Patents Assigned to Micronics
  • Publication number: 20030202673
    Abstract: A dynamic electroacoustic transducer adapted to be surface-mounted on a printed circuit board comprises a diaphragm, a synthetic resin frame for supporting the diaphragm at the periphery thereof, a surface-mounting terminal member mounted on the frame, and a synthetic resin cover with a sound emitting hole fixed to the frame so as to cover the diaphragm. Since the frame and the cover are made of synthetic resin of lower heat conductivity, the electroacoustic transducer is allowed to be subject to reflow soldering when it is surface-mounted on a printed circuit board without a damage to the diaphragm and the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: STAR MICRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazushige Tajima, Yoshiharu Oishi, Takaharu Kato
  • Publication number: 20030197139
    Abstract: A valve for use in microfluidic structures. The valve uses a spherical member, such as a ball bearing, to depress an elastomeric member to selectively open and close a microfluidic channel. The valve may be operated manually or by use of an internal force generated to shift the spherical member to its activated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: Micronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton L. Williams
  • Patent number: 6631903
    Abstract: A paper discharge apparatus includes: a paper guide (6) for guiding paper (5) provided from a paper conveyance mechanism (1); a paper guide (7) disposed on a downstream side of the paper guide (6) for deflecting the paper (5) downward; a pair of rollers (9) and (10) between which the paper (5) can be conveyed forward or backward while the paper (5) is held by the rollers (9, 10); a pair of upper and lower paper guides (21, 22) disposed on the downstream side of the pair of rollers (9,10); and a paper guide (8) by which the paper conveyed backward by the pair of rollers (9, 10) is guided downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Takeda
  • Patent number: 6628097
    Abstract: A machine tool and a control method therefor providing an improved machining accuracy even when a numerical control and electronic cam control coexist. The CPU determines the moving position of the workpiece, the tool, and the drilling tool according to the command from each channel machining sequence storage portion, and outputs the determined position as a command signal in response to the pulse signal generated at the pulse signal generating circuit. The workpiece, the tool, and the drilling tool are thereby electronic cam controlled. The CPU also determines the moving position of the workpiece and the tool according to the command from each channel machining sequence storage portion, and outputs the determined position as a command signal in response to the divided timing signal generated at the divided timing signal generating circuit. The workpiece and the tool are thereby numerically controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Endo, Yukihiro Inoue, Takehisa Kajiyama
  • Patent number: 6628800
    Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer 1 is constituted by a base 24 formed of magnetic material; a magnetic core 22 formed of magnetic material and provided erectly on the base 24; a diaphragm 20 formed of magnetic material and supported with an air gap between the diaphragm and a forward end of the magnetic core; a magnet 25 constituting a magnetic circuit together with the base 24, the magnetic core 22 and the diaphragm 20 so as to provide a magnetostatic field; a coil 23 disposed around the magnetic core 22 for applying an oscillating magnetic field to the magnetic circuit; a housing 30 molded integrally with the base 24 and the magnet 25, and so on. The housing 30 has notch holes 38 extending from a bottom surface thereof to the magnet 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazushige Tajima
  • Patent number: 6624880
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for patterning a work piece arranged at an image plane and sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. Said apparatus comprising a source for emitting electromagnetic radiation directed onto a selected object plane, a computer-controlled reticle comprising a plurality of object pixels, adapted to receive said electromagnetic radiation at said selected object plane and being capable of relaying said electromagnetic radiation toward said work piece arranged at said image plane, an optical projection system comprising a Fourier filter adapted to filter said relayed radiation in a Fourier space and a first lens arrangement adapted to create essentially parallel central axis of cones of radiation onto said image plane, where every cone of radiation in a specific image pixel in said image plane corresponds to a specific object pixel in said computer-controlled reticle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignees: Micronic Laser Systems AB, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Torbjörn Sandström, Hubert Karl Lakner, Peter Dürr
  • Patent number: 6624878
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for microlithographic writing on photosensitive substrates, and especially high precision printing of patterns, such as photomasks, for semiconductor device patterns, display panels, integrated optical devices and electronic interconnect structures. The method includes the steps of detecting significant temporary writing error conditions and interrupting the writing process as a response to a detection of such an error condition. Thereafter a support table is reversed to the position it had when the writing was interrupted, and the writing process is restarted at the same position where the writing was interrupted when the error condition ceases to exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Micronic Laser Systems AB
    Inventors: Torbjorn Sandstrom, Leif Odselius, Anders Thuren, Stefan Gullstrand
  • Patent number: 6621912
    Abstract: Fixing of a voice coil (16) to a diaphragm (12) is performed by caulk-fixing a coil supporting member (26) to the diaphragm (12) and by fit-supporting the voice coil (16) by the coil supporting member (26). Hereby, the voice coil 16 is physically fixed to the diaphragm (12) and its fixing strength is heightened. The caulk-fixing is performed by subjecting a caulking projection of the coil supporting member (26) to a plastic deformation thereby to provide a caulk-fixed portion (26b), whereby deformation injurious to the acoustic property does not occur in the diaphragm (12). Further, the fit-supporting is performed by interposing a flange portion (16a1) formed at an upper end portion (16a) of the voice coil (16) between an engaging portion (26a) of the coil supporting member (26) and a central flat portion (12b) of the diaphragm (12) and holding it by them from upper and lower sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Sugiyama, Hajime Kitamura, Naohiro Fujinami, Yoshio Imahori, Hitoshi Yamashima
  • Patent number: 6618641
    Abstract: Each time the number of cumulative rotations of a spindle rotating motor 11 reaches the number of cumulative rotations set in a position data table T, a CPU 22 reads out the mobile positions of a work piece and tool at thus reached number of cumulative rotations and the next number of cumulative rotations to reach from a position data storage section 25, and reads out a moving speed characteristic between the reached number of cumulative rotations and the next number of cumulative rotations to reach from a moving speed characteristic storage section 27 according to an auxiliary operation designation in the position data table T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Endo, Shigeyuki Kurihara
  • Patent number: 6618185
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for compensating the impact of at least one defective pixel with a known position in a spatial light modulator (SLM) when creating a pattern of the SLM on a work piece covered with a layer sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. A source for emitting electromagnetic radiation is provided. Said radiation is illuminating said SLM having a plurality of modulating elements (pixels). In a writing pass an image of said modulator is projected on said work piece. A compensation for defective pixels in at least one other writing pass is performed. The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Micronic Laser Systems AB
    Inventor: Torbjörn Sandström
  • Publication number: 20030163208
    Abstract: The present invention provides a numerically controlled machine tool and a program transforming method therefor where a NC program is transformed into an optimum program even by a non-expert programmer. Particularly, the present invention provides a method for optimizing a NC program for operating a numerically controlled machine tool, comprising: making the NC program to be loaded into the numerically controlled machine tool; designating a portion of the NC program to be determined whether it is transformable and/or a portion of the NC program to be determined whether a command position is changeable; storing the NC program in a memory; determining whether the designated portion is transformable and/or whether the designated command position is changeable; and transforming the designated portion and/or changing the designated command position, and making an operating program file for the numerically controlled machine tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: STAR MICRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sugiyama, Takehisa Kajiyama, Akihide Takeshita, Noriyuki Yazaki
  • Publication number: 20030161491
    Abstract: An electret capacitor microphone includes an electret capacitor section having a diaphragm and a backplate, an impedance conversion element for converting a change in the electrostatic capacity of the electret capacitor section into an electric impedance, and a case for accommodating the electret capacitor section and the impedance conversion element. Part of the case is a synthetic resin-made base member formed integrally with a plurality of terminal members by insert molding. One end of the terminal member is exposed on an inner surface of the base member so as to form part of a conductive pattern. The other end of the terminal member is exposed on an outer surface of the base member as an external connection terminal portion. The impedance conversion element is mounted on the base member at a predetermined position in the conductive pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: STAR MICRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Yonehara, Motoaki Ito, Yoshio Imahori
  • Patent number: 6605816
    Abstract: The present invention relates to preparation of patterned reticles to be used as masks in the production of semiconductor and other devices. Methods and devices are described utilizing resist and transfer layers over a masking layer on a reticle. The methods and devices produce small feature dimensions in masks and phase shift masks. The methods described for masks are in many cases applicable to the direct writing on other workpieces having similarly small features, such as semiconductor, cryogenic, magnetic and optical microdevices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Micronic Laser Systems AB
    Inventor: Torbjörn Sandström
  • Publication number: 20030147092
    Abstract: A printer driver has an image coupling engine that prepares a coupled image by adding a message image to an original image. The coupled image may be printed immediately after the original image is printed, or may be stored in a predetermined file and printed as needed. The original image is printed as an original and the coupled image is printed as a copy. The original and the copy can be easily distinguished because the message image is added to the copy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: STAR MICRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Albert Kennis
  • Patent number: 6597966
    Abstract: Every time the cumulative number of revolutions of a spindle rotating motor reaches a cumulative number of revolutions set in a data table, a CPU reads out, from a data memory section, moving positions of a workpiece and tool at the reached cumulative number of revolutions and the next cumulative number of revolutions, and a spindle rotational speed instruction value at the reached cumulative number of revolutions. The CPU sets the reached cumulative number of revolutions as a start point and the next cumulative number of revolutions as an end point, and divides the interval between the start and end points at predetermined timings. The CPU determines moving positions of the workpiece and tool at divided timings on the basis of the readout moving positions of the workpiece and tool. The CPU outputs the spindle rotational speed instruction value as a spindle rotational speed instruction signal to a reference spindle rotational speed setting circuit to control the rotational speed of the spindle rotating motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sugiyama, Takehisa Kajiyama
  • Patent number: 6595794
    Abstract: An electrical contact technique for use in the semiconductor device inspection equipment is disclosed. There are used one or more pyramid-shaped contactors projecting toward an objective semiconductor device to be tested. The contactor is brought into contact with the projection electrode of the objective semiconductor device through the edge line or the slant surface thereof. Accordingly, only the side portion of the projection electrode is pressed by the edge line or the slant surface of the contactor, thus the projection electrode being prevented from being damaged at the tip portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventor: Yoshiei Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20030123682
    Abstract: A method for producing an electret capacitor microphone high in sensitivity and stable in acoustic characteristic. A PET film stretched with predetermined tension is bonded to a diaphragm support ring to perform stretch and fixation of a diaphragm to produce a diaphragm sub-assembly. The diaphragm sub-assembly is heated at a predetermined temperature (e.g. 200° C.) higher than a second order transition point of PET. Then, the diaphragm sub-assembly is packed in a housing. Because the diaphragm sub-assembly is heated at the predetermined temperature before packed in the housing, the stiffness of the diaphragm is reduced. Because the stiffness of the diaphragm 26 is reduced in such a manner, the tension at the time of stretch and fixation of the diaphragm can be set to a large value to prevent the diaphragm from being crinkled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: STAR MICRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoaki Ito, Kentaro Yonehara
  • Patent number: 6587397
    Abstract: A case 1 is formed of thermoplastic resin, and includes an upper case 11 and a lower case 21. The case 1 accommodates a pole piece 31, a coil 41, a magnet 51, a diaphragm 61, and so on. The pole piece 31 includes an core 32 and a base 33, and placed on the lower case 21. There are integrally formed on an upper face of the lower case 21, a wall 22 for defining a mounting position of the pole piece 31, a projection 23 for preventing a conductive wire 42 drawn our from the coil 41 from getting in touch with the base 33, and a bobbin part 24 for the conductive wire 42 to be wound therearound. A height of the projection 23 is set at an equal or larger value to or than a height of a surface of the base 33, and a contact of the conductive wire 42 with the base 33 can be avoided by the projection 23.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Tsuchikiri
  • Patent number: 6581899
    Abstract: A valve for use in microfluidic structures. The valve uses a spherical member, such as a ball bearing, to depress an elastomeric member to selectively open and close a microfluidic channel. The valve may be operated manually or by use of an internal force generated to shift the spherical member to its activated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Micronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton L. Williams
  • Publication number: 20030112994
    Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer adapted to be mounted on a printed circuit board in which a coil spring is accommodated and supported in a cylindrical recess of a frame while it is fixed to neither a terminal plate nor the frame. Particularly, a protruding pin of the coil spring is passed through a though hole of the terminal plate to allow a leading portion of the protruding pin to be hooked thereon. When the electroacoustic transducer is mounted on the printed circuit board, any horizontal displacement between the compressed spring and the printed circuit board would not cause stress concentration on the coil spring since the coil spring is onlly horizontally shifted in the cylindrical recess until a coil portion of the coil spring hits against the wall of the cylindrical recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: STAR MICRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio Imahori, Hiroshi Fujinami, Yoshiharu Oishi, Takahiro Sone