Patents by Inventor Sumio Wada

Sumio Wada 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: 8505839
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device has a housing and an electrostatically atomizing unit accommodated within the housing. The electrostatically atomizing unit includes an atomizing barrel and an emitter electrode disposed within the atomizing barrel and is configured to atomize water supplied to the emitter electrode at a tip of the emitter electrode and generate mist of charged minute water particles. Formed within the housing is an air pressure chamber which surrounds the atomizing barrel. The atomizing barrel is formed in its peripheral wall with a plurality of air inlets which are arranged circumferentially around the atomizing barrel to introduce pressurized air from the air pressure chamber for carrying the mist on the pressurized air introduced into the atomizing barrel from the plural air inlets and discharging the mist outwardly of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Yano, Sumio Wada, Akihide Sugawa, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Shousuke Akisada, Kishiko Hirai
  • Patent number: 8448883
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device includes an emitter electrode, an opposed electrode disposed in an opposed relation to the emitter electrode, liquid supply means for supplying a liquid to the emitter electrode, and high voltage generating means for applying a high voltage across the emitter electrode and the opposed electrode. The liquid supplied onto the emitter electrode is electrostatically charged through application of the high voltage, as a result of which charged minute liquid particles are discharged from a discharge end of the emitter electrode. The device includes detecting means for detecting a discharge condition developed between the emitter electrode and the opposed electrode, and a controller for controlling the high voltage generating means to regulate its voltage output so as to maintain a predetermined discharge condition, based on detection results by the detecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Sumio Wada, Atsushi Isaka, Kenji Obata, Yutaka Uratani, Shousuke Akisada, Hiroshi Suda, Takayuki Nakada
  • Patent number: 8282028
    Abstract: The liquid supplied to an emitter electrode located at a tip of an atomization nozzle receives the high-voltage and electrically charged. The mist of the charged minute water particles of nanometer sizes is generated from the emitter electrode. A pressure regulating means regulates a pressure applied to the liquid on the tip of the emitter electrode. Therefore, the mode of generating the mist of the charged minute water particles of nanometer sizes or the mode of generating the mist of the charged minute water particles of nanometer and micron size is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Nakada, Hiroshi Suda, Masaharu Machi, Sumio Wada, Atsushi Isaka, Akihide Sugawa
  • Patent number: 8235312
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrostatic atomizer, which comprises a high-voltage applying section adapted to apply a high voltage between an atomizing electrode and a counter electrode so as to electrostatically atomize water supplied onto the atomizing electrode, wherein the high-voltage applying section is operable to set an absolute value of a voltage to be applied to the atomizing electrode smaller than an absolute value of a voltage to be applied to the counter electrode. This allows a physical object, such as an article stored in a mist-receiving space or an inner wall of a structural member defining the mist-receiving space to become less likely to be electrostatically charged, and makes it possible to avoid causing a problem about discomfort due to discharge of static charges when a user touches the physical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suda, Takayuki Nakada, Masaharu Machi, Tomohiro Yamaguchi, Sumio Wada
  • Patent number: 8191805
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrostatic atomizer, which comprises a cooler adapted to cool an atomizing electrode so as to allow moisture in air to be frozen onto the atomizing electrode, a melter adapted to melt ice frozen on the atomizing electrode so as to supply water onto the atomizing electrode, a high-voltage applying section adapted to apply a high voltage to the atomizing electrode, and a control section adapted to activate the high-voltage applying section in a state after supplying water onto the atomizing electrode by melting the ice frozen thereon, so as to apply a high voltage to the atomizing electrode to electrostatically atomize the water supplied on the atomizing electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Nakada, Hiroshi Suda, Masaharu Machi, Tomohiro Yamaguchi, Sumio Wada
  • Patent number: 8035998
    Abstract: A switching power supply includes an active device for pulling out a part of a control signal from a control terminal of the switching device in an RCC, and a control signal generation circuit that applies adjustment voltage as ON/OFF time control voltage to a control terminal of the active device. The active device pulls out the control signal so as to decrease or increase an OFF time of the switching device while fixing the ON time of the switching device when the adjustment voltage is decreased or increased in the active region of the active device, respectively. An element of a timing circuit in the RCC pulls out the control signal so as to increase or decrease an ON time of the switching device while fixing the OFF time of the switching device when the adjustment voltage is decreased or increased in the cut-off region of the active device, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyohei Kada, Mikio Itou, Sumio Wada, Shousuke Akisada, Atsushi Isaka, Kenji Obata
  • Patent number: 7959717
    Abstract: An air conditioning system with an electrostatically atomizing function includes an electrostatically atomizing unit and a ventilation duct which flows conditioned air. The electrostatically atomizing unit generates a mist of charged minute water particles. The electrostatically atomizing unit is provided with a discharge port which locates adjacent to an air outlet of the ventilation duct. The mist of the charged minute water particles flows into an airflow which is sent from the ventilation duct. The mist of the charged minute water particles effectively spreads to the space by the air flow without dissipating inside the ventilation duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yano, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Sumio Wada, Akihide Sugawa, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Shousuke Akisada
  • Patent number: 7861954
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizer including a discharge electrode, a counter electrode, a cooling source, a high voltage power supply and a voltage detector. The cooling source cools the discharge electrode to form thereon dew as water. The power supply applies high voltage for discharge across the electrodes. The detector detects voltage between the electrodes. The power supply includes a control device and a voltage stabilizing device that are opposite to each other in temperature characteristic. The control device operates to pick up the voltage detected with the detector via the voltage stabilizing device, and to adjust the high voltage applied across the electrodes through feedback control so that the voltage corresponds to specified discharge voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shousuke Akisada, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hiraki, legal representative, Sumio Wada, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7854403
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device includes a housing and an electrostatically atomizing unit disposed within the housing. The atomizing unit includes an emitter electrode and an heat exchanger. The heat exchanger cools the emitter electrode to develop condensed water. A high voltage is applied to the emitter electrode in order to electrostatically atomizing the condensed water and generate a mist of charged minute water particles. The housing accommodates a fan generating an air flow accelerating a heat radiation of the heat exchanger, and a high voltage source generating the high voltage applied to the emitter electrode. The heat exchanger has its heat radiator section exposed to a flow passage of the air flow. The atomizing unit is formed with an air inlet for introducing the air flow which carries the mist of the charged minute water particles and release the mist. The atomizing unit and the high voltage source are arranged on opposite sides of the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yano, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Sumio Wada, Akihide Sugawa, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Shousuke Akisada
  • Patent number: 7837134
    Abstract: An emitter electrode is cooled by a cooler to generate condensed water which is charged by a high voltage applied between the emitter electrode and an opposed electrode and is discharged as a mist of charged minute water particles. A controller is provided to vary a temperature drop to a predetermined minimum temperature in dependence of an environmental temperature detected by a temperature sensor. The temperature drop is made variable in proportion to the environmental temperature. Accordingly, a sufficient amount of water can be condensed on the emitter electrode simply by controlling the cooling of the emitter electrode without relying upon an environmental humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shousuke Akisada, Sumio Wada, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Mikio Itou, Kyohei Kada
  • Publication number: 20100133366
    Abstract: An air conditioning system with an electrostatically atomizing function includes an electrostatically atomizing unit and a ventilation duct which flows conditioned air. The electrostatically atomizing unit generates a mist of charged minute water particles. The electrostatically atomizing unit is provided with a discharge port which locates adjacent to an air outlet of the ventilation duct. The mist of the charged minute water particles flows into an airflow which is sent from the ventilation duct. The mist of the charged minute water particles effectively spreads to the space by the air flow without dissipating inside the ventilation duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Takeshi Yano, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Sumio Wada, Akihide Sugawa, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Shousuke Akisada
  • Publication number: 20100133367
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device has a housing and an electrostatically atomizing unit accommodated within the housing. The electrostatically atomizing unit includes an atomizing barrel and an emitter electrode disposed within the atomizing barrel and is configured to atomize water supplied to the emitter electrode at a tip of the emitter electrode and generate mist of charged minute water particles. Formed within the housing is an air pressure chamber which surrounds the atomizing barrel. The atomizing barrel is formed in its peripheral wall with a plurality of air inlets which are arranged circumferentially around the atomizing barrel to introduce pressurized air from the air pressure chamber for carrying the mist on the pressurized air introduced into the atomizing barrel from the plural air inlets and discharging the mist outwardly of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Takeshi Yano, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Sumio Wada, Akihide Sugawa, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Shousuke Akisada
  • Publication number: 20100102148
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrostatic atomizer, which is capable of stably producing nanometer-sized mist droplets while using low withstand voltage circuit components and simplifying a circuit configuration. The electrostatic atomizer of the present invention is designed to stabilize an output voltage of a high-voltage generator by an output stabilizer during an operation of applying a high-voltage generator to a discharge electrode supplied with a liquid to be electrostatically atomized, so as to induce a discharge to electrostatically atomize the liquid. The high-voltage generator includes a self-oscillation type DC/DC converter having a transformer and a switching element, and the output stabilizer is operable to adjust a time period of an ON state of the switching element, based on a voltage induced in the control winding during the ON state of the switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sumio Wada, Yutaka Uratani, Takaoki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20100044476
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device includes a housing and an electrostatically atomizing unit disposed within the housing. The atomizing unit includes an emitter electrode and an heat exchanger. The heat exchanger cools the emitter electrode to develop condensed water. A high voltage is applied to the emitter electrode in order to electrostatically atomizing the condensed water and generate a mist of charged minute water particles. The housing accommodates a fan generating an air flow accelerating a heat radiation of the heat exchanger, and a high voltage source generating the high voltage applied to the emitter electrode. The heat exchanger has its heat radiator section exposed to a flow passage of the air flow. The atomizing unit is formed with an air inlet for introducing the air flow which carries the mist of the charged minute water particles and release the mist. The atomizing unit and the high voltage source are arranged on opposite sides of the flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yano, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Sumio Wada, Akihide Sugawa, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Shousuke Akisada
  • Publication number: 20100044475
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrostatic atomizer, which comprises a cooler adapted to cool an atomizing electrode so as to allow moisture in air to be frozen onto the atomizing electrode, a melter adapted to melt ice frozen on the atomizing electrode so as to supply water onto the atomizing electrode, a high-voltage applying section adapted to apply a high voltage to the atomizing electrode, and a control section adapted to activate the high-voltage applying section in a state after supplying water onto the atomizing electrode by melting the ice frozen thereon, so as to apply a high voltage to the atomizing electrode to electrostatically atomize the water supplied on the atomizing electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Nakada, Hiroshi Suda, Masaharu Machi, Tomohiro Yamaguchi, Sumio Wada
  • Publication number: 20100025505
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrostatic atomizer, which comprises a high-voltage applying section adapted to apply a high voltage between an atomizing electrode and a counter electrode so as to electrostatically atomize water supplied onto the atomizing electrode, wherein the high-voltage applying section is operable to set an absolute value of a voltage to be applied to the atomizing electrode smaller than an absolute value of a voltage to be applied to the counter electrode. This allows a physical object, such as an article stored in a mist-receiving space or an inner wall of a structural member defining the mist-receiving space to become less likely to be electrostatically charged, and makes it possible to avoid causing a problem about discomfort due to discharge of static charges when a user touches the physical object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suda, Takayuki Nakada, Masaharu Machi, Tomohiro Yamaguchi, Sumio Wada
  • Publication number: 20090303752
    Abstract: A switching power supply includes an active device for pulling out a part of a control signal from a control terminal of the switching device in an RCC, and a control signal generation circuit that applies adjustment voltage as ON/OFF time control voltage to a control terminal of the active device. The active device pulls out the control signal so as to decrease or increase an OFF time of the switching device while fixing the ON time of the switching device when the adjustment voltage is decreased or increased in the active region of the active device, respectively. An element of a timing circuit in the RCC pulls out the control signal so as to increase or decrease an ON time of the switching device while fixing the OFF time of the switching device when the adjustment voltage is decreased or increased in the cut-off region of the active device, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyohei Kada, Mikio Itou, Sumio Wada, Shousuke Akisada, Atsushi Isaka, Kenji Obata
  • Publication number: 20090272827
    Abstract: An emitter electrode is cooled by a cooler to generate condensed water which is charged by a high voltage applied between the emitter electrode and an opposed electrode and is discharged as a mist of charged minute water particles. A controller is provided to vary a temperature drop to a predetermined minimum temperature in dependence of an environmental temperature detected by a temperature sensor. The temperature drop is made variable in proportion to the environmental temperature. Accordingly, a sufficient amount of water can be condensed on the emitter electrode simply by controlling the cooling of the emitter electrode without relying upon an environmental humidity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Shousuke Akisada, Sumio Wada, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Mikio Itou, Kyohei Kada
  • Publication number: 20090206185
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizer comprising a discharge electrode, a counter electrode, a cooling source, a high voltage power supply and a voltage detector. The cooling source cools the discharge electrode to form thereon dew as water. The power supply applies high voltage for discharge across the electrodes. The detector detects voltage between the electrodes. The power supply includes a control device and a voltage stabilizing device that are opposite to each other in temperature characteristic. The control device operates to pick up the voltage detected with the detector via the voltage stabilizing device, and to adjust the high voltage applied across the electrodes through feedback control so that the voltage corresponds to specified discharge voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works ,Ltd.
    Inventors: Shousuke Akisada, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Sumio Wada, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7567420
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device includes an emitter electrode, an opposed electrode opposed to the emitter electrode, and a cooling means which condenses the water on the emitter electrode from within the surrounding air, and a high voltage source applying a high voltage across the emitter electrode and the opposed electrode to electrostatically charge the water for atomizing charged minute water particles from a discharge end of the emitter electrode. The device further includes a controller for discharging the charged minute water particles in a stable manner. The controller monitors a discharge current flowing between the two electrodes to control the cooling means for keeping the discharge current at a predetermined level, thereby regulating the atomizing amount of the charged minute particles from the emitter electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kobayashi, Hirokazu Yoshioka, Tomoharu Watanabe, Akihide Sugawa, Shousuke Akisada, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Fumio Mihara, Kouichi Hirai, Shinya Murase, Atsushi Isaka, Osamu Imahori, Sumio Wada, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Toshihisa Hirai