Patents by Inventor Hiroyuki Sekine

Hiroyuki Sekine 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: 10468664
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lithium-ion secondary battery electrode sheet includes the steps of: conveying a current collector (11) coated with a binder solution (12); feeding a powder material (13) of granulated particles (13a) onto the current collector (11) while guiding the powder material (13) of the granulated particles (13a) toward a gap between the current collector (11) and a squeegee member (25) disposed so as to be spaced with the gap from the current collector (11) being conveyed; and shaping the powder material (13) of the granulated particles (13a) fed on the current collector (11) by using a squeegee member (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Zeon Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sakashita, Koichi Tanihara, Yuji Shibata, Hiroyuki Sekine
  • Patent number: 10384544
    Abstract: A high-voltage unit casing 10 for on-vehicle use to house therein a plurality of devices includes: a first side face 20; a second side face 21 opposed to the first side face; and a connecting portion 22 for structurally connecting the first side face and the second side face to each other. The connecting portion includes a partitioning portion 50 which is fixed to the first side face at a fixing portion and which extends from the fixing portion toward the second side face, the partitioning portion being located at a position separate from an upper surface and a lower surface of the high-voltage unit casing in an inner surface of the first side face. Spaces for placing at least one device included in the plurality of devices are formed on both upper and lower sides, respectively, of the partitioning portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sekine
  • Publication number: 20190252454
    Abstract: An image sensor: includes a pixel matrix in which pixels are disposed in a matrix, each pixel including a photoelectric conversion element and a switching element connected to the photoelectric conversion element; performs selection processing, on each pixel row of the pixel matrix, including selecting a pixel row and outputting a signal to the selected pixel row to make switching elements conductive; performs detection processing of detecting signals from the photoelectric conversion elements in the selected pixel row; and performs the selection processing based on received control signals, wherein the control signals include first control signals having a cycle shorter than a first period in which the selection processing and the detection processing are performed on all pixel rows, and wherein the cycle is equal to or shorter than a second period in which the selection processing and the detection processing are performed on one pixel row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Tianma Japan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki SEKINE
  • Patent number: 10368470
    Abstract: A reactor unit includes reactors; and a cooler. The reactors are disposed in at least one line on a reactor cooling surface that is one of outer surfaces of the cooler. The cooler has a cooling medium flow passage that is in contact with an inner surface on a reverse side of the reactor cooling surface. The cooling medium flows linearly from an inlet portion to an outlet portion of the cooling medium flow passage. A direction in which the cooling medium flows inside the cooling medium flow passage is same as a direction in which the reactors are disposed in the at least one line. Cooling fins are provided on the inner surface on the reverse side of the reactor cooling surface. A longitudinal direction of each cooling fin is same as the direction in which the cooling medium flows inside the cooling medium flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ikuhiro Nakamura, Shuji Kawamura, Kozo Matsuura, Koji Katano, Hiroyuki Sekine
  • Patent number: 10297815
    Abstract: A method for producing an electrode for lithium ion secondary batteries proposed herein includes: a step of forming a binder coat layer 16 on a collector 12, with the binder coat layer 16 being formed so as to have a large coat amount region 18A of relatively a large coating amount and a small coat amount region 18B of relatively small coating amount, and the large coat amount region 18A being provided at both side edge portions 16E of the binder coat layer 16; a step of supplying granulated particles containing active material particles and a binder, onto the binder coat layer 16; and a step of forming an active material layer by pressing of aggregates of the granulated particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ZEON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Tanihara, Yasuhiro Sakashita, Yuya Kitagawa, Hiroyuki Sekine
  • Patent number: 10291021
    Abstract: A protection circuit includes a control circuit that controls current between a first wiring and a second wiring and an application circuit that applies a voltage to the control circuit. The control circuit includes a first thin film transistor that controls the current. The application circuit includes second and third thin film transistors that are connected in series. Each of the second and third thin film transistors includes first and second gates. The first gate of the second thin film transistor is connected to the first wiring. The first gate of the third thin film transistor is connected to a connection point between the second and third thin film transistors. The second gates of the second thin film transistor and the third thin film transistor are connected to the second wiring. The application circuit applies a voltage of the connection point to a gate of the first thin film transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sekine, Yusuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10263116
    Abstract: For improved high-definition of liquid crystal display devices and the use thereof in bright places, luminance of backlights is being increased. Thus, when a light-shielding layer is employed for suppressing a light leakage current, characteristic fluctuations of transistors are caused, which may result in showing faulty display. In a dual-gate thin film transistor having a floating light-shielding layer, the layout is designed in such a manner that the film thickness of the insulating layer is equal to or more than 200 nm and equal to or less than 500 nm and that Sg/Sd becomes 4.7 or more, provided that an opposing area between the light-shielding layer and a drain region in a place at the outermost side of the active layer is Sd and the opposing area between the light-shielding layer and the gate electrode is Sg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: NLT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuya Seko, Yoshikazu Hatazawa, Hiroyuki Sekine
  • Patent number: 10202029
    Abstract: A high voltage unit installed in a vehicle includes a high voltage component and a casing that accommodates the high voltage component. The casing includes a side wall provided with a pressure receiving portion that receives impact in a horizontal direction and a planer portion on which the high voltage component is arranged, the planer portion being adjacent to an inner side of the side wall. The high voltage component is arranged on the planer portion with a gap from the side wall provided with the pressure receiving portion. An area corresponding to the gap of the planer portion includes a portion, between the pressure receiving portion and the high voltage component, provided with a brittle portion, and includes a portion, other than the brittle portion, provided with a high strength portion having higher strength than the brittle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Sumikawa, Hiroyuki Sekine
  • Publication number: 20180315792
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels arranged in matrix, and each pixel includes a first TFT having a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode that are arranged on a substrate, a second TFT, and a photoelectric conversion element that has a first electrode electrically connected to a first surface of an a-Si thin film and the second gate electrode of the first TFT and a second electrode connected to a second control line, and that is arranged above the first TFT so as to be superposed on the first TFT in an laminated direction. Provided is a gas barrier film that is positioned between the first and the second TFTs and the photoelectric conversion element and that prevents hydrogen from permeating into the first and the second TFTs, the first electrode and the second gate electrode are constructed by the same layer, and the gas barrier film is not provided with an aperture in each of the pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: Tianma Japan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki SEKINE
  • Publication number: 20180304734
    Abstract: A high voltage unit installed in a vehicle includes a high voltage component and a casing that accommodates the high voltage component. The casing includes a side wall provided with a pressure receiving portion that receives impact in a horizontal direction and a planer portion on which the high voltage component is arranged, the planer portion being adjacent to an inner side of the side wall. The high voltage component is arranged on the planer portion with a gap from the side wall provided with the pressure receiving portion. An area corresponding to the gap of the planer portion includes a portion, between the pressure receiving portion and the high voltage component, provided with a brittle portion, and includes a portion, other than the brittle portion, provided with a high strength portion having higher strength than the brittle portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Hiroki SUMIKAWA, Hiroyuki SEKINE
  • Publication number: 20180309150
    Abstract: A fuel cell unit includes a fuel cell stack, an electrical device, a harness connected to the electrical device, and a casing incorporating the fuel cell stack, the electrical device, and the harness. The casing includes a first accommodation portion, a second accommodation portion, and a partition wall provided with a first communication hole through which the harness passes, the first accommodation portion accommodating the fuel cell stack, the second accommodation portion accommodating the electrical device, the partition wall partitioning the first accommodation portion and the second accommodation portion, and the partition wall is provided with at least one second communication hole through which the first accommodation portion and the second accommodation portion communicate with each other, in addition to the first communication hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Hiroki SUMIKAWA, Hiroyuki SEKINE, Masahiro KATAYAMA, Masahiko MORINAGA
  • Publication number: 20180272869
    Abstract: A high-voltage unit casing 10 for on-vehicle use to house therein a plurality of devices includes: a first side face 20; a second side face 21 opposed to the first side face; and a connecting portion 22 for structurally connecting the first side face and the second side face to each other. The connecting portion includes a partitioning portion 50 which is fixed to the first side face at a fixing portion and which extends from the fixing portion toward the second side face, the partitioning portion being located at a position separate from an upper surface and a lower surface of the high-voltage unit casing in an inner surface of the first side face. Spaces for placing at least one device included in the plurality of devices are formed on both upper and lower sides, respectively, of the partitioning portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki SEKINE
  • Patent number: 10084179
    Abstract: Provided is a technique capable of evenly smoothing powder supplied to the surface of a supply member. A powder coating apparatus includes a pair of press rollers, hoppers, and squeegee rollers disposed such that prescribed gaps are formed between the squeegee rollers and the press rollers, and adjusting thickness of the powder by smoothing the powder supplied to each outer circumferential surface of the press rollers. The powder coating apparatus presses the powder, smoothed by the squeegee rollers, between the press rollers to form compressed powder layers on both the surfaces of the web. The squeegee roller is formed in a column having an axis being parallel to the outer circumferential surface of the press roller and being orthogonal to a moving direction of the outer circumferential surface of the press roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Zeon Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Tanihara, Yasuhiro Sakashita, Yuji Shibata, Hiroyuki Sekine
  • Publication number: 20180229771
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle includes a first high-voltage unit and a second high-voltage unit in a front compartment. The first high-voltage unit includes a first case including a body portion, and a projecting portion that projects from an outer surface of the body portion, and is located between a pair of suspension towers, and between a dashboard panel and a front bumper. The second high-voltage unit is placed in space between one of the suspension towers and the dashboard panel. The projecting portion projects toward the one suspension tower, and at least a part of the projecting portion is located on the front side in the traveling direction, relative to a straight line connecting center axes of the suspension towers, as viewed from the top of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki SEKINE
  • Patent number: 10029580
    Abstract: A protection bar is arranged between a fuel cell casing and a DC-DC converter in the left-right direction of a fuel cell vehicle. Two fastening surfaces, each being a part of the fuel cell casing, and an FDC flange, which is a part of the DC-DC converter, are fastened and fixed to each other, with one being vertically superimposed on the other, in a space above or below the protection bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Katano, Hiroyuki Sekine, Ikuhiro Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20180159114
    Abstract: A method for producing an electrode for lithium ion secondary batteries proposed herein includes: a step of forming a binder coat layer 16 on a collector 12, with the binder coat layer 16 being formed so as to have a large coat amount region 18A of relatively a large coating amount and a small coat amount region 18B of relatively small coating amount, and the large coat amount region 18A being provided at both side edge portions 16E of the binder coat layer 16; a step of supplying granulated particles containing active material particles and a binder, onto the binder coat layer 16; and a step of forming an active material layer by pressing of aggregates of the granulated particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: ZEON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi TANIHARA, Yasuhiro SAKASHITA, Yuya KITAGAWA, Hiroyuki SEKINE
  • Patent number: 9981557
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a fuel cell system for a vehicle. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack disposed in a front room of a vehicle; and a converter assembly. The converter assembly disposed above or below the fuel cell stack includes: a converter; a first connector section; and a second connector section. The second connector section connects the converter assembly and a second electrical instrument which uses a high voltage. The second connector section is disposed behind the first connector section in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, and when the first connector section and the second connector section are seen from the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the first connector section and at least a portion of the second connector section are overlapped each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Katano, Hiroyuki Sekine, Tsutomu Shirakawa
  • Patent number: 9979165
    Abstract: There is provided a bus bar used for a fuel cell system that comprises a fuel cell; an FC boost-up converter configured by a DC-DC converter to boost up a voltage output from the fuel cell; and an inverter connected with the FC boost-up converter. The bus bar comprises a first bus bar connected with a negative terminal of the fuel cell; a second bus bar connected with a negative terminal of the FC boost-up converter; and a third bus bard connected with a negative terminal of the inverter. The second bus bar is directly coupled with the first bus bar, and the third bus bar is directly coupled with the first bus bar. The second bus bar is configured to have a smaller sectional area than a sectional area of the first bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sekine
  • Patent number: 9865644
    Abstract: With an image sensor in which the amplifier circuit is disposed at each pixel, there is such an issue that the threshold voltage of the transistor fluctuates so that the signal voltage fluctuates because a voltage is continuously applied between the source and the gate of the transistor at all times when using the amorphous thin film semiconductor as the transistor that constitutes an amplifier circuit. The gate-source potential of the TFT that constitutes the amplifier circuit is controlled so that the gate terminal voltage becomes smaller than the source terminal voltage in an integrating period where the pixels accumulate the signals, and controlled so that the gate terminal voltage becomes larger than the source terminal voltage in a readout period where the pixels output the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: NLT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sekine
  • Publication number: 20170346262
    Abstract: There is provided a bus bar used for a fuel cell system that comprises a fuel cell; an FC boost-up converter configured by a DC-DC converter to boost up a voltage output from the fuel cell; and an inverter connected with the FC boost-up converter. The bus bar comprises a first bus bar connected with a negative terminal of the fuel cell; a second bus bar connected with a negative terminal of the FC boost-up converter; and a third bus bard connected with a negative terminal of the inverter. The second bus bar is directly coupled with the first bus bar, and the third bus bar is directly coupled with the first bus bar. The second bus bar is configured to have a smaller sectional area than a sectional area of the first bus bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki SEKINE