Patents by Inventor Soichi Yagi

Soichi Yagi 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: 7479742
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting circuit 1 includes a direct current-alternating current converting circuit 3, a starting circuit 4, controlling means 15 for controlling power, switching elements 5H, 5L driven by the controlling means 15 and a series LC resonance circuit (7p, 8, 9). A frequency modulating circuit is provided for restraining acoustic resonance by modulating a frequency of driving the switching element. When a basic frequency related to the drive frequency is equal to or higher than 1 MHz, a modulation width is set to be equal to or higher than 20 kHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro Matsui, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Soichi Yagi
  • Publication number: 20060261756
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting circuit 1 includes a direct current-alternating current converting circuit 3, a starting circuit 4, controlling means 15 for controlling power, switching elements 5H, 5L driven by the controlling means 15 and a series LC resonance circuit (7p, 8, 9). A frequency modulating circuit is provided for restraining acoustic resonance by modulating a frequency of driving the switching element. When a basic frequency related to the drive frequency is equal to or higher than 1 MHz, a modulation width is set to be equal to or higher than 20 kHz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventors: Kotaro Matsui, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Soichi Yagi
  • Publication number: 20050148425
    Abstract: There is provided a cylindrical roller bearing (1) which includes an inner race (2), an outer race (3) and first, second and third rows of rollers (4A, 4B and 4C) accommodated within an annular bearing space delimited between the inner and outer races (2 and 3) with the second or intermediate row of the rollers (4B) positioned between the first and third rows of the rollers (4A and 4C). The rollers (4A and 4C) of the first and third rows have respective lengths (LA and LC) greater than the length (LB) of the rollers (4B) of the second row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Nakagawa, Masaharu Hori, Soichi Yagi
  • Patent number: 6417624
    Abstract: A lighting system provides an auxiliary lighting circuit for turning on an auxiliary light source in place of the discharge lamp if the abnormality in the lighting circuit is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayasu Ito, Hitoshi Takeda, Soichi Yagi, Shuji Matsuura, Akihiro Mochizuki, Hiroki Ishibashi, Tomoyuki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 5295036
    Abstract: A lighting circuit for a vehicular discharge lamp having a DC voltage booster circuit for boosting an input voltage from a DC voltage input terminal, comprises a current detector, a voltage detector, an abnormality judging circuit, and a power cutoff relay circuit. The current detector acquires a detection signal concerning an output current of the DC voltage booster circuit. The voltage detector acquires a detection signal concerning an output voltage of the DC voltage booster circuit. The abnormality judging circuit compares the levels of the detection signals from the current detector and the voltage detector with each other to determine whether or not the lighting circuit is in an abnormal status. The power cutoff circuit inhibits power supply to the discharge lamp upon reception of a signal from the abnormality judging circuit representing an abnormality in the lighting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soichi Yagi, Atsushi Toda, Akiyoshi Ozaki, Akihiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 5151631
    Abstract: A lighting circuit for a vehicular discharge lamp for lighting a discharge lamp using a DC power supply, comprises an OFF state detector, a DC input voltage detector and a power cutoff means. The OFF state detector detects an OFF status of a discharge lamp. The DC input voltage detector detects if a DC input voltage is within a predetermined range. The power cutoff means inhibits power supply to the discharge lamp when the OFF status of the discharge lamp is detected by the OFF state detector and the DC input voltage lying off the predetermined range is detected by the DC input voltage detector, and permits power supply to the discharge lamp upon reception of a signal indicating that the DC input voltage has returned within that range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Goichi Oda, Atsushi Toda, Soichi Yagi, Hiroki Shibata
  • Patent number: 5142203
    Abstract: A lighting circuit for high-pressure discharge lamp or high-pressure discharge lamp for vehicular use including a DC voltage booster circuit, a voltage detector, a current detector, an a control circuit. The booster circuit boosts the input voltage from a DC voltage input terminal to provide an output voltage that is converted into an AC voltage to be applied to a high-pressure discharge lamp. The voltage detector detects the output voltage of the booster circuit. The current detector detects an output current of the booster circuit. The control circuit applies a control signal corresponding to signals from the voltage detector and the current detector to control the output voltage of the booster circuit. The control circuit, the voltage detector and the current detector constitute a feedback system for the booster circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Goichi Oda, Masaya Shidoh, Soichi Yagi, Masatoshi Sugasawa
  • Patent number: 5140229
    Abstract: A lighting circuit for a vehicular discharge lamp has a DC voltage booster circuit, a control circuit, and a voltage drop detector. The booster circuit boosts an input voltage from a DC voltage input terminal to provide an output voltage to be applied to the discharge lamp. The control circuit functions for varying the output voltage of the DC booster circuit to effect lighting control including constant power control of the discharge lamp. The voltage drop detector detects a DC input voltage applied to the booster circuit. In response to a signal received from the voltage drop detector in accordance with a drop of the DC input voltage, the control circuit performs voltage boosting control to set power supplied to the dicharge lamp lower than the rated power. It is therefore possible to suppress an increase in current consumption and a consequent increase in generated heat when the DC input voltage drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soichi Yagi, Goichi Oda, Masatoshi Sugasawa
  • Patent number: 5068570
    Abstract: A lighting circuit for a metallic halide lamp for vehicular headlight applications is disclosed. Included are a pair of input terminals between which a battery is connected for feeding the lamp via a normally open relay switch which is closed upon energization of an associated relay coil. The relay coil is connected in series with an operator actuated lamp switch and a protection switch, so that both lamp switch and protection switch must be closed to energize the relay coil and hence to close the relay switch. The protection switch is automatically opened to deenergize the relay coil when the battery develops overvoltage or when the lamp will not glow upon closure of the lamp switch. In an alternate embodiment, the protection switch is also opened in response to the development of overcurrent or overvoltage by a d.c. voltage booster circuit included in the lighting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Goichi Oda, Masaya Shidoh, Atsushi Toda, Akiyoshi Ozaki, Akihiro Matsumoto, Soichi Yagi, Atsuhiko Murata