Patents Represented by Attorney Muramatsu & Associates
  • Patent number: 7768332
    Abstract: Spurious noise that occurs in the vicinity of a carrier can be removed even when a high-resolution cycle is set, thereby realizing low jitters in a high-precision variable clock signal. Cycle data that is set by a pattern generator in a waveform generation apparatus (a semiconductor test apparatus) is corrected in such a manner that spurious noise that occurs in a carrier of a high-precision variable clock is produced at a position far from the carrier in terms of frequency. As a result, the spurious noise can be assuredly removed by a phase-locked loop circuit, thereby realizing low jitters in the high-precision variable clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Advantest Corp.
    Inventor: Kenji Tamura
  • Patent number: 7768613
    Abstract: A method decreases the time and cost for producing an active matrix substrate of a liquid crystal display device. The method includes steps of forming patterns for scanning lines, separating silicon elements for thin film transistors from a semiconductor layer, forming video signal lines and liquid crystal drive electrodes at the same time, forming spacer bumps or spacers and insulation bumps at the same time via a halftone exposure process thereby creating a taper angle of less than 30 degrees at each edge of the bump, forming contact holes, and forming transparent common electrodes for shielding the video signal line and transparent common electrodes within pixels at the same time. The halftone exposure process utilizes a light transmission adjustable photomask having a translucent area or conducts a two-step exposure process by utilizing a normal photomask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Obayashiseikou Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoto Hirota
  • Patent number: 7768612
    Abstract: A large screen liquid crystal display device using a transverse electric field system which is capable of dramatically improving an aperture ratio, a transmittance ratio, brightness, and contrast with low cost and high production yield. For example, the width of the common electrodes that shield the electric fields of the video signal lines can be decreased dramatically and the aperture ratio can be improved dramatically. Especially, the bumps covering the video signal lines can be used along with the spacers, and with the use of halftone exposure method, the bumps covering the video signal lines and the spacers can be constructed at the same time, which dramatically shortens the time required for the production process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Obayashiseikou Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoto Hirota
  • Patent number: 7759813
    Abstract: A power generation apparatus that will not exhaust carbon dioxide is provided where a strong rotating motion is created by the combination of solar heat energy, gravitational energy, and ocean current or tidal current energy. In the sea area having stream current such as ocean current and tidal current, the power generation apparatus is constructed by a weight mass provided with a rotation axis (shaft) on the top part thereof, a floating body provided with a bearing for fitting in the rotation axis where it moves up and down according to the swell on the ocean surface, a normal rotation conversion generator for converting the reverse motion produced on the rotation axis to a normal rotating motion by using a one-way clutch or a ratchet mechanism, and a mooring member for fastening the wire rope between the anchor and the connecting point of the floating body and weight mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Inventor: Tetsuhiko Fujisato
  • Patent number: 7760900
    Abstract: A speaker grille attachment system for a loudspeaker securely and easily attaches a speaker grille to the speaker as well as attains an improved aesthetic effect by hiding components used for the attachment. The attachment system includes a plurality of fastening members, a plurality of clamp hole pieces each having a hole for inserting the fastening member therethrough, a plurality of openings formed on an outer rim of the speaker grille, a speaker gasket having a plurality of openings each receiving the clamp hole piece and the fastening member, a speaker frame or cabinet having a plurality of fastening means for attaching the speaker grille, and a cover member for covering an area of the outer rim of the speaker grille thereby making the components for the attachment invisible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Kemmerer
  • Patent number: 7749688
    Abstract: A process of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device of transverse electric-field type, wherein a halftone photomask which is used to form a photoresist pattern has a fully light-shielding area preventing UV irradiation of a portion of an active matrix substrate in which a thin-film transistor element is to be formed, so that the photoresist pattern includes a positive resist portion which has a first thickness and which is formed on the above-indicated portion of the substrate. The halftone mask further has a fully light-transmitting area which permits fully UV transmission therethrough to provide the photoresist pattern with a resist-free area which corresponds to a portion of the substrate in which a contact hole serving as a third connection portion connecting an external scanning-line driver circuit and a scanning-line terminal portion through a junction electrode is to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Obayashiseikou Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoto Hirota
  • Patent number: 7738797
    Abstract: An optical module socket includes a base on which an optical module is mounted; descend/ascend means which is ascendably and descendably provided in the base and on which the optical module is mounted; holding means for holding the optical module in a predetermined state; pogopins provided in the base to connect with leads of the optical module; and positioning means of optical transmission means which are provided in the holding means and the descend/ascend means and which position, to the optical module, an optical connector to be connected to the optical module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Advantest Corp.
    Inventors: Yusuke Hayase, Atsushi Ono
  • Patent number: 7737987
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of valuing contrast of representation on background displayed on a screen of a navigation apparatus, by counting a number of the presentations on the background of the screen, adjusting contrast of the representations against the background displayed on the screen in response to the number of the representation on the background, and displaying the representations on the screen based on the adjusted contrast of the representation. The contrast of the representations against the background is set lower than original contrast against the background when the number of the representations is equal to or more than a predetermined number. The contrast of the representations is set higher than current contrast when the number of the representations on the screen is less than a predetermined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hikaru Wako
  • Patent number: 7737421
    Abstract: Provided is an electron beam exposure apparatus for forming a desired pattern on a sample mounted on a wafer stage by exposure with an electron beam generated form an electron gun. The electron beam exposure apparatus includes: supplying device of injecting a reducing gas into a column in which the electron gun and the wafer stage are housed; and control unit of performing control so that the injection of the reducing gas into the column is continued for a predetermined period of time. Organic contamination is combined with H generated from the reducing gas by irradiation of an electron beam, and then evaporates. Further included is supplying device of injecting an ozone gas into the column. The control unit may perform control so that the injection of the ozone gas into the column in addition to the injection of the reducing gas is continued for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Advantest Corp.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yasuda, Yoshihisa Ooae
  • Patent number: 7735359
    Abstract: A process quantity measurement method with which an engine output is accurately measured in a relatively simple manner. Torque of an engine is measured based on the amount of torsion of the output shaft of the engine, and an engine output is obtained based on the measured torque. On the other hand, an engine output is calculated based on input and output heat quantity, and a difference between the engine output based on the torque and the engine output based on the input and output heat quantity is obtained in advance. When the engine is operated, the previously obtained difference is added to the engine output that is based on the calculated input and output heat quantity to obtain the engine output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Shuichi Umezawa, Junichi Okada
  • Patent number: 7705946
    Abstract: A large screen liquid crystal display device using a transverse electric field system which is capable of dramatically improving an aperture ratio, a transmittance ratio, brightness, and contrast with low cost and high production yield. For example, the width of the common electrodes that shield the electric fields of the video signal lines can be decreased dramatically and the aperture ratio can be improved dramatically. Especially, the bumps covering the video signal lines can be used along with the spacers, and with the use of halftone exposure method, the bumps covering the video signal lines and the spacers can be constructed at the same time, which dramatically shortens the time required for the production process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Obayashiseikou Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoto Hirota
  • Patent number: 7702459
    Abstract: A method of GPS accuracy adjustment for an integrated INS/GPS navigation system which utilizes microelectro mechanical systems (MEMS) based inertial sensors to mitigate multipath problems arising when a vehicle is in an area with many high-rise buildings is disclosed. Even when GPS measurement output values are deviated from that expected, the INS/GPS navigation system uses as many measurement outliers as possible without discarding, unless they are obvious error values, thereby maintaining a practical level of accuracy. The measurement outliers typically occur when the integrated INS/GPS navigation system receives GPS signals which have transmitted through multipaths such as reflection by buildings, since the signal path lengths vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Takayuki Hoshizaki
  • Patent number: 7702458
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a navigation system for inputting a street name allows a user to quickly find a desired street name even when the user inputs an incorrect prefix or suffix of the street name. The navigation system accepts a street name based on either a base name input method or a full name input method in the same input field while performing a street name search mostly based on a base name of the street name. The method and apparatus hints an inexperienced user the distinction between the base name and other components of the street name so that the user knows that non-base name element is unnecessary for finding the correct address of the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Yokota, Alex Panganiban, Joey Pascual
  • Patent number: 7699565
    Abstract: A radius endmill has a peripheral cutting edge, a bottom cutting edge, and a rounded corner cutting edges whose ridge line is defined by a circular arc having a given radius as measured in a side view of the endmill that is parallel to the axis. The rounded corner cutting edge is located in a corner portion of the endmill in which the outer peripheral and the axial end intersect each other such that the peripheral cutting edge and the bottom cutting edge are connected to each other through the rounded corner cutting edge. The bottom cutting edge has a radially inner end lying at the axis, and a radially outer end at which the bottom cutting edge is connected to the rounded corner cutting edge. The bottom cutting edge is curved such that its ridge line is defined by a circular arc as seen in a plan view of the endmill that is perpendicular to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignees: OSG Corporation, BTT Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru Aoki
  • Patent number: 7699538
    Abstract: A hermetically sealing member with an optical transmission means transmits an optical signal economically and practically between the inside and the outside of a shielding member covering a printed-circuit board while sustaining the hermetically sealed state certainly. An optoelectronic device and an optical transmission method are also provided. A hermetically sealing member with an optical transmission means includes a gasket body fixed between a printed-circuit board and a sealing face of a shielding member, and a tape fiber formed integrally with the gasket body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Advantest Corp.
    Inventors: Yusuke Hayase, Atsushi Ono, Toshiyuki Okayasu
  • Patent number: 7684585
    Abstract: A thermal management system improves thermal property of the speaker system by promoting air circulation to cool the speaker system. The thermal management system includes a speaker frame, an air guide formed on the speaker frame for guiding the air, a ventilation slit formed on the air guide which penetrates through the speaker frame for air communication, and a spider mounting ring for mounting a spider of the speaker system on the speaker frame. The spider mounting ring has a cut-out at its upper edge which positionally match the air guide. The cut-out is curved sharply at its upper surface while a lower edge of the spider mounting ring is gently curved, thereby creating an air passage of directional property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Kemmerer
  • Patent number: 7684991
    Abstract: A digital audio file search method and apparatus for digital audio files is provided that allows a user to navigate the audio files by generating speech sounds related to the information of the audio files to facilitate searching and playback. The digital audio file search method and apparatus searches for audio files in a portable digital audio player in combination with an automobile audio system through speech sounds by utilizing text-to-speech processing and by prompting response from a user in response to the generated speech sounds. The text-to-speech technology is utilized to generate the speech sound based on tag-data of the audio files. When hearing the speech sounds, the user gives instruction for searching the files without being distracted from driving the automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Stohr, Satoshi Tanimoto
  • Patent number: 7668649
    Abstract: A display method and apparatus for a navigation system which is capable of easily and quickly showing the existence of a large structure within which a specific point of interest (“POI”) is located. The navigation system searches a desired point of interest as specified by a user, examines whether the point of interest is located within a large structure, searches an icon representing a type of the large compound in which the point of interest is located, and when a particular point of interest is located within a large structure, displays the icon of the large structure and the POI name on a monitor of the navigation system. Upon selection of the icon by the user, the navigation system displays detailed information on the large structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Onishi
  • Patent number: 7664597
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a navigation system allows a user to easily and quickly input an address of a destination with use of a specially made database even when spelling of the address is not certain to the user. The navigation system is designed to help the user in entering a desired street name accurately and efficiently by checking candidate cities when a first character of street name is specified. Since the user accurately knows at least the first character of the intended street name, the candidate street names will be narrowed down by selecting the city. The user may further input second character and further characters upon which the navigation system incrementally retrieves candidate street names with use of the comprehensive alphabetical usage file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Shunichi Imanishi
  • Patent number: 7663103
    Abstract: A line-width measurement adjusting method, which is used when first and second electron beam intensity distributions for measuring a line width are produced from intensity distribution images of secondary electrons obtained respectively by scanning a first irradiation distance with an electron beam at first magnification, and by scanning a second irradiation distance with an electron beam at second magnification, includes the step of adjusting the second electron beam intensity distribution of the electron beam at the second magnification such that the second electron beam intensity distribution is equal to the first electron beam intensity distribution of the electron beam at first magnification. The second electron beam intensity distribution may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing a second irradiation distance when producing the electron beam intensity distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Advantest Corp.
    Inventors: Masayuki Kuribara, Jun Matsumoto