Patents by Inventor Akihiko Emori

Akihiko Emori 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: 9130379
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply system comprises a battery module that includes a plurality of battery cells, battery cell control devices and a signal transmission path through which signals are transmitted. The battery cell control devices comprises a voltage measurement circuit that measures terminal voltages at the battery cells, an abnormality diagnosis circuit that diagnoses an abnormality in the battery cell control device, a timing control circuit that outputs a signal for instructing measurement phase and a signal for instructing diagnosis phase, and a communication circuit that outputs a signal indicating the terminal voltage and a signal based upon a diagnosis result by the abnormality diagnosis circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Sakabe, Akihiko Emori, Akihiko Kudo, Kenji Kubo, Youhei Kawahara, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Tatsumi Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20150191102
    Abstract: A battery system for vehicle comprises a battery unit that is constituted with a plurality of serially connected cell groups each include a plurality of serially connected battery cells, integrated circuits that are each disposed in correspondence to one of the cell groups of the battery unit and each measure terminal voltages at the battery cells in the corresponding cell group, and a signal transmission path through which one of the integrated circuits is connected to another one of the integrated circuits or to a circuit other than that of the integrated circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Kenji KUBO, Akihiko KUDO, Mutsumi KIKUCHI, Akihiko EMORI
  • Publication number: 20150155722
    Abstract: A battery monitoring and control integrated circuit is connected to a cell group having a plurality of series-connected single cells for monitoring and controlling the single cells, and includes: a first start input terminal for connecting to a DC signal generation circuit which generates a DC signal based on an AC start signal input from the outside; a start detection unit which detects the DC signal and activates the battery monitoring and control integrated circuit; and a start output unit which outputs the AC start signal to the outside after the activation of the battery monitoring and control integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI VEHICLE ENERGY, LTD.,
    Inventors: Akihiko Kudo, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Akihiko Emori, Akihiro Machida
  • Patent number: 9048667
    Abstract: A suppressed noise cell controller includes, corresponding to a number of cell packs, a plurality of ICs each having a voltage detecting circuit detecting voltages of respective cells of a cell pack in which four cells are connected in series, a switch control circuit controlling conduction and a blocking operation of a plurality of switch elements connected in parallel to the respective cells via capacity adjusting resistors, terminal LIN1 for inputting control information, terminal LIN2 for outputting control information, terminal Vcc and GND terminal, and terminal LIN2 of a higher-order IC and terminal LIN1 of a lower-order IC are daisy chain connected. The Vcc terminal of each IC is connected to a positive electrode of a higher-order cell among cells constituting a corresponding cell pack via a noise eliminating inductor, and the GND terminal is coupled directly to Vcc of the lower-order IC. Noise isn't superposed on LIN1 or LIN2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Nagaoka, Akihiko Kudo, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Kenichiro Tsuru, Tatsumi Yamauchi, Akihiko Emori
  • Patent number: 9008902
    Abstract: A battery system for vehicle comprises a battery unit that is constituted with a plurality of serially connected cell groups each include a plurality of serially connected battery cells, integrated circuits that are each disposed in correspondence to one of the cell groups of the battery unit and each measure terminal voltages at the battery cells in the corresponding cell group, and a signal transmission path through which one of the integrated circuits is connected to another one of the integrated circuits or to a circuit other than that of the integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kubo, Akihiko Kudo, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Akihiko Emori
  • Patent number: 8947023
    Abstract: In a memory, the surface temperature and the internal resistance of an assembled battery detected under the condition where a difference between the surface and the internal temperature is within a predetermined value are stored, and an internal temperature diagnosis unit that diagnoses whether or not the internal temperature estimated by an internal temperature estimation unit is correct, detects the internal resistance with an internal resistance calculation unit when the internal temperature estimation unit estimates the internal temperature, searches for an internal resistance corresponding to the surface temperature equal to the estimated internal temperature value from among the stored internal resistances, and diagnoses the estimated internal temperature value based upon the result of comparison of a search result of the internal resistance and the internal resistance detected during internal temperature estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Youhei Kawahara, Akihiko Emori, Akihiko Kudo, Atsuo Suga, Masato Isogai, Kenji Kubo
  • Patent number: 8912756
    Abstract: A multi-series battery control system comprises a plurality of unit battery cell of which unit consists of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control IC comprising a control circuit for controlling the unit battery cell; a main controller that sends and receives signal to/from the control ICs via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the first signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and means for searching contents of the abnormality in the control ICs or the battery cells and sending the abnormality contents signal based on the search, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the second signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Emori, Shigeyuki Yoshihara, Kazuyoshi Sasazawa, Tatsuo Horiba, Akihiko Kudo
  • Publication number: 20140354291
    Abstract: A battery monitoring system includes a plurality of battery monitoring devices connected to a battery formed by connecting a plurality of battery cell groups in series, and monitor a state of the battery for the respective battery cell groups, each of the plurality of battery cell groups being of one or a plurality of battery cells connected in series, and a controller that performs wireless communication with the plurality of battery monitoring devices. First identification information portions which are different from each other are set in the plurality of battery monitoring devices in advance, and second identification information corresponding to an order of potentials of the battery cell groups in the battery, to which the battery monitoring devices are connected, is assigned to each of the plurality of battery monitoring devices. The controller stores a relationship between the first and second identification information for each battery monitoring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI VEHICLE ENERGY, LTD.
    Inventors: Mutsumi Kikuchi, Akihiko Kudo, Tomonori Kanai, Hikaru Miura, Akihiko Emori
  • Patent number: 8896273
    Abstract: Lower order control devices control plural battery cells configuring plural battery modules. An input terminal of the low order control device in the highest potential, an output terminal of the low order control device in the lowest potential, and a high order control device are connected by isolating units, photocouplers. Diodes which prevent a discharge current of the battery cells in the battery modules are disposed between the output terminal of the low order control device and the battery cells in the battery module on the low potential side. Terminals related to input/output of a signal are electrically connected without isolating among the plural low order control devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Miyazaki, Akihiko Emori, Akihiko Kudo, Tsuyoshi Kai
  • Publication number: 20140340042
    Abstract: A multi-series battery control system comprises a plurality of unit battery cell of which unit consists of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control IC comprising a control circuit for controlling the unit battery cell; a main controller that sends and receives signal to/from the control ICs via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the first signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and means for searching contents of the abnormality in the control ICs or the battery cells and sending the abnormality contents signal based on the search, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the second signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko EMORI, Shigeyuki YOSHIHARA, Kazuyoshi SASAZAWA, Tatsuo HORIBA, Akihiko KUDO
  • Publication number: 20140333132
    Abstract: A battery system (201) includes a battery module (314) in which plural battery cells (310) are connected in series, a battery pack (203) in which the battery modules (314) are connected in series, parallel or series-parallel, and a battery block (212) in which the battery packs (203) are connected in series, parallel or series-parallel, which are mutually layered. In the battery system (201), a structure is adopted in which the battery module (314), the battery pack (203) and the battery block (212) are previously prepared as hierarchical variations of basic units, and these basic units are appropriately combined according to a required scale. According to the battery system of the invention, even when a system construction request of any scale occurs, the request can be flexibly dealt with.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Yamauchi, Akihiko Emori
  • Patent number: 8884584
    Abstract: A multi-series battery control system comprises a plurality of unit battery cell of which unit consists of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control IC comprising a control circuit for controlling the unit battery cell; a main controller that sends and receives signal to/from the control ICs via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the first signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and means for searching contents of the abnormality in the control ICs or the battery cells and sending the abnormality contents signal based on the search, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the second signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Emori, Shigeyuki Yoshihara, Kazuyoshi Sasazawa, Tatsuo Horiba, Akihiko Kudo
  • Publication number: 20140327400
    Abstract: A battery system monitoring apparatus for monitoring a cell group having a plurality of battery cells, and includes a cell controller IC which monitors and controls the states of the plurality of battery cells. A battery controller controls the cell controller IC and a plurality of voltage detection lines measure the voltage across the terminals of the battery cell. The voltage detection lines connect positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell, respectively, to a plurality of voltage input terminals of the cell controller IC. A power line connects the positive electrode of the battery cell having the highest potential among the plurality of battery cells to a power supply terminal of the cell controller IC and a ground line which connects the negative electrode of the battery cell having the lowest potential among the plurality of battery cells to a ground terminal of the cell controller IC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI VEHICLE ENERGY, LTD.,
    Inventors: Akihiko Kudo, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Akihiko Emori
  • Publication number: 20140312913
    Abstract: A battery monitoring apparatus comprises a reception section to receive a radio signal and to output power and a demodulated signal according to the radio signal; a first power source circuit to perform power supply based on the power; a decode circuit to operate upon receiving the power supply from the first power source circuit and to output an activation signal and a command based on the demodulated signal; a second power source circuit to be activated according to the activation signal and to perform power supply; a battery monitoring circuit to operate upon receiving the power supply from the second power source circuit and to output a monitoring result of a state of the battery according to the command; and a transmission section to operate upon receiving the power supply from the second power source circuit and to wirelessly transmit the monitoring result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mutsumi Kikuchi, Akihiko Kudo, Tomonori Kanai, Hikaru Miura, Akihiko Emori
  • Patent number: 8829717
    Abstract: A battery control device for a battery module includes a plurality of integrated circuits. Each integrated circuit includes: a constant voltage circuit that lowers a total voltage of a battery cell group corresponding to the integrated circuit to an integrated circuit internal voltage; a signal generation circuit that generates, based upon a first signal provided by a higher-order control circuit, a second signal assuming a wave height value different from a wave height value of the first signal and outputs the second signal; and a startup circuit that includes a first comparator assuming a first decision-making threshold value corresponding to the first signal and a second comparator assuming a second decision-making threshold value corresponding to the second signal, and starts up the constant voltage circuit in response to a change in an output from at least either the first comparator or the second comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Kudo, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Gosuke Shibahara, Akihiko Emori, Yasuo Uemura, Tatsumi Yamauchi, Kenji Kubo, Yoshinori Aoshima
  • Patent number: 8798832
    Abstract: An electric storage device including a state detection unit managing and controlling the state of a battery unit, wherein the state detection unit captures an inter-terminal voltage of each of a plurality of batteries measured by a battery management unit in a no-load state where the battery unit is separated from a load, and calculates variation information about the states of charge of the batteries. In addition, the state detection unit, taking into consideration the variation information about the states of charge of the batteries, calculates allowable charge and discharge information required for controlling the charging and discharging of the battery unit in a loaded state where the battery unit is connected to a load and charged or discharged, and outputs the allowable charge and discharge information to a charge and discharge device in the battery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Youhei Kawahara, Kei Sakabe, Akihiko Emori
  • Patent number: 8791668
    Abstract: A multi-series battery control system comprises a plurality of unit battery cell of which unit consists of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control IC comprising a control circuit for controlling the unit battery cell; a main controller that sends and receives signal to/from the control ICs via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the first signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and means for searching contents of the abnormality in the control ICs or the battery cells and sending the abnormality contents signal based on the search, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the second signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Emori, Shigeyuki Yoshihara, Kazuyoshi Sasazawa, Tatsuo Horiba, Akihiko Kudo
  • Patent number: 8786256
    Abstract: A multi-series battery control system comprises a plurality of unit battery cell of which unit consists of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control IC comprising a control circuit for controlling the unit battery cell; a main controller that sends and receives signal to/from the control ICs via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the first signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and means for searching contents of the abnormality in the control ICs or the battery cells and sending the abnormality contents signal based on the search, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the second signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Emori, Shigeyuki Yoshihara, Kazuyoshi Sasazawa, Tatsuo Horiba, Akihiko Kudo
  • Publication number: 20140159739
    Abstract: A battery monitoring system, comprises a battery state detection circuit that detects battery states of a plurality of battery cells that are connected in series, based on respective cell voltages of the plurality of battery cells, and a control circuit that monitors state of a battery cell, based on each cell voltage of the plurality of battery cells. The control circuit inputs pseudo voltage information to the battery state detection circuit, and thereby diagnoses whether or not the battery state detection circuit is operating normally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicants: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd., Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko KUDO, Mutsumi KIKUCHI, Gosuke SHIBAHARA, Akihiko EMORI, Yasuo UEMURA, Tatsumi YAMAUCHI, Kenji KUBO, Masahito SONEHARA, Masahiko AMANO, Yoshinori AOSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20140159671
    Abstract: A battery control circuit includes a voltage detection circuit for measuring voltages of electric cells, balancing circuits for balancing the voltages or SOCs of the electric cells, a signal input/output circuit for communicating with the outside, a power supply circuit having two modes: a normal mode and a low consumption mode, and a time management circuit. It receives a signal containing a period of time until the shift of the power supply circuit from the normal mode to the low consumption mode, and stores it in the time management circuit. If a command from the outside has not been sent for a predetermined period of time or when an operation stop command has been sent from the outside, the time management circuit causes the power supply circuit to continuously operate in the normal mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Youhei KAWAHARA, Ryouhei NAKAO, Akihiko KUDO, Akihiko EMORI, Kei SAKABE