Patents by Inventor Teruhiko Fujisawa

Teruhiko Fujisawa 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: 8570840
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a case that is made at least in part from a conductive material; a dial that is made from a nonconductive material; a solar panel that has an opening and is disposed at a side opposite a display side of the dial, and that receives light incident from the display side of the dial; a patch antenna that is disposed at a side opposite of a light receiving side of the solar panel, and at a position overlapping the opening in plan view; and a date wheel made from nonconductive material that is disposed between the solar panel and the patch antenna in lateral view, and is disposed at a position overlapping, at least in part, the patch antenna in plan view. The dial has a date window, formed at a position overlapping the opening in plan view, for exposing at least part of the date wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8570838
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece with internal antenna maintains sufficiently high reception performance of circularly polarized waves even when having a metal external case. The timepiece has a cylindrical case; a crystal that covers the opening on the face side of the case; a drive mechanism that arranged inside the case; a metal antenna; and a dielectric. The antenna houses the drive mechanism and has a cylindrical side part, a bottom part that covers the opening on the back side of the side part, and an antenna electrode that contacts the inside of the side part. The back cover covers the back side of the case and is also the bottom part. The dielectric extends circumferentially to the side part, and contacts the antenna electrode in the face-back cover direction. A slot extending circumferentially is formed in the antenna electrode. Part or all of the slot is covered by the dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20130242711
    Abstract: A timepiece with a wireless function comprises a movement that displays time; a conductive case that holds the movement; a crystal that is disposed on a face side of the case and covers a face side of the movement; a conductive plate that is disposed between the movement and the crystal and reflects radio waves; and an antenna that has a substantially annular, conductive antenna electrode and is disposed along an outside edge of the conductive plate between the conductive plate and the crystal as seen in a lateral view. The antenna electrode is configured to receive the radio waves reflected by the conductive plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20130235703
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a case that is made at least in part from a conductive material; a dial that is made from a nonconductive material; a solar panel that has an opening and is disposed at a side opposite a display side of the dial, and that receives light incident from the display side of the dial; a patch antenna that is disposed at a side opposite of a light receiving side of the solar panel, and at a position overlapping the opening in plan view; and a date wheel made from nonconductive material that is disposed between the solar panel and the patch antenna in lateral view, and is disposed at a position overlapping, at least in part, the patch antenna in plan view. The dial has a date window, formed at a position overlapping the opening in plan view, for exposing at least part of the date wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8531921
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a reception unit that receives satellite signals from positioning information satellites; a time information generating unit that generates an internal time; and a manual reception processing unit that activates the reception unit through operation of an operating member and executes a first or a second time correction processing to correct the internal time. The first time correction processing includes acquiring time information from a satellite signal received from one of the positioning information satellites and correcting the internal time based thereon. The second time correction processing includes acquiring time information and satellite orbit information from satellite signals from one or more of the positioning information satellites, calculating the position of the electronic timepiece, and correcting the internal time using the acquired time information and the calculated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8488417
    Abstract: A time adjustment device having a time information generating unit that generates and outputs time information containing internal time data; a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted from a positioning information satellite in subframe information units; an external input unit that generates, through manual operation thereof, command information that instructs the reception unit to enter a reception mode; a reception timing start setup unit that, when in the reception mode, sets the start time of reception so that the subframe information units are acquired at the time determined by the internal time data; and a corrected time information storage unit that stores the satellite-time-related information as corrected time information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8467272
    Abstract: A timepiece with an internal antenna, including: a case that is made from a conductive material; a movement that is housed in the case and has a plurality of motors that drive staffs disposed at a plurality of locations; a dial that is made from a nonconductive material; and a patch antenna that is disposed inside the case on the back side of the dial, receives radio signals transmitted from an external source, and includes a dielectric and an electrode formed in the dielectric; wherein the patch antenna is disposed separated at least a specific distance from the inside surface of the case, and the staffs are disposed between the case and the patch antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8456959
    Abstract: A timepiece with a wireless function, including a movement for displaying time; a conductive case that holds the movement; a crystal that is disposed on the face side of the case and covers the face side of the movement; a conductive plate that is electrically conductive, disposed between the movement and the crystal, and reflects radio waves; and an antenna that has a substantially annular, conductive antenna electrode, and is disposed along the outside edge of the conductive plate between the conductive plate and the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20130051181
    Abstract: A small electronic timepiece with an internal antenna can maintain high GPS reception performance and affords greater freedom developing different models. The timepiece has a cylindrical outside case 80 of which at least part is made from a non-conductive material, a dial 11 that displays the time inside the case 80, a drive mechanism 30 that drives displaying the time on the dial 11 inside the case 80, and a C-shaped antenna 40 disposed around the drive mechanism 30 inside the case 80. A crystal 84 covers one of the two openings to the case 80, and a circuit board 25 with a GPS reception unit 26 for radio communication is disposed inside the case 80. The antenna 40 is disposed closer to the crystal 84 than the circuit board 25, and the GPS reception unit 26 is disposed on the back cover 85 side of the circuit board 25.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko FUJISAWA
  • Patent number: 8351301
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites; a time information generating unit that generates an internal time; an automatic reception processing unit that activates the reception unit when predefined conditions are met to perform automatic reception processing, and performs simple time correction processing including acquiring time information from satellite signals received from one of the satellites, and, based thereon, correcting the internal time; and a manual reception processing unit that activates the reception unit via operation of an external member to perform manual reception processing, and performs simple time or high precision correction processing to correct the internal time, the high precision time correction processing including acquiring time and satellite orbit information from satellite signals received from two or more of the satellites, calculating a position of the timepiece, and correcting the i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20120257479
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites; a time information generating unit that generates an internal time; an automatic reception processing unit that activates the reception unit when predefined conditions are met to perform automatic reception processing, and performs simple time correction processing including acquiring time information from satellite signals received from one of the satellites, and, based thereon, correcting the internal time; and a manual reception processing unit that activates the reception unit via operation of an external member to perform manual reception processing, and performs simple time or high precision correction processing to correct the internal time, the high precision time correction processing including acquiring time and satellite orbit information from satellite signals received from two or more of the satellites, calculating a position of the timepiece, and correcting the i
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20120213039
    Abstract: An antenna device which is provided in an electronic timepiece, and receives positioning signals from satellites includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; and a dielectric layer arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein one electrode of the first electrode and the second electrode constitutes at least a part of a character plate of the electronic timepiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi Aizawa, Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8233354
    Abstract: A radio-controlled timepiece that receives a standard time signal containing a time code and adjusts internal time data, the radio-controlled timepiece including a reception unit that receives the standard time signal, and a control unit that controls the reception unit. The reception unit has an amplifier circuit that amplifies a reception signal of the standard time signal, and an analog/digital conversion circuit that digitizes the amplified reception signal and acquires a time code. The control unit sets the reception mode of the reception unit to a normal reception mode or to a high sensitivity reception mode that improves reception performance compared with the normal reception mode, sets the reception mode to the high sensitivity reception mode for a specific period that is set based on the time code of the standard time signal after establishing at least second synchronization with the time code of the standard time signal, and otherwise sets the reception mode to the normal reception mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8223593
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites; a manual reception process unit that starts operation of the reception unit and executes a manual reception process when an external operating member is operated; an automatic reception process unit that automatically operates the reception unit and executes an automatic reception process when a predetermined condition is satisfied; a simple time adjustment process unit that executes such a process to receive a satellite signal from one positioning information satellite, acquire time information from the received satellite signal, and adjust an internal time; and a high precision time adjustment process unit that executes such a process to receive satellite signals from a plurality of positioning information satellites, acquire time and positioning information from the received satellite signals and determine the location, and adjust the internal time to the time acquired base
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20120170423
    Abstract: A timepiece with a radio function assures both a good appearance and antenna performance. The GPS wristwatch 1 has a movement 110 for displaying the time, a conductive external case 101 that houses the movement 110, a crystal 130 that is disposed on the face side of the external case 101 and covers the surface of the movement 110, a C-shaped conductive antenna electrode 112, an annular dielectric substrate 111, an GPS antenna 11 disposed between the movement 110 and the crystal 130, and a conductive, round solar panel support substrate 120 disposed between the movement 110 and GPS antenna 11. The outside diameter of the solar panel support substrate 120 is smaller than the inside diameter of the external case 101 on the plane where the solar panel support substrate 120 is disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20120120772
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece with internal antenna maintains sufficiently high reception performance of circularly polarized waves even when having a metal external case. The timepiece has a cylindrical case; a crystal that covers the opening on the face side of the case; a drive mechanism that arranged inside the case; a metal antenna; and a dielectric. The antenna houses the drive mechanism and has a cylindrical side part, a bottom part that covers the opening on the back side of the side part, and an antenna electrode that contacts the inside of the side part. The back cover covers the back side of the case and is also the bottom part. The dielectric extends circumferentially to the side part, and contacts the antenna electrode in the face-back cover direction. A slot extending circumferentially is formed in the antenna electrode. Part or all of the slot is covered by the dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20120051191
    Abstract: A time adjustment device having a time information generating unit that generates and outputs time information containing internal time data; a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted from a positioning information satellite in subframe information units; an external input unit that generates, through manual operation thereof, command information that instructs the reception unit to enter a reception mode; a reception timing start setup unit that, when in the reception mode, sets the start time of reception so that the subframe information units are acquired at the time determined by the internal time data; and a corrected time information storage unit that stores the satellite-time-related information as corrected time information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8125854
    Abstract: A satellite signal reception device according to an aspect of the invention comprises a reception operation unit that executes a reception operation process to receive a satellite signal transmitted from a positioning information satellite and generates positioning information from the satellite signal. The satellite signal has precise and coarse information orbit periods containing precise and coarse orbit information respectively for the positioning information satellite. The reception operation unit executes the reception operation process in the precise orbit information period, uses the coarse orbit information period as a suspended reception period, and pauses at least a part of the reception operation process in the suspended reception period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8077551
    Abstract: A time adjustment device having a time information generating unit that produces time information and outputs the generated time information; a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted sequentially from a positioning information satellite in subframe information units where a plurality of subframe information units each containing satellite-time-related information and at least one subframe information unit containing satellite health information is a unit, the satellite-time-related information is the time-related information of the positioning information satellite, and the satellite health information denotes an operating condition of the positioning information satellite; an external input unit that outputs command information instructing the reception unit to receive in response to external input; a reception timing configuration unit that sets the start time of reception by the reception unit so that the satellite signal is received immediately or at a predetermined timing based on com
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20110235470
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites; a manual reception process unit that starts operation of the reception unit and executes a manual reception process when an external operating member is operated; an automatic reception process unit that automatically operates the reception unit and executes an automatic reception process when a predetermined condition is satisfied; a simple time adjustment process unit that executes such a process to receive a satellite signal from one positioning information satellite, acquire time information from the received satellite signal, and adjust an internal time; and a high precision time adjustment process unit that executes such a process to receive satellite signals from a plurality of positioning information satellites, acquire time and positioning information from the received satellite signals and determine the location, and adjust the internal time to the time acquired base
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Teruhiko Fujisawa