Patents by Inventor Katsuki Aoi

Katsuki Aoi 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: 10094727
    Abstract: Provided is a knocking sensor with a support member, a piezoelectric element, a pair of electrode parts, a resistor and a case. The resistor has a resistor body formed with a metal film and connected in parallel to the pair of electrode parts. The resistor also has an outer coating film applied to cover the metal film. The outer coating film is formed of a resin material having a higher thermal deformation temperature than that of a resin material of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuki Aoi
  • Patent number: 9709454
    Abstract: A non-resonant knock sensor includes: a sensor body having a metal shell provided with a shell-side cylindrical portion and a shell-side flange portion, a piezoelectric element, a weight arranged to hold the piezoelectric element between the shell-side flange portion and the weight and a fixing member having a third through hole through which the shell-side cylindrical portion is inserted and being arranged to press the weight toward the shell-side flange portion and thereby fix the weight in position; and a resin molded part. The fixing member has formed therein flow paths for introducing a resin into an inner space between the shell-side cylindrical portion and the piezoelectric element. The flow paths are provided in the form of at least one of being connected to the third through hole and being separated from the third through hole and are formed intermittently in a circumferential direction of the fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuki Aoi
  • Patent number: 9291518
    Abstract: In a knocking sensor, including: a metal shell having a cylindrical portion, and a flange portion that is located on the cylindrical portion, and projected toward an outside of the cylindrical portion in a circumferential direction, an annular weight that is fitted onto an outer circumference of the cylindrical portion, and has an upper surface, an annular piezoelectric element that is fitted onto an outer circumference of the cylindrical portion, and interposed between the flange portion and the weight, and an insulating body that is interposed between the flange portion and the piezoelectric element, a protruding portion that is protruded while being plastically deformed from an inner surface of the cylindrical portion outward in a circumferential direction, and locks the weight in contact with the upper surface of the weight directly or through a member is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuki Aoi
  • Publication number: 20160041057
    Abstract: Provided is a knocking sensor with a support member, a piezoelectric element, a pair of electrode parts, a resistor and a case. The resistor has a resistor body formed with a metal film and connected in parallel to the pair of electrode parts. The resistor also has an outer coating film applied to cover the metal film. The outer coating film is formed of a resin material having a higher thermal deformation temperature than that of a resin material of the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventor: Katsuki AOI
  • Publication number: 20150204750
    Abstract: A non-resonant knock sensor includes: a sensor body having a metal shell provided with a shell-side cylindrical portion and a shell-side flange portion, a piezoelectric element, a weight arranged to hold the piezoelectric element between the shell-side flange portion and the weight and a fixing member having a third through hole through which the shell-side cylindrical portion is inserted and being arranged to press the weight toward the shell-side flange portion and thereby fix the weight in position; and a resin molded part. The fixing member has formed therein flow paths for introducing a resin into an inner space between the shell-side cylindrical portion and the piezoelectric element. The flow paths are provided in the form of at least one of being connected to the third through hole and being separated from the third through hole and are formed intermittently in a circumferential direction of the fixing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuki Aoi
  • Patent number: 8833142
    Abstract: A non-resonant knocking sensor including a sensor body including: a metal shell having a shell-side cylindrical section, a piezoelectric element, a weight and a fixing portion having a fixing-side cylindrical section; and a resin molded body. The fixing-side cylindrical section includes crimped portions to be crimped and spaced-apart portions which are spaced apart from the shell-side cylindrical section, and a space between the outer circumferential surface of the shell-side cylindrical section and an inner circumferential surface of the spaced-apart portions are filled with the resin. Also disclosed is a method for producing the non-resonant knocking sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuki Aoi
  • Publication number: 20140076028
    Abstract: A knocking sensor including: a sensor body including, a metal shell including a tubular portion and a flange portion, a piezoelectric element, a weight sandwiching the piezoelectric element with the flange portion, a flange portion-side electrode plate placed between the piezoelectric element and the flange portion, a weight-side electrode plate placed between the piezoelectric element and the weight, a flange portion-side insulating plate placed between the flange portion and the flange portion-side electrode plate, and a weight-side insulating plate placed between the weight and the weight-side electrode plate; and a resin molded body made of a resin and covering the sensor body, wherein the resin molded body is made of polyphenylene sulfide, and wherein the flange portion-side insulating plate and the weight-side insulating plate are made of a resin that does not contain ester bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kuno, Katsuki Aoi
  • Publication number: 20140081553
    Abstract: In a knocking sensor, including: a metal shell having a cylindrical portion, and a flange portion that is located on the cylindrical portion, and projected toward an outside of the cylindrical portion in a circumferential direction, an annular weight that is fitted onto an outer circumference of the cylindrical portion, and has an upper surface, an annular piezoelectric element that is fitted onto an outer circumference of the cylindrical portion, and interposed between the flange portion and the weight, and an insulating body that is interposed between the flange portion and the piezoelectric element, a protruding portion that is protruded while being elastically deformed from an inner surface of the cylindrical portion outward in a circumferential direction, and locks the weight in contact with the upper surface of the weight directly or through a member is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuki AOI
  • Publication number: 20120324983
    Abstract: A non-resonant knocking sensor including a sensor body including: a metal shell having a shell-side cylindrical section, a piezoelectric element, a weight and a fixing portion having a fixing-side cylindrical section; and a resin molded body. The fixing-side cylindrical section includes crimped portions to be crimped and spaced-apart portions which are spaced apart from the shell-side cylindrical section, and a space between the outer circumferential surface of the shell-side cylindrical section and an inner circumferential surface of the spaced-apart portions are filled with the resin. Also disclosed is a method for producing the non-resonant knocking sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuki AOI
  • Patent number: 8266948
    Abstract: A knocking sensor which includes: a piezoelectric element; a support member having a support body portion, the support body portion including a support surface directly or indirectly supporting the piezoelectric element; and a resin coating covering the piezoelectric element and at least a part of the support member, the resin coating having an outside portion covering an outer circumference of the piezoelectric element and an outer circumference of the support body portion. The support body portion of the support member has a first engagement portion on the base end side thereof. The resin coating has a curved portion which extends from the outside portion toward the interfacial direction inner side, and curves toward the base end side of the support body portion. Further, the curved portion includes a second engagement portion which engages the first engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Ito, Daisuke Tahira, Katsuki Aoi
  • Publication number: 20100005859
    Abstract: A knocking sensor which includes: a piezoelectric element; a support member having a support body portion, the support body portion including a support surface directly or indirectly supporting the piezoelectric element; and a resin coating covering the piezoelectric element and at least a part of the support member, the resin coating having an outside portion covering an outer circumference of the piezoelectric element and an outer circumference of the support body portion. The support body portion of the support member has a first engagement portion on the base end side thereof. The resin coating has a curved portion which extends from the outside portion toward the interfacial direction inner side, and curves toward the base end side of the support body portion. Further, the curved portion includes a second engagement portion which engages the first engagement portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD
    Inventors: Shingo ITO, Daisuke TAHIRA, Katsuki AOI
  • Patent number: 7475589
    Abstract: A knock sensor 1 for attachment to an internal combustion engine. The knock sensor 1 includes a cap 41a and a support member 11. At least a part of the top surface of the support member 11 is covered by cap 41a to prevent a mounting bolt 91 from directly making contact with the top surface of the support member 11 when the mounting bolt 91 extends through a through-hole 71 in the sensor. The cap 41a covers the top surface of the support member 11 to protect the support member from being ground or abraded by the mounting bolt 91.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kuno, Katsuki Aoi, Noriaki Kondo
  • Publication number: 20060207312
    Abstract: A knock sensor 1 for attachment to an internal combustion engine. The knock sensor 1 includes a cap 41a and a support member 11. At least a part of the top surface of the support member 11 is covered by cap 41a to prevent a mounting bolt 91 from directly making contact with the top surface of the support member 11 when the mounting bolt 91 extends through a through-hole 71 in the sensor. The cap 41a covers the top surface of the support member 11 to protect the support member from being ground or abraded by the mounting bolt 91.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kuno, Katsuki Aoi, Noriaki Kondo
  • Patent number: 7100426
    Abstract: A knocking sensor comprises: a cylindrical body including a cylindrical portion and a supporting flange provided at an outer circumference of a lower end of the cylindrical portion; parts including an insulating member, an electrode plate and an annular piezoelectric element; and a fixing member including a tubular portion which comprises a holding portion protruding from an outer circumference of the tubular portion and is formed to insert into the cylindrical portion from an upper end of the cylindrical portion, the holding portion being elastically deformable to hold the parts, wherein the fixing member is fixed in the cylindrical portion by inserting the tubular portion into the cylindrical portion from the upper end of the cylindrical portion and wherein the parts are clamped and fixed between the supporting flange and the holding portion by holding the parts elastically with the holding portion, while the fixing member is fixed in the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuki Aoi, Tomohiro Hirata, Takashi Maeda
  • Patent number: 6923041
    Abstract: A non-resonance type knock sensor is provided which comprises a support member having a main body portion in the form of a hollow post and a radially outward flange portion at an axial end of the main body portion, the main body portion having an abutment at an outer circumferential periphery thereof, a piezoelectric element having a hole through which the main body portion extends and placed on the flange portion, a weight having a hole through which the main body portion extends and placed on the piezoelectric element, and an elastic device disposed between the abutment and the weight to produce an elastic force for pressing the weight and the piezoelectric element against the flange portion and thereby fixing the weight and the piezoelectric element to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadamitsu Harada, Katsuki Aoi
  • Publication number: 20050155412
    Abstract: A knocking sensor comprises: a cylindrical body including a cylindrical portion and a supporting flange provided at an outer circumference of a lower end of the cylindrical portion; parts including an insulating member, an electrode plate and an annular piezoelectric element; and a fixing member including a tubular portion which comprises a holding portion protruding from an outer circumference of the tubular portion and is formed to insert into the cylindrical portion from an upper end of the cylindrical portion, the holding portion being elastically deformable to hold the parts, wherein the fixing member is fixed in the cylindrical portion by inserting the tubular portion into the cylindrical portion from the upper end of the cylindrical portion and wherein the parts are clamped and fixed between the supporting flange and the holding portion by holding the parts elastically with the holding portion, while the fixing member is fixed in the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Katsuki Aoi, Tomohiro Hirata, Takashi Maeda
  • Publication number: 20040250603
    Abstract: A knock sensor comprises a sensor body having a metallic shell including a cylindrical portion and a flange portion formed at an end of the cylindrical portion, an annular piezoelectric element fitted around the cylindrical portion and an annular weighting member fitted around the cylindrical portion to hold the piezoelectric element between the weighting member and the flange portion, and a resin-molded sensor casing arranged circumferentially around the sensor body. The resin-molded sensor casing includes a weighting portion located nearer to the weighting member than to the piezoelectric element with respect to an axial direction of the cylindrical portion, and at least the weighting portion of the resin-molded sensor casing is made of a resin containing at least one of metal powder and metal oxide powder and has a density of 2.0 g/cm3 or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sadamitsu Harada, Katsuki Aoi, Tomohiro Hirata, Yasuo Ito
  • Patent number: 6752005
    Abstract: A knock sensor comprises a sensor body having a metallic shell including a cylindrical portion and a flange portion formed at an end of the cylindrical portion, an annular piezoelectric element fitted around the cylindrical portion and an annular weighting member fitted around the cylindrical portion to hold the piezoelectric element between the weighting member and the flange portion, and a resin-molded sensor casing arranged circumferentially around the sensor body. The resin-molded sensor casing includes a weighting portion located nearer to the weighting member than to the piezoelectric element with respect to an axial direction of the cylindrical portion, and at least the weighting portion of the resin-molded sensor casing is made of a resin containing at least one of metal powder and metal oxide powder and has a density of 2.0 g/cm3 or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadamitsu Harada, Katsuki Aoi, Tomohiro Hirata, Yasuo Ito
  • Publication number: 20030200790
    Abstract: A knock sensor comprises a sensor body having a metallic shell including a cylindrical portion and a flange portion formed at an end of the cylindrical portion, an annular piezoelectric element fitted around the cylindrical portion and an annular weighting member fitted around the cylindrical portion to hold the piezoelectric element between the weighting member and the flange portion, and a resin-molded sensor casing arranged circumferentially around the sensor body. The resin-molded sensor casing includes a weighting portion located nearer to the weighting member than to the piezoelectric element with respect to an axial direction of the cylindrical portion, and at least the weighting portion of the resin-molded sensor casing is made of a resin containing at least one of metal powder and metal oxide powder and has a density of 2.0 g/cm3 or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sadamitsu Harada, Katsuki Aoi, Tomohiro Hirata, Yasuo Ito
  • Publication number: 20030121312
    Abstract: A non-resonance type knock sensor is provided which comprises a support member having a main body portion in the form of a hollow post and a radially outward flange portion at an axial end of the main body portion, the main body portion having an abutment at an outer circumferential periphery thereof, a piezoelectric element having a hole through which the main body portion extends and placed on the flange portion, a weight having a hole through which the main body portion extends and placed on the piezoelectric element, and an elastic device disposed between the abutment and the weight to produce an elastic force for pressing the weight and the piezoelectric element against the flange portion and thereby fixing the weight and the piezoelectric element to the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sadamitsu Harada, Katsuki Aoi