Patents by Inventor Noriyasu Matsufuji

Noriyasu Matsufuji 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: 6679821
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes an input section for allowing a user to enter operating conditions of a centrifugal separation of a sample accommodated in a rotor driven by a motor. A memory of the centrifugal separator stores a user ID code and a corresponding user name which are registered in advance by the user. Operation of the centrifugal separator is allowed when a user ID code entered through the input section agrees with the registered user ID code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Koko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Numata, Noriyasu Matsufuji, Hisanobu Oyama, Mitsutoshi Yotsuyanagi, Kazuyoshi Tokunaga, Kahoru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6204627
    Abstract: A transformer outputs different (high or low) secondary voltages. A switch outputs high or low secondary voltage according to a mode signal. An electric power converter including a rectifying circuit and a switching circuit either charges a smoothing capacitor with an output of the switch or discharges the smoothing capacitor to supply a regenerative current toward the transformer with a power fact improved. An phase signal generation circuit generates PWM or PAM phase signals in accordance with the mode signal. An inverter circuit generates driving signals supplied to the motor in response to the phase signals from power from the smoothing capacitor. A mode determining circuit determines one of modes to generate the mode signal in accordance with a speed command signal and acceleration/deceleration which is indicated by the rotating speed signal and the rotating speed command signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Watanabe, Masahiro Inaniwa, Noriyasu Matsufuji, Satoshi Numata, Takahiro Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 5738622
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator comprising: a rotor for containing a sample; a rotating unit; a detection circuit for detecting a distance between a reference position and a position of the rotor and generating a distance detection signal; a rectifying circuit for half-wave rectifying the distance detection signal; a judging circuit for judging the distance detection signal from the rectifying circuit; and a controller for controlling the rotating unit in accordance with a judging result of the judging circuit and a corresponding method are disclosed. The judging circuit judges whether the distance is in a balanced condition of or an unbalance condition of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Niinai, Shoji Kusumoto, Tsutomu Takamura, Noriyasu Matsufuji
  • Patent number: 5731681
    Abstract: A power control apparatus for controlling power supplied to an electric motor rotating a rotor employed in a centrifuge is provided. The power control apparatus includes first and second inverters and a smoothing capacitor disposed between the first and second inverters. In a motor power mode, the first inverter charges the smoothing capacitor with power supplied by an AC power supply, while the second inverter charges, in a motor braking mode, the smoothing capacitor with power regenerated by the motor during a braking operation for returning the regenerated power back to the AC power supply through the first inverter. An reactor is arranged between the AC power supply and the first inverter for reducing harmonic components contained in the current supplied from or back to the AC power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Inaniwa, Nobuharu Kido, Takahiro Fujimaki, Shinji Watanabe, Noriyasu Matsufuji, Yoshinori Tobita
  • Patent number: 5726550
    Abstract: A motor control system for controlling power supplied to an electric motor rotating a rotor employed in a centrifuge is provided. The motor control system includes first, second, and third converters and first and second smoothing capacitors. In a motor power mode, the first converter operates to transfer the charged energy in the first smoothing capacitor to the second smoothing capacitor for providing power to the motor through the third converter, while the second converter transfers, in a motor braking mode, the charged energy in the second smoothing capacitor to the first smoothing capacitor to return the power regenerated by the motor during a braking operation to the AC power supply through the first converter. The second converter performs a function of providing an initial energizing energy to the motor for a given period of time at the start of the braking operation for stability of a power-regenerating operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Inaniwa, Shinji Watanabe, Noriyasu Matsufuji, Katsunori Akatsu
  • Patent number: 5726881
    Abstract: A centrifugal apparatus includes a rotor having a marker for generating an index signal, a motor for rotating the rotor, first and second detectors for detecting the index signal with rotation of the rotor to generate first and second detection signals, an input terminal for receiving supply power, a drive circuit for generating a drive signal from the supply power according to the first detection signal, and first and second switch circuits for controlling the supply of the drive signal to the motor. First and second judging portions are used to detect whether the first and second detection signals are respectfully generated within a given condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co,. Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Inaniwa, Shinji Watanabe, Nobuharu Kido, Noriyasu Matsufuji, Yoshitaka Niinai, Osamu Kawanobe
  • Patent number: 5649893
    Abstract: A centrifugal protection apparatus including: a rotor having markers connected to a motor responsive to drive signals; first and second detectors for detecting the marker upon rotation of the rotor and generating first and second detection signals respectively; a drive circuit responsive to a command for generating the drive signals from the supply power via input terminal in response to the first or second detection signal; first and second switch circuits, arranged in series between the input terminal and the motor, for controlling the supply of the drive signals to the motor; a current detector for detecting a current of one of the drive signals and generating a current detection signal; and first and second judging portions for detecting whether the first and second detection signals are within a predetermined value and for operating the first and second switch circuits to cut off the drive signals when the first and second detection signals are not within the predetermined value respectively and when a m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Inaniwa, Shinji Watanabe, Tsutomu Takamura, Noriyasu Matsufuji, Takahiro Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 5608301
    Abstract: A power control apparatus for controlling power supplied to an electric motor rotating a rotor employed in a centrifuge is provided. The power control apparatus includes first and second inverters and a smoothing capacitor disposed between the first and second inverters. In a motor power mode, the first inverter charges the smoothing capacitor with power supplied by an AC power supply, while the second inverter charges, in a motor braking mode, the smoothing capacitor with power regenerated by the motor during a braking operation for returning the regenerated power back to the AC power supply through the first inverter. An reactor is arranged between the AC power supply and the first inverter for reducing harmonic components contained in the current supplied from or back to the AC power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Inaniwa, Nobuharu Kido, Takahiro Fujimaki, Shinji Watanabe, Noriyasu Matsufuji, Yoshinori Tobita