Patents by Inventor Kentaro Usui

Kentaro Usui 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: 11453028
    Abstract: The vibration device includes a diaphragm, and a plurality of piezoelectric films that are arranged at predetermined intervals in a first direction of the diaphragm to face the diaphragm and extend parallel to a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The diaphragm has at least one slit formed therein and dividing the diaphragm into respective regions. Each of the piezoelectric films are fixed to a respective region of the diaphragm while extending along the second direction in a tensioned state. The piezoelectric films expand and contract in a plane direction when a voltage is applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Usui, Junichi Hashimoto, Yuhei Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 11455038
    Abstract: A vibration structure that includes a frame member having an opening therein; a vibration part within the opening in the frame member; a support part that connects the vibration part and the frame member and supports the vibration part within the opening in the frame member; a film that deforms in a planar direction in response to voltage application; and a connection member that connects the film to the vibration part and the frame member such that the vibration part vibrates in the planar direction when the film deforms in the planar direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Jun Endo, Kentaro Usui
  • Publication number: 20220300237
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided that includes a first display unit including a first display; a second display unit including a second display disposed on a side of the first display and being rotatable with respect to the first display unit about a rotation axis extending in a front-rear direction such that an angle formed by the first and displays change; an angle and angular velocity acquisition unit that acquires the angle formed by the first and second displays and angular velocity of the angle; and a control unit that, when a user rotates the second display unit with respect to the first display unit, determines whether a horizontal direction of a video to be displayed on the first and second displays is made to match a vertical direction or a left-right direction based on the angle and the angular velocity acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Hidekazu KANO, Yoshihiko NISHIZAWA, Kentaro USUI
  • Publication number: 20220183151
    Abstract: An elastic wiring board that includes an elastic substrate; a plurality of electrode wirings having elasticity; and an ion-migration resistant layer between at least a first electrode wiring of the plurality of electrode wirings and the elastic substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Hayato KATSU, Keisuke NISHIDA, Kentaro USUI
  • Patent number: 11011694
    Abstract: A tactile sense presenting device that includes a control unit, a driving unit, and a vibrating device. The vibrating device includes a diaphragm, a piezoelectric film that is bridged over the diaphragm and stretches and contracts in a planar direction, and spacers that are provided in a gap portion, in which the piezoelectric film and the diaphragm face each other, and are fixed to the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Usui, Junichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11009953
    Abstract: A resin film is disposed facing an upper surface of a diaphragm with a gap interposed therebetween. The gap is provided between a lower surface of the resin film and the upper surface of the diaphragm in a tactile feedback keyboard. Consequently, it is possible to secure a key stroke from the resin film to the upper surface of the diaphragm, and make a user feel a sense of an operation that the user has pushed a key. Further, the gap and the resin film reduces the vibrations from the diaphragm reaching an operation surface. Thus, the user feels the vibrations of the diaphragm via only a finger which has pushed the resin film until the resin film contacts the upper surface of the diaphragm, and the other fingers hardly feel the vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Kentaro Usui
  • Patent number: 10613632
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element that includes a plurality of laminated piezoelectric films and adhesive layers. The piezoelectric films stretch and contract in a predetermined direction parallel to principal surfaces thereof when a voltage is applied thereto. The adhesive layers are formed partially between the piezoelectric films when seen from a plan view, are aligned at intervals in the predetermined direction of the stretching and contracting of the piezoelectric films and bond the piezoelectric films to each other. The adhesive layers are formed at both ends of the piezoelectric films in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Usui, Junichi Hashimoto, Kentaro Mikawa, Nobuhito Tsubaki
  • Patent number: 10572015
    Abstract: A tactile sense presenting device that includes ribs near an adhesion region of a piezoelectric film and a vibrating member. The ribs prevent the adhesive from leaking and controls a leakage amount of the adhesive into a space between the piezoelectric film and the vibrating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kentaro Usui
  • Patent number: 10509470
    Abstract: A vibrating device that includes a pair of vibrators, a vibrating body that includes a conductor, a touch panel sensor that includes touch sensors, and a printed circuit board on which a drive circuit is formed. The touch panel sensor is attached to one principal surface of the vibrating body. Moreover, both ends of the vibrating body on the other principal surface of the vibrating body are fixed to the pair of vibrators. The vibrating body is a conductor that is arranged between the touch sensors and the drive circuit. The conductor is connected to a reference potential of each touch sensor and the printed circuit board is positioned between the two vibrators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kentaro Usui
  • Publication number: 20190281820
    Abstract: An antibacterial fiber that includes a charge generation member shaped in a fibrous form and that generates charges sufficient to suppress the proliferation of a bacillus by input of external energy, and a water-resistant member that covers the charge generation member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Kentaro USUI, Takashi KIHARA, Yoshihiro YAMAGUCHI, Shozo OTERA, Fumiya ISONO, Masamichi ANDO, Yutaka ISHIURA
  • Publication number: 20190247886
    Abstract: The vibration device includes a diaphragm, and a plurality of piezoelectric films that are arranged at predetermined intervals in a first direction of the diaphragm to face the diaphragm and extend parallel to a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The diaphragm has at least one slit formed therein and dividing the diaphragm into respective regions. Each of the piezoelectric films are fixed to a respective region of the diaphragm while extending along the second direction in a tensioned state. The piezoelectric films expand and contract in a plane direction when a voltage is applied thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Kentaro Usui, Junichi Hashimoto, Yuhei Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 10381545
    Abstract: A vibration device that includes a diaphragm having a perimeter; a film which expands and contracts in a planar direction by application of a voltage, and an electrode on each main surface thereof; and a wire extended from the electrode outside of the perimeter of the diaphragm. The diaphragm has a first region in a node of vibration and a second region in a position other than the node of vibration. The wire has a section extended from the second region toward the first region, or is extended from the first region outside of the perimeter of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuhei Yamagishi, Junichi Hashimoto, Kentaro Usui
  • Publication number: 20190155391
    Abstract: A vibration structure that includes a frame member having an opening therein; a vibration part within the opening in the frame member; a support part that connects the vibration part and the frame member and supports the vibration part within the opening in the frame member; a film that deforms in a planar direction in response to voltage application; and a connection member that connects the film to the vibration part and the frame member such that the vibration part vibrates in the planar direction when the film deforms in the planar direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Jun Endo, Kentaro Usui
  • Publication number: 20180175279
    Abstract: A vibration device that includes a diaphragm having a perimeter; a film which expands and contracts in a planar direction by application of a voltage, and an electrode on each main surface thereof; and a wire extended from the electrode outside of the perimeter of the diaphragm. The diaphragm has a first region in a node of vibration and a second region in a position other than the node of vibration. The wire has a section extended from the second region toward the first region, or is extended from the first region outside of the perimeter of the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: YUHEI YAMAGISHI, Junichi Hashimoto, Kentaro Usui
  • Publication number: 20180130941
    Abstract: A tactile sense presenting device that includes a control unit, a driving unit, and a vibrating device. The vibrating device includes a diaphragm, a piezoelectric film that is bridged over the diaphragm and stretches and contracts in a planar direction, and spacers that are provided in a gap portion, in which the piezoelectric film and the diaphragm face each other, and are fixed to the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Kentaro Usui, Junichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9921654
    Abstract: A tactile sense presentation device that includes a film member which deforms in a planar direction when a voltage is applied thereto, a diaphragm fixed to the film member in a state where a bending stress is applied to the diaphragm, a touch detector which detects a touch operation, and a voltage driver which applies a drive signal to the film member when the touch detector detects the touch operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Kentaro Usui, Masamichi Ando
  • Publication number: 20170199574
    Abstract: A tactile sense presenting device that includes ribs near an adhesion region of a piezoelectric film and a vibrating member. The ribs prevent the adhesive from leaking and controls a leakage amount of the adhesive into a space between the piezoelectric film and the vibrating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventor: Kentaro Usui
  • Publication number: 20170160808
    Abstract: A resin film is disposed facing an upper surface of a diaphragm with a gap interposed therebetween. The gap is provided between a lower surface of the resin film and the upper surface of the diaphragm in a tactile feedback keyboard. Consequently, it is possible to secure a key stroke from the resin film to the upper surface of the diaphragm, and make a user feel a sense of an operation that the user has pushed a key. Further, the gap and the resin film reduces the vibrations from the diaphragm reaching an operation surface. Thus, the user feels the vibrations of the diaphragm via only a finger which has pushed the resin film until the resin film contacts the upper surface of the diaphragm, and the other fingers hardly feel the vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Kentaro Usui
  • Publication number: 20170153706
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element that includes a plurality of laminated piezoelectric films and adhesive layers. The piezoelectric films stretch and contract in a predetermined direction parallel to principal surfaces thereof when a voltage is applied thereto. The adhesive layers are formed partially between the piezoelectric films when seen from a plan view, are aligned at intervals in the predetermined direction of the stretching and contracting of the piezoelectric films and bond the piezoelectric films to each other. The adhesive layers are formed at both ends of the piezoelectric films in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: KENTARO USUI, Junichi Hashimoto, Kentaro Mikawa, Nobuhito Tsubaki
  • Publication number: 20170083098
    Abstract: A vibrating device that includes a pair of vibrators, a vibrating body that includes a conductor, a touch panel sensor that includes touch sensors, and a printed circuit board on which a drive circuit is formed. The touch panel sensor is attached to one principal surface of the vibrating body. Moreover, both ends of the vibrating body on the other principal surface of the vibrating body are fixed to the pair of vibrators. The vibrating body is a conductor that is arranged between the touch sensors and the drive circuit. The conductor is connected to a reference potential of each touch sensor and the printed circuit board is positioned between the two vibrators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventor: KENTARO USUI