Patents by Inventor Kiichi Koike

Kiichi Koike 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: 6800963
    Abstract: A power controller includes power storage means for storing DC power from DC power generation means that. Power conversion means include a DC/DC converter that converts a voltage when receiving a DC input. Charge and discharge means discharge electric power from the power storage means to the power conversion means and charge DC power from the DC power generation means in the power storage means. The charge and discharge means are provided among the DC power generation means, the power storage means and the power conversion means. Detection means detect electric energy of an external power load to which power from at least the power conversion means is supplied. Control means control operation of the charge and discharge means on the basis of the detected electric energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Miyauchi, Tetsuya Ueda, Masataka Ozeki, Hiroyuki Zimbo, Kiichi Koike
  • Patent number: 6727011
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell that supplies an oxidizer containing oxygen to a positive electrode, supplies a fuel gas containing hydrogen to a negative electrode and generates power, a battery containing at least water as an electrolyte, a hydrogen tank that stores hydrogen generated from the battery and a hydrogen pipe that supplies hydrogen in the hydrogen tank to the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiro Suzuki, Tetsuya Ueda, Hiroyuki Zimbo, Kiichi Koike
  • Patent number: 6635380
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high output storage battery with a high reliability that is easy to fabricate. This storage battery comprises a plurality of monoblock containers united to each other with space provided between the adjacent monoblock containers and one common cover to seal the openings of those monoblock containers. Each monoblock container has a plurality of cell compartments separated from each other by partitions. Each of those cell compartments houses an assembly element comprising a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates stacked with separators placed between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Shimoda, Akira Iwamura, Yasuyuki Yoshihara, Ayako Hirao, Nobuyuki Takami, Kiichi Koike
  • Publication number: 20030180584
    Abstract: (Object)
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Jiro Suzuki, Tetsuya Ueda, Hiroyuki Zimbo, Kiichi Koike
  • Patent number: 6583606
    Abstract: A method for charging a lead battery is provided. In the method, a SOC is controlled so as to be less than 100%, and when the lead battery has not been charged and discharged for a predetermined time, refresh charge is performed so that the SOC becomes at least 90% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiichi Koike, Nobuyuki Takami, Yasuyuki Yoshihara, Hiroyuki Jimbo
  • Publication number: 20030111990
    Abstract: A power controller has
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Shinji Miyauchi, Tetsuya Ueda, Masataka Ozeki, Hiroyuki Zimbo, Kiichi Koike
  • Publication number: 20020014879
    Abstract: A method for charging a lead battery is provided. In the method, a SOC is controlled so as to be less than 100%, and when the lead battery has not been charged and discharged for a predetermined time, refresh charge is performed so that the SOC becomes at least 90% or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Kiichi Koike, Nobuyuki Takami, Yasuyuki Yoshihara, Hiroyuki Jimbo
  • Patent number: 6275006
    Abstract: A method for charging a secondary battery by measuring the static/open circuit voltage and comparing it to a predetermined value includes: a first step of precharging the secondary battery; thereafter pausing a predetermined interval; a step of measuring a secondary battery voltage Vba1 after performing the pausing; and a step of charging the secondary battery based on the measurement of the secondary battery voltage Vba1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiichi Koike, Harumi Murochi, Masahito Ishiwata, Hiroyuki Jimbo, Norio Saito
  • Patent number: 4929518
    Abstract: A sealed lead-acid storage battery is formed with a casing (1) made of a thermoplastic resin receives a group of electrodes (6) consisting of a positive electrode (2), a negative electrode (3), and a separator (4). A peripheral rim of a metal plate (7) laminated with a thermoplastic resin film or sheet on one surface thereof and serving as a battery casing and a terminal is thermally bonded to the body (1). A polyolefin resin on the surface of an epoxy resin covering protruding portions (5a) of positive and negative electrodes is thermally bonded to both the casing and the resin on one surface of the metal plate so as to hermetically seal the protruding portion (5a).With this structure it is possible to provide a miniaturized and low-cost sealed lead-acid storage battery having a high volumetric efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Yoshinaka, Koujirou Matsuo, Kiichi Koike, Yoshie Suzuki, Mansaku Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 4664994
    Abstract: The present invention provides an enclosed lead storage battery comprising a plate assembly consisting of a positive plate, negative plates and a separator, an electrolyte held in position by the plate assembly, and a jacket made of film- or sheet-formed synthetic resin and surrounding the plate assembly and electrolyte. The jacket is of a multilayer laminate structure made by disposing a polyolefin film on the inside contacting the plate assembly and laminating a film of thermoplastic synthetic resin in two or more layers on the outside thereof. According to the present invention, the plate assembly can be encased with an unexpensive jacket of a simple construction, and the joint of the jacket to the pole posts of the plate assembly is strengthened to offer a leak-proof enclosed lead storage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Dainippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiichi Koike, Yoshie Suzuki, Minoru Yoshinaka, Mitsuo Okabe, Makoto Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4659636
    Abstract: The present invention is a sealed storage battery wherein a plurality of flattened unitary cells formed by sealing a polar plate group in an outer bag made of a sheet or a film of synthetic resin are stacked in a direction thicknesswise thereof and accommodated in a pressurized manner in a casing.By so constructing, the unitary cells can be uniformly applied with pressure with the increased capacity for efficiency for a battery, any possible deviation in the lifetime of the cells can be eliminated, and a highly reliable battery of flat type easy to fabricate, and suitable for use as an electric power source for portable electric appliances can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshie Suzuki, Kiichi Koike, Minoru Kadowaki, Minoru Yoshinaka
  • Patent number: RE40223
    Abstract: A method for charging a secondary battery by measuring the static/open circuit voltage and comparing it to a predetermined value includes: a first step of precharging the secondary battery; thereafter pausing a predetermined interval; a step of measuring a secondary battery voltage Vba1 after performing the pausing; and a step of charging the secondary battery based on the measurement of the secondary battery voltage Vba1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiichi Koike, Harumi Murochi, Masahito Ishiwata, Hiroyuki Jimbo, Norio Saito