Patents by Inventor Kikuo Kaino

Kikuo Kaino 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: 5723788
    Abstract: A high-performance angular velocity sensor has a tuning-fork structure in which two vibrator units consisting of piezoelectric elements are coupled to each other. The angular velocity sensor comprises two metal plates, a first vibrator including a first actuator and a first detector joined orthogonally to each other, and a second vibrator including a second actuator and a second detector joined orthogonally to each other, the two vibrators being coupled by an electrode block to each other in parallel along an axis of detection. The first actuator and the first detector include piezoelectric elements bonded to the first metal surface, and the second actuator and the second detector include piezoelectric elements bonded to the second metal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiro Terada, Hiroshi Takenaka, Masaharu Ushihara, Masami Tamura, Hitoshi Nishimura, Kikuo Kaino
  • Patent number: 5445025
    Abstract: An angular velocity sensor having a tuning-fork structure comprising a first vibrator including a first actuator and a first detector each attached to a metal plate and joined orthogonally to each other, and a second vibrator including a second actuator and a second detector each attached to another metal plate and joined orthogonally to each other, the two vibrators being coupled by an electrode block to each other in a generally parallel relationship along the axis of detection of the sensor. The first and second detectors have a rectangular plate shape each holding a piezoelectric element. The rectangular plate shape has a lengthwise edge and a widthwise edge where the lengthwise edge parallel to the axis of detection of the sensor and is longer than the width wise edge. At least one of the lengthwise edges of the detectors has a beveled surface formed by removing metal at an angle from the lengthwise edge of the detector to balance the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiro Terada, Hiroshi Takenaka, Masaharu Ushihara, Masami Tamura, Hitoshi Nishimura, Kikuo Kaino