Patents by Inventor Junko Kimura

Junko Kimura 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: 10630067
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided for measuring a voltage of each of plural unit cells series-coupled in multi-stage and configuring an assembled battery. The semiconductor device includes two terminals coupled to two nodes which are electrodes of a unit cell and coupled with other unit cells, and a voltage measurement circuit which measures the inter-terminal voltage between the two terminals. The device also includes a down-convert level shifter circuit which converts the inter-terminal voltage into a low-potential-side inter-terminal voltage based on a ground potential, and a comparator circuit which compares the converted low-potential-side inter-terminal voltage with a predetermined reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Muramoto, Junko Kimura, Hirohiko Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20170302069
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided for measuring a voltage of each of plural unit cells series-coupled in multi-stage and configuring an assembled battery. The semiconductor device includes two terminals coupled to two nodes which are electrodes of a unit cell and coupled with other unit cells, and a voltage measurement circuit which measures the inter-terminal voltage between the two terminals. The device also includes a down-convert level shifter circuit which converts the inter-terminal voltage into a low-potential-side inter-terminal voltage based on a ground potential, and a comparator circuit which compares the converted low-potential-side inter-terminal voltage with a predetermined reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Yoshitaka MURAMOTO, Junko KIMURA, Hirohiko HAYAKAWA
  • Patent number: 9735567
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided for measuring a voltage of each of plural unit cells series-coupled in multi-stage and configuring an assembled battery. The semiconductor device includes two terminals coupled to two nodes which are electrodes of a unit cell and coupled with other unit cells, and a voltage measurement circuit which measures the inter-terminal voltage between the two terminals. The device also includes a down-convert level shifter circuit which converts the inter-terminal voltage into a low-potential-side inter-terminal voltage based on a ground potential, and a comparator circuit which compares the converted low-potential-side inter-terminal voltage with a predetermined reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Muramoto, Junko Kimura, Hirohiko Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 9564765
    Abstract: In battery voltage monitoring ICs for measuring voltages of unit cells of an assembled battery, communication with a system control unit is realized in consideration of fail-safe. The system control unit and the battery voltage monitoring ICs are coupled to each other by a communication path using a daisy chain. Each battery voltage monitoring IC has a placement setting pin designating, by a binary code, a unit cell group to which the IC is coupled, in the unit cell groups. When it is detected that the Hamming distance between the code indicative of coupling to a group of the highest potential or a group of the lowest potential and a state actually set in the placement setting pin is 1, some failure such as line disconnection, short-circuit, or the like in the placement setting pins is detected, and the communication path is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Akiko Fukute, Ryosuke Enomoto, Junko Kimura, Toshitaka Ukai
  • Publication number: 20160035706
    Abstract: A voltage generated in any of a plurality of semiconductor chips is supplied to another chip as a power supply voltage to realize a stable operation of a semiconductor device in which the semiconductor chips are stacked in the same package. For example, two chips are stacked with each other, first to third pads are disposed along corresponding sides of the respective chips, which are arranged close and in parallel to each other, and these pads are commonly connected to each other with first to third metal wires, respectively. In another example, fourth and fifth pads are disposed along a side different from a side along which the first to third pads are disposed, and further connected to each other with a fourth metal wire directly between the chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Mikihiko Komatsu, Takao Hidaka, Junko Kimura
  • Patent number: 9209113
    Abstract: A voltage generated in any of a plurality of semiconductor chips is supplied to another chip as a power supply voltage to realize a stable operation of a semiconductor device in which the semiconductor chips are stacked in the same package. For example, two chips are stacked with each other, first to third pads are disposed along corresponding sides of the respective chips, which are arranged close and in parallel to each other, and these pads are commonly connected to each other with first to third metal wires, respectively. In another example, fourth and fifth pads are disposed along a side different from a side along which the first to third pads are disposed, and further connected to each other with a fourth metal wire directly between the chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Mikihiko Komatsu, Takao Hidaka, Junko Kimura
  • Publication number: 20150270727
    Abstract: In battery voltage monitoring ICs for measuring voltages of unit cells of an assembled battery, communication with a system control unit is realized in consideration of fail-safe. The system control unit and the battery voltage monitoring ICs are coupled to each other by a communication path using a daisy chain. Each battery voltage monitoring IC has a placement setting pin designating, by a binary code, a unit cell group to which the IC is coupled, in the unit cell groups. When it is detected that the Hamming distance between the code indicative of coupling to a group of the highest potential or a group of the lowest potential and a state actually set in the placement setting pin is 1, some failure such as line disconnection, short-circuit, or the like in the placement setting pins is detected, and the communication path is interrupted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Akiko Fukute, Ryosuke Enomoto, Junko Kimura, Toshitaka Ukai
  • Publication number: 20150102501
    Abstract: A voltage generated in any of a plurality of semiconductor chips is supplied to another chip as a power supply voltage to realize a stable operation of a semiconductor device in which the semiconductor chips are stacked in the same package. For example, two chips are stacked with each other, first to third pads are disposed along corresponding sides of the respective chips, which are arranged close and in parallel to each other, and these pads are commonly connected to each other with first to third metal wires, respectively. In another example, fourth and fifth pads are disposed along a side different from a side along which the first to third pads are disposed, and further connected to each other with a fourth metal wire directly between the chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Mikihiko Komatsu, Takao Hidaka, Junko Kimura
  • Patent number: 9000574
    Abstract: A voltage generated in any of a plurality of semiconductor chips is supplied to another chip as a power supply voltage to realize a stable operation of a semiconductor device in which the semiconductor chips are stacked in the same package. For example, two chips are stacked with each other, first to third pads are disposed along corresponding sides of the respective chips, which are arranged close and in parallel to each other, and these pads are commonly connected to each other with first to third metal wires, respectively. In another example, fourth and fifth pads are disposed along a side different from a side along which the first to third pads are disposed, and further connected to each other with a fourth metal wire directly between the chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Mikihiko Komatsu, Takao Hidaka, Junko Kimura
  • Publication number: 20140055896
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided for measuring a voltage of each of plural unit cells series-coupled in multi-stage and configuring an assembled battery. The semiconductor device includes two terminals coupled to two nodes which are electrodes of a unit cell and coupled with other unit cells, and a voltage measurement circuit which measures the inter-terminal voltage between the two terminals. The device also includes a down-convert level shifter circuit which converts the inter-terminal voltage into a low-potential-side inter-terminal voltage based on a ground potential, and a comparator circuit which compares the converted low-potential-side inter-terminal voltage with a predetermined reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshitaka MURAMOTO, Junko KIMURA, Hirohiko HAYAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20120146245
    Abstract: A voltage generated in any of a plurality of semiconductor chips is supplied to another chip as a power supply voltage to realize a stable operation of a semiconductor device in which the semiconductor chips are stacked in the same package. For example, two chips are stacked with each other, first to third pads are disposed along corresponding sides of the respective chips, which are arranged close and in parallel to each other, and these pads are commonly connected to each other with first to third metal wires, respectively. In another example, fourth and fifth pads are disposed along a side different from a side along which the first to third pads are disposed, and further connected to each other with a fourth metal wire directly between the chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikihiko Komatsu, Takao Hidaka, Junko Kimura
  • Patent number: 8134228
    Abstract: A voltage generated in any of a plurality of semiconductor chips is supplied to another chip as a power supply voltage to realize a stable operation of a semiconductor device in which the semiconductor chips are stacked in the same package. For example, two chips are stacked with each other, first to third pads are disposed along corresponding sides of the respective chips, which are arranged close and in parallel to each other, and these pads are commonly connected to each other with first to third metal wires respectively. In another example, fourth and fifth pad are disposed along a side different form a side along which the first to third pads are disposed, and further connected to each other with a fourth metal wire directly between the chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Mikihiko Komatsu, Takao Hidaka, Junko Kimura
  • Publication number: 20100072604
    Abstract: To provide a technique of supplying a voltage generated in any of a plurality of semiconductor chips to the other chip as a power supply voltage to realize a stable operation of a semiconductor device in which the semiconductor chips are stacked in the same package. In an example of the main technique, two chips are stacked with each other, first to third pads are disposed along corresponding sides of the respective chips, which are arranged close and in parallel to each other, and these pads are commonly connected to each other with first to third metal wires, respectively. In another example, fourth and fifth pads are disposed along a side different from a side along which the first to third pads are disposed, and further connected to each other with a fourth metal wire directly between the chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Mikihiko KOMATSU, Takao HIDAKA, Junko KIMURA
  • Patent number: 7492210
    Abstract: A first switch circuit includes first and second N-type MOSFETs. A second switch circuit includes third and fourth N-type MOSFETs. A control signal is input to a first inverter and a third inverter, the output of the first inverter input to a second inverter and the gate of the fourth MOSFET, the output of the second inverter input to the gate of the first MOSFET, the output of the third inverter input to a fourth inverter and the gate of the third MOSFET, the output of the fourth inverter input to the gate of the second MOSFET. A first input voltage is connected to the source of the second MOSFET and the sources of N-type MOSFETS in the third and fourth inverters. A second input voltage is connected the source of the fourth MOSFET and the sources of N-type MOSFETS in the first and second inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Imai, Junko Kimura
  • Publication number: 20070152731
    Abstract: A voltage selection circuit is disclosed which comprises: a first through a fourth inverters; a first switch circuit including a first MOSFET of N type and a second MOSFET of N type, respective drains thereof being connected in common; and a second switch circuit including a third MOSFET of N type and a fourth MOSFET of N type, respective drains thereof being connected in common, a common drive voltage being input to the first through fourth inverters, a control signal being input to the first inverter and the third inverter, the output of the first inverter being input to the second inverter and the gate of the fourth MOSFET, the output of the second inverter being input to the gate of the first MOSFET, the output of the third inverter being input to the fourth inverter and the gate of the third MOSFET, the output of the fourth inverter being input to the gate of the second MOSFET, a first input voltage selected depending on the control signal being input to the source of the second MOSFET, a second input vo
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicants: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., SANYO SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Imai, Junko Kimura
  • Patent number: 5694173
    Abstract: A video data arranging method includes the steps of providing a normal bit stream region in which normal playback block codes for normal playback of prescribed picture blocks and special playback block codes for special playback of prescribed picture blocks can be arranged, and providing a extension bit stream region for arranging block codes which are not arranged in the normal bit stream region out of the normal playback block codes and the special playback block codes when there are the normal playback block codes and the special playback block codes for prescribed picture blocks, and video data encoding/decoding apparatus suited for the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Junko Kimura, Kenji Shimoda
  • Patent number: 5289190
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording/reproducing apparatus which records an effective transmit information signal on a recording medium in a high-efficiency coded form and decodes the high-efficiency coded signal read from the recording medium to recover the original information signal. At the time of recording or dubbing of the recovered information signal on another recording medium, the information signal, a control signal indicating whether or not the information signal has been subjected to high-efficiency coding and decoding processes and a specific signal indicating a specific value used in the high-efficiency coding and decoding processes when the information signal has been subjected to the high-efficiency coding and decoding processes are transmitted, thereby preventing the deterioration of data due to the high-efficiency coding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenji Shimoda, Junko Kimura
  • Patent number: 5216712
    Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording a digital data, which includes an orthogonal transform unit for transforming the time axis of the digital data to the frequency axis on a block-by-block basis, a conversion circuit for converting the digital data from the orthogonal transform means to a digital recording data and a circuit for causing the conversion circuit to convert the digital data to a recording data which is substantially impossible to be restored to the original digital data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenji Shimoda, Junko Kimura
  • Patent number: 5161031
    Abstract: A video tape recorder including a divider for sampling video data input into the video tape recorder and dividing the video data into N sub-picture data elements, where N is an integer equal to or larger than 2, a recorder head for recording the N sub-picture data elements on a recording medium, a data reproducing circuit for reproducing the first through M-th of the recorded sub-picture data elements, where M is an integer such that 1.ltoreq.M<N, a circuit for distributing the first through M-th sub-picture elements reproduced by the reproducing circuit, and a device for displaying the data elements distributed by the distributing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Junko Kimura, Shigeo Tanaka