Patents by Inventor Naruhito Kondo
Naruhito Kondo 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).
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Patent number: 8895833Abstract: According to one embodiment, a thermoelectric device is provided with thermoelectric elements and formed of a material capable of exhibiting the thermoelectric effect and a first electrode located at end portions of the thermoelectric elements. The first electrode includes an electrode member, a soaking member having electrical conductivity, located between the electrode member and the thermoelectric elements, and including facing portions facing the thermoelectric elements and folded portions folded back at peripheral edges of the facing portions so as to lie on the opposite side to the thermoelectric elements, and an elastic member located on the opposite side of the facing portions to the thermoelectric elements, at least a part of the peripheral edge of the elastic member being held between the folded portions and the facing portions of the soaking member.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2010Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yasunari Ukita, Jun Karasawa, Naruhito Kondo, Osamu Tsuneoka
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Patent number: 8648246Abstract: According to one embodiment, a thermoelectric module includes a housing and a power generation member. The housing has a first temperature layer and a second temperature layer, the first temperature layer and the second temperature layer being stacked, the housing further having a cylindrical through-hole provided so as to penetrate the first temperature layer and the second temperature layer. The power generation member has thermoelectric materials stacked such that current flows in one direction in the power generation member, the power generation member being provided in the through-hole so that opposite ends of each of the thermoelectric materials are positioned at the first temperature layer and the second temperature layer, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2011Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Mio Ohmura, Jun Karasawa, Naruhito Kondo, Osamu Tsuneoka, Yasuhito Saito
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Patent number: 8637758Abstract: Disclosed is a thermoelectric material which is represented by the following composition formula (1) or (2) and comprises as a major phase an MgAgAs type crystal structure: (Tia1Zrb1Hfc1)xNiySn100-x-y??composition formula (1); (Lnd(Tia2Zrb2Hfc2)1-d)xNiySn100-x-y??composition formula (2); (wherein a1, b1, c1, x and y satisfy the conditions of: 0<a1<1, 0<b1<1, 0<c1<1, a1+b1+c1=1, 30?x?35 and 30?y?35, and Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y and rare earth elements, and a2, b2, c2 and d satisfy the conditions of: 0?a2?1, 0?b2?1, 0?c2?1, a2+b2+c2=1 and 0<d?0.3).Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2011Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Naoki Shutoh, Shinya Sakurada, Naruhito Kondo, Nobuhisa Takezawa
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Publication number: 20120037199Abstract: Disclosed is a thermoelectric material which is represented by the following composition formula (1) or (2) and comprises as a major phase an MgAgAs type crystal structure: (Tia1Zrb1Hfc1)xNiySn100-x-y??composition formula (1); (Lnd(Tia2Zrb2Hfc2)1-d)xNiySn100-x-y??composition formula (2); (wherein a1, b1, c1, x and y satisfy the conditions of: 0<a1<1, 0<b1<1, 0<c1<1, a1+b1+c1=1, 30?x?35 and 30?y?35, and Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y and rare earth elements, and a2, b2, c2 and d satisfy the conditions of: 0?a2?1, 0?b2?1, 0?c2?1, a2+b2+c2=1 and 0<d?0.3).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Naoki SHUTOH, Shinya SAKURADA, Naruhito KONDO, Nobuhisa TAKEZAWA
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Patent number: 8110736Abstract: The present invention according to one preferred embodiment provides a thermoelectric element device comprising a first electrode including an electrode member, an elastic member that has electrically conductive and is provided on the electrode member, and a heat uniforming member that has electrically conductive and is provided on the elastic member; a thermoelectric element that is made of a thermoelectric material having thermoelectric effect and arranged on the first electrode so as to contact the heat uniforming member; and a second electrode arranged on the thermoelectric element.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2006Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Naokazu Iwanade, Naruhito Kondo, Osamu Tsuneoka, Kazuki Tateyama, Takahiro Sogou
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Patent number: 8067686Abstract: Disclosed is a thermoelectric material which is represented by the following composition formula (1) or (2) and comprises as a major phase an MgAgAs type crystal structure: (Tia1Zrb1Hfc1)xNiySn100-x-y??composition formula (1); (Lnd(Tia2Zrb2Hfc2)1-d)xNiySn100-x-y??composition formula (2); (wherein a1, b1, c1, x and y satisfy the conditions of: 0<a1<1, 0<b1<1, 0<c1<1, a1+b1+c1=1, 30?x?35 and 30?y?35, and Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y and rare earth elements, and a2, b2, c2 and d satisfy the conditions of: 0?a2?1, 0?b2?1, 0?c2?1, a2+b2+c2=1 and 0<d?0.3).Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2003Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Naoki Shutoh, Shinya Sakurada, Naruhito Kondo, Nobuhisa Takezawa
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Publication number: 20110247670Abstract: According to one embodiment, a thermoelectric module includes a housing and a power generation member. The housing has a first temperature layer and a second temperature layer, the first temperature layer and the second temperature layer being stacked, the housing further having a cylindrical through-hole provided so as to penetrate the first temperature layer and the second temperature layer. The power generation member has thermoelectric materials stacked such that current flows in one direction in the power generation member, the power generation member being provided in the through-hole so that opposite ends of each of the thermoelectric materials are positioned at the first temperature layer and the second temperature layer, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2011Publication date: October 13, 2011Inventors: Mio OHMURA, Jun Karasawa, Naruhito Kondo, Osamu Tsuneoka, Yasuhito Saito
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Publication number: 20110139206Abstract: According to one embodiment, a thermoelectric device is provided with thermoelectric elements and formed of a material capable of exhibiting the thermoelectric effect and a first electrode located at end portions of the thermoelectric elements. The first electrode includes an electrode member, a soaking member having electrical conductivity, located between the electrode member and the thermoelectric elements, and including facing portions facing the thermoelectric elements and folded portions folded back at peripheral edges of the facing portions so as to lie on the opposite side to the thermoelectric elements, and an elastic member located on the opposite side of the facing portions to the thermoelectric elements, at least a part of the peripheral edge of the elastic member being held between the folded portions and the facing portions of the soaking member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Inventors: Yasunari UKITA, Jun Karasawa, Naruhito Kondo, Osamu Tsuneoka
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Publication number: 20100258156Abstract: A thermoelectric generator includes: a high temperature member which conducts thermal energy of a high temperature medium; a low temperature member which is provided on a side opposing to the high temperature medium of the high temperature member and is provided with a low temperature medium passage therein; a thermoelectric module which is sandwiched between the high temperature member and the low temperature member and carries out a thermoelectric conversion element converting a thermal energy to an electrical energy using a temperature difference between the high temperature medium and the low temperature medium supplied to the low temperature medium passage, and at least one tie rod fastening between the low temperature member and the high temperature member.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2008Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Takanari Inatomi, Hiroshi Nakamura, Naruhito Kondo, Osamu Tsuneoka
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Publication number: 20100101619Abstract: There is provided a thermoelectric device capable of improving a power generation performance while keeping a hermetic sealing after a heat cycle is applied, and also achieving simplification of a structure and improvement in productivity and reliability of a device by reducing the number of articles, and a method of manufacturing the same. A thermoelectric device, includes a metal substrate 2, a thermoelectric element 3 mounted on a center portion of a surface of the metal substrate 2, a metal lid 4 for covering an upper surface and side surfaces of the thermoelectric element 3, and a joining metal member 5 provided to a peripheral portion of a surface of the metal substrate 2 to hermetically seal a space between the metal substrate 2 and the lid 4.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2010Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Takahiro SOGOU, Kazuki Tateyama, Hiroyoshi Hanada, Yasuhito Saito, Masayuki Arakawa, Naruhito Kondo, Osamu Tsuneoka, Naokazu Iwanade
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Patent number: 7663054Abstract: Disclosed is a thermoelectric material comprising a main phase which is represented by the following composition formula and having an MgAgAs-type crystalline structure: (Ta1Zrb1Hfc1)xCoySb100-x-y wherein 0<a1<1, 0<b1<1, 0<c1<1, a1+b1+c1=1, 30?x ?35, and 30?y?35.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2004Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Naoki Shutoh, Shinya Sakurada, Naruhito Kondo, Osamu Tsuneoka
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Publication number: 20080163916Abstract: According to one embodiment, a thermoelectric conversion module includes a thermoelectric conversion portion, a first external electrode, and a second external electrode. The thermoelectric conversion portion includes a single thermoelectric conversion portion element, or electrically connected thermoelectric conversion portion elements. The thermoelectric conversion portion element includes a high temperature electrode, low temperature electrodes, and an n-type and a p-type thermoelectric conversion semiconductor layer disposed between the high temperature electrode and the low temperature electrodes. The first and the second external electrode are electrically connected to one of the low temperature electrode and another one of the low temperature electrode respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Osamu Tsuneoka, Naruhito Kondo, Akihiro Hara, Kazuki Tateyama, Takahiro Sogou, Yasuhito Saito, Masayuki Arakawa
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Publication number: 20070256427Abstract: In order to provide a highly reliable thermoelectric device, in a thermoelectric device, a plurality of heat-radiating-side electrodes, arranged in accordance with positions where respective thermoelectric elements are to be arranged, are arrayed in an array fashion on a planer surface of a heat-radiating-side board. Heat-radiating-side end surfaces of the plurality of p-type thermoelectric elements and n-type thermoelectric elements and the heat-radiating-side electrodes are joined together by solders. Heat-absorbing-side electrodes are brought into sliding contact with heat-absorbing-side end surfaces of these thermoelectric elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2007Publication date: November 8, 2007Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Kazuki Tateyama, Takahiro Sogou, Tomohiro Iguchi, Yasuhito Saito, Masayuki Arakawa, Naruhito Kondo, Osamu Tsuneoka, Akihiro Hara
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Patent number: 7278199Abstract: In order to provide a highly reliable thermoelectric device, in a thermoelectric device, a plurality of heat-radiating-side electrodes, arranged in accordance with positions where respective thermoelectric elements are to be arranged, are arrayed in an array fashion on a planer surface of a heat-radiating-side board. Heat-radiating-side end surfaces of the plurality of p-type thermoelectric elements and n-type thermoelectric elements and the heat-radiating-side electrodes are joined together by solders. Heat-absorbing-side electrodes are brought into sliding contact with heat-absorbing-side end surfaces of these thermoelectric elements.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2006Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Kazuki Tateyama, Takahiro Sogou, Tomohiro Iguchi, Yasuhito Saito, Masayuki Arakawa, Naruhito Kondo, Osamu Tsuneoka, Akihiro Hara
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Publication number: 20070125416Abstract: The thermoelectric material is represented by the following composition formula of (Tia1Zrb1Hfc1)xAyB100-x-y, in which element A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni and Co, element B is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sn and Sb, 0?a1?1, 0?b1?1, 0?c1?1, and a1+b1+c1=1 hold, and 30?x?35 and 30?y?35 hold, and the thermoelectric material comprises a phase having an MgAgAs type crystal structure as a major phase. In this thermoelectric material, the density of the thermoelectric material is more than 99.0% of the true density. When this thermoelectric material is used for either one or both of p-type elements and n-type elements, a thermoelectric conversion device having high thermoelectric conversion performance is realized.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2006Publication date: June 7, 2007Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Naokazu Iwanade, Naruhito Kondo, Osamu Tsuneoka
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Publication number: 20070044828Abstract: The present invention according to one preferred embodiment provides a thermoelectric element device comprising a first electrode including an electrode member, an elastic member that has electrically conductive and is provided on the electrode member, and a heat uniforming member that has electrically conductive and is provided on the elastic member; a thermoelectric element that is made of a thermoelectric material having thermoelectric effect and arranged on the first electrode so as to contact the heat uniforming member; and a second electrode arranged on the thermoelectric elementType: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2006Publication date: March 1, 2007Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Naokazu Iwanade, Naruhito Kondo, Osamu Tsuneoka, Kazuki Tateyama, Takahiro Sogou
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Publication number: 20070028955Abstract: There is provided a thermoelectric device capable of improving a power generation performance while keeping a hermetic sealing after a heat cycle is applied, and also achieving simplification of a structure and improvement in productivity and reliability of a device by reducing the number of articles, and a method of manufacturing the same. A thermoelectric device, includes a metal substrate 2, a thermoelectric element 3 mounted on a center portion of a surface of the metal substrate 2, a metal lid 4 for covering an upper surface and side surfaces of the thermoelectric element 3, and a joining metal member 5 provided to a peripheral portion of a surface of the metal substrate 2 to hermetically seal a space between the metal substrate 2 and the lid 4.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2006Publication date: February 8, 2007Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Takahiro Sogou, Kazuki Tateyama, Hiroyoshi Hanada, Yasuhito Saito, Masayuki Arakawa, Naruhito Kondo, Osamu Tsuneoka, Naokazu Iwanade
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Publication number: 20060123799Abstract: In order to provide a highly reliable thermoelectric device, in a thermoelectric device, a plurality of heat-radiating-side electrodes, arranged in accordance with positions where respective thermoelectric elements are to be arranged, are arrayed in an array fashion on a planer surface of a heat-radiating-side board. Heat-radiating-side end surfaces of the plurality of p-type thermoelectric elements and n-type thermoelectric elements and the heat-radiating-side electrodes are joined together by solders. Heat-absorbing-side electrodes are brought into sliding contact with heat-absorbing-side end surfaces of these thermoelectric elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2006Publication date: June 15, 2006Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Kazuki Tateyama, Takahiro Sogou, Tomohiro Iguchi, Yasuhito Saito, Masayuki Arakawa, Naruhito Kondo, Osamu Tsuneoka, Akihiro Hara
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Publication number: 20060118159Abstract: A thermoelectric direct conversion device is foemed of a plurality of thermoelectric direct conversion semiconductor pairs each including a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor; a plurality of high-temperature electrodes and a plurality of low-temperature electrodes each electrically connecting the p-type semiconductor and the n-type semiconductor; a high-temperature insulating plate and a low-temperature insulating plate each thermally connected to the plurality of thermoelectric direct conversion semiconductor pairs via the plurality of high-temperature electrodes and the plurality of low-temperature electrodes, respectively; at least one diffusion barrier layer is disposed between the high- or low-temperature electrodes and the thermoelectric direct conversion semiconductor pairs, and the entire device is hermetically sealed up within an airtight case containing a vacuum or inert gas atmosphere, whereby diffusion between the electrodes and the semiconductor pairs is prevented to provide a thermType: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2005Publication date: June 8, 2006Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Osamu Tsuneoka, Naruhito Kondo, Naokazu Iwanade, Akihiro Hara, Kazuki Tateyama
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Patent number: 7024865Abstract: In order to provide a highly reliable thermoelectric device, in a thermoelectric device, a plurality of heat-radiating-side electrodes, arranged in accordance with positions where respective thermoelectric elements are to be arranged, are arrayed in an array fashion on a planer surface of a heat-radiating-side board. Heat-radiating-side end surfaces of the plurality of p-type thermoelectric elements and n-type thermoelectric elements and the heat-radiating-side electrodes are joined together by solders. Heat-absorbing-side electrodes are brought into sliding contact with heat-absorbing-side end surfaces of these thermoelectric elements.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2004Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Kazuki Tateyama, Takahiro Sogou, Tomohiro Iguchi, Yasuhito Saito, Masayuki Arakawa, Naruhito Kondo, Osamu Tsuneoka, Akihiro Hara