Patents by Inventor Kazuhiko Itou
Kazuhiko Itou 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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Patent number: 8482228Abstract: A lamp includes an arc tube and a lighting unit for lighting the arc tube. The lighting unit includes a rectifier circuit, a smoothing circuit for partial smoothing, and an inverter circuit having a pair of switching elements. The smoothing circuit smoothes portions of the output voltage of the rectifier circuit below the first voltage value and outputs a voltage that falls between the first voltage value and the second voltage value. The discharge sustaining voltage of the arc tube is set to fall between the first and second values of the voltage Vdc output from the smoothing circuit.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2010Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kazuhiko Itou, Masayoshi Gyoten, Shiro Iida
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Patent number: 8198817Abstract: Provided is a lighting unit and a discharge lamp each of which is capable of causing a capacitor to break down by heat generated in a heat generating component, so that circuit operation is safely terminated without any additional cost. A compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp is provided with a lighting unit (50) housed in a case. The lighting unit (50) causes an arc tube to emit light and is composed of a plurality of electronic components, including a rectifier/smoothing circuit portion, an inverter circuit portion having transistors (Q1 and Q2), a resonant circuit portion, and a preheating circuit portion having a positive temperature coefficient element. Among the plurality of electronic components, the transistors (Q1 and Q2) and the positive temperature coefficient element generate excessive heat when, for example, the lamp is operated at the end of electrode's life.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2010Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Etsuji Morimoto, Kazuhiko Itou, Masayoshi Gyoten, Akira Takahashi
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Publication number: 20100320910Abstract: Provided is a lighting unit and a discharge lamp each of which is capable of causing a capacitor to break down by heat generated in a heat generating component, so that circuit operation is safely terminated without any additional cost. A compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp is provided with a lighting unit (50) housed in a case. The lighting unit (50) causes an arc tube to emit light and is composed of a plurality of electronic components, including a rectifier/smoothing circuit portion, an inverter circuit portion having transistors (Q1 and Q2), a resonant circuit portion, and a preheating circuit portion having a positive temperature coefficient element. Among the plurality of electronic components, the transistors (Q1 and Q2) and the positive temperature coefficient element generate excessive heat when, for example, the lamp is operated at the end of electrode's life.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Etsuji Morimoto, Kazuhiko Itou, Masayoshi Gyoten, Akira Takahashi
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Patent number: 7821207Abstract: Provided is a lighting unit and a discharge lamp each of which is capable of causing a capacitor to break down by heat generated in a heat generating component, so that circuit operation is safely terminated without any additional cost. A compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp is provided with a lighting unit (50) housed in a case. The lighting unit (50) causes an arc tube to emit light and is composed of a plurality of electronic components, including a rectifier/smoothing circuit portion, an inverter circuit portion having transistors (Q1 and Q2), a resonant circuit portion, and a preheating circuit portion having a positive temperature coefficient element. Among the plurality of electronic components, the transistors (Q1 and Q2) and the positive temperature coefficient element generate excessive heat when, for example, the lamp is operated at the end of electrode's life.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2006Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Etsuji Morimoto, Kazuhiko Itou, Masayoshi Gyoten, Akira Takahashi
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Publication number: 20100171431Abstract: A lamp includes an arc tube and a lighting unit for lighting the arc tube. The lighting unit includes a rectifier circuit, a smoothing circuit for partial smoothing, and an inverter circuit having a pair of switching elements. The smoothing circuit smoothes portions of the output voltage of the rectifier circuit below the first voltage value and outputs a voltage that falls between the first voltage value and the second voltage value. The discharge sustaining voltage of the arc tube is set to fall between the first and second values of the voltage Vdc output from the smoothing circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2010Publication date: July 8, 2010Inventors: KAZUHIKO ITOU, Masayoshi Gyoten, Shiro Iida
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Patent number: 7701153Abstract: A lamp includes an arc tube and a lighting unit for lighting the arc tube. The lighting unit includes a rectifier circuit, a smoothing circuit for partial smoothing, and an inverter circuit having a pair of switching elements. The smoothing circuit smoothes portions of the output voltage of the rectifier circuit below the first voltage value and outputs a voltage that falls between the first voltage value and the second voltage value. The discharge sustaining voltage of the arc tube is set to fall between the first and second values of the voltage Vdc output from the smoothing circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kazuhiko Itou, Masayoshi Gyoten, Shiro Iida
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Patent number: 7692369Abstract: Discoloration and deformation of a resin case triggered by heat generation from a failed circuit component at the end of the life of an arc tube are prevented without increasing the cost and size. A lighting unit that lights a light source with an inverter while receiving electric power from an AC power supply, and that contains a lighting circuit that includes a plurality of circuit components inclusive of capacitors. Among the capacitors, all capacitors with an applied voltage of 50V or greater (C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, CD1 and CD2) are foil type film capacitors with exceptions of smoothing electrolytic capacitors (CD1 and CD2).Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Etsuji Morimoto, Kazuhiko Itou, Shougo Takahashi
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Publication number: 20090200909Abstract: The present invention provides a single base fluorescent lamp of a bulb-type or the like that is capable of achieving a peak luminous flux output value when used in a lighting fixture. That is, a lamp (1) has an arc tube (2) that includes therein a spirally-wound spiral part, a pair of electrodes and a winding discharge path, a resin holding member (3) that holds the arc tube (2) such that the arc tube (2) stands, a base (6) for being connected with a lighting apparatus. The present invention has a maximum luminous flux output when a lamp ambient temperature reaches a predetermined temperature of 30° C. or higher.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2007Publication date: August 13, 2009Inventors: Akira Takahashi, Kazuhiko Itou, Shougo Takahashi
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Publication number: 20090066253Abstract: Discoloration and deformation of a resin case triggered by heat generation from a failed circuit component at the end of the life of an arc tube are prevented without increasing the cost and size. A lighting unit that lights a light source with an inverter while receiving electric power from an AC power supply, and that contains a lighting circuit that includes a plurality of circuit components inclusive of capacitors. Among the capacitors, all capacitors with an applied voltage of 50V or greater (C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, CD1 and CD2) are foil type film capacitors with exceptions of smoothing electrolytic capacitors (CD1 and CD2).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2006Publication date: March 12, 2009Inventors: Etsuji Morimoto, Kazuhiko Itou, Shougo Takahashi
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Publication number: 20090009091Abstract: Provided is a lighting unit and a discharge lamp each of which is capable of causing a capacitor to break down by heat generated in a heat generating component, so that circuit operation is safely terminated without any additional cost. A compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp is provided with a lighting unit (50) housed in a case. The lighting unit (50) causes an arc tube to emit light and is composed of a plurality of electronic components, including a rectifier/smoothing circuit portion, an inverter circuit portion having transistors (Q1 and Q2), a resonant circuit portion, and a preheating circuit portion having a positive temperature coefficient element. Among the plurality of electronic components, the transistors (Q1 and Q2) and the positive temperature coefficient element generate excessive heat when, for example, the lamp is operated at the end of electrode's life.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2006Publication date: January 8, 2009Inventors: Etsuji Morimoto, Kazuhiko Itou, Masayoshi Gyoten, Akira Takahashi
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Publication number: 20080143274Abstract: A lamp includes an arc tube and a lighting unit for lighting the arc tube. The lighting unit includes a rectifier circuit, a smoothing circuit for partial smoothing, and an inverter circuit having a pair of switching elements. The smoothing circuit smoothes portions of the output voltage of the rectifier circuit below the first voltage value and outputs a voltage that falls between the first voltage value and the second voltage value. The discharge sustaining voltage of the arc tube is set to fall between the first and second values of the voltage Vdc output from the smoothing circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2006Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventors: Kazuhiko Itou, Masayoshi Gyoten, Shiro Iida
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Patent number: 5374533Abstract: A method for determining chondrocalcin through an immunoassay using an enzyme(s)-labeled mammalian chondrocalcin or enzyme(s)-labeled anti-chondrocalcin antibody which is characterized by that mammalian body fluid is used as a specimen and immunoreaction in a solution is utilized to determine the chondrocalcin of the mammalian, reagents and a kit therefor.This determination can be utilized for diagnosis or the like for cartilage-relating diseases in mammals.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1993Date of Patent: December 20, 1994Assignee: Tetjin LimitedInventors: Kimihiko Matsuzawa, Kazuhiko Itou, Hitomi Honda, Ryoichi Hasegwwa, Naomi Okamoto, Kenji Hosoda, Masayuki Shinmei, Shigeo Matsuyama
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Patent number: 4318376Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an auxiliary combustion chamber connected to only the main combustion chamber via a connecting passage. The engine comprises a first raised portion formed on the inner wall of the cylinder head, a second raised portion formed on the top face of the piston at a position opposite to the first raised portion with respect to the axis of the piston, and a third raised portion formed on the inner wall of the cylinder head above the second raised portion. A first flat squish area is formed between the flat peripheral top face of the piston and the flat bottom face of the first raised portion. A second spherical shell shape squish area is formed between the spherical bottom wall of the third raised portion and the spherical rear face of the second raised portion. A recessed portion is formed on the top wall of the main combustion chamber at a position near the first raised portion. The open end of the connecting passage is arranged in the recessed portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 1980Date of Patent: March 9, 1982Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Norihiko Nakamura, Kiyoshi Nakanishi, Kazuhiko Itou, Toyokazu Baika, Shuji Morita
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Patent number: D695661Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2012Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Syouta Asano, Kazuhiko Itou