Patents by Inventor Atsushi Oshima

Atsushi Oshima 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: 20140346925
    Abstract: A power generation unit includes a deforming member adapted to repeatedly deform a piezoelectric element, a pair of electrodes provided to the piezoelectric element, an inductor disposed between the pair of electrodes, and constituting a resonant circuit together with a capacitive component of the piezoelectric element, a first switch connected in series to the inductor, a member adapted to detect a timing at which a deformation direction of the deforming member is switched, a full bridge rectifier adapted to rectify a current output from the pair of electrodes, a capacitor connected to the full bridge rectifier, and adapted to store a current supplied from the full bridge rectifier, a second switch connected between either one of the pair of electrodes and the capacitor, and a control circuit adapted to operate the first switch and the second switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Noritaka IDE, Kunio TABATA, Atsushi OSHIMA, Hiroyuki YOSHINO
  • Patent number: 8894170
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes: a modulator adapted to pulse-modulate a drive waveform signal forming a basis of a drive signal of an actuator to obtain a modulated signal; a digital power amplifier circuit adapted to power-amplify the modulated signal to obtain a power-amplified modulated signal; a low pass filter adapted to smooth the power-amplified modulated signal to obtain the drive signal; and a power amplification stopping section operating when holding a voltage of the actuator constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kunio Tabata, Atsushi Oshima, Noritaka Ide, Shinichi Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Yoshino
  • Publication number: 20140285579
    Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a switching circuit. The switching circuit includes: a multilayer wiring board including a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer; a first transistor and a second transistor mounted on the first wiring layer side of the multilayer wiring board; and a capacitor mounted on the second wiring layer side of the multilayer wiring board. When the multilayer wiring board is viewed in a plan view, a third via conductor is arranged in an area not overlapping a straight-line path connecting a source electrode of the first transistor with a drain electrode of the second transistor in a second wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi OSHIMA, Noritaka IDE
  • Patent number: 8836199
    Abstract: A power generation unit includes a deforming member adapted to repeatedly deform a piezoelectric element, a pair of electrodes provided to the piezoelectric element, an inductor disposed between the pair of electrodes, and constituting a resonant circuit together with a capacitive component of the piezoelectric element, a first switch connected in series to the inductor, a member adapted to detect a timing at which a deformation direction of the deforming member is switched, a full bridge rectifier adapted to rectify a current output from the pair of electrodes, a capacitor connected to the full bridge rectifier, and adapted to store a current supplied from the full bridge rectifier, a second switch connected between either one of the pair of electrodes and the capacitor, and a control circuit adapted to operate the first switch and the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noritaka Ide, Kunio Tabata, Atsushi Oshima, Hiroyuki Yoshino
  • Publication number: 20140252116
    Abstract: A liquid ejection device, includes: a drive waveform signal output circuit which outputs a drive waveform signal to serve as a reference for the drive signal; a modulator which pulse-modulates the drive waveform signal and thus generates a first modulated signal and a second modulated signal having a different phase from the first modulated signal within a range from greater than 90 degrees to smaller than 270 degrees; a first digital power amplifier; a second digital power amplifier a first low pass filter which performs low pass filtering of the first amplified digital signal and thus generates a first demodulated signal; and a second low pass filter which performs low pass filtering of the second amplified digital signal and thus generates a second demodulated signal; wherein the first demodulated signal and the second demodulated signal are combined and applied as the drive signal to the capacitive load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi OSHIMA, Kunio TABATA, Noritaka IDE, Hiroyuki YOSHINO
  • Publication number: 20140253187
    Abstract: Operation of a digital power amplifier for power amplification of a modulated signal is stopped in a period in which a voltage value of a drive signal applied to a capacitive load is constant, to thereby suppress power loss. The power amplification is stopped either when half a period of time when the modulated signal in a first voltage state maintains the first voltage state elapses or when half a period of time when the modulated signal in a second voltage state which is lower in voltage than the first voltage state maintains the second voltage state elapses. Accordingly, when electric current does not flow in a inductor of a low pass filter, it is possible to stop the power amplification. Thus, it is possible to prevent generation of voltage fluctuation in the drive signal due to an electromotive force caused by a self-induction phenomenon of the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunio TABATA, Atsushi OSHIMA, Hiroyuki YOSHINO, Noritaka IDE
  • Publication number: 20140228870
    Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a drive waveform generator generating a drive waveform signal; a modulator performing pulse modulation on a signal from the drive waveform generator to provide a modulated signal; a digital power amplifier performing power amplification on the modulated signal to provide an amplified digital signal; a lowpass filter smoothing the amplified digital signal to provide a drive signal of an actuator; a compensator advancing the phase of the drive signal to provide a negative feedback signal; and a subtractor providing a differential signal between the drive waveform signal and the negative feedback signal as an input signal to the modulator. The liquid ejection device can be used as a liquid ejection surgical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi OSHIMA, Kunio TABATA, Shinichi MIYAZAKI, Hiroyuki YOSHINO, Noritaka IDE
  • Patent number: 8773098
    Abstract: Operation of a digital power amplifier for power amplification of a modulated signal is stopped in a period in which a voltage value of a drive signal applied to a capacitive load is constant, to thereby suppress power loss. The power amplification is stopped either when half a period of time when the modulated signal in a first voltage state maintains the first voltage state elapses or when half a period of time when the modulated signal in a second voltage state which is lower in voltage than the first voltage state maintains the second voltage state elapses. Accordingly, when electric current does not flow in a inductor of a low pass filter, it is possible to stop the power amplification. Thus, it is possible to prevent generation of voltage fluctuation in the drive signal due to an electromotive force caused by a self-induction phenomenon of the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kunio Tabata, Atsushi Oshima, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Noritaka Ide
  • Patent number: 8757749
    Abstract: A liquid ejection device, includes: a drive waveform signal output circuit which outputs a drive waveform signal to serve as a reference for the drive signal; a modulator which pulse-modulates the drive waveform signal and thus generates a first modulated signal and a second modulated signal having a different phase from the first modulated signal within a range from greater than 90 degrees to smaller than 270 degrees; a first digital power amplifier; a second digital power amplifier a first low pass filter which performs low pass filtering of the first amplified digital signal and thus generates a first demodulated signal; and a second low pass filter which performs low pass filtering of the second amplified digital signal and thus generates a second demodulated signal; wherein the first demodulated signal and the second demodulated signal are combined and applied as the drive signal to the capacitive load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Oshima, Kunio Tabata, Noritaka Ide, Hiroyuki Yoshino
  • Patent number: 8733873
    Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes: a drive waveform generator generating a drive waveform signal; a modulator performing pulse modulation on a signal from the drive waveform generator to provide a modulated signal; a digital power amplifier performing power amplification on the modulated signal to provide an amplified digital signal; a Lowpass Filter smoothing the amplified digital signal to provide a drive signal of an actuator; a compensator advancing the phase of the drive signal to provide a negative feedback signal; and a subtractor providing a differential signal between the drive waveform signal and the negative feedback signal as an input signal to the modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Oshima, Kunio Tabata, Shinichi Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Noritaka Ide
  • Publication number: 20140109650
    Abstract: A dissolved gas content measurement apparatus, which measures dissolved gas content in a liquid, includes: a flow path which includes a flow path resistance; a liquid containing chamber which communicates with the flow path; a pressure changing unit which changes inner pressure of the liquid containing chamber; a measurement unit which measures a pressure vibration cycle of the liquid, which is caused when the pressure changing unit operates, in a state where the liquid is contained in the flow path and the liquid containing chamber; and an obtaining unit which obtains the dissolved gas content based on the cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi OSHIMA, Atsuya HIRABAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20140111571
    Abstract: A liquid jet apparatus according to the present invention includes a drive waveform generator adapted to generate a drive waveform signal, a modulator adapted to execute pulse modulation on the drive waveform signal, a digital power amplifier adapted to power-amplify the modulated signal, on which the pulse modulation is executed by the modulator, with a pair of switching elements push-pull coupled with each other, a low pass filter adapted to smooth the amplified digital signal obtained by the power-amplification of the digital power amplifier, and a modulation period modification circuit adapted to modify a modulation period of the pulse modulation of the modulator based on data of the drive waveform signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noritaka IDE, Kunio TABATA, Atsushi OSHIMA, Shinichi MIYAZAKI, Hiroyuki AIZAWA, Seiichi TANIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20140102206
    Abstract: A pressure measurement device adapted to measure a pressure of a liquid includes a flow channel having a flow channel resistance, a liquid containing chamber having a predetermined capacity and communicating with the flow channel, a pressure changing section adapted to change a pressure of the liquid containing chamber, a measurement section adapted to measure a period from when a pressure wave of the liquid in the liquid containing chamber becomes a predetermined value to next time the pressure wave becomes the predetermined value, the pressure wave occurring when the pressure changing section is in operation in a state in which the liquid is contained in the flow channel and the liquid containing chamber, and an acquisition section adapted to obtain the pressure based on the period measured by the measurement section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi OSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20140098150
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes: a modulator adapted to pulse-modulate a drive waveform signal forming a basis of a drive signal of an actuator to obtain a modulated signal; a digital power amplifier circuit adapted to power-amplify the modulated signal to obtain a power-amplified modulated signal; a low pass filter adapted to smooth the power-amplified modulated signal to obtain the drive signal; and a power amplification stopping section operating when holding a voltage of the actuator constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kunio TABATA, Atsushi OSHIMA, Noritaka IDE, Shinichi MIYAZAKI, Hiroyuki YOSHINO
  • Patent number: 8690281
    Abstract: A modulated signal is generated by performing pulse modulation of a drive waveform signal that is a reference for a drive signal to be applied to a capacitive load, and the drive signal is generated by performing power amplification of the acquired modulated signal and then smoothing the power-amplified modulated signal. Then, negative feedback of the drive signal applied to the capacitive load is applied to the drive waveform signal that is the reference for the drive signal. At this time, a predetermined analog compensation process for smoothing gain characteristics in a frequency band included in the drive signal is performed for the drive signal, then the acquired signal is converted into a digital signal, and negative feedback of the digital signal is applied to the drive waveform signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Oshima, Kunio Tabata, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Noritaka Ide
  • Patent number: 8693225
    Abstract: An electric load driving circuit for driving an electric load having a capacity component includes a plurality of power sources generating different voltages, capacitors provided parallel to the plurality of power sources, a switch control unit that switches connections between the capacitors and the electric load and thereby switching a voltage applied to the electric load, discharge paths that enable discharging electric charge stored in the capacitor, and a discharge control unit that controls a quantity of electric charge discharged from the discharge paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yoshino, Nobuaki Azami, Shinichi Miyazaki, Kunio Tabata, Atsushi Oshima, Noritaka Ide
  • Patent number: 8692590
    Abstract: A drive waveform signal is pulse-modulated and a modulated signal is generated, the obtained modulated signal is power-amplified, and then, a drive signal is demodulated using a low pass filter. Thus obtained drive signal is negatively fed back, and thereby, the resonance peak of the low pass filter is suppressed. In this regard, by bringing gain in a wider frequency domain to take a fixed value or more, a drive signal having a voltage exceeding a power supply voltage may be stably generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Oshima
  • Publication number: 20140062257
    Abstract: A power generating device includes: a piezoelectric member that is formed from a piezoelectric material; one pair of electrodes that are installed to the piezoelectric member; a transformation unit that repeatedly transforms the piezoelectric member; an inductor that is installed between the one pair of electrodes and configures a resonance circuit together with a capacitive component of the piezoelectric member; a switch that is connected to the inductor in series; and a switch control unit that connects the switch when a transformation direction of the piezoelectric member is switched, and cuts off the switch when a time corresponding to a half period of a resonance period of the resonance circuit elapses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunio TABATA, Hiroyuki YOSHINO, Noritaka IDE, Atsushi OSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20140066834
    Abstract: A medical instrument includes a multilayer wiring board having first, second and third wirings, a fourth wiring formed in a first wiring layer, and a fifth wiring formed in a second wiring layer. A first via conductor electrically connects the third and fifth wirings. A second via conductor electrically connects the fourth and fifth wirings. The medical instrument further includes first and second transistors, a second transistor, and a capacitor mounted on the first wiring layer side of the multilayer wiring board. The drain and source electrodes of the first transistor are electrically connected to the first and second wirings, respectively. The drain electrode of the second transistor is electrically connected to the second wiring. The source electrode of the second transistor is electrically connected to the third wiring. The first and second electrodes of the capacitor are electrically connected to the first and fourth wirings, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi OSHIMA, Noritaka IDE
  • Publication number: 20140062389
    Abstract: A power generator includes a deforming unit that deforms a piezoelectric member, a pair of electrodes provided on the piezoelectric member, an inductor provided between the pair of electrodes and forming a resonator circuit with a capacity component of the piezoelectric member, a first switch connected in series with respect to the inductor, a unit that detects times when a deformation direction of the deforming unit is switched, a full-wave rectifier circuit that rectifies a current output from the pair of electrodes, an electrical storage device connected to the full-wave rectifier circuit and charging a current supplied from the full-wave rectifier circuit, a second switch connected between one of the pair of electrodes and the electrical storage device, and a control circuit that operates the first switch and the second switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noritaka IDE, Kunio TABATA, Atsushi OSHIMA, Hiroyuki YOSHINO, Atsuya HIRABAYASHI