Patents by Inventor Masaya Watanabe
Masaya Watanabe 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).
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Patent number: 9285333Abstract: A combustible gas detection device includes an energization control circuit which controls the switching of the energization state of a heat generation resistor every predetermined time period such that the heat generation resistor alternately has resistances corresponding to two predetermined temperatures, a temperature measurement resistor disposed on the same substrate on which the heat generation resistor is disposed, where its resistance changes with the environmental temperature, a gas concentration computation section which calculates the combustible gas concentration by using a voltage generated across the heat generation resistor which is detected when electricity is supplied to the heat generation resistor and the environmental temperature based on a voltage change caused by a change in the resistance of the temperature measurement resistor.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2012Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Masaya Watanabe, Shoji Kitanoya, Daisuke Ichikawa, Masahiro Yamashita
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Publication number: 20160073031Abstract: One embodiment of an in-vehicle display device includes: a display unit that includes a transparent display part and a low-transmissivity display part, and that changes an area ratio of an area of the low-transmissivity display part to an area of the transparent display part; an image capturing unit that captures a space around the vehicle as an image; and a first display control unit configured to control the display unit such that the area ratio is increased when a predetermined condition is satisfied as compared to when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, and the image captured by the image capturing unit is displayed in the low-transmissivity display part after the area ratio has been increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2015Publication date: March 10, 2016Inventor: Masaya WATANABE
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Patent number: 9279795Abstract: A flammable gas concentration detection apparatus (1) including an energization control unit (50) that switches the energization state of heating resistor (34) at regular time periods TW, and a gas concentration computation unit (7). The heating resistor has first and second set temperatures CH and CL. The voltage detected across the heating resistor at the first and second set temperatures corresponds to a high and low temperature voltage, respectively. The gas concentration computation unit computes the concentration of a flammable gas based on a first information group including an average high temperature voltage averaging the values of two temporally successive high temperature voltages, the low temperature voltage in a period of time between two high temperature voltages, and an environment temperature in the period of time in which the low temperature voltage is detected.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Yusuke Matsukura, Shoji Kitanoya, Masaya Watanabe
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Publication number: 20160061756Abstract: A first bridge fixed resistor (211) of a combustible gas detection apparatus (1) is composed of a resistor element which is less likely to deteriorate as compared with a second bridge fixed resistor (212) and a variable resistor section (213). The combustible gas detection apparatus (1) can judge a deteriorated state of at least one of the second bridge fixed resistor (212) and the variable resistor section (213) on the basis of the absolute value of a difference temperature ?T which is the difference between a detection-time judgment temperature T1 and a reference judgment temperature T0. The combustible gas detection apparatus (1) obtains a corrected high-temperature-time voltage VH? and a corrected low-temperature-time voltage VL? through use of a voltage error ?V1. Thus, a decrease in the accuracy in detecting the hydrogen concentration can be suppressed even when the resistance of the resistor section changes.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Masahiro YAMASHITA, Shoji KITANOYA, Masaya WATANABE, Daisuke ICHIKAWA, Yusuke MATSUKURA
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Publication number: 20160033436Abstract: A gas detection apparatus (1) which includes a gas detection element (3) including a heat generation resistor (34); an energization control section (7) which switches the energization state of the heat generation resistor to alternately assume one of two resistance values corresponding to one of two set temperatures set in advance; and a casing member (90) which accommodates the gas detection element and has a gas inlet opening (92h). The gas detection apparatus further includes a humidity computation section (7) which computes the humidity of the object atmosphere based on a ratio of a high-temperature-time voltage VH to a low-temperature-time voltage VL; and a clogging determination section (7) which determines the degree of clogging of the gas inlet opening based on a change in the humidity computed by the humidity computation section.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2015Publication date: February 4, 2016Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Yusuke MATSUKURA, Shoji KITANOYA, Masaya WATANABE
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Patent number: 9244032Abstract: A gas detecting apparatus including: a heating resistor exposed to a detected atmosphere, and a control circuit for controlling the heating resistor at two different temperatures, wherein each output voltage from the heating resistor corresponding to the different temperatures is detected when the heating resistor is controlled to the different temperatures, and a state of a gas is obtained based on the detected output voltage. For example, two different offset voltages are set, each potential difference obtained by subtracting each of the offset voltages from corresponding detected output voltages is amplified and the state of the gas is obtained using the amplified potential differences.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2012Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Shoji Kitanoya, Masahiro Yamashita, Masaya Watanabe, Daisuke Ichikawa
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Publication number: 20150314727Abstract: A motive power stoppage guidance apparatus includes at least one of a display device configured to be disposed in a compartment of a vehicle, and a sound output device configured to output a sound in the compartment of the vehicle; and an indication control unit configured, when the vehicle is traveling in a state where a motive power stops, or when the likelihood is high in that the vehicle is traveling in the state where the motive power stops, to execute at least one of having the display device display at least one of that the motive power is in a stopped state, and a recommended operational method, and having the sound output device output an indication sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2013Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenji MARUNAKA, Daisuke TSUJI, Noriyuki IMANISHI, Hiroshi KATOU, Masaya WATANABE, Toru OCHI, Yasuhiro TSUTSUMI
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Publication number: 20150226688Abstract: A gas detector includes a detecting element, a circuit board, a housing case having a gas introduction hole, and a metal member which covers the gas introduction hole. The detecting element is disposed under the metal member. The gas detector further includes a detecting element wiring fusing prevention member which is electrically conductive and is electrically connected to a grounding line of the circuit board. The detecting element wiring fusing prevention member is disposed at a position such that the shortest distance between the metal member and the detecting element wiring fusing prevention member is smaller than that between the metal member and the detecting element.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2015Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD.Inventors: Masaya WATANABE, Shoji KITANOYA, Daisuke ICHIKAWA, Masahiro YAMASHITA, Yusuke MATSUKURA, Kaoru HISADA
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Patent number: 9073503Abstract: A bumper reinforce extending in the vehicle width direction is connected to front ends of side member main bodies extending in the front-rear direction of a vehicle body. The bumper reinforce is provided, at end portions thereof in the vehicle width direction, with projecting ends projecting outward in the vehicle width direction from connecting portions connecting the bumper reinforce and bumper stays. The projecting ends are each provided with a gusset extending toward the rear side of the vehicle body. A catcher is fixed to the outside surface of the side member main body on the rear side of the gusset. The catcher is located at a position corresponding to a mount portion of a side member main body serving as a fixing portion for a power train unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2013Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Takao Ookubo, Hiroyuki Ide, Kiyoto Shima, Takeshi Ogata, Masaya Watanabe, Hisayasu Itou, Toshinori Nishida, Hironari Jo, Kiyoshi Fushikida
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Publication number: 20150153294Abstract: A gas detector includes a gas detection element having a protection layer formed of an oxide film mainly containing tantalum oxide (Ta2O5). Since the protection layer has excellent condensed-water resistance, even when water droplets adhere thereto, the morphology thereof does not change from dense to porous. Thus, since a change in property of the protection layer, which would otherwise be caused by adhesion of water droplets, can be reduced in the gas detector, even when water droplets adhere to the outermost surface layer of the gas detection element, impurities can be prevented from entering the protection layer (the outermost surface layer), whereby a change in thermal capacity of the gas detection element can be reduced. Thus, the gas detection element of the gas detector has excellent alkali resistance and condensed-water resistance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2014Publication date: June 4, 2015Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Masaya WATANABE, Shoji KITANOYA, Daisuke ICHIKAWA, Masahiro YAMASHITA, Yusuke MATSUKURA
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Publication number: 20150115653Abstract: A bumper reinforce extending in the vehicle width direction is connected to front ends of side member main bodies extending in the front-rear direction of a vehicle body. The bumper reinforce is provided, at end portions thereof in the vehicle width direction, with projecting ends projecting outward in the vehicle width direction from connecting portions connecting the bumper reinforce and bumper stays. The projecting ends are each provided with a gusset extending toward the rear side of the vehicle body. A catcher is fixed to the outside surface of the side member main body on the rear side of the gusset. The catcher is located at a position corresponding to a mount portion of a side member main body serving as a fixing portion for a power train unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventors: Takao Ookubo, Hiroyuki Ide, Kiyoto Shima, Takeshi Ogata, Masaya Watanabe, Hisayasu Itou, Toshinori Nishida, Hironari Jo, Kiyoshi Fushikida
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Patent number: 8918289Abstract: There is provided a combustible gas detection apparatus with a gas sensor and a control device. The gas sensor includes first and second heating resistors each having a resistance that changes depending on a combustible gas concentration of gas under measurement. The control device includes an energization control section that alternately energizes the first and second heating resistors, a first calculation section that calculates a first calculation value responsive to the combustible gas concentration based on a voltage across the first heating resistor during energization of the first heating resistor, a second calculation section that calculates a second calculation value responsive to the combustible gas concentration based on a voltage across the second heating resistor during energization of the second heating resistor, and an anomaly judgment section that judges the occurrence of an anomaly in the first heating resistor by comparison of the first and second calculation values.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2011Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaya Watanabe, Ryuji Inoue
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Patent number: 8826725Abstract: A gas detector for use in, for example, measuring the concentration of flammable gas or detecting leakage of flammable gas. The gas detector has a gas detection element in which at least a heat-generating resistor and an insulation layer are laminated on a semiconductor substrate made of silicon while the insulation layer encloses the heat-generating resistor. The gas detector detects flammable gas on the basis of temperature and resistance of the heat-generating resistor which vary according to flammable gas. In the gas detection element, a protection layer in the form of a gas impermeable oxide film is provided on its outermost surface which comes into contact with an environmental atmosphere that contains flammable gas. Thus, alkali resistance is ensured. Since the protection layer is impermeable to gas, entry of impurities (organic silicon) contained in the environmental atmosphere into the protection layer is restrained, whereby output is stabilized and becomes accurate.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshihiro Matsuno, Masaya Watanabe, Shoji Kitanoya
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Publication number: 20140053631Abstract: A gas detection apparatus includes: a heating resistor; and an energization control unit which alternately switches a temperature of the heating resistor to two different temperatures. The gas detection apparatus calculates a density of combustible gas contained in the atmosphere using a heating resistor voltage in a high temperature period and a heating resistor voltage in a low temperature period; acquires three or more values of the heating resistor voltage in each target period; obtains a first average value of the values of the heating resistor voltage obtained in the target period of the high temperature period; obtains a second average value of the values of the heating resistor voltage obtained in the target period of the low temperature period; and uses the first and second average values for a calculation of density of the combustible gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2013Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaya WATANABE, Shoji KITANOYA, Daisuke ICHIKAWA, Masahiro YAMASHITA
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Publication number: 20140020448Abstract: A flammable gas concentration detection apparatus (1) including an energization control unit (50) that switches the energization state of heating resistor (34) at regular time periods TW, and a gas concentration computation unit (7). The heating resistor has first and second set temperatures CH and CL. The voltage detected across the heating resistor at the first and second set temperatures corresponds to a high and low temperature voltage, respectively. The gas concentration computation unit computes the concentration of a flammable gas based on a first information group including an average high temperature voltage averaging the values of two temporally successive high temperature voltages, the low temperature voltage in a period of time between two high temperature voltages, and an environment temperature in the period of time in which the low temperature voltage is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Yusuke MATSUKURA, Shoji KITANOYA, Masaya WATANABE
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Publication number: 20130298638Abstract: A combustible gas detection device includes an energization control circuit which controls the switching of the energization state of a heat generation resistor every predetermined time period such that the heat generation resistor alternately has resistances corresponding to two predetermined temperatures, a temperature measurement resistor disposed on the same substrate on which the heat generation resistor is disposed, where its resistance changes with the environmental temperature, a gas concentration computation section which calculates the combustible gas concentration by using a voltage generated across the heat generation resistor which is detected when electricity is supplied to the heat generation resistor and the environmental temperature based on a voltage change caused by a change in the resistance of the temperature measurement resistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2012Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Masaya Watanabe, Shoji Kitanoya, Daisuke Ichikawa, Masahiro Yamashita
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Patent number: 8388041Abstract: A spare tire installation structure for a vehicle has a first rigid member disposed within a trunk compartment of the vehicle, and a second rigid member configured vehicle rearward of the first rigid member and disposed within the trunk compartment of the vehicle. The first rigid member and the second rigid member define a space to house a spare tire. The second rigid member is configured to displace the spare tire vehicle forward and into the first rigid member in response to a rear collision to the vehicle. The first rigid member is configured to split a wheel of the spare tire.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2010Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Atsushi Sakita, Takeshi Mishima, Masaya Watanabe
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Publication number: 20120247184Abstract: A gas detecting apparatus including: a heating resistor exposed to a detected atmosphere, and a control circuit for controlling the heating resistor at two different temperatures, wherein each output voltage from the heating resistor corresponding to the different temperatures is detected when the heating resistor is controlled to the different temperatures, and a state of a gas is obtained based on the detected output voltage. For example, two different offset voltages are set, each potential difference obtained by subtracting each of the offset voltages from corresponding detected output voltages is amplified and the state of the gas is obtained using the amplified potential differences.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.,Inventors: Shoji Kitanoya, Masahiro Yamashita, Masaya Watanabe, Daisuke Ichikawa
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Publication number: 20120204623Abstract: A gas detector for use in, for example, measuring the concentration of flammable gas or detecting leakage of flammable gas. The gas detector has a gas detection element in which at least a heat-generating resistor and an insulation layer are laminated on a semiconductor substrate made of silicon while the insulation layer encloses the heat-generating resistor. The gas detector detects flammable gas on the basis of temperature and resistance of the heat-generating resistor which vary according to flammable gas. In the gas detection element, a protection layer in the form of a gas impermeable oxide film is provided on its outermost surface which comes into contact with an environmental atmosphere that contains flammable gas. Thus, alkali resistance is ensured. Since the protection layer is impermeable to gas, entry of impurities (organic silicon) contained in the environmental atmosphere into the protection layer is restrained, whereby output is stabilized and becomes accurate.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2011Publication date: August 16, 2012Inventors: Toshihiro Matsuno, Masaya Watanabe, Shoji Kitanoya
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Publication number: 20120153277Abstract: A channel layer is formed on a substrate by using an oxide semiconductor and then a sacrificial layer of an oxide containing In, Zn and Ga and representing an etching rate greater than the etching rate of the oxide semiconductor is formed on the channel layer. Thereafter, a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed on the sacrificial layer and the sacrificial layer exposed between the source electrode and the drain electrode is removed by means of wet etching.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2011Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Seiichiro Yaginuma, Tatsuya Iwasaki, Ryo Hayashi, Hideya Kumomi, Masaya Watanabe