Patents by Inventor Norito TAKAHASHI
Norito TAKAHASHI 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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Publication number: 20240400137Abstract: A first joining member configured to be used to join an instrument panel reinforcement to a vehicle body includes upper and lower body fastening surfaces to be fastened to the vehicle body. The first joining member is configured to be able to hold the instrument panel reinforcement between the upper and lower body fastening surfaces. There is defined an imaginary line that is orthogonal to an imaginary plane connecting the upper and lower body fastening surfaces, and passes through a center axis, extending in a vehicle-width direction, of the instrument panel reinforcement held by the first joining member. A distance along the imaginary line from the center axis to the imaginary plane is equal to or shorter than a distance along the imaginary line from the center axis to an outer circumferential surface of the instrument panel reinforcement.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2024Publication date: December 5, 2024Inventors: Norito Nishizawa, Mikako Takahashi, Kota Takahashi, Masahito Yabuoshi
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Patent number: 11653434Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 29, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Ryosuke Matsuhana, Satoshi Kikuchi, Naoki Kawabata, Norito Takahashi
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Patent number: 11617247Abstract: Multiple current sources are coupled in series to corresponding light-emitting elements. Switching converter supplies driving voltage to the multiple light-emitting elements and current sources. Pulse modulator generates pulse signal that transits to on level when the smallest from among voltages across both ends of the multiple current sources falls to bottom limit voltage, and subsequently transits to off level. Frequency stabilization circuit controls pulse modulator such that the frequency of pulse signal approaches its target. Dummy load circuit is configured to lower driving voltage in the enable state, to be set to the enable state when switching transistor continues to be off for a predetermined time, and to be set to the disable state in response to the next turn-on of the switching transistor.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Norito Takahashi, Satoshi Kikuchi
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Patent number: 11558943Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 29, 2021Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Ryosuke Matsuhana, Satoshi Kikuchi, Naoki Kawabata, Norito Takahashi
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Patent number: 11477871Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 14, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Ryosuke Matsuhana, Satoshi Kikuchi, Naoki Kawabata, Norito Takahashi
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Publication number: 20220022299Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Ryosuke MATSUHANA, Satoshi KIKUCHI, Naoki KAWABATA, Norito TAKAHASHI
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Publication number: 20220022300Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Ryosuke MATSUHANA, Satoshi KIKUCHI, Naoki KAWABATA, Norito TAKAHASHI
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Publication number: 20210368603Abstract: Multiple current sources are coupled in series to corresponding light-emitting elements. Switching converter supplies driving voltage to the multiple light-emitting elements and current sources. Pulse modulator generates pulse signal that transits to on level when the smallest from among voltages across both ends of the multiple current sources falls to bottom limit voltage, and subsequently transits to off level. Frequency stabilization circuit controls pulse modulator such that the frequency of pulse signal approaches its target. Dummy load circuit is configured to lower driving voltage in the enable state, to be set to the enable state when switching transistor continues to be off for a predetermined time, and to be set to the disable state in response to the next turn-on of the switching transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Norito TAKAHASHI, Satoshi KIKUCHI
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Publication number: 20200275542Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Ryosuke MATSUHANA, Satoshi KIKUCHI, Naoki KAWABATA, Norito TAKAHASHI