Patents by Inventor Sozaburo Hotta

Sozaburo Hotta 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: 8545765
    Abstract: A first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode are provided in a middle of a passage. The second electrode is provided on an upstream side of the first electrode, and the third electrode is provided on a downstream side of the first electrode. A connecting line connects the first electrode to a first pole of a pulsed power supply, and connects the second electrode and the third electrode to a second pole of the pulsed power supply. The first electrode crosses a first gas passing surface and occupies a part of the first gas passing surface. The second electrode and the third electrode cross a second gas passing surface and a third gas passing surface and occupy a part of the second gas passing surface and the third gas passing surface respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Shionoya, Naohiro Shimizu, Yuichiro Imanishi, Sozaburo Hotta
  • Patent number: 8476954
    Abstract: A DC source generates a DC voltage between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. An inductive element and a parallel-connected switch-circuits unit are provided in a conductive path extending from the positive electrode to the negative electrode. The parallel-connected switch-circuits unit includes a plurality of switch circuits connected in parallel with one another. The switch circuit opens and closes the conductive path in accordance with a drive signal inputted from a drive circuit. The drive signal causes the plurality of switch circuits to successively perform an ON operation in which the conductive path is closed and then opened. A pulse voltage generation period in which a pulse voltage occurs in the inductive element continuously follows an ON period which is a duration from when the conductive path is closed to when the conductive path is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Terazawa, Sozaburo Hotta, Yuji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8454899
    Abstract: A gas reforming device including: a flow passage forming body flow passage through which process gas flows; a cathode provided on a cross section of the flow passage; an anode provided apart from the cathode, and including a bar-like portion; and a pulse power supply that applies a pulse voltage between the cathode and the anode. The cathode includes: an opening array body that has at least a surface thereof made of an insulator, and has a planar structure in which openings through which the process gas passes are arrayed; and a grounding electrode provided on a peripheral portion of the flow passage. A tip end of the bar-like portion of the anode is located in an inside of the flow passage of the process gas, and is spaced apart from the opening array body in a direction parallel to a direction where the process gas flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohiro Shimizu, Yuuichirou Imanishi, Sozaburo Hotta
  • Publication number: 20120199286
    Abstract: A first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode are provided in a middle of a passage. The second electrode is provided on an upstream side of the first electrode, and the third electrode is provided on a downstream side of the first electrode. A connecting line connects the first electrode to a first pole of a pulsed power supply, and connects the second electrode and the third electrode to a second pole of the pulsed power supply. The first electrode crosses a first gas passing surface and occupies a part of the first gas passing surface. The second electrode and the third electrode cross a second gas passing surface and a third gas passing surface and occupy a part of the second gas passing surface and the third gas passing surface respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: NGK Insulators Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru SHIONOYA, Naohiro SHIMIZU, Yuichiro IMANISHI, Sozaburo HOTTA
  • Publication number: 20120139604
    Abstract: A DC source generates a DC voltage between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. An inductive element and a parallel-connected switch-circuits unit are provided in a conductive path extending from the positive electrode to the negative electrode. The parallel-connected switch-circuits unit includes a plurality of switch circuits connected in parallel with one another. The switch circuit opens and closes the conductive path in accordance with a drive signal inputted from a drive circuit. The drive signal causes the plurality of switch circuits to successively perform an ON operation in which the conductive path is closed and then opened. A pulse voltage generation period in which a pulse voltage occurs in the inductive element continuously follows an ON period which is a duration from when the conductive path is closed to when the conductive path is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya TERAZAWA, Sozaburo HOTTA, Yuji WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20110135542
    Abstract: A gas reforming device including: a flow passage forming body flow passage through which process gas flows; a cathode provided on a cross section of the flow passage; an anode provided apart from the cathode, and including a bar-like portion; and a pulse power supply that applies a pulse voltage between the cathode and the anode. The cathode includes: an opening array body that has at least a surface thereof made of an insulator, and has a planar structure in which openings through which the process gas passes are arrayed; and a grounding electrode provided on a peripheral portion of the flow passage. A tip end of the bar-like portion of the anode is located in an inside of the flow passage of the process gas, and is spaced apart from the opening array body in a direction parallel to a direction where the process gas flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohiro SHIMIZU, Yuuichirou Imanishi, Sozaburo Hotta