Patents by Inventor Masanori Nishikawa

Masanori Nishikawa 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: 9515498
    Abstract: A temperature detection unit detects the temperature of a power plug. A control unit stops electric conduction to a battery when the detected temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined specified temperature (T1). The control unit recovers the electric conduction to the battery when the detected temperature detected by the temperature detection unit decreases to a specified temperature (T2) or lower, the specified temperature (T2) being lower than the specified temperature (T1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Nishikawa, Norio Abe, Tomoyuki Kawase, Naruaki Akai, Takashi Sawa, Takaaki Hyoudou
  • Patent number: 9497801
    Abstract: The seat heater of the present invention comprises: a warming heater provided in a seat section of a seat; a warming heater provided in a back section; an overheating-prevention unit; and a heating unit that heats the overheating-prevention unit, the overheating-prevention unit being configured by a non-return type temperature switch. This configuration allows activating the non-return type overheating-prevention unit prior to reaching an unsafe event, and turns the warming heaters OFF reliably, whereby a seat heater with an aim of implementing both high output and safety can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Nishikawa, Norio Abe, Kazuaki Hioki, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 9403461
    Abstract: A seat heater device initiates power supply upon operation of a switch by a seat occupant within a vehicle interior and includes a heater for warming installed in a seat within the vehicle interior and a control unit for controlling energization of the heater for warming. The control unit includes a low-voltage detecting means for detecting whether an input voltage is a regular drive voltage value of the control unit or a voltage value lower than a predetermined voltage value and a switching element that is turned on when the low-voltage detecting means detects the regular drive voltage value of the control unit and turned off when the low-voltage detecting means detects a voltage value lower than the predetermined voltage value. This configuration can avoid heat generation of the switching element even if a leakage occurs in an electronic circuit within the switch due to, for example, insulation failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Nishikawa, Masahiro Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 9211801
    Abstract: A charging cable for use in charging a battery of an electrically-driven vehicle includes a power plug to be detachably connected to a receptacle outlet of a commercially available power source, a charging coupler to be detachably connected to the electrically-driven vehicle, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of an electric circuit between the power plug and the charging coupler, and a charging device having a controller for controlling a current value that flows from the power plug to the charging coupler. This configuration can minimize the charging time and enhance the durability between the charging cable and the receptacle outlet and between the charging cable and the charging coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naruaki Akai, Norio Abe, Tomoyuki Kawase, Takashi Sawa, Masanori Nishikawa, Takaaki Hyoudou
  • Patent number: 9204493
    Abstract: A seat heater includes a seat-warming heater which is connected to a power source and warms a person sitting on a seat, an over-temperature-preventing part which disconnects the connection between the seat-warming heater and the power source when the over-temperature-preventing part is heated to a predetermined temperature so as to prevent over-temperature of the seat-warming heater, and a heater which heats the over-temperature-preventing part, wherein the over-temperature-preventing part is non-return type, and the heater for the over-temperature-preventing part is arranged to cover opposite portions of the over-temperature-preventing part, thereby realizing both higher output and improved safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Yoshimoto, Norio Abe, Masanori Nishikawa, Kazuaki Hioki, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 9203127
    Abstract: A battery heater device which heats a battery with a plurality of cells mounted on a vehicle comprises a first heater part which heats cells positioned at an outer side in the battery; a second heater part which heats cells positioned at an inner side in the battery; and a controller which controls power to be supplied to the first and second heater parts; wherein the controller reduces the power supplied to the second heater part at a predetermined timing after start of the power supply to the first and second heater parts, thereby improving quick-heating performance of the battery and heating the battery more uniformly with use of simple arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Hioki, Norio Abe, Yukio Abe, Masanori Nishikawa, Koji Yoshimoto
  • Publication number: 20150108113
    Abstract: A battery heater device which heats a battery with a plurality of cells mounted on a vehicle comprises a first heater part which heats cells positioned at an outer side in the battery; a second heater part which heats cells positioned at an inner side in the battery; and a controller which controls power to be supplied to the first and second heater parts; wherein the controller reduces the power supplied to the second heater part at a predetermined timing after start of the power supply to the first and second heater parts, thereby improving quick-heating performance of the battery and heating the battery more uniformly with use of simple arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Kazuaki Hioki, Norio Abe, Yukio Abe, Masanori Nishikawa, Koji Yoshimoto
  • Publication number: 20150108115
    Abstract: A seat heater includes a seat-warming heater which is connected to a power source and warms a person sitting on a seat, an over-temperature-preventing part which disconnects the connection between the seat-warming heater and the power source when the over-temperature-preventing part is heated to a predetermined temperature so as to prevent over-temperature of the seat-warming heater, and a heater which heats the over-temperature-preventing part, wherein the over-temperature-preventing part is non-return type, and the heater for the over-temperature-preventing part is arranged to cover opposite portions of the over-temperature-preventing part, thereby realizing both higher output and improved safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Koji Yoshimoto, Norio Abe, Masanori Nishikawa, Kazuaki Hioki, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Publication number: 20150028809
    Abstract: A temperature detection unit detects the temperature of a power plug. A control unit stops electric conduction to a battery when the detected temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined specified temperature (T1). The control unit recovers the electric conduction to the battery when the detected temperature detected by the temperature detection unit decreases to a specified temperature (T2) or lower, the specified temperature (T2) being lower than the specified temperature (T1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Masanori Nishikawa, Norio Abe, Tomoyuki Kawase, Naruaki Akai, Takashi Sawa, Takaaki Hyoudou
  • Patent number: 8939501
    Abstract: A seat heater includes first heat-generating elements embedded in a seat so as to correspond to first sites of a seat occupant, second heat-generating elements embedded in the seat so as to correspond to second sites of the seat occupant, and a controller for executing a fluctuation control in which a first set temperature of the first heat-generating elements and a second set temperature of the second heat-generating elements are increased or decreased in each of a plurality of predetermined time periods. The controller sets the first set temperature to be higher than the second set temperature in one of the time periods and sets the second set temperature to be higher than the first set temperature in another of the time periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Nishikawa, Norio Abe, Kazuaki Hioki, Hiroyuki Ogino
  • Patent number: 8814262
    Abstract: A vehicle seat heater, which is to be fitted to a vehicle seat, includes a base sheet and a heater wire laid in the base sheet. The heater wire is laid in the base sheet so as not to orthogonally intersect its predicted wrinkle lines R. As a result, disconnections of the heater wire caused by repeated deformations of the vehicle seat heater can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Abe, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazuaki Hioki, Masanori Nishikawa, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Publication number: 20140103021
    Abstract: A seat heater device initiates power supply upon operation of a switch by a seat occupant within a vehicle interior and includes a heater for warming installed in a seat within the vehicle interior and a control unit for controlling energization of the heater for warming. The control unit includes a low-voltage detecting means for detecting whether an input voltage is a regular drive voltage value of the control unit or a voltage value lower than a predetermined voltage value and a switching element that is turned on when the low-voltage detecting means detects the regular drive voltage value of the control unit and turned off when the low-voltage detecting means detects a voltage value lower than the predetermined voltage value. This configuration can avoid heat generation of the switching element even if a leakage occurs in an electronic circuit within the switch due to, for example, insulation failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori Nishikawa, Masahiro Takiguchi
  • Publication number: 20130335024
    Abstract: A charging cable A for use in charging a battery of an electrically-driven vehicle includes a power plug 14 to be detachably connected to a receptacle outlet 12 of a commercially available power source, a charging coupler 16 to be detachably connected to the electrically-driven vehicle C, a temperature sensor 14a for detecting a temperature of an electric circuit between the power plug 14 and the charging coupler 16, and a charging device 20 having a controller 20a for controlling a current value that flows from the power plug 14 to the charging coupler 16. This configuration can minimize the charging time and enhance the durability between the charging cable and the receptacle outlet and between the charging cable and the charging coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naruaki Akai, Norio Abe, Tomoyuki Kawase, Takashi Sawa, Masanori Nishikawa, Takaaki Hyoudou
  • Publication number: 20130319991
    Abstract: The seat heater of the present invention comprises: a warming heater provided in a seat section of a seat; a warming heater provided in a back section; an overheating-prevention unit; and a heating unit that heats the overheating-prevention unit, the overheating-prevention unit being configured by a non-return type temperature switch. This configuration allows activating the non-return type overheating-prevention unit prior to reaching an unsafe event, and turns the warming heaters OFF reliably, whereby a seat heater with an aim of implementing both high output and safety can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori Nishikawa, Norio Abe, Kazuaki Hioki, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Publication number: 20120274104
    Abstract: A seat heater includes first heat-generating elements embedded in a seat so as to correspond to first sites of a seat occupant, second heat-generating elements embedded in the seat so as to correspond to second sites of the seat occupant, and a controller for executing a fluctuation control in which a first set temperature of the first heat-generating elements and a second set temperature of the second heat-generating elements are increased or decreased in each of a plurality of predetermined time periods. The controller sets the first set temperature to be higher than the second set temperature in one of the time periods and sets the second set temperature to be higher than the first set temperature in another of the time periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori Nishikawa, Norio Abe, Kazuaki Hioki, Hiroyuki Ogino
  • Publication number: 20120228903
    Abstract: A vehicle seat heater 10, which is to be fitted to a vehicle seat 50, includes a base seat 12 and a heater wire 14 laid in the base seat 12. The heater wire 14 is laid in the base seat 12 so as not to orthogonally intersect its predicted wrinkle lines R. As a result, disconnections of the heater wire 14 caused by repeated deformations of the vehicle seat heater 10 can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norio Abe, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazuaki Hioki, Masanori Nishikawa, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Publication number: 20120228277
    Abstract: A vehicle seat heater 10, which is to be fitted to a vehicle seat 50 and which includes a base seat 12 and a heater wire 14 laid in the base seat 12, has a reinforcing seat 18 attached in a side portion 10b placed in a seat side portion 50c of the vehicle seat 50. Edges of the reinforcing seat 18 have portions 18a extending in back-and-forth directions of the side portion 10b and opposing each other at least on a front side of the side portion 10b, where a laying area for the heater wire 14 is provided between the opposing portions 18a. Thus, disconnections of the heater wire 14 can be suppressed in the side portions 10b of the vehicle seat heater 10 placed in the seat side portions 50c of the vehicle seat 50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norio Abe, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazuaki Hioki, Masanori Nishikawa, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 8217308
    Abstract: A more comfortable seat is provided by detecting whether or not a person is in a seat. A seat has a heating element 1, a seat surface temperature detector 5 that is situated below a seat surface cover and that detects the temperature of the seat surface, and a seating determination unit 6 for determining whether or not a seat is occupied. A determination is made as to whether or not a seat is occupied according to an amount of temperature change detected by the seat surface temperature detector 5 for a predetermined period of time, whereby a determination can be readily made as to whether or not a person is seated. When no one is seated, application of power to the heating element 1 is stopped, and the like, which in turn contributes to energy saving and enhancement of fuel efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naohito Asami, Masanori Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20100096379
    Abstract: A more comfortable seat is provided by detecting whether or not a person is in a seat. A seat has a heating element 1, a seat surface temperature detector 5 that is situated below a seat surface cover and that detects the temperature of the seat surface, and a seating determination unit 6 for determining whether or not a seat is occupied. A determination is made as to whether or not a seat is occupied according to an amount of temperature change detected by the seat surface temperature detector 5 for a predetermined period of time, whereby a determination can be readily made as to whether or not a person is seated. When no one is seated, application of power to the heating element 1 is stopped, and the like, which in turn contributes to energy saving and enhancement of fuel efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naohito Asami, Masanori Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 6575904
    Abstract: A biodata interfacing device includes a service console, an attachment storage compartment defined in the service console for accommodating a variety of sensors used for collecting biodata, a lid mounted on the service console for opening and closing a top opening of the attachment storage compartment, and a display unit formed on an upper surface of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Nagai, Motomichi Kato, Itaru Enguchi, Toshiyuki Tanaka, Naruaki Akai, Masanori Nishikawa, Kiyoshi Sekiya, Shunichi Nagamoto, Minoru Hotta, Masaru Kikukawa