Patents by Inventor Kenichiro Ueda

Kenichiro Ueda 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: 11965801
    Abstract: A measurement system includes a measurement device including a light source, and a first power meter, and one or a plurality of connection members each configured to optically connect a pair of optical fiber lines of the plurality of optical fiber lines. A first optical fiber line of the pair of optical fiber lines includes a first end and a second end, a second optical fiber line of the pair of optical fiber lines includes a third end and a fourth end, the one or plurality of connection members optically connect the second end to the fourth end, the light source causes testing light to be incident on the first end, and the first power meter measures first intensity of first output light output from the third end by causing the testing light to propagate through the pair of optical fiber lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC OPTIFRONTIER CO., LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Masuda, Tomohiko Ueda, Kenichiro Otsuka, Tsuneari Ito, Tetsufumi Tsuzaki, Yoshifumi Hishikawa, Hitoshi Hatayama
  • Patent number: 10249889
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises: a turbo type oxidizing agent pump, the rotary shaft of which is pivotally supported by an air bearing to take in and supply an oxidizing agent gas to a fuel cell by the rotary motion; an actual flow rate detection means for the oxidizing agent gas; a pressure adjustment means for the oxidizing agent gas; a rotary speed monitoring means for the oxidizing agent pump; and a control means which, when the rotary speed of the oxidizing agent pump is within the range of the minimum rotary speed that allows the rotary shaft to be pivotally supported by the air bearing, if the actual flow rate of the oxidizing agent gas is larger than a target flow rate, increases the pressure of the oxidizing agent gas via the pressure adjustment means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Ueda, Kenji Taruya, Masakazu Hamachi, Nobuki Koiwa
  • Patent number: 10158132
    Abstract: A fuel gas supply apparatus of a fuel cell system includes a pressure reducing valve, an interruption valve, and an injector in a hydrogen supply channel. A controller of the fuel cell system includes a drive cycle setting unit for setting the drive cycle of the injector based on a load of the fuel cell stack, and a water state determination unit for determining whether or not quantity of water content in the fuel cell is excessive by determining whether or not the quantity of water content is a predetermined quantity or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Ohgami, Kenichiro Ueda, Koichiro Miyata, Jumpei Ogawa, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9786935
    Abstract: A controller (control portion) of a fuel cell system is provided with a flow path switching control device that switches a thermostat valve (flow path switching valve) so that, after a fuel cell has stopped generating electric power, coolant is supplied to a radiator circulation path until the coolant temperature becomes a second temperature threshold value that is lower than a first temperature threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichiro Furusawa, Nobutaka Nakajima, Kaoru Yamazaki, Kenichiro Ueda, Nobuki Koiwa, Kenji Taruya, Masakazu Hamachi
  • Patent number: 9368818
    Abstract: A humidification control method includes the steps of detecting a direct current resistance component by measuring impedance during power generation of a fuel cell stack, calculating a reaction resistance component based on the detected direct current resistance component and a stack voltage, detecting a humidified state of the fuel cell stack based on the detected direct current resistance component and the calculated reaction resistance component, and adjusting a quantity of humidification of a reaction gas supplied to the fuel cell stack based on the detected humidified state of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Mohri, Junji Uehara, Hiromichi Yoshida, Kenichiro Ueda, Shinya Watanabe, Akiji Ando
  • Patent number: 9331347
    Abstract: A fuel cell system that can quickly transition to idling stop and can suppress degradation of the electrolyte membrane and decline in cell voltage during idling stop, without requiring a discharge resistor to be provided, and a control method thereof are provided. A fuel cell system (1) includes a fuel cell (10) configured by layering a plurality of fuel cell cells that generate power by reactant gas being supplied thereto, and a supply device 20 that supplies reactant gas to the fuel cell (10), in which idling stop control is initiated to supply air of a lower flow rate than during idling power generation to the fuel cell (10), while producing lower current than during idling power generation from the fuel cell (10), in a case of a predetermined condition being established during idling power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Matsumoto, Kenichiro Ueda, Chihiro Wake, Go Kikuchi, Koichiro Miyata
  • Patent number: 9318760
    Abstract: In a method of operating a fuel cell, a voltage difference between voltages of a first unit cell and a second unit cell is detected. Whether the voltage difference is out of a predetermined range is determined. If the voltage difference is determined to be out of the predetermined range, humidity of a first reactant gas before being supplied to a first reactant gas passage is adjusted or humidity of a second reactant gas before being supplied to a second reactant gas passage is adjusted. The first reactant gas passage is provided in a first separator. The first reactant gas is to be supplied to one of first electrodes through the first reactant gas passage. The second reactant gas is to be supplied to another of the first electrodes through the second reactant gas passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Uehara, Masahiro Mohri, Hiromichi Yoshida, Kenichiro Ueda, Shinya Watanabe, Akiji Ando
  • Publication number: 20150310945
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor monitoring device, a nuclear reactor control device, and a nuclear power generation plant, wherein a detector (103) for detecting the state quantity of a reactor core (68) in a nuclear reactor (12), an incore instrumentation and calculation unit (211) for generating reactor core performance data on the basis of the state quantity of the reactor core (68) detected by the detector (103), and a reactor core monitoring server main machine (231) for generating reactor core prediction data by predicting and computing the change with the passage of time of the reactor core (68) on the basis of a current reactor core operation condition and the reactor core performance data are provided, the reactor core monitoring server main machine (231) generates the reactor core prediction data when the reactor core performance data exceeds a preset prescribed range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Ueda, Masatoshi Nagai, Kenta Mori
  • Publication number: 20150086894
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises: a turbo type oxidizing agent pump, the rotary shaft of which is pivotally supported by an air bearing to take in and supply an oxidizing agent gas to a fuel cell by the rotary motion; an actual flow rate detection means for the oxidizing agent gas; a pressure adjustment means for the oxidizing agent gas; a rotary speed monitoring means for the oxidizing agent pump; and a control means which, when the rotary speed of the oxidizing agent pump is within the range of the minimum rotary speed that allows the rotary shaft to be pivotally supported by the air bearing, if the actual flow rate of the oxidizing agent gas is larger than a target flow rate, increases the pressure of the oxidizing agent gas via the pressure adjustment means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Kenichiro Ueda, Kenji Taruya, Masakazu Hamachi, Nobuki Koiwa
  • Publication number: 20140162151
    Abstract: A humidification control method includes the steps of detecting a direct current resistance component by measuring impedance during power generation of a fuel cell stack, calculating a reaction resistance component based on the detected direct current resistance component and a stack voltage, detecting a humidified state of the fuel cell stack based on the detected direct current resistance component and the calculated reaction resistance component, and adjusting a quantity of humidification of a reaction gas supplied to the fuel cell stack based on the detected humidified state of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro MOHRI, Junji UEHARA, Hiromichi YOSHIDA, Kenichiro UEDA, Shinya WATANABE, Akiji ANDO
  • Publication number: 20140080018
    Abstract: A fuel gas supply apparatus of a fuel cell system includes a pressure reducing valve, an interruption valve, and an injector in a hydrogen supply channel. A controller of the fuel cell system includes a drive cycle setting unit for setting the drive cycle of the injector based on a load of the fuel cell stack, and a water state determination unit for determining whether or not quantity of water content in the fuel cell is excessive by determining whether or not the quantity of water content is a predetermined quantity or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu OHGAMI, Kenichiro UEDA, Koichiro MIYATA, Jumpei OGAWA, Takashi YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140057186
    Abstract: In a method of operating a fuel cell, a voltage difference between voltages of a first unit cell and a second unit cell is detected. Whether the voltage difference is out of a predetermined range is determined. If the voltage difference is determined to be out of the predetermined range, humidity of a first reactant gas before being supplied to a first reactant gas passage is adjusted or humidity of a second reactant gas before being supplied to a second reactant gas passage is adjusted. The first reactant gas passage is provided in a first separator. The first reactant gas is to be supplied to one of first electrodes through the first reactant gas passage. The second reactant gas is to be supplied to another of the first electrodes through the second reactant gas passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji UEHARA, Masahiro MOHRI, Hiromichi YOSHIDA, Kenichiro UEDA, Shinya WATANABE, Akiji ANDO
  • Publication number: 20130323539
    Abstract: A controller (control portion) of a fuel cell system is provided with a flow path switching control device that switches a thermostat valve (flow path switching valve) so that, after a fuel cell has stopped generating electric power, coolant is supplied to a radiator circulation path until the coolant temperature becomes a second temperature threshold value that is lower than a first temperature threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Koichiro FURUSAWA, Nobutaka NAKAJIMA, Kaoru YAMAZAKI, Kenichiro UEDA, Nobuki KOIWA, Kenji TARUYA, Masakazu HAMACHI
  • Patent number: 8445149
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a diluting apparatus which comprises a first introducing portion, a second introducing portion and an inner space and a discharge portion, and a control unit which comprises discharged fuel gas quantity detection means, a current remaining fuel gas detection means and a purge treatment means. In this fuel cell system purging the fuel gas is controlled calculating a current remaining fuel gas quantity in the inner space based on a fuel gas quantity introduced into the inner space, a flow rate of an oxidizing off-gas, a ventilation rate and a flow rate of a diluting gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Matsumoto, Kenichiro Ueda, Junji Uehara
  • Patent number: 8415062
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a cathode supply passage, a cathode discharging passage, an anode supply passage, an anode discharging passage, a pair of cathode shutoff units, an anode shutoff unit, an anode discharging unit, a discharged gas processing unit, and a control unit. The control unit releases the sealing of the cathode passage by the pair of cathode shutoff units, at the time of start-up of the fuel cell system, and releases the sealing of the anode passage by the anode discharging unit, thereby performing a purge process to allow discharge of the anode gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kenichiro Ueda, Junji Uehara, Yuji Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20120270126
    Abstract: A fuel cell system that can quickly transition to idling stop and can suppress degradation of the electrolyte membrane and decline in cell voltage during idling stop, without requiring a discharge resistor to be provided, and a control method thereof are provided. A fuel cell system (1) includes a fuel cell (10) configured by layering a plurality of fuel cell cells that generate power by reactant gas being supplied thereto, and a supply device 20 that supplies reactant gas to the fuel cell (10), in which idling stop control is initiated to supply air of a lower flow rate than during idling power generation to the fuel cell (10), while producing lower current than during idling power generation from the fuel cell (10), in a case of a predetermined condition being established during idling power generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji MATSUMOTO, Kenichiro UEDA, Chihiro WAKE, Go KIKUCHI, Koichiro MIYATA
  • Patent number: 8288044
    Abstract: A start-up method for a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell that carries out power generation by the electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and the oxygen gas in the air; a fuel gas discharge path and a fuel gas supply path that are connected to the fuel cell; a fuel gas circulation path in which the fuel gas discharge path merges with the fuel gas supply path; and a purge valve provided on the fuel gas circulation path in order to discharge the circulating fuel gas from the fuel gas circulation path. The method includes the steps of opening the purge valve at the same time that the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell and replacing the nitrogen gas that originates in the air and is present in the fuel gas circulation path by fuel gas; and closing the purge valve after the nitrogen gas in the fuel gas circulation path has been replaced by the fuel gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Hayashi, Kenichiro Ueda, Yoshio Hosono, Minoru Uoshima, Junji Uehara, Tomoki Kobayashi, Yuji Matsumoto, Chihiro Wake
  • Patent number: 8288047
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an idle stop unit, a discharger, a power-generation-state memory, and an initial-current-value setter. The idle stop unit is configured to stop a supply of the reactant gas to a fuel cell. The discharger is configured to allow the fuel cell to generate the electric power with the reactant gas remaining in the fuel cell after the idle stop unit stops the supply of the reactant gas and is configured to discharge electric current to a current receiver. The power-generation-state memory is configured to store a power-generation state of the fuel cell immediately before the idle stop unit stops the supply of the reactant gas. The initial-current-value setter is configured to set an initial current value of the fuel cell discharged by the discharger on a basis of the power-generation state of the fuel cell stored in the power-generation-state memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Ueda, Junji Uehara, Yuji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8241805
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that generates an electric power and heat by a reaction of a reaction gas; a heat exchanger; a coolant circuit for a coolant between the fuel cell and the heat exchanger; a coolant circulating pump for circulating the coolant in the coolant circuit; and a drive motor for driving the coolant circulating pump, the coolant receiving and carrying the heat to the heat exchanger by the coolant circuit, the coolant circulating pump, and the drive motor. A rotational speed of the drive motor is controlled according to an upper limit of the rotational speed of the drive motor which may be determined on the basis of a cooling capacity of the heat exchanger, a speed of the vehicle mounting the fuel cell system, a generated electric power, and a flow rate of the reaction gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Ueda, Junji Uehara, Chihiro Wake
  • Publication number: 20120141897
    Abstract: A start-up method for a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell that carries out power generation by the electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and the oxygen gas in the air; a fuel gas discharge path and a fuel gas supply path that are connected to the fuel cell; a fuel gas circulation path in which the fuel gas discharge path merges with the fuel gas supply path; and a purge valve provided on the fuel gas circulation path in order to discharge the circulating fuel gas from the fuel gas circulation path. The method includes the steps of opening the purge valve at the same time that the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell and replacing the nitrogen gas that originates in the air and is present in the fuel gas circulation path by fuel gas; and closing the purge valve after the nitrogen gas in the fuel gas circulation path has been replaced by the fuel gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori HAYASHI, Kenichiro UEDA, Yoshio HOSONO, Minoru UOSHIMA, Junji UEHARA, Tomoki KOBAYASHI, Yuji MATSUMOTO, Chihiro WAKE