Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Toshiyoshi

Hiroshi Toshiyoshi 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: 11848614
    Abstract: A power supply circuit that outputs an electric power that is input from a vibration-driven energy harvesting element to an external load, includes: a negative half-wave rectifying circuit that half-wave rectifies an alternating current power that is input from the vibration-driven energy harvesting element, into a negative voltage output; an inverting chopper circuit that inverts and outputs the negative voltage output which is output from the negative half-wave rectifying circuit, into a positive voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, Saginomiya Seisakusho, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Hisayuki Ashizawa, Masahiro Morita
  • Patent number: 11722074
    Abstract: A vibration-driven energy harvesting element includes: a pair of fixed electrode portions that have a plurality of fixed comb teeth and are arranged such that the plurality of fixed comb teeth face each other; and a movable electrode portion that is arranged between the pair of fixed electrode portions and has a pair of a plurality of movable comb teeth being inserted between the fixed comb teeth of the respective fixed electrode portions, wherein: the vibration-driven energy harvesting element has a three-terminal structure in which the fixed comb teeth and/or the movable comb teeth are electretized; a gap dimension of a clearance region between the fixed comb teeth and the movable comb teeth is smaller than 20 ?m; and an aspect ratio being a ratio of a dimension of the clearance region in a comb tooth height direction to the gap dimension of the clearance region, is 20 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, Saginomiya Seisakusho, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Hiroaki Honma, Hiroyuki Mitsuya
  • Patent number: 11716033
    Abstract: A vibration-driven energy harvesting element that outputs an alternating current power from an output line, due to vibration from outside includes: an intermediate electrode that is not connected to the output line; a plurality of electret electrodes, each electret electrode being arranged to face the intermediate electrode and having an electret on at least a part of a surface of the electret electrode on a side facing the intermediate electrode; a holding unit that holds the intermediate electrode and the plurality of electret electrodes such that the intermediate electrode and the plurality of electret electrodes can vibrate with respect to each other; and a charge injector that injects a charge having characteristics opposite to a charge of the electrets formed in the surfaces of the plurality of electret electrodes, to the intermediate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, Saginomiya Seisakusho, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Hisayuki Ashizawa, Masahiro Morita
  • Patent number: 11664749
    Abstract: A power supply circuit that outputs an electric power input from a vibration-driven energy harvesting element to an external load includes a rectifying circuit that rectifies an alternating current power input from the vibration-driven energy harvesting element; a first capacitor that accumulates a power output from the rectifying circuit; a chopper circuit that has a switching element controlling a chopper timing and has an input terminal connected to the first capacitor; and a control signal generation unit that supplies a control signal to the switching element, wherein: the control signal generation unit generates the control signal without referring to a voltage of the first capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, Saginomiya Seisakusho, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Hisayuki Ashizawa, Masahiro Morita
  • Publication number: 20230098623
    Abstract: A vibrational energy harvester element includes: a first electrode; a second electrode that moves in a predetermined direction with respect to the first electrode; a third electrode; a fourth electrode that moves in the predetermined direction with respect to the third electrode; and a support portion that supports the second electrode and the fourth electrode so that they are movable along the predetermined direction; and wherein: the first electrode and the third electrode are disposed along the predetermined direction; at least one of facing surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode, and at least one of facing surfaces of the third electrode and the fourth electrode, are electrically charged; and the support portion supports the second electrode and the fourth electrode in a state in which electrostatic force between the first electrode and the second electrode, and electrostatic force between the third electrode and the fourth electrode are balanced along the predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Hiroshi TOSHIYOSHI, Hiroyuki FUJITA, Hisayuki ASHIZAWA, Hiroyuki MITSUYA, Kazunori ISHIBASHI
  • Patent number: 11552579
    Abstract: A vibrational energy harvester element includes: a first electrode; a second electrode that moves in a predetermined direction with respect to the first electrode; a third electrode; a fourth electrode that moves in the predetermined direction with respect to the third electrode; and a support portion that supports the second electrode and the fourth electrode so that they are movable along the predetermined direction; and wherein: the first electrode and the third electrode are disposed along the predetermined direction; at least one of facing surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode, and at least one of facing surfaces of the third electrode and the fourth electrode, are electrically charged; and the support portion supports the second electrode and the fourth electrode in a state in which electrostatic force between the first electrode and the second electrode, and electrostatic force between the third electrode and the fourth electrode are balanced along the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, Saginomiya Seisakusho, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Hiroyuki Fujita, Hisayuki Ashizawa, Hiroyuki Mitsuya, Kazunori Ishibashi
  • Publication number: 20220360199
    Abstract: An environmental energy harvesting device comprises: an energy converting element that converts environmental energy into electric energy; an environmental sensor that is disposed in an identical environment as the energy converting element; and a power supply circuit that receives electricity converted into by the energy converting element and outputs the electricity to an outside. The power supply circuit changes an operation condition in accordance with an output of the environmental sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Takeaki Yajima, Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Hiroaki Honma, Yukiya Tohyama, Hiroyuki Mitsuya
  • Patent number: 11489460
    Abstract: The vibration-driven energy harvester includes: a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; a holder holding the first electrode and the second electrode so as to be movable relative to each other; a half-wave rectifier electrically connected to the first and the second electrodes that causes current flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode to flow to an output unit, and cuts off current flowing from the second electrode toward the first electrode; and a second rectifying element electrically connected to the first and the second electrodes that allows the current flowing from the second electrode to the first electrode and blocks the current flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode, wherein: the first electrode has a positively charged electret in a surface facing the second electrode, or the second electrode has a negatively charged electret in a surface facing the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, Saginomiya Seisakusho, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Hisayuki Ashizawa, Masahiro Morita
  • Publication number: 20220324697
    Abstract: An electrostatic device includes: a fixed portion, a moveable portion, and an elastically-supporting portion that are formed in a same substrate; and a first glass package and a second glass package that are anodically bonded to each other on one and the other of front and back surfaces of the substrate with the fixed portion and the elastically-supporting portion separated from each other, the second glass package forms a sealed space in which the moveable portion is arranged between the first and second glass packages, an electret is formed at least partially in the fixed portion and the moveable portion, and a first electrode connected to the fixed portion and exposed on an outer surface of the second glass package and a second electrode connected to the elastically-supporting portion and exposed on the outer surface of the second glass package are formed in the second glass package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Hiroaki Honma, Hiroyuki Mitsuya
  • Patent number: 11451167
    Abstract: A vibration-driven energy harvesting device includes: a first vibration-driven energy harvesting assembly constituted with a first fixed comb tooth portion and a first movable comb tooth portion that are interdigitated with each other; a second vibration-driven energy harvesting assembly constituted with a second fixed comb tooth portion and a second movable comb tooth portion that are interdigitated with each other; a first output electrode connected to the first vibration-driven energy harvesting assembly; and a second output electrode connected to the second vibration-driven energy harvesting assembly, wherein: an output of the first vibration-driven energy harvesting assembly is different from an output of the second vibration-driven energy harvesting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, Saginomiya Seisakusho, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Hisayuki Ashizawa, Masahiro Morita
  • Publication number: 20220224253
    Abstract: This vibration-driven energy harvesting element includes a fixed part, a movable part, an elastic support part that is integrally formed with the movable part and that elastically supports the movable part, and a glass base part in which the fixed part and the elastic support part are anodically bonded to each other in a separated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Hiroaki Honma, Hiroyuki Mitsuya
  • Patent number: 11374507
    Abstract: The present invention enables frequency response in a wide band without lowering the Q value. This vibrational energy harvester device is provided with: a movable part capable of vibration in a vibration direction as a result of mechanical vibrational energy applied from the exterior, said movable part being provided with a first surface along the vibration direction; and a fixed part provided with a second surface facing the first surface of the movable part with an interval therebetween, said fixed part being configured so as to be positionally fixed even against vibrational energy. A plurality of projections protruding in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction are formed so as to be arranged like comb teeth in the vibration direction on each of the first surface of the movable part and the second surface of the fixed part. An electret film is formed on at least the first surface of the fixed part or on at least the second surface of the movable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, National University Corporation Shizuoka University, Saginomiva Seisakusho, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Gen Hashiguchi, Hiroyuki Mitsuya, Hiroshi Imamoto
  • Publication number: 20220014118
    Abstract: A vibration-driven energy harvesting element includes: a pair of fixed electrode portions that have a plurality of fixed comb teeth and are arranged such that the plurality of fixed comb teeth face each other; and a movable electrode portion that is arranged between the pair of fixed electrode portions and has a pair of a plurality of movable comb teeth being inserted between the fixed comb teeth of the respective fixed electrode portions, wherein: the vibration-driven energy harvesting element has a three-terminal structure in which the fixed comb teeth and/or the movable comb teeth are electretized; a gap dimension of a clearance region between the fixed comb teeth and the movable comb teeth is smaller than 20 ?m; and an aspect ratio being a ratio of a dimension of the clearance region in a comb tooth height direction to the gap dimension of the clearance region, is 20 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroshi TOSHIYOSHI, Hiroaki HONMA, Hiroyuki MITSUYA
  • Patent number: 11081977
    Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic-type vibrational energy harvester device that makes it possible to efficiently rectify and charge power from low acceleration to high acceleration of vibrational energy applied from the exterior. The vibrational energy harvester device is provided with: a movable part capable of vibrating in a vibration direction as a result of mechanical vibrational energy, said movable part being provided with a first surface along the vibration direction; and a fixed part provided with a second surface facing the first surface of the movable part with a gap therebetween so that it is possible for the movable part to vibrate in the vibration direction. A plurality of recessed portions and protruding sections are formed in an alternating manner in the vibration direction on the surfaces of each of the first surface of the movable part and the second surface of the fixed part. An electret film is formed on at least one of the fixed part and the movable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, National University Corporation Shizuoka University, Saginomiya Seisakusho, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Gen Hashiguchi, Hiroyuki Mitsuya, Hiroshi Imamoto
  • Publication number: 20210234479
    Abstract: The vibration-driven energy harvester includes: a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; a holder holding the first electrode and the second electrode so as to be movable relative to each other; a half-wave rectifier electrically connected to the first and the second electrodes that causes current flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode to flow to an output unit, and cuts off current flowing from the second electrode toward the first electrode; and a second rectifying element electrically connected to the first and the second electrodes that allows the current flowing from the second electrode to the first electrode and blocks the current flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode, wherein: the first electrode has a positively charged electret in a surface facing the second electrode, or the second electrode has a negatively charged electret in a surface facing the first electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroshi TOSHIYOSHI, Hisayuki ASHIZAWA, Masahiro MORITA
  • Publication number: 20210234478
    Abstract: A vibration-driven energy harvesting element that outputs an alternating current power from an output line, due to vibration from outside includes: an intermediate electrode that is not connected to the output line; a plurality of electret electrodes, each electret electrode being arranged to face the intermediate electrode and having an electret on at least a part of a surface of the electret electrode on a side facing the intermediate electrode; a holding unit that holds the intermediate electrode and the plurality of electret electrodes such that the intermediate electrode and the plurality of electret electrodes can vibrate with respect to each other; and a charge injector that injects a charge having characteristics opposite to a charge of the electrets formed in the surfaces of the plurality of electret electrodes, to the intermediate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroshi TOSHIYOSHI, Hisayuki ASHIZAWA, Masahiro MORITA
  • Publication number: 20210226539
    Abstract: A power supply circuit that outputs an electric power that is input from a vibration-driven energy harvesting element to an external load, includes: a negative half-wave rectifying circuit that half-wave rectifies an alternating current power that is input from the vibration-driven energy harvesting element, into a negative voltage output; an inverting chopper circuit that inverts and outputs the negative voltage output which is output from the negative half-wave rectifying circuit, into a positive voltage output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroshi TOSHIYOSHI, Hisayuki ASHIZAWA, Masahiro MORITA
  • Publication number: 20210218351
    Abstract: A power supply circuit that outputs an electric power input from a vibration-driven energy harvesting element to an external load includes a rectifying circuit that rectifies an alternating current power input from the vibration-driven energy harvesting element; a first capacitor that accumulates a power output from the rectifying circuit; a chopper circuit that has a switching element controlling a chopper timing and has an input terminal connected to the first capacitor; and a control signal generation unit that supplies a control signal to the switching element, wherein: the control signal generation unit generates the control signal without referring to a voltage of the first capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroshi TOSHIYOSHI, Hisayuki ASHIZAWA, Masahiro MORITA
  • Publication number: 20210218349
    Abstract: A vibration-driven energy harvesting device includes: a first vibration-driven energy harvesting assembly constituted with a first fixed comb tooth portion and a first movable comb tooth portion that are interdigitated with each other; a second vibration-driven energy harvesting assembly constituted with a second fixed comb tooth portion and a second movable comb tooth portion that are interdigitated with each other; a first output electrode connected to the first vibration-driven energy harvesting assembly; and a second output electrode connected to the second vibration-driven energy harvesting assembly, wherein: an output of the first vibration-driven energy harvesting assembly is different from an output of the second vibration-driven energy harvesting assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroshi TOSHIYOSHI, Hisayuki ASHIZAWA, Masahiro MORITA
  • Publication number: 20210119555
    Abstract: The present invention enables frequency response in a wide band without lowering the Q value. This vibrational energy harvester device is provided with: a movable part capable of vibration in a vibration direction as a result of mechanical vibrational energy applied from the exterior, said movable part being provided with a first surface along the vibration direction; and a fixed part provided with a second surface facing the first surface of the movable part with an interval therebetween, said fixed part being configured so as to be positionally fixed even against vibrational energy. A plurality of projections protruding in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction are formed so as to be arranged like comb teeth in the vibration direction on each of the first surface of the movable part and the second surface of the fixed part. An electret film is formed on at least the first surface of the fixed part or on at least the second surface of the movable part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroshi TOSHIYOSHI, Gen HASHIGUCHI, Hiroyuki MITSUYA, Hiroshi IMAMOTO