Patents by Inventor Tomohiro Ihashi

Tomohiro Ihashi 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).

  • Publication number: 20220291637
    Abstract: A stepping motor control device configured to drive a stepping motor having a rotor and a coil includes: a train wheel including a load gear which has a load tooth whose rotation load is different from that of another tooth and in which the rotor has an odd number of rotation steps when the load gear rotates once, and transmitting a rotation force from the rotor to the hand; a voltage detection unit that detects an induced voltage generated at one end portion of a first end portion and a second end portion of the coil when the rotor vibrates; and a determination unit which, based on a result detected by the voltage detection unit, determines a mechanical load received by the rotor due to contact of the load tooth of the load gear with a tooth meshing with the load gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuo Kato, Tomohiro Ihashi, Kazumi Sakumoto, Akihito Okumura
  • Patent number: 11415940
    Abstract: A timepiece movement includes a control unit that determines a position of an indicating hand by detecting a rotation state of a rotor, and a train wheel that transmits a drive force of a stepping motor to the indicating hand, and that has a first gear, and a second gear and a third gear which mesh with the first gear. The first gear has a reference load unit that causes fluctuations in a load applied to the rotor in each case of meshing with the second gear and the third gear. A first line segment which connects a center of the first gear and a center of the second gear to each other forms an angle smaller than 180° with a second line segment which connects the center of the first gear and a center of the third gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ihashi, Katsuya Mugishima
  • Patent number: 11382153
    Abstract: Provided is a communication system that includes an electronic timepiece and a communication apparatus, in which, when the electronic-timepiece communication unit demands a communication connection to the communication apparatus, the communication-apparatus control unit inquires whether or not the electronic timepiece is included in the connection approval list that is stored in the communication-apparatus storage unit, in which, in a case where the electronic timepiece is included in the connection approval list, the communication-apparatus communication unit establishes a communication connection to the electronic timepiece and performs data communication through which at least clock time data is sent to the electronic timepiece, and in which, in a case where the electronic timepiece is not included in the connection approval list, the communication-apparatus communication unit does not establish the communication connection to the electronic timepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ihashi, Takayuki Nomura, Tamotsu Maesawa
  • Patent number: 11316454
    Abstract: A stepping motor control device is configured to drive a stepping motor by applying a normal drive pulse or a fixed pulse having an energy larger than that of the normal drive pulse. The stepping motor control device includes a determination unit configured to, based on whether or not a pulse applied to the stepping motor before the normal drive pulse is the fixed pulse, determine whether or not to add a degaussing pulse is applied to the normal drive pulse, the degaussing pulse being a pulse for canceling a residual magnetic flux generated in a stator of the stepping motor when the fixed pulse; and a drive control unit configured to, based on a determination result of the determination unit, drive the stepping motor with the normal drive pulse to which the degaussing pulse is added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Akihito Okumura, Kosuke Yamamoto, Kenji Ogasawara, Tomohiro Ihashi
  • Publication number: 20210091694
    Abstract: A stepping motor control device is configured to drive a stepping motor by applying a normal drive pulse or a fixed pulse having an energy larger than that of the normal drive pulse. The stepping motor control device includes a determination unit configured to, based on whether or not a pulse applied to the stepping motor before the normal drive pulse is the fixed pulse, determine whether or not to add a degaussing pulse is applied to the normal drive pulse, the degaussing pulse being a pulse for canceling a residual magnetic flux generated in a stator of the stepping motor when the fixed pulse; and a drive control unit configured to, based on a determination result of the determination unit, drive the stepping motor with the normal drive pulse to which the degaussing pulse is added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Akihito OKUMURA, Kosuke YAMAMOTO, Kenji OGASAWARA, Tomohiro IHASHI
  • Publication number: 20200264561
    Abstract: A timepiece movement includes a control unit that determines a position of an indicating hand by detecting a rotation state of a rotor, and a train wheel that transmits a drive force of a stepping motor to the indicating hand, and that has a first gear, and a second gear and a third gear which mesh with the first gear. The first gear has a reference load unit that causes fluctuations in a load applied to the rotor in each case of meshing with the second gear and the third gear. A first line segment which connects a center of the first gear and a center of the second gear to each other forms an angle smaller than 180° with a second line segment which connects the center of the first gear and a center of the third gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Tomohiro IHASHI, Katsuya MUGISHIMA
  • Patent number: 10712712
    Abstract: A timepiece capable of selecting a timepiece mode and a chronograph mode includes an hour hand and a minute hand which indicate current time in a case where the timepiece mode is, selected. A main control unit performs control so as to start measuring time by simultaneously starting hand operations of the hour hand and the minute hand in a case where the chronograph mode is selected. When the hand operation of one of the hands is stopped, the control unit performs control so as to indicate the time when the hand operation of the one hand is stopped, and to continue to measure the time by continuing the hand operation of the other hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Sakai, Tomohiro Ihashi
  • Patent number: 10422809
    Abstract: A wristwatch includes a storing unit that stores relational data for predetermined user classifications, such as gender and body height, indicating a relationship between a traveling pitch, which is the number of steps taken by a user per predetermined amount of time, and a traveling speed which is a running speed or a walking speed. A correcting unit corrects the stored relational data based on a set of a measured traveling pitch and a measured traveling speed. A speed calculating unit calculates a traveling speed of the user from a measured traveling pitch of the user based on the stored relational data that correspond to a user classification input by the user and that has been corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC., ASICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Takakura, Hiroshi Shimizu, Tomohiro Ihashi, Keisuke Tsubata, Takehiro Tagawa, Ryota Shinayama
  • Publication number: 20190289654
    Abstract: Provided is a communication system that includes an electronic timepiece and a communication apparatus, in which, when the electronic-timepiece communication unit demands a communication connection to the communication apparatus, the communication-apparatus control unit inquires whether or not the electronic timepiece is included in the connection approval list that is stored in the communication-apparatus storage unit, in which, in a case where the electronic timepiece is included in the connection approval list, the communication-apparatus communication unit establishes a communication connection to the electronic timepiece and performs data communication through which at least clock time data is sent to the electronic timepiece, and in which, in a case where the electronic timepiece is not included in the connection approval list, the communication-apparatus communication unit does not establish the communication connection to the electronic timepiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ihashi, Takayuki Nomura, Tamotsu Maesawa
  • Patent number: 10180662
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a first display unit and a second display unit that display time. A receiving unit receives a time modification command including time information for modifying a first time displayed by the first display unit. A control unit outputs a first change command for automatically changing the first time displayed by the first display unit into a modified time different from a second time displayed by the second display unit based on the received time information, and outputs a second change command for changing the second time displayed by the second display unit into the first time displayed by the first display unit before the first time is changed into the modified time. A display drive unit changes the first time and the second time based on the first change command and the second change command, respectively, from the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Ogasawara, Tomohiro Ihashi
  • Patent number: 10132627
    Abstract: An electronic device has a storage unit that stores unit information relating to movement with respect to each of an elevating state and a horizontal movement state and an altitude measurement unit that measures a series of altitudes. An altitude change determination unit determines whether the movement is the elevating state or not using a first determination section having a first altitude range based on a first set of altitudes within the measured series of altitudes, and determines whether the movement is the horizontal movement state or not using a second determination section having a second altitude range smaller than the first altitude range and based on a second set of altitudes within the measured series of altitudes. A movement distance calculator reads from the storage unit the unit information corresponding to the state determined by the determination unit and calculates a movement distance based on the read unit information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Keisuke Tsubata, Kazuo Kato, Tomohiro Ihashi, Takanori Hasegawa, Hisao Nakamura, Katsuya Mugishima, Akira Takakura
  • Patent number: 10067480
    Abstract: An electronic device includes at least an acquisition unit, an input unit, a time correction amount calculation unit, and a transmitting unit. A timepiece includes at least a receiving unit, a power storage unit, a drive unit, and a control unit. The input unit receives an input of the time displayed by the display unit of the timepiece. The time correction amount calculation unit calculates a time correction amount for correcting the time of the timepiece from a difference between the time, the input of which is received by the input unit and the current time acquired by the acquisition unit. The transmitting unit transmits the time correction amount to the timepiece by using light. The receiving unit receives the time correction amount. The power storage unit stores electricity by using power converted from the light. The drive unit drives the indicating hand. The control unit corrects the time displayed by the indicating hand, based on the time correction amount received by the receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Ogasawara, Akira Takakura, Kazumi Sakumoto, Tamotsu Maesawa, Kazuhiro Koyama, Tomohiro Ihashi, Kosuke Yamamoto, Ayumi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20180217563
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a communication unit that controls communication with a communication device by using a periodic communication radio wave, and a control unit that controls a hand operation of an indicating hand driven by a motor. The control unit sets a hand operation permission period during which the hand operation of the indicating hand is permitted starting from communication timing of the communication radio wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventor: Tomohiro IHASHI
  • Patent number: 10037009
    Abstract: A power saving movement includes a center wheel and pinion driving a minute hand and minute detection wheel. A gear ratio of the center wheel/pinion with respect to the minute detection wheel is 1/M. The minute detection wheel has N minute detection portions which are disposed on the same rotation trajectory as the center wheel & pinion. N and M are integers. The minute detection wheel transmittable portions are disposed at an interval of 360°/N. A pair of the center wheel transmittable portions are disposed in parallel at an unequal angular interval of a center axle of the center wheel & pinion. An angular interval of the center wheel transmittable portions adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the center axle of the center wheel & pinion is set to magnification of 360°/(M×N).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Katsuya Mugishima, Satoshi Sakai, Kenji Ogasawara, Tomohiro Ihashi
  • Publication number: 20180203417
    Abstract: There is provided a timepiece capable of selecting a timepiece mode and a chronograph mode. The timepiece includes an hour hand and a minute hand which indicate a time in a case where the timepiece mode is selected, and a main control unit that performs control so as to start time measurement by simultaneously starting hand operations of the hour hand and the minute hand in a case where the chronograph mode is selected, to indicate a measured time at the time of stopping by stopping the hand operation of the hour hand, and to continue the time measurement by continuing the hand operation of the minute hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Satoshi SAKAI, Tomohiro IHASHI
  • Patent number: 9971310
    Abstract: A timepiece movement includes a center wheel & pinion that drives a minute hand, a second wheel & pinion arranged coaxially with a center axle of the center wheel & pinion, a first light emitting element arranged on one side in an axial direction of the center axle with respect to the center wheel & pinion and the second wheel & pinion, and a first light receiving element arranged on the other side in the axial direction of the center axle across the second wheel & pinion, and that detects light emitted from the first light emitting element. The center wheel & pinion has a first center wheel transmittable portion through which the light emitted from the first light emitting element is transmittable, and a second center wheel transmittable portion which is disposed on a rotation trajectory of the first center wheel transmittable portion and through which the light emitted from the first light emitting element is transmittable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Sakai, Katsuya Mugishima, Tomohiro Ihashi, Kenji Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 9971304
    Abstract: A timepiece movement includes a second light emitting element, a second light receiving element, and a second wheel & pinion that drives a second hand and that has a first second wheel transmittable portion and a second second wheel transmittable portion through which light is transmittable, A control unit detects a position of the second wheel & pinion by causing the second light receiving element to receive the transmitted light emitted from the second light emitting element and transmitted through the first second wheel transmittable portion or the second second wheel transmittable portion, and a second detection wheel has a second detection wheel transmittable portion through which the transmitted light is transmittable. The control unit detects a transmitting time point at which the transmitted light is transmitted through the first second wheel transmittable portion or concurrently through the second second wheel transmittable portion and the second detection wheel transmittable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Sakai, Katsuya Mugishima, Tomohiro Ihashi, Kenji Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 9800333
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a display part having a light source which transmits an optical signal, a direction detection part for detecting a direction of orientation of a display screen of the display part, and a controller for transmitting data by the optical signal from the display part to an electronic timepiece when the direction of orientation of the display screen detected by the detection part faces a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Ogasawara, Akira Takakura, Kazumi Sakumoto, Tamotsu Maesawa, Kazuhiro Koyama, Tomohiro Ihashi, Kosuke Yamamoto, Ayumi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20170052509
    Abstract: A movement includes a second light emitting element, a second light receiving element, a second wheel & pinion that drives a second hand and that has a first second wheel transmittable portion and a second second wheel transmittable portion through which light is transmittable. A control unit detects a position of the second wheel & pinion by causing the second light receiving element to receive the transmitted light emitted from the second light emitting element and transmitted through the first second wheel transmittable portion or the second second wheel transmittable portion. A second detection wheel has a second detection wheel transmittable portion through which the transmitted light is transmittable. The control unit detects a transmitting time point that the transmitted light is transmitted through the first second wheel transmittable portion or transmitted concurrently the second second wheel transmittable portion and the second detection wheel transmittable portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Satoshi SAKAI, Katsuya MUGISHIMA, Tomohiro IHASHI, Kenji OGASAWARA
  • Publication number: 20170052511
    Abstract: There is provided a movement including a center wheel & pinion that drives a minute hand, a second wheel & pinion that is arranged coaxially with a center axle of the center wheel & pinion, a first light emitting element that is arranged on one side in an axial direction of the center axle with respect to the center wheel & pinion and the second wheel & pinion, and a first light receiving element that is arranged on the other side in the axial direction of the center axle across the second wheel & pinion, and that detects light emitted from the first light emitting element. The center wheel & pinion has a first center wheel transmittable portion through which the light emitted from the first light emitting element is transmittable, and a second center wheel transmittable portion which is disposed on a rotation trajectory of the first center wheel transmittable portion and through which the light emitted from the first light emitting element is transmittable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Satoshi SAKAI, Katsuya MUGISHIMA, Tomohiro IHASHI, Kenji OGASAWARA