Patents by Inventor Seiji Horii
Seiji Horii 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).
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Patent number: 9615178Abstract: A sound generator includes a housing (20), a piezoelectric vibrator (60) including a piezoelectric element (61), at least a portion of the piezoelectric vibrator (60) protruding from the housing (20), and an anchor (10) applying a load to the piezoelectric vibrator (60). A portion or all of the piezoelectric vibrator (60) withdraws into the housing (20) under a force of a predetermined load or greater. While the load from the anchor (10) is being applied to the piezoelectric vibrator (60), the piezoelectric vibrator (60) deforms in response to a sound signal, and deformation of the piezoelectric vibrator (60) vibrates a contact surface contacted by the piezoelectric vibrator (60), causing sound to be emitted from the contact surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: KYOCERA CorporationInventors: Satoshi Fukami, Hiroshi Taimura, Kazuchika Suzuki, Seiji Horii
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Patent number: 9591389Abstract: According to the present invention, air conduction sound and human body vibration sound (e.g. bone conduction sound) are transmitted to a user without a need for pressing a vibration body itself to an ear. An electronic device 1 of the present invention includes: a panel 10; a housing 60 configured to support the panel 10; and a piezoelectric element 30 attached to the panel 10. The panel 10 is deformed due to deformation of the piezoelectric element 30, and air conduction sound and human body vibration sound are transmitted to an object that is in contact with the deformed panel 10.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: KYOCERA CorporationInventors: Seiji Horii, Tomohiro Inagaki
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Patent number: 9571615Abstract: Excessive deformation of a piezoelectric element is reduced. An electronic apparatus 1 according to the present invention includes a panel 10, a piezoelectric element 30, a housing 60 for mounting the panel 10, and an intermediate member 80 attached to the piezoelectric element 30, wherein the intermediate member 80 and the panel 10 deform due to deformation of the piezoelectric element 30, thereby delivering an air conduction sound and a human body vibration sound to an object in contact with the panel 10 that is deforming.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: KYOCERA CorporationInventors: Seiji Horii, Kenichi Ozasa, Hayato Mizuno, Hiroto Yahagi, Ryosuke Kobayashi
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Patent number: 9497536Abstract: A cover panel is located on a front surface of an electronic device. A piezoelectric vibration element is provided on an inner main surface of the cover panel. A drive section causes the piezoelectric vibration element to vibrate based on a sound signal. The electronic device has a microphone hole located in a part other than the cover panel.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATIONInventors: Masayuki Otani, Seiji Horii
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Publication number: 20160192081Abstract: An audio apparatus includes a housing, a piezoelectric vibration unit provided to the housing and having a piezoelectric element, and a communication unit for receiving an audio signal. When a received audio signal is applied to the piezoelectric element while a load of the audio apparatus is applied to the piezoelectric vibration unit, the piezoelectric element is deformed causing deformation of the piezoelectric vibration unit, whereby a contact surface in contact with the audio apparatus vibrates and generate a sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2014Publication date: June 30, 2016Applicant: Kyocera CorporationInventor: Seiji HORII
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Patent number: 9350832Abstract: According to an aspect, a mobile electronic device includes: a housing; and a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element vibrates a portion in contact with a user in the mobile electronic device and transmits vibration sound to the user.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2012Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATIONInventor: Seiji Horii
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Publication number: 20160127841Abstract: Provided is an audio device, including: a vibrator 10 that includes a piezoelectric element 101 configured to undergo flexure and a panel 102 configured to be bent directly by the piezoelectric element 101 to vibrate; and a holder 60 that includes a behind-the-ear portion 602 to be hooked over a helix of a user's ear and that holds the vibrator 10 in a position that allows the vibrator 10 to abut against the user's ear, wherein sound is heard by a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2014Publication date: May 5, 2016Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATIONInventor: Seiji HORII
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Patent number: 9332098Abstract: An electronic device includes a cover panel, a piezoelectric vibration element, and a drive section. The cover panel is provided on a front surface of the electronic device. The piezoelectric vibration element is provided on an inner main surface of the cover panel. The drive section causes the piezoelectric vibration element to vibrate based on a sound signal. The cover panel has no earpiece hole.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2012Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: KYOCERA CorporationInventor: Seiji Horii
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Publication number: 20150334491Abstract: According to the present invention, air conduction sound and human body vibration sound (e.g. bone conduction sound) are transmitted to a user without a need for pressing a vibration body itself to an ear. An electronic device 1 of the present invention includes: a panel 10; a housing 60 configured to support the panel 10; and a piezoelectric element 30 attached to the panel 10. The panel 10 is deformed due to deformation of the piezoelectric element 30, and air conduction sound and human body vibration sound are transmitted to an object that is in contact with the deformed panel 10.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2015Publication date: November 19, 2015Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATIONInventors: Seiji HORII, Tomohiro INAGAKI
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Publication number: 20150256656Abstract: According to an aspect, a mobile electronic device includes: a housing; and a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element vibrates a portion in contact with a user in the mobile electronic device and transmits vibration sound to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2012Publication date: September 10, 2015Inventor: Seiji Horii
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Patent number: 9131300Abstract: According to the present invention, air conduction sound and human body vibration sound (e.g. bone conduction sound) are transmitted to a user without a need for pressing a vibration body itself to an ear. An electronic device 1 of the present invention includes: a panel 10; a housing 60 configured to support the panel 10; and a piezoelectric element 30 attached to the panel 10. The panel 10 is deformed due to deformation of the piezoelectric element 30, and air conduction sound and human body vibration sound are transmitted to an object that is in contact with the deformed panel 10.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2013Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: KYOCERA CorporationInventors: Seiji Horii, Tomohiro Inagaki
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Publication number: 20150245145Abstract: A sound generator includes a vibration unit (60) having a piezoelectric element (61) and also includes a weight (10) for applying a load to the vibration unit (60). The vibration unit (60) deforms based on a sound signal while receiving the load from the weight (10), thereby vibrating a contact surface (150) in contact with the sound generator (10) and generating a sound from the contact surface (150).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2013Publication date: August 27, 2015Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATIONInventor: Seiji Horii
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Patent number: 9105261Abstract: According to an aspect, a sound outputting device includes a front unit, a first side unit, a second side unit, a sound transmitting portion, and a piezoelectric speaker. The first side unit is coupled to one end portion of the front unit. The second side unit is coupled to another end portion of the front unit. The sound transmitting portion is provided in the first side unit for transmitting a sound via cartilage conduction. The piezoelectric speaker vibrates the sound transmitting portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2012Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATIONInventor: Seiji Horii
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Publication number: 20150131838Abstract: According to an aspect, a sound outputting device includes a front unit, a first side unit, a second side unit, a sound transmitting portion, and a piezoelectric speaker. The first side unit is coupled to one end portion of the front unit. The second side unit is coupled to another end portion of the front unit. The sound transmitting portion is provided in the first side unit for transmitting a sound via cartilage conduction. The piezoelectric speaker vibrates the sound transmitting portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2015Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventor: Seiji HORII
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Publication number: 20150117682Abstract: A sound generator includes a piezoelectric vibrator (60) including a piezoelectric element (61), an anchor applying a load to the piezoelectric vibrator (60), and a control unit (130) configured to control an input voltage based on a frequency characteristic, the input voltage being applied to the piezoelectric element (61) as a sound signal. While the load from the anchor is being applied to the piezoelectric vibrator (60), the piezoelectric vibrator (60) deforms in accordance with the input voltage applied to the piezoelectric element (61) from the control unit (130), and deformation of the piezoelectric vibrator (60) vibrates a contact surface (150) contacted by the sound generator, causing sound to be emitted from the contact surface (150).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATIONInventors: Satoshi FUKAMI, Hiroshi TAIMURA, Atsuo CHIBA, Yuta SAKAMOTO, Akinori WADA, Daisuke TSUIKI, Takashi IKEGAMI, Kazuya SONO, Hideaki FUJIMOTO, Seiji HORII
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Publication number: 20150117684Abstract: A sound generator includes a housing (20), a piezoelectric vibrator (60) including a piezoelectric element (61), at least a portion of the piezoelectric vibrator (60) protruding from the housing (20), and an anchor (10) applying a load to the piezoelectric vibrator (60). A portion or all of the piezoelectric vibrator (60) withdraws into the housing (20) under a force of a predetermined load or greater. While the load from the anchor (10) is being applied to the piezoelectric vibrator (60), the piezoelectric vibrator (60) deforms in response to a sound signal, and deformation of the piezoelectric vibrator (60) vibrates a contact surface contacted by the piezoelectric vibrator (60), causing sound to be emitted from the contact surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATIONInventors: Satoshi FUKAMI, Hiroshi TAIMURA, Kazuchika SUZUKI, Seiji HORII
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Publication number: 20150117683Abstract: A sound generator includes a housing (20), a stand (90) supporting the housing (20), a piezoelectric vibrator (60) including a piezoelectric element (61), and an anchor applying a load to the piezoelectric vibrator (60). While the load from the anchor is being applied to the piezoelectric vibrator (60), the piezoelectric vibrator (60) deforms in response to a sound signal, and deformation of the piezoelectric vibrator (60) vibrates a mounting surface (150) on which the sound generator is mounted, causing sound to be emitted from the mounting surface (150).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATIONInventors: Kenichi OZASA, Kosuke TERUYAMA, Masahiro SHINYA, Talchi KIM, Seiji HORII
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Publication number: 20150086047Abstract: Excessive deformation of a piezoelectric element is reduced. An electronic apparatus 1 according to the present invention includes a panel 10, a piezoelectric element 30, a housing 60 for mounting the panel 10, and an intermediate member 80 attached to the piezoelectric element 30, wherein the intermediate member 80 and the panel 10 deform due to deformation of the piezoelectric element 30, thereby delivering an air conduction sound and a human body vibration sound to an object in contact with the panel 10 that is deforming.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2013Publication date: March 26, 2015Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATIONInventors: Seiji Horii, Kenichi Ozasa, Hayato Mizuno, Hiroto Yahagi, Ryosuke Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20150054779Abstract: Frequency characteristics of an air conduction sound and a human body vibration sound are adjusted. An electronic apparatus 1 according to the present invention includes a panel 10, a piezoelectric element 30, a housing 60 for mounting the panel 10, and a member 80 attached to the piezoelectric element 30, wherein the member 80 and the panel 10 deform due to deformation of the piezoelectric element 30 and thus deliver the air conduction sound and the human body vibration sound to an object in contact with the panel 10 that is deforming, and the member 80 adjusts the frequency characteristics of the air conduction sound and the human body vibration sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2013Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATIONInventors: Seiji Horii, Kenichi Ozasa, Keiichi Nagoshi
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Publication number: 20150023531Abstract: According to the present invention, air conduction sound and human body vibration sound (e.g. bone conduction sound) are transmitted to a user without a need for pressing a vibration body itself to an ear. An electronic device 1 of the present invention includes: a panel 10; a housing 60 configured to support the panel 10; and a piezoelectric element 30 attached to the panel 10. The panel 10 is deformed due to deformation of the piezoelectric element 30, and air conduction sound and human body vibration sound are transmitted to an object that is in contact with the deformed panel 10.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: Seiji Horii, Tomohiro Inagaki