Patents by Inventor Rui Mikami
Rui Mikami 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: 11894804Abstract: This photovoltaic module includes: a power generating element configured to receive sunlight to generate power; and a housing which is closed, the housing having: a concentrating portion provided with a lens configured to concentrate sunlight; a bottom portion in which the power generating element is disposed; and a side wall serving as an outer frame for the bottom portion and supporting the concentrating portion. The side wall is a resin molded body including a resin and glass fibers dispersed in the resin, the resin is one of PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate), and PP (Polypropylene), and the glass fibers are orientated, in the resin, along a crossing direction that crosses a direction of an optical axis of the lens.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2021Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Inagaki, Youichi Nagai, Kenji Saito, Takashi Iwasaki, Rui Mikami, Tomohiro Nemoto
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Patent number: 11736060Abstract: A photovoltaic apparatus includes: a concentrator photovoltaic panel; a driving device configured to change an attitude of the photovoltaic panel; a current detection unit configured to detect an output current of the photovoltaic panel; and a control unit configured to cause the driving device to perform a sun-tracking shift operation when it is determined based on a detection result of the current detection unit that the photovoltaic panel is generating no power during tracking of the sun.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2019Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Seiji Yamamoto, Rui Mikami, Satoshi Hatsukawa, Kenichi Hirotsu
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Patent number: 11201255Abstract: A concentrator photovoltaic module includes: a concentrating portion configured by arranging a plurality of Fresnel lenses that concentrate sunlight; a plurality of power generating elements arranged at positions corresponding respectively to the plurality of Fresnel lenses; a plurality of ball lenses corresponding respectively to the plurality of power generating elements and guide the sunlight concentrated by the plurality of Fresnel lenses to the plurality of power generating elements; and a housing that contains the plurality of ball lenses and the plurality of power generating elements. The housing includes a resin frame body, and a metal bottom plate that is fixed to the frame body, and on the inner surface of which the plurality of ball lenses and the plurality of power generating elements are arranged. The groove portion for reducing thermal expansion of the inner surface side of the bottom plate is on the inner surface of the bottom plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2018Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Youichi Nagai, Kenji Saito, Kazushi Iyatani, Makoto Inagaki, Rui Mikami, Yoshiya Abiko
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Patent number: 11101395Abstract: This wiring module includes: a wiring substrate; a base portion at which the wiring substrate is placed; and an adhesive layer configured to adhere the wiring substrate to the base portion, wherein the wiring substrate includes: a land portion configured to have a power generating element mounted thereto; and a wire portion configured to be electrically connected to the power generating element, the adhesive layer has: a land adhesion region configured to adhere the land portion to the base portion; and a wire adhesion region configured to adhere the wire portion to the base portion, and a width of the wire adhesion region is smaller than a width of the land adhesion region.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2015Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Kazumasa Toya, Takashi Iwasaki, Youichi Nagai, Koji Mori, Kenji Saito, Rui Mikami, Takeshi Yamana
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Publication number: 20210126579Abstract: This photovoltaic module includes: a power generating element configured to receive sunlight to generate power; and a housing which is closed, the housing having: a concentrating portion provided with a lens configured to concentrate sunlight; a bottom portion in which the power generating element is disposed; and a side wall serving as an outer frame for the bottom portion and supporting the concentrating portion. The side wall is a resin molded body including a resin and glass fibers dispersed in the resin, the resin is one of PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate), and PP (Polypropylene), and the glass fibers are orientated, in the resin, along a crossing direction that crosses a direction of an optical axis of the lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2021Publication date: April 29, 2021Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Makoto INAGAKI, Youichi Nagai, Kenji Saito, Takashi Iwasaki, Rui Mikami, Tomohiro Nemoto
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Patent number: 10985286Abstract: This power generation module includes: a power generating portion (30) including a power generating element (19); and a wiring substrate. The wiring substrate includes: a reinforcement plate; and a flexible printed circuit (79) provided above the reinforcement plate. The flexible printed circuit (79) has: an FPC land portion (70) configured to have the power generating portion (30) mounted thereto; and a FPC wire portion (73) connected to the FPC land portion (70). The width of the FPC wire portion (73) is smaller than the width of the FPC land portion (70).Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2015Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Kazumasa Toya, Takashi Iwasaki, Youichi Nagai, Koji Mori, Kenji Saito, Rui Mikami, Takeshi Yamana
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Publication number: 20210028743Abstract: A photovoltaic apparatus includes: a concentrator photovoltaic panel; a driving device configured to change an attitude of the photovoltaic panel; a current detection unit configured to detect an output current of the photovoltaic panel; and a control unit configured to cause the driving device to perform a sun-tracking shift operation when it is determined based on a detection result of the current detection unit that the photovoltaic panel is generating no power during tracking of the sun.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2019Publication date: January 28, 2021Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Seiji YAMAMOTO, Rui MIKAMI, Satoshi HATSUKAWA, Kenichi HIROTSU
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Patent number: 10879837Abstract: This photovoltaic module includes: a power generating element configured to receive light to generate power; and a housing which is closed, the housing having: a concentrating portion provided with a lens configured to concentrate sunlight; a bottom portion in which the power generating element is disposed; and a side wall serving as an outer frame for the bottom portion and supporting the concentrating portion. The side wall is formed from a resin and has at least one vent hole.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Inagaki, Youichi Nagai, Kenji Saito, Takashi Iwasaki, Rui Mikami, Tomohiro Nemoto
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Publication number: 20200373449Abstract: A concentrator photovoltaic module includes: a concentrating portion configured by arranging a plurality of Fresnel lenses that concentrate sunlight; a plurality of power generating elements arranged at positions corresponding respectively to the plurality of Fresnel lenses; a plurality of ball lenses corresponding respectively to the plurality of power generating elements and guide the sunlight concentrated by the plurality of Fresnel lenses to the plurality of power generating elements; and a housing that contains the plurality of ball lenses and the plurality of power generating elements. The housing includes a resin frame body, and a metal bottom plate that is fixed to the frame body, and on the inner surface of which the plurality of ball lenses and the plurality of power generating elements are arranged. The groove portion for reducing thermal expansion of the inner surface side of the bottom plate is on the inner surface of the bottom plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2018Publication date: November 26, 2020Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Youichi NAGAI, Kenji SAITO, Kazushi IYATANI, Makoto INAGAKI, Rui MIKAMI, Yoshiya ABIKO
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Patent number: 10825943Abstract: A concentrator photovoltaic module including: a concentrating portion formed by arranging a plurality of lens elements each configured to concentrate sunlight; and a housing configured to accommodate a plurality of power generating elements disposed at positions respectively corresponding to the lens elements, wherein the housing includes: a frame body formed from resin; and a bottom plate formed from metal, the bottom plate being mounted to the frame body and having the power generating elements mounted thereto, and the frame body includes: a frame body portion forming an outer frame; and a liner portion extending along an upper surface of the bottom plate at an inner side of the frame body portion, the liner portion having both end portions thereof formed integrally with the frame body portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2017Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Saito, Youichi Nagai, Rui Mikami, Akihiko Kojima
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Patent number: 10818810Abstract: A concentrator photovoltaic module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a case; a substrate disposed on a bottom surface of the case and having a plurality of stacked wiring layers; and concentrator photovoltaic elements disposed on the substrate and connected to the wiring layers. The concentrator photovoltaic elements connected to different wiring layers are connected to each other in parallel. According to the concentrator photovoltaic module according to the one embodiment of the present disclosure, output voltage can be decreased.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Kazumasa Toya, Makoto Inagaki, Youichi Nagai, Takashi Iwasaki, Kenji Saito, Rui Mikami
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Patent number: 10680127Abstract: This power generation circuit unit includes a wiring substrate and a plurality of power generating elements mounted to the wiring substrate. The wiring substrate includes: a first substrate (32E) and a second substrate (32F) to each of which the power generating element is mounted; and a coupling portion (33L) configured to couple the first substrate (32E) and the second substrate (32F) together. The first substrate (32E) can be disposed at least two positions of: a first position separated from the second substrate (32F) by a first distance; and a second position separated from the second substrate (32F) by a second distance being greater than the first distance. The coupling portion (33L) has an FPC (flexible printed circuits). In a state where the first substrate is disposed at the second position, at least a part of the coupling portion (33L) is twisted.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2015Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Kazumasa Toya, Takashi Iwasaki, Youichi Nagai, Koji Mori, Kenji Saito, Rui Mikami, Takeshi Yamana
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Publication number: 20190237605Abstract: A concentrator photovoltaic module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a case; a substrate disposed on a bottom surface of the case and having a plurality of stacked wiring layers; and concentrator photovoltaic elements disposed on the substrate and connected to the wiring layers. The concentrator photovoltaic elements connected to different wiring layers are connected to each other in parallel. According to the concentrator photovoltaic module according to the one embodiment of the present disclosure, output voltage can be decreased.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2017Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Kazumasa Toya, Makoto Inagaki, Youichi Nagai, Takashi Iwasaki, Kenji Saito, Rui Mikami
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Publication number: 20190233950Abstract: A hydrogen generation system according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a concentrator photovoltaic module including: a casing including a frame, and a bottom plate provided at the lower end of the frame, and a concentrator photovoltaic element disposed on the bottom plate; a hydrogen generation apparatus configured to generate hydrogen by electrolyzing water with electric power supplied from the concentrator photovoltaic module; and a heat exhauster mechanism configured to raise the temperature of the water using heat generated in the concentrator photovoltaic module.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2017Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Rui Mikami, Takashi Iwasaki, Makoto Inagaki, Youichi Nagai, Seiji Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20190237606Abstract: A concentrator photovoltaic module including: a concentrating portion formed by arranging a plurality of lens elements each configured to concentrate sunlight; and a housing configured to accommodate a plurality of power generating elements disposed at positions respectively corresponding to the lens elements, wherein the housing includes: a frame body formed from resin; and a bottom plate formed from metal, the bottom plate being mounted to the frame body and having the power generating elements mounted thereto, and the frame body includes: a frame body portion forming an outer frame; and a liner portion extending along an upper surface of the bottom plate at an inner side of the frame body portion, the liner portion having both end portions thereof formed integrally with the frame body portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2017Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Kenji Saito, Youichi Nagai, Rui Mikami, Akihiko Kojima
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Patent number: 9998069Abstract: This photovoltaic system includes: a support portion; a photovoltaic panel supported by the support portion so as to be able to take an orientation at any angle in each of azimuth and elevation; a drive device configured to change the orientation of the photovoltaic panel; and a control device configured to cause, during power generation, the drive device to drive the photovoltaic panel such that sun light hits the photovoltaic panel, the control device configured to, when executing a cleaning mode, control the drive device such that the photovoltaic panel takes an orientation that facilitates removal of attached substance to a light receiving surface of the photovoltaic panel by use of at least one of natural phenomena including rain, wind, dew condensation, and gravity.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2015Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiya Abiko, Youichi Nagai, Takashi Iwasaki, Rui Mikami, Kazumasa Toya
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Patent number: 9923107Abstract: A photovoltaic module includes: a flexible printed circuit; and a plurality of power generating elements mounted on the flexible printed circuit, wherein the flexible printed circuit includes a turning portion, and strip-shaped portions of the flexible printed circuit which are located on opposite sides of the turning portion are aligned so as to oppose each other.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Kazumasa Toya, Takashi Iwasaki, Youichi Nagai, Koji Mori, Kenji Saito, Rui Mikami
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Patent number: D810707Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2016Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Koji Mori, Takashi Iwasaki, Kazumasa Toya, Kenji Saito, Yoshiya Abiko, Youichi Nagai, Makoto Inagaki, Rui Mikami
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Patent number: D812023Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2016Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Koji Mori, Takashi Iwasaki, Kazumasa Toya, Kenji Saito, Yoshiya Abiko, Youichi Nagai, Makoto Inagaki, Rui Mikami
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Patent number: D831594Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Koji Mori, Takashi Iwasaki, Kazumasa Toya, Kenji Saito, Yoshiya Abiko, Youichi Nagai, Makoto Inagaki, Rui Mikami