Patents by Inventor Akihiko Kudo

Akihiko Kudo 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: 9035611
    Abstract: A battery system for a vehicle is provided with discharge circuits (R1, 129A through 129D, 128A through 128D) that discharge battery cells (BC1 through BC4) via measurement lines of those battery cells (BC1 through BC4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mutsumi Kikuchi, Akihiko Kudo, Gosuke Shibahara, Yoshinori Aoshima, Kenji Kubo, Yasuo Uemura
  • Patent number: 9028723
    Abstract: Copper(II) acetate, zinc(II) acetate, and tin(IV) acetate are weighed so that the total amount of metal ions is 2.0×10?4 mol and the molar ratio of ions is Cu:Zn:Sn=2:1:1, and 2.0 cm3 of oleylamine is added to prepare a mixed solution. Apart from this, 1.0 cm3 of oleylamine is added to 2.0×10?4 mol of sulfur powder to prepare a mixed solution. These mixed solutions are separately heated at 60° C. and mixed at room temperature. The pressure in a test tube is reduced, followed by nitrogen filling. The test tube is heated at 240° C. for 30 minutes and then allowed to stand until room temperature. The resultant product is separated into a supernatant and precipitates by centrifugal separation. The separated supernatant is filtered, methanol is added to produce precipitates. The precipitates are dissolved by adding chloroform to prepare a semiconductor nanoparticle solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignees: National University Corporation Nagoya University, Osaka University, Tokyo University of Science Educational Foundation Administrative Organization
    Inventors: Tsukasa Torimoto, Ken-ichi Okazaki, Tatsuya Kameyama, Takaaki Osaki, Susumu Kuwabata, Akihiko Kudo
  • 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: 8981721
    Abstract: A battery control device that controls a battery module in which a plurality of cell groups, in each of which a plurality of cells are connected in series, are connected in series or series-parallel, includes: a plurality of cell controller ICs that control each of the plurality of cell groups; and one or more connectors that are provided for connecting the plurality of cell controller ICs to the battery module; wherein: the plurality of cell controller ICs include first and second cell controller ICs that are provided in sequence, so as to control two or more of the cell groups that are connected in series; and an auxiliary connection member (a pin) is provided for connecting GND terminal side wiring of the first cell controller IC and VCC terminal side wiring of the second cell controller IC together, externally to the battery control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsumi Yamauchi, Akihiro Machida, Akihiko Kudo
  • Patent number: 8981722
    Abstract: A cell control device according to the present invention includes: a discharge circuit that discharges each unit cell selected by the first switches among a plurality of unit cells connected in series; a charging circuit that charges each unit cell selected by the second switches among the unit cells connected in series, and; a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage of each unit cell via voltage detection lines respectively connected to positive and negative electrodes of the unit cells; an oscillator that irradiates high frequency electromagnetic radiation upon the voltage detection lines; and a charging control unit that controls switching of the first switches, thereby performing discharge of the each unit cell, and a charging control unit that controls switching of the second switches, thereby performing charging of the unit cells, based on voltages of the unit cells that are detected by the voltage detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hikaru Miura, Akihiko Kudo
  • Publication number: 20150070023
    Abstract: A battery monitoring device for monitoring a cell group made by connecting a plurality of single battery cells in series including a first switching circuit configured to select, as a measurement target voltage, a type of voltage a differential amplifier circuit including a first input terminal and a second input terminal, configured to convert the measurement target voltage, which is selected by the first switching circuit and input between the first input terminal and the second input terminal, into a voltage in a predetermined range by performing differential amplification, and an AD converter configured to measure the measurement target voltage selected by the first switching circuit and converted by the differential amplifier circuit, and output a digital signal according to the measurement result, wherein an abnormality detection voltage, is output to the AD converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiko Kudo, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Tomonori Kanai, Tatsumi Yamauchi, Akihiro Machida
  • Patent number: 8957686
    Abstract: A voltage measurement device, includes: a multiplexer that includes a plurality of input terminals at which voltage signals are inputted; a control circuit that performs voltage measurement by acquiring the voltage signal at a selected input terminal from the multiplexer; and a decision circuit that makes a decision as to whether or not an abnormality has occurred, based upon voltage values measured by the control circuit, wherein: the plurality of input terminals include input terminals at which voltage signals from a plurality of subjects of measurement are inputted, and an input terminal at which a potential for diagnosis is inputted; the control circuit, when performing voltage measurement for the plurality of subjects of measurement, measures voltages at the input terminals at which the voltage signals from the plurality of subjects of measurement are inputted, and a voltage at the input terminal at which the potential for diagnosis is inputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ueda, Yoshinori Aoshima, Akihiko Kudo
  • Publication number: 20150037656
    Abstract: A storage battery control device controls an assembly battery having a plurality of secondary battery cells connected to each other, including at least one integrated circuit adapted to monitor and control charging and discharging of each of the secondary battery cells of the assembly battery. A bypass capacitor is disposed in a channel connecting a positive electrode-side external terminal and a negative electrode-side external terminal of the integrated circuit to each other. At least one first current limiting element is disposed in the channel, and at least one first switch is disposed in parallel to the first current limiting element, and adapted to short the first current limiting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Noda, Akihiko Kudo, Tatsumi Yamauchi
  • 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: 8928282
    Abstract: The present invention is a control system for an assembled battery that controls an assembled battery comprising a plurality of cells, including: a bypass circuit connected in parallel to each cell of the cells, and comprising a switching element and a resistor connected in series; and a control circuit that controls a bypass current flowing in the bypass circuit by opening and closing the switching element, in order to discharge the cell; wherein the bypass circuit is set so that a current of a same magnitude as a self-discharge current in a predetermined overcharged states of the cell flow in the bypass circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Kudo, Kenji Nakai
  • 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140225622
    Abstract: A battery system monitoring device that monitors a battery system provided with a cell group having a plurality of battery cells connected in series with each other, including: a first control device that monitors and controls states of the plurality of battery cells of the cell group; a second control device that controls the first control device; a temperature detection unit that measures a temperature in the vicinity of the first control device; and a plurality of voltage detection lines, for measuring an inter-terminal voltage of the battery cell, which connect each of a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the battery cell and the first control device. The first control device includes a balancing switch, which performs balancing discharge of the battery cell for each of the battery cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI VEHICLE ENERGY, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiko Kudo, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Tomonori Kanai, Tatsumi Yamauchi, Akihiro Machida
  • 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