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).

  • Patent number: 8482228
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Itou, Masayoshi Gyoten, Shiro Iida
  • Patent number: 8198817
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Etsuji Morimoto, Kazuhiko Itou, Masayoshi Gyoten, Akira Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20100320910
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Etsuji Morimoto, Kazuhiko Itou, Masayoshi Gyoten, Akira Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7821207
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Etsuji Morimoto, Kazuhiko Itou, Masayoshi Gyoten, Akira Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20100171431
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: KAZUHIKO ITOU, Masayoshi Gyoten, Shiro Iida
  • Patent number: 7701153
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Itou, Masayoshi Gyoten, Shiro Iida
  • Patent number: 7692369
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Etsuji Morimoto, Kazuhiko Itou, Shougo Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20090200909
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Akira Takahashi, Kazuhiko Itou, Shougo Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20090066253
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Etsuji Morimoto, Kazuhiko Itou, Shougo Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20090009091
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Etsuji Morimoto, Kazuhiko Itou, Masayoshi Gyoten, Akira Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20080143274
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Itou, Masayoshi Gyoten, Shiro Iida
  • Patent number: 5374533
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Tetjin Limited
    Inventors: Kimihiko Matsuzawa, Kazuhiko Itou, Hitomi Honda, Ryoichi Hasegwwa, Naomi Okamoto, Kenji Hosoda, Masayuki Shinmei, Shigeo Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 4318376
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihiko Nakamura, Kiyoshi Nakanishi, Kazuhiko Itou, Toyokazu Baika, Shuji Morita
  • Patent number: D695661
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Syouta Asano, Kazuhiko Itou