Patents by Inventor Kinya Nakatsu

Kinya Nakatsu 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).

  • Publication number: 20160149512
    Abstract: A power converter device includes a double-sided electrode module that converts direct current power to alternating current power, a heat dissipating base, a capacitor module, a positive electrode conductor plate, and a negative electrode conductor plate. In the heat dissipating base, heat dissipation surfaces, facing one another, of the double-sided electrode module facing to one another are held with insulation layers being present between the heat dissipating base and the heat dissipation surfaces. The capacitor module constitutes a smoothing circuit for inhibiting fluctuation in DC voltage. The positive electrode conductor plate and the negative electrode conductor plate transmit electric power between the capacitor module and the double-sided electrode module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Kinya NAKATSU, Hiroshi HOZOJI, Takeshi TOKUYAMA, Yusuke TAKAGI, Toshiya SATOH, Taku OYAMA, Takanori NINOMIYA
  • Patent number: 9307666
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electric circuit device in which it is possible to achieve simultaneously the improvement of cooling performance and reduction in operating loss due to line inductance. The above object can be attained by constructing multiple plate-like conductors so that each of these conductors electrically connected to multiple semiconductor chips is also thermally connected to both chip surfaces of each such semiconductor chip to release heat from the chip surfaces of each semiconductor chip, and so that among the above conductors, a DC positive-polarity plate-like conductor and a DC negative-polarity plate-like conductor are opposed to each other at the respective conductor surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Tokuyama, Kinya Nakatsu, Atushi Kawabata
  • Publication number: 20150382501
    Abstract: A power converter includes a power semiconductor module, a first flow path forming body and a second flow path forming body that forms a housing space for storing the power semiconductor module and the first flow path forming body, in which the first flow path forming body is configured of a first side wall section, a second side wall section, and a bottom surface section, the first side wall section forms a first flow path space between one surface of the power semiconductor module and the first side wall section, the second side wall section forms a second flow path space between the other surface of the power semiconductor module and the second side wall section, and cooling refrigerant flows through the housing space, the first flow path space, and the second flow path space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke HORIUCHI, Yosei HARA, Morio KUWANO, Atsuo NISHIHARA, Kinya NAKATSU
  • Patent number: 9210834
    Abstract: The object is to provide a power converter which is capable of minimizing an extent to which the power converter components other than the semiconductor module are thermally affected by the heat originating from the semiconductor module. The semiconductor modules constituting a main circuit for power conversion; a capacitor electrically connected to the main circuit; drive circuits that provide the main circuit with a drive signal used in power conversion operation; a control circuit that provides the drive circuit with a control signal used to prompt the drive circuit to provide the drive signal. Within a casing, a cooling chamber including a coolant passage is formed, and a chamber wall of the cooling chamber is formed with a thermally conductive material. At least the semiconductor modules are housed inside the cooling chamber, and at least the capacitor and the control circuit are disposed outside the cooling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinya Nakatsu, Takayoshi Nakamura, Ryuichi Saito, Takashi Suga, Hiroki Funato
  • Publication number: 20150349656
    Abstract: An electric power conversion apparatus includes a channel case in which a cooling water channel is formed; a double side cooling semiconductor module that has an upper and lower arms series circuit of an inverter circuit; a capacitor module; a direct current connector; and an alternate current connector. The semiconductor module includes first and second heat dissipation metals whose outer surfaces are heat dissipation surfaces, the upper and lower arms series circuit is disposed tightly between the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal, and the semiconductor module further includes a direct current positive terminal, a direct current negative terminal, and an alternate current terminal which protrude to outside. The channel case is provided with the cooling water channel which extends from a cooling water inlet to a cooling water outlet, and a first opening which opens into the cooling water channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Takeshi TOKUYAMA, Kinya NAKATSU, Ryuichi SAITO, Keisuke HORIUCHI, Toshiya SATOH, Hideki MIYAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20150313040
    Abstract: The object is to provide a power converter which is capable of minimizing an extent to which the power converter components other than the semiconductor module are thermally affected by the heat originating from the semiconductor module. A casing houses: semiconductor modules constituting a main circuit for power conversion; a capacitor electrically connected to the main circuit; drive circuits that provide the main circuit with a drive signal used in power conversion operation; a control circuit that provides the drive circuit with a control signal used to prompt the drive circuit to provide the drive signal. Within the casing, a cooling chamber including a coolant passage is formed, and a chamber wall of the cooling chamber is formed with a thermally conductive material. At least the semiconductor modules are housed inside the cooling chamber, and at least the capacitor and the control circuit are disposed outside the cooling chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Kinya NAKATSU, Takayoshi NAKAMURA, Ryuichi SAITO, Takashi SUGA, Hiroki FUNATO
  • Patent number: 9159506
    Abstract: A power conversion device for a vehicle includes: a power module that includes a switching device and, upon operation of the switching device, converts DC power into AC power to be supplied to an electric machine for driving a vehicle; a capacitor module that includes a smoothing capacitor element, an input-side power source terminal for receiving DC power, and an output-side power source terminal for supplying DC power to the power module; and a noise removal capacitor for removing noise, wherein: the noise removal capacitor is built in the capacitor module, and the noise removal capacitor is electrically connected to the input-side power source terminal in a position where a distance between a connection position of the noise removal capacitor and the input-side power source terminal is less than a distance between a connection position of the noise removal capacitor and the output-side power source terminal of the capacitor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Matsuo, Kinya Nakatsu, Toshiya Satoh, Ken Maeda
  • Publication number: 20150289391
    Abstract: The metallic case of a power conversion apparatus includes a casing having a side wall, as well as an upper case and a lower case, a first area being formed between a cooling jacket provided at the inner periphery of the side wall and the lower case, the metal base plate dividing the first area between the cooling jacket and the upper case into a lower side second area and an upper side third area, first and second power modules being fastened to a top surface and a capacitor module being provided in the first area, driving circuits that drive inverter circuits of the power modules respectively being provided in the second area, and a control circuit that controls the driver circuits being provided in the third area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Kinya NAKATSU, Hideyo SUZUKI, Fusanori NISHIKIMI, Takeshi MATSUO, Toshiya SATOU
  • Patent number: 9137932
    Abstract: An electric power conversion apparatus includes a channel case in which a cooling water channel is formed; a double side cooling semiconductor module that has an upper and lower arms series circuit of an inverter circuit; a capacitor module; a direct current connector; and an alternate current connector. The semiconductor module includes first and second heat dissipation metals whose outer surfaces are heat dissipation surfaces, the upper and lower arms series circuit is disposed tightly between the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal, and the semiconductor module further includes a direct current positive terminal, a direct current negative terminal, and an alternate current terminal which protrude to outside. The channel case is provided with the cooling water channel which extends from a cooling water inlet to a cooling water outlet, and a first opening which opens into the cooling water channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Tokuyama, Kinya Nakatsu, Ryuichi Saito, Keisuke Horiuchi, Toshiya Satoh, Hideki Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20150222196
    Abstract: An electric power conversion apparatus includes a channel case in which a cooling water channel is formed; a double side cooling semiconductor module that has an upper and lower arms series circuit of an inverter circuit; a capacitor module; a direct current connector; and an alternate current connector. The semiconductor module includes first and second heat dissipation metals whose outer surfaces are heat dissipation surfaces, the upper and lower arms series circuit is disposed tightly between the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal, and the semiconductor module further includes a direct current positive terminal, a direct current negative terminal, and an alternate current terminal which protrude to outside. The channel case is provided with the cooling water channel which extends from a cooling water inlet to a cooling water outlet, and a first opening which opens into the cooling water channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Takeshi TOKUYAMA, Kinya NAKATSU, Ryuichi SAITO, Keisuke HORIUCHI, Toshiya SATOH, Hideki MIYAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20150223366
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes: a power semiconductor module (150a); a flow channel forming body (20) for housing the power semiconductor module (150a); and a cover (5) for fixing the power semiconductor module (150a) to the flow channel forming body (20), and the power semiconductor module (150a) includes a power semiconductor element, main terminals (157b, 158b) electrically connected to the power semiconductor element, and a case for housing the power semiconductor element, the cover (5) has a recessed portion (5c) and an opening (5a) provided in a bottom surface portion of the recessed portion (5c), the power semiconductor module (150a) is placed to be fitted into the recessed portion (5c), the power semiconductor module (150a) is fixed to the cover (5) so that the main terminals (157b, 158b) pass through the opening (5a), the case and an inner wall of the recessed portion (5c) have an airtight structure, and therefore prevents intrusion of a coolant into the power semiconductor module having a dou
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Keisuke Horiuchi, Atsuo Nishihara, Kinya Nakatsu, Morio Kuwano, Yosei Hara
  • Publication number: 20150216083
    Abstract: An inverter (300) is disposed toward an opening in a motor side metal housing (201). A power module (301) is disposed on a metal cover (207) that is in contact with the metal housing (201). The power module (301) includes a semiconductor element, a metal terminal connected to the semiconductor element, and resin that seals the semiconductor element and the metal terminal. A metal plate (306) is disposed on a surface of the power module (301) that is positioned opposite the metal cover (207). Heat generated by the power module (301) is dissipated from the metal cover (207) and from the metal plate (306). This improves the heat dissipation performance. Thus, the size of the power module can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Takuro Kanazawa, Kinya Nakatsu, Haruaki Motoda
  • Publication number: 20150214205
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to reduce the wiring inductance of a power semiconductor module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Takeshi Tokuyama, Kinya Nakatsu, Akira Mima, Yukio Hattori, Toshiya Satoh
  • Patent number: 9095079
    Abstract: The metallic case of a power conversion apparatus includes a casing having a side wall, as well as an upper case and a lower case, a first area being formed between a cooling jacket provided at the inner periphery of the side wall and the lower case, the metal base plate dividing the first area between the cooling jacket and the upper case into a lower side second area and an upper side third area, first and second power modules being fastened to a top surface and a capacitor module being provided in the first area, driving circuits that drive inverter circuits of the power modules respectively being provided in the second area, and a control circuit that controls the driver circuits being provided in the third area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinya Nakatsu, Hideyo Suzuki, Fusanori Nishikimi, Takeshi Matsuo, Toshiya Satou
  • Publication number: 20150189784
    Abstract: An electric circuit apparatus includes a power module (300) including a DC positive electrode branch terminal (315D) and a DC negative electrode branch terminal (319D), and a power board (700) which is configured to transfer a direct current and which includes a power board P bus bar and a power board N bus bar sealed by a resin member, which has an insulation property, in such a manner that a P terminal (701) and an N terminal (702) are exposed. The DC positive electrode branch terminal (315D) and the P terminal (701) are held by a flexion member (904) and are connected to each other via a metal joining member having a melting point lower than those of the both terminals. The DC negative electrode branch terminal (319D) and the N terminal (702) are connected to each other in a similar manner. Thus, a thermal influence on the resin member can be reduced and connection durability can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Satoshi Hirano, Akihiro Namba, Makoto Ogata, Takeshi Tokuyama, Kinya Nakatsu
  • Patent number: 9042101
    Abstract: An electric power conversion apparatus includes a channel case in which a cooling water channel is formed; a double side cooling semiconductor module that has an upper and lower arms series circuit of an inverter circuit; a capacitor module; a direct current connector; and an alternate current connector. The semiconductor module includes first and second heat dissipation metals whose outer surfaces are heat dissipation surfaces, the upper and lower arms series circuit is disposed tightly between the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal, and the semiconductor module further includes a direct current positive terminal, a direct current negative terminal, and an alternate current terminal which protrude to outside. The channel case is provided with the cooling water channel which extends from a cooling water inlet to a cooling water outlet, and a first opening which opens into the cooling water channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Tokuyama, Kinya Nakatsu, Ryuichi Saito, Keisuke Horiuchi, Toshiya Satoh, Hideki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9000553
    Abstract: A power module includes a semiconductor chip, a first coupling conductor with one main surface coupled to one main surface of the semiconductor chip, a second coupling conductor with one main surface coupled to the other main surface of the semiconductor chip, a coupling terminal supplied with electrical power from the direct current power source, and resin material to seal the semiconductor chip, and in which the resin member has a protruding section that protrudes from the space where the first and second coupling conductors are formed opposite each other, and the coupling terminal is clamped on the protruding section, and at least one of the first or second coupling conductors is coupled to a coupling terminal by way of a metallic material that melts at a specified temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Tokuyama, Kinya Nakatsu, Toshiya Satoh, Hideaki Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20150070955
    Abstract: An electric power conversion apparatus includes a channel case in which a cooling water channel is formed; a double side cooling semiconductor module that has an upper and lower arms series circuit of an inverter circuit; a capacitor module; a direct current connector; and an alternate current connector. The semiconductor module includes first and second heat dissipation metals whose outer surfaces are heat dissipation surfaces, the upper and lower arms series circuit is disposed tightly between the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal, and the semiconductor module further includes a direct current positive terminal, a direct current negative terminal, and an alternate current terminal which protrude to outside. The channel case is provided with the cooling water channel which extends from a cooling water inlet to a cooling water outlet, and a first opening which opens into the cooling water channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi TOKUYAMA, Kinya NAKATSU, Ryuichi SAITO, Keisuke HORIUCHI, Toshiya SATOH, Hideki MIYAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20150055386
    Abstract: In a power inverter, a coolant passage is fixed to a chassis to cool the chassis; the chassis is divided into a first region and a second region by providing the coolant passage in the chassis; a power module is provided in the first region as fixed to the coolant passage; a capacitor module is provided in the second region; and the DC terminal of the capacitor module is directly connected to the DC terminal of the power module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Fusanori NISHIKIMI, Kinya NAKATSU
  • Patent number: 8952525
    Abstract: A semiconductor module includes a case including a receiving space that is formed by a frame portion and a pair of wall portions disposed to face each other with the frame portion therebetween. The wall portion includes a heat-dissipation portions and a support wall that supports the heat-dissipation portions at the frame portion, and the wall portion includes a heat-dissipation portion and a support wall that supports the heat-dissipation portion at the frame portion. The heat-dissipation portions provided at the wall portion are separately provided by being disposed to face a plurality of semiconductor device blocks respectively. A plurality of separate heat-dissipation portions is surrounded by the support wall, the support wall is deformed to recessed from the frame portion through the separate heat-dissipation portions inside the case such that a plurality of insulating sheets is closely joined to a plurality of lead frames and the plurality of heat-dissipation portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Ide, Takeshi Tokuyama, Nobutake Tsuyuno, Kinya Nakatsu, Tokihito Suwa, Yuujiro Kaneko