Patents by Inventor Eiji Umetsu

Eiji Umetsu 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: 20220307927
    Abstract: A force sensor includes a pressure-receiving member; a sensor substrate including a displaceable portion to be displaced under a load received by the pressure-receiving member, and piezoelectric resistors configured to electrically detect an amount of displacement of the displaceable portion; a base substrate having a sensor-mounting surface, and including electrical wiring portions electrically connected to the piezoelectric resistors; and a package substrate having a substrate-mounting surface and a pad surface provided with pad electrodes. The pressure-receiving member, the sensor substrate, and the base substrate are stacked in a normal direction to the substrate-mounting surface. When seen in the normal direction, an entirety of the displaceable portion is located within the pressure-receiving member. The pad surface is provided with, when seen in the normal direction, a fixing terminal at least a part of which overlaps at least a part of a first area that coincides with the pressure-receiving member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Hisanobu Okawa, Eiji Umetsu, Manabu Usui, Ayako Otsuka, Yuki Imai
  • Patent number: 11015992
    Abstract: A load sensor unit according to an aspect of the present invention includes an operating part movable forward and backward in a first direction; a load sensor that has a pressure receiving part and outputs a signal according to a load received in the first direction by the pressure receiving part; a linking part that has one end part linked to the operating part and an other end part that causes the pressure receiving part to operate and is movable forward and backward in the first direction in synchronization with the operating part; and an elastic member that gives biasing force to the other end part of the linking part and gives an initial load to the pressure receiving part through the other end part. This can prevent a load sensor from being broken by an overload with a simple configuration and fully demonstrate detection accuracy of the load sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hisanobu Okawa, Eiji Umetsu
  • Patent number: 10908233
    Abstract: A Z detection unit includes magnetoresistive elements provided on inclined side surfaces of Z detection recesses. An X detection unit includes magnetoresistive elements provided on inclined side surfaces of X detection recesses. A Y detection unit includes magnetoresistive elements provided on inclined side surfaces of Y detection recesses. Directions of fixed magnetization of fixed magnetic layers included in the magnetoresistive elements are set to directions shown by arrows with solid lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eiji Umetsu
  • Publication number: 20200158583
    Abstract: A load sensor unit according to an aspect of the present invention includes an operating part movable forward and backward in a first direction; a load sensor that has a pressure receiving part and outputs a signal according to a load received in the first direction by the pressure receiving part; a linking part that has one end part linked to the operating part and an other end part that causes the pressure receiving part to operate and is movable forward and backward in the first direction in synchronization with the operating part; and an elastic member that gives biasing force to the other end part of the linking part and gives an initial load to the pressure receiving part through the other end part. This can prevent a load sensor from being broken by an overload with a simple configuration and fully demonstrate detection accuracy of the load sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Hisanobu Okawa, Eiji Umetsu
  • Patent number: 10466315
    Abstract: A magnetic field detection device includes a Z-direction detection unit with magnetoresistive elements provided on inclined side surfaces of Z-direction detection recesses; an X-direction detection unit includes magnetoresistive elements provided on inclined side surfaces of X-direction detection recesses and a Y-detection unit includes magnetoresistive elements provided on inclined side surfaces of Y-direction detection recesses, each of the detection units having a bridge circuit comprising two element lines connected in parallel, each element line comprising two of the magnetoresistive elements connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eiji Umetsu
  • Patent number: 10267660
    Abstract: A sensor device includes: a sensor portion having a movable thin film and a detection element configured to output a signal corresponding to displacement of the movable thin film; a frame portion disposed to surround an outside of the sensor portion; a circuit board including a circuit configured to process the signal output from the detection element; and a lid portion which is attached onto the frame portion and has a through-hole, in which a functional film having higher hydrophobicity than a surface of the lid portion is provided on at least an inner surface of the through-hole in the lid portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Umetsu
  • Patent number: 10254187
    Abstract: A waterproof pressure sensor includes a pressure detection element, a cavity package configured to be provided with a recess in which the pressure detection element is mounted and an edge provided around the recess, a frame configured to be attached to the edge of the cavity package and has a surface more smoothed than the edge and an opening, a contact prevention member configured to be attached to the frame, and a pressure introducing hole having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the opening at a position overlapping the opening, and a gel agent configured to be provided in the recess and the opening, in which the gel agent is provided to be separated from an edge of the pressure introducing hole on the frame side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hisanobu Okawa, Eiji Umetsu, Hideki Kamimura
  • Publication number: 20180275219
    Abstract: A Z detection unit includes magnetoresistive elements provided on inclined side surfaces of Z detection recesses. An X detection unit includes magnetoresistive elements provided on inclined side surfaces of X detection recesses. A Y detection unit includes magnetoresistive elements provided on inclined side surfaces of Y detection recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventor: Eiji Umetsu
  • Publication number: 20180275218
    Abstract: A Z detection unit includes magnetoresistive elements provided on inclined side surfaces of Z detection recesses. An X detection unit includes magnetoresistive elements provided on inclined side surfaces of X detection recesses. A Y detection unit includes magnetoresistive elements provided on inclined side surfaces of Y detection recesses. Directions of fixed magnetization of fixed magnetic layers included in the magnetoresistive elements are set to directions shown by arrows with solid lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventor: Eiji Umetsu
  • Patent number: 9963339
    Abstract: A sensor device includes: a sensor portion having a movable thin film and a detection element configured to output a signal corresponding to displacement of the movable thin film; a frame portion disposed to surround an outside of the sensor portion; a spring portion provided between the frame portion and the sensor portion; and a circuit board including a circuit configured to process the signal output from the detection element, in which the frame portion is laminated on the circuit board, and the sensor portion is cantilevered from the frame portion by the spring portion such that a gap is formed between the sensor portion and the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Umetsu, Hisanobu Okawa
  • Patent number: 9846511
    Abstract: An input device includes a position detection sensor capable of detecting an input operation position of an operation body on an operation surface, a load detection sensor capable of detecting a load in the input operation position, and a control unit capable of executing offset calibration to correct an offset of an output of the load detection sensor based on input operation information resulting from an output of the position detection sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masafumi Kaneko, Masahiko Ishizone, Takashi Sato, Eiji Umetsu
  • Publication number: 20170292863
    Abstract: A sensor device includes: a sensor portion having a movable thin film and a detection element configured to output a signal corresponding to displacement of the movable thin film; a frame portion disposed to surround an outside of the sensor portion; a circuit board including a circuit configured to process the signal output from the detection element; and a lid portion which is attached onto the frame portion and has a through-hole, in which a functional film having higher hydrophobicity than a surface of the lid portion is provided on at least an inner surface of the through-hole in the lid portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventor: Eiji UMETSU
  • Publication number: 20170291812
    Abstract: A sensor device includes: a sensor portion having a movable thin film and a detection element configured to output a signal corresponding to displacement of the movable thin film; a frame portion disposed to surround an outside of the sensor portion; a spring portion provided between the frame portion and the sensor portion; and a circuit board including a circuit configured to process the signal output from the detection element, in which the frame portion is laminated on the circuit board, and the sensor portion is cantilevered from the frame portion by the spring portion such that a gap is formed between the sensor portion and the circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Eiji UMETSU, Hisanobu OKAWA
  • Publication number: 20170284885
    Abstract: A waterproof pressure sensor includes a pressure detection element, a cavity package configured to be provided with a recess in which the pressure detection element is mounted and an edge provided around the recess, a frame configured to be attached to the edge of the cavity package and has a surface more smoothed than the edge and an opening, a contact prevention member configured to be attached to the frame, and a pressure introducing hole having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the opening at a position overlapping the opening, and a gel agent configured to be provided in the recess and the opening, in which the gel agent is provided to be separated from an edge of the pressure introducing hole on the frame side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Hisanobu OKAWA, Eiji UMETSU, Hideki KAMIMURA
  • Publication number: 20170284886
    Abstract: A waterproof pressure sensor includes a pressure detection element, a cavity package configured to be provided with a recess in which the pressure detection element is mounted and an edge provided around the recess, a cover member attached to the edge of the cavity package and to be provided with a pressure introducing hole having a diameter smaller than a diameter of an opening of the recess in a plan view at a position overlapping the recess, and a gel agent configured to be provided in the recess, in which an exhaust portion is provided at the cover member at least on the recess side, the exhaust portion being capable of discharging air in the recess to the outside when the gel agent is injected from the pressure introducing hole into the recess, and the exhaust portion is filled with the gel agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Hisanobu OKAWA, Eiji UMETSU, Hideki KAMIMURA
  • Patent number: 9664576
    Abstract: A load detector and an electronic unit using load detectors include a load sensor having a projective pressure receiving part, a case in which the load sensor is placed with the pressure receiving part facing toward the upper surface of the case, and an elastic body placed on the same side as the upper surface of the load sensor, the elastic body configured to receive a load and press the load sensor in its height direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Eiji Umetsu
  • Patent number: 9644994
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor for detecting the position of a magnet in an X direction includes two magnetic sensor elements which are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a Y direction and are disposed to face the magnet in a Z direction, in which a soft magnetic body is provided to be located between the magnet and the two magnetic sensor elements and to be located between the two magnetic sensor elements, the two magnetic sensor elements are provided in a range in which magnetic flux which is generated from the magnet saturates magnetization of free magnetic layers of the two magnetic sensor elements, magnetization directions of fixed magnetic layers of the two magnetic sensor elements are the same as each other, and a bridge circuit is configured with the two magnetic sensor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi Noguchi, Tokuo Nakamura, Kazushige Sejimo, Eiji Umetsu, Hideto Ando, Hiroaki Endo
  • Patent number: 9239645
    Abstract: An input device includes a capacitance type touch panel sensor configured to detect positional coordinates of multiple pressing points that are simultaneously pressed on an operation face, load detection sensors configured to detect barycentric coordinates of and a barycentric load on the pressing points, and a controller configured to calculate loads on the pressing points on the basis of the positional coordinates of, the barycentric coordinates of, and the barycentric load on the pressing points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Ishizone, Masafumi Kaneko, Yukihiro Gorai, Takashi Sato, Eiji Umetsu
  • Publication number: 20150241287
    Abstract: A load detector and an electronic unit using load detectors include a load sensor having a projective pressure receiving part, a case in which the load sensor is placed with the pressure receiving part facing toward the upper surface of the case, and an elastic body placed on the same side as the upper surface of the load sensor, the elastic body configured to receive a load and press the load sensor in its height direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Eiji Umetsu
  • Publication number: 20150192432
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor for detecting the position of a magnet in an X direction includes two magnetic sensor elements which are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a Y direction and are disposed to face the magnet in a Z direction, in which a soft magnetic body is provided to be located between the magnet and the two magnetic sensor elements and to be located between the two magnetic sensor elements, the two magnetic sensor elements are provided in a range in which magnetic flux which is generated from the magnet saturates magnetization of free magnetic layers of the two magnetic sensor elements, magnetization directions of fixed magnetic layers of the two magnetic sensor elements are the same as each other, and a bridge circuit is configured with the two magnetic sensor elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Takafumi Noguchi, Tokuo Nakamura, Kazushige Sejimo, Eiji Umetsu, Hideto Ando, Hiroaki Endo