Patents by Inventor Ken Matsunaga
Ken Matsunaga 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: 20240110794Abstract: A route guidance device that guides a user along a movement route, the route guidance device including an acquisition unit configured to acquire, from a communication device, location information including a departure location and a destination location of the user, a search unit configured to search for a plurality of movement routes from the departure location to the destination location, based on the location information acquired by the acquisition unit, and a provision unit configured to provide the communication device with the plurality of movement routes searched for by the search unit, wherein the plurality of movement routes includes a first movement route using a first moving body of a riding type capable of traveling on a roadway, and a second movement route using a second moving body of a self-propelled type capable of traveling on a sidewalk.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventors: Kazuma TAMAKI, Yuji YASUI, Tokitomo ARIYOSHI, Hideki MATSUNAGA, Ken IINUMA
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Publication number: 20240112104Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire physical strength information related to physical strength and time information related to a scheduled farm work time of a work group including at least one worker who performs farm work; a determination unit configured to determine a work ability of the work group based on the physical strength information; and a crop type selection unit configured to select a crop type to be proposed to the work group based on the work ability determined by the determination unit and the time information acquired by the acquisition unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuma TAMAKI, Yuji YASUI, Tokitomo ARIYOSHI, Ken IINUMA, Hideki MATSUNAGA
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Patent number: 9803904Abstract: A refrigerant cycle device for a vehicle includes a compressor which compresses and discharges refrigerant, a discharge capacity control portion which controls a discharge capacity of the compressor. The refrigerant cycle device further includes a noise determination portion which determines whether an audible noise other than a refrigerant passing noise is in a low noise state, and/or a load determination portion which determines whether an air-conditioning thermal load is in a high load state. The discharge capacity control portion performs a gradual activation control in which the discharge capacity of the compressor is set to be lower than that determined in a normal control, when the noise determination portion determines that the audible noise is in the low noise state, and/or when the load determination portion determines that the air-conditioning thermal load is in the high load state, at an activation time of the compressor.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2012Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Minoru Sasaki, Takashi Yamanaka, Takeshi Wakisaka, Motohiro Yamaguchi, Yasuaki Sasaki, Ken Matsunaga
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Publication number: 20120291467Abstract: A refrigerant cycle device for a vehicle includes a compressor which compresses and discharges refrigerant, a discharge capacity control portion which controls a discharge capacity of the compressor. The refrigerant cycle device further includes a noise determination portion which determines whether an audible noise other than a refrigerant passing noise is in a low noise state, and/or a load determination portion which determines whether an air-conditioning thermal load is in a high load state. The discharge capacity control portion performs a gradual activation control in which the discharge capacity of the compressor is set to be lower than that determined in a normal control, when the noise determination portion determines that the audible noise is in the low noise state, and/or when the load determination portion determines that the air-conditioning thermal load is in the high load state, at an activation time of the compressor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Minoru Sasaki, Takashi Yamanaka, Takeshi Wakisaka, Motohiro Yamaguchi, Yasuaki Sasaki, Ken Matsunaga
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Patent number: 7739881Abstract: A refrigeration cycle controls a second evaporator while a first evaporator is operating. The refrigeration cycle of the present invention makes a differential pressure between an inlet refrigerant pressure and an outlet refrigerant pressure of a second evaporator solenoid valve when starting or stopping the second evaporator during operation of the first evaporator smaller than the differential pressure when operating only the first evaporator, then opening or closing the second evaporator solenoid valve.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2006Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Ken Matsunaga, Yoshitaka Tomatsu
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Publication number: 20090241570Abstract: In a refrigerant cycle system, a compression mechanism of an electric compressor sucks and compresses refrigerant, and an electric motor that drives the compression mechanism is cooled by the refrigerant. A variable throttle mechanism decompresses the refrigerant discharged from the electric compressor. A motor temperature detector detects a temperature of the electric motor. A motor protection determiner determines whether the temperature of the electric motor detected by the motor temperature detector is equal to or higher than a criterion value. A motor protection controller controls the variable throttle mechanism so that an opening degree of the variable throttle mechanism does not decrease when the motor protection determiner determines that the temperature of the electric motor is equal to or higher than the criterion value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Nobukazu Kuribayashi, Yasutaka Kuroda, Mitsuyo Oomura, Ken Matsunaga, Satoshi Itoh
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Patent number: 7462414Abstract: A fuel cell system has a fuel cell, an air-refrigerant heat exchanger, and primary and secondary expansion valves. The air-refrigerant heat exchanger performs heat exchange between exhaust air discharged from the fuel cell and a refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle. The primary expansion valve reduces the pressure of the refrigerant at an upstream side of the air-refrigerant heat exchanger. The secondary expansion valve reduces the pressure of the refrigerant at a downstream side of the air-refrigerant heat exchanger. While the air-refrigerant heat exchanger performs the heat-exchange from the air to the refrigerant, the primary expansion valve controls a reduced magnitude of the pressure of the refrigerant so that a temperature of the refrigerant is set to a specified value within a range of 0° C. to 5° C., preferably set to 0° C., at which water component contained in the air does not freeze.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2007Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Yuichi Sakajo, Naoto Hotta, Ken Matsunaga
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Publication number: 20080145731Abstract: A fuel cell system has a fuel cell, an air-refrigerant heat exchanger, and primary and secondary expansion valves. The air-refrigerant heat exchanger performs heat exchange between exhaust air discharged from the fuel cell and a refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle. The primary expansion valve reduces the pressure of the refrigerant at an upstream side of the air-refrigerant heat exchanger. The secondary expansion valve reduces the pressure of the refrigerant at a downstream side of the air-refrigerant heat exchanger. While the air-refrigerant heat exchanger performs the heat-exchange from the air to the refrigerant, the primary expansion valve controls a reduced magnitude of the pressure of the refrigerant so that a temperature of the refrigerant is set to a specified value within a range of 0° C. to 5° C., preferably set to 0° C., at which water component contained in the air does not freeze.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2007Publication date: June 19, 2008Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yuichi Sakajo, Naoto Hotta, Ken Matsunaga
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Publication number: 20070151270Abstract: A refrigeration cycle not generating unpleasant noise when starting or stopping a second evaporator while a first evaporator is operating is provided. The refrigeration cycle of the present invention is characterized by making a differential pressure between an inlet refrigerant pressure and outlet refrigerant pressure of a second evaporator solenoid valve when starting or stopping the second evaporator during operation of the first evaporator smaller than the differential pressure when operating only the first evaporator, then opening or closing the second evaporator solenoid valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2006Publication date: July 5, 2007Applicant: DENSO CorporationInventors: Ken Matsunaga, Yoshitaka Tomatsu
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Patent number: 7015430Abstract: An electric heater apparatus for automobiles is disclosed. A sheathed heater (14a) constituting a heat generating member of a heater assembly (14) generates heat by power supplied from a main power supply for generating a DC high voltage through an inverter. A thermal fuse (15) has a temperature detecting element (15a) (low-melting alloy) adapted to fuse when a set temperature is reached. The temperature detecting element (15a) is connected to the power circuit of the sheathed heater (14a) through lead wires (15b, 15c). The thermal fuse (15) is arranged in such a position that the longitudinal direction of the temperature detecting element (15a) accommodated in the casing (17) is coincident with the longitudinal direction of the heater assembly 14, and mounted in surface-to-surface contact with the body (aluminum body (14c)) of the heater assembly (14). Also, the interior of the casing (17) is sealed with a material (such as cement or a silicon caulking material) higher in heat conductivity than air.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2004Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Ken Matsunaga
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Patent number: 6928237Abstract: In a fluid heating apparatus, a heat protect temperature sensor indirectly detects temperature of fluid heated by an electric heater adjacent to the electric heater. Also, a heated fluid sensor detects the temperature of the fluid adjacent to a fluid inlet of a heat exchanger. When it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected temperatures exceeds a predetermined level, electric power supply to the electric heater is discontinued. Thus, boil-dry is restricted early with a simple means.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2003Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventors: Ken Matsunaga, Hisashi Ieda, Mitsuyo Oomura
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Publication number: 20040178188Abstract: An electric heater apparatus for automobiles is disclosed. A sheathed heater (14a) constituting a heat generating member of a heater assembly (14) generates heat by power supplied from a main power supply for generating a DC high voltage through an inverter. A thermal fuse (15) has a temperature detecting element (15a) (low-melting alloy) adapted to fuse when a set temperature is reached. The temperature detecting element (15a) is connected to the power circuit of the sheathed heater (14a) through lead wires (15b, 15c). The thermal fuse (15) is arranged in such a position that the longitudinal direction of the temperature detecting element (15a) accommodated in the casing (17) is coincident with the longitudinal direction of the heater assembly 14, and mounted in surface-to-surface contact with the body (aluminum body (14c)) of the heater assembly (14). Also, the interior of the casing (17) is sealed with a material (such as cement or a silicon caulking material) higher in heat conductivity than air.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2004Publication date: September 16, 2004Inventor: Ken Matsunaga
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Patent number: 6724985Abstract: A hot water heating apparatus for an electric vehicle and a hybrid vehicle has a compact heat source apparatus not requiring a wide space for setting. A communication pipe, in which water as a heat medium flows, and an electric heater are embedded in a heat conductor metal in proximity in a row arrangement to form a flat-shaped heat conductor. A heat source apparatus is constructed by stacking multiple flat-shaped heat conductors while the communication pipes are connected to each other in series. Further, the communication pipe and the electric heater are embedded in the heat conductor metal in proximity in a row arrangement, and the communication pipes are connected in series. Therefore, water flowing in the communication pipes is rapidly heated, and heating efficiency is extremely high.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignees: Denso Corporation, Corona CorporationInventors: Ken Matsunaga, Yuji Takeo, Kenichi Hasegawa, Susumu Kazama, Yoshihiko Adachi
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Publication number: 20040065652Abstract: In a fluid heating apparatus, a heat protect temperature sensor indirectly detects temperature of fluid heated by an electric heater adjacent to the electric heater. Also, a heated fluid sensor detects the temperature of the fluid adjacent to a fluid inlet of a heat exchanger. When it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected temperatures exceeds a predetermined level, electric power supply to the electric heater is discontinued. Thus, boil-dry is restricted early with a simple means.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2003Publication date: April 8, 2004Inventors: Ken Matsunaga, Hisashi Ieda, Mitsuyo Oomura
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Patent number: 6713729Abstract: In a vehicle air-conditioning system, a supply of electric power to a first electric heater and a supply of electric power to a second electric heater are duty controlled at the same duty ratio in such a manner that the supply of the electric power to the second electric heater is phase shifted by one half of a period from the supply of the electric power to the first electric heater.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2002Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Yuji Takeo, Ken Matsunaga, Hisashi Ieda, Mitsuyo Oomura
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Publication number: 20040050944Abstract: In an air conditioner for a vehicle having a temperature-controlled apparatus such as a fuel cell system, a heater core heats air by using unnecessary thermal energy from the fuel cell system. Further, a switching valve is controlled to switch between a first circuit and a second circuit. Cooling water is circulated between the heater core and the fuel cell system in the first circuit, and passes through the heater core while by passing the fuel cell system in the second circuit. When a cooling water temperature flowing from the heater core is lower than a cooling water temperature from the fuel cell system, the switching valve is controlled by a control unit to select the first circuit. Accordingly, the heater core can effectively use the unnecessary thermal energy from the fuel cell system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2003Publication date: March 18, 2004Inventors: Ken Matsunaga, Hisashi Ieda
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Patent number: 6690560Abstract: In an electrical load controller, a thermal fuse is blown at an abnormal heating of an electrical load, so that an electrical circuit of the electrical load is disconnected. The controller controls a work amount of the electrical load by intermittently controlling electrical power to be supplied thereto. The power supply to the electrical load is intermittently stopped even when the work amount of the electrical load is controlled at a maximum amount. Therefore, an arc, generated when the thermal fuse is blown, disappears while the power supply is stopped, so that the thermal fuse can be accurately operated.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2002Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventors: Ken Matsunaga, Yuji Takeo, Kyohsuke Hattori
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Patent number: 6675597Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system limits electric power used by an electric motor for a compressor in a prescribed fashion that quickly removes fog from the windows when a defroster mode is selected. When the defroster mode is selected, the limit on the electric power used by the electric motor is lifted, and the number of revolutions of the compressor is set to a high level to raise the dehumidifying and cooling capability to quickly remove moisture from the windows.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2003Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Hisashi Ieda, Toshinobu Homan, Ken Matsunaga, Yuji Takeo, Mitsuyo Oomura
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Patent number: 6675873Abstract: An air-conditioner for use in an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle includes an electric heater for heating water circulating through a heater core and a compressor for compressing refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle. The electric heater is powered by an on-board battery, and the compressor is also driven by the same on-board battery. When a voltage of the on-board battery abnormally increases to a first predetermined level, the electric heater is switched off to prevent the electric heater from being overheated. When the voltage further increases to a second predetermined level, operation of the compressor is also terminated. Thus, the electric heater is properly protected from the abnormally high voltage while properly keeping performance of the air-conditioner.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Hisashi Ieda, Ken Matsunaga
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Publication number: 20030209022Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system limits electric power used by an electric motor for a compressor in a prescribed fashion that quickly removes fog from the windows when a defroster mode is selected. When the defroster mode is selected, the limit on the electric power used by the electric motor is lifted, and the number of revolutions of the compressor is set to a high level to raise the dehumidifying and cooling capability to quickly remove moisture from the windows.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2003Publication date: November 13, 2003Inventors: Hisashi Ieda, Toshinobu Homan, Ken Matsunaga, Yuji Takeo, Mitsuyo Oomura