Patents by Inventor Shuichi Kokubun

Shuichi Kokubun 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: 9666395
    Abstract: Provided is a power semiconductor module wherein stress generated at a soldering section of a relay terminal is relaxed. A power semiconductor module (1) is provided with a substrate (2), relay terminals (9, 10), external connecting terminals (13, 14) and a relay terminal holding member (6). The relay terminals (9, 10) are connected to the substrate (2) with a solder (4) therebetween. The external connecting terminals (13, 14) are bonded to the relay terminals (9, 10), respectively. The non-conductive relay terminal holding member (6) holds end portions of the relay terminals (9, 10) said end portions being on the side bonded to the solder (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinjiro Watari, Shuichi Kokubun, Takeshi Yamada, Tsuyoshi Harada
  • Publication number: 20160172134
    Abstract: Provided is a power semiconductor module wherein stress generated at a soldering section of a relay terminal is relaxed. A power semiconductor module (1) is provided with a substrate (2), relay terminals (9, 10), external connecting terminals (13, 14) and a relay terminal holding member (6). The relay terminals (9, 10) are connected to the substrate (2) with a solder (4) therebetween. The external connecting terminals (13, 14) are bonded to the relay terminals (9, 10), respectively. The non-conductive relay terminal holding member (6) holds end portions of the relay terminals (9, 10) said end portions being on the side bonded to the solder (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Shinjiro WATARI, Shuichi KOKUBUN, Takeshi YAMADA, Tsuyoshi HARADA
  • Patent number: 9297347
    Abstract: An engine starting apparatus is provided which can start an engine without inducing malfunctions of various electronic components. The engine starting apparatus comprises a pinion adapted to be brought into meshing engagement with a ring gear linked to an engine, a magnet switch supplied with current from a battery to move the pinion in the direction of the ring gear, a starter motor supplied with the current to rotate the pinion, a control unit for instructing the starter motor to start the engine, and a starter control unit for controlling, on the basis of the instruction, a first semiconductor switch subject to PWM control, wherein the starter motor and the magnet switch are stored in a first housing, the starter control unit is stored in a second housing, and the first housing is integral with the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kokubun, Shigehiko Omata, Shigenori Nakazato, Masato Saito
  • Publication number: 20150167618
    Abstract: An engine starting apparatus is provided which can start an engine without inducing malfunctions of various electronic components. The engine starting apparatus comprises a pinion adapted to be brought into meshing engagement with a ring gear linked to an engine, a magnet switch supplied with current from a battery to move the pinion in the direction of the ring gear, a starter motor supplied with the current to rotate the pinion, a control unit for instructing the starter motor to start the engine, and a starter control unit for controlling, on the basis of the instruction, a first semiconductor switch subject to PWM control, wherein the starter motor and the magnet switch are stored in a first housing, the starter control unit is stored in a second housing, and the first housing is integral with the second housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Shuichi KOKUBUN, Shigehiko OMATA, Shigenori NAKAZATO, Masato SAITO
  • Patent number: 8994299
    Abstract: An engine starting apparatus is provided which can start an engine without inducing malfunctions of various electronic components. The engine starting apparatus comprises a pinion adapted to be brought into meshing engagement with a ring gear linked to an engine, a magnet switch supplied with current from a battery to move the pinion in the direction of the ring gear, a starter motor supplied with the current to rotate the pinion, a control unit for instructing the starter motor to start the engine, and a starter control unit for controlling, on the basis of the instruction, a first semiconductor switch subject to PWM control, wherein the starter motor and the magnet switch are stored in a first housing, the starter control unit is stored in a second housing, and the first housing is integral with the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kokubun, Shigehiko Omata, Shigenori Nakazato, Masato Saito
  • Patent number: 8310212
    Abstract: This invention provides a control device for automobile battery-charging generators, adapted to supply a plurality of sets of specifications in a highly reliable and stable form by simple switching between electrical characteristics assigning and limiting functions so as to meet various needs of users. In accordance with a voltage of a battery B, a voltage control IC regulator 120 controls a field current flowing through a field winding FL. The voltage control IC regulator 120 has a plurality of functions for assigning electrical characteristics limits or electrical characteristics beforehand. The voltage control IC regulator 120 also has switch terminals SW1 and SW2 that switch the plurality of functions that assign the electrical characteristics limits or the electrical characteristics. Electric potential levels of the switch terminals SW1 and SW2 can be changed by cutting cutoff portions CP1 and CP2 of an intermediate terminal 150 or leaving these cutoff portions connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoju Masumoto, Hiroshi Yoneda, Makoto Hirama, Shuichi Kokubun
  • Publication number: 20120275078
    Abstract: An engine starting apparatus is provided which can start an engine without inducing malfunctions of various electronic components. The engine starting apparatus comprises a pinion adapted to be brought into meshing engagement with a ring gear linked to an engine, a magnet switch supplied with current from a battery to move the pinion in the direction of the ring gear, a starter motor supplied with the current to rotate the pinion, a control unit for instructing the starter motor to start the engine, and a starter control unit for controlling, on the basis of the instruction, a first semiconductor switch subject to PWM control, wherein the starter motor and the magnet switch are stored in a first housing, the starter control unit is stored in a second housing, and the first housing is integral with the second housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kokubun, Shigehiko Omata, Shigenori Nakazato, Masato Saito
  • Patent number: 8130521
    Abstract: In a rectifier unit having a MOSFET, there is provided a stable MOSFET rectifying operation which is not influenced by a power generation condition from a start of an engine. An output VS obtained by adding phase voltages VU, VV, and VW and a power generation voltage VBR are compared by COM1. During a period of VBR>VS, a timing signal VT having a cycle of an electrical angle of 120 degrees is obtained. In synchronism with rising of logical products AND1 and AND2 based on a comparison result VH-ON of a phase voltage VU and a power generation voltage VB and a comparison result VL-ON of a phase voltage VU and a GND potential, flip-flops FF1 and FF2 are operated. Then, a gate signal VHGD of an upper-stream side MOSFET and a gate signal VLGD of a lower-stream side MOSFET are outputted to execute a MOSFET rectifying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kokubun, Shoju Masumoto, Keiji Kunii
  • Publication number: 20110057630
    Abstract: A rectifier of vehicular alternator that rectifies AC electrical power into DC electrical power comprises: a rectifier that includes a plurality of MOS FETs that are used as rectifier elements; a control circuit that applies drive signals to the gates of the plurality of MOS FETs via gate drive signal lines, and that thereby commands continuity and discontinuity of the plurality of MOS FETs; and a plurality of load circuits, one connected between the gate and the source of each of the MOS FETs, for bleeding down electric charge accumulated by gate capacitance of the MOS FET if the gate drive signal line is interrupted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato SAITO, Shuichi Kokubun, Shoju Masumoto
  • Publication number: 20100085023
    Abstract: This invention provides a control device for automobile battery-charging generators, adapted to supply a plurality of sets of specifications in a highly reliable and stable form by simple switching between electrical characteristics assigning and limiting functions so as to meet various needs of users. In accordance with a voltage of a battery B, a voltage control IC regulator 120 controls a field current flowing through a field winding FL. The voltage control IC regulator 120 has a plurality of functions for assigning electrical characteristics limits or electrical characteristics beforehand. The voltage control IC regulator 120 also has switch terminals SW1 and SW2 that switch the plurality of functions that assign the electrical characteristics limits or the electrical characteristics. Electric potential levels of the switch terminals SW1 and SW2 can be changed by cutting cutoff portions CP1 and CP2 of an intermediate terminal 150 or leaving these cutoff portions connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoju MASUMOTO, Hiroshi Yoneda, Makoto Hirama, Shuichi Kokubun
  • Publication number: 20090302678
    Abstract: In a rectifier unit having a MOSFET, there is provided a stable MOSFET rectifying operation which is not influenced by a power generation condition from a start of an engine. An output VS obtained by adding phase voltages VU, VV, and VW and a power generation voltage VBR are compared by COM1. During a period of VBR>VS, a timing signal VT having a cycle of an electrical angle of 120 degrees is obtained. In synchronism with rising of logical products AND1 and AND2 based on a comparison result VH-ON of a phase voltage VU and a power generation voltage VB and a comparison result VL-ON of a phase voltage VU and a GND potential, flip-flops FF1 and FF2 are operated. Then, a gate signal VHGD of an upper-stream side MOSFET and a gate signal VLGD of a lower-stream side MOSFET are outputted to execute a MOSFET rectifying operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi KOKUBUN, Shoju MASUMOTO, Keiji KUNII