Patents by Inventor Kuniho Tanaka

Kuniho Tanaka 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: 8878492
    Abstract: The power source apparatus is provided with a plurality of modules (10), and a main controller (2) connected with communication interface units (16) in each module via a communication line CB. Each module is provided with a battery block (12) having a plurality of battery cells (11) stacked together and connected in series and/or parallel, a battery state detection section (14) to detect the state of the battery cells, communication interface units for data communication with other modules and the main controller, and a memory section (18) that can store data received through the communication interface units. The plurality of modules are connected in series and/or parallel with an output line OL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimihiko Furukawa, Junya Yano, Kuniho Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8674703
    Abstract: The car battery system of the present invention is provided with a battery block 2 that retains a plurality of battery cells 1 in a stacked configuration and has a terminal plane 2A, which is coincident with terminal surfaces 1A established by positive and negative battery cell 1 electrode terminals 13; and with a battery state detection circuit 30 that connects with the electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1. The battery system is provided with a circuit board 7 with surface-mounted electronic components 40 that implement the battery state detection circuit 30. The circuit board 7 is a single-sided board with electronic components 40 mounted on only one side, and the circuit board 7 is attached to the battery block 2 opposite the terminal plane 2A with the side having no electronic components 40 facing the battery block 2. The positive and negative electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1 are connected with the circuit board 7 for connection to the battery state detection circuit 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyunya Yano, Kimihiko Furukawa, Kuniho Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8598884
    Abstract: A car battery system includes a plurality of battery cells, each battery cell having a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal, a battery block that retains the plurality of battery cells in a stacked configuration and has a terminal surface that is formed by battery cell terminal surfaces established by the positive and negative electrode terminals, and a battery state detection circuit that is connected to the electrode terminals of each battery cell to detect the condition of each battery cell. The positive and negative electrode terminals of each battery cell are connected to a circuit board and to the battery state detection circuit. The circuit board is connected to the positive and negative electrode terminals of each battery cell via voltage detection lines, and the voltage detection lines are connected to the same locations on the electrode terminals of each battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyunya Yano, Kimihiko Furukawa, Kuniho Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20130002016
    Abstract: The power source apparatus is provided with a plurality of modules (10), and a main controller (2) connected with communication interface units (16) in each module via a communication line CB. Each module is provided with a battery block (12) having a plurality of battery cells (11) stacked together and connected in series and/or parallel, a battery state detection section (14) to detect the state of the battery cells, communication interface units for data communication with other modules and the main controller, and a memory section (18) that can store data received through the communication interface units. The plurality of modules are connected in series and/or parallel with an output line OL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Kimihiko Furukawa, Junya Yano, Kuniho Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20130002017
    Abstract: A car battery system includes a battery block 2 that retains a plurality of battery cells 1 in a stacked configuration and has a terminal plane 2A, and a battery state detection circuit 30 that connects with the electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1. The battery system is provided with a circuit board 7 with surface-mounted electronic components 40 that implement the battery state detection circuit 30. The circuit board 7 is a single-sided board with electronic components 40 mounted on only one side, and the circuit board 7 is attached to the battery block 2 opposite the terminal plane 2A with the side having no electronic components 40 facing the battery block 2. The positive and negative electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1 are connected with the circuit board 7 for connection to the battery state detection circuit 30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Jyunya YANO, Kimihiko Furukawa, Kuniho Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20120319695
    Abstract: The car battery system of the present invention is provided with a battery block 2 that retains a plurality of battery cells 1 in a stacked configuration and has a terminal plane 2A, which is coincident with terminal surfaces 1A established by positive and negative battery cell 1 electrode terminals 13; and with a battery state detection circuit 30 that connects with the electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1. The battery system is provided with a circuit board 7 with surface-mounted electronic components 40 that implement the battery state detection circuit 30. The circuit board 7 is a single-sided board with electronic components 40 mounted on only one side, and the circuit board 7 is attached to the battery block 2 opposite the terminal plane 2A with the side having no electronic components 40 facing the battery block 2. The positive and negative electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1 are connected with the circuit board 7 for connection to the battery state detection circuit 30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Jyunya YANO, Kimihiko Furukawa, Kuniho Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8299801
    Abstract: The car battery system of the present invention is provided with a battery block 2 that retains a plurality of battery cells 1 in a stacked configuration and has a terminal plane 2A, which is coincident with terminal surfaces 1A established by positive and negative battery cell 1 electrode terminals 13; and with a battery state detection circuit 30 that connects with the electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1. The battery system is provided with a circuit board 7 with surface-mounted electronic components 40 that implement the battery state detection circuit 30. The circuit board 7 is a single-sided board with electronic components 40 mounted on only one side, and the circuit board 7 is attached to the battery block 2 opposite the terminal plane 2A with the side having no electronic components 40 facing the battery block 2. The positive and negative electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1 are connected with the circuit board 7 for connection to the battery state detection circuit 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyunya Yano, Kimihiko Furukawa, Kuniho Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8228037
    Abstract: The battery system is provided with a battery 1 that can be recharged, a fuse 8 connected to the battery 1 that blows with excessive current flow, relays 2 connected to the output-side of the battery 1, and a current cut-off circuit 4 that detects excessive battery 1 current and controls the relays 2. The current cut-off circuit 4 detects excessive battery 1 current, and is provided with a timer section 24 that designates a time delay until the relays 2 are switched from ON to OFF. For the delay time of the timer section 24, the fusing current of the fuse 8 is set lower than the maximum cut-off current of the relays 2 and higher than the maximum allowable battery 1 charging and discharging current. In a situation where excessive current greater than the maximum cut-off current of the relays 2 flows through the battery 1, the fuse 8 is blown during the timer 24 delay time, and the current cut-off circuit 4 switches the relays 2 from ON to OFF when the delay time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimihiko Furukawa, Junya Yano, Kuniho Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20100127663
    Abstract: The battery system is provided with a battery 1 that can be recharged, a fuse 8 connected to the battery 1 that blows with excessive current flow, relays 2 connected to the output-side of the battery 1, and a current cut-off circuit 4 that detects excessive battery 1 current and controls the relays 2. The current cut-off circuit 4 detects excessive battery 1 current, and is provided with a timer section 24 that designates a time delay until the relays 2 are switched from ON to OFF. For the delay time of the timer section 24, the fusing current of the fuse 8 is set lower than the maximum cut-off current of the relays 2 and higher than the maximum allowable battery 1 charging and discharging current. In a situation where excessive current greater than the maximum cut-off current of the relays 2 flows through the battery 1, the fuse 8 is blown during the timer 24 delay time, and the current cut-off circuit 4 switches the relays 2 from ON to OFF when the delay time has elapsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Kimihiko Furukawa, Junya Yano, Kuniho Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20100073005
    Abstract: The car battery system of the present invention is provided with a battery block 2 that retains a plurality of battery cells 1 in a stacked configuration and has a terminal plane 2A, which is coincident with terminal surfaces 1A established by positive and negative battery cell 1 electrode terminals 13; and with a battery state detection circuit 30 that connects with the electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1. The battery system is provided with a circuit board 7 with surface-mounted electronic components 40 that implement the battery state detection circuit 30. The circuit board 7 is a single-sided board with electronic components 40 mounted on only one side, and the circuit board 7 is attached to the battery block 2 opposite the terminal plane 2A with the side having no electronic components 40 facing the battery block 2. The positive and negative electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1 are connected with the circuit board 7 for connection to the battery state detection circuit 30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Jyunya Yano, Kimihiko Furukawa, Kuniho Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20100052692
    Abstract: The car battery system of the present invention is provided with battery blocks 2 that retain a plurality of battery cells 1 in a stacked configuration and have terminal planes 2A, which are coincident with terminal surfaces 1A established by positive and negative battery cell 1 electrode terminals 13; and with battery state detection circuits 30 that connect with the electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1 to detect the condition of each battery cell 1. The car battery system implements a battery state detection circuit 30 on a circuit board 7, 87, and the circuit board 7, 87 is mounted on a battery block 2 in a position opposite the terminal plane 2A of the battery block 2. Further, the positive and negative electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1 are connected with a circuit board 7, 87 for connection to a battery state detection circuit 30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Jyunya YANO, Kimihiko Furukawa, Kuniho Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6943525
    Abstract: A power source apparatus for an electric automobile is provided with a battery system, having a driving battery to power an automobile driving motor and a battery control circuit to control driving battery charging and discharging as well as to compute driving battery remaining capacity, and an accessory battery to power automobile electrical accessories. When the automobile is in the stationary state a, charging circuit, which controls charging between the driving battery and accessory battery, charges the driving battery to a specified state with accessory battery power. The battery control circuit corrects the value of driving battery remaining capacity to a specified battery capacity, and subsequently charges the accessory battery with the driving battery to bring driving battery remaining capacity to a specified level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Toya, Kuniho Tanaka, Toru Mizuta, Hiroshi Tatsumi, Masato Takami
  • Publication number: 20030173932
    Abstract: The power source apparatus for an electric automobile is provided with a battery system, having a driving battery to power an automobile driving motor and a battery control circuit to control driving battery charging and discharging as well as to compute driving battery remaining capacity, and an accessory battery to power automobile electrical accessories. When the automobile is in the stationary state, a charging circuit, which controls charging between the driving battery and accessory battery, charges the driving battery to a specified state with accessory battery power. The battery control circuit corrects the value of driving battery remaining capacity to a specified battery capacity, and subsequently charges the accessory battery with the driving battery to bring driving battery remaining capacity to a specified level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Shoichi Toya, Kuniho Tanaka, Toru Mizuta, Hiroshi Tatsumi, Masato Takami