Patents by Inventor Kohji Toda

Kohji Toda 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: 8492957
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating electric energy comprises a vibration plate, a supporting board, at least one side-wall unit and at least one piezoelectric substrate having a first- and a second end surfaces covered with a first- and a second electrodes, respectively. They all together form at least one cavity resonator. If a sound pressure from the outside arrives at the vibration plate, an acoustic vibration is excited in the vibration plate, and thereby a resonance vibration is induced in the cavity resonator. In this time, the piezoelectric substrate responds collectively to the resonance vibration. Thus, a resonance energy occurred in the cavity resonator is converted into an electric energy, which is delivered through the first- and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Publication number: 20110234048
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating electricity comprises a vibration plate, a supporting board, at least one side-wall unit and at least one piezoelectric substrate having a first- and a second end surfaces covered with a first- and a second electrodes, respectively. They all together form at least one cavity resonator. If a sound pressure from the outside arrives at the vibration plate, an acoustic vibration is excited in the vibration plate, and thereby a resonance vibration is induced in the cavity resonator. In this time, the piezoelectric substrate responds actively to the resonance vibration. Thus, a resonance energy occurred in the cavity resonator is converted into an electric energy, which is delivered through the first- and second electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Patent number: 7262542
    Abstract: When input electric signals Ei (i=1, 2, . . . , n) with frequencies fi (i=1, 2, . . . , n), respectively, are applied to an input interdigital transducer, elastic waves are excited in a piezoelectric substrate. Leaky components of the elastic waves are radiated into a material in the form of longitudinal waves, which are reflected at a bottom boundary-surface of the material. One of reflected longitudinal waves are detected at an output interdigital transducer as a delayed output signal with one of the frequencies fi. When the delayed output signal is applied to at least one interdigital transducer for radiation, an elastic wave is excited in the piezoelectric substrate. A leaky component of the elastic wave is radiated into the material in the form of a longitudinal wave, which is reflected at the bottom boundary-surface and re-reflected at a top boundary-surface of the material, and thus a continuous reflection occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Publication number: 20070103031
    Abstract: When input electric signals Ei (i=1, 2, . . . n) with frequencies fi (i=1, 2, . . . , n), respectively, are applied to an input interdigital transducer, elastic waves are excited in a piezoelectric substrate. Leaky components of the elastic waves are radiated into a material in the form of longitudinal waves, which are reflected at a bottom boundary-surface of the material. One of reflected longitudinal waves are detected at an output interdigital transducer as a delayed output signal with one of the frequencies fi. When the delayed output signal is applied to at least one interdigital transducer for radiation, an elastic wave is excited in the piezoelectric substrate. A leaky component of the elastic wave is radiated into the material in the form of a longitudinal wave, which is reflected at the bottom boundary-surface and re-reflected at a top boundary-surface of the material, and thus a continuous reflection occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Patent number: 6942619
    Abstract: An ultrasound radiation device comprises a piezoelectric substrate, an interdigital arrangement of two comb-shaped electrodes formed on an upper end surface of the piezoelectric substrate, a counter electrode formed on a lower end surface of the piezoelectric substrate, an interdigital transducer formed on said upper end surface of said piezoelectric substrate, and an amplifier between one of the two comb-shaped electrodes and the interdigital transducer. If an electric signal is applied between the counter electrode and one of the two comb-shaped electrodes, a longitudinal wave composed of the main lobe and grating lobes is radiated into a material in contact with the counter electrode, as well as a Lamb wave is excited in the piezoelectric substrate. The Lamb wave is detected as a delayed electric signal at the interdigital transducer. The delayed electric signal is amplified by the amplifier, and used as an input electric signal again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Patent number: 6791644
    Abstract: A reflective liquid-crystal display comprises a display assembly and a piezoelectric assembly, on which the display assembly is formed. The display assembly is composed of first- and second transparent nonpiezoelectric-plates having first- and second transparent electrodes, respectively, and a liquid crystal between thereof. The piezoelectric assembly is composed of a piezoelectric substrate, at least one electrode under the piezoelectric substrate, and a counter electrode over the piezoelectric substrate. If a first electric signal is applied to the piezoelectric assembly, a transition from a transparent- to an opaque state in the liquid crystal occurs. In this time, if a second electric signal is applied to a part of the liquid crystal, a transition from the opaque- to the transparent state in the liquid crystal occurs. Thus, a light through the part of the liquid crystal is reflected at the counter electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Patent number: 6784871
    Abstract: An ultrasonic security system for personal computer comprises a touch-panel section, a lock section, and a key section. The touch-panel section comprises a nonpiezoelectric plate, at least one transducer-unit, and a signal analyzer. The transducer-unit consists of at least one input IDT Ti (i=1, 2, . . . , m), at least one output IDT Ri (i=1, 2, . . . , m), a first input piezoelectric substrate, and a first output piezoelectric substrate. The lock section comprises a second piezoelectric substrate, a coding IDT consisting of interdigital electrode pairs and having a coded pattern, and a terminal IDT having the electrode-finger direction parallel to that of the coding IDT. The key section comprises a third piezoelectric substrate, an initial IDT, and a decoding IDT having the same construction pattern as the coding IDT. If touching a position on the nonpiezoelectric plate, an electric signal appears at the output IDT Ri.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Publication number: 20040141111
    Abstract: A reflective liquid-crystal display comprises a display assembly and a piezoelectric assembly, on which the display assembly is formed. The display assembly is composed of first- and second transparent nonpiezoelectric-plates having first- and second transparent electrodes, respectively, and a liquid crystal between thereof. The piezoelectric assembly is composed of a piezoelectric substrate, at least one electrode under the piezoelectric substrate, and a counter electrode over the piezoelectric substrate. If a first electric signal is applied to the piezoelectric assembly, a transition from a transparent- to an opaque state in the liquid crystal occurs. In this time, if a second electric signal is applied to a part of the liquid crystal, a transition from the opaque- to the transparent state in the liquid crystal occurs. Thus, a light through the part of the liquid crystal is reflected at the counter electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Patent number: 6755352
    Abstract: A bridge-type ultrasonic atomizer comprises input- and output piezoelectric substrates, first- and second electrodes formed on the input piezoelectric substrate, third- and fourth electrodes formed on the output piezoelectric substrate, a porous nonmetalic-plate formed between the input- and output piezoelectric substrates. When an input electric signal is applied between the first- and second electrodes, a first acoustic vibration is excited in the input piezoelectric substrate. The first acoustic vibration makes a liquid in the porous nonmetalic-plate to be atomized, at the same time, causes a second acoustic vibration in the output piezoelectric substrate only when the liquid exists in the porous nonmetalic-plate. The second acoustic vibration is detected as a delayed electric signal between the third- and fourth electrodes, and is fed back to the first- and second electrodes again. As a result, the porous nonmetalic-plate prevents the operation without liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Patent number: 6755082
    Abstract: A device for measuring sound velocity in material comprises a piezoelectric substrate, first- and second comb-shaped electrodes, a counter electrode, and a reflector. When input electric signals with a frequency f, respectively, are applied between the first comb-shaped electrode and the counter electrode in turn, longitudinal waves are radiated into a material existing between the counter electrode and the reflector, and then, reflected at the reflector, and after all, detected between the second comb-shaped electrode and the counter electrode as delayed electric signals Di in accordance with distances Zi between the counter electrode and the reflector. Electrical coupled-signals from the input electric signals and the delayed electric signals Di interfere respectively, so that respective interference signals Ri occur. A sound velocity V in the material is estimated from the frequency f and the interference signals Ri.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Patent number: 6717983
    Abstract: An ultrasonic coding modem for digital network communication comprises a transmitting device having a first piezoelectric substrate, and a receiving device having a second piezoelectric substrate. If a message digital-signal is applied to the transmitting device, a SAW is excited on the first piezoelectric substrate and is delivered as a coded digital signal into a digital network. On the other hand, if the coded digital-signal is received at the receiving device from the digital network, a SAW is excited on the second piezoelectric substrate. In this time, if the SAW excited on the second piezoelectric substrate is corresponding to the SAW excited on the first piezoelectric substrate, an output digital-signal, which is equivalent to the message digital-signal, is delivered from the receiving device. As a result, it is possible to keep a base-band communication secret.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Patent number: 6693509
    Abstract: A coding and decoding system for wireless telecommunication comprises a wireless telecommunication device and a personal card. The wireless telecommunication device consists of a first piezoelectric substrate, a coded IDT, a first electrode-group, a first amplifier, an antenna, a second amplifier, a second electrode-group, a first intermediary IDT, and a signal analyzer. The personal card attached to the wireless telecommunication device consists of a second piezoelectric substrate, a personal coded IDT, a third electrode-group, a second intermediary IDT. The coding and decoding system for wireless telecommunication has four sections, that is, (1) a personal transmitting section (2) a main transmitting section (3) a personal receiving section and (4) a main receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Patent number: 6691577
    Abstract: An ultrasonic moving-speed measuring system comprises a piezoelectric substrate, a thickness-vibration mode transducer, an interdigital transducer, and a signal analyzer. The piezoelectric substrate, the thickness-vibration mode transducer, and the interdigital transducer form a transducing assembly. When an input electric signal with a carrier frequency is applied to the thickness-vibration mode transducer, a longitudinal wave is radiated into a medium that is in touch with the bottom of the transducing assembly. If the longitudinal wave is reflected at a material in the medium, a delayed electric signal with a Doppler frequency is detected at the interdigital transducer via a mode conversion from a reflected longitudinal wave to a leaky Lamb wave. The moving speed of the material is sensed at the signal analyzer in terms of a difference between the carrier- and Doppler frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Patent number: 6690261
    Abstract: An ultrasonic recognition system on digital communication comprises an identification card, a detail communication device attached to a detail computer, and a master communication device attached to a master computer. The identification card consists of a first piezoelectric substrate, an individual coded IDT, and a first intermediary IDT. The detail communication device consists of a second piezoelectric substrate and transmitting- and receiving sections. The transmitting section is composed of a bipolar-pulse generator, a first coded IDT, a second coded IDT, a second intermediary IDT, an electrode group, a synchronizing device, an envelope detecting device, and a monopolar-pulse generator. The receiving section is composed of a third intermediary IDT, a third coded IDT, a fourth coded IDT, and a detecting device. If the identification card is set in the detail communication device, a pulse is generated at the bipolar-pulse generator at regular intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Patent number: 6674806
    Abstract: A transmitting and receiving system for digital communication on electric power-lines comprises a transmitting device and a receiving device. The transmitting device consists of an input terminal, a bipolar-pulse generator, a first piezoelectric substrate, first- and second coded IDTs, a first intermediary IDT, an electrode group, a synchronizing device, an envelope detecting device, a monopolar-pulse generator, and a mixer connected with electric power-lines. The receiving device consists of a receiving connector connected with the electric power-lines, a tuning coil, a second piezoelectric substrate, a second intermediary IDT, third- and fourth coded IDTs, a detecting device, and a detecting terminal. If a message digital-signal is applied to the bipolar-pulse generator via the input terminal, high-frequency bipolar-pulses (−1 and 1) are generated, and after all, are transduced to first- and second coded digital-signals at the monopolar-pulse generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Publication number: 20030213304
    Abstract: A device for measuring sound velocity in material comprises a piezoelectric substrate, first- and second comb-shaped electrodes, a counter electrode, and a reflector. When input electric signals with a frequency f, respectively, are applied between the first comb-shaped electrode and the counter electrode in turn, longitudinal waves are radiated into a material existing between the counter electrode and the reflector, and then, reflected at the reflector, and after all, detected between the second comb-shaped electrode and the counter electrode as delayed electric signals Di in accordance with distances Zi between the counter electrode and the reflector. Electrical coupled-signals from the input electric signals and the delayed electric signals Di interfere respectively, so that respective interference signals Ri occur. A sound velocity V in the material is estimated from the frequency f and the interference signals Ri.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Publication number: 20030213306
    Abstract: An ultrasound radiating and receiving device comprises a piezoelectric substrate, an interdigital arrangement of first and second comb-shaped electrodes, and a counter electrode. The interdigital arrangement is mounted on an upper end surface of the piezoelectric substrate. The counter electrode is formed on a lower end surface of the piezoelectric substrate, and is in contact with a surface-part of a material through the lower end surface of the counter electrode. When an input electric signal is applied between the first comb-shaped electrode and the counter electrode, a longitudinal wave is radiated into the material through the surface-part of the material along the direction vertical to the lower end surface of the piezoelectric substrate. If the longitudinal wave is reflected at an object located inside the material, a reflected longitudinal wave is detected between the second comb-shaped electrode and the counter electrode as a delayed electric signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Publication number: 20030216647
    Abstract: An ultrasound radiation device comprises a piezoelectric substrate, an interdigital arrangement of two comb-shaped electrodes formed on an upper end surface of the piezoelectric substrate, a counter electrode formed on a lower end surface of the piezoelectric substrate, an interdigital transducer formed on said upper end surface of said piezoelectric substrate, and an amplifier between one of the two comb-shaped electrodes and the interdigital transducer. If an electric signal is applied between the counter electrode and one of the two comb-shaped electrodes, a longitudinal wave composed of the main lobe and grating lobes is radiated into a material in contact with the counter electrode, as well as a Lamb wave is excited in the piezoelectric substrate. The Lamb wave is detected as a delayed electric signal at the interdigital transducer. The delayed electric signal is amplified by the amplifier, and used as an input electric signal again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Patent number: 6640631
    Abstract: A system for measuring sound velocity in material comprises a piezoelectric substrate, first- and second comb-shaped electrodes, and a counter electrode in contact with a surface-part of a material. When input electric signals Ei having carrier frequencies fi, respectively, are applied between the first comb-shaped electrode and the counter electrode in turn, longitudinal waves are radiated into the material. The longitudinal waves are reflected at the opposite surface-part of the material, and then, detected between the second comb-shaped electrode and the counter electrode as delayed electric signals Di, respectively. The input electric signals Ei and the delayed electric signals Di interfere respectively, so that respective interference signals Ri occur. A sound velocity V in the material is estimated from the interference signals Ri.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: Kohji Toda
  • Patent number: 6640636
    Abstract: An ultrasound radiating and receiving device comprises a piezoelectric substrate, an interdigital arrangement of first and second comb-shaped electrodes, and a counter electrode. The interdigital arrangement is mounted on an upper end surface of the piezoelectric substrate. The counter electrode is formed on a lower end surface of the piezoelectric substrate, and is in contact with a surface-part of a material through the lower end surface of the counter electrode. When an input electric signal is applied between the first comb-shaped electrode and the counter electrode, a longitudinal wave is radiated into the material through the surface-part of the material along the direction vertical to the lower end surface of the piezoelectric substrate. If the longitudinal wave is reflected at an object located inside the material, a reflected longitudinal wave is detected between the second comb-shaped electrode and the counter electrode as a delayed electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: Kohji Toda