Patents by Inventor Kenji Funahashi

Kenji Funahashi 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: 11370310
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply system includes: a main battery; a sub-battery with output voltage; a power converter having an input end connected to the main battery and an output end connected to a motor and converting output power of the main battery to driving power for the motor; a voltage converter connected between the main battery and the sub-battery and stepping down the voltage of the main battery to the voltage of the sub-battery; a charging inlet connected to the main battery and connecting to a power supply device outside a vehicle; a capacitor connected between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the input end; and a coil connected between the main battery and the voltage converter. The coil is connected to the capacitor not via a charging power path from the charging inlet to the main battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaji Kikuchi, Kenji Funahashi, Yuji Toba, Daisuke Hoshino
  • Publication number: 20200207223
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply system includes: a main battery; a sub-battery with output voltage; a power converter having an input end connected to the main battery and an output end connected to a motor and converting output power of the main battery to driving power for the motor; a voltage converter connected between the main battery and the sub-battery and stepping down the voltage of the main battery to the voltage of the sub-battery; a charging inlet connected to the main battery and connecting to a power supply device outside a vehicle; a capacitor connected between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the input end; and a coil connected between the main battery and the voltage converter. The coil is connected to the capacitor not via a charging power path from the charging inlet to the main battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaji KIKUCHI, Kenji FUNAHASHI, Yuji TOBA, Daisuke HOSHINO
  • Patent number: 9219425
    Abstract: An electric power converter includes a semiconductor module that has a semiconductor element therein, a cooler that cools the semiconductor module, a circuit board provided with a semiconductor control circuit that controls the semiconductor module, a capacitor electrically connected to the semiconductor module, and a quick discharge resistor for discharging an electric charge accumulated in the capacitor. The circuit board is provided with a discharge control circuit that controls a current that flows into the quick discharge resistor. The semiconductor module, the cooler, the capacitor, and the quick discharge resistor are disposed on one major surface of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohisa Sano, Takahisa Kaneko, Kenshiro Hida, Kenji Funahashi
  • Publication number: 20130272043
    Abstract: An electric power converter includes a semiconductor module that has a semiconductor element therein, a cooler that cools the semiconductor module, a circuit board provided with a semiconductor control circuit that controls the semiconductor module, a capacitor electrically connected to the semiconductor module, and a quick discharge resistor for discharging an electric charge accumulated in the capacitor. The circuit board is provided with a discharge control circuit that controls a current that flows into the quick discharge resistor. The semiconductor module, the cooler, the capacitor, and the quick discharge resistor are disposed on one major surface of the circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohisa SANO, Takahisa KANEKO, Kenshiro HIDA, Kenji FUNAHASHI
  • Patent number: 7207187
    Abstract: A bus-bar integrated plate and outer frame section, arranged into a double-deck structure and having numerous bus bars molded with a resin molding plate portion, is provided as a wiring for connecting power switching elements and a smoothing capacitor, fixed on an outer surface of a cylindrical wall of a motor housing, to a printed circuit board serving as a control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Funahashi, Ken Hamada, Hiroyuki Kawata, Yasuyuki Ohkouchi
  • Publication number: 20060064998
    Abstract: A bus-bar integrated plate and outer frame section, arranged into a double-deck structure and having numerous bus bars molded with a resin molding plate portion, is provided as a wiring for connecting power switching elements and a smoothing capacitor, fixed on an outer surface of a cylindrical wall of a motor housing, to a printed circuit board serving as a control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Funahashi, Ken Hamada, Hiroyuki Kawata
  • Patent number: 7012401
    Abstract: An inverter includes an upper ECU, a communication microcomputer receiving an instruction from the upper ECU, a motor control microcomputer receiving an instruction from the communication microcomputer, a gate driving circuit controlled by the motor control microcomputer, and a switching element driven by the gate driving circuit for converting a direct current of a high-voltage battery into an alternating current to drive a motor. The communications between the upper ECU and the communication microcomputer is performed according to a CAN protocol. The communications between the communication microcomputer and the motor control microcomputer is performed according to a low-speed serial communication protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Ohkouchi, Kenji Funahashi
  • Patent number: 7009318
    Abstract: In an electrical compressor having a motor and an electrical circuit integrated with a compression portion, a part of electrical components of the electrical circuit is disposed in spaces between a cylindrical outer surface of a motor housing and an imaginary flat surface that imaginarily contacts the cylindrical outer surface. Therefore, the spaces can be used effectively, and the electrical compressor can be downsized. Further, the part of the electrical components can be effectively cooled by refrigerant in the motor housing. On the other hand, the outer surface of the motor housing is used as one surface defining an inner space of a casing for accommodating the electrical circuit. In this case, the electrical circuit can be effectively cooled by refrigerant in the motor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kunio Iritani, Hiroyuki Kawata, Kenji Funahashi, Yuji Takeo, Yusuke Shindo, Tsuyoshi Takemoto
  • Publication number: 20050223727
    Abstract: A bus-bar integrated plate and outer frame section, arranged into a double-deck structure and having numerous bus bars molded with a resin molding plate portion, is provided as a wiring for connecting power switching elements and a smoothing capacitor, fixed on an outer surface of a cylindrical wall of a motor housing, to a printed circuit board serving as a control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Funahashi, Ken Hamada, Hiroyuki Kawata, Yasuyuki Ohkouchi
  • Publication number: 20040222767
    Abstract: An inverter includes an upper ECU, a communication microcomputer receiving an instruction from the upper ECU, a motor control microcomputer receiving an instruction from the communication microcomputer, a gate driving circuit controlled by the motor control microcomputer, and a switching element driven by the gate driving circuit for converting a direct current of a high-voltage battery into an alternating current to drive a motor. The communications between the upper ECU and the communication microcomputer is performed according to a CAN protocol. The communications between the communication microcomputer and the motor control microcomputer is performed according to a low-speed serial communication protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Ohkouchi, Kenji Funahashi
  • Publication number: 20030200761
    Abstract: A bus-bar integrated plate and outer frame section, arranged into a double-deck structure and having numerous bus bars molded with a resin molding plate portion, is provided as a wiring for connecting power switching elements and a smoothing capacitor, fixed on an outer surface of a cylindrical wall of a motor housing, to a printed circuit board serving as a control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Funahashi, Ken Hamada, Hiroyuki Kawata, Yasuyuki Ohkouchi
  • Publication number: 20030143090
    Abstract: In an electrical compressor having a motor and an electrical circuit integrated with a compression portion, a part of electrical components of the electrical circuit is disposed in spaces between a cylindrical outer surface of a motor housing and an imaginary flat surface that imaginarily contacts the cylindrical outer surface. Therefore, the spaces can be used effectively, and the electrical compressor can be downsized. Further, the part of the electrical components can be effectively cooled by refrigerant in the motor housing. On the other hand, the outer surface of the motor housing is used as one surface defining an inner space of a casing for accommodating the electrical circuit. In this case, the electrical circuit can be effectively cooled by refrigerant in the motor housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Kunio Iritani, Hiroyuki Kawata, Kenji Funahashi, Yuji Takeo, Yusuke Shindo, Tsuyoshi Takemoto