Patents by Inventor Yutaka Uratani

Yutaka Uratani 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: 20230231507
    Abstract: A fan control system according to the present disclosure includes a controller that selects a control mode from a plurality of control modes including a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is a control mode in which an electric signal is given to fan motor so that fan motor operates at the first rotation speed. The second mode is a control mode in which an electric signal is given to fan motor so that fan motor operates at a second rotation speed lower than the first rotation speed. The controller has a function of selecting the second mode in a period after the start of the fan motor and before the selection of the first mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Motoji KAWASAKI, Kouiti HIRAI, Mikio ITO, Yutaka URATANI
  • Publication number: 20220355317
    Abstract: Effective component generation device includes internal component and case. Internal components include discharger that generates an effective component. Case is formed in a box shape having discharge port through which an effective component is discharged, and houses internal components. Case includes metal body including a bottom plate and peripheral walls surrounding at least discharger in internal component. Metal body has seamless portion at a corner portion between two surfaces of adjacent peripheral walls oriented in different directions. As a result, there is provided effective component generation device capable of suppressing electromagnetic noise radiated to the outside of case and reducing an influence of electromagnetic noise to the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Motoji KAWASAKI, Kouiti HIRAI, Mikio ITO, Yutaka URATANI
  • Publication number: 20220347701
    Abstract: Effective component generation device includes internal components, case, and air passage member. Air passage member is housed in case and surrounds discharger. Air blower of internal components generates air flow that outputs an effective component to the outside. Air passage member has upstream block and downstream block. Upstream block forms air supply passage on the upstream side. Downstream block forms air discharge passage on the downstream side. Air passage member includes air supply passage and air discharge passage in case, and forms air passage through which air flow passes. This provides effective component generation device capable of efficiently generating air flow that outputs an effective component to the outside of case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Motoji KAWASAKI, Kouiti HIRAI, Mikio ITO, Yutaka URATANI
  • Publication number: 20160116193
    Abstract: An amplifying circuit includes a feedback resistor (RA), and amplifies a voltage that is proportional to a current detected by a current detection resistor (R1) with a gain depending on the feedback resistor (RA). A current control circuit (IC) controls the current flowing through a Peltier element in such a manner that the amplified voltage (VA) output by the amplifying circuit is kept constant. The feedback resistor (RA) includes a thermistor and a fixed resistor (R2) connected to the thermistor in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Yutaka URATANI, Takaoki MATSUMOTO, Masayuki SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20140203117
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizing apparatus is provided with a discharge electrode, a water feeder for supplying water to the electrode, and a high voltage supply configured to generate a high intensity electric field to electrostatically atomize the water supplied to the discharge electrode. The electrode and the high voltage supply are held by an identical circuit substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Yano, Yukari Nakano, Yutaka Uratani, Yoshio Mori
  • Patent number: 8689569
    Abstract: A Peltier element cooling control circuit that accurately controls a small number of elements with a simple structure. First and second amplification circuits are connected between a current detection resistor detecting current of a Peltier element and a current control circuit performing current control on the Peltier element based on voltage proportional to the current. One of two resistors determines the amplification rate of the first amplification circuit includes a thermistor. When the ambient temperature is equal to a predetermined temperature or greater, the output voltage of the second amplification circuit is supplied to the current control circuit to control the current of the Peltier element so as to be constant. When the ambient temperature is less than the predetermined temperature, the output voltage of the first amplification circuit is supplied to the current control circuit to control the current of the Peltier element in accordance with the temperature characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Uratani, Mikihiro Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20130153689
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizing apparatus includes a discharge electrode, a discharged electrode, a liquid supplying unit, a high voltage generating unit, and a controller. The discharged electrode is used to cause discharge between the discharged electrode and the discharge electrode. The liquid supplying unit supplies a liquid for atomization to the discharge electrode. The high voltage generating unit applies a high voltage to the discharged electrode. The discharge current detecting unit is arranged between the high voltage generating unit and the discharged electrode and detects a discharge current flowing through the discharged electrode. The controller controls, based on the discharge current detected by the discharge current detecting unit, the high voltage generated by the high voltage generating unit so as to achieve a predetermined discharge current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidesato Uegaki, Yutaka Uratani
  • Patent number: 8448883
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device includes an emitter electrode, an opposed electrode disposed in an opposed relation to the emitter electrode, liquid supply means for supplying a liquid to the emitter electrode, and high voltage generating means for applying a high voltage across the emitter electrode and the opposed electrode. The liquid supplied onto the emitter electrode is electrostatically charged through application of the high voltage, as a result of which charged minute liquid particles are discharged from a discharge end of the emitter electrode. The device includes detecting means for detecting a discharge condition developed between the emitter electrode and the opposed electrode, and a controller for controlling the high voltage generating means to regulate its voltage output so as to maintain a predetermined discharge condition, based on detection results by the detecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Sumio Wada, Atsushi Isaka, Kenji Obata, Yutaka Uratani, Shousuke Akisada, Hiroshi Suda, Takayuki Nakada
  • Publication number: 20120151940
    Abstract: A Peltier element cooling control circuit that accurately controls a small number of elements with a simple structure. First and second amplification circuits are connected between a current detection resistor detecting current of a Peltier element and a current control circuit performing current control on the Peltier element based on voltage proportional to the current. One of two resistors determines the amplification rate of the first amplification circuit includes a thermistor. When the ambient temperature is equal to a predetermined temperature or greater, the output voltage of the second amplification circuit is supplied to the current control circuit to control the current of the Peltier element so as to be constant. When the ambient temperature is less than the predetermined temperature, the output voltage of the first amplification circuit is supplied to the current control circuit to control the current of the Peltier element in accordance with the temperature characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Uratani, Mikihiro Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20120151939
    Abstract: A cooling control circuit for a Peltier device comprises: a switching device 3; an LC filter 4, 13 connecting between the switching device 3 and the Peltier device 1, the LC filter 4, 13 smoothing an output from the switching device 3; an amplifier circuit 6 amplifying an output from the LC filter 4, 13; and a switching device control circuit IC configured to control an on-state and off-state of the switching device 3 based on a level of an output from the amplifier circuit 6. The amplifier circuit 6 delays and amplifies the output from the LC filter 4, 13 so that a maximum level of the output from the LC filter 4, 13 reaches a level at which the switching device control circuit IC brings a switching device 3 into the off-state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka Uratani, Mikihiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8056839
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizer includes an atomizing electrode, a water supply unit for supplying water to the atomizing electrode, a high voltage power circuit and a control unit. The high voltage power circuit applies a high voltage to the atomizing electrode to electrostatically atomizing water supplied to the atomizing electrode and to generate electrically charged water particles. The control unit controls the high voltage power circuit such that the voltage applied to the atomizing electrode is gradually increased at the time of starting the electrostatic atomizer. Further, the control unit may control the high voltage power circuit such that the voltage is increased to a target voltage in steps at the time of starting the electrostatic atomizer, and an increment of the voltage at each step is decreased as the voltage approaches the target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Uratani, Kenji Obata, Atsushi Isaka
  • Publication number: 20110126551
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizing device includes an atomizing electrode which generates charged fine water particles negatively charged in the form of mist, by generating an electric field when a high negative voltage is applied thereto in a state in which water is supplied; a water supply portion which supplies the water to the atomizing electrode; a discharge detection portion which detects whether negative ion discharge, indicating discharge in which only negative ions are generated without generating the charged fine water particles, is occurring at the atomizing electrode or not; and a control portion which reduces the electric field intensity of the electric field generated by the atomizing electrode when the discharge detection portion detects the occurrence of the negative ion discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Uratani, Kenji Obata, Takeshi Yano, Atsushi Isaka
  • Publication number: 20110067571
    Abstract: The air purification apparatus includes a duct (10), a filter (20) for air purification, an electrostatically atomizing device (30), a fan (40), and a switching device (50). The duct (10) has an inlet (11) and an outlet (12). The filter (20) is placed inside of the duct (10). The electrostatically atomizing device (30) is configured to generate a mist of charged minute water particles by means of electrostatically atomizing phenomenon and discharge the same into the duct (10). The fan (40) is configured to send air from the inlet (11) to the outlet (12). The switching device (50) is configured to switch one of a first mode and a second mode. The air purification apparatus is configured to send a mist of charged minute water particles from the electrostatically atomizing device (30) to the outlet (12) not through the filter (20) in said first mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Yukiyasu Asano, Fumio Mihara, Yutaka Uratani
  • Publication number: 20100102148
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrostatic atomizer, which is capable of stably producing nanometer-sized mist droplets while using low withstand voltage circuit components and simplifying a circuit configuration. The electrostatic atomizer of the present invention is designed to stabilize an output voltage of a high-voltage generator by an output stabilizer during an operation of applying a high-voltage generator to a discharge electrode supplied with a liquid to be electrostatically atomized, so as to induce a discharge to electrostatically atomize the liquid. The high-voltage generator includes a self-oscillation type DC/DC converter having a transformer and a switching element, and the output stabilizer is operable to adjust a time period of an ON state of the switching element, based on a voltage induced in the control winding during the ON state of the switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sumio Wada, Yutaka Uratani, Takaoki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20090179093
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device includes an emitter electrode, an opposed electrode disposed in an opposed relation to the emitter electrode, liquid supply means for supplying a liquid to the emitter electrode, and high voltage generating means for applying a high voltage across the emitter electrode and the opposed electrode. The liquid supplied onto the emitter electrode is electrostatically charged through application of the high voltage, as a result of which charged minute liquid particles are discharged from a discharge end of the emitter electrode. The device includes detecting means for detecting a discharge condition developed between the emitter electrode and the opposed electrode, and a controller for controlling the high voltage generating means to regulate its voltage output so as to maintain a predetermined discharge condition, based on detection results by the detecting means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Sumio Wada, Atsushi Isaka, Kenji Obata, Yutaka Uratani, Shousuke Akisada, Hiroshi Suda, Takayuki Nakada
  • Publication number: 20090134249
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizer includes an atomizing electrode, a water supply unit for supplying water to the atomizing electrode, a high voltage power circuit and a control unit. The high voltage power circuit applies a high voltage to the atomizing electrode to electrostatically atomizing water supplied to the atomizing electrode and to generate electrically charged water particles. The control unit controls the high voltage power circuit such that the voltage applied to the atomizing electrode is gradually increased at the time of starting the electrostatic atomizer. Further, the control unit may control the high voltage power circuit such that the voltage is increased to a target voltage in steps at the time of starting the electrostatic atomizer, and an increment of the voltage at each step is decreased as the voltage approaches the target voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Uratani, Kenji Obata, Atsushi Isaka
  • Publication number: 20090135539
    Abstract: The electrostatically atomizing device in this invention comprises an emitter electrode, a water supply means, a high voltage source, and an atomization detecting means and further comprises a controller. The water supply means is configured to supply water to the emitter electrode. The high voltage source is configured to apply a high voltage to the emitter electrode so as to electrostatically atomize the water on the emitter electrode. The atomization detecting means is configured to detect a condition where the water is electrostatically atomized from the emitter electrode. The controller is configured to apply a starting voltage upon energization of the device. The controller is configured to apply an operating voltage upon recognition of the condition. The starting voltage is configured to be higher than the operating voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Yutaka Uratani, Kenji Obata, Atsushi Isaka