Patents by Inventor Mikio Umehara

Mikio Umehara 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: 8013486
    Abstract: There is provided a holding structure to hold a vibration motor on a circuit board with a sufficient holding strength using an inexpensive and simple means such as caulking and bonding and a vibration motor held on a circuit board using the holding structure. The holding structure having a holder clamps a vibration motor body having an eccentric weight at an end of the rotation shaft around the outer periphery from the outside and supports the vibration motor at the lower part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Minebea Motor Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Umehara, Kazuaki Sato, Daichi Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 7825619
    Abstract: A method for controlling stopping of a vibration generating stepping motor is a method for controlling the stopping of an vibration generating stepping motor by a control unit, characterized in that the method includes: stopping a supply of a driving pulse to the vibration generating stepping motor while applying a driving voltage to the vibration generating stepping motor; applying the driving voltage to the stepping motor, which does not completely stop, for an optimum braking time according to a motor configuration of the stepping motor, so as to brake the stepping motor; and stopping the applying of the driving voltage to the stepping motor which is rotating under inertia after the elapse of the optimum braking time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Minebea Motor Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Matsubara, Kazuaki Sato, Mikio Umehara, Toshiaki Tsuzaki
  • Patent number: 7709983
    Abstract: In a vibration motor holding structure for retaining a vibration motor having eccentric weights at rotation shaft ends and holding the vibration motor on a circuit board, there is provided a metal holder having support legs provided along a part of the length of the vibration motor and protruding horizontally in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the vibration motor on both sides thereof. Thus, the vibration motor can be prevented from falling over during the mounting process and be held on the circuit board at solder-applied positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Minebea Motor Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Umehara, Kazuaki Sato, Daichi Kadowaki
  • Publication number: 20090269525
    Abstract: A weight for a vibration motor, the weight including: a resin part including: a semi-cylindrical portion having a shaft hole in which a rotary shaft is fitted and expanding radially from the shaft hole at a given center angle so as to be eccentrically weighted with respect to the shaft hole; and a pair of locking projections respectively disposed at both axial end areas of an outer circumferential surface of the semi-cylindrical portion so as to extend radially outwardly threfrom; and a metal part attached to the resin part so as to sit on the outer circumferential surface of the semi-cylindrical portion, the metal part including: a pair of locking recesses positioned and configured to correspond respectively to the locking projections of the resin portion, wherein an elevated portion formed between the pair of locking recesses makes contact with the pair of locking projections of the resin portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Minebea Motor Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Kawano, Mikio Umehara, Daichi Kadowaki
  • Publication number: 20090134733
    Abstract: Provided is a vibration generating stepping motor, which is ensured for holding a stop position by increasing a detent torque. The pole teeth of one stator yoke of a single-phase stator yoke assembly includes two kinds of pole teeth made different in the outermost side faces in the radial direction, and the pole teeth of the other stator yoke are comprised of two kinds of pole teeth made different in the outermost side faces in the radial direction. The pole teeth of one kind of the aforementioned individual stator yokes are made to have the same shape. The pole teeth of the remaining two kinds not given the same shape are combined and arranged to increase the detent torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Masaaki Matsubara, Kazuaki Sato, Mikio Umehara, Toshiaki Tsuzaki
  • Publication number: 20090051238
    Abstract: In a vibration motor holding structure for retaining a vibration motor having eccentric weights at rotation shaft ends and holding the vibration motor on a circuit board, there is provided a metal holder having support legs provided along a part of the length of the vibration motor and protruding horizontally in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the vibration motor on both sides thereof. Thus, the vibration motor can be prevented from falling over during the mounting process and be held on the circuit board at solder-applied positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Mikio Umehara, Kazuaki Sato, Daichi Kadowaki
  • Publication number: 20080278013
    Abstract: There is provided a holding structure to hold a vibration motor on a circuit board with a sufficient holding strength using an inexpensive and simple means such as caulking and bonding and a vibration motor held on a circuit board using the holding structure. The holding structure having a holder clamps a vibration motor body having an eccentric weight at an end of the rotation shaft around the outer periphery from the outside and supports the vibration motor at the lower part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Mikio Umehara, Kazuaki Sato, Daichi Kadowaki
  • Publication number: 20080129232
    Abstract: A method for controlling stopping of a vibration generating stepping motor is a method for controlling the stopping of an vibration generating stepping motor by a control unit, characterized in that the method includes: stopping a supply of a driving pulse to the vibration generating stepping motor while applying a driving voltage to the vibration generating stepping motor; applying the driving voltage to the stepping motor, which does not completely stop, for an optimum braking time according to a motor configuration of the stepping motor, so as to brake the stepping motor; and stopping the applying of the driving voltage to the stepping motor which is rotating under inertia after the elapse of the optimum braking time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Masaaki Matsubara, Kazuaki Sato, Mikio Umehara, Yoshiaki Tsuzaki
  • Patent number: 7271516
    Abstract: A stepping motor for generating vibration is provided and includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor includes a shaft, a ring magnet and a rotor frame, and the rotor frame is formed into a substantial cup-shape including a disk portion having an opening at the center and also including a cylindrical portion continuously arranged at the periphery of the disk portion, and a weight portion is arranged in a portion of the rotor frame so that the gravity center of the rotor frame an be located at a position eccentric with respect to the center of the rotor frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Minebea-Matsushita Motor
    Inventors: Masaaki Matsubara, Kazuaki Sato, Osamu Furuta, Mikio Umehara, Toshiaki Tsuzaki, Chee Poh Chua
  • Publication number: 20060267427
    Abstract: A stepping motor for generating vibration is provided and includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor includes a shaft, a ring magnet and a rotor frame, and the rotor frame is formed into a substantial cup-shape including a disk portion having an opening at the center and also including a cylindrical portion continuously arranged at the periphery of the disk portion, and a weight portion is arranged in a portion of the rotor frame so that the gravity center of the rotor frame an be located at a position eccentric with respect to the center of the rotor frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Masaaki Matsubara, Kazuaki Sato, Osamu Furuta, Mikio Umehara, Toshiaki Tsuzaki, Chee Chua
  • Publication number: 20060049705
    Abstract: A vibrating motor including a stepping motor in which control is simple, large vibration is generated, and drive torque can be efficiently generated, and a portable terminal apparatus using the same are provided. The vibrating motor includes a single-phase annular stator coil, a stator yoke disposed to surround the periphery of the single-phase annular stator coil and having pole teeth, an interface board fixing the stator yoke and having a wiring connected to the annular stator coil, plural arc-shaped magnets disposed to be opposite to the pole teeth and to be capable of rotating around a rotating shaft, and an eccentric weight capable of rotating around the rotating shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Masaaki Matsubara, Kazuaki Sato, Osamu Furuta, Mikio Umehara
  • Patent number: 6624540
    Abstract: Brushless motors for portable information equipment that can be simultaneously reflow-soldered to a substrate and efficiently and densely mounted thereon in such a way that the coupled portion between the motor and the substrate has a high impact resistance, thereby providing small and reliable portable information equipment having a high productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuda, Koji Kuyama, Toshio Uehara, Kazuhito Itakura, Chiaki Yamamoto, Shigeru Yoshida, Hiroyasu Fujinaka, Mikio Umehara, Noriyoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 6452298
    Abstract: Brushless motors for portable information equipment that can be simultaneously reflow-soldered to a substrate and efficiently and densely mounted thereon in such a way that the coupled portion between the motor and the substrate has a high impact resistance, thereby providing small and reliable portable information equipment having a high productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuda, Koji Kuyama, Toshio Uehara, Kazuhito Itakura, Chiaki Yamamoto, Shigeru Yoshida, Hiroyasu Fujinaka, Mikio Umehara, Noriyoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 6417589
    Abstract: A motor includes (a) a stator having a stator core wound with a coil, (b) a rotor having a magnet facing the stator core via an annular space and a yoke disposed on an outer wall of the magnet, and (c) an unbalancing weight disposed on an outer wall of the yoke. This structure allows the motor to be small in size, light in weight, thin, flat and to function as a vibrating motor producing maximum vibration at low power consumption. The motor thus contributes to realizing a portable device with a small size, a low weight, and which is operable for many hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kuyama, Shigeru Yoshida, Kodo Fukuoka, Mikio Umehara
  • Publication number: 20020079762
    Abstract: Brushless motors for portable information equipment that can be simultaneously reflow-soldered to a substrate and efficiently and densely mounted thereon in such a way that the coupled portion between the motor and the substrate has a high impact resistance, thereby providing small and reliable portable information equipment having a high productivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: Matsushita Elec. Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuda, Koji Kuyama, Toshio Uehara, Kazuhito Itakura, Chiaki Yamamoto, Shigeru Yoshida, Hiroyasu Fujinaka, Mikio Umehara, Noriyoshi Sato
  • Publication number: 20020047385
    Abstract: Brushless motors for portable information equipment that can be simultaneously reflow-soldered to a substrate and efficiently and densely mounted thereon in such a way that the coupled portion between the motor and the substrate has a high impact resistance, thereby providing small and reliable portable information equipment having a high productivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuda, Koji Kuyama, Toshio Uehara, Kazuhito Itakura, Chiaki Yamamoto, Shigeru Yoshida, Hiroyasu Fujinaka, Mikio Umehara, Noriyoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 6365995
    Abstract: Brushless motors for portable information equipment that can be simultaneously reflow-soldered to a substrate and efficiently and densely mounted thereon in such a way that the coupled portion between the motor and the substrate has a high impact resistance, thereby providing small and reliable portable information equipment having a high productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuda, Koji Kuyama, Toshio Uehara, Kazuhito Itakura, Chiaki Yamamoto, Shigeru Yoshida, Hiroyasu Fujinaka, Mikio Umehara, Noriyoshi Sato
  • Patent number: D619534
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Minebea Motor Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Mikio Umehara