Patents by Inventor Jouji Kitahara

Jouji Kitahara 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).

  • Ultrasonic step motor
    Patent number: 5610468
    Abstract: An ultrasonic step motor includes a stator and a rotor. A vibrator is mounted on the stator and a driving mechanism excites the vibrator causing the stator to induce a vibrating mode on the rotor. The rotor has a vibration mode in a selected direction and the stator exhibits a plurality of vibrating states which are changed in a time sequential manner. The vibrating states of the stator include a composite vibration of a travelling wave formed from two standing wave vibrations and a standing wave vibration. The rotor is formed of a non-uniform rigidity and mass distribution and the stator is formed with relief portions formed therein corresponding to loops of a standing wave vibration and projections corresponding to the nodes of the standing wave vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Miyazawa, Tsuneaki Furukawa, Jouji Kitahara
  • Ultrasonic step motor
    Patent number: 5343108
    Abstract: An ultrasonic step motor includes a stator and a rotor. A vibrator is mounted on the stator and a driving mechanism excites the vibrator causing the stator to induce a vibrating mode on the rotor. The rotor has a vibration mode in a selected direction and the stator exhibits a plurality of vibrating states which are changed in a time sequential manner. The vibrating states of the stator include a composite vibration of a travelling wave formed from two standing wave vibrations and a standing wave vibration. The rotor is formed of a non-uniform rigidity and mass distribution and the stator is formed with relief portions formed therein corresponding to loops of a standing wave vibration and projections corresponding to the nodes of the standing wave vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Miyazawa, Tsuneaki Furukawa, Jouji Kitahara