Patents by Inventor Hirokazu Iwata

Hirokazu Iwata 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: 20140044970
    Abstract: A crystal has a diameter of 1 cm or more and shows a strongest peak in cathode luminescent spectrum at a wavelength of 360 nm in correspondence to a band edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Sarayama, Masahiko Shimada, Hisanori Yamane, Hirokazu Iwata
  • Patent number: 8623138
    Abstract: A group-III nitride crystal growth method comprises the steps of: a) preparing a mixed molten liquid of an alkaline material and a substance at least containing a group-III metal; b) causing growth of a group-III nitride crystal from the mixed molten liquid prepared in the step a) and a substance at least containing nitrogen; and c) creating a state in which nitrogen can be introduced into the molten liquid prepared by the step a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Sarayama, Hisanori Yamane, Masahiko Shimada, Masafumi Kumano, Hirokazu Iwata, Takashi Araki
  • Patent number: 8591647
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing a single crystal body of a group III nitride, comprising the steps of forming a molten flux of a volatile metal in a reaction vessel and causing a growth of a GaN single crystal from the molten flux, wherein the growth is continued while replenishing a compound containing N from a source outside the reaction vessel, and wherein a seed crystal is disposed in the reaction vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Sarayama, Masahiko Shimada, Hisanori Yamane, Hirokazu Iwata
  • Patent number: 8554160
    Abstract: An AM (Amplitude-Modulated) transmitter capable of improving modulation distortion is provided. An adder adds a modulation signal to a pre-set power reference signal. An APC (Automatic Power Control) amplifier compares a level of a detecting signal outputted by the LPF (Low Pass Filter) with a level of an adder signal. The APC amplifier, based on the comparison result, generates a gain controlling signal that makes a difference between a level of the detecting signal and level of the signal approach zero and feeds the gain controlling signal to a power amplifier. The power amplifier modulates the signal outputted from the amplifier by the gain controlling signal and power-amplifies the modulated signal according to a level of the gain controlling signal. Since the APC amplifier feeds the gain controlling signal to the power amplifier, a modulation degree does not depend on a nonlinear distortion characteristic of the power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: ICOM Incorporated
    Inventors: Shin-ichi Matsuo, Hirokazu Iwata, Fuminori Kinugawa
  • Patent number: 8475593
    Abstract: In a crystal preparing device, a crucible holds a mixed molten metal containing alkali metal and group III metal. A container has a container space contacting the mixed molten metal and holds a molten alkali metal between the container space and an outside of the container, the molten alkali metal contacting the container space. A gas supply device supplies nitrogen gas to the container space. A heating device heats the crucible to a crystal growth temperature. The crystal preparing device is provided so that a vapor pressure of the alkali metal which evaporates from the molten alkali metal is substantially equal to a vapor pressure of the alkali metal which evaporates from the mixed molten metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Iwata, Seiji Sarayama, Akihiro Fuse
  • Publication number: 20130074762
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a group III nitride crystal on a seed crystal in a holding vessel holding therein a melt containing a group III metal, an alkali metal and nitrogen. The manufacturing method comprises the steps of causing the seed crystal to make a contact with the melt, setting an environment of the seed crystal to a first state offset from a crystal growth condition while in a state in which said seed crystal is in contact with the melt, increasing a nitrogen concentration in the melt, and setting the environment of the seed crystal to a second state suitable for crystal growth when the nitrogen concentration of the melt has reached a concentration suitable for growing the seed crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Hirokazu Iwata, Seiji Sarayama, Minoru Fukuda, Tetsuya Takahashi, Akira Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20130069078
    Abstract: A crystal producing apparatus includes a crystal forming unit and a crystal growing unit. The crystal forming unit forms a first gallium nitride (GaN) crystal by supplying nitride gas into melt mixture containing metal sodium (Na) and metal gallium (Ga). The first GaN crystal is sliced and polished to form GaN wafers. The crystal growing unit grows a second GaN crystal on a substrate formed by using a GaN wafer, by the hydride vapor phase epitaxy method, thus producing a bulked GaN crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Seiji Sarayama, Hirokazu Iwata
  • Publication number: 20130028826
    Abstract: A group III nitride crystal containing therein an alkali metal element comprises a base body, a first group III nitride crystal formed such that at least a part thereof makes a contact with the base body, the first group III nitride crystal deflecting threading dislocations in a direction different from a direction of crystal growth from the base body and a second nitride crystal formed adjacent to the first group III nitride crystal, the second nitride crystal having a crystal growth surface generally perpendicular to the direction of the crystal growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Hirokazu IWATA, Seiji Sarayama, Akihiro Fuse
  • Publication number: 20130011677
    Abstract: A large sized bulk crystal is produced which allows to cut out a practical size of crystal substrate. The gallium nitride crystal has features in which a length L of c-axis is 9 mm or more, a crystal diameter d of a cross section orthogonal to the c-axis is 100 ?m, and a ratio L/d of the length L of the c-axis and the crystal diameter d of the cross section orthogonal to the c-axis is 7 or more. By enlarging this elongated needle-like crystal, a bulk crystal with a large volume can be produced, and a large sized bulk crystal can be produced which allows to cut out a practical size of crystal substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi NAMBU, Hirokazu IWATA, Takashi SATOH
  • Patent number: 8337798
    Abstract: A crystal producing apparatus includes a crystal forming unit and a crystal growing unit. The crystal forming unit forms a first gallium nitride (GaN) crystal by supplying nitride gas into melt mixture containing metal sodium (Na) and metal gallium (Ga). The first GaN crystal is sliced and polished to form GaN wafers. The crystal growing unit grows a second GaN crystal on a substrate formed by using a GaN wafer, by the hydride vapor phase epitaxy method, thus producing a bulked GaN crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Sarayama, Hirokazu Iwata
  • Patent number: 8337617
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a group III nitride crystal on a seed crystal in a holding vessel holding therein a melt containing a group III metal, an alkali metal and nitrogen. The manufacturing method comprises the steps of causing the seed crystal to make a contact with the melt, setting an environment of the seed crystal to a first state offset from a crystal growth condition while in a state in which said seed crystal is in contact with the melt, increasing a nitrogen concentration in the melt, and setting the environment of the seed crystal to a second state suitable for crystal growth when the nitrogen concentration of the melt has reached a concentration suitable for growing the seed crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Iwata, Seiji Sarayama, Minoru Fukuda, Tetsuya Takahashi, Akira Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8323404
    Abstract: A group III nitride crystal containing therein an alkali metal element comprises a base body, a first group III nitride crystal formed such that at least a part thereof makes a contact with the base body, the first group III nitride crystal deflecting threading dislocations in a direction different from a direction of crystal growth from the base body and a second nitride crystal formed adjacent to the first group III nitride crystal, the second nitride crystal having a crystal growth surface generally perpendicular to the direction of the crystal growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Iwata, Seiji Sarayama, Akihiro Fuse
  • Patent number: 8194266
    Abstract: A positional error detection method forms, on a belt which is transported in a transport direction, positional error detection marks for detecting a positional error between image positions of first and second colors, detects the positional error detection marks on the belt, and computes the positional error based on the detected positional error detection marks. The positional error detection marks include first and second marks which are inclined in mutually opposite directions with respect to the transport direction, and third marks which are perpendicular to the transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Miyadera, Kenji Asuwa, Izumi Kinoshita, Hiroaki Ikeda, Tatsuya Ozaki, Yasuo Matsuyama, Hirokazu Iwata
  • Publication number: 20120085279
    Abstract: A crystal growth apparatus comprises a reaction vessel holding a melt mixture containing an alkali metal and a group III metal, a gas supplying apparatus supplying a nitrogen source gas to a vessel space exposed to the melt mixture inside the reaction vessel, a heating unit heating the melt mixture to a crystal growth temperature, and a support unit supporting a seed crystal of a group III nitride crystal inside the melt mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Seiji SARAYAMA, Hirokazu Iwata, Akihiro Fuse
  • Publication number: 20120049137
    Abstract: A method of producing an n-type group III nitride single crystal includes putting raw materials that include at least a substance including a group III element, an alkali metal, and boron oxide into a reaction vessel; melting the boron oxide by heating the reaction vessel to a melting point of the boron oxide; forming a mixed melt which includes the group III element, the alkali metal, and the boron oxide, in the reaction vessel by heating the reaction vessel to a crystal growth temperature of a group III nitride; dissolving nitrogen into the mixed melt by bringing a nitrogen-containing gas into contact with the mixed melt; and growing an n-type group III nitride single crystal, which is doped with oxygen as a donor, from the group III element, the nitrogen, and oxygen in the boron oxide that are dissolved in the mixed melt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Iwata
  • Patent number: 8101020
    Abstract: A crystal growth apparatus comprises a reaction vessel holding a melt mixture containing an alkali metal and a group III metal, a gas supplying apparatus supplying a nitrogen source gas to a vessel space exposed to the melt mixture inside the reaction vessel, a heating unit heating the melt mixture to a crystal growth temperature, and a support unit supporting a seed crystal of a group III nitride crystal inside the melt mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Sarayama, Hirokazu Iwata, Akihiro Fuse
  • Publication number: 20120003446
    Abstract: A nitride crystal which encircles an outer periphery of a seed crystal, the nitride crystal in an embodiment includes: a first partial region, and a second partial region that has optical characteristics different from those of the first partial region and has optical characteristics which indicate the crystal orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicants: OSAKA UNIVERSITY, RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi SATOH, Seiji Sarayama, Hirokazu Iwata, Yusuke Mori, Yasuo Kitaoka
  • Publication number: 20110253034
    Abstract: In a crystal preparing device, a crucible holds a mixed molten metal containing alkali metal and group III metal. A container has a container space contacting the mixed molten metal and holds a molten alkali metal between the container space and an outside of the container, the molten alkali metal contacting the container space. A gas supply device supplies nitrogen gas to the container space. A heating device heats the crucible to a crystal growth temperature. The crystal preparing device is provided so that a vapor pressure of the alkali metal which evaporates from the molten alkali metal is substantially equal to a vapor pressure of the alkali metal which evaporates from the mixed molten metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Hirokazu Iwata, Seiji Sarayama, Akihiro Fuse
  • Patent number: 7981213
    Abstract: A crystal growth method of a group III nitride includes the steps of forming a melt mixture of an alkali metal and a group III element in a reaction vessel, and growing a crystal of a group III nitride formed of the group III element and nitrogen from the melt mixture in the reaction vessel, wherein the step of growing the crystal of the group III nitride is conducted while controlling an increase rate of degree of supersaturation of a group III nitride component in the melt mixture in a surface region of the melt mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Iwata, Seiji Sarayama
  • Publication number: 20110012235
    Abstract: A method of growing a group III nitride crystal grows a group III nitride crystal from a solution in which an alkaline metal, a group III metal and nitrogen are dissolved, and includes, in the solution, a material which increases solubility of the nitrogen into the solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Hirokazu Iwata, Seiji Sarayama, Hisanori Yamane, Masahiko Shimada, Masato Aoki