Patents by Inventor Kazuaki Sakurama

Kazuaki Sakurama 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).

  • Gate driver, motor driving device including the gate driver, and apparatus equipped with the motor driving device
    Patent number: 7362061
    Abstract: A gate driver for forcing a power transistor including a gate electrode insulated with oxide film into conduction or shut-off, the gate driver includes a first current source for outputting a first current value to raise an electric potential of the gate electrode for changing shut-off state of the power transistor to conductive state; and a second current source for outputting a second current value to lower the electric potential of the gate electrode for changing the conductive state of the power transistor to the shut-off state. The first current value and the second current value are assigned based on at least one kind of current-source control information. This structure allows preparing an appropriate speed of forcing the power transistor into conduction or shut-off with a small number of elements, and the gate driver can be used with ease for driving power transistors having different output sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Yasohara, Koji Kameda, Kazuaki Sakurama
  • Gate driver, motor driving device including the gate driver, and apparatus equipped with the motor driving device
    Publication number: 20040135528
    Abstract: A gate driver for forcing a power transistor including a gate electrode insulated with oxide film into conduction or shut-off, the gate driver includes a first current source for outputting a first current value to raise an electric potential of the gate electrode for changing shut-off state of the power transistor to conductive state; and a second current source for outputting a second current value to lower the electric potential of the gate electrode for changing the conductive state of the power transistor to the shut-off state. The first current value and the second current value are assigned based on at least one kind of current-source control information. This structure allows preparing an appropriate speed of forcing the power transistor into conduction or shut-off with a small number of elements, and the gate driver can be used with ease for driving power transistors having different output sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Masahiro Yasohara, Koji Kameda, Kazuaki Sakurama