Patents by Inventor Toru Aoyama

Toru Aoyama 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: 20100225284
    Abstract: A voltage control apparatus for an electric generator includes a load response controller and a voltage response controller. The electric generator includes a field winding and is driven by an engine of a motor vehicle. When the output voltage of the generator decreases below a threshold voltage upon the application of an electrical load, the rotational speed of the engine fluctuates to repeatedly increase and decrease until it is stabilized. During the time periods in which the rotational speed of the engine decreases, field current supplied to the field winding of the generator is gradually increased under a load response control performed by the load response controller. During the time periods in which the rotational speed of the engine increases, the field current is gradually increased under a voltage response control by the voltage response controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru AOYAMA
  • Patent number: 7564224
    Abstract: In a power-generator control apparatus installed in a power-generator designed to generate an output voltage at an output terminal thereof, a regulating unit regulates the output voltage so that the regulated output voltage is equivalent to a first target value. When a periodic signal with a predetermined frequency is applied from the outside of the power-generator to the output terminal thereof to be superimposed on the output voltage, a regulated voltage changing unit operatively connected to the regulating unit receives the periodic signal, and compares the frequency of the received periodic signal with a predetermined threshold frequency. The regulated voltage changing unit changes the first target value of the regulated output voltage to a second target value upon the frequency of the received periodic signal being higher than the predetermined threshold frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7535203
    Abstract: An alternator comprises: an output rectifier converting AC voltage produced in an output armature winding into DC and supplying the DC electric power to a rechargeable battery and a current consumer; an excitation rectifier which is electrically separated from the output rectifier to convert AC voltage produced in an excitation armature winding into DC; and a power generation control unit. The power generation control unit compares the output voltage of the output rectifier or the terminal voltage of the battery with a predetermined reference voltage and controls current supplied to an excitation winding to which the DC voltage outputted from the excitation rectifier is applied, based on the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7401988
    Abstract: On top of respective areas divided by partition plates, that is, a cassette station, a processing station, and an interface section in a coating and developing processing system, gas supply sections for supplying an inert gas into the respective areas are provided. Exhaust pipes for exhausting atmospheres in the respective areas are provided at the bottom of the respective areas. The atmospheres in the respective areas are maintained in a clean condition by supplying the inert gas not containing impurities such as oxygen and fine particles from the respective gas supply sections into the respective areas and exhausting the atmospheres in the respective areas from the exhaust pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takayuki Katano, Hidefumi Matsui, Junichi Kitano, Yo Suzuki, Masami Yamashita, Toru Aoyama, Hiroyuki Iwaki, Satoru Shimura
  • Publication number: 20070273205
    Abstract: In a communication system, a first modulator converts first data created one of a power-generator and an external unit into a first modulated signal, and transmits the first modulated signal to the other of the power-generator and the external unit such that the first modulated signal is superimposed on the output voltage at the output terminal of the power-generator. When a second modulated signal containing second data is transmitted from the other of the power-generator and the external unit such that the second modulated signal is superimposed on the output voltage at the output terminal of the power-generator, a first demodulator receives the transmitted second modulated signal. The first demodulator demodulates the received second modulated signal into the second data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7292007
    Abstract: A control apparatus controls the generation of a vehicle electric generator having an armature winding, excitation winding and rectifier connected to the armature winding. The apparatus includes a flywheel diode connected to the excitation winding in parallel, a switch element connected to the excitation winding, a control signal setting circuit, and a signal output section. The setting circuit controls a duty ratio of the switch element in correspondence to a first generation status of the generator to control electric current flowing through the excitation winding while varying a switching frequency of the generator depending on a second generation status of the generator. The signal output section is connected to a junction point between the excitation winding and the switch element and outputs a signal, involving a duty ratio associated with the first generation status and a switching frequency associated with the second generation status, to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7285938
    Abstract: A generation controller controls an amount of power generated by an on-vehicle generator responsively to a command signal from an external controller. The generation controller comprises detection, determination, and output control units. The detection unit detects a revolution number of the generator. The determination unit determines whether or not the revolution number of the generator is over a reference revolution number. The output control it controls a generator output based on a first target value decided corresponding to a command value indicated by the command signal, when the revolution number of the generator is less than the reference revolution number, and controls the generator output based on a second target value in place of the first target value. The second target value is set internally within the generation controller, when the revolution number of the generator is over or equal to the reference revolution number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20070210763
    Abstract: In a power-generator control apparatus installed in a power-generator designed to generate an output voltage at an output terminal thereof, a regulating unit regulates the output voltage so that the regulated output voltage is equivalent to a first target value. When a periodic signal with a predetermined frequency is applied from the outside of the power-generator to the output terminal thereof to be superimposed on the output voltage, a regulated voltage changing unit operatively connected to the regulating unit receives the periodic signal, and compares the frequency of the received periodic signal with a predetermined threshold frequency. The regulated voltage changing unit changes the first target value of the regulated output voltage to a second target value upon the frequency of the received periodic signal being higher than the predetermined threshold frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20070182382
    Abstract: An alternator comprises: an output rectifier converting AC voltage produced in an output armature winding into DC and supplying the DC electric power to a rechargeable battery and a current consumer; an excitation rectifier which is electrically separated from the output rectifier to convert AC voltage produced in an excitation armature winding into DC; and a power generation control unit. The power generation control unit compares the output voltage of the output rectifier or the terminal voltage of the battery with a predetermined reference voltage and controls current supplied to an excitation winding to which the DC voltage outputted from the excitation rectifier is applied, based on the comparison result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7235953
    Abstract: In a system, a generator is configured to charge a battery through a charging wire connecting therebetween. A first unit measures a voltage of the battery, and a second unit detects an operating rate of the generator. A third unit determines that the charging wire is broken when the measured battery voltage is lower than a predetermined threshold voltage and the detected operating rate of the generator is lower than a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20070127916
    Abstract: On top of respective areas divided by partition plates, that is, a cassette station, a processing station, and an interface section in a coating and developing processing system, gas supply sections for supplying an inert gas into the respective areas are provided. Exhaust pipes for exhausting atmospheres in the respective areas are provided at the bottom of the respective areas. The atmospheres in the respective areas are maintained in a clean condition by supplying the inert gas not containing impurities such as oxygen and fine particles from the respective gas supply sections into the respective areas and exhausting the atmospheres in the respective areas from the exhaust pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Junichi Kitano, Yuji Matsuyama, Takahiro Kitano, Takayuki Katano, Hidefumi Matsui, Yo Suzuki, Masami Yamashita, Toru Aoyama, Hiroyuki Iwaki, Satoru Shimura, Masatoshi Deguchi, Kousuke Yoshihara, Naruaki Iida
  • Patent number: 7208066
    Abstract: On top of respective areas divided by partition plates, that is, a cassette station, a processing station, and an interface section in a coating and developing processing system, gas supply sections for supplying an inert gas into the respective areas are provided. Exhaust pipes for exhausting atmospheres in the respective areas are provided at the bottom of the respective areas. The atmospheres in the respective areas are maintained in a clean condition by supplying the inert gas not containing impurities such as oxygen and fine particles from the respective gas supply sections into the respective areas and exhausting the atmospheres in the respective areas from the exhaust pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Junichi Kitano, Yuji Matsuyama, Takahiro Kitano, Takayuki Katano, Hidefumi Matsui, Yo Suzuki, Masami Yamashita, Toru Aoyama, Hiroyuki Iwaki, Satoru Shimura, Masatoshi Deguchi, Kousuke Yoshihara, Naruaki Iida
  • Publication number: 20060181248
    Abstract: A control apparatus controls the generation of a vehicle electric generator having an armature winding, excitation winding and rectifier connected to the armature winding. The apparatus includes a flywheel diode connected to the excitation winding in parallel, a switch element connected to the excitation winding, a control signal setting circuit, and a signal output section. The setting circuit controls a duty ratio of the switch element in correspondence to a first generation status of the generator to control electric current flowing through the excitation winding while varying a switching frequency of the generator depending on a second generation status of the generator. The signal output section is connected to a junction point between the excitation winding and the switch element and outputs a signal, involving a duty ratio associated with the first generation status and a switching frequency associated with the second generation status, to an external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7078881
    Abstract: A vehicle AC generator apparatus includes one or more rectifier elements for rectifying a generated AC voltage, and a generator control apparatus which monitors the voltage difference between opposing terminals of a rectifier element, to thereby detect the commencement of electrical generation upon engine starting as the time point at which the polarity of the voltage difference first corresponds to the forward conduction direction of the rectifier element. Controlled parameters such as the current supplied to a charging warning lamp and the excitation current of a generator winding are changed appropriately when generation commencement is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20060108987
    Abstract: In a system, a generator is configured to charge a battery through a charging wire connecting therebetween. A first unit measures a voltage of the battery, and a second unit detects an operating rate of the generator. A third unit determines that the charging wire is broken when the measured battery voltage is lower than a predetermined threshold voltage and the detected operating rate of the generator is lower than a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Patent number: 6992465
    Abstract: A generator control circuit of an ac generator which charges a battery includes a voltage regulator, a comparator which provides a control signal for controlling the voltage regulator when the output voltage of the ac generator is higher than a predetermined voltage and an alarming device which operates when the comparator does not provide the control signal. The predetermined voltage is set higher than voltage of the battery when the battery is open and equal to or lower than a regulation voltage of the ac generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20060006845
    Abstract: A generation controller controls an amount of power generated by an on-vehicle generator responsively to a command signal from an external controller. The generation controller comprises detection, determination, and output control units. The detection unit detects a revolution number of the generator. The determination unit determines whether or not the revolution number of the generator is over a reference revolution number. The output control it controls a generator output based on a first target value decided corresponding to a command value indicated by the command signal, when the revolution number of the generator is less than the reference revolution number, and controls the generator output based on a second target value in place of the first target value. The second target value is set internally within the generation controller, when the revolution number of the generator is over or equal to the reference revolution number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20050046395
    Abstract: A vehicle AC generator apparatus includes one or more rectifier elements for rectifying a generated AC voltage, and a generator control apparatus which monitors the voltage difference between opposing terminals of a rectifier element, to thereby detect the commencement of electrical generation upon engine starting as the time point at which the polarity of the voltage difference first corresponds to the forward conduction direction of the rectifier element. Controlled parameters such as the current supplied to a charging warning lamp and the excitation current of a generator winding are changed appropriately when generation commencement is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Aoyama
  • Patent number: 6815933
    Abstract: In an alternator, failure in a power supply line connected to an output terminal of a rectifier is detected. Upon detection of a failure in this power supply line, power generation is suppressed for a predetermined period that is longer than the time constant of a field winding of the alternator. Preferably, a high voltage pulse is detected to discriminate a first condition where a single high voltage pulse is generated when an electrical load connected to the power supply line is cut off and a second condition where a high voltage pulse is repeatedly and frequently generated when a failure occurs in the power supply line. Only when the second condition is discriminated, power generation suppression control of the alternator is conducted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Taniguchi, Koji Tanaka, Toru Aoyama, Tadatoshi Asada
  • Publication number: 20040183505
    Abstract: In an alternator, failure in a power supply line connected to an output terminal of a rectifier is detected. Upon detection of a failure in this power supply line, power generation is suppressed for a predetermined period that is longer than the time constant of a field winding of the alternator. Preferably, a high voltage pulse is detected to discriminate a first condition where a single high voltage pulse is generated when an electrical load connected to the power supply line is cut off and a second condition where a high voltage pulse is repeatedly and frequently generated when a failure occurs in the power supply line. Only when the second condition is discriminated, power generation suppression control of the alternator is conducted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Taniguchi, Koji Tanaka, Toru Aoyama, Tadatoshi Asada