Patents by Inventor Akira Abe

Akira Abe 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).

  • Publication number: 20170274832
    Abstract: A windshield includes a radar that detects an object around the radar with transmitted and received radio waves in a millimeter band and a radar window on which at least a portion of the radio waves is incident. The windshield includes a windshield main body including a single glass layer or at least one glass layer on which a resin layer is laminated. Both of the windshield main body and the radar window are plate-shaped. An area of the radar window is smaller than an area of the windshield main body. A dielectric constant of the radar window is smaller than a dielectric constant of the glass layer. At least a portion of a side surface connecting an outer surface and an inner surface of the radar window is in contact with a side surface connecting an outer surface and an inner surface of the windshield main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventor: Akira ABE
  • Publication number: 20170246862
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting unit that includes a piezoelectric element which is displaced by a drive signal; a differential amplifier that outputs a control signal based can a source; drive signal which is a source signal of the drive signal and a signal based on the drive signal; a pair of transistors that include a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor which are controlled based oh the control signal and outputs the drive signal from an output terminal; and a selector that selects one of the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor and supplies the control signal to the selected transistor. The selector selects a transistor to which the control signal is supplied, based oh a logic level of a predetermined select signal. The logic level of the select signal is inverted for a predetermined period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventor: Akira ABE
  • Publication number: 20170246860
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting unit that includes a piezoelectric element which is displaced by a drive signal, a differential amplifier that outputs a control signal based on a source drive signal which is a source signal of the drive signal and a signal based on the drive signal, a pair of transistors that include a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor which are controlled based on the control signal and outputs the drive signal from an output terminal, a selector that selects one of the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor and supplies the control signal to the selected transistor, a first resistance element having one terminal that is electrically coupled to the output terminal, and a second resistance element having one terminal that is electrically coupled to the output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventor: Akira ABE
  • Publication number: 20170246861
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting unit that includes a piezoelectric element which is displaced by a drive signal; a differential amplifier that outputs a control signal based on a source drive signal which is a source signal of the drive signal and a signal based on the drive signal; a pair of transistors that include a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor which are controlled based on the control signal and outputs the drive signal from an output terminal; a selector that selects one of the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor and supplies the control signal to the selected transistor; a first resistance element for pulling up the output terminal; and a second resistance element for pulling down the output terminal. The first resistance element or the second resistance element has a variable resistance value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventor: Akira ABE
  • Publication number: 20170250679
    Abstract: A drive circuit includes a control signal generator configured to generate a control signal based on a drive signal and a source drive signal, and an amplifier including a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor controlled based on the control signal. The amplifier is configured to output the drive signal from an output terminal to drive a capacitive load during a first period in which a voltage of the drive signal changes to be higher than or equal to a first voltage per unit time and a second period in which the voltage changes to be lower than the first voltage or does not change per unit time. The first period includes a period in which one of the high-side and the low-side transistors performs a switching operation. The second period includes a period in which the one of the high-side and the low-side transistors performs a linear operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventor: Akira ABE
  • Publication number: 20170246859
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting unit, a differential amplifier, a pair of transistors, and a selector. The ejecting unit includes a piezoelectric element which is configured to be displaced by a drive signal being applied to the piezoelectric element. The ejecting unit is configured to eject liquid in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element. The differential amplifier is configured to output a control signal based on a source drive signal which is a source signal of the drive signal and a signal based on the drive signal. The transistors includes a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor which are configured to be controlled based on the control signal and are configured to output the drive signal from an output terminal of the transistors. The selector is configured to select one of the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor and supply the control signal to a selected transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventor: Akira ABE
  • Publication number: 20170187102
    Abstract: In an on-vehicle radar device, a receiving antenna part includes a first antenna array with a plurality of receiving antennas arranged in a first direction perpendicular to a predetermined reference direction, and a second antenna array with three or more receiving antennas arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the reference direction and different from the first direction. A computing part computes the elevation angle of an object, using a first detection angle formed by the reference direction and a direction of the object acquired using the first antenna array in a plane parallel to the reference direction and the first direction, a second detection angle formed by the reference direction and a direction of the object acquired using the second antenna array in a plane parallel to the reference direction and the second direction, and a relative inclination angle formed by the first and second directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventor: Akira ABE
  • Patent number: 9687817
    Abstract: Provided is a carrier for an exhaust gas purification catalyst containing aluminum borate particles having a peak (pore peak) exhibiting the highest intensity in a void volume diameter range of from 20 nm to 100 nm in a logarithmic differential void volume distribution measured using a mercury intrusion porosimeter, in order to provide a new catalyst support capable of effectively suppressing a decrease in catalytic performance caused by sulfur (S) component contained in the exhaust gas, in the case of supporting Pd as a catalytically active component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Abe, Takahiro Sato, Ohki Houshito, Yuki Nagao, Yunosuke Nakahara
  • Publication number: 20170144434
    Abstract: A drive circuit for driving a capacitive load includes a power supply unit that boosts a single voltage and includes multiple voltage boosting circuits which generate power supply voltages different from each other; a drive circuit that amplifies an original drive signal based on a power supply voltage which is generated by at least one of the multiple voltage boosting circuits and generates a drive signal; in which the power supply unit controls the voltage boosting circuit, which generates the power supply voltage that is not used for amplification, to stop voltage boosting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventor: Akira ABE
  • Patent number: 9656461
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a modulation circuit that generates a modulated signal obtained by performing pulse modulation on a source signal; a transistor that amplifies the modulated signal to generate an amplified modulated signal; a lowpass filer that smoothes the amplified modulated signal to generate a driving signal; a piezoelectric element that is displaced when the driving signal is applied; and a circuit substrate on which the modulation circuit, the transistor, and the lowpass filter are mounted. The transistor includes a die, a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, a conductive die pad, a first lead which is electrically connected to the second electrode by a bonding wire, and a second lead which is electrically connected to the third electrode by a bonding wire. The die pad, the first lead, and the second lead are electrically connected to different wiring patterns of the circuit substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Abe, Hiroshi Sugita
  • Patent number: 9649840
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a power supply potential output section that outputs a first power supply potential, a first and a second switch drive section that generate a first and a second switch drive signal according to a modulation signal of an original drive signal, a first and a second switch that operate according to the first and the second switch drive signal, a rectifying device that is arranged between an output terminal of the power supply potential output section and a terminal of the first switch drive section, a connection node that is electrically connected to the first switch and the second switch, a capacitance element that is arranged between the terminal and the connection node, a signal conversion section that converts a signal which is generated at the connection node, into a drive signal, and a piezoelectric element that is transformed by the drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Abe
  • Patent number: 9654099
    Abstract: Provided is a driving circuit for driving a capacitive load which includes a modulation circuit which generates a modulation signal which is obtained by pulse-modulating a source signal, a transistor which generates an amplified modulation signal by amplifying the modulation signal, a low pass filter which generates a drive signal by smoothening the amplified modulation signal, a piezoelectric element which is displaced by receiving the drive signal, and a circuit substrate on which the transistor is mounted. The transistor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, and a clip which has conductivity, is electrically connected to the first electrode. Furthermore, the circuit substrate has a first land corresponding to the first electrode, a second land corresponding to the second electrode, and a third land corresponding to the third electrode. In addition, a part of the clip is connected to the third land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Abe, Hiroshi Sugita
  • Publication number: 20170113458
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting unit that includes a piezoelectric element which is displaced by application of a drive signal and ejects liquid according to displacement of the piezoelectric element; a comparison unit that includes a first comparator and a second comparator, receives an input signal and a feedback signal based on the drive signal, and outputs a first control signal and a second control signal; a pair of transistors that is configured by a first transistor which is controlled based on the first control signal and a second transistor which is controlled based on the second control signal, and outputs the drive signal from a coupling point of the first transistor and the second transistor; an output capacitor that has one terminal coupled to the coupling point; and a differentiation and integration circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventor: Akira ABE
  • Patent number: 9623651
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a power supply potential output section that outputs a first power supply potential, a first and a second switch drive section that generate a first and a second switch drive signal according to a modulation signal of an original drive signal, a first and a second switch that operate according to the first and the second switch drive signal, a rectifying device that is arranged between an output terminal of the power supply potential output section and a terminal of the first switch drive section, a connection node that is electrically connected to the first switch and the second switch, a capacitance element that is arranged between the terminal and the connection node, a signal conversion section that converts a signal which is generated at the connection node, into a drive signal, and a piezoelectric element that is transformed by the drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Abe
  • Patent number: 9586397
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid discharging apparatus which includes a modulation circuit which generates a modulation signal which is obtained by pulse-modulating a source signal, a transistor which generates an amplified modulation signal by amplifying the modulation signal, a low pass filter which includes an inductor and a capacitor and generates a drive signal by smoothening the amplified modulation signal, a piezoelectric element which is displaced by receiving the drive signal, a cavity of which the internal volume changes in accordance with the displacement of the piezoelectric element, a nozzle through which liquid in the cavity is discharged in accordance with change in the internal volume of the cavity, and a circuit substrate on which the modulation circuit, the transistor, and the low pass filter are mounted, in which the capacitor is a leadless type capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Abe, Hiroshi Sugita
  • Publication number: 20170062931
    Abstract: A waveguide transmitting an electromagnetic wave having an electric field that oscillates in a first direction in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The waveguide includes rectangular waveguide portions, and a protruding wall and a retracted wall that connect a rectangular waveguide portion to another rectangular waveguide portion. Each of the rectangular waveguide portions has a tubular shape extending in the second direction, and an inner wall of each rectangular waveguide portion has a rectangular cross section. The rectangular waveguide portions are arranged in the second direction, and inner spaces of the rectangular waveguide portions are connected to each other. The protruding wall extends from one of a pair of side surfaces of the rectangular waveguide portion opposed in a third direction toward the other of the pair of side surfaces, the third direction being perpendicular to the first and second directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Akira ABE
  • Publication number: 20170062929
    Abstract: A radar antenna assembly includes a transmitting antenna including transmitting horns and receiving antennas including receiving horns. The receiving antennas are at regular intervals in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction, and the transmitting antenna is adjacent to the receiving antennas in the second direction. The transmitting horns are at regular intervals in the first direction, and the transmitting antenna includes an oblique arrangement portion and a reverse oblique arrangement portion. The reverse oblique arrangement portion is adjacent to the oblique arrangement portion in the first direction, and the oblique arrangement portion and the reverse oblique arrangement portion are symmetrical to each other about a plane perpendicular to the first direction. The transmitting horns included in the oblique arrangement portion or the reverse oblique arrangement portion are adjacent to each other in the first direction with at least two sorts of magnitude of displacement therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Akira ABE
  • Publication number: 20170040709
    Abstract: A radar apparatus of the present invention is provided with at least one horn antenna for radiating and receiving linearly-polarized radio waves. The inner circumferential surface of the horn antenna has a top surface and a bottom surface, and a right side surface and a left side surface facing each other, the top surface and the bottom surface being perpendicular to a direction of the electrical field and facing each other. The top surface and the bottom surface define a first steeply-widened portion having a first rate of a widening rate, and define a first gently-widened portion having a second rate of a widening rate, the second rate being lower than the first rate. High-order modes can be generated within the horn antenna by the first steeply-widened portion and the first gently-widened portion to reduce sidelobes in the elevation angle direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventor: Akira ABE
  • Patent number: 9555625
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a power supply unit that boosts a single voltage and includes multiple voltage boosting circuits which generate power supply voltages different from each other; a drive circuit that amplifies an original drive signal based on a power supply voltage which is generated by at least one of the multiple voltage boosting circuits and generates a drive signal that is applied; and an ejecting unit that includes a piezoelectric element which becomes displaced in accordance with the drive signal, in which the power supply unit controls the voltage boosting circuit, which generates the power supply voltage that is not used for amplification, to stop voltage boosting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Abe
  • Patent number: 9525206
    Abstract: A DBF antenna unit including one or more transmitting antennas and a plurality of receiving antennas arranged at a predetermined interval in a horizontal scanning direction. Each of the transmitting antennas and the receiving antennas includes a waveguide provided with a corner bend and a horn expanding in a pyramid-like shape from one end of the waveguide. The other ends of the waveguides of all the transmitting antennas and the receiving antennas are placed on the same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Honda elesys Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Abe, Takayuki Kobayashi