Patents by Inventor Shunichi SAWANO
Shunichi SAWANO 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: 11940334Abstract: In a power supply control device, a temperature calculation circuit calculates a wire temperature of a wire based on the current value of a current flowing through the wire. If the wire temperature calculated by the temperature calculation circuit is lower than a temperature threshold value, a drive unit switches on or off a switch in accordance with content indicated by a control signal output by a communication unit. When the wire temperature calculated by the temperature calculation circuit rises to the temperature threshold value or higher, the drive unit switches off the switch independently of content indicated by a control signal output by the communication unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2019Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Shunichi Sawano, Masayuki Kato, Shinnosuke Nakaguchi
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Publication number: 20240071705Abstract: A power supply control device is to be installed in a vehicle. The power supply control device controls power supply via a semiconductor switch and a fuse by turning the semiconductor switch ON or OFF. The semiconductor switch and the fuse are mounted on a circuit board. In the fuse, two long plate-shaped terminals are arranged in a row. The fusing portion and a part of the two terminals are covered with a housing having heat resistance. The two terminals are disposed in a current path of a current flowing through the semiconductor switch. The current flows through the fusing portion. If the temperature of the fusing portion exceeds a predetermined temperature, the fusing portion is fused.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2021Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Ryosuke MASUDA, Masayuki KATO, Shunichi SAWANO, Ryohei SAWADA
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Publication number: 20240055851Abstract: A plurality of fuses (F1, F2, . . . , and Fn) are respectively disposed on current paths for a plurality of currents branched from one end of a DC power source (10). In a blown fuse detection apparatus (11), ends on one side of a plurality of capacitors (C1, C2, . . . , Cn) are respectively connected to the ends on the downstream side of the plurality of fuses (F1, F2, . . . , and Fn). A plurality of currents that have flowed through the capacitors (C1, C2, . . . , Cn) are input to a circuit switch (30) and a circuit resistor (31). A microcomputer (37) instructs that the circuit switch (30) be switched on, obtains a detected value of a resistance voltage, and detects, based on the obtained detected value, whether or not there is a blown fuse among the fuses (F1, F2, . . . , and Fn).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2021Publication date: February 15, 2024Inventor: Shunichi SAWANO
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Patent number: 11899043Abstract: Provided is current detection apparatus for detecting current flowing through a power supply path of a power supply control apparatus. The power supply path includes a first conductor and a second conductor. The current detection apparatus includes: a first and a second shunt resistor connected in parallel between the first and the second conductor, and a current detection circuit detecting: (1) current flowing through the first shunt resistor; and (2) current flowing from the first to the second conductor via both the first and second shunt resistors. The current detection apparatus further includes an arithmetic circuit that calculates current flowing through the power supply path based on a correlative relationship between the current flowing from the first to the second conductor via both the first and the second shunt resistor and current flowing through the first shunt resistor, and the current detected by the current detection circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Ryosuke Masuda, Masayuki Kato, Shunichi Sawano
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Patent number: 11881705Abstract: In a power distribution device, a current detection circuit detects a current value of a current flowing through a wire. When a switch is on, a microcomputer determines whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied, based on the current value detected by the current detection circuit. If it is determined by the microcomputer that the predetermined condition is satisfied, a drive circuit turns off the switch.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Shunichi Sawano, Masayuki Kato
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Publication number: 20230402835Abstract: A power supply control device controls power supply through a wire. A first current output circuit is configured to output, to a temperature difference circuit, a current that is larger the larger a wire current, which flows through the wire is. The temperature difference circuit is configured to output a voltage that is higher the larger a temperature difference between a wire temperature of the wire and an ambient temperature in the surroundings of the wire is. A drive circuit is configured to interrupt a flow of the wire current if the output voltage of the temperature difference circuit is at least a voltage threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2021Publication date: December 14, 2023Inventors: Kota Oda, Masaya INA, Shunichi SAWANO, Masayuki KATO
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Patent number: 11799402Abstract: In a drive device, a first connection circuit, a second connection circuit, and a third connection circuit are connected individually between an input end and an output end. A first motor is connected between a connection node between a first input switch and a first output switch of the first connection circuit and a connection node between a third intermediate switch and a third output switch of the third connection circuit. A second motor is connected between a connection node between a second input switch and a second output switch of the second connection circuit and a connection node between a third input switch and the third intermediate switch of the third connection circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Shinnosuke Nakaguchi, Kota Oda, Shunichi Sawano, Masayuki Kato
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Patent number: 11699952Abstract: A power supply control device controls power supply to a load through a power supply switch. A driving circuit switches on or off the power supply switch. When the driving circuit switches the power supply switch from off to on, a waveform value regarding the current waveform of a current that flows through the load is output by a waveform value detection unit to a microcomputer. The microcomputer determines power supply control conditions regarding control of power supply to the load based on the waveform value that is input from the waveform detection unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2019Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Shunichi Sawano, Masayuki Kato
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Publication number: 20230208290Abstract: A power supply control apparatus controls power supply from a DC power source to a load by switching on or off a power supply FET. The current adjustment circuit adjusts the current flowing through the resistor circuit to a value obtained by dividing the voltage between the drain and the source of the power supply FET by the resistance value of the resistor circuit. A drive circuit switches off the power supply FET when a voltage across the detection resistor exceeds a predetermined voltage. The on-resistance value of the power supply FET fluctuates according on the ambient temperature of the power supply FET. The resistance value of the resistor circuit fluctuates in the same direction as the on-resistance value according to the ambient temperature of the power supply FET.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2021Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Hayaki MURATA, Koki SAKAKIBARA, Ryohei SAWADA, Shunichi SAWANO, Kota ODA
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Publication number: 20230198387Abstract: A drain and a source of an N-channel type FET included in a power feeding control apparatus are provided on an electric current path along which an electric current flows from a DC power supply to a load, the drain being a part of the FET into which the electric current is input and the source being a part of the FET from which the electric current is output. A driving circuit switches the FET off when a first determination circuit determines that a control voltage between a gate and the source of the FET is greater than or equal to a first threshold value, and a second determination circuit determines that a drain-source voltage between the drain and the source of the FET is greater than or equal to a second threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2021Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Hayaki MURATA, Shunichi SAWANO
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Publication number: 20230155367Abstract: A power supply control device controls a supply of power by switching a FET on or off. A current that rises when a current flowing through the FET rises flows through a resistor circuit. A drive circuit makes a notification when a voltage across both ends of the resistor circuit reaches a voltage greater than or equal to a reference voltage. A microcomputer instructs an application circuit to apply a voltage to the resistor circuit. As a result, the application circuit applies a voltage greater than or equal to the reference voltage to the resistor circuit. After instructing the application circuit to stop applying the voltage to the resistor circuit, the microcomputer determines whether or not the drive circuit is making the notification.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2021Publication date: May 18, 2023Inventor: Shunichi SAWANO
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Publication number: 20230008237Abstract: A load is detachably connected to a device connector of a switch device. A resistance value of a switch circuit when a sub-switch is ON is greater than an ON resistance value of a main switch. A microcomputer acquires node voltage information indicating a node voltage of a connection node located downstream of the main switch and the sub-switch from a voltage detection unit in a state where the main switch is OFF and the sub-switch is ON. The microcomputer determines whether a switch current that flows via the main switch when the main switch turns ON will be less than a current threshold value, based on the acquired node voltage information.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2020Publication date: January 12, 2023Inventor: Shunichi SAWANO
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Publication number: 20220376637Abstract: In a drive device, a first connection circuit, a second connection circuit, and a third connection circuit are connected individually between an input end and an output end. A first motor is connected between a connection node between a first input switch and a first output switch of the first connection circuit and a connection node between a third intermediate switch and a third output switch of the third connection circuit. A second motor is connected between a connection node between a second input switch and a second output switch of the second connection circuit and a connection node between a third input switch and the third intermediate switch of the third connection circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2020Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Shinnosuke NAKAGUCHI, Kota ODA, Shunichi SAWANO, Masayuki KATO
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Publication number: 20220308092Abstract: Provided is current detection apparatus for detecting current flowing through a power supply path of a power supply control apparatus. The power supply path includes a first conductor and a second conductor. The current detection apparatus includes: a first and a second shunt resistor connected in parallel between the first and the second conductor, and a current detection circuit detecting: (1) current flowing through the first shunt resistor; and (2) current flowing from the first to the second conductor via both the first and second shunt resistors. The current detection apparatus further includes an arithmetic circuit that calculates current flowing through the power supply path based on a correlative relationship between the current flowing from the first to the second conductor via both the first and the second shunt resistor and current flowing through the first shunt resistor, and the current detected by the current detection circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2020Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Ryosuke Masuda, Masayuki Kato, Shunichi Sawano
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Patent number: 11277023Abstract: In a power feeding control device, a control unit determines whether or not a current is flowing through at least one of the first switches, when an instruction to turn off first switches has been given. If it is determined that a current is flowing, the control unit causes a first capacitor to discharge via a current path of the current flowing through a second switch.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2019Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Shunichi Sawano, Shinji Nouda, Masayuki Kato
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Publication number: 20220045502Abstract: In a power distribution device, a current detection circuit detects a current value of a current flowing through a wire. When a switch is on, a microcomputer determines whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied, based on the current value detected by the current detection circuit. If it is determined by the microcomputer that the predetermined condition is satisfied, a drive circuit turns off the switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2019Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventors: Shunichi Sawano, Masayuki Kato
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Publication number: 20210391788Abstract: A power supply control device controls power supply to a load through a power supply switch. A driving circuit switches on or off the power supply switch. When the driving circuit switches the power supply switch from off to on, a waveform value regarding the current waveform of a current that flows through the load is output by a waveform value detection unit to a microcomputer. The microcomputer determines power supply control conditions regarding control of power supply to the load based on the waveform value that is input from the waveform detection unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2019Publication date: December 16, 2021Inventors: Shunichi Sawano, Masayuki Kato
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Publication number: 20210384757Abstract: In a power feeding control device, a control unit determines whether or not a current is flowing through at least one of the first switches, when an instruction to turn off first switches has been given. If it is determined that a current is flowing, the control unit causes a first capacitor to discharge via a current path of the current flowing through a second switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2019Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Shunichi Sawano, Shinji Nouda, Masayuki Kato
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Publication number: 20210325259Abstract: In a power supply control device, a temperature calculation circuit calculates a wire temperature of a wire based on the current value of a current flowing through the wire. If the wire temperature calculated by the temperature calculation circuit is lower than a temperature threshold value, a drive unit switches on or off a switch in accordance with content indicated by a control signal output by a communication unit. When the wire temperature calculated by the temperature calculation circuit rises to the temperature threshold value or higher, the drive unit switches off the switch independently of content indicated by a control signal output by the communication unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2019Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Shunichi Sawano, Masayuki Kato, Shinnosuke Nakaguchi
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Patent number: 10998712Abstract: A power supply control apparatus includes: a semiconductor switching element switched with PWM control; a PWM signal output unit outputting a PWM signal; a current circuit outputting a current related to a current flowing through the semiconductor switching element; a filter circuit converting the current that is output from the current circuit to a voltage; an overcurrent protection circuit turning off the semiconductor switching element based on a voltage value of the voltage filtered by the filter circuit; a voltage detection unit detecting the voltage value of the voltage at a timing near an end of a pulse of a PWM signal; a temperature estimation unit estimating, a temperature of an electric wire through which a current flows that also flows through the semiconductor switching element; and an electric wire protection unit turning off the semiconductor switching element based on the temperature estimated by the temperature estimation unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2017Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Shunichi Sawano, Yuuki Sugisawa, Kota Oda, Keisuke Mase