Patents by Inventor Hiroki Okabe
Hiroki Okabe 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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Patent number: 12294102Abstract: To provide an air vehicle configured to stabilize the power output of a fuel cell by securing the generated water discharge property of the fuel cell. An air vehicle, wherein the air vehicle comprises two or more fuel cells; wherein each fuel cell comprises an anode outlet manifold; and wherein each fuel cell is disposed in the air vehicle so that water discharge directions of the anode outlet manifolds are different from each other.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2022Date of Patent: May 6, 2025Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki Okabe, Tomohiko Kaneko, Tomohiro Shinagawa, Yoshihiro Shinozaki
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Patent number: 12134325Abstract: To provide a fuel cell system configured to charge a battery with maintaining the independence and redundancy of a fuel cell and a battery as power sources. A fuel cell system for air vehicles, wherein the fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a battery, a motor and a controller; wherein the fuel cell and the battery are connected to the motor as independent power sources, and the motor includes a double three-phase winding that uses a double inverter; and wherein, when normal output is requested from the motor, the controller operates the motor by a predetermined first output from the fuel cell, and the controller charges the battery by a torque generated in the motor.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2022Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki Okabe, Kimio Saito
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Patent number: 12083931Abstract: To provide a fuel cell system configured to prevent the freezing of the gas and water discharge valve of the fuel gas system even at high altitude. A fuel cell system for air vehicles, wherein the fuel cell system comprises: a fuel cell, a fuel gas system for supplying fuel gas to the fuel cell, a cooling system for controlling a temperature of the fuel cell, an altitude sensor, a temperature sensor, and a controller, and wherein, when the controller detects an altitude increase measured by the altitude sensor, and when a temperature of the gas and water discharge valve measured by the temperature sensor is less than a predetermined temperature, the controller increases a temperature of the refrigerant by controlling the three-way valve to circulate the refrigerant in the heating flow path and operating the circulation pump and the water heater to heat the refrigerant.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2022Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki Okabe, Tomohiro Shinagawa, Yoshihiro Shinozaki
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Patent number: 12026405Abstract: An information processing device includes a processing unit configured to divide original image data for a larger number of channels Nb than the number of channels Na into a plurality of groups so that a number of channels of each of the groups becomes no larger than the number of channels Na, generate compressed image data for the Na channels according to the processing unit from the original image data included in each of the groups, and generate the print command including the compressed image data for the Na channels corresponding to each of the groups, and a communication unit configured to transmit the print command to the printer.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2023Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shuichi Yamanaka, Fumio Tokutomi, Hiroki Okabe, Yuto Togawa
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Publication number: 20230305762Abstract: An information processing device includes a processing unit configured to divide original image data for a larger number of channels Nb than the number of channels Na into a plurality of groups so that a number of channels of each of the groups becomes no larger than the number of channels Na, generate compressed image data for the Na channels according to the processing unit from the original image data included in each of the groups, and generate the print command including the compressed image data for the Na channels corresponding to each of the groups, and a communication unit configured to transmit the print command to the printer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Shuichi YAMANAKA, Fumio TOKUTOMI, Hiroki OKABE, Yuto TOGAWA
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Patent number: 11721819Abstract: A fuel cell system for air vehicles, wherein the fuel cell system comprises: a fuel cell, a fuel gas system for supplying fuel gas to the fuel cell, a potential sensor, and a controller; wherein the fuel gas system comprises a fuel gas supplier; wherein the controller determines whether or not a potential of the fuel cell measured by the potential sensor, is a reversal potential; and wherein, when the controller determines that the potential of the fuel cell is a reversal potential, the controller increases a fuel gas supply from the fuel gas supplier to the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki Okabe, Tomohiro Shinagawa, Yoshihiro Shinozaki
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Patent number: 11721822Abstract: To provide a fuel cell system configured to increase fuel cell performance even at high altitude. A fuel cell system for air vehicles, wherein the fuel cell system comprises: a fuel cell, an oxidant gas system for supplying oxidant gas to the fuel cell, an altitude sensor, and a controller; wherein the oxidant gas system comprises an air compressor and a bypass flow path bypassing the fuel cell; wherein the bypass flow path comprises a bypass valve; and wherein, when the controller detects an altitude increase measured by the altitude sensor, the controller increases a rotational speed of the air compressor, and the controller increases an opening degree of the bypass valve.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki Okabe, Tomohiro Shinagawa, Yoshihiro Shinozaki
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Patent number: 11508982Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprising stacked unit cells, each comprising a membrane electrode assembly comprising an electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes disposed on both surfaces thereof, two separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly, and a frame-shaped resin sheet disposed between the two separators and around the membrane electrode assembly to attach the separators, wherein the resin sheet comprises a first protrusion protruding in the planar direction of the resin sheet and occupying a part of a first region occupied by a reaction gas inlet manifold, and a second protrusion protruding in the planar direction of the resin sheet and occupying a part of a second region occupied by a reaction gas outlet manifold; and wherein the resin sheet comprises at least one water discharge hole at a predetermined position of at least one protrusion selected from the group consisting of the first protrusion and the second protrusion.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2021Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroki Okabe
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Publication number: 20220340022Abstract: To provide a fuel cell system configured to charge a battery with maintaining the independence and redundancy of a fuel cell and a battery as power sources. A fuel cell system for air vehicles, wherein the fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a battery, a motor and a controller; wherein the fuel cell and the battery are connected to the motor as independent power sources, and the motor includes a double three-phase winding that uses a double inverter; and wherein, when normal output is requested from the motor, the controller operates the motor by a predetermined first output from the fuel cell, and the controller charges the battery by a torque generated in the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2022Publication date: October 27, 2022Inventors: Hiroki OKABE, Kimio SAITO
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Publication number: 20220340045Abstract: To provide an air vehicle configured to stabilize the power output of a fuel cell by securing the generated water discharge property of the fuel cell. An air vehicle, wherein the air vehicle comprises two or more fuel cells; wherein each fuel cell comprises an anode outlet manifold; and wherein each fuel cell is disposed in the air vehicle so that water discharge directions of the anode outlet manifolds are different from each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2022Publication date: October 27, 2022Inventors: Hiroki OKABE, Tomohiko KANEKO, Tomohiro SHINAGAWA, Yoshihiro SHINOZAKI
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Publication number: 20220340046Abstract: To provide a fuel cell system configured to prevent the freezing of the gas and water discharge valve of the fuel gas system even at high altitude. A fuel cell system for air vehicles, wherein the fuel cell system comprises: a fuel cell, a fuel gas system for supplying fuel gas to the fuel cell, a cooling system for controlling a temperature of the fuel cell, an altitude sensor, a temperature sensor, and a controller, and wherein, when the controller detects an altitude increase measured by the altitude sensor, and when a temperature of the gas and water discharge valve measured by the temperature sensor is less than a predetermined temperature, the controller increases a temperature of the refrigerant by controlling the three-way valve to circulate the refrigerant in the heating flow path and operating the circulation pump and the water heater to heat the refrigerant.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2022Publication date: October 27, 2022Inventors: Hiroki OKABE, Tomohiro SHINAGAWA, Yoshihiro SHINOZAKI
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Publication number: 20220344685Abstract: A fuel cell system for air vehicles, wherein the fuel cell system comprises: a fuel cell, a fuel gas system for supplying fuel gas to the fuel cell, a potential sensor, and a controller; wherein the fuel gas system comprises a fuel gas supplier; wherein the controller determines whether or not a potential of the fuel cell measured by the potential sensor, is a reversal potential; and wherein, when the controller determines that the potential of the fuel cell is a reversal potential, the controller increases a fuel gas supply from the fuel gas supplier to the fuel cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2022Publication date: October 27, 2022Inventors: Hiroki OKABE, Tomohiro SHINAGAWA, Yoshihiro SHINOZAKI
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Publication number: 20220344687Abstract: To provide a fuel cell system configured to increase fuel cell performance even at high altitude. A fuel cell system for air vehicles, wherein the fuel cell system comprises: a fuel cell, an oxidant gas system for supplying oxidant gas to the fuel cell, an altitude sensor, and a controller; wherein the oxidant gas system comprises an air compressor and a bypass flow path bypassing the fuel cell; wherein the bypass flow path comprises a bypass valve; and wherein, when the controller detects an altitude increase measured by the altitude sensor, the controller increases a rotational speed of the air compressor, and the controller increases an opening degree of the bypass valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2022Publication date: October 27, 2022Inventors: Hiroki OKABE, Tomohiro SHINAGAWA, Yoshihiro SHINOZAKI
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Publication number: 20210359333Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprising stacked unit cells, each comprising a membrane electrode assembly comprising an electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes disposed on both surfaces thereof, two separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly, and a frame-shaped resin sheet disposed between the two separators and around the membrane electrode assembly to attach the separators, wherein the resin sheet comprises a first protrusion protruding in the planar direction of the resin sheet and occupying a part of a first region occupied by a reaction gas inlet manifold, and a second protrusion protruding in the planar direction of the resin sheet and occupying a part of a second region occupied by a reaction gas outlet manifold; and wherein the resin sheet comprises at least one water discharge hole at a predetermined position of at least one protrusion selected from the group consisting of the first protrusion and the second protrusion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hiroki OKABE
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Patent number: 10998560Abstract: A fuel cell stack 11 includes a cell laminate 21 composed of a plurality of stacked cells 20, and air is introduced from an anode end part 21a of the cell laminate 21. The cell laminate 21 has two end cells 24 installed adjacently to a cathode end part 21b side, thereby providing the cathode end part 21b with high thermal insulation properties.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Norishige Konno, Hiroki Okabe
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Patent number: 10826084Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrode assembly; and a separator disposed on one side of the membrane electrode assembly, wherein the separator includes flow path grooves through which reactant gas flows between the separator and the membrane electrode assembly, the flow path grooves include: wavy grooves wavily extending in a first direction and arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a linear groove linearly extending in the first direction, the wavy grooves include: a first wavy groove located closest to the linear groove among the wavy grooves; and a second wavy groove located opposite to the linear groove with respect to the first wavy groove, and amplitude of the first wavy groove is smaller than that of the second wavy groove.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroki Okabe, Manabu Kato
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Patent number: 10818938Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of cells laminated. Each of the cells includes: a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly; an insulating member; a first separator including a first gas passage and a first refrigerant passage; first, second, and third manifolds penetrating through the insulating member and the first separator such that a first gas, a second gas, and a refrigerant circulate through the first, second, and third manifolds, respectively; and a second separator including a second gas passage and a second refrigerant passage and configured to sandwich the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly and the insulating member together with the first separator. In the each of the cells, the insulating member includes a first communication portion, a second communication portion, and a third communication portion, and the first separator has a communication opening via which the third communication portion communicates with the first refrigerant passage.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hiroki Okabe
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Patent number: 10763530Abstract: A manufacturing method for a fuel cell includes: preparing a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly; preparing a support frame having an electrical insulating property and an ultraviolet permeability; preparing a separator; bonding the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly and the support frame to each other via a first ultraviolet curable adhesive; and, after the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly and the support frame are bonded to each other, bonding the support frame and the separator to each other via a second ultraviolet curable adhesive.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2017Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hiroki Okabe
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Patent number: 10644343Abstract: A dummy cell laminated on a fuel cell stack and configured not to perform power generation includes: a common appearance portion having an appearance common with an appearance of a power generation cell used in the fuel cell stack and configured to perform power generation; and a non-common appearance portion having an appearance different from the appearance of the power generation cell.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki Okabe, Kazumi Sugita, Chisato Kato
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Patent number: 10608223Abstract: A method for manufacturing a separator for fuel cell including a seal part of thermosetting resin can have improved productivity. The method includes a placing step to place uncured thermosetting resin on a substrate, a pre-curing step to pre-cure the uncured thermosetting resin on the substrate, and a curing step to cure the pre-cured thermosetting resin on the collected plurality of substrates to collectively form the seal parts on the plurality of substrates.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2018Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hideo Nakamura, Kazuomi Yamanishi, Hiroki Okabe