Patents Assigned to Seiko Instruments
  • Patent number: 8885444
    Abstract: The analog electronic watch includes: a crystal oscillator; an oscillator circuit; a frequency divider circuit; an output control circuit; a constant voltage circuit; and a cell. The constant voltage circuit and the output control circuit are powered from the cell. The oscillator circuit and the frequency divider circuit are powered from the constant voltage circuit. The constant voltage circuit is capable of outputting a first constant voltage and a second constant voltage in a switchable manner. The second constant voltage is a voltage which is equal to or lower than a cell voltage. The first constant voltage is a voltage which is smaller than the second constant voltage. The constant voltage is switched to the second constant voltage in a period of outputting the motor drive pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Mitani, Kotaro Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140325300
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including a test mode circuit capable of changing the semiconductor device into a test mode with fewer malfunctions and without providing a test terminal. The semiconductor device includes a test circuit configured to compare data of a data input terminal and a data output terminal in synchronization with clock, and control whether or not to change the semiconductor device into a test mode in accordance with a result of the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Tomohiro OKA
  • Patent number: 8872490
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator which includes an inrush current prevention circuit so that no current is consumed after the start-up of the voltage regulator. A start-up circuit of the voltage regulator includes: a constant current circuit; a first transistor connected between the constant current circuit and a constant voltage generation circuit; a second transistor including a drain connected to a gate of the first transistor, and a gate to which a voltage based on an output voltage is input; a first depletion transistor including a gate connected to the drain of the second transistor, and a source connected to a source of the second transistor; and a third transistor including a gate connected to the gate of the second transistor, and a drain connected to the drain of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Yoshikawa, Osamu Uehara
  • Patent number: 8873344
    Abstract: A power consumption control device includes a power consumption control unit that receives the output potential of a photovoltaic cell generating an electromotive force, receives the output potential of a secondary battery charged by the electromotive force of the photovoltaic cell, causes a timepiece device to transition to a power saving state where a clock operation of measuring time is stopped when the output potential difference of the secondary battery is not greater than a predetermined threshold value, and the secondary battery is in a non-charging state indicating a state where the output potential difference of the photovoltaic cell is not greater than the output potential difference of the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shimizu, Kazumi Sakumoto, Kenji Ogasawara, Kosuke Yamamoto, Keishi Honmura, Saburo Manaka, Akira Takakura
  • Patent number: 8864672
    Abstract: A blood rheology measurement device measures a blood rheology of blood flowing through an artery inside of a living body from outside of the living body. The blood rheology measurement device has a sensor that detects a flow rate of blood flowing through the artery and a pulsatile displacement that varies with an elapse of time. The pulsatile displacement corresponds to a displacement of the artery in a diameter direction thereof due to expansion and contraction of the artery resulting from a pulsatile motion of the heart. A calculating section calculates the blood rheology of blood flowing through the artery on the basis of the blood flow rate and the pulsatile displacement detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Fumio Kimura, Takahiko Nakamura, Masataka Shinogi, Mizuaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8866457
    Abstract: A voltage regulator has a phase compensation circuit which changes consumption current according to load current thereby to reduce consumption current. The phase compensation circuit includes: a first transistor having a drain connected to an output terminal of an error amplifier circuit; a second transistor having a drain connected to a gate of the first transistor and a gate connected to the gate of the first transistor; a current mirror circuit connected to the output terminal of the error amplifier circuit, a drain of the first transistor, and the drain of the second transistor; and a capacitor connected between the gate of the second transistor and a drain of an output transistor. Thereby, current consumed by the phase compensation circuit can be changed according to the load current, resulting in that the voltage regulator consumes less current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Daiki Endo, Socheat Heng
  • Patent number: 8866474
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor device for generating a logic output in accordance with a magnetic field intensity applied to a magnetoelectric conversion element includes: a comparator for inputting amplified output signals of the magnetoelectric conversion element, and outputting a comparison result; and a logic circuit for performing arithmetic processing on an output signal of the comparator. Only when the logic output is changed by a change in the magnetic field intensity, the logic circuit performs successive matching determination of logic outputs a plurality of times. Thus, the variation in determination for detection or canceling of a magnetic field intensity, which is caused by noise generated from respective constituent elements included in the magnetic sensor device and external noise, may be reduced while suppressing electric power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Daisuke Muraoka, Minoru Ariyama, Tomoki Hikichi, Kentaro Fukai
  • Patent number: 8859369
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device having a vertical MOS transistor and a method of manufacturing the same. The vertical MOS transistor has a trench gate, a distance between a gate electrode and an N-type high concentration buried layer below the gate electrode is formed longer than that in the conventional structure, and a P-type trench bottom surface lower region (5) is formed therebetween. In this manner, when a high voltage is applied to a drain region and 0 V is applied to the gate electrode, the trench bottom surface lower region (5) is depleted, thereby increasing the breakdown voltage in the OFF state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Yukimasa Minami
  • Patent number: 8861313
    Abstract: A calendar mechanism of a timepiece includes a date indicator having a date wheel portion provided with a notched portion. An operation lever attached to the date indicator is pivotable between a pre-feed allowing position, where a tooth-shaped engaged portion thereof is inserted into the notched portion whereby excess feeding of the date indicator is possible, and a normal feed allowing position, where the tooth-shaped engaged portion retreats from the notched portion whereby normal feeding is possible. The date indicator is rotated by a day earlier than the normal feeding when set to the pre-feed allowing position. A driving lever structure includes a cam follower engaged with a month cam and is driven in response to rotation of the month cam to allow the operation lever to be pivoted between the normal feed allowing position and the pre-feed allowing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeo Suzuki, Mamoru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8850691
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a heating resistor element includes a concave portion forming step, a bonding step and a resistor forming step. The concave portion forming step includes forming a concave portion on at least one of bonded surfaces between an insulating substrate and a heat accumulating layer. The bonding step causes the bonded surfaces between the insulating substrate and the heat accumulating layer to adhere to each other to bond the insulating substrate and the heat accumulating layer. The resistor forming step includes forming a heating resistor at a position on the heat accumulating layer. The position is opposed to the concave portion. The concave portion forming step further includes processing an inner surface of the concave portion on a side of the insulating substrate to have surface roughness Ra of 0.2 ?m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Keitaro Koroishi, Toshimitsu Morooka, Noriyoshi Shoji, Yoshinori Sato, Norimitsu Sanbongi
  • Patent number: 8852491
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an electroforming mold, a first photoresist layer is formed on an upper surface of a bottom conductive film of a substrate, and the first photoresist layer is divided into a first soluble portion and a first insoluble portion. A conductive material is thermally deposited on an upper surface of the first photoresist layer within a predetermined temperature range, to thereby form an intermediate conductive film. An intermediate conductive film is patterned. A second photoresist layer is formed on an exposed upper surface of the first photoresist layer after the intermediate conductive film is removed, and on an upper surface of the intermediate conductive film remaining after patterning. The second photoresist layer is divided into a second soluble portion and a second insoluble portion. Next, the first and second photoresist layers are developed, and the first and second soluble portions are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Niwa, Matsuo Kishi, Koichiro Jujo, Hiroyuki Hoshina
  • Patent number: 8847308
    Abstract: An oxide film is formed by STI in a silicon surface region in which a substrate potential heavily doped diffusion layer and a source heavily doped diffusion layer are to be provided later between trenches at predetermined intervals. The oxide film is removed after the trench is formed, to thereby form a region which is lower than a surrounding surface. Thus, in the vertical MOS transistor having a trench structure which includes a side spacer, a silicide on a gate electrode embedded in the trench and a silicide on the substrate potential heavily doped diffusion layer and the source heavily doped diffusion layer can be separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hashitani
  • Patent number: 8848489
    Abstract: A calendar mechanism of a timepiece includes a month cam having a cam surface distinguishing between a long month (31 days) and a short month (30 days or less) and makes one rotation a year. A date indicator driving wheel has a date finger that makes one rotation every 24 hours and engages with a date wheel of a date indicator to rotate the date indicator. An operating lever structure has a proximal portion friction-engaged with an offset shaft to rotate around the offset shaft offset with respect to the rotation center of the date indicator driving wheel. The operating lever structure has a first distal end portion engaged with the month cam and a second distal end portion engaged with a month end tooth of the date indicator to effect additional date feeding by one day with respect to the date indicator at the end of a short month.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Shigeo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8848234
    Abstract: A printer includes: a receiving unit for receiving image identification information, image position information, and print data from outside as printing command data; an image printing position determining unit for reading image size information from a storage unit based on the image identification information in the printing command data received by the receiving unit and determining a position on a printing surface at which the image is to be printed, based on the image position information received by the receiving unit and the read image size information; a superimposing unit for superimposing image data read from the storage unit on the print data received by the receiving unit at the position determined by the image printing position determining unit; and a printing unit for printing a result of the superimposition by the superimposing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Maiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8842504
    Abstract: A near-field light head of the present invention includes: a slider disposed opposite to a surface of the magnetic recording medium; a recording element that includes a main magnetic pole generating the recording magnetic field and a subsidiary magnetic pole, the recording element being fixed to an apical surface of the slider so that the main magnetic pole and the subsidiary magnetic pole line up in a longitudinal direction of the slider in the state where the subsidiary magnetic pole is located at the apical surface of the slider; a near-field light generating element, fixed adjacently to the main magnetic pole in a state where another end side thereof is directed to the magnetic recording medium, that propagates the light flux introduced from one end side thereof toward the other end side to generate the near-field light, and radiates the near-field light from the other end side to the outside; and a light flux introducing device, fixed to the slider, that introduces the light flux from the one end side in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Masakazu Hirata, Manabu Oumi, Majung Park
  • Publication number: 20140275931
    Abstract: There is provided a portable electronic apparatus including an apparatus main body that includes electronic components built therein, a fixation belt that is used to attach the apparatus main body to a living body surface, a connector that is provided at an end of the fixation belt in a belt longitudinal direction, and has an engagement protrusion that is detachably stored in an engagement recess formed at the apparatus main body, and a biasing body that is provided in the engagement recess, and biases the engagement protrusion stored in the engagement recess so as to maintain an engagement state between the engagement recess and the engagement protrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Teruo KATO, Hideki OKUDA, Dai TERASAWA
  • Publication number: 20140266368
    Abstract: The light receiving circuit includes: a photoelectric conversion element for causing a current corresponding to an amount of incident light to flow; a MOS transistor including a source connected to the photoelectric conversion element and a drain connected to a node, for causing the current of the photoelectric conversion element to flow to the node while maintaining a voltage of the source to a first voltage; a reset circuit for causing a current to flow from the node to a GND terminal so that a voltage of the node becomes a second voltage lower than the first voltage; a control circuit for outputting a reset signal to the reset circuit; and a voltage increase detection circuit for detecting a fluctuation in the voltage of the node and outputting a detection result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Fumiyasu UTSUNOMIYA
  • Publication number: 20140266313
    Abstract: The light receiving circuit includes: a photoelectric conversion element for causing a current corresponding to an amount of incident light to flow to a node; a voltage detection circuit for outputting a detection signal when a voltage of the node becomes equal to or higher than a first voltage; a reset circuit for causing, when the detection signal of the voltage detection circuit is input, the current of the photoelectric conversion element to flow to a GND terminal so that the voltage of the node becomes a second voltage lower than the first voltage, and for holding this state when the detection signal is no longer input; and a voltage increase detection circuit for detecting a fluctuation in the voltage of the node and outputting a detection result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Fumiyasu UTSUNOMIYA
  • Publication number: 20140253069
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator capable of controlling an output voltage to a predetermined voltage quickly after an undershoot occurs in the output voltage. The voltage regulator includes: an undershoot detection circuit configured to detect a voltage that is based on an output voltage of the voltage regulator, and output a current corresponding to an undershoot amount of the output voltage; and an I-V converter circuit configured to control a current flowing through an output transistor based on a current controlled by an output of an error amplifier and a current flowing from the undershoot detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Fumiyasu UTSUNOMIYA
  • Publication number: 20140253076
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator capable of, when an overshoot or undershoot occurs in an output voltage, improving the overshoot or undershoot in a wide temperature range and reducing a delay in detection of the overshoot or undershoot. The voltage regulator includes: an error amplifier; an output transistor; and a first transistor including a gate for inputting a reference voltage and a source for inputting an output voltage. The first transistor is configured to cause a current to flow when the output voltage becomes an irregular voltage, and a current of the output transistor is controlled based on the current flowing through the first transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Fumiyasu UTSUNOMIYA