Patents by Inventor Toshihiko Ichinose

Toshihiko Ichinose 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: 9136547
    Abstract: A fuel cell system, and a method of operating the fuel cell system to measure a performance difference of unit cells via an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and to drive the ASIC with a low voltage from a separately included power source supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Ichinose, Dong-Rak Kim, Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8771893
    Abstract: A fuel cell system operating method in which a temperature of a fuel cell power generator is measured when the fuel cell power generator stops generating power, and it is determined whether the temperature is within a predetermined temperature range, and a reverse current is supplied to the fuel cell power generator upon restart if the temperature was determined to be outside of the predetermined range so as to increase the efficiency of the system after restarting the fuel cell power generator after being exposed to extreme conditions. Subsequently, the reverse current supply to the fuel cell power generator stops and electric energy is generated through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ulrike Krewer, Jun-Young Park, Jin-Hwa Lee, Hye-Jung Cho, Toshihiko Ichinose
  • Patent number: 8470481
    Abstract: A clean power supply unit with a high fuel utilization rate using a fuel cell is provided. The power supply unit of the present invention comprises a fuel cell using methanol as fuel; a secondary battery for supplying power to a load; a fuel cell control part for controlling the amount of fuel and/or air supplied to the above-mentioned fuel cell; and a power converter for converting the power output from the above-mentioned fuel cell to a predetermined voltage or current, supplying power to the load and/or the above-mentioned secondary battery and controlling the supplied power so as to fall within a predetermined range including the value at which the amount of methanol discharged from the above-mentioned fuel cell becomes minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Kozu, Toshihiko Ichinose, Masahiro Takada, Satoshi Shibutani, So Kuranaka
  • Patent number: 8182955
    Abstract: A method for operating a direct methanol fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell includes a fuel cell main body having a fuel electrode and an air electrode disposed in opposing positions on either side of an electrolyte film. In this method, an aqueous methanol solution is supplied directly to the fuel electrode. A quantity of the aqueous methanol solution supplied is controlled in accordance with an electric current value drawn from the fuel cell main body so as to minimize a quantity of unused methanol within a discharge fluid discharged from the fuel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Kozu, Toshihiko Ichinose, Masahiro Takada, Satoshi Shibutani
  • Patent number: 7994765
    Abstract: A power supply device, comprising first and second lead terminals for connection with a load, a fuel cell, an energy storage element connected between the first and second lead terminals, a synchronous-rectification switching power-source portion for converting the output voltage of the fuel cell to the output voltage of the energy storage element and outputting it to the first and second lead terminals, and a current-detecting portion for detecting the output current of the fuel cell, the switching power-source portion further comprising a first switching element connected to the energy storage element in series, a second switching element connected to the energy storage element in parallel, and a simultaneous-turn-off controller for turning off the first and second switching elements simultaneously when the output current detected by the current-detecting portion is not larger than a preset current threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Takada, Toshihiko Ichinose
  • Patent number: 7968238
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack composed of a plurality of cells connected in series. The method includes the steps of: (a) supplying a fuel and an oxidant to anodes and cathodes of the cells, respectively, depending on a load to generate power at a constant voltage under constant voltage control; (b) temporarily suspending the supply of the oxidant with the fuel being supplied; and (c) lowering the constant voltage to a predetermined voltage simultaneously with or immediately before the suspension of the supply of the oxidant. According to this operation method, when the supply of the oxidant is suspended, a platinum catalyst in the cathodes can be reduced and reactivated in all the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Akiyama, Hideyuki Ueda, Toshihiko Ichinose, Masahiro Takada
  • Patent number: 7872448
    Abstract: A power supply system for portable equipment has a lithium-ion secondary battery as a power supply, a temperature detection portion for detecting a temperature of the power supply, a voltage detection portion for detecting a voltage of the power supply, a memory portion, and a forced discharge portion. The memory portion stores a control operating temperature, a control operating voltage and a control termination voltage. The forced discharge portion recognizes an abnormality of the power supply when the temperature of the power supply is at least the control operating temperature and the voltage of the power supply is at least the control operating voltage. Then, the forced discharge portion electrifies the notification portion and makes it inform a message indicating that the abnormality is being avoided. The forced discharge portion forcedly discharges the power supply until the voltage of the power supply reaches the control termination voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Taniguchi, Toshihiko Ichinose
  • Patent number: 7855019
    Abstract: A method for operating a direct methanol fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell includes a fuel cell main body having a fuel electrode and an air electrode disposed in opposing positions on either side of an electrolyte film. In this method, an aqueous methanol solution is supplied directly to the fuel electrode. A quantity of the aqueous methanol solution supplied is controlled in accordance with an electric current value drawn from the fuel cell main body so as to minimize a quantity of unused methanol within a discharge fluid discharged from the fuel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Kozu, Toshihiko Ichinose, Masahiro Takada, Satoshi Shibutani
  • Patent number: 7846577
    Abstract: A battery pack is provided, in which a plurality of rechargeable batteries are held by a center frame, a bottom-side frame, and a terminal-side frame in a parallel spaced relationship, the plurality of rechargeable batteries being connected in series and integrated with a circuit substrate by mounting the circuit substrate on the terminal-side frame, the circuit substrate being provided with a resin mold, whereby the battery pack is free of damage to electrical circuit parts even in the event of entrance of water or dust through vents that are provided for suppressing temperature rise of the rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Kozu, Toshihiko Ichinose, So Kuranaka
  • Patent number: 7768236
    Abstract: An electrical device comprises a positive electrode terminal for connection to the positive electrode of a battery, a negative electrode terminal for connection to the negative electrode of the battery, a load circuit receiving power from the positive and negative electrode terminals connected to the battery, a voltage detector detecting the voltage between the positive and negative electrode terminals, and a short circuiting portion for short-circuiting between the positive and negative electrode terminals when the voltage detected by the voltage detector becomes not larger than a particular preset voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koshi Takamura, Toshihiko Ichinose, Harunari Shimamura
  • Publication number: 20100176876
    Abstract: A fuel cell system, and a method of operating the fuel cell system to measure a performance difference of unit cells via an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and to drive the ASIC with a low voltage from a separately included power source supply device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko ICHINOSE, Dong-Rak Kim, Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 7750597
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus is provided which includes: a fuel cell; a power storage device which stores electric power; a connection terminal for connecting a load; a charge-used voltage converter which converts the output voltage of the fuel cell into a charging voltage for charging the power storage device and charges the power storage device; and an output-used voltage converter which converts the output voltage of the power storage device into a predetermined set output voltage and outputs it to the connection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Takada, Toshihiko Ichinose
  • Publication number: 20100143812
    Abstract: A clean power supply unit with a high fuel utilization rate using a fuel cell is provided. The power supply unit of the present invention comprises a fuel cell using methanol as fuel; a secondary battery for supplying power to a load; a fuel cell control part for controlling the amount of fuel and/or air supplied to the above-mentioned fuel cell; and a power converter for converting the power output from the above-mentioned fuel cell to a predetermined voltage or current, supplying power to the load and/or the above-mentioned secondary battery and controlling the supplied power so as to fall within a predetermined range including the value at which the amount of methanol discharged from the above-mentioned fuel cell becomes minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsumi Kozu, Toshihiko Ichinose, Masahiro Takada, Satoshi Shibutani, So Kuranaka
  • Patent number: 7719252
    Abstract: A power supply is provided, which is capable of stabilizing a generated output of the fuel cell using neither a voltage nor a current outputted from the fuel cell as a negative feedback signal. The power supply includes a fuel cell 110, a DC-DC converter 120 that adjusts a voltage outputted from the fuel cell 110 according to a PWM signal and then outputs the voltage to a load device 200, a switching controller 130 that generates the PWM signal and outputs this signal to the DC-DC converter 120, a voltmeter 140 that measures a voltage Vout outputted from the DC-DC converter 120, and a rechargeable battery 150 connected to the load device 200 in parallel. The DC-DC converter 120 calculates a duty ratio of the PWM signal by performing a specific computation using the voltage Vout and a target fuel cell voltage Vt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Takada, Toshihiko Ichinose, Katsumi Kozu, Takeshi Shimamoto, Junko Shimamoto, legal representative
  • Publication number: 20100119915
    Abstract: A method for operating a direct methanol fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell includes a fuel cell main body having a fuel electrode and an air electrode disposed in opposing positions on either side of an electrolyte film. In this method, an aqueous methanol solution is supplied directly to the fuel electrode. A quantity of the aqueous methanol solution supplied is controlled in accordance with an electric current value drawn from the fuel cell main body so as to minimize a quantity of unused methanol within a discharge fluid discharged from the fuel electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kozu, Toshihiko Ichinose, Masahiro Takada, Satoshi Shibutani
  • Publication number: 20100119891
    Abstract: A method for operating a direct methanol fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell includes a fuel cell main body having a fuel electrode and an air electrode disposed in opposing positions on either side of an electrolyte film. In this method, an aqueous methanol solution is supplied directly to the fuel electrode. A quantity of the aqueous methanol solution supplied is controlled in accordance with an electric current value drawn from the fuel cell main body so as to minimize a quantity of unused methanol within a discharge fluid discharged from the fuel electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kozu, Toshihiko Ichinose, Masahiro Takada, Satoshi Shibutani
  • Patent number: 7692330
    Abstract: Electronic equipment is provided in which a bi-directional voltage converter is connected between a fuel cell and a secondary battery, and a load apparatus is connected in parallel to the fuel cell. Further, if a plurality of voltage converters are provided, when each output voltage is closer to an output voltage of the secondary battery than an output voltage of the fuel cell, they are classified into a first voltage-converter group, while being closer to the output voltage of the fuel cell than the output voltage of the secondary battery, they are sorted out as a second voltage-converter group. Then, the secondary battery is connected in parallel to the first voltage-converter group and the fuel cell is connected in parallel to the second voltage-converter group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Takada, Toshihiko Ichinose, Takeshi Shimamoto, Junko Shimamoto, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7687167
    Abstract: A clean power supply unit with a high fuel utilization rate using a fuel cell is provided. The power supply unit of the present invention comprises a fuel cell using methanol as fuel; a secondary battery for supplying power to a load; a fuel cell control part for controlling the amount of fuel and/or air supplied to the above-mentioned fuel cell; and a power converter for converting the power output from the above-mentioned fuel cell to a predetermined voltage or current, supplying power to the load and/or the above-mentioned secondary battery and controlling the supplied power so as to fall within a predetermined range including the value at which the amount of methanol discharged from the above-mentioned fuel cell becomes minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Kozu, Toshihiko Ichinose, Masahiro Takada, Satoshi Shibutani, So Kuranaka
  • Patent number: 7682716
    Abstract: A method for operating a direct methanol fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell includes a fuel cell main body having a fuel electrode and an air electrode disposed in opposing positions on either side of an electrolyte film. In this method, an aqueous methanol solution is supplied directly to the fuel electrode. A quantity of the aqueous methanol solution supplied is controlled in accordance with an electric current value drawn from the fuel cell main body so as to minimize a quantity of unused methanol within a discharge fluid discharged from the fuel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Kozu, Toshihiko Ichinose, Masahiro Takada, Satoshi Shibutani
  • Publication number: 20090317687
    Abstract: A mixing pump device (1) used for fuel cells etc. has two inflow paths (51, 52), inflow side active valves (21, 22) arranged at the two inflow paths (51, 52), respectively, a pump chamber (11) into which liquids flow via each of two inflow paths (51, 52), four outflow paths (61, 62, 63, 64) for allowing a liquid mixed in the pump chamber (11) to flow out, and outflow side active valves (31, 32, 33, 34) arranged at the four outflow paths (61, 62, 63, 64), respectively. Further, a chamber (82) is formed between the pump chamber (11) and a branch point (80) at which the outflow paths (61, 62, 63, 64) branch off. The construction prevents a variation in the concentration of the liquid allowed to flow out of the outflow paths (61, 62, 63, 64) after the mixing in the pump chamber (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Mitsuo Yokozawa, Kenji Muramatsu, Shinsuke Fukuda, Toshihiko Ichinose, Katsumi Kozu