Patents by Inventor Kazuto Kuroda
Kazuto Kuroda 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).
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Publication number: 20240006680Abstract: In an embodiment, a battery module includes a battery group, an electric path, a case, an insulating layer and a conductive layer. The battery group includes a plurality of batteries, and a current passes through the electric path during each of charging and discharging the plurality of batteries. The battery group is accommodated in the case, and the case includes a metal body having electric conductive properties. The insulating layer is stacked on a surface of the metal body on a side where the battery group is located, and has electric insulating properties. The conductive layer is stacked on a surface of the insulating layer on a side where the battery group is located, and is electrically connected to any of the electric path and a portion having electric conductive properties in the battery group.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Kazuto KURODA, Shin SUZUKI, Hirofumi YAMAMOTO
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Publication number: 20230420756Abstract: A system according to an embodiment includes storage battery modules, each comprising an assembled battery, a first wireless communication module to transmit and receive radio waves based on a BLE standard, and a battery monitoring unit configured to control operation of the first wireless communication module; and a battery management unit comprising second wireless communication modules to transmit and receive radio waves based on the BLE standard and an arithmetic processing device, wherein a first identifier is preset in the first wireless communication module, and when a connection is started, the first wireless communication module in which a value of a second identifier included in an advertising packet transmitted from the second wireless communication module is a value of the first identifier becomes a broadcaster and transmits the advertising packet.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Tomohide YOSHIKAWA, Kazuto KURODA, Yusuke KIKUCHI, Kota ASAMI, Shin SUZUKI
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Publication number: 20220360100Abstract: A device according to one embodiment includes a first battery to output alternating-current power for driving a motor and connected to a first main circuit that is connected to an inverter; a second battery connected to a second main circuit, having a storage capacity larger than it of the first battery, and having a permissible power output per unit storage capacity smaller than it of the first battery; a DC/DC converter to convert a voltage of the second main circuit to a predetermined voltage and output to the first main circuit; a control circuit to control charging and discharging operations of the first and the second battery and an operation of the DC/DC converter; a first terminal connected to a positive terminal of the first battery; and a second terminal connected to a negative terminal of the first battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Koji TAKAZAWA, Kazuto KURODA, Akio NISHIMAKI, Yoshiyuki ISOZAKI, Kaoru KOIWA, Makoto MATSUOKA, Hiroshi KUSAJIMA, Motoshige IKEDA, Takuya IWASAKI
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Publication number: 20220359930Abstract: According to one embodiment, a battery includes a battery group, a case, a metal plate, an insulator and an electrical connection path. The battery group includes a plurality of batteries, and each of the batteries includes an electrode group and a metal exterior container made in which the electrode group is housed. The metal plate is provided between the battery group and the base and forms a clearance between the metal plate and the base. The insulator has plasticity and an electrical insulating property, and is sandwiched between the battery group and the metal plate. The insulator electrically insulates between the exterior container of each of the batteries and the metal plate. The electrical connection path electrically connects the metal plate to the base.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Nagaaki MURO, Yoshimitsu ITO, Noboru KOIKE, Mitsuhiro HOSHINO, Hirofumi YAMAMOTO, Tadashi KANO, Hidenori MIYAMOTO, Kazuto KURODA
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Patent number: 11437834Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a positive and a negative electrode terminals; modules each including an assembled battery and a CMU, the assembled battery including cells, the CMU to detect a voltage and a temperature of the assembled battery; a main circuit for electrical connection between terminals of the modules and the positive and negative electrode terminals; a BMU to receive information about the voltage and the temperature from the respective CMU; a supply circuit to convert DC power from the main circuit and supply the converted power to the BMU; a breaker for interrupting the main circuit; and a circuit to block a current flowing through the main circuit in a direction of charging the modules, in response to a stop of a control signal from the BMU.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Kazuto Kuroda, Jun Takahashi, Yosuke Saeki, Ryo Okabe, Shinya Sato, Keita Nakata, Atsushi Inamura, Masahiro Sekino, Minoru Oota
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Patent number: 11394086Abstract: A battery module including a plurality of battery cells, a first chassis, and a connection member. The battery cells are aligned in a first direction. The first chassis includes a plurality of first compartments in which the battery cells are housed one by one, and at least one second compartment that is partitioned in the first direction. The connection member includes a body that is housed in the second compartment, a pair of connection terminals that is mounted on a first face of the body and is electrically connectable to the electrodes of the battery cells via a conductive member. The first face faces in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and a conductor that extends across the pair of connection terminals.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2018Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions CorporationInventors: Masahito Morone, Hirofumi Yamamoto, Tatsumi Matsuo, Motohiro Itou, Shinya Sato, Kazuto Kuroda, Ryo Okabe, Norihiro Kaneko, Minoru Gyoda, Yuji Sasaki, Kota Asami, Nobuyasu Negishi
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Publication number: 20220209309Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage battery apparatus including a wireless module transmitting and receiving a radio wave having a polarization plane in any one of first to third directions orthogonal to one another; and a battery management unit including a first wireless module transmitting and receiving a radio wave having the polarization plane in the first direction, and a second wireless module transmitting and receiving a radio wave having the polarization plane in the second direction, wherein the polarization plane in the first direction is less likely to have reception power of lowest receiving sensitivity than the polarization planes in other directions, and a number of the first wireless modules is larger than a number of the second wireless modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2022Publication date: June 30, 2022Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Kazuto KURODA, Yusuke KIKUCHI, Kota ASAMI
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Publication number: 20220200316Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage battery apparatus includes: a plurality of storage battery modules each including a battery module, which includes a plurality of battery cells, and a cell monitoring unit measuring voltages of the battery cells and a temperature of the battery module; and a battery management unit periodically receiving measurement values of the voltages of the battery cells and the temperature of the battery module. When there is interference in communication with the plurality of cell monitoring units, the battery management unit extends a communication cycle with the cell monitoring units, sets a value of a chargeable current and a value of a dischargeable current of the battery module, which correspond to at least the communication cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2022Publication date: June 23, 2022Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Kazuto KURODA, Yusuke KIKUCHI, Ryo NOZAWA, Kota ASAMI, Tomohide YOSHIKAWA
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Publication number: 20220200069Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage battery apparatus comprising: a plurality of storage battery modules, each of which includes a battery module and a first wireless communication module transmitting and receiving a radio wave based on a BLE standard; and a battery management unit which includes a plurality of second wireless communication modules transmitting and receiving a radio wave based on the BLE standard, and an arithmetic processing apparatus controlling operation of the second wireless communication modules, wherein the arithmetic processing apparatus establishes communication between the battery management unit and the storage battery modules in unit of groups each including at least one of the storage battery modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2022Publication date: June 23, 2022Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Kota ASAMI, Kazuto KURODA, Yusuke KIKUCHI, Ryo NOZAWA
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Patent number: 11336103Abstract: A storage battery system includes a cell module including storage battery cells, a battery management unit configured to maintain a contactor having a normally open contact in a closed state, while being supplied with power, and a power supply control circuit that DC to DC converts the power of the cell module for supply to the battery management unit. The power supply control circuit includes an SOC estimator that determines from a voltage of the cell module whether or not the cell module is in an overdischarge state, and after determining that the cell module is not in the overdischarge state, outputs a status signal to the power supply control circuit. In response to no receipt of the status signal from the SOC estimator, the power supply control circuit interrupts the power supply to the battery management unit from the cell module.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2017Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Yusuke Kikuchi, Kota Asami, Motohiro Itou, Minoru Gyoda, Shinya Sato, Kazuto Kuroda
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Patent number: 11289743Abstract: A battery module includes: a battery cell unit including a plurality of battery cells connected together in series or series-parallel; a cell monitoring unit configured to monitor temperatures and voltages of the battery cells; and a plurality of overtemperature/overvoltage detecting units of n systems (n: an integer greater than or equal to 2). The overtemperature/overvoltage detecting units of the n systems are configured to independently detect an overtemperature or an overvoltage of the battery cells as an abnormal state, and to mutually notify one another of results of the detection. Each of the overtemperature/overvoltage detecting units is configured to, upon being notified that the abnormal state is detected from another overtemperature/overvoltage detecting unit of another system in the battery module, operate on the assumption that the overtemperature/overvoltage detecting unit detects the abnormal state.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2016Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions CorporationInventors: Kazuto Kuroda, Shinichiro Kosugi, Masahiro Sekino, Norihiro Kaneko, Ryo Okabe, Yusuke Kikuchi, Yosuke Saeki, Makoto Noguchi
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Publication number: 20220059883Abstract: A storage battery device includes: a cell unit including a plurality of battery cells; an electric flow path material that forms a current path through which electric power is supplied from or to the battery cells; and a radiator thermally coupled to the current-path member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2021Publication date: February 24, 2022Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Kazuto KURODA, Masahiro SEKINO, Akio NISHIMAKI, Hideo YAMASAKI, Teruyoshi KOGURE, Yosuke SAEKI
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Patent number: 11114877Abstract: A device according to an embodiment includes at least one assembled battery; first switches that switch an electrical connection state of main circuits connected between the assembled battery and the load; second switches that switch an electrical connection state of second main circuits branched from the main circuits and are connected between the assembled battery and the load; a BMU that controls operations of the first switches based on an operation command supplied from the load; and a power supply circuit that supplies power to the BMU and second switches when a start command supplied from the outside is ON.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2020Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Yusuke Kikuchi, Hidenori Suzuki, Kazuto Kuroda, Atsushi Inamura, Masahiro Sekino
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Patent number: 10903463Abstract: A battery pack includes a casing, a plurality of battery cells, and a first connector, for example. The casing includes a first outer wall and a protrusion that is provided on the first outer wall and protrudes outward from the first outer wall. The battery cells include an electrode terminal and are housed in the casing. The first connector is provided on the protrusion and is electrically connected to the electrode terminal.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2016Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions CorporationInventors: Norio Shimizu, Toshinori Uchida, Kazuto Kuroda, Masahiro Sekino
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Publication number: 20210006084Abstract: A device according to an embodiment includes at least one assembled battery; first switches that switch an electrical connection state of main circuits connected between the assembled battery and the load; second switches that switch an electrical connection state of second main circuits branched from the main circuits and are connected between the assembled battery and the load; a BMU that controls operations of the first switches based on an operation command supplied from the load; and a power supply circuit that supplies power to the BMU and second switches when a start command supplied from the outside is ON.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Yusuke KIKUCHI, Hidenori SUZUKI, Kazuto KURODA, Atsushi INAMURA, Masahiro SEKINO
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Patent number: 10790553Abstract: According to one embodiment, a wiring diagnostic apparatus of embodiments includes a counter, an acquirer, and an abnormality determiner. The counter counts the number of battery modules connected to a plurality of first communication lines to which a plurality of battery modules are connected to form a communication channel for each of the first communication lines. The acquirer acquires identification information for identifying a battery module connected to a corresponding second communication line among battery modules connected to a plurality of second communication lines each forming a communication channel with a first communication line via the second communication line. The abnormality determiner determines an abnormality in a wiring relationship of the first communication line or the second communication line on the basis of the number of battery modules counted by the counter and identification information acquired by the acquirer.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2018Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions CorporationInventors: Ryo Okabe, Shinichiro Kosugi, Masahiro Sekino, Norihiro Kaneko, Yusuke Kikuchi, Kazuto Kuroda, Makoto Noguchi
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Publication number: 20200266644Abstract: A storage battery system includes a cell module including storage battery cells, a battery management unit configured to maintain a contactor having a normally open contact in a closed state, while being supplied with power, and a power supply control circuit that DC to DC converts the power of the cell module for supply to the battery management unit. The power supply control circuit includes an SOC estimator that determines from a voltage of the cell module whether or not the cell module is in an overdischarge state, and after determining that the cell module is not in the overdischarge state, outputs a status signal to the power supply control circuit. In response to no receipt of the status signal from the SOC estimator, the power supply control circuit interrupts the power supply to the battery management unit from the cell module.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2017Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Yusuke KIKUCHI, Kota ASAMI, Motohiro ITOU, Minoru GYODA, Shinya SATO, Kazuto KURODA
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Patent number: 10727460Abstract: A battery pack includes a first casing, a plurality of battery cells, and a second screw, for example. The first casing is supported by a support member and includes an insulating first outer wall. The battery cells are housed in the first casing. The first outer wall is provided with a second screw that is connectable to a first screw. The first casing is supported by the support member with the first screw fitted into the second screw, placing the support member in-between the first screw and the second screw.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2016Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions CorporationInventors: Toshinori Uchida, Norio Shimizu, Kazuto Kuroda, Masahiro Sekino
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Publication number: 20200212697Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a positive and a negative electrode terminals; modules each including an assembled battery and a CMU, the assembled battery including cells, the CMU to detect a voltage and a temperature of the assembled battery; a main circuit for electrical connection between terminals of the modules and the positive and negative electrode terminals; a BMU to receive information about the voltage and the temperature from the respective CMU; a supply circuit to convert DC power from the main circuit and supply the converted power to the BMU; a breaker for interrupting the main circuit; and a circuit to block a current flowing through the main circuit in a direction of charging the modules, in response to a stop of a control signal from the BMU.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Kazuto KURODA, Jun TAKAHASHI, Yosuke SAEKI, Ryo OKABE, Shinya SATO, Keita NAKATA, Atsushi INAMURA, Masahiro SEKINO, Minoru OOTA
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Patent number: 10581238Abstract: A storage battery device includes a battery unit, a first circuit breaker, a second circuit breaker, and a control unit. The first circuit breaker switches between connecting and disconnecting a first-electrode side of the battery unit and an external device. The second circuit breaker switches between connecting and disconnecting a second-electrode side of the battery unit and the external device. The control unit supplies power to the first circuit breaker and the second circuit breaker in sequence with the power supplied to the second circuit breaker offset relative to the power supplied to the first circuit breaker by a time period equal to or longer than a time difference required for a sum of currents flowing through the first circuit breaker and the second circuit breaker to reach an upper bound current that is set as an upper bound of a current.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2016Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Infrastructutre Systems & Solutions CorporationInventors: Ryo Okabe, Norihiro Kaneko, Yusuke Kikuchi, Takayuki Onoda, Kazuto Kuroda, Masahiro Sekino, Jun Takahashi