Patents by Inventor Masahiro Nakahata

Masahiro Nakahata 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: 8693150
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes: first and second power-supply terminals; an internal circuit connected between the first and second power-supply terminals; and a protection circuit connected in parallel with the internal circuit between the first and second power-supply terminals, the protection circuit including: a series circuit that includes a resistor and a first capacitor, and is connected in parallel with the internal circuit between the first and second power-supply terminals; a first MOS transistor that is connected in parallel with the series circuit, and is controlled according to a voltage at a connection point between the resistor and the first capacitor; and a switch circuit that is connected in parallel with the resistor, is turned on in a delayed manner after a power-supply voltage is applied between the first and second power-supply terminals, and changes the voltage at the connection point so that the first MOS transistor is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC, Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Akai, Masahiro Nakahata
  • Patent number: 8634173
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes: first and second power-supply terminals; an internal circuit connected between the first and second power-supply terminals; and a protection circuit connected in parallel with the internal circuit between the first and second power-supply terminals, the protection circuit including: a series circuit that includes a resistor and a first capacitor, and is connected in parallel with the internal circuit between the first and second power-supply terminals; a first MOS transistor that is connected in parallel with the series circuit, and is controlled according to a voltage at a connection point between the resistor and the first capacitor; and a switch circuit that is connected in parallel with the resistor, is turned on in a delayed manner after a power-supply voltage is applied between the first and second power-supply terminals, and changes the voltage at the connection point so that the first MOS transistor is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignees: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC, Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Akai, Masahiro Nakahata
  • Patent number: 8593100
    Abstract: A motor drive circuit is configured to drive a motor coil based on duty ratio of a PWM signal, and includes a first pulse signal generating circuit configured to generate a first pulse signal for each time period, the time period being equal to 1/n of a time period during which the PWM signal is at one logic level, a counter configured to change a count value based on the first pulse signal, a drive signal output circuit configured to output a drive signal of one logic level when the count value is not a predetermined value and output the drive signal of the other logic level when the count value reaches the predetermined value, a drive circuit configured to perform PWM driving for the motor coil based on the duty ratio of the drive signal, and a setting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: ON Semiconductor Trading, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakahata, Toshiyuki Imai
  • Patent number: 8384324
    Abstract: A motor drive circuit is configured to drive a motor based on first and second position detection signals opposite in phase to each other, the signals having a frequency corresponding to a rotational speed of the motor and indicating a rotational position of the motor. The circuit includes a first level-shift circuit, a second level-shift circuit, a timing detecting circuit, and an output circuit. The first level-shift circuit is configured to shift a level of at least either one of the first and second position detection signals so that a first period, during which a first output signal corresponding to the first position detection signal is higher in level than a second output signal corresponding to the second position detection signal, becomes longer than a second period, during which the second output signal is higher in level than the first output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: ON Semiconductor Trading, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakahata, Toshiyuki Imai
  • Publication number: 20110260669
    Abstract: A motor drive circuit to drive a motor coil based on duty ratio of a PWM signal, includes: a first pulse signal generating circuit to generate a first pulse signal for each time period, the time period being equal to 1/n of a time period during which the PWM signal is at one logic level; a counter to change a count value based on the first pulse signal; a drive signal output circuit to output a drive signal of one logic level when the count value is not a predetermined value, and output the drive signal of the other logic level when the count value reaches the predetermined value; a drive circuit to perform PWM driving for the motor coil based on the duty ratio of the drive signal; and a setting circuit to set, in the counter, such a count value as to decrease a current passing through the motor coil, for each period of the PWM signal, in a time period during which the current passing through the motor coil is decreased, and set, in the counter, such a count value as to increase the current passing through th
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: ON SEMICONDUCTOR TRADING, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakahata, Toshiyuki Imai
  • Publication number: 20110181214
    Abstract: A motor drive circuit is configured to drive a motor based on first and second position detection signals opposite in phase to each other, the signals having a frequency corresponding to a rotational speed of the motor and indicating a rotational position of the motor. The circuit includes a first level-shift circuit, a second level-shift circuit, a timing detecting circuit, and an output circuit. The first level-shift circuit is configured to shift a level of at least either one of the first and second position detection signals so that a first period, during which a first output signal corresponding to the first position detection signal is higher in level than a second output signal corresponding to the second position detection signal, becomes longer than a second period, during which the second output signal is higher in level than the first output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicants: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., SANYO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakahata, Toshiyuki Imai
  • Publication number: 20110128657
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes: first and second power-supply terminals; an internal circuit connected between the first and second power-supply terminals; and a protection circuit connected in parallel with the internal circuit between the first and second power-supply terminals, the protection circuit including: a series circuit that includes a resistor and a first capacitor, and is connected in parallel with the internal circuit between the first and second power-supply terminals; a first MOS transistor that is connected in parallel with the series circuit, and is controlled according to a voltage at a connection point between the resistor and the first capacitor; and a switch circuit that is connected in parallel with the resistor, is turned on in a delayed manner after a power-supply voltage is applied between the first and second power-supply terminals, and changes the voltage at the connection point so that the first MOS transistor is turned off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicants: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., SANYO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Akai, Masahiro Nakahata