Patents by Inventor Toshiaki Nakamura

Toshiaki Nakamura 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: 20140367074
    Abstract: A heat transport apparatus that is thermally connectable to an object to be temperature adjusted includes a plurality of heat pipes thermally connected along a heat transport direction to form a heat transport path. The heat transport apparatus is used under an environment at or below a melting point of a working fluid of at least one heat pipe among the plurality of heat pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hirasawa, Masami Ikeda, Yuichi Kimura, Mamoru Shimada, Toshiaki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140336976
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor signal output apparatus that outputs a sensor signal at times of the sensor being in steady operation and outputs the operational status of the sensor instead of the sensor signal when the sensor is at fault or in non-steady operation in order to thereby to have a receiver machine obtain a correct sensor signal. The sensor signal output apparatus includes a sensor detecting a physical quantity, a diagnosis part diagnosing the operating state of the sensor, and a communication part transmitting the result of detection by the sensor and the result of diagnosis by the diagnosis part. When the sensor is determined to be normally operating, the communication part selectively outputs the result of detection by the sensor. When the sensor is not determined to be normally operating, the communication part selectively outputs a signal indicative of the operating state of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nakamura, Masahide Hayashi, Masaru Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8836348
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high-accuracy electrostatic capacitance type physical quantity sensor and angular velocity sensor configured so as to be capable of suppressing noise derived from internal noise while maintaining resistance to externally-incoming noise. A detection element 10 has a movable mass 18 supported displaceably by a physical quantity given from the outside, and a detection electrode Ef. A shield wire 16 is disposed around wirings connected to the input of a capacitance detection circuit 30 and is connected to a dc potential of low impedance. A value Cin of an input capacitance relative to a fixed potential of low impedance at a portion at which the detection element 10 is connected with the capacitance detection circuit 30 is set to fall within a range of 1.5 pF<Cin<20 pF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iwasawa, Masahiro Matsumoto, Toshiaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8757876
    Abstract: An X-ray apparatus in this example of the invention includes a compression unit that enables to move independently of an X-ray tube supporting device and an X-ray detector for compressing a region of interest of a subject; and a connecting part for connecting the X-ray detector to the compression unit and disconnecting the X-ray detector from the compression unit. Consequently, when the compression unit is not used, the compression unit is located in a retracted position. Thus a space can be secured around the subject placed on a top board. On the other hand, when the compression unit is used, the connecting part connects the X-ray detector to the compression unit. Thereby a compression member of the compression unit can always press a site of interest of the subject at the center of a detecting surface of the X-ray detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nakamura, Hiroshi Inoue, Koji Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20140151860
    Abstract: A wireless module includes a first board which has a first component mounted thereon, a second board which faces the first board and has a second component mounted thereon, a connecting member which is provided between the first board and the second board and transmits a signal between the first board and the second board, and a filling material with which a space between the first board and the second board including the connecting member is sealed. A conductive member for connecting a ground between the first board and the second board is arranged in a periphery of the connecting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nakamura, Suguru Fujita, Maki Nakamura, Ryosuke Shiozaki, Jun'ichi Kimura, Hirokazu Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20140140031
    Abstract: A wireless module, in which a first board (11) and a second board (12) are laminated, includes connecting members (18) which are connected to at least one of the first board (11) and the second board (12), and form a gap allowing mounting of mounting components including a semiconductor device (14) between the first board (11) and the second board (12). The connecting members (18) are arranged such that a plurality of connecting members (18A, 18B) are arranged uniformly in a planar direction of the boards of the wireless module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru Fujita, Ryosuke Shiozaki, Toshiaki Nakamura, Jun'ichi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20140130596
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to achieve accurate angular velocity detection even when an angular velocity detection sensor is set in an environment in which oscillation and electromagnetic noise have significant influence. Provided is an angular velocity detection device which has an oscillating body displaceable in first and second directions that are perpendicular to each other, and which detects, as an angular velocity, a displacement of the oscillating body in the second direction while the oscillating body is being oscillated in the first direction, wherein in accordance with a frequency change in a drive signal for oscillating the oscillating body in the first direction, the frequency of a servo signal for detecting the angular velocity from the quantity of displacement in the second direction is changed (see FIG. 1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nakamura, Masahiro Matsumoto, Hiroshi Iwasawa, Satoshi Asano, Masahide Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20140058617
    Abstract: Provided is an acceleration detection apparatus installed in a vehicle and including a plurality of acceleration sensors having different characteristics, a function to input diagnosis signals in order to diagnose the outputs of the acceleration sensors and diagnose the fault detection functions while the vehicle stops, and a function to compare the outputs of the sensors in order to detect a fault while the vehicle runs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki NAKAMURA, Masahide HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20130320850
    Abstract: A switching circuit includes an active element connected in parallel to a second light source block and having an impedance that varies in accordance with a control signal input into a control terminal, and switches the second light source block between a lit condition and an extinguished condition by switching the active element ON and OFF. The switching circuit adjusts the impedance of the active element so that a current flowing to the active element matches a target value set by a switching control circuit. When the active element is to be switched ON, the switching control circuit varies the target value gradually over time, and therefore an excessive load current can be prevented from flowing while the active element shifts from an OFF condition to an ON condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8575854
    Abstract: Power conversion apparatus includes a converter circuit, a control circuit, a simulation circuit and a sense circuit. The converter circuit includes a magnetic device for power conversion and a switching device, and is configured to convert power from a power supply into direct current power. The control circuit is configured to supply the converter circuit with a high frequency signal for turning the switching device on and off. The simulation circuit is configured to produce a simulation signal that simulates state or change of magnetic flux of the magnetic device. The sense circuit is configured to produce a signal which corresponds to at least one of the input and output of the converter circuit and is superposed on the simulation signal to form a superposed signal. The control circuit defines an on-period of the high frequency signal based on the superposed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130271003
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device includes a power converter configured to receive a power from a power source, convert it into a voltage required by a discharge lamp and supply the voltage to the discharge lamp; and a controller which controls the power converter to drive the discharge lamp. The controller controls the power supplied to the discharge lamp according to a predetermined power curve. The controller controls the power curve to change based on at least one of a source voltage of the power source, an ambient temperature, a device temperature, a discharge lamp temperature and a discharge lamp voltage, and sets a sustained period of a max power value to a predetermined time period when the lighting of the discharge lamp is performed in a state where the discharge lamp temperature is equal to or less than a reference temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutoshi SUGANUMA, Toshiaki NAKAMURA, Masahiro NISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20130226506
    Abstract: An object is to provide a physical quantity detection device capable of reducing a communication load for transmitting a sensor detection result, and also, of reducing a processing load of a receiving device receiving the sensor detection result. In a case a sensor is not normally operating, the physical quantity detection device according to the present invention transmits a diagnosis result without transmitting a detection result of the sensor (see FIG. 4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nakamura, Masahide Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8502632
    Abstract: A transformer in this invention comprises substrates constructing a primary winding, substrates constructing the secondary winding, and a core member disposed around the substrates. The substrates defining the primary winding are provided with insertion holes for passing a middle leg portion of the core member, and patterned conductors having one turn. The transformer further comprises an interlayer connection member. The interlayer connection member is located inwardly of the patterned conductors of the substrates defining the primary winding. The interlayer connection member is located on the same side of the patterned conductors defining the primary winding. The interlayer connection member is configured to establish the electrical connection of the patterned conductors defining the primary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Suganuma, Tomoyuki Nakano, Toshiaki Nakamura, Toshifumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8482940
    Abstract: A lighting device includes a power converter with an input and an output. The output connects to a load circuit that includes a lamp. An output of the power converter is regulated based on results of first and second current detectors. One end of the output and one end of the input are connected to one end of the load circuit via the first and second current detectors, respectively. Detection outputs of the current detectors are synthesized. A ground-fault current flows through a current pathway from one end of the input of the power converter to the one end of the output of the power converter via the current detectors. The current pathway is formed when a ground fault occurs at a load terminal of the load circuit. Detection signals of the current detectors result from the ground-fault current and are of additive polarities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8456179
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an angular velocity detection device which is capable of reducing the effect of coupling between a drive electrode and a first displacement detection electrode by a floating capacity, and is low in cost. In the angular velocity detection device, an oscillating body 21 is displaceable in a first direction and a second direction which orthogonally intersect each other. The oscillating body 21 is oscillated in the first direction by an electrostatic force corresponding to a drive signal generated by a non-interference signal generator 1. A carrier signal generated by the non-interference signal generator 1 is applied to the oscillating body 21. A first displacement detection circuit 3 and a second displacement detection circuit 4 each detect a displacement of the oscillating body 21 as a displacement modulation signal indicative of a change in electrostatic capacity synchronized with the carrier signal to thereby detect an angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iwasawa, Toshiaki Nakamura, Masahiro Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20130133422
    Abstract: In order to provide an inertial sensor capable of suppressing a wrong diagnosis even in an adverse environment such that sudden noise occurs, an inertial sensor is provided with a movable part (105), a first detection unit (C1, C2) for detecting the amount of displacement of the movable part (105), a forced vibration means (503, C3, C4) for forcedly vibrating the movable part (105) by applying a diagnosis signal, a physical quantity calculation unit (502) for calculating the physical quantity from a detection signal from the first detection unit (C1, C2), and an abnormality determination unit (504) for determining the presence or absence of the abnormality for the physical quantity using the diagnosis signal obtained via the first detection unit (C1, C2), and is used within a vehicle, the inertial sensor further comprising a second sensor (510) mounted in the same vehicle and connected to the abnormality determination unit (504).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoko Yamanaka, Heewon Jeong, Toshiaki Nakamura, Masahide Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8427177
    Abstract: A technique in which a false detection and a wrong diagnosis can be suppressed in a capacitance sensor represented by an acceleration sensor is provided. A first capacitative element and a second capacitative element, which configure a capacitance detection unit, and a third capacitative element and a fourth capacitative element, which configure a forced oscillation generation unit, are electrically separated from each other. That is, the diagnosis movable electrode that configures the third capacitative element and the fourth capacitative element is formed integrally with the movable part. On the other hand, the diagnosis fixed electrode and the diagnosis fixed electrode are electrically separated from the detection fixed electrode and the detection fixed electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Heewon Jeong, Kiyoko Yamanaka, Yasushi Goto, Toshiaki Nakamura, Masahide Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8378792
    Abstract: An electronic information device of the present invention includes: two main body members that are coupled to each other to be capable of transitioning from a first state to a second state; a detecting section that detects whether the two main body members are in either state of the first state or the second state; a time counting section that counts a first time that is required for the two main body members to transition from the first state to the second state; and a function restricting section that restricts at least one function operation in accordance with the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20120257724
    Abstract: An X-ray apparatus in this example of the invention includes a compression unit that enables to move independently of an X-ray tube supporting device and an X-ray detector for compressing a region of interest of a subject; and a connecting part for connecting the X-ray detector to the compression unit and disconnecting the X-ray detector from the compression unit. Consequently, when the compression unit is not used, the compression unit is located in a retracted position. Thus a space can be secured around the subject placed on a top board. On the other hand, when the compression unit is used, the connecting part connects the X-ray detector to the compression unit. Thereby a compression member of the compression unit can always press a site of interest of the subject at the center of a detecting surface of the X-ray detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nakamura, Hiroshi Inoue, Koji Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20120105080
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high-accuracy electrostatic capacitance type physical quantity sensor and angular velocity sensor configured so as to be capable of suppressing noise derived from internal noise while maintaining resistance to externally-incoming noise. A detection element 10 has a movable mass 18 supported displaceably by a physical quantity given from the outside, and a detection electrode Ef. A shield wire 16 is disposed around wirings connected to the input of a capacitance detection circuit 30 and is connected to a dc potential of low impedance. A value Cin of an input capacitance relative to a fixed potential of low impedance at a portion at which the detection element 10 is connected with the capacitance detection circuit 30 is set to fall within a range of 1.5 pF<Cin<20 pF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iwasawa, Masahiro Matsumoto, Toshiaki Nakamura