Patents by Inventor Tohru Watanabe

Tohru Watanabe 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).

  • Publication number: 20210296911
    Abstract: A controller executes an equalization process of equalizing capacities of a plurality of cells, and a cell abnormality determination process of, of detected voltages of the plurality of cells, calculating a voltage difference between a representative voltage based on the detected voltage of at least one cell to be compared and the detected voltage of one cell to be detected at a first time and a second time, and when a difference between the two voltage differences is greater than or equal to a threshold value, determining that the cell to be detected is abnormal. In the case of executing the cell abnormality determination process during the equalization process, the controller provides the detected voltage of a target cell to be subjected to the equalization process with a compensation value corresponding to a voltage change based on energy transfer in the target cell due to the equalization process between the first time and the second time, and calculates the voltage difference at the second time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: YUSUKE ITAKURA, CHANGHUI YANG, SHINYA NISHIKAWA, TOHRU WATANABE
  • Patent number: 11118662
    Abstract: A lock-up device for a torque converter transmitting a torque from a front cover to a transmission-side member is disclosed. The lock-up device includes a clutch part, a piston, and a return mechanism. The piston is axially opposed to the front cover through the clutch part. The piston is axially movable and applies a pressing force to the clutch part whereby the clutch part is turned to an activated state. The return mechanism urges the piston away from the front cover. The return mechanism is disposed axially between the front cover and the piston while disposed radially inside the clutch part. The return mechanism includes first and second plates, and an elastic member. The first plate contacts the front cover. The second plate contacts the piston while axially opposed to the first plate. The elastic member is disposed between the first and second plates in a compressed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tohru Watanabe, Mitsuhiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11107094
    Abstract: Provided is a prediction system for calculating a prediction value related to a prediction target to which prediction in an arbitrary period is adapted. The prediction system includes a storage device which records a plurality of data used to calculate the prediction value and a control device which includes a predetermined operation model and applies the plurality of data to the operation model to calculate the prediction value. The control device changes the operation model, on the basis of information of respective temporal attributes of the plurality of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Utsumi, Tohru Watanabe, Ikuo Shigemori, Hiroshi Iimura, Hiroaki Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20210265856
    Abstract: A voltage measurer measures a voltage of a battery cell. A controller controls charging-discharging of the battery cell. The controller performs control to apply a reverse current for canceling a polarization voltage of the battery cell through the battery cell after the completion of charging-discharging of the battery cell. For example, after the charging-discharging of the battery cell completes, the controller sets a current command value, in a power converter, that instructs flow of a reverse current of a preset value for a preset time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: SHINYA NISHIKAWA, TOHRU WATANABE, TAKASHI IIDA
  • Publication number: 20210248481
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a data processing system that can appropriately determine data to be used for identification of a prediction model. The data processing system that performs prediction using a prediction model, includes: a selection unit that selects data to be used for identification of a prediction model from a storage unit that stores data; and a processing unit that identifies the prediction model by using the data selected by the selection unit. The selection unit selects, from the storage unit, predetermined first data, and second data of a type and/or condition different from the first data, based on a branch condition of structure data of a structural prediction model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Tohru WATANABE, Masato UTSUMI, Ikuo SHIGEMORI, Tetsu ITO, Jun YAMAZAKI, Daisuke HAMABA, Hiroshi IIMURA
  • Patent number: 11043821
    Abstract: In a power storage system, a management device calculates a state of power (SOP) of a whole of a plurality of power storage blocks connected in parallel based on an SOP of each of the plurality of power storage blocks. At least one of the plurality of power storage blocks is disconnected from the power storage system, and when at least one switch is turned on to return at least one disconnected power storage block to the power storage system having the parallel-connected power storage blocks, the management device calculates an SOP of a whole of the power storage blocks after a return of the at least one power storage block based on a deviation in current between each of the power storage blocks including the at least one returned power storage block to determine an upper limit level of power or current flowing into a power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Nishikawa, Kazufumi Nishikawa, Tohru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10949699
    Abstract: An input apparatus performs character recognition on trajectory data that is input by handwriting, determines whether or not an order of recognized characters complies with a rule on mathematical representations, and if it is determined that the recognized characters, except for a first character at any position in a sequence of the characters, comply with the rule, replaces the first character with a second character that complies with the rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tohru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10846715
    Abstract: An energy operation system, apparatus, and method capable of stably supplying energy and providing adjustment control based on prediction precision and planning precision for energy supply and demand. An energy operation apparatus includes a demand predictor, planner, evaluator, and solution quality controller. The demand predictor predicts demand and/or a power generation amount of future energy in a management area. The planner prepares a future energy supply plan in the management area based on a prediction. The evaluator evaluates supply and/or demand conditions including at least one of future weather in the management area, energy demand in the management area, a demand density and/or a generation density of future energy in the management area. The solution quality controller controls the quality of at least one of a prediction solution of the demand predictor and the energy supply plan of the planner based on an evaluation result from the evaluator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Tohru Watanabe, Isao Hagiya, Masamichi Nakamura, Yu Ikemoto, Masato Utsumi, Masashi Fukaya, Jyunpei Ogawa, Hiroaki Ogawa, Ikuo Shigemori, Hiroshi Iimura
  • Publication number: 20200303929
    Abstract: The power conditioner determines possible total power and working individual power to be in a range that possible individual power of each of the power supply units is not exceeded. The possible total power is determined from the possible individual power, of each of the power supply units, determined based on the battery information detected by each of the unit controllers, collected by a master controller from each of the unit controllers. The working individual power is determined based on a power deviation indicating a difference of charging and discharging power between the power supply units. The power conditioner causes charging and discharging of each of the power supply units within the calculated working individual power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicants: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Watanabe, Takashi Iida, Shinya Nishikawa, Kazufumi Nishikawa, Shigeyuki Yamakita
  • Publication number: 20200271207
    Abstract: A lock-up device for a torque converter transmitting a torque from a front cover to a transmission-side member is disclosed. The lock-up device includes a clutch part, a piston, and a return mechanism. The piston is axially opposed to the front cover through the clutch part. The piston is axially movable and applies a pressing force to the clutch part whereby the clutch part is turned to an activated state. The return mechanism urges the piston away from the front cover. The return mechanism is disposed axially between the front cover and the piston while disposed radially inside the clutch part. The return mechanism includes first and second plates, and an elastic member. The first plate contacts the front cover. The second plate contacts the piston while axially opposed to the first plate. The elastic member is disposed between the first and second plates in a compressed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Tohru WATANABE, Mitsuhiro SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20200176829
    Abstract: A managing unit (50m) calculates a whole state of power (SOP) that is an SOP of a whole of the plurality of power storage blocks (10 to 30) based on SOPs of the respective power storage blocks (10 to 30) and currents flowing through the respective power storage blocks (10 to 30), and sets an upper limit value of power or a current for at least one of charging and discharging by a power converter (60), based on the whole SOP thus calculated. The managing unit (50m) estimates a current flowing through each of the power storage blocks (10 to 30) from a voltage and an internal resistances of each of the power storage blocks (10 to 30) before the power converter (60) starts power conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: KAZUFUMI NISHIKAWA, SHINYA NISHIKAWA, TOHRU WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20200169105
    Abstract: In a power storage system, a management device calculates a state of power (SOP) of a whole of a plurality of power storage blocks connected in parallel based on an SOP of each of the plurality of power storage blocks to specify the calculated SOP of the whole for an upper limit level of power or current for at least one of charging and discharging controlled by a power converter. When at least one of a plurality of switches is turned off to disconnect at least one (30) of the plurality of power storage blocks, the management device calculates an SOP of a whole of the remaining power storage blocks based on a deviation in current between each of the remaining power storage blocks to determine an upper limit level of power or current flowing into the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: TOHRU WATANABE, KAZUFUMI NISHIKAWA, SHINYA NISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10664931
    Abstract: Proposed is a data analyzing system and method capable of performing highly reliable analytical processing which matches the actual situation. In a data analyzing device and method in which load data is classified into a plurality of clusters in consumer units based on the load data representing the power usage of each consumer for each unit time and the attribute information of each consumer, a diagnostic decision tree is generated for classifying the consumer into one of the clusters based on the attribute information of that consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Watanabe, Kouichirou Iijima, Yu Ikemoto, Youichirou Morita, Mitsuyoshi Kondo
  • Publication number: 20200161875
    Abstract: In a power storage system, a management device calculates a state of power (SOP) of a whole of a plurality of power storage blocks connected in parallel based on an SOP of each of the plurality of power storage blocks. At least one of the plurality of power storage blocks is disconnected from the power storage system, and when at least one switch is turned on to return at least one disconnected power storage block to the power storage system having the parallel-connected power storage blocks, the management device calculates an SOP of a whole of the power storage blocks after a return of the at least one power storage block based on a deviation in current between each of the power storage blocks including the at least one returned power storage block to determine an upper limit level of power or current flowing into a power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: SHINYA NISHIKAWA, KAZUFUMI NISHIKAWA, TOHRU WATANABE
  • Patent number: 10560797
    Abstract: To propose an information processing device and method capable of planning an effective scheme, such as distributing information appropriate to a user. Time-series positional data composed of time-series positional information of a mobile communication body are collected, and a regular behavior of a user of the mobile communication body is estimated on the basis of the collected time-series positional data of the mobile communication body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Ikemoto, Tohru Watanabe, Masato Utsumi, Yoshihisa Okamoto, Kengo Ogawa, Yuko Yonekura, Haruyuki Takano, Hironobu Bandoh
  • Publication number: 20190370832
    Abstract: Provided is a prediction system for calculating a prediction value related to a prediction target to which prediction in an arbitrary period is adapted. The prediction system includes a storage device which records a plurality of data used to calculate the prediction value and a control device which includes a predetermined operation model and applies the plurality of data to the operation model to calculate the prediction value. The control device changes the operation model, on the basis of information of respective temporal attributes of the plurality of data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Masato UTSUMI, Tohru WATANABE, Ikuo SHIGEMORI, Hiroshi IIMURA, Hiroaki OGAWA
  • Publication number: 20190369572
    Abstract: An energy operation system, apparatus, and method capable of stably supplying energy and providing adjustment control based on prediction precision and planning precision for energy supply and demand. An energy operation apparatus includes a demand predictor, planner, evaluator, and solution quality controller. The demand predictor predicts demand and/or a power generation amount of future energy in a management area. The planner prepares a future energy supply plan in the management area based on a prediction. The evaluator evaluates supply and/or demand conditions including at least one of future weather in the management area, energy demand in the management area, a demand density and/or a generation density of future energy in the management area. The solution quality controller controls the quality of at least one of a prediction solution of the demand predictor and the energy supply plan of the planner based on an evaluation result from the evaluator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Tohru WATANABE, Isao HAGIYA, Masamichi NAKAMURA, Yu IKEMOTO, Masato UTSUMI, Masashi FUKAYA, Jyunpei OGAWA, Hiroaki OGAWA, Ikuo SHIGEMORI, Hiroshi IIMURA
  • Publication number: 20190369963
    Abstract: A data processing system calculates prediction or planning data of an object from observation data of a calculation object of the prediction or planning data and observation data of various factors, including a first processing section which identifies a model used for calculation of the prediction or planning data of each of the factors, a second processing section which calculates data which indices the kind of a time transition of the factor from the observation data of the factor and classifies the observation data of the factor by using the calculated data which indicates the kind of the time transition, and a third processing section which changes the model for calculation of the prediction or planning data on the basis of the classified observation data and the prediction data of the factor in a prediction or planning data calculation object time period and calculates the prediction or planning data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Masato UTSUMI, Tohru WATANABE, Yoshihisa OKAMOTO, Ikuo SHIGEMORI, Hiroshi IIMURA, Hiroaki OGAWA
  • Publication number: 20190370673
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a data prediction system includes: a factor separating unit configured to separate a factor constituting a transition of a value of a prediction target from the value; a factor predicting unit configured to calculate factor prediction data that is prediction data of each factor based on the factor separated by the factor separating unit and a parameter related to the prediction target; and a prediction calculating unit configured to calculate prediction data of the prediction target based on the factor prediction data calculated by the factor predicting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Masato UTSUMI, Tohru WATANABE, Ikuo SHIGEMORI
  • Patent number: D884557
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Central Japan Railway Company, A & F Corporation
    Inventors: Yukinobu Abe, Tohru Watanabe, Kiyoshi Morita, Takashi Furukawa, Yuuji Ueno, Hajime Ito, Yuichi Ahiko, Hiroki Shimoyama, Tadashi Fujii, Eiji Sato, Kyohei Suzuki, Tetsuo Fukuda, Ichiro Fukuda