Patents by Inventor Katsumi Kouzu

Katsumi Kouzu 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: 6411063
    Abstract: A power source has a battery pack housing a plurality of interconnected battery modules wherein a plurality of single cells are connected serially. A blower is provided which forces air through the battery pack to maintain the battery modules at a correct temperature. A controller controls the blower in accordance with data provided by sensors which detect voltage, current and temperature. The controller outputs the data and a state of charge. A charging/discharging current circuit includes a relay for interrupting charging and discharging of the battery modules in the event of failure and also includes a rush current prevention resistor and a current sensor. The controller permits the power source to be maintained in a correct operating condition wherein neither overcharging nor undercharging occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kouzu, Tadao Kimura, Toshiaki Nakanishi, Shuuhei Marukawa, Kiwamu Inui, Koh Watanabe, Kunio Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 6344728
    Abstract: A power source has a battery pack housing a plurality of interconnected battery modules wherein a plurality of single cells are connected serially. A blower is provided which forces air through the battery pack to maintain the battery modules at a correct temperature. A controller controls the blower in accordance with date provided by sensors which detect voltage, current and temperature. The controller outputs the data and a state of charge. A charging/discharging current circuit includes a relay for interrupting charging and discharging of the battery modules in the event of failure and also includes a rush current prevention resistor and a current sensor. The controller permits the power source to be maintained in a correct operating condition wherein neither overcharging nor undercharging occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kouzu, Tadao Kimura, Toshiaki Nakanishi, Shuuhei Marukawa, Kiwamu Inui, Koh Watanabe, Kunio Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 6225788
    Abstract: A power source has a battery pack housing a plurality of interconnected battery modules wherein a plurality of single cells are connected serially. A blower is provided which forces air through the battery pack to maintain the battery modules at a correct temperature. A controller controls the blower in accordance with data provided by sensors which detect voltage, current and temperature. The controller outputs the data and a state of charge. A charging/discharging current circuit includes a relay for interrupting charging and discharging of the battery modules in the event of failure and also includes a rush current prevention resistor and a current sensor. The controller permits the power source to be maintained in a correct operating condition wherein neither overcharging nor undercharging occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kouzu, Tadao Kimura, Toshiaki Nakanishi, Shuuhei Marukawa, Kiwamu Inui, Koh Watanabe, Kunio Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 6211645
    Abstract: Battery power source device wherein a large number of battery modules (9) consisting of a row of a plurality of single cells (7) connected electrically and mechanically in series are arranged parallel to each other and held in a holder casing (10), bus bars (28) being provided that effect electrical connection between the terminals of battery modules (9) at respective end plates (19), (20) positioned at both ends of this holder casing (10) wherein the end plates (19), (20) are constituted of resin plates and the bus bars (28) are fixed to the end plates (19), (20) by insertion molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Kouzu, Takaki Kobayashi, Shuuhei Marukawa, Toyohiko Etoh, Koh Watanabe, Yasuyoshi Fukao, Manabu Kakino, Kiwamu Inui, Kunio Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 6211646
    Abstract: Battery power source device wherein a large number of battery modules (9) consisting of a row of a plurality of single cells (7) connected electrically and mechanically in series are arranged parallel to each other and held in a holder casing (10), bus bars (28) being provided that effect electrical connection between the terminals of battery modules (9) at respective end plates (19), (20) positioned at both ends of this holder casing (10) wherein the end plates (19), (20) are constituted of resin plates and the bus bars (28) are fixed to the end plates (19), (20) by insertion molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Kouzu, Takaki Kobayashi, Shuuhei Marukawa, Toyohiko Etoh, Koh Watanabe, Yasuyoshi Fukao, Manabu Kakino, Kiwamu Inui, Kunio Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 6111387
    Abstract: Battery power source device wherein a large number of battery modules (9) consisting of a row of a plurality of single cells (7) connected electrically and mechanically in series are arranged parallel to each other and held in a holder casing (10), bus bars (28) being provided that effect electrical connection between the terminals of battery modules (9) at respective end plates (19), (20) positioned at both ends of this holder casing (10) wherein the end plates (19), (20) are constituted of resin plates and the bus bars (28) are fixed to the end plates (19), (20) by insertion molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Kouzu, Takaki Kobayashi, Shuuhei Marukawa, Toyohiko Etoh, Koh Watanabe, Yasuyoshi Fukao, Manabu Kakino, Kiwamu Inui, Kunio Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 5826980
    Abstract: A non-contact thermometer uses a pyroelectric infrared sensor which makes it possible to measure temperatures of an object having a large area required to be measured, and at a plurality of points. The thermometer sets up a reference position without using a position detecting switch and also improves the accuracy of measuring the temperature due to its increased amount of incident infrared rays transmitted as a result of reducing the motor speed and extending the time of measurement at the point where infrared rays of the object to be measured is to be detected. The thermometer's stepping motor is fed with its operation step input and brought to a stop at the reference exciting phase of the motor which has been set up in advance. The whole measurement operation thereafter is arranged to proceed, starting from the above exciting phase serving as the reference, at which point the motor was brought to a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kouzu, Shigehiro Yoshiuchi, Koji Oike, Masaaki Matsui, Kazuto Kume