Patents by Inventor Mitsuru Aoki

Mitsuru Aoki 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: 11953467
    Abstract: A gas concentration detection device includes: a gas concentration sensor having a gas sensor element that outputs an electric signal according to a gas concentration and a heater that heats the gas sensor element; a heater controller controlling energization and de-energization of the heater; a sensor controller having an ADC AD-converting the electric signal from an analog signal to a digital signal in synchronization with a sampling clock (fs) and detecting the gas concentration based on an output signal of the AD converter; and a timing adjuster shifting a switching timing of energization control from a conversion timing at which the AD converter performs the AD conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuru Aoki
  • Patent number: 11323053
    Abstract: A bipolar stepper motor driving device drives a stepper motor including stator coils having plural phases. The bipolar stepper motor driving device includes H-bridge circuits, a current detector, a control circuit, and a re-turning-on instruction unit. The H-bridge circuits are provided correspondingly to the phases of the respective stator coils. The current detector detects current flowing in the stator coils. The control circuit executes drive control of the H-bridge circuits. The re-turning-on instruction unit commands the control circuit to switch into a short-circuited state a stator coil which has shifted from an energized state to an off-state among the stator coils, on a condition that an absolute value of a reverse current detected by the current detector has changed from a value larger than a threshold current value to a value smaller than the threshold current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenta Imamiya, Mitsuru Aoki, Yasuhiko Harada
  • Publication number: 20220057364
    Abstract: A gas concentration detection device includes: a gas concentration sensor having a gas sensor element that outputs an electric signal according to a gas concentration and a heater that heats the gas sensor element; a heater controller controlling energization and de-energization of the heater; a sensor controller having an ADC AD-converting the electric signal from an analog signal to a digital signal in synchronization with a sampling clock (fs) and detecting the gas concentration based on an output signal of the AD converter; and a timing adjuster shifting a switching timing of energization control from a conversion timing at which the AD converter performs the AD conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventor: Mitsuru AOKI
  • Patent number: 11128120
    Abstract: In an inductive load control device, an energization controller controls an operation of an H-bridge circuit to switch from an energized state to a regenerative state when a load current value is equal to or greater than a first threshold value at a time after a mask time has elapsed from a start time of a reference cycle, and a short-circuit determination processor determines whether the short-circuit abnormality has occurred based on whether the load current value is equal to or greater than a second threshold value greater than the first threshold value. The short-circuit determination processor further determines whether the short-circuit abnormality has occurred based on the regenerative current value in the regenerative state when the load current value does not reach the second threshold value within the mask time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Harada, Mitsuru Aoki
  • Patent number: 11010225
    Abstract: An electronic control unit includes a computer that outputs a monitoring signal and an external monitoring circuit that monitors a state of the computer based on the monitoring signal. The computer includes a monitoring signal output section that generates and outputs the monitoring signal to the external monitoring circuit by performing a software process; a self-diagnostic section that self-diagnoses the computer and detects an abnormality by identifying a cause of the abnormality; and a break signal output section that outputs a break signal to interrupt an input of the monitoring signal to the external monitoring circuit by performing a hardware process when an abnormality in the monitoring signal output section is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daichi Marui, Mitsuru Aoki
  • Publication number: 20200381913
    Abstract: In an inductive load control device, an energization controller controls an operation of an H-bridge circuit to switch from an energized state to a regenerative state when a load current value is equal to or greater than a first threshold value at a time after a mask time has elapsed from a start time of a reference cycle, and a short-circuit determination processor determines whether the short-circuit abnormality has occurred based on whether the load current value is equal to or greater than a second threshold value greater than the first threshold value. The short-circuit determination processor further determines whether the short-circuit abnormality has occurred based on the regenerative current value in the regenerative state when the load current value does not reach the second threshold value within the mask time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Yasuhiko HARADA, Mitsuru AOKI
  • Publication number: 20200295685
    Abstract: A bipolar stepper motor driving device drives a stepper motor including stator coils having plural phases. The bipolar stepper motor driving device includes H-bridge circuits, a current detector, a control circuit, and a re-turning-on instruction unit. The H-bridge circuits are provided correspondingly to the phases of the respective stator coils. The current detector detects current flowing in the stator coils. The control circuit executes drive control of the H-bridge circuits. The re-turning-on instruction unit commands the control circuit to switch into a short-circuited state a stator coil which has shifted from an energized state to an off-state among the stator coils, on a condition that an absolute value of a reverse current detected by the current detector has changed from a value larger than a threshold current value to a value smaller than the threshold current value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Kenta IMAMIYA, Mitsuru AOKI, Yasuhiko HARADA
  • Patent number: 10447139
    Abstract: A load driving apparatus supplies an electric power to a load via a full-bridge circuit. The load driving apparatus detects a load current by a current sensing resistor. A controller in the load driving apparatus generates a drive signal by switching between a first reference circuit outputting a first reference signal with a first reference cycle and a second reference signal outputting a second reference signal with a second reference cycle. A calculator in the load driving apparatus is used to supply a drive signal to the full-bridge circuit for supplying power to the load. When the controller 13 detects that the value of the load current is not reaching predetermined current threshold values, within either of the first reference cycle or the second reference cycle due to temperature fluctuations, the controller switches to either the first reference circuit or the second reference circuit to stabilize the value of the load current around an average value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Harada, Mitsuru Aoki
  • Publication number: 20190294488
    Abstract: An electronic control unit includes a computer that outputs a monitoring signal and an external monitoring circuit that monitors a state of the computer based on the monitoring signal. The computer includes a monitoring signal output section that generates and outputs the monitoring signal to the external monitoring circuit by performing a software process; a self-diagnostic section that self-diagnoses the computer and detects an abnormality by identifying a cause of the abnormality; and a break signal output section that outputs a break signal to interrupt an input of the monitoring signal to the external monitoring circuit by performing a hardware process when an abnormality in the monitoring signal output section is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Daichi MARUI, Mitsuru AOKI
  • Patent number: 10088882
    Abstract: An electronic control unit includes a microcomputer, a power supply IC and a peripheral circuit part. The microcomputer includes a core operable with a first power supply voltage and an input/output circuit operable with a second power supply voltage higher than the first power supply voltage. The power supply IC generates the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage. The peripheral circuit part has a first input terminal for the first power supply voltage, a second input terminal for the second power supply voltage, and an internal circuit operable with a potential between the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage. A core input terminal for the first power supply voltage, a first output terminal for the first power supply voltage in the power supply IC and the first input terminal are electrically connected one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuru Aoki
  • Publication number: 20180076703
    Abstract: A load driving apparatus supplies an electric power to a load via a full-bridge circuit. The load driving apparatus detects a load current by a current sensing resistor. A controller in the load driving apparatus generates a drive signal by switching between a first reference circuit outputting a first reference signal with a first reference cycle and a second reference signal outputting a second reference signal with a second reference cycle. A calculator in the load driving apparatus is used to supply a drive signal to the full-bridge circuit for supplying power to the load. When the controller 13 detects that the value of the load current is not reaching predetermined current threshold values, within either of the first reference cycle or the second reference cycle due to temperature fluctuations, the controller switches to either the first reference circuit or the second reference circuit to stabilize the value of the load current around an average value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Yasuhiko HARADA, Mitsuru AOKI
  • Publication number: 20160357237
    Abstract: An electronic control unit includes a microcomputer, a power supply IC and a peripheral circuit part. The microcomputer includes a core operable with a first power supply voltage and an input/output circuit operable with a second power supply voltage higher than the first power supply voltage. The power supply IC generates the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage. The peripheral circuit part has a first input terminal for the first power supply voltage, a second input terminal for the second power supply voltage, and an internal circuit operable with a potential between the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage. A core input terminal for the first power supply voltage, a first output terminal for the first power supply voltage in the power supply IC and the first input terminal are electrically connected one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventor: Mitsuru AOKI
  • Patent number: 9477542
    Abstract: An ECU having a microcomputer for controlling a control object includes: a detection device that detects an anomalous operation of the microcomputer; a first reset device that outputs a reset signal for the microcomputer when the detection device detects the anomalous operation; a failsafe control device that executes a failsafe control operation for controlling the control object to be safer than the control object before resetting the microcomputer when the microcomputer is reset to a normal state; a counting device that counts a number of times of occurrence of the anomalous operation when the detection device detects the anomalous operation again after the failsafe control device starts to execute the failsafe control operation; and a second reset device that outputs the reset signal and holds an output of the reset signal when the number of times of occurrence reaches a predetermined number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuru Aoki
  • Publication number: 20150178144
    Abstract: An ECU having a microcomputer for controlling a control object includes: a detection device that detects an anomalous operation of the microcomputer; a first reset device that outputs a reset signal for the microcomputer when the detection device detects the anomalous operation; a failsafe control device that executes a failsafe control operation for controlling the control object to be safer than the control object before resetting the microcomputer when the microcomputer is reset to a normal state; a counting device that counts a number of times of occurrence of the anomalous operation when the detection device detects the anomalous operation again after the failsafe control device starts to execute the failsafe control operation; and a second reset device that outputs the reset signal and holds an output of the reset signal when the number of times of occurrence reaches a predetermined number of times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventor: Mitsuru AOKI
  • Publication number: 20150175170
    Abstract: An ECU for controlling a system providing a safety function with a high-order ASIL and for providing safety mechanisms with low-order ASILs includes: CPUs including first and second CPUs; a memory; and an anti-interference device. Each CPU executes first and second monitoring functions according to the low-order ASILs. The first monitoring function provides to monitor whether a control function of the system is properly executed, and the second monitoring function provides to monitor whether the first monitoring function is properly executed. The memory has a first area for the first CPU and a second area for the second CPU. The anti-interference device executes a prevention of an interference or a record of a history of the interference. The interference includes a first interference provided to the second area by the first CPU and a second interference provided to the first area by the second CPU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventor: Mitsuru AOKI
  • Patent number: 8881966
    Abstract: An improvement in the quality of wire bonding is achieved by reducing the vibration of a lead frame or a wiring substrate after wire bonding. Over a heat block in a wire bond portion of a wire bonder, there is provided a cooling blower for cooling a wire-bonded matrix frame so that the temperature thereof may decrease stepwise. After wire bonding, cold air is blown from the cooling blower to the matrix frame, and temperature control of the matrix frame is performed so that the temperature of the matrix frame after wire bonding may decrease stepwise. Or, the wire-bonded matrix frame is fixed with a holding tool such as a frame holding member, a guide member, a roller means, or an elastic means until cooling is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Misumi, Hideyuki Arakawa, Shunji Yamauchi, Mitsuru Aoki
  • Publication number: 20100203681
    Abstract: An improvement in the quality of wire bonding is achieved by reducing the vibration of a lead frame or a wiring substrate after wire bonding. Over a heat block in a wire bond portion of a wire bonder, there is provided a cooling blower for cooling a wire-bonded matrix frame so that the temperature thereof may decrease stepwise. After wire bonding, cold air is blown from the cooling blower to the matrix frame, and temperature control of the matrix frame is performed so that the temperature of the matrix frame after wire bonding may decrease stepwise. Or, the wire-bonded matrix frame is fixed with a holding tool such as a frame holding member, a guide member, a roller means, or an elastic means until cooling is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: KAZUYUKI MISUMI, Hideyuki Arakawa, Shunji Yamauchi, Mitsuru Aoki
  • Patent number: 6922105
    Abstract: In an operational amplifier, a differential amplifying circuit is configured to amplify an input voltage inputted from the input terminal. An outputting transistor is connected to the output terminal. A driving transistor is connected to the differential amplifying circuit and the outputting transistor. The driving transistor turns on according to a control signal supplied from the differential amplifying circuit to the driving circuit. The driving transistor is also configured to drive the outputting transistor according to the control signal. A control signal reducing circuit, when a voltage is applied on the driving transistor through the outputting transistor, is configured to reduce the control signal within a range that the driving transistor is kept to on state. The voltage applied on the driving transistor exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Imai, Mitsuru Aoki, Hiroyuki Ban
  • Patent number: 6903610
    Abstract: In an operational amplifying circuit, the first transistor is configured to turn on and off according to an output signal outputted from the operational amplifier through the output terminal thereof. The second transistor is connected to the first transistor in series and configured to turn off and on reversely with the on and off operation of the first transistor on the output signal from the operational amplifier. The current control unit is electrically connected to the first and second transistors and configured to detect a current flowing in one of the first and second transistors. The current control circuit is configured to cause a current to flow into the control terminal of the one of the first and second transistors and to make other of the first and second transistors turn off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Aoki, Hiroshi Imai
  • Publication number: 20040036535
    Abstract: In an operational amplifying circuit, the first transistor is configured to turn on and off according to an output signal outputted from the operational amplifier through the output terminal thereof. The second transistor is connected to the first transistor in series and configured to turn off and on reversely with the on and off operation of the first transistor on the output signal from the operational amplifier. The current control unit is electrically connected to the first and second transistors and configured to detect a current flowing in one of the first and second transistors. The current control circuit is configured to cause a current to flow into the control terminal of the one of the first and second transistors and to make other of the first and second transistors turn off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Mitsuru Aoki, Hiroshi Imai