Patents by Inventor Kazuaki Mitsui

Kazuaki Mitsui 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: 9231478
    Abstract: An M-channel (M is an integer of at least two) synchronous rectification type step-down DC/DC converter is provided. A controller in the converter (i) calculates a load current on a basis of currents flowing through M inductors, (ii) dynamically changes the number K of driving phases (K is an integer of up to M) on the basis of the calculated load current, (iii) generates a pulse signal adjusted in duty ratio such that an output voltage of an output line coincides with a predetermined reference voltage, (iv) selects K drivers among M drivers, and distributes the pulse signal with a phase difference of (360/K) degrees to each of the selected K drivers, and (v) monotonically increases an amplitude control signal indicating the amplitude of a gate driving voltage with respect to the calculated load current in a range determined in advance for each number K of driving phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuki Sasao, Kazuaki Mitsui
  • Patent number: 8963525
    Abstract: The present disclosure is to provide a DC/DC converter capable of suppressing increase in the ripple amount of the output voltage in association with switching of the number of drive phases. N (N is an integer equal to or larger than 2) switching circuits each generate a switching voltage at the switching node according to an input pulse signal. A phase controller dynamically switches the number K (K is an integer equal to or smaller than N) of drive phases according to the state of a DC/DC converter at the time. A pulse modulator generates a pulse signal whose frequency changes according to the number K of drive phases. A distributor selects K switching circuits among the N switching circuits and distributes the pulse signal to each of the selected K switching circuits with a phase difference of (360/K) degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuki Sasao, Kazuaki Mitsui
  • Publication number: 20150008890
    Abstract: An M-channel (M is an integer of at least two) synchronous rectification type step-down DC/DC converter is provided. A controller in the converter (i) calculates a load current on a basis of currents flowing through M inductors, (ii) dynamically changes the number K of driving phases (K is an integer of up to M) on the basis of the calculated load current, (iii) generates a pulse signal adjusted in duty ratio such that an output voltage of an output line coincides with a predetermined reference voltage, (iv) selects K drivers among M drivers, and distributes the pulse signal with a phase difference of (360/K) degrees to each of the selected K drivers, and (vi) monotonically increases an amplitude control signal indicating the amplitude of a gate driving voltage with respect to the calculated load current in a range determined in advance for each number K of driving phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Kazuki Sasao, Kazuaki Mitsui
  • Patent number: 8836305
    Abstract: Based upon a detection voltage VL that develops between ISEN+ and ISEN? terminals, a current detection circuit detects a coil current IL that flows through an inductor. A measurement circuit is connected to an inductor, and measures an inductance value L and a DC resistance value RDC of the inductor in a calibration operation before normal operation of a DC/DC converter. Based upon the inductance value L and the DC resistance value RDC thus measured, the current detection circuit detects the coil current IL using the detection voltage VL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuki Sasao, Kazuaki Mitsui
  • Publication number: 20140111172
    Abstract: The present disclosure is to provide a DC/DC converter capable of suppressing increase in the ripple amount of the output voltage in association with switching of the number of drive phases. N (N is an integer equal to or larger than 2) switching circuits each generate a switching voltage at the switching node according to an input pulse signal. A phase controller dynamically switches the number K (K is an integer equal to or smaller than N) of drive phases according to the state of a DC/DC converter at the time. A pulse modulator generates a pulse signal whose frequency changes according to the number K of drive phases. A distributor selects K switching circuits among the N switching circuits and distributes the pulse signal to each of the selected K switching circuits with a phase difference of (360/K) degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuki Sasao, Kazuaki Mitsui
  • Patent number: 8051304
    Abstract: In a power supply apparatus for supplying a target power supply voltage to a microprocessor, a system controller sets the target power supply voltage to be supplied to the microprocessor based on a voltage configuration signal outputted from the microprocessor and outputs a voltage setting signal corresponding to the target power supply voltage. The regulator circuit generates the target power supply voltage set by the system controller based on the voltage setting signal outputted from the system controller and supplies the voltage to the microprocessor 10. The system controller acquires the conditions of the microprocessor, such as the operating time and temperature of the microprocessor and the amount of computation in the microprocessor, and reflects the acquired conditions on the setting of the power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Iwao Takiguchi, Kazuaki Mitsui, Tetsuji Tamura, Atsuhiko Imai
  • Publication number: 20090037752
    Abstract: In a power supply apparatus for supplying a target power supply voltage to a microprocessor, a system controller sets the target power supply voltage to be supplied to the microprocessor based on a voltage configuration signal outputted from the microprocessor and outputs a voltage setting signal corresponding to the target power supply voltage. The regulator circuit generates the target power supply voltage set by the system controller based on the voltage setting signal outputted from the system controller and supplies the voltage to the microprocessor 10. The system controller acquires the conditions of the microprocessor, such as the operating time and temperature of the microprocessor and the amount of computation in the microprocessor, and reflects the acquired conditions on the setting of the power supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Iwao Takiguchi, Kazuaki Mitsui, Tetsuji Tamura, Atsuhiko Imai
  • Patent number: 7405919
    Abstract: A power supply circuit produces a supply voltage to be supplied to a microprocessor which is an integrated circuit. A transmission line type noise filter includes a signal input terminal, a signal output terminal and two ground terminals corresponding respectively to the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal. The transmission line type noise filter eliminates a high-frequency component of DC voltage applied to the signal input terminal and outputs it from the signal output terminal. A first power supply line pattern, formed on a printed-circuit board, connects an output terminal of the power supply circuit with the signal input terminal of the transmission line type noise filter. A second power supply line pattern connects the signal output terminal of the transmission line type noise filter with a power supply terminal of the microprocessor. A ground land pattern is connected with an external ground potential through via holes and makes a connection between the two ground terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Mitsui
  • Publication number: 20070075696
    Abstract: A power supply circuit produces a supply voltage to be supplied to a microprocessor which is an integrated circuit. A transmission line type noise filter includes a signal input terminal, a signal output terminal and two ground terminals corresponding respectively to the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal. The transmission line type noise filter eliminates a high-frequency component of DC voltage applied to the signal input terminal and outputs it from the signal output terminal. A first power supply line pattern, formed on a printed-circuit board, connects an output terminal of the power supply circuit with the signal input terminal of the transmission line type noise filter. A second power supply line pattern connects the signal output terminal of the transmission line type noise filter with a power supply terminal of the microprocessor. A ground land pattern is connected with an external ground potential through via holes and makes a connection between the two ground terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventor: Kazuaki Mitsui
  • Patent number: 4260878
    Abstract: A management system for a copying machine includes a detection circuit for determining whether the information representing a department of the user recorded on a magnetic card is properly read and for providing an operation signal to the copying machine to make it operable. A memory unit having a plurality of storage locations counts a pulse signal generated by the copying machine everytime a copy is produced and stores the date indicative of the total number of produced copies at a storage location assigned in accordance with the read-out information of a department. The total number of copies produced by each of different departments of users is displayed together with the indication of the department by a visual display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignees: Nippondenso Co., Ltd., Systemkiki Co., Ltd., Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Kawamura, Takeshi Kato, Kouji Ohira, Katsusuke Nishimura, Kazuaki Mitsui