Patents by Inventor Akihiko Kanouda
Akihiko Kanouda 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).
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Publication number: 20030231009Abstract: A reliable uninterruptible DC power supply device. The DC backup power supply device includes an AC/DC converter, a DC/DC converter, voltage step-up/down choppers and a battery connected to a DC path of a main circuit connected with a load via a switching means, and a microcomputer. In the device, under control of the microcomputer, the voltage step-up/down choppers are first operated under a condition that the MOS FET was turned OFF for self diagnosis of the backup power supply device. Next, the switching means is turned ON to execute the remaining self diagnosis. The DC backup power supply device can execute its self diagnosis with a lessened likelihood of danger of exerting an adverse effect on the main circuit and also can exhibit a reliable uninterruptible power supply function.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2003Publication date: December 18, 2003Inventors: Minehiro Nemoto, Akihiko Kanouda, Fumikazu Takahashi, Masahiro Hamaogi, Yoshihide Takahashi, Takashi Tanabe, Takao Gotou, Masato Isogai, Toshikatsu Miyata
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Publication number: 20030231010Abstract: A step-down type DC-DC power-supply device implements both the stabilization of the control loop and the responsibility at the same time. In the power-supply device, an output power signal is fed back to an error amplifier after having passed through a CR smoothing filter provided independently of a power LC smoothing filter. Also, independently of the duty controls over Power MOSFETs, i.e., upper-side/lower-side semiconductor switching components in the steady state, an output from the power LC smoothing filter is added to an upper and lower limit-mode-equipped control circuit, thereby, at the transient state, forcefully setting the duty &agr; at either 0% or 100%.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2003Publication date: December 18, 2003Inventors: Takashi Sase, Koji Tateno, Akihiko Kanouda, Katsunori Hayashi, Shinichi Yoshida
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Publication number: 20030222618Abstract: A DC backup power supply system having a battery; a charge-discharge circuit for charging and discharging a power between the battery and a DC line; and a control circuit for controlling the charge-discharge circuit, wherein the battery has a number of battery cells and cylindrical portions of the battery cells are laid on an approximately horizontal plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2003Publication date: December 4, 2003Inventors: Akihiko Kanouda, Minehiro Nemoto, Fumikazu Takahashi, Masahiro Hamaogi, Yoshihide Takahashi, Takashi Tanabe, Takao Gotou, Masato Isogai, Toshikatsu Miyata
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Publication number: 20030197494Abstract: A DC-DC converter of low ripple voltages which has a bi-directional power conversion means between an input power source and a smoothing capacitor and can quickly change the output voltage independently of the load. Said DC-DC converter comprises a main circuit of a non-insulated step-down DC-DC converter comprising at least two semiconductor elements, a DC reactor, and a smoothing capacitor, means for generating a variable reference voltage, means for comparing a reference voltage generated by said reference voltage generating means by the output voltage and outputting differential voltage information, means for generating a signal to be applied to the control terminals of said semiconductor element according to said differential voltage information, and means for discriminating the direction of a current flowing through said DC reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2003Publication date: October 23, 2003Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Akihiko Kanouda, Kenichi Onda, Norikazu Tokunaga, Ryouhei Saga, Kyoichi Hosokawa
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Publication number: 20030184937Abstract: The present invention reduces the capacity of the AC-DC converter for the peak load and realizes low price and reduction in the volume of the power unit. The apparatus built-in backup power supply has the peak cut function for sharing a part of the load current at the time of peak load from the secondary battery. The two-way DC-DC converter 5 and the secondary battery 4 are installed on the DC output side of the AC-DC converter 3 and a current larger than a predetermined peak cut level is discharged from the secondary battery 4 at the time of peak load. Further, when the load is less than the predetermined cut level, the secondary battery 4 is charged from the AC-DC converter 3 via the two-way DC-DC converter 5. Furthermore, a most suitable peak cut level according to the SOC of the secondary battery and load pattern is automatically set and dynamically changed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Applicants: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Maxell, Ltd., Hitachi Computer Peripherals Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihiko Kanouda, Satoru Masuyama, Masato Isogai, Ryouhei Saga, Kenichi Onda, Norikazu Tokunaga
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Patent number: 6603671Abstract: A DC-DC converter is provided with a calculation circuit which estimates current flowing through a reactor in a control circuit for controlling a switching element and a circulation use element, and the switching element and the circulation use element are controlled by making use of the calculated reactor current value. Thereby, a DC-DC converter which operates in a high efficiency and with low ripple even during a light load condition and realizes a high response performance during load variation is provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Norikazu Tokunaga, Kenichi Onda, Takeshi Onaka, Ryouhei Saga, Akihiko Kanouda
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Patent number: 6580597Abstract: A voltage regulator module includes a power supply circuit for supplying power to an integrated circuit, the power supply circuit including semiconductor switching devices and a drive circuit for driving the semiconductor switching devices; and charge storage means for smoothing an output of the power supply circuit, wherein charge storage unit having a smoothing capacitor includes an electric double-layer capacitor, wherein the electric double-layer capacitor includes a plurality of positive electrode terminals and a plurality of negative electrode terminals, and wherein the plurality of positive electrode terminals and the plurality of negative electrode terminals are disposed on a surface identical to a surface of the electric double-layer capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2002Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Akihiko Kanouda, Kenichi Onda, Norikazu Tokunaga, Mikiya Nohara, Ryouhei Saga, Morinobu Endo
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Patent number: 6567261Abstract: A voltage regulator module includes a power supply circuit for supplying power to an integrated circuit, the power supply circuit including semiconductor switching devices and a drive circuit for driving the semiconductor switching devices; and charge storage means for smoothing an output of the power supply circuit, wherein charge storage unit having a smoothing capacitor includes an electric double-layer capacitor, wherein the electric double-layer capacitor includes a plurality of positive electrodes terminals and a plurality of negative electrode terminals, and wherein the plurality of positive electrode terminals and the plurality of negative electrode terminals are disposed on a surface identical to a surface of the electric double-layer capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2002Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Akihiko Kanouda, Kenichi Onda, Norikazu Tokunaga, Mikiya Nohara, Ryouhei Saga, Morinobu Endo
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Publication number: 20030042878Abstract: A voltage regulator module includes a power supply circuit for supplying power to an integrated circuit, the power supply circuit including semiconductor switching devices and a drive circuit for driving the semiconductor switching devices; and charge storage means for smoothing an output of the power supply circuit, wherein charge storage unit having a smoothing capacitor includes an electric double-layer capacitor, wherein the electric double-layer capacitor includes a plurality of positive electrode terminals and a plurality of negative electrode terminals, and wherein the plurality of positive electrode terminals and the plurality of negative electrode terminals are disposed on a surface identical to a surface of the electric double-layer capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2002Publication date: March 6, 2003Inventors: Akihiko Kanouda, Kenichi Onda, Norikazu Tokunaga, Mikiya Nohara, Ryouhei Saga, Morinobu Endo
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Publication number: 20030039092Abstract: A voltage regulator module includes a power supply circuit for supplying power to an integrated circuit, the power supply circuit including semiconductor switching devices and a drive circuit for driving the semiconductor switching devices; and charge storage means for smoothing an output of the power supply circuit, wherein charge storage unit having a smoothing capacitor includes an electric double-layer capacitor, wherein the electric double-layer capacitor includes a plurality of positive electrode terminals and a plurality of negative electrode terminals, and wherein the plurality of positive electrode terminals and the plurality of negative electrode terminals are disposed on a surface identical to a surface of the electric double-layer capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2002Publication date: February 27, 2003Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Akihiko Kanouda, Kenichi Onda, Norikazu Tokunaga, Mikiya Nohara, Ryouhei Saga, Morinobu Endo
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Publication number: 20020186576Abstract: The present invention reduces the capacity of the AC-DC converter for the peak load and realizes low price and reduction in the volume of the power unit. The apparatus built-in backup power supply has the peak cut function for sharing a part of the load current at the time of peak load from the secondary battery. The two-way DC-DC converter 5 and the secondary battery 4 are installed on the DC output side of the AC-DC converter 3 and a current larger than a predetermined peak cut level is discharged from the secondary battery 4 at the time of peak load. Further, when the load is less than the predetermined cut level, the secondary battery 4 is charged from the AC-DC converter 3 via the two-way DC-DC converter 5. Furthermore, a most suitable peak cut level according to the SOC of the secondary battery and load pattern is automatically set and dynamically changed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2002Publication date: December 12, 2002Inventors: Akihiko Kanouda, Satoru Masuyama, Masato Isogai, Ryouhei Saga, Kenichi Onda, Norikazu Tokunaga
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Publication number: 20020185994Abstract: A DC-DC converter of low ripple voltages which has a bi-directional power conversion means between an input power source and a smoothing capacitor and can quickly change the output voltage independently of the load. Said DC-DC converter comprises a main circuit of a non-insulated step-down DC-DC converter comprising at least two semiconductor elements, a DC reactor, and a smoothing capacitor, means for generating a variable reference voltage, means for comparing a reference voltage generated by said reference voltage generating means by the output voltage and outputting differential voltage information, means for generating a signal to be applied to the control terminals of said semiconductor element according to said differential voltage information, and means for discriminating the direction of a current flowing through said DC reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2002Publication date: December 12, 2002Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Akihiko Kanouda, Kenichi Onda, Norikazu Tokunaga, Ryouhei Saga, Kyoichi Hosokawa
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Patent number: 6489756Abstract: In a voltage drop chopper type DC-DC converter, in an intermediate load area, a pulse train having a low peak value in the neighborhood of the threshold voltage is applied to a power MOSFET, whereby the power MOSFET is given a high ON resistance and turned on. By doing so, the output voltage is controlled by a PAM (pulse amplitude modulation) switch system for reducing the peak value below the supply voltage.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2001Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Akihiko Kanouda, Kenichi Onda, Norikazu Tokunaga, Ryouhei Saga
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Publication number: 20020136030Abstract: A DC-DC converter is provided with a calculation circuit which estimates current flowing through a reactor in a control circuit for controlling a switching element and a circulation use element, and the switching element and the circulation use element are controlled by making use of the calculated reactor current value. Thereby, a DC-DC converter which operates in a high efficiency and with low ripple even during a light load condition and realizes a high response performance during load variation is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2001Publication date: September 26, 2002Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Norikazu Tokunaga, Kenichi Onda, Takeshi Onaka, Ryouhei Saga, Akihiko Kanouda
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Publication number: 20020080631Abstract: The efficiency of the DC-DC converter that the load factor varies greatly is improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2001Publication date: June 27, 2002Inventors: Akihiko Kanouda, Kenichi Onda, Norikazu Tokunaga, Ryouhei Saga
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Patent number: 5959858Abstract: A sine wave input converter provided with a phase sequence computation unit which inputs two line voltages or two phase voltages of the three phase ac power supply, computes the phase of a sine wave voltage of one of these two inputs, and determines on the basis of computation using these two input voltages and the phase whether the phase sequence is positive or antiphase, which is determined depending on whether the result of computation assumes a constant value, or becomes a sine wave oscillating between positive and negative values. Power supply interruption can be determined from the same computation result.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1997Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Engineering Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihiko Kanouda, Yoshimi Sakurai, Kenji Kubo, Hideyasu Umetsu, Hideaki Kunisada, Keizo Shimada, Takayasu Nakane
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Patent number: 5768117Abstract: The invention relates to a power supply system having plural converters connected in parallel. The current of each of the plural converters is detected and each of the converters is controlled so as to match each of the converters to a maximum current value from among the detected current values. In the parallel converters, when one or more converter fails, having an output current of zero, the remaining converters are each partially charged equally to maintain the load current. Since a common bus is arranged between plural converters and plural loads, it is possible to carry out a redundant operation having a high reliability. Since a stable output can be obtained without being affected by the failed converter, a power supply system having the redundancy and the high reliability can be attained.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1994Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Tadashi Takahashi, Kenichi Onda, Akihiko Kanouda, Masayoshi Sato, Hideaki Horie, Katsunori Hayashi
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Patent number: 5642269Abstract: A circuit construction comprising a diode and a capacitor is connected to a secondary coil of a thin transformer such as a wire-type transformer. An excitation energy is discharged during a reset time of the transformer, and this excitation energy is accumulated in the capacitor, thereby output voltage is obtained through the capacitor. A direct current output voltages having two outputs is obtained through one transformer. A small volume and a light weight of the transformer, so that a compact and thin power supply apparatus can be obtained. Since a winding ratio of the transformer can be made small, a copper loss of the transformer can be reduced. It is unnecessary to select a higher switching frequency and a manufacturing cost of the power supply apparatus can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1994Date of Patent: June 24, 1997Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Mizusawa Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihiko Kanouda, Tadashi Takahashi, Kazuhiro Takizawa, Tetsuya Obara, Makoto Kawamura, Masami Joraku, Yoshio Miyamoto
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Patent number: 5638264Abstract: A parallelized power supply system including a plurality of switching power supplies each having a circuit for limiting rush current generated when a main switch is turned on. This system can be installed in an apparatus which requires the functions such as power uninterrupted operation and live wire insertion/dismount. Each switching power supply has another power supply for driving the rush current limiter circuit and a relay circuit for supplying relay driving current and making a connection of relay contacts after a predetermined time lapse after the operation start of the switching power supply. An a.c. power is supplied via the relay contacts to each switching power supply. The relay driving time set in the rush current limiter circuit is different for each switching power supply.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 1995Date of Patent: June 10, 1997Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Katsunori Hayashi, Akihiko Kanouda, Tadashi Takahashi, Hideaki Horie, Kenichi Onda, Yasuo Abe, Masayoshi Sato
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Patent number: 5610449Abstract: A compact, thin-type, noise-tolerant and highly reliable electric power unit includes an input portion through which a predetermined voltage is applied, a plurality of power circuits for generating a plurality of different voltages from the predetermined voltage applied to said input portion, an output portion for outputting the plurality of different voltages generated in the plurality of power circuits, a control unit having a function to stabilize the plurality of different output voltages, and an insulated substrate which supports the input portion, the plurality of power circuits, the output portion and the control unit, and further has a printed wiring pattern for electrically coupling the constituent components of the electric power unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1995Date of Patent: March 11, 1997Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Media Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tadashi Takahashi, Akihiko Kanouda, Kazuhiro Takizawa, Tetsunosuke Nakamura, Masami Joraku