Patents by Inventor Hirofumi Kubota

Hirofumi Kubota 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: 20180334978
    Abstract: The deterioration of an exhaust gas purification catalyst is suppressed as ranch as possible. An exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine comprising: a throttle valve; a turbocharger; an exhaust gas purification catalyst; a bypass passage; a turbo bypass valve (TBV); and a controller. The controller is configured to carry out fuel out processing and deterioration suppression control. In the deterioration suppression control, when a temperature of the exhaust gas purification catalyst is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature in the course of the execution of the fuel cut processing, the degree of opening of the TBV becomes smaller, and the degree of opening of the throttle valve becomes larger, than when the temperature of the exhaust gas purification catalyst is lower than the predetermined temperature in the course of the execution of the fuel cut processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Koichi Kitaura, Yasuyuki Irisawa, Hirofumi Kubota, Takashi Tsunooka
  • Publication number: 20180328557
    Abstract: An optical device includes a first substrate having light transmission properties, a second substrate opposing the first substrate and having light transmission properties, and an optical control layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and including a first light-transmitting portion that includes an optical medium and an uneven structure and a second light-transmitting portion that includes only the optical medium out of the optical medium and the uneven structure. The optical medium and the uneven structure have different refractive indices. In a plan view, the first light-transmitting portion and the second light-transmitting portion are repeatedly arranged in one direction, and the area of repetition of at least one of the first light-transmitting portion and the second light-transmitting portion varies in the one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LT D.
    Inventors: Kazuki KITAMURA, Norihiro ITO, Hirofumi KUBOTA, Masuyuki OTA
  • Publication number: 20180252142
    Abstract: An exhaust passage structure for an engine includes an exhaust-gas catalyst, a bypass passage, a waste gate valve. The exhaust-gas catalyst is disposed in the exhaust passage at downstream of the turbine of the turbocharger. The waste gate valve is disposed in an inlet of the bypass passage. The bypass passage includes a straight port portion disposed such that an axial line of at least a continuous portion including an outlet of the bypass passage is located on the same straight line, and an extended line of the axial line of the straight port portion intersects an upstream-side end surface of the exhaust-gas catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kubota, Takashi Tsunooka, Takanobu Hosoya, Hiroki Murata
  • Publication number: 20180179966
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a turbocharger, a bypass passage, a waste gate valve, a turbo bypass valve, an air-fuel ratio sensor and an electronic control unit. The air-fuel ratio sensor is provided in an exhaust passage downstream of a merging point at which the bypass passage merges with the exhaust passage. The electronic control unit is configured to, when a predetermined acceleration request is established and a required opening degree of the turbo bypass valve is larger than a predetermined reference opening degree, execute air-fuel ratio control for changing an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine for a predetermined first period, and close the waste gate valve based on a convergence status of detected air-fuel ratio fluctuations. The detected air-fuel ratio fluctuations are fluctuations in air-fuel ratio that is detected by the air-fuel ratio sensor resulting from the air-fuel ratio control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanobu Hosoya, Yasuyuki Irisawa, Hirofumi Kubota, Takashi Tsunooka
  • Publication number: 20180128193
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust gas passage, an intake passage, a turbocharger, a bypass passage, a waste gate valve, a turbo bypass valve, a throttle valve, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to control the waste gate valve, the turbo bypass valve, and the throttle valve such that the order of execution of the throttle opening degree increase control and the turbo bypass valve opening degree increase control and the waste gate valve opening degree decrease control is changed depending on the engine load at a point in time when the operation state of the internal combustion engine belongs to the natural aspiration region when the predetermined acceleration request is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Takanobu Hosoya, Yasuyuki Irisawa, Hirofumi Kubota, Takashi Tsunooka
  • Publication number: 20180119606
    Abstract: A warm-up system for an exhaust gas apparatus includes the exhaust gas apparatus having a turbocharger provided with a turbine, a first exhaust gas control catalyst provided downstream of the turbine, a bypass passage bypassing the turbine, and an adjustment unit adjusting a turbine inflow exhaust gas flow rate and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to perform a warm-up control which warms the turbine by controlling the turbine inflow exhaust gas flow rate, by using the adjustment unit, to reach a flow rate higher than zero and lower than the post-warm-up flow rate when an operating state of the internal combustion engine remains constant, such that a warmed state of the first exhaust gas control catalyst is maintained after the first exhaust gas control catalyst is warmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Takanobu Hosoya, Yasuyuki Irisawa, Hirofumi Kubota, Takashi Tsunooka
  • Publication number: 20180120667
    Abstract: An optical device includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; a refractive index adjustment layer that has a refractive index changing in response to an electric field and is changeable between a transparent state and a state in which the refractive index adjustment layer distributes incident light; and a textured layer including a plurality of protrusions protruding toward the second electrode. The refractive index adjustment layer is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. The textured layer is provided between the first electrode and the refractive index adjustment layer. The plurality of protrusions is in the form of stripes. The protrusion has a substantially trapezoidal cross-section. A trapezoid which is a cross-sectional shape of the protrusion has a base angle ? at both ends of the lower base ranging from 70 degrees to 85 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi KUBOTA, Yuko SUZUKA
  • Publication number: 20170363888
    Abstract: A liquid crystal optical element includes a first transparent body which includes a first transparent substrate, a first transparent electrode, and a projection-depression structure; a second transparent body which includes a second transparent substrate and a second transparent electrode; and a liquid-crystal-containing resin layer interposed between the first transparent body and the second transparent body. At least one of a size of a droplet of a droplet structure and a size of a mesh of a network structure in the liquid-crystal-containing resin layer is larger near the first transparent body than near the second transparent body. Alternatively, the liquid-crystal-containing resin layer has: a first region that contains the liquid crystal and does not contain the resin; and a second region that contains both the liquid crystal and the resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi KUBOTA, Tomonori YAMADA
  • Patent number: 9583731
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescence element in which a transparent first electrode, an organic light emitting layer, a second electrode are stacked on a translucent substrate in this order. The translucent substrate includes a moisture-proof layer facing the first electrode. An LR layer and an HR layer having a refractive index higher than a refractive index of the LR layer are situated between the moisture-proof layer and the first electrode in this order from the moisture-proof layer. An uneven structure is provided at an interface between the LR layer and the HR layer. A linear expansivity ? of the moisture-proof layer, and a linear expansivity ? of the LR layer, and a linear expansivity ? of the HR layer satisfy a relation of ?????.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shin Okumura, Hitomichi Takano, Hirofumi Kubota, Kazuyuki Yamae, Masao Kirihara
  • Patent number: 9203047
    Abstract: The organic electroluminescent element has a transparent substrate, a transparent first electrode, an organic layer, a second electrode, and a light-outcoupling layer. The light-outcoupling layer is formed between the transparent substrate and the first electrode. The first electrode, the organic layer and the second electrode constitute an electroluminescent laminate. A covering substrate facing the transparent substrate is adhered to the surface of the transparent substrate via an adhesive sealing portion surrounding the periphery of the electroluminescent laminate. A connection electrode extending outward from inside a surrounded region where the electroluminescent laminate is covered with the covering substrate is formed at least on the surface of the light-outcoupling layer. The average thickness of the light-outcoupling layer in an adhesion region where the adhesive sealing portion is formed is smaller than the thickness in the central region where the electroluminescent laminate is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Ichihara, Yoshiharu Sanagawa, Nobuhiro Ide, Hirofumi Kubota
  • Publication number: 20150303405
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescence element in which a transparent first electrode, an organic light emitting layer, a second electrode are stacked on a translucent substrate in this order. The translucent substrate includes a moisture-proof layer facing the first electrode. An LR layer and an HR layer having a refractive index higher than a refractive index of the LR layer are situated between the moisture-proof layer and the first electrode in this order from the moisture-proof layer. An uneven structure is provided at an interface between the LR layer and the HR layer. A linear expansivity ? of the moisture-proof layer, and a linear expansivity ? of the LR layer, and a linear expansivity ? of the HR layer satisfy a relation of ?????.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shin OKUMURA, Hitomichi TAKANO, Hirofumi KUBOTA, Kazuyuki YAMAE, Masao KIRIHARA
  • Patent number: 9105857
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an organic electroluminescent element suitable for both food lighting at a high temperature and indoor lighting at room temperature. The organic electroluminescent element according to the present invention has such characteristics that: an element temperature at which a general color rendering index Ra has its maximum in an element temperature range of 5° C. to 60° C. is present in a range of 15° C. to 35° C.; and an element temperature at which at least one of a color rendering index R8 a special color rendering index R9, a special color rendering index R14, and a special color rendering index R15 has its maximum in the element temperature range of 5° C. to 60° C. is in a range of temperatures higher than the element temperature at which the general color rendering index Ra has its maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kubota, Varutt Kittichungchit, Hiroya Tsuji
  • Patent number: 9076979
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an organic electroluminescent element suitable for both food lighting at a low temperature and indoor lighting at room temperature. The organic electroluminescent element according to the present invention has such characteristics that a maximum of a general color rendering index Ra in a range of an element temperature of 5° C. to 60° C. is present in a range of the element temperature of 15° C. to 35° C. and that at least one of maxima of special color rendering indexes R10, R11, R12, and R13 in the range of the element temperature of 5° C. to 60° C. is present in a range of the element temperature of 5° C. to 35° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kubota, Varutt Kittichungchit, Hiroya Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20150188088
    Abstract: An organic electroluminescent element according to the present invention includes a light transmissive substrate, a first electrode, an organic light-emitting layer, and second electrode. The first electrode is formed of a coating type conductive film. The organic electroluminescent element further includes a light scattering layer between the substrate and the first electrode and in contact with the first electrode. The light scattering layer is formed of an organic material and a surface of the light scattering layer being in contact with a surface of the first electrode is provided with a plurality of recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kubota, Shin Okumura, Takuya Komoda
  • Patent number: 8987721
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to propose an organic electroluminescent element capable of realizing lighting with which a person feels comfortable irrespective of change in luminance of emitted light. The organic electroluminescent element according to the present invention is constituted by a plurality of layers stacked. The organic electroluminescent element has such characteristics that, in a range of 100 cd/m2 to 6000 cd/m2 inclusive, a color temperature of emitted light increases with an increase in luminance of the emitted light in a direction identical to a direction in which the plurality of layers are stacked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sasaki, Hirofumi Kubota
  • Publication number: 20150060799
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an organic electroluminescent element including a light-emitting layer disposed between electrodes. At least one of the electrodes is a transparent electrode that has light transmitting property. An auxiliary electrode formed of a metal is disposed on an opposite side of the transparent electrode from a side of the light-emitting layer. The auxiliary electrode is provided with a plurality of holes. The plurality of holes have at least two kinds of geometrical shapes in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kubota, Yuko Suzuka
  • Publication number: 20150028314
    Abstract: Provided is an organic electroluminescent light emitting device that can prevent moisture and/or oxygen permeation to thereby suppress degradation and that has increased light extraction efficiency. The organic electroluminescent light emitting device includes an organic electroluminescent element including an optically transparent first electrode, a light emitting function layer composed of two or more layers including a light emitting layer, and a second electrode, which are stacked on a surface of an optically transparent substrate in that order. A functional scattering section is provided in contact with at least part of an end face of the optically transparent substrate. The functional scattering section is foamed of a resin composition including a scattering body having moisture absorption property and/or oxygen absorption property. With the functional scattering section, moisture and/or oxygen can be prevented from entering inside the device and the light extraction efficiency can be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kubota
  • Publication number: 20150028317
    Abstract: The organic electroluminescent element has a transparent substrate, a transparent first electrode, an organic layer, a second electrode, and a light-outcoupling layer. The light-outcoupling layer is formed between the transparent substrate and the first electrode. The first electrode, the organic layer and the second electrode constitute an electroluminescent laminate. A covering substrate facing the transparent substrate is adhered to the surface of the transparent substrate via an adhesive sealing portion surrounding the periphery of the electroluminescent laminate. A connection electrode extending outward from inside a surrounded region where the electroluminescent laminate is covered with the covering substrate is formed at least on the surface of the light-outcoupling layer. The average thickness of the light-outcoupling layer in an adhesion region where the adhesive sealing portion is formed is smaller than the thickness in the central region where the electroluminescent laminate is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Ichihara, Yoshiharu Sanagawa, Nobuhiro Ide, Hirofumi Kubota
  • Publication number: 20140203273
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescence element including a transparent electrode, a light-reflective electrode, and an organic layer including a light-emitting layer and being between the transparent electrode and the light-reflective electrode. The organic layer includes a scattering layer for scattering light from the light-emitting layer. A standing wave results from interference of the light from the light-emitting layer. A center position of a thickness of the scattering layer is at a particular position. A maximum intensity of the standing wave at the particular position is 80% or more of a peak value of an intensity of the standing wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kubota
  • Publication number: 20140022769
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an organic electroluminescent element suitable for both food lighting at a high temperature and indoor lighting at room temperature. The organic electroluminescent element according to the present invention has such characteristics that: an element temperature at which a general color rendering index Ra has its maximum in an element temperature range of 5° C. to 60° C. is present in a range of 15° C. to 35° C.; and an element temperature at which at least one of a color rendering index R8 a special color rendering index R9, a special color rendering index R14, and a special color rendering index R15 has its maximum in the element temperature range of 5° C. to 60° C. is in a range of temperatures higher than the element temperature at which the general color rendering index Ra has its maximum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kubota, Varutt Kittichungchit, Hiroya Tsuji