Patents by Inventor Koichi Sawada

Koichi Sawada 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: 11917917
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element that has a power generation layer containing an iron-aluminum based magnetic alloy material containing equal to or more than 70 weight percent of iron and aluminum in total. The power generation layer generates an electromotive force, due to an anomalous Nernst effect that develops in the magnetic alloy material in response to a temperature gradient applied thereto, in a direction intersecting both the magnetization direction of the magnetic alloy material and the direction of the applied temperature gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Kirihara, Yasutomo Omori, Ryohto Sawada, Masahiko Ishida, Koichi Terashima, Yuma Iwasaki, Hiroko Someya
  • Patent number: 11843128
    Abstract: A cell module includes a plurality of cells that each have a cylindrical shape and include a positive-electrode terminal and a negative-electrode terminal disposed on one end of the cell. One of the terminals is located at a center, and the other terminal is located on a circumferential edge and is electrically connected to a side surface of a tube of each of the cells, a connection intervening member mounted on the other terminal includes a tab extending along the side surface of the tube and electrically connected to the side surface, and a hole that causes the center of the one end to be exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Sawada, Takeshi Nagao, Jiro Muratsu, Keisuke Naito
  • Publication number: 20220367967
    Abstract: A power storage module includes a plurality of power storage devices and a heater that heats the plurality of power storage devices. Each of the plurality of power storage devices includes an exhaust valve that discharges a gas in the power storage device to an outside of the power storage device. The heater faces the exhaust valve. The power storage module further includes a case that houses the plurality of power storage devices and the heater, and an exhaust duct that is formed on an upper side of an inside of the case and communicates with an outside of the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: HIROTAKA OGINO, KOICHI SAWADA
  • Publication number: 20220328922
    Abstract: An electricity storage module according to the present invention is provided with: a plurality of arranged cylindrical electricity storage devices; and an upper holder which holds the upper end parts of the plurality of electricity storage devices, while being provided with a plurality of containing parts that is formed of a thermoplastic resin. The upper holder comprises an upper support member which is formed of a thermosetting resin and supports electricity storage devices adjacent to each other, while being positioned between the adjacent electricity storage devices. In comparison to the thermoplastic resin, the thermosetting resin is not susceptible to deformation or melting event if heat is applied thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Hirotaka OGINO, Chifumi MURAYAMA, Jiro MURATSU, Koichi SAWADA
  • Publication number: 20220149468
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a plurality of batteries and an exterior case. Each battery includes an exhaust valve that opens if an internal pressure becomes higher than a predetermined pressure. The exterior case accommodates the batteries. The exterior case includes a collision-enhancing type gas-releasing path that releases a gas discharged through the exhaust valve to the outside. The collision-enhancing type releasing path includes first and second collision plates. The gas discharged through the exhaust valve collides against the first and second collision plates and is then released to the outside of the exterior case. The first collision plate reflects a flowing direction of the gas discharged through the exhaust valve in collision of the gas against a surface of the first collision plate. The second collision plate faces the first collision plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Tomonori SAKAMOTO, Akio YAMASAKI, Kazuhiro KAWAMURA, Koichi SAWADA, Chifumi MURAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220102776
    Abstract: A power storage module of the present disclosure includes a plurality of power storage devices formed into a tube-like shape; and a sheet-like heating element for heating the plurality of power storage devices, wherein each of the plurality of power storage devices has a tube-like case, the plurality of power storage devices are arranged such that central axes of the cases are parallel to each other, the heating element has a plurality of contact portions that are in continuous contact with side peripheral surfaces of the plurality of power storage devices, and a wrap angle of the plurality of contact portions and the power storage devices is greater than 180°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Koichi SAWADA, Hirotaka OGINO, Duoduo XIE
  • Patent number: 11276861
    Abstract: A positive electrode for an air battery includes a current collector and a porous layer including an electroconductive material. The current collector includes a base having a first major surface, and a plurality of projections disposed on at least the first major surface of the base. The first major surface of the base is a planar surface. The porous layer is disposed on the first major surface of the base and is in direct contact with the first major surface. The projections are in direct contact with the porous layer in the interior of the porous layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Sawada, Tsutomu Kawashima
  • Patent number: 11183794
    Abstract: A connector structure has a first connector unit including a first connector and a first terminal, and a second connector unit including a second connector and a second terminal. The second connector unit has a locating pin and an insertion hole into which the locating pin is inserted. In the connector structure, the first connector and the first terminal, and the second connector and the second terminal are brought into a connectible state when the locating pin is inserted into the insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Sawada
  • Publication number: 20210351439
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a new battery capable of having an increased capacity per weight. A battery according to the present disclosure includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte located between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode layer containing graphene oxide. The electrolyte includes a Lewis acid containing a pentafluorophenyl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: KOICHI SAWADA, SHUJI ITO, MASAHISA FUJIMOTO, YU OTSUKA, MITSUHIRO HIBINO
  • Publication number: 20210343997
    Abstract: A primary battery includes: a positive electrode including a positive electrode collector composed of a porous conductor, and a porous positive electrode layer disposed on the positive electrode collector, oxygen taken from outside of the primary battery through the positive electrode collector being allowed to diffuse into the porous positive electrode layer; a negative electrode including a negative electrode collector composed of a porous conductor, and a porous negative electrode layer disposed on the negative electrode collector, the porous negative electrode layer including lithium nitride composed of lithium and nitrogen, nitrogen generated during discharge being allowed to diffuse into the porous negative electrode layer; and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing a lithium salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: GO TEI, KOICHI SAWADA, MITSUHIRO HIBINO, MASAKO YOKOYAMA, MASAHISA FUJIMOTO, YU OTSUKA
  • Publication number: 20210257704
    Abstract: A cell module includes a plurality of cells that each have a cylindrical shape and include a positive-electrode terminal and a negative-electrode terminal disposed on one end of the cell. One of the terminals is located at a center, and the other terminal is located on a circumferential edge and is electrically connected to a side surface of a tube of each of the cells, a connection intervening member mounted on the other terminal includes a tab extending along the side surface of the tube and electrically connected to the side surface, and a hole that causes the center of the one end to be exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: KOICHI SAWADA, TAKESHI NAGAO, JIRO MURATSU, KEISUKE NAITO
  • Patent number: 11056886
    Abstract: In a power storage system, a three-phase AC wire is connected to a three-phase AC power system. Power storage blocks, each of which includes a power storage module and a power conditioner, are connected in parallel to the three-phase AC wire. A system controller individually controls power storage blocks. The power storage modules each includes: a power storage unit; and a management unit that manages the power storage unit. The power conditioner includes a power converter and a controller. The power converter converts DC power discharged into single-phase AC power and outputs the converted AC power to two lines of the three-phase AC wire, or converts single-phase AC power received from the two lines of the three-phase AC wire into DC power and charges the power storage unit. The controller is connected to the system controller via a communication line and the management unit via a communication line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Kato, Naohisa Morimoto, Masaaki Kuranuki, Jun Yamasaki, Yohei Ishii, Koichi Sawada
  • Patent number: 10700343
    Abstract: A positive electrode is for use in an air battery. The positive electrode includes a current collector including one or more openings, and an electroconductive layer including a porous body, the porous body including a carbon material. In the electroconductive layer, a second pore volume of a first region is greater than a second pore volume of a second region, wherein it is assumed that the electroconductive layer includes the first and second regions, the second region faces the one or more openings of the current collector, and the first region is located opposite to the second region with respect to a central plane containing midpoints in a thickness direction of the electroconductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Sawada
  • Publication number: 20200127458
    Abstract: In a power storage system, a three-phase AC wire is connected to a three-phase AC power system. Power storage blocks, each of which includes a power storage module and a power conditioner, are connected in parallel to the three-phase AC wire. A system controller individually controls power storage blocks. The power storage modules each includes: a power storage unit; and a management unit that manages the power storage unit. The power conditioner includes a power converter and a controller. The power converter converts DC power discharged into single-phase AC power and outputs the converted AC power to two lines of the three-phase AC wire, or converts single-phase AC power received from the two lines of the three-phase AC wire into DC power and charges the power storage unit. The controller is connected to the system controller via a communication line and the management unit via a communication line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: MASAKI KATO, NAOHISA MORIMOTO, MASAAKI KURANUKI, JUN YAMASAKI, YOHEI ISHII, KOICHI SAWADA
  • Patent number: 10543701
    Abstract: A thermal transfer printing apparatus including a feed roll feeding an ink ribbon during forward rotation, a thermal head performing a printing process that involves thermally transferring a color material onto first printing paper using the ink ribbon fed by the feed roll, and a recovery roll winding up the used ink ribbon during forward rotation, the used ink ribbon being the ink ribbon that has been subjected to the thermal transfer. After the feed roll and the recovery roll are rotated backward to rewind the used ink ribbon onto the feed roll, the used ink ribbon is fed from the feed roll and a color material is thermally transferred by the thermal head onto second printing paper based on a disturbance pattern. Because the disturbance pattern is superimposed on a residual image remaining on the ink ribbon, it is possible to prevent leakage of the residual image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Sawada, Noboru Kakihara
  • Publication number: 20190252688
    Abstract: A positive electrode for an air battery includes a current collector and a porous layer including an electroconductive material. The current collector includes a base having a first major surface, and a plurality of projections disposed on at least the first major surface of the base. The first major surface of the base is a planar surface. The porous layer is disposed on the first major surface of the base and is in direct contact with the first major surface. The projections are in direct contact with the porous layer in the interior of the porous layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Koichi SAWADA, Tsutomu KAWASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20190190203
    Abstract: A connector structure has a first connector unit including a first connector and a first terminal, and a second connector unit including a second connector and a second terminal. The second connector unit has a locating pin and an insertion hole into which the locating pin is inserted. In the connector structure, the first connector and the first terminal, and the second connector and the second terminal are brought into a connectible state when the locating pin is inserted into the insertion hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventor: KOICHI SAWADA
  • Patent number: 10296357
    Abstract: A terminal device according to the present application includes an acceptance unit, a detection unit, and a storage unit. The acceptance unit accepts a specifying operation for specifying a piece of content related to a first application. The detection unit detects a predetermined executing operation after the acceptance unit accepts the specifying operation. Upon detection of the executing operation by the detection unit, the storage unit stores the piece of content specified by the specifying operation in a storage region used by a second application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Sawada, Ayaka Hirano, Shinya Kato
  • Publication number: 20190148712
    Abstract: A positive electrode is for use in an air battery. The positive electrode includes a current collector including one or more openings, and an electroconductive layer including a porous body, the porous body including a carbon material. In the electroconductive layer, a second pore volume of a first region is greater than a second pore volume of a second region, wherein it is assumed that the electroconductive layer includes the first and second regions, the second region faces the one or more openings of the current collector, and the first region is located opposite to the second region with respect to a central plane containing midpoints in a thickness direction of the electroconductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventor: KOICHI SAWADA
  • Publication number: 20190092059
    Abstract: A thermal transfer printing apparatus including a feed roll feeding an ink ribbon during forward rotation, a thermal head performing a printing process that involves thermally transferring a color material onto first printing paper using the ink ribbon fed by the feed roll, and a recovery roll winding up the used ink ribbon during forward rotation, the used ink ribbon being the ink ribbon that has been subjected to the thermal transfer. After the feed roll and the recovery roll are rotated backward to rewind the used ink ribbon onto the feed roll, the used ink ribbon is fed from the feed roll and a color material is thermally transferred by the thermal head onto second printing paper based on a disturbance pattern. Because the disturbance pattern is superimposed on a residual image remaining on the ink ribbon, it is possible to prevent leakage of the residual image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi SAWADA, Noboru KAKIHARA