Patents by Inventor Toshihiro Nakano

Toshihiro Nakano 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: 11949325
    Abstract: A power conversion device according to an embodiment may include: an output circuit configured to perform a power conversion operation of converting input power into an output power and outputting the output power; and a microcomputer configured to control the power conversion operation by the output circuit with power supplied from an internal power source of the output circuit, wherein the microcomputer outputs a status signal notifying whether the microcomputer is in a power shutdown permit period or a power shutdown inhibit period, and the output circuit includes a power supply stop circuit configured, when receiving the operation stop signal that instructs to stop the power conversion operation, to stop the power supply from the internal power source to the microcomputer on a condition where the status signal indicates that the microcomputer is in the power shutdown permit period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Takada, Toshihiro Nakano
  • Publication number: 20240061020
    Abstract: An excitation current detection circuit is disclosed. A transformer comprises a primary winding, an auxiliary winding, and a secondary winding. A first voltage detector detects a positive voltage of an auxiliary winding voltage. A second voltage detector detects a negative voltage of the auxiliary winding voltage. A first voltage controlled oscillator generates a first clock with a frequency proportional to the positive voltage during a period when the auxiliary winding voltage is the positive voltage. A second voltage controlled oscillator generates a second clock with a frequency proportional to the negative voltage during a period when the auxiliary winding voltage is the negative voltage. A counter outputs a counter value, which is added in one of cycles of the first clock and the second clock and subtracted in the other cycle of the first clock and the second clock as a detected value of an excitation current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji ASO, Toshihiro NAKANO, Mitsutomo YOSHINAGA, Hiroshi HOSOYA
  • Publication number: 20220216782
    Abstract: A power conversion device according to an embodiment may include: an output circuit configured to perform a power conversion operation of converting input power into an output power and outputting the output power; and a microcomputer configured to control the power conversion operation by the output circuit with power supplied from an internal power source of the output circuit, wherein the microcomputer outputs a status signal notifying whether the microcomputer is in a power shutdown permit period or a power shutdown inhibit period, and the output circuit includes a power supply stop circuit configured, when receiving the operation stop signal that instructs to stop the power conversion operation, to stop the power supply from the internal power source to the microcomputer on a condition where the status signal indicates that the microcomputer is in the power shutdown permit period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi TAKADA, Toshihiro NAKANO
  • Patent number: 10879786
    Abstract: A power conversion device according to one or more embodiments may include: a microcomputer; and an output circuit controlled by the microcomputer, including an output unit that converts an input power into a predetermined power and outputs the predetermined power, an internal power source that supplies a power source to the microcomputer, a driver that drives the output unit by a signal from the microcomputer, and a microcomputer stop transition unit that, when an operation of the power conversion device is stopped, outputs a microcomputer stop signal to the microcomputer and causes an operation of the microcomputer to transition to a stop state. In one or more embodiments, after the microcomputer stop transition unit causes the operation of the microcomputer to transition to a stop state, the microcomputer or the output circuit may stop an output of the internal power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Takada, Mitsutomo Yoshinaga, Toshihiro Nakano, Koki Imai, Osamu Ohtake
  • Patent number: 10763751
    Abstract: A device and method for controlling a power converter. The device includes an activation terminal configured to obtain a first voltage based on the input voltage; a controlling terminal configured to obtain a second voltage based on the output voltage; and a digital controller configured to obtain a driving power based on the first voltage and/or the second voltage; the digital controller is configured to obtain the driving power at least based on the first voltage when the power converter is stopped. Therefore, a sufficient driving power can be provided for the digital controller even when the power converter is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Takada, Mitsutomo Yoshinaga, Toshihiro Nakano, Koichi Shiotsu, Satoshi Funakoshi
  • Publication number: 20200228020
    Abstract: Circuits and devices are described that provide power to appliances and other devices via a power correction circuit and an LLC converter, which may for example include resonant series converters and flyback converters. The circuits and devices economize on board space, part size and power start up time by separately powering up the controller circuit portion prior to powering up the LLC converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihiro NAKANO
  • Publication number: 20200186036
    Abstract: A power conversion device according to one or more embodiments may include: a microcomputer; and an output circuit controlled by the microcomputer, including an output unit that converts an input power into a predetermined power and outputs the predetermined power, an internal power source that supplies a power source to the microcomputer, a driver that drives the output unit by a signal from the microcomputer, and a microcomputer stop transition unit that, when an operation of the power conversion device is stopped, outputs a microcomputer stop signal to the microcomputer and causes an operation of the microcomputer to transition to a stop state. In one or more embodiments, after the microcomputer stop transition unit causes the operation of the microcomputer to transition to a stop state, the microcomputer or the output circuit may stop an output of the internal power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi TAKADA, Mitsutomo YOSHINAGA, Toshihiro NAKANO, Koki IMAI, Osamu OHTAKE
  • Patent number: 10637361
    Abstract: Circuits and devices are described that provide power to appliances and other devices via a power correction circuit and an LLC converter, which may for example include resonant series converters and flyback converters. The circuits and devices economize on board space, part size and power start up time by separately powering up the controller circuit portion prior to powering up the LLC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Nakano
  • Patent number: 10608536
    Abstract: A power conversion device may include: a microcomputer; and an output circuit controlled by the microcomputer, including an output unit that converts an input power into a predetermined power and outputs the predetermined power, an internal power source that supplies a power source to the microcomputer, a driver that drives the output unit by a signal from the microcomputer, and a microcomputer stop transition unit that, when an operation of the power conversion device is stopped, outputs a microcomputer stop signal to the microcomputer and causes an operation of the microcomputer to transition to a stop state. In one or more embodiments, after the microcomputer stop transition unit causes the operation of the microcomputer to transition to a stop state, the microcomputer or the output circuit may stop an output of the internal power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Takada, Mitsutomo Yoshinaga, Toshihiro Nakano, Koki Imai, Osamu Ohtake
  • Publication number: 20190379290
    Abstract: A device and method for controlling a power converter. The device includes an activation terminal configured to obtain a first voltage based on the input voltage; a controlling terminal configured to obtain a second voltage based on the output voltage; and a digital controller configured to obtain a driving power based on the first voltage and/or the second voltage; the digital controller is configured to obtain the driving power at least based on the first voltage when the power converter is stopped. Therefore, a sufficient driving power can be provided for the digital controller even when the power converter is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi TAKADA, Mitsutomo YOSHINAGA, Toshihiro NAKANO, Koichi SHIOTSU, Satoshi FUNAKOSHI
  • Publication number: 20190312512
    Abstract: A power conversion device according to one or more embodiments may include: a microcomputer; and an output circuit controlled by the microcomputer, including an output unit that converts an input power into a predetermined power and outputs the predetermined power, an internal power source that supplies a power source to the microcomputer, a driver that drives the output unit by a signal from the microcomputer, and a microcomputer stop transition unit that, when an operation of the power conversion device is stopped, outputs a microcomputer stop signal to the microcomputer and causes an operation of the microcomputer to transition to a stop state. In one or more embodiments, after the microcomputer stop transition unit causes the operation of the microcomputer to transition to a stop state, the microcomputer or the output circuit may stop an output of the internal power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi TAKADA, Mitsutomo YOSHINAGA, Toshihiro NAKANO, Koki IMAI, Osamu OHTAKE
  • Patent number: 10389247
    Abstract: A power conversion device according to one or more embodiments may include: a microcomputer; and an output circuit controlled by the microcomputer, including an output unit that converts an input power into a predetermined power and outputs the predetermined power, an internal power source that supplies a power source to the microcomputer, a driver that drives the output unit by a signal from the microcomputer, and a microcomputer stop transition unit that, when an operation of the power conversion device is stopped, outputs a microcomputer stop signal to the microcomputer and causes an operation of the microcomputer to transition to a stop state. In one or more embodiments, after the microcomputer stop transition unit causes the operation of the microcomputer to transition to a stop state, the microcomputer or the output circuit may stop an output of the internal power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Takada, Mitsutomo Yoshinaga, Toshihiro Nakano, Koki Imai, Osamu Ohtake
  • Patent number: 10348210
    Abstract: Circuits and devices are described that provide power to appliances and other devices via a power correction circuit and an LLC converter, which may for example include resonant series converters and flyback converters. The circuits and devices economize on board space, part size and power start up time by separately powering up the controller circuit portion prior to powering up the LLC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Nakano
  • Publication number: 20190006945
    Abstract: A power conversion device according to one or more embodiments may include: a microcomputer; and an output circuit controlled by the microcomputer, including an output unit that converts an input power into a predetermined power and outputs the predetermined power, an internal power source that supplies a power source to the microcomputer, a driver that drives the output unit by a signal from the microcomputer, and a microcomputer stop transition unit that, when an operation of the power conversion device is stopped, outputs a microcomputer stop signal to the microcomputer and causes an operation of the microcomputer to transition to a stop state. In one or more embodiments, after the microcomputer stop transition unit causes the operation of the microcomputer to transition to a stop state, the microcomputer or the output circuit may stop an output of the internal power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi TAKADA, Mitsutomo YOSHINAGA, Toshihiro NAKANO, Koki IMAI, Osamu OHTAKE
  • Publication number: 20180152110
    Abstract: Circuits and devices are described that provide power to appliances and other devices via a power correction circuit and an LLC converter, which may for example include resonant series converters and flyback converters. The circuits and devices economize on board space, part size and power start up time by separately powering up the controller circuit portion prior to powering up the LLC converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihiro NAKANO
  • Patent number: 9973096
    Abstract: Circuits and devices are described that provide power to appliances and other devices via a power correction circuit and an LLC converter, which may for example include resonant series converters and flyback converters. The circuits and devices economize on board space, part size and power start up time by separately powering up the controller circuit portion prior to powering up the LLC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Nakano
  • Patent number: 9847709
    Abstract: A switched-mode power supply device that rectifies and smoothes a direct input voltage to obtain a predetermined output voltage is disclosed. A series circuit includes a reactor and a switching element and the circuit switches the direct input voltage. An OFF time calculator calculates an OFF time of the switching element based on the direct input voltage, the output voltage, and an ON time of the switching element calculated based on the output voltage and a reference value. A frequency calculator calculates at least one of a period and a frequency based on the OFF time calculated by the OFF time calculator and the ON time. A controller that controls switching of the switching element based on a result of comparison between one of the period and the frequency, and a corresponding one of a reference period and the reference frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Nakano
  • Publication number: 20170093301
    Abstract: A switched-mode power supply device that rectifies and smoothes a direct input voltage to obtain a predetermined output voltage is disclosed. A series circuit includes a reactor and a switching element and the circuit switches the direct input voltage. An OFF time calculator calculates an OFF time of the switching element based on the direct input voltage, the output voltage, and an ON time of the switching element calculated based on the output voltage and a reference value. A frequency calculator calculates at least one of a period and a frequency based on the OFF time calculated by the OFF time calculator and the ON time. A controller that controls switching of the switching element based on a result of comparison between one of the period and the frequency, and a corresponding one of a reference period and the reference frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: SANKEN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihiro NAKANO
  • Publication number: 20160365799
    Abstract: Circuits and devices are described that provide power to appliances and other devices via a power correction circuit and an LLC converter, which may for example include resonant series converters and flyback converters. The circuits and devices economize on board space, part size and power start up time by separately powering up the controller circuit portion prior to powering up the LLC converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventor: Toshihiro NAKANO
  • Patent number: 9293983
    Abstract: A switching power-supply apparatus includes: a control circuit that controls on-and-off switching of a switching element; a first rectifying-and-smoothing circuit that smoothes a voltage generated in a secondary winding; and a second rectifying-and-smoothing circuit that smoothes a voltage generated in a tertiary winding as a power supply voltage, a starting circuit that supplies as a starting current: a first constant current to the control circuit when the power supply voltage is equal to or lower than a first threshold voltage, which is lower than a starting voltage of the control circuit; a second constant current, which is greater than the first constant current, to the control circuit when the power supply voltage is larger than the first threshold voltage and is equal to or lower than the starting voltage; and the first constant current to the control circuit while the control circuit is started up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Nakano