Patents by Inventor Masahiro Nishikawa

Masahiro Nishikawa 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: 9220160
    Abstract: Control unit decreases power to be supplied to high-pressure discharge lamp when an output voltage or an output current for high-pressure discharge lamp measured by measurement unit is in an abnormal range. Drive unit driving switching element includes capacitor that supplies, to a control electrode of switching element disposed on high potential side, electric charge necessary for turning on switching element disposed on high potential side when switching element disposed on low potential side is turned off. When high-pressure discharge lamp is started up, a discharge lamp lighting device starts to charge capacitor before DC/DC converter is started to operate, and control unit has a determination period for determining presence/absence of an abnormality based on a measured value acquired by measurement unit in a state in which DC/DC converter and DC/AC inverter are operated after completion of charging of capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nishikawa, Masatoshi Ueno, Kazuya Kato, Masashi Kichima
  • Publication number: 20150305129
    Abstract: Control unit decreases power to be supplied to high-pressure discharge lamp when an output voltage or an output current for high-pressure discharge lamp measured by measurement unit is in an abnormal range. Drive unit driving switching element includes capacitor that supplies, to a control electrode of switching element disposed on high potential side, electric charge necessary for turning on switching element disposed on high potential side when switching element disposed on low potential side is turned off. When high-pressure discharge lamp is started up, a discharge lamp lighting device starts to charge capacitor before DC/DC converter is started to operate, and control unit has a determination period for determining presence/absence of an abnormality based on a measured value acquired by measurement unit in a state in which DC/DC converter and DC/AC inverter are operated after completion of charging of capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Masahiro NISHIKAWA, Masatoshi UENO, Kazuya KATO, Masashi KICHIMA
  • Publication number: 20150291088
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a DC power supply circuit configured to output DC power, and a ground-fault determining circuit configured to determine presence or absence of a ground fault at a post-stage of the DC power supply circuit. The ground-fault determining circuit includes a capacitor having an end that is connected with ground, and a diode including an anode and a cathode. The anode is connected with another end of the capacitor, and the cathode is connected with an output end on a high voltage side of the DC power supply circuit. The ground-fault determining circuit further includes a constant voltage source configured to charge the capacitor with a prescribed charging voltage, and a comparator as a determining portion configured to determine presence of the ground fault when a voltage across the capacitor falls below a prescribed determination reference voltage lower than the prescribed charging voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Masatoshi UENO, Toshiaki NAKAMURA, Kazuya KATO, Masashi KICHIMA, Masahiro NISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9024715
    Abstract: In a power converting transformer, an I-core has a pair of fixing grooves provided at centers on opposite side surfaces of the I-core in a y-direction in an xyz orthogonal coordinate system, the fixing grooves extending through the I-core in the z-direction, and an E-core has a pair of fixing recess portions provided at x-direction centers of the y-direction opposite end portions of the base portion on a surface opposite from a surface of the base portion facing the I-core. The I-core and the E-core are pressed and fixed to each other by a fixing spring wrapped around the I-core and the E-core through the fixing grooves and the fixing recess portions. An x-direction length of the E-core is shorter than an x-direction length of the I-core, and a y-direction length of the E-core is shorter than or equal to a y-direction distance between the fixing grooves of the I-core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nishikawa, Tomoyuki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20150092432
    Abstract: A power-supply device including: a casing having a space therein and formed by metal stamping or having a thickness ranging from 0.3 to 3.0 mm; and a circuit board disposed inside the casing, wherein the casing includes a casing portion having an opening, and a cover portion disposed to cover the opening of the casing portion, the casing portion has a through hole formed at a position corresponding to a connector terminal connected to the circuit board, and the cover portion includes a storage portion bulging outward from the casing, the storage portion storing either one of an electronic component provided to a face of the circuit board which faces the cover portion and an electronic component provided across the circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Kosaku ARITA, Masahiro NISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20150062951
    Abstract: A lighting device includes: a circuit board placed on a base; and a transformer provided in the circuit board. The transformer includes: a winding pattern formed on the circuit board; and a core having an outer leg portion. The circuit board has an outer leg insertion portion through which the outer leg portion of the core is inserted, and the circuit board and the base have therebetween a gap which is air space. The base and at least a lateral face of the outer leg portion are bonded together by a first resin that is insertable from the outer leg insertion portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Masahiro NISHIKAWA, Tomoyuki NAKANO, Masatoshi UENO, Masashi KICHIMA, Kazuya KATO
  • Publication number: 20140371433
    Abstract: Provided is a preparation method for phycocyanin, including: adding chitosan to a suspension of cyanobacteria containing phycocyanin; and filtering the suspension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicants: EZAKI GLICO CO., LTD., GLICO NUTRITION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Iwao Kojima, Koji Odan, Masahiro Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20130334962
    Abstract: The discharge lamp lighting device in accordance with the present invention includes a controller configured to perform an abnormality judgment process of judging whether or not abnormality has occurred based on a measured value of a driving voltage defined as an AC voltage applied to a discharge lamp. The controller is configured to, in the abnormality judgment process, judge whether or not an asymmetric state in which the driving voltage lacks symmetry has occurred over a predetermined period. The controller is configured to, upon concluding that the asymmetric state has occurred over the predetermined period, conclude that the abnormality has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro NISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20130333443
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to be able to determine an appropriate purge time in a hydrogen flame ionization type exhaust gas analyzer and a system incorporating the analyzer which includes: a collector electrode for capturing ions generated from exhaust gas by hydrogen flame; an acquisition circuit adapted to acquire ion current caused by the ions captured by the collector electrode; and an abnormality determining part for determining an abnormality in the case where a difference between a first output value of the acquisition circuit in the case where there flows no ion current caused by the exhaust gas to the collector electrode and a second output value of the acquisition circuit in the case where zero gas is introduced into the hydrogen flame is equal to a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Masaru MIYAI, Hiroshi NAKAMURA, Masahiro NISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20130312482
    Abstract: An analyzer calibrating system intended to reduce calibration time and a consumption amount of calibration gas in the case of concurrently calibrating a plurality of analyzers and includes: a calibration gas line for concurrently supplying the same calibration gas to a plurality of analyzers; and a control unit adapted to determine whether or not an output value of each of the plurality of analyzers supplied with the same calibration gas is stable. The control unit calibrates the analyzer having the output value determined to be stable and stops the supply of the calibration gas to the analyzer having completed with the calibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Horiba, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Miyai, Hiroshi Nakamura, Masahiro Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20130312487
    Abstract: An exhaust gas analyzing system makes it possible to determine appropriate maintenance timing of sampling pumps in the system, including sampling pumps and provided in a main flow path in order to sample exhaust gas sent from an introduction port, analysis parts provided on the upstream side or downstream side of the sampling pumps and in the main flow path, flow meters provided on the upstream side or downstream side of the analysis parts in the main flow path, and pump abnormality determination parts and for determining abnormality of the sampling pumps by comparing pump flow rates obtained by the flow meters to a predetermined abnormal flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: HORIBA, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Miyai, Manabu Ito, Masahiro Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20130271253
    Abstract: In a power converting transformer, an I-core has a pair of fixing grooves provided at centers on opposite side surfaces of the I-core in a y-direction in an xyz orthogonal coordinate system, the fixing grooves extending through the I-core in the z-direction, and an E-core has a pair of fixing recess portions provided at x-direction centers of the y-direction opposite end portions of the base portion on a surface opposite from a surface of the base portion facing the I-core. The I-core and the E-core are pressed and fixed to each other by a fixing spring wrapped around the I-core and the E-core through the fixing grooves and the fixing recess portions. An x-direction length of the E-core is shorter than an x-direction length of the I-core, and a y-direction length of the E-core is shorter than or equal to a y-direction distance between the fixing grooves of the I-core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro NISHIKAWA, Tomoyuki NAKANO
  • Publication number: 20130271003
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device includes a power converter configured to receive a power from a power source, convert it into a voltage required by a discharge lamp and supply the voltage to the discharge lamp; and a controller which controls the power converter to drive the discharge lamp. The controller controls the power supplied to the discharge lamp according to a predetermined power curve. The controller controls the power curve to change based on at least one of a source voltage of the power source, an ambient temperature, a device temperature, a discharge lamp temperature and a discharge lamp voltage, and sets a sustained period of a max power value to a predetermined time period when the lighting of the discharge lamp is performed in a state where the discharge lamp temperature is equal to or less than a reference temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutoshi SUGANUMA, Toshiaki NAKAMURA, Masahiro NISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20120260715
    Abstract: A gas analyzing system that can perform calibration without being influenced by the deterioration of span gas in a span gas supply line. An open-close device control part that receives a calibration start signal issuing an instruction to start zero calibration and span calibration, and controls an open-close device for a span gas flow path. An open-close device for a zero gas flow path, wherein if the open-close device control part receives a new calibration start signal after a predetermined time has passed since previous calibration was performed, before the span calibration is started, for a predetermined time, the open-close device control part controls the open-close device for the span gas flow path so as to open the open-close device for the span gas flow path, and thereby purges span gas that remains in the span gas flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: HORIBA, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Miyai, Masahiro Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7529072
    Abstract: A protection apparatus is provided that can use a thermal fuse at higher voltage and higher current. The protection apparatus includes a protection circuit connected in series between a power supply and a load. The protection circuit includes a thermal fuse with a predetermined operating temperature, activated in response to sensing overheating of the power supply and/or load, and an electrosensitive fuse connected in parallel with the thermal fuse, and activated at a predetermined operating current. The electrosensitive fuse is adapted to be activated only after the thermal fuse has been activated at the predetermined operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignees: NEC SCHOTT Components Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7362208
    Abstract: In order to prevent erroneous operation caused by shrinking of a thermal pellet due to sublimation or softening of the thermal pellet when current is applied, a thermal pellet type thermal fuse includes a metal casing, a first lead and a second lead leading out from the metal casing, a movable electrode, a thermal pellet, a strong compression spring, and a weak compression spring. Difference in temperature is achieved at the surface of the metal casing by selecting different diameters or wires for the first lead and the second lead, or by providing a heat-radiating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: NEC SCHOTT Components Corporation
    Inventors: Tokihiro Yoshikawa, Masahiro Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7301033
    Abstract: The present invention provides a compound selectively activating PPAR?, which is useful as a medicament. The present invention is specifically directed to a benzoic acid derivative represented by the following general formula (1): wherein A represents an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, or a sulfur atom; R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cycloalkyl-alkyl group, an aryl group, an aryl-alkyl group an aryl-oxy-alkyl group, a pyridyl-alkyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl-alkyl group, or a carboxy-alkyl group; X represents an oxygen atom, an NH group, or an S(O)n group (wherein n represents an integer of 0, 1, or 2); and m represents an integer from 2 to 8; or a salt thereof. The present invention also provides a medicament comprising the benzoic acid derivative or the salt thereof as an active ingredient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Kowa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukiyoshi Yamazaki, Tsutomu Toma, Masahiro Nishikawa, Hajime Yamada, Hidefumi Ozawa, Ayumu Okuda, Kazutoyo Abe
  • Publication number: 20070236324
    Abstract: In order to prevent erroneous operation caused by shrinking of a thermal pellet due to sublimation or softening of the thermal pellet when current is applied, a thermal pellet type thermal fuse includes a metal casing, a first lead and a second lead leading out from the metal casing, a movable electrode, a thermal pellet, a strong compression spring, and a weak compression spring. Difference in temperature is achieved at the surface of the metal casing by selecting different diameters or wires for the first lead and the second lead, or by providing a heat-radiating plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Tokihiro Yoshikawa, Masahiro Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7183295
    Abstract: A compound represented by the following formula (1): (wherein each of R1 and R2, which may be identical to or different from each other, represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or an ethyl group; each of R3a, R3b, R4a, and R4b, which may be identical to or different from each other, represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a hydroxyl group, a C1-4 alkyl group, a trifluoromethyl group, a C1-4 alkoxy group, a C1-4 alkylcarbonyloxy group, a di-C1-4 alkylamino group, a C1-4 alkylsulfonyloxy group, a C1-4 alkylsulfonyl group, a C1-4 alkylsulfinyl group, or a C1-4 alkylthio group, or R3a and R3b, or R4a and R4b may be linked together to form an alkylenedioxy group; X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or N—R5 (R5 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-4 alkyl group, a C1-4 alkylsulfonyl group, or a C1-4 alkyloxycarbonyl group); Y represents an oxygen atom, S(O)l (l is a number of 0 to 2), a carbonyl group, a carbonylamino group, an aminocarbonyl group, a sulfonylamino group, or an aminosu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Kowa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukiyoshi Yamazaki, Tsutomu Toma, Masahiro Nishikawa, Hidefumi Ozawa, Ayumu Okuda, Takaaki Araki, Kazutoyo Abe, Soichi Oda
  • Publication number: 20070025042
    Abstract: A protection apparatus is provided that can use a thermal fuse at higher voltage and higher current. The protection apparatus includes a protection circuit connected in series between a power supply and a load. The protection circuit includes a thermal fuse with a predetermined operating temperature, activated in response to sensing overheating of the power supply and/or load, and an electrosensitive fuse connected in parallel with the thermal fuse, and activated at a predetermined operating current. The electrosensitive fuse is adapted to be activated only after the thermal fuse has been activated at the predetermined operating temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicants: NEC SCHOTT Components Corporation, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventor: Masahiro Nishikawa