Patents by Inventor Eitaro Otsuka

Eitaro Otsuka 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: 8026771
    Abstract: A driver device that forms an oscillation loop with a vibrator and causes the vibrator to produce driving vibrations includes a current-voltage converter that converts a current that flows through the vibrator into a voltage, an output circuit that causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations based on a signal that is converted into a voltage with respect to a given voltage, and a high-pass filter that is provided in the oscillation loop between the current-voltage converter and the output circuit. The driver device causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations while changing a reference potential of the high-pass filter, and then causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations while fixing the reference potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kanai, Naoki Yoshida, Eitaro Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20110121907
    Abstract: A driver device that forms an oscillation loop with a vibrator and causes the vibrator to produce driving vibrations includes a current-voltage converter that converts a current that flows through the vibrator into a voltage, an output circuit that causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations based on a signal that is converted into a voltage with respect to a given voltage, and a high-pass filter that is provided in the oscillation loop between the current-voltage converter and the output circuit. The driver device causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations while changing a reference potential of the high-pass filter, and then causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations while fixing the reference potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Kanai, Naoki Yoshida, Eitaro Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7895894
    Abstract: A driver device includes a gain control amplifier that causes a vibrator to produce driving vibrations by controlling an oscillation amplitude in an oscillation loop, a signal generation circuit that generates a signal having a given frequency, and a modulation circuit that modulates the frequency of the signal generated by the signal generation circuit to a resonance frequency of the vibrator. The driver device causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations using the signal modulated by the modulation circuit, and then causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations by controlling the oscillation amplitude in the oscillation loop formed by the vibrator and the gain control amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kanai, Naoki Yoshida, Eitaro Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7868623
    Abstract: A detection circuit includes a detection terminal to which an alternating current signal from a physical quantity transducer is input, a detection current/voltage conversion amplifier circuit that converts the alternating current signal input through the detection terminal into a voltage signal, an evaluation terminal that supplies an evaluation voltage signal to the detection current/voltage conversion amplifier circuit, an input resistor that has a given resistance ratio with respect to a feedback resistor; and a switch circuit of the detection circuit provided in a signal path that connects the evaluation terminal and an input node of the detection current/voltage conversion amplifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Yoshida, Masahiro Kanai, Eitaro Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7859351
    Abstract: An oscillation driver circuit includes a current-voltage converter which converts a current value of an oscillation signal in an oscillation loop into a voltage value, and a comparator which outputs a signal corresponding to the result of comparison between the output signal from the current-voltage converter and a given reference signal. The comparator has an output current limiting function. The oscillation driver circuit causes the vibrator to produce driving vibrations based on the output from the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kanai, Eitaro Otsuka, Naoki Yoshida, Akihiro Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 7849746
    Abstract: A driver device that forms an oscillation loop with a vibrator and causes the vibrator to produce driving vibrations includes a current-voltage converter that is provided in the oscillation loop and converts a current that flows through the vibrator into a voltage, and a GCA as a comparator that is provided in the oscillation loop and outputs a signal corresponding to a comparison result between an output from the current-voltage converter and a given voltage. The GCA outputs a first high-level voltage or a low-level voltage during oscillation startup, and outputs a second high-level voltage or the low-level voltage in a steady oscillation state. The first high-level voltage is a voltage higher in potential than the second high-level voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kanai, Naoki Yoshida, Eitaro Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7849744
    Abstract: An oscillation driver circuit includes a gain control amplifier which causes a vibrator to produce driving vibrations by controlling an oscillation amplitude in an oscillation loop, and a comparator which generates a synchronous detection reference signal based on a signal in the oscillation loop. The oscillation driver circuit sets a gain in a first oscillation loop including the vibrator and the comparator to be larger than unity using an output from the comparator, and then causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations by controlling an oscillation amplitude in a second oscillation loop including the vibrator and the gain control amplifier in at least one of an oscillation startup state and a sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kanai, Eitaro Otsuka, Naoki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7812681
    Abstract: An oscillation driver circuit includes a gain control amplifier which causes a vibrator to produce driving vibrations by controlling an oscillation amplitude in an oscillation loop, and a comparator which generates a synchronous detection reference signal based on a signal in the oscillation loop. The comparator has an output current limiting function. The oscillation driver circuit causes the vibrator to produce vibrations using an output from the comparator in a state in which the gain in an oscillation loop formed by the vibrator and the comparator is set to be larger than unity, and then causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations by controlling an oscillation amplitude in an oscillation loop formed by the vibrator and the gain control amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko) Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kanai, Eitaro Otsuka, Naoki Yoshida, Akihiro Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 7808334
    Abstract: An oscillation driver circuit that drives a physical quantity transducer includes a one-input/two-output comparator. The one-input/two-output comparator includes a shared differential section that compares a voltage signal input from a drive current/voltage conversion amplifier circuit with a given voltage, a first output section that receives a signal output from the differential section, variably adjusts a voltage amplitude of the received signal, and outputs the resulting signal, and a second output section that receives the signal output from the differential section, and outputs a synchronous detection reference signal of which the voltage amplitude is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Yoshida, Masahiro Kanai, Eitaro Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7791979
    Abstract: When the input write data is a value of a value greater than the existing data of the memory array 100, the semiconductor memory device enables writing of input write data to the memory array 100. In specific terms, the increment controller 150 reads the existing data from the memory array 100, and compares it with the write data latched to the 8-bit latch register 170. When the value of the write data is a value greater than the existing data, the increment controller 150 outputs the write enable signal WEN1 to the write/read controller 140, and executes writing of the write data latched to the 8-bit latch register 170 to the memory array 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Asauchi, Eitaro Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7692506
    Abstract: An oscillation driver device includes a gain control amplifier, an automatic gain control circuit, and a mode setting circuit. When the mode setting circuit has switched a mode from a normal operation mode to a low power consumption mode, the automatic gain control circuit is disabled, and the gain in an oscillation loop that drives the vibrator changes from a state in which the gain in the oscillation loop is controlled to be unity by the automatic gain control circuit to a state in which the gain in the oscillation loop is set to be larger than unity. When the mode setting circuit has switched the mode from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode, the automatic gain control circuit resumes operation, and the gain in the oscillation loop changes from the state in which the gain in the oscillation loop is set to be larger than unity to the state in which the gain in the oscillation loop is controlled to be unity by the automatic gain control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kanai, Eitaro Otsuka, Naoki Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20090225609
    Abstract: When the input write data is a value of a value greater than the existing data of the memory array 100, the semiconductor memory device enables writing of input write data to the memory array 100. In specific terms, the increment controller 150 reads the existing data from the memory array 100, and compares it with the write data latched to the 8-bit latch register 170. When the value of the write data is a value greater than the existing data, the increment controller 150 outputs the write enable signal WEN1 to the write/read controller 140, and executes writing of the write data latched to the 8-bit latch register 170 to the memory array 100.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Asauchi, Eitaro Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20090133496
    Abstract: An oscillation driver circuit includes a current-voltage converter which converts a current value of an oscillation signal in an oscillation loop into a voltage value, and a comparator which outputs a signal corresponding to the result of comparison between the output signal from the current-voltage converter and a given reference signal. The comparator has an output current limiting function. The oscillation driver circuit causes the vibrator to produce driving vibrations based on the output from the comparator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Kanai, Eitaro Otsuka, Naoki Yoshida, Akihiro Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 7522470
    Abstract: When the input write data is a value of a value greater than the existing data of the memory array 100, the semiconductor memory device enables writing of input write data to the memory array 100. In specific terms, the increment controller 150 reads the existing data from the memory array 100, and compares it with the write data latched to the 8-bit latch register 170. When the value of the write data is a value greater than the existing data, the increment controller 150 outputs the write enable signal WEN1 to the write/read controller 140, and executes writing of the write data latched to the 8-bit latch register 170 to the memory array 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Asauchi, Eitaro Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20090084180
    Abstract: An oscillation driver circuit that drives a physical quantity transducer includes a one-input/two-output comparator. The one-input/two-output comparator includes a shared differential section that compares a voltage signal input from a drive current/voltage conversion amplifier circuit with a given voltage, a first output section that receives a signal output from the differential section, variably adjusts a voltage amplitude of the received signal, and outputs the resulting signal, and a second output section that receives the signal output from the differential section, and outputs a synchronous detection reference signal of which the voltage amplitude is fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki YOSHIDA, Masahiro KANAI, Eitaro OTSUKA
  • Publication number: 20090078045
    Abstract: A driver device that forms an oscillation loop with a vibrator and causes the vibrator to produce driving vibrations includes a current-voltage converter that is provided in the oscillation loop and converts a current that flows through the vibrator into a voltage, and a GCA as a comparator that is provided in the oscillation loop and outputs a signal corresponding to a comparison result between an output from the current-voltage converter and a given voltage. The GCA outputs a first high-level voltage or a low-level voltage during oscillation startup, and outputs a second high-level voltage or the low-level voltage in a steady oscillation state. The first high-level voltage is a voltage higher in potential than the second high-level voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Kanai, Naoki Yoshida, Eitaro Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7499372
    Abstract: When writing 16-bit write data to the memory array 100 which can store data of 8 bits per 1 row, the semiconductor memory device 10 first writes the upper 8 bits to the 1st write restricted row of the memory array 100. The increment controller 150 determines whether or not the value of the existing data written to the memory array 100 and the write data used for writing latched to the 8-bit latch register 170 match. When the existing data and the write data match, the increment controller 150 outputs the write enable signal WEN1 to the write/read controller 140 and executes the writing of the lower 8 bits of write data to the memory array 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Asauchi, Eitaro Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20090033432
    Abstract: An oscillation driver device includes a gain control amplifier, an automatic gain control circuit, and a mode setting circuit. When the mode setting circuit has switched a mode from a normal operation mode to a low power consumption mode, the automatic gain control circuit is disabled, and the gain in an oscillation loop that drives the vibrator changes from a state in which the gain in the oscillation loop is controlled to be unity by the automatic gain control circuit to a state in which the gain in the oscillation loop is set to be larger than unity. When the mode setting circuit has switched the mode from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode, the automatic gain control circuit resumes operation, and the gain in the oscillation loop changes from the state in which the gain in the oscillation loop is set to be larger than unity to the state in which the gain in the oscillation loop is controlled to be unity by the automatic gain control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro KANAI, Eitaro Otsuka, Naoki Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20090013785
    Abstract: A detection circuit includes a detection terminal to which an alternating current signal from a physical quantity transducer is input, a detection current/voltage conversion amplifier circuit that converts the alternating current signal input through the detection terminal into a voltage signal, an evaluation terminal that supplies an evaluation voltage signal to the detection current/voltage conversion amplifier circuit, an input resistor that has a given resistance ratio with respect to a feedback resistor; and a switch circuit of the detection circuit provided in a signal path that connects the evaluation terminal and an input node of the detection current/voltage conversion amplifier circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Yoshida, Masahiro Kanai, Eitaro Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20080212379
    Abstract: When writing 16-bit write data to the memory array 100 which can store data of 8 bits per 1 row, the semiconductor memory device 10 first writes the upper 8 bits to the 1st write restricted row of the memory array 100. The increment controller 150 determines whether or not the value of the existing data written to the memory array 100 and the write data used for writing latched to the 8-bit latch register 170 match. When the existing data and the write data match, the increment controller 150 outputs the write enable signal WEN1 to the write/read controller 140 and executes the writing of the lower 8 bits of write data to the memory array 100.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Noboru Asauchi, Eitaro Otsuka