Patents by Inventor Hirofumi Kawashima

Hirofumi Kawashima 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: 11563406
    Abstract: A quartz crystal unit comprising a quartz crystal resonator having a base portion, and first and second tuning fork arms connected to the base portion, the base portion having a length less than 0.5 mm and greater than a spaced-apart distance between the first and second tuning fork arms, each of the first and second tuning fork arms having a width less than 0.1 mm and a length less than 1.56 mm, and a plurality of different widths including a first width and a second width greater than the first width, at least one groove being formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second tuning fork arms so that a length of the at least one groove is within a range of 0.3 mm to 0.79 mm, the quartz crystal resonator being housed in a case, and a lid being connected to the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 11005420
    Abstract: In a quartz crystal unit, the unit comprising a case, and a resonator having a base portion, and first and second vibrational arms, the base portion having a first base portion including a first width, and a second base portion including a second width greater than the first width, each of the first and second vibrational arms having a first vibrational portion including a first width and a first length, and a second vibrational portion including a second width greater the first width and a second length less than the first length, the second base portion being mounted on a mounting portion of the case, at least one groove being formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of the first vibrational portion of each vibrational arm, and a spaced-apart distance between the second vibrational portions of the first and second vibrational arms being less than a length of the second base portion of the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 10594259
    Abstract: A resonator comprising a base portion, first and second vibrational arms, and a frame having first, second, third and fourth frame portions, the first and second frame portions extending in a common direction with the vibrational arms, third frame portion being connected to the base portion, the first frame portion being connected to the second frame portion through the third and fourth frame portions, each of the vibrational arms having a first vibrational portion including a first width and a first length, and a second vibrational portion including a second width greater the first width and a second length less than the first length, a groove being formed in at least one of main surfaces of each vibrational arm, and a spaced-apart distance between the second vibrational portions being less than a spaced-apart distance between the first frame portion and the first vibrational portion of the first vibrational arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20190222174
    Abstract: In a quartz crystal unit, the unit comprising a quartz crystal resonator having a base portion, and first and second tuning fork arms connected to the base portion, the base portion having a length less than 0.5 mm and greater than a spaced-apart distance between the first and second tuning fork arms, each of the first and second tuning fork arms having a width less than 0.1 mm and a length less than 1.56 mm, and a plurality of different widths including a first width and a second width greater than the first width, at least one groove being formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second tuning fork arms so that a length of the at least one groove is within a range of 0.3 mm to 0.79 mm, the quartz crystal resonator being housed in a case, and a lid being connected to the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventor: Hirofumi KAWASHIMA
  • Patent number: 10284143
    Abstract: In a quartz crystal unit, the unit comprising a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having a quartz crystal tuning fork base, and first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines, each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines having a first vibrational portion including a first width and a second vibrational portion including a second width greater than the first width, at least one groove being formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of the first vibrational portion of each quartz crystal tuning fork tine, the first width of the first vibrational portion of each quartz crystal tuning fork tine being greater than 0.03 mm and less than 0.075 mm and the second width of the second vibrational portion of each quartz crystal tuning fork tine being greater than 0.04 mm and less than 0.23 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20190068119
    Abstract: A resonator comprising a base portion, first and second vibrational arms, and a frame having first, second, third and fourth frame portions, the first and second frame portions extending in a common direction with the vibrational arms, third frame portion being connected to the base portion, the first frame portion being connected to the second frame portion through the third and fourth frame portions, each of the vibrational arms having a first vibrational portion including a first width and a first length, and a second vibrational portion including a second width greater the first width and a second length less than the first length, a groove being formed in at least one of main surfaces of each vibrational arm, and a spaced-apart distance between the second vibrational portions being less than a spaced-apart distance between the first frame portion and the first vibrational portion of the first vibrational arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventor: Hirofumi KAWASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20190068163
    Abstract: In a quartz crystal unit, the unit comprising a case, and a resonator having a base portion, and first and second vibrational arms, the base portion having a first base portion including a first width, and a second base portion including a second width greater than the first width, each of the first and second vibrational arms having a first vibrational portion including a first width and a first length, and a second vibrational portion including a second width greater the first width and a second length less than the first length, the second base portion being mounted on a mounting portion of the case, at least one groove being formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of the first vibrational portion of each vibrational arm, and a spaced-apart distance between the second vibrational portions of the first and second vibrational arms being less than a length of the second base portion of the base portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 10199556
    Abstract: A quartz crystal resonator unit has an overall length less than 2.1 mm and a base portion having a length less than 0.5 mm and a width less than 0.55 mm, vibrational arms, and mounting arms connected to the base portion through connecting portions. Each vibrational arm has a first vibrational portion including a first width and a first length within a range of 0.32 mm to 0.72 mm and a second vibrational portion including a second width greater than the first width and a second length less than the first length. A groove is formed in at least one main surface of the first vibrational portions of the vibrational arms, a width of the groove being less than 0.07 mm and a distance in the width direction of the groove being less than 0.015 mm. A width of the mounting arms is less than 0.45 mm and a width of the connecting portion is less than 0.41 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20170093336
    Abstract: In a quartz crystal unit, the unit comprising a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having a quartz crystal tuning fork base, and first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines, each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines having a first vibrational portion including a first width and a second vibrational portion including a second width greater than the first width, at least one groove being formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of the first vibrational portion of each quartz crystal tuning fork tine, the first width of the first vibrational portion of each quartz crystal tuning fork tine being greater than 0.03 mm and less than 0.075 mm and the second width of the second vibrational portion of each quartz crystal tuning fork tine being greater than 0.04 mm and less than 0.23 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventor: Hirofumi KAWASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20170033767
    Abstract: A unit comprising a quartz crystal resonator having an overall length less than 2.1 mm and a base portion including a length less than 0.5 mm and a width less than 0.55 mm, and vibrational arms, mounting arms being connected to the base portion through connecting portions, each vibrational arm having a first vibrational portion including a first width and a first length within a range of 0.32 mm to 0.72 mm and a second vibrational portion including a second width greater than the first width and a second length less than the first length, a groove being formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of the first vibrational portions of the vibrational arms, a width of the groove being less than 0.07 mm and a distance in the width direction of the groove measured from an outer edge of the groove to an outer edge of the corresponding arm being less than 0.015 mm, a width of the mounting arms being less than 0.45 mm and a width of the connecting portions being less than 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventor: Hirofumi KAWASHIMA
  • Patent number: 9553560
    Abstract: In a quartz crystal unit, the unit comprising a case, a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator and a lid, the resonator having a tuning fork base, and first and second tuning fork tines, each of the first and second tuning fork tines having a first side surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface, the first side surface of the first tuning fork tine confronting the second side surface of the second tuning fork tine; at least one groove having a plurality of surfaces including a first surface being formed in at least one of first and second main surfaces of each of the first and second tuning fork tines so that only the first surface of the at least one groove is directly opposite the first side surface of the corresponding tuning fork tine and a width of the at least one groove is greater than or equal to a distance in the width direction of the at least one groove measured from an outer edge of the at least one groove to an outer edge of the corresponding one of the first and second tunin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 9431957
    Abstract: In a quartz crystal unit, the unit comprising a quartz crystal resonator having an overall length less than 2.1 mm, and a base portion, and first and second vibrational arms, at least one groove being formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second vibrational arms so that a width of the at least one groove is greater than or equal to a distance in the width direction of the at least one groove measured from an outer edge of the at least one groove to an outer edge of the corresponding one of the first and second vibrational arms and less than 0.07 mm, at least one metal film for adjusting an oscillation frequency of the quartz crystal resonator being disposed on at least one of the opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second vibrational arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 9209381
    Abstract: A quartz crystal unit comprises a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having a quartz crystal tuning fork base, and first and second quartz crystal tuning fork arms. Each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork arms has a first main surface and a second main surface opposite the first main surface, and at least one groove formed in at least one of the first and second main surfaces of each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork arms. At least one mounting arm having a width less than 0.45 mm protrudes from the quartz crystal tuning fork base, and the overall length of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is less than 2.1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 9203135
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a quartz crystal resonator, the method comprising the steps of: forming a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having a quartz crystal tuning fork base, and first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines; forming at least one groove in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines so that a width of the at least one groove is greater than a distance in the width direction of the at least one groove measured from an outer edge of the at least one groove to an outer edge of the corresponding one of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines; and forming a metal film on at least one of the opposite main surfaces of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines so that an oscillation frequency of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is lower than 32.768 kHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 9077308
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a quartz crystal unit, a metal film is formed on a quartz crystal wafer which is then etched to form a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having first and second tines vibratable in flexural and fundamental modes. A groove is chemically etched in a first main surface of both tines such that a first surface of the groove is opposite a first side surface of the corresponding tine. The width of the groove is greater than a distance in the width direction from the groove first surface to the first side surface of the corresponding tine. An electrode is formed on each groove first surface and on the first side surface of both tines with the electrode on the groove first surface of the first tine having the same electrical polarity as the electrode on the first side surface of the second tine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20150022062
    Abstract: In a quartz crystal unit, the unit comprising a case, a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator and a lid, the resonator having a tuning fork base, and first and second tuning fork tines, each of the first and second tuning fork tines having a first side surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface, the first side surface of the first tuning fork tine confronting the second side surface of the second tuning fork tine; at least one groove having a plurality of surfaces including a first surface being formed in at least one of first and second main surfaces of each of the first and second tuning fork tines so that only the first surface of the at least one groove is directly opposite the first side surface of the corresponding tuning fork tine and a width of the at least one groove is greater than or equal to a distance in the width direction of the at least one groove measured from an outer edge of the at least one groove to an outer edge of the corresponding one of the first and second tunin
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Hirofumi KAWASHIMA
  • Patent number: 8866567
    Abstract: A quartz crystal unit has a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having a thickness within a range of 0.05 mm to 0.18 mm, and at least one groove formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of first and second tuning fork tines so that a length of the at least one groove is within a range of 20% to 78% of an overall length of the resonator and less than 1.29 mm. An electrode is disposed on at least one of a base portion and a surface of the at least one groove so that the electrode of the first tuning fork tine has an electrical polarity opposite to an electrical polarity of the electrode of the second tuning fork tine. The capacitance ratio r2 of a second overtone mode of vibration of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is greater than 1500. The quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is housed in a case having an open end, and a lid is connected to the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Piedek Technical Laboratory
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20140251010
    Abstract: In a quartz crystal unit, the unit comprising a quartz crystal resonator having an overall length less than 2.1 mm, and a base portion, and first and second vibrational arms, at least one groove being formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second vibrational arms so that a width of the at least one groove is greater than or equal to a distance in the width direction of the at least one groove measured from an outer edge of the at least one groove to an outer edge of the corresponding one of the first and second vibrational arms and less than 0.07 mm, at least one metal film for adjusting an oscillation frequency of the quartz crystal resonator being disposed on at least one of the opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second vibrational arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: Hirofumi KAWASHIMA
  • Patent number: RE45582
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a quartz crystal unit, a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is formed by etching a quartz crystal wafer to form a quartz crystal tuning fork base, quartz crystal tuning fork tines connected to the quartz crystal tuning fork base, and a groove having stepped portions in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the quartz crystal tuning fork tines. A, and by disposing a first electrode is disposed on at least one of the stepped portions of each of the grooves and a second electrode is disposed on each of side surfaces at least one side surface of each of the quartz crystal tuning fork tines. A frequency of oscillation of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is adjusted at least twice and in different steps. The quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is then mounted in a case and an open end of the case is covered with a lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: RE45829
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a quartz crystal unit, a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is formed by etching a quartz crystal wafer to form a quartz crystal tuning fork base, quartz crystal tuning fork tines connected to the quartz crystal tuning fork base, and a groove having stepped portions in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the quartz crystal tuning fork tines. A first electrode is disposed on at least one of the stepped portions of each of the grooves and a second electrode is disposed on each of side surfaces of each of the quartz crystal tuning fork tines. A frequency of oscillation of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is adjusted at least twice and in different steps. The quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is then mounted in a case and an open end of the case is covered with a lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima