

申请号：US16944964

申请日：2020-07-31

Applicant: TRI-FORCE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

Inventor： Kazuhiro Okada ,  Miho Sekine ,  Yuki Hongo

IPC: G01L1/00 ,  G01L1/22 ,  G01L1/14

Abstract: A strain body of a force sensor according to the present invention includes a tilting structure disposed between a force receiving body and a support body, a force-receiving-body-side deformable body connecting the force receiving body and the tilting structure, and a support-body-side deformable body connecting the tilting structure and the support body. The tilting structure includes a first tilting body that extends in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction and that is elastically deformable by the action of force in the first direction.

公开(公告)号：US10557766B2

公开(公告)日：2020-02-11

申请号：US15761713

申请日：2016-07-20

Applicant: TRI-FORCE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

Inventor： Kazuhiro Okada ,  Miho Okada

IPC: G01L5/22 ,  G01L3/10 ,  G01L3/14 ,  G01L25/00

Abstract: A torque sensor includes: an annular deformation body; first and second displacement electrodes which cause displacement by elastic deformation of the annular deformation body; first and second fixed electrodes arranged at positions opposite the first and second displacement electrodes; and a detection circuit that outputs an electric signal indicating a torque based on a variation amount of capacitance values of first and second capacitive elements each of which is configured of the displacement electrode and the fixed electrode. The annular deformation body includes a high elastic portion and a low elastic portion having a spring constant smaller than a spring constant of the high elastic portion. The detection circuit determines whether the torque sensor functions normally based on a ratio between first and second electric signals.

公开(公告)号：US10557764B2

公开(公告)日：2020-02-11

申请号：US15546605

申请日：2015-01-26

Applicant: TRI-FORCE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

Inventor： Kazuhiro Okada ,  Miho Okada

IPC: G01L3/14 ,  G01L3/10

Abstract: A torque sensor including an annular deformation body, left side support body, right side support body, left side connection members which connect left side connection points of the annular deformation body with the left side support body, and right side connection members which connect right side connection points of the annular deformation body with the right side support body. Orthogonal projection images of the left side connection points on the basic plane and orthogonal projection images of the right side connection points on the basic plane are formed at mutually different positions.

公开(公告)号：US11329576B2

公开(公告)日：2022-05-10

申请号：US15918691

申请日：2018-03-12

Applicant: TRI-FORCE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

Inventor： Kazuhiro Okada ,  Miho Okada

IPC: H02N2/18

Abstract: A power generating element is provided that includes first and second plate-like structures, a pedestal that supports the first plate-like structure, and first and second piezoelectric elements that generate charges on the basis of the deflections of the two plate-like structures. A base end portion of the first plate-like structure is connected to the pedestal, and a direction from the base end portion toward the tip end portion of the first plate-like structure is a Y-axis positive direction. A base end portion of the second plate-like structure is connected to the tip end portion of the first plate-like structure via a connection body, and a direction from the base end portion toward the tip end portion of the second plate-like structure is a Y-axis negative direction. A frequency band of a half-value width of a resonance system formed on the basis of the flexibility of the second plate-like structure at least partially overlaps a frequency band of a half-value width of a resonance system formed on the basis of the flexibility of the first plate-like structure.

公开(公告)号：US11088637B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-10

申请号：US16210479

申请日：2018-12-05

Applicant: TRI-FORCE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

Inventor： Kazuhiro Okada ,  Satoshi Era ,  Miho Okada

IPC: H02N2/18 ,  H01L41/113 ,  H01L41/053

Abstract: The power generation efficiency is to be enhanced by converting vibration energy including various direction components into electric energy without waste. A cantilever structure is adopted, in which a first plate-like bridge portion (120) and a second plate-like bridge portion (130) extend in a shape of a letter U from a fixing-portion (110) fixed to the device housing (200) and a weight body (150) is connected to the end. On the upper surface of the cantilever structure, a common lower layer electrode (E00), a layered piezoelectric element (300) and discrete upper layer electrodes (Ex1 to Ez4) are formed. The upper layer electrodes (Ez1 to Ez4) disposed on a center line (Lx, Ly) of each plate-like bridge portion take out charge generated in the piezoelectric element (300) due to deflection caused by the Z-axis direction vibration of the weight body (150). The upper layer electrodes (Ex1 to Ex4, Ey1 to Ey4) disposed on both sides of the center line (Lx, Ly) of the plate-like bridge portion take out charge generated in the piezoelectric element (300) due to deflection caused by the X-axis or Y-axis direction vibration of the weight body (150).

公开(公告)号：US10284119B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-07

申请号：US15285143

申请日：2016-10-04

Applicant: TRI-FORCE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

Inventor： Kazuhiro Okada ,  Miho Okada

IPC: H01L41/113 ,  H02N2/18

Abstract: There is provided a power generating element which is capable of converting vibration energy in various directions into electric energy without waste and less likely to be damaged even upon application of excessive vibration. Made available is a main generating structure (MGS) in which a first layer (100), a second layer (200) and a third layer (300) are laminated. The second layer (200) has a plate-like bridge portion (210), a central plate-like portion (220), a left-hand side plate-like portion (230) and a right-hand side plate-like portion (240), each of which is flexible, and the third layer (300), that is a weight body, formed in the “U” letter shape is joined with the lower surface thereof. The plate-like bridge portion (210) is protected by the weight body (300) circumference thereof. The first layer (100) is structured so that a piezoelectric material layer (105) is laminated on an upper surface of a lower layer electrode (E0), and four localized upper layer electrodes (E1 to E4) are laminated on the upper surface thereof. The base end of the plate-like bridge portion (210) is fixed to a pedestal (400). Vibration of the weight body (300) is efficiently transmitted to the plate-like bridge portion (210) and the bridge portion piezoelectric layer (110), and a power generating circuit (500) outputs electric power on the basis of charge generated at the lower layer electrode (E0) and the upper layer electrodes (E1 to E4).

公开(公告)号：US20180209860A1

公开(公告)日：2018-07-26

申请号：US15745979

申请日：2016-07-21

Applicant: TRI-FORCE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION ,  DAI-ICHI SEIKO CO., LTD.

Inventor： Kazuhiro Okada ,  Satoshi Era ,  Nobuhiro Nagamoto ,  Takahito Kamiudo ,  Kazuto Akiba

IPC: G01L3/10

CPC classification number: G01L3/10 ,  G01L1/14 ,  G01L1/2231 ,  G01L3/106 ,  G01L3/14 ,  G01L3/1428 ,  G01L3/1435 ,  G01L3/1442 ,  G01L5/16 ,  G01L5/165

Abstract: An inner support member, a detection deformable body, and a ring-shaped outer support member are disposed sequentially from the inside to the outside around a Z axis as a central axis. Inner surfaces in the vicinity of inner support points of the detection deformable body connect to outer surfaces of the inner support member via inner connecting members, and outer surfaces in the vicinity of outer support points of the detection deformable body connect to inner surfaces of the outer support member via outer connecting members. When a torque acts in the clockwise direction on the outer support member (130) while the inner support member is fixed, detection parts are displaced outwardly, and detection parts are displaced inwardly. These displacements are detected electrically as changes in capacitance values of four capacitor elements including opposing electrodes.

公开(公告)号：US12092542B2

公开(公告)日：2024-09-17

申请号：US17619496

申请日：2021-02-18

Applicant: TRI-FORCE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

Inventor： Kazuhiro Okada ,  Miho Sekine

IPC: G01L5/165 ,  G01L3/14 ,  G01L5/00

CPC classification number: G01L5/165 ,  G01L3/1428 ,  G01L3/1442 ,  G01L5/0076

Abstract: A torque sensor according to the present invention includes a strain body, first structure Y-axis connecting portions, second structure X-axis connecting portions and a detection element. The first structure Y-axis connecting portions are disposed on a positive side and a negative side of a Y-axis relative to the strain body, and the second structure X-axis connecting portions are disposed on a positive side and a negative side of an X-axis relative to the second structure. The strain body includes four deformable bodies each including a displacement portion that is displaced in a Z-axis direction by elastic deformation. The deformable bodies are respectively disposed in a first quadrant, a second quadrant, a third quadrant, and a fourth quadrant. The detection element includes a capacitive element that detects a change in capacitance value by a displacement of the displacement portion of each of the deformable bodies in the Z-axis direction.

公开(公告)号：US11703402B2

公开(公告)日：2023-07-18

申请号：US17402829

申请日：2021-08-16

Applicant: TRI-FORCE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

Inventor： Kazuhiro Okada ,  Miho Okada

IPC: G01L3/10 ,  G01L3/14

CPC classification number: G01L3/10 ,  G01L3/106 ,  G01L3/108 ,  G01L3/14 ,  G01L3/1457

Abstract: A torque sensor for detecting torque around a predetermined rotation axis, including: a first support body, a second support body, a detection part which connects the first support body and the second support body and which undergoes elastic deformation by exertion of torque to be detected, a detection element which detects elastic deformation occurring at the detection part, and a detection circuit which outputs an electric signal indicating torque around the rotation axis exerted on one of (i) the first support body in a state that a load is applied to the second support body, and (ii) the second support body in a state that a load is applied to the first support body. The detection element includes a capacitive element which includes a displacement electrode fixed to a displacement part and a fixing electrode opposing the displacement electrode. The detection circuit outputs the electric signal indicating the exerted torque based on fluctuation in capacitance value of the capacitive element.