Patents by Inventor Shoji Yoshioka

Shoji Yoshioka 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: 10211490
    Abstract: A storage battery deterioration measurement device and a power storage system are provided which measure deterioration in unit batteries included in an assembled battery constituting a storage battery in a shorter time than conventional devices and systems, and which include a control unit to acquire information based on the states of the multiple unit batteries and a deterioration determination unit to detect the unit battery indicating the maximum value among the information acquired by the control unit and the unit battery indicating the minimum value thereamong, and to detect deterioration in the unit batteries on the basis of the difference between a per-predetermined-period variation of information on the unit battery indicating the maximum value and a per-predetermined-period variation of information on the unit battery indicating the minimum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuruki Okada, Sho Shiraga, Toshihiro Wada, Shoji Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 9910099
    Abstract: A controller of a battery monitoring apparatus, said controller calculating the amount of heat generated inside a battery on the basis of information about the electric current which flows out of or flows into the battery. Furthermore, the controller calculates the amount of heat discharged from the surface of the battery, said amount being calculated on the basis of temperature information about at least one from among the surface of the battery and a substance in the vicinity of the battery. In addition, the controller calculates the temperature inside the battery on the basis of information about the amount of heat generated, and information about the amount of heat discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuruki Okada, Sho Shiraga, Toshihiro Wada, Shoji Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 9841464
    Abstract: A life prediction apparatus for an electrical storage device, which has a life predictor, includes: an operation controller for life prediction that controls operation of the electrical storage device; a data collector that collects measurement data with respect to a plurality of operation conditions and calculates and successively accumulates evaluation characteristics; a data analyzer that creates a regression formula representing a relationship between the evaluation characteristic and an operation time by curve fitting, with an appropriate approximation function, the accumulated evaluation characteristic data; and a life prediction formula creator that creates a life prediction formula for calculating a predicted value of the evaluation characteristic under random operation conditions on the basis of the regression formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Makiko Kise, Shinsuke Miki, Shoji Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 9711979
    Abstract: In a power supply system using various kinds of storage batteries such as a large capacity storage battery or a small capacity storage battery, an electric power path is complicated, which may increase failures such as a short circuit trouble. There is a problem in that, when a short circuit trouble between storage batteries occurs, damage to a smaller capacity storage battery is serious. Accordingly, in a power supply system according to the present invention, the relationship among voltages, current capacities, and electric power capacities of various kinds of storage batteries such as a large capacity storage battery or a small capacity storage battery is defined so that damage to the storage batteries may be minimized even when malfunction occurs in, for example, switching a switch, and energy transfers from a higher voltage storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daigo Takemura, Sho Shiraga, Toshihiro Wada, Shoji Yoshioka, Shigeki Harada, Hiroshi Araki, Hisanori Yamasaki
  • Publication number: 20170184522
    Abstract: A stability evaluation test device includes: an operation/test control unit that sets an SOC of a test electric storage device to an established value, and sets an SOC of a thermal standard electric storage device to a value lower than that of the SOC of the test electric storage device; a test data collection unit that measures a temperature of the test electric storage device and the thermal standard electric storage device; and an evaluation and analysis unit that calculates respective self-generated heat amounts of the test electric storage device and the thermal standard electric storage device on the basis of the temperatures of the electric storage devices, and evaluates the stability of the test electric storage device on the basis of a ratio of the self-generated heat amounts of the test electric storage device and of the thermal standard electric storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Makiko KISE, Shinji BADONO, Shoji YOSHIOKA
  • Publication number: 20170125856
    Abstract: A storage battery deterioration measurement device and a power storage system are provided which measure deterioration in unit batteries included in an assembled battery constituting a storage battery in a shorter time than conventional devices and systems, and which include a control unit to acquire information based on the states of the multiple unit batteries and a deterioration determination unit to detect the unit battery indicating the maximum value among the information acquired by the control unit and the unit battery indicating the minimum value thereamong, and to detect deterioration in the unit batteries on the basis of the difference between a per-predetermined-period variation of information on the unit battery indicating the maximum value and a per-predetermined-period variation of information on the unit battery indicating the minimum value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuruki OKADA, Sho SHIRAGA, Toshihiro WADA, Shoji YOSHIOKA
  • Patent number: 9620969
    Abstract: A storage battery equalization device is provided with: a battery pack including a plurality of storage battery modules; a plurality of equalization circuits corresponding to the respective storage battery modules, each including a DC/AC mutual converter circuit, a variable capacitor, and a transformer; external wirings interconnecting secondary windings of the transformers; voltage monitors each being connected across both electrodes of a corresponding storage battery module; and an equalization control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shoichi Kobayashi, Takashi Shindoi, Hiroshi Araki, Kenji Inomata, Toshihiro Wada, Shoji Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 9599676
    Abstract: Switches change the resistance value of a charge/discharge circuit in a period from starting a discharging at an upper limit voltage until the voltage reaches a lower limit voltage. An electric charge estimator computes electric charge by time-integrating current from a start of the discharging to an arbitrarily determined time, and computes a relationship between electric charge and voltage of a power storage device. An internal resistance estimator computes internal resistance based on voltages and currents of the storage device at times when resistance values are different. An electric energy estimator computes a relationship between electric charge and open voltage based on electric charge, voltage, current and internal resistance of the storage device. During charging or discharging of the storage device, the electric energy estimator estimates the electric energy of the power storage device based on the electric charge, the open voltage, the internal resistance, and the charge/discharge current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuruki Okada, Sho Shiraga, Toshihiro Wada, Shoji Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 9564768
    Abstract: A battery-condition monitoring device that monitors a condition of the battery through discharge thereof includes a discharger and a discharge control device. The discharger includes a discharge circuit having a load resistor and a switching element connected in series between a positive electrode of the battery and a negative electrode thereof. The discharge control device controls an open/close operation of the switching element. The discharge control device adjusts the resistance value of the load resistor in the discharger, thereby enabling an adjustment of a discharge current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keita Hatanaka, Sho Shiraga, Toshihiro Wada, Shoji Yoshioka
  • Publication number: 20170012445
    Abstract: In a power supply system using various kinds of storage batteries such as a large capacity storage battery or a small capacity storage battery, an electric power path is complicated, which may increase failures such as a short circuit trouble. There is a problem in that, when a short circuit trouble between storage batteries occurs, damage to a smaller capacity storage battery is serious. Accordingly, in a power supply system according to the present invention, the relationship among voltages, current capacities, and electric power capacities of various kinds of storage batteries such as a large capacity storage battery or a small capacity storage battery is defined so that damage to the storage batteries may be minimized even when malfunction occurs in, for example, switching a switch, and energy transfers from a higher voltage storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daigo TAKEMURA, Sho SHIRAGA, Toshihiro WADA, Shoji YOSHIOKA, Shigeki HARADA, Hiroshi ARAKI, Hisanori YAMASAKI
  • Patent number: 9520733
    Abstract: A charging and discharging device includes a switching circuit, an input of which is connected to a power supply, the switching circuit adjusting an output current IB to a power storing unit connected to an output of the switching circuit, and a control unit configured to generate an ON/OFF signal DGC to the switching circuit. The control unit includes a temperature-rise control unit configured to separately generate, based on a signal BTMP equivalent to the temperature of the power storing unit, a control signal FC for adjusting a ripple component of the output current IB and a control signal OFS for adjusting a non-ripple component of the output current IB and generates the ON/OFF signal DGC based on the control signal FC and the control signal OFS and outputs the ON/OFF signal DGC to the switching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kitanaka, Shoji Yoshioka, Keita Hatanaka
  • Publication number: 20160245870
    Abstract: Switches change the resistance value of a charge/discharge circuit in a period from starting a discharging at an upper limit voltage until the voltage reaches a lower limit voltage. An electric charge estimator computes electric charge by time-integrating current from a start of the discharging to an arbitrarily determined time, and computes a relationship between electric charge and voltage of a power storage device. An internal resistance estimator computes internal resistance based on voltages and currents of the storage device at times when resistance values are different. An electric energy estimator computes a relationship between electric charge and open voltage based on electric charge, voltage, current and internal resistance of the storage device. During charging or discharging of the storage device, the electric energy estimator estimates the electric energy of the power storage device based on the electric charge, the open voltage, the internal resistance, and the charge/discharge current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuruki OKADA, Sho SHIRAGA, Toshihiro WADA, Shoji YOSHIOKA
  • Publication number: 20160146896
    Abstract: A controller of a battery monitoring apparatus, said controller calculating the amount of heat generated inside a battery on the basis of information about the electric current which flows out of or flows into the battery. Furthermore, the controller calculates the amount of heat discharged from the surface of the battery, said amount being calculated on the basis of temperature information about at least one from among the surface of the battery and a substance in the vicinity of the battery. In addition, the controller calculates the temperature inside the battery on the basis of information about the amount of heat generated, and information about the amount of heat discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuruki OKADA, Sho SHIRAGA, Toshihiro WADA, Shoji YOSHIOKA
  • Publication number: 20150357843
    Abstract: A storage battery equalization device is provided with: a battery pack including a plurality of storage battery modules; a plurality of equalization circuits corresponding to the respective storage battery modules, each including a DC/AC mutual converter circuit, a variable capacitor, and a transformer; external wirings interconnecting secondary windings of the transformers; voltage monitors each being connected across both electrodes of a corresponding storage battery module; and an equalization control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoichi KOBAYASHI, Takashi SHINDOI, Hiroshi ARAKI, Kenji INOMATA, Toshihiro WADA, Shoji YOSHIOKA
  • Publication number: 20150331059
    Abstract: A controller of a battery monitoring apparatus, said controller calculating the amount of heat generated inside a battery on the basis of information about the electric current which flows out of or flows into the battery. Furthermore, the controller calculates the amount of heat discharged from the surface of the battery, said amount being calculated on the basis of temperature information about at least one from among the surface of the battery and a substance in the vicinity of the battery. In addition, the controller calculates the temperature inside the battery on the basis of information about the amount of heat generated, and information about the amount of heat discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Yuruki OKADA, Sho SHIRAGA, Toshihiro WADA, Shoji YOSHIOKA
  • Publication number: 20150323611
    Abstract: A life prediction apparatus for an electrical storage device, which has a life predictor, includes: an operation controller for life prediction that controls operation of the electrical storage device; a data collector that collects measurement data with respect to a plurality of operation conditions and calculates and successively accumulates evaluation characteristics; a data analyzer that creates a regression formula representing a relationship between the evaluation characteristic and an operation time by curve fitting, with an appropriate approximation function, the accumulated evaluation characteristic data; and a life prediction formula creator that creates a life prediction formula for calculating a predicted value of the evaluation characteristic under random operation conditions on the basis of the regression formula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makiko KISE, Shinsuke MIKI, Shoji YOSHIOKA
  • Patent number: 9041404
    Abstract: When a continuous short circuit occurs between both terminals of a battery pack, fault, destruction and rupture of the battery can occur. Further, when a momentary short circuit occurs, a user may continue to use, without knowing thermal and electrical damage to the batteries, and reliability for the batteries is impaired, To overcome the problem, in a battery pack configured by connecting a plurality of storage batteries in series, at least one first storage battery is included which has a low capacity compared to second storage batteries during high-rate discharge, and the first storage battery undergoes polarity inversion during external short circuit, thereby preventing the other batteries from becoming damaged. There are also included a detector that detects voltage of the first storage battery, and a fault signal generator that generates an output fault signal when a voltage detected by the detector inverses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoji Yoshioka, Keita Hatanaka, Hidetoshi Kitanaka
  • Patent number: 9013151
    Abstract: A state-of-charge estimation apparatus connected to a power storage device having cell batteries, and estimating a state of charge of the power storage device, the apparatus including a first SOC computation unit computing a current integration value based on a total current from a current detector detecting the total current flowing to the storage device from a power conversion device using a previous SOC value as an initial value, and outputting the integration value as a first state-of-charge estimated value, and a second SOC computation unit estimating, after discharge suspension in the storage device, an open-circuit voltage based on a total voltage on a connection point between the conversion device and the storage device, a previous value of the total voltage, and a gain with time passage after discharge suspension in the storage device, and outputting the open-circuit voltage as a second state-of-charge estimated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akiko Tabuchi, Shoji Yoshioka, Keita Hatanaka, Hidetoshi Kitanaka
  • Patent number: 8975897
    Abstract: A state-of-charge estimating apparatus includes at least a first arithmetic unit configured to calculate, as a first estimation value, the present estimation value calculated based on a battery capacity, the last estimation value, and an electric current flowing in and out between a current control apparatus, which controls charge and discharge amounts of a power storage apparatus, and the power storage apparatus, and a second arithmetic unit configured to calculate, during constant current control, as the present value of a second estimation value, an estimation value calculated based on an equivalent circuit model of a battery and a voltage of the battery and, on the other hand, calculate, during constant voltage control, as the second estimation value, the present estimation value calculated taking into account a resistance change of the battery based on the equivalent circuit model of the battery and the voltage of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shoji Yoshioka, Akiko Tabuchi, Keita Hatanaka, Hidetoshi Kitanaka
  • Publication number: 20150061601
    Abstract: A battery-condition monitoring device that monitors a condition of the battery through discharge thereof includes a discharger and a discharge control device. The discharger includes a discharge circuit having a load resistor and a switching element connected in series between a positive electrode of the battery and a negative electrode thereof. The discharge control device controls an open/close operation of the switching element. The discharge control device adjusts the resistance value of the load resistor in the discharger, thereby enabling an adjustment of a discharge current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keita Hatanaka, Sho Shiraga, Toshihiro Wada, Shoji Yoshioka