Patents by Inventor Chihiro Kobayashi

Chihiro Kobayashi 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).

  • Publication number: 20200027636
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a solenoid with which, when attaching an iron core to a yoke, the iron core can be easily and firmly attached using an inexpensive, small, and general-purpose hand tool without crimping the iron core using a large press machine. [Solution] A solenoid of the present invention is configured to include a yoke having a U-shaped cross section, a bobbin having an electromagnetic coil disposed inside the yoke, a fixed iron core disposed inside the bobbin, and a flapper attached to the yoke to be able to swing freely. The fixed iron core and a bottom surface of the yoke are integrally coupled by threaded fitting. Thus, the fixed iron core can be easily attached to the bottom surface of the yoke using a general-purpose, inexpensive, and small hand tool (a hand drill or an electric driver) without requiring a large workplace for crimping the fixed iron core as in the related art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: TDS CO. LTD
    Inventors: Chihiro KOBAYASHI, Naoya MIYAZAWA, Toshihiko MURASE
  • Patent number: 10458827
    Abstract: A thermal type air flow meter, capable of suppressing deformation of a base member at the time of molding to secure dimensional accuracy and reduce an influence of a dimension change on measuring accuracy, is to be placed in an intake passage of an internal combustion engine. The thermal type of air flow meter includes a resin component having a secondary passage into which part of the air passing through the intake passage can flow, and a circuit board configured to output a signal according to an air flow rate based on a signal from a flow rate detecting element disposed on the circuit board. The circuit board on which the flow rate detecting element is disposed is installed so that the flow rate detecting element is placed in the secondary passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Morino, Chihiro Kobayashi, Yuki Okamoto, Tsutomu Kono
  • Patent number: 10115985
    Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell system capable of avoiding the reduction of air electrodes. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell system including: a fuel cell module, a fuel supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, an oxidant gas supply apparatus, a reformer, and a control section for controlling the extraction of power, whereby the controller having a shutdown stop circuit for executing a shutdown stop when the fuel cell stack is above the predetermined temperature, and after a shutdown stop, during a period when pressure on the fuel electrode side is sufficiently higher than pressure on the air electrode side, and no reverse flow of oxidant gas to the fuel electrode side is occurring, a temperature drop operation is executed whereby high temperature oxidant gas remaining on the oxidant gas electrode side is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Matsuo, Toshiharu Otsuka, Katsuhisa Tsuchiya, Yousuke Akagi, Megumi Shimazu, Chihiro Kobayashi, Mitsunobu Shiono, Koji Omoshiki
  • Publication number: 20170328752
    Abstract: A thermal type air flow meter that is capable of suppressing deformation of a base member at the time of molding is disclosed, to thereby secure dimension accuracy and reduce an influence of a dimension change on measuring accuracy. The meter includes a housing member placed in an intake passage of an internal combustion engine, and a base member fixed to the housing member and includes a secondary air passage into which part of air passing through the intake passage flows. The base member is a plate-like resin molded component formed of a synthetic resin material and includes a reinforcing structure integrally formed between a board fixing part to which a circuit board is fixed; and a secondary passage constituting part formed at a leading end part of the board fixing part, the reinforcing structure enhancing strength of the base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Takeshi MORINO, Chihiro KOBAYASHI, Yuki OKAMOTO, Tsutomu KONO
  • Patent number: 9752909
    Abstract: A thermal type air flow meter that is capable of suppressing deformation of a base member at the time of molding is disclosed, to thereby secure dimension accuracy and reduce an influence of a dimension change on measuring accuracy. The meter includes a housing member placed in an intake passage of an internal combustion engine, and a base member fixed to the housing member and includes a secondary air passage into which part of air passing through the intake passage flows. The base member is a plate-like resin molded component formed of a synthetic resin material and includes a reinforcing structure integrally formed between a board fixing part to which a circuit board is fixed; and a secondary passage constituting part formed at a leading end part of the board fixing part, the reinforcing structure enhancing strength of the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Morino, Chihiro Kobayashi, Yuki Okamoto, Tsutomu Kono
  • Patent number: 9252435
    Abstract: In a fuel cell unit 16 that constitutes a fuel cell module 2 of an SOFC device 1, a collector cap 86a is connected to an inner electrode layer 90 via a seal material 96 as an Ag seal portion. A glass coating 30 (dense body) is filled up between the inner electrode layer 90 and an electrolyte layer 94 and the collector cap 86a to cover an upper end surface 96a of the seal material 96. As such, the fuel cell unit 16 includes the seal material 96 constituting as an Ag seal portion that separates a fuel gas from an oxidant gas, and a glass coating 30 at least partially formed to over at least either the fuel gas side surface of the seal material 96 or an the oxidant gas side surface of the seal material 96.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Kakinuma, Akira Kawakami, Shuichiro Saigan, Shigeru Ando, Chihiro Kobayashi, Masato Ota, Naoki Watanabe, Nobuo Isaka, Yuya Takahashi, Megumi Shimazu
  • Publication number: 20150086887
    Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell system capable of avoiding the reduction of air electrodes. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell system including: a fuel cell module, a fuel supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, an oxidant gas supply apparatus, a reformer, and a control section for controlling the extraction of power, whereby the controller having a shutdown stop circuit for executing a shutdown stop when the fuel cell stack is above the predetermined temperature, and after a shutdown stop, during a period when pressure on the fuel electrode side is sufficiently higher than pressure on the air electrode side, and no reverse flow of oxidant gas to the fuel electrode side is occurring, a temperature drop operation is executed whereby high temperature oxidant gas remaining on the oxidant gas electrode side is discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Matsuo, Toshiharu Otsuka, Katsuhisa Tsuchiya, Yousuke Akagi, Megumi Shimazu, Chihiro Kobayashi, Mitsunobu Shiono, Koji Omoshiki
  • Publication number: 20150064586
    Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell capable of executing a shutdown stop while sufficiently suppressing fuel cell oxidation. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell system having a fuel cell module, a fuel supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, a generating air supply apparatus, a reformer, a fuel/exhaust gas passageway for guiding fuel/exhaust gas from a fuel supply apparatus through a reformer to outside; and a controller comprising a shutdown stop circuit; whereby the fuel/exhaust gas passageway functions as a mechanical pressure retention means, maintaining a pressure on the oxidant gas electrode side within the fuel cell module higher than atmospheric pressure, and maintaining a pressure on the fuel electrode side at a pressure higher than the pressure on the oxidant gas electrode side, until the fuel electrode temperature drops to a predetermined oxidation suppression temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Takuya Matsuo, Toshiharu Otsuka, Katsuhisa Tsuchiya, Megumi Shimazu, Yousuke Akagi, Chihiro Kobayashi, Mitsunobu Shiono, Koji Omoshiki
  • Publication number: 20150044587
    Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell system capable of avoiding the reduction of air electrodes. The present invention is a fuel cell system having: a fuel cell module, a fuel supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, an air supply apparatus, a reformer, and a control section for controlling the extraction of power from a fuel cell module, whereby the controller includes a shutdown stop circuit for executing a shutdown stop when the fuel cell stack is above the oxidation suppression temperature, and after execution of a shutdown stop, during a period when pressure on the fuel electrode side is sufficiently higher than pressure on the air electrode side, and no reverse flow of air to the fuel electrode side is occurring, a temperature drop operation is executed whereby high temperature air remaining on the air electrode side is discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Takuya Matsuo, Toshiharu Otsuka, Katsuhisa Tsuchiya, Yousuke Akagi, Megumi Shimazu, Chihiro Kobayashi, Mitsunobu Shiono, Koji Omoshiki
  • Publication number: 20140360261
    Abstract: A thermal type air flow meter that is capable of suppressing deformation of a base member at the time of molding is disclosed, to thereby secure dimension accuracy and reduce an influence of a dimension change on measuring accuracy. The meter includes a housing member placed in an intake passage of an internal combustion engine, and a base member fixed to the housing member and includes a secondary air passage into which part of air passing through the intake passage flows. The base member is a plate-like resin molded component formed of a synthetic resin material and includes a reinforcing structure integrally formed between a board fixing part to which a circuit board is fixed; and a secondary passage constituting part formed at a leading end part of the board fixing part, the reinforcing structure enhancing strength of the base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Takeshi MORINO, Chihiro KOBAYASHI, Yuki OKAMOTO, Tsutomu KONO
  • Publication number: 20140295303
    Abstract: Problem: To suppress the occurrence of damage to fuel cell units caused by oxidation shrinkage of fuel electrodes. Solution Means: The invention is a solid oxide fuel cell for generating electricity by reacting hydrogen and oxidant gas in individual fuel cell units, wherein the individual fuel cell units comprise a fuel electrode, an oxidant gas electrode, and a solid electrolyte erected between fuel electrode and oxidant gas electrode; the fuel electrode comprises a composite material containing nickel, and the solid oxide fuel cell prevents shrinkage due to oxidation of the fuel electrode by maintaining the fuel electrode in an oxygen-free atmosphere until the temperature of the fuel electrode has dropped to 350° C. after electrical generation is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya MATSUO, Yousuke AKAGI, Megumi SHIMAZU, Chihiro KOBAYASHI, Mitsunobu SHIONO, Koji OMOSHIKI, Akira ISHIGURO, Yasuo KAKINUMA
  • Patent number: 8844349
    Abstract: A thermal type air flow meter that is capable of suppressing deformation of a base member at the time of molding is disclosed, to thereby secure dimension accuracy and reduce an influence of a dimension change on measuring accuracy. The meter includes a housing member placed in an intake passage of an internal combustion engine, and a base member fixed to the housing member and includes a secondary air passage into which part of air passing through the intake passage flows. The base member is a plate-like resin molded component formed of a synthetic resin material and includes a reinforcing structure integrally formed between a board fixing part to which a circuit board is fixed; and a secondary passage constituting part formed at a leading end part of the board fixing part, the reinforcing structure enhancing strength of the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Morino, Chihiro Kobayashi, Yuki Okamoto, Tsutomu Kono
  • Publication number: 20140227623
    Abstract: In a fuel cell unit 16 that constitutes a fuel cell module 2 of an SOFC device 1, a collector cap 86a is connected to an inner electrode layer 90 via a seal material 96 as an Ag seal portion. A glass coating 30 (dense body) is filled up between the inner electrode layer 90 and an electrolyte layer 94 and the collector cap 86a to cover an upper end surface 96a of the seal material 96. As such, the fuel cell unit 16 includes the seal material 96 constituting as an Ag seal portion that separates a fuel gas from an oxidant gas, and a glass coating 30 at least partially formed to over at least either the fuel gas side surface of the seal material 96 or an the oxidant gas side surface of the seal material 96.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Kakinuma, Akira Kawakami, Shuichiro Saigan, Shigeru Ando, Chihiro Kobayashi, Masato Ota, Naoki Watanabe, Nobuo Isaka, Yuya Takahashi, Megumi Shimazu
  • Patent number: 8549914
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor structure capable of improving the reliability of connecting parts of electronic components and achieving excellent productivity and reduction in size and weight, for example, when electronic components are externally mounted on input/output terminals of a sensor. A relationship between a linear expansion coefficient for a housing serving as a base of a structure and a linear expansion coefficient of a resin material for a sensor casing of a sensor to be mounted is set to satisfy “sensor casing<linear expansion coefficient ?<housing”. When electronic components are externally mounted, the electric components are mounted on input/output terminals which are integrally formed on the side of a component having a small linear expansion coefficient, i.e., on the side of the sensor casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Saito, Chihiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8215160
    Abstract: The present invention utilizes self-heating of electronic components to improve a humidity sensing part with low environment resistance, such as a condensation problem and the like, and also to enhance the heat radiation efficiency of electronic components. The humidity sensing part is used in an intake tube of an automobile by integrating, for example, with a heating resister type mass air flow measurement device. A humidity sensing element is mounted on an electronic circuit board in a mass air flow measurement device with the temperature thereof starting to increase immediately after a sensor has been actuated. This urges the temperature of the humidity sensing element to start increasing (being heated) immediately after the sensor has been actuated. To urge the humidity sensing element to be further heated, a base plate is composed of two types of materials, resin and metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Saito, Chihiro Kobayashi, Takayuki Yogo
  • Publication number: 20120085324
    Abstract: A sensor structure capable of achieving both resistance to pollution and measurement performance such as humidity responsiveness is disclosed as is a multifunction sensor capable of facilitating integration of detecting devices for various physical quantities. The sensor structure includes a housing including a connector that mediates an input/output exchange with an outside and a terminal of the connector; and an electronic circuit board that is mounted inside of the housing and includes a humidity sensing element, the terminal of the connector and the electronic circuit board being electrically connected to each other, the sensor structure being inserted to be attached to an airflow tube through which a main air flows, via a seal material provided in the housing. The housing includes a plurality of bypass channels that each communicate an inside of the housing with an inside of the airflow tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki SAITO, Chihiro Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20120060599
    Abstract: A thermal type air flow meter that is capable of suppressing deformation of a base member at the time of molding is disclosed, to thereby secure dimension accuracy and reduce an influence of a dimension change on measuring accuracy. The meter includes a housing member placed in an intake passage of an internal combustion engine, and a base member fixed to the housing member and includes a secondary air passage into which part of air passing through the intake passage flows. The base member is a plate-like resin molded component formed of a synthetic resin material and includes a reinforcing structure integrally formed between a board fixing part to which a circuit board is fixed; and a secondary passage constituting part formed at a leading end part of the board fixing part, the reinforcing structure enhancing strength of the base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi MORINO, Chihiro Kobayashi, Yuki Okamoto, Tsutomu Kono
  • Publication number: 20120048015
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor structure capable of improving the reliability of connecting parts of electronic components and achieving excellent productivity and reduction in size and weight, for example, when electronic components are externally mounted on input/output terminals of a sensor. A relationship between a linear expansion coefficient for a housing serving as a base of a structure and a linear expansion coefficient of a resin material for a sensor casing of a sensor to be mounted is set to satisfy “sensor casing<linear expansion coefficient a<housing”. When electronic components are externally mounted, the electric components are mounted on input/output terminals which are integrally formed on the side of a component having a small linear expansion coefficient, i.e., on the side of the sensor casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki SAITO, Chihiro KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 7934419
    Abstract: In an intake air mass flow measurement device, for preventing clogging in a pressure intake tube due to water or the like entering the pressure intake tube in a device measuring a pressure in the intake air tube, the intake air mass flow measurement device includes a mass air flow measurement device for measuring an intake air mass flow in an intake air tube; and a pressure sensing device for sensing pressure in the intake air tube, the pressure sensing device being integrated with the mass air flow measurement device, and an aperture plane opened to the inside of a main air flow passage for detection of the pressure takes in pressure by using a gap generated between a main air flow passage constituting member and an insertion part of the mass air flow measurement device when a measurement part of the mass air flow measurement device is inserted into the main air flow passage. With this construction, it is possible to provide a structure in which water or the like can hardly clog the pressure intake port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Saito, Shinya Igarashi, Takayuki Yogo, Chihiro Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20110072894
    Abstract: The present invention utilizes self-heating of electronic components to improve a humidity sensing part with low environment resistance, such as a condensation problem and the like, and also to enhance the heat radiation efficiency of electronic components. The humidity sensing part is used in an intake tube of an automobile by integrating, for example, with a heating resister type mass air flow measurement device. A humidity sensing element is mounted on an electronic circuit board in a mass air flow measurement device with the temperature thereof starting to increase immediately after a sensor has been actuated. This urges the temperature of the humidity sensing element to start increasing (being heated) immediately after the sensor has been actuated. To urge the humidity sensing element to be further heated, a base plate is composed of two types of materials, resin and metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki SAITO, Chihiro Kobayashi, Takayuki Yogo