Patents by Inventor Eiju Hirai

Eiju Hirai 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: 9962935
    Abstract: An empty chamber component includes a pressure chamber formation substrate where a pressure chamber as an empty chamber is defined and a communication substrate bonded to the pressure chamber formation substrate. A piezoelectric element is provided on one side of the pressure chamber formation substrate. A flexible surface is located between the piezoelectric element and the pressure chamber. Empty portions are defined by the communication substrate closing recessed portions in the pressure chamber formation substrate. The empty portions are formed at positions where ends of the active section of the piezoelectric element pass through the empty portions in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoki Takabe, Shiro Yazaki, Yuma Fukuzawa, Eiju Hirai
  • Patent number: 9950514
    Abstract: Provided are a vibrating plate, a first electrode provided over the vibrating plate, a piezoelectric layer provided over the first electrode, and a second electrode provided over the piezoelectric layer are provided. The piezoelectric layer is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The piezoelectric layer includes an active portion of which at least one end portion is defined by the first electrode, and a non-active portion provided on an outside of the end portion of the first electrode for defining the active portion. The vibrating plate includes a first vibration portion under the non-active portion and a second vibration portion on an outside of the first vibration portion. The second vibration portion includes a taper part having the thickness which is increased toward the first vibration portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Nakayama, Eiju Hirai, Naoto Yokoyama, Motoki Takabe, Yoichi Naganuma
  • Patent number: 9944077
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a first substrate; a second substrate that is disposed laminated on the first substrate; and a functional element that is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, in which the second substrate is smaller than the first substrate, and in planar view, an end portion of the second substrate is disposed inside an end portion of the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiju Hirai, Yoichi Naganuma, Toshiaki Hamaguchi, Motoki Takabe
  • Patent number: 9937717
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a substrate that includes a piezoelectric element formed by stacking a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode and a second electrode such that the piezoelectric layer is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a wiring substrate that includes a driving element providing a signal for driving the piezoelectric element to the substrate. The substrate has an inspection region where a piezoelectric element for inspection which is a portion of the piezoelectric element is disposed. The wiring substrate has an electrode inspection region including an electrode to be inspected that is electrically connected to the piezoelectric element for inspection and is disposed on a surface side opposite to the substrate, and a flexible substrate mounting region which is disposed on the surface side opposite to the substrate, and is connected to a flexible substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsutomo Tsukahara, Motoki Takabe, Eiju Hirai, Yoshihiro Hokari
  • Patent number: 9925770
    Abstract: A wiring substrate is provided with a surface wiring on at least one surface, a through hole which passes through the wiring substrate, and a through wiring which is formed in the through hole and is connected to a surface wiring, in which an inner surface of the through hole is a rough surface, and electric resistance of the through wiring is equal to or less than the electric resistance of the surface wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoki Takabe, Shuichi Tanaka, Yasuyuki Matsumoto, Koji Asada, Eiju Hirai
  • Patent number: 9919523
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes an actuator substrate that includes a plurality of piezoelectric element rows having a plurality of piezoelectric elements, and a wiring substrate that is disposed so as to face the actuator substrate. The piezoelectric element rows include a plurality of individual electrodes disposed for each of the piezoelectric elements, and a common electrodes common to the plurality of piezoelectric elements. The wiring substrate includes a core portion disposed on a surface on the actuator substrate side, an individual wiring portion that partially covers the core portion, a common wiring portion that partially covers the core portion, and an auxiliary wiring disposed in a groove portion disposed on a first principal surface on the side opposite to the actuator substrate or on a second principal surface on the actuator substrate side. The auxiliary wiring is electrically connected to the common wiring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiju Hirai, Motoki Takabe, Katsutomo Tsukahara, Yoichi Naganuma, Munehide Saimen
  • Patent number: 9919522
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a first substrate and a second substrate that is disposed laminated on the first substrate and has a piezoelectric element on the first substrate side, in which the first substrate and the second substrate are substantially the same size, and in planar view, an end of the first substrate and an end of the second substrate are disposed at substantially the same position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Naganuma, Eiju Hirai, Toshiaki Hamaguchi, Motoki Takabe
  • Patent number: 9914301
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes an actuator substrate that includes two rows of piezoelectric element rows piezoelectric elements, and a wiring substrate that is disposed so as to face the actuator substrate. The piezoelectric element rows include individual electrodes disposed for each of the piezoelectric elements, and a common electrode common to the piezoelectric elements. The wiring substrate includes a core portion disposed on a surface on the actuator substrate side, an individual wiring portion disposed for each of the piezoelectric element rows that partially covers the core portion, and a common wiring portion disposed for each of the piezoelectric element rows that partially covers the core portion. The two rows of piezoelectric element rows are respectively disposed so as to interpose the core portion. The individual wiring portion and the common wiring portion are respectively electrically connected to the individual electrode and the common electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiju Hirai, Motoki Takabe, Katsutomo Tsukahara, Yoichi Naganuma, Munehide Saimen
  • Patent number: 9914300
    Abstract: A head including a channel formation substrate is provided with a pressure generating chamber which communicates with a nozzle for ejecting a liquid; a piezo element includes a first electrode which is provided on one surface side of a channel formation substrate, a piezoelectric layer is provided on the first electrode, and a second electrode is provided on the piezoelectric layer; and a driving circuit board is bonded to the one surface side of the channel formation substrate via an adhesive layer, and is provided with a driving circuit for driving the piezo element, in which the piezo element and the driving circuit are electrically connected to each other via a bump which is provided on any one of the channel formation substrate and the driving circuit board, and in which the bump and the adhesive layer are provided above the piezoelectric layer of the piezo element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Hamaguchi, Eiju Hirai, Yoichi Naganuma, Motoki Takabe
  • Publication number: 20180065365
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes an actuator substrate that includes a plurality of piezoelectric element rows having a plurality of piezoelectric elements, and a wiring substrate that is disposed so as to face the actuator substrate. The piezoelectric element rows include a common electrodes common to the plurality of the piezoelectric elements. The actuator substrate includes a plurality of first common wirings connected to each of the common electrodes of the plurality of the piezoelectric element rows. The wiring substrate includes a plurality of second common wirings connected to each of the first common wirings of the plurality of piezoelectric element rows, and a plurality of auxiliary wirings buried in a groove portion formed in the wiring substrate. The auxiliary wirings are connected to each of the second common wirings, and the plurality of auxiliary wirings are not connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Eiju HIRAI, Motoki TAKABE, Katsutomo TSUKAHARA, Yoichi NAGANUMA, Munehide SAIMEN
  • Patent number: 9908331
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a plurality of movable regions, wiring lines extending along a first direction from the movable regions, and electrodes connected to the wiring lines. The electrodes include connection regions for connecting other electrode terminals to the connection regions. A plurality of the connection regions are disposed along a second direction intersecting the first direction. A distance between centers of connection regions that are adjacent in the second direction is longer than a distance between centers of movable regions that are adjacent in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiju Hirai, Motoki Takabe, Katsutomo Tsukahara, Yoichi Naganuma, Munehide Saimen
  • Publication number: 20180022095
    Abstract: An inkjet head includes: a pressure chamber-forming plate in which a plurality of pressure chambers each communicating with a nozzle are formed in a first direction; a vibration plate that defines one surface of each pressure chamber and allows for deformation of a defining region thereof; a piezoelectric element formed by stacking a first electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode layer in a region corresponding to the pressure chamber in an order from a surface of the vibration plate, which is opposite to the pressure chamber; a circuit board that is arranged at an interval from the vibration plate, with a plurality of bump electrodes interposed therebetween, and outputs a signal for driving the piezoelectric element; and an adhesive agent that bonds the pressure chamber-forming plate and the circuit board, wherein an element end on at least one side of the piezoelectric element is formed outside of the defining region and covered by the adhesive agent in a second direction orthogonal to
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Eiju Hirai, Toshiaki Hamaguchi, Yoichi Naganuma, Motoki Takabe
  • Publication number: 20170373242
    Abstract: In a MEMS device in which a first electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode layer are stacked in this order from a first surface side of a substrate, a first wiring layer is stacked on a second surface on a side opposite to a first surface of the substrate and the first electrode layer and the first wiring layer are connected to each other via a through wiring passing through the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Daisuke YAMADA, Eiju HIRAI, Akio KONISHI
  • Publication number: 20170368826
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a wire that is formed of a conductive portion embedded into a recess opened in a first face of a substrate and a bump electrode that is electrically connected to the wire. A total width, in a second direction intersecting a first direction along which the wire extends on the first face, of an opening of the recess in a connection region where the wire and the bump electrode are electrically connected to each other is narrower than a width, in the second direction, of an opening of the recess in a region outside the connection region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Motoki TAKABE, Eiju HIRAI, Munehide SAIMEN, Yasuyuki MATSUMOTO, Shuichi TANAKA, Tsuyoshi YODA
  • Publication number: 20170368828
    Abstract: There is provided an MEMS device in which a first substrate provided with a driving element and a second substrate protecting the driving element are bonded to each other with an adhesive, in which the driving element is formed inside the space surrounded by the adhesive between the first substrate and the second substrate, an open hole which communicates with the space and the outside of the adhesive is formed on the adhesive, and an end of the outside of the open hole is provided to be with an end of the first substrate and an end of the second substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Yoichi NAGANUMA, Shuichi TANAKA, Eiju HIRAI, Toshiaki HAMAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 9844939
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes an actuator substrate that includes a plurality of piezoelectric element rows having a plurality of piezoelectric elements, and a wiring substrate that is disposed so as to face the actuator substrate. The piezoelectric element rows include a common electrodes common to the plurality of the piezoelectric elements. The actuator substrate includes a plurality of first common wirings connected to each of the common electrodes of the plurality of the piezoelectric element rows. The wiring substrate includes a plurality of second common wirings connected to each of the first common wirings of the plurality of piezoelectric element rows, and a plurality of auxiliary wirings buried in a groove portion formed in the wiring substrate. The auxiliary wirings are connected to each of the second common wirings, and the plurality of auxiliary wirings are not connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiju Hirai, Motoki Takabe, Katsutomo Tsukahara, Yoichi Naganuma, Munehide Saimen
  • Publication number: 20170320325
    Abstract: An empty chamber component includes a pressure chamber formation substrate where a pressure chamber as an empty chamber is defined and a communication substrate bonded to the pressure chamber formation substrate. A piezoelectric element is provided on one side of the pressure chamber formation substrate. A flexible surface is located between the piezoelectric element and the pressure chamber. Empty portions are defined by the communication substrate closing recessed portions in the pressure chamber formation substrate. The empty portions are formed at positions where ends of the active section of the piezoelectric element pass through the empty portions in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Motoki TAKABE, Shiro YAZAKI, Yuma FUKUZAWA, Eiju HIRAI
  • Publication number: 20170313074
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a first substrate in which a first electrode layer, a dielectric layer, and a second electrode layer are stacked on a driving region in this order; and a second substrate which is disposed to face a surface on which the dielectric layer of the first substrate is stacked. The first electrode layer and the dielectric layer extend beyond the second electrode layer toward a non-driving region separated from the driving region, a first resin having elasticity is disposed in a region including an end of the second electrode layer in an extending direction of the dielectric layer, and the first substrate and the second substrate are fixed with an adhesive in a state where the elastically deformed first resin is sandwiched therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Munehide SAIMEN, Eiju HIRAI, Masao NAKAYAMA
  • Patent number: 9770907
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a drive region having a stacked structural body in which a first electrode layer, a first dielectric layer, and a second electrode layer are stacked in that order. The stacked structural body extends from the drive region to a non-drive region that is outer than the drive region and, in an extending direction of the stacked structural body, the first electrode layer and the first dielectric layer extend farther outward than the second electrode layer. A second dielectric layer covering an end of the second electrode layer in the extending direction is stacked on the second electrode layer in the non-drive region and the first dielectric layer that is formed outer in the extending direction than the second electrode layer. A third electrode layer electrically connected to the second electrode layer is stacked on the second dielectric layer and on the second electrode layer in a region outside the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsutomo Tsukahara, Motoki Takabe, Eiju Hirai, Masao Nakayama, Munehide Saimen
  • Publication number: 20170266971
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes an actuator substrate that includes two rows of piezoelectric element rows piezoelectric elements, and a wiring substrate that is disposed so as to face the actuator substrate. The piezoelectric element rows include individual electrodes disposed for each of the piezoelectric elements, and a common electrode common to the piezoelectric elements. The wiring substrate includes a core portion disposed on a surface on the actuator substrate side, an individual wiring portion disposed for each of the piezoelectric element rows that partially covers the core portion, and a common wiring portion disposed for each of the piezoelectric element rows that partially covers the core portion. The two rows of piezoelectric element rows are respectively disposed so as to interpose the core portion. The individual wiring portion and the common wiring portion are respectively electrically connected to the individual electrode and the common electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Eiju HIRAI, Motoki TAKABE, Katsutomo TSUKAHARA, Yoichi NAGANUMA, Munehide SAIMEN