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: 20170282820Abstract: According to one embodiment, a vehicle-use storage battery system includes a storage battery, a main circuit, a circuit breaker, a storage battery management unit, a first determiner, and a second determiner. The main circuit is electrically connected to the storage battery. The circuit breaker is disposed between the storage battery and the main circuit to make or break the electrical connection therebetween. The storage battery management unit manages an operating state of the storage battery. The first determiner determines whether to break the electrical connection between the storage battery and the main circuit by means of the circuit breaker. The second determiner determines, on the basis of at least one of operating states of the storage battery management unit, the first determiner, and the circuit breaker, whether to break the electrical connection between the storage battery and the main circuit by means of the circuit breaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2014Publication date: October 5, 2017Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Atsumi KONDO, Kazuto KURODA, Tatsuya ARAI, Masaki SATO, Akinobu NISHIKAWA, Shinichiro KOSUGI, Masahiro SEKINO, Hideaki YASUI, Mai HONDA, Masahiro KUROSU, Kotaro OGAWA, Tomonao TAKAMATSU, Mitsunobu YOSHIDA, Takafumi NAKAHAMA, Akihiko UJIIE
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Publication number: 20170263985Abstract: According to one embodiment, a vehicular storage battery device includes a housing, battery boxes, and a common cooling passage. The battery boxes are disposed in the housing. Each of the battery boxes houses an electric cell as a vehicle power source and includes a heat transporting part transporting heat generated in the battery box to outside of the battery box. The common cooling passage is disposed in the housing. The common cooling passage is provided with an inlet for taking in a fluid and an outlet for discharging the fluid having passed through the passage. The inlet and the outlet are open in a direction different from a traveling direction of the vehicle. The heat transporting part of each of the battery boxes is exposed to inside of the passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2015Publication date: September 14, 2017Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Akinobu NISHIKAWA, Shigeki KONO, Masaki SATO, Tatsuya ARAI, Kotaro OGAWA, Shinichiro KOSUGI, Masahiro SEKINO, Kazuto KURODA, Hideaki YASUI, Mai HONDA, Tomonao TAKAMATSU, Mitsunobu YOSHIDA, Takafumi NAKAHAMA, Akihiko UJIIE, Atsumi KONDO, Masahiro KUROSU
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Publication number: 20170200987Abstract: A battery assembly system includes: a battery assembly; a temperature measuring part; and a monitoring device. The battery assembly includes a plurality of batteries connected in series. The temperature measuring part measures temperatures of connection parts used to connect electrodes of batteries included in the battery assembly. The monitoring device derives temperatures of the batteries on the basis of the temperatures measured by the temperature measuring part.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2015Publication date: July 13, 2017Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Makoto MATSUOKA, Shinichiro KOSUGI, Katsuya UCHIDA, Kazuto KURODA, Massahiro SEKINO, Norihiro KANEKO
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Publication number: 20170182907Abstract: A power control apparatus according to an embodiment includes acquisition circuitry and determination circuitry. The acquisition circuitry is configured to acquire a voltage of a secondary battery during charging. The determination circuitry is configured to determine a maximum current to be used during charging of the secondary battery using a difference between an upper limit voltage and the acquired voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2017Publication date: June 29, 2017Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Sonoka IKEDA, Shinichiro KOSUGI, Masahiro SEKINO, Kazuto KURODA, Osamu YAMAZAKI
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Publication number: 20170187203Abstract: A power control apparatus according to an embodiment includes an acquisition unit and a determination unit. The acquisition unit acquires information relating to a voltage and an electric current of a chargeable/dischargeable secondary battery during charging/discharging. The determination unit determines a maximum current of the secondary battery during charging on the basis of the information acquired by the acquisition unit so that the voltage of the secondary battery does not exceed a predetermined voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2017Publication date: June 29, 2017Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Sonoka IKEDA, Shinichiro KOSUGI, Masahiro SEKINO, Osamu YAMAZAKI, Kazuto KURODA
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Publication number: 20170069888Abstract: According to an embodiment, a battery pack includes a first housing, first plurality of battery modules, second plurality of battery modules and elastic members. The first housing includes a first outer wall and a second outer wall different from the first outer wall. The first plurality of battery modules are fixed to the first outer wall. Each includes a second housing and a plurality of battery cells accommodated in the second housing. The second plurality of battery modules are fixed to the second outer wall. Each includes a second housing and a plurality of battery cells accommodated in the second housing. The elastic members are for pressing the first plurality of battery modules onto the first outer wall and pressing the second plurality of battery modules onto the second outer wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Toshinori UCHIDA, Masahiro SEKINO, Shinichiro KOSUGI, Kazuto KURODA, Hideo SHIMIZU
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Patent number: 9472941Abstract: According to one embodiment, battery module includes a main circuit, a resistive element, a current-amount detection circuit, and a breaker. A charge and discharge current of a battery flows through the main circuit via a positive connecting terminal and a negative connecting terminal. The resistive element is provided in a current path branched from the main circuit, and able to form a closed circuit with an external control device via one of the positive connecting terminal and the negative connecting terminal while an insulating state between the main circuit and the external control device is maintained. The current-amount detection circuit detects an amount of current flowing through the resistive element, and outputs a current-amount detection signal. The breaker circuit interrupts the current flowing through the main circuit when the amount of current flowing through the resistive element is smaller than a predetermined threshold current based on the current-amount detection signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Kazuto Kuroda, Shinichiro Kosugi, Minoru Gyoda, Fuyuki Kanbe
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Publication number: 20160276846Abstract: A storage battery management device manages a plurality of battery units in a storage battery system including the battery units having a plurality of battery cells and a power adjustment device connected to the battery units via respective contactors and connected to a main circuit. The storage battery management device includes a minimum value determination unit and a controller. The minimum value determination unit, from the battery units in which a difference between a maximum cell voltage and a minimum cell voltage of the battery cells forming each of the battery units is equal to or less than a certain value, determines a minimum value of the minimum cell voltage. The controller controls a cell balance process of the battery unit managed by itself, by using the minimum value of the minimum cell voltage determined by the minimum value determination unit as a cell balance target voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Kazuto KURODA, Shinichiro KOSUGI, Masahiro SEKINO, Jun TAKAHASHI, Ryo OKABE, Yusuke KIKUCHI
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Publication number: 20160226288Abstract: An overcharge protection device according to an embodiment includes a switching unit and a controller. The switching unit includes a plurality of switching elements connected in series. The plurality of switching elements is connected in parallel to a fuse and a rechargeable battery. The fuse is interposed between and connected to the rechargeable battery and a charger configured to charge the rechargeable battery. The controller detects output voltage of the rechargeable battery, and, if the detected output voltage exceeds a certain overcharge detection voltage, short-circuits a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the rechargeable battery by turning on the switching elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2014Publication date: August 4, 2016Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Kazuto Kuroda, Shinichiro Kosugi, Masahiro Sekino, Shigeru Nozawa, Minoru Gyoda, Yosuke Saeki, Fuyuki Kanbe
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Publication number: 20160223616Abstract: According to one embodiment, a cell monitoring device that performs monitoring of a cell module under control of a battery management device (BMD), includes a communication controller and a control device. The communication controller is capable of being connected to BMD through a communication line. The control device performs an activation processing of the communication controller at a time of initialization, and controls the cell monitoring device. The control device performs a reboot processing of the communication controller in a period shorter than a period of detecting an error condition of the communication controller by BMD when a second voltage drops to be below an operation allowable voltage of the communication controller in a state in which a first voltage is above a certain operation allowable voltage. The first voltage represents a power supply voltage of the control device. The second voltage represents a power supply voltage of the communication controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Koichi YOSHINO, Ryo Okabe, Norihiro Kaneko, Takehiro Usumori, Kazuto Kuroda
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Publication number: 20160211494Abstract: According to one embodiment, a railroad storage battery device includes a first and second resin assembled battery boxes, a battery management unit, and a metal box mountable on a railroad vehicle via an insulating member. The first resin assembled battery box possesses a certain insulating property and accommodates a first battery cell group and a first cell monitoring device monitoring charge and discharge of battery cells. The second resin assembled battery box possesses a certain insulating property and accommodates a second battery cell group connected in series with the first battery cell group and a second cell monitoring device monitoring charge and discharge of the battery cells. The battery management unit controls the first and second cell monitoring devices. The metal box accommodates the first and second assembled battery boxes and the battery management unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masahiro Kurosu, Shinichiro Kosugi, Masahiro Sekino, Kazuto Kuroda, Hideaki Yasui, Mai Honda, Masaki Sato, Tatsuya Arai, Akinobu Nishikawa, Kotaro Ogawa, Tomonao Takamatsu, Mitsunobu Yoshida, Takafumi Nakahama, Akihiko Ujiie, Atsumi Kondo
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Publication number: 20160181836Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage battery device includes a battery group, a charge-and-discharge control FET unit, and a drive controller. The battery group includes a plurality of battery cells connected in series. The charge-and-discharge control FET unit is connected to a low potential side of the battery group and includes at least a pair of N-channel MOSFETs source terminals of which are back-to-back connected. The drive controller outputs a drive control signal to a gate terminal of the respective N-channel MOSFETs included in the charge-and-discharge control FET unit. The drive control signal is generated based on a potential level of the source terminals.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2014Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventors: Fuyuki Kanabe, Kazuto Kuroda, Shinichiro Kosugi, Masahiro Sekino, Minoru Gyoda, Yosuke Saeki
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Patent number: 9356469Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage battery device includes a battery unit, a charging unit, a terminal, and a first circuit breaking unit. The battery unit includes a lithium ion battery and is connectable in parallel to other storage battery device that charges an external lithium ion battery. The charging unit is supplied with electric power from an external electric power source and charges the battery unit. The terminal is connectable to a wire connecting the other storage battery device with the battery unit. The first circuit breaking unit is connected between the battery unit and the terminal, and blocks an electric current flowing from the terminal to the battery unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Kazuto Kuroda, Shinichiro Kosugi, Ryo Okabe, Manabu Murakami
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Patent number: 9239363Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a resistance measuring unit operable to determine a solution resistance Rsol and a charge transfer resistance Rct of a battery; and at least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium comprising code, that, when executed by at least one processor, is operable to provide an estimate of the present value of the battery by: comparing Rsol and Rct to historical deterioration transition information; estimating the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge capacity lower limit is reached by the battery using the comparison; and estimating the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge time lower limit is reached by the battery using the comparison. The estimate of the present value of the battery includes the smaller of the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge capacity lower limit is reached or the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge time lower limit is reached.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Toshiba CorporationInventors: Akihiro Matsui, Kazuto Kuroda, Yasuhiro Harada, Shinichiro Kosugi, Hisashi Oya, Mami Mizutani, Takashi Morimoto, Takeo Hayase, Yukitaka Monden, Norio Takami
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Patent number: 9207286Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a resistance measuring unit operable to determine a solution resistance Rsol and a charge transfer resistance Rct of a battery; and at least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium comprising code, that, when executed by at least one processor, is operable to provide an estimate of the present value of the battery by: comparing Rsol and Rct to historical deterioration transition information; estimating the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge capacity lower limit is reached by the battery using the comparison; and estimating the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge time lower limit is reached by the battery using the comparison. The estimate of the present value of the battery includes the smaller of the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge capacity lower limit is reached or the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge time lower limit is reached.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2013Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Akihiro Matsui, Kazuto Kuroda, Yasuhiro Harada, Shinichiro Kosugi, Hisashi Oya, Mami Mizutani, Takashi Morimoto, Takeo Hayase, Yukitaka Monden, Norio Takami
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Publication number: 20150263395Abstract: According to an embodiment, a battery pack device includes a plurality of battery modules, a cell detector, and a determiner. Each of the plurality of battery modules stores a plurality of cells. The cell detector detects a cell detection signal representing whether a cell is present or absent at each of a plurality of positions in each battery module. The determiner determines the arrangement state of the cells in each battery module based on the cell detection signal detected by the cell detector, determines the presence/absence of an abnormality from the determined arrangement state of the cells and the connection state of each battery module, and outputs an abnormal signal in case of the abnormality.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2015Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: Ryo Okabe, Shinichiro Kosugi, Kazuto Kuroda, Manabu Murakami
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Publication number: 20140265639Abstract: According to one embodiment, battery module includes a main circuit, a resistive element, a current-amount detection circuit, and a breaker. A charge and discharge current of a battery flows through the main circuit via a positive connecting terminal and a negative connecting terminal. The resistive element is provided in a current path branched from the main circuit, and able to form a closed circuit with an external control device via one of the positive connecting terminal and the negative connecting terminal while an insulating state between the main circuit and the external control device is maintained. The current-amount detection circuit detects an amount of current flowing through the resistive element, and outputs a current-amount detection signal. The breaker circuit interrupts the current flowing through the main circuit when the amount of current flowing through the resistive element is smaller than a predetermined threshold current based on the current-amount detection signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Kazuto Kuroda, Shinichiro Kosugi, Minoru Gyoda, Fuyuki Kanbe
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Publication number: 20140203786Abstract: According to one embodiment, a power supply apparatus includes a battery assembly, a fuse element, a switch unit, and a control unit. The fuse element is connected between the battery assembly and a load unit driven by being supplied with power from the battery assembly. The switch unit is connected in parallel to the load unit. The control unit causes, when an over voltage of at least one of the battery assembly and the load unit is detected, the switch unit to be in an ON state, provides an over current to flow from the battery assembly to the fuse element, and fusing the fuse element.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Takeshi Oosawa, Shinichiro Kosugi, Manabu Murakami, Kazuto Kuroda, Masahiro Sekino, Takashi Sudo, Hideaki Ohsawa, Ryo Okabe
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Publication number: 20140203765Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage battery device includes a battery unit, a charging unit, a terminal, and a first circuit breaking unit. The battery unit includes a lithium ion battery and is connectable in parallel to other storage battery device that charges an external lithium ion battery. The charging unit is supplied with electric power from an external electric power source and charges the battery unit. The terminal is connectable to a wire connecting the other storage battery device with the battery unit. The first circuit breaking unit is connected between the battery unit and the terminal, and blocks an electric current flowing from the terminal to the battery unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Kazuto Kuroda, Shinichiro Kosugi, Ryo Okabe, Manabu Murakami
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Publication number: 20140103934Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a resistance measuring unit operable to determine a solution resistance Rsol and a charge transfer resistance Rct of a battery; and at least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium comprising code, that, when executed by at least one processor, is operable to provide an estimate of the present value of the battery by: comparing Rsol and Rct to historical deterioration transition information; estimating the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge capacity lower limit is reached by the battery using the comparison; and estimating the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge time lower limit is reached by the battery using the comparison. The estimate of the present value of the battery includes the smaller of the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge capacity lower limit is reached or the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge time lower limit is reached.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Akihiro Matsui, Kazuto Kuroda, Yasuhiro Harada, Shinichiro Kosugi, Hisashi Oya, Mami Mizutani, Takashi Morimoto, Takeo Hayase, Yukitaka Monden, Norio Takami