Patents by Inventor Kazutomo Imi
Kazutomo Imi 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).
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Patent number: 10511237Abstract: The present invention provides a driving apparatus capable of suppressing the operation noise. A driving apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element expanding and contracting in accordance with a driving signal; a supporting shaft connected to said piezoelectric element; a movable body frictionally engaged with said supporting shaft and capable of moving along said supporting shaft; and a driving portion applying said driving signal including a first driving signal which moves said movable body towards a first direction to said piezoelectric element, wherein said driving portion can repeatedly apply said first driving signal against said piezoelectric element by taking a first time in between, and said first driving signal comprises a main driving waveform group which moves said movable body to said first direction, and a sub driving waveform group which is placed after said main driving waveform group by having a second rest time shorter than said first time in between.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2017Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: TDK CORPORATIONInventors: Akira Suzuki, Masaru Uno, Kazutomo Imi, Yoshiaki Haga
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Publication number: 20170163177Abstract: The present invention provides a driving apparatus capable of suppressing the operation noise. A driving apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element expanding and contracting in accordance with a driving signal; a supporting shaft connected to said piezoelectric element; a movable body frictionally engaged with said supporting shaft and capable of moving along said supporting shaft; and a driving portion applying said driving signal including a first driving signal which moves said movable body towards a first direction to said piezoelectric element, wherein said driving portion can repeatedly apply said first driving signal against said piezoelectric element by taking a first time in between, and said first driving signal comprises a main driving waveform group which moves said movable body to said first direction, and a sub driving waveform group which is placed after said main driving waveform group by having a second rest time shorter than said first time in between.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Akira SUZUKI, Masaru Uno, Kazutomo Imi, Yoshiaki Haga
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Patent number: 9465230Abstract: A lens holding unit is held so that it can relatively move with respect to a base part to a direction vertical to an optical axis direction. The lens holding unit has a lens holder, a magnet part, and a spring. The lens holder has a first coil. The magnet part has a first magnet part which includes a first face facing to the first coil and a second magnet part which includes a second face vertical to the first face and constitutes a magnetic domain different from that of the first magnet part. These first magnet part and second magnet part are integrated.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Masaru Uno, Kazutomo Imi, Noriyuki Kawano, Kazuhiko Inoue, Masashi Gotoh, Osamu Ohhata, Shintarou Koike, Yasuhide Yamashita
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Patent number: 9395510Abstract: A lens holding device includes a movable part having a coil attached to a lens holder holding a lens and includes a magnet part arranged around an outer peripheral side of the movable part so as to face the coil. The lens holding device includes a support part which supports the movable part so as to move relatively and a spring which connects the movable part and the support part resiliently. The magnet part includes a resin and has an alignment part which positions the spring.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2014Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: TDK CORPORATIONInventors: Masaru Uno, Kazutomo Imi, Noriyuki Kawano, Kazuhiko Inoue, Masashi Gotoh, Osamu Ohhata, Shintarou Koike, Yasuhide Yamashita
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Patent number: 9140875Abstract: A lens drive device comprises a base, a lens holder, a piezoelectric actuator having a pair of frictional parts, and a pressing piece. The lens holder has a barrel, a projection projecting from the barrel, a support separated from the barrel, and a joint joining the projection and the support to each other. The pressing piece presses the piezoelectric actuator against the barrel so as to keep such a state that at least one of the pair of frictional parts is in contact with the barrel.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2013Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: TDK CORPORATIONInventors: Masaru Uno, Kazutomo Imi
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Patent number: 8964315Abstract: A lens drive device comprises a lens holder, a piezoelectric actuator, a ball member held rotatably, and an biasing member configured to apply an biasing force to the lens holder toward the piezoelectric actuator through the ball member. The lens holder has a projection projecting outward from an outer peripheral surface and extending in a direction intersecting the projecting direction and optical axis. A side wall face of the projection is formed with a groove extending along the optical axis and engaging the ball member. A position receiving the biasing force from the biasing member and a position receiving the drive force from the actuator in the lens holder oppose each other through the projection interposed therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Akira Suzuki, Kazutomo Imi, Masaru Uno
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Publication number: 20140307341Abstract: A lens holding device includes a movable part having a coil attached to a lens holder holding a lens and includes a magnet part arranged around an outer peripheral side of the movable part so as to face the coil. The lens holding device includes a support part which supports the movable part so as to move relatively and a spring which connects the movable part and the support part resiliently. The magnet part includes a resin and has an alignment part which positions the spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2014Publication date: October 16, 2014Applicant: TDK CORPORATIONInventors: Masaru Uno, Kazutomo Imi, Noriyuki Kawano, Kazuhiko Inoue, Masashi Gotoh, Osamu Ohhata, Shintarou Koike, Yasuhide Yamashita
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Publication number: 20140307319Abstract: A lens holding unit is held so that it can relatively move with respect to a base part to a direction vertical to an optical axis direction. The lens holding unit has a lens holder, a magnet part, and a spring. The lens holder has a first coil. The magnet part has a first magnet part which includes a first face facing to the first coil and a second magnet part which includes a second face vertical to the first face and constitutes a magnetic domain different from that of the first magnet part. These first magnet part and second magnet part are integrated.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2014Publication date: October 16, 2014Inventors: Masaru UNO, Kazutomo IMI, Noriyuki KAWANO, Kazuhiko INOUE, Masashi GOTOH, Osamu OHHATA, Shintarou KOIKE, Yasuhide YAMASHITA
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Publication number: 20140111877Abstract: A lens drive device comprises a base, a lens holder, a piezoelectric actuator having a pair of frictional parts, and a pressing piece. The lens holder has a barrel, a projection projecting from the barrel, a support separated from the barrel, and a joint joining the projection and the support to each other. The pressing piece presses the piezoelectric actuator against the barrel so as to keep such a state that at least one of the pair of frictional parts is in contact with the barrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2013Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: TDK CORPORATIONInventors: Masaru UNO, Kazutomo IMI
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Publication number: 20140084751Abstract: A driving apparatus capable of suppressing operation noise, the apparatus comprising a piezoelectric element expanding and contracting in accordance with a driving signal; a supporting shaft connected to said piezoelectric element; a movable body frictionally engaged with said supporting shaft and capable of moving along said supporting shaft; and a driving portion applying said driving signal including a first driving signal which moves said movable body towards a first direction to said piezoelectric element, wherein said driving portion can repeatedly apply said first driving signal against said piezoelectric element by taking a first time in between, and said first driving signal comprises a main driving waveform group which moves said movable body to said first direction, and a sub driving waveform group which is placed after said main driving waveform group by having the a second rest time shorter than said first time in between.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: TDK CorporationInventors: Akira Suzuki, Masaru Uno, Kazutomo Imi, Yoshiaki Haga
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Patent number: 8675294Abstract: A lens driving device comprises a lens holder for holding a lens, a shaft for supporting the lens holder so as to make the lens holder movable in an optical axis direction of the lens and swingable about an axis of the shaft, an actuator for applying a driving force to the lens holder so as to move the lens holder in the optical axis direction; and an urging member for applying an urging force to the lens holder so as to rotate the lens holder toward the actuator. In the lens holder, a position where the urging force is applied by the urging member and a position where the driving force is applied by the actuator oppose each other, so that the urging force from the urging member is directed to the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Masaru Uno, Akira Suzuki, Kazutomo Imi
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Publication number: 20120236423Abstract: A lens driving device comprises a lens holder for holding a lens, a shaft for supporting the lens holder so as to make the lens holder movable in an optical axis direction of the lens and swingable about an axis of the shaft, an actuator for applying a driving force to the lens holder so as to move the lens holder in the optical axis direction; and an urging member for applying an urging force to the lens holder so as to rotate the lens holder toward the actuator. In the lens holder, a position where the urging force is applied by the urging member and a position where the driving force is applied by the actuator oppose each other, so that the urging force from the urging member is directed to the actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: TDK CORPORATIONInventors: Masaru UNO, Akira SUZUKI, Kazutomo IMI
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Patent number: 6449238Abstract: A skew adjustment mechanism for an optical pick-up used in an optical disc drive is disclosed, in which the optical pick-up is freely movable in a radial direction of an optical disc along a guide rod for playing back or recording and playing back information recorded on the optical disc. The optical pick-up includes a pick-up base having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the first end being slidably connected to the guide rod. The tangential skew adjustment mechanism includes a pick-up base displacement mechanism provided on the second end of the pick-up base for rotationally displacing the pick-up base about an axis of the guide rod.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 1998Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken′ichi Furukawa, Kazutomo Imi, Kouji Teranishi, Satoru Manabe
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Publication number: 20010048656Abstract: A skew adjustment mechanism for an optical pick-up used in an optical disc drive is disclosed, in which the optical pick-up is freely movable in a radial direction of an optical disc along a guide rod for playing back or recording and playing back information recorded on the optical disc. The optical pick-up includes a pick-up base having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the first end being slidably connected to the guide rod. The tangential skew adjustment mechanism includes a pick-up base displacement mechanism provided on the second end of the pick-up base for rotationally displacing the pick-up base about an axis of the guide rod.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 1998Publication date: December 6, 2001Inventors: KEN?apos;ICHI FURUKAWA, KAZUTOMO IMI, KOUJI TERANISHI, SATORU MANABE
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Patent number: 6324153Abstract: A disk device for reproducing information and/or for recording information having a casing in which all parts of the disk device are included. The casing includes a number of first bosses and a recording/reproducing unit. The recording/reproducing unit includes at least a disk motor and an optical head. The optical head accesses the disk to reproduce information from the disk and/or record information in the disk. The recording/reproducing unit is arranged to have corners at positions corresponding to the first bosses of the casing. A plurality of vibration absorbing parts are provided and arranged at corners of the recording/reproducing unit. The vibration absorbing parts are also fixed to the first bosses to absorb vibrations of the recording/reproducing unit. The recording/reproducing unit further includes a chassis having mounting holes at the corners thereof. Each vibration absorbing part is respectively fitted to a periphery of one of such mounting holes.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 1999Date of Patent: November 27, 2001Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken'ichi Furukawa, Atsushi Kirii, Kouji Teranishi, Satoru Manabe, Ken'ichi Hori, Kazutomo Imi
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Publication number: 20010012255Abstract: A disk device includes a drive mechanism having at least a disk motor and an optical head, the disk motor rotating a recording disk, and the optical head accessing the disk to reproduce information from the disk and/or record information in the disk. A first printed circuit board controls the disk motor and the optical head of the drive mechanism, the first printed circuit board receiving signals from the optical head and/or sending signals to the optical head to perform the reproducing of information and/or the recording of information. The disk device further comprises a second printed circuit board electrically coupling the drive mechanism to the first printed circuit board, the second printed circuit board including a connector coupled to wire patterns of the signals received and/or sent by the first printed circuit board, and the connector being coupled to the first printed circuit board.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 1999Publication date: August 9, 2001Inventors: KEN?apos;ICHI FURUKAWA, ATSUSHI KIRII, KOUJI TERANISHI, SATORU MANABE, KEN?apos;ICHI HORI, KAZUTOMO IMI
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Patent number: 6243346Abstract: A disk device includes a drive mechanism having at least a disk motor and an optical head, the disk motor rotating a recording disk, and the optical head accessing the disk to reproduce information from the disk and/or record information in the disk. A first printed circuit board controls the disk motor and the optical head of the drive mechanism, the first printed circuit board receiving signals from the optical head and/or sending signals to the optical head to perform the reproducing of information and/or the recording of information. The disk device further comprises a second printed circuit board electrically coupling the drive mechanism to the first printed circuit board, the second printed circuit board including a connector coupled to wire patterns of the signals received and/or sent by the first printed circuit board, and the connector being coupled to the first printed circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 1999Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken'ichi Furukawa, Atsushi Kirii, Kouji Teranishi, Satoru Manabe, Ken'ichi Hori, Kazutomo Imi
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Patent number: 5917795Abstract: A disk device includes a drive mechanism having at least a disk motor and an optical head, the disk motor rotating a recording disk, and the optical head accessing the disk to reproduce information from the disk and/or record information in the disk. A first printed circuit board controls the disk motor and the optical head of the drive mechanism, the first printed circuit board receiving signals from the optical head and/or sending signals to the optical head to perform the reproducing of information and/or the recording of information. The disk device further comprises a second printed circuit board electrically coupling the drive mechanism to the first printed circuit board, the second printed circuit board including a connector coupled to wire patterns of the signals received and/or sent by the first printed circuit board, and the connector being coupled to the first printed circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1996Date of Patent: June 29, 1999Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken'Ichi Furukawa, Atsushi Kirii, Kouji Teranishi, Satoru Manabe, Ken'Ichi Hori, Kazutomo Imi
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Patent number: D476314Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazutomo Imi, Kenichi Hori, Soumei Takahashi, Kenichi Negoro, Hisamichi Sekine
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Patent number: D476315Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshihiko Honma, Susumu Ishida, Osamu Masakado, Kazutomo Imi