Patents by Inventor Hitoshi Yokoi
Hitoshi Yokoi 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: 9581069Abstract: A particulate detection system (1) for detecting the amount of particulates S in a gas under measurement EG includes a detection section (10), a drive circuit (210, 240), and a drive control section (225). The detection section includes a first potential member (31, 12, 13) maintained at a first potential PV1, a second potential member (14, 51, 53) maintained at a second potential PVE, PV3, and an insulating member (121, 77, 76) disposed between the first and second potential members. The system includes insulation test means (215, S3, 245, S5) for testing the degree of insulation between the first and second potential members. The drive control section includes drive permission/prohibition determination means S4, S6 for determining, on the basis of the degree of insulation tested by the insulation test means, whether to permit the drive of the detection section by the drive circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Masayuki Motomura, Takeshi Sugiyama, Keisuke Tashima, Toshiya Matsuoka, Hitoshi Yokoi
-
Patent number: 9476807Abstract: A particulate sensor including a sensor unit (300) having an ion generation section (611, 361, 322); an electric charge section (612) for electrically charging at least portion of particulates S using ions PI; a capture section (616, 617, 316, 326, 362) for trapping at least portion of the ions PI not used for electrically charging the particulates S; and a sensor ground section (340, 310v, 330v3) connected to the capture section and having a first floating potential corresponding to the amount of the ions PI trapped by the capture section. The sensor unit can detect the amount of the particulates S in the gas on the basis of the electric potential of the sensor ground section. The sensor ground section is covered with insulating ceramic at that outer portion of the sensor unit which comes into contact with the gas.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2013Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Masayuki Motomura, Takeshi Sugiyama, Keisuke Tashima, Norimasa Osawa, Toshiya Matsuoka, Hitoshi Yokoi
-
Patent number: 9395273Abstract: A particulate detection system (1) includes detection section (10), compressed air source (300) which includes compressor (301) for producing compressed air AK, compressor drive circuit (320) and control means (100). The detection section includes a gas jetting source (11). A drive condition for jetting air AR from jetting hole (31N) at a first flow rate Q1 is defined as a first drive condition JK1, and a drive condition for jetting the air AR at a second flow rate Q2 smaller than the first flow rate Q1 is defined as a second drive condition JK2. The control means includes first instruction means S5 for driving the compressor under the first drive condition JK1 when the quantity of the particulates S is detected, and second instruction means S6 for driving the compressor under the second drive condition JK2 when the quantity of the particulates S is not detected.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2012Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Masayuki Motomura, Takeshi Sugiyama, Keisuke Tashima, Toshiya Matsuoka, Hitoshi Yokoi
-
Patent number: 9206757Abstract: A particulate detection system (1, 2, 3) detects the quantity of particulates S contained in exhaust gas EG discharged from an internal combustion engine ENG and flowing through an exhaust pipe EP. The system (1, 2, 3) includes a detection section (10) attached to the exhaust pipe EP; and a drive processing circuit (201) electrically connected to the detection section (10), driving the detection section (10), and detecting and processing a signal Is from the detection section 10. The drive processing circuit (201) includes drive start delay means (S2, S3, S11, S12, S13, S22, S23) for delaying start of the drive of the detection section (10) until a start condition determined by the drive processing circuit (201) is satisfied after startup of the internal combustion engine ENG.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2012Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshiya Matuoka, Masayuki Motomura, Takeshi Sugiyama, Keisuke Tashima, Hitoshi Yokoi
-
Publication number: 20150285711Abstract: A particulate detection system (1) includes detection section (10), compressed air source (300) which includes compressor (301) for producing compressed air AK, compressor drive circuit (320) and control means (100). The detection section includes a gas jetting source (11). A drive condition for jetting air AR from jetting hole (31N) at a first flow rate Q1 is defined as a first drive condition JK1, and a drive condition for jetting the air AR at a second flow rate Q2 smaller than the first flow rate Q1 is defined as a second drive condition JK2. The control means includes first instruction means S5 for driving the compressor under the first drive condition JK1 when the quantity of the particulates S is detected, and second instruction means S6 for driving the compressor under the second drive condition JK2 when the quantity of the particulates S is not detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2012Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Masayuki Motomura, Takeshi Sugiyama, Keisuke Tashima, Toshiya Matsuoka, Hitoshi Yokoi
-
Publication number: 20150020574Abstract: A particulate sensor including a sensor unit (300) having an ion generation section (611, 361, 322); an electric charge section (612) for electrically charging at least portion of particulates S using ions PI; a capture section (616, 617, 316, 326, 362) for trapping at least portion of the ions PI not used for electrically charging the particulates S; and a sensor ground section (340, 310v, 330v3) connected to the capture section and having a first floating potential corresponding to the amount of the ions PI trapped by the capture section. The sensor unit can detect the amount of the particulates S in the gas on the basis of the electric potential of the sensor ground section. The sensor ground section is covered with insulating ceramic at that outer portion of the sensor unit which comes into contact with the gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Masayuki Motomura, Takeshi Sugiyama, Keisuke Tashima, Norimasa Osawa, Toshiya Matsuoka, Hitoshi Yokoi
-
Publication number: 20140352405Abstract: A particulate detection system (1) for detecting the amount of particulates S in a gas under measurement EG includes a detection section (10), a drive circuit (210, 240), and a drive control section (225). The detection section includes a first potential member (31, 12, 13) maintained at a first potential PV1, a second potential member (14, 51, 53) maintained at a second potential PVE, PV3, and an insulating member (121, 77, 76) disposed between the first and second potential members. The system includes insulation test means (215, S3, 245, S5) for testing the degree of insulation between the first and second potential members. The drive control section includes drive permission/prohibition determination means S4, S6 for determining, on the basis of the degree of insulation tested by the insulation test means, whether to permit the drive of the detection section by the drive circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Masayuki Motomura, Takeshi Sugiyama, Keisuke Tashima, Toshiya Matsuoka, Hitoshi Yokoi
-
Patent number: 8823384Abstract: There is provided a fine particle detection system with a fine particle sensor, a cable and a sensor drive control device. The fine particle sensor has an ion source unit with first and second electrodes, a particle charging unit and inner and outer sensor casings. The cable has a power supply wiring line connected to the second electrode, an inner shield line electrically continuous with the inner sensor casing and an outer shield line electrically continuous with the outer sensor casing. The sensor drive control device has an ion-source power supply circuit, a signal current detection circuit, an inner circuit casing electrically continuous with a first output terminal of the ion-source power supply circuit and surrounding the ion-source power supply circuit and an outer circuit casing connected to the ground potential and shielding the ion-source power supply circuit, the signal current detection circuit and the inner circuit casing.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2012Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiya Matsuoka, Masayuki Motomura, Takeshi Sugiyama, Keisuke Tashima, Hitoshi Yokoi
-
Patent number: 8702305Abstract: In a temperature sensor (1), a pair of electrode wires (25) of a thermistor element (21) are formed of a material prepared by adding strontium to platinum or a platinum alloy and without addition of zirconia or a like oxide. Rear end portions of the electrode wires (25) formed of the above-mentioned material and front end portions of sheath core wires (3) are laser-welded to one another in an overlapping condition.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2009Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hitoshi Yokoi, Masamichi Ito, Takaaki Chosokabe, Masahiko Nishi
-
Patent number: 8652240Abstract: There is provided a fine particle sensor for detecting fine particles in exhaust gas, including an ion generating unit for generating ions by corona discharge, a charging unit for charging the fine particles by some of the generated ions, an ion trapping unit for trapping a remainder of the generated ions and a casing for accommodating therein the charging unit and the ion trapping unit in a given arrangement direction. The casing has a gas inlet hole and a gas outlet hole formed in a circumferential wall thereof so that the exhaust gas flows in the charging unit through the gas inlet hole and flows out of the ion trapping unit through the gas outlet hole. The gas inlet hole and the gas outlet hole are arranged in such a manner as to at least partially overlap each other when viewed in the given arrangement direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2012Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Sugiyama, Masayuki Motomura, Toshiya Matsuoka, Keisuke Tashima, Hitoshi Yokoi
-
Publication number: 20120285219Abstract: A particulate detection system (1, 2, 3) detects the quantity of particulates S contained in exhaust gas EG discharged from an internal combustion engine ENG and flowing through an exhaust pipe EP. The system (1, 2, 3) includes a detection section (10) attached to the exhaust pipe EP; and a drive processing circuit (201) electrically connected to the detection section (10), driving the detection section (10), and detecting and processing a signal Is from the detection section 10. The drive processing circuit (201) includes drive start delay means (S2, S3, S11, S12, S13, S22, S23) for delaying start of the drive of the detection section (10) until a start condition determined by the drive processing circuit (201) is satisfied after startup of the internal combustion engine ENG.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2012Publication date: November 15, 2012Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshiya MATUOKA, Masayuki MOTOMURA, Takeshi SUGIYAMA, Keisuke TASHIMA, Hitoshi YOKOI
-
Publication number: 20120262182Abstract: There is provided a fine particle detection system with a fine particle sensor, a cable and a sensor drive control device. The fine particle sensor has an ion source unit with first and second electrodes, a particle charging unit and inner and outer sensor casings. The cable has a power supply wiring line connected to the second electrode, an inner shield line electrically continuous with the inner sensor casing and an outer shield line electrically continuous with the outer sensor casing. The sensor drive control device has an ion-source power supply circuit, a signal current detection circuit, an inner circuit casing electrically continuous with a first output terminal of the ion-source power supply circuit and surrounding the ion-source power supply circuit and an outer circuit casing connected to the ground potential and shielding the ion-source power supply circuit, the signal current detection circuit and the inner circuit casing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2012Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshiya MATSUOKA, Masayuki MOTOMURA, Takeshi SUGIYAMA, Keisuke TASHIMA, Hitoshi YOKOI
-
Publication number: 20120234172Abstract: There is provided a fine particle sensor for detecting fine particles in exhaust gas, including an ion generating unit for generating ions by corona discharge, a charging unit for charging the fine particles by some of the generated ions, an ion trapping ions for trapping a remainder of the generated ions and a casing for accommodating therein the charging unit and the ion trapping unit in a given arrangement direction. The casing has a gas inlet hole and a gas outlet hole formed in a circumferential wall thereof so that the exhaust gas flows in the charging unit through the gas inlet hole and flows out of the ion trapping unit through the gas outlet hole. The gas inlet hole and the gas outlet hole are arranged in such a manner as to at least partially overlap each other when viewed in the given arrangement direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Takeshi SUGIYAMA, Masayuki MOTOMURA, Toshiya MATSUOKA, Keisuke TASHIMA, Hitoshi YOKOI
-
Patent number: 8177427Abstract: A temperature sensor is provided. The temperature sensor includes: a temperature sensitive element having a temperature sensitive body and an element electrode wire; a sheath member having an external cylinder, the sheath member encompassing a sheath core wire to be bonded to the element electrode wire in the external cylinder; an enclosing member having a bottom-closed cylindrical shape extending in an axial direction, at least the temperature sensitive element and a bond portion of the element electrode wire and the sheath core wire being accommodated in an internal space of the bottom-closed cylindrical shape, and a holding member that is filled in the internal space, wherein an air gap is provided at least between an outer surface of the temperature sensitive body and the holding member so as to permit displacement of the temperature sensitive body in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the enclosing member.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2008Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hitoshi Yokoi, Tomimasa Ito, Tatsuya Suzuki
-
Publication number: 20090323765Abstract: In a temperature sensor (1), a pair of electrode wires (25) of a thermistor element (21) are formed of a material prepared by adding strontium to platinum or a platinum alloy and without addition of zirconia or a like oxide. Rear end portions of the electrode wires (25) formed of the above-mentioned material and front end portions of sheath core wires (3) are laser-welded to one another in an overlapping condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2009Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Hitoshi YOKOI, Masamichi ITO, Takaaki CHOSOKABE, Masahiko NISHI
-
Publication number: 20090168842Abstract: A temperature sensor is provided. The temperature sensor includes: a temperature sensitive element having a temperature sensitive body and an element electrode wire; a sheath member having an external cylinder, the sheath member encompassing a sheath core wire to be bonded to the element electrode wire in the external cylinder; an enclosing member having a bottom-closed cylindrical shape extending in an axial direction, at least the temperature sensitive element and a bond portion of the element electrode wire and the sheath core wire being accommodated in an internal space of the bottom-closed cylindrical shape, and a holding member that is filled in the internal space, wherein an air gap is provided at least between an outer surface of the temperature sensitive body and the holding member so as to permit displacement of the temperature sensitive body in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the enclosing member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2008Publication date: July 2, 2009Inventors: Hitoshi YOKOI, Tomimasa Ito, Tatsuya Suzuki
-
Publication number: 20090014331Abstract: An ammonia gas sensor which includes a solid electrolyte member (310) extending in an axial direction; a reference electrode (320) provided on the solid electrolyte member (310); and a detection electrode (331) and a selective reaction layer (340) provided on the solid electrolyte member (310). The detection electrode serves as a counterpart of the reference electrode (320). The detection electrode (331) contains a noble metal as a predominant component, and the selective reaction layer (340) contains a metal oxide as a predominant component.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2008Publication date: January 15, 2009Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Satoshi SUGAYA, Hiroyuki Nishiyama, Wataru Matsutani, Shiro Kakimoto, Hitoshi Yokoi
-
Patent number: 7408437Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a resistor element that makes it possible to adjust the resistance value of a precursor easily in producing a resistance element having a target resistance value from the precursor, as well as to the precursor and a related resistance value adjusting method. A precursor 70 has a meandering resistance pattern formed on a front surface 11 of a substrate 10 as well as at least three trimming lines. The precursor 70 is configured so as to be defined by a geometric sequence that satisfies Inequality 0.5?k<?k+1<?k, where ?k is the general term of the sequence that is obtained by arranging, in descending order, resistance value increases of the precursor at the time of cutting of the respective trimming lines and normalizing the thus-arranged resistance value increases by an initial resistance value of the precursor in a state that none of the trimming lines are cut.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2005Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masatoshi Ueki, Hitoshi Yokoi
-
Publication number: 20080178657Abstract: A soot detecting apparatus includes: a high voltage generating unit for generating a high voltage; a discharge sensor which includes a pair of electrodes to be, disposed in an atmosphere to be detected, for causing a spark discharge at a discharge voltage dependent upon soot concentration in the atmosphere when the high voltage is applied across the pair of electrodes; a first detection unit for detecting a first discharge voltage value when the spark discharge occurs in the discharge sensor upon application of the high voltage of a predetermined voltage polarity; a first output unit for determining a first soot concentration value based on the first discharge voltage value; and a changeover unit for converting the predetermined voltage polarity to an opposite voltage polarity for causing reverse spark discharge at the pair of electrodes of the discharge sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2008Publication date: July 31, 2008Inventors: Daisuke Komatsu, Norihiko Nadanami, Masato Katsute, Hitoshi Yokoi, Tomonori Kondo, Wataru Matsutani, Kouichi Imaeda
-
Patent number: 7341694Abstract: In an ammonia sensor (1), lead portions (7) and (9) are provided on an insulating substrate (5); a pair of comb-shaped electrodes (11) and (13) are connected to the lead portions (7) and (9), respectively; a sensitive layer (15) is provided on the comb-shaped electrodes (11) and (13); and a protective layer (17) is provided on the sensitive layer (15). Particularly, the sensitive layer (15) is formed of a gas-sensitive raw material predominantly containing ZrO2 and containing at least W in an amount of 2 to 40 wt. % as reduced to WO3.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2003Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Nishiyama, Shiro Kakimoto, Ryuji Inoue, Hitoshi Yokoi, Noboru Ishida, Takafumi Oshima, Satoshi Sugaya, Koichi Imaeda, Tadashi Hattori, Atsushi Satsuma