Patents by Inventor Naoto Sakai

Naoto Sakai 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: 9440541
    Abstract: An in-vehicle control system is mounted in a vehicle, which is connectable with a charging station through a charging cable and provided with a battery chargeable from the charging station through the charging cable. The vehicle includes a double-wire type communication line provided with a charger-side terminal circuit. The in-vehicle control system includes a first communication line and a second communication line, which are connectable to the communication line of the charging cable and provided with three terminal circuits. The in-vehicle control system further includes a first ECU and a second ECU, which are connected to the first communication line and the second communication line. When a charging plug is connected to a charging port, the first ECU and the second ECU validate the first terminal circuit and invalidate the second terminal circuit and the third terminal circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoto Sakai
  • Patent number: 9427714
    Abstract: A mixer drum apparatus to stir material to be stored includes a freely-rotatable drum having an opening end opened at one end to receive the material to be stored therein, a plurality of spirally-shaped blades provided inside the drum to have a phase difference, and an inlet seal provided at the opening end of the drum and connected partially to the blades. The inlet seal located between the blades forms an opening causing the material to be stored to pass through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventor: Naoto Sakai
  • Patent number: 9333932
    Abstract: An air bag includes: a gas introduction opening portion; and a bag-shaped air bag main body portion; the air bag main body portion in the folded state including a first accumulated portion folded in a state where at least a portion of the first accumulated portion is turned over on a counter-occupant side toward the gas introduction opening, and a second accumulated portion which includes a face confronting portion confronting a face of the occupant in a normal position, and which is folded in a state where the face confronting portion is superimposed on the first accumulated portion so that the inflation gas introduced from the gas introduction opening directly flows into the face confronting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoto Sakai, Akito Urushibata, Chiari Saito, Hidenobu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150329004
    Abstract: An in-vehicle control system is mounted in a vehicle, which is connectable with a charging station through a charging cable and provided with a battery chargeable from the charging station through the charging cable. The vehicle includes a double-wire type communication line provided with a charger-side terminal circuit. The in-vehicle control system includes a first communication line and a second communication line, which are connectable to the communication line of the charging cable and provided with three terminal circuits. The in-vehicle control system further includes a first ECU and a second ECU, which are connected to the first communication line and the second communication line. When a charging plug is connected to a charging port, the first ECU and the second ECU validate the first terminal circuit and invalidate the second terminal circuit and the third terminal circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventor: Naoto SAKAI
  • Publication number: 20150333672
    Abstract: A rotating electric machine control system has a power control unit (PCU) and a control section separately disposed therein. The apparatus receives a trigger signal from a communicator of the PCU via a trigger communication line from an MG ECU when the MG ECU obtains electric angles from a rotation sensor. The communicator, upon receiving an input of the trigger signal, generates a communication frame that includes plural detection values from a current sensor and a voltage sensor. Then, the communicator outputs the communication frame to the MG ECU via a multiplex communication line. The MG ECU performs a preset process for a control of an inverter and a booster converter based on the detected electric angles and the communication frame matching with those electric angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventor: Naoto SAKAI
  • Publication number: 20150333671
    Abstract: A rotating electric machine control system having a power control unit equipped with a voltage converter and a controller. The controller is equipped with an operation unit having a time corrector for obtaining time from first and second timers with reference to an ignition signal and correcting a relative time difference between the timers. The operation unit obtains electric angles at a preset cycle after correcting time. A communicator obtains electric currents and voltages when obtaining the electric angles for generating a communication frame, and outputs the communication frame to the operation unit via the multiplex communication line. The operation unit simultaneously performs an operation for controlling an inverter and a booster converter based on the obtained electric currents, the voltages, and the electric angles, for reducing the number of communication lines between the power control unit and the controller without compromising controllability of the voltage converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventor: Naoto SAKAI
  • Publication number: 20150291148
    Abstract: A vehicle controller includes an hybrid vehicle (HV) ECU, a motor-generator (MG) ECU, a brake ECU, a first communication line that enables one-to-one connection between the HV ECU and the MG ECU, and a second communication line that enables connection among plural ECUs including the HV ECU and the brake ECU. The MG ECU calculates an operation torque of first and second MGs. The MG ECU is communicable with the brake ECU via the second communication line. In addition, the controller includes a microcomputer that serves as a travel state determiner for determining whether a travel state of a hybrid vehicle is a transition state in which a drive wheel alternatively slips and grips. Based on a determination result of the microcomputer, the controller switches to the first communication line in a normal state and to the second communication line in the transition state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventor: Naoto SAKAI
  • Patent number: 8704495
    Abstract: A vehicle has an ECU, a battery being chargeable with off-board electricity and a motor driven by electric power of the battery. The ECU has a microcomputer to receive an operation time each time a user sets the ECU in an operation state, prepare a frequency of operation times for each time zone, and set a time of the time zone corresponding to the high frequency as a charging end target time. When the microcomputer receives a signal from an onboard charger connected with an off-board power source, the microcomputer sets a charging schedule such that the battery charged by the charger according to the schedule is set in a fully-charged state at the charging end target time. The microcomputer controls the charger to charge the battery according to the schedule and to set the battery in the fully-charged state at the charging end target time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Naoto Sakai
  • Publication number: 20140047861
    Abstract: In a turbo refrigerator in which: a gas-phase refrigerant from an evaporator is compressed by a turbo compressor and then condensed by a condenser; the obtained liquid-phase refrigerant is evaporated by the evaporator; and a cooling target is cooled down by evaporation heat of the liquid-phase refrigerant, the compressor is a back-to-back two-stage centrifugal type, and the condenser is provided at a position outside a compressor rear stage so as to overlap the compressor rear stage when viewed from each of an axial direction and a radial direction. With this, the pressure loss of a vapor refrigerant is eliminated, and the deterioration in efficiency can be suppressed. In addition, size reduction can be realized by space saving. Further, an evaporated refrigerant can be smoothly introduced to the condenser with a simple configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoto Sakai, Hayato Sakamoto, Masafumi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 8583323
    Abstract: The vehicle-use electronic control device includes a main microcomputer and a sub microcomputer. The sub-microcomputer is configured to be in one of a normal operation mode, a sleep mode and a stop mode, and to learn a frequent use time period in which frequency of use of the vehicle is high. The sub-microcomputer continues to be in the sleep mode if the frequent use time period prevails, and changes from the sleep mode to the stop mode if the frequent use time period does not prevail in order to further reduce the dark current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Katou, Naoto Sakai
  • Publication number: 20130294191
    Abstract: A mixer drum apparatus to stir material to be stored includes a freely-rotatable drum having an opening end opened at one end to receive the material to be stored therein, a plurality of spirally-shaped blades provided inside the drum to have a phase difference, and an inlet seal provided at the opening end of the drum and connected partially to the blades. The inlet seal located between the blades forms an opening causing the material to be stored to pass through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoto Sakai
  • Publication number: 20130241184
    Abstract: An air bag includes: a gas introduction opening portion; and a bag-shaped air bag main body portion; the air bag main body portion in the folded state including a first accumulated portion folded in a state where at least a portion of the first accumulated portion is turned over on a counter-occupant side toward the gas introduction opening, and a second accumulated portion which includes a face confronting portion confronting a face of the occupant in a normal position, and which is folded in a state where the face confronting portion is superimposed on the first accumulated portion so that the inflation gas introduced from the gas introduction opening directly flows into the face confronting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoto SAKAI, Akito URUSHIBATA, Chiari SAITO, Hidenobu SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 8155824
    Abstract: An electric control apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The apparatus comprises at least two microcomputers, an external monitoring unit, and an internal monitoring means. The two microcomputers are composed of a first microcomputer and a second microcomputer, The first microcomputer is assigned to controlling travel functions of a vehicle. The external monitoring unit monitors whether or not the first microcomputer is in a normal operation and is placed outside the first and second microcomputers. The internal monitoring means monitors whether or not the first microcomputer is in a normal operation and is within the first microcomputer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Sakai, Toru Itabashi, Michio Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8125293
    Abstract: A communication system includes a network, plural nodes, and a reducer. The network includes a main line and a plurality of branch lines branched from the main line respectively, the main line and each of the branch lines being respectively formed into a differential two-wire type of communication line consisting of a first communication line and a second communication line. The plural nodes are connected to two or more branch lines of the plurality of branch lines to communicate frames of data among the branches with each other. The reducer is connected to each node to reduce either an impedance of each of the first and second communication lines or an impedance between the first and second communication lines during a specified period of time starting at a time instant when a node completes sending out frames of data to be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Sakai, Koji Kondo
  • Patent number: 8073577
    Abstract: An electric control apparatus, mounted on a vehicle, has a height direction and comprises an electronic circuit board, a submersion sensor, and a controller. The electric circuit board has a mounting surface and is mounted in the vehicle so that the mounting surface is along the height direction of the vehicle. The submersion sensor, which is mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board, senses a condition that the vehicle is about to be submerged in a flooded area and outputs an electric signal showing the condition. The controller, which is mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board, performs control for securing safety of an occupant of the vehicle when the controller receives the electric signal from the submersion sensor. The submersion sensor is lower in a mounted position on the mounting surface of the circuit board than the controller along the height direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yuusuke Kitamura, Toru Itabashi, Michio Nakamura, Naoto Sakai
  • Publication number: 20110270490
    Abstract: The vehicle-use electronic control device includes a main microcomputer and a sub microcomputer. The sub-microcomputer is configured to be in one of a normal operation mode, a sleep mode and a stop mode, and to learn a frequent use time period in which frequency of use of the vehicle is high. The sub-microcomputer continues to be in the sleep mode if the frequent use time period prevails, and changes from the sleep mode to the stop mode if the frequent use time period does not prevail in order to further reduce the dark current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Katou, Naoto Sakai
  • Publication number: 20110210698
    Abstract: A vehicle has an ECU, a battery being chargeable with off-board electricity and a motor driven by electric power of the battery. The ECU has a microcomputer to receive an operation time each time a user sets the ECU in an operation state, prepare a frequency of operation times for each time zone, and set a time of the time zone corresponding to the high frequency as a charging end target time. When the microcomputer receives a signal from an onboard charger connected with an off-board power source, the microcomputer sets a charging schedule such that the battery charged by the charger according to the schedule is set in a fully-charged state at the charging end target time. The microcomputer controls the charger to charge the battery according to the schedule and to set the battery in the fully-charged state at the charging end target time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoto SAKAI
  • Patent number: 7804188
    Abstract: The termination circuit for use in a transmission line to transmit a differential signal includes a first series circuit of a resistive element and an inductive element connected between one of two signal wires of the transmission line and a reference potential, and a second series circuit of a resistive element and an inductive element connected between the other of the signal wires and the reference potential. The inductive elements of the first and second series circuits are magnetically coupled such that they generate magnetic fields having such directions as to reinforce each other when a common-mode signal flows along the transmission line, and generate magnetic fields having such directions as to weaken each other when a differential-mode signal flows along the transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Sakai, Kouji Kondoh
  • Publication number: 20090198407
    Abstract: An electric control apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The apparatus comprises at least two microcomputers, an external monitoring unit, and an internal monitoring means. The two microcomputers are composed of a first microcomputer and a second microcomputer, The first microcomputer is assigned to controlling travel functions of a vehicle. The external monitoring unit monitors whether or not the first microcomputer is in a normal operation and is placed outside the first and second microcomputers. The internal monitoring means monitors whether or not the first microcomputer is in a normal operation and is within the first microcomputer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto Sakai, Toru Itabashi, Michio Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20090187314
    Abstract: An electric control apparatus, mounted on a vehicle, has a height direction and comprises an electronic circuit board, a submersion sensor, and a controller. The electric circuit board has a mounting surface and is mounted in the vehicle so that the mounting surface is along the height direction of the vehicle. The submersion sensor, which is mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board, senses a condition that the vehicle is about to be submerged in a flooded area and outputs an electric signal showing the condition The controller, which is mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board, performs control for securing safety of an occupant of the vehicle when the controller receives the electric signal from the submersion sensor. The submersion sensor is lower in a mounted position on the mounting surface of the circuit board than the controller along the height direction .
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuusuke Kitamura, Toru Itabashi, Michio Nakamura, Naoto Sakai