Patents Assigned to NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 11456578
    Abstract: A spark plug including a center electrode; a metallic member forming a tubular shape around an axis of the spark plug, holding the center electrode therein, and having a hole formed in a side wall thereof and extending in a radial direction; and a ground electrode supported in the hole and extending from the hole toward the axis. The ground electrode has a fixing portion formed of metal and fixed to the hole, and an ignition portion containing a noble metal, disposed on a side toward the axis in relation to the fixing portion, and having a discharge surface for forming a gap between the ignition portion and the center electrode. The absolute value of the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the metallic member and the fixing portion is smaller than the absolute value of the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the metallic member and the ignition portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichiro Saito, Susumu Imai
  • Publication number: 20220294009
    Abstract: To enhance lithium ion conductivity in an electrode for a power storage device, and at the interface between the electrode and another member. The power storage device electrode includes an oxide-based lithium ion conductive solid electrolyte, an active material, and an ionic liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Manato UCHIDA, Daisuke SHISHIHARA, Hideaki HIKOSAKA, Hiroshi YAMAMOTO, Ayako KONDO, Suguru MIYAMOTO, Hidetoshi MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20220294191
    Abstract: A spark plug includes a tubular metal shell; an insulator including a locking portion locked onto the metal shell; and a cap disposed at a front end side of the metal shell, the cap having a plurality of orifices. The plurality of orifices include orifices with different cross-sectional areas. A sum of the number of one or more largest orifices and the number of one or more large orifices that have a cross-sectional area of larger than or equal to 90% of the one or more largest orifices is smaller than the number of orifices that are other than the one or more largest orifices and the one or more large orifices. A length of the front end portion in an axial direction between a front end of the insulator and a front end of the locking portion is smaller than or equal to 12 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya GOZAWA, Shunsuke MAEDA, Daiki GOTO
  • Publication number: 20220283115
    Abstract: A sensor system (1, 1S) including a current DA converter (42) outputting a control current (Ip) of a sensor element (3S), a control unit (4C) generating a control current instruction value (Ipcmd) corresponding to magnitude of the control current and inputting this instruction value to the current DAC, an instruction value sequence generating unit (47) generating, instead of the control current instruction value, an inspection instruction value sequence (RChcmd) in which predetermined inspection current instruction values (Chcmd) inputted to the current DAC are arranged in order and by which failure of the current DAC can be detected, an inspection current detection unit (71) detecting an inspection current value (Ichv) of an inspection current (Ich) outputted from the current DAC, and a failure detection unit (8) detecting failure of the current DAC from an inspection current value sequence (RIchv) in which the inspection current values are arranged in order of detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuzo HIGUCHI, Yuji OI, Satoru TODA, Satoru ABE, Junichiro MITSUNO, Hidetoshi MAKINO
  • Patent number: 11431155
    Abstract: A spark plug includes a metal shell and a cap member joined to the metal shell to define a pre-chamber. The cap member includes an overlapping surface that overlaps the metal shell along the axial line direction, an inner facing surface positioned closer to the pre-chamber than is the overlapping surface, the inner facing surface facing the metal shell in the axial line direction, and an outer facing surface positioned closer to an outer periphery than is the overlapping surface, the outer facing surface facing the metal shell in the axial line direction. A portion of the cap member that is closer to the pre-chamber than is the overlapping surface s spaced from the metal shell. The metal shell and the cap member are joined together at at least one of the outer facing surface and the overlapping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Ban, Tatsuya Gozawa
  • Patent number: 11428655
    Abstract: A gas sensor (1) including a first gas detection element (2) and a second gas detection element (3), a first storage portion (4) having a first internal space (4A), and a first opening (4B) establishing communication between the first internal space (4A) and the outside space thereof exposed to a detection subject atmosphere, a second storage portion (5) having a second internal space (5A) and a second opening (5B) establishing communication between the second internal space (5A) and the outside space, a first membrane (4C) allowing permeation of water vapor and substantially not allowing permeation of a detection target gas, and covering the first opening (4B), and a calculation unit (12) for calculating the concentration of a detection target gas contained in the detection subject atmosphere, based on outputs from the first and second gas detection elements (2, 3), respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Matsukura, Shoji Kitanoya, Masaya Watanabe, Daisuke Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11424600
    Abstract: A spark plug includes a tubular metal shell; an insulator including a locking portion locked onto the metal shell; and a cap disposed at a front end side of the metal shell, the cap having a plurality of orifices. The plurality of orifices include orifices with different cross-sectional areas. A sum of the number of one or more largest orifices and the number of one or more large orifices that have a cross-sectional area of larger than or equal to 90% of the one or more largest orifices is smaller than the number of orifices that are other than the one or more largest orifices and the one or more large orifices. A length of the front end portion in an axial direction between a front end of the insulator and a front end of the locking portion is smaller than or equal to 12 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Gozawa, Shunsuke Maeda, Daiki Goto
  • Patent number: 11424599
    Abstract: A spark plug including a center electrode that has a large-diameter portion having an outside diameter that is largest in the center electrode. The large-diameter portion is retained at a rear facing surface in an axial hole of an insulator. A metal shell has a diameter increased portion on a rear end side with respect to the center electrode, the diameter increased portion having an inside diameter that is increased toward the rear end side. The insulator has a first portion which is a portion of the insulator in a region from a rear end of the rear facing surface to a front end of the diameter increased portion. The first portion has a thickness that is the largest in the region, and is disposed at least on an outer periphery of the large-diameter portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Tanahashi, Naoki Nishio, Yusuke Kawashima
  • Patent number: 11422108
    Abstract: A gas sensor including a detection element section (71) including a solid electrolyte body and a pair of electrodes disposed on the solid electrolyte body, and a heater (73) for heating the detection element section (71). Inherent characteristic information is recorded in a record section (170) provided on the gas sensor or a record section provided separately from the gas sensor. The inherent characteristic information is information specific to the detection element section (71) and which allows setting of a relation between a change in the temperature of the detection element section (71) and a change in the internal resistance between the pair of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kamada, Hitoshi Furuta
  • Patent number: 11410895
    Abstract: A wiring board has a metal-made base having a front surface and a back surface, an insulating frame body bonded to the front surface of the base through a bonding layer made of bonding material, a seating provided in an area that is located at an inner side with respect to the frame body on the front surface of the base, a mounting area where a component is supposed to be mounted on the front surface of the base, and a groove formed on the front surface of the base. The groove is arranged in at least an area between the mounting area and the seating on the front surface in plan view, and extends in a direction crossing an opposing direction of the mounting area and the seating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Imoto, Shinichiro Haneishi, Kenji Suzuki, Norihiko Kawai, Naoki Kito
  • Publication number: 20220244213
    Abstract: A sensor element comprising a first electrode containing Au as a main component, a second electrode and a solid electrolyte body. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed to face each other while sandwiching the solid electrolyte body therebetween. The first electrode has a first electrode portion, which faces the second electrode while sandwiching the solid electrolyte body in cooperation with the second electrode, and a first lead portion. The solid electrolyte body has an uneven portion in a surface region facing the first electrode portion, the uneven portion having a plurality of protrusions. The first electrode portion is in direct contact with the uneven portion. An insulating layer whose surface has an uneven shape is formed on a surface of the solid electrolyte body facing the first lead portion. The first lead portion is in direct contact with the insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro NAKANO, Tetsuo YAMADA
  • Patent number: 11399426
    Abstract: A wiring board and a method for manufacturing the wiring board in which an initial Cu plated layer is formed by plating so as to cover the surface of a metallized layer and then the initial Cu plated layer is heated to be softened or melted. Copper in the softened or melted initial Cu plated layer enters into open pore portions of the metallized layer. In addition, during the heating, components of the metallized layer and components of the initial Cu plated layer are mutually thermally diffused. Consequently, when solidified later (that is, when the initial Cu plated layer becomes a lower Cu plated layer), the adhesiveness between the metallized layer and the lower Cu plated layer is improved due to, for example, an anchoring effect and a mutual thermal diffusion effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshio Suzuki, Masami Kanayama, Akiyoshi Hattori, Masanori Kito
  • Patent number: 11391194
    Abstract: A gas sensor control apparatus (300) including a control section (61) which executes a first receiving process (STEP 1) for receiving a first detection result output from a mixed-potential-type ammonia detection section (42) for detecting ammonia contained in a gas under measurement and corresponding to the concentration of ammonia, a second receiving process (STEP 1) for receiving a second detection result output from an oxygen detection section (2) for detecting oxygen contained in the gas under measurement and corresponding to the concentration of oxygen, a first concentration calculation process (STEP 3) for calculating a first ammonia concentration of the gas under measurement based on the first detection result and the second detection result, and a pressure correction process (STEP 6) for correcting the first ammonia concentration based on pressure information obtained from an external device (220), thereby obtaining a second ammonia concentration of the gas under measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Nakano, Kimihiro Kohama
  • Patent number: 11385198
    Abstract: A sensor element includes: three electrode pads provided on the first main surface, and electrically connected to a connection terminal, the three electrode pads including; a pad group including two electrode pads which are arranged in a widthwise direction of the sensor element, and a single pad which is not overlapped with the pad group when viewed in a widthwise direction, the single pad including a main body portion which has a width greater than a clearance between the two electrode pads of the pad group, which is electrically connected to the connection terminal, and a connection portion which is connected to a conductor formed within a through hole extending within the sensor element in a thickness direction, and which is adjacent to a side surface of the main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Furuta, Akinori Kojima
  • Publication number: 20220214303
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a gas sensor element (100) including a solid electrolyte (110) and an electrode (130) formed on a surface (110a) of the solid electrolyte (110). The method includes: a slurry application step S3 of forming a first slurry layer (13) by applying a first slurry containing monoclinic zirconia and tetragonal/cubic zirconia to the surface (110a) of the solid electrolyte (110); a heat treatment step S4 of forming a base layer (14) by a heat treating the solid electrolyte (110) having the first slurry layer (13) formed thereon; and a plating step S5 of forming the electrode (130) by plating the base layer (14) using a plating solution containing a noble metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuma ITO
  • Publication number: 20220192725
    Abstract: A plasma irradiation apparatus includes: a gas guide channel defining therein a flow path for flow of a discharge gas, with an outlet port formed at an end of the flow path; and a discharge section that generates plasma discharge in the gas guide channel. The plasma irradiation apparatus is mounted to a distal device which is movable relative to a target substance. The plasma irradiation apparatus further includes a valve arranged in the gas guide channel or a gas supply channel and configured as a valve capable of changing a flow rate of the discharge gas according to an opening degree of the valve or as a check valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinsuke ITOH
  • Patent number: 11365154
    Abstract: A silicon nitride-based sintered body containing silicon nitride-based grains, which are silicon nitride grains or sialon grains. In the silicon nitride-based sintered body, when the size of each silicon nitride-based grain is represented by its maximum grain size, the ratio of the number of silicon nitride-based grains having a maximum grain size of 1 ?m or less to the number of the entire silicon nitride-based grains is 70% or higher. Furthermore, in the distribution profile of no. % of silicon nitride-based grains with respect to maximum grain size, the maximum value of no. % (i.e., maximum no. %) of silicon nitride-based grains is 15 no. % or higher. Also disclosed is a cutting insert, which is formed of the silicon nitride-based sintered body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroko Nakayama, Atsushi Komura
  • Publication number: 20220187237
    Abstract: A sensor element including a first ceramic layer (105), and a measurement electrode (110a) and a reference electrode (108a) disposed thereon, further comprising a through hole (105a) formed in the first ceramic layer, a through hole conductor (121c), a reference lead (108b) connected to the reference electrode and connected to the through hole conductor, and a second ceramic layer (103) disposed to face the first ceramic layer, the sensor element further including a gas flow chamber (130) provided between the first and second ceramic layers, and facing the through hole and being in communication with the reference lead, and a gas flow passage (170) open to a second region (100s) of an outer surface of the sensor element, thereby establishing communication between the gas flow chamber and an outside atmosphere. Also disclosed is gas sensor including the gas sensor element and a method for manufacturing the gas sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi FURUTA, Akinori KOJIMA
  • Patent number: 11359995
    Abstract: A gas sensor (1) has a sensor element (21) extending in an axis direction and having, at a top end side thereof, a detecting portion (22) that detects gas; a stainless steel-made tubular metal shell (11) enclosing a radial direction periphery of the sensor element (21) and holding the sensor element (21) and having (a) a brim portion (14) protruding outwards in a radial direction and (b) a crimp portion (16) formed at a rear end side of the metal shell (11); and a sealing member (41) placed between the sensor element (21) and the metal shell (11). The crimp portion (16) is bent inwards in the radial direction and pressing down a rear end of the sealing member (41) toward the top end side. A Micro Vickers hardness of a cross section along the axis direction of the crimp portion (16) is 140 to 210 Hv.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Mizutani, Daisuke Miyata, Kengo Simizu, Naoyuki Sugihara, Yasuhiro Fujii
  • Publication number: 20220166196
    Abstract: A spark plug that can reduce variation in a discharge point. The spark plug includes: a center electrode; a metal shell insulating and holding the center electrode; and a ground electrode including a base material having one end portion connected to the metal shell, and a tip connected to another end portion of the base material. The tip has a discharge surface opposed to the center electrode with a spark gap therebetween. The discharge surface has a quadrangular shape and is chamfered at four sides thereof. Only a first side which is one of the four sides is provided with a C chamfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2019
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi SEKIZAWA, Tomokatsu KASHIMA, Yuya ONO, Yuki TOUMATSU, Yudai KAWAGUCHI, Kazuyoshi TORII