Patents by Inventor Kazuhiro Seo

Kazuhiro Seo 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: 11922523
    Abstract: An information processing device includes a processor configured to: acquire renewable power generation information from a renewable energy power generation server; acquire at least one of hydrogen power generation information from a hydrogen power generation server and fuel cell information; acquire grid power generation information from a grid power generation server; acquire electric power information from each of a plurality of consumer facilities in a predetermined area, the electric power information being regarding an amount of electric power consumed by the consumer facility; and generate proposal information including information on a type of electric power supplied to a predetermined consumer facility based on at least one of the renewable power generation information, the hydrogen power generation information, and the fuel cell information, the grid power generation information, and a plurality of pieces of the electric power information, and output the proposal information to the predetermined con
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Ehara, Kazuhiro Shimizu, Satoshi Tanabe, Nanae Takada, Naohiro Seo
  • Publication number: 20170059851
    Abstract: A wavelength tunable filter selectively transmitting light of any desired wavelength within the range of 450 nm to 1100 nm without using a band pass filter is disclosed. The wavelength tunable filter comprises a plurality of polarizers and a plurality of units between the adjacent polarizers on a common optical axis in a housing. Each unit has, in order from light incident side, a quartz birefringent plate, an ultra-wide band ¼ waveplate and an ultra-wide band ½ waveplate. The ultra-wide band ½ waveplate is accommodated in a cylindrical rotatable body and it is rotated by a rotating mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Luceo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Ichimoto, Kensho Yoshimura, Ryuichi Sakashita, Umehiko Honda, Masakazu Hanashima, Kazuhiro Seo
  • Patent number: 8487629
    Abstract: A battery system has: a voltage detection apparatus including a voltage detection portion which includes an AD converter which converts an analog voltage signal having a measurement target analog voltage into a digital voltage signal to output the digital voltage signal, a voltage level discrimination portion which is connected to a voltage detection line across which the analog voltage signal is delivered, and which discriminates the voltage level of the measurement target analog voltage to output a discrimination result, and a fault detection portion which detects, based on the output of the AD converter and the output of the voltage level discrimination portion, a fault in the voltage detection portion in a state in which the voltage value of the digital voltage signal is within a predetermined voltage range; a battery as a voltage source of the measurement target analog voltage; and a control portion which, when the fault detection portion detects the fault, limits the discharging of the battery, or limit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Seo
  • Patent number: 8012638
    Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the invention comprises a fuel cell stack, a fuel feeder that supplies the fuel cell stack with fuel, a rechargeable battery that is an electric storage device, a bidirectional DC/DC converter that selectively performs an operation of converting the output voltage of the rechargeable battery into a predetermined voltage and then outputting it (a discharge operation), or an operation of charging the rechargeable battery using the electric power outputted from the fuel cell stack (a charge operation), and a mode control circuit. The mode control circuit detects the output voltage of the fuel cell stack so that, when it is higher than the set value, the mode control circuit makes the bidirectional DC/DC converter perform the charge operation; when it is not higher than the set value, the mode control circuit makes the bidirectional DC/DC converter perform the discharge operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Konoto, Masaya Fujii, Kazuhiro Seo, Kunihisa Sekiguchi
  • Publication number: 20110156618
    Abstract: A battery system includes a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of printed circuit boards. A cell characteristics detecting circuit having a cell characteristics detecting function for detecting cell characteristics of the plurality of battery cells is mounted on each of the printed circuit boards. As well as the cell characteristics detecting circuit, a control-related circuit having a function different from the cell characteristics detecting function of each battery cell is mounted on the printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SEO, Keiji KISHIMOTO, Kazumi OHKURA, Yoshitomo NISHIHARA
  • Publication number: 20110101920
    Abstract: A battery system includes a plurality of battery modules each including a plurality of battery cells. One battery module includes a main circuit board, and the other battery modules include auxiliary circuit boards. The main circuit board includes a cell characteristics detecting circuit that detects characteristics of each battery cell and a control-related circuit having a function related to control of the plurality of battery modules. The auxiliary circuit board includes a cell characteristics detecting circuit that detects characteristics of each battery cell, and does not include a control-related circuit having the function related to control of the plurality of battery modules. In a battery module of another battery system, a first printed circuit board, a board holder and a second printed circuit board are attached to one end surface frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SEO, Keiji KISHIMOTO, Kazumi OHKURA, Yoshitomo NISHIHARA, Tomonori KUNIMITSU, Tomoyuki MATSUBARA
  • Publication number: 20100266919
    Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the invention comprises a fuel cell stack, a fuel feeder that supplies the fuel cell stack with fuel, a rechargeable battery that is an electric storage device, a bidirectional DC/DC converter that selectively performs an operation of converting the output voltage of the rechargeable battery into a predetermined voltage and then outputting it (a discharge operation), or an operation of charging the rechargeable battery using the electric power outputted from the fuel cell stack (a charge operation), and a mode control circuit. The mode control circuit detects the output voltage of the fuel cell stack so that, when it is higher than the set value, the mode control circuit makes the bidirectional DC/DC converter perform the charge operation; when it is not higher than the set value, the mode control circuit makes the bidirectional DC/DC converter perform the discharge operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki KONOTO, Masaya Fujii, Kazuhiro Seo, Kunihisa Sekiguchi
  • Publication number: 20100253357
    Abstract: A battery system has: a voltage detection apparatus including a voltage detection portion which includes an AD converter which converts an analog voltage signal having a measurement target analog voltage into a digital voltage signal to output the digital voltage signal, a voltage level discrimination portion which is connected to a voltage detection line across which the analog voltage signal is delivered, and which discriminates the voltage level of the measurement target analog voltage to output a discrimination result, and a fault detection portion which detects, based on the output of the AD converter and the output of the voltage level discrimination portion, a fault in the voltage detection portion in a state in which the voltage value of the digital voltage signal is within a predetermined voltage range; a battery as a voltage source of the measurement target analog voltage; and a control portion which, when the fault detection portion detects the fault, limits the discharging of the battery, or limit
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro SEO
  • Publication number: 20100193266
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus 100 provided with a plurality of electric storage devices V1 to V3 connected in parallel, comprising a temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of each of the plurality of electric storage devices V1 to V3; a switching element connected to each of the plurality of electric storage devices V1 to V3 in series; and a controller configured to control an on-state and an off-state of the switching element, wherein the controller sets the switching element to the off-state when the temperature detected by the temperature detector is higher than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Seo, Hiroshi Abe
  • Patent number: 7767353
    Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the invention comprises a fuel cell stack, a fuel feeder that supplies the fuel cell stack with fuel, a rechargeable battery that is an electric storage device, a bidirectional DC/DC converter that selectively performs an operation of converting the output voltage of the rechargeable battery into a predetermined voltage and then outputting it (a discharge operation), or an operation of charging the rechargeable battery using the electric power outputted from the fuel cell stack (a charge operation), and a mode control circuit. The mode control circuit detects the output voltage of the fuel cell stack so that, when it is higher than the set value, the mode control circuit makes the bidirectional DC/DC converter perform the charge operation; when it is not higher than the set value, the mode control circuit makes the bidirectional DC/DC converter perform the discharge operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Konoto, Masaya Fujii, Kazuhiro Seo, Kunihisa Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 7535194
    Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel feeder that provides the fuel cell stack with fuel, a fuel cell DC/DC converter that converts the output voltage of the fuel cell stack to a predetermined voltage and then outputs it, a rechargeable battery that is an electric storage device, and a rechargeable battery DC/DC converter that converts the output voltage of the rechargeable battery to a predetermined voltage and then outputs it. The setting of a voltage at a node at which an output end of the fuel cell DC/DC converter and an output end of the rechargeable battery DC/DC converter are connected together is changeable, and the rechargeable battery is detachable. As a result, the fuel cell system of the present invention has high versatility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Konoto, Kazuhiro Seo, Hiroshi Kurokawa, Masahiro Makino
  • Publication number: 20070212580
    Abstract: A hybrid power supply device is provided with a fuel cell, an electric storage device that is connected in parallel to the fuel cell via a switch, and a control circuit that controls connection between output terminals of the fuel cell and the electric storage device by controlling on/off of the switch. Here, the control circuit controls the connection between the output terminals based on an output current of the fuel cell, and disconnects the output terminals when the output current of the fuel cell becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined lower limit current while the output terminals are connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Seo, Masaya Fujii
  • Patent number: 7262605
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus has a battery apparatus that is composed of a battery, a temperature sensor that is thermally coupled to the battery and whose electrical resistance changes with the temperature of the battery to which it is thermally coupled, a temperature detection circuit that detects the temperature of the battery by detecting the electrical resistance of the temperature sensor, and a power supply circuit that feeds electrical power to the temperature detection circuit. The temperature sensor is connected via an overcurrent protection circuit to the power supply circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Seo, Kimihiko Furukawa
  • Publication number: 20060220609
    Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel feeder that provides the fuel cell stack with fuel, a fuel cell DC/DC converter that converts the output voltage of the fuel cell stack to a predetermined voltage and then outputs it, a rechargeable battery that is an electric storage device, and a rechargeable battery DC/DC converter that converts the output voltage of the rechargeable battery to a predetermined voltage and then outputs it. The setting of a voltage at a node at which an output end of the fuel cell DC/DC converter and an output end of the rechargeable battery DC/DC converter are connected together is changeable, and the rechargeable battery is detachable. As a result, the fuel cell system of the present invention has high versatility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Konoto, Kazuhiro Seo, Hiroshi Kurokawa, Masahiro Makino
  • Patent number: 7098626
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus has a battery and a temperature detection circuit. The battery has n battery cells, and the temperature detection circuit has m temperature detection units. Each temperature detection units has a temperature sensor that is thermally coupled to one or more of the battery cells and whose electrical resistance decreases as the temperature of the battery cell or battery cells to which it is thermally coupled increases, a serial resistor that is connected in series with the temperature sensor, and a first diode whose cathode is connected to the node between the temperature sensor and the serial resistor. The serial circuit formed by the temperature sensor and the serial resistor receives a predetermined voltage such that, as the electrical resistance of the temperature sensor decreases, the voltage at the node decreases. The first diodes have anodes thereof connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Seo, Kimihiko Furukawa, Isao Arai
  • Patent number: 7071698
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus according to the present invention includes a battery and a voltage detection circuit for detecting the voltage of the battery. The voltage detection circuit includes a differential amplifier which has a first input terminal for receiving a voltage based on the voltage of the battery and a second input terminal for receiving a predetermined triangular wave and outputs a rectangular wave with a pulse width modulated according to the voltage based on the voltage of the battery and a predetermined offset voltage, and an offset circuit which supplies the offset voltage to one of the first input terminal and the second input terminal so that the differential amplifier outputs a particular rectangular wave according to the offset voltage even when the voltage based on the voltage of the battery which is supplied to the first input terminal is 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Sany Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimihiko Furukawa, Kazuhiro Seo, Yoshiaki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20060029845
    Abstract: A fuel cell system of the invention is built as a system in which a fuel cell stack and an electric storage device are provided in parallel, and includes, in addition to the fuel cell stack and the electric storage device, a fuel feeder and a DC/DC converter. The fuel feeder feeds the fuel cell stack with fuel. The DC/DC converter converts the output voltage of the electric storage device into a predetermined voltage and outputs it. This predetermined voltage is equal to or higher than the output voltage of the fuel cell stack as obtained when it is outputting the maximum output electric power. The fuel cell system of the invention is free from shortening of the lifetime of the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Inventors: Masaaki Konoto, Masaya Fujii, Kazuhiro Seo, Masahiro Makino
  • Publication number: 20060029846
    Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the invention comprises a fuel cell stack, a fuel feeder that supplies the fuel cell stack with fuel, a rechargeable battery that is an electric storage device, a bidirectional DC/DC converter that selectively performs an operation of converting the output voltage of the rechargeable battery into a predetermined voltage and then outputting it (a discharge operation), or an operation of charging the rechargeable battery using the electric power outputted from the fuel cell stack (a charge operation), and a mode control circuit. The mode control circuit detects the output voltage of the fuel cell stack so that, when it is higher than the set value, the mode control circuit makes the bidirectional DC/DC converter perform the charge operation; when it is not higher than the set value, the mode control circuit makes the bidirectional DC/DC converter perform the discharge operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Inventors: Masaaki Konoto, Masaya Fujii, Kazuhiro Seo, Kunihisa Sekiguchi
  • Publication number: 20060029842
    Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the invention comprises a fuel feeder, a fuel cell stack, a mode control circuit, a bidirectional DC/DC converter, and an electric storage device. The fuel feeder supplies the fuel cell stack with fuel required for the fuel cell stack to generate a predetermined electric power. When the electric power outputted from the fuel cell stack is larger than the load electric power, the mode control circuit makes the bidirectional DC/DC converter perform an operation of charging the electric storage device using the electric power outputted from the fuel cell stack. When the electric power outputted from the fuel cell stack is smaller than the load electric power, the mode control circuit makes the bidirectional DC/DC converter perform an operation of converting the output voltage of the electric storage device into a predetermined voltage and then outputting it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Inventors: Masaaki Konoto, Masaya Fujii, Kazuhiro Seo
  • Publication number: 20050231169
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus has a battery apparatus that is composed of a battery, a temperature sensor that is thermally coupled to the battery and whose electrical resistance changes with the temperature of the battery to which it is thermally coupled, a temperature detection circuit that detects the temperature of the battery by detecting the electrical resistance of the temperature sensor, and a power supply circuit that feeds electrical power to the temperature detection circuit. The temperature sensor is connected via an overcurrent protection circuit to the power supply circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Seo, Kimihiko Furukawa