Patents by Inventor Satoru Mizuno
Satoru Mizuno 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: 10923771Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a laminated electrode body which is excellent in terms of productivity and production cost. The method for manufacturing a laminated electrode body disclosed herein includes the steps of: preparing a wound body having a flat portion and two curved portions by using a laminate formed of an elongated positive electrode, an elongated negative electrode, and an elongated separator that insulates the positive electrode and the negative electrode from each other; preparing an electrode laminate structure having two cut surfaces by cutting out and removing the two curved portions of the wound body; and removing active materials on the cut surfaces of the electrode laminate structure by spraying an inactive gas or electrically insulating particles onto the cut surfaces while applying, to the electrode laminate structure, a voltage of 25 V or more and less than a voltage causing a dielectric breakdown of the separator.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoru Mizuno, Akira Tsukao, Norihiro Yamada
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Publication number: 20190027787Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a laminated electrode body which is excellent in terms of productivity and production cost. The method for manufacturing a laminated electrode body disclosed herein includes the steps of: preparing a wound body having a flat portion and two curved portions by using a laminate formed of an elongated positive electrode, an elongated negative electrode, and an elongated separator that insulates the positive electrode and the negative electrode from each other; preparing an electrode laminate structure having two cut surfaces by cutting out and removing the two curved portions of the wound body; and removing active materials on the cut surfaces of the electrode laminate structure by spraying an inactive gas or electrically insulating particles onto the cut surfaces while applying, to the electrode laminate structure, a voltage of 25 V or more and less than a voltage causing a dielectric breakdown of the separator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoru MIZUNO, Akira TSUKAO, Norihiro YAMADA
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Patent number: 9853271Abstract: A battery according to the invention includes, as a separator, a first separator and a second separator having mutually different characteristics. The first separator and the second separator are disposed inside an electrode assembly in a state where the separators are not in contact with each other in a stacking direction of the electrode assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2014Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kosuke Iwase, Satoru Mizuno
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Publication number: 20160301054Abstract: A battery according to the invention includes, as a separator, a first separator and a second separator having mutually different characteristics. The first separator and the second separator are disposed inside an electrode assembly in a state where the separators are not in contact with each other in a stacking direction of the electrode assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2014Publication date: October 13, 2016Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kosuke IWASE, Satoru MIZUNO
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Patent number: 9404437Abstract: On a vehicle equipped with a vacuum-assist type of brake booster utilizing the intake air pressure of the vehicle engine, an engine control apparatus automatically stops the engine under certain conditions and subsequently automatically restarts the engine if it is determined that the brake booster pressure has fallen below a predetermined value. The engine control apparatus also effects such automatic restarting if a predetermined maximum time interval has elapsed since the automatic engine stop occurred. This ensures that even when the booster pressure value cannot be reliably obtained after an automatic engine stop has occurred, the engine will be restarted before the booster pressure falls excessively.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2013Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Satoru Mizuno, Kenji Kawahara
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Patent number: 8834321Abstract: An apparatus for controlling automatic stop/restart of an engine, includes: an automatic-stop/restart-control-unit which stops/restarts the engine; a brake-pressure-detection-unit which detects brake pressure in a brake system and controls the brake pressure to perform anti-skid control; a first-determination-unit which determines whether the brake pressure is not less than a first-threshold; a second-determination-unit which determines whether the brake pressure is not less than a second-threshold larger than the-first threshold; a stop-allowing-unit which allows the automatic-stop/restart-control-unit to stop the engine while the engine operates, when the first-determination-unit determines that the brake pressure is not less than the first-threshold and the second-determination-unit determines that the brake pressure is less than the second-threshold; and a stop-inhibiting-unit which inhibits the automatic-stop/restart-control-unit from stopping the engine while the engine operates, when the-first-determinType: GrantFiled: April 15, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignees: Denso Corporation, Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tatsuya Saito, Takashi Satoh, Satoru Mizuno, Yosuke Ohmori, Masayoshi Takeda
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Patent number: 8770165Abstract: An ECU in an automatic engine control device predicts a maximum discharging current to be supplied from a battery to a starter during a next restart of the engine based on a present voltage, an internal resistance value of the battery, and a starter total resistance value during automatic engine stop. The ECU further predicts a minimum voltage of the battery during a period until the next restart of the engine based on the present voltage, the present internal resistance value of the battery, and the predicted maximum discharging current. The ECU judges whether or not execution of the next restart of the engine during the automatic engine stop based on the predicted minimum voltage of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2010Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Satoru Mizuno
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Patent number: 8552688Abstract: A battery condition estimation device estimates a pre-restart voltage drop amount ?Vjh+?Vbn of a battery mounted to a vehicle during period T1 to T2 from initiation of an engine stop until initiation of an engine restart based on detection values regarding the battery condition. The device estimates a voltage drop amount ?Vst during period T3 from initiation of the engine restart until completion of the engine restart based on the detection values regarding the battery condition. The device finally estimates a minimum voltage of the battery during period T1 to T3 from the initiation of the engine stop until the completion of the engine restart based on a voltage detection value Vj0 before the engine stop, the pre-restart voltage drop amount ?Vjh+?Vbn, and the voltage drop amount ?Vst.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2009Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso CorporationInventors: Kenji Ueda, Satoru Mizuno, Shigenori Saito
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Patent number: 8330468Abstract: Each time that starting of a vehicle engine is completed, a vehicle control system derives an estimated amount by which the charge in the vehicle battery is less than a predetermined upper limit value of stored charge, and subtracts the estimated amount from the difference between the upper limit value and a lower limit value of stored charge, to obtain an initial allowable discharge amount. An automatic engine stop/restart function is thereafter enabled or inhibited in accordance with whether a net amount of discharge from the battery, since completion of the preceding engine start, exceeds the initial allowable discharge amount.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Satoru Mizuno
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Patent number: 8244449Abstract: In an apparatus for detecting a state of a battery serving as a power source for cranking an internal combustion engine, a detecting unit and an internal resistance calculating unit are installed. The detecting unit detects a current and a voltage of the battery during a cranking period of the internal combustion engine, and outputs a parameter associated with at least one of the detected current and voltage of the battery. When a degree of change in the parameter within a specified period included in the cranking period is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the internal resistance calculating unit calculates an internal resistance of the battery based on values of the current and voltage of the battery, the values of the current and the voltage being detected within the specified period.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2010Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Satoru Mizuno
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Publication number: 20110256981Abstract: An apparatus for controlling automatic stop/restart of an engine, includes: an automatic-stop/restart-control-unit which stops/restarts the engine; a brake-pressure-detection-unit which detects brake pressure in a brake system and controls the brake pressure to perform anti-skid control; a first-determination-unit which determines whether the brake pressure is not less than a first-threshold; a second-determination-unit which determines whether the brake pressure is not less than a second-threshold larger than the-first threshold; a stop-allowing-unit which allows the automatic-stop/restart-control-unit to stop the engine while the engine operates, when the first-determination-unit determines that the brake pressure is not less than the first-threshold and the second-determination-unit determines that the brake pressure is less than the second-threshold; and a stop-inhibiting-unit which inhibits the automatic-stop/restart-control-unit from stopping the engine while the engine operates, when the-first-determinType: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicants: ADVICS CO., LTD., DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Tatsuya SAITO, Takashi SATOH, Satoru MIZUNO, Yosuke OHMORI, Masayoshi TAKEDA
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Patent number: 7990111Abstract: In a proposed apparatus and method, constant-voltage charge is performed with an in-vehicle secondary battery immediately after start of a vehicle or during running of the vehicle. A quantity relevant to polarization caused in the battery immediately after start of the constant-voltage charge is calculated using data of the charge current. It is determined whether or not a change rate of the calculated polarization-relevant quantity is less than a given threshold. When the change rate is less than the given threshold, a plurality of data of the charge current sampled and held during a predetermined period of time are acquired. A value of the charge current to be accumulated until the charge current reaches a given final value is calculated using the plurality of data of the charge current. The internal electric state of the battery is estimated based on the accumulated value of the charge current.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso CorporationInventors: Satoru Mizuno, Hiroaki Ono, Masayuki Tomura
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Publication number: 20100269776Abstract: An ECU in an automatic engine control device predicts a maximum discharging current to be supplied from a battery to a starter during a next restart of the engine based on a present voltage, an internal resistance value of the battery, and a starter total resistance value during automatic engine stop. The ECU further predicts a minimum voltage of the battery during a period until the next restart of the engine based on the present voltage, the present internal resistance value of the battery, and the predicted maximum discharging current. The ECU judges whether or not execution of the next restart of the engine during the automatic engine stop based on the predicted minimum voltage of the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Satoru MIZUNO
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Patent number: 7805264Abstract: A current Ibe and a voltage Vbe before a large current discharge in a secondary battery are stored in a memory. Plural voltage-current pairs are detected and stored in the memory during the large current discharge. Next, a regression curve (or a regression line) is obtained based on the plural voltage-current pairs stored in the memory using a well-known method. A discharge current Ip which exceeds a current-sensor detectable range is input in the regression curve to obtain a voltage Vp. A maximum discharge coordinate is set using the discharge current Ip and the voltage Vp. An internal resistance Rin of the secondary battery is calculated based on an inclination of a line that connects the coordinates (Ibe, Vbe) and (Ip, Vp).Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2008Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso CorporationInventors: Satoru Mizuno, Shoji Sakai, Hiroaki Ono
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Publication number: 20100224157Abstract: In an apparatus for detecting a state of a battery serving as a power source for cranking an internal combustion engine, a detecting unit and an internal resistance calculating unit are installed. The detecting unit detects a current and a voltage of the battery during a cranking period of the internal combustion engine, and outputs a parameter associated with at least one of the detected current and voltage of the battery. When a degree of change in the parameter within a specified period included in the cranking period is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the internal resistance calculating unit calculates an internal resistance of the battery based on values of the current and voltage of the battery, the values of the current and the voltage being detected within the specified period.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2010Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Satoru MIZUNO
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Publication number: 20100217484Abstract: Each time that starting of a vehicle engine is completed, a vehicle control system derives an estimated amount by which the charge in the vehicle battery is less than a predetermined upper limit value of stored charge, and subtracts the estimated amount from the difference between the upper limit value and a lower limit value of stored charge, to obtain an initial allowable discharge amount. An automatic engine stop/restart function is thereafter enabled or inhibited in accordance with whether a net amount of discharge from the battery, to since completion of the preceding engine start, exceeds the initial allowable discharge amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Satoru MIZUNO
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Patent number: 7777446Abstract: An apparatus is provided to control a power voltage on a power-supplying line extending from a generator and connecting to a battery and eclectic loads. The apparatus is mounted on a vehicle and comprises a detecting device, a calculator, and a controller. The detecting device detects pairs of voltage and current of the battery. The calculator calculating a control current on the basis of the detected pairs of voltage and current and a target voltage for the power voltage. The pairs of voltage and current are used to calculate an internal resistance and/or a regression line of the battery. The controller controlling a charge and discharge current of the battery on the basis of the control current so that the power voltage is controlled to the target voltage.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2007Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.Inventors: Kenji Ueda, Atsushi Hashikawa, Shoji Sakai, Satoru Mizuno, Akira Kato, Katsunori Tanaka
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Patent number: 7733063Abstract: An apparatus is provided to calculate a quantity indicating a charged state of an on-vehicle battery. The battery powers a starter starting up an on-vehicle engine. In the apparatus, a plurality of pairs of data consisting of current and voltage of the battery are acquired at predetermined sampling intervals during a cranking period of the engine in response to starting up the starter. At intervals, a value of an internal resistance of the battery is calculated based on the plurality of pairs of data of current and voltage. The internal resistance is one kind of the charged-state indicating quantity. An open voltage difference is calculated, which is a difference between a pseudo circuit-open voltage of the battery given before starting up the starter and a pseudo circuit-open voltage of the battery given after the cranking period. The value of the internal resistance is corrected using the open voltage difference.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2007Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.Inventors: Satoru Mizuno, Katsunori Tanaka
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Patent number: 7679328Abstract: A charged state detecting apparatus for a secondary battery is provided, which can suppress deterioration in the accuracy of detecting a charged state, such as an SOC, the deterioration being caused by variation of a polarization state of a battery. The charged state detecting apparatus stabilizes an amount of polarization of the battery, stops power generation upon confirmation of the stabilization of the polarization amount, and sufficiently alters the current of the battery to sample a required number of data pairs of voltage and current of the battery. Using these data pairs, the charged state detecting apparatus detects a charged state, such as the SOC, of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2006Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.Inventors: Satoru Mizuno, Atsushi Hashikawa, Shoji Sakai, Kenji Ueda, Katsunori Tanaka, Takeshi Sada, Akira Kato, Masahiro Sou
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Publication number: 20090295399Abstract: A battery condition estimation device estimates a pre-restart voltage drop amount ?Vjh+?Vbn of a battery mounted to a vehicle during period T1 to T2 from initiation of an engine stop until initiation of an engine restart based on detection values regarding the battery condition. The device estimates a voltage drop amount ?Vst during period T3 from initiation of the engine restart until completion of the engine restart based on the detection values regarding the battery condition. The device finally estimates a minimum voltage of the battery during period T1 to T3 from the initiation of the engine stop until the completion of the engine restart based on a voltage detection value Vj0 before the engine stop, the pre-restart voltage drop amount ?Vjh+?Vbn, and the voltage drop amount ?Vst.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2009Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicants: NIPPON SOKEN, INC., DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Kenji Ueda, Satoru Mizuno, Shigenori Saito