Patents by Inventor Ikuya Sato
Ikuya Sato 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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Publication number: 20240128880Abstract: A power converter includes a capacitor and a substrate on which a plurality of switching elements for power conversion are mounted. The power converter includes a cooler for cooling the plurality of switching elements and a housing that accommodates the capacitor, the substrate, and the cooler. The power converter includes a power connector exposed from the housing and an output connector exposed from the housing. The power converter includes a plurality of lines that include a plurality of power lines each electrically connected to the capacitor, given switching elements, and the power connector. The plurality of lines include a plurality of output lines each electrically connected to given switching elements and the output connector. At least one among the plurality of lines is a line that includes a conductive pattern formed on the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: Yuji SUZUKI, Motohito HORI, Akio TOBA, Ikuya SATO, Yasuhito TANAKA, Masamichi IWASAKI, Masaaki AJIMA, Nobuaki OHGURI
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Patent number: 11949338Abstract: A power converter includes a positive busbar electrically connected to a positive terminal and the first capacitor electrode, and includes a negative busbar electrically connected to a negative terminal and the second capacitor electrode. The power converter includes output busbars each electrically connected to a given output terminal among multiple output terminals, a given high-side switching element among a plurality of high-side switching elements, and a given low-side switching element among a plurality of low-side switching elements. The power converter includes a cooler that cools the high-side switching elements and the low-side switching elements. The power converter includes a housing that accommodates a supply tube and a discharge tube. The positive terminal, the negative terminal, the output terminals, the inlet port, and the outlet port are exposed on the housing. The inlet port, the outlet port, the supply tube, and the discharge tube are separate members from the housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuji Suzuki, Motohito Hori, Akio Toba, Ikuya Sato, Yasuhito Tanaka, Masamichi Iwasaki, Masaaki Ajima, Nobuaki Ohguri
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Patent number: 11894774Abstract: A power converter includes a capacitor and a substrate on which a plurality of switching elements for power conversion are mounted. The power converter includes a cooler for cooling the plurality of switching elements and a housing that accommodates the capacitor, the substrate, and the cooler. The power converter includes a power connector exposed from the housing and an output connector exposed from the housing. The power converter includes a plurality of lines that include a plurality of power lines each electrically connected to the capacitor, given switching elements, and the power connector. The plurality of lines include a plurality of output lines each electrically connected to given switching elements and the output connector. At least one among the plurality of lines is a line that includes a conductive pattern formed on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2022Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuji Suzuki, Motohito Hori, Akio Toba, Ikuya Sato, Yasuhito Tanaka, Masamichi Iwasaki, Masaaki Ajima, Nobuaki Ohguri
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Publication number: 20220406690Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: an insulated circuit substrate including first and second conductive layers on a top surface side; a first semiconductor chip mounted on the first conductive layer; a second semiconductor chip mounted on the second conductive layer; a printed circuit board including a first lower-side wiring layer arranged to be opposed to the first semiconductor chip, and a second lower-side wiring layer arranged to be opposed to the second semiconductor chip, the printed circuit board being provided with a curved part curved toward the insulated circuit substrate; a first connection member arranged to connect the first semiconductor chip with the first lower-side wiring layer; a second connection member arranged to connect the second semiconductor chip with the second lower-side wiring layer; and a third connection member arranged to connect the first conductive layer with the second lower-side wiring layer at the curved part.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2022Publication date: December 22, 2022Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Motohito HORI, Yoshinari IKEDA, Akio TOBA, Michio TAMATE, Ikuya SATO
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Publication number: 20220181981Abstract: A power converter includes a positive busbar electrically connected to a positive terminal and the first capacitor electrode, and includes a negative busbar electrically connected to a negative terminal and the second capacitor electrode. The power converter includes output busbars each electrically connected to a given output terminal among multiple output terminals, a given high-side switching element among a plurality of high-side switching elements, and a given low-side switching element among a plurality of low-side switching elements. The power converter includes a cooler that cools the high-side switching elements and the low-side switching elements. The power converter includes a housing that accommodates a supply tube and a discharge tube. The positive terminal, the negative terminal, the output terminals, the inlet port, and the outlet port are exposed on the housing. The inlet port, the outlet port, the supply tube, and the discharge tube are separate members from the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2022Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Yuji SUZUKI, Motohito HORI, Akio TOBA, Ikuya SATO, Yasuhito TANAKA, Masamichi IWASAKI, Masaaki AJIMA, Nobuaki OHGURI
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Publication number: 20220181980Abstract: A power converter includes a capacitor and a substrate on which a plurality of switching elements for power conversion are mounted. The power converter includes a cooler for cooling the plurality of switching elements and a housing that accommodates the capacitor, the substrate, and the cooler. The power converter includes a power connector exposed from the housing and an output connector exposed from the housing. The power converter includes a plurality of lines that include a plurality of power lines each electrically connected to the capacitor, given switching elements, and the power connector. The plurality of lines include a plurality of output lines each electrically connected to given switching elements and the output connector. At least one among the plurality of lines is a line that includes a conductive pattern formed on the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2022Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Yuji SUZUKI, Motohito HORI, Akio TOBA, Ikuya SATO, Yasuhito TANAKA, Masamichi IWASAKI, Masaaki AJIMA, Nobuaki OHGURI
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Patent number: 9520805Abstract: A three-phase inverter includes three-level inverters connected in parallel to one another, each being capable of outputting a DC high voltage, DC middle voltage, and DC low voltage. A method for controlling the three-phase inverter produces on-time ratios in one switching period of switching elements in the three-level inverters, so as to make the three-phase inverter for one phase alternately output the DC high voltage and the DC middle voltage, to make the three-phase inverter for another phase output the DC middle voltage, and to make the three-phase inverter for the remaining phase alternately output the DC middle voltage and the DC low voltage.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2015Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Ikuya Sato
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Publication number: 20160072406Abstract: A three-phase inverter includes three-level inverters connected in parallel to one another, each being capable of outputting a DC high voltage, DC middle voltage, and DC low voltage. A method for controlling the three-phase inverter produces on-time ratios in one switching period of switching elements in the three-level inverters, so as to make the three-phase inverter for one phase alternately output the DC high voltage and the DC middle voltage, to make the three-phase inverter for another phase output the DC middle voltage, and to make the three-phase inverter for the remaining phase alternately output the DC middle voltage and the DC low voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2015Publication date: March 10, 2016Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Ikuya SATO
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Patent number: 9154059Abstract: In relation to a multilevel inverter of three levels or more, a decrease in safety due to breakdown is suppressed while avoiding destruction of switching elements. An inverter includes switching elements connected in series between a positive terminal and a negative terminal, reverse blocking switching elements connected one each between connection points of pairs of the switching elements and an intermediate terminal, alternating current output terminals, a control unit that generates control signals for switching between a turning on and turning off of the plurality of switching elements, a control signal interrupt circuit that, on an interrupt signal interrupting the output voltage of the alternating current output terminals being input, interrupts each of the control signals to the first switching elements and second switching elements, regardless of the state of the control signals, and a monitoring unit that diagnoses a breakdown of the control signal interrupt circuit.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Ikuya Sato
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Publication number: 20140139159Abstract: In relation to a multilevel inverter of three levels or more, a decrease in safety due to breakdown is suppressed while avoiding destruction of switching elements. An inverter includes switching elements connected in series between a positive terminal and a negative terminal, reverse blocking switching elements connected one each between connection points of pairs of the switching elements and an intermediate terminal, alternating current output terminals, a control unit that generates control signals for switching between a turning on and turning off of the plurality of switching elements, a control signal interrupt circuit that, on an interrupt signal interrupting the output voltage of the alternating current output terminals being input, interrupts each of the control signals to the first switching elements and second switching elements, regardless of the state of the control signals, and a monitoring unit that diagnoses a breakdown of the control signal interrupt circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2013Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Ikuya SATO
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Patent number: 8558415Abstract: Whether a safety function unit having a safety function of a desired standard is correctly mounted in a safety device having a configuration in which a basic control function and safety function are separated is accurately determined. The safety device includes a controller and the safety function unit. The controller is provided with a unit which selects a category for identifying a safety function unit which should be connected, a unit which transmits a reference signal to the safety function unit, a unit which determined, based on a category identification signal returned from the safety function unit, whether or not the category of the connected safety function unit coincides with a selected category, and a unit which, in the event that the result of the determination is such that the category of the connected safety function unit and the selected category do not coincide, prohibits the output of a control signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Fujita, Ikuya Sato, Hiroshi Takahashi, Yuichi Takami
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Patent number: 8476860Abstract: An electric power converter includes a control unit outputting a PWM signal, a bridge circuit producing AC electric power supplied to a motor by turning semiconductor switching devices in the bridge on and off in response to PWM signals, a cut off unit cutting the PWM signals off from the bridge circuit in response to a gate signal, and a monitoring unit generating a test signal for checking the cut off unit. The cut off unit includes a switching circuit switching between the test signal and an external cut off signal, and a delay circuit that delays the output of the switching circuit. The arrangement enables the electric power converter to monitor as to whether the cut off unit is abnormal without stopping the operation of the electric power converter.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ikuya Sato
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Patent number: 8207745Abstract: In an anomaly monitoring device, in which an output signal from an encoder is input as an analog input signal via a wiring system, for detecting anomalies in the encoder or the wiring system, provided are a voltage level based device, a pulse number based device and a pulse width based device. The voltage level based device detects anomalies when the voltage level of the analog input signal exists within a prescribed range. The pulse number based device detects anomalies when the difference in the numbers of pulses of digital signals corresponding to the analog input signals is equal to or greater than a prescribed threshold value. The pulse width based device detects anomalies when the pulse width of the digital signals, measured from a combined signal of the digital signals or each of the digital signals, is different from the pulse width in a past control period.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2010Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ikuya Sato, Hiroshi Takahashi
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Publication number: 20110215751Abstract: An electric power converter includes a control unit outputting a PWM signal, a bridge circuit producing AC electric power supplied to a motor by turning semiconductor switching devices in the bridge on and off in response to PWM signals, a cut off unit cutting the PWM signals off from the bridge circuit in response to a gate signal, and a monitoring unit generating a test signal for checking the cut off unit. The cut off unit includes a switching circuit switching between the test signal and an external cut off signal, and a delay circuit that delays the output of the switching circuit. The arrangement enables the electric power converter to monitor as to whether the cut off unit is abnormal without stopping the operation of the electric power converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2011Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC SYSTEMS CO., LTD.Inventor: Ikuya Sato
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Publication number: 20100327667Abstract: Whether a safety function unit having a safety function of a desired standard is correctly mounted in a safety device having a configuration in which a basic control function and safety function are separated is accurately determined. The safety device includes a controller and the safety function unit. The controller is provided with a unit which selects a category for identifying a safety function unit which should be connected, a unit which transmits a reference signal to the safety function unit, a unit which determined, based on a category identification signal returned from the safety function unit, whether or not the category of the connected safety function unit coincides with a selected category, and a unit which, in the event that the result of the determination is such that the category of the connected safety function unit and the selected category do not coincide, prohibits the output of a control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC HOLDINGS CO., LTD.Inventors: Kenji Fujita, Ikuya Sato, Hiroshi Takahashi, Yuichi Takami
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Patent number: 7821802Abstract: A power converter directly converting an AC voltage into an AC voltage of any desired magnitude and frequency by turning bidirectional switches ON and OFF without employing any energy buffer, where the peak values of output phase voltage command values are limited, to bring the amplitude of an output line voltage to, at most, 0.866 times the amplitude of the supply line voltages. By way of example, the peak-value limit of the output phase voltage command values is set so that the maximum value of the output phase voltage command values becomes, at most, 0.75 times the maximum value of supply phase voltages, while the minimum value thereof becomes, at least, 0.75 times the minimum value of the supply phase voltages. This control method for the direct power converter dispenses with an expensive dedicated motor, and permits a reduction in cost of the control apparatus as a whole.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2007Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihiro Odaka, Ikuya Sato, Yasuhiro Tamai
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Publication number: 20100201373Abstract: In an anomaly monitoring device, in which an output signal from an encoder is input as an analog input signal via a wiring system, for detecting anomalies in the encoder or the wiring system, provided are a voltage level based device, a pulse number based device and a pulse width based device. The voltage level based device detects anomalies when the voltage level of the analog input signal exists within a prescribed range. The pulse number based device detects anomalies when the difference in the numbers of pulses of digital signals corresponding to the analog input signals is equal to or greater than a prescribed threshold value. The pulse width based device detects anomalies when the pulse width of the digital signals, measured from a combined signal of the digital signals or each of the digital signals, is different from the pulse width in a past control period.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2010Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: FUJI ELECTIC SYSTEMS CO., LTD.Inventors: Ikuya SATO, Hiroshi Takahashi
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Patent number: 7436147Abstract: A motor driving apparatus drives a motor by means of an AC/AC direct converter such as a matrix converter. The motor driving apparatus is provided with a current detecting section for detecting motor currents, a comparing section for detecting whether motor current detection values have exceeded a restriction level, an induction voltage calculating section for calculating induction voltages of the motor, a switching section, and a PWM pattern generating section. When the comparing section detects that the motor current detection values have exceeded the restriction level, the switching section supplies the induction voltages calculated by the induction voltage calculating section to the converter as output voltage instruction values.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2007Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ikuya Sato, Akihiro Odaka
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Publication number: 20080049469Abstract: A power converter directly converting an AC voltage into an AC voltage of any desired magnitude and frequency by turning bidirectional switches ON and OFF without employing any energy buffer, where the peak values of output phase voltage command values are limited, to bring the amplitude of an output line voltage to, at most, 0.866 times the amplitude of the supply line voltages. By way of example, the peak-value limit of the output phase voltage command values is set so that the maximum value of the output phase voltage command values becomes, at most, 0.75 times the maximum value of supply phase voltages, while the minimum value thereof becomes, at least, 0.75 times the minimum value of the supply phase voltages. This control method for the direct power converter dispenses with an expensive dedicated motor, and permits a reduction in cost of the control apparatus as a whole.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2007Publication date: February 28, 2008Applicant: Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihiro Odaka, Ikuya Sato, Yasuhiro Tamai
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Publication number: 20070182360Abstract: A motor driving apparatus drives a motor by means of an AC/AC direct converter such as a matrix converter. The motor driving apparatus is provided with a current detecting section for detecting motor currents, a comparing section for detecting whether motor current detection values have exceeded a restriction level, an induction voltage calculating section for calculating induction voltages of the motor, a switching section, and a PWM pattern generating section. When the comparing section detects that the motor current detection values have exceeded the restriction level, the switching section supplies the induction voltages calculated by the induction voltage calculating section to the converter as output voltage instruction values.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2007Publication date: August 9, 2007Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC FA COMPONENTS & SYSTEMS CO., LTD.Inventors: Ikuya Sato, Akihiro Odaka