Patents by Inventor Kenichi Fukumoto
Kenichi Fukumoto 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: 20060239038Abstract: A dc-ac converter capable of supplying a finely regulated ac drive voltage to a load is provided. For this purpose, the converter includes, in a primary winding of a transformer, a full-bridge or half-bridge type semiconductor switch circuit whose switches can be controlled by pulse-width modulation. Transformer has a secondary winding for connection with a load. Based on PWM signals and by use of adequate switching logics for controlling multiple semiconductor switches, sophisticated control including zero-current switching and penetrating current prevention can be effected. Moreover, by means of regulated burst control of the ratio of on-duty period to off-duty period together with pulse-width modulation control, power supplied to the load can be regulated over a wide range beyond the limits of control obtained by the pulse-width modulation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2006Publication date: October 26, 2006Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
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Patent number: 7126831Abstract: First and second semiconductor switches which are activated alternately are provided between ends of a primary winding and a common potential point, wherein a DC power supply voltage is supplied to a center tap. An electric current flowing into a load is fed back to thereby subject the semiconductor switches to PWM control. Series circuits consisting of capacitors and semiconductor switches are connected between the center tap of the primary winding and the ends of the same. The semiconductor switches are activated in synchronism with the first and second semiconductor switches, thereby preventing occurrence of an anomalous high voltage, which would otherwise be caused at the time of switching operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2006Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: ROHM Co. Ltd.Inventors: Hiroki Toda, Kenichi Fukumoto, Yosuke Aoyagi, Hiroyuki Fujita
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Patent number: 7099168Abstract: A semiconductor switch circuit is connected to a primary winding of a transformer having a secondary winding connected to a load. The semiconductor switch circuit has switches controlled by PWM to provide a controlled constant current. In the inventive inverter, constant current control is performed by PWM operation of the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit. The inverter cuts off electricity to the control circuit when putting the control circuit into a standby state if a run-stop signal gains a logical stop-state. At the same time as the run-stop signal gaining the stop-state, switch drive signals enabling the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit are turned off. Thus, over-current can be prevented from flowing in the load when the control circuit is put into the standby state.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2005Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
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Publication number: 20060187690Abstract: A multiplicity of synchronized inverters for driving a multiplicity of loads such as CCFLs that require high ac voltages are arranged in close proximity of the respective loads and controlled in phase. A frequency determination capacitor and a frequency determination resistor are connected to one of the inverters to generate a triangular wave signal and a clock signal. The triangular wave signal and clock signal thus generated are supplied to other inverters to synchronize all the loads so that they can be controlled in phase. The resistance of the frequency determination resistor is set to a substantially small magnitude at the time of startup to increase the frequency of the triangular wave signal, thereby enabling quick startup of the loads.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2005Publication date: August 24, 2006Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
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Patent number: 7095632Abstract: A dc-ac converter capable of supplying a finely regulated ac drive voltage to a load is provided. For this purpose, the converter includes, in a primary winding of a transformer, a full-bridge or half-bridge type semiconductor switch circuit whose switches can be controlled by pulse-width modulation. Transformer has a secondary winding for connection with a load. Based on PWM signals and by use of adequate switching logics for controlling multiple semiconductor switches, sophisticated control including zero-current switching and penetrating current prevention can be effected. Moreover, by means of regulated burst control of the ratio of on-duty period to off-duty period together with pulse-width modulation control, power supplied to the load can be regulated over a wide range beyond the limits of control obtained by the pulse-width modulation.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2003Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
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Patent number: 7095635Abstract: An inventive inverter has a semiconductor switch circuit connected to the primary winding of a transformer. The semiconductor switch circuit is respectively controlled by PWM to supply a constant current to the load connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. The inverter is capable of deliberately regulating its ac power output to the load and lowering the lower limit of the output power through control of the intermittent operation, in which an error signal for carrying out the PWM control is reduced to zero during each off-duty period. In addition, the error signal for the PWM control is slowly decreased or increased in each shift from an off-duty period to on-duty period, and vise versa, by charging or discharging the capacitor in a feedback circuit, thereby allowing slow start or slow end of the respective on-off operations for the constant current control through the PWM.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2003Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
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Publication number: 20060139067Abstract: A multiplicity of electronic devices is provided to generate triangular wave signals variable between an upper and lower limit voltages by charging or discharging capacitors. One of the triangular wave signals serves as a master triangular wave signal for controlling the phases of the remaining (or slave) triangular wave signals. A detection signal is generated every time the master triangular wave signal reaches predetermined threshold levels. In response to the detection signal, a capacitor associated with one slave triangular signal is promptly discharged to bring the slave triangular signal to the lower limit voltage, whereby the respective slave triangular wave signals are synchronized to be offset in phase relative to the master triangular wave signal by respective predetermined phase angles.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2003Publication date: June 29, 2006Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
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Publication number: 20060120117Abstract: First and second semiconductor switches which are activated alternately are provided between ends of a primary winding and a common potential point, wherein a DC power supply voltage is supplied to a center tap. An electric current flowing into a load is fed back to thereby subject the semiconductor switches to PWM control. Series circuits consisting of capacitors and semiconductor switches are connected between the center tap of the primary winding and the ends of the same. The semiconductor switches are activated in synchronism with the first and second semiconductor switches, thereby preventing occurrence of an anomalous high voltage, which would otherwise be caused at the time of switching operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2006Publication date: June 8, 2006Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroki Toda, Kenichi Fukumoto, Yosuke Aoyagi, Hiroyuki Fujita
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Patent number: 7046526Abstract: First and second semiconductor switches which are activated alternately are provided between ends of a primary winding and a common potential point, wherein a DC power supply voltage is supplied to a center tap. An electric current flowing into a load is fed back to thereby subject the semiconductor switches to PWM control. Series circuits consisting of capacitors and semiconductor switches are connected between the center tap of the primary winding and the ends of the same. The semiconductor switches are activated in synchronism with the first and second semiconductor switches, thereby preventing occurrence of an anomalous high voltage, which would otherwise be caused at the time of switching operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2004Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroki Toda, Kenichi Fukumoto, Yosuke Aoyagi, Hiroyuki Fujita
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Patent number: 6982889Abstract: A semiconductor switch circuit is connected to a primary winding of a transformer having a secondary winding connected to a load. The semiconductor switch circuit has switches controlled by PWM to provide a controlled constant current. In the inventive inverter, constant current control is performed by PWM operation of the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit. The inverter cuts off electricity to the control circuit when putting the control circuit into a standby state if a run-stop signal gains a logical stop-state. At the same time as the run-stop signal gaining the stop-state, switch drive signals enabling the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit are turned off. Thus, over-current can be prevented from flowing in the load when the control circuit is put into the standby state.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2003Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: Rohm Co., LTDInventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
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Patent number: 6982886Abstract: A multiplicity of synchronized inverters for driving a multiplicity of loads such as CCFLs that require high ac voltages are arranged in close proximity of the respective loads and controlled in phase. A frequency determination capacitor and a frequency determination resistor are connected to one of the inverters to generate a triangular wave signal and a clock signal. The triangular wave signal and clock signal thus generated are supplied to other inverters to synchronize all the loads so that they can be controlled in phase. The resistance of the frequency determination resistor is set to a substantially small magnitude at the time of startup to increase the frequency of the triangular wave signal, thereby enabling quick startup of the loads.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2003Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: Rohm Co., LTDInventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
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Publication number: 20050269998Abstract: A semiconductor switch circuit is connected to a primary winding of a transformer having a secondary winding connected to a load. The semiconductor switch circuit has switches controlled by PWM to provide a controlled constant current. In the inventive inverter, constant current control is performed by PWM operation of the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit. The inverter cuts off electricity to the control circuit when putting the control circuit into a standby state if a run-stop signal gains a logical stop-state. At the same time as the run-stop signal gaining the stop-state, switch drive signals enabling the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit are turned off. Thus, over-current can be prevented from flowing in the load when the control circuit is put into the standby state.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2005Publication date: December 8, 2005Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
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Publication number: 20050219863Abstract: An inverter has a semiconductor switch circuit in the primary winding of a transformer such that each of the switches of the switch circuit is controlled by pulse-width modulation (PWM) to supply a constant ac current and a constant ac voltage to a load, such as a cold cathode fluorescent light, connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. A common slow-start control circuit is provided in the inverter circuit to enable a common slow startup of the PWM control of the output voltage and output current. This arrangement suppresses an excessive voltage and an inrushing current during a startup.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2003Publication date: October 6, 2005Inventors: Kenichi Fukumoto, Hiroyuki Fujita
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Patent number: 6927989Abstract: A constant current control is performed by PWM, and an analog burst control and a digital burst control are made selectable. The burst controls are selected in the following manner. A capacitor is selected as an element which is to be connected to a triangular signal oscillator circuit, to generate a triangular signal, thereby setting the analog burst control. A resistor is selected as the element to generate a constant voltage, thereby setting the digital burst control. A controller IC is used commonly in both the burst controls.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2003Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
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Publication number: 20050128775Abstract: A multiplicity of synchronized inverters for driving a multiplicity of loads such as CCFLs that require high ac voltages are arranged in close proximity of the respective loads and controlled in phase. A frequency determination capacitor and a frequency determination resistor are connected to one of the inverters to generate a triangular wave signal and a clock signal. The triangular wave signal and clock signal thus generated are supplied to other inverters to synchronize all the loads so that they can be controlled in phase. The resistance of the frequency determination resistor is set to a substantially small magnitude at the time of startup to increase the frequency of the triangular wave signal, thereby enabling quick startup of the loads.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2003Publication date: June 16, 2005Applicant: ROHM CO., LTDInventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
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Publication number: 20050073859Abstract: A semiconductor switch circuit is connected to a primary winding of a transformer having a secondary winding connected to a load. The semiconductor switch circuit has switches controlled by PWM to provide a controlled constant current. In the inventive inverter, constant current control is performed by PWM operation of the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit. The inverter cuts off electricity to the control circuit when putting the control circuit into a standby state if a run-stop signal gains a logical stop-state. At the same time as the run-stop signal gaining the stop-state, switch drive signals enabling the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit are turned off. Thus, over-current can be prevented from flowing in the load when the control circuit is put into the standby state.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2003Publication date: April 7, 2005Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
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Publication number: 20050047176Abstract: A dc-ac converter capable of supplying a finely regulated ac drive voltage to a load is provided. For this purpose, the converter includes, in a primary winding of a transformer, a full-bridge or half-bridge type semiconductor switch circuit whose switches can be controlled by pulse-width modulation. Transformer has a secondary winding for connection with a load. Based on PWM signals and by use of adequate switching logics for controlling multiple semiconductor switches, sophisticated control including zero-current switching and penetrating current prevention can be effected. Moreover, by means of regulated burst control of the ratio of on-duty period to off-duty period together with pulse-width modulation control, power supplied to the load can be regulated over a wide range beyond the limits of control obtained by the pulse-width modulation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2003Publication date: March 3, 2005Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
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Publication number: 20050007794Abstract: An inventive inverter has a semiconductor switch circuit connected to the primary winding of a transformer. The semiconductor switch circuit is respectively controlled by PWM to supply a constant current to the load connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. The inverter is capable of deliberately regulating its ac power output to the load and lowering the lower limit of the output power through control of the intermittent operation, in which an error signal for carrying out the PWM control is reduced to zero during each off-duty period. In addition, the error signal for the PWM control is slowly decreased or increased in each shift from an off-duty period to on-duty period, and vise versa, by charging or discharging the capacitor in a feedback circuit, thereby allowing slow start or slow end of the respective on-off operations for the constant current control through the PWM.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2003Publication date: January 13, 2005Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
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Publication number: 20040240234Abstract: First and second semiconductor switches which are activated alternately are provided between ends of a primary winding and a common potential point, wherein a DC power supply voltage is supplied to a center tap. An electric current flowing into a load is fed back to thereby subject the semiconductor switches to PWM control. Series circuits consisting of capacitors and semiconductor switches are connected between the center tap of the primary winding and the ends of the same. The semiconductor switches are activated in synchronism with the first and second semiconductor switches, thereby preventing occurrence of an anomalous high voltage, which would otherwise be caused at the time of switching operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroki Toda, Kenichi Fukumoto, Yosuke Aoyagi, Hiroyuki Fujita
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Patent number: 6767645Abstract: Disclosed herein is a release paper comprising: a paper base laminated with a release layer, this release layer comprising a 4-methyl-1-pentene resin being a copolymer of 4-methyl-1-pentene and an &agr;-olefin other than 4-methyl-1-pentene wherein the &agr;-olefin is contained in a proportion of 6 to 8% by weight. This release paper is excellent in heat resistance and exhibits less curling tendency in repeated use. Further, the release paper exhibits a high bonding strength between resin and paper, and is excellent in durability. The release paper is suitable for use in, for example, production of a synthetic leather.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2001Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignees: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Lintec CorporationInventors: Katsumi Noritomi, Kenichi Fukumoto