Patents Assigned to Citizen Watch Co.
  • Patent number: 11747408
    Abstract: An interference type optical magnetic field sensor device 1 has a light emitter 10 emitting first linearly polarized light, a first optical element 30 emitting a first linearly polarized wave and a second linearly polarized wave orthogonal to the first linearly polarized wave with respect to incident the first linearly polarized light, and emitting a second linearly polarized light with respect to incident third linearly polarized wave and a forth linearly polarized wave orthogonal to the third linearly polarized wave, a magnetic field sensor element 50 disposed at least a portion thereof within a predetermined magnetic field an optical path unit 40 connected to the first optical element and the magnetic field sensor element, and having a first optical path propagating the first linearly polarized wave and the forth linearly polarized wave, and a second optical path propagating the second linearly polarized wave and the third linearly polarized wave, a detection signal generator 60 outputting a detection sign
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: CITIZEN FINEDEVICE CO., LTD., CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD., SIMSHU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Mitsunori Miyamoto, Toshiya Kubo, Toshiroh Sato, Yuta Fujishiro, Makoto Sonehara
  • Patent number: 11733069
    Abstract: The range of operating angles of a position transducer is widened, and its signal-to-noise ratio is improved. The position transducer includes a light source and a detector including at least one pair of photodiodes (PDs) disposed on a predetermined circle. The detector receives light emitted from the light source to output a signal varying depending on the areas of regions where the light is received on two PDs forming a pair. The PDs are formed on separate chips, respectively, and the chips are disposed on a substrate so that one or more pairs of PDs surround the entirety of a predetermined region and have an annular shape as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignees: CITIZEN CHIBA PRECISION CO., LTD., CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunari Ogata, Shougo Kimura, Kaori Funatsu
  • Patent number: 11707797
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a first spindle, a second spindle, and a joining means for joining the axial ends of workpieces gripped by the spindles to form a joined workpiece. The machine tool further includes an electric servomotor for moving the first spindle in the direction intersecting the axis of the first spindle, a current value detection means for detecting the current value of the electric servomotor, and a misalignment detecting means for detecting misalignment of a first workpiece and a second workpiece in the joined workpiece, based on the current value detected by the current value detection means when the joined workpiece gripped by the two spindles is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ayako Kitakaze
  • Patent number: 11706839
    Abstract: A portable communication device cooperation system includes a slave portable communication device that can communicate with a master portable communication device. Each of a plurality of slave-side slots of a slave-side storage unit included in the slave portable communication device stores a slave application program transferred from a master-side slot disposed in the master portable communication device. The slave application program includes part of information of a master application program, and causes the slave portable communication device to operate by being executed by a slave-side control unit of the slave portable communication device. As a result, the portable communication device cooperation system, the master portable communication device, and the slave portable communication device exhibit an effect of enabling the slave portable communication device to be variously used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD
    Inventors: Daisuke Matsuoh, Ryutaro Uemura
  • Patent number: 11687035
    Abstract: A display panel includes a plate-shaped decoration member including a shading part and a light transmission part formed within the shading part, as well as a plate-shaped reflection member disposed on a back side of the decoration member. The shading part and the light transmission part create a fine pattern in plan view. The reflection member is configured to reflect light. The decoration member is disposed on a front surface of the reflection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Satoh, Motoyoshi Itoh
  • Patent number: 11681260
    Abstract: An electronic watch includes a power source, an electrostatic motor including a rotor in which a plurality of electret films are arranged in a rotational direction and a plurality of fixed electrodes arranged in the rotational direction at positions facing the rotor, a hand rotating in conjunction with the rotation of the rotor, and a motor control circuit controlling the electrostatic motor. The motor control circuit selectively executes a hand movement mode for rotating the hand and a stop mode for keeping the hand stationary. In the stop mode, the motor control circuit keeps the rotor stationary through electrostatic forces exerted on the electret films from the fixed electrodes with the polarities of the fixed electrodes maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshinari Maeda, Shogo Kimura
  • Publication number: 20230182230
    Abstract: A machine tool and a control method for the machine tool, which determine the degree of misalignment during friction joint, are provided. The machine tool (an automatic lathe 1) includes: a first spindle 10 rotatably holding a first workpiece (a workpiece W1); a second spindle 20 arranged to face the first spindle and rotatably holding a second workpiece (a remaining workpiece W2); and a controller 40a, while rotating at least one of the first workpiece or the second workpiece, relatively moving the first spindle and the second spindle so as to get closer to each other and pushing a rear end portion of the second workpiece against a front end portion of the first workpiece to frictionally join the first and second workpieces. The controller has a misalignment amount detector detecting a misalignment amount s of the second workpiece with respect to the first workpiece during the friction joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ayako KITAKAZE
  • Patent number: 11656580
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shogo Kimura, Akinari Takada
  • Patent number: 11656582
    Abstract: A radio wave watch includes: an exterior case; a dial plate disposed within the exterior case; a substrate disposed on a rear side of the dial plate within the exterior case; a first ground layer disposed on the substrate; an antenna that has a planar emitting electrode disposed between a center of the exterior case and an inner wall surface of the exterior case and opposed to the first ground layer, a planar short-circuit part electrically connecting an end part of the emitting electrode to the first ground layer, and a connecting part connecting the emitting electrode to a receiving circuit of the substrate; and a second ground layer disposed on an opposite side to the emission electrode side across the short-circuit part on the substrate and having a width equal to or greater than a width of the short-circuit part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu Watanabe, Ken Kitamura, Shuji Naka, Akira Kato
  • Patent number: 11650548
    Abstract: Provided is a watch, including: an exterior case having electroconductivity; an operating member having electroconductivity, which is inserted into the exterior case through an opening formed through the exterior case, and which is configured to accept an operation performed by a user; and an electrostatic motor including: an electret substrate having an electret surface on which electret films being electrically charged are provided; a counter substrate, on which electrodes to be arranged so as to be opposed to the electret films are provided; and a rotary shaft configured to rotate the electret substrate and the counter substrate relative to each other, wherein the operating member and the exterior case are electrically continuous with each other via a conduction path formed so as to avoid overlapping with the electret surface in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Shimoda, Yasuo Kitajima, Daisuke Tokunaga, Shinnosuke Sakata, Koki Mine, Yuta Furudate, Kazutaka Igarashi
  • Patent number: 11626546
    Abstract: Provided is an LED package and a method for manufacturing the same wherein, if its sealing resin containing phosphor particles each having a coating layer is cut or ground, age deterioration of the phosphor particles in the cut or ground surface is prevented. The method includes: mounting LED elements on a substrate; filling a first resin on the substrate to seal the LED elements, the first resin being transparent or translucent and containing wavelength conversion particles configured by forming a coating layer on at least part of the surface of each phosphor particle which converts the wavelength of light emitted from the LED elements; cutting or grinding the first resin; and forming a protective layer with a second resin on a cut surface of the first resin exposed as a result of the cutting or on a ground surface of the first resin, the second resin not containing the wavelength conversion particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignees: CITIZEN ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Mizuno, Yoshihito Kitta
  • Patent number: 11614713
    Abstract: Provided is a timepiece including: hands being an hour hand, a minute hand and a second hand; a movement for driving the hands; a first dial; a first dial ring having upper and lower surfaces provided with an upper projection and a lower projection, respectively, the first dial ring being disposed on the first dial and positioned relative to the first dial by the lower projection; and a transparent second dial disposed on the first dial ring and positioned relative to the first dial ring by the upper projection, wherein one of the hands is disposed between the first dial and the second dial, while the others of the hands are disposed above the second dial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiko Kuroda, Kazuki Tada, Yuya Matsushita, Setsuo Kachi
  • Publication number: 20230050486
    Abstract: A machining device threads a workpiece by relatively rotating the workpiece and a multi-blade tool and relatively moving them along a feed direction to perform cutting processes in the radial direction of the workpiece along the same cutting path in a predetermined spiral form. A controller performs a groove machining to form a threaded portion with vibration in the radial direction of the workpiece and a finish machining to form the threaded portion by bringing the multi-blade tool into contact with the grooved portion of the workpiece. The multi-blade tool has a first cutting blade and a second cutting blade arranged side by side along the feed direction. The controller sets amplitude of a vibration waveform to a value at which a cutting edge of the second cutting blade does not come into contact with the screw bottom surface of the workpiece in the finish machining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicants: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD., CITIZEN MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko SANNOMIYA, Shinichi MUTOU
  • Patent number: 11567454
    Abstract: Provided is an electromechanical transducer to be detachably attached to an electronic device, the transducer including: first and second plates; a rotor rotating around a rotating shaft supported by the plates; a fixed substrate disposed between the plates and facing the rotor; a charged portion having sub-regions disposed on the rotor at intervals in a rotating direction thereof so as to face the fixed substrate; an opposing electrode disposed on the fixed substrate so as to face the rotor; an adjusting unit for adjusting sliding properties of the rotating shaft, the adjusting unit being provided for at least one of the plates; and a gear train coupled to the rotating shaft. The gear train transmits motive power generated by the rotor rotated by electric power of the electronic device to the electronic device or transmits motive power generated by a change in orientation of the electronic device to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Kitajima, Kenji Shimoda, Shinnosuke Sakata, Daisuke Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 11563386
    Abstract: Provided are an electromechanical transducer including a light movable member that is easy to move and charged portions whose amount of electrostatic charge does not substantially change over time and a method for manufacturing such an electromechanical transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoo Ikeda, Izumi Yamamoto, Takuya Shirai, Yudai Hoshi
  • Patent number: 11554420
    Abstract: Disclosed are threading device and threading method, including a turning step for threading a rotating workpiece with a predetermined cutting depth, by relatively moving a tool in the axial direction of the workpiece and then rounding-up the workpiece obliquely by relatively moving the tool in the axial direction and radially outward. The workpiece is subjected to the threading process by repeatedly carrying out the turning step while sequentially shifting the axial position for starting the rounding-up of the workpiece relative to an axial position where the rounding-up of the workpiece has been started in a previous turning step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignees: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD., CITIZEN MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hikaru Takahashi, Tamotsu Katsuta
  • Patent number: 11556091
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a dial plate including a first index on a radial virtual line outwardly extending from a center; and a circular case ring disposed outside of the dial plate, the circular case ring including a second index arranged in series with the first index on the line, wherein the second index includes a proximal end facing the first index; and a distal end opposite the proximal end, wherein a width of the proximal end is wider than that of the distal end in a plan view as seen in a height direction of the dial plate, and wherein the width of the proximal end of the second index is wider than that of a proximal end of the first index facing the second index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaori Aoba, Yasushi Tomiyama, Hideki Inoue
  • Patent number: 11537093
    Abstract: A mobile device includes a drive unit for which correspondence between a command that is input and a drive signal that is output to an operation unit is predetermined, and a controller configured to output the command to the drive unit and cause the operation unit to operate. The controller includes a storage unit storing therein a user program including script language and outputs the command in accordance with the user program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Matsuoh, Ryutaro Uemura
  • Patent number: D989011
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignees: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd., Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Iino
  • Patent number: D995455
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd., Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Hori, Tatsuro Yamada, Kenichi Kikuchi, Yasuaki Kayanuma, Yu Kayanuma