Patents by Inventor Masahiko Endou

Masahiko Endou 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: 7400111
    Abstract: An on-vehicle battery and electric unit assembly including: a battery mounted to a body of a vehicle driven by an engine; and an electric unit in which components of an electrical circuit connected to the battery are housed in a unit case provided with a positive DC terminal and a negative DC terminal connected to a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the battery, wherein the electric unit is placed adjacent to the battery, and the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the battery are connected to the positive DC terminal and the negative DC terminal of the electric unit by a positive busbar and a negative busbar, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyohsi Kishibata, Masahiko Endou
  • Patent number: 7372677
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine-driven vehicle equipped with a power supply unit having an AC generator driven by an internal combustion engine, and a power converter which converts an output voltage from the AC generator into an AC voltage of a certain frequency, which comprises a leakage detection means which detects an occurrence of electric leakage in the power supply unit, a leakage occurrence position identification means which identifies a leakage occurrence position, and an electric shock preventing control means which performs control for preventing electric shock on at least one of the internal combustion engine and the power converter, while allowing a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine to increase to a speed at which travel of the vehicle is enabled, when the occurrence of electric leakage is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kishibata, Masahiko Endou
  • Patent number: 7295016
    Abstract: An electric leakage detection system having: a detection point forming circuit which forms a detection point being connected through three resistors which are star-connected to a three-phase output line of an AC generator; a voltage detection circuit which detects a voltage across the detection point and ground; and an electric leakage detecting part which detects existence of an electric leakage from a period of the detected voltage and determines an occurrence position of the electric leakage from a period of the detected voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kishibata, Masahiko Endou
  • Patent number: 7289901
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted power generator set including: an AC generator driven by an engine of a vehicle; an electric power conversion portion that converts an output of the AC generator into an AC output having commercial frequency; a controller having electric power conversion portion control means for controlling the conversion portion to generate an AC output having commercial frequency when a control mode is a power generation mode, and engine control means for controlling the engine to rotate at a rotational speed suitable for supplying electric power from the conversion portion to a load when the control mode is the power generation mode and controlling the engine to be suitable for driving the vehicle when the control mode is the vehicle driving mode; and a control switch inserted between each output terminal of the AC generator and each input terminal of the electric power conversion portion, and controlled to be in an ON state when the control mode is the power generation mode and in an OFF state when the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kishibata, Masahiko Endou, Tomoaki Sekita
  • Patent number: 7256507
    Abstract: An inverter controlled generator set including: a power supply unit that uses a generator driven by an engine as a power supply to output a DC voltage; an inverter device that converts the output voltage of the power supply unit into an AC voltage; and a rotational speed control unit that controls a rotational speed of the engine so as to be kept at a target rotational speed suitable for a load applied to the inverter device, wherein the rotational speed control unit is comprised so that a settling time when the rotational speed of the engine is caused to converge to the target rotational speed in a state where the load is above a set value is longer than a settling time when the rotational speed is caused to converge to the target rotational speed in a state where the load is below the set value, in order to minimize an operation sound of the engine when the load is intermittently driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Endou, Masanori Nakagawa, Kaoru Shinba, Katsumi Yamamoto, Yoshihiro Sugisawa
  • Patent number: 7245036
    Abstract: An inverter controlled generator set including: a power supply unit that uses a generator driven by an engine as a power supply to output a DC voltage; an inverter device that converts the output voltage of the power supply unit into an AC voltage; and a rotational speed control unit that controls a rotational speed of the engine so as to be kept at a target rotational speed suitable for a load applied to the inverter device, wherein the rotational speed control unit is comprised so that a settling time when the rotational speed of the engine is caused to converge to the target rotational speed in a state where the load is above a set value is longer than a settling time when the rotational speed is caused to converge to the target rotational speed in a state where the load is below the set value, in order to minimize an operation sound of the engine when the load is intermittently driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Endou, Masanori Nakagawa, Kaoru Shinba, Katsumi Yamamoto, Yoshihiro Sugisawa
  • Patent number: 7157885
    Abstract: A method for controlling an inverter controlled generator set which comprises a DC power source section having as a power source a generator driven by an engine and an inverter which converts an output of said DC power source section into an AC output, the method comprising a step of controlling a rotational speed of the engine so that the AC output suitable for driving a load is output from the inverter; wherein, after the engine is started, the rotational speed of the engine is controlled by a constant speed control mode for maintaining the rotational speed of the engine at a set rotational speed, and the rotational speed of the engine is increased to the set rotational speed; and wherein an operation of the inverter is started after the rotational speed of the engine reaches the set rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Nakagawa, Masahiko Endou, Kaoru Shinba, Katsumi Yamamoto, Yoshihiro Sugisawa
  • Publication number: 20060284843
    Abstract: An inverter controlled generator set including: a power supply unit that uses a generator driven by an engine as a power supply to output a DC voltage; an inverter device that converts the output voltage of the power supply unit into an AC voltage; and a rotational speed control unit that controls a rotational speed of the engine so as to be kept at a target rotational speed suitable for a load applied to the inverter device, wherein the rotational speed control unit is comprised so that a settling time when the rotational speed of the engine is caused to converge to the target rotational speed in a state where the load is above a set value is longer than a settling time when the rotational speed is caused to converge to the target rotational speed in a state where the load is below the set value, in order to minimize an operation sound of the engine when the load is intermittently driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: Kokusan Denki Co., Tld.
    Inventors: Masahiko Endou, Masanori Nakagawa, Kaoru Shinba, Katsumi Yamamoto, Yoshihiro Sugisawa
  • Publication number: 20060279087
    Abstract: An inverter controlled generator set including: a power supply unit that uses a generator driven by an engine as a power supply to output a DC voltage; an inverter device that converts the output voltage of the power supply unit into an AC voltage; and a rotational speed control unit that controls a rotational speed of the engine so as to be kept at a target rotational speed suitable for a load applied to the inverter device, wherein the rotational speed control unit is comprised so that a settling time when the rotational speed of the engine is caused to converge to the target rotational speed in a state where the load is above a set value is longer than a settling time when the rotational speed is caused to converge to the target rotational speed in a state where the load is below the set value, in order to minimize an operation sound of the engine when the load is intermittently driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: Kokusan Denki Co., Tld.
    Inventors: Masahiko Endou, Masanori Nakagawa, Kaoru Shinba, Katsumi Yamamoto, Yoshihiro Sugisawa
  • Publication number: 20060279086
    Abstract: An on-vehicle battery and electric unit assembly including: a battery mounted to a body of a vehicle driven by an engine; and an electric unit in which components of an electrical circuit connected to the battery are housed in a unit case provided with a positive DC terminal and a negative DC terminal connected to a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the battery, wherein the electric unit is placed adjacent to the battery, and the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the battery are connected to the positive DC terminal and the negative DC terminal of the electric unit by a positive busbar and a negative busbar, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kishibata, Masahiko Endou
  • Patent number: 7123495
    Abstract: An inverter controlled generator set including: a power supply unit that uses a generator driven by an engine as a power supply to output a DC voltage; an inverter device that converts the output voltage of the power supply unit into an AC voltage; and a rotational speed control unit that controls a rotational speed of the engine so as to be kept at a target rotational speed suitable for a load applied to the inverter device, wherein the rotational speed control unit is comprised so that a settling time when the rotational speed of the engine is caused to converge to the target rotational speed in a state where the load is above a set value is longer than a settling time when the rotational speed is caused to converge to the target rotational speed in a state where the load is below the set value, in order to minimize an operation sound of the engine when the load is intermittently driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Endou, Masanori Nakagawa, Kaoru Shinba, Katsumi Yamamoto, Yoshihiro Sugisawa
  • Patent number: 7091812
    Abstract: An inverter unit comprising component parts including at least an inverter and a filter which removes a high harmonic wave component from an output of said inverter, wherein said component parts are housed in an aluminum case having a bottom wall portion and a side wall portion, said filter includes a coil which is wound around a core extending straight and is arranged at a position closed to one end of said case, an end portion of said core being wound with said coil is arranged closed to an inner surface of said side wall portion of the case, and a ferromagnetic plate, which leads magnetic flux coming in and out said end portion of the core arranged closed to said wall portion of the case to the direction along the inner surface of the side wall portion of the case, is disposed between said end portion of said core and said inner surface of said side wall portion of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sugisawa, Masahiko Endou, Masanori Nakagawa, Katsumi Yamamoto, Kaoru Shinba
  • Publication number: 20060103239
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted power generator set including: an AC generator driven by an engine of a vehicle; an electric power conversion portion that converts an output of the AC generator into an AC output having commercial frequency; a controller having electric power conversion portion control means for controlling the conversion portion to generate an AC output having commercial frequency when a control mode is a power generation mode, and engine control means for controlling the engine to rotate at a rotational speed suitable for supplying electric power from the conversion portion to a load when the control mode is the power generation mode and controlling the engine to be suitable for driving the vehicle when the control mode is the vehicle driving mode; and a control switch inserted between each output terminal of the AC generator and each input terminal of the electric power conversion portion, and controlled to be in an ON state when the control mode is the power generation mode and in an OFF state when the
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kishibata, Masahiko Endou, Tomoaki Sekita
  • Publication number: 20060006846
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine-driven vehicle equipped with a power supply unit having an AC generator driven by an internal combustion engine, and a power converter which converts an output voltage from the AC generator into an AC voltage of a certain frequency, which comprises a leakage detection means which detects an occurrence of electric leakage in the power supply unit, a leakage occurrence position identification means which identifies a leakage occurrence position, and an electric shock preventing control means which performs control for preventing electric shock on at least one of the internal combustion engine and the power converter, while allowing a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine to increase to a speed at which travel of the vehicle is enabled, when the occurrence of electric leakage is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Applicant: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kishibata, Masahiko Endou
  • Publication number: 20050280422
    Abstract: An electric leakage detection system having: a detection point forming circuit which forms a detection point being connected through three resistors which are star-connected to a three-phase output line of an AC generator; a voltage detection circuit which detects a voltage across the detection point and ground; an electric leakage detecting part which detects existence of the electric leakage from a period of the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit; and electric leakage occurrence position determination means which determines an occurrence position of the electric leakage from a period of the voltage across the detection point and ground, and detecting the electric leakage at a position apart from the generator without laying around a grounding conductor which grounds a neutral point of the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kishibata, Masahiko Endou
  • Publication number: 20050242783
    Abstract: An inverter controlled generator set including: an AC generator driven by a prime mover; a converter which converts an output of the AC generator into a DC output; an inverter which converts an output of the converter into an AC output having a predetermined frequency and a rated voltage value; and protection means for blocking the output of the inverter when an output current of the inverter exceeds a predetermined limit value, wherein the AC generator has a drooping characteristic that an output voltage of the AC generator is lowered following an increase of an output current of the AC generator, and wherein the drooping characteristic is a characteristic that the output voltage of the AC generator becomes less than the rated voltage value, when a value of the output current of the AC generator exceeds a set value which is set between the rated value and the limit value of the output current of the inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Applicant: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Nakagawa, Masahiko Endou, Kaoru Shinba, Katsumi Yamamoto, Yoshihiro Sugisawa
  • Publication number: 20050104377
    Abstract: A method for controlling an inverter controlled generator set which comprises a DC power source section having as a power source a generator driven by an engine and an inverter which converts an output of said DC power source section into an AC output, the method comprising a step of controlling a rotational speed of the engine so that the AC output suitable for driving a load is output from the inverter; wherein, after the engine is started, the rotational speed of the engine is controlled by a constant speed control mode for maintaining the rotational speed of the engine at a set rotational speed, and the rotational speed of the engine is increased to the set rotational speed; and wherein an operation of the inverter is started after the rotational speed of the engine reaches the set rotational speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Applicant: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Nakagawa, Masahiko Endou, Kaoru Shinba, Katsumi Yamamoto, Yoshihiro Sugisawa
  • Publication number: 20050029992
    Abstract: An inverter controlled generator set including: a power supply unit that uses a generator driven by an engine as a power supply to output a DC voltage; an inverter device that converts the output voltage of the power supply unit into an AC voltage; and a rotational speed control unit that controls a rotational speed of the engine so as to be kept at a target rotational speed suitable for a load applied to the inverter device, wherein the rotational speed control unit is comprised so that a settling time when the rotational speed of the engine is caused to converge to the target rotational speed in a state where the load is above a set value is longer than a settling time when the rotational speed is caused to converge to the target rotational speed in a state where the load is below the set value, in order to minimize an operation sound of the engine when the load is intermittently driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Applicant: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Endou, Masanori Nakagawa, Kaoru Shinba, Katsumi Yamamoto, Yoshihiro Sugisawa
  • Publication number: 20050030769
    Abstract: An inverter unit comprising component parts including at least an inverter and a filter which removes a high harmonic wave component from an output of said inverter, wherein said component parts are housed in an aluminum case having a bottom wall portion and a side wall portion, said filter includes a coil which is wound around a core extending straight and is arranged at a position closed to one end of said case, an end portion of said core being wound with said coil is arranged closed to an inner surface of said side wall portion of the case, and a ferromagnetic plate, which leads magnetic flux coming in and out said end portion of the core arranged closed to said wall portion of the case to the direction along the inner surface of the side wall portion of the case, is disposed between said end portion of said core and said inner surface of said side wall portion of the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Applicant: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sugisawa, Masahiko Endou, Masanori Nakagawa, Katsumi Yamamoto, Kaoru Shinba
  • Publication number: 20040233590
    Abstract: An inverter power supply device having first and second inverter units operated in series or parallel operation, and a controller to control said inverter units, wherein one output terminal of the first inverter unit is connected to one output terminal of the second inverter unit, and another output terminal of the first inverter unit and another output terminal of the second inverter unit are connected to high-voltage-load connection terminals, the one output terminal and the other output terminal of one of the inverter units are connected to one and the other of low-voltage-load connection terminals, a switch is connected between the high-voltage-load connection terminals, and said controller controls said inverter units so that outputs of said units are added together in phase and applied between the high-voltage-load connection terminals when said switch is turned off, and the outputs of said units are added together in phase and applied between the low-voltage-load connection terminals when said switch i
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Masanori Nakagawa, Masahiko Endou, Katsumi Yamamoto, Kaoru Shinba, Yoshihiro Sugisawa