Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Okano

Hiroaki Okano 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: 11913664
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus including heat source apparatuses each including a compressor and an accumulator includes: a refrigerant amount calculation unit that calculates an amount of the refrigerant accumulated in the accumulator in one of the heat source apparatuses that is to be controlled; a refrigerant differential amount calculation unit configured to calculate, when the number of the heat source apparatuses is two, a differential amount between the calculated amount and an amount of the refrigerant in the accumulator in the other heat source apparatus, and calculate, when the number of the heat source apparatuses is three or more, a differential amount between the calculated amount of the refrigerant and an average amount of amounts of the refrigerant accumulated in the accumulators in the heat source apparatuses; and a liquid equalization control unit that controls the heat source apparatus to be controlled, based on the calculated differential amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Asanuma, Hiroyuki Okano
  • Patent number: 11499492
    Abstract: Provided is a diesel engine capable of regenerating a DPF even during no-load and/or light-load operation. In a DPF regeneration process, opening-degree reduction control S2 for an exhaust-air throttle valve is performed after a start condition S1 of the regeneration process of the DPF in which PM is deposited is satisfied. When exhaust air reaches a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined after-injection permissible temperature TA, after-injection control is subsequently started S5. Post-injection control is started S7 after the exhaust air reaches a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined post-injection permissible temperature TP by combustion of after-injection fuel. The PM deposited in the DPF is incinerated by the exhaust air increased in temperature by catalytic combustion of post-injection fuel in a valve downstream-side DOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daichi Kato, Yuki Ishii, Hiroaki Imahara, Hiroaki Okano
  • Patent number: 11383201
    Abstract: To reduce loss due to water evaporation and to efficiently release moisture from a moisture absorbing portion, in the humidity controller according to the present invention, a moisture absorbing portion (2) is formed to include at least two gel sections each with a different thermal conductivity and to release absorbed moisture from an exposed surface (31) that is a specific region exposed outside and that is disposed on the surface opposite to a heater (5) on the basis of heating by the heater (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuki Sakikawa, Hiroaki Okano
  • Publication number: 20220205403
    Abstract: Provided is a diesel engine capable of regenerating a DPF even during no-load and/or light-load operation. In a DPF regeneration process, opening-degree reduction control S2 for an exhaust-air throttle valve is performed after a start condition S1 of the regeneration process of the DPF in which PM is deposited is satisfied. When exhaust air reaches a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined after-injection permissible temperature TA, after-injection control is subsequently started S5. Post-injection control is started S7 after the exhaust air reaches a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined post-injection permissible temperature TP by combustion of after-injection fuel. The PM deposited in the DPF is incinerated by the exhaust air increased in temperature by catalytic combustion of post-injection fuel in a valve downstream-side DOC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Daichi KATO, Yuki ISHII, Hiroaki IMAHARA, Hiroaki OKANO
  • Patent number: 11131230
    Abstract: There is provided an exhaust treatment device for a diesel engine capable of accurately estimating an amount of ash deposition. In the exhaust treatment device, an ash deposition estimation device estimates an amount of ash deposition on a DPF after ending of regenerating treatment for the DPF, based on data regarding differential pressure and exhaust flow rate stored in a memory device over a period immediately before the end of regeneration, the period ranging from the end point of regenerating treatment for the DPF to a point in time going back a predetermined duration. An electronic control device preferably makes an alarm device issue an alarm, upon arrival of an estimated value of ash deposition at a predetermined alarm request value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsushi Inoue, Masanori Fujiwara, Hiroaki Okano
  • Publication number: 20210129075
    Abstract: To reduce loss due to water evaporation and to efficiently release moisture from a moisture absorbing portion, in the humidity controller according to the present invention, a moisture absorbing portion (2) is formed to include at least two gel sections each with a different thermal conductivity and to release absorbed moisture from an exposed surface (31) that is a specific region exposed outside and that is disposed on the surface opposite to a heater (5) on the basis of heating by the heater (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: NOBUKI SAKIKAWA, HIROAKI OKANO
  • Patent number: 10890090
    Abstract: An engine promoting DPF regeneration processing is provided. Catalyst activation processing and thereafter DPF regeneration processing are performed under control of a device. In the catalyst activation processing, a target temperature of exhaust at an exhaust exit of a catalyst is set to be in a first temperature region, and then the opening degree of an exhaust throttle device is controlled. In the DPF regeneration processing, the target temperature is set to be in a second temperature region. A target temperature of the exhaust at an exhaust inlet of a DPF is set to be in a third temperature region. The opening degree of the exhaust throttle device is controlled, and unburned fuel is supplied into the exhaust. The temperature regions are set to be successively higher, and a temperature difference between successive temperature regions is set to be successively lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsushi Inoue, Hiroaki Okano, Masanori Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20190390588
    Abstract: There is provided an exhaust treatment device for a diesel engine capable of accurately estimating an amount of ash deposition. In the exhaust treatment device, an ash deposition estimation device estimates an amount of ash deposition on a DPF after ending of regenerating treatment for the DPF, based on data regarding differential pressure and exhaust flow rate stored in a memory device over a period immediately before the end of regeneration, the period ranging from the end point of regenerating treatment for the DPF to a point in time going back a predetermined duration. An electronic control device preferably makes an alarm device issue an alarm, upon arrival of an estimated value of ash deposition at a predetermined alarm request value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Katsushi INOUE, Masanori FUJIWARA, Hiroaki OKANO
  • Publication number: 20190186315
    Abstract: An engine promoting DPF regeneration processing is provided. Catalyst activation processing and thereafter DPF regeneration processing are performed under control of a device. In the catalyst activation processing, a target temperature of exhaust at an exhaust exit of a catalyst is set to be in a first temperature region, and then the opening degree of an exhaust throttle device is controlled. In the DPF regeneration processing, the target temperature is set to be in a second temperature region. A target temperature of the exhaust at an exhaust inlet of a DPF is set to be in a third temperature region. The opening degree of the exhaust throttle device is controlled, and unburned fuel is supplied into the exhaust. The temperature regions are set to be successively higher, and a temperature difference between successive temperature regions is set to be successively lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Katsushi INOUE, Hiroaki OKANO, Masanori FUJIWARA
  • Patent number: 9005683
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a yeast containing glutamic acid at a high concentration. In the method for culturing a yeast, a yeast in a stationary growth phase is subjected to liquid culture under the conditions that the pH of a liquid medium is 7.5 or higher and lower than 11. After the pH of the liquid medium for the yeast in a stationary growth phase is adjusted to 7.5 or higher and lower than 11, the yeast is further cultured, whereby a yeast with a high glutamic acid content can be produced. In the invention, as the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Candida utilis can be used. Therefore, by using the yeast with a high glutamic acid content obtained by the above-said method and the extract obtained by extraction from the yeast, a seasoning composition and a food or drink with a high glutamic acid content can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Shibuya, Hiroaki Okano, Yoshitomo Kanaoka, Nobuchika Takesue
  • Publication number: 20150020490
    Abstract: A ceramic filter includes a porous ceramic body which is a sintered body of ceramic particles, and a coating portion formed on a surface of each ceramic particle to support the catalyst. The porous ceramic body has a specific surface area equal to or greater than 0.5 m2/cc, measured by a mercury porosimeter, and an amount of the coating portion is equal to or greater than 15 g/l.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroaki OKANO, Hiroshi YAMAGUCHI, Risa KATAYAMA, Akira OBUCHI, Junko UCHIZAWA, Tetsuya NAMBA
  • Patent number: 8685328
    Abstract: In order to remove a pathogenic effect of a microorganism in a room or a work space in a short period of time, an ion diffusing apparatus, which includes an ion generator (17, 18) for generating positive ions each including H+(H2O)m and negative ions each including O2?(H2O)n, where m and n are arbitrary integers, and a blower for delivering the positive ions and the negative ions, which are generated from the ion generator (17), from a blowout opening, is operated to widely distribute, with a high concentration, the positive ions and the negative ions in the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Okano, Kazuo Nishikawa, Hisaharu Yagi, Norihiro Matsuoka, Tomonori Akai, Misaki Nakamura, Yoshihiro Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20140061981
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a ceramic filter includes mixing silicon, yttrium oxide-doped zirconia, magnesium-aluminum spinel, silicon nitride, a pore-forming material, and a binder to form a ceramic precursor; extruding the ceramic precursor into a generally honeycomb shaped monolithic filter precursor or into a single filter tube precursor; drying the filter precursor or filter tube precursor to form a dried ceramic precursor; heating the dried ceramic precursor to remove the binder; and sintering to form the silicon nitride ceramic filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi YAMAGUCHI, Hiroaki OKANO, Atsushi SUGAI
  • Publication number: 20140053826
    Abstract: A radiant tube formed of a heat resistant metal includes at least one bent tube (3A (3C)) which connects straight tubes (2A, 2B (2C, 2D)) to each other. Combustion gas from a burner 5 is fed through one of the straight tubes (2A, 2B (2C, 2D)). The radiant tube is characterized in that at least as the bent tube 3A (3C) located closest to the burner 5, there is employed a cast body having an outer diameter ranging from 150 to 210 mm and a wall thickness ranging from 3 to 8 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Hineno, Nobuyuki Sakamoto, Hiroaki Okano, Shigeki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130158337
    Abstract: A method for preventing or treating atopic dermatitis of a patient by covering the patient itself or a patient's area affected by the atopic dermatitis, filling a covered space with positive ions composed of H+(H2O)m (m being any integer) and negative ions composed of O2?(H2O)n (n being any integer) generated as a result of discharge in an atmosphere, and bringing the positive ions and the negative ions into contact with a skin surface of the patient and a medical device for preventing or treating atopic dermatitis by covering a patient itself or an affected area, filling a covered space with positive ions composed of H+(H2O)m (m being any integer) and negative ions composed of O2?(H2O)n (n being any integer) generated as a result of discharge in an atmosphere, and bringing the positive ions and the negative ions into contact with a skin surface of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroaki Okano
  • Publication number: 20120302817
    Abstract: A method for increasing a moisture content of a skin and improving skin elasticity by improving a moisture retaining function of a dermis without generating steam, mist and the like, and a beauty apparatus that supplies moisture to a skin are provided. A user is irradiated with positive and negative ions which are generated by using ion generation means 6 and carried by a low-speed air current from a blower 7, and a concentration of the ions for irradiating a skin surface is elevated to be a predetermined value or more, whereby the positive and negative ions react to produce water, which moistens the skin, and improves skin elasticity. Further, when the ions supplied from the ion generation means 6 is released from a blowoff port 61, the blowing speed is controlled at a low level while elevating the ion concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Emi Nishiuchi, Hiroaki Okano, Katsushi Morimoto, Norihiro Matsuoka, Kazuo Nishikawa, Nobuki Sakikawa
  • Publication number: 20110223287
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a yeast containing glutamic acid at a high concentration. In the method for culturing a yeast, a yeast in a stationary growth phase is subjected to liquid culture under the conditions that the pH of a liquid medium is 7.5 or higher and lower than 11. After the pH of the liquid medium for the yeast in a stationary growth phase is adjusted to 7.5 or higher and lower than 11, the yeast is further cultured, whereby a yeast with a high glutamic acid content can be produced. In the invention, as the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Candida utilis can be used. Therefore, by using the yeast with a high glutamic acid content obtained by the above-said method and the extract obtained by extraction from the yeast, a seasoning composition and a food or drink with a high glutamic acid content can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Asahi Breweries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Shibuya, Hiroaki Okano, Yoshitomo Kanaoka, Nobuchika Takesue
  • Publication number: 20110150697
    Abstract: In order to remove a pathogenic effect of a microorganism in a room or a work space in a short period of time, an ion diffusing apparatus, which includes an ion generator (17, 18) for generating positive ions each including H+(H2O)m and negative ions each including O2?(H2O)n, where m and n are arbitrary integers, and a blower for delivering the positive ions and the negative ions, which are generated from the ion generator (17), from a blowout opening, is operated to widely distribute, with a high concentration, the positive ions and the negative ions in the room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Hiroaki Okano, Kazuo Nishikawa, Hisaharu Yagi, Norihiro Matsuoka, Tomonori Akia, Misaki Nakamura, Yoshihiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7657145
    Abstract: A method for fabrication of a multilayered optical waveguide structure which includes at least two substrates, and an optical waveguide layer disposed between the substrates and having at least one core region and side cladding regions laterally succeeding from the core region. The method is characterized in that the optical waveguide layer is formed from a polysilane compound containing polysilane, and it comprises stacking a first block including one of the substrates and a second block including the other of the substrates through the optical waveguide layer or a cladding layer located at a surface of either one of the blocks, and heating them while pressed in such arrangement so that the first block and the second block are bonded together by the optical waveguide layer or the cladding layer serving as a bonding layer into the multilayered structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignees: Nippon Paint Co., Ltd., Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Emi Watanabe, Kouhei Ogura, Takumi Yoshida, Hiroaki Okano, Shuji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7488119
    Abstract: A photoelectric composite connector comprises a first connector unit which is connected to optical transmission means and a second connector unit which can be attached to and detached from a first connector unit freely. The first connector unit comprises a photoelectric conversion module and an electrical connector section having a first conductor which is electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion module. The second connector unit is formed as an electrical connector unit corresponding to the electrical connector section of the first connector unit and having a second conductor. The first conductor of the electrical connector section of the first connector unit and the second conductor of the second connector unit are electrically connected to each other when the electrical connector section of the first connector unit and the second connector unit are connected to each other by use of their electrical connector structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignees: Hirose Electric Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Deni Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takumi Yoshida, Shuji Suzuki, Hiroaki Okano, Seiki Hiramatsu