Patents by Inventor Shigeki Kawashima

Shigeki Kawashima 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: 9933053
    Abstract: A belt-type continuously variable transmission capable of continuously changing a speed reduction ratio of a driven pulley to a drive pulley, has a speed reduction ratio regulation mechanism that regulates a minimum speed reduction ratio of the driven pulley to the drive pulley. The driven pulley includes a fixed sheave, a movable sheave displaceable in an axial direction with respect to the fixed sheave, and a coil spring that urges the movable sheave toward the fixed sheave. The speed reduction ratio regulation mechanism has a swing arm that adjusts an allowable range in which moving away in an axial direction of the movable sheave with respect to the fixed sheave is possible, and a regulation drive section that drives the swing distal end portion of the swing arm to swing continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD, KABUSHIKI KAISHA F.C.C.
    Inventors: Hajime Yoshimura, Yuji Matsuo, Tomoaki Ishikawa, Makoto Kataoka, Shigeki Kawashima, Norihiko Yokoyama, Naoyuki Miwa
  • Publication number: 20170114875
    Abstract: A belt-type continuously variable transmission capable of continuously changing a speed reduction ratio of a driven pulley to a drive pulley, has a speed reduction ratio regulation mechanism that regulates a minimum speed reduction ratio of the driven pulley to the drive pulley. The driven pulley includes a fixed sheave, a movable sheave displaceable in an axial direction with respect to the fixed sheave, and a coil spring that urges the movable sheave toward the fixed sheave. The speed reduction ratio regulation mechanism has a swing arm that adjusts an allowable range in which moving away in an axial direction of the movable sheave with respect to the fixed sheave is possible, and a regulation drive section that drives the swing distal end portion of the swing arm to swing continuously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Hajime Yoshimura, Yuji Matsuo, Tomoaki Ishikawa, Makoto Kataoka, Shigeki Kawashima, Norihiko Yokoyama, Naoyuki Miwa
  • Patent number: 9371867
    Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus which can suppress the rotational vibrations by suppressing rotation of the pressure member relative to the clutch member is provided. The power transmitting apparatus can comprise a clutch housing rotatable together with an input member and a plurality of driving-side clutch discs mounted thereon; a clutch member with a plurality of driven-side clutch discs mounted thereon and interleaved with the driving-side clutch discs; and a pressure member axially movably relative to the clutch member to increase or release the press-contacting force acting on the driving-side clutch discs and the driven-side clutch discs. The power transmitting apparatus can further comprise one or more slide-suppressing members for applying sliding resistance to the pressure member when the pressure member is rotated relative to the clutch member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA F.C.C.
    Inventors: Kenichirou Isobe, Shigeki Kawashima, Shinji Furuhashi, Go Ando
  • Publication number: 20140326570
    Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus which can suppress the rotational vibrations by suppressing rotation of the pressure member relative to the clutch member is provided. The power transmitting apparatus can comprise a clutch housing rotatable together with an input member and a plurality of driving-side clutch discs mounted thereon; a clutch member with a plurality of driven-side clutch discs mounted thereon and interleaved with the driving-side clutch discs; and a pressure member axially movably relative to the clutch member to increase or release the press-contacting force acting on the driving-side clutch discs and the driven-side clutch discs. The power transmitting apparatus can further comprise one or more slide-suppressing members for applying sliding resistance to the pressure member when the pressure member is rotated relative to the clutch member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Kenichirou Isobe, Shigeki Kawashima, Shinji Furuhashi, Go Ando
  • Patent number: 7767020
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a single crystal semiconductor, in which, in a process of pulling up the single crystal semiconductor from melt for growing it, an impurity is incorporated more uniformly into the single crystal semiconductor so that a variation in impurity concentration across the semiconductor wafer surface can be reduced, and thus, the planarity of the wafer can be improved. In the process of pulling-up the single crystal semiconductor (6), fluctuation in a pulling-up speed is controlled, whereby the variation in concentration of the impurity in the single crystal semiconductor (6) is reduced. Especially, a width of speed fluctuation (?V) in 10 seconds is adjusted to less than 0.025 mm/min. Furthermore, in carrying out the control for adjusting the pulling-up speed such that a diameter of the single crystal semiconductor (6) becomes a desired diameter, a magnetic field having strength of 1,500 gauss or more is applied to the melt (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Sumco Techxiv Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inagaki, Masanori Honma, Shigeki Kawashima, Masahiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 7727334
    Abstract: In a Czochralski (CZ) single crystal puller equipped with a cooler and a thermal insulation member, which are to be disposed in a CZ furnace, smooth recharge and additional charge of material are made possible. Further, elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method can be performed smoothly. To these ends, there is provided a CZ single crystal puller, wherein a cooler and a thermal insulation member are immediately moved upward away from a melt surface during recharge or additional charge of material or during elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Sumco Techxiv Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inagaki, Shigeki Kawashima, Makoto Kamogawa, Toshirou Kotooka, Toshiaki Saishoji, Daisuke Ebi, Kentaro Nakamura, Kengo Hayashi, Yoshinobu Hiraishi, Shigeo Morimoto, Hiroshi Monden, Tadayuki Hanamoto, Tadashi Hata
  • Publication number: 20090173272
    Abstract: In a Czochralski (CZ) single crystal puller equipped with a cooler and a thermal insulation member, which are to be disposed in a CZ furnace, smooth recharge and additional charge of material are made possible. Further, elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method can be performed smoothly. To these ends, there is provided a CZ single crystal puller, wherein a cooler and a thermal insulation member are immediately moved upward away from a melt surface during recharge or additional charge of material or during elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: KOMATSU DENSHI KINOZOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inagaki, Shigeki Kawashima, Makoto Kamogawa, Toshirou Kotooka, Toshiaki Saishoji, Daisuke Ebi, Kentaro Nakamura, Kengo Hayashi, Yoshinobu Hiraishi, Shigeo Morimoto, Hiroshi Monden, Tadayuki Hanamoto, Tadashi Hata
  • Publication number: 20080311019
    Abstract: In a Czochralski (CZ) single crystal puller equipped with a cooler and a thermal insulation member, which are to be disposed in a CZ furnace, smooth recharge and additional charge of material are made possible. Further, elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method can be performed smoothly. To these ends, there is provided a CZ single crystal puller, wherein a cooler and a thermal insulation member are immediately moved upward away from a melt surface during recharge or additional charge of material or during elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Komatsu Denshi Kinzoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inagaki, Shigeki Kawashima, Makoto Kamogawa, Toshirou Kotooka, Toshiaki Saishoji, Daisuke Ebi, Kentaro Nakamura, Kengo Hayashi, Yoshinobu Hiraishi, Shigeo Morimoto, Hiroshi Monden, Tadayuki Hanamoto, Tadashi Hata
  • Publication number: 20080311021
    Abstract: In a Czochralski (CZ) single crystal puller equipped with a cooler and a thermal insulation member, which are to be disposed in a CZ furnace, smooth recharge and additional charge of material are made possible. Further, elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method can be performed smoothly. To these ends, there is provided a CZ single crystal puller, wherein a cooler and a thermal insulation member are immediately moved upward away from a melt surface during recharge or additional charge of material or during elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Komatsu Denshi Kinzoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inagaki, Shigeki Kawashima, Makoto Kamogawa, Toshirou Kotooka, Toshiaki Saishoji, Daisuke Ebi, Kentaro Nakamura, Kengo Hayashi, Yoshinobu Hiraishi, Shigeo Morimoto, Hiroshi Monden, Tadayuki Hanamoto, Tadashi Hata
  • Patent number: 7396406
    Abstract: A single crystal semiconductor manufacturing method for realizing a dislocation-free single crystal while not varying or hardly varying electric power supplied to a heater when and after a seed crystal comes into contact with a melt. The allowable temperature difference ?Tc not causing dislocation in the seed crystal is determined according to the concentration (C) of the impurities added to the seed crystal (14) and the size (diameter D) of the seed crystal (14). When the seed crystal (14) comes into contact with the melt (5), electric power supplied to a bottom heater (19) is fixed, and a magnetic field produced by a magnet (20) is applied to the melt (5). Electric power supplied to a main heater (9) is controlled so that the temperature at the surface of the melt (5) which the seed crystal (14) comes into contact with may be a target value. After the seed crystal (14) comes into contact with the melt (5), single crystal silicon is pulled up without performing a necking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Sumco Techxiv Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inagaki, Masahiro Shibata, Shigeki Kawashima, Nobuyuki Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7329317
    Abstract: The present invention is to produce a silicon crystal wherein the boron concentration in the silicon crystal and the growth condition V/G are controlled so that the boron concentration in the silicon crystal is no less than 1×1018 atoms/cm3 and the growth condition V/G falls within the epitaxial defect-free region ?2 whose lower limit line LN1 is the line indicating that the growth rate V gradually drops as the boron concentration increases. A silicon wafer is also produced wherein the boron concentration in the silicon crystal and the growth condition V/G are controlled so as to include at least the epitaxial defect region ?1, and both the heat treatment condition and the oxygen concentration of the silicon crystal are controlled so that no OSF nuclei grow to OSFs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Komatsu Denshi Kinzoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Maeda, Hiroshi Inagaki, Shigeki Kawashima, Shoei Kurosaka, Kozo Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20070256625
    Abstract: In a Czochralski (CZ) single crystal puller equipped with a cooler and a thermal insulation member, which are to be disposed in a CZ furnace, smooth recharge and additional charge of material are made possible. Further, elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method can be performed smoothly. To these ends,there is provided a CZ single crystal puller, wherein a cooler and a thermal insulation member are immediately moved upward away from a melt surface during recharge or additional charge of material or during elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: Komatsu Denshi Kinzoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inagaki, Shigeki Kawashima, Makoto Kamogawa, Toshirou Kotooka, Toshiaki Saishoji, Daisuke Ebi, Kentaro Nakamura, Kengo Hayashi, Yoshinobu Hiraishi, Shigeo Morimoto, Hiroshi Monden, Tadayuki Hanamoto, Tadashi Hata
  • Publication number: 20070193500
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a single crystal semiconductor, in which, in a process of pulling up the single crystal semiconductor from melt for growing it, an impurity is incorporated more uniformly into the single crystal semiconductor so that a variation in impurity concentration across the semiconductor wafer surface can be reduced, and thus, the planarity of the wafer can be improved. In the process of pulling-up the single crystal semiconductor (6), fluctuation in a pulling-up speed is controlled, whereby the variation in concentration of the impurity in the single crystal semiconductor (6) is reduced. Especially, a width of speed fluctuation (?V) in 10 seconds is adjusted to less than 0.025 mm/min. Furthermore, in carrying out the control for adjusting the pulling-up speed such that a diameter of the single crystal semiconductor (6) becomes a desired diameter, a magnetic field having strength of 1,500 gauss or more is applied to the melt (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inagaki, Masanori Honma, Shigeki Kawashima, Masahiro Shibata
  • Publication number: 20070157871
    Abstract: A single crystal semiconductor manufacturing method for realizing a dislocation-free single crystal while not varying or hardly varying electric power supplied to a heater when and after a seed crystal comes into contact with a melt. The allowable temperature difference ?Tc not causing dislocation in the seed crystal is determined according to the concentration (C) of the impurities added to the seed crystal (14) and the size (diameter D) of the seed crystal (14). When the seed crystal (14) comes into contact with the melt (5), electric power supplied to a bottom heater (19) is fixed, and a magnetic field produced by a magnet (20) is applied to the melt (5). Electric power supplied to a main heater (9) is controlled so that the temperature at the surface of the melt (5) which the seed crystal (14) comes into contact with may be a target value. After the seed crystal (14) comes into contact with the melt (5), single crystal silicon is pulled up without performing a necking process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: Kotmatsu Denshi Kinzoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inagaki, Masahiro Shibata, Shigeki Kawashima, Nobuyuki Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7235128
    Abstract: A process for producing a single-crystal semiconductor and an apparatus therefor. A single-crystal semiconductor of large diameter and large weight can be lifted with the use of existing equipment not having any substantial change thereto while not influencing the oxygen concentration of single-crystal semiconductor and the temperature of melt and while not unduly raising the temperature of seed crystal. In particular, the relationship (L1, L2, L3) between the allowable temperature difference (?T) and the diameter (D) of seed crystal (14) is preset so that the temperature difference between the seed crystal (14) at the time the seed crystal (14) is immersed in the melt and the melt (5) falls within the allowable temperature difference (?T) at which dislocations are not introduced into the seed crystal (14). In accordance with the relationship (L1, L2, L3), the allowable temperature difference (?T) corresponding to the diameter (D) of seed crystal (14) to be immersed in the melt is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Komatsu Denshi Kinzoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Maeda, Hiroshi Inagaki, Shigeki Kawashima, Shoei Kurosaka, Kozo Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20060005762
    Abstract: The present invention is to produce a silicon crystal wherein the boron concentration in the silicon crystal and the growth condition V/G are controlled so that the boron concentration in the silicon crystal is no less than 1×1018 atoms/cm3 and the growth condition V/G falls within the epitaxial defect-free region ?2 whose lower limit line LN1 is the line indicating that the growth rate V gradually drops as the boron concentration increases. Further, the present invention is to produce a silicon wafer wherein the boron concentration in the silicon crystal and the growth condition V/G are controlled so as to include at least the epitaxial defect region ?1, and the heat treatment condition of the silicon crystal and the oxygen concentration in the silicon crystal are controlled so that no OSF nuclei grow to OSFs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Susumu Maeda, Hiroshi Inagaki, Shigeki Kawashima, Shoei Kurosaka, Kozo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6977010
    Abstract: In a Czochralski (CZ) single crystal puller equipped with a cooler and a thermal insulation member, which are to be disposed in a CZ furnace, smooth recharge and additional charge of material are made possible. Further, elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method can be performed smoothly. To these ends, there is provided a CZ single crystal puller, wherein a cooler and a thermal insulation member are immediately moved upward away from a melt surface during recharge or additional charge of material or during elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Komatsu Denshi Kinzoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inagaki, Shigeki Kawashima, Makoto Kamogawa, Toshirou Kotooka, Toshiaki Saishoji, Daisuke Ebi, Kentaro Nakamura, Kengo Hayashi, Yoshinobu Hiraishi, Shigeo Morimoto, Hiroshi Monden, Tadayuki Hanamoto, Tadashi Hata
  • Publication number: 20050268840
    Abstract: In a Czochralski (CZ) single crystal puller equipped with a cooler and a thermal insulation member, which are to be disposed in a CZ furnace, smooth recharge and additional charge of material are made possible. Further, elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method can be performed smoothly. To these ends, there is provided a CZ single crystal puller, wherein a cooler and a thermal insulation member are immediately moved upward away from a melt surface during recharge or additional charge of material or during elimination of dislocations from a silicon seed crystal by use of the Dash's neck method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: Komatsu Denshi Kinzoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inagaki, Shigeki Kawashima, Makoto Kamogawa, Toshirou Kotooka, Toshiaki Saishoji, Daisuke Ebi, Kentaro Nakamura, Kengo Hayashi, Yoshinobu Hiraishi, Shigeo Morimoto, Hiroshi Monden, Tadayuki Hanamoto, Tadashi Hata
  • Publication number: 20050139149
    Abstract: A process for producing a single-crystal semiconductor and an apparatus therefor. A single-crystal semiconductor of large diameter and large weight can be lifted with the use of existing equipment not having any substantial change thereto while not influencing the oxygen concentration of single-crystal semiconductor and the temperature of melt and while not unduly raising the temperature of seed crystal. In particular, the relationship (L1, L2, L3) between the allowable temperature difference (?T) and the diameter (D) of seed crystal (14) is preset so that the temperature difference between the seed crystal (14) at the time the seed crystal (14) is immersed in the melt and the melt (5) falls within the allowable temperature difference (?T) at which dislocations are not introduced into the seed crystal (14). In accordance with the relationship (L1, L2, L3), the allowable temperature difference (?T) corresponding to the diameter (D) of seed crystal (14) to be immersed in the melt is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Applicant: Komatsu Denshi Kinzoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Maeda, Hiroshi Inagaki, Shigeki Kawashima, Shoei Kurosaka, Kozo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6858076
    Abstract: There are provided a system for manufacturing a single-crystal ingot which is equipped with a cooler for cooling the single-crystal ingot being pulled and is capable of forming a tail without involvement of excessive heating of a crucible, as well as to a method for controlling the system. In a system for manufacturing a single-crystal ingot having a cooler for cooling a single-crystal ingot which is being pulled from molten raw material (called a single-crystal pulled ingot), when a tail of the single-crystal pulled ingot is formed, the cooler is moved away from the solid/melt interface between the single-crystal ingot and the molten raw material, to thereby reduce the power dissipated by the system. In the system, the cooler is moved upward after the end of a product area of the single-crystal ingot has been cooled until it passes through a grown-in defect temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Komatsu Electronic Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Nakajima, Toshirou Kotooka, Yoshiyuki Shimanuki, Hiroshi Inagaki, Shigeki Kawashima, Makoto Kamogawa