Patents by Inventor Kentaro Kamada
Kentaro Kamada 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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Patent number: 11867659Abstract: A sensor element (10) including: a measurement chamber (150); a pump cell (110) including a solid electrolyte (111), an inner electrode (113) exposed to the measurement chamber, and an outer electrode (112), the pump cell being configured to adjust an oxygen concentration in the measurement chamber; a diffusion resistance portion (151); and a detection cell (120) configured to measure a concentration of a specific gas in the measurement target gas after the adjustment of the oxygen concentration. The outer electrode is covered by a porous layer (114) and is disposed in a hollow space (10G) surrounded by a gas non-permeable dense layer 115, 118. The hollow space is in communication with an air introduction hole (10h) that is open on a rear side relative to the diffusion resistance portion. The outer electrode is exposed via the porous layer to air introduced through the air introduction hole.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2020Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: NITERRA CO., LTD.Inventors: Hitoshi Furuta, Kentaro Kamada, Akinori Kojima, Satoshi Yamahara, Akihiro Hara
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Patent number: 11761924Abstract: A sensor element (100) including a measurement chamber (89); a pump cell (83) including a solid electrolyte body (69), an inner electrode (101), and an outer electrode (99); and a reference cell (85). At least one electrode contains a noble metal and a component of the solid electrolyte body. In a cross section, the at least one electrode has a noble metal region (205), a solid electrolyte body region (203), and a coexistence region (207) in which the noble metal and the component of the solid electrolyte body coexist. Further, in the cross section, an area ratio SR of the coexistence region is not less than 15.5% and is less than 30%.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Yosuke Suzuki, Takumi Yamada, Hitoshi Furuta, Kentaro Kamada
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Publication number: 20230204535Abstract: A gas sensor element (10) which includes an element body portion (100); a pump cell (110) which is configured to adjust a concentration of oxygen in a gas to be measured which is introduced into the element body portion (100); a detection chamber (160) which is formed inside the element body portion (100) and into which the gas to be measured in which the concentration of oxygen has been adjusted is introduced; and a layer-shaped cathode electrode (133) which is housed in the detection chamber (160) and configured to decompose NO. A relationship between a volume V1 of the detection chamber (160) and a volume V2 of the cathode electrode (133) in the gas sensor element (10) satisfies either one of conditions (A) and (B) as defined herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2022Publication date: June 29, 2023Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Hitoshi FURUTA, Akinori KOJIMA, Kentaro KAMADA, Yosuke SUZUKI
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Publication number: 20230068377Abstract: A gas sensor element includes: a first ceramic structure (100A) having a detection cell (120); a second ceramic structure (100B) having a pump cell (110) disposed apart from the first ceramic structure in a lamination direction; and a third ceramic structure (100C) having a frame-shaped body (200) surrounding a space (150a) formed between the first and second ceramic structures, the frame-shaped body including a gas introduction portion (151) and a peripheral wall portion (141). A gap (150b) connected to the space (150a) is formed between an opposed surface (151b1) and the second ceramic structure. A ceramic buffer layer (300) having a lower shrinkage start temperature than a material for forming the gas introduction portion is formed on the opposed surface so as to overlap a boundary portion X between an edge (150b1) on the external side of the gap and the second ceramic structure when viewed in the lamination direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Hitoshi FURUTA, Akinori KOJIMA, Kentaro KAMADA, Yosuke SUZUKI
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Patent number: 11549925Abstract: A NOx sensor element includes: a first pump cell configured to adjust an oxygen concentration in a first measurement chamber; a diffusion resistance portion configured to adjust a diffusion rate of a measurement target gas introduced into the first measurement chamber; and a second pump cell in which a pump current corresponding to a NOx concentration in the measurement target gas after the adjustment of the oxygen concentration, flows. The first pump cell includes: a first solid electrolyte; an inner pump electrode containing a noble metal, and exposed to the first measurement chamber; and an outer pump electrode containing a noble metal, and disposed outside the first measurement chamber. The outer pump electrode contains not less than 22% by mass of a main component of the first solid electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentaro Kamada, Hitoshi Furuta
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Patent number: 11422108Abstract: A gas sensor including a detection element section (71) including a solid electrolyte body and a pair of electrodes disposed on the solid electrolyte body, and a heater (73) for heating the detection element section (71). Inherent characteristic information is recorded in a record section (170) provided on the gas sensor or a record section provided separately from the gas sensor. The inherent characteristic information is information specific to the detection element section (71) and which allows setting of a relation between a change in the temperature of the detection element section (71) and a change in the internal resistance between the pair of electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2019Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentaro Kamada, Hitoshi Furuta
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Patent number: 11054382Abstract: A sensor includes a pump cell and a reference cell generating voltage Vs or current. The pump cell includes a pump cell first electrode and a pump cell second electrode. The surface of the pump cell first electrode includes a noble metal region formed of a noble metal, a ceramic region, and a coexistence region in which the noble metal and the ceramic material coexist. The width of the coexistence region in an A region of the surface of the pump cell first electrode is greater than the width of the coexistence region in a B region of the surface. The A region is a region close to the reference cell first electrode, and the B region is a region located further away from the reference cell first electrode as compared with the A region.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD.Inventors: Kentaro Kamada, Hitoshi Furuta, Satoshi Yamahara
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Patent number: 11041823Abstract: A gas sensor (1) including: a sensor element (10) which includes a detection portion (11) and a heater (50); a metal shell (138); and a filled member (153) filled with a filling material between the metal shell and the sensor element, wherein a position at which change in a temperature of the sensor element is smallest when a disturbance is applied is a temperature reference position M, the filled member is positioned rearward of the temperature reference position, an overall axial length LT of the sensor element is not greater than 50 mm, an axial length LE from a rear end of the filled member to a rear end of the sensor element is not smaller than 13.5 mm, and an axial length LA from the temperature reference position to a front end of the filled member is greater than 5.0 mm and not greater than 11.5 mm.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2018Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentaro Kamada, Hitoshi Furuta, Masaki Nakagawa
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Publication number: 20210088471Abstract: A sensor element (100) including a measurement chamber (89); a pump cell (83) including a solid electrolyte body (69), an inner electrode (101), and an outer electrode (99); and a reference cell (85). At least one electrode contains a noble metal and a component of the solid electrolyte body. In a cross section, the at least one electrode has a noble metal region (205), a solid electrolyte body region (203), and a coexistence region (207) in which the noble metal and the component of the solid electrolyte body coexist. Further, in the cross section, an area ratio SR of the coexistence region is not less than 15.5% and is less than 30%.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Yosuke SUZUKI, Takumi Yamada, Hitoshi Furuta, Kentaro Kamada
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Patent number: 10908348Abstract: A backlight unit includes LEDs, a light guide plate, a wavelength converter, and an LED controller. The LEDs include end-side LEDs arranged at ends in the direction of arrangement and a center LED arranged at the center in the direction of arrangement. The light guide plate includes a light entering end surface and a light exiting plate surface. The light entering end surface extends along the direction of arrangement. The wavelength converter extends along the direction of arrangement and is interposed among the LEDs and the light entering end surface. The wavelength converter includes a phosphor configured to wavelength-convert the light from the LEDs. The LED controller is configured to control the amount of light emitted by each LED per unit time such that the amount of light emitted by at least one of the end-side LEDs than the amount of light emitted by the center LED.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2016Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kentaro Kamada, Keitaro Matsui, Masanobu Harada
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Publication number: 20200340940Abstract: A sensor element (10) including: a measurement chamber (150); a pump cell (110) including a solid electrolyte (111), an inner electrode (113) exposed to the measurement chamber, and an outer electrode (112), the pump cell being configured to adjust an oxygen concentration in the measurement chamber; a diffusion resistance portion (151); and a detection cell (120) configured to measure a concentration of a specific gas in the measurement target gas after the adjustment of the oxygen concentration. The outer electrode is covered by a porous layer (114) and is disposed in a hollow space (10G) surrounded by a gas non-permeable dense layer 115, 118. The hollow space is in communication with an air introduction hole (10h) that is open on a rear side relative to the diffusion resistance portion. The outer electrode is exposed via the porous layer to air introduced through the air introduction hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Hitoshi FURUTA, Kentaro Kamada, Akinori Kojima, Satoshi Yamahara, Akihiro Hara
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Publication number: 20200319156Abstract: A NOx sensor element includes: a first pump cell configured to adjust an oxygen concentration in a first measurement chamber; a diffusion resistance portion configured to adjust a diffusion rate of a measurement target gas introduced into the first measurement chamber; and a second pump cell in which a pump current corresponding to a NOx concentration in the measurement target gas after the adjustment of the oxygen concentration, flows. The first pump cell includes: a first solid electrolyte; an inner pump electrode containing a noble metal, and exposed to the first measurement chamber; and an outer pump electrode containing a noble metal, and disposed outside the first measurement chamber. The outer pump electrode contains not less than 22% by mass of a main component of the first solid electrolyte.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentaro KAMADA, Hitoshi FURUTA
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Publication number: 20200241195Abstract: A backlight unit includes LEDs, a light guide plate, a wavelength converter, and an LED controller. The LEDs include end-side LEDs arranged at ends in the direction of arrangement and a center LED arranged at the center in the direction of arrangement. The light guide plate includes a light entering end surface and a light exiting plate surface. The light entering end surface extends along the direction of arrangement. The wavelength converter extends along the direction of arrangement and is interposed among the LEDs and the light entering end surface. The wavelength converter includes a phosphor configured to wavelength-convert the light from the LEDs. The LED controller is configured to control the amount of light emitted by each LED per unit time such that the amount of light emitted by at least one of the end-side LEDs than the amount of light emitted by the center LED.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2016Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: KENTARO KAMADA, KEITARO MATSUI, MASANOBU HARADA
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Publication number: 20200003723Abstract: A gas sensor including a detection element section (71) including a solid electrolyte body and a pair of electrodes disposed on the solid electrolyte body, and a heater (73) for heating the detection element section (71). Inherent characteristic information is recorded in a record section (170) provided on the gas sensor or a record section provided separately from the gas sensor. The inherent characteristic information is information specific to the detection element section (71) and which allows setting of a relation between a change in the temperature of the detection element section (71) and a change in the internal resistance between the pair of electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentaro KAMADA, Hitoshi FURUTA
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Publication number: 20190277796Abstract: A sensor includes a pump cell and a reference cell generating voltage Vs or current. The pump cell includes a pump cell first electrode and a pump cell second electrode. The surface of the pump cell first electrode includes a noble metal region formed of a noble metal, a ceramic region, and a coexistence region in which the noble metal and the ceramic material coexist. The width of the coexistence region in an A region of the surface of the pump cell first electrode is greater than the width of the coexistence region in a B region of the surface. The A region is a region close to the reference cell first electrode, and the B region is a region located further away from the reference cell first electrode as compared with the A region.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Applicant: NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD.Inventors: Kentaro KAMADA, Hitoshi FURUTA, Satoshi YAMAHARA
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Publication number: 20190265405Abstract: An illumination device includes a first LED unit, a second LED unit which is arranged vertically above the first LED unit and whose power consumption is smaller than power consumption of the first unit, and a light guide plate having a first light incident surface which is composed of a surface facing the first unit and through which light emitted from the first unit enters, a second light incident surface which is composed of a surface facing the second LED unit and through which light emitted from the second unit enters, and a light emitting surface which is composed of one plate surface and from which light incident from the first light incident surface and the second light incident surface is emitted.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: YUKI OKAWA, KENTARO KAMADA
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Patent number: 10345257Abstract: The gas sensor includes a gas sensor element, a casing, and an insulating inner member contained inside the casing. The gas sensor element includes a detection element and a heater. The detection element includes one or more cells each having a solid electrolyte body and a pair of electrodes. Each of the opposite side surfaces of the detection element includes a region including a smallest current cell and extending forward of the smallest current cell in the direction of an axial line. The region and the forward-facing surface of the detection element are covered with a glass coating having a glass transition point of higher than 700° C. but not higher than 800° C. and a porosity of 3.0% or less. The detection element is controlled to have a temperature equal to or lower than the glass transition point of the glass coating.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Takashi Konno, Tomohiro Wakazono, Kentaro Kamada, Hitoshi Furuta, Masaki Nakagawa
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Publication number: 20190025245Abstract: A gas sensor (1) including: a sensor element (10) which includes a detection portion (11) and a heater (50); a metal shell (138); and a filled member (153) filled with a filling material between the metal shell and the sensor element, wherein a position at which change in a temperature of the sensor element is smallest when a disturbance is applied is a temperature reference position M, the filled member is positioned rearward of the temperature reference position, an overall axial length LT of the sensor element is not greater than 50 mm, an axial length LE from a rear end of the filled member to a rear end of the sensor element is not smaller than 13.5 mm, and an axial length LA from the temperature reference position to a front end of the filled member is greater than 5.0 mm and not greater than 11.5 mm.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentaro KAMADA, Hitoshi FURUTA, Masaki NAKAGAWA
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Patent number: 10184640Abstract: A lighting device includes LEDs (a light source) 17, a wavelength conversion sheet (a wavelength conversion member) 20 containing phosphors for converting light emitted by the LEDs 17 with wavelength conversion, and a diffuser plate 15a that exerts diffusing effects on the light from the LEDs 17 and is thicker than the wavelength conversion sheet 20 and disposed on a light exit side with respect to the wavelength conversion sheet 20.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kentaro Kamada
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Patent number: 10162220Abstract: A lighting device 12 includes LEDs 17, a chassis 14 including a bottom plate 14a and having the LEDs 17 therein, a wavelength conversion sheet 20 disposed away from the LEDs 17 on a light exit side and containing phosphors for converting wavelength of light emitted by the LEDs 17, a reflection sheet 19 configured to reflect the light emitted by the LEDs 17 toward the wavelength conversion sheet 20, the reflection sheet 19 including at least a bottom reflection portion 19a disposed along the bottom plate 14a, and an extended reflection portion 19b extending from the bottom reflection portion 19a toward the wavelength conversion sheet 20, and a color exhibit member 23 disposed on a portion of the extended reflection portion 19b and configured to exhibit a tint closer to a tint of the light emitted by the LEDs 17 in comparison to the bottom reflection portion 19a.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kentaro Kamada