Patents by Inventor Kazunari KOKUBO

Kazunari KOKUBO 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: 11094500
    Abstract: A discharge control apparatus for controlling a flyback power supply circuit which includes a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil and performing voltage conversion, and a driver for controlling energization of the primary coil. The power supply circuit supplies electric energy to a plasma reactor. The discharge control apparatus calculates, based on primary current flowing through the primary coil and primary voltage generated in the primary coil, supply energy supplied to the primary coil and regeneration energy which is a portion of the supply energy not used for the discharge in the plasma reactor. The discharge control apparatus controls the power supply circuit based on the calculated supply energy and the calculated regeneration energy. Also disclosed is a method for controlling the flyback power supply circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Matsumoto, Kazunari Kokubo
  • Publication number: 20200312607
    Abstract: A discharge control apparatus for controlling a flyback power supply circuit which includes a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil and performing voltage conversion, and a driver for controlling energization of the primary coil. The power supply circuit supplies electric energy to a plasma reactor. The discharge control apparatus calculates, based on primary current flowing through the primary coil and primary voltage generated in the primary coil, supply energy supplied to the primary coil and regeneration energy which is a portion of the supply energy not used for the discharge in the plasma reactor. The discharge control apparatus controls the power supply circuit based on the calculated supply energy and the calculated regeneration energy. Also disclosed is a method for controlling the flyback power supply circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji MATSUMOTO, Kazunari KOKUBO
  • Patent number: 10352901
    Abstract: Particulate measurement processing executed by a sensor control section of a particulate measurement system includes a step of stopping voltage conversion by a first isolation transformer and a second isolation transformer, a step of obtaining correction information B, and a step of correcting ion current A through use of the correction information B. The correction information B reflects improper current generated through particulates, etc. (soot or the like) adhering to a particulate sensor. The ion current A (signal current Iesc) is corrected through use of the correction information B, and the amount of soot S is computed through use of the corrected ion current A?. As a result, it is possible to measure the amount of the soot S (the amount of particulates) while suppressing the influence of the improper current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Isao Suzuki, Kazunari Kokubo
  • Patent number: 9897528
    Abstract: A particulate detection system (1) for detecting the quantity of particulates S in a gas under measurement EG includes first heater energization means S2 to S3, current convergence determination means S4 to S5, S7 to S8, second heater energization means S6, and detection start means S10. S2 to S3 performs low-temperature energization of heater (78) for a predetermined period after operation of ion source (11) is started by ion source drive circuit (210) such that gaseous discharge current Id becomes equal to a predetermined target current It. S4 to S5, S7 to S8 determines, after elapse of the predetermined period, whether or not Id has converged to an allowable range IR. When S4 to S5 determines that Id has not yet converged, S6 performs high-temperature energization of the heater (78) until Id converges. Then, S10 starts detection of particulates S using signal Is detected by a detection circuit (230).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Motomura, Takeshi Sugiyama, Kazunari Kokubo
  • Patent number: 9719907
    Abstract: A particulate detection system (1) for detecting the quantity of particulates S in a gas under measurement EG, including a detection section (10), a drive circuit (210, 240), and a control section (230, 202). The detection section (10) has an ion source (11) and a particulate electrification section (12). The drive circuit (210) includes an ion source drive circuit (210) for performing constant current control. The control section (230, 202) includes current convergence determination means S2-S3, S5-S6, and detection start means S8 for starting detection of the quantity of the particulates S using the signal Is, detected by a detection circuit (230), after the gaseous discharge current Id has converged to an allowable range IR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Motomura, Takeshi Sugiyama, Kazunari Kokubo
  • Publication number: 20170160234
    Abstract: Particulate measurement processing executed by a sensor control section of a particulate measurement system includes a step of stopping voltage conversion by a first isolation transformer and a second isolation transformer, a step of obtaining correction information B, and a step of correcting ion current A through use of the correction information B. The correction information B reflects improper current generated through particulates, etc. (soot or the like) adhering to a particulate sensor. The ion current A (signal current Iesc) is corrected through use of the correction information B, and the amount of soot S is computed through use of the corrected ion current A?. As a result, it is possible to measure the amount of the soot S (the amount of particulates) while suppressing the influence of the improper current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Isao SUZUKI, Kazunari KOKUBO
  • Publication number: 20160202167
    Abstract: A particulate detection system (1) for detecting the quantity of particulates S in a gas under measurement EG includes first heater energization means S2 to S3, current convergence determination means S4 to S5, S7 to S8, second heater energization means S6, and detection start means S10. S2 to S3 performs low-temperature energization of heater (78) for a predetermined period after operation of ion source (11) is started by ion source drive circuit (210) such that gaseous discharge current Id becomes equal to a predetermined target current It. S4 to S5, S7 to S8 determines, after elapse of the predetermined period, whether or not Id has converged to an allowable range IR. When S4 to S5 determines that Id has not yet converged, S6 performs high-temperature energization of the heater (78) until Id converges. Then, S10 starts detection of particulates S using signal Is detected by a detection circuit (230).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki MOTOMURA, Takeshi SUGIYAMA, Kazunari KOKUBO
  • Publication number: 20160195463
    Abstract: A particulate detection system (1) for detecting the quantity of particulates S in a gas under measurement EG, including a detection section (10), a drive circuit (210, 240), and a control section (230, 202). The detection section (10) has an ion source (11) and a particulate electrification section (12). The drive circuit (210) includes an ion source drive circuit (210) for performing constant current control. The control section (230, 202) includes current convergence determination means S2-S3, S5-S6, and detection start means S8 for starting detection of the quantity of the particulates S using the signal Is, detected by a detection circuit (230), after the gaseous discharge current Id has converged to an allowable range IR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki MOTOMURA, Takeshi SUGIYAMA, Kazunari KOKUBO
  • Patent number: 9053912
    Abstract: A fine particle measurement system including a primary-side power supply circuit connected to a primary side of an isolation transformer, a control circuit configured to control the primary-side power supply circuit, a first current measurement circuit configured to transmit to the control circuit a first signal indicating a first current that flows from a trapping unit toward a secondary-side reference potential line, and a second current measurement circuit configured to transmit to the control circuit a second signal indicating a second current corresponding to the amount of ions that are not trapped by the trapping unit. The control circuit adjusts the electrical power supplied to the ion generating unit based on the first current and measures the amount of the fine particles in the gas based on the second current. Further, the first current measurement circuit includes an isolation amplifier and amplifies the first signal via the isolation amplifier and transmits the first signal to the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazunari Kokubo
  • Publication number: 20140326873
    Abstract: A fine particle measurement system including a primary-side power supply circuit connected to a primary side of an isolation transformer, a control circuit configured to control the primary-side power supply circuit, a first current measurement circuit configured to transmit to the control circuit a first signal indicating a first current that flows from a trapping unit toward a secondary-side reference potential line, and a second current measurement circuit configured to transmit to the control circuit a second signal indicating a second current corresponding to the amount of ions that are not trapped by the trapping unit. The control circuit adjusts the electrical power supplied to the ion generating unit based on the first current and measures the amount of the fine particles in the gas based on the second current. Further, the first current measurement circuit includes an isolation amplifier and amplifies the first signal via the isolation amplifier and transmits the first signal to the control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazunari KOKUBO