Patents by Inventor Eiichi Hiraya

Eiichi Hiraya 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: 20240085856
    Abstract: An electronically controlled mechanical watch includes a time indication device including a time indication wheel train configured to indicate a time using a transmitted torque of a mechanical energy source, a circuit board on which a crystal oscillator, an electronic control circuit configured to adjust a rotation speed of the time indication wheel train based on an oscillation frequency of the crystal oscillator, and a plurality of logical regulation setting patterns are disposed, and a rotary switch including a conduction portion, the rotary switch being configured to rotate with respect to the circuit board to select one of the plurality of logical regulation setting patterns, conducting to the conduction portion, wherein the electronic control circuit includes an oscillation circuit, a frequency divider circuit, and a logical regulation circuit configured to control the frequency divider circuit based on a conduction state of the conduction portion and the logical regulation setting pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventor: Eiichi HIRAYA
  • Patent number: 11868091
    Abstract: A watch includes a power reserve hand configured to be visually recognizable from a watch rear side, an oscillating weight including a weight, a transmission wheel configured to rotate a ratchet wheel, a pawl lever configured to engage with the transmission wheel, an eccentric wheel including an eccentric shaft member to which the pawl lever is attached and an eccentric toothed gear, a train wheel bridge provided between the pawl lever and the oscillating weight, and a seconds wheel and pinion including a seconds hand shaft. The eccentric shaft member and the seconds hand shaft are supported by the train wheel bridge. The power reserve hand is disposed in a position that does not overlap the weight in plan view, and is disposed in a position that overlaps the train wheel bridge in side view orthogonal to the seconds hand shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Eiichi Hiraya
  • Patent number: 11625004
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a mainspring, a power reserve hand configured to indicate a remaining amount of windup of the mainspring, an indicator wheel provided with the power reserve hand attached thereto, and a solar wheel configured to rotate in a first direction when the mainspring is wound, rotate in a second direction reverse to the first direction when the mainspring is unwound, and provided with at least two pinions, one of the pinions configured to drive the indicator wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Eiichi Hiraya
  • Publication number: 20230024159
    Abstract: An electronically controlled mechanical timepiece includes: a rotor including a rotary shaft, a pinion that is provided on the rotary shaft and to which torque from a mainspring is transmitted, and a rotor magnet attached to the rotary shaft, the rotor being configured to rotate by the torque; a generator that includes a coil and a stator and that is configured to generate power by rotation of the rotor; a main plate that contains a magnetic material, that has an opposing surface opposed to the stator, and that is configured to support the rotary shaft of the rotor; wherein in a cross-sectional view viewed from a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the rotary shaft, a center of the stator along the axial direction is disposed farther toward the opposing surface side than a center of the rotor magnet along the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Eiichi HIRAYA, Eiichi NAGASAKA
  • Patent number: 11550261
    Abstract: A timepiece having multiple springs while reducing the plane size of the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Eiichi Hiraya
  • Publication number: 20210232099
    Abstract: A watch includes a power reserve hand configured to be visually recognizable from a watch rear side, an oscillating weight including a weight, a transmission wheel configured to rotate a ratchet wheel, a pawl lever configured to engage with the transmission wheel, an eccentric wheel including an eccentric shaft member to which the pawl lever is attached and an eccentric toothed gear, a train wheel bridge provided between the pawl lever and the oscillating weight, and a seconds wheel and pinion including a seconds hand shaft. The eccentric shaft member and the seconds hand shaft are supported by the train wheel bridge. The power reserve hand is disposed in a position that does not overlap the weight in plan view, and is disposed in a position that overlaps the train wheel bridge in side view orthogonal to the seconds hand shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventor: Eiichi HIRAYA
  • Publication number: 20210116866
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a mainspring, a power reserve hand configured to indicate a remaining amount of windup of the mainspring, an indicator wheel provided with the power reserve hand attached thereto, and a solar wheel configured to rotate in a first direction when the mainspring is wound, rotate in a second direction reverse to the first direction when the mainspring is unwound, and provided with at least two pinions, one of the pinions configured to drive the indicator wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventor: Eiichi HIRAYA
  • Publication number: 20200257246
    Abstract: A timepiece having multiple springs while reducing the plane size of the movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventor: Eiichi HIRAYA
  • Patent number: 10248082
    Abstract: A timepiece movement includes: a barrel wheel; a ratchet wheel; a rotary weight; a transmission wheel that causes the ratchet wheel to rotate; a pawl lever that engages with the transmission wheel, is interlocked with the rotary weight, and performs forward/backward movement in directions of approaching and moving away from the transmission wheel; a base panel; and a wheel train bearing provided between the base panel and the rotary weight. The pawl lever and the transmission wheel are positioned between the base panel and the wheel train bearing. The transmission wheel is pivotally supported by the wheel train bearing. The wheel train bearing is provided with a release portion for releasing the pawl lever and the transmission wheel from engagement therebetween by moving the pawl lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiichi Hiraya
  • Publication number: 20180164744
    Abstract: A timepiece movement includes: a barrel wheel; a ratchet wheel; a rotary weight; a transmission wheel that causes the ratchet wheel to rotate; a pawl lever that engages with the transmission wheel, is interlocked with the rotary weight, and performs forward/backward movement in directions of approaching and moving away from the transmission wheel; a base panel; and a wheel train bearing provided between the base panel and the rotary weight. The pawl lever and the transmission wheel are positioned between the base panel and the wheel train bearing. The transmission wheel is pivotally supported by the wheel train bearing. The wheel train bearing is provided with a release portion for releasing the pawl lever and the transmission wheel from engagement therebetween by moving the pawl lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventor: Eiichi HIRAYA
  • Patent number: 9791832
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a winding stem, a calendar correction transfer wheel that rotates in synchronization with the winding stem in a state in which the winding stem is pulled to a first-step position, a calendar corrector wheel that rotates in synchronization with the calendar correction transfer wheel, a setting wheel lever that supports the calendar correction transfer wheel and the calendar corrector wheel, and a date indicator that rotates in synchronization with the calendar corrector wheel. The setting wheel lever is provided with shaft receiving holes to which the calendar corrector wheel is attachable in a rotatable manner, and the calendar corrector wheel is attached to one of the shaft receiving holes in accordance with the type of the date indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiichi Hiraya
  • Publication number: 20160313698
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a winding stem, a calendar correction transfer wheel that rotates in synchronization with the winding stem in a state in which the winding stem is pulled to a first-step position, a calendar corrector wheel that rotates in synchronization with the calendar correction transfer wheel, a setting wheel lever that supports the calendar correction transfer wheel and the calendar corrector wheel, and a date indicator that rotates in synchronization with the calendar corrector wheel. The setting wheel lever is provided with shaft receiving holes to which the calendar corrector wheel is attachable in a rotatable manner, and the calendar corrector wheel is attached to one of the shaft receiving holes in accordance with the type of the date indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventor: Eiichi HIRAYA
  • Patent number: 7864634
    Abstract: A timepiece with calendar function including a dial having a tens digit display aperture for displaying the tens digit of the date and a ones digit display aperture for displaying the ones digit of the date, and a calendar mechanism that displays the date by presenting specific numerals through the dial. The calendar mechanism includes a ones display wheel having ones markers whereby the ones digit is displayed through the ones digit display aperture, a tens display wheel having tens markers whereby the tens digit is displayed through the tens digit display aperture, a ones drive mechanism that drives the ones display wheel, and a tens drive mechanism that drives the tens display wheel. The tens markers include normal tens markers that display only the tens digit in the tens digit display aperture, and a two-digit display marker that displays a tens digit in the tens digit display aperture and a ones digit in the ones digit display aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiichi Hiraya
  • Patent number: 7614782
    Abstract: A chronograph watch, which makes it possible to perform accurate zero-reset of a plurality of elapsed time display sections, and to reduce the number of components thus simplifying the structure, can be provided. Means for Solving the Problem The chronograph watch 1 according to the present invention includes an hour counting wheel 25, a second counting wheel 40, and a minute counting wheel 60 distant from each other in a planar direction, and is provided with a hammer 160 for substantially simultaneously and mechanically zero-resetting the hour counting wheel 25, the second counting wheel 40, and the minute counting wheel 60, the hammer 160 being composed of a hammer body 161 and a minute hammer 170.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Hiraya, Kazunari Agesawa
  • Publication number: 20090257318
    Abstract: A timepiece with calendar function including a dial having a tens digit display aperture for displaying the tens digit of the date and a ones digit display aperture for displaying the ones digit of the date, and a calendar mechanism that displays the date by presenting specific numerals through the dial. The calendar mechanism includes a ones display wheel having ones markers whereby the ones digit is displayed through the ones digit display aperture, a tens display wheel having tens markers whereby the tens digit is displayed through the tens digit display aperture, a ones drive mechanism that drives the ones display wheel, and a tens drive mechanism that drives the tens display wheel. The tens markers include normal tens markers that display only the tens digit in the tens digit display aperture, and a two-digit display marker that displays a tens digit in the tens digit display aperture and a ones digit in the ones digit display aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eiichi HIRAYA
  • Patent number: 7307922
    Abstract: A timepiece having basic timepiece pointers, chronograph information pointers, a mechanical energy storage section, a train wheel, a power generator, and a control section. The basic timepiece pointers are rotated to indicate the standard time. The chronograph information pointers are rotated to indicate chronograph information. The mechanical energy storage section includes a mainspring. The train wheel is disposed between the mechanical energy storage section and the pointers, and transmits energy from the mechanical energy storage section to the pointers. The power generator has a rotating rotor connected to the train wheel, and generates electric power upon receiving the energy from the mechanical energy storage section. The control section is energized by the electric power produced by the power generator, and controls the rotation cycle of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiichi Hiraya
  • Publication number: 20070206447
    Abstract: A chronograph watch, which makes it possible to perform accurate zero-reset of a plurality of elapsed time display sections, and to reduce the number of components thus simplifying the structure, can be provided. Means for Solving the Problem The chronograph watch 1 according to the present invention includes an hour counting wheel 25, a second counting wheel 40, and a minute counting wheel 60 distant from each other in a planar direction, and is provided with a hammer 160 for substantially simultaneously and mechanically zero-resetting the hour counting wheel 25, the second counting wheel 40, and the minute counting wheel 60, the hammer 160 being composed of a hammer body 161 and a minute hammer 170.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Hiraya, Kazunari Agesawa
  • Publication number: 20070195650
    Abstract: A timepiece enables knowing the cumulative drive time indicating how long the timepiece was actually operating. The timepiece 10 has a movement 20, hands disposed to the time display wheel train of the movement 20 for indicating the time, and a month display ring 41 and year display ring 51 that are connected to the movement 20 and count how long the drive source has been driving inside a case. The movement 20 includes a movement barrel 30 housing a spring as the power source, a time display wheel train linked to rotation of the movement barrel 30, and a cumulative drive time display mechanism that operates in conjunction with rotation of and transfers torque from the movement barrel 30. The case includes at least a crystal, a casing 11, and a back cover 12. Part of the back cover 12 is transparent to enable viewing the month display ring 41 and year display ring 51.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Kamiya, Eiichi Hiraya
  • Publication number: 20050041535
    Abstract: A timepiece having basic timepiece pointers, chronograph information pointers, a mechanical energy storage section, a train wheel, a power generator, and a control section. The basic timepiece pointers are rotated to indicate the standard time. The chronograph information pointers are rotated to indicate chronograph information. The mechanical energy storage section includes a mainspring. The train wheel is disposed between the mechanical energy storage section and the pointers, and transmits energy from the mechanical energy storage section to the pointers. The power generator has a rotating rotor connected to the train wheel, and generates electric power upon receiving the energy from the mechanical energy storage section. The control section is energized by the electric power produced by the power generator, and controls the rotation cycle of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiichi Hiraya
  • Patent number: 6567345
    Abstract: A timepiece has an ordinary time measuring section including an ordinary time display unit for measuring an ordinary time and time information (i.e., chronograph) measuring sections including chronograph displays for measuring time information other than the ordinary time (i.e., chronograph information). The timepiece is configured such that the ordinary time display unit and the chronograph display units, are disposed on a display surface of the timepiece without overlapping each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuneaki Furukawa, Nobuhiro Koike, Eiichi Hiraya, Akihiko Maruyama