Patents by Inventor Naomi Awano

Naomi Awano 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: 20230073761
    Abstract: A plurality of conductive films are arranged so that their thickness directions intersect with respect to a direction of a magnetic flux generated from a plurality of magnetic poles. Each of the plurality of conductive films is configured so that a conductivity in a longitudinal direction is larger than a conductivity in a thickness direction, and a conductivity in a longitudinal direction is larger than a conductivity in a width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Naomi AWANO, Junichi NARUSE, Hironari SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 10923774
    Abstract: A battery state estimating device estimates a battery state in a battery module having a plurality of secondary batteries. The battery state estimating device is configured to be able to change a number of targets which is a number of the secondary batteries subject to estimation of the battery state of the secondary battery based on a specific value acquired from the plurality of secondary batteries, or the battery state estimating device is configured to be able to change a calculation formula for estimating the battery state of the battery to a calculation formula with a small calculation load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kusano, Koji Ohira, Naomi Awano
  • Patent number: 10901040
    Abstract: A battery state estimating device periodically estimates a battery state of a secondary battery. The battery state estimating device has a current amount acquiring section, a threshold amount memory, a current amount comparing section, a cycle setting section, and a battery state estimating section. The current amount acquiring section acquires a current amount flowing in the secondary battery. At least one current threshold amount is stored in advance in the threshold amount memory. The current amount comparing section compares the current amount acquired by the current amount acquiring section with the current threshold amount stored in the threshold amount memory. The cycle setting section sets an estimation cycle for estimating the state of the secondary battery based on this comparison result. The battery state estimating section periodically estimates the battery state of the secondary battery based on the estimation cycle set by the cycle setting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kusano, Koji Ohira, Naomi Awano
  • Patent number: 10379165
    Abstract: A battery characteristics learning apparatus is provided for calculating learning values of circuit constants of an equivalent circuit of a rechargeable battery. The apparatus includes: (1) means for acquiring values of terminal voltage of the battery sensed by voltage-sensing means and values of current of the battery sensed by current-sensing means and storing the acquired values in time series; (2) means for determining, based on the acquired values of the current, whether there has occurred a predetermined change in the current; and (3) means for calculating, when it is determined that the predetermined change has occurred, the learning values of the circuit constants based on those values of the terminal voltage and the current which are acquired at sampling time points or during sampling periods, each of the sampling time points and the sampling periods being set according to a corresponding one of time constants defined by the circuit constants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kusano, Hisashi Umemoto, Naomi Awano, Manabu Yamada
  • Publication number: 20180267106
    Abstract: A battery state estimating device periodically estimates a battery state of a secondary battery. The battery state estimating device has a current amount acquiring section, a threshold amount memory, a current amount comparing section, a cycle setting section, and a battery state estimating section. The current amount acquiring section acquires a current amount flowing in the secondary battery. At least one current threshold amount is stored in advance in the threshold amount memory. The current amount comparing section compares the current amount acquired by the current amount acquiring section with the current threshold amount stored in the threshold amount memory. The cycle setting section sets an estimation cycle for estimating the state of the secondary battery based on this comparison result. The battery state estimating section periodically estimates the battery state of the secondary battery based on the estimation cycle set by the cycle setting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikazu KUSANO, Koji OHIRA, Naomi AWANO
  • Publication number: 20180261889
    Abstract: A battery state estimating device estimates a battery state in a battery module having a plurality of secondary batteries. The battery state estimating device is configured to be able to change a number of targets which is a number of the secondary batteries subject to estimation of the battery state of the secondary battery based on a specific value acquired from the plurality of secondary batteries, or the battery state estimating device is configured to be able to change a calculation formula for estimating the battery state of the battery to a calculation formula with a small calculation load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikazu KUSANO, Koji OHIRA, Naomi AWANO
  • Patent number: 9618584
    Abstract: A battery control device calculates a chargeable/dischargeable electric power of a rechargeable battery at the timing after elapse of a predetermined period of time when a terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery changes by charging/discharging of the rechargeable battery during the predetermined period of time. The battery control device calculates a specific change amount of the terminal voltage caused by electric charge accumulation in the rechargeable battery after the elapse of the predetermined period of time when the charging/discharging of the rechargeable battery is performed. Further, the battery control device calculates an estimated target value of a current necessary for changing the terminal voltage to a predetermined target voltage or the terminal voltage after the elapse of the predetermined period of time by using the calculated specific change amount, and calculates chargeable/dischargeable electric power on the basis of the calculated estimated target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kusano, Hisashi Umemoto, Naomi Awano, Manabu Yamada
  • Publication number: 20150160301
    Abstract: A battery control device calculates a chargeable/dischargeable electric power of a rechargeable battery at the timing after elapse of a predetermined period of time when a terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery changes by charging/discharging of the rechargeable battery during the predetermined period of time. The battery control device calculates a specific change amount of the terminal voltage caused by electric charge accumulation in the rechargeable battery after the elapse of the predetermined period of time when the charging/discharging of the rechargeable battery is performed. Further, the battery control device calculates an estimated target value of a current necessary for changing the terminal voltage to a predetermined target voltage or the terminal voltage after the elapse of the predetermined period of time by using the calculated specific change amount, and calculates chargeable/dischargeable electric power on the basis of the calculated estimated target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kusano, Hisashi Umemoto, Naomi Awano, Manabu Yamada
  • Publication number: 20150127281
    Abstract: A battery characteristics learning apparatus is provided for calculating learning values of circuit constants of an equivalent circuit of a rechargeable battery. The apparatus includes: (1) means for acquiring values of terminal voltage of the battery sensed by voltage-sensing means and values of current of the battery sensed by current-sensing means and storing the acquired values in time series; (2) means for determining, based on the acquired values of the current, whether there has occurred a predetermined change in the current; and (3) means for calculating, when it is determined that the predetermined change has occurred, the learning values of the circuit constants based on those values of the terminal voltage and the current which are acquired at sampling time points or during sampling periods, each of the sampling time points and the sampling periods being set according to a corresponding one of time constants defined by the circuit constants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshikazu KUSANO, Hisashi UMEMOTO, Naomi AWANO, Manabu YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20130249490
    Abstract: A charge/discharge current Iij where an absolute value of a difference of an estimated value (estimated cell voltage Vije(n)) of a terminal voltage of a battery cell and a detected value (cell voltage Vij(n)) that becomes equal to or less than a prescribed value ?Vth is searched by Newton's method. The charge/discharge current Iij searched in this way is equalized in all the battery cells. A charging rate SOCij(n) of the battery cell is calculated by an integration calculation of a calculated average value Ia (n).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi UMEMOTO, Naomi AWANO
  • Publication number: 20120212186
    Abstract: In a charging apparatus, a lithium rechargeable battery includes positive and negative electrodes containing active materials that allow absorption and discharge of lithium ions, and an electrolyte. The lithium rechargeable battery contains, in at least one of the electrolyte and the positive electrode, an oxidizable agent which is oxidizable by the positive electrode and which has an oxidation potential greater than a nominal voltage of the lithium rechargeable battery and less than a decomposition potential of the electrolyte. The charging apparatus includes a battery capacity recovering unit that charges the lithium rechargeable battery at a potential equal to or greater than the oxidation potential of the oxidizable agent in a part of a plurality of number of times of charging and discharging cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Fujii, Naomi Awano, Tomoki Yamane
  • Publication number: 20120176092
    Abstract: A device detects a battery capacity of a lithium ion rechargeable battery having at least one inflection point or more within a range of 10% to 90% of the SOC thereof. The inflection point indicates a change of a correlation between a battery voltage and the SOC of the battery. The device fetches a battery capacity corresponding to an inflection point from a capacity table, and sets the fetched battery-capacity as a first battery capacity when an inflection point detection section detects the inflection point. A current integration section integrates a current from the time to detect the inflection point to the time when the battery voltage detected by a voltage detection section reaches a full charging voltage. The integrated current is used as a second battery capacity. The device adds the first and second battery capacities, and uses the added result as a full charging capacity of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki FUJII, Naomi Awano, Hisashi Umemoto
  • Publication number: 20120161709
    Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling a secondary battery comprised of a plurality of cells connected in series, the apparatus includes a monitor configured to monitor an output voltage of each of the plurality of cells, and determine whether the output voltage of one of the plurality of cells reaches a preset full charge voltage. The apparatus includes a voltage equalizer configured to, when it is determined that the output voltage of one of the plurality of cells reaches the preset full charge voltage, perform a voltage equalizing task to match, with an output voltage of one specified cell in all the cells, the voltages of the remaining cells except for the one specified cell to equalize the output voltages of all the plurality of cells. The output voltage of the specified one cell is the lowest in the output voltages of all the cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Fujii, Naomi Awano
  • Patent number: 8148005
    Abstract: An active material for a secondary battery has excellent large current charge-discharge characteristic and a high energy density. The secondary battery is composed mainly of the active material having a conductive polymer compound represented by formula B or F as the positive electrode. Because this conductive polymer compound works as an active material and has conductivity per se, the use of a conductivity enhancer can be omitted, and the energy density is high. An improvement in the capacity of a secondary battery using the active material above or a decrease in the internal resistance can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Kyohei Usami, Naomi Awano, Atsushi Fukaya, Tadashi Sugawara, Michio M. Matsushita, Hideji Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20080102374
    Abstract: An active material for a secondary battery has excellent large current charge-discharge characteristic and a high energy density. The secondary battery is composed mainly of the active material having a conductive polymer compound represented by formula B or F as the positive electrode. Because this conductive polymer compound works as an active material and has conductivity per se, the use of a conductivity enhancer can be omitted, and the energy density is high. An improvement in the capacity of a secondary battery using the active material above or a decrease in the internal resistance can be realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicants: DENSO Corporation, The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Kyohei Usami, Naomi Awano, Atsushi Fukaya, Tadashi Sugawara, Michio Matsushita, Hideji Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20070148555
    Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte composition obtained by dissolving an electrolyte salt in an organic solvent. This nonaqueous electrolyte composition is characterized in that the organic solvent is a mixed organic solvent containing 20-35 volume % of ethylene carbonate (a), 35-45 volume % of ethyl methyl carbonate (b), 15-35 volume % of dimethyl carbonate (c) and 3-15 volume % of diethyl carbonate or propylene carbonate (d). With this nonaqueous electrolyte composition, there can be obtained a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having excellent low-temperature characteristics as well as excellent storage characteristics or cycle characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: ADEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukaya, Kyohei Usami, Naomi Awano, HIroyuki Tachikawa, Takayuki Taki
  • Patent number: 7169510
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolytic solution comprising an electrolyte salt dissolved in an organic solvent is disclosed. The nonaqueous electrolytic solution contains a silicon compound represented by formula (I): wherein R1 represents an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 each represent an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms or a halogen atom; and X represents a halogen atom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Asahi Denka Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naomi Awano, Kyohei Usami, Naohiro Kubota
  • Patent number: 6872493
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolytic solution having an electrolyte salt dissolved in an organic solvent, which contains a silicon compound having an unsaturated bond which is represented by formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 each represent an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkenyl group, an alkenyloxy group, an alkynyl group, an alkynyloxy group, an aryl group or an aryloxy group, each of which may have an ether bond in the chain thereof; n represents a number of from 0 to 5; when n is 1 to 5, X represents a single bond, an oxygen atom, an alkylene group, an alkylenedioxy group, an alkenylene group, an alkenylenedioxy group, an alkynylene group, an alkynylenedioxy group, an arylene group or an arylenedioxy group; provided that at least one of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and X represents a group containing an unsaturated bond, an organotin compound or an organogermanium compound and a nonaqueous secondary battery having the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Asahi Denka Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Kyohei Usami, Naomi Awano, Naohiro Kubota, Yasunori Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20040007688
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolytic solution comprising an electrolyte salt dissolved in an organic solvent is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, ASAHI DENKA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naomi Awano, Kyohei Usami, Naohiro Kubota
  • Publication number: 20020076619
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolytic solution having an electrolyte salt dissolved in an organic solvent, which contains a silicon compound having an unsaturated bond which is represented by formula (I): 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Kyohei Usami, Naomi Awano, Naohiro Kubota, Yasunori Takeuchi