Patents by Inventor Tomohiro Matsuura

Tomohiro Matsuura 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: 11381773
    Abstract: Imaging devices are disclosed. In one example, an imaging device has pixels circuits including an imaging pixel circuit and a dummy pixel circuit. Each of the pixel circuits includes an accumulation section that accumulates electric charge, a first transistor, and an output section. The first transistor includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The second terminal is coupled to the accumulation section. The output section outputs a voltage corresponding to electric charge accumulated in the accumulation section. The first terminal of the first transistor in the imaging pixel circuit is coupled to a first light receiving element, and connected to the second terminal when the first transistor is in an ON state. The first and second terminals of the first transistor in the dummy pixel circuit are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuura, Naoki Kawazu
  • Publication number: 20220046198
    Abstract: An imaging device according the present disclosure includes a first light receiving element and a plurality of pixel circuits. The plurality of pixel circuits includes an imaging pixel circuit and a first dummy pixel circuit. Each of the plurality of pixel circuits includes an accumulation section, a first transistor, and an output section. The accumulation section is configured to accumulate electric charge. The first transistor includes a first terminal and a second terminal and is configured to couple, by being turned on, the first terminal and the second terminal to each other. The second terminal is coupled to the accumulation section. The output section is configured to output a voltage corresponding to electric charge accumulated in the accumulation section. The first terminal of the first transistor in the imaging pixel circuit is coupled to the first light receiving element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventor: Tomohiro Matsuura
  • Patent number: 11101494
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a battery assembly provided by the present invention includes a step of measuring a stacking direction length of a stacked body including a predetermined number of unit cells (12) constituting a battery assembly (10) and arranged in the stacking direction; and a step of bundling a body (20) to be bundled that includes the stacked body. Here, the body to be bundled is provided with length adjusting means (40) for converging a spread in stacking direction length. The bundling step is implemented by setting the length adjusting means according to the stacking direction length of the stacked body, so that a length of the battery assembly in the stacking direction is a stipulated length (LT) and a bundling pressure of the body to be bundled is a stipulated pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satomi Kawase, Tomohiro Matsuura
  • Patent number: 10944091
    Abstract: There is provided a power storage device including: a power storage assembly; and a plurality of joined portions, each of the plurality of electrode plates including an electrode plate main body and a tab, the plurality of electrode plates being disposed such that the tabs are arranged in the stacking direction, the plurality of joined portions including a first joined portion configured to join the plurality of tabs to form a first bundle portion, and a second joined portion configured to join the plurality of tabs arranged in the stacking direction to form a second bundle portion, a part of the tabs in the first bundle portion and a part of the tabs in the second bundle portion being joined to the first joined portion and the second joined portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuura, Yukinobu Miyamura
  • Patent number: 10804508
    Abstract: A sealed cell according to the present invention includes an angular case 50 that accommodates an electrode body. The angular case 50 includes a concave case main body 52, having an opening, and a sealing member 54. The case main body 52 has a flat surface 52a opposed to the sealing member 54, with the electrode body interposed therebetween, and a side wall 52b rising from the flat surface 52a. The peripheral edge portion of the opening provided in the case main body 52 and the sealing member 54 are joined to each other by seal welding. Concave and convex portions including concave portions 56a, 156a recessed toward the inside of the case and convex portions 56b flush with the flat surface 52a are formed on at least one side 58a portion of end sides of the flat surface 52a. Electrode terminals 80, 82 are disposed on bottom surfaces of the concave portions 56a, 156a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mizuho Matsumoto, Tomohiro Matsuura, Satomi Yamamoto, Yuki Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 10749204
    Abstract: An electric power storage device includes a case body with an opening, the opening formed at an upper portion of the case body; an electrode body housed in the case body; a tab portion; and a current collecting terminal. The tab portion protrudes from part of the electrode body toward the opening of the case body. The tab portion has a side surface not facing the electrode body. The current collecting terminal is welded to the side surface of the tab portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuura, Kiyomi Kozuki
  • Patent number: 10700383
    Abstract: Provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery that can be produced with high yield, through suppression of breakage of electrode collector portions during production and through suppression of damage to an electrode body during welding. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery disclosed herein is provided with: an electrode body in which a plurality of electrodes are stacked; and a nonaqueous electrolyte. Each electrode has a collector and an active material layer formed on the collector. Each electrode has a collector portion being an active material layer non-forming portion. The collector portions of the electrodes are grouped and are clamped, in the stacking direction of the electrode body, by two or more members of an electrode collector terminal that is made up of the members. The collector portions of the electrodes and the members that clamp the collector portions are welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuura, Yukio Harima, Hiroaki Imanishi, Ichiro Murata, Kiyomi Kozuki
  • Patent number: 10483512
    Abstract: A battery pack is a battery pack that is configured by arranging plural chargeable-dischargeable single cells in a specified direction. Each of the plural single cells includes: an electrode body including a positive electrode and a negative electrode; and a box-shaped battery case accommodating the electrode body and an electrolyte. The two adjacent single cells in the battery pack are provided with gas discharge valves in mutually opposing surfaces of the battery cases, each of the gas discharge valves discharging gas that is produced in the battery case. In the battery cases provided in the two adjacent single cells, the gas discharge valves that are provided in the mutually opposing surfaces are disposed at positions that do not overlap each other when seen in an arrangement direction of the single cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mizuho Matsumoto, Tomohiro Matsuura, Satomi Yamamoto, Takashi Takimoto
  • Patent number: 10439184
    Abstract: A gas release valve has a valve body that is made from rubber or resin and closes a communication passage providing communication between an outside and an inside of a battery case. In an inner communication passage, which is positioned on an inner side of the battery case with respect to a valve body in the communication passage, a moisture absorber is arranged in a state where gas in the battery case is able to pass inside the inner communication passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomohiro Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20190252715
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a battery assembly provided by the present invention includes a step of measuring a stacking direction length of a stacked body including a predetermined number of unit cells (12) constituting a battery assembly (10) and arranged in the stacking direction; and a step of bundling a body (20) to be bundled that includes the stacked body. Here, the body to be bundled is provided with length adjusting means (40) for converging a spread in stacking direction length. The bundling step is implemented by setting the length adjusting means according to the stacking direction length of the stacked body, so that a length of the battery assembly in the stacking direction is a stipulated length (LT) and a bundling pressure of the body to be bundled is a stipulated pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satomi KAWASE, Tomohiro MATSUURA
  • Patent number: 10355252
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bottomed cuboid battery container includes: forming a first member by folding one piece of a first flat sheet, the first member being constructed of a quadrilateral bottom surface and first paired side surfaces, the first paired side surfaces continuing from the bottom surface and being oppose each other; and forming the bottomed cuboid battery container by welding each of a second flat sheet and a third flat sheet to the first member such that the second flat sheet and the third flat sheet oppose each other and constitute second paired side surfaces. The second flat sheet and the first member are welded from one direction. The third flat sheet and the first member are welded from one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuura, Kazuyuki Kusama, Ikuo Nakagawa, Shigeki Takaiwa, Kohki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20190067669
    Abstract: There is provided a power storage device including: a power storage assembly; and a plurality of joined portions, each of the plurality of electrode plates including an electrode plate main body and a tab, the plurality of electrode plates being disposed such that the tabs are arranged in the stacking direction, the plurality of joined portions including a first joined portion configured to join the plurality of tabs to form a first bundle portion, and a second joined portion configured to join the plurality of tabs arranged in the stacking direction to form a second bundle portion, a part of the tabs in the first bundle portion and a part of the tabs in the second bundle portion being joined to the first joined portion and the second joined portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro MATSUURA, Yukinobu MIYAMURA
  • Publication number: 20180287210
    Abstract: Provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery that can be produced with high yield, through suppression of breakage of electrode collector portions during production and through suppression of damage to an electrode body during welding. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery disclosed herein is provided with: an electrode body in which a plurality of electrodes are stacked; and a nonaqueous electrolyte. Each electrode has a collector and an active material layer formed on the collector. Each electrode has a collector portion being an active material layer non-forming portion. The collector portions of the electrodes are grouped and are clamped, in the stacking direction of the electrode body, by two or more members of an electrode collector terminal that is made up of the members. The collector portions of the electrodes and the members that clamp the collector portions are welded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro MATSUURA, Yukio HARIMA, Hiroaki IMANISHI, Ichiro MURATA, Kiyomi KOZUKI
  • Publication number: 20180226620
    Abstract: A sealed cell according to the present invention includes an angular case 50 that accommodates an electrode body. The angular case 50 includes a concave case main body 52, having an opening, and a sealing member 54. The case main body 52 has a flat surface 52a opposed to the sealing member 54, with the electrode body interposed therebetween, and a side wall 52b rising from the flat surface 52a. The peripheral edge portion of the opening provided in the case main body 52 and the sealing member 54 are joined to each other by seal welding. Concave and convex portions including concave portions 56a, 156a recessed toward the inside of the case and convex portions 56b flush with the flat surface 52a are formed on at least one side 58a portion of end sides of the flat surface 52a. Electrode terminals 80, 82 are disposed on bottom surfaces of the concave portions 56a, 156a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mizuho MATSUMOTO, Tomohiro MATSUURA, Satomi YAMAMOTO, Yuki YAMASAKI
  • Publication number: 20180183026
    Abstract: A battery pack is a battery pack that is configured by arranging plural chargeable-dischargeable single cells in a specified direction. Each of the plural single cells includes: an electrode body including a positive electrode and a negative electrode; and a box-shaped battery case accommodating the electrode body and an electrolyte. The two adjacent single cells in the battery pack are provided with gas discharge valves in mutually opposing surfaces of the battery cases, each of the gas discharge valves discharging gas that is produced in the battery case. In the battery cases provided in the two adjacent single cells, the gas discharge valves that are provided in the mutually opposing surfaces are disposed at positions that do not overlap each other when seen in an arrangement direction of the single cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mizuho MATSUMOTO, Tomohiro MATSUURA, Satomi YAMAMOTO, Takashi TAKIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180131030
    Abstract: An electric power storage device includes a case body with an opening, the opening formed at an upper portion of the case body; an electrode body housed in the case body; a tab portion; and a current collecting terminal. The tab portion protrudes from part of the electrode body toward the opening of the case body. The tab portion has a side surface not facing the electrode body. The current collecting terminal is welded to the side surface of the tab portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro MATSUURA, Kiyomi KOZUKI
  • Patent number: 9614200
    Abstract: A hermetically sealed battery is provided with a sealing member for air-tightly sealing the through-hole of a battery case from the outside. The sealing member has: a covering member secured to the battery case from the outside; an insertion portion inserted into the through-hole; an annular pressure contact portion in air-tight pressure contact with the hole surrounding portion of the battery case; and a connecting portion disposed between the insertion portion and the annular pressure contact portion so as to be integral with the insertion portion and the annular pressure contact portion. The connecting portion is provided with an annular groove surrounding the insertion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kokoku Intech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Kusama, Tomohiro Matsuura, Takashi Harayama, Yasushi Hirakawa, Ichiro Murata, Shinya Muroi
  • Publication number: 20170018748
    Abstract: A gas release valve has a valve body that is made from rubber or resin and closes a communication passage providing communication between an outside and an inside of a battery case. In an inner communication passage, which is positioned on an inner side of the battery case with respect to a valve body in the communication passage, a moisture absorber is arranged in a state where gas in the battery case is able to pass inside the inner communication passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomohiro MATSUURA
  • Publication number: 20160361783
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bottomed cuboid battery container includes: forming a first member by folding one piece of a first flat sheet, the first member being constructed of a quadrilateral bottom surface and first paired side surfaces, the first paired side surfaces continuing from the bottom surface and being oppose each other; and forming the bottomed cuboid battery container by welding each of a second flat sheet and a third flat sheet to the first member such that the second flat sheet and the third flat sheet oppose each other and constitute second paired side surfaces. The second flat sheet and the first member are welded from one direction. The third flat sheet and the first member are welded from one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro MATSUURA, Kazuyuki KUSAMA, Ikuo NAKAGAWA, Shigeki TAKAIWA, Kohki NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 9406912
    Abstract: A sealed battery is provided in which a case is partially provided with a safety valve that is provided with a thin portion, which is formed thinner than the peripheral portion of the safety valve. A portion of the safety valve surrounding the thin portion is provided with a slit for preventing heat conduction from the other portions of the case to the thin portion, said slit being formed so as to surround the thin portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Fuji Springs Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuura, Katsumi Ito, Akira Fujii, Toshihiro Odagaki