Patents by Inventor Satoshi Kikuchi
Satoshi Kikuchi 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: 20210016706Abstract: A lighting circuit turns on multiple semiconductor light sources. Multiple current sources are each coupled in series with a corresponding one from among the semiconductor light sources. A switching converter supplies a driving voltage VOUT across each of multiple series connection circuits formed of the multiple semiconductor light sources and the multiple current sources. A converter controller controls a switching transistor of the switching converter based on a relation between a voltage across one from among the multiple current sources and a reference voltage having a positive correlation with the temperature Tj.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Satoshi KIKUCHI, Ryosuke MATSUHANA
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Publication number: 20200409327Abstract: A system includes a plurality of control devices that respectively control the states of a plurality of apparatuses and are connected to each other via communication lines. When each of the control devices determines a state target value of its own apparatus using the current state indicator value of the own apparatus, and the distributed controller input which is a function of the state indicator value of an apparatus adjacent to the own apparatus and the state indicator value of the own apparatus, the control gain which adjusts contribution of the distributed controller input to the state target value is determined based on a communication delay time between the control devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota School FoundationInventors: Satoshi Kikuchi, Michihiro Kawanishi, Tatsuo Narikiyo, Ngoc Huynh Tran
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Publication number: 20200409341Abstract: A distributed control system includes a plurality of control units that controls respective units of a plurality of devices, and a communication network that includes a communication line that connects the control units. A control unit of each of the devices is configured to determine a state target value, according to consensus control of a multi-agent system, by using a current state index value of a self-device, and a difference between a latest state index value of an adjacent device received from a control unit of the adjacent device, and a latest state index value of the self-device received from the control unit of the adjacent device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota School FoundationInventors: Satoshi Kikuchi, Michihiro Kawanishi, Tatsuo Narikiyo, Ngoc Huynh Tran
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Publication number: 20200339034Abstract: A scanning light source includes a light source, and scans the output light of the light source ahead of a lamp. A control apparatus controls the lighting on/off state of the semiconductor light source in synchronization with the scanning operation of the scanning light source. The control apparatus judges the presence or absence of an abnormal state with at least one from among (i) a timing immediately before switching from a lighting-on state to a lighting-off state and (ii) a timing immediately before switching from a lighting-off state to a lighting-on state as a judgment timing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Satoshi KIKUCHI, Kentarou MURAKAMI, Toshiyuki TSUCHIYA, Takao MURAMATSU, Shohei YANAGIZU, Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA
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Patent number: 10766400Abstract: A lighting circuit is configured to drive a light source including a plurality of light emitting elements connected in series. The lighting circuit includes a plurality of bypass switches respectively connected in parallel to the light emitting elements, a switching converter, and a converter controller configured to (i) stabilize a lamp current generated by the switching converter to a first target amount in a lighting-on state where at least one of the plurality of light emitting elements is turned on, and to (ii) stabilize the lamp current to a second target amount smaller than the first target amount in a complete lighting-off state where all of the plurality of light emitting elements are turned off.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Satoshi Kikuchi, Tomoyuki Ichikawa
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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
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Patent number: 10752164Abstract: A vehicular lamp of the present disclosure supports a light-on mode for flickering a light source. A driving unit flickers the light source. An abnormality circuit asserts an abnormality detection signal while a predetermined state indicative of an abnormality state is detected during the light-on of the light source. A timer circuit (i) advances clocking while the abnormality detection signal is asserted, during the light-on of the light source, and resets clocking when the abnormality detection signal is negated; (ii) maintains the clocked time during an immediately preceding light-on period while the light source is turned off; and (iii) asserts a fail signal when the clocked time reaches a predetermined determination time.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Satoshi Kikuchi
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Patent number: 10710495Abstract: A current detection circuit generates a current detection signal VCS that corresponds to a lamp current ILAMP supplied from a switching converter to a semiconductor light source. A hysteresis comparator compares a current detection signal VCS with an upper-side threshold signal VTHH and a lower-side threshold signal VTHL determined according to an analog dimming signal, and generates a control pulse SCNT that corresponds to the comparison result. A driver drives a switching transistor according to the control pulse. A PWM dimming circuit generates a gradual change signal by dulling a PWM (pulse width modulation) dimming signal, and changes the analog dimming signal based on the gradual change signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Satoshi Kikuchi
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Publication number: 20200186013Abstract: Provided is a decelerator-equipped motor unit which can achieve cost reductions in the control board and improvement of both mechanical and electrical reliability through a particular arrangement of elements on the board, thereby achieving a smaller size by realizing an appropriate board shape without increasing the size of the unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2018Publication date: June 11, 2020Inventors: Junya Kurata, Satoshi Kikuchi, Bjoern Schmitz, Erwin Kessler, Gebhard Hopfmueller
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Patent number: 10641454Abstract: There is provided a vehicle lamp includes a first light source part, a second light source part, a scanning optical system which scans an emission beam from the first light source part by repeating a periodical motion, and a lighting circuit which independently drives the first light source part and the second light source part. A scanning beam scanned by the scanning optical system is projected to form a first pattern, and an emission beam from the second light source part is projected to form a second pattern.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2018Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Satoshi Kikuchi, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Takao Muramatsu
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Patent number: 10569695Abstract: A converter controller controls a switching converter. A current detection circuit generates a current detection signal VCS that corresponds to a coil current IL of the switching converter. An error amplifier amplifies the difference between the current detection signal VCS and an analog signal VADIM that indicates a current to be supplied to a semiconductor light source, so as to generate an error signal VERR. A hysteresis comparator compares the current detection signal VCS with an upper threshold signal VTHH and a lower threshold signal VTHL determined according to the error signal VERR, and generates a control pulse SCNT that corresponds to a comparison result. A driver drives a switching transistor according to the control pulse SCNT.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Satoshi Kikuchi
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Patent number: 10560004Abstract: A sensor magnet holder is used to fix a sensor magnet to a motor shaft. The sensor magnet holder includes a press fitting part to which the motor shaft is press fitted; a holding part provided radially outside the press fitting part to hold the sensor magnet; and a joint part that joins the press fitting part and the holding part. The joint part is configured such that at least a part of the joint part is deflected by an external force.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2017Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: MABUCHI MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuyuki Yamamoto, Satoshi Kikuchi
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Patent number: 10447118Abstract: A motor apparatus includes a sensor magnet configured to rotate integrally with a drive shaft of a motor; a housing including a sensor housing section in which the sensor magnet is located; a pulse output board including a magnetically permeable base and a rotation detection element mounted on a mounting surface of the base and adapted to detect rotation of the sensor magnet and output a pulse; and a terminal electrically connected with the pulse output board, wherein the terminal includes an insertion slot into which the pulse output board is inserted, and the insertion slot opens to the sensor housing section, and when the pulse output board is inserted, the insertion slot supports the pulse output board in a neighborhood of the sensor magnet with a reverse surface on a side opposite the mounting surface of the base facing the sensor magnet and electrically connects the pulse output board.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: MABUCHI MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuyuki Yamamoto, Satoshi Kikuchi
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Patent number: 10429263Abstract: There is provided a pressure measuring device including: a first pressure gauge connected to a processing chamber configured to process a process target and configured to measure an internal pressure of the processing chamber when the process target is being processed; a second pressure gauge connected to the processing chamber; and a first switching valve configured to disconnect the second pressure gauge from the processing chamber when the process target is being processed inside the processing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Satoshi Kikuchi, Tsuneyuki Okabe, Satoru Koike
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Publication number: 20190044417Abstract: An annular sensor magnet to be fixed to a motor shaft by a press-fit includes an annular portion having magnetic poles alternately formed in an outer peripheral portion. The annular sensor magnet also includes a fixing portion extending from an inner peripheral portion of the annular portion toward a center to support and fix the motor shaft having been press-fit, and a stress reducing portion for reducing stress caused in a contact portion of the fixing portion that contacts the motor shaft when the motor shaft is press-fit onto the fixing portion. The sensor magnet includes a bonded magnet in which a magnetic material is dispersed in a plastic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2018Publication date: February 7, 2019Applicant: MABUCHI MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuyuki YAMAMOTO, Satoshi KIKUCHI
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Publication number: 20190016249Abstract: A current detection circuit generates a current detection signal VCS that corresponds to a lamp current ILAMP supplied from a switching converter to a semiconductor light source. A hysteresis comparator compares a current detection signal VCS with an upper-side threshold signal VTHH and a lower-side threshold signal VTHL determined according to an analog dimming signal, and generates a control pulse SCNT that corresponds to the comparison result. A driver drives a switching transistor according to the control pulse. A PWM dimming circuit generates a gradual change signal by dulling a PWM (pulse width modulation) dimming signal, and changes the analog dimming signal based on the gradual change signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2018Publication date: January 17, 2019Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Satoshi KIKUCHI
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Publication number: 20180372295Abstract: There is provided a vehicle lamp includes a first light source part, a second light source part, a scanning optical system which scans an emission beam from the first light source part by repeating a periodical motion, and a lighting circuit which independently drives the first light source part and the second light source part. A scanning beam scanned by the scanning optical system is projected to form a first pattern, and an emission beam from the second light source part is projected to form a second pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Satoshi Kikuchi, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Takao Muramatsu
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Patent number: 10156334Abstract: A vehicular lamp is provided with a plurality of light emitting units and configured to independently control ON/OFF of the light emitting units. The plurality of light emitting units are disposed so that a desired light distribution is formed by overlapping scanning of illumination spots formed on a virtual screen by emitted lights thereof. The plurality of light emitting units are divided in a plurality of channels, the same direct drive current is supplied to at least one light emitting unit of all of the light emitting units included in the same channel, and the direct drive current is constantly maintained during a scanning period. The current amount of drive current for each channel is set in accordance with a light distribution mode, and ON/OFF of each light emitting unit is switched at a predetermined timing determined in accordance with the light distribution mode during a scanning period.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2018Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satoshi Kikuchi, Kentarou Murakami, Takao Muramatsu
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Publication number: 20180339642Abstract: A lighting circuit is configured to drive a light source including a plurality of light emitting elements connected in series. The lighting circuit includes a plurality of bypass switches respectively connected in parallel to the light emitting elements, a switching converter, and a converter controller configured to (i) stabilize a lamp current generated by the switching converter to a first target amount in a lighting-on state where at least one of the plurality of light emitting elements is turned on, and to (ii) stabilize the lamp current to a second target amount smaller than the first target amount in a complete lighting-off state where all of the plurality of light emitting elements are turned off.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2018Publication date: November 29, 2018Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Satoshi Kikuchi, Tomoyuki Ichikawa
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Publication number: 20180334085Abstract: A vehicular lamp of the present disclosure supports a light-on mode for flickering a light source. A driving unit flickers the light source. An abnormality circuit asserts an abnormality detection signal while a predetermined state indicative of an abnormality state is detected during the light-on of the light source. A timer circuit (i) advances clocking while the abnormality detection signal is asserted, during the light-on of the light source, and resets clocking when the abnormality detection signal is negated; (ii) maintains the clocked time during an immediately preceding light-on period while the light source is turned off; and (iii) asserts a fail signal when the clocked time reaches a predetermined determination time.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2018Publication date: November 22, 2018Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Satoshi Kikuchi