Patents by Inventor Kenji Hosaka

Kenji Hosaka 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: 11022653
    Abstract: A deterioration degree estimation device includes an internal resistance detection unit, a deterioration management unit and a deterioration degree estimation unit. The internal resistance detection unit detects an internal resistance of a battery. The deterioration management unit manages a cycle deterioration of the battery. The deterioration degree estimation unit estimates a deterioration degree of the battery as an estimated deterioration degree based on an increase rate of the internal resistance. The deterioration degree estimation unit estimates the estimated deterioration degree such that the estimated deterioration degree decreases as the cycle deterioration increases, or such that the estimated deterioration degree increases as the cycle deterioration degree decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironobu Shimosawa, Kenichi Sakai, Kenji Hosaka, Tomoyuki Shiratsuchi
  • Patent number: 10286789
    Abstract: A secondary battery charger system in which a chargeable power is calculated on the basis of a difference between a charging target voltage and a cell voltage using a charging control unit that controls a charger used to charge a secondary battery, the secondary battery charger system including a charging threshold voltage setting unit configured to set the charging target voltage to be lower than a charging limitation voltage which is an upper limitation of the cell voltage allowable in design. The charging control unit stops the charging if a predetermined charging stop condition is satisfied while the cell voltage exceeds the charging target voltage and is lower than the charging limitation voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Nagakura, Kenichi Sakai, Kenji Hosaka, Kazuma Tamai, Hiroto Okabe
  • Patent number: 10261136
    Abstract: A battery degradation degree estimation device includes a total degradation degree detection unit configured to detect a present total degradation degree of a battery, a cycle degradation estimation unit configured to estimate a future cycle degradation degree due to charge/discharge of the battery, a storage degradation estimation unit configured to estimate a future storage degradation degree over time inside the battery, and a battery degradation estimation unit configured to estimate a future battery degradation degree on the basis of the present total degradation degree, the future cycle degradation degree and the future storage degradation degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Hosaka, Kazuma Tamai, Chizuru Matsuyama, Kenichi Sakai
  • Patent number: 10177387
    Abstract: Provided is a bipolar battery current collector that includes a conductive resin layer formed in such a manner as to, when at least part of the conductive resin layer reaches a predetermined temperature, interrupts a flow of electric current through the at least part of the conductive resin layer in a vertical direction thereof. Also provided is a bipolar battery using the current collector. It is possible by the use of the current collector to suppress local heat generation in the bipolar battery and improve the durability of the bipolar battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Miyatake, Kenji Hosaka, Yoshio Shimoida, Hideaki Horie
  • Publication number: 20180246174
    Abstract: A deterioration degree estimation device includes an internal resistance detection unit, a deterioration management unit and a deterioration degree estimation unit. The internal resistance detection unit detects an internal resistance of a battery. The deterioration management unit manages a cycle deterioration of the battery. The deterioration degree estimation unit estimates a deterioration degree of the battery as an estimated deterioration degree based on an increase rate of the internal resistance. The deterioration degree estimation unit estimates the estimated deterioration degree such that the estimated deterioration degree decreases as the cycle deterioration increases, or such that the estimated deterioration degree increases as the cycle deterioration degree decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Hironobu SHIMOSAWA, Kenichi SAKAI, Kenji HOSAKA, Tomoyuki SHIRATSUCHI
  • Patent number: 10001528
    Abstract: A battery deterioration degree estimating apparatus includes a storage deterioration degree estimator that estimates the storage deterioration degree of the battery in reuse based on the storage deterioration degree of the battery in the in-vehicle period and the load information of the battery in reuse, the cycle deterioration degree estimator that estimates the cycle deterioration degree of the battery in reuse on the basis of the load information of the battery in reuse, and the total-deterioration-degree at secondary-use-start calculator that calculates the total deterioration degree of the battery at the time point of reuse start. The battery deterioration degree estimating apparatus includes the total-deterioration-degree detector that estimates the total deterioration degree of the battery after the reuse start on the basis of the storage deterioration degree in reuse, the cycle deterioration degree in reuse, and the total deterioration degree of the battery at the time point of the reuse start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chizuru Matsuyama, Kenji Hosaka
  • Publication number: 20180156873
    Abstract: A battery deterioration degree estimating apparatus includes a storage deterioration degree estimator that estimates the storage deterioration degree of the battery in reuse based on the storage deterioration degree of the battery in the in-vehicle period and the load information of the battery in reuse, the cycle deterioration degree estimator that estimates the cycle deterioration degree of the battery in reuse on the basis of the load information of the battery in reuse, and the total-deterioration-degree at secondary-use-start calculator that calculates the total deterioration degree of the battery at the time point of reuse start. The battery deterioration degree estimating apparatus includes the total-deterioration-degree detector that estimates the total deterioration degree of the battery after the reuse start on the basis of the storage deterioration degree in reuse, the cycle deterioration degree in reuse, and the total deterioration degree of the battery at the time point of the reuse start.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Chizuru Matsuyama, Kenji Hosaka
  • Patent number: 9929581
    Abstract: A charge control device that charges a battery to a predetermined charging rate using an output power from a charger includes a charger control means that controls the output power of the charger based on a first map indicative of the relationship of the charge power with respect to the state of the battery and the charge time of the battery, and an allowable charge time calculation means that calculates the allowable charge time of the battery charge time. The charge control device refers to the first map for calculating the charge power with which to charge the battery in the allowable charge time, and controls the output power of the charger according to the charge power calculated based on the allowable charge time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Takano, Kenji Hosaka
  • Publication number: 20170274784
    Abstract: A secondary battery charger system in which a chargeable power capacity is calculated on the basis of a difference between a charging target voltage and a cell voltage using a charging control unit that controls a charger used to charge a secondary battery, the secondary battery charger system including a charging threshold voltage setting unit configured to set the charging target voltage to be lower than a charging limitation voltage which is an upper limitation of the cell voltage allowable in design. The charging control unit stops the charging if a predetermined charging stop condition is satisfied while the cell voltage exceeds the charging target voltage and is lower than the charging limitation voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Hayato Nagakura, Kenichi Sakai, Kenji Hosaka, Kazuma Tamai, Hiroto Okabe
  • Patent number: 9666858
    Abstract: A negative electrode for a secondary battery according to the present invention has a collector and a negative electrode active material layer formed on a surface of the collector and containing negative electrode active material particles. In the negative electrode active material layer, an insulating material is arranged between the negative electrode active material particles so as not to develop conductivity by a percolation path throughout the negative electrode active material layer. It is possible in this configuration to effectively prevent the occurrence of a short-circuit current due to an internal short circuit and the generation of heat due to such short-circuit current flow in the secondary battery while securing the battery performance of the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Ohara, Sohei Suga, Yasuo Ohta, Tomoya Kubota, Kazuyuki Sakamoto, Takaaki Abe, Satoru Ichikawa, Kenji Hosaka, Kosuke Hagiyama, Hiroshi Miyakubo
  • Publication number: 20170131364
    Abstract: A battery degradation degree estimation device includes a total degradation degree detection unit configured to detect a present total degradation degree of a battery, a cycle degradation estimation unit configured to estimate a future cycle degradation degree due to charge/discharge of the battery, a storage degradation estimation unit configured to estimate a future storage degradation degree over time inside the battery, and a battery degradation estimation unit configured to estimate a future battery degradation degree on the basis of the present total degradation degree, the future cycle degradation degree and the future storage degradation degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Kenji HOSAKA, Kazuma TAMAI, Chizuru MATSUYAMA, Kenichi SAKAI
  • Patent number: 9450266
    Abstract: A battery main body housed in a case comprises one laminated body composed of a plurality of bipolar electrodes laminated with an electrolyte layer therebetween or comprises a plurality of laminated bodies connected in series. A positive electrode current collecting plate and a negative electrode current collecting plate each having one surface joined to the inner peripheral surface of the case and the other surface joined to one end of the battery main body respectively extend to the outside of the case. By providing a cutoff mechanism for cutting off an electrical connection between the positive electrode current collecting plate and the negative electrode current collecting plate via the battery main body according to an expansion deformation of the case, a current path in a bipolar secondary battery is interrupted when the short-circuit current occurs, thereby protecting the bipolar secondary battery from a short-circuit current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Hosaka, Shiho Inoue, Masaaki Suzuki, Kazuki Miyatake
  • Patent number: 9299973
    Abstract: A battery module 11 is structured to include a flat-type battery 40 in which current can be taken out from both faces of an electric generation element 20 in a layered direction, flat-plate-type electrode tabs 50 and 60 having a face contact with a current-taking-out plane of the flat-type battery to take out current, and a packaging case 100 covering the flat-type battery and the electrode tab. The inner face of the packaging case and the electrode tab have therebetween an elastic member 120.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Kinoshita, Hideaki Horie, Osamu Shimamura, Kenji Hosaka, Takaaki Abe
  • Publication number: 20160043405
    Abstract: Provided is a bipolar battery current collector that includes a conductive resin layer formed in such a manner as to, when at least part of the conductive resin layer reaches a predetermined temperature, interrupts a flow of electric current through the at least part of the conductive resin layer in a vertical direction thereof. Also provided is a bipolar battery using the current collector. It is possible by the use of the current collector to suppress local heat generation in the bipolar battery and improve the durability of the bipolar battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki MIYATAKE, Kenji HOSAKA, Yoshio SHIMOIDA, Hideaki HORIE
  • Publication number: 20150236524
    Abstract: A charge control device that charges a battery to a predetermined charging rate using an output power from a charger includes a charger control means that controls the output power of the charger based on a first map indicative of the relationship of the charge power with respect to the state of the battery and the charge time of the battery, and an allowable charge time calculation means that calculates the allowable charge time of the battery charge time. The charge control device refers to the first map for calculating the charge power with which to charge the battery in the allowable charge time, and controls the output power of the charger according to the charge power calculated based on the allowable charge time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Atsushi Takano, Kenji Hosaka
  • Patent number: 9017877
    Abstract: A current collector for a nonaqueous solvent secondary battery, which includes: a first metal layer; and a second metal layer stacked on a surface of the first metal layer, is composed so that a Young's modulus (E1), Vickers hardness (Hv1) and thickness (T1) of the first metal layer and a Young's modulus (E2), Vickers hardness (Hv2) and thickness (T2) of the second metal layer can satisfy the following Expression: (E1>E2 or Hv1>Hv2); and T1<T2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Sato, Kenji Hosaka, Hideaki Horie
  • Patent number: 8900734
    Abstract: A bipolar secondary battery comprises laminated bodies. The laminated body comprises bipolar electrodes laminated via an electrolyte layer. The bipolar electrode comprises a positive electrode active material layer and a negative electrode active material layer formed on surfaces of a current collector. A positive electrode is formed on one end of the laminated bodies and a negative electrode is formed on another end. A temperature sensitive resistor having a smaller area than an electrical reaction area of the positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer is arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of a pair of adjacent laminated bodies, thereby suppressing a temperature increase caused by a high current by increasing the resistance in response to the flow of the high current into the bipolar secondary battery such as when an external circuit is shorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Hosaka, Hirotatsu Kamimura, Shiho Inoue, Yasutaka Nakamura, Eiji Minegishi
  • Patent number: 8889287
    Abstract: A voltage detection terminal (27a-27e, 27aa-27ee, 27aaa-27eee) and a discharge terminal (21a-21e) are connected to a peripheral edge portion of a collector (4a-4e) of a bipolar battery (2). Assuming a first straight line (Da1) that connects a centroid of the collector (4a-4e) and the voltage detection terminal (27a-27e) and a second straight line (Da2) that is orthogonal to the first straight line (Da1), the discharge terminal (21a-21e) is disposed on an opposite side of the second straight line (Da2)-the voltage detection terminal (27a-27e). A requirement relating to measurement of a voltage of the collector (4a-4e) and a requirement relating to discharge are thereby both satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Suzuki, Kenji Hosaka, Takaaki Abe, Yasuhito Miyazaki, Hirotatsu Kamimura
  • Patent number: 8852785
    Abstract: A bipolar secondary battery has a battery element that includes first and second bipolar electrodes each having a collector disposed with a conductive resin layer containing a first resin as a base material and positive and negative electrode active material layers formed on opposite sides of the collector and a separator containing a second resin as a base material, arranged between the first and second bipolar electrodes and retaining an electrolyte material to form an electrolyte layer. The positive electrode active material layer of the first bipolar electrode, the electrolyte layer and the negative electrode active material layer of the second bipolar electrode constitute a unit cell. A melting point of the first resin is lower than or equal to a melting point of the second resin. Outer peripheries of the collectors of the first and second bipolar electrodes and an outer periphery of the separator are fused together to thereby seal an outer peripheral portion of the unit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Hosaka, Motoharu Obika
  • Patent number: 8785041
    Abstract: An electrode includes a collector formed with a conductive resin layer and an active material layer formed on the conductive resin layer. The active material layer comprises an active material and a binder polymer, and the conductive resin layer is bonded by thermal fusion bonding to the active material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiho Inoue, Hideaki Horie, Kenji Hosaka, Osamu Shimamura, Shigeo Ibuka