Patents by Inventor Toshitaka Matsuura
Toshitaka Matsuura 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).
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Patent number: 6344134Abstract: An apparatus and method using a two-serial space sensor (having first and second internal spaces 2,3) for accurately measuring NOx concentration in gas, e.g., exhausted from an internal combustion engine. Both NOx (nitrogen oxide) and oxygen are forced to be partially dissociated in the first space 2 to an oxygen concentration level of 2×10−7 to 2×10−10 atm by pumping out oxygen from the first space 2. The NOx concentration is determined based on the second current measured in the second space 4 and based on the NO dissociation percentage in the first chamber which is 0.5-50%, or preferably 2-20%. The NOx measurement accuracy is further improved when the above oxygen concentration level is maintained from 2×10−8 to 2×10−9 and the temperature drift of the sensor is maintained within ±5° C. under a sensor temperature range of 700-900° C.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 1999Date of Patent: February 5, 2002Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tessho Yamada, Noboru Ishida, Toshitaka Matsuura, Yoshiro Noda, Nobuhiro Hayakawa, Norihiko Nadanami, Satoshi Sugaya, Takaki Otsuka, Masashi Ando, Takafumi Oshima
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Patent number: 5202154Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a gas sensor element having a porous film formed by a thick-film technique on a ceramic substrate surface so as to cover selected portions of electrode films precedingly formed on the substrate surface. The electrode material is a noble metal such as platinum. Both the electrode films and the gas sensitive porous thick-film are formed by known methods. To improve the contact between the gas sensitive porous thick-film and the electrode films both mechanically and electrically and stabilize the internal resistance of the sensor element by depositing a noble metal such as platinum at the interface between the porous thick-film and each electrode film, the porous thick-film is impregnated with a solution of a noble metal compound such as chloroplatinic acid and thereafter maintained in a reducing gas atmosphere having a controlled humidity in the range from 5 to 90% (relative humidity) at a temperature in the range from 10.degree. C. to 135.degree. C.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 1990Date of Patent: April 13, 1993Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshitaka Matsuura, Keizo Furusaki, Mineji Nasu, Akio Takami
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Patent number: 4958514Abstract: A gas sensing element, such as may be used to sense the presence of oxygen contained in the exhaust from a burner or internal combustion engine, whereby, by preventing the re-sintering of functional layers of the sensing element, a deterioration of the performance of the element under high-temperature operating conditions is prevented. The inventive sensing element includes a ceramic susbtrate, an electrode layer formed on the ceramic substrate, a first functional layer overlying the ceramic susbtrate and the electrode layer and which contains a transition metal oxide as a main component, and a second functional layer that cover the first functional layer and which contains 1 to 30 wt % of an anti-sintering agent and has a transition metal oxide as a main component.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1988Date of Patent: September 25, 1990Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akio Takami, Toshitaka Matsuura, Keizo Furusaki
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Patent number: 4909066Abstract: A gas sensor has a ceramic substrate carrying a pair of electrodes embedded therein, which substrate has an opening bored at a surface portion thereof so as to expose tip portions of the electrodes. A thick gas-sensitive film is provided at the opening in such a manner that a gap between the electrode tip portions is filled by the gas-sensitive film while the metallic material of the electrodes is caused to precipitate on the boundary between the electrodes and the gas-sensitive film, so that the performance characteristics of the sensor is stabilized and its durability is improved.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1988Date of Patent: March 20, 1990Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshitaka Matsuura, Keizo Furusaki, Akio Takami
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Patent number: 4857275Abstract: A laminar gas-sensitive thick film consisting of ceramic semiconductor and metallic catalyzer is formed across a pair of electrodes carried by a ceramic substrate, and the nature of metallic catalyzer on an outer surface layer of the thick film is different from that of metallic catalyzer in that portion of the thick film which is in the proximity of the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1987Date of Patent: August 15, 1989Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Keizo Furusaki, Mineji Nasu, Toshitaka Matsuura, Akio Takami, Teppei Okawa
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Patent number: 4825683Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating an oxygen sensor includes a device for mixing a fuel and an oxygen-containing gas in an appropriate ratio to prepare a fuel mixture. A burner is connected to the mixing device for burning the fuel mixture to produce a gaseous combustion product. A tubular member extends from the burner for supplying the combustion product. A nozzle is connected to the tubular member for introducing a fuel and an oxygen-containing gas into the tubular member so that the combustion product is of a desired excess air ratio (air-fuel ratio) and a mounting device for the sensor to be evaluated is disposed on the tubular member, downstream of the nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1987Date of Patent: May 2, 1989Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akio Takami, Ken Minoha, Mineji Nasu, Toshifumi Sekiya, Toshitaka Matsuura, Akio Mizutani, Noriaki Kondo
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Patent number: 4720394Abstract: A roughened surface is formed on an insulating ceramics substrate having an electrode pattern by bonding or partially thrusting ceramics particles to or in the substrate, and a gas-sensitive metal oxide thick film is firmly bonded to the roughened surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1986Date of Patent: January 19, 1988Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takao Kojima, Akira Nakano, Toshitaka Matsuura, Akio Takami
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Patent number: 4688015Abstract: A roughened surface is formed on an insulating ceramics substrate having an electrode pattern by bonding or partially thrusting ceramics particles to or in the substrate, and a gas-sensitive metal oxide thick film is firmly bonded to the roughened surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 1984Date of Patent: August 18, 1987Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takao Kojima, Akira Nakano, Toshitaka Matsuura, Akio Takami
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Patent number: 4660407Abstract: A gas sensor has a ceramic substrate carrying a first ceramic layer formed thereon and a second ceramic layer formed on the first layer, the two layers having successive setbacks from one edge of the substrate so as to form a staircase-like edge structure, and a gas-sensitive layer is formed on the staircase-like edge portion of said substrate, height of said gas-sensitive layer above the substrate being less than the thickness of the first ceramic layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1985Date of Patent: April 28, 1987Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akio Takami, Toshitaka Matsuura, Akira Nakano, Yoshiaki Kuroki
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Patent number: 4656863Abstract: A gas sensor has an elongated planar ceramic substrate carrying a gas-sensitive layer at one end thereof, and a ceramic layer overlaid on the substrate with a setback from the gas-sensitive layer so as to form a staircase-like step on the substrate, the setback edge surface of the ceramic layer being non-linear in the width direction of the substrate but preferably perpendicular to the plane of substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1985Date of Patent: April 14, 1987Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akio Takami, Toshitaka Matsuura, Nobuo Kawai
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Patent number: 4652849Abstract: A gas sensor has a 100-400 .mu.m thick gas-sensitive layer containing 5-30 mole % of a platinum group metal or an alloy thereof.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1985Date of Patent: March 24, 1987Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshitaka Matsuura, Teppei Ohkawa, Keizo Furusaki, Akio Takami
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Patent number: 4620437Abstract: A gas sensor has a heater circuit with a voltage-dividing element, and a voltage to energize the heater circuit is applied through a resistive lead wire element, while a sensor voltage to measure the resistance of a gas-sensitive element is branched from the heater circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1985Date of Patent: November 4, 1986Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akio Takami, Toshitaka Matsuura, Toshifumi Sekiya, Yoshiaki Kuroki
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Patent number: 4596132Abstract: A gas component detecting plug including a gas component-sensitive element, lead wires connected to the gas component-sensitive element, a tubular or board-like insulator which supports both the gas component-sensitive element and the lead wires, and an enclosure, the insulator being sealed to the enclosure so that the gas component-sensitive element is positioned on a leg portion side, characterized in that a spacer is disposed and retained in a gap formed between the insulator and the enclosure, in that a space on a head portion side formed by the insulator, enclosure, spacer and electrode wires is filled with glass and in that a rubbery elastic member having an insulating property is inserted in the head portion side. The gas component detecting plug is superior in water-proofness, gas-tightness, heat insulating property and productivity.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1984Date of Patent: June 24, 1986Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akio Takami, Toshitaka Matsuura, Nobuo Kawai, Toshihiko Kimura
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Patent number: 4532179Abstract: A metal-ceramic bonded material is described wherein a metal member comprising a metal film and an oxide film as an upper layer is bonded to a ceramic member by a heat-resistant adhesive so that the surface of the oxide film of said metal member faces the surface of the ceramic member.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1983Date of Patent: July 30, 1985Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akio Takami, Toshitaka Matsuura, Kazutoshi Tanaka, Toshifumi Sekiya
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Patent number: 4322968Abstract: A plug-in type oxygen detector for detecting oxygen contained in exhaust gas is disclosed which comprises a series connected, sintered N and P type oxide semiconductors which have temperature dependencies in the same direction and respond to a partial pressure of oxygen in exhaust gas, an output being derived from a common junction of the semiconductors.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1980Date of Patent: April 6, 1982Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akio Takami, Toshitaka Matsuura, Tsutomu Saito
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Patent number: 4288774Abstract: A gas detector including a gas sensitive element that provides an electrical resistance which varies with the type of gas detected and lead wires for conducting the electrical signal from the gas sensitive element. A porcelain tube supports the gas sensitive element the lower part of which is positioned within a slot in the tube. Through holes in the tube receive the lead wires. A housing encloses the tube. Only the upper part of said gas sensitive element which is not positioned within the tube is provided with electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 1980Date of Patent: September 8, 1981Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akio Takami, Toshitaka Matsuura, Tsutomu Saito
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Patent number: RE33980Abstract: A laminar gas-sensitive thick film consisting of ceramic semiconductor and metallic catalyzer is formed across a pair of electrodes carried by a ceramic substrate, and the nature of metallic catalyzer on an outer surface layer of the thick film is different from that of metallic catalyzer in that portion of the thick film which is in the proximity of the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 1990Date of Patent: June 30, 1992Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshitaka Matsuura, Teppei Okawa, Keizo Furusaki, Akio Takami