Patents by Inventor Kenji IWAZAKI

Kenji IWAZAKI 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: 11387768
    Abstract: A direct-current power supply device includes a reactor, a bridge circuit that converts alternating-current voltage output from an alternating-current power supply, which is connected to the reactor, into direct-current voltage, a capacitor that smoothes the output voltage of the bridge circuit, a current detector that detects a first current flowing as an alternating current between the alternating-current power supply and the bridge circuit, a current detector that detects a second current flowing as a direct current between the bridge circuit and the capacitor, an overcurrent determination unit that determines on the basis of a detected first current value whether or not the first current is an overcurrent, and an overcurrent determination unit that determines on the basis of a detected second current value whether or not the second current is an overcurrent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Ichiki, Takuya Shimomugi, Koichi Arisawa, Keisuke Uemura, Kenji Iwazaki
  • Patent number: 11368118
    Abstract: A motor driving device that is a device for driving a motor including stator windings, includes: a connection switching unit that includes relays as mechanical switches connected to the stator windings and excitation coils opening or closing the relays by being energized or non-energized with excitation current and switches connection condition of the stator windings to either of first connection condition (star connection) and second connection condition (delta connection) different from the first connection condition by opening or closing the relays; and an inverter that supplies AC drive voltages to the stator windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Uemura, Takashi Yamakawa, Kenji Iwazaki, Koichi Arisawa, Atsushi Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20220085730
    Abstract: A converter device includes: a power conversion circuit including a reactor and a switching element, rectifying a voltage of alternating-current power supplied from an alternating-current power supply to a direct-current voltage, and boosting and outputting the direct-current voltage; a current detector detecting a current flowing in the reactor; a filter circuit filtering a first signal detected by the current detector; and a control unit generating a control signal on the basis of a carrier and a second signal generated by the filter circuit and controlling, on the basis of the control signal and with a first period, the switching element, the first period being a period of the carrier. The filter circuit cuts off a repetition frequency component in the first period and passes a repetition frequency component in a second period, the second period being longer than the first period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Kenji IWAZAKI, Koichi ARISAWA, Takuya SHIMOMUGI, Satoru ICHIKI, Keisuke UEMURA
  • Patent number: 11258346
    Abstract: A power converter is configured to convert, into an AC voltage, a DC voltage supplied from a DC power supply connected between a first power supply wiring and a first ground wiring. A control device is connected between a second power supply wiring and a second ground wiring. The second power supply wiring is configured to supply a second power supply voltage lower than the first power supply voltage. The control device is configured to control the power converter. A separation device is configured to separate the first ground wiring and the second ground wiring from each other. The first ground wiring and the second ground wiring are electrically connected to each other at a single node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Iwazaki, Koichi Arisawa
  • Publication number: 20220006383
    Abstract: A power supply includes: a converter circuit including boost circuits, the converter circuit boosting a voltage output from a power source; a current detector that detects a first current flowing between the power source and the converter circuit; current detectors that each detect a second current, the second current being a sum current of currents flowing in switching elements of the boost circuits; and overcurrent determiners that determine whether the second currents are overcurrent on the basis of detection values of the second currents. When a result of the determination made by corresponding one of the overcurrent determiners indicates overcurrent, the boost circuits stop operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Satoru ICHIKI, Yuya KONDO, Koichi ARISAWA, Kenji IWAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20210328538
    Abstract: A direct-current power supply device includes a reactor, a bridge circuit that converts alternating-current voltage output from an alternating-current power supply, which is connected to the reactor, into direct-current voltage, a capacitor that smoothes the output voltage of the bridge circuit, a current detector that detects a first current flowing as an alternating current between the alternating-current power supply and the bridge circuit, a current detector that detects a second current flowing as a direct current between the bridge circuit and the capacitor, an overcurrent determination unit that determines on the basis of a detected first current value whether or not the first current is an overcurrent, and an overcurrent determination unit that determines on the basis of a detected second current value whether or not the second current is an overcurrent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Satoru ICHIKI, Takuya SHIMOMUGI, Koichi ARISAWA, Keisuke UEMURA, Kenji IWAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20210318000
    Abstract: An outdoor unit includes: a housing; a compressor placed in the housing; a heat exchanger placed in the housing; and a blower placed in the housing, the blower admitting air from outside the housing and passing the air through the heat exchanger. Furthermore, the outdoor unit includes: a partition plate partitioning the housing into a compressor chamber and a blower chamber; a board on which an electronic component is mounted; a heat dissipator placed in the blower chamber and adjacent to the partition plate, the heat dissipator including a base and a plurality of fins, the base having a fin formation surface, the fins projecting from the fin formation surface, the heat dissipator dissipating heat of the electronic component; and a duct covering the heat dissipator. When the fins are viewed from the fin formation surface side, the fins extend toward the blower side from the partition plate side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Koichi ARISAWA, Takuya SHIMOMUGI, Takashi YAMAKAWA, Kenji IWAZAKI, Keisuke MORI
  • Publication number: 20210317999
    Abstract: An outdoor unit includes a housing that includes a front panel having an outlet for an airflow, a back panel facing the front panel, a left side panel, a right side panel facing the left side panel, a bottom panel, and a top panel facing the bottom panel. The outdoor unit further includes a control substrate that is provided in the housing and provided with an electric component, an electric component box in which the control substrate is provided, and a heat dissipator that is provided between the top panel and the electric component box and dissipates heat generated by the electric component. A second region surrounded by the heat dissipator, the back panel, the front panel, the electric component box, and the top panel is formed on a windward side of the heat dissipator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Takuya SHIMOMUGI, Keisuke MORI, Koichi ARISAWA, Satoru ICHIKI, Keisuke UEMURA, Kenji IWAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20210313902
    Abstract: A direct-current power supply apparatus includes: a reactor having one end connected to an alternating-current power supply; a bridge circuit, connected to an opposite end of the reactor, converting an alternating-current first voltage output from the alternating-current power supply into a direct-current voltage; and a current detector detecting an alternating current flowing between the alternating-current power supply and the bridge circuit. The reactor reduces an inductance in accordance with an increase of the alternating current and, when the alternating current exceeds a first current, has an inductance lower than one third of an inductance at which a current does not flow in the reactor. The bridge circuit performs an active operation when the detection value of the alternating current is larger than or equal to the first current and performs a passive operation when the detection value of the alternating current is lower than the first current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Satoru ICHIKI, Takuya SHIMOMUGI, Koichi ARISAWA, Keisuke UEMURA, Kenji IWAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20210293419
    Abstract: An outdoor unit includes a housing, a heat exchanger, an electric component box, a substrate, and a heat dissipator including multiple fins. The fins each have a first end situated in a windward side of an air passage formed between adjacent ones of the fins, and the first end faces the electric component box. When the heat dissipator and the electric component box are viewed from above, a first clearance gap having a first width and a second clearance gap having a second width greater than the first width are formed between the first end and the electric component box. The second clearance gap is situated closer to a back panel than the first clearance gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Kenji IWAZAKI, Koichi ARISAWA, Takuya SHIMOMUGI, Keisuke MORI, Yuya KONDO, Satoru ICHIKI, Keisuke UEMURA
  • Publication number: 20210288487
    Abstract: A motor drive device includes a reactor, a converter circuit, a capacitor, an inverter circuit, and overcurrent determination units. The converter circuit converts a first AC voltage output from an AC power supply into a DC voltage. The capacitor smooths a second voltage on the DC side of the converter circuit. The inverter circuit converts DC power stored in the capacitor into AC power. One of the overcurrent determination units determines overcurrent based on a detected value of the first AC current, flowing between the AC power supply and the converter circuit. Another overcurrent determination unit determines overcurrent based on a detected value of the second DC current, flowing between the converter circuit and the capacitor. The converter and inverter circuits stop operating when the determination result of one of the overcurrent determination units indicates an overcurrent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Satoru ICHIKI, Takuya SHIMOMUGI, Koichi ARISAWA, Keisuke UEMURA, Kenji IWAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20210242796
    Abstract: A power converting apparatus includes: a reactor that includes a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being connected to an alternating-current power supply; a bridge circuit that is connected to the second terminal of the reactor, includes at least one or more switching elements, and converts an alternating-current voltage output from the alternating-current power supply into a direct-current voltage; a power-supply current detecting unit that detects a current from the alternating-current power supply; and a control unit that controls ON and OFF of the switching elements depending on a current value detected by the power-supply current detecting unit, in which two or more current thresholds for controlling ON and OFF of the switching elements are included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Keisuke UEMURA, Satoru ICHIKI, Takuya SHIMOMUGI, Koichi ARISAWA, Kenji IWAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20210234464
    Abstract: There are provided a booster to boost a voltage from a power supply, the booster including multiple stages connected in parallel; and a smoothing device to smooth the boosted voltage. Each of the multiple stages includes: an energy storage to receive current from the power supply and store energy; a switch to switch between connection and disconnection of a path for short-circuiting current from the energy storage; and a backflow preventer to prevent backflow from the smoothing device. At least one of the multiple stages is provided with a characteristic adjuster for adjusting switching characteristics of the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Koichi ARISAWA, Takuya SHIMOMUGI, Satoru ICHIKI, Kenji IWAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20210203246
    Abstract: A power converting apparatus includes: a bridge circuit that includes at least two legs each including switching elements connected in series, and converts an alternating-current voltage output from an alternating-current power supply into a direct-current voltage; a power-supply current detecting unit that detects a current from the alternating-current power supply; a zero crossing detecting unit that detects a voltage polarity of the alternating-current power supply; and a control unit that controls ON and OFF of the switching elements depending on outputs of the power-supply current detecting unit and the zero crossing detecting unit, in which a dead time that is set for switching and includes a change in the voltage polarity of the alternating-current power supply is longer than a dead time that is set for switching and does not include a change in the polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Keisuke UEMURA, Satoru ICHIKI, Takuya SHIMOMUGI, Koichi ARISAWA, Kenji IWAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20210156574
    Abstract: An outdoor unit includes a housing that includes a front panel and a back panel facing the front panel. The outdoor unit further includes a bell mouth provided on the front panel and a heat dissipator that dissipates heat generated by electric components. A windward end surface and a leeward end surface of the heat dissipator are, when viewed from above, placed in a region between a virtual surface and the back panel, the virtual surface being a virtual surface that is in contact with an end of the bell mouth on a side of the back panel and is parallel to an inner surface of the front panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Takuya SHIMOMUGI, Keisuke MORI, Koichi ARISAWA, Satoru ICHIKI, Keisuke UEMURA, Kenji IWAZAKI
  • Patent number: 11005410
    Abstract: An over-current protection circuit for a motor capable of selecting one of a plurality of connection states has a plurality of decision circuits, a combining circuit, and a nullifying circuit. The combining circuit combines results of the comparisons in the plurality of decision circuits. The nullifying circuit nullifies part of the comparisons in the plurality of decision circuits. The number of outputs of the over-current protection circuit is one, so that for controlling the driving and stopping of the inverter needs just one terminal is required for receiving the output of the combining circuit. Moreover, because the over-current protection circuit is formed of hardware, the protection can be performed at a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Iwazaki, Koichi Arisawa, Takashi Yamakawa, Keisuke Uemura, Shinya Toyodome
  • Patent number: 11005404
    Abstract: In a motor driving apparatus having an inverter for driving a motor capable of switching between a star connection and a delta connection, when currents detected by winding current detecting elements detecting currents flowing through windings become excessive, the inverter is made to stop. Moreover, inverter output currents are calculated after removing a circulating current component at the time of the delta connection, from the winding currents detected by the winding current detecting elements, and the inverter is controlled using the calculated inverter output currents. Because over-current protection is performed based on the detected values of the winding currents, it is possible to prevent demagnetization taking account oSf the circulating current. Also, the inverter control is prevented from being affected by the circulating current in the delta connection. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of the current detecting elements, and perform the over-current protection and control properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Toyodome, Takashi Yamakawa, Koichi Arisawa, Keisuke Uemura, Kenji Iwazaki
  • Publication number: 20210123612
    Abstract: An outdoor machine includes a housing including a front panel with an opening formed therein; a blower disposed in the housing; a bell mouth disposed in the outer periphery of the blower and connected to the opening; a control board on which an electric component is mounted, the control board being provided in the housing; a heat radiation part that radiates heat generated by the electric component; and a vent deflector that covers the heat radiation part, and forms a ventilation flue through which air generated by the blower flows in the heat radiation part, in which the vent deflector 20 is not provided in a region between a virtual plane S and the front panel, the virtual plane S covering the entire periphery of an edge of the bell mouth and extending in parallel with the front panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Takuya SHIMOMUGI, Keisuke MORI, Koichi ARISAWA, Takashi YAMAKAWA, Kenji IWAZAKI
  • Patent number: 10992218
    Abstract: A harmonic suppression device includes a power converter that generates a harmonic suppression current that is an electric current for suppressing a harmonic current flowing in a power line and outputs the generated harmonic suppression current to the power line, a communication unit that exchanges signals with other harmonic suppression devices, and a controller that controls the power converter based on a signal received by the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Iwazaki, Koichi Arisawa
  • Publication number: 20210119565
    Abstract: An over-current protection circuit for a motor capable of selecting one of a plurality of connection states has a plurality of decision circuits, a combining circuit, and a nullifying circuit. The combining circuit combines results of the comparisons in the plurality of decision circuits. The nullifying circuit nullifies part of the comparisons in the plurality of decision circuits. The number of outputs of the over-current protection circuit is one, so that for controlling the driving and stopping of the inverter needs just one terminal is required for receiving the output of the combining circuit. Moreover, because the over-current protection circuit is formed of hardware, the protection can be performed at a high speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Kenji Iwazaki, Koichi Arisawa, Takashi Yamakawa, Keisuke Uemura, Shinya Toyodome