Patents by Inventor Akihito Nagahama

Akihito Nagahama 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: 8957646
    Abstract: A constant voltage circuit includes an output control transistor to control an output current from an output terminal to keep an output voltage constant at a set voltage; and an excess-current protection circuit to control the output control transistor. The excess-current protection circuit includes a current increase restriction element to restrict increase in the output current to decrease the output voltage; a first current limitation circuit to limit a gate voltage of the output control transistor to decrease the output current, when the output voltage is decreased to a first limited voltage; a second current limitation circuit to limit a gate voltage of the output control transistor to decrease the output current, when the output voltage is decreased to a second limited voltage smaller than the first limited voltage; and a selector to select whether the first current limitation circuit is operated or stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihisa Nagata, Takahiro Hino, Akihito Nagahama
  • Publication number: 20130154605
    Abstract: A constant voltage circuit includes an output control transistor to control an output current from an output terminal to keep an output voltage constant at a set voltage; and an excess-current protection circuit to control the output control transistor. The excess-current protection circuit includes a current increase restriction element to restrict increase in the output current to decrease the output voltage; a first current limitation circuit to limit a gate voltage of the output control transistor to decrease the output current, when the output voltage is decreased to a first limited voltage; a second current limitation circuit to limit a gate voltage of the output control transistor to decrease the output current, when the output voltage is decreased to a second limited voltage smaller than the first limited voltage; and a selector to select whether the first current limitation circuit is operated or stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihisa Nagata, Takahiro Hino, Akihito Nagahama
  • Patent number: 7772815
    Abstract: A constant voltage circuit is disclosed that includes an output voltage control transistor outputting a current to an output terminal; a first error amplifier circuit part controlling the operation of the output voltage control transistor; a second error amplifier circuit part causing the output voltage control transistor to increase the output current when there is a rapid decrease in an output voltage from the output terminal; and a current limiting circuit part controlling the operation of the output voltage control transistor so as to prevent the output current therefrom from exceeding a first predetermined value by gradually decreasing the output current and the output voltage alternately when the output current is greater than or equal to the first predetermined value. The current limiting circuit part stops the operation of the second error amplifier circuit part when the output voltage is less than or equal to a second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsugunori Okuda, Akihito Nagahama
  • Publication number: 20070176582
    Abstract: A constant voltage circuit is disclosed that includes an output voltage control transistor outputting a current to an output terminal; a first error amplifier circuit part controlling the operation of the output voltage control transistor; a second error amplifier circuit part causing the output voltage control transistor to increase the output current when there is a rapid decrease in an output voltage from the output terminal; and a current limiting circuit part controlling the operation of the output voltage control transistor so as to prevent the output current therefrom from exceeding a first predetermined value by gradually decreasing the output current and the output voltage alternately when the output current is greater than or equal to the first predetermined value. The current limiting circuit part stops the operation of the second error amplifier circuit part when the output voltage is less than or equal to a second predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Tsugunori Okuda, Akihito Nagahama