Patents by Inventor Masaaki Kuranuki

Masaaki Kuranuki 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: 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
  • 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: 9871460
    Abstract: A third relay switches between an output of a first AC power source fed via a first relay and an output of a second AC power source fed via a second relay, and supplies the output after the switching to a load. A welding detection unit detects welding of the first relay. In order to switch the output of the first AC power source to the output of the second AC power source and supply the output of the second AC power source to the load, a power source switching control unit switches the first relay from the closed state to the open state, switches the third relay so as to select and feed the output of the second AC power source, and then prohibits switching of the second relay from the open state to the closed state until a first-relay welding detection processing by the welding detection unit is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kuranuki, Masahiko Kubo
  • Publication number: 20160087426
    Abstract: A third relay switches between an output of a first AC power source fed via a first relay and an output of a second AC power source fed via a second relay, and supplies the output after the switching to a load. A welding detection unit detects welding of the first relay. In order to switch the output of the first AC power source to the output of the second AC power source and supply the output of the second AC power source to the load, a power source switching control unit switches the first relay from the closed state to the open state, switches the third relay so as to select and feed the output of the second AC power source, and then prohibits switching of the second relay from the open state to the closed state until a first-relay welding detection processing by the welding detection unit is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: MASAAKI KURANUKI, MASAHIKO KUBO
  • Patent number: 8933611
    Abstract: Electricity generated by a vibration power generator 200 can be extracted efficiently by providing the vibration power generator 200, a rectifier circuit bridge 205, an output controlling circuit 201, a load detecting circuit 202 and a frequency detecting circuit 204 and detecting a frequency of the vibration power generator 200 and then controlling an impedance of an output controlling circuit 101 depending on the frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakatsuka, Masaaki Kuranuki, Keiji Onishi
  • Publication number: 20130249565
    Abstract: Provided is a power storage apparatus having an impedance measuring function and is capable of, when the apparatus has a large number of power storage elements connected in series, judging a deteriorated power storage element in a short period of time. The power storage apparatus having the impedance measuring function measures and compares impedances of power storage units in a high-voltage side half and a low-voltage side half using a first judgment circuit, measures impedances of high-voltage side and low-voltage side power storage elements by selectively using a second judgment circuit installed adjacent to a power storage unit judged to have a large impedance. With this, the power storage apparatus identifies a power storage element that has high impedance among the whole and its impedance, and detects and displays deterioration or malfunction through a threshold-value judgment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Kuranuki
  • Patent number: 8248327
    Abstract: A scan IC includes a switch circuit and a logic circuit. The switch circuit includes first and second transistors and a level shift circuit. First and second control signals that change between a logical “1” and a logical “0” are applied to an input terminal of the logic circuit. The logic circuit applies a third control signal to the first transistor and applies a fourth control signal to the second transistor based on the applied first and second control signals. A detection circuit is connected to the input terminal of the logic circuit. An abnormality of the scan IC is detected by the detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Kuranuki, Tosikazu Nagaki, Manabu Inoue, Tomohisa Sakaguchi, Kazuo Oohira
  • Patent number: 8159487
    Abstract: A plasma display device includes a scan electrode drive circuit including a sustain pulse generating circuit, which includes an electric power recovery capacitor, a first recovery switch and a first recovery inductor connected in series so as to form an electric current passage in which an electric current is allowed to flow from the electric power recovery capacitor to a scan electrode, a second recovery switch and a second recovery inductor connected in series so as to form an electric current passage in which an electric current is allowed to flow from the scan electrode to the electric power recovery capacitor, a first damper capacitor connected to a node between a diode of the first recovery switch and the first recovery inductor, and a second damper capacitor connected to a node between a diode of the second recovery switch and the second recovery inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Fumito Kusama, Masaaki Kuranuki, Hironori Konno
  • Publication number: 20110227545
    Abstract: Electricity generated by a vibration power generator 200 can be extracted efficiently by providing the vibration power generator 200, a rectifier circuit bridge 205, an output controlling circuit 201, a load detecting circuit 202 and a frequency detecting circuit 204 and detecting a frequency of the vibration power generator 200 and then controlling an impedance of an output controlling circuit 101 depending on the frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakatsuka, Masaaki Kuranuki, Keiji Onishi
  • Publication number: 20100188387
    Abstract: A scan IC includes a switch circuit and a logic circuit. The switch circuit includes first and second transistors and a level shift circuit. First and second control signals that change between a logical “1” and a logical “0” are applied to an input terminal of the logic circuit. The logic circuit applies a third control signal to the first transistor and applies a fourth control signal to the second transistor based on the applied first and second control signals. A detection circuit is connected to the input terminal of the logic circuit. An abnormality of the scan IC is detected by the detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki Kuranuki, Tosikazu Nagaki, Manabu Inoue, Tomohisa Sakaguchi, Kazuo Oohira
  • Publication number: 20100164927
    Abstract: A plasma display device includes a scan electrode drive circuit including a sustain pulse generating circuit, which includes an electric power recovery capacitor, a first recovery switch and a first recovery inductor connected in series so as to form an electric current passage in which an electric current is allowed to flow from the electric power recovery capacitor to a scan electrode, a second recovery switch and a second recovery inductor connected in series so as to form an electric current passage in which an electric current is allowed to flow from the scan electrode to the electric power recovery capacitor, a first damper capacitor connected to a node between a diode of the first recovery switch and the first recovery inductor, and a second damper capacitor connected to a node between a diode of the second recovery switch and the second recovery inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumito Kusama, Masaaki Kuranuki, Hironori Konno
  • Patent number: 7714531
    Abstract: A power system including an electrochemical device, a load device, a power generator, and a charge/discharge controller of the electrochemical device. The electrochemical device includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a liquid electrolyte or a solid electrolyte. The charge/discharge curve of the electrochemical device has at least one step, and a given step of the at least one step has an inflection point. A voltage corresponding to the inflection point or a point adjacent to the inflection point is set as a threshold value, and the charge/discharge controller is configured to control charge/discharge of the electrochemical device such that the voltage of the electrochemical device approaches the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Kuranuki, Yuu Inatomi
  • Publication number: 20100066718
    Abstract: In a driving device of a plasma display panel including switch circuits (Q1, Q2) that selectively connect either a first node (N1) or a second node (N2) to a scan electrode (SC1), a voltage hold circuit (200) that is provided between the first node (N1) and a third node (N3) for holding a voltage between the first node (N1) and the second node (N2) to a first voltage (Vscn), a protection circuit (300) that is provided between the second node (N2) and the third node (N3), and a potential of the first node (N1) being changed, the protection circuit (300) includes a protective resistance (R1), a rectification circuit composed of a capacitor (C1), a charge restriction resistance (R2), and a diode (Da) connected in parallel to the protective resistance (R1), two discharge resistances (R3, R4) connected in parallel to the capacitor (C1), and a transistor (Q10) that generates an abnormality detection signal (SOS) based on a potential of a connection point (N7) of the two discharge resistances (R3, R4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki Kuranuki, Toshikazu Nagaki, Kazuo Oohira
  • Publication number: 20090096718
    Abstract: The plasma display device has the following structure: a panel having a plurality of discharge cells; an electrode-dedicated power supply for generating voltage to be applied to any one of the electrodes disposed on the panel; a driving-waveform generator that has a switching element for outputting voltage of the electrode-dedicated power supply so as to generate a waveform of driving voltage for driving the electrodes; a switch controller for controlling the switching element; a controller-dedicated power supply for supplying the switch controller with electric power; and an auxiliary power supply that generates a voltage lower than that of the controller-dedicated power supply by reducing voltage of the electrode-dedicated power supply so as to supply the switch controller with electric power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumito Kusama, Tosikazu Nagaki, Masaaki Kuranuki
  • Publication number: 20090017379
    Abstract: A secondary battery is equipped with a reaction container and a current collector that is built in at least one of a positive electrode side and a negative electrode side. The positive electrode side and the negative electrode side are separated from each other by an ion conductive separator. In the reaction container, an organic matter excluding a metal complex and a radical and capable of reversibly being electrochemically oxidized and reduced is used as an active material together with a supporting salt. The active material and the supporting salt form a liquid. On the surface of the current collector, the active material contained in the liquid is charged and discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuu Inatomi, Nobuhiko Hojo, Masaaki Kuranuki
  • Patent number: 7274116
    Abstract: A bypass control section (6) maintains a bypass switch (5) in the ON state during the period when a battery voltage (Vi) is higher than the output voltage (Vo) to an external load (L). Upon falling of the output voltage (Vo) at a desired voltage (ET), a converter control section (4) starts switching control at once, and a step-up chopper (3) promptly starts boost operation. The bypass control section (6) maintains the bypass switch (5) in the ON state from the start of the boost operation of the step-up chopper (3) until the match between the battery voltage (Vi) and the output voltage (Vo).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Inoue, Takuya Ishii, Keiji Akamatsu, Masaaki Kuranuki, Hiroki Akashi
  • Publication number: 20070202370
    Abstract: A power system including an electrochemical device, a load device, a power generator, and a charge/discharge controller of the electrochemical device. The electrochemical device includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a liquid electrolyte or a solid electrolyte. The charge/discharge curve of the electrochemical device has at least one step, and a given step of the at least one step has an inflection point. A voltage corresponding to the inflection point or a point adjacent to the inflection point is set as a threshold value, and the charge/discharge controller is configured to control charge/discharge of the electrochemical device such that the voltage of the electrochemical device approaches the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Masaaki Kuranuki, Yuu Inatomi
  • Patent number: 7248023
    Abstract: A charger for a secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode including lithium-containing silicon represented by the composition formula LixSi, and an electrolyte. This charger includes: (1) a voltage detector that detects voltage of the secondary battery that is being charged; and (2) a charge controller that calculates the value x in LixSi included in the secondary battery from an output of the voltage detector and stops the charging of the secondary battery when the calculated value x reaches a predetermined threshold value. The charge controller has at least one settable threshold value including a first threshold value, and the first threshold value is 2.33 or less. The use of this charger makes it possible to charge the secondary battery such that it has a high capacity, or a higher capacity if necessary, without accelerating the deterioration of cycle life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideharu Takezawa, Masaaki Kuranuki, Yasuhiko Bito
  • Patent number: 7206949
    Abstract: A processor capable of reducing power consumption of an electronic information device sends a frequency control signal to a clock oscillator, operates at a frequency in accordance with the frequency control signal. Further, the processor sends a voltage request signal to a power supply circuit, and operates at a voltage in accordance with the voltage request signal. The processor controls the supplied clock frequency and power supply voltage so that the processor itself operates in an operation area in which energy consumption becomes minimum for a predetermined amount of data. Such an operation area is defined by a clock frequency, a power supply voltage, and power supply efficiency (?) of the power supply circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Kuranuki
  • Publication number: 20060006850
    Abstract: A bypass control section (6) maintains a bypass switch (5) in the ON state during the period when a battery voltage (Vi) is higher than the output voltage (Vo) to an external load (L). Upon falling of the output voltage (Vo) at a desired voltage (ET), a converter control section (4) starts switching control at once, and a step-up chopper (3) promptly starts boost operation. The bypass control section (6) maintains the bypass switch (5) in the ON state from the start of the boost operation of the step-up chopper (3) until the match between the battery voltage (Vi) and the output voltage (Vo).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Manabu Inoue, Takuya Ishii, Keiji Akamatsu, Masaaki Kuranuki, Hiroki Akashi