Patents by Inventor Akihiro Makino

Akihiro Makino has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5961745
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to provide a Fe based glassy alloy which exhibits soft magnetic characteristics at room temperature, has a thickness greater than that of a conventional amorphous alloy prepared by a liquid quenching process and can be easily formed in bulk. The Fe based glassy alloy in accordance with the present invention has a temperature distance .DELTA.T.sub.x, expressed by the equation .DELTA.T.sub.x =T.sub.x -T.sub.g, of a supercooled liquid of not less than 35.degree. C., wherein Tx indicates crystallization temperature and Tg represents glass transition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignees: Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Akihisa Inoue, Japan Science and Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Akihisa Inoue, Takao Mizushima, Kouichi Fujita, Oki Yamaguchi, Akihiro Makino
  • Patent number: 5935347
    Abstract: The present invention provides an Fe-base soft magnetic alloy and a laminated magnetic core formed by using the alloy which contains Fe as a main component and at least one element M and B selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo and W, in which at least 50% of the crystalline structure comprises fine crystalline grains having an average crystal grain size of 30 nm or less and a body-centered cubic structure, and the fracture strain at 300.degree. C. or less is 1. The ratios of the components Fe, and elements M and B are 75 to 93 atomic %, 4 to 9 atomic % and 0.5 to 18 atomic %, respectively. The alloy may contain other additive elements such as Cr, Ru, Hr, Ir, Si, Al, Ge, Ga and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyonori Suzuki, Akihiro Makino, Shoji Yoshida, Katsuaki Hangai, Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Akihisa Inoue
  • Patent number: 5910344
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetoresistive sensor having at least two ferromagnetic layers provided with a non-magnetic layer therebetween; a coercive force increasing layer consisting of an antiferromagnetic material and provided adjacent to one of the ferromagnetic layers, for increasing the coercive force thereof to pin magnetization reversal, the other ferromagnetic layer having free magnetization reversal; and an antiferromagnetic layer provided to adjacent to the other ferromagnetic layer having free magnetization reversal, for applying a longitudinal bias to the other ferromagnetic layer to induce magnetic anisotropy therein due to an unidirectional exchange bias magnetic field to stabilize a magnetic domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoya Hasegawa, Masamichi Saito, Akihiro Makino
  • Patent number: 5896078
    Abstract: A soft magnetic alloy thin film includes a fine crystalline phase and an amorphous phase. The fine crystalline phase includes an average crystalline grain size of 10 nm or less in diameter and has body-centered cubic structure mainly composed of Fe. The amorphous phase has a nitrogen (N) compound as the main composition and occupies at least 50% of the structure of the thin film. An element M is incorporated at least in the amorphous phase, and includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, W, and rare earth metal elements. A plane-type magnetic device is made using this thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Hayakawa, Akihiro Makino
  • Patent number: 5833770
    Abstract: A soft magnetic alloy used as a radio frequency magnetic material and having high resistivity and high magnetic permeability in a high frequency band, and an inductor, a wave absorber and antenna each comprising the soft magnetic alloy. The soft magnetic alloy has a crystal phase containing Co as a main component and at least one element T selected as a primary component from Fe, Ni, Pd, Mn and Al, and having a face-centered cubic structure, a body-centered cubic structure or a mixture thereof having an average crystal grain size of 30 nm or less; and a ferromagnetic amorphous phase surrounding the crystal phase and containing at least one element M selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Y and rare earth elements, O, N, C, B, at least one oxide of element M, Fe and element T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kumiko Ominato, Naoya Hasegawa, Yasuo Hayakawa, Akihiro Makino
  • Patent number: 5755986
    Abstract: A high-frequency composite material, having soft magnetic and dielectric characteristics, comprising a soft magnetic alloy powder represented by the general composition A.sub.a M.sub.b D.sub.c and a synthetic resin, wherein A represents at least one element or mixture thereof selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni; M represents at least one element or mixture thereof selected from the group consisting of Hf, Zr, W, Ti, V, Nb, Mo, Cr, Mg, Mn, Al, Si, Ca, Sr, Ba, Cu, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Zn, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Pb, Bi and rare earth elements; D represents at least one element or mixture thereof selected from the group consisting of O, C, N and B; and the suffixes a, b, and c in the general formula A.sub.a M.sub.b D.sub.c satisfy the following equations represented by atomic percent: 40.ltoreq.a<80, 0.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.30, and 0<c.ltoreq.50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Yamamoto, Takao Mizushima, Akihiro Makino, Takashi Hatanai, Teruyoshi Kubokawa
  • Patent number: 5741373
    Abstract: An Fe-based soft magnetic alloy having a high saturated magnetic flux density and having a composition represented by formula (I) below:(Fe.sub.1-a Q.sub.a).sub.b B.sub.x T.sub.y T'.sub.z (I)wherein Q represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co and Ni; T represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo and W, with Zr and/or Hf being always included; T' represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, Ni, Pd and Pt; a, b, x, y and z are real numbers satisfying relationships below:0.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.05,0.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.93 atomic %,0.5.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.16 atomic %,4.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.10 atomic %,0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.4.5 atomic %provided that when 0<z.ltoreq.4.5 atomic %, Q represents Co and 0<b.ltoreq.92 atomic %; and when z=0, 0.5.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.8 atomic % and 4.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.9 atomic %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignees: Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tsuyoshi Masumoto
    Inventors: Kiyonori Suzuki, Akihiro Makino, Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Akihisa Inoue, Noriyuki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 5725685
    Abstract: A soft magnetic alloy thin film includes a fine crystalline phase and an amorphous phase. The fine crystalline phase includes an average crystalline grain size of 10 nm or less in diameter and has body-centered cubic structure mainly composed of Fe. The amorphous phase has a nitrogen (N) compound as the main composition and occupies at least 50% of the structure of the thin film. An element M is incorporated at least in the amorphous phase, and includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, W, and rare earth metal elements. A plane-type magnetic device is made using this thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Hayakawa, Akihiro Makino
  • Patent number: 5656101
    Abstract: A soft magnetic alloy thin film includes a fine crystalline phase and an amorphous phase. The fine crystalline phase includes an average crystalline grain size of 10 nm or less in diameter and has body-centered cubic structure mainly composed of Fe. The amorphous phase has a nitrogen (N) compound as the main composition and occupies at least 50% of the structure of the thin film. An element M is incorporated at least in the amorphous phase, and includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, W, and rare earth metal elements. A plane-type magnetic device is made using this thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Hayakawa, Akihiro Makino
  • Patent number: 5619174
    Abstract: A noise filter includes an annular magnetic core made of a soft magnetic alloy ribbon mainly made of Fe and containing B and at least one element selected from a group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Mo and W, at least 50% of the soft magnetic alloy structure being composed of body-centered cubic structured fine grains having an average grain size of 30 nm or below, a casing for accommodating the magnetic core and having an insulating plate, a pair of coils separated from each other by the insulating plate, and an electronic circuit for connecting a core element made up of the magnetic core, the casing and the coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignees: Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Research Development Corp. of Japan, Tsuysohi Masumoto
    Inventors: Youichi Kimura, Akihiro Makino, Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Akihisa Inoue
  • Patent number: 5605560
    Abstract: Alloy powder which is low in price and is unlikely to be oxidized on the surface, and a dispersion-type conductor using the alloy powder in which electromigration is not likely to occur. Melt of copper and silver is cooled at a high cooling speed of 10.sup.5 .degree.C./s or higher. Alloy powder having a composition expressed by a chemical formula Cu.sub.x Ag.sub.1-x (where 0.80.ltoreq..times..ltoreq.0.99) is obtained. Also, a dispersion-type conductor is produced by dispersing 100 parts by weight of the alloy powder in between 5-100 parts by weight of a binder. Thus, the low-priced alloy powder and the dispersion-type conductor of high quality and high reliability can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignees: Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Teikoku Piston Ring Co., Ltd., Akihisa Inoue, Tsuyoshi Masumoto
    Inventors: Yasuichi Ono, Akihiro Makino, Akihisa Inoue, Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Yoshio Harakawa
  • Patent number: 5573863
    Abstract: A soft magnetic alloy film includes: a fine crystalline phase having an average grain size of 10 nm or less and essentially consisting of Fe of b-c-c structure; and an amorphous phase containing a rare earth element or at least one of the elements, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta and W, and O (oxygen) in a large amount, the fine crystalline phase and amorphous phase existing in a mixed state, with the proportion of the fine crystalline phase of Fe of b-c-c structure to the entire structure being 50% or less. A plane magnetic element employs such a soft magnetic alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ysuo Hayakawa, Akinori Kojima, Akihiro Makino
  • Patent number: 5509975
    Abstract: A soft magnetic bulky alloy according to the present invention is obtained by forming under pressure a powder and granule material mainly made of a Fe-M-B based amorphous alloy containing Fe, B and M where M is at least one element selected from a group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo and W. In the soft magnetic bulky alloy, an amorphous alloy phase and a bcc phase with fine grain sizes of 30 nm or below are present in a mixed state, or the bcc phase with fine grain sizes of 30 nm or below is mainly present. The present invention also discloses a method of manufacturing such a soft magnetic bulky alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignees: Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Akihisa Inoue
    Inventors: Akinori Kojima, Katsuaki Hangai, Shoji Yoshida, Akihiro Makino, Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Akihsia Inoue
  • Patent number: 5474624
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of stably manufacturing a Fe-base soft magnetic alloy having steps of subjecting an amorphous alloy mainly composed of Fe to heat treatment in which the amorphous alloy is heated to 400.degree. to 750.degree. C. at a heating rate of 1.0.degree. C./minute or higher so that at least 50% or more of the structure of the amorphous alloy is made of fine crystalline grains formed into a body-centered cubic structure and having an average grain size of crystal of 30 nm or smaller as to have a high magnetic permeability and saturation magnetic flux density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyonori Suzuki, Akihiro Makino, Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Akihisa Inoue
  • Patent number: 5458702
    Abstract: Alloy powder which is low in price and is unlikely to be oxidized on the surface, and a dispersion-type conductor using the alloy powder in which electromigration is not likely to occur. Melt of copper and silver is cooled at a high cooling speed of 10.sup.5 .degree. C./s or higher. Alloy powder having a composition expressed by a chemical formula Cu.sub.x Ag.sub.1-x (where 0.80.ltoreq.X.ltoreq.0.99) is obtained. Also, a dispersion-type conductor is produced by dispersing 100 parts by weight of the alloy powder in between 5-100 parts by weight of a binder. Thus, the low-priced alloy powder and the dispersion-type conductor of high quality and high reliability can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignees: Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Teikoku Piston Ring Co., Ltd., Akihisa Inoue, Tsuyoshi Masumoto
    Inventors: Yasuichi Ono, Akihiro Makino, Akihisa Inoue, Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Yoshio Harakawa
  • Patent number: 5449419
    Abstract: An Fe-based soft magnetic alloy having a high saturated magnetic flux density and having a composition represented by formula (I) below:(Fe.sub.1-a Q.sub.a).sub.b B.sub.x T.sub.y T'.sub.z (I)wherein Q represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co and Ni; T represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo and W, with Zr and/or Hf being always included; T' represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, Ni, Pd and Pt; a, b, x, y and z are real numbers satisfying relationships below:0.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.05 atomic %,0<b.ltoreq.93 atomic %,0.5.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.16 atomic %,4.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.10 atomic %,0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.4.5 atomic %provided that when 0<z.ltoreq.4.5 atomic %, Q represents Co and 0<b.ltoreq.92 atomic %; and when z=0, 0.5.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.8 atomic % and 4.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.9 atomic %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignees: Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tsuyoshi Masumoto
    Inventors: Kiyonori Suzuki, Akihiro Makino, Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Akihisa Inoue, Noriyuki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 5144999
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously making an amorphous metal strip used, for example, as a blank for a voice magnetic head, deposits molten metal from a nozzle onto the surface of a cooling roll under a fixed pressure and while the cooling roll rotates, the molten metal is rapidly cooled and solidified on the cooling roll. A rotation speed control adjusts the rotation of the cooling roll so that the speed is gradually reduced during the manufacturing process. The nozzle may be provided at an angle to the surface to the cooling roll with the nozzle opening opposing the direction of rotation. Alternatively, the nozzle may be provided perpendicular to the surface and off the center access of the cooling roll opposite the rotating direction of the cooling roll. In this embodiment, the tip of the nozzle is shaped with an angled opening. Moreover, the surface of the cooling roll may have a roughness greater than a mirror-smooth surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Makino, Tomio Takase
  • Patent number: 4936929
    Abstract: A soft magnetic amorphous ternary alloy of Co-Ta-Hf which comprises a composition represented by Co.sub.x Ta.sub.y Hf.sub.z, wherein the composition ratio of x, y and z ranges, in atomic %,81%.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.85%8%.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.13%5%.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.10%1.ltoreq.y/z.ltoreq.2.5and x+y+z=100%. Thus, the refractory amorphous alloy has excellent thermal stability, preferable soft magnetic property, high mass productivity, and can be heat treated at 500.degree. C. or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Nakashima, Akinori Kojima, Akihiro Makino
  • Patent number: 4891079
    Abstract: According to the invention, a highly corrosion-resistant alloy that has a high saturated magnetic flux density and can be suitably used as a material for manufacturing magnetic heads is provided.An alloy according to the invention is based on alloy of Fe-Co-Si-Al type to which Cr and Ru if desired are added in order to improve its saturated magnetic flux density and other magnetic characteristics as well as corrosion resistance without degrading its hardness and coercive force.An alloy according to the invention typically contains 1.0 to 3% by weight of Cr as an additive and, if desired, 0.5 to 5% by weight of Ru.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Nakajima, Akihiro Makino
  • Patent number: 4750951
    Abstract: An amorphous alloy for making a magnetic head comprises a composition of the formula:(Fe.sub.1-a, Co.sub.a).sub.100-e-f-b Cr.sub.e Ru.sub.f (Si.sub.c, B.sub.d).sub.bwhere a is from 0.93 to 0.95, c/c+d is from 0.55 to 0.65, b is from 22 to 27, e is from 0.4 to 2.6 and f is from 1.5 to 4.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Makino, Mikio Nakashima