Patents by Inventor Satoshi Maeshima

Satoshi Maeshima 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: 20220352452
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module includes: a first substrate and a second substrate that positionally oppose each other; a thermoelectric element group that is located between the first substrate and the second substrate and is connected to the first substrate and the second substrate; a first temperature detection element that is located between the first substrate and the second substrate and is connected to the first substrate; and a second temperature detection element that is located between the first substrate and the second substrate and is connected to the second substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Makiko TANAKA, Satoshi MAESHIMA, Shunsuke ASANO
  • Publication number: 20210359190
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion substrate includes: an insulating substrate including a first surface on one side in a thickness direction of the insulating substrate and a second surface on an opposite side; a plurality of thermoelectric conversion units, each including a first thermoelectric member, a second thermoelectric member, and a first electrode that electrically connects the first thermoelectric member and the second thermoelectric member; and a second electrode. The insulating substrate includes at least one core insulating layer. The second electrode electrically connects the first thermoelectric member of one of the thermoelectric conversion units and the second thermoelectric member of another of the thermoelectric conversion units. The thermoelectric conversion units are electrically connected in series in a manner that the first thermoelectric member and the second thermoelectric member are alternately arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Satoshi Maeshima, Takashi Seda
  • Publication number: 20210265421
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module includes: a first thermoelectric conversion element group including a first thermoelectric member including a first conductivity-type semiconductor, and a second thermoelectric member including a second conductivity-type semiconductor; a second thermoelectric conversion element group including a third thermoelectric member including the first conductivity-type semiconductor, and a fourth thermoelectric member including the second conductivity-type semiconductor; a first substrate connected to an upper side of the first thermoelectric conversion element group and the second thermoelectric conversion element group; and a second substrate connected to a lower side of the first thermoelectric conversion element group and the second thermoelectric conversion element group. The first thermoelectric member and the second thermoelectric member are electrically connected by a first current path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Makiko TANAKA, Satoshi MAESHIMA, Daisuke SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 11088309
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element includes a thermoelectric member that is columnar and an insulator formed around the thermoelectric member. Particles are enclosed between the thermoelectric member and the insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yui Saitou, Yoshihiro Nakamura, Satoshi Maeshima
  • Patent number: 11056632
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion substrate includes an insulating substrate and at least one thermoelectric conversion unit. The insulating substrate has a first surface and a second surface at both sides of the insulating substrate in a thickness direction. The at least one thermoelectric conversion unit is incorporated in the insulating substrate. The at least one thermoelectric conversion unit includes a first thermoelectric member, a second thermoelectric member, and a first electrode disposed on the first surface of the insulating substrate. The first thermoelectric member includes a first tubular member having insulation property and a first semiconductor filled in the first tubular member. The second thermoelectric member includes a second tubular member having insulation property and a second semiconductor filled in the second tubular member. The second semiconductor has carriers different from carriers of the first semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuji Aoyama, Satoshi Maeshima, Tatsuo Sasaoka, Junya Tanaka, Noboru Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10305012
    Abstract: An electrical converter and heater module with heat insulators having different cross-sectional areas includes a thermoelectric conversion module that corrects the difference in thermal resistance between a P-type thermoelectric conversion member and an N-type thermoelectric conversion member. In this thermoelectric conversion module, since insulators included in the P-type thermoelectric conversion member and the N-type thermoelectric conversion member have a different thermal resistance, it is possible to correct the difference in thermal resistance between the P-type thermoelectric conversion element and the N-type thermoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kaori Toyoda, Satoshi Maeshima
  • Publication number: 20190081229
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion substrate includes an insulating substrate and at least one thermoelectric conversion unit. The insulating substrate has a first surface and a second surface at both sides of the insulating substrate in a thickness direction. The at least one thermoelectric conversion unit is incorporated in the insulating substrate. The at least one thermoelectric conversion unit includes a first thermoelectric member, a second thermoelectric member, and a first electrode disposed on the first surface of the insulating substrate. The first thermoelectric member includes a first tubular member having insulation property and a first semiconductor filled in the first tubular member. The second thermoelectric member includes a second tubular member having insulation property and a second semiconductor filled in the second tubular member. The second semiconductor has carriers different from carriers of the first semiconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: TAKUJI AOYAMA, SATOSHI MAESHIMA, TATSUO SASAOKA, JUNYA TANAKA, NOBORU YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20190027671
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element includes a thermoelectric member that is columnar and an insulator formed around the thermoelectric member. Particles are enclosed between the thermoelectric member and the insulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Yui SAITOU, Yoshihiro NAKAMURA, Satoshi MAESHIMA
  • Patent number: 10115879
    Abstract: Provided herein is a skutterudite-type material having high thermoelectric conversion characteristics in a high temperature region. A thermoelectric conversion material is provided that contains a skutterudite-type material represented by the following composition formula (I) IxGayM4Pn12??(I), wherein x and y satisfy 0.04?x?0.11, 0.11?y?0.34, and x<y, I represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of In, Yb, Eu, Ce, La, Nd, Ba, and Sr, M represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Co, Rh, Ir, Fe, Ni, Pt, Pd, Ru, and Os, and Pn represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Sb, As, P, Te, Sn, Bi, Ge, Se, and Si.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Kurosaki, Shinsuke Yamanaka, Yusufu Aikebaier, Seongho Choi, Junya Tanaka, Satoshi Maeshima
  • Patent number: 10032974
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module and a thermoelectric conversion apparatus in which a thermoelectric conversion element can be flexibly attached to heat sources having various shapes in high density are provided. The thermoelectric conversion module includes a first thermoelectric conversion element configured of a cylindrical thermoelectric conversion material having a hollow portion and a second thermoelectric conversion element configured of a thermoelectric conversion material having a different conductive type from that of the first thermoelectric conversion element and fixed in the hollow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki Higashida, Kaori Toyoda, Yoshihisa Ohido, Takashi Kubo, Satoshi Maeshima
  • Publication number: 20180013047
    Abstract: An electrical converter and heater module with heat insulators having different cross-sectional areas includes a thermoelectric conversion module that corrects the difference in thermal resistance between a P-type thermoelectric conversion member and an N-type thermoelectric conversion member. In this thermoelectric conversion module, since insulators included in the P-type thermoelectric conversion member and the N-type thermoelectric conversion member have a different thermal resistance, it is possible to correct the difference in thermal resistance between the P-type thermoelectric conversion element and the N-type thermoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Kaori Toyoda, Satoshi Maeshima
  • Patent number: 9793460
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module is disclosed that corrects the difference in thermal resistance between a P-type thermoelectric conversion member and an N-type thermoelectric conversion member. In this thermoelectric conversion module, since insulators included in the P-type thermoelectric conversion member and the N-type thermoelectric conversion member have a different thermal resistance, it is possible to correct the difference in thermal resistance between the P-type thermoelectric conversion element and the N-type thermoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kaori Toyoda, Satoshi Maeshima
  • Publication number: 20170263839
    Abstract: Provided herein is a skutterudite-type material having high thermoelectric conversion characteristics in a high temperature region. A thermoelectric conversion material is provided that contains a skutterudite-type material represented by the following composition formula (I) IxGayM4Pn12 ??(I), wherein x and y satisfy 0.04?x?0.11, 0.11?y?0.34, and x<y, I represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of In, Yb, Eu, Ce, La, Nd, Ba, and Sr, M represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Co, Rh, Ir, Fe, Ni, Pt, Pd, Ru, and Os, and Pn. represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Sb, As, P, Te, Sn, Bi, Ge, Se, and Si.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: KEN KUROSAKI, SHINSUKE YAMANAKA, YUSUFU AIKEBAIER, SEONGHO CHOI, JUNYA TANAKA, SATOSHI MAESHIMA
  • Patent number: 9496476
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module includes p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion elements arranged between two stacked substrates. The p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion elements include columnar p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion portions, insulators provided in side surfaces of the p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion portions, and diffusion preventing films provided on top surface, the top surface different from the side surface of the p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion portions. Each stacked substrate includes an interconnecting layer that electrically connects the p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion portions through the diffusion preventing films, and a jointing material that joins the diffusion preventing films and the interconnecting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Maeshima, Kaori Toyoda, Takaaki Higashida, Kazunori Kurumaya
  • Publication number: 20160163951
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a thermoelectric conversion device arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first joining member arranged between the first substrate and the thermoelectric conversion device and a second joining member arranged between the second substrate and the thermoelectric conversion device. A difference of thermal expansion coefficients between the first joining member and the first substrate is higher than a difference of thermal expansion coefficients between the second joining member and the second substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: JUNYA TANAKA, SATOSHI MAESHIMA
  • Publication number: 20150340582
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module is disclosed that corrects the difference in thermal resistance between a P-type thermoelectric conversion member and an N-type thermoelectric conversion member. In this thermoelectric conversion module, since insulators included in the P-type thermoelectric conversion member and the N-type thermoelectric conversion member have a different thermal resistance, it is possible to correct the difference in thermal resistance between the P-type thermoelectric conversion element and the N-type thermoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Kaori TOYODA, Satoshi MAESHIMA
  • Patent number: 9087963
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a thermoelectric conversion element. The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a thermoelectric conversion element that can easily realize a high-density array of thermoelectric conversion elements and secure connection reliability. This is an apparatus for manufacturing a thermoelectric conversion element that sucks a p-type or n-type thermoelectric conversion material into heat-resisting insulating tube 102 and includes preheating apparatus 205 that can heat tube 102 to a predetermined temperature before sucking the melted thermoelectric conversion element. Tube 102 whose temperature condition is adjusted by being heated by preheating apparatus 205 is inserted into crucible 204 and the molten thermoelectric conversion material is sucked into tube 102 by decompression apparatus 201.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Higashida, Takashi Kubo, Kaori Toyoda, Satoshi Maeshima
  • Publication number: 20150179912
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module includes p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion elements arranged between two stacked substrates. The p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion elements include columnar p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion portions, insulators provided in side surfaces of the p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion portions, and diffusion preventing films provided on top surface, the top surface different from the side surface of the p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion portions. Each stacked substrate includes an interconnecting layer that electrically connects the p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion portions through the diffusion preventing films and a jointing material that joins the diffusion preventing films and the interconnecting layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Satoshi Maeshima, Kaori Toyoda, Takaaki Higashida, Kazunori Kurumaya
  • Patent number: D806014
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yui Saitou, Hiroki Ikeuchi, Satoshi Maeshima, Hiroyuki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: D818442
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yui Saitou, Hiroki Ikeuchi, Satoshi Maeshima, Hiroyuki Sakamoto