Patents by Inventor Yoshiaki Yonezawa

Yoshiaki Yonezawa 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: 10156463
    Abstract: A water meter that requires neither a smoothing capacitor of large capacitance nor a high frequency reference clock is offered. A rotation detection unit is formed to include a first coil, a first capacitor, a charging transistor, a power supply line, an activation transistor, an output buffer circuit, a DA converter, a comparator and a counter. A first LC resonant circuit is provided with the activation transistor connected in series with the first coil, the first capacitor connected in parallel with the first coil and the charging transistor for charging the first capacitor. The first LC resonant circuit is activated by turning on the activation transistor after the first capacitor is charged by turning on the charging transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yonezawa, Hideo Kondo
  • Patent number: 8881606
    Abstract: There is offered a water meter that requires no coil so that its cost is reduced. The water meter is formed to include an impeller, a rotation reduction unit, a first circular plate, a second circular plate, a rotation detection unit and an arithmetic unit. The rotation detection unit forms first, second and third combination capacitors with a switching circuit. The rotation detection unit detects changes in capacitances of the first, second and third combination capacitors associated with a rotation of the first circular plate. The arithmetic unit is configured so as to electrically detect the rotation angle ? of the first circular plate based on the changes in the capacitances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Hideo Kondo, Yoshiaki Yonezawa
  • Publication number: 20130220028
    Abstract: There is offered a water meter that requires no coil so that its cost is reduced. The water meter is formed to include an impeller, a rotation reduction unit, a first circular plate, a second circular plate, a rotation detection unit and an arithmetic unit. The rotation detection unit forms first, second and third combination capacitors with a switching circuit. The rotation detection unit detects changes in capacitances of the first, second and third combination capacitors associated with a rotation of the first circular plate. The arithmetic unit is configured so as to electrically detect the rotation angle ? of the first circular plate based on the changes in the capacitances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Hideo KONDO, Yoshiaki YONEZAWA
  • Publication number: 20130197831
    Abstract: A water meter that requires neither a smoothing capacitor of large capacitance nor a high frequency reference clock is offered. A rotation detection unit is formed to include a first coil, a first capacitor, a charging transistor, a power supply line, an activation transistor, an output buffer circuit, a DA converter, a comparator and a counter. A first LC resonant circuit is provided with the activation transistor connected in series with the first coil, the first capacitor connected in parallel with the first coil and the charging transistor for charging the first capacitor. The first LC resonant circuit is activated by turning on the activation transistor after the first capacitor is charged by turning on the charging transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Yoshiaki YONEZAWA, Hideo KONDO
  • Patent number: 8134522
    Abstract: An LED driving circuit includes: a current generating circuit configured to generate a drive current corresponding to a voltage level of a drive voltage applied to anodes of the first to fourth LEDs so as to alternately drive the first and second LEDs and the third and fourth LEDs; a first drive control circuit connected to cathodes of the first and third LEDs, and configured to drive the first or third LED with the drive current in response to a first control signal for controlling driving of the first or third LED; and a second drive control circuit connected to cathodes of the second and fourth LEDs, and configured to drive the second or fourth LED with the drive current in response to a second control signal for controlling driving of the second or fourth LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignees: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC, Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 7911185
    Abstract: A battery-voltage detection circuit comprising: a first-capacitor; an operational-amplifier; a second-capacitor; a voltage-application-circuit to sequentially apply one and the other-battery-terminal-voltages to the other-first-capacitor-end; a discharge circuit to allow the second-capacitor to discharge before the other-battery-terminal-voltage is applied to the other-first-capacitor-end; a constant current circuit to output a constant-current causing predetermined-speed-discharge of electric charge accumulated in the second-capacitor in response to a discharge-start-signal input after voltage is applied to the other-first-capacitor-end; a comparator; and a measurement-circuit to measure a time-period from a time when the discharge-start-signal is input until a time when an comparator-output-signal changes to one logic level as a time-period corresponding to a battery-voltage, at least one of the operational-amplifier and the comparator being provided with an offset so that the comparator-output-signal chang
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 7812568
    Abstract: A voltage detecting circuit comprises: an operational amplifier whose one input terminal is applied with a first reference voltage; a first capacitor whose one end is connected to the other input terminal of the operational amplifier; a second capacitor whose one end is connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier, and whose other end is connected to the other input terminal of the operational amplifier; a switch circuit for applying a first voltage and a second voltage sequentially to the other end of the first capacitor; and a discharging circuit for discharging the second capacitor before the second voltage is applied to the other end of the first capacitor, a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage being detected based on a voltage at the output terminal of the operational amplifier after the second voltage is applied to the other end of the first capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 7663375
    Abstract: A battery voltage detecting circuit includes: a first capacitor having one end connected to one input terminal of an operational amplifier; a second capacitor having one end connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier and the other end connected to the one input terminal of the operational amplifier; a third capacitor having one end connected to the other input terminal of the operational amplifier; a fourth capacitor having one end applied with a reference voltage and the other end connected to the other input terminal of the operational amplifier; and a switching circuit configured to electrically connect the one input terminal of the operational amplifier to the one end of the first capacitor after the transient current has stopped flowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Yonezawa
  • Publication number: 20090184716
    Abstract: A battery-voltage detection circuit comprising: a first-capacitor; an operational-amplifier; a second-capacitor; a voltage-application-circuit to sequentially apply one and the other-battery-terminal-voltages to the other-first-capacitor-end; a discharge circuit to allow the second-capacitor to discharge before the other-battery-terminal-voltage is applied to the other-first-capacitor-end; a constant current circuit to output a constant-current causing predetermined-speed-discharge of electric charge accumulated in the second-capacitor in response to a discharge-start-signal input after voltage is applied to the other-first-capacitor-end; a comparator; and a measurement-circuit to measure a time-period from a time when the discharge-start-signal is input until a time when an comparator-output-signal changes to one logic level as a time-period corresponding to a battery-voltage, at least one of the operational-amplifier and the comparator being provided with an offset so that the comparator-output-signal chang
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicants: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 7551101
    Abstract: A light emitting device drive controller is disclosed that comprises a first port that is connected to one end of a first light emitting device group where two light emitting devices are connected in parallel in the opposite directions; a second port that is connected to the other end of the first light emitting device group as well as connected to one end of a second light emitting device group where two light emitting devices are connected in parallel in the opposite directions; a third port that is connected to the other end of the second light emitting device group; and a port state setting unit that selectively sets each of the first, second, and third ports to any one of a state of a first voltage, a state of a second voltage which is less than the first voltage, and a high impedance state for each consecutive predetermined period, wherein the light emitting device drive controller drives selectively the light emitting devices constituting the first light emitting device group and the second light emitt
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Yonezawa
  • Publication number: 20090066338
    Abstract: A battery voltage detecting circuit includes: a first capacitor having one end connected to one input terminal of an operational amplifier; a second capacitor having one end connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier and the other end connected to the one input terminal of the operational amplifier; a third capacitor having one end connected to the other input terminal of the operational amplifier; a fourth capacitor having one end applied with a reference voltage and the other end connected to the other input terminal of the operational amplifier; and a switching circuit configured to electrically connect the one input terminal of the operational amplifier to the one end of the first capacitor after the transient current has stopped flowing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicants: Sanyo Electri Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Yonezawa
  • Publication number: 20090040139
    Abstract: An LED driving circuit includes: a current generating circuit configured to generate a drive current corresponding to a voltage level of a drive voltage applied to anodes of the first to fourth LEDs so as to alternately drive the first and second LEDs and the third and fourth LEDs; a first drive control circuit connected to cathodes of the first and third LEDs, and configured to drive the first or third LED with the drive current in response to a first control signal for controlling driving of the first or third LED; and a second drive control circuit connected to cathodes of the second and fourth LEDs, and configured to drive the second or fourth LED with the drive current in response to a second control signal for controlling driving of the second or fourth LED.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicants: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Yonezawa
  • Publication number: 20080150516
    Abstract: A voltage detecting circuit comprises: an operational amplifier whose one input terminal is applied with a first reference voltage; a first capacitor whose one end is connected to the other input terminal of the operational amplifier; a second capacitor whose one end is connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier, and whose other end is connected to the other input terminal of the operational amplifier; a switch circuit for applying a first voltage and a second voltage sequentially to the other end of the first capacitor; and a discharging circuit for discharging the second capacitor before the second voltage is applied to the other end of the first capacitor, a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage being detected based on a voltage at the output terminal of the operational amplifier after the second voltage is applied to the other end of the first capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicants: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 7279941
    Abstract: A voltage-frequency conversion apparatus which comprises a variable current source for charging a capacitor; a current amount adjustment circuit which has a first resistor for applying a first voltage and a second resistor for applying a second voltage and adjusts the amount of a current from the variable current source to be corresponding to a differential voltage between the first voltage and the second voltage; a comparator that compares a charging voltage across the capacitor and a reference voltage; and a discharge circuit that discharges the capacitor when the charging voltage exceeds the reference voltage. The comparator generates a frequency signal according to the differential voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yonezawa, Tadao Senriuchi
  • Patent number: 7262640
    Abstract: A voltage-frequency conversion apparatus which has a variable current source for charging a capacitor; a current amount adjustment unit that adjusts a current amount of the variable current source for charging the capacitor to be corresponding to a differential voltage between a first voltage and a second voltage; a comparator that compares in level a charging voltage produced at one end of the capacitor and a reference voltage; a discharge unit that discharges the charging voltage of the capacitor according to the comparison result of the comparator when the charging voltage exceeds the reference voltage; and a reference voltage fluctuation unit that makes the reference voltage fluctuate. A frequency signal is generated from the comparator corresponding to the differential voltage between the first voltage and the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yonezawa, Tadao Senriuchi
  • Publication number: 20060267861
    Abstract: A light emitting device drive controller is disclosed that comprises a first port that is connected to one end of a first light emitting device group where two light emitting devices are connected in parallel in the opposite directions; a second port that is connected to the other end of the first light emitting device group as well as connected to one end of a second light emitting device group where two light emitting devices are connected in parallel in the opposite directions; a third port that is connected to the other end of the second light emitting device group; and a port state setting unit that selectively sets each of the first, second, and third ports to any one of a state of a first voltage, a state of a second voltage which is less than the first voltage, and a high impedance state for each consecutive predetermined period, wherein the light emitting device drive controller drives selectively the light emitting devices constituting the first light emitting device group and the second light emitt
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Yonezawa
  • Publication number: 20060176119
    Abstract: A voltage-frequency conversion apparatus which comprises a variable current source for charging a capacitor; a current amount adjustment circuit which has a first resistor for applying a first voltage and a second resistor for applying a second voltage and adjusts the amount of a current from the variable current source to be corresponding to a differential voltage between the first voltage and the second voltage; a comparator that compares a charging voltage across the capacitor and a reference voltage; and a discharge circuit that discharges the capacitor when the charging voltage exceeds the reference voltage. The comparator generates a frequency signal according to the differential voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yonezawa, Tadao Senriuchi
  • Publication number: 20060170463
    Abstract: A voltage-frequency conversion apparatus which has a variable current source for charging a capacitor; a current amount adjustment unit that adjusts a current amount of the variable current source for charging the capacitor to be corresponding to a differential voltage between a first voltage and a second voltage; a comparator that compares in level a charging voltage produced at one end of the capacitor and a reference voltage; a discharge unit that discharges the charging voltage of the capacitor according to the comparison result of the comparator when the charging voltage exceeds the reference voltage; and a reference voltage fluctuation unit that makes the reference voltage fluctuate. A frequency signal is generated from the comparator corresponding to the differential voltage between the first voltage and the second voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yonezawa, Tadao Senriuchi