Patents by Inventor Tatsuki Kouwa

Tatsuki Kouwa 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: 8653680
    Abstract: When electric generators operate in parallel, field current control operations thereof are synchronized thereby to equalize load balance therebetween. A first power generation control device connected to a main electric generator and a second power generation control device connected to a subordinate electric generator are each provided with an external sensing terminal that detects an external voltage of each electric generator to which itself belongs, an output sensing terminal that detects a power generation voltage generated by each electric generator itself, and the external output terminal that outputs a signal synchronized with a field current control signal for each field coil of each electric generator. When the plurality of electric generators are caused to drive at the same time, the external output terminal of the first power generation control device and the external sensing terminal of the second power generation control device are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Katsurada, Tatsuki Kouwa
  • Publication number: 20130056983
    Abstract: When electric generators operate in parallel, field current control operations thereof are synchronized thereby to equalize load balance therebetween. A first power generation control device connected to a main electric generator and a second power generation control device connected to a subordinate electric generator are each provided with an external sensing terminal that detects an external voltage of each electric generator to which itself belongs, an output sensing terminal that detects a power generation voltage generated by each electric generator itself, and the external output terminal that outputs a signal synchronized with a field current control signal for each field coil of each electric generator. When the plurality of electric generators are caused to drive at the same time, the external output terminal of the first power generation control device and the external sensing terminal of the second power generation control device are connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Katsurada, Tatsuki Kouwa
  • Patent number: 8125195
    Abstract: Power-generation control operation for an in-vehicle electric generator is further stabilized in such a way that, in the case where a signal at an external-control-signal input terminal changes, a function of on/off-controlling a magnetic-field current in a constant cycle is interrupted. In a control apparatus, for an in-vehicle electric generator, that has a function of adjusting a generation voltage to a predetermined voltage, by on/off-controlling a magnetic-field current in a constant cycle, and variably controlling an adjustment voltage, based on an input signal from an external control unit, in the case where a signal at an external-control-signal input terminal is fixed for a long time, the function of on/off-controlling the magnetic-field current in the constant cycle is activated, and in the case where the signal at the external-control-signal input terminal changes, the function of on/off-controlling the magnetic-field current in the constant cycle is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuki Kouwa
  • Patent number: 8004110
    Abstract: Provided is an on-vehicle power generation controller capable of uniformly maintaining balance of electric power generated by a plurality of generators, and also capable of realizing a less expensive controller structure. The on-vehicle power generation controller includes a controller (3) which adjusts a generated voltage to a predetermined voltage by controlling turning on and off of a field current so as to control an electric power generating operation of a generator. In a case where at least two on-vehicle power generation controllers are mounted with respect to a single engine, when respective generators (1a, 1b) corresponding to the at least two on-vehicle power generation controllers are operated at the same time, each of second and succeeding on-vehicle power generation controllers controls the electric power generating operation of each of the respective generators (1a, 1b) based upon a field current on-off control signal output in a first on-vehicle power generation controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuki Kouwa
  • Publication number: 20090218889
    Abstract: Provided is an on-vehicle power generation controller capable of uniformly maintaining balance of electric power generated by a plurality of generators, and also capable of realizing a less expensive controller structure. The on-vehicle power generation controller includes a controller (3) which adjusts a generated voltage to a predetermined voltage by controlling turning on and off of a field current so as to control an electric power generating operation of a generator. In a case where at least two on-vehicle power generation controllers are mounted with respect to a single engine, when respective generators (1a, 1b) corresponding to the at least two on-vehicle power generation controllers are operated at the same time, each of second and succeeding on-vehicle power generation controllers controls the electric power generating operation of each of the respective generators (1a, 1b) based upon a field current on-off control signal output in a first on-vehicle power generation controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuki KOUWA
  • Publication number: 20090206801
    Abstract: Power-generation control operation for an in-vehicle electric generator is further stabilized in such a way that, in the case where a signal at an external-control-signal input terminal changes, a function of on/off-controlling a magnetic-field current in a constant cycle is interrupted. In a control apparatus, for an in-vehicle electric generator, that has a function of adjusting a generation voltage to a predetermined voltage, by on/off-controlling a magnetic-field current in a constant cycle, and variably controlling an adjustment voltage, based on an input signal from an external control unit, in the case where a signal at an external-control-signal input terminal is fixed for a long time, the function of on/off-controlling the magnetic-field current in the constant cycle is activated, and in the case where the signal at the external-control-signal input terminal changes, the function of on/off-controlling the magnetic-field current in the constant cycle is interrupted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuki KOUWA
  • Publication number: 20090033295
    Abstract: A controller of a generator (1) for a vehicle comprising a voltage regulator (3) for regulating a generated voltage to a predetermined voltage by performing on/off control of a field current through a switching element and performing variable control of a regulated voltage with a control signal from an external control unit (4) is further provided with a maximum duty factor limiting circuit (300) for limiting the maximum duty factor of the switching element (Q3) performing on/off control of the field current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuki Kouwa
  • Patent number: 7173398
    Abstract: A system for controlling a vehicular generator, includes: a voltage controlling device 1 for adjusting a generator output voltage of a generator 10 connected to an in-vehicle battery 4 to a predetermined voltage, the voltage controlling device 1 including an external voltage sensing terminal S for detecting an external voltage of the generator 10, and the generator output voltage being adjusted through on/off control of a field current of the generator 10 in accordance with the external voltage, in which an external control unit 5 is inserted between the external voltage sensing terminal S and the battery 4 to cause a voltage drop. Consequently, it is possible to dispense with an exclusive input terminal for external signal, thereby enabling simple system configuration cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuki Kouwa, Yoshihito Itou
  • Publication number: 20060145669
    Abstract: A system for controlling a vehicular generator, includes: a voltage controlling device 1 for adjusting a generator output voltage a generator 10 connected to an in-vehicle battery 4 to a predetermined voltage, the voltage controlling device 1 including external voltage sensing terminal S for detecting an external voltage of the generator 10, and the generator output voltage being adjusted through on/off control of a field current of the generator 10 in accordance with the external voltage, in which an external control unit 5 is inserted between the external voltage sensing terminal S and the battery 4 to cause a voltage drop. Consequently, it is possible to dispense with an exclusive input terminal for external signal, thereby enabling simple system configuration cost reduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Tatsuki Kouwa, Yoshihito Itou
  • Patent number: 6943532
    Abstract: A voltage control apparatus 1 for a vehicle generator 2 has an input terminal L for inputting the voltage of a battery 5 through an ignition switch 3 and a light emitting element (light emitting diode 4) connected in series with the ignition switch and driven by a low dissipation power, and starts the excitation of the rotor coil 201 of the vehicle generator 2 when the voltage at the input terminal L exceeds a predetermined value. A resistor 115 for limiting the current flowing through the light emitting diode 4 is disposed between an element 114 within the voltage control apparatus 1 for driving the light emitting diode 4 and the input terminal L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuki Kouwa, Katsuhiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6850042
    Abstract: A control unit of a vehicle generator is provided which is capable of instantaneously stopping power generation in a safe manner with an inexpensive system configuration without the need of interrupting a large current when a key switch is turned off. The control unit includes a vehicle generator (2), a battery (5) adapted to be charged by an output of the vehicle generator, and a control circuit (2) having an on-off control switching transistor (1j) for controlling the turning on and off of a field current of the vehicle generator. The control circuit is operable to interrupt the on-off control switching transistor (1j) when a detected voltage of the battery (5) is higher than a reference voltage, and make the on-off control switching transistor (1j) conductive thereby to control the voltage of power generation at a predetermined voltage when the detected voltage of the battery (5) is below the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuki Kouwa
  • Patent number: 6781350
    Abstract: A controller for an A.C. generator for a vehicle, includes: batteries each of which is charged with electric charges on the basis of an output of generation of electrical energy of an A.C. generator having a field coil; voltage regulating means for regulating a current, which is caused to flow through the field coil, on the basis of the detection result of a voltage developed across the terminals the batteries due to an output voltage of the A.C. generator into an fixed output value of the generation of electrical energy of the A.C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shiro Iwatani, Hirofumi Watanabe, Tatsuki Kouwa
  • Publication number: 20020185992
    Abstract: A control unit of a vehicle generator is provided which is capable of instantaneously stopping power generation in a safe manner with an inexpensive system configuration without the need of interrupting a large current when a key switch is turned off. The control unit includes a vehicle generator (2), a battery (5) adapted to be charged by an output of the vehicle generator, and a control circuit (2) having an on-off control switching transistor (1j) for controlling the turning on and off of a field current of the vehicle generator. The control circuit is operable to interrupt the on-off control switching transistor (1j) when a detected voltage of the battery (5) is higher than a reference voltage, and make the on-off control switching transistor (1j) conductive thereby to control the voltage of power generation at a predetermined voltage when the detected voltage of the battery (5) is below the reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuki Kouwa
  • Patent number: 6275398
    Abstract: A voltage control apparatus for a vehicle-onboard electric generator in which wirings inclusive of connectors of the motor vehicle are much simplified to allow the manufacturing cost to be reduced significantly while making the trigger signal constantly available without difficulty even when abnormality takes place in association with the charge lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Sumimoto, Tatsuki Kouwa, Keiichi Komurasaki
  • Patent number: 6204643
    Abstract: A controller for a car AC generator which eliminates the need for a drive signal supplied by a key switch and stabilizes the power generation of an AC generator at the start of an internal combustion engine. The voltage regulator of the controller comprises trigger means for supplying a field current from a battery to a field coil by detecting a drop in battery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuki Kouwa, Keiichi Komurasaki, Hirofumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6005372
    Abstract: A vehicle generator controller for regulating the output voltage from a generator which charges a battery mounted on a vehicle comprises battery voltage detection means for detecting the drop of a battery voltage, a switching element for controlling the field current of the generator, gradual increase control means for gradually increasing the current generated by the generator by gradually increasing the switching element by intermittently operating the switching element when the battery voltage drops and gradual increase prohibition means for canceling the gradual increase control at the beginning of the drop of the battery voltage and gradually increases the field current after the conducting ratio of the switching element is set to 100%. With this arrangement, the vehicle generator controller suppresses a torque shock caused in response to the turn-on of an electric load as well as sufficiently suppresses the drop of a battery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubshiki Denki Kabsuhiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuki Kouwa, Keiichi Komurasaki, Hirofumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5932993
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle generator which includes a semiconductor switching element for controlling the flow of current in a field winding of a generator driven by a vehicle internal combustion engine; a control unit which outputs a control signal for turning the semiconductor switching element on and off to thereby control the output voltage of the generator; and a field current detecting element for detecting the field current. The control unit has a field current limiter which outputs the control signal, depending on the output from the field current detecting element. The field current detecting element and the field current limiter are constituted as a hybrid integrated circuit. The field current detecting element and the field current limiter have respective ground patterns coupled at a location other than the ground terminal of the hybrid integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuki Kouwa, Keiichi Komurasaki
  • Patent number: 5923095
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an onboard AC generator for a motor vehicle is capable of suppressing erroneous operation of the switching circuit due to a leakage current to thereby prevent the output voltage of the AC generator from abnormal rising. The control apparatus includes an AC generator (1) including a field winding (102), a rectifier circuit (2) for converting an output voltage of the AC generator (1) into a DC voltage, a battery (5) charged with the DC voltage, a switching circuit (3) constituted by a low-side switch for turning on/off a current flow loop extending through the field winding (102), a control unit (4) for controlling on/off-operation of the switching circuit (3) so that a voltage (VB) appearing at a charging terminal of the battery (5) matches with a predetermined voltage level, and a resistor (303) inserted between a control input terminal of the switching circuit (3) and the ground potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shiro Iwatani, Tatsuki Kouwa
  • Patent number: 5900721
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle A.C. generator which is used to supply a vehicle load such as a battery. The control device includes a semiconductor switching element for controlling a field current in a field winding of the generator. The control device also includes a ground pattern conductor arranged between a power source terminal connecting the semiconductor switching element and the load and a control signal input terminal for inputting a control signal to the semiconductor switching element. The ground pattern conductor is further connected to a ground terminal of the semiconductor switching element. This arrangement affords protection from short circuiting of the power source terminal and the control terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuki Kouwa, Keiichi Komurasaki, Hirofumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5581172
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an output from an AC generator for a vehicle is provided which enables wiring from an external control unit to a voltage regulator by using only one wiring line, and which is capable of adjusting an output voltage of the AC generator to a usual value in accordance with a duty ratio of a control signal supplied from the external control unit, and linearly controlling the generator output voltage to a desired value in relation to a change in the level of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shirou Iwatani, Keiichi Komurasaki, Hirofumi Watanabe, Tatsuki Kouwa, Katsunori Tanaka