Patents by Inventor Kimitake ISHIKAWA

Kimitake ISHIKAWA 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: 11654749
    Abstract: A heater control device controls an electric heater which includes a plurality of heat generating portions. The heater control device determines whether a total energization current value, which is a current value to be supplied to the electric heater when all of the plurality of heat generating portions are energizable, exceeds a predetermined current limit value. The heater control device is configured to, when it is determined that the total energization current value exceeds the current limit value, energize the electric heater while switching, among any or all of the plurality of heat generating portions, those to be turned to a non-energizable off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kimitake Ishikawa, Hideaki Kako, Hiroyasu Oide, Shiro Bando, Hidenori Arai
  • Patent number: 11497084
    Abstract: A heater device includes a heat generation layer that has a heat generation portion configured to generate heat when energized, a pair of electrodes disposed on one side of the heat generation layer and being spaced from each other, a detection portion configured to generate an electric field between the pair of electrodes and detect an object around the pair of electrodes, and a controller configured to control the amount of electric power supplied to the heat generation portion based on a detection result by the detection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Seki, Kimitake Ishikawa, Hirokazu Yamadaki, Yusuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11440375
    Abstract: A radiant heater device for generating a radiant heat, includes a substrate portion having a plate shape and made of an electrically insulating material, a surface member having a sheet shape and disposed on one surface side of the substrate portion, and a heat generation portion formed on the other surface side of the substrate portion. The surface member is formed of a fiber fabric that is provided with a space portion recessed toward the substrate portion in a thickness direction of the surface member and that restricts a heat transfer in a surface direction of the surface member by the space portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Seki, Kimitake Ishikawa, Hiroyasu Oide, Yusuke Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20220264702
    Abstract: A heater device includes a heater surface facing one side in a predetermined direction. The heater device includes a transmission electrode and a reception electrode arranged on the other side in the predetermined direction with respect to the heater surface, and an insulation coating layer that covers the transmission electrode and the reception electrode on the one side in the predetermined direction. The transmission electrode and the reception electrode are electrically connected to a contact detection unit, to detect contact or proximity of an object to the heater surface by a change in a capacitance therebetween. The insulation coating layer has a first component part made of an insulating member, and a second component part having a smaller relative permittivity than that of the first component part. The second component part is located between at least one of the transmission electrode or the reception electrode and the heater surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Yasuhiro SAGO, Kimitake ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11382430
    Abstract: A heater device for warming a user has a heater panel including a planar heating element which generates heat by energization, a first heat radiation surface formed on one surface side of the heating element, and a second heat radiation surface formed on the other surface side of the heating element. The temperature of the first heat radiation surface is higher than the temperature of the second heat radiation surface. In the heater panel, the first heat radiation surface is configured as a non-contact heater that warms the user in a non-contact manner, and the second heat radiation surface is configured as a contact heater that warms the user in a contact manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Tanaka, Kimitake Ishikawa, Hiroyasu Oide, Hideki Seki
  • Publication number: 20220007464
    Abstract: A heater device for heating an user's body seated on a seat includes a heat generating portion that is arranged in a recess recessed from a surface of the seat, and generates heat by energization, a distance detection unit that detects a distance between an object around the heat generating portion and the heat generating portion, and a control unit that controls energization of the heat generating portion. A first control portion controls energization amount of the heat generating portion so that the output of the heat generating portion becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined output, when the distance is longer than an offset distance between the heat generating portion and the surface of the seat. A second control portion controls the energization amount so that the output becomes less than the predetermined output, when the distance is equal to or less than the offset distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Yusuke TANAKA, Hideki SEKI, Kimitake ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20220001720
    Abstract: A heater device includes a heat generating part that generates heat by energization, and a detection unit. The detection unit detects whether or not a distance between an object around the heat generating part and the heat generating part is equal to or less than a first detection distance with a first detection sensitivity, and whether or not the distance between the object around the heat generating part and the heat generating part is equal to or less than a second detection distance shorter than the first detection distance with a second detection sensitivity that is less sensitive than the first detection sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Hideki SEKI, Yusuke TANAKA, Kimitake ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11077734
    Abstract: The air-conditioning control device is configured to control an air conditioner for a vehicle having a radiant heater and to output a cancel signal that allows an engine, which has been stopped in response to an idling stop control, to restart. The radiant heater is configured to generate radiant heat to heat an occupant in a compartment of the vehicle. The air conditioner is configured to heat an interior of the compartment using engine cooling water. The air-conditioning control device stops the engine in response to the idling stop control. The air-conditioning control device outputs a cancel signal allowing the engine to restart following the engine having been stopped such that an idling stop time is longer when the radiant heater is operated than when the radiant heater is not operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kimitake Ishikawa, Hideaki Kako, Hiroyasu Oide, Hideki Seki, Yusuke Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20210213856
    Abstract: A seat heater is configured to heat a passenger seated on a seat disposed in a vehicle. The seat heater includes is a radiant heater that is disposed in an area of the seat that is not in contact with the passenger seated on the seat and configured to radiant heat toward the passenger seated on the seat. The seat includes a seatback configured to support a back of the passenger. The seatback has linear lateral hanging portions extending in a width direction of the vehicle. The radiant heater is disposed above the most upper one of the plurality of liner lateral hanging portions in a vertical direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Takahisa FUJII, Shuji ITO, Kimitake ISHIKAWA, Yusuke TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20210206230
    Abstract: A heater device includes a contact determination unit for determining contact or non-contact of an object based on a change in capacitance between a plurality of electrodes. The contact determination unit is configured to determine (i) the contact of the object in response to a determination that the change in capacitance between the plurality of electrodes per predetermined unit time is a change in one direction and equal to or larger than a first determination threshold value. The contact determination unit is configured to determine (ii) the non-contact of the object in response to a determination that the change in capacitance between the plurality of electrodes per predetermined unit time is a change in a direction opposite to the one direction and equal to or larger than a second determination threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventor: Kimitake ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20210140644
    Abstract: A heater device includes a first detection pattern that is arranged on an insulating substrate and detects a change in capacitance between a first transmitting electrode and a first receiving electrode for detecting an object, a second detection pattern that is arranged on the insulating substrate and detects the change in capacitance between a second transmitting electrode and a second receiving electrode for detecting the object, a capacitance determination unit that determines whether one of the change in capacitance between the first transmitting electrode and the first receiving electrode and the change in capacitance between the second transmitting electrode and the second receiving electrode is equal to or higher than a first threshold value and the other is lower than a second threshold value, and a disconnection determination unit that determines a disconnection in the first or the second detection pattern, when result of the capacitance determination unit is positive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Kimitake ISHIKAWA, Yusuke TANAKA, Hideki SEKI, Shuji ITO
  • Patent number: 10960732
    Abstract: The heater device has a sheet shaped main body having a heat generating portion heated by energization and a radiating surface for radiating radiant heat toward a heating object by using heat in the heat generating portion, a plate shaped member arranged on an opposite side with respect to the radiating surface of the main body, and an air layer forming member for forming an air layer between the main body and the plate shaped member arranged on a side opposite to the radiating surface of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Seki, Kimitake Ishikawa, Hiroyasu Oide, Yuusuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10913328
    Abstract: The heater device is provided with a heater main body, and radiates radiant heat from the heater main body toward an object. The heater main body includes a sheet-like heat generating layer that generates heat and radiates the radiant heat, and a sheet-like heat insulating layer that is disposed on the side opposite to the object of the heat generating layer. The heat insulating layer has a sheet-like first layer having voids and a sheet-like second layer having voids arranged side by side in a thickness direction of the heat insulating layer with respect to the first layer. A porosity of the second layer is higher than that of the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Tanaka, Kimitake Ishikawa, Hiroyasu Oide, Hideki Seki
  • Publication number: 20200406712
    Abstract: A heater apparatus includes a heat generating unit, an outer surface, a temperature sensor and a detection unit. A first control portion of an electronic control unit controls temperature of the heat generating unit in such a way that it stops or reduces electric power supply to the heat generating unit, when it determines that an object has been brought into contact with a first region of the outer surface. A second control portion of the electronic control unit controls the temperature of the heat generating unit depending on a detected temperature of the temperature sensor. A third control portion of the electronic control unit controls the temperature of the heat generating unit in such a way that it stops or reduces the electric power supply to the heat generating unit, when it determines that the object has been brought into contact with a second region of the outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Yusuke TANAKA, Kimitake ISHIKAWA, Hideki SEKI, Hirokazu YAMADAKI, Tatsushi DOMON
  • Publication number: 20200236740
    Abstract: A heater device includes a planar heat generating portion configured to generate heat when being energized, a detection circuit having a plurality of planar electrodes disposed on one surface side of the heat generating portion, and a controller configured to control an amount of energization to the heat generating portion based on a detection result of the detection circuit. The heat generating portion and the plurality of electrodes are disposed in parallel with each other. The heater device is configured to have a heat generating region in which the heat generating portion is present and a non-heat generating region in which the heat generating portion is not present when the plurality of electrodes and the heat generating portion are projected in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of electrodes and the heat generating portion. Furthermore, the plurality of electrodes include a heat-diffusion promoting portion provided to be included at least in the non-heat generating region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Yusuke TANAKA, Kimitake ISHIKAWA, Hideki SEKI, Hirokazu YAMADAKI, Tatsushi DOMON
  • Patent number: 10717343
    Abstract: A heater device has a heater body and a heater case. The heater body has a heat generating part generating heat and radiates the heat supplied from the heat generating part. The heater case is attached to an interior member provided in an interior and houses the heater body, such that an interior-side surface of the heater body is located on a back side of the interior member. The heater case is provided with a ventilation passage through which a space outside the heater case located on the back side of the interior member communicates with the interior-side surface of the heater body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Seki, Kimitake Ishikawa, Yasuhiro Sagou, Toshinori Ochiai
  • Patent number: 10717342
    Abstract: A heating apparatus has a heater body and a heater case. The heater body has a heat generator and emits heat supplied from the heat generator. The heat generator generates the heat when being energized. The heater case houses the heater body and is arranged on a side of an air-bag device for a vehicle adjacent to a vehicle compartment. The heater case is attached to an interior member located in the vehicle compartment or is a part of the interior member. The heater case has an expansion permissive portion that permits the air-bag device to expand into the vehicle compartment. The heat generator includes a portion located at a position corresponding to the expansion permissive portion. The heater body has a low strength portion that has a low strength as compared to the portion of the heat generator and that is located outside the expansion permissive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sagou, Kimitake Ishikawa, Hiroyasu Oide, Hideki Seki, Hideaki Kako
  • Publication number: 20200196392
    Abstract: A heater device includes a heat generation layer that has a heat generation portion configured to generate heat when energized, a pair of electrodes disposed on one side of the heat generation layer and being spaced from each other, a detection portion configured to generate an electric field between the pair of electrodes and detect an object around the pair of electrodes, and a controller configured to control the amount of electric power supplied to the heat generation portion based on a detection result by the detection portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Hideki SEKI, Kimitake ISHIKAWA, Hirokazu YAMADAKI, Yusuke TANAKA
  • Patent number: 10661634
    Abstract: A heater device includes: a distance specifying portion that specifies a distance between a sensing subject, i.e., an occupant and a heater main body as a sensed distance; and a moving mechanism that moves the heater main body. The heater device further includes a heater position control portion that controls the moving mechanism such that the distance between the sensing subject, i.e., the occupant and the heater main body is adjusted to a target distance based on the sensed distance, which is specified by the distance specifying portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Oide, Hideaki Kako, Kimitake Ishikawa, Hideki Seki
  • Patent number: 10583712
    Abstract: A heater is installed indoors and heated to a target temperature. The heater is controlled by a controller. The controller has a regular control module which heats the heater to reach the target temperature. In addition, the controller has a suppressive control module which heats the heater to a suppressed temperature lower than the target temperature by electric power suppressed so that surface moisture adhering on the surface of the heater is decreased. When an activation of the heater is ordered, the heater is heated by the suppressive control module, after that, the heater is heated by the regular control module. The surface moisture is decreased by the suppressed temperature. Therefore, generating rapid boiling and/or rapid evaporation of the surface moisture by the target temperature may be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sago, Hideaki Kako, Kimitake Ishikawa, Hiroyasu Oide, Hideki Seki