Patents by Inventor Kazuya Kato

Kazuya Kato 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: 9220160
    Abstract: Control unit decreases power to be supplied to high-pressure discharge lamp when an output voltage or an output current for high-pressure discharge lamp measured by measurement unit is in an abnormal range. Drive unit driving switching element includes capacitor that supplies, to a control electrode of switching element disposed on high potential side, electric charge necessary for turning on switching element disposed on high potential side when switching element disposed on low potential side is turned off. When high-pressure discharge lamp is started up, a discharge lamp lighting device starts to charge capacitor before DC/DC converter is started to operate, and control unit has a determination period for determining presence/absence of an abnormality based on a measured value acquired by measurement unit in a state in which DC/DC converter and DC/AC inverter are operated after completion of charging of capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nishikawa, Masatoshi Ueno, Kazuya Kato, Masashi Kichima
  • Publication number: 20150305129
    Abstract: Control unit decreases power to be supplied to high-pressure discharge lamp when an output voltage or an output current for high-pressure discharge lamp measured by measurement unit is in an abnormal range. Drive unit driving switching element includes capacitor that supplies, to a control electrode of switching element disposed on high potential side, electric charge necessary for turning on switching element disposed on high potential side when switching element disposed on low potential side is turned off. When high-pressure discharge lamp is started up, a discharge lamp lighting device starts to charge capacitor before DC/DC converter is started to operate, and control unit has a determination period for determining presence/absence of an abnormality based on a measured value acquired by measurement unit in a state in which DC/DC converter and DC/AC inverter are operated after completion of charging of capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Masahiro NISHIKAWA, Masatoshi UENO, Kazuya KATO, Masashi KICHIMA
  • Publication number: 20150291088
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a DC power supply circuit configured to output DC power, and a ground-fault determining circuit configured to determine presence or absence of a ground fault at a post-stage of the DC power supply circuit. The ground-fault determining circuit includes a capacitor having an end that is connected with ground, and a diode including an anode and a cathode. The anode is connected with another end of the capacitor, and the cathode is connected with an output end on a high voltage side of the DC power supply circuit. The ground-fault determining circuit further includes a constant voltage source configured to charge the capacitor with a prescribed charging voltage, and a comparator as a determining portion configured to determine presence of the ground fault when a voltage across the capacitor falls below a prescribed determination reference voltage lower than the prescribed charging voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Masatoshi UENO, Toshiaki NAKAMURA, Kazuya KATO, Masashi KICHIMA, Masahiro NISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9101094
    Abstract: An electrically powered garden tool includes an electric motor mounted upright within an outer shell housing, a pair of relatively reciprocating shear blades assembled to be driven by operation of the motor through a crank mechanism provided within a lower portion of the outer shell housing, and a cooling fan assembled to be driven by operation of the motor for introducing outside air into an upper portion of the outer shell housing to exhaust the introduced air from a lower portion of the outer shell housing. In the garden tool, a downward exhaust opening is formed within a lower end peripheral wall of the outer shell housing enclosing the crank mechanism such that the air spouted by rotation of the cooling fan blows out downward from the downward exhaust opening to restrain the occurrence of blowing noise of the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Kato, Hideaki Takano, Yuki Koide
  • Publication number: 20150222130
    Abstract: A wireless power receiver device includes a sheet-like electrode sheet section and a power receiver section. The electrode sheet section includes a power receiver side active electrode and a power receiver side passive electrode that are substantially coplanar and formed into sheet-like shapes; lead lines that are coplanar with both the electrodes, extended from the respective electrodes, and formed into sheet-like shapes; and an insulation sheet that covers both the electrodes and both the lead lines from both sides thereof. The power receiver section includes a step-down unit that steps down an alternating-current voltage induced between end portions of the lead lines; a power receiver module that rectifies and smoothes the alternating-current voltage that is stepped down by the step-down unit; and a connector for outputting an output voltage of the power receiver module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Shinji GOMA, Kazuya KATO, Tsutomu IEKI
  • Publication number: 20150062951
    Abstract: A lighting device includes: a circuit board placed on a base; and a transformer provided in the circuit board. The transformer includes: a winding pattern formed on the circuit board; and a core having an outer leg portion. The circuit board has an outer leg insertion portion through which the outer leg portion of the core is inserted, and the circuit board and the base have therebetween a gap which is air space. The base and at least a lateral face of the outer leg portion are bonded together by a first resin that is insertable from the outer leg insertion portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Masahiro NISHIKAWA, Tomoyuki NAKANO, Masatoshi UENO, Masashi KICHIMA, Kazuya KATO
  • Patent number: 8772978
    Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus includes a power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode and a power transmitting apparatus side active electrode, and a power receiving apparatus includes a power receiving apparatus side active electrode and a power receiving apparatus side active electrode. The power transmitting apparatus side active electrode and the power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode are not parallel with each other in terms of a positional relationship, and the power receiving apparatus side active electrode and the power receiving apparatus side passive electrode are not parallel with each other in terms of a positional relationship. By mounting the power receiving apparatus on the power transmitting apparatus, the power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode and active electrode respectively face the power receiving apparatus side passive electrode and active electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Ichikawa, Shinji Goma, Kazuya Kato, Miyako Kabumoto
  • Publication number: 20140175906
    Abstract: In a power transmitter device, a power transmitter side active electrode and a power transmitter side passive electrode are formed. In a power receiver device, a power receiver side active electrode and a power receiver side passive electrode are formed. The power transmitter side active electrode is rectangle that is shorter in a first direction and longer in a second direction. The power receiver side active electrode is rectangle that is longer in the first direction and shorter in the second direction. The power transmitter side active electrode and the power receiver side active electrode are formed so as that lengths of overlapping area in the first and second directions do not change in a placement receivable area on the power transmitter device, within which the power receiver device is allowed to be displaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Suesada, Kazuya Kato, Hironobu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8747036
    Abstract: A power tool includes a base and a drive unit movable relative to the base and having a spindle and a drive device for rotatably driving the spindle. The power tool further includes a movable member mounted to the base and movable in a first mode and a second mode. A first device is coupled between the movable member and the drive unit and moves the drive unit relative to the base when the movable member moves in the first mode. A second device is coupled to the movable member and is configured to fix the drive unit in position relative to the base when the movable member moves in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Kato, Takuji Kimura
  • Patent number: 8686599
    Abstract: A power transmission system and a power receiving jacket is provided that enhances the transmission efficiency of electric power with a simple structure and without increasing manufacturing costs. The power transmission system includes a power transmitting device having a first passive electrode, a first active electrode whose potential is higher than the first passive electrode, and a voltage generation circuit connected between the first passive electrode and the first active electrode, a power receiving jacket having a second active electrode and a power receiving circuit module connected to the second active electrode, and an electronic device attachable to the power receiving jacket. The electronic device includes a chassis having a conductive portion formed from a conductive material along a surface facing the first passive electrode, and the power receiving circuit module is electrically connected between the conductive portion and the second active electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Tsuchiya, Kazuya Kato
  • Publication number: 20140015337
    Abstract: To provide a power receiving device having high power-receiving efficiency, able to be fed with power in a short time, and having made lighter and thinner with a smaller number of parts, and a power transmission system for feeding power to the power receiving device with high efficiency, the power receiving device has a resistive film type touch panel which has a movable transparent electrode membrane and a fixed transparent electrode membrane and causes a control unit to perform control to selectively switch between a position detecting circuit which detects a contact position on the touch panel and a power receiving circuit which supplies power received by using a movable transparent electrode as a power receiving electrode in an electric field coupling system to a secondary battery, and the power transmission system includes a power transmitting device which has a power transmission electrode for transmitting power by the electric field coupling system by using the movable transparent electrode membrane as
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Shinya Takeuchi, Shinji Goma, Kazuya Kato
  • Publication number: 20140007717
    Abstract: An electrically powered gardening tool of the type which includes a speed-reduction gear mounted in place to be driven by operation of an electric motor, a crank-cam in the form of overlapped eccentric disk plates fixed to a bottom surface of the speed-reduction gear by means of connecting pins for rotation therewith, and a pair of relatively reciprocating shear blades assembled with the eccentric disk plates. In the gardening tool, an elastic bushing is disposed in a mounting hole formed in the speed-reduction gear or each eccentric disk plate of the crank-cam for engagement with the connecting pins fixed to the eccentric disk plate or the speed-reduction gear, and a stopper is provided to restrict deformation of the elastic bushing caused by load applied to the crank-cam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Kazuya KATO, Yuki KOIDE
  • Publication number: 20140009363
    Abstract: A wireless antenna module includes: a housing made of a resin; an electroconductive layer provided on a front surface side of the housing; a top plate provided on a part of the electroconductive layer in a manner so as to be flush with a surface of the electroconductive layer; and a conduction terminal provided on a back surface side of the housing, and electrically connected to the electroconductive layer, passing through the housing, wherein the conduction terminal on the back surface side of the housing is provided in a position opposing the top plate on the front surface side of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicants: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Nissha Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Takeuchi, Seiichi Yamazaki, Shinji Goma, Kazuya Kato
  • Publication number: 20130318799
    Abstract: An electrically powered garden tool includes an electric motor mounted upright within an outer shell housing, a pair of relatively reciprocating shear blades assembled to be driven by operation of the motor through a crank mechanism provided within a lower portion of the outer shell housing, and a cooling fan assembled to be driven by operation of the motor for introducing outside air into an upper portion of the outer shell housing to exhaust the introduced air from a lower portion of the outer shell housing. In the garden tool, a downward exhaust opening is formed within a lower end peripheral wall of the outer shell housing enclosing the crank mechanism such that the air spouted by rotation of the cooling fan blows out downward from the downward exhaust opening to restrain the occurrence of blowing noise of the air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya KATO, Hideaki TAKANO, Yuki KOIDE
  • Publication number: 20130270922
    Abstract: A casing of a power transmitting device is provided with a power transmitting device side passive electrode, a power transmitting device side active electrode, and a power transmitting module. A jacket mounted on a terminal is provided with a power receiving device side passive electrode, a power receiving device side active electrode, a power receiving module, and a DC-DC converter. A heat sink portion with fins is formed on a portion of the power transmitting device side passive electrode. When the terminal is mounted on the power transmitting device, the power receiving device side passive electrode is electrically connected to the power transmitting device side passive electrode, and the power receiving device side active electrode faces the power transmitting device side active electrode. In this state, the heat of the power receiving module and the DC-DC converter is dissipated from the power transmitting device side passive electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Kazuya Kato, Keiichi Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20130249313
    Abstract: A power transmission system and a power receiving jacket is provided that enhances the transmission efficiency of electric power with a simple structure and without increasing manufacturing costs. The power transmission system includes a power transmitting device having a first passive electrode, a first active electrode whose potential is higher than the first passive electrode, and a voltage generation circuit connected between the first passive electrode and the first active electrode, a power receiving jacket having a second active electrode and a power receiving circuit module connected to the second active electrode, and an electronic device attachable to the power receiving jacket. The electronic device includes a chassis having a conductive portion formed from a conductive material along a surface facing the first passive electrode, and the power receiving circuit module is electrically connected between the conductive portion and the second active electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takanori Tsuchiya, Kazuya Kato
  • Publication number: 20130234533
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission system that includes a power transmission apparatus including a passive electrode and an active electrode and a power reception apparatus including passive electrodes and active electrode. When the power reception apparatus is longitudinally placed on the power transmission apparatus, the active electrodes are opposed to each other to cause electric power to be transmitted from the power transmission apparatus to the power reception apparatus. A facing area between the active electrodes in lateral placement of the power reception apparatus on the power transmission apparatus is made substantially equal to a facing area between the active electrodes in the longitudinal placement of the power reception apparatus on the power transmission apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Kazuya Kato, Kazuaki Higashibata
  • Patent number: 8476789
    Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus has a power transmitting apparatus side active electrode provided within the casing thereof along a seat. A power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode is exposed on a backrest. A power receiving apparatus has a power receiving apparatus side active electrode formed along the bottom surface thereof. A power receiving apparatus side passive electrode is formed on the outer surface of the casing of the power receiving apparatus. By mounting the power receiving apparatus on a mounting portion of the power transmitting apparatus, the power receiving apparatus side active electrode faces the power transmitting apparatus side active electrode with a dielectric layer therebetween, and the power receiving apparatus side passive electrode is directly electrically connected to the power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Ichikawa, Shinji Goma, Kazuya Kato
  • Patent number: 8412476
    Abstract: A travel support system for a vehicle includes: a required power amount obtaining unit determining a required power amount in a rechargeable battery required for travel of a predetermined section of a route; a remaining power amount obtaining unit determining a remaining power amount as the amount of power currently remaining in the rechargeable battery; an excess power amount obtaining unit determining an excess power amount as a portion of the remaining power amount in the rechargeable battery in excess of the required power amount; and a communication unit notifying a user of the vehicle of information indicating the availability of an electrical component of the vehicle in traveling the predetermined section, based on the excess power amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuya Kato
  • Patent number: 8390245
    Abstract: A power cable is connected from an external commercial power supply, and an in-vehicle battery is charged. Using the power cable as a communication conduit, communication is conducted with the outside world. In particular, by communication during charging, regional information regarding the current location, where the charging is being performed, or regional control parameter information is obtained. A control parameter of a vehicle is then set in accordance with the obtained information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Niwa, Kazuya Kato