Patents by Inventor Naoki Kataoka

Naoki Kataoka 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: 11591997
    Abstract: The objective is to obtain an internal-combustion-engine ignition apparatus that raises the ignitability at a time when a smolder occurs. An internal-combustion-engine ignition apparatus having a main combustion chamber and a subsidiary combustion chamber includes an ignition plug, an ignition coil having a primary coil, a secondary coil, and a tertiary coil, a first switching circuit that turns on or off energization of the primary coil, a second switching circuit that turns on or off energization of the tertiary coil, and a control apparatus that estimates a combustion state, that performs on/off-control of the first switching circuit so that a spark discharge is produced in the ignition plug and that performs on/off-control of the second switching circuit so that magnetic flux in the tertiary coil is changed so as to increase a secondary current, when deterioration of a combustion state has been estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20220341385
    Abstract: The objective is to obtain an internal-combustion-engine ignition apparatus that raises the ignitability at a time when a smolder occurs. An internal-combustion-engine ignition apparatus having a main combustion chamber and a subsidiary combustion chamber includes an ignition plug, an ignition coil having a primary coil, a secondary coil, and a tertiary coil, a first switching circuit that turns on or off energization of the primary coil, a second switching circuit that turns on or off energization of the tertiary coil, and a control apparatus that estimates a combustion state, that performs on/off-control of the first switching circuit so that a spark discharge is produced in the ignition plug and that performs on/off-control of the second switching circuit so that magnetic flux in the tertiary coil is changed so as to increase a secondary current, when deterioration of a combustion state has been estimated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki KATAOKA
  • Patent number: 11462356
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine use ignition device includes an ignition coil which has a primary coil and a secondary coil, that are wound around a core, a superimpose circuit which generates an output energy, that is to be superimposed with respect to a secondary current, produced in the secondary coil by the primary coil, a first switch element which is connected to the primary coil and turns on or off of a current to the primary coil, a second switch element which is connected to the superimpose circuit, and stops an operation in a case where the first switch element is turned on, and performs an operation in a case where the first switch element is turned off, and a common input terminal which receives a first driving signal for driving the first switch element and a second driving signal for driving the second switch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Muramoto, Naoki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 11393622
    Abstract: There is provided an ignition apparatus that makes it possible that after a spark discharge starts, a secondary current is reduced so that a plug is suppressed from being consumed. The ignition apparatus is provided with an ignition coil including a primary coil, a secondary coil, and a tertiary coil, a first switching circuit for performing on/off-switching of energization of the primary coil from a power source, a second switching circuit for performing on/off-switching of energization of the tertiary coil, and a controller that performs on/off-control of the first switching circuit so as to generate a secondary current in the secondary coil, thereby causing a spark discharge in an ignition plug, and then turns on the second switching circuit so as to reduce the secondary current through a change in flux in the tertiary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Muramoto, Kimihiko Tanaya, Naoki Kataoka, Yusuke Naruse
  • Publication number: 20210399533
    Abstract: There is provided an ignition apparatus that performs optimum energy control by suppressing a secondary current at a time when the ignition plug is consumed, while maintaining the simplicity, the small size, and the low cost and while securing the flammability. The ignition apparatus is provided with a first switching circuit that turns on or off energization from a power source to a primary coil, a secondary coil that is magnetically coupled with the primary coil and supplies a secondary current to an ignition plug, and a controller that decreases the secondary current for a spark discharge by use of an energy-changeable circuit, when determining that the ignition plug has been consumed, based on an output of a plug-consumption detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki KATAOKA
  • Publication number: 20210383965
    Abstract: Provided is an ignition system including: a main primary coil; a sub primary coil; a secondary coil; a control unit configured to: drive a main IC to switch a main primary coil mode from a de-energization mode to an energization mode; stop the drive of the main IC to switch the main primary coil mode from the energization mode to the de-energization mode; drive the sub IC to switch a sub primary coil mode from a de-energization mode to an energization mode; and stop the drive of the sub IC to switch the sub primary coil mode from the energization mode to the de-energization mode; and a detection circuit configured to detect a state of the secondary coil. The ignition system is configured such that the drive of the sub IC is stopped when the state of the secondary coil detected by the detection circuit is a no-current supply state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki KATAOKA, Yuichi MURAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20210383964
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine use ignition device includes an ignition coil which has a primary coil and a secondary coil, that are wound around a core, a superimpose circuit which generates an output energy, that is to be superimposed with respect to a secondary current, produced in the secondary coil by the primary coil, a first switch element which is connected to the primary coil and turns on or off of a current to the primary coil, a second switch element which is connected to the superimpose circuit, and stops an operation in a case where the first switch element is turned on, and performs an operation in a case where the first switch element is turned off, and a common input terminal which receives a first driving signal for driving the first switch element and a second driving signal for driving the second switch element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi MURAMOTO, Naoki KATAOKA
  • Patent number: 10992113
    Abstract: To provide an ignition apparatus which can turn on and off the sub primary coil according to extension degree of the discharge path of the spark discharge. An ignition apparatus is provided with an ignition coil that is provided with a main primary coil, a sub primary coil which generates energization magnetic flux of a direction opposite to the energization magnetic flux of the main primary coil, and a secondary coil which is magnetically coupled with the main primary coil and the sub primary coil and supplies spark discharge energy to a spark plug; and after turning off energization to the main primary coil, based on a detection value of terminal voltage of the main primary coil, turns on and off the sub switch circuit to turn on and off energization to the sub primary coil and additionally supply spark discharge energy to the secondary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Muramoto, Yusuke Naruse, Naoki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 10962919
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a cover member that covers part of a main body frame; a first turn support member having: one end turnably supported by a first shaft provided at the main body frame, the first shaft extending horizontally; and another end turnably supported by a second shaft provided at the cover member, the second shaft extending horizontally; and a second turn support member having: one end turnably supported by a third shaft provided below the first shaft of the main body frame, the third shaft extending horizontally; and another end turnably supported by a fourth shaft provided at the cover member, the fourth shaft extending horizontally, wherein in a closed state where the cover member covers the main body frame, the fourth shaft is located below the third shaft, and in a fully open state, the fourth shaft is located above the third shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Naoki Kataoka, Tetsuya Onuki
  • Publication number: 20210082618
    Abstract: There is provided an ignition apparatus that makes it possible that after a spark discharge starts, a secondary current is reduced so that a plug is suppressed from being consumed. The ignition apparatus is provided with an ignition coil including a primary coil, a secondary coil, and a tertiary coil, a first switching circuit for performing on/off-switching of energization of the primary coil from a power source, a second switching circuit for performing on/off-switching of energization of the tertiary coil, and a controller that performs on/off-control of the first switching circuit so as to generate a secondary current in the secondary coil, thereby causing a spark discharge in an ignition plug, and then turns on the second switching circuit so as to reduce the secondary current through a change in flux in the tertiary coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi MURAMOTO, Kimihiko TANAYA, Naoki KATAOKA, Yusuke NARUSE
  • Publication number: 20210063947
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a cover member that covers part of a main body frame; a first turn support member having: one end turnably supported by a first shaft provided at the main body frame, the first shaft extending horizontally; and another end turnably supported by a second shaft provided at the cover member, the second shaft extending horizontally; and a second turn support member having: one end turnably supported by a third shaft provided below the first shaft of the main body frame, the third shaft extending horizontally; and another end turnably supported by a fourth shaft provided at the cover member, the fourth shaft extending horizontally, wherein in a closed state where the cover member covers the main body frame, the fourth shaft is located below the third shaft, and in a fully open state, the fourth shaft is located above the third shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Naoki KATAOKA, Tetsuya ONUKI
  • Publication number: 20200358263
    Abstract: To provide an ignition apparatus which can turn on and off the sub primary coil according to extension degree of the discharge path of the spark discharge. An ignition apparatus is provided with an ignition coil that is provided with a main primary coil, a sub primary coil which generates energization magnetic flux of a direction opposite to the energization magnetic flux of the main primary coil, and a secondary coil which is magnetically coupled with the main primary coil and the sub primary coil and supplies spark discharge energy to a spark plug; and after turning off energization to the main primary coil, based on a detection value of terminal voltage of the main primary coil, turns on and off the sub switch circuit to turn on and off energization to the sub primary coil and additionally supply spark discharge energy to the secondary coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi MURAMOTO, Yusuke NARUSE, Naoki KATAOKA
  • Patent number: 10799925
    Abstract: An edging method including changing an incident angle of a slab with respect to a pair of edging members that are disposed on a conveyance line of the slab and that edge the slab based on information relating to the slab acquired at at least one of prior to edging or after edging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoji Nakamura, Toshiaki Saitoh, Satoru Mashiko, Tetsuo Kishimoto, Akihisa Tsuruta, Tatsuya Nakada, Naoki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 10725408
    Abstract: A fixing device fixing a toner image onto a recording sheet passing through a nip, the fixing device including: a pressure structure and a heating structure forming the nip when in pressure contact; and a switching unit selectively switching a pressure contact state of the heating structure and the pressure structure between a first state, a second state, and a release state. The switching unit includes: a first switcher directly switching the pressure contact state between the first state and the second state without switching the pressure contact state to the release state; a second switcher switching the pressure contact state between the first state and the release state; an acquirer acquiring information relating to which state the pressure contact state is to be switched into; and a controller controlling the first switcher and the second switcher based on the acquired information to switch the pressure contact state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi Nakabo, Naoki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 10656572
    Abstract: A fixing device including a heated endless belt, a first member, a second member, a pressure roller, a guide member, a sliding member, and a lubricant application member. The first member is a non-rotating body inside of the belt and together with the second member tensions the belt. The pressure roller is outside the belt and presses against the first member via the belt, thereby forming the fixing nip. The guide member is inside of the belt and has a guide surface that guides the belt in circulation and a recess opening into the guide surface. The sliding member is between the belt and the first member. The lubricant application member is fitted in the recess and applies lubricant to the belt. The guide surface has an arc shape that is interrupted by the recess in a cross section perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the pressure roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Naoki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 10629368
    Abstract: A current flowing in a sub-primary coil can be limited in an ignition apparatus in which a voltage, generated in a secondary coil at a timing when a current in a main primary coil is cut off, generates a secondary current, and then the sub-primary coil is energized so that a superimposition current is generated in the secondary coil and in which a sub-IC connected in series with the sub-primary coil is pulse-controlled so that a current flowing in the sub-primary coil is controlled and hence the superimposition current is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Idogawa, Naoki Kataoka, Yuichi Muramoto
  • Publication number: 20190332043
    Abstract: A fixing device fixing a toner image onto a recording sheet passing through a nip, the fixing device including: a pressure structure and a heating structure forming the nip when in pressure contact; and a switching unit selectively switching a pressure contact state of the heating structure and the pressure structure between a first state, a second state, and a release state. The switching unit includes: a first switcher directly switching the pressure contact state between the first state and the second state without switching the pressure contact state to the release state; a second switcher switching the pressure contact state between the first state and the release state; an acquirer acquiring information relating to which state the pressure contact state is to be switched into; and a controller controlling the first switcher and the second switcher based on the acquired information to switch the pressure contact state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Masashi NAKABO, Naoki Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20190311849
    Abstract: A current flowing in a sub-primary coil can be limited in an ignition apparatus in which a voltage, generated in a secondary coil at a timing when a current in a main primary coil is cut off, generates a secondary current, and then the sub-primary coil is energized so that a superimposition current is generated in the secondary coil and in which a sub-IC connected in series with the sub-primary coil is pulse-controlled so that a current flowing in the sub-primary coil is controlled and hence the superimposition current is controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi IDOGAWA, Naoki KATAOKA, Yuichi MURAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20190265617
    Abstract: A fixing device including a heated endless belt, a first member, a second member, a pressure roller, a guide member, a sliding member, and a lubricant application member. The first member is a non-rotating body inside of the belt and together with the second member tensions the belt. The pressure roller is outside the belt and presses against the first member via the belt, thereby forming the fixing nip. The guide member is inside of the belt and has a guide surface that guides the belt in circulation and a recess opening into the guide surface. The sliding member is between the belt and the first member. The lubricant application member is fitted in the recess and applies lubricant to the belt. The guide surface has an arc shape that is interrupted by the recess in a cross section perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the pressure roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventor: Naoki KATAOKA
  • Publication number: 20180214919
    Abstract: An edging method including changing an incident angle of a slab with respect to a pair of edging members that are disposed on a conveyance line of the slab and that edge the slab based on information relating to the slab acquired at at least one of prior to edging or after edging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoji NAKAMURA, Toshiaki SAITOH, Satoru MASHIKO, Tetsuo KISHIMOTO, Akihisa TSURUTA, Tatsuya NAKADA, Naoki KATAOKA