Patents by Inventor Atsuo Kondo

Atsuo Kondo 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: 20120055233
    Abstract: A particulate matter detection device includes a plate-like element base material including, on one surface thereof, a formed recess portion to collect a particulate matter; a pair of measurement electrodes arranged on the bottom surface side of the recess portion of the element base material; and a high-voltage dust collection electrode embedded in a wall which forms the recess portion of the element base material on the one surface side of the element base material from a position where the pair of measurement electrodes are arranged. An electric field is generated from the high-voltage dust collection electrode to the pair of measurement electrodes, to collect, on the bottom surface side of the recess portion, the particulate matter flowing along the element base material, and a change of electric characteristics between the pair of measurement electrodes is measured to detect the particulate matter collected on the recess portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Kondo, Takeshi Sakuma, Masahiro Tokuda, Takashi Egami, Keizo Iwama, Masanobu Miki
  • Publication number: 20120047991
    Abstract: A particulate matter detection device of the present invention includes a plate-like element base material, and a pair of measurement electrodes arranged in the element base material, each of the measurement electrodes is a combteeth-like electrode including a plurality of planarly arranged combteeth portions, and a comb spine portion which connects the plurality of combteeth portions of each of the measurement electrodes to one another at one end of each of the plurality of combteeth portions, the combteeth portions of the measurement electrodes are arranged to engage with each other with a space being left therebetween, and the comb spine portion of at least one of the measurement electrodes is covered with a comb spine covering portion made of a dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro TOKUDA, Takashi Egami, Takeshi Sakuma, Atsuo Kondo, Nasanobu Miki, Keizo Iwama, Tatsuya Okayama
  • Publication number: 20120047993
    Abstract: A particulate matter detection device of the present invention includes a plate-like element base material, and a pair of measurement electrodes arranged in the element base material, each of the measurement electrodes is a combteeth-like electrode including a plurality of planarly arranged combteeth portions, and a comb spine portion which connects the plurality of combteeth portions of each of the measurement electrodes to one another at one end of each of the plurality of combteeth portions, the combteeth portions of the measurement electrodes are arranged to engage with each other with a space being left therebetween, and the comb spine portion of at least one of the measurement electrodes is covered with a comb spine covering portion made of a dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro TOKUDA, Takeshi Sakuma, Takashi Egami, Atsuo Kondo, Masanobu Miki, Keizo Iwama, Tatsuya Okayama
  • Publication number: 20110252866
    Abstract: A particulate matter detecting device includes a sensor element having a measurement electrode and a heater electrode provided on one end portion of a plate-like element substrate, a cylindrical lead terminal cover member having the sensor element inserted into a penetration portion that penetrates in an axial direction thereof so that the sensor element is held inside a detecting device external cylinder, and the detecting device external cylinder. The penetration portion includes a first penetration portion having a size corresponding to that of a cross section of the sensor element, and a second penetration portion with a larger cross section perpendicular to the penetration direction than that of the first penetration portion. An electrical insulating sealant is filled in a gap between the second penetration portion and the sensor element inserted into the second penetration portion so that the sensor element and the lead terminal cover member are fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Tokuda, Takashi Egami, Takeshi Sakuma, Satoshi Nishikawa, Atsuo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20110252865
    Abstract: The particulate matter detecting device of the present invention includes: a sensor element having a plate-shaped element substrate, at least one pair of measurement electrodes arranged on one end face of this element substrate, a heater electrode arranged on either of end faces or inside of the element substrate, and a plurality of lead terminals arranged on the other end face of the element substrate and electrically connected to each of the measurement electrodes and the heater electrode; and an outer sheath body having a columnar barrel portion and a barrel-portion end face arranged on one end face of the barrel portion, in which the sensor element is arranged in the barrel portion of the outer sheath body such that the pair of measurement electrodes is exposed from an open frontal area of the barrel-portion end face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro TOKUDA, Satoshi NISHIKAWA, Takeshi SAKUMA, Takashi EGAMI, Atsuo KONDO
  • Patent number: 7922978
    Abstract: A plasma generating electrode includes two types of plate-shaped unit electrodes of different polarities, the two types of unit electrodes of different polarities being hierarchically and alternately stacked at specific intervals, a discharge space for generating plasma being formed between the opposing unit electrodes, each of the unit electrodes of one polarity among the two types of unit electrodes of different polarities including a plate-shaped conductor exhibiting conductivity and a ceramic dielectric disposed to cover the conductor, the ceramic dielectric of the unit electrode of one polarity including a support protrusion for forming the discharge space for generating plasma between the opposing unit electrodes and at least a part of a space in which the unit electrode of the other polarity is disposed opposite to the unit electrode of one polarity and for supporting the unit electrode of one polarity, the support protrusion being integrally formed with the ceramic dielectric on at least one surface o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasumasa Fujioka, Atsuo Kondo, Masaaki Masuda, Kenji Dosaka, Masanobu Miki
  • Publication number: 20110072786
    Abstract: There is provided an exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1a including: a tubular body 10 and a discharge electrode 12 disposed inside the tubular body. The tubular body 10 has a shape where an inner diameter of the tubular body 10 is gradually reduced in a predetermined range from a face 25 which contains a central point 24x of generation of corona discharge 24 generated by the discharge electrode 12 and which is perpendicular to the flow passage toward the downstream side 44 of the flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro TOKUDA, Takashi Egami, Takeshi Sakuma, Atsuo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20110047976
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1a of the present invention includes: a tubular body 10, a discharge electrode 12 disposed inside the tubular body 10, and a stick-shaped dust collection electrode 14. The number of the particulates 22 suspended in the exhaust gas 20 is decreased by charging the particulate matter 22 contained in the exhaust gas passing through the tubular body 10 by corona discharge 24 caused by the discharge electrode 12, collecting the charged particulate matter 22a on the inner wall face 10a of the tubular body 10 by the electric field 26 generated by the dust collection electrode 14 to agglomerate the particulate matter 22a, and allowing the agglomerated particulate matter 22b to scatter again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Tokuda, Takeshi Sakuma, Takashi Egami, Atsuo Kondo
  • Patent number: 7862649
    Abstract: A particulate matter detection device includes a collection electrode that collects the particulate matter, a discharge electrode that allows a corona discharge to occur when a voltage is applied between the collection electrode and the discharge electrode, a measurement electrode, the impedance between the collection electrode and the measurement electrode changing when the collection electrode has collected the particulate matter, and a measurement section that detects a change in the impedance between the collection electrode and the measurement electrode, the particulate matter detection device detecting the particulate matter by charging the particulate matter contained in the gas by utilizing the corona discharge, collecting the charged particulate matter by the collection electrode by utilizing an electrostatic force, and detecting a change in the impedance between the collection electrode that has collected the particulate matter and the measurement electrode using the measurement section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sakuma, Yasumasa Fujioka, Atsuo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20100242441
    Abstract: It is provided a device for detecting an accumulation amount of particulates. The device has a filter for trapping particulates from a gas containing the particulates, a container 5 for containing the filter, an upstream pipe 3 provided on the upstream side of the container 5 to lead the gas into the container 5, a downstream pipe 4 provided on the downstream side of the container 5 to lead the gas after passed through the filter, a transmitting antenna 10 provided within the downstream pipe 4 to transmit an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 30 GHz or more but not exceeding 10 THz, and a receiving antenna 11 provided within the upstream pipe 3 to receive the electromagnetic wave. An amount of the particulates trapped in the filter is detected based on an intensity of the electromagnetic wave received by the receiving antenna 11.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jungo KONDO, Keiji MATSUHIRO, Kenji AOKI, Atsuo KONDO
  • Publication number: 20100242442
    Abstract: A device for detecting particulates includes: a filter; a filter container; an upstream pipe; a downstream pipe; an upstream detecting unit; and a downstream detecting unit. The upstream detecting unit has a branch flow route for receiving gas from the upstream pipe, a trapping portion, a transmitting portion for transmitting an electromagnetic wave to the trapping portion, and a receiving portion for receiving an electromagnetic wave from the trapping portion. The downstream detecting unit has a branch flow route for receiving gas from the downstream pipe, a trapping portion, a transmitting portion for transmitting an electromagnetic wave to the trapping portion, and a receiving portion for receiving an electromagnetic wave from the trapping portion. The amount of the particulates trapped in the filter is detected based on a difference between detection values of the mass of the particulates trapped in the upstream and downstream trapping portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jungo KONDO, Keiji Matsuhiro, Kenji Aoki, Atsuo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20100229632
    Abstract: A particulate matter detection device (100) includes a detection device body (1) that has at least one through-hole (2) that is formed at one end of the body (1), a high-voltage electrode (11) and a low-voltage electrode (12) that are buried in the wall of the body (1), a high-voltage takeout lead terminal (11a) that is disposed on the surface of the body (1), a high-voltage takeout lead terminal insulating member (20) that is disposed to cover at least an area in which the lead terminal (11a) is disposed, and a detection device outer tube (30) that is disposed to cover the lead terminal insulating member (20), the device (100) being configured so that particulate matter can be electrically adsorbed on the wall surface of the through-hole (2), and this particulate matter can be detected by measuring a change in electrical properties of the wall that defines the through-hole (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Tokuda, Takeshi Sakuma, Takashi Egami, Atsuo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20100229627
    Abstract: A protective equipment 100 for the particulate matter detection device includes a bottomed cylindrical protective equipment main body 4 having a cylindrical trunk portion 1 and a bottom portion 3 which closes one end 2 of the trunk portion 1, and there are formed a gas introduction port 5 which extends through a wall of the trunk portion 1 and through which the gas can flow from the outside to the inside and a gas discharge port 6 which extends through a wall of the trunk portion 1 at a position facing the gas introduction port 5 and through which the gas can be discharged from the inside to the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Egami, Takeshi Sakuma, Masahiro Tokuda, Atsuo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20100229629
    Abstract: A particulate matter detection device 100 includes a first electrode 1 and having one surface covered with a dielectric material; a second electrode 2 which is disposed on the side of the one surface of the first electrode 1 via a space where a gas including a particulate matter flows and which performs one or both of the formation of discharge and an electric field by a voltage applied between the first electrode 1 and the second electrode; a pair of measurement electrodes 5, 15 disposed on the surface of the dielectric material so as to face each other; and a protective film 21 disposed on the surfaces of the pair of measurement electrodes and having a volume resistivity of 10 ?cm to 1012 ?cm, and the variate of electric properties between the pair of measurement electrodes is measured, whereby the amount of the collected particulate matter can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Egami, Takeshi Sakuma, Masahiro Tokuda, Atsuo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20100229724
    Abstract: A particulate matter detection device (100) includes a first electrode (10) that includes a conductive section (12) and a dielectric (14) that covers the conductive section (12), and a second electrode (20) that is disposed opposite to the first electrode (10) at an interval of 0.3 to 3.0 mm. Charged particulate matter contained in a fluid that passes through the space between the first electrode (10) and the second electrode (20), or particulate matter that is contained in a fluid and charged by a discharge that occurs due to application of a voltage between the electrodes (10) and (20) is electrically adsorbed on at least one of the electrodes (10) and (20), and the particulate matter adsorbed on the electrodes (10) and (20) is detected by measuring a change in electrical properties of the first electrode (10), or a change in electrical properties of the electrodes (10) and (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro TOKUDA, Atsuo Kondo, Takeshi Sakuma, Takashi Egami
  • Publication number: 20100229631
    Abstract: A particulate matter detection device (100) includes a detection device body (1) having at least one through-hole (2) formed at one end of the body (1), a pair of electrodes (11, 12) buried in the wall of the body (1) defining the through-hole (2), and covered with a dielectric, and a heating section (13) disposed in the body (1), and adjusting the temperature of the wall defining the through-hole (2), the heating section (13) being covered with a protective layer (15) formed of alumina having a purity of 95% or more, and the particulate matter detection device allowing a particulate matter contained in a fluid that flows into the through-hole (2) to be electrically adsorbed on the wall surface of the through-hole (2), and detecting the mass of the particulate matter adsorbed on the wall surface by measuring a change in electrical properties of the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro TOKUDA, Atsuo Kondo, Takeshi Sakuma, Takashi Egami
  • Publication number: 20100229630
    Abstract: A particulate matter detection device (100) includes a detection device body (1) extending in one direction and having at least one through-hole (2) that is formed at one end (1a), at least one pair of electrodes buried in the wall of the body (1) that defines the through-hole (2), and covered with a dielectric, lines respectively extending from the pair of electrodes toward the other end (1b), a takeout lead terminal (12a) of one electrode of the pair of electrodes disposed on the surface of the other end (1b), a takeout lead terminal (11a) of the other electrode of the pair of electrodes between one end (1a) and the other end (1b), and an electric wire (21) provided with an electric wire securing member (31) at its tip portion, and bonded to the takeout lead terminal (11a) through the electric wire securing member (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Tokuda, Takashi Egami, Takeshi Sakuma, Atsuo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20100229371
    Abstract: A tubular structure for fixing particulate matter detection device 100 includes a tubular first holding tube 1 having a fixing structure portion 4 at a first end 2; and a tubular second holding tube 11 having one end 12 fixed to a second end 3 so that the second holding tube is coaxial with the first holding tube 1. A particulate matter detection device 21, prolonged in one direction and having a detecting portion 22 of a particulate matter and a takeout portion 23 of a wiring line is disposed in the tubular structure so that the detecting portion 22 projects to the outside from the first end 2 and so that the takeout portion 23 is positioned in the second holding tube, and the particulate matter detection device is fixed to a pipe by the fixing structure portion 4 so that the detecting portion 22 positioned in the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi EGAMI, Takeshi Sakuma, Masahiro Tokuda, Atsuo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20100206167
    Abstract: A PM sensor is provided having high responsiveness and capable of long term detection. A PM sensor 11 includes a sensor element 12 that has particulate collection electrodes 123A, 128A to which a particulate collection voltage for causing particulate matter contained in exhaust to adhere to a sensor element 12 is applied, and measurement electrodes 127A, 127B to which a measurement voltage for measuring an electrical characteristic of the sensor element 12 is applied, in which, after a particulate collection voltage is applied to the particulate collection electrodes 123A, 128A, application of the particulate collection voltage is stopped in response to a predetermined condition being satisfied, the measurement voltage is applied to the measurement electrodes 127A, 127B, and the electrical characteristic of the sensor element 12 is measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Okayama, Masanobu Miki, Keizo Iwama, Hidetaka Ozawa, Makoto Hattori, Atsuo Kondo, Takeshi Sakuma, Takashi Egami, Masahiro Tokuda
  • Publication number: 20100071441
    Abstract: A particulate matter detection device including a main body which has one end provided with a through hole; a pair of electrodes embedded in a wall through which the through hole is formed, and covered with a dielectric material; wires extending from the electrodes to the other end of the main body; and a ground electrode provided at a position sandwiched between the wires. The device can electrically adsorb, on the wall surface of the through hole, a charged particle in a fluid flowing into the through hole, or a particle charged by electric discharge caused in the through hole by applying a voltage across the pair of electrodes. The device can measure the changes of the electric properties of the wall through which the through hole is formed, thereby detecting particles adsorbed on the wall surface of the through hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sakuma, Atsuo Kondo, Takashi Egami