Patents by Inventor Hiroaki KOTAKE
Hiroaki KOTAKE 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: 20230029584Abstract: A centralized management device includes a sensor data acquirer and an acquisition cycle changer. The sensor data acquirer acquires periodically, by communication, from each of one or more outdoor units, sensor data including measurement results of one or more sensors included by the outdoor unit. When a sign of malfunction is detected in any of the outdoor units, the acquisition cycle changer makes a change to shorten an acquisition cycle of the sensor data for the outdoor unit for which the sign of malfunction is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2020Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: Hiroaki KOTAKE, Hiroaki ENDO
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Publication number: 20220333793Abstract: An outdoor unit includes a group information manager that manages group information relating to a group corresponding to the outdoor unit, the group information being set by a user, a group information transmitter that transmits the group information to a management device, a transfer destination address manager that manages, as a transfer destination address, an address of another outdoor unit that corresponds to a same group as the group corresponding the outdoor unit, the address being received from the management device, a command transferer that transfers, when a destination of a received first operation command is not any of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, the first operation command to another outdoor unit indicated by a transfer destination address, and transfers, when a destination of a received second operation command is any of the indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, the second operation command to the indoor unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2019Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Hiroaki KOTAKE, Hiroaki ENDO
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Patent number: 11320166Abstract: An air conditioning system includes: outdoor units; indoor units each communicating with any one of the outdoor units by a first communication method; and a central control device communicating with each of the outdoor units by a second communication method and controlling the outdoor units and the indoor units. One of the outdoor units generates, by using a first address used for communication performed using the first communication method, a second address used for communication performed using a second communication method, generates a second address for one or more of the indoor units by using a first address, and obtains second addresses from another outdoor unit and the central control device. The central control device obtains, from each of the outdoor units, second addresses of the outdoor unit and each indoor unit, and controls operations of the outdoor units and the indoor units by using the second addresses obtained.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2018Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Satoshi Hanai, Masahiro Ishihara, Hiroaki Kotake
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Publication number: 20200400331Abstract: An air conditioning system includes: outdoor units; indoor units each communicating with any one of the outdoor units by a first communication method; and a central control device communicating with each of the outdoor units by a second communication method and controlling the outdoor units and the indoor units. One of the outdoor units generates, by using a first address used for communication performed using the first communication method, a second address used for communication performed using a second communication method, generates a second address for one or more of the indoor units by using a first address, and obtains second addresses from another outdoor unit and the central control device. The central control device obtains, from each of the outdoor units, second addresses of the outdoor unit and each indoor unit, and controls operations of the outdoor units and the indoor units by using the second addresses obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2018Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Satoshi HANAI, Masahiro ISHIHARA, Hiroaki KOTAKE
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Patent number: 10727904Abstract: A communication apparatus is connected to another communication apparatus via a power source line, a signal line, and a shared line. The communication apparatus includes a detector and a communicator. The detector detects the phase of an alternating-current voltage applied between a first terminal for connecting to the power source line and a second terminal for connecting to the shared line. The communicator communicates with the other communication apparatus by executing at least one of transmission or reception of an electric current signal generated by opening and closing a circuit including the signal line and the shared line except when the phase detected by the detector is within a specific range. The specific range is defined as a range in which an induced electric current flowing through the signal line due to the alternating-current voltage is greater than a reference value.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2017Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Kotake, Masahiro Ishihara
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Patent number: 10680667Abstract: A voltage application circuit including a photocoupler and a resistor applies, to a reception terminal, a voltage corresponding to an intensity of a communication current flowing through a transmission path. A reception control unit determines whether the communication current is flowing, by comparing the voltage applied to the reception terminal with a predetermined voltage threshold. A voltage adjustment circuit including a resistor and a transistor adjusts the voltage that is applied to the reception terminal by the voltage application circuit. A switch control unit switches a current threshold used for determining whether the communication current is flowing by controlling the voltage adjustment circuit in accordance with an intensity of the communication current during an on-control period.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Kotake, Masahiro Ishihara
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Patent number: 10634376Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising: an indoor HVAC unit configured to operate a first HVAC zone in accordance with an HVAC control signal; at least one piece of environmental equipment configured to control at least one environmental parameter in accordance with at least one environmental control signal; and an HVAC adapter configured to receive operational parameters over a communication network at system setup, provide the at least one environmental control signal to the at least one piece of environmental equipment.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2016Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Kotake, Matthew Smithson, Haruhiko Ishida
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Publication number: 20200127691Abstract: A voltage application circuit including a photocoupler and a resistor applies, to a reception terminal, a voltage corresponding to an intensity of a communication current flowing through a transmission path. A reception control unit determines whether the communication current is flowing, by comparing the voltage applied to the reception terminal with a predetermined voltage threshold. A voltage adjustment circuit including a resistor and a transistor adjusts the voltage that is applied to the reception terminal by the voltage application circuit. A switch control unit switches a current threshold used for determining whether the communication current is flowing by controlling the voltage adjustment circuit in accordance with an intensity of the communication current during an on-control period.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2017Publication date: April 23, 2020Inventors: Hiroaki KOTAKE, Masahiro ISHIHARA
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Publication number: 20200112336Abstract: A communication apparatus is connected to another communication apparatus via a power source line, a signal line, and a shared line. The communication apparatus includes a detector and a communicator. The detector detects the phase of an alternating-current voltage applied between a first terminal for connecting to the power source line and a second terminal for connecting to the shared line. The communicator communicates with the other communication apparatus by executing at least one of transmission or reception of an electric current signal generated by opening and closing a circuit including the signal line and the shared line except when the phase detected by the detector is within a specific range. The specific range is defined as a range in which an induced electric current flowing through the signal line due to the alternating-current voltage is greater than a reference value.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2017Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Hiroaki KOTAKE, Masahiro ISHIHARA
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Patent number: 10378785Abstract: A communication system comprises a communication device and communication devices. The communication device comprises a direct current power supply and a transmitter configured to transmit data by control of a current flowing through a current loop. The communication devices comprise a receiver configured to receive data by detection of the current flowing through the current loop. The communication device comprises an adjuster configured to adjust the impedance between a signal line and a common line according to the number of communication devices.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2015Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Kotake, Yoshiaki Koizumi, Takuya Mukai, Masahiro Ishihara
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Patent number: 10256866Abstract: A transmission circuit includes a photocoupler, a conductive/non-conductive state of which is controlled in accordance with data to be transmitted to a communication device. A reception circuit includes a photocoupler, a conductive/non-conductive state of which is controlled in accordance with the conductive/non-conductive state of the transmission path. A transmission circuit includes a photocoupler, a conductive/non-conductive state of which is controlled in accordance with data to be transmitted to a communication device. A reception circuit includes a photocoupler, a conductive/non-conductive state of which is controlled in accordance with the conductive/non-conductive state of the transmission path. The photocoupler is included in the transmission path. The photocoupler and the photocoupler are in opposite conductive/non-conductive states.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2014Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporatioInventors: Hiroaki Kotake, Yoshiaki Koizumi, Takuya Mukai, Masahiro Ishihara
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Patent number: 10116352Abstract: Either one of a communication device and a communication device comprises a direct current power supply configured to generate a direct current for serial communication from alternating current power supplied from an alternating current power supply through a power line and a common line and pass the generated direct current through a current loop. Either the communication device or the communication device comprises an adjuster configured to adjust the impedance between a signal line and the common line based on the voltage between the signal line and the common line (530).Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2015Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Kotake, Yoshiaki Koizumi, Takuya Mukai, Masahiro Ishihara
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Patent number: 10117155Abstract: A relay device communicably connects an upper-level air conditioning system and a lower-level air conditioning system that use different protocols. An upper-side communicator is connected to a first bus, and transmits and receives communication packets to and from the upper-level air conditioning system. A lower-side communicator is connected to an outdoor device that is a master device, and transmits and receives communication commands to and from the lower-level air conditioning system. An association information memory stores association information obtained by associating an address in the upper-level air conditioning system allocated to each device in the lower-level air conditioning system with identification information on each device in the lower-level air conditioning system. A processor performs a mutual conversion on the communication packets and the communication commands based on the association information stored in the association information memory.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Kotake, Yoshiaki Koizumi, Naoyuki Hibara, Haruhiko Ishida
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Patent number: 9995772Abstract: This current measurement device includes a conductor, a first terminal block, a pair of detection coils and a current calculator. A magnetic field, proportional to the magnitude of a conducted to-be-measured current, is generated around the conductor. The first terminal block has a placement surface on which the conductor is disposed. The pair of detection coils has the configuration, connected in series and in opposite polarities, and disposed on the placement surface of the first terminal block such that the conductor is between the pair of detection coils, and each coil is spaced from the conductor by an insulating distance. The detection coils output an inductive voltage signal produced by the magnetic field generated by the conductor and an external magnetic field which is magnetic noise. A current calculator calculates the value of the to-be-measured current on the basis of the inductive voltage signals from the pair of detection coils.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2014Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Kotake, Yoshiaki Koizumi, Masahiro Ishihara
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Patent number: 9973998Abstract: A relay device communicably connects an upper-level air conditioning system and a lower-level air conditioning system that use different protocols. An upper-side communicator is connected to a first bus, and transmits and receives communication packets to and from the upper-level air conditioning system. A lower-side communicator is connected to an outdoor device that is a master device, and transmits and receives communication commands to and from the lower-level air conditioning system. An association information memory stores association information obtained by associating an address in the upper-level air conditioning system allocated to each device in the lower-level air conditioning system with identification information on each device in the lower-level air conditioning system. A processor performs a mutual conversion on the communication packets and the communication commands based on the association information stored in the association information memory.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2014Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Kotake, Yoshiaki Koizumi, Naoyuki Hibara, Haruhiko Ishida
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Publication number: 20180119974Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising: an indoor HVAC unit configured to operate a first HVAC zone in accordance with an HVAC control signal; at least one piece of environmental equipment configured to control at least one environmental parameter in accordance with at least one environmental control signal; and an HVAC adapter configured to receive operational parameters over a communication network at system setup, provide the at least one environmental control signal to the at least one piece of environmental equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2016Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Hiroaki KOTAKE, Matthew SMITHSON, Haruhiko ISHIDA
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Patent number: 9935784Abstract: The lower-level information acquirer searches a lower-level network, and acquires lower-level addresses for air-conditioning devices that are connected to the lower-level network. A database generator searches an upper-level network, and generates a database of upper-level addresses of air-conditioning devices that are connected to the upper-level network. An address assigner references the database generated by the database generator, and assigns vacant addresses existing among the upper-level addresses of the upper-level network to air-conditioning devices that are connected to the lower-level network. The table generator generates an address conversion table for converting the upper-level addresses assigned by the address assigner to lower-level addresses acquired by the lower-level information acquirer.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Kotake, Yoshiaki Koizumi, Takuya Mukai
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Publication number: 20180034503Abstract: Either one of a communication device (100) and a communication device (200) comprises a direct current power supply (110) configured to generate a direct current for serial communication from alternating current power supplied from an alternating current power supply (600) through a power line (510) and a common line (530) and pass the generated direct current through a current loop. Either the communication device (100) or the communication device (200) comprises an adjuster (160) configured to adjust the impedance between a signal line (520) and the common line (530) based on the voltage between the signal line (520) and the common line (530).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2015Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventors: Hiroaki KOTAKE, Yoshiaki KOIZUMI, Takuya MUKAI, Masahiro ISHIHARA
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Publication number: 20180019787Abstract: A communication system comprises a communication device and communication devices. The communication device comprises a direct current power supply and a transmitter configured to transmit data by control of a current flowing through a current loop. The communication devices comprise a receiver configured to receive data by detection of the current flowing through the current loop. The communication device comprises an adjuster configured to adjust the impedance between a signal line and a common line according to the number of communication devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2015Publication date: January 18, 2018Inventors: Hiroaki KOTAKE, Yoshiaki KOIZUMI, Takuya MUKAI, Masahiro ISHIHARA
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Publication number: 20180007611Abstract: A relay device communicably connects an upper-level air conditioning system and a lower-level air conditioning system that use different protocols. An upper-side communicator is connected to a first bus, and transmits and receives communication packets to and from the upper-level air conditioning system. A lower-side communicator is connected to an outdoor device that is a master device, and transmits and receives communication commands to and from the lower-level air conditioning system. An association information memory stores association information obtained by associating an address in the upper-level air conditioning system allocated to each device in the lower-level air conditioning system with identification information on each device in the lower-level air conditioning system. A processor performs a mutual conversion on the communication packets and the communication commands based on the association information stored in the association information memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Inventors: Hiroaki KOTAKE, Yoshiaki KOIZUMI, Naoyuki HIBARA, Haruhiko ISHIDA