Patents by Inventor Tsuneo Maebara
Tsuneo Maebara 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: 9240739Abstract: In a driving system, an applying module applies, in response to an input of an on or off command as a switching command, a switch signal to a target switching element as a high- or low-side switching element to switch the target switching element to be an on or off state. A measuring module measures a delay period defined as a time interval from a first time to a second time. The first time represents a time at which the switching command is switched from one of the on command and the off command to the other. The second time represents a time at which the target switching element is actually switched to be the on or off state. An adjusting module adjusts, based on the delay period, an input timing of a next switch signal applied from the applying module to the target switching element.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2014Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Junichi Fukuta, Tsuneo Maebara
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Patent number: 9217677Abstract: A temperature measuring apparatus is provided which includes a sensor assembly made up of sensing devices which are connected together to produce an output signal correlated with the temperature of a target object. The temperature measuring apparatus determines the number of the sensing devices of the sensor assembly and corrects the output signal so as to compensate for an error in determining the temperature of the target object which depends upon the number of the sensing devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2013Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshiyuki Hamanaka, Tsuneo Maebara
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Publication number: 20150364984Abstract: In a power supply apparatus, an upper-arm control unit includes a first switching element connected between a DC power source and a primary side of each upper-arm transformer. The upper-arm control unit controls on and off operations of a first voltage-controlled switching element to control supply of an output voltage of the DC power source to the primary side of each upper-arm transformer. A lower-arm control unit includes a second voltage-controlled switching element connected between the DC power source and a primary side of the at least one lower-arm transformer. The lower-arm control unit controls on and off operations of a second switching element to control supply of the output voltage to the primary side of the at least one lower-arm transformers. Each upper-arm transformer is arranged adjacent to the upper-arm control unit, and the at least one lower-arm transformer is arranged adjacent to the lower-arm control unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2015Publication date: December 17, 2015Inventors: Shun MIYAUCHI, Tsuneo MAEBARA
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Patent number: 9178454Abstract: A control apparatus controlling a rotating machine includes a signal output unit that outputs an excitation signal to a resolver used for detecting a rotational angle of the rotating machine; a demodulation unit that demodulate a signal related to the rotational angle based on a detection of a modulated signal and the excitation signal so as to output a demodulated signal; a filter that eliminates higher harmonics in the demodulated signal outputted by the demodulation unit so as to output a calculated angle of the rotational angle; and an operating unit that controls a switching element included in a DC-AC conversion circuit to be ON and OFF based on the calculated angle of the rotational angle outputted by the filter, so as to control the rotating machine with an output voltage of the DC-AC conversion circuit supplied to the rotating machine.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Jyunji Miyachi, Tsuneo Maebara
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Patent number: 9172367Abstract: In a drive unit for a switching element, a drive circuit changes the switching element between an on-state and an off-state, by controlling a potential difference between a reference terminal, which is one of a pair of ends of a current path of the switching element, and an opening-closing control terminal of the switching element. A determination section determines, if an on-operation command or an off-operation command is inputted as an operation signal for the switching element, whether or not the potential difference has reached a specific value toward which the potential difference shifts, in response to one of the operation commands, with respect to a threshold value by which the switching element is turned on. A forcible processing section removes charge for turning on the switching element from the opening-closing control terminal, if the determination section determines that the potential difference has not reached the specific value.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2013Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Junichi Fukuta, Tsuneo Maebara, Ryotaro Miura, Takeyasu Komatsu
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Patent number: 9166499Abstract: In an electronic circuit, a first circuit region is electrically connected to an input circuit region of an isolated switching power source, and a second circuit region is electrically connected to an output circuit region thereof. A driver of an IC is located in the second circuit region and drives a target device based on output power supplied to the second circuit region via the output circuit region from the isolated switching power source. A transferring module of the IC transfers a value of a parameter indicative of the output power from the second circuit region to the first circuit region while maintaining electrical isolation between the first and second circuit regions. An operating module of the IC performs on-off operations of a switching element to perform feedback control of the value of the parameter indicative of the output power to a target value.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Tomotaka Suzuki, Tsuneo Maebara
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Patent number: 9160329Abstract: A circuit control device controlling a switching circuit which has a semiconductor switching element, having a main controller, a drive signal output portion and an obtaining portion. The main controller outputs a drive control signal. The drive signal output portion receives the drive control signal and outputs a drive signal to the switching element, the switching element acting on the basis of the drive signal. The obtaining portion obtains circuit information on status of the switching circuit in synchronization with the drive control signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yousuke Watanabe, Junichi Fukuta, Tsuneo Maebara
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Patent number: 9130463Abstract: A drive circuit for a switching element includes a constant-current control unit and a restriction unit. The constant-current control unit performs a constant-current control for charging an open/close control terminal of a switching element to be driven which is a voltage-controlled switching element with electric charge for turning on the switching element. The restriction unit restricts, to a reference voltage, a voltage between the open/close control terminal and a first end of a pair of ends of a current flow path of the switching element for a predetermined period following a start of the constant-current control within a charging process period during which the open/close control terminal is charged with the electric charge such that the switching element is turned on.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Takeyasu Komatsu, Yoshiyuki Hamanaka, Tsuneo Maebara, Ryotaro Miura
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Patent number: 9112344Abstract: In a driver, a dissipating unit dissipates, upon a potential difference between input and output terminals of a switching element being lower than a predetermined potential, electrical charge for overcurrent detection between the input and output terminals. The dissipating unit includes a rectifier having a pair of first and second conductive terminals. The first conductive terminal is connected to the input terminal of the switching element. An overcurrent determiner determines that an overcurrent flows between the input and output terminals of the switching element upon determination that electrical charge has not been dissipated by the dissipating unit despite the change of the switching element from the off state to the on state. A failure determiner determines whether there is a failure in the dissipating unit as a function of a potential at a point on the first electrical path from the failure determiner to the second conductive terminal.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Junichi Fukuta, Tsuneo Maebara
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Patent number: 9094010Abstract: In the invention, a circuit control device controlling a semiconductor switching element having a control terminal and driven by voltage inputted to the control terminal, has an input voltage detector, a desired voltage setting portion and a control input generation portion. The input voltage detector detects inputted voltage to the switching element. The desired voltage setting portion sets a desired value of the voltage to be inputted to the switching element. The control input generation portion is connected to the control terminal of the switching element, the control input generation portion generating control input to the switching element such that the value to be detected by the input voltage detector closes to the set desired value. The desired voltage setting portion sets the desired value of the voltage on the basis of predetermined characteristics information and operating parameters of the switching element. The operating parameters include temperature of the switching element, Vce, Ice etc.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2014Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yuusuke Murata, Takeyasu Komatsu, Tsuneo Maebara
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Patent number: 9090168Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes: a high-voltage circuit; a low-voltage circuit operating with an operating voltage lower than that of the high-voltage circuit; and a substrate. The substrate includes an edge section, portions corresponding to the low-voltage circuit and the high-voltage circuit formed thereon and a voltage conversion circuit converting a voltage range of the high-voltage to be capable of operating by the low-voltage circuit. The substrate is provided with an insulating area in a periphery of the high-voltage circuit, and the voltage conversion circuit being provided with an insulating area in a periphery thereof. The insulating area provided in the periphery of the voltage conversion circuit shares an area with at least either of the insulating area provided in the periphery of the high-voltage circuit and the edge section of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2012Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Junichi Fukuta, Tsuneo Maebara
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Patent number: 9093920Abstract: A discharge controller carries out discharge control by determining a voltage to be applied to a conduction control terminal of each of switching elements such that a current in a non-saturation region of one of the switching elements is lower than a current in a non-saturation region of the other thereof, and applying the voltage to the conduction control terminal of each switching element with an opening-closing member opening an electrical path to turn on the switching elements, resulting in short-circuit of both electrodes of a capacitor so that a discharge current is outputted from the capacitor based on the discharge control. A manipulator manipulates, based on a value of the discharge current, how to apply the voltage to the conduction control terminal of the one of the switching elements, thus controlling an amount of heat to be generated in the one of the switching elements.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshiyuki Hamanaka, Tsuneo Maebara, Yusuke Shindo, Koichi Sakata
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Patent number: 9059706Abstract: A drive circuit is used for driving a switching element. The drive circuit includes a detection unit and an integrated circuit. The detection unit detects a state of a controlled switching element and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to a detection result of the state. The integrated circuit receives the voltage signal via an input terminal for the detection result and controls the switching element based on the received voltage signal. The input terminal includes at least two input terminals that are connected to each other so as to receive the same voltage signal from the detection unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2012Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Syun Miyauchi, Tsuneo Maebara, Yoshiyuki Hamanaka, Ryotaro Miura
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Patent number: 9041406Abstract: An apparatus capable of detecting reduction in insulation resistance between a vehicle body and a high-voltage circuit. In the apparatus, a filter for removing noise included in a potential to ground at a terminal of a coupling capacitor includes a digital filter and an aliasing suppression circuit for suppressing aliasing in the digital filter. In addition, a protection circuit, which protects the digital filter and a determiner operable to detect the reduction in insulation resistance from high-voltage noise generated in the high-voltage circuit, is electrically disposed between a resistor of the aliasing suppression circuit and a signal input of the digital filter, where a potential at a junction between the resistor of the aliasing suppression circuit and the signal input of the digital filter is lower than a potential at the terminal of the coupling capacitor upon application of the high-voltage noise to the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2013Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Hayato Mizoguchi, Tsuneo Maebara
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Patent number: 9041457Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a switching element which has a control terminal and is driven by controlling voltage of the control terminal, a driving power supply circuit which supplies voltage required for driving the switching element, an on-driving circuit which is connected to the driving power supply circuit and the control terminal of the switching element and is supplied with voltage from the driving power supply circuit, and which applies a constant current to the control terminal of the switching element to charge the control terminal, thereby turning on the switching element, and at least one diode which is connected between the on-driving circuit and the control terminal of the switching element. The on-driving circuit applies a constant current to the control terminal of the switching element through the diode.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2014Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Jyunji Miyachi, Tsuneo Maebara, Kazunori Watanabe
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Publication number: 20150124502Abstract: A driving apparatus for driving switching elements of a power conversion circuit. In the apparatus, a first determination unit determines whether or not a dead time that occurs immediately after a setting of discharge rate is changed is greater than the dead time assumed at the time of designing. When the dead time occurring immediately after the setting of discharge rate is changed is greater than the dead time assumed at the time of designing, a shift unit shifts in time at least one of transition to an OFF state of one of the upper-arm and lower-arm switching elements and transition to an ON state of the other of the upper-arm and lower-arm switching elements immediately after the transition to the OFF state so as to reduce a time difference between the transition to the OFF state and the transition to the ON state.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2014Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventors: Kazunori WATANABE, Tsuneo MAEBARA
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Publication number: 20150102820Abstract: A battery monitoring apparatus capable of reducing power consumption. At least one monitoring integrated circuit (IC) is electrically connected to a high-voltage battery formed of a plurality of cells and configured to monitor the high-voltage battery in a plurality of modes of operation. A low-voltage power supply circuit can deliver power of a lower voltage than the power of the high-voltage battery to the at least one monitoring IC. A power supply to the at least one monitoring IC is selected from a group of the high-voltage battery and the low-voltage power supply circuit depending on the mode of operation the at least one monitoring IC.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Inventors: Shunichi MIZOBE, Tsuneo MAEBARA, Ryotaro MIURA, Masaya ITOU
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Patent number: 9000693Abstract: A failure information transmission apparatus includes a transmission circuit and a reception circuit. The transmission circuit transmits a plurality of pieces of failure information related to a plurality of failures as pulse signals different from one another via the same transmission path. The reception circuit receives the pulse signals transmitted by the transmission circuit via the same transmission path and identifies the failure information based on the pulse signal received. If the plurality of failures occurs at the same time, the transmission circuit transmits preferentially transmits failure information with higher priority of transmission.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Yoshiyuki Hamanaka, Tsuneo Maebara
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Patent number: 8994437Abstract: A semiconductor device outputs a signal to control a gate potential a switching device. The semiconductor device includes a first signal output terminal, and is capable of receiving or internally creating a reference signal, which varies between a first potential and a second potential. The semiconductor device can switch between first and second operations. The first operation outputs to the first signal output terminal a signal that is at a third potential when the reference signal is at the first potential, and that is at a fourth potential higher than the third potential when the reference signal is at the second potential. The second operation outputs to the first signal output terminal a signal that is at the fourth potential when the reference signal is at the first potential, and that is at the third potential when the reference signal is at the second potential.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso CorporationInventors: Keisuke Hata, Tsuneo Maebara
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Publication number: 20150085536Abstract: Upper arm connection sections and lower arm connection sections are provided in parallel. An upper arm transformer and a power supply are provided in an area opposed to the lower arm connection sections with respect to the upper arm connection sections. A power supply control section is provided in at least one of an area opposed to the upper arm connection sections with respect to the upper arm transformer, and an area which is sandwiched between at least one of the upper and lower connection sections closest to one side of the substrate positioned in a direction in which the upper arm connection sections are arranged, and the one side. The lower arm transformer is provided in an area opposed to the upper arm connection sections with respect to the lower arm connection sections. The lower arm transformer is common to at least two of the lower arm switching elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: Syun MIYAUCHI, Tsuneo MAEBARA, Yusuke SHINDO, Junichi FUKUTA