Patents by Inventor Akira Kotabe

Akira Kotabe 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: 11808807
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device and an inspection method for a semiconductor integrated circuit device capable of improving burn-in screening quality by improvement in an activation rate of a DSP without operating a diagnostic circuit at the time of wafer level burn-in in a semiconductor integrated circuit device incorporating an analog circuit and the diagnostic circuit for the analog circuit are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akeo Satoh, Kazunori Nemoto, Akira Kotabe
  • Patent number: 11768682
    Abstract: A physical quantity detection device that can improve arithmetic resolution while preventing an increase in memory capacity is obtained. A physical quantity detection device 100 according to the present invention includes: a physical quantity detection sensor that detects a physical quantity of a measurement target gas; a storage unit that records a correction amount corresponding to a detection value of the physical quantity detection sensor; and an arithmetic unit 110 that performs output adjustment of the detection value using the detection value and the correction amount. Resolution of the storage unit 120 is lower than arithmetic resolution of the arithmetic unit 110.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamamoto, Takahiro Miki, Akira Kotabe
  • Publication number: 20230194628
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device capable of diagnosing disconnection of a signal line that transmits a command signal in an inspection process even if the command signal is assumed not to be transmitted in the inspection process. A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a first semiconductor integrated circuit and a control circuit, the control circuit includes a means for controlling a signal line in response to a response signal from the first semiconductor integrated circuit, and the control circuit further includes a means for controlling the signal line regardless of a signal from the first semiconductor integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Tomoki TAKAMOTO, Akeo SATOH, Akira KOTABE
  • Publication number: 20230080617
    Abstract: There is a possibility that unauthorized writing of adjustment information occurs in a sensor device in which the adjustment information of the sensor device can be written from outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Akira KOTABE, Akeo SATOH
  • Patent number: 11590906
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle-mounted system capable of transmitting a command to a first system from a second system during a period in which the first system communicates with the second system according to a unidirectional communication protocol. A vehicle-mounted system 100 includes a sensor 10 (first system) and an ECU (second system). The sensor 10 outputs a message signal including a pause pulse to the communication line DATA according to SENT (a unidirectional communication protocol). The ECU 20 is connected to the communication line DATA, and transmits a command to the sensor 10 using the falling period of the pause pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Kotabe, Shinya Matohara
  • Patent number: 11467016
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a sensor system capable of achieving improvement of noise resistance. Thus, an output circuit 106a in the semiconductor device includes: input terminals 207n, 207p; and an output terminal 208; an output amplifier 201 connecting the input terminals 207n, 207p to the output terminal 208; a feedback element 203 returning the output terminal 208 to the input terminal 207n; a switching transistor 204; and a resistance element 206. A drain of the switching transistor 204 is connected to the input terminal 207n. The resistance element 206 is provided between a back gate of the switching transistor 204 and a power source Vdd and has impedance of a predetermined value or more for suppressing noise of a predetermined frequency generated at the input terminal 207n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nakagawa, Akeo Satoh, Akira Kotabe, Masahiro Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20220318010
    Abstract: A physical quantity detection device that can improve arithmetic resolution while preventing an increase in memory capacity is obtained. A physical quantity detection device 100 according to the present invention includes: a physical quantity detection sensor that detects a physical quantity of a measurement target gas; a storage unit that records a correction amount corresponding to a detection value of the physical quantity detection sensor; and an arithmetic unit 110 that performs output adjustment of the detection value using the detection value and the correction amount. Resolution of the storage unit 120 is lower than arithmetic resolution of the arithmetic unit 110.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Takahiro YAMAMOTO, Takahiro MIKI, Akira KOTABE
  • Patent number: 11422016
    Abstract: Provided is a thermal flow rate meter capable of individually correcting different pulsation errors generated in an upstream side temperature sensor and a downstream side temperature sensor. A thermal flow rate meter 1 which measures a flow rate of a gas based on a temperature difference between an upstream side temperature sensor 12 and a downstream side temperature sensor 13, which are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of a heating element 11. The thermal flow rate meter includes: a detection element 10 that individually outputs an output signal of the upstream side temperature sensor 12 and an output signal of the downstream side temperature sensor 13; and compensator 20 that individually performs response compensation of the output signal of the upstream side temperature sensor 12 and the output signal of the downstream side temperature sensor 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakano, Akira Uenodan, Akira Kotabe
  • Publication number: 20220214196
    Abstract: It is difficult for a conventional air flow rate meter to cope with a distorted waveform including harmonics like the pulsation waveform of an actual engine. An air flow rate meter 100A according to the present invention includes an air flow rate detection element 1 that generates an output signal corresponding to an air flow rate to be measured, a signal detector 2 that detects that the output signal from the air flow rate detection element 1 has passed a predetermined threshold, a pulse generator 3 that generates a pulse signal using the output signal from the signal detector 2 as a trigger, and an adder 4 that adds the output signal from the pulse generator 3 to the output signal from the air flow rate detection element 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Hiroshi NAKANO, Akira KOTABE
  • Publication number: 20220216867
    Abstract: An electronic circuit that recognizes a disconnected state from an outside during disconnection of a power supply line is provided. For this purpose, an electronic circuit includes: a load provided between a power supply line and an output terminal in the electronic circuit; a transistor provided between the load and the output terminal; a current generation circuit that generates current using a power supply voltage at a power supply line in the electronic circuit; and a control circuit that controls the transistor using a control voltage that changes according to the current generated by the current generation circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Tatsuo NAKAGAWA, Akeo SATOH, Akira KOTABE
  • Patent number: 11381228
    Abstract: A sensor output circuit is limited with high accuracy, and reduces radio wave radiation by signal transmission using a single-line signal. The sensor output includes a pulse signal Vin that changes according to a physical quantity to be measured, MOS transistors that perform on/off operations according to the pulse signal Vin, a constant current source that generates a constant current, a MOS transistor which generates a gate voltage of a MOS transistor, MOS transistors which form a current mirror circuit, and the MOS transistor which works to maintain a drain voltage of the MOS transistor at a constant voltage, and the output terminal which is driven by the MOS transistors connected in series. In addition, an output signal from the sensor output circuit is transmitted to a control circuit via an output signal line. The control circuit includes a pull-up resistor, a capacitor, and an input gate circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakano, Akira Kotabe
  • Publication number: 20220187363
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device and an inspection method for a semiconductor integrated circuit device capable of improving burn-in screening quality by improvement in an activation rate of a DSP without operating a diagnostic circuit at the time of wafer level burn-in in a semiconductor integrated circuit device incorporating an analog circuit and the diagnostic circuit for the analog circuit are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Akeo SATOH, Kazunori NEMOTO, Akira KOTABE
  • Publication number: 20220107345
    Abstract: An electronic circuit including an output circuit capable of reducing breakage while satisfying the characteristics of an output signal is provided. For this purpose, the electronic circuit includes output signal generation elements 201 and 202 configured to generate an output signal, switches 203 and 204, and a voltage monitor circuit 205 configured to monitor a voltage applied to an output terminal 112. Here, the output signal generation elements 201 and 202 are connected to the output terminal 112 via the switches 203 and 204, and the voltage monitor circuit 205 is configured to be able to measure a voltage higher than a power supply voltage VDD connected to the output signal generation element 201 and controls the switches 203 and 204 so as to disconnect the output signal generation elements 201 and 202 and the output terminal 112 when the voltage of the output terminal 112 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value set higher than the power supply voltage VDD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo NAKAGAWA, Akeo SATOH, Akira KOTABE
  • Patent number: 11271554
    Abstract: To prevent an output of an intermediate potential by suppressing sneaking of a current from a signal line to a power line at the time of disconnection of a power supply. A control circuit which receives a power supply voltage from a power line L11 and outputs an output signal to a signal line L12 includes: a load R11 which is provided between the power line and the signal line; a first transistor P11 which is provided between the load and the signal line; a second transistor P12 which is provided between a well of the first transistor and the power line; and a gate control circuit 15 which connects a gate terminal of the first transistor and a gate terminal of the second transistor to the signal line and turns off the first transistor and the second transistor, at the time of disconnection of a power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akeo Satoh, Akira Kotabe, Tatsuo Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20210409012
    Abstract: A sensor output circuit is limited with high accuracy, and reduces radio wave radiation by signal transmission using a single-line signal. The sensor output includes a pulse signal Vin that changes according to a physical quantity to be measured, MOS transistors that perform on/off operations according to the pulse signal Vin, a constant current source that generates a constant current, a MOS transistor which generates a gate voltage of a MOS transistor, MOS transistors which form a current mirror circuit, and the MOS transistor which works to maintain a drain voltage of the MOS transistor at a constant voltage, and the output terminal which is driven by the MOS transistors connected in series. In addition, an output signal from the sensor output circuit is transmitted to a control circuit via an output signal line. The control circuit includes a pull-up resistor, a capacitor, and an input gate circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Hiroshi NAKANO, Akira KOTABE
  • Publication number: 20210389787
    Abstract: In a conventional electronic device, it is difficult to passively diagnose disconnection of an external capacitor added to an output terminal of a regulator circuit. An electronic device in this embodiment includes a regulator circuit 2 that outputs a constant voltage while external power supplied from the outside is input thereto, an external capacitor 3 connected to an output terminal of the regulator circuit 2 as an external component, an oscillation detector 4 that detects an oscillating state of the output voltage of the regulator circuit 2, and a failure determination unit 5 that outputs a failure signal when the oscillation detector 4 detects the oscillating state of the regulator circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Hiroshi NAKANO, Akira KOTABE
  • Publication number: 20210344333
    Abstract: To prevent an output of an intermediate potential by suppressing sneaking of a current from a signal line to a power line at the time of disconnection of a power supply. A control circuit which receives a power supply voltage from a power line L11 and outputs an output signal to a signal line L12 includes: a load R11 which is provided between the power line and the signal line; a first transistor P11 which is provided between the load and the signal line; a second transistor P12 which is provided between a well of the first transistor and the power line; and a gate control circuit 15 which connects a gate terminal of the first transistor and a gate terminal of the second transistor to the signal line and turns off the first transistor and the second transistor, at the time of disconnection of a power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Akeo SATOH, Akira KOTABE, Tatsuo NAKAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20210215523
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a sensor system capable of achieving improvement of noise resistance. Thus, an output circuit 106a in the semiconductor device includes: input terminals 207n, 207p; and an output terminal 208; an output amplifier 201 connecting the input terminals 207n, 207p to the output terminal 208; a feedback element 203 returning the output terminal 208 to the input terminal 207n; a switching transistor 204; and a resistance element 206. A drain of the switching transistor 204 is connected to the input terminal 207n. The resistance element 206 is provided between a back gate of the switching transistor 204 and a power source Vdd and has impedance of a predetermined value or more for suppressing noise of a predetermined frequency generated at the input terminal 207n.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuo NAKAGAWA, Akeo SATOH, Akira KOTABE, Masahiro MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 11043485
    Abstract: In a protective circuit of a conventional electronic device, surge resistance is low and it is difficult to connect an external connection terminal of an integrated circuit directly to an external connection terminal of the electronic device or the like. A protective circuit of an electronic device according to the present embodiment includes an external connection terminal 1 which is connected to an external signal; a wiring layer 2 which connects the external connection terminal 1 and a protective resistor 3; a protective resistor 3 which protects an internal circuit from surges or noises input from the external connection terminal 1; slits which divide the protective resistor 3; current distribution resistors which are constituted by dividing the protective resistor 3 by the slits; and MOS transistors which are connected to the current distribution resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakano, Yoshimitsu Yanagawa, Akira Kotabe
  • Patent number: 11009379
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal flow rate measurement device that is capable of highly accurate correction of the temperature of an intake gas flow rate using a two-dimensional correction map that stores a correction value in association with temperature and intake gas flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunori Suzuki, Keiji Hanzawa, Junichi Horie, Akira Kotabe