Patents by Inventor Kiwamu Inui

Kiwamu Inui 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).

  • Publication number: 20010026886
    Abstract: A fluid-cooled battery pack system can maintain the variation in battery temperature in a battery pack within the permissible temperature range even when the variation in the gaps between battery modules is considered. A plurality of battery modules are each provided with a plurality of convex portions and concave portions on the sides thereof, where the connections to other battery modules are made. When the battery modules are connected by bringing the opposite convex portions into contact with each other, coolant flow paths, through which a coolant flows, are formed. The target width of the coolant flow paths is set so that the variation in temperature relative to the target temperature of each battery module is maintained within a predetermined range when the coolant flows through the coolant flow paths; the variation in temperature is caused by a fabrication tolerance relative to the target width of the coolant flow paths between the battery modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiwamu Inui, Toyohiko Etoh
  • Patent number: 6225788
    Abstract: A power source has a battery pack housing a plurality of interconnected battery modules wherein a plurality of single cells are connected serially. A blower is provided which forces air through the battery pack to maintain the battery modules at a correct temperature. A controller controls the blower in accordance with data provided by sensors which detect voltage, current and temperature. The controller outputs the data and a state of charge. A charging/discharging current circuit includes a relay for interrupting charging and discharging of the battery modules in the event of failure and also includes a rush current prevention resistor and a current sensor. The controller permits the power source to be maintained in a correct operating condition wherein neither overcharging nor undercharging occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kouzu, Tadao Kimura, Toshiaki Nakanishi, Shuuhei Marukawa, Kiwamu Inui, Koh Watanabe, Kunio Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 6211645
    Abstract: Battery power source device wherein a large number of battery modules (9) consisting of a row of a plurality of single cells (7) connected electrically and mechanically in series are arranged parallel to each other and held in a holder casing (10), bus bars (28) being provided that effect electrical connection between the terminals of battery modules (9) at respective end plates (19), (20) positioned at both ends of this holder casing (10) wherein the end plates (19), (20) are constituted of resin plates and the bus bars (28) are fixed to the end plates (19), (20) by insertion molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Kouzu, Takaki Kobayashi, Shuuhei Marukawa, Toyohiko Etoh, Koh Watanabe, Yasuyoshi Fukao, Manabu Kakino, Kiwamu Inui, Kunio Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 6211646
    Abstract: Battery power source device wherein a large number of battery modules (9) consisting of a row of a plurality of single cells (7) connected electrically and mechanically in series are arranged parallel to each other and held in a holder casing (10), bus bars (28) being provided that effect electrical connection between the terminals of battery modules (9) at respective end plates (19), (20) positioned at both ends of this holder casing (10) wherein the end plates (19), (20) are constituted of resin plates and the bus bars (28) are fixed to the end plates (19), (20) by insertion molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Kouzu, Takaki Kobayashi, Shuuhei Marukawa, Toyohiko Etoh, Koh Watanabe, Yasuyoshi Fukao, Manabu Kakino, Kiwamu Inui, Kunio Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 6111387
    Abstract: Battery power source device wherein a large number of battery modules (9) consisting of a row of a plurality of single cells (7) connected electrically and mechanically in series are arranged parallel to each other and held in a holder casing (10), bus bars (28) being provided that effect electrical connection between the terminals of battery modules (9) at respective end plates (19), (20) positioned at both ends of this holder casing (10) wherein the end plates (19), (20) are constituted of resin plates and the bus bars (28) are fixed to the end plates (19), (20) by insertion molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Kouzu, Takaki Kobayashi, Shuuhei Marukawa, Toyohiko Etoh, Koh Watanabe, Yasuyoshi Fukao, Manabu Kakino, Kiwamu Inui, Kunio Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 5937664
    Abstract: A vehicle-use battery cooling system for cooling a battery mounted in a vehicle whose vehicle compartment is air conditioned by an air conditioner, so as to maintain the battery in a predetermined temperature range, includes: a battery chamber for accommodating the battery; a cooling device having a cooling fan and adapted to cool the battery by supplying air in the vehicle compartment to an interior of the battery chamber by the cooling fan; a cooling-air circulating device for circulating air used in cooling the battery between the battery chamber and the vehicle compartment by guiding the air into the vehicle compartment; an exhausting device for exhausting the air used in cooling the battery to outside the vehicle; a changeover device for effecting a changeover between the cooling-air circulating device and the exhausting device; a temperature detecting device for detecting at least one of a temperature of the interior of the battery chamber and a temperature of the battery; and a changeover controlling d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayoshi Matsuno, Shunkichi Suzaki, Kiwamu Inui, Makoto Mimoto, Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Toyohiko Etoh