Patents by Inventor Kazunori Kidera

Kazunori Kidera 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: 11923670
    Abstract: An arc detection device includes: a low-impedance circuit connected between a node on wiring connecting the positive electrode of a DC/DC converter and a plurality of DC/DC converters, extending from the positive electrode of the DC/DC converter, and branching toward the plurality of DC/DC converters and a node on wiring connecting the negative electrode of the DC/DC converter and the plurality of DC/DC converters, extending from the negative electrode of the DC/DC converter, and branching toward the plurality of DC/DC converters; an electric current detector that detects an electric current flowing through the low-impedance circuit; and an arc determiner that determines, on the basis of the electric current detected by the electric current detector whether an electric arc has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Koga, Kazunori Kidera, Keita Kanamori
  • Publication number: 20240072528
    Abstract: An arc detection device that detects an arc fault that occurs in a transmission line connecting a DC power supply that generates DC power and a power converter that converts the DC power to AC power, includes: a first determination unit that determines whether or not there is a possibility of an arc fault occurrence according to current flowing in the transmission line; a shutoff unit that temporarily stops the flow of current in the transmission line when the first determination unit determines there is a possibility of an arc fault occurrence; and a second determination unit that determines whether or not an arc fault has occurred according to an input voltage, of the power converter supplied from the DC power supply, after lifting temporary stoppage of the flow of current in the transmission line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo KOGA, Keita KANAMORI, Kazunori KIDERA, Yoshio MITSUTAKE
  • Publication number: 20230305047
    Abstract: An arc detection device includes an obtainer and a determiner. The obtainer obtains a measurement result for a voltage applied to one target power supply line among a plurality of power supply lines to which power is supplied from a DC power source. The determiner determines, based on a component of a specific frequency band in the measurement result for the voltage obtained by the obtainer, whether there is a possibility of an arc fault occurring in the plurality of power supply lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Kazunori KIDERA, Tatsuo KOGA, Takahiro OHORI, Keita KANAMORI, Kazuya OHSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20230280387
    Abstract: An anomaly detection device that detects an anomaly in an object, the anomaly detection device includes: an analyzer that performs frequency analysis of sensing data obtained from a sensor that senses a physical quantity of the object; and a determiner that determines whether an anomaly is occurring in the object based on an output result output from a trained model by inputting frequency analysis data of the sensing data obtained from the sensor to the trained model that has been trained based on at least one of frequency analysis data of sensing data of the physical quantity obtained when the object is in a normal state or frequency analysis data of sensing data of the physical quantity obtained when the object is in an anomalous state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Tatsuo KOGA, Kazunori KIDERA, Kazuya OHSHIMA, Takahiro OHORI, Keita KANAMORI
  • Publication number: 20230268740
    Abstract: A power distribution system includes: a power distribution network that includes one or more connections to which a load is connectable; and a plurality of power supplies capable of supplying power to the power distribution network. Power is supplied to the power distribution network from at least one power supply of the plurality of power supplies. Adjacent power supplies included in the plurality of power supplies are arranged with a gap therebetween, and a connection included in the one or more connections is positioned in the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Takahiro OHORI, Kazunori KIDERA, Tatsuo KOGA, Kazuya OHSHIMA, Keita KANAMORI
  • Publication number: 20230253167
    Abstract: An arc detection system includes an obtainer and a determiner. The obtainer obtains a measurement result for current flowing in a power supply line to which power is supplied from a DC power source. The determiner determines, based on a component of a specific frequency band in the measurement result for the current obtained by the obtainer, whether an arc fault has occurred. The determiner determines that the arc fault has occurred when a specific time for which the component of the specific frequency band is at least a threshold is longer than an occurrence time in which an arc can occur when a device is attached to or detached from the power supply line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Kazunori KIDERA, Tatsuo KOGA, Takahiro OHORI
  • Publication number: 20230126245
    Abstract: An arc detection device is used in a system including one or more power sources, a plurality of converters, and a plurality of load devices. The one or more power sources and the plurality of converters are connected to each other by a plurality of power lines. The plurality of converters and the plurality of load devices are connected to each other by a plurality of power lines. The arc detection device includes: an electric current detector that includes a magnetic core through which two or more power lines included in the plurality of power lines extend, and detects combined currents flowing through the two or more power lines according to the magnetic field produced at the magnetic core; and an arc determiner that determines, on the basis of the combined currents detected by the electric current detector, whether an electric arc has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Kazunori KIDERA, Tatsuo KOGA, Keita KANAMORI
  • Publication number: 20230095385
    Abstract: An arc detection device includes: a low-impedance circuit connected between a node on wiring connecting the positive electrode of a DC/DC converter and a plurality of DC/DC converters, extending from the positive electrode of the DC/DC converter, and branching toward the plurality of DC/DC converters and a node on wiring connecting the negative electrode of the DC/DC converter and the plurality of DC/DC converters, extending from the negative electrode of the DC/DC converter, and branching toward the plurality of DC/DC converters; an electric current detector that detects an electric current flowing through the low-impedance circuit; and an arc determiner that determines, on the basis of the electric current detected by the electric current detector whether an electric arc has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Tatsuo KOGA, Kazunori KIDERA, Keita KANAMORI
  • Publication number: 20230094178
    Abstract: An anomaly detection device includes: a determiner that determines whether the communication connection via a communication line connecting a DC/DC converter including a communication function and each of a DC/DC converter and an inverter has been lost; and an outputter that outputs an anomalous signal when it is determined that the communication connection has been lost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Tatsuo KOGA, Kazunori KIDERA, Keita KANAMORI
  • Publication number: 20230011371
    Abstract: An arc detection device includes: a current detector that includes a magnetic core penetrated by first and second paths and each connecting a DC power source and a device, and detects a current flowing through each of the first and second paths and in accordance with a magnetic field generated at the magnetic core; a low impedance circuit having a lower impedance than the DC power source and the device, the low impedance circuit being connected to the first path and the second path to cause a high frequency component to bypass one of the first path or the second path; and an arc determiner that determines an occurrence of an arc based on a current detected by the current detector. In the magnetic core, a direct current flows through the first path in a direction opposite to a direction in which a direct current flows through the second path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuya OHSHIMA, Tatsuo KOGA, Keita KANAMORI, Kazunori KIDERA
  • Patent number: 11451163
    Abstract: A power converter 10 includes: flying capacitor circuits 11 and 12 connected in series so as to be in parallel with a DC power supply; flying capacitor circuits 13 and 14 connected in series so as to be in parallel with the DC power supply; switching elements S1 and S2 connected in series between output terminals of the flying capacitor circuits 11 and 12; switching elements S3 and S4 connected in series between output terminals of the flying capacitor circuits 13 and 14; a first output end OUT1 provided at a midpoint between the switching elements S1 and S2; and a second output end OUT2 provided at a midpoint between the switching elements S3 and S4, wherein a node between the flying capacitor circuits 11 and 12 and a node between the flying capacitor circuits 13 and 14 are connected to a midpoint of a DC power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Kidera, Kenji Hanamura
  • Publication number: 20210367532
    Abstract: A power converter 10 includes: flying capacitor circuits 11 and 12 connected in series so as to be in parallel with a DC power supply; flying capacitor circuits 13 and 14 connected in series so as to be in parallel with the DC power supply; switching elements S1 and S2 connected in series between output terminals of the flying capacitor circuits 11 and 12; switching elements S3 and S4 connected in series between output terminals of the flying capacitor circuits 13 and 14; a first output end OUT1 provided at a midpoint between the switching elements S1 and S2; and a second output end OUT2 provided at a midpoint between the switching elements S3 and S4, wherein a node between the flying capacitor circuits 11 and 12 and a node between the flying capacitor circuits 13 and 14 are connected to a midpoint of a DC power supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Kazunori KIDERA, Kenji HANAMURA
  • Patent number: 10693383
    Abstract: A control circuit converts power by controlling a phase difference between a switching phase of a plurality of switching elements of a first bridge circuit and a switching phase of a plurality of switching elements of a second bridge circuit such that the control circuit controls the phase difference to be smaller to reduce the output power. When the phase difference reaches a predefined lower limit value in a step-down mode of stepping down the input power, the control circuit controls an on-time of the plurality of switching elements of the second bridge circuit to be shorter while the phase difference is fixed at the lower limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Kidera
  • Patent number: 10536029
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes a power conversion device, a connector, and a processing module. The power conversion device is connected to a power system. The attached state and the unattached state of the connector relative to a connecting port that is provided in an apparatus having a battery mounted therein can be selected. The processing module is configured to determine that a malfunction has occurred when a voltage is applied to a portion that electrically connects the connector and the connecting port in a period in which transmission of electric power with respect to the battery is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Tamura, Takuya Kagawa, Kazunori Kidera
  • Publication number: 20200014307
    Abstract: A control circuit converts power by controlling a phase difference between a switching phase of a plurality of switching elements of a first bridge circuit and a switching phase of a plurality of switching elements of a second bridge circuit such that the control circuit controls the phase difference to be smaller to reduce the output power. When the phase difference reaches a predefined lower limit value in a step-down mode of stepping down the input power, the control circuit controls an on-time of the plurality of switching elements of the second bridge circuit to be shorter while the phase difference is fixed at the lower limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventor: Kazunori KIDERA
  • Patent number: 9893648
    Abstract: A controller switches between modes each having a different connection state of a DC power supply and the capacitor with respect to first and second output points by controlling switches. A generation unit generates a reference wave including at least one carrier wave. The modes are classified into a sustaining mode in which no current is caused to flow to the capacitor, a charging mode in which a current is caused to flow to the capacitor, and a discharging mode in which a current in a direction opposite to that in the charging mode is caused to flow to the capacitor. The controller switches between the sustaining mode and a charging or discharging mode according to the comparison result between a signal wave and the reference wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mariko Kifuji, Kazunori Kidera, Mitsuru Tanabe, Kazuo Itoh
  • Patent number: 9876389
    Abstract: A solar power generation system includes: a solar power generation module; a power converter for solar power generation configured to convert DC power generated by the solar power generation module into AC power; a storage battery unit; a charge and discharge controller configured to take out the AC power obtained through conversion by the power converter 3 for solar power generation from an isolated operation mode terminal, convert the AC power into DC power, and to store the DC power in the storage battery unit. A controller detects input power taken out from the isolated operation mode terminal and inputted into the charge and discharge controller, acquires generated power generated by the solar power generation module, and lowers the input power inputted into the charge and discharge controller when a differential between the acquired generated power and the detected input power is not greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuki Ogawa, Kazunori Kidera
  • Patent number: 9866147
    Abstract: A first bidirectional switch is electrically connected between a first connection point which is a connection point of a first switching element and a second switching element and a second connection point which is a connection point of a seventh switching element and an eighth switching element. A second bidirectional switch is electrically connected between a third connection point which is a connection point of a third switching element and a fourth switching element and a fourth connection point which is a connection point of a fifth switching element and a sixth switching element. A power-converting device is configured to generate an output voltage between a first output point and a second output point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Kidera, Mitsuru Tanabe, Mariko Kifuji
  • Patent number: 9831778
    Abstract: A first conversion circuit switches a magnitude of a voltage generated between a first output point and a reference potential point in three stages. The second conversion circuit switches a magnitude of a voltage generated between the reference potential point and a second output point in three stages. The third conversion circuit includes first to fourth switches in a full bridge configuration and converts a voltage generated between the first output point and the second output point into an alternate current voltage and outputs the alternate current voltage. The third conversion circuit forms a current path including inductors between the first output point and the second output point during a start time period from a start of supplying power from a direct current power supply until a first capacitor and a second capacitor are charged to a specified voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Kidera, Mariko Kifuji
  • Patent number: 9806618
    Abstract: A first conversion circuit is electrically connected between a reference potential point and a first input point on a high potential side of a direct current power supply. A second conversion circuit is electrically connected between the reference potential point and a second input point on a low potential side of the direct current power supply. A voltage-regulating circuit is configured to adjust a magnitude of an applied voltage to the first conversion circuit and the second conversion circuit. The voltage-regulating circuit is configured to increase the magnitude of the applied voltage over time during a start time period from a start of supplying power from the direct current power supply until a first capacitor and a second capacitor are charged to a specified voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Kidera, Mariko Kifuji