Patents by Inventor Masakazu KOUDA

Masakazu KOUDA 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: 20240097219
    Abstract: A battery system comprises a plurality of battery modules, each of the battery modules includes an assembled battery configured to include a plurality of battery cells connected in series, a monitoring unit configured to monitor the assembled battery, and an external member configured to be electrically connected to the monitoring unit, and the monitoring unit of each of the battery modules has a generation unit configured to generate, based on an electric signal input from the external member, an identification information item on the corresponding one of the battery modules, the identification information items of the respective battery modules being different from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto YAMASHITA, Masahiko Ito, Masakazu Kouda, Hisanaga Onishi
  • Patent number: 11921138
    Abstract: An insulation resistance detection device detects a voltage at a connection point between a coupling capacitor and a resistance in the case where a frequency signal is outputted to the resistance, and detects an insulation resistance between a ground portion and a power supply path based on a moving average value of a detection voltage. The insulation resistance detection device includes a first determination unit, a resistance detection unit, and a second determination unit. In response to a determination that the pulsation of the detection voltage is attenuated, the resistance detection unit detects the insulation resistance based on, instead of a first moving average value, a second moving average value calculated by using the detection voltage in a second range including a smaller number of detection voltages than in the first range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Kouda, Ryota Kubokawa, Yusuke Shindo, Toru Wakimoto
  • Patent number: 11876193
    Abstract: A battery system includes a plurality of battery modules, each of the battery modules has an assembled battery, which includes a plurality of battery cells connected in series, a monitoring unit that monitors the assembled battery, and an external member that is electrically connected to the monitoring unit. The monitoring unit of each of the battery modules has a generation unit that generates, based on an electric signal input from the external member, an identification information item on the corresponding one of the battery modules, the identification information items of the respective battery modules being different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto Yamashita, Masahiko Ito, Masakazu Kouda, Hisanaga Onishi
  • Patent number: 11874339
    Abstract: In an insulation resistance detection apparatus, a voltage determiner determines whether a detection voltage, which has changed by at least a preset value, becomes stable at around a changed voltage value. A resistance determiner determines a value of an insulation resistance between a ground portion and a power-supply path based on a currently sampled value of the detection voltage instead of a moving average in response to determination that the detection voltage, which has changed by at least the preset value, becomes stable at around the changed voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryota Kubokawa, Masakazu Kouda, Toru Wakimoto, Yusuke Shindo, Akira Sumi
  • Patent number: 11867766
    Abstract: A battery system includes a plurality of battery modules and a control apparatus. The battery includes a battery group that includes two or more battery modules including battery units and battery monitoring units. The battery monitoring units of the battery modules being connected to each other via a communication line. The battery modules perform wired communication via the communication line. The battery group further includes a wireless receiving unit and a wireless transmitting unit. The wireless receiving unit wirelessly receives a command signal transmitted from the control apparatus. The wireless transmitting unit wirelessly transmits, to the control apparatus, a data signal including module identification information differing for each battery module. In the battery group, the wireless receiving unit is provided in a single battery module of the battery modules and the wireless transmitting unit is provided in a single battery module of the battery modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiki Kojima, Masakazu Kouda, Akira Sumi
  • Patent number: 11830989
    Abstract: In a battery system including an assembled battery having a plurality of battery cells connected in series, each of a plurality of monitoring units includes a voltage classification unit configured to classify a terminal voltage between each pair of input terminals in the monitoring unit as a cell voltage or as a zero voltage that is a terminal voltage of substantially zero. The input terminals in each of all or all but one of the monitoring units include at least one specific terminal pair for acquiring the zero voltage at a different position and/or include a different number of specific terminal pairs for acquiring the zero voltage. Each of the plurality of monitoring units further includes an identifier generation unit configured to generate an identifier based on at least one of the position of the at least one specific terminal pair and the number of specific terminal pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto Yamashita, Masakazu Kouda, Fumihiko Hori, Shunichi Kubo
  • Patent number: 11762026
    Abstract: A battery monitoring apparatus is used in a battery assembly equipped with a plurality of batteries connected in series with each other. A plurality of measuring lines are mounted on a given layer of a multi-layer substrate and work to measure electrical potentials developed at terminals of the batteries, respectively. The measuring lines are classified into measuring line groups in order of electrical potential from lowest to highest. A plurality of solid patterns are arranged on one of layers of the multi-layer substrate other than the given layer and provided one for each of the measuring line groups. The solid patterns overlap the measuring line groups in planar view in a stacking direction of the multi-layer substrate. The solid patterns are arranged away from each other. The higher electrical potentials of the measuring line groups are, the higher electrical potentials of the corresponding solid patterns are.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiki Kojima, Masakazu Kouda, Hayato Mizoguchi
  • Publication number: 20230099142
    Abstract: A power supply system includes an assembled battery, a positive electrode-side power supply path, a negative electrode-side power supply path, and a capacitor unit. The capacitor unit includes a series connection of a plurality of capacitors having one end connected to the positive electrode power supply path and the other end connected to the negative electrode power supply path. An inter-capacitor connection point located between the capacitors forming the series connection is electrically connected to the inter-cell connection point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki KITAGAWA, Masakazu KOUDA
  • Publication number: 20220352569
    Abstract: In a battery system including an assembled battery having a plurality of battery cells connected in series, each of a plurality of monitoring units includes a voltage classification unit configured to classify a terminal voltage between each pair of input terminals in the monitoring unit as a cell voltage or as a zero voltage that is a terminal voltage of substantially zero. The input terminals in each of all or all but one of the monitoring units include at least one specific terminal pair for acquiring the zero voltage at a different position and/or include a different number of specific terminal pairs for acquiring the zero voltage. Each of the plurality of monitoring units further includes an identifier generation unit configured to generate an identifier based on at least one of the position of the at least one specific terminal pair and the number of specific terminal pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto YAMASHITA, Masakazu KOUDA, Fumihiko HORI, Shunichi KUBO
  • Patent number: 11424493
    Abstract: In a battery system including an assembled battery having a plurality of battery cells connected in series, each of a plurality of monitoring units includes a voltage classification unit configured to classify a terminal voltage between each pair of input terminals in the monitoring unit as a cell voltage or as a zero voltage that is a terminal voltage of substantially zero. The input terminals in each of all or all but one of the monitoring units include at least one specific terminal pair for acquiring the zero voltage at a different position and/or include a different number of specific terminal pairs for acquiring the zero voltage. Each of the plurality of monitoring units further includes an identifier generation unit configured to generate an identifier based on at least one of the position of the at least one specific terminal pair and the number of specific terminal pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto Yamashita, Masakazu Kouda, Fumihiko Hori, Shunichi Kubo
  • Patent number: 11385297
    Abstract: An electrical leakage determination system determines if an electrical leakage occurs between each of power supply paths and a grounding section. The electrical leakage determination system includes a coupling capacitor with one end connected to an anode-side power supply path, a resistor connected to the other end of the coupling capacitor, and an oscillator connected to the resistor to output an AC voltage to the resistor. A determiner detects a voltage at a connection point located between the coupling capacitor and the resistor when the oscillator outputs an AC voltage to the resistor. The determiner determines if the electrical leakage occurs based on the detected voltage. The oscillator increases an absolute value of an AC voltage output during a preparation period provided prior to a detection timing when a voltage is detected at a connection point greater than an absolute value of an AC voltage output at the detection timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Wakimoto, Yusuke Shindo, Masakazu Kouda
  • Patent number: 11231464
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus includes: a monitoring portion that monitors a voltage of each of battery cells connected in series, each of the battery cells having an electrode terminal; and a wiring portion that connects the monitoring portion and the electrode terminal. The wiring portion includes a first flexible substrate and a second substrate that have flexibility and are integrally linked with each other. A linking part where the first flexible substrate and the second flexible substrate are linked is bent. The first flexible substrate is connected with the electrode terminal. The second flexible substrate is connected with the monitoring portion. One of the first flexible substrate and the second flexible substrate includes an arm. Another of the first flexible substrate and the second flexible substrate other than the one including the arm includes a slit. The arm is fixed to the slit, causing the linking part to be reinforced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Kouda, Shinsuke Kawamoto, Hayato Mizoguchi, Ryo Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 11163014
    Abstract: An electrical leakage determination system that determines if an electrical leakage occurs includes a capacitor having first and second ends connected to a cathode side power supply path and a grounding section and a switch disposed in an electrical path formed parallel to the capacitor. When the capacitor discharges and a predetermined period has elapsed after the controller sets an energized state between the cathode-side power supply path and the grounding section by bringing the switch to an energizing position, the controller allows the capacitor to charge by setting an energization shut down state between the cathode-side power supply path and the grounding section by bringing the switch to an energization shut down position. The controller subsequently detects a voltage value of the capacitor and determines if the electrical leakage is either present or absent based on the voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Wakimoto, Yusuke Shindo, Masakazu Kouda
  • Publication number: 20210296714
    Abstract: A battery system comprises a plurality of battery modules, each of the battery modules includes an assembled battery configured to include a plurality of battery cells connected in series, a monitoring unit configured to monitor the assembled battery, and an external member configured to be electrically connected to the monitoring unit, and the monitoring unit of each of the battery modules has a generation unit configured to generate, based on an electric signal input from the external member, an identification information item on the corresponding one of the battery modules, the identification information items of the respective battery modules being different from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto YAMASHITA, Masahiko ITO, Masakazu KOUDA, Hisanaga ONISHI
  • Publication number: 20210293865
    Abstract: An insulation resistance detection device detects a voltage at a connection point between a coupling capacitor and a resistance in the case where a frequency signal is outputted to the resistance, and detects an insulation resistance between a ground portion and a power supply path based on a moving average value of a detection voltage. The insulation resistance detection device includes a first determination unit, a resistance detection unit, and a second determination unit. In response to a determination that the pulsation of the detection voltage is attenuated, the resistance detection unit detects the insulation resistance based on, instead of a first moving average value, a second moving average value calculated by using the detection voltage in a second range including a smaller number of detection voltages than in the first range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu KOUDA, Ryota KUBOKAWA, Yusuke SHINDO, Toru WAKIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20210293896
    Abstract: In an insulation resistance detection apparatus, a voltage determiner determines whether a detection voltage, which has changed by at least a preset value, becomes stable at around a changed voltage value. A resistance determiner determines a value of an insulation resistance between a ground portion and a power-supply path based on a currently sampled value of the detection voltage instead of a moving average in response to determination that the detection voltage, which has changed by at least the preset value, becomes stable at around the changed voltage value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryota KUBOKAWA, Masakazu KOUDA, Toru WAKIMOTO, Yusuke SHINDO, Akira SUMI
  • Publication number: 20210278468
    Abstract: A battery system includes a plurality of battery modules and a control apparatus. The battery includes a battery group that includes two or more battery modules including battery units and battery monitoring units. The battery monitoring units of the battery modules being connected to each other via a communication line. The battery modules perform wired communication via the communication line. The battery group further includes a wireless receiving unit and a wireless transmitting unit. The wireless receiving unit wirelessly receives a command signal transmitted from the control apparatus. The wireless transmitting unit wirelessly transmits, to the control apparatus, a data signal including module identification information differing for each battery module. In the battery group, the wireless receiving unit is provided in a single battery module of the battery modules and the wireless transmitting unit is provided in a single battery module of the battery modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiki KOJIMA, Masakazu KOUDA, Akira SUMI
  • Publication number: 20210247455
    Abstract: A battery monitoring apparatus is used in a battery assembly equipped with a plurality of batteries connected in series with each other. A plurality of measuring lines are mounted on a given layer of a multi-layer substrate and work to measure electrical potentials developed at terminals of the batteries, respectively. The measuring lines are classified into measuring line groups in order of electrical potential from lowest to highest. A plurality of solid patterns are arranged on one of layers of the multi-layer substrate other than the given layer and provided one for each of the measuring line groups. The solid patterns overlap the measuring line groups in planar view in a stacking direction of the multi-layer substrate. The solid patterns are arranged away from each other. The higher electrical potentials of the measuring line groups are, the higher electrical potentials of the corresponding solid patterns are.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiki KOJIMA, Masakazu KOUDA, Hayato MIZOGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10903667
    Abstract: A battery control unit is adapted for a power supply system provided with a storage battery series-connected battery cells, a filter circuit, a discharge circuit, and a connection member connecting between the battery cell and the filter circuit. The battery control unit includes a voltage detection unit detecting voltage at the battery cell where noise is eliminated by the filter circuit, the voltage being detected immediately before/after a discharging is performed through the discharge circuit; a correction value calculation unit that calculates an amount of a voltage drop at the connection member when a discharging is performed through the discharge circuit, to be a correction value; and a voltage calculation unit that calculates voltage of the battery cell by adding the correction value calculated by the correction value calculation unit to a post-discharge voltage detected immediately after the discharging by the voltage detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki Kitagawa, Masahiko Ito, Masakazu Kouda, Isao Ishibe
  • Publication number: 20200235442
    Abstract: In a battery system including an assembled battery having a plurality of battery cells connected in series, each of a plurality of monitoring units includes a voltage classification unit configured to classify a terminal voltage between each pair of input terminals in the monitoring unit as a cell voltage or as a zero voltage that is a terminal voltage of substantially zero. The input terminals in each of all or all but one of the monitoring units include at least one specific terminal pair for acquiring the zero voltage at a different position and/or include a different number of specific terminal pairs for acquiring the zero voltage. Each of the plurality of monitoring units further includes an identifier generation unit configured to generate an identifier based on at least one of the position of the at least one specific terminal pair and the number of specific terminal pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto YAMASHITA, Masakazu KOUDA, Fumihiko HORI, Shunichi KUBO