Patents by Inventor Shinobu Tajima

Shinobu Tajima 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).

  • Patent number: 6533074
    Abstract: An elevator control apparatus includes a converter, an inverter, a controller for controlling a motor based on AC power having a variable voltage and a variable frequency supplied from the inverter and operating an elevator; a power storage unit for storing DC power; a charge/discharge control circuit that issues a drive signal such that discharge from the power storage unit increases within a range of power that can be discharged when an elevator is driven immediately following completion of uniform charging; and a charge/discharge circuit for charging the power storage unit in accordance with the drive signal. This arrangement permits quick discharging while effectively using discharge electric power until a state of charge is reached wherein regenerative electric power can be used for charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, The Tokyo Electri Power Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinji Tominaga, Ikuro Suga, Shinobu Tajima, Hiroshi Araki, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6522099
    Abstract: An elevator control apparatus includes a converter, an inverter, a controller for controlling a motor based on AC power having a variable voltage and a variable frequency supplied from the inverter and operating an elevator; a power storage unit for storing DC power; a charge/discharge control circuit that issues a drive signal such that discharge from the power storage unit increases within a range of power that can be discharged when an elevator is driven immediately following completion of uniform charging; and a charge/discharge circuit for starting uniform charging of the power storage unit in accordance with the drive signal. This arrangement permits quick discharging while effectively using discharge electric power until a state of charge is reached wherein regenerative electric power can be used for charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinji Tominaga, Ikuro Suga, Shinobu Tajima, Hiroshi Araki, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20020189906
    Abstract: An elevator control apparatus solves a major problem with a conventional elevator control apparatus in that a state of charge of a battery is not always maintained at 100% because of the need for securing an allowance for charging regenerative electric power, causing generation of an inert material in the battery with a resultant decrease in an apparent charging capacity of the battery and a shortened life of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Tominaga, Ikuro Suga, Shinobu Tajima, Hiroshi Araki, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20020179376
    Abstract: An elevator control apparatus solves a major problem with a conventional elevator control apparatus in that a state of charge of a battery is not always maintained at 100% because of the need for securing an allowance for charging regenerative electric power, causing generation of an inert material in the battery with a resultant decrease in an apparent charging capacity of the battery and a shortened life of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Tominaga, Ikuro Suga, Shinobu Tajima, Hiroshi Araki, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6474447
    Abstract: To reduce a total power amount required to drive an elevator by a commercial power supply during a peak power-consumption time period, for instance, afternoon in summer time, a control apparatus for this elevator is arranged by employing: a converter for rectifying AC electric power to be converted into DC electric power; and inverter for inverting the DC electric power into AC electric power having a variable voltage and a variable frequency; a motor driven by said AC electric power having the variable voltage and the variable frequency so as to operate an elevator; a power storage apparatus for charging thereinto electric power; and a power controller for using both the power storage apparatus and the commercial power supply so as to supply the electric power to the inverter, and for controlling at least any one of the power storage apparatus and the commercial power supply in order to supply electric power which is required for the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc
    Inventors: Shinobu Tajima, Hiroshi Araki, Ikuro Suga, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6471013
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an elevator which has a high energy-saving effect based on charging while using a low-capacity and low-priced secondary battery. The apparatus has a converter for converting an alternating current from an ac power supply into a dc power by rectifying the alternating current, an inverter for driving an electric motor by converting the dc power from the converter into variable-voltage variable-frequency ac power, the motor being driven for the operation of the elevator, and a power accumulator connected to a dc bus between the converter and the inverter. The power accumulator accumulates dc power from the dc bus during regenerative operation of the elevator, and supplies the accumulated dc power to the dc bus during power-drive operation of the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokazu Banno, Shinobu Tajima, Hiroshi Araki
  • Patent number: 6460658
    Abstract: An elevator control apparatus includes a power storage unit for storing the DC power; a charge/discharge control circuit that controls a state of charge of the power storage unit, outputs a drive signal to charge the power storage unit with the DC power during a halt of the elevator based on operational information regarding the elevator received from the controller, and outputs a stop signal to stop charging when a voltage of the power storage unit reaches a preset voltage; and a charge/discharge circuit for starting charging the power storage unit with the DC power in response to the drive signal, and stopping the charging in response to the stop signal. This arrangement ensures landing of the elevator in case of a power failure, eliminates a peak in power consumption, and permits energy saving by effectively using power produced in a regenerative mode of the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, The Tokyo Electric Power Company Incorporated
    Inventors: Ikuro Suga, Hiroshi Araki, Shinobu Tajima, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6457565
    Abstract: An elevator control apparatus includes a converter, an inverter, a controller for controlling a motor based on AC power having a variable voltage and a variable frequency supplied from the inverter and operating an elevator; a power storage unit for storing DC power; a charge/discharge control circuit that issues a drive signal such that discharge from the power storage unit increases within a range of power that can be discharged when an elevator is driven immediately following completion of uniform charging; and a charge/discharge circuit for discharging the power storage unit in accordance with the drive signal. This arrangement permits quick discharging while effectively using discharge electric power until a state of charge is reached wherein regenerative electric power can be used for charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinji Tominaga, Ikuro Suga, Shinobu Tajima, Hiroshi Araki, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6454053
    Abstract: An elevator control apparatus includes a converter; an inverter; a controller for controlling a motor based on the AC power having a variable voltage and a variable frequency supplied from the inverter and operating an elevator; a power storage unit for storing the DC power; a thermistor for detecting temperature of the power storage unit; a charge/discharge control circuit for controlling a charging and discharging of the power storage unit based on the detected temperature and issuing a drive signal; and a charge/discharge circuit for charging and discharging the power storage unit based on the drive signal. The elevator control apparatus estimates a charging and discharging capability of the power storage unit and protecting the power storage unit, restraining sudden deterioration of the power storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc
    Inventors: Shinji Tominaga, Ikuro Suga, Shinobu Tajima, Hiroshi Araki, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6439347
    Abstract: An elevator control apparatus includes: a converter for rectifying AC power into DC power; an inverter for converting the DC power into AC power having a variable voltage and a variable frequency; a controller for controlling a motor based on the AC power having the variable voltage and the variable frequency, operating an elevator; a power storage unit for storing the DC power; a required power computing circuit for computing required power of the elevator based on a speed command of the controller; a charge/discharge control circuit for issuing a drive signal for changing charge current, supplied to the power storage unit, based on regenerative electric power so as to charge the power storage unit with the regenerative electric power if the required power of the elevator is negative, meaning that the regenerative electric power is available; and a charge/discharge circuit for charging the power storage unit with the regenerative electric power in accordance with the drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc
    Inventors: Ikuro Suga, Hiroshi Araki, Shinobu Tajima, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6439348
    Abstract: A controller of an elevator for stably controlling regenerated power by using a cheap secondary battery of a low capacity without damaging energy saving effects obtained by charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc
    Inventors: Shinobu Tajima, Hiroshi Araki, Ikuro Suga, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6435312
    Abstract: A controller of an elevator for smooth speed control, using a cheap power accumulating device having a low capacity, even during a power failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc
    Inventors: Shinobu Tajima, Hiroshi Araki, Ikuro Suga, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6435313
    Abstract: An elevator controller for stably controlling charging and discharging of a power accumulating device by using a cheap secondary battery having a low capacity, without damaging energy saving effects obtained by charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinobu Tajima, Hiroshi Araki, Ikuro Suga, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6435311
    Abstract: An elevator control device includes: a convertor which rectifies a.c. power and converts the a.c. power into d.c. power; an inverter which converts the d.c. power into a.c. power having a variable voltage and a variable frequency; an electric motor which is driven by the a. c. power having a variable voltage and a variable frequency to operate an elevator; a power storing unit which is charged with electric power; a required-power arithmetically operating circuit which calculates power required by the elevator, which is an electric power required for the operation of the elevator or an electric power caused by the operation of the elevator; and a charging/discharging control circuit which controls charging and discharging of the power storing unit based on the power required by the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabuskiki Kaisha, The Tokyo Electirc Power Company, Ince
    Inventors: Hiroshi Araki, Shinobu Tajima, Ikuro Suga, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6431323
    Abstract: To reduce total power required to drive an elevator by a commercial power supply during a peak power-consumption time period, for instance, an afternoon in summer time, a control apparatus includes a converter for rectifying AC electric power into DC electric power; an inverter for inverting the DC electric power into AC electric power having a variable voltage and a variable frequency; a motor driven by the AC electric power having the variable voltage and the variable frequency to operate an elevator; a power storage apparatus for storing electric power; and a charge/discharge control for controlling charging and discharging operation of the power storage apparatus based upon a charging target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Shinobu Tajima, Hiroshi Araki, Ikuro Suga, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6431324
    Abstract: A controller of an elevator for reducing the number of execution times of uniform charging of a power accumulating device and having higher energy saving effects. The controller has a converter, an inverter, a power accumulating device arranged between DC buses, a charging-discharging control circuit for controlling charging and discharging operations of the power accumulating device, and a charging-discharging state measuring device for measuring at least one of temperature, charging and discharging currents, and charging and discharging voltages of the power accumulating device. The charging-discharging control circuit sets the execution of uniform charging of the power accumulating device on the basis of an output of the charging-discharging state measuring device, and executes only the required uniform charging. Thus, an elevator with the power accumulating device having larger energy saving effects is constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinobu Tajima, Hiroshi Araki, Ikuro Suga, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6422351
    Abstract: An elevator controller providing stable speed control using a cheap power accumulating device having a low capacity even in discharging. The controller has a converter, an inverter, a power accumulating device arranged between DC buses, a charging-discharging control circuit for controlling charging and discharging of the power accumulating device, a power failure detector, a current measuring instrument and a voltage measuring instrument for respectively detecting an output current and an output voltage of the inverter, a car load measuring instrument, an encoder, and a speed control circuit for controlling the inverter. The speed control circuit calculates output power of the inverter, and calculates discharging power of the power accumulating device on the basis of a measured value of charging and discharging states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Shinobu Tajima, Hiroshi Araki, Ikuro Suga, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6415892
    Abstract: A controller of an elevator in which space for mounting a power accumulating device can be saved and the controller can be applied to an elevator having no machine room. The controller has a power accumulating device arranged between DC buses connected to a converter and an inverter, and accumulating DC power from the DC buses during a regenerative operation of the elevator and supplying the DC power accumulated to the DC buses during a power operation; and a charging-discharging control for controlling charging and discharging of the power accumulating device with respect to the DC buses. The power accumulating device includes a secondary battery and a DC—DC converter for controlling charging and discharging of the secondary battery, and the secondary battery includes plural cells connected in series. The secondary battery is arranged at any one of four corners within an elevator shaft, near a rail, or near a cable within the elevator shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Hiroshi Araki, Shinobu Tajima, Ikuro Suga, Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20020053490
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an elevator which has a high energy-saving effect based on charging while using a low-capacity and low-priced secondary battery. The apparatus has a converter for converting an alternating current from an ac power supply into a dc power by rectifying the alternating current, an inverter for driving an electric motor by converting the dc power from the converter into variable-voltage variable-frequency ac power, the motor being driven for the operation of the elevator, and a power accumulator connected to a dc bus between the converter and the inverter. The power accumulator accumulates dc power from the dc bus during regenerative operation of the elevator, and supplies the accumulated dc power to the dc bus during power-drive operation of the elevator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: Hirokazu Banno, Shinobu Tajima, Hiroshi Araki
  • Patent number: 6325178
    Abstract: A rule base storing control rule sets predicts elevator group management performance, such as waiting time distribution, obtained when applying each rule set stored in the rule base to the current traffic situation, and selects a rule set in accordance with a performance prediction. In addition, a weight database stores weighting parameters of a neural network corresponding to the rule sets and performance learning measures for correcting the weighting parameters in accordance with learning by the neural network. As a result, the optimal rule set is applied at all times for group management control of the elevators to provide passengers with excellent service and to enhance prediction accuracy in correspondence with the actual operational situation of the elevators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shiro Hikita, Shinobu Tajima