Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Yamabuchi

Hiroshi Yamabuchi 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: 8031478
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus comprising a base 110 which includes a first fixation portion 110a and a second fixation portion 110b that are coupled to each other at a desired angle, wherein power modules IPM1, IPM2 and IPM3 are fixed on the first fixation portion 110a of the base 110, a control circuit board 10 is fixed with its first principal surface 10a held in direct or indirect touch with the second fixation portion 110b of the base 110, and components constituting a control circuit are packaged on the second principal surface 10b of the control circuit board 10. Owing to the configuration, a versatility for the installation of the power conversion apparatus on a vehicle becomes high, the vibration-proofness of the control circuit board is enhanced, and heats generated by the electronic components, etc. packaged on the control circuit board are sufficiently emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamabuchi, Yuji Kuramoto, Hirotoshi Maekawa, Ryoji Nishiyama
  • Publication number: 20110013439
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus comprising a base 110 which includes a first fixation portion 110a and a second fixation portion 110b that are coupled to each other at a desired angle, wherein power modules IPM1, IPM2 and IPM3 are fixed on the first fixation portion 110a of the base 110, a control circuit board 10 is fixed with its first principal surface 10a held in direct or indirect touch with the second fixation portion 110b of the base 110, and components constituting a control circuit are packaged on the second principal surface 10b of the control circuit board 10. Owing to the configuration, a versatility for the installation of the power conversion apparatus on a vehicle becomes high, the vibration-proofness of the control circuit board is enhanced, and heats generated by the electronic components, etc. packaged on the control circuit board are sufficiently emitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamabuchi, Yuji Kuramoto, Hirotoshi Maekawa, Ryoji Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 7826231
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus comprising a base which includes a first fixation portion and a second fixation portion that are coupled to each other at a desired angle, wherein power modules are fixed on the first fixation portion of the base, a control circuit board is fixed with its first principal surface held in direct or indirect touch with the second fixation portion of the base, and components constituting a control circuit are packaged on the second principal surface of the control circuit board. Owing to the configuration, a versatility for the installation of the power conversion apparatus on a vehicle becomes high, the vibration-proofness of the control circuit board is enhanced, and heats generated by the electronic components, etc. packaged on the control circuit board are sufficiently emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Company
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamabuchi, Yuji Kuramoto, Hirotoshi Maekawa, Ryoji Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 7538426
    Abstract: A cooling system of a power semiconductor module of the invention includes a temperature detection sensor provided in a semiconductor element as a heat source provided in a power semiconductor module, and a controller which estimates a change of a heat transfer coefficient from the power semiconductor module to cooling water based on output information Tj of the temperature detection sensor and drive output information Sr of a rotation speed detection sensor for a pump motor to drive a cooling pump, controls the pump motor according to this estimated result, and controls cooling capacity of the cooling water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamabuchi, Ryoji Nishiyama, Yuji Kuramoto, Satoshi Ishibashi
  • Publication number: 20090114372
    Abstract: A heat sink includes a heat-transfer container incorporating a flow path through which a cooling fluid flows, for cooling a heating element in contact with the heat-transfer container The flow path includes a first cross-sectional portion that becomes narrower as the distance between a given point in the flow path and a side of the heat-transfer container which makes contact with the heating element becomes longer in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cooling fluid flows, and a second cross-sectional portion that is approximately constant in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cooling fluid flows. The first cross-sectional portion and the second cross-sectional portion alternately continue in the direction in which the cooling fluid flows causing a three-dimensional flow so the heat-transfer properties are enhanced with a simplified structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Ippoushi, Tetsuro Ogushi, Seiji Haga, Toru Kimura, Akira Yamada, Hiroshi Yamabuchi, Akihiro Murahashi, Hideo Okayama, Nobuaki Uehara
  • Patent number: 7522422
    Abstract: A low-cost heat sink easy to assemble which is designed to be mounted on a power semiconductor module (5) through the medium of cooling water includes a base member (1), a heat sink body (2) superposed on the base member (1) to form in cooperation with the base member (1) a passage through which the coolant flows, and a bellows-like flow straightening plate (6) disposed between the power semiconductor module (5) and the base member (1) in physical contact with the power semiconductor module (5) on one hand and with the base member (1) on the other hand. The flow straightening plate (6) partitions the passage into a plurality of flow straightening channels (14A, 14B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Chiba, Tetsuro Ogushi, Akira Yamada, Hiroshi Yamabuchi
  • Patent number: 7333331
    Abstract: A power unit device which can be made small, with which special measures of plant and labor at the time of assembly are unnecessary, and of which assembly is easy and universality in its manufacturing aspect is excellent. The power unit device has a heat sink having a first heat-receiving part and formed on the opposite side from this a second heat-receiving part; a power module, in firm contact with the first heat-receiving part, containing a power semiconductor element for performing DC-AC conversion and/or AC-DC conversion for one phase; a smoothing condenser, in firm contact with the second heat-receiving part, for suppressing ripple current of the power semiconductor element; and fixing means passing through the power module, the heat sink and the smoothing condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamabuchi, Yuji Kuramoto, Toru Kimura
  • Publication number: 20070211434
    Abstract: A low-cost heat sink easy to assemble which is designed to be mounted on a power semiconductor module (5) through the medium of cooling water includes a base member (1), a heat sink body (2) superposed on the base member (1) to form in cooperation with the base member (1) a passage through which the coolant flows, and a bellows-like flow straightening plate (6) disposed between the power semiconductor module (5) and the base member (1) in physical contact with the power semiconductor module (5) on one hand and with the base member (1) on the other hand. The flow straightening plate (6) partitions the passage into a plurality of flow straightening channels (14A, 14B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroshi Chiba, Tetsuro Ogushi, Akira Yamada, Hiroshi Yamabuchi
  • Publication number: 20070183130
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus comprising a base 110 which includes a first fixation portion 110a and a second fixation portion 110b that are coupled to each other at a desired angle, wherein power modules IPM1, IPM2 and IPM3 are fixed on the first fixation portion 110a of the base 110, a control circuit board 10 is fixed with its first principal surface 10a held in direct or indirect touch with the second fixation portion 110b of the base 110, and components constituting a control circuit are packaged on the second principal surface 10b of the control circuit board 10. Owing to the configuration, a versatility for the installation of the power conversion apparatus on a vehicle becomes high, the vibration-proofness of the control circuit board is enhanced, and heats generated by the electronic components, etc. packaged on the control circuit board are sufficiently emitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamabuchi, Yuji Kuramoto, Hirotoshi Maekawa, Ryoji Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 7254030
    Abstract: A low-cost heat sink easy to assemble which is designed to be mounted on a power semiconductor module (5) through the medium of cooling water includes a base member (1), a heat sink body (2) superposed on the base member (1) to form in cooperation with the base member (1) a passage through which the coolant flows, and a bellows-like flow straightening plate (6) disposed between the power semiconductor module (5) and the base member (1) in physical contact with the power semiconductor module (5) on one hand and with the base member (1) on the other hand. The flow straightening plate (6) partitions the passage into a plurality of flow straightening channels (14A, 14B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Chiba, Tetsuro Ogushi, Akira Yamada, Hiroshi Yamabuchi
  • Publication number: 20060273592
    Abstract: A power unit includes a plurality of power modules for controlling individual phases of a pair of rotating electric machines and a heat sink on which the power modules are mounted. Each of the power modules includes a metal block, four power electronic semiconductor devices which are heat-generating elements mounted on the metal block with electrically conductive device bonding layers placed in between, and a plastic case. The plastic case is made of a plastic material sealing the power electronic semiconductor devices and the metal block in a single package with leads connected to top- and bottom-side electrodes of the power electronic semiconductor devices extending outward from the plastic case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamabuchi, Yuji Kuramoto, Toru Kimura
  • Publication number: 20060250765
    Abstract: A power unit device which can be made small, with which special measures of plant and labor at the time of assembly are unnecessary, and of which assembly is easy and universality in its manufacturing aspect is excellent. The power unit device has a heat sink having a first heat-receiving part and formed on the opposite side from this a second heat-receiving part; a power module, in firm contact with the first heat-receiving part, containing a power semiconductor element for performing DC-AC conversion and/or AC-DC conversion for one phase; a smoothing condenser, in firm contact with the second heat-receiving part, for suppressing ripple current of the power semiconductor element; and fixing means passing through the power module, the heat sink and the smoothing condenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamabuchi, Yuji Kuramoto, Toru Kimura
  • Publication number: 20060113661
    Abstract: A cooling system of a power semiconductor module of the invention includes a temperature detection sensor provided in a semiconductor element as a heat source provided in a power semiconductor module, and a controller which estimates a change of a heat transfer coefficient from the power semiconductor module to cooling water based on output information Tj of the temperature detection sensor and drive output information Sr of a rotation speed detection sensor for a pump motor to drive a cooling pump, controls the pump motor according to this estimated result, and controls cooling capacity of the cooling water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamabuchi, Ryoji Nishiyama, Yuji Kuramoto, Satoshi Ishibashi
  • Publication number: 20050195574
    Abstract: A low-cost heat sink easy to assemble which is designed to be mounted on a power semiconductor module (5) through the medium of cooling water includes a base member (1), a heat sink body (2) superposed on the base member (1) to form in cooperation with the base member (1) a passage through which the coolant flows, and a bellows-like flow straightening plate (6) disposed between the power semiconductor module (5) and the base member (1) in physical contact with the power semiconductor module (5) on one hand and with the base member (1) on the other hand. The flow straightening plate (6) partitions the passage into a plurality of flow straightening channels (14A, 14B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Inventors: Hiroshi Chiba, Tetsuro Ogushi, Akira Yamada, Hiroshi Yamabuchi
  • Patent number: 6452533
    Abstract: A vehicle periphery monitoring device includes a transmitting circuit 3 for generating a transmission wave, an antenna 4 installed on the periphery or in the interior of a door mirror of a subject vehicle for radiating the transmission wave generated from the transmitting circuit as a formed beam having a directivity which propagates over a region expanding over an adjacent lane area from side portions of the subject vehicle toward the rear portion thereof, a receiving circuit 6 for receiving a reflected wave from an object which is in the periphery of the subject vehicle through an antenna 5, an arithmetically operating circuit 2 for arithmetically operating a distance between the subject vehicle and the object on the basis of a period of time required since the transmission wave generated from the transmitting circuit is radiated from the antenna until the transmission wave is reflected by the object and received by the receiving circuit and arithmetically operating a relative velocity from Doppler frequenc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamabuchi, Katsuji Matsuoka, Katsuhisa Kodama
  • Patent number: 6366345
    Abstract: The present invention provides a very practical monitor for monitoring the periphery of a vehicle characterized in that: the dimension of the monitor in the vertical direction is small, so that the monitor can be incorporated into a small vehicle without putting any restrictions; and the performance and characteristic are excellent. The present invention discloses a specific mechanism to realize the monitor for monitoring the periphery of a vehicle. The present invention provides a monitor for monitoring the periphery of a vehicle comprising: a radiating means for radiating waves of light, having an optical system means for removing astigmatic difference of a light source; and an optical path changing means including a reflection mirror for reflecting a luminous flux radiated from the radiating means in a direction of the radiated light diffusing means. It is possible to change the optical path while astigmatic difference of the light source is being corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisia
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamabuchi
  • Patent number: 6243024
    Abstract: A radar system 100 is integrally accommodated in, for example, a door mounted exterior mirror case, wherein electromagnetic waves are emitted from a transmitting antenna 4 to an area of a right side and a backside of a driver's own vehicle; the electromagnetic waves reflected by objects are received by a receiving antenna 5; thus received waves are amplified by a receiving circuit 6; a Doppler frequency is measured; a situation of danger or safety is judged along with calculations of ranges and relative velocities from the objects in an operating circuit 2; a result of the judgement is displayed by LED7, 8; and a predetermined alarm and control is performed by a control circuit 9, equipped in a body of the own vehicle, based on information from the operating circuit 2, whereby detection of vehicles especially existing in an area being difficult for a driver to observe from a door mounted exterior mirror, for example that on a right back side of the own vehicle, are aided to detect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamabuchi, Shinichi Honma
  • Patent number: 5933225
    Abstract: Vehicular optical radar apparatus adapted to enhance actual operating efficiency in causing emitted light to continuously scan in a horizontal direction with a diffusing-angle setting device (44) for setting a diffusion angle (.alpha.) to be used for diffusing the emitted light in a vertical direction. This vehicular optical radar apparatus further comprises light receiving devices (60 to 90) that is held in such a manner as to be placed at a horizontally predetermined relative position and that is used to receive reflected light (L2) from an object, a distance computing device for computing a distance from the vehicle to the object according to a delay time between a moment, at which the emitted light is generated, and a moment at which the reflected light is received, and a direction detecting device for detecting a direction of the object according to a direction in which the emitted light is outputted when the reflected light is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamabuchi
  • Patent number: 5898482
    Abstract: An optical radar apparatus, having a structure such that light generated by a laser generating means 1 is emitted to an object 100 while scanning the same, light reflected by the object 100 is reflected by a reflected-light reflecting means 10, and then a parabolic mirror or a concave mirror 19 receives reflected light above, is arranged to have a light receiving device 20 disposed at the position of the focal point of the parabolic mirror or the concave mirror 19 so as to obtain the distance to the object 100 and the direction of the same in accordance with propagation delay time taking from light emission by the light generating means 1 to receipt of reflected light by the light receiving device 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamabuchi
  • Patent number: 5751407
    Abstract: An optical radar device has a vertical deflecting device which deflects an optical beam so as to emit the optical beam horizontally in a first half of reciprocal scanning in a horizontal direction and a part thereof upwards by a predetermined angle in a second half thereof. Thus, the optical radar device can detect both objects each with a reflecting portion installed at a low position such as a car and at a high position such as a truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamabuchi