Patents by Inventor Akihiko Iwata

Akihiko Iwata 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).

  • Publication number: 20090261793
    Abstract: Three or more circuits, in which series-connected low-voltage and high-voltage side switches including MOSFETs including parasitic diodes are connected across positive and negative terminals of each of smoothing capacitors, are connected in series. One of elementary series circuits, each including a capacitor and an inductor, is disposed between any adjacent two of the circuits with the elementary series circuits set to have the same period of resonance. The MOSFETs of rectifier circuits are brought into an ON state simultaneously with the MOSFETs of a driving inverter circuit and brought into an OFF state earlier than the MOSFETs of the driving inverter circuit by a period of time not exceeding a time period equal to (period of resonance)/2. A resonance phenomenon of the capacitor and the inductor is used and conduction loss in the rectifier circuits is reduced in DC/DC power conversion performed through charging and discharging operation of the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Urakabe, Matahiko Ikeda, Akihiko Iwata, Kiyoharu Anzai, Hirotoshi Maekawa, Toshiyuki Kikunaga, Masaru Kobayashi, Tatsuya Okuda
  • Patent number: 7602626
    Abstract: In a power conversion apparatus that boosts a solar light voltage, converts it to AC and supplies AC power to a load or system, a second inverter is connected in series to one of two terminals on the AC side of a first inverter that uses, as its DC source, a DC voltage boosted from a solar light voltage by a chopper circuit. A third inverter is connected in series to the other terminal. Then, output voltages of the second and third inverters are controlled to be equal, and an output voltage is provided by using the sum of the generated voltages of the first, second, and third inverters. Thus, a mid-point potential of the DC power source is made equivalent to an intermediate potential of the output voltage of the power conversion apparatus, that is, the mid-point potential (ground potential) of a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Iwata, Makoto Seto, Masaki Yamada, Shigeki Harada
  • Patent number: 7598678
    Abstract: A lamp lighting apparatus includes an arc spot movement detector (5) for monitoring an DC voltage Vb which is the bus voltage of an inverter (3), and for detecting a movement of an arc spot which appears before a lamp 1 enters a state where human beings can recognize a flicker of the lamp (1), and, when the arc spot movement detector (5) detects a movement of the arc spot, controls a switch (2a) of a DCDC converter (2) so as to suppress the movement of the arc spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Harada, Taichiro Tamida, Akihiko Iwata
  • Patent number: 7596008
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes a first single-phase inverter that uses as a DC power source a first DC voltage that is boosted from a solar light voltage by a boosting chopper circuit. The first single-phase inverter is arranged between two single-phase inverters that use second DC power sources that are supplied from the first DC power source. AC sides of the respective single-phase inverters are connected in series. A power conditioner thus configured provides an output voltage using the sum of the generated voltages of the respective single-phase inverters. Chopper circuits are connected between the first DC power source and the second DC power sources, and power is supplied to the second DC power sources from the first DC power source via switching devices in the single-phase inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Iwata, Makoto Seto, Masaki Yamada, Shigeki Harada, Hiroshi Ito, Tomoyuki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7577007
    Abstract: A power converting apparatus used as an active filter includes single-phase multiplex inverter unit for converting DC power into AC power and a control unit for controlling the single-phase multiplex inverter unit. The single-phase multiplex inverter unit includes a first single-phase inverter and a second single-phase inverter. The first single-phase inverter to which a maximum DC voltage is supplied outputs voltage pulses at a rate of one pulse per half the period of an AC voltage fed from an AC source. The control unit includes a pair of hysteresis comparator circuits for driving the second single-phase inverter such that an AC source current follows a sinusoidal target current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Mori, Masaki Yamada, Akihiko Iwata
  • Publication number: 20090116268
    Abstract: A converter controllable in regenerative running mode, which is a power converting apparatus capable of suppressing harmonics without increasing the size of a reactor, and reducing power loss and electromagnetic noise. A power converter is configured by directly connecting AC sides of single-phase sub-converters having a DC voltage lower than a DC voltage of a 3-phase main converter to AC input lines of individual phases thereof in series. The main converter is driven by one gate pulse per half recurring cycle and a voltage produced by each sub-converter at AC terminals thereof is controlled to match a difference between an AC power supply voltage and a voltage produced by the main converter at AC terminals thereof, whereby phase voltages of the power converter are generated as the sums of phase voltages of the individual converters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukimori Kishida, Akihiko Iwata, Shinichi Ogusa, Akira Imanaka, Tetsuaki Nagano
  • Patent number: 7485987
    Abstract: A power converting device includes a single-phase multiplex converter used as an active filter and a control device. The single-phase multiplex converter includes multiple single-phase inverters connected in series at AC output sides. Each of the single-phase inverters converts DC power fed from a DC power supply into AC power. The control device includes hysteresis comparators and controls output voltage of the single-phase multiplex converter by gradational output voltage control, based on the sum of selectively combined output voltages of the multiple single-phase inverters. The control device controls the single-phase multiplex converter so that an output current follows a harmonic compensation reference current, canceling harmonics leaking from a load to which the power converting device is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Mori, Masaki Yamada, Akihiko Iwata
  • Publication number: 20090015071
    Abstract: In a power conversion apparatus that boosts a solar light voltage, converts it to AC and supplies AC power to a load or system, a second inverter is connected in series to one of two terminals on the AC side of a first inverter that uses, as its DC source, a DC voltage boosted from a solar light voltage by a chopper circuit. A third inverter is connected in series to the other terminal. Then, output voltages of the second and third inverters are controlled to be equal, and an output voltage is provided by using the sum of the generated voltages of the first, second, and third inverters. Thus, a mid-point potential of the DC power source is made equivalent to an intermediate potential of the output voltage of the power conversion apparatus, that is, the mid-point potential (ground potential) of a system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiko Iwata, Makoto Seto, Masaki Yamada, Shigeki Harada
  • Patent number: 7438420
    Abstract: A display apparatus having a control unit which controls the light source temperature so that the temperature remains within a predetermined temperature range, a light modulation device for displaying images by receiving light emitted from the light source, and modulating the light according to the image data, and a light source controlling unit which adjusts the amount of light that enters the light modulation device, by controlling electrical power fed to the light source, according to the brightness data. Even if a contrast ratio is improved by changing the amount of light of an HID lamp, a passive optical modulation type display apparatus can be provided without reducing the lifetime of the light source lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Harada, Taichiro Tamida, Akihiko Iwata
  • Publication number: 20080252145
    Abstract: A DC/DC power conversion device includes n-stage circuits comprised of an inverter circuit for driving which is connected between positive terminals and negative terminals of smoothing capacitors, and a rectifier circuit which is connected between positive terminals and negative terminals of smoothing capacitors; a first circuit corresponding to at least one among the n-stage circuits and configured by connecting in parallel cell circuits of m, second circuits corresponding to a plurality of remaining circuits of (n?1) among the n-stage circuits; capacitors for energy transfer connected between middle points of the cell circuits and middle points of the second circuits; and column circuits of m comprised of the cell circuits, the second circuits and the capacitors for energy transfer, wherein the middle points are contact points of high voltage sided elements and low voltage sided elements of the cell circuits and the second circuits; and driving signals for driving the respective column circuits have the sam
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro URAKABE, Matahiko Ikeda, Masaru Kobayashi, Akihiko Iwata, Tatsuya Okuda, Hirotoshi Maekawa, Toshiyuki Kikunaga
  • Publication number: 20080192519
    Abstract: In a power conversion apparatus that boosts a solar light voltage, converts it to AC and supplies AC power to a load or system, power loss is reduced and efficiency is improved. An inverter unit, in which AC sides of three single-phase inverters receive DC power from respective sources with a voltage ratio of 1:3:9 as respective inputs are connected in series. Gradational output voltage control of an output voltage is carried out using the sum of the respective generated AC voltages. Also, a solar light voltage is boosted by a chopper circuit to generate the highest voltage DC power source. When the solar light voltage exceeds a predetermined voltage, the boosting of the chopper circuit is stopped, thereby reducing power loss due to the boosting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiko Iwata, Makoto Seto, Masaki Yamada, Shigeki Harada, Noriyuki Matsubara, Takashi Kumagai
  • Publication number: 20080136977
    Abstract: A projection display uses a light modulating device to modulate, in accordance with image data, light radiated from a light source, project the modulated light onto a screen, and display an image. The projection display separates a unit of time configuring the image data into an effective light time when the light modulating device can express the light as an image on the screen and an ineffective light time when the light modulating device cannot express the light as an image on the screen. The projection display increases the power supplied to the light source during the effective light time over the power supplied to the light source during the ineffective light time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeki HARADA, Takayoshi Nagai, Ikuro Suga, Akihiko Iwata, Yoshiteru Suzuki, Akira Okumura, Jun Someya, Kuniko Kojima
  • Publication number: 20080110865
    Abstract: A discharge-generation control unit applies at least a preliminary-discharge voltage pulse and a main-discharge voltage pulse between a wire electrode and a work. A discharge-position determining unit determines a discharge position from results of measurement by a plurality of current measuring units. A machining-energy adjusting unit adjusts machining energy generated by the main-discharge voltage pulse based on a discharge position determined before applying the main-discharge voltage pulse, and reflects a result of the adjustment on the generation of an electric discharge by feeding the result to the discharge-generation control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Hashimoto, Tatsushi Satou, Akihiko Iwata, Yoshikazu Ukai, Yasuo Onodera
  • Publication number: 20080106220
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting apparatus includes a DC-DC converter for outputting voltages having respective different potentials from two wirings, a switching circuit having input terminals connected to the two wirings, an output terminal connected to one electrode of a discharge lamp, and a capacitor having one electrode terminal connected to a second electrode of the discharge lamp and a second electrode terminal connected to one of the two wirings of the DC-DC converter. The switching circuit includes a switching element for controlling connections between one of the two wirings and the output terminal. The other wiring is connected to the output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Urakabe, Akihiko Iwata
  • Publication number: 20080101101
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes a first single-phase inverter that uses ask a DC power source a first DC voltage that is boosted from a solar light voltage by a boosting chopper circuit. The first single-phase inverter is arranged between two single-phase inverters that use second DC power sources that are supplied from the first DC power source. AC sides of the respective single-phase inverters are connected in series. A power conditioner thus configured provides an output voltage using the sum of the generated voltages of the respective single-phase inverters. Chopper circuits are connected between the first DC power source and the second DC power sources, and power is supplied to the second DC power sources from the first DC power source via switching devices in the single-phase inverters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiko Iwata, Makoto Seto, Masaki Yamada, Shigeki Harada, Hiroshi Ito, Tomoyuki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7327095
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting apparatus includes a DC-DC converter for outputting voltages having respective different potentials from two wirings, a switching circuit having input terminals connected to the two wirings, an output terminal connected to one electrode of a discharge lamp, and a capacitor having one electrode terminal connected to a second electrode of the discharge lamp and a second electrode terminal connected to one of the two wirings of the DC-DC converter. The switching circuit includes a switching element for controlling connections between one of the two wirings and the output terminal. The other wiring is connected to the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Urakabe, Akihiko Iwata
  • Patent number: 7312584
    Abstract: A plasma-generation power-supply device includes a transformer connected to an alternating-current power-supply, a rectifier connected to the transformer, an inverter connected to the rectifier, a reactor inserted in series in a power line of an ozonizer that is supplied with power from the inverter, and a controller that controls the inverter. The controller detects the current flowing to the ozonizer with a current detector and provides a control that keeps power applied to the ozonizer constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Taichiro Tamita, Akihiko Iwata, Noboru Wada, Shingo Mine, Hajime Nakatani
  • Publication number: 20070223256
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power device including a converter part (2) for converting an AC voltage to a DC voltage; an inverter part (3) for converting the DC voltage outputted from the converter part (2) to the AC voltage; and a transformer (4) having an inductance forming a series resonance circuit together with an electrostatic capacity of a load (20) to boost the AC voltage outputted from the inverter part (3). In the power device, an inductance (7) is connected to the output part of the inverter part (3) in parallel with the transformer (4). Thus, in a discharge part 6 provided in the load (20), since when a discharge is not generated, a recovery current is not supplied to a circulating current diode in the inverter part (3), or the quantity of the recovery current is reduced, the heat generation of the circulating current diode can be suppressed without increasing the number of elements of the circulating current diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kidokoro, Masato Matsubara, Akihiko Iwata, Hiroyasu Iwabuki, Akihiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20070205727
    Abstract: A plasma-generation power-supply device includes a transformer connected to an alternating-current power-supply, a rectifier connected to the transformer, an inverter connected to the rectifier a reactor inserted in series in a power line of an ozonizer that is supplied with power from the inverter, and a controllers that controls the inverter. The controller detects the current flowing to the ozonizer with a current detector and provides a control that keeps power applied to the ozonizer constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taichiro Tamita, Akihiko Iwata, Noboru Wada, Shingo Mine, Hajime Nakatani
  • Patent number: RE40528
    Abstract: Voltage compensating circuits are connected serially to a power system, including capacitors each having different charging voltages (in relationship of approximately 2k (K=0, 1, 2, . . . ) times the smallest charging voltage value). The voltage compensating circuits convert DC voltages in the capacitors into AC voltages and output the AC voltages, respectively. The voltages of the capacitors are detected as detected values V1 to V3. The detected values V1 to V3 are used as bit signals for a reference value to check a voltage dip amount of the power system with the reference value and to convert the voltage dip amount into a binary signal. A combination is selected from the voltage compensating circuits in accordance with the binary signal so that the sum of output voltages of the selected voltage compensating circuits compensates the voltage dip of the power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Iwata, Akihiro Suzuki, Hiroyuki Sasao, Kenichi Koyama, Toshiyuki Kikunaga, Mitsugu Takahashi