Patents by Inventor Kikuo Utsuno

Kikuo Utsuno 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: 10270284
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip having four sides and being substantially formed in a rectangle, and including a first terminal which is located along one side of the four sides of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a solar cell outside the semiconductor chip; a second terminal which is located along the one side of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a secondary cell outside the semiconductor chip; and an interconnection line that electrically interconnects the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
  • Patent number: 10075014
    Abstract: A charging control system for charging a secondary battery from a solar battery, including a first path for transmitting power from the solar battery to the secondary battery, a second path for sensing the voltage of the secondary battery, and a comparison unit for comparing the solar battery voltage with the sensed voltage of the secondary battery. The first path includes a first interrupter, controlled by the comparison unit, which interrupts the first path to prevent discharge of the secondary battery through the solar battery when the solar battery voltage falls below the secondary battery voltage. The second path includes a second interrupter that interrupts the second path after the first path is interrupted, to prevent the secondary battery from discharging through the second path when not being charged through the first path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: LAPIS Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
  • Publication number: 20180212459
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor chip having four sides and being substantially formed in a rectangle, the semiconductor chip including: a first terminal which is located along one side of the four sides of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a solar cell outside the semiconductor chip; a second terminal which is located along the one side of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a secondary cell outside the semiconductor chip; and an interconnection line that electrically interconnects the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventor: Kikuo UTSUNO
  • Patent number: 10020674
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor chip having four sides and being substantially formed in a rectangle, the semiconductor chip including: a first terminal which is located along one side of the four sides of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a solar cell outside the semiconductor chip; a second terminal which is located along the one side of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a secondary cell outside the semiconductor chip; and an interconnection line that electrically interconnects the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
  • Publication number: 20180159363
    Abstract: A charging control system for charging a secondary battery from a solar battery, including a first path for transmitting power from the solar battery to the secondary battery, a second path for sensing the voltage of the secondary battery, and a comparison unit for comparing the solar battery voltage with the sensed voltage of the secondary battery. The first path includes a first interrupter, controlled by the comparison unit, which interrupts the first path to prevent discharge of the secondary battery through the solar battery when the solar battery voltage falls below the secondary battery voltage. The second path includes a second interrupter that interrupts the second path after the first path is interrupted, to prevent the secondary battery from discharging through the second path when not being charged through the first path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: LAPIS Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kikuo UTSUNO
  • Patent number: 9991739
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor chip having four sides and being substantially formed in a rectangle, the semiconductor chip including: a first terminal which is located along one side of the four sides of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a solar cell outside the semiconductor chip; a second terminal which is located along the one side of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a secondary cell outside the semiconductor chip; and an interconnection line that electrically interconnects the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
  • Patent number: 9887578
    Abstract: A charging control system for charging a secondary battery from a solar battery, including a first path for transmitting power from the solar battery to the secondary battery, a second path for sensing the voltage of the secondary battery, and a comparison unit for comparing the solar battery voltage with the sensed voltage of the secondary battery. The first path includes a first interrupter, controlled by the comparison unit, which interrupts the first path to prevent discharge of the secondary battery through the solar battery when the solar battery voltage falls below the secondary battery voltage. The second path includes a second interrupter that interrupts the second path after the first path is interrupted, to prevent the secondary battery from discharging through the second path when not being charged through the first path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
  • Publication number: 20170310155
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor chip having four sides and being substantially formed in a rectangle, the semiconductor chip including: a first terminal which is located along one side of the four sides of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a solar cell outside the semiconductor chip; a second terminal which is located along the one side of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a secondary cell outside the semiconductor chip; and an interconnection line that electrically interconnects the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventor: Kikuo UTSUNO
  • Patent number: 9722457
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor chip having four sides and being substantially formed in a rectangle, the semiconductor chip including: a first terminal which is located along one side of the four sides of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a solar cell outside the semiconductor chip; a second terminal which is located along the one side of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a secondary cell outside the semiconductor chip; and an interconnection line that electrically interconnects the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
  • Patent number: 9454165
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device including: a current generation circuit that generates a current; a voltage generation circuit that, using the current generated by the current generation circuit, generates and outputs a predetermined voltage from a reference voltage, with an internal capacitor element that is connected to output of the voltage generation circuit, the internal capacitor element being provided within an integrated circuit on which the device itself is mounted; a storage section that stores a flag indicating a connection state between the output of the voltage generation circuit and an external capacitor element provided externally to the integrated circuit; and a controller that, based on the flag, controls a current amount of the current used by the voltage generation circuit to generate the predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
  • Publication number: 20160233718
    Abstract: A charging control system for charging a secondary battery from a solar battery, including a first path for transmitting power from the solar battery to the secondary battery, a second path for sensing the voltage of the secondary battery, and a comparison unit for comparing the solar battery voltage with the sensed voltage of the secondary battery. The first path includes a first interrupter, controlled by the comparison unit, which interrupts the first path to prevent discharge of the secondary battery through the solar battery when the solar battery voltage falls below the secondary battery voltage. The second path includes a second interrupter that interrupts the second path after the first path is interrupted, to prevent the secondary battery from discharging through the second path when not being charged through the first path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: LAPIS Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kikuo UTSUNO
  • Patent number: 9337687
    Abstract: A charging control system for charging a secondary battery from a solar battery, including a first path for transmitting power from the solar battery to the secondary battery, a second path for sensing the voltage of the secondary battery, and a comparison unit for comparing the solar battery voltage with the sensed voltage of the secondary battery. The first path includes a first interrupter, controlled by the comparison unit, which interrupts the first path to prevent discharge of the secondary battery through the solar battery when the solar battery voltage falls below the secondary battery voltage. The second path includes a second interrupter that interrupts the second path after the first path is interrupted, to prevent the secondary battery from discharging through the second path when not being charged through the first path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
  • Publication number: 20160079806
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor chip having four sides and being substantially formed in a rectangle, the semiconductor chip including: a first terminal which is located along one side of the four sides of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a solar cell outside the semiconductor chip; a second terminal which is located along the one side of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a secondary cell outside the semiconductor chip; and an interconnection line that electrically interconnects the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventor: Kikuo UTSUNO
  • Patent number: 9223335
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a reference voltage generation circuit to which a power source voltage is applied; an output terminal for outputting an output voltage; a determining circuit connected to the reference voltage generation circuit and the output terminal for generating the output voltage according to a determination target voltage; and a constant electric current source connected to the determining circuit and a ground potential for generating a constant electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Lapis Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
  • Patent number: 9219383
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor chip having four sides and being substantially formed in a rectangle, the semiconductor chip including: a first terminal which is located along one side of the four sides of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a solar cell outside the semiconductor chip; a second terminal which is located along the one side of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a secondary cell outside the semiconductor chip; and an interconnection line that electrically interconnects the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
  • Publication number: 20150130399
    Abstract: A charging control system for charging a secondary battery from a solar battery, including a first path for transmitting power from the solar battery to the secondary battery, a second path for sensing the voltage of the secondary battery, and a comparison unit for comparing the solar battery voltage with the sensed voltage of the secondary battery. The first path includes a first interrupter, controlled by the comparison unit, which interrupts the first path to prevent discharge of the secondary battery through the solar battery when the solar battery voltage falls below the secondary battery voltage. The second path includes a second interrupter that interrupts the second path after the first path is interrupted, to prevent the secondary battery from discharging through the second path when not being charged through the first path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: LAPIS Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kikuo UTSUNO
  • Publication number: 20150061631
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device including: a current generation circuit that generates a current; a voltage generation circuit that, using the current generated by the current generation circuit, generates and outputs a predetermined voltage from a reference voltage, with an internal capacitor element that is connected to output of the voltage generation circuit, the internal capacitor element being provided within an integrated circuit on which the device itself is mounted; a storage section that stores a flag indicating a connection state between the output of the voltage generation circuit and an external capacitor element provided externally to the integrated circuit; and a controller that, based on the flag, controls a current amount of the current used by the voltage generation circuit to generate the predetermined voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Kikuo UTSUNO
  • Patent number: 8963480
    Abstract: A charging control system for charging a secondary battery from a solar battery, including a first path for transmitting power from the solar battery to the secondary battery, a second path for sensing the voltage of the secondary battery, and a comparison unit for comparing the solar battery voltage with the sensed voltage of the secondary battery. The first path includes a first interrupter, controlled by the comparison unit, which interrupts the first path to prevent discharge of the secondary battery through the solar battery when the solar battery voltage falls below the secondary battery voltage. The second path includes a second interrupter that interrupts the second path after the first path is interrupted, to prevent the secondary battery from discharging through the second path when not being charged through the first path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: LAPIS Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
  • Patent number: 8912826
    Abstract: A voltage change detection device, which reduces a deviation of a detection potential and detects a voltage change within a predetermined detection potential even when the threshold voltage of a field effect transistor is deviated. The voltage change detection device includes a first field effect transistor, a second field effect transistor, and a detection signal generator. The first field effect transistor has a drain connected to a power supply potential, a source connected to a first constant current source or a first resistor at a first node, and a gate connected to a fixed voltage. The second field effect transistor has a drain and a gate connected to the power supply potential and a source connected to a second constant current source or a second resistor at a second node. The detection signal generator generates a detection signal indicating that the power supply potential has crossed a predetermined detection potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: LAPIS Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
  • Patent number: 8823328
    Abstract: A charging device can prevent overcharging by coping with a plurality of cell voltages without increasing a circuit area and current consumption. The charging device selects one of at least two judgment voltages in response to a select signal determined depending on a chargeable voltage of a secondary battery. The charging device compares a comparison voltage based on a voltage of a lower stream of a back flow prevention unit with the selected judgment voltage to detect a fully charged state of the secondary battery. The charging device interrupts supply of charging current to the back flow prevention unit upon detecting the fully charged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Lapis Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno