Patents by Inventor Toshihisa Hirai

Toshihisa Hirai 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: 20110240772
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizer equipped with an electrostatic atomization pole having superior migration-proof. The atomizer comprises the electrostatic atomization pole, a liquid supply mechanism that supplies the pole with liquid, and a power supply that supplies the pole with high voltage to electrostatically atomize the liquid held on the pole. A coating is formed on the surface of the pole, and the coating is formed of simple metal or alloy, which displays resistance to migration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sumiaki Nakano, Akihide Sugawa, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Fumio Mihara, Yasunori Matsui
  • Patent number: 8015724
    Abstract: This heating blower has a housing 1, a fan 2, a heater 3, and an electrostatic atomizing device 5. The electrostatic atomizing device 5 is provided in the housing 1 and discharges nanometer-size ion mist to the outside. The electrostatic atomizing device 5 comprises a discharging electrode 50, an opposed electrode 52 disposed opposite the discharging electrode 50, a cooling part 53 which cools the discharging electrode 50 to generate moisture from ambient air near the discharging electrode, and a high voltage applying part 55 which applies a high voltage between said discharging electrode and the opposed electrode to atomize water generated near the discharging electrode. Therefore, this heating blower can discharge nanometer-size ion mist to the outside without replenishment of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Imahori, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Akihide Sugawa, Fumio Mihara, Shousuke Akisada, Hirokazu Yoshioka, Kousuke Katayama, Toshiyuki Yamauchi, Hiroshi Suda, Yasunori Matsui
  • Patent number: 7980493
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizer equipped with an electrostatic atomization pole having superior resistance to migration. The atomizer includes an electrostatic atomization pole, a liquid supply mechanism that supplies the pole with liquid, and a power supply that supplies the pole with high voltage to electrostatically atomize the liquid held on the pole. A coating is formed on the surface of the pole, and the coating is formed of simple metal or alloy, which displays resistance to migration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sumiaki Nakano, Akihide Sugawa, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Fumio Mihara, Yasunori Matsui
  • Patent number: 7959717
    Abstract: An air conditioning system with an electrostatically atomizing function includes an electrostatically atomizing unit and a ventilation duct which flows conditioned air. The electrostatically atomizing unit generates a mist of charged minute water particles. The electrostatically atomizing unit is provided with a discharge port which locates adjacent to an air outlet of the ventilation duct. The mist of the charged minute water particles flows into an airflow which is sent from the ventilation duct. The mist of the charged minute water particles effectively spreads to the space by the air flow without dissipating inside the ventilation duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yano, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Sumio Wada, Akihide Sugawa, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Shousuke Akisada
  • Patent number: 7874503
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device capable of instantly giving an electrostatically atomizing effect without requiring a water tank. The electrostatically atomizing device includes an emitter electrode, an opposed electrode opposed to the emitter electrode, a water feeder configured to give water on the emitter electrode, and a high voltage source configured to apply a high voltage across said emitter electrode and said opposed electrode to electrostatically charge the water on the emitter electrode for spraying charged minute water particles from a discharge end of the emitter electrode. The water feeder is configured to condense the water on the emitter electrode from within the surrounding air, enabling to supply the water on the emitter electrode in a short time without relying upon an additional water tank. Thus, an atomization of the charged minute water particles can be obtained immediately upon use of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Imahori, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Akihide Sugawa, Fumio Mihara, Shousuke Akisada, Tomoharu Watanabe, Hirokazu Yoshioka, Kentaro Kobayashi, Shinya Murase, Kouichi Hirai, Junji Imai
  • Patent number: 7861954
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizer including a discharge electrode, a counter electrode, a cooling source, a high voltage power supply and a voltage detector. The cooling source cools the discharge electrode to form thereon dew as water. The power supply applies high voltage for discharge across the electrodes. The detector detects voltage between the electrodes. The power supply includes a control device and a voltage stabilizing device that are opposite to each other in temperature characteristic. The control device operates to pick up the voltage detected with the detector via the voltage stabilizing device, and to adjust the high voltage applied across the electrodes through feedback control so that the voltage corresponds to specified discharge voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shousuke Akisada, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hiraki, legal representative, Sumio Wada, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7854403
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device includes a housing and an electrostatically atomizing unit disposed within the housing. The atomizing unit includes an emitter electrode and an heat exchanger. The heat exchanger cools the emitter electrode to develop condensed water. A high voltage is applied to the emitter electrode in order to electrostatically atomizing the condensed water and generate a mist of charged minute water particles. The housing accommodates a fan generating an air flow accelerating a heat radiation of the heat exchanger, and a high voltage source generating the high voltage applied to the emitter electrode. The heat exchanger has its heat radiator section exposed to a flow passage of the air flow. The atomizing unit is formed with an air inlet for introducing the air flow which carries the mist of the charged minute water particles and release the mist. The atomizing unit and the high voltage source are arranged on opposite sides of the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yano, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Sumio Wada, Akihide Sugawa, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Shousuke Akisada
  • Patent number: 7837134
    Abstract: An emitter electrode is cooled by a cooler to generate condensed water which is charged by a high voltage applied between the emitter electrode and an opposed electrode and is discharged as a mist of charged minute water particles. A controller is provided to vary a temperature drop to a predetermined minimum temperature in dependence of an environmental temperature detected by a temperature sensor. The temperature drop is made variable in proportion to the environmental temperature. Accordingly, a sufficient amount of water can be condensed on the emitter electrode simply by controlling the cooling of the emitter electrode without relying upon an environmental humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shousuke Akisada, Sumio Wada, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Mikio Itou, Kyohei Kada
  • Publication number: 20100133366
    Abstract: An air conditioning system with an electrostatically atomizing function includes an electrostatically atomizing unit and a ventilation duct which flows conditioned air. The electrostatically atomizing unit generates a mist of charged minute water particles. The electrostatically atomizing unit is provided with a discharge port which locates adjacent to an air outlet of the ventilation duct. The mist of the charged minute water particles flows into an airflow which is sent from the ventilation duct. The mist of the charged minute water particles effectively spreads to the space by the air flow without dissipating inside the ventilation duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Takeshi Yano, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Sumio Wada, Akihide Sugawa, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Shousuke Akisada
  • Publication number: 20100133367
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device has a housing and an electrostatically atomizing unit accommodated within the housing. The electrostatically atomizing unit includes an atomizing barrel and an emitter electrode disposed within the atomizing barrel and is configured to atomize water supplied to the emitter electrode at a tip of the emitter electrode and generate mist of charged minute water particles. Formed within the housing is an air pressure chamber which surrounds the atomizing barrel. The atomizing barrel is formed in its peripheral wall with a plurality of air inlets which are arranged circumferentially around the atomizing barrel to introduce pressurized air from the air pressure chamber for carrying the mist on the pressurized air introduced into the atomizing barrel from the plural air inlets and discharging the mist outwardly of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Takeshi Yano, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Sumio Wada, Akihide Sugawa, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Shousuke Akisada
  • Patent number: 7676952
    Abstract: A hair dryer having a static atomizing device, which has the capability of generating an electrostatically charged microparticle mist of 3 nm to 100 nm. The static atomizing device has a pair of an atomizing electrode and a counter electrode, a tank for storing a liquid such as water; a liquid transport member for transport water from the tank to the atomizing electrode according to capillary phenomenon, and a voltage applying unit. When a high voltage is applied between the atomizing electrode and the counter electrode, while water being supplied to the atomizing electrode through the liquid transport member, the electrostatically charged microparticle mist is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakagawa, Yasunori Matsui, Naofumi Kodama, Tomohiro Yamaguchi, Kiyoshi Takashima, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Kenji Kamada, Kengo Ito, Kazumi Okawa, Atsushi Isaka, Shinya Murase
  • Publication number: 20100044476
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device includes a housing and an electrostatically atomizing unit disposed within the housing. The atomizing unit includes an emitter electrode and an heat exchanger. The heat exchanger cools the emitter electrode to develop condensed water. A high voltage is applied to the emitter electrode in order to electrostatically atomizing the condensed water and generate a mist of charged minute water particles. The housing accommodates a fan generating an air flow accelerating a heat radiation of the heat exchanger, and a high voltage source generating the high voltage applied to the emitter electrode. The heat exchanger has its heat radiator section exposed to a flow passage of the air flow. The atomizing unit is formed with an air inlet for introducing the air flow which carries the mist of the charged minute water particles and release the mist. The atomizing unit and the high voltage source are arranged on opposite sides of the flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yano, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Sumio Wada, Akihide Sugawa, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Shousuke Akisada
  • Publication number: 20090272827
    Abstract: An emitter electrode is cooled by a cooler to generate condensed water which is charged by a high voltage applied between the emitter electrode and an opposed electrode and is discharged as a mist of charged minute water particles. A controller is provided to vary a temperature drop to a predetermined minimum temperature in dependence of an environmental temperature detected by a temperature sensor. The temperature drop is made variable in proportion to the environmental temperature. Accordingly, a sufficient amount of water can be condensed on the emitter electrode simply by controlling the cooling of the emitter electrode without relying upon an environmental humidity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Shousuke Akisada, Sumio Wada, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Mikio Itou, Kyohei Kada
  • Publication number: 20090206185
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizer comprising a discharge electrode, a counter electrode, a cooling source, a high voltage power supply and a voltage detector. The cooling source cools the discharge electrode to form thereon dew as water. The power supply applies high voltage for discharge across the electrodes. The detector detects voltage between the electrodes. The power supply includes a control device and a voltage stabilizing device that are opposite to each other in temperature characteristic. The control device operates to pick up the voltage detected with the detector via the voltage stabilizing device, and to adjust the high voltage applied across the electrodes through feedback control so that the voltage corresponds to specified discharge voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works ,Ltd.
    Inventors: Shousuke Akisada, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Sumio Wada, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7567420
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device includes an emitter electrode, an opposed electrode opposed to the emitter electrode, and a cooling means which condenses the water on the emitter electrode from within the surrounding air, and a high voltage source applying a high voltage across the emitter electrode and the opposed electrode to electrostatically charge the water for atomizing charged minute water particles from a discharge end of the emitter electrode. The device further includes a controller for discharging the charged minute water particles in a stable manner. The controller monitors a discharge current flowing between the two electrodes to control the cooling means for keeping the discharge current at a predetermined level, thereby regulating the atomizing amount of the charged minute particles from the emitter electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kobayashi, Hirokazu Yoshioka, Tomoharu Watanabe, Akihide Sugawa, Shousuke Akisada, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Fumio Mihara, Kouichi Hirai, Shinya Murase, Atsushi Isaka, Osamu Imahori, Sumio Wada, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Toshihisa Hirai
  • Publication number: 20090121050
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizer equipped with an electrostatic atomization pole having superior migration-proof. The atomizer comprises the electrostatic atomization pole, a liquid supply mechanism that supplies the pole with liquid, and a power supply that supplies the pole with high voltage to electrostatically atomize the liquid held on the pole. A coating is formed on the surface of the pole, and the coating is formed of simple metal or alloy, which displays resistance to migration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sumiaki Nakano, Akihide Sugawa, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Fumio Mihara, Yasunori Matsui
  • Publication number: 20090001200
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrostatically atomizing device capable of instantly giving an electrostatically atomizing effect without requiring a water tank. The electrostatically atomizing device includes an emitter electrode, an opposed electrode opposed to the emitter electrode, a water feeder configured to give water on the emitter electrode, and a high voltage source configured to apply a high voltage across said emitter electrode and said opposed electrode to electrostatically charge the water on the emitter electrode for spraying charged minute water particles from a discharge end of the emitter electrode. The water feeder is configured to condense the water on the emitter electrode from within the surrounding air, enabling to supply the water on the emitter electrode in a short time without relying upon an additional water tank. Thus, an atomization of the charged minute water particles can be obtained immediately upon use of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Osamu Imahori, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Akihide Sugawa, Fumio Mihara, Shousuke Akisada, Tomoharu Watanabe, Hirokazu Yoshioka, Kentaro Kobayashi, Shinya Murase, Kouichi Hirai, Junji Imai
  • Publication number: 20080229606
    Abstract: This heating blower has a housing 1, a fan 2, a heater 3, and an electrostatic atomizing device 5. The electrostatic atomizing device 5 is provided in the housing 1 and discharges nanometer-size ion mist to the outside. The electrostatic atomizing device 5 comprises a discharging electrode 50, an opposed electrode 52 disposed opposite the discharging electrode 50, a cooling part 53 which cools the discharging electrode 50 to generate moisture from ambient air near the discharging electrode, and a high voltage applying part 55 which applies a high voltage between said discharging electrode and the opposed electrode to atomize water generated near the discharging electrode. Therefore, this heating blower can discharge nanometer-size ion mist to the outside without replenishment of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai
  • Publication number: 20080130189
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device includes an emitter electrode, an opposed electrode opposed to the emitter electrode, and a cooling means which condenses the water on the emitter electrode from within the surrounding air, and a high voltage source applying a high voltage across the emitter electrode and the opposed electrode to electrostatically charge the water for atomizing charged minute water particles from a discharge end of the emitter electrode. The device further includes a controller for discharging the charged minute water particles in a stable manner. The controller monitors a discharge current flowing between the two electrodes to control the cooling means for keeping the discharge current at a predetermined level, thereby regulating the atomizing amount of the charged minute particles from the emitter electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kobayashi, Hirokazu Yoshioka, Tomoharu Watanabe, Akihide Sugawa, Shousuke Akisada, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Fumio Mihara, Kouichi Hirai, Shinya Murase, Atsushi Isaka, Osamu Imahori, Sumio Wada, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7350317
    Abstract: In an electrostatic atomizing hairdryer, electrostatically atomized mist generated in an electrostatic atomizing unit is effectively scattered into airflow emitted from a main body of the hairdryer so that the mist can be sprayed to hair uniformly and a time necessary for treatment of hair can be shortened. A tank constituting the electrostatic atomizing unit is detachably provided on a portion in the vicinity of an outer periphery of the main body, and an electrode unit for generating the mist is provided in a path of airflow sucked in an inside of the main body so as to be insulated from heat of a heating unit by an adiabator. A mist emitting opening from which the mist is emitted is disposed on a plane substantially the same as and at substantially the center of an air exit opening of the main body. Thereby, the mist emitted from the mist emitting opening is effectively scattered into the airflow emitted from the air exit opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Matsui, Osamu Imahori, Shosuke Akisada, Fumio Mihara, Akihide Sugawa, Toshihisa Hirai, Takashi Nakagawa, Kozo Kawai, Naofumi Kodama, Tomohiro Yamaguchi, Kiyoshi Takashima, Kousuke Katayama, Junichi Watanabe