Patents by Inventor Naoki KAWABATA

Naoki KAWABATA 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: 11959147
    Abstract: A top-blowing lance nozzle is configured to freely switch an adequate expansion condition so as to control an oxygen-blowing amount and a jetting velocity independently of each other without requiring a plurality of lance nozzles or a mechanically movable part. A lance nozzle is configured to blow refining oxygen to molten iron charged in a reaction vessel while a gas is blown from a top-blowing lance to the molten iron. One or more blowing holes for blowing a working gas are on an inner wall side surface of the nozzle, at a site where the lance nozzle has a minimum cross-sectional area in a nozzle axis direction or at a neighboring site of the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yumi Murakami, Nobuhiko Oda, Yusuke Fujii, Goro Okuyama, Shota Amano, Shinji Koseki, Shingo Sato, Yukio Takahashi, Ryo Kawabata, Naoki Kikuchi, Atsuo Yuasa
  • Publication number: 20240085116
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided with a header that has a body section formed in a cylindrical shape and a divider that divides an internal space in the body section. In a state in which the body section and the divider are combined with each other, plate distal end portions of a pair of side plate portions of the divider do not protrude from a pair of respective insertion portions of the body section toward an outside of the body section. The plate distal end portions are deformed in such a state that walls of the plate distal end portions are spread out such that end faces of the plate distal end portions each form a V-shaped groove, and are in engagement with inner walls of the pair of respective insertion portions inside through holes defined by the pair of respective insertion portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Masashi NAKAMURA, Ryohei KAWABATA, Naoki CHIKU, Masaki OKADA
  • Publication number: 20240076754
    Abstract: A molten iron refining method having, an auxiliary material, and an oxidizing gas supplied through a top-blowing lance, to a cold iron source and molten pig iron that are contained/fed in a converter-type vessel, and molten iron is subjected to a refining process. A pre-charged cold iron source is charged into the converter-type vessel at an amount not larger than 0.15 times. A furnace-top-added cold iron source that's part or all of the cold iron source and added from a furnace top is fed during the refining process. A burner at a leading end of the top-blowing lance that spray holes through which a fuel and a combustion-supporting gas are ejected. During the refining process, a powdery auxiliary material processed into powder that's part of the auxiliary material is blown in, to pass through a flame formed by the burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Futoshi OGASAWARA, Hidemitsu NEGISHI, Kenji NAKASE, Shota AMANO, Yumi MURAKAMI, Rei YOKOMORI, Yudai HATTORI, Ryo KAWABATA, Naoki KIKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20240068061
    Abstract: A converter steelmaking method has molten pig iron subjected to dephosphorization process for dephosphorized molten iron, dephosphorized molten iron is subjected to decarburization process for molten steel. For dephosphorization process, a first cold iron source in amount meeting Formula (1) is charged into first converter-type vessel, then undephosphorized molten pig iron is charged and subjected to dephosphorization process. Dephosphorized molten iron is discharged and held in molten metal receiving vessel. After second cold iron source is charged into first converter-type vessel in which dephosphorization process has been performed, the dephosphorized molten iron held in molten metal receiving vessel is charged and subjected to decarburization process. % Ws0?0.1186T?134 (% Ws0?0) . . . (1), where % Ws0: a ratio (%) of first cold iron source to sum of first cold iron source and charge amount of undephosphorized molten pig iron, and T: a temperature (° C.) of undephosphorized molten pig iron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rei YOKOMORI, Futoshi OGASAWARA, Ryo KAWABATA, Naoki KIKUCHI, Yudai HATTORI
  • Patent number: 11653434
    Abstract: A lighting circuit turns on a plurality of semiconductor light sources. Multiple current sources are each coupled to a corresponding semiconductor light source. A switching converter supplies a driving voltage VOUT across each of multiple series connection circuits each formed of the semiconductor light source and the current source. A converter controller employing a ripple control method turns on a switching transistor of the switching converter in response to a voltage across any one of the multiple current sources decreasing to a bottom limit voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Ryosuke Matsuhana, Satoshi Kikuchi, Naoki Kawabata, Norito Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20230096367
    Abstract: A light distribution controller controls a light distribution variable lamp including a plurality of pixels arranged in an array. The processor executes the software program to generate at least one image defining the light distribution of the light distribution variable lamp, and writes the image in the volatile memory. A monitoring microcontroller detects an abnormality of the processor. A hardware logic circuit (i) generates a light distribution image data to be output to the light distribution variable lamp on the basis of at least one image written in the volatile memory in a normal state of the processor, and (ii) generates a light distribution image data on the basis of the generated auxiliary image without depending on the processor in an abnormal state of the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu MANO, Hirotaka SAWADA, Naoki KAWABATA, Keisuke INAGAKI
  • Publication number: 20230013166
    Abstract: A controller pulse width modulation (PWM) controls multiple light-emitting pixels arranged in an array that form a variable light distribution lamp. A common counter is provided in common for the multiple light-emitting pixels, and generates a common count value having a ramp waveform. A signal processing unit generates multiple duty cycle instruction values for specifying the duty cycles of the multiple light-emitting pixels according to a light distribution instruction. Furthermore, the signal processing unit stores multiple offset values that correspond to the multiple light-emitting pixels, generates an individual count value for each light-emitting pixel by adding the corresponding offset value to the common count value, and generates individual PWM signals pwml through pwmn that correspond to results of comparison between the individual count values and the corresponding duty cycle instruction values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki KAWABATA
  • Patent number: 11558943
    Abstract: A lighting circuit turns on a plurality of semiconductor light sources. Multiple current sources are each coupled to a corresponding semiconductor light source. A switching converter supplies a driving voltage VOUT across each of multiple series connection circuits each formed of the semiconductor light source and the current source. A converter controller employing a ripple control method turns on a switching transistor of the switching converter in response to a voltage across any one of the multiple current sources decreasing to a bottom limit voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Ryosuke Matsuhana, Satoshi Kikuchi, Naoki Kawabata, Norito Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11477871
    Abstract: A lighting circuit turns on a plurality of semiconductor light sources. Multiple current sources are each coupled to a corresponding semiconductor light source. A switching converter supplies a driving voltage VOUT across each of multiple series connection circuits each formed of the semiconductor light source and the current source. A converter controller employing a ripple control method turns on a switching transistor of the switching converter in response to a voltage across any one of the multiple current sources decreasing to a bottom limit voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Ryosuke Matsuhana, Satoshi Kikuchi, Naoki Kawabata, Norito Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11236882
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a first lamp unit that includes a light source, a driving unit, and a reflective body that is driven by the driving unit to repeat a periodic motion and thus scans an exit beam from the light source; and a controlling unit that controls the first lamp unit. The controlling unit instructs that the driving unit be driven until a first duration T1 has passed even in a case where the controlling unit has received an illumination instruction instructing the first lamp unit to emit a beam and then received a stop instruction instructing the first lamp unit to stop emitting a beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Maruyama, Naoki Kawabata, Kentarou Murakami
  • Publication number: 20220022300
    Abstract: A lighting circuit turns on a plurality of semiconductor light sources. Multiple current sources are each coupled to a corresponding semiconductor light source. A switching converter supplies a driving voltage VOUT across each of multiple series connection circuits each formed of the semiconductor light source and the current source. A converter controller employing a ripple control method turns on a switching transistor of the switching converter in response to a voltage across any one of the multiple current sources decreasing to a bottom limit voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Ryosuke MATSUHANA, Satoshi KIKUCHI, Naoki KAWABATA, Norito TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20220022299
    Abstract: A lighting circuit turns on a plurality of semiconductor light sources. Multiple current sources are each coupled to a corresponding semiconductor light source. A switching converter supplies a driving voltage VOUT across each of multiple series connection circuits each formed of the semiconductor light source and the current source. A converter controller employing a ripple control method turns on a switching transistor of the switching converter in response to a voltage across any one of the multiple current sources decreasing to a bottom limit voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Ryosuke MATSUHANA, Satoshi KIKUCHI, Naoki KAWABATA, Norito TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 11199304
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a first lamp unit that includes a light source, a driving unit, and a reflective body that is driven by the driving unit to repeat a periodic motion and thus scans an exit beam from the light source; and a controlling unit that controls the first lamp unit. The controlling unit instructs that the driving unit be driven until a first duration T1 has passed even in a case where the controlling unit has received an illumination instruction instructing the first lamp unit to emit a beam and then received a stop instruction instructing the first lamp unit to stop emitting a beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Maruyama, Naoki Kawabata, Kentarou Murakami
  • Publication number: 20200275542
    Abstract: A lighting circuit turns on a plurality of semiconductor light sources. Multiple current sources are each coupled to a corresponding semiconductor light source. A switching converter supplies a driving voltage VOUT across each of multiple series connection circuits each formed of the semiconductor light source and the current source. A converter controller employing a ripple control method turns on a switching transistor of the switching converter in response to a voltage across any one of the multiple current sources decreasing to a bottom limit voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Ryosuke MATSUHANA, Satoshi KIKUCHI, Naoki KAWABATA, Norito TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20200238892
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a first lamp unit that includes a light source, a driving unit, and a reflective body that is driven by the driving unit to repeat a periodic motion and thus scans an exit beam from the light source; and a controlling unit that controls the first lamp unit. The controlling unit instructs that the driving unit be driven until a first duration T1 has passed even in a case where the controlling unit has received an illumination instruction instructing the first lamp unit to emit a beam and then received a stop instruction instructing the first lamp unit to stop emitting a beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta MARUYAMA, Naoki KAWABATA, Kentarou MURAKAMI
  • Patent number: 10396377
    Abstract: A fuel cell device according to the present invention includes a controller. The controller is configured to allow a fuel gas supply device and an oxygen-containing gas supply device to supply the fuel gas and the oxygen-containing gas supplied to fuel cells (19) in a supply amount less than a supply amount to be set in accordance with a decreased power as required by the external load as well as to cause an igniter to start operation if the power required by the external load decreases and flameout of the combustion in a combustor (45) is recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Kawabata, Nobuhiko Hachiki
  • Publication number: 20180248211
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes: a housing; cell stacks; a reformer; a gas supply section which supplies an oxygen-containing gas; heat insulators; and a burning section. The cell stacks are disposed in juxtaposition and each comprise fuel cells which are arranged along a predetermined arrangement direction. The reformer is disposed above the cell stacks. The gas supply section is disposed between the adjacent cell stacks. The heat insulators are disposed on both end sides in an arrangement direction of the cell stacks so that the cell stacks are sandwiched between the heat insulators. The burning section lies in corresponding one of spaces each located between the cell stacks and the reformer. The fuel cell module further comprises a communicating portion which communicates between the adjacent spaces, the communicating portion being disposed in at least one end of each of the cell stacks in the predetermined arrangement direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Masanori Suehiro, Naoki Kawabata, Tomoyuki Oda
  • Publication number: 20170084940
    Abstract: A fuel cell device according to the present invention includes a controller. The controller is configured to allow a fuel gas supply device and an oxygen-containing gas supply device to supply the fuel gas and the oxygen-containing gas supplied to fuel cells (19) in a supply amount less than a supply amount to be set in accordance with a decreased power as required by the external load as well as to cause an igniter to start operation if the power required by the external load decreases and flameout of the combustion in a combustor (45) is recognized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Naoki KAWABATA, Nobuhiko HACHIKI