Patents by Inventor Akihiro Shioji

Akihiro Shioji 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: 8558435
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device has a piezoelectric vibration element mounted in a package wherein the piezoelectric vibration element comprises two stick-like vibration legs; a central leg provided between the two vibration legs; a coupling portion that couples one end of each of the two vibration legs and one end of the central leg; and a protrusion portion that is coupled to another end of the central leg, has a predetermined angle, neither 0 nor 180 degrees, to the length direction of the central leg, and extends into a direction not interfering with the driving legs. In making the piezoelectric device smaller and thinner, this configuration avoids interference between a support point on the central leg, provided for supporting the vibration element, and conductive electrodes, improves insulation between the conductive electrodes, and reduces the generation of short-circuits between the conductive electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Murata, Kazuhiro Toriumi, Toshiya Kubo, Takashi Maruyama, Tomoyuki Nakazawa, Taichi Tsuchiya, Izumi Yamamoto, Akiko Katoh, Sadao Horiuchi, Hiroshi Miyauchi, Isao Arai, Akihiro Shioji, Tomoo Ikeda, Maki Takizawa, Keisuke Kigawa
  • Publication number: 20110018399
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device has a piezoelectric vibration element mounted in a package wherein the piezoelectric vibration element comprises two stick-like vibration legs; a central leg provided between the two vibration legs; a coupling portion that couples one end of each of the two vibration legs and one end of the central leg; and a protrusion portion that is coupled to another end of the central leg, has a predetermined angle, neither 0 nor 180 degrees, to the length direction of the central leg, and extends into a direction not interfering with the driving legs. In making the piezoelectric device smaller and thinner, this configuration avoids interference between a support point on the central leg, provided for supporting the vibration element, and conductive electrodes, improves insulation between the conductive electrodes, and reduces the generation of short-circuits between the conductive electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuo Murata, Kazuhiro Toriumi, Toshiya Kubo, Takashi Maruyama, Tomoyuki Nakazawa, Taichi Tsuchiya, Izumi Yamamoto, Akiko Katoh, Sadao Horiuchi, Hiroshi Miyauchi, Isao Arai, Akihiro Shioji, Tomoo Ikeda, Maki Takizawa, Keisuke Kigawa
  • Patent number: 7637159
    Abstract: An inclination of an inclined surface formed by working a ridge of a resonator is set to be within a predetermined angular range, whereby a leakage of vibration in the out-of-plane direction is reduced, the leakage of vibration being generated according to the detuning degree adjustment. In addition, a single laser beam is irradiated onto the ridge at an incident angle within a predetermined angular range, whereby a simple working on the inclined surface is established for the leakage vibration adjustment. A degree of the leakage vibration of the resonator is determined based on a relationship with the drift amount that is a ratio of the angular velocity change, and the inclination of the inclined surface is set to be within a predetermined angular range, thereby suppressing the drift amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Izumi Yamamoto, Takashi Moriya, Tomoo Ikeda, Atsushi Murakami, Akihiro Shioji
  • Publication number: 20080022769
    Abstract: An inclination of an inclined surface formed by working a ridge of a resonator is set to be within a predetermined angular range, whereby a leakage of vibration in the out-of-plane direction is reduced, the leakage of vibration being generated according to the detuning degree adjustment. In addition, a single laser beam is irradiated onto the ridge at an incident angle within a predetermined angular range, whereby a simple working on the inclined surface is established for the leakage vibration adjustment. A degree of the leakage vibration of the resonator is determined based on a relationship with the drift amount that is a ratio of the angular velocity change, and the inclination of the inclined surface is set to be within a predetermined angular range, thereby suppressing the drift amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Izumi Yamamoto, Takashi Moriya, Tomoo Ikeda, Atsushi Murakami, Akihiro Shioji
  • Patent number: 7138288
    Abstract: A crystal resonator area and side electrode shielding/formation blocks thereabout are formed on a crystal substrate through etching with both areas kept separate from each other with a gap. Vapor deposition is diagonally applied through this gap toward the side of the crystal substrate to thereby form an electrode film divided into two portions in the thickness direction of the substrate on the side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Shioji, Tohru Yanagisawa
  • Publication number: 20040191944
    Abstract: A crystal resonator area and side electrode shielding/formation blocks thereabout are formed on a crystal substrate through etching with both areas kept separate from each other with a gap. Vapor deposition is diagonally applied through this gap toward the side of the crystal substrate to thereby form an electrode film divided into two portions in the thickness direction of the substrate on the side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Akihiro Shioji, Tohru Yanagisawa