Patents Assigned to Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
  • ELECTRONIC WATCH
    Publication number: 20190302699
    Abstract: An electronic watch includes a power generating mechanism; a battery that is charged with power generated by the power generating mechanism; hands that include a second hand; a driving source that rotates the hands; a driving circuit that drives the driving source with power supplied by the battery; and a control circuit that controls the driving circuit. The control circuit executes a first stopping operation for stopping the driving circuit and the control circuit in a power saving mode for suppressing power consumption and when a first determination time elapses without any power being generated by the power generating mechanism. The control circuit executes a second stopping operation for stopping the driving circuit and the control circuit in the power saving mode and when a second determination time elapses while a voltage of the battery is at a level equal to or lower than a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shogo KIMURA, Akinari TAKADA
  • Light-emitting device and method for manufacturing same
    Patent number: 10431721
    Abstract: Provided is a light-emitting device and a method for manufacturing the same which avoid a distinct color unevenness during the light emission even if variations are present among the light-emitting elements in the concentration of the phosphor that precipitates in the resin for sealing the light-emitting elements. The light-emitting device includes a substrate, a plurality of light-emitting elements that are mounted on the substrate, a first resin layer that integrally seals the light-emitting elements and includes a first phosphor that is excited by light from the light-emitting elements at a concentration that is high as it goes to a lower end near the substrate from an upper end distant from the substrate, and a second resin layer that is provided at an upper side of the first resin layer and includes a second phosphor that is excited by light from the light-emitting elements at a uniform concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignees: CITIZEN ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sadato Imai, Tatsuya Katoh, Masahiro Watanabe, Kazuki Matsumura
  • LED drive circuit
    Patent number: 10433381
    Abstract: An LED drive circuit in which a bright change of an LED is suppressed even if the voltage of a full-wave rectified waveform fluctuates is provided. The LED drive circuit includes a bridge rectifier circuit, an LED string made up by a plurality of LEDs being connected in series and supplied with a current from the bridge rectifier circuit, and a current limiting circuit that has a current input terminal and a current output terminal connected onto a path that starts from the bridge rectifier circuit and returns to the bridge rectifier circuit via the LED string, which limits a current that flows through the LED string to an upper limit current value or smaller, and further, which decreases the upper limit current value in accordance with the amount of rise in the voltage when the voltage at the current input terminal viewed from the current output terminal rises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignees: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD., CITIZEN ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Sakai, Takashi Akiyama
  • Light emitting device with phosphors
    Patent number: 10424562
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a first light emitting element, a second light emitting element, a first phosphor sheet containing a first phosphor and a third phosphor, and covering a top face of the first light emitting element, and a second phosphor sheet containing a second phosphor and a fourth phosphor, and covering a top face of the second light emitting element, wherein a peak wavelength of light which is wavelength-converted by the first phosphor or the third phosphor is equal to or less than a peak wavelength of light which is wavelength-converted by the second phosphor or the fourth phosphor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd., Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Suto, Jo Kinosita
  • Cover opening and closing mechanism, and printer
    Patent number: 10421302
    Abstract: A cover is coupled to a main body casing in manner enabling rotation of the cover. A pop-up mechanism is provided that when locking by a locking mechanism that fixes the cover at a closed position in a releasable manner is released, rotates the cover from the closed position to an open position by a biasing of first contact members in a direction so that the first contact members push second contact members that are respectively disposed at both ends of the cover, the first contact members being connected to each other and respectively disposed at both ends of the main body casing. Thus, the second contact members are pushed while a positional relationship of the first contact members is maintained to be constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD., CITIZEN SYSTEMS JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tsugaru
  • Machine tool and control apparatus of the machine tool
    Patent number: 10414009
    Abstract: This invention provides a machine tool that, in addition to sequentially separating a chip generated from a workpiece in a reliable manner, improves the roundness of the finished workpiece and improves the visual appearance and roughness of a machined surface of the workpiece, and a control apparatus of the machine tool. A machine tool or a control apparatus thereof includes a vibration frequency setting unit for setting vibration frequency of the reciprocal vibration with respect to one relative rotation when machining a workpiece so that the intersections of paths of a cutting tool during forward movement and backward movement are dispersed on a circumferential surface of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Ayako Kitakaze
  • Machine tool and control apparatus of the machine tool
    Patent number: 10414010
    Abstract: In a machine tool and a control apparatus thereof, a repetitive movement unit is configured so that the cutting tool performs one repetitive movement with respect to multiple relative rotations between the workpiece and the cutting tool and so that a rotation angle of the relative rotation between the workpiece and the cutting tool during relative movement at a second speed is smaller than a rotation angle of the relative rotation during relative movement at a first speed in one repetitive movement. This configuration limits degradation of machining efficiency when the cutting tool machines the workpiece by performing one repetitive movement with respect to multiple relative rotations between the workpiece and the cutting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignees: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd., Citizen Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Sannomiya, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Nobuyoshi Imasaki
  • Start limiting device and machine tool
    Patent number: 10401822
    Abstract: This start limiting device (1) is provided with a start prohibiting means (11) which prohibits starting a device (2) when movement of said device (2) is detected, and a start prohibition releasing means (14) which releases the prohibition by the start prohibiting means (11) on starting the device (2); when movement of said device (2) is detected, the start prohibiting means (11) prohibits starting the device (2) such that the prohibition on starting the device can be released by the start prohibition releasing means (14). This start limiting device (1) is provided with a command receiving means (12) which receives a prescribed command, and the start prohibition releasing means (14) is configured to release the prohibition on starting the device until it is determined that a prescribed time condition has been satisfied from the time that the command receiving means (12) receives the aforementioned command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD., CITIZEN MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takanori Shinohara
  • Optical measuring device and toothbrush provided with same
    Patent number: 10390708
    Abstract: Provided is an optical measuring device that can properly detect a small amount of dental plaque, can be easily incorporated into a toothbrush, and has a simple configuration. The optical measuring device includes a plurality of light sources that irradiate a sample with light having a plurality of wavelengths different from each other, respectively, a detection unit that detects intensities of examined light generated when the sample is irradiated with the light having the plurality of wavelengths, and a control unit that calculates an amount of fluorescent substance to be measured, based on the intensities of the examined light detected by the detection unit in response to the light having the plurality of wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takaaki Nozaki
  • Push switch, method of manufacturing push switch, and electronic device including push switch
    Patent number: 10381177
    Abstract: A push switch includes a substrate including a first electrode and a second electrode that are arranged on an upper surface of the substrate; a resilient member arranged on the first electrode over the second electrode of the substrate; and a light-transmitting member including a crosslinked product of a chain olefin-cyclic olefin copolymer. The light-transmitting member covers the resilient member from above and includes an upper surface, a lower surface, a peripheral side surface between edges of the upper surface and edges of the lower surface of the light-transmitting member, and a periphery of the lower surface of the light-transmitting member. The periphery may be fixed on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignees: CITIZEN ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryo Wakuda
  • Feeding unit and printer
    Patent number: 10369810
    Abstract: A first feeding unit is configured that is provided in a first printing unit that includes a first recording unit that executes a recording operation for a long strip-like recording medium pulled out from a first holding unit that holds the recording medium in a wound state. The first feeding unit further includes a pair of feeding rollers that sort the recording medium discharged from the first printing unit, to the side of a second printing unit stacked on the first printing unit or to the side opposite to that of the second printing unit. The first feeding unit temporarily accommodates the sorted recording medium and thereafter, feeds the recording medium to a guide path, and sorts the recording medium fed by the pair of feeding rollers, to the side of the second printing unit using a sorting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD., CITIZEN SYSTEMS JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamazaki, Akira Takahashi
  • Method of manufacturing electroformed components
    Patent number: 10370769
    Abstract: In manufacturing of a first electroformed component and a second electroformed component having portions fitted to each other into close contact, after the first electroformed component is formed, the first electroformed component is used as a portion of an electroforming mold to form the second electroformed component. Using the first electroformed component as a portion of the electroforming mold to form the second electroformed component, the shape of the first electroformed component is transferred to the second electroformed component. As a result, multiple types of components differing in shape may be accurately manufactured concurrently in a series of manufacturing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Abe, Tomoo Ikeda, Ryoichi Shima, Yoshiki Ono, Taku Asami, Yosuke Sasaki
  • Light-emitting apparatus
    Patent number: 10367032
    Abstract: A light-emitting apparatus having an LED-mounting surface having an improved light reflective efficiency is provided. The light-emitting apparatus includes a board, a first reflective layer arranged on the board, a second reflective layer different from the first reflective layer, arranged at a position different from the position of the first reflective layer on the board, a first configuration configured by a first LED element mounted on the first reflective layer and a first phosphor-containing resin which protects the first LED element and transforms a wavelength of light emitted from the first LED element, and a second configuration configured by a second LED element mounted on the second reflective layer and a second phosphor-containing resin which protects the second LED element and transforms a wavelength of light emitted from the second LED element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignees: CITIZEN ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Katoh, Tadahiro Fukuda
  • ANALOG ELECTRONIC WATCH SYSTEM AND ANALOG ELECTRONIC WATCH
    Publication number: 20190227497
    Abstract: In an analog electronic watch system, a terminal equipment detects current display positions of hands in an image of the hands and a dial plate, and generates current display time information based on the current display positions. An analog electronic watch corrects the display positions of the hands based on the display time information. The terminal equipment at least acquires hand identification information including hand shape information about a shape of the hand of the analog electronic watch based on watch identification information transmitted from the analog electronic watch. The terminal equipment detects the current display positions based on the hand identification information, and transmits display time information based on the current display positions to the analog electronic watch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke MATSUOH
  • Electronic device
    Patent number: 10361642
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic device including a rotary power generation device using an electret, which is capable of preventing a spiral spring from being wound up or fully extended. The electronic device includes a power generation mechanism including: first rotary member, which is supported in a freely rotatable manner, and has a center of gravity shifted from a rotation center; second rotary member supported in a freely rotatable manner; an elastic member configured to elastically connect the first rotary member and the second rotary member to each other for rotary motions thereof; a stationary member arranged so as to be opposed to the second rotary member; and an electret film formed on a surface of any one of the second rotary member and the stationary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignees: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD., CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensaku Matsumoto, Takashi Ihara, Makoto Watanabe, Akira Izumi
  • Light-emitting diode apparatus
    Patent number: RE47530
    Abstract: An LED apparatus includes a base having thermal conductivity, an insulative substrate provided on one surface of the base and including electrodes provided on a surface of the substrate, at least one base-mounting area that is an exposed part of the base, exposed within a pass-through hole provided in the substrate, a plurality of LED elements mounted on the base in the base-mounting area and some of the LED elements in a unit electrically connected to the electrodes in series, a plurality of the units are electrically connected in parallel, and a frame disposed to surround the base-mounting area and configured to form a light-emitting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignees: CITIZEN ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norikazu Kadotani, Koichi Fukasawa, Sadato Imai
  • Watchcase
    Patent number: D857525
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheng Yu Kwong
  • Watchcase
    Patent number: D857527
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chau Hon Ming
  • Watchcase
    Patent number: D858314
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Benjamin Cheng Chin Hoi, Leung Yau Kong
  • Watchcase
    Patent number: D862251
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshinori Okazaki