Patents by Inventor NAOKI MUTOU

NAOKI MUTOU 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: 12580105
    Abstract: A multilayer varistor includes a sintered body, a first external electrode, a second external electrode, a first internal electrode, a second internal electrode, and a high-resistivity portion. The first internal electrode is provided inside the sintered body and electrically connected to the first external electrode. The second internal electrode is provided inside the sintered body and electrically connected to the second external electrode. The high-resistivity portion includes: a surface high-resistivity portion provided to cover a surface of the sintered body; and an inner high-resistivity portion extended inward from the surface high-resistivity portion inside the sintered body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Kawajiri, Naoki Mutou, Hironori Motomitsu, Michiya Watanabe, Yuji Yamagishi, Yasuhiro Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20250308733
    Abstract: A ceramic component having improved insulation properties is provided. The ceramic component includes a ceramic body, an internal electrode provided inside the ceramic body, an insulation layer covering a surface of the ceramic body, and an external electrode covering a part of the insulation layer and electrically connected to the internal electrode. The insulation layer includes a first layer 13X in contact with the ceramic body, and a second layer provided on the first layer on the side opposite to the ceramic body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2025
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Inventors: DAIKI NAKAYAMA, YASUTAKA OKAMOTO, NAOKI MUTOU, SATOSHI KAWAMURA
  • Publication number: 20250308734
    Abstract: A multilayer varistor includes a ceramic body, an internal electrode disposed inside the ceramic body, a high-resistance layer disposed on a surface of the ceramic body, and an external electrode disposed on a part of a surface of the high-resistance layer and connected to the internal electrode. The ceramic body contains zinc oxide and praseodymium oxide, and does not contain bismuth oxide. The high-resistance layer contains Zn2SiO4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2025
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Inventors: NAOKI MUTOU, SATOSHI KAWAMURA, YASUTAKA OKAMOTO, DAIKI NAKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20250308731
    Abstract: A ceramic component is excellent in leakage current suppression property, plating flow suppression property, and moisture resistance, and has improved electrode fixing strength. The ceramic component includes a ceramic body, an internal electrode disposed inside the ceramic body, an insulation layer covering a surface of the ceramic body, and an external electrode covering a part of a surface of the insulation layer and electrically connected to the internal electrode. The insulation layer includes a flat portion and a plurality of projections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2025
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Inventors: YASUTAKA OKAMOTO, SATOSHI KAWAMURA, NAOKI MUTOU, DAIKI NAKAYAMA
  • Patent number: 12354776
    Abstract: A multilayer varistor according to the present disclosure includes a sintered compact, at least one pair of internal electrodes, and at least one pair of external electrodes. The sintered compact contains at least a Zn oxide and a Pr oxide. The at least one pair of internal electrodes are provided inside the sintered compact and contain, as a main component, at least one selected from the group consisting of Pd and Ag and, as a sub-component, an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Pr, Mn, Co, and Sb. The at least one pair of external electrodes are arranged to cover the sintered compact partially and electrically connected to the at least one pair of internal electrodes, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Yamagishi, Yoshiyuki Satou, Naoki Mutou
  • Patent number: 12278030
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multilayer varistor includes: a first step including providing a multilayer stack in which a plurality of green sheet layers, each containing a Zn oxide powder as a main component and a Pr oxide powder as a sub-component, and a plurality of internal electrode paste layers, each containing a Pd powder, are alternately stacked; and a second step including forming a sintered compact, including an internal electrode inside, by baking the multilayer stack. The second step includes: a first sub-step including baking the multilayer stack by setting an oxygen concentration in an atmosphere at 1000 ppm by volume or less while increasing a temperature from 500° C. to 800° C.; and a second sub-step including baking, after the first sub-step, the multilayer stack by setting the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere at 1000 ppm by volume or more while increasing the temperature to a maximum allowable temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Mutou, Yoshiyuki Satou, Yuji Yamagishi, Ken Yanai
  • Patent number: 11908599
    Abstract: A varistor includes a sintered body, an internal electrode, an insulating layer, and an external electrode. The internal electrode is disposed in an interior of the sintered body. The insulating layer covers at least part of the sintered body and includes Zn2SiO4. The external electrode is electrically connected to the internal electrode, covers part of the sintered body and part of the insulating layer, and is in contact with the part of the insulating layer. The insulating layer has a region being in contact with the external electrode, the region having a greater average thickness than a region of the insulating layer which is out of contact with the external electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiji Kawajiri, Naoki Mutou, Hironori Motomitsu, Michiya Watanabe, Yuji Yamagishi
  • Publication number: 20240013955
    Abstract: A multilayer varistor includes a sintered body, a first external electrode, a second external electrode, a first internal electrode, a second internal electrode, and a high-resistivity portion. The first internal electrode is provided inside the sintered body and electrically connected to the first external electrode. The second internal electrode is provided inside the sintered body and electrically connected to the second external electrode. The high-resistivity portion includes: a surface high-resistivity portion provided to cover a surface of the sintered body; and an inner high-resistivity portion extended inward from the surface high-resistivity portion inside the sintered body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Keiji KAWAJIRI, Naoki MUTOU, Hironori MOTOMITSU, Michiya WATANABE, Yuji YAMAGISHI, Yasuhiro NISHIMURA
  • Patent number: 11791072
    Abstract: A laminated varistor includes a varistor layer, a first internal electrode provided on an upper surface of the varistor layer, a second internal electrode provided on a lower surface of the varistor layer and facing the first internal electrode across the varistor layer in upward and downward directions, a first external electrode provided on a first side surface of the varistor layer and electrically connected to the first internal electrode, and a second external electrode provided on a second side surface of the varistor layer and electrically connected to the second internal electrode. The first internal electrode is extended from the first external electrode in a first extension direction. The first internal electrode includes first electrode strips arranged in a first arrangement direction perpendicular to the first extension direction and spaced apart from one another. This laminated varistor has improved surge-resistant characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michiya Watanabe, Naoki Mutou, Ken Yanai
  • Publication number: 20230245806
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multilayer varistor includes: a first step including providing a multilayer stack in which a plurality of green sheet layers, each containing a Zn oxide powder as a main component and a Pr oxide powder as a sub-component, and a plurality of internal electrode paste layers, each containing a Pd powder, are alternately stacked; and a second step including forming a sintered compact, including an internal electrode inside, by baking the multilayer stack. The second step includes: a first sub-step including baking the multilayer stack by setting an oxygen concentration in an atmosphere at 1000 ppm by volume or less while increasing a temperature from 500° C. to 800° C.; and a second sub-step including baking, after the first sub-step, the multilayer stack by setting the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere at 1000 ppm by volume or more while increasing the temperature to a maximum allowable temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Naoki MUTOU, Yoshiyuki SATOU, Yuji YAMAGISHI, Ken YANAI
  • Publication number: 20230245805
    Abstract: A multilayer varistor according to the present disclosure includes a sintered compact, at least one pair of internal electrodes, and at least one pair of external electrodes. The sintered compact contains at least a Zn oxide and a Pr oxide. The at least one pair of internal electrodes are provided inside the sintered compact and contain, as a main component, at least one selected from the group consisting of Pd and Ag and, as a sub-component, an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Pr, Mn, Co, and Sb. The at least one pair of external electrodes are arranged to cover the sintered compact partially and electrically connected to the at least one pair of internal electrodes, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Yuji YAMAGISHI, Yoshiyuki SATOU, Naoki MUTOU
  • Publication number: 20230081158
    Abstract: A varistor includes a sintered body, an internal electrode, an insulating layer, and an external electrode. The internal electrode is disposed in an interior of the sintered body. The insulating layer covers at least part of the sintered body and includes Zn2SiO4. The external electrode is electrically connected to the internal electrode, covers part of the sintered body and part of the insulating layer, and is in contact with the part of the insulating layer. The insulating layer has a region being in contact with the external electrode, the region having a greater average thickness than a region of the insulating layer which is out of contact with the external electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Keiji KAWAJIRI, Naoki MUTOU, Hironori MOTOMITSU, Michiya WATANABE, Yuji YAMAGISHI
  • Publication number: 20220310291
    Abstract: A sintered body that includes semiconductor ceramic layers and an internal electrode which are alternately stacked on one another is prepared. A first external electrode is formed on a side surface of the sintered body such that the first external electrode is connected to the internal electrode. An insulating layer is formed on a surface of the sintered body by applying a glass coating over an entire of the sintered body having the formed first external electrode. The insulating layer is exposed from the first external electrode. A second external electrode is formed on the first external electrode. This method provides the produced multilayer electronic component with a stable electric connection between the internal electrodes and the external electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Ken YANAI, Tomokazu YAMAGUCHI, Yuji YAMAGISHI, Naoki MUTOU, Sayaka MATSUMOTO, Ryosuke USUI
  • Publication number: 20220270791
    Abstract: A laminated varistor includes a varistor layer, a first internal electrode provided on an upper surface of the varistor layer, a second internal electrode provided on a lower surface of the varistor layer and facing the first internal electrode across the varistor layer in upward and downward directions, a first external electrode provided on a first side surface of the varistor layer and electrically connected to the first internal electrode, and a second external electrode provided on a second side surface of the varistor layer and electrically connected to the second internal electrode. The first internal electrode is extended from the first external electrode in a first extension direction. The first internal electrode includes first electrode strips arranged in a first arrangement direction perpendicular to the first extension direction and spaced apart from one another. This laminated varistor has improved surge-resistant characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: MICHIYA WATANABE, NAOKI MUTOU, KEN YANAI
  • Patent number: 11387023
    Abstract: A sintered body that includes ceramic layers and an internal electrode which are alternately stacked on one another is prepared. A first external electrode is formed on a side surface of the sintered body such that the first external electrode is connected to the internal electrode. An insulating layer is formed on a surface of the sintered body by applying a glass coating over an entire of the sintered body having the formed first external electrode. The insulating layer is exposed from the first external electrode. A second external electrode is formed on the first external electrode. This method provides the produced multilayer electronic component with a stable electric connection between the internal electrodes and the external electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Yanai, Tomokazu Yamaguchi, Yuji Yamagishi, Naoki Mutou, Sayaka Matsumoto, Ryosuke Usui
  • Publication number: 20200194151
    Abstract: A sintered body that includes semiconductor ceramic layers and an internal electrode which are alternately stacked on one another is prepared. A first external electrode is formed on a side surface of the sintered body such that the first external electrode is connected to the internal electrode. An insulating layer is formed on a surface of the sintered body by applying a glass coating over an entire of the sintered body having the formed first external electrode. The insulating layer is exposed from the first external electrode. A second external electrode is formed on the first external electrode. This method provides the produced multilayer electronic component with a stable electric connection between the internal electrodes and the external electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: KEN YANAI, TOMOKAZU YAMAGUCHI, YUJI YAMAGISHI, NAOKI MUTOU, SAYAKA MATSUMOTO, RYOSUKE USUI