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).
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Publication number: 20210131847Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2019Publication date: May 6, 2021Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Hiroshi NAKANO, Akira UENODAN, Akira KOTABE
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Patent number: 10882471Abstract: Even when a positive/negative surge is applied to a power-supply line, occurrence of malfunction in a semiconductor device is lessened. In an in-vehicle semiconductor device, regulators convert an externally-supplied voltage to generate voltages. A voltage monitoring unit includes a voltage monitoring circuit and a switch, and monitors first to third voltages. An internal circuit has a processor operated by the voltage, and an oscillator operated by the voltage and generating a clock signal to be provided the processor. The voltage monitoring unit stops providing the clock signal to the processor when the voltage level of at least any one of the first to third voltages is below a set value. The voltage monitoring unit provides the clock signal to the processor when the voltage levels of all the first to third voltages exceed the set value.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2016Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshimitsu Yanagawa, Masahiro Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakano, Akira Kotabe
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Publication number: 20200317144Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2019Publication date: October 8, 2020Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Akira KOTABE, Shinya MATOHARA
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Patent number: 10720418Abstract: A resistance circuit is configured such that a P-type resistance section and an N-type resistance section are electrically connected in series, the P-type resistance section is configured with P-type diffusion layer resistance elements that are disposed to form a right angle with respect to each other and that are electrically connected in series, and the N-type resistance section is configured with N-type diffusion layer resistance elements that are disposed to form the right angle with respect to each other and that are electrically connected in series. Furthermore, the P-type diffusion layer resistance element is disposed along a <100> orientation direction of a semiconductor substrate, and the N-type diffusion layer resistance element is disposed along a <110> orientation direction of the semiconductor substrate. It is thereby possible to provide the resistance circuit, an oscillation circuit, and an in-vehicle sensor apparatus that reduce stress-induced characteristic fluctuations.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS LTD.Inventors: Yoshimitsu Yanagawa, Yoshikazu Nara, Masahiro Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakano, Akira Kotabe
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Patent number: 10615076Abstract: A semiconductor chip having a pad, a protective element, and an internal circuit for providing a semiconductor chip having a protective circuit with high noise resistance, wherein the semiconductor chip is characterized in that the resistance value of metal wiring on a path reaching the pad and the protective element is higher than the resistance value of the protective element.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2016Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Yoshimitsu Yanagawa, Masahiro Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakano, Akira Kotabe, Satoshi Asano
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Patent number: 10591332Abstract: Provided is an airflow meter with good precision. In the airflow meter, which is provided with an arithmetic circuit that incorporates air temperature and a sensor module temperature as adjustment elements for the output characteristics of the airflow meter, corrects the output characteristics in accordance with the temperature difference between the air temperature and the sensor module temperature and reduces the correction amount when the absolute value of the difference between the air temperature and the sensor module temperature is small.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2016Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Ryo Sato, Masahiro Matsumoto, Satoshi Asano, Akira Kotabe, Kazunori Suzuki
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Publication number: 20200013769Abstract: A resistance circuit is configured such that a P-type resistance section and an N-type resistance section are electrically connected in series, the P-type resistance section is configured with P-type diffusion layer resistance elements that are disposed to form a right angle with respect to each other and that are electrically connected in series, and the N-type resistance section is configured with N-type diffusion layer resistance elements that are disposed to form the right angle with respect to each other and that are electrically connected in series. Furthermore, the P-type diffusion layer resistance element is disposed along a <100> orientation direction of a semiconductor substrate, and the N-type diffusion layer resistance element is disposed along a <110> orientation direction of the semiconductor substrate. It is thereby possible to provide the resistance circuit, an oscillation circuit, and an in-vehicle sensor apparatus that reduce stress-induced characteristic fluctuations.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2017Publication date: January 9, 2020Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Yoshimitsu YANAGAWA, Yoshikazu NARA, Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Hiroshi NAKANO, Akira KOTABE
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Publication number: 20190353509Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2017Publication date: November 21, 2019Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Kazunori SUZUKI, Keiji HANZAWA, Junichi HORIE, Akira KOTABE
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Publication number: 20190355714Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2017Publication date: November 21, 2019Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Hiroshi NAKANO, Yoshimitsu YANAGAWA, Akira KOTABE
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Patent number: 10444031Abstract: Provided is a sensor device wherein malfunction due to a negative surge is suppressed. This sensor device is provided with: a sensor element wherein electrical characteristics change corresponding to physical quantities; a signal processing circuit that processes output signals of the sensor element; a first transistor element that supplies currents to the sensor element and the signal processing circuit; a control circuit that controls a base current of the first transistor element; a power supply terminal; and a ground terminal. The sensor device is characterized in that the control circuit is provided with a limiting section that limits a current flowing from the ground terminal toward a base terminal of the first transistor element.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2014Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshimitsu Yanagawa, Masahiro Matsumoto, Satoshi Asano, Hiroshi Nakano, Akira Kotabe
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Patent number: 10310525Abstract: Provided is an electronic device which can easily measure a standby current of an internal circuit of an electronic device after burn-in. The electronic device includes: a power source terminal; a regulator that generates a predetermined voltage from a voltage of the power source terminal; an internal circuit that is operated by an output voltage of the regulator; and a standby terminal through which the regulator and the internal circuit are set to a low power consumption state.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2015Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakano, Yoshimitsu Yanagawa, Akira Kotabe
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Publication number: 20180304829Abstract: Even when a positive/negative surge is applied to a power-supply line, occurrence of malfunction in a semiconductor device is lessened. In an in-vehicle semiconductor device, regulators convert an externally-supplied voltage to generate voltages. A voltage monitoring unit includes a voltage monitoring circuit and a switch, and monitors first to third voltages. An internal circuit has a processor operated by the voltage, and an oscillator operated by the voltage and generating a clock signal to be provided the processor. The voltage monitoring unit stops providing the clock signal to the processor when the voltage level of at least any one of the first to third voltages is below a set value. The voltage monitoring unit provides the clock signal to the processor when the voltage levels of all the first to third voltages exceed the set value.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2016Publication date: October 25, 2018Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshimitsu YANAGAWA, Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Hiroshi NAKANO, Akira KOTABE
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Publication number: 20180299309Abstract: In using a fast Fourier transform for correction of a pulsation error in a conventional air flow rate measuring device, the correction is delayed due to the observation time and computation time required for the fast Fourier transform, leading to difficulty in following changes in the pulsation state at high speed. The air flow rate measuring device according to the present invention comprises an air flow rate detector that generates an output signal in accordance with an air flow rate being measured, an amplitude detector that detects a pulsation amplitude from the output signal, a low-pass filter in which the cut-off frequency changes in accordance with the value of the pulsation amplitude, and a waveform arithmetic unit that computes the waveforms of the output signal from the low-pass filter and the output signal. The waveform arithmetic unit is constituted from multipliers, an adder, and a condition determination process.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2016Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Hiroshi NAKANO, Yoshimitsu YANAGAWA, Akira KOTABE
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Patent number: 10096590Abstract: In conventional sensor devices, it has been difficult to achieve both EMC resistance and ESD resistance, which are required at the output terminals of an automobile sensor device. A sensor device 1 of the present embodiment comprises: a power supply terminal 2 that supplies power; a ground terminal 3; a sensor element 4, the electrical characteristics of which change in accordance with a physical quantity; a signal processing integrated circuit 5 that processes an output signal output from the sensor element 4; and an output terminal that outputs the output signal processed by the signal processing integrated circuit 5.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2014Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Masahiro Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakano, Yoshimitsu Yanagawa, Akira Kotabe
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Publication number: 20180252565Abstract: Provided is an airflow meter with good precision. In the airflow meter, which is provided with an arithmetic circuit that incorporates air temperature and a sensor module temperature as adjustment elements for the output characteristics of the airflow meter, corrects the output characteristics in accordance with the temperature difference between the air temperature and the sensor module temperature and reduces the correction amount when the absolute value of the difference between the air temperature and the sensor module temperature is small.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2016Publication date: September 6, 2018Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Ryo SATO, Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Satoshi ASANO, Akira KOTABE, Kazunori SUZUKI
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Publication number: 20180144984Abstract: A semiconductor chip having a pad, a protective element, and an internal circuit for providing a semiconductor chip having a protective circuit with high noise resistance, wherein the semiconductor chip is characterized in that the resistance value of metal wiring on a path reaching the pad and the protective element is higher than the resistance value of the protective element.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2016Publication date: May 24, 2018Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshimitsu YANAGAWA, Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Hiroshi NAKANO, Akira KOTABE, Satoshi ASANO
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Publication number: 20170344040Abstract: Provided is an electronic device which can easily measure a standby current of an internal circuit of an electronic device after burn-in. The electronic device includes: a power source terminal; a regulator that generates a predetermined voltage from a voltage of the power source terminal; an internal circuit that is operated by an output voltage of the regulator; and a standby terminal through which the regulator and the internal circuit are set to a low power consumption state.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2015Publication date: November 30, 2017Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Hiroshi NAKANO, Yoshimitsu YANAGAWA, Akira KOTABE
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Publication number: 20170278838Abstract: In conventional sensor devices, it has been difficult to achieve both EMC resistance and ESD resistance, which are required at the output terminals of an automobile sensor device. A sensor device 1 of the present embodiment comprises: a power supply terminal 2 that supplies power; a ground terminal 3; a sensor element 4, the electrical characteristics of which change in accordance with a physical quantity; a signal processing integrated circuit 5 that processes an output signal output from the sensor element 4; and an output terminal that outputs the output signal processed by the signal processing integrated circuit 5.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2014Publication date: September 28, 2017Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Hiroshi NAKANO, Yoshimitsu YANAGAWA, Akira KOTABE
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Publication number: 20170227378Abstract: Provided is a sensor device wherein malfunction due to a negative surge is suppressed. This sensor device is provided with: a sensor element wherein electrical characteristics change corresponding to physical quantities; a signal processing circuit that processes output signals of the sensor element; a first transistor element that supplies currents to the sensor element and the signal processing circuit; a control circuit that controls a base current of the first transistor element; a power supply terminal; and a ground terminal. The sensor device is characterized in that the control circuit is provided with a limiting section that limits a current flowing from the ground terminal toward a base terminal of the first transistor element.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2014Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: Yoshimitsu YANAGAWA, Masahiro MATSUMOTO, Satoshi ASANO, Hiroshi NAKANO, Akira KOTABE
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Patent number: 9725753Abstract: Provided is a device that, on the basis of a measurement result of a current that has a low value and a wide distribution, identifies the composition of biological molecules passing through a nanoparticle path. This biomolecule information analysis device obtains a current value by applying an electrical field to biomolecules passing through a gap between a first electrode and a second electrode, and identifies the structure of the biomolecules by integrating the current value and making a comparison with a reference value (see FIG. 1).Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2011Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuo Ono, Tatsuo Nakagawa, Yoshimitsu Yanagawa, Takayuki Kawahara, Akira Kotabe, Riichiro Takemura