Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Kitada

Hiroaki Kitada 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: 11906373
    Abstract: A pressure sensor that includes a piezoelectric film having a first main surface and a second main surface, a first electrode on the first main surface of the piezoelectric film, and a second electrode on the second main surface of the piezoelectric film. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is formed of a material having an elastic modulus of 60 GPa or more, and the product of a thickness of the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode in a stacking direction of the pressure sensor multiplied by an elastic modulus of the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is 4 MPa·m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kitada
  • Publication number: 20230116596
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided that includes a first casing and a second casing, and a distortion sensor attached to an inner wall of the casing. One side of the first casing is opened by a first opening, one side of the second casing is opened by a second opening, the casing is formed by fixing the first casing to the second casing to face each other. Moreover, the first and second casings are fixed by two or more fixing portions, the distortion sensor has a strip shape having first and second ends in the longitudinal direction, and the distortion sensor is attached to an inner wall of the second casing such that the longitudinal direction is a direction along an edge of the second opening, the first end is relatively close to the fixing portion, and the second end is far from the fixing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventor: Hiroaki KITADA
  • Publication number: 20220413648
    Abstract: An operation detection sensor is provided and an electronic apparatus is provided that detect an operation on an operation target regardless of a waveform state of an output voltage of a sensor. The operation detection sensor includes a piezoelectric element, a voltage detection circuit that detects a voltage generated in the piezoelectric element, and a calculation unit that obtains a reference voltage by averaging detection voltages of the voltage detection circuit, and detects an operation on an operation target when a state in which a voltage difference between the reference voltage and the detection voltage is a predetermined value or more continues for a predetermined time or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Yuuki TACHIBANA, Hiroaki KITADA
  • Publication number: 20220344572
    Abstract: A deformation detection sensor is provided that includes a detection electrode, a first ground electrode, a piezoelectric film sandwiched between the detection electrode and the first ground electrode, a substrate on which the detection electrode and a second ground electrode are formed, a wiring connected to the detection electrode, and a joint member that joins the wiring and the detection electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Shingo HARADA, Hidekazu KANO, Mei WATANABE, Hiroaki KITADA
  • Publication number: 20220334677
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided in which a capacitance of a capacitor that is formed between one or more reference second touch sensor electrodes and at least one first touch sensor electrodes is defined as a first reference capacitance with the capacitor formed when the touch sensor is folded along a folding line. Moreover, a capacitance of a capacitor formed between a left second touch sensor electrode and at least one of the plurality of first touch sensor electrodes is defined as a left capacitance. Furthermore, a capacitance of a capacitor formed between a right second touch sensor electrode and at least one of the plurality of first touch sensor electrodes is defined as a right capacitance. Using these capacitances, a determining unit of the electronic device can determine that a touch sensor is folded if both the left and the right capacitances are greater than the first reference capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Hidekazu KANO, Hiroaki KITADA
  • Patent number: 11320942
    Abstract: A pressing sensor includes a piezoelectric film and first and second detection electrodes. The piezoelectric film has a chiral polymer drawn at least in a uniaxial direction, and has a first main surface and a second main surface. The first and second detection electrodes are arranged on at least one of the first and second main surfaces. The first and second detection electrodes are arranged so as to face each other obliquely to the uniaxial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kitada
  • Patent number: 11163410
    Abstract: An operation detection device includes an operation target that accepts contact operation, an operation detection unit that detects contact operation on the operation target as a voltage, a detection unit that detects a frequency of a change in the voltage; and a determination unit that determines a mode of operation of a living body performed on the operation target based on the frequency detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masamichi Ando, Hiroaki Kitada
  • Publication number: 20210240289
    Abstract: A pressing sensor includes a piezoelectric film and first and second detection electrodes. The piezoelectric film has a chiral polymer drawn at least in a uniaxial direction, and has a first main surface and a second main surface. The first and second detection electrodes are arranged on at least one of the first and second main surfaces. The first and second detection electrodes are arranged so as to face each other obliquely to the uniaxial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kitada
  • Patent number: 11023069
    Abstract: A pressure sensor that includes a piezoelectric film having a flat part and a curved part and having opposed first and second main surfaces, a first electrode on the first main surface of the piezoelectric film, and a second electrode on the second main surfaces of the piezoelectric film. When the flat part of the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation a first output is generated, and when the curved part of the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation a second output different from the first output is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Kano, Hiroaki Kitada, Shiori Nagamori
  • Patent number: 10928956
    Abstract: A pressure sensor for use in a folding structure that includes a foldable piezoelectric film, a first electrode disposed on a first main surface of the piezoelectric film, a plurality of second electrodes disposed side by side on a second main surface of the piezoelectric film so as to face the first electrode and to be positioned along a direction orthogonal to a folding line of the piezoelectric film, a folding detection unit that detects a folded state of the piezoelectric film, and a processing unit that changes processing of at least one of signals generated on the second electrode when the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation and the folding detection unit is detecting the folded state of the piezoelectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kitada
  • Patent number: 10691267
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes an operation surface, a capacitance sensor having a capacitance that changes in response to a touch operation on the operation surface and a touch-operation detection IC that detects the touch operation based on the change in capacitance in the capacitance sensor. When the operation surface is deformed, the touch-operation detection IC obtains a capacitance of the capacitance sensor which has changed due to the deformation of the operation surface, and grasps the change in capacitance of the capacitance sensor, made due to the touch operation, with the obtained capacitance taken as a new reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kitada
  • Publication number: 20200109995
    Abstract: A pressure sensor that includes a piezoelectric film having a first main surface and a second main surface, a first electrode on the first main surface of the piezoelectric film, and a second electrode on the second main surface of the piezoelectric film. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is formed of a material having an elastic modulus of 60 GPa or more, and the product of a thickness of the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode in a stacking direction of the pressure sensor multiplied by an elastic modulus of the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is 4 MPa·m or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kitada
  • Publication number: 20200042137
    Abstract: A pressure sensor that includes a piezoelectric film having a flat part and a curved part and having opposed first and second main surfaces, a first electrode on the first main surface of the piezoelectric film, and a second electrode on the second main surfaces of the piezoelectric film. When the flat part of the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation a first output is generated, and when the curved part of the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation a second output different from the first output is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Hidekazu Kano, Hiroaki Kitada, Shiori Nagamori
  • Publication number: 20200033992
    Abstract: A pressure sensor for use in a folding structure that includes a foldable piezoelectric film, a first electrode disposed on a first main surface of the piezoelectric film, a plurality of second electrodes disposed side by side on a second main surface of the piezoelectric film so as to face the first electrode and to be positioned along a direction orthogonal to a folding line of the piezoelectric film, a folding detection unit that detects a folded state of the piezoelectric film, and a processing unit that changes processing of at least one of signals generated on the second electrode when the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation and the folding detection unit is detecting the folded state of the piezoelectric film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kitada
  • Patent number: 10444893
    Abstract: A touch input device includes a position detecting sensor which detects a touch position on an operation surface. A press detecting sensor detects a press on the operation surface. A position detecting sensor alternatively and repeatedly applies and stops applying a drive signal to the position detecting sensor. The position detecting sensor detects a position detection signal output from the position detecting sensor and discharges a charge of the position detecting sensor during the period in which the drive signal is not applied to the position detecting sensor. A press signal detector detects a press detection signal outputted from the press detecting sensor during a period during which the drive signal is not applied to the position detecting sensor. Consequently, it is possible to detect a pressing amount without being influenced by touch position detection processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kitada
  • Patent number: 10401986
    Abstract: A pointer includes: a pointer tip having a tip configured to point a position; a transmitter configured to emit a signal from the pointer tip; and a main body connected to the pointer tip. The main body includes: an exterior housing forming an exterior; a detector configured to detect displacement of the exterior housing and output a detection signal; and a controller configured to change an operation state of the pointer in accordance with the detection signal. The detector includes: a detection device provided on an inner surface of the exterior housing and configured to detect the displacement; and a signal outputter configured to output the detection signal in the case where the detection device detects the displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daigo Yamano, Shingo Wakimoto, Takashi Kihara, Masamichi Ando, Hiroaki Kitada, Jun Endo, Yoshihiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10378973
    Abstract: A device for detecting a holding state of an object. The device includes a housing for the object that has a shape that can be held by an operator and a piezoelectric sensor attached to the housing. Moreover, a detecting unit can detects a holding state of the housing by using a fluctuation amount of an output voltage of the piezoelectric sensor. The housing has a shape having a hollow space and the piezoelectric sensor has a flat film shape and is disposed in contact with an inner wall surface of the housing. The piezoelectric film produces charges when stretched and contracted in response to a displacement of the housing that are outputted as a voltage to the detecting unit. When detecting that the output voltage significantly fluctuates, the detecting unit identifies that the object is being held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kihara, Masamichi Ando, Hiroaki Kitada, Jun Endo, Yoshihiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10365809
    Abstract: A display device includes a housing, an operation surface, a position sensor, a press sensor, and a display unit. The position sensor detects a touched position on the operation surface. The press sensor detects a press on the operation surface. The display unit displays an image. When the press sensor detects a pressing amount not smaller than a first threshold, a control unit sets, as a rotation axis of a three-dimensional image, a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction of the touched position detected in the position sensor. The control unit then rotates the three-dimensional image in accordance with the sliding direction of the touched position detected in the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Kano, Hiroaki Kitada, Nobuhito Tsubaki
  • Patent number: 10146380
    Abstract: A touch input device includes a sensor for detecting a plurality of touch positions at which a touch operation has been performed on an operation surface, a pressure sensor for detecting a pressing operation which has been performed on the operation surface at at least one of the touch positions, and a control unit. The control unit (a) identifies a first of the touch positions as a support position which is not used to input information into the input device by way of movement of the support position, (b) identifies at least second and third of the touch positions as input touch positions used to input information into the input device by way of movement of the input touch positions, and (c) causes the input device to carry out an operation identified by the movement of the input touch positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Kano, Hiroaki Kitada, Takafumi Inoue
  • Patent number: 10120485
    Abstract: An electronic device that provides a number of function modes and operates by selecting one of the function modes. The device includes an audio output unit and a wireless communication unit that execute functions for the function modes. Moreover, a deformation detecting unit that detects deformation of an exterior housing by an external force and a storage unit that stores a correspondence between a deformation pattern and a response operation registered per function mode. The device also includes an operation determining unit that detects the deformation pattern based on the deformation and a control executing unit that reads a response operation of a current function mode associated with the deformation pattern and controls operation states of the audio output unit and the wireless communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Kano, Hiroaki Kitada, Takafumi Inoue