Patents by Inventor Kenichiro Kawamura

Kenichiro Kawamura 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: 20180128267
    Abstract: A fluid control apparatus includes a piezoelectric pump and valve. The valve includes a second valve housing, second seal member, diaphragm, first seal member, and first valve housing and has a structure in which they are laminated in sequence. The first valve housing includes a second vent and third vent, has a valve seat, and includes six cavities. The second valve housing has a first vent and first vent and includes a valve seat and six first protrusions. The second valve housing further includes six second protrusions nearer the outer edges than the six first protrusions, as seen in the x-axis direction in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Kenichiro Kawamura, Tsuyoshi Waku, Yukinori Sakuraya
  • Publication number: 20180066650
    Abstract: A pump is provided with a pump housing, a vibrating portion, a driving portion, and a displacement regulating portion. The pump housing internally has a pump chamber. The vibrating portion is supported against the pump housing in the pump chamber and divides the pump chamber into a first pump chamber and a second pump chamber. The driving portion drives the vibrating portion so as to bend and vibrate the vibrating portion in a predetermined direction. The displacement regulating portion is positioned to prevent displacement of the vibrating portion that results in plastic deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Masaaki FUJISAKI, Kenichiro KAWAMURA
  • Patent number: 9879669
    Abstract: A fluid control apparatus includes a piezoelectric pump and valve. The valve includes a second valve housing, second seal member, diaphragm, first seal member, and first valve housing and has a structure in which they are laminated in sequence. The first valve housing includes a second vent and third vent, has a valve seat, and includes six cavities. The second valve housing has a first vent and first vent and includes a valve seat and six first protrusions. The second valve housing further includes six second protrusions nearer the outer edges than the six first protrusions, as seen in the x-axis direction in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Kawamura, Tsuyoshi Waku, Yukinori Sakuraya
  • Publication number: 20170215744
    Abstract: A sphygmomanometer device includes a piezoelectric pump, a valve, and a cuff. The valve includes a first valve housing, a diaphragm, and a second valve housing. The diaphragm is fixed to the second valve housing and first valve housing such that it is separated from a valve seat and the periphery of an opening portion in the diaphragm is in contact with a valve seat while providing a pressure thereto. Thus, the diaphragm defines a lower valve chamber communicating with a first vent hole, an upper valve chamber communicating with a second vent hole, a lower valve chamber communicating with a first vent hole, and an upper valve chamber communicating with the upper valve chamber, together with the second valve housing and first valve housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventor: Kenichiro Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20160076537
    Abstract: A fluid control apparatus includes a piezoelectric pump and valve. The valve includes a second valve housing, second seal member, diaphragm, first seal member, and first valve housing and has a structure in which they are laminated in sequence. The first valve housing includes a second vent and third vent, has a valve seat, and includes six cavities. The second valve housing has a first vent and first vent and includes a valve seat and six first protrusions. The second valve housing further includes six second protrusions nearer the outer edges than the six first protrusions, as seen in the x-axis direction in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Kenichiro Kawamura, Tsuyoshi Waku, Yukinori Sakuraya
  • Patent number: 8523538
    Abstract: A piezoelectric pump is capable of reliably discharging gas and reliably transporting liquid even when intermittently driven. The piezoelectric pump includes a piezoelectric vibrator, a diaphragm deflected and deformed by the piezoelectric vibrator, a pump chamber including at least one wall surface defined by the diaphragm, an inlet through which liquid, gas, or a mixture of liquid and gas flows into the pump chamber, an outlet through which the fluid is discharged, and a liquid holding member arranged to provide a gap between the liquid holding member and the inner surface of the pump chamber and to maintain the liquid in the gap using capillary effect or surface tension. A flow passage plate includes a flow passage groove provided therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Kawamura, Masayuki Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8205640
    Abstract: A check valve is housed in a valve chamber and includes a support portion and a flexible portion. The support portion extends along a principal axis thereof. The flexible portion is supported by the support portion in a manner extending from the principal axis. A diaphragm defines a lower wall of the valve chamber, and includes an inflow port for fluid at a position that is closed with the flexible portion when the flexible portion is displaced. A bottom plate defines an upper wall of the valve chamber, and faces the diaphragm with the flexible portion arranged therebetween. An uneven portion is provided in at least one of mutually facing areas of an upper principal surface, which is one of two principal surfaces of the flexible portion and faces the bottom plate, and a lower principal surface of the bottom plate, the uneven portion being partially uneven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Kawamura, Masayuki Miyamoto, Takahiro Yamaguchi, Hidekazu Sasai
  • Publication number: 20110171050
    Abstract: A piezoelectric pump is capable of reliably discharging gas and reliably transporting liquid even when intermittently driven. The piezoelectric pump includes a piezoelectric vibrator, a diaphragm deflected and deformed by the piezoelectric vibrator, a pump chamber including at least one wall surface defined by the diaphragm, an inlet through which liquid, gas, or a mixture of liquid and gas flows into the pump chamber, an outlet through which the fluid is discharged, and a liquid holding member arranged to provide a gap between the liquid holding member and the inner surface of the pump chamber and to maintain the liquid in the gap using capillary effect or surface tension. A flow passage plate includes a flow passage groove provided therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichiro KAWAMURA, Masayuki MIYAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20100215522
    Abstract: A check valve is housed in a valve chamber and includes a support portion and a flexible portion. The support portion extends along a principal axis thereof. The flexible portion is supported by the support portion in a manner extending from the principal axis. A diaphragm defines a lower wall of the valve chamber, and includes an inflow port for fluid at a position that is closed with the flexible portion when the flexible portion is displaced. A bottom plate defines an upper wall of the valve chamber, and faces the diaphragm with the flexible portion arranged therebetween. An uneven portion is provided in at least one of mutually facing areas of an upper principal surface, which is one of two principal surfaces of the flexible portion and faces the bottom plate, and a lower principal surface of the bottom plate, the uneven portion being partially uneven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro KAWAMURA, Masayuki MIYAMOTO, Takahiro YAMAGUCHI, Hidekazu SASAI