Patents by Inventor Tomoyuki Ichikawa

Tomoyuki Ichikawa 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: 9907151
    Abstract: A lighting circuit for a light source includes a drive circuit and an overcurrent protection circuit. The drive circuit supplies power to the light source. The overcurrent protection circuit is inserted between the drive circuit and the light source. The overcurrent protection circuit restricts a lamp current flowing into the light source so that the lamp current does not exceed an overcurrent threshold value. The overcurrent protection circuit includes a transistor, an inductor, a rectifier, a current sensor and an overcurrent protection controller. The current sensor generates a current detection signal according to the lamp current. The overcurrent protection controller controls ON/OFF of the transistor based on the current detection signal and the overcurrent threshold value. The transistor, the inductor and the rectifier are disposed in a T-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9880106
    Abstract: An abnormality detector for a light source includes a laser diode which emits an excitation light and a fluorescent substance which is excited by the excitation light to generate a fluorescent light. The abnormality detector includes a first photo sensor which is sensitive to a wavelength of the excitation light, a second photo sensor which is sensitive to a wavelength of the fluorescent light, a first current-voltage conversion circuit which outputs a first detection signal based on an output of the first photo sensor, a second current-voltage conversion circuit which outputs a second detection signal based on an output of the second photo sensor, and a determination unit which determines whether an abnormality occurs based on the first detection signal and the second detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: KOITO MANAUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9871231
    Abstract: A film-covered battery houses, in a film covering material 4 obtained by stacking a heat sealing layer 13, a barrier layer 12, and a protective layer 11, a battery element 6 obtained by arranging positive and negative electrodes through separators and has a sealing portion that seals a periphery of the film covering material 4 housing the battery element 6. The sealing portion 18 includes an agglomeration/sealing portion 19 and a first interface bonding portion 15 provided so as to be adjacent to the battery element housing portion side of the agglomeration/sealing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: NEC ENERGY DEVICES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Ikuo Kojima
  • Publication number: 20180014395
    Abstract: A first light source illuminates a first region. A second light source is configured to provide lower luminance than that of the first light source. The second light source illuminates a second region that overlaps the first region, and that has a larger area than that of the first region. A lighting circuit drives the first light source and the second light source according to a common lighting instruction. The lighting circuit gradually turns on the first light source and the second light source with different gradual changing time periods in response to the lighting instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Masayasu ITO, Naoki TATARA, Satoshi YAMAMURA
  • Patent number: 9840186
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp comprises a light source, a drive circuit, a CPU, and a gradual varying controller. The drive circuit supplies a driving current to a light source according to a dimming signal. The CPU generates a turn on or off ordering signal that instructs the light source to be turned on or off according to an instruction from a vehicle and information that indicates a driving situation. The gradual varying controller generates the dimming signal that varies gradually with time in response to the turn on or off ordering signal. The vehicle lamp can be switched between a first mode in which the light source is turned off momentarily and a second mode in which the light source is turned off gradually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20170267175
    Abstract: A first photosensor is sensitive to the wavelength of excitation light, insensitive to the wavelength of fluorescent light, and receives a portion of the output light to generate a first current corresponding to the amount of light received. A second photosensor is sensitive to the fluorescent light wavelength, insensitive to excitation light wavelength, and receives a portion of the output light to generate a second current corresponding to the received light amount. A first current/voltage conversion circuit outputs a first detection voltage corresponding to the voltage drop across a first resistor. A second current/voltage conversion circuit outputs a second detection voltage corresponding to the voltage drop across a second resistor. If (i) a relation between the magnitudes of the first detection voltage and the second detection voltage has reversed, or (ii) if the first detection voltage deviates from a normal voltage range, a judgment unit asserts an abnormality detection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20170117572
    Abstract: Secondary battery 1 includes: battery electrode assembly 5 that has a quadrangular planar shape, and includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode laminated with a separator interposed therebetween; and an exterior container that is formed of flexible films 7, and contains battery electrode assembly 5. The exterior container has recessed emboss portion 8 that contains battery electrode assembly 5 therein. Four corners 4a of an outer peripheral portion of battery electrode assembly 5 are either folded to be contained inside emboss portion 8, or inserted between flexible films 7 outside emboss portion 8. A length of at least one side among four sides forming the quadrangular planar shape of battery electrode assembly 5 is shorter than an inner dimension of emboss portion 8 in the direction in which the one side extends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicant: NEC ENERGY DEVICES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20170110703
    Abstract: To provide a lithium ion secondary battery that is less likely affected by vibration, shock, or the like. A stacked lithium ion secondary battery is characterized in that separators, which are stacked with positive and negative electrodes, are a flat bag or flat tube with at least one side of an outer periphery thereof intermittently heat-sealed; the heat-sealed side is provided with concave and convex portions made up of straight lines or curves or a combination of straight lines and curves; the outer periphery of the separator made with the concave and convex portions is positioned outside the outer periphery of the negative electrode along with the concave and convex portions; and the outer periphery of the negative electrode is positioned outside the outer periphery of the positive electrode housed in the bag-shape or tubular separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: NEC ENERGY DEVICES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ikuo KOJIMA, Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20170085409
    Abstract: A transmission apparatus includes: a data frame sequence generation part that generates a data frame sequence; a synchronization frame generation part that generates a synchronization frame constituted by n synchronization words each being either a first synchronization word or an inverted one of the first synchronization word; a communication frame generation part that generates a communication frame by adding the synchronization frame to a top portion of the data frame sequence; and a transmission part that transmits the communication frame. A reception apparatus includes: a reception part that receives the communication frame as a reception frame; a first synchronization detection part that performs first synchronization detection by detecting an arrangement pattern of the synchronization words in the synchronization frame of the reception frame; and a data reproduction part that reproduces data included in the reception frame according to the first synchronization detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: LAPIS Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20170067609
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp (1) includes a laser light source (7) that is able to emit laser light (B2) and emits laser light (B2) generated by the laser light source (7) forward from an emission end (32a). The vehicle lamp (1) includes a light-shielding member (34) that shields the emission end (32a) from light from above to at least a horizontal position in front of the emission end (32a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Toshiaki TSUDA, Noriko SATO, Masanobu MIZUNO, Osamu KUBOYAMA, Takeshi MASUDA
  • Publication number: 20170036593
    Abstract: The light source of the present disclosure spot-irradiates a distant place in front of a vehicle. The turn on/off circuit supplies a driving current ILD to the light source 120 to turn on the light source. The swivel mechanism swivels the light source. The turn on/off circuit reduces a light quantity of the light source as a swivel angle ? of the swivel mechanism is large.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20170033330
    Abstract: A heat-sealable insulating film for installation in a secondary battery including a positive electrode member and a negative electrode member being formed from a collector foil and an active material layer formed to cover one end on the collector foil, wherein an adhesive layer is adhered by heat-sealing to cover at least a boundary of an exposed part of the collector foil and the active material layer of the positive electrode member or the negative electrode member, a peripheral edge of the positive electrode member or the negative electrode member has a cross-sectional surface including the collector foil and the insulating film, and the insulating film consists of at least two layers of a base material layer made of a polyolefin resin and the adhesive layer made of a polyolefin resin modified with an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Youichi Matsuura, Yoshitaka Fukagai, Satoshi Yamada, Etsuo Ogami, Satoshi Okano, Tomoyuki Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20170034887
    Abstract: A buck converter supplies a drive current to a light source and is feedback-controlled so that the drive current comes close to a target current. An open-circuit detection circuit compares a potential difference between and input voltage and an output voltage of the buck converter with a threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9531157
    Abstract: A lighting circuit is configured to turn on or off a semiconductor light source in accordance with a turning-on/off instruction signal. The lighting circuit includes a pulse input determining circuit and a drive circuit. The pulse input determining circuit receives the turning-on/off instruction signal which is in pulse form in commanding turning-on and which is at a constant level in commanding turning-off. The pulse input determining circuit determines whether or not the turning-on/off instruction signal is in a turn-on state in which the turning-on/off instruction signal is in pulse form. The pulse input determining circuit generates a determination signal which is asserted if the turning-on/off instruction signal is in pulse form. The drive circuit supplies the semiconductor light source with a drive current if the determination signal is asserted. The drive circuit does not supply the semiconductor light source with the drive current if the determination signal is negated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Toshihiko Kurebayashi
  • Publication number: 20160301225
    Abstract: A charging apparatus comprises a charge control unit. The charge control unit charges a secondary battery at a first current value until the voltage of the secondary battery reaches a predetermined first voltage value. The charge control unit, on detecting that the voltage has reached the first voltage value, performs control to charge the secondary battery at a second current value that is lower than the first current value, until a predetermined second voltage value is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Shoichiro SHIRAISHI, Takuya HASEGAWA, Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20160297351
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp comprises a light source, a drive circuit, a CPU, and a gradual varying controller. The drive circuit supplies a driving current to a light source according to a dimming signal. The CPU generates a turn on or off ordering signal that instructs the light source to be turned on or off according to an instruction from a vehicle and information that indicates a driving situation. The gradual varying controller generates the dimming signal that varies gradually with time in response to the turn on or off ordering signal. The vehicle lamp can be switched between a first mode in which the light source is turned off momentarily and a second mode in which the light source is turned off gradually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20160290620
    Abstract: A light source module includes: a light source including a light emitting device and a terminal of which one end side is electrically connected to the light emitting device; a wiring board configured to electrically connect another end side of the terminal to an external power supply terminal; a thermal diffusion member disposed between the light source and the wiring board and connected to the light emitting device in a heat-transferable manner; and a temperature detector mounted on the wiring board to detect a temperature of the light source. The thermal diffusion member has a recessed portion on a surface of the thermal diffusion member which faces the wiring board side, and the temperature detector is accommodated in the recessed portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Toshiaki Tsuda
  • Patent number: 9461289
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an outer housing and an electrode body including a positive electrode member, separator member and a negative electrode member stacked in this order wherein the positive electrode member and the negative electrode member are formed from a collector and an active material layer formed to cover one end on the collector, an insulating body in which an insulating material that does not exhibit adhesiveness at room temperature is adhered with an adhesive strength of 1 N/15 mm or greater onto the collector constituting the positive electrode member or the negative electrode member, and a peripheral edge of the positive electrode member or the negative electrode member has a cross-sectional surface including the collector and the insulating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: Toray Advanced Film Co., Ltd., Automotive Energy Supply Corporation
    Inventors: Youichi Matsuura, Yoshitaka Fukagai, Satoshi Yamada, Etsuo Ogami, Satoshi Okano, Tomoyuki Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20160265735
    Abstract: A light source module includes light source having a light emitting element, a stem configured to support the light emitting element, and a terminal, one end side of which is electrically connected to the light emitting element, a wiring portion to which the other end of the terminal is electrically connected and which is configured to electrically connect the terminal to an external power supply terminal, a connection portion configured to fix the wiring portion and the other end side of the terminal by a connection member, and a thermal diffusion member disposed between the stem and the connection portion and thermally connected to the light emitting element, the terminal has a bent portion which is deformed in accordance with dimensional change in at least one of the thermal diffusion member, the terminal, the wiring portion and the connection member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20160156152
    Abstract: A lighting circuit is configured to turn on or off a semiconductor light source in accordance with a turning-on/off instruction signal. The lighting circuit includes a pulse input determining circuit and a drive circuit. The pulse input determining circuit receives the turning-on/off instruction signal which is in pulse form in commanding turning-on and which is at a constant level in commanding turning-off. The pulse input determining circuit determines whether or not the turning-on/off instruction signal is in a turn-on state in which the turning-on/off instruction signal is in pulse form. The pulse input determining circuit generates a determination signal which is asserted if the turning-on/off instruction signal is in pulse form. The drive circuit supplies the semiconductor light source with a drive current if the determination signal is asserted. The drive circuit does not supply the semiconductor light source with the drive current if the determination signal is negated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Toshihiko Kurebayashi