Patents by Inventor Koji Kitazawa
Koji Kitazawa 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: 10589526Abstract: There is provided a head unit including: a first substrate including a first surface provided with a first terminal and a second surface provided with a second terminal; a second substrate including a third surface provided with a third terminal; a first flexible wiring substrate that connects the first terminal and the third terminal to each other; a first driving module that is electrically connected to the second substrate; a third substrate including a fourth surface provided with a fourth terminal; a second flexible wiring substrate that connects the second terminal and the fourth terminal to each other; a second driving module that is electrically connected to the third substrate; and a liquid flow passage through which the liquid is supplied to the first driving module and the second driving module, in which the liquid flow passage is positioned between the second substrate and the third substrate.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Koji Kitazawa, Masahiko Tsuyuki
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Patent number: 10538089Abstract: There is provided a head unit including: a first substrate provided with a first terminal and a second terminal; a second substrate provided with a third terminal; a first flexible wiring substrate that connects the first terminal and the third terminal to each other; a first driving module that is electrically connected to the second substrate; a third substrate provided with a fourth terminal; a second flexible wiring substrate that connects the second terminal and the fourth terminal to each other; a second driving module that is electrically connected to the third substrate; and a liquid flow passage which is positioned between the second substrate and the third substrate, and supplies the liquid to the first driving module and the second driving module, in which the first substrate is positioned on the second substrate side in a direction intersecting with a direction in which a liquid is discharged.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2018Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Koji Kitazawa, Masahiko Tsuyuki
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Patent number: 10340815Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a first ejecting section that includes a first drive element and ejects liquid by driving the first drive element, a first drive circuit that includes a first transistor and outputs a first drive signal to the first drive element, a second drive circuit that includes a second transistor and outputs a second drive signal to the first drive element, a circuit substrate on which the first drive circuit and the second drive circuit are mounted. The first drive circuit is mounted on a first surface of the circuit substrate, and the second drive circuit is mounted on a second surface of the circuit substrate, and the first transistor and the second transistor are disposed at position that do not overlap one another in plan view of the circuit substrate.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Koji Kitazawa, Dai Nozawa, Toru Kashimura
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Publication number: 20190126619Abstract: There is provided a head unit including: a first substrate provided with a first terminal and a second terminal; a second substrate provided with a third terminal; a first flexible wiring substrate that connects the first terminal and the third terminal to each other; a first driving module that is electrically connected to the second substrate; a third substrate provided with a fourth terminal; a second flexible wiring substrate that connects the second terminal and the fourth terminal to each other; a second driving module that is electrically connected to the third substrate; and a liquid flow passage which is positioned between the second substrate and the third substrate, and supplies the liquid to the first driving module and the second driving module, in which the first substrate is positioned on the second substrate side in a direction intersecting with a direction in which a liquid is discharged.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2018Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: Koji KITAZAWA, Masahiko TSUYUKI
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Publication number: 20190126618Abstract: There is provided a head unit including: a first substrate including a first surface provided with a first terminal and a second surface provided with a second terminal; a second substrate including a third surface provided with a third terminal; a first flexible wiring substrate that connects the first terminal and the third terminal to each other; a first driving module that is electrically connected to the second substrate; a third substrate including a fourth surface provided with a fourth terminal; a second flexible wiring substrate that connects the second terminal and the fourth terminal to each other; a second driving module that is electrically connected to the third substrate; and a liquid flow passage through which the liquid is supplied to the first driving module and the second driving module, in which the liquid flow passage is positioned between the second substrate and the third substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2018Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: Koji KITAZAWA, Masahiko TSUYUKI
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Patent number: 10226954Abstract: An ink jet apparatus includes a head, a circuit substrate, a cover frame, a heat sink, a fan, and a wall section. The cover frame supports the circuit substrate that has a drive circuit that drives the head inside of the cover frame and has a through hole. The heat sink that dissipates heat generated in the circuit substrate is disposed inside of the cover frame and has a part that is in direct or indirect contact with the circuit substrate. The fan generates air flow and is arranged such that the fan and the heat sink face to each other via the through hole. The wall section is disposed inside of the cover frame such that the air flow is not directly blown against the drive circuit and the air flow having changed a direction after blown against the heat sink is not blown against the drive circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Koji Kitazawa, Toshio Kumagai
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Publication number: 20180183352Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a first ejecting section that includes a first drive element and ejects liquid by driving the first drive element, a first drive circuit that includes a first transistor and outputs a first drive signal to the first drive element, a second drive circuit that includes a second transistor and outputs a second drive signal to the first drive element, a circuit substrate on which the first drive circuit and the second drive circuit are mounted. The first drive circuit is mounted on a first surface of the circuit substrate, and the second drive circuit is mounted on a second surface of the circuit substrate, and the first transistor and the second transistor are disposed at position that do not overlap one another in plan view of the circuit substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2017Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Koji KITAZAWA, Dai NOZAWA, Toru KASHIMURA
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Publication number: 20180009248Abstract: An ink jet apparatus includes a head, a circuit substrate, a cover frame, a heat sink, a fan, and a wall section. The cover frame supports the circuit substrate that has a drive circuit that drives the head inside of the cover frame and has a through hole. The heat sink that dissipates heat generated in the circuit substrate is disposed inside of the cover frame and has a part that is in direct or indirect contact with the circuit substrate. The fan generates air flow and is arranged such that the fan and the heat sink face to each other via the through hole. The wall section is disposed inside of the cover frame such that the air flow is not directly blown against the drive circuit and the air flow having changed a direction after blown against the heat sink is not blown against the drive circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventors: Koji Kitazawa, Toshio Kumagai
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Patent number: 9796199Abstract: An ink jet apparatus includes: a head that discharges liquid; a circuit substrate that has a drive circuit for driving the head; a heat sink which has a part that is in direct or indirect contact with the circuit substrate and is able to dissipate heat generated in the circuit substrate; and a fan that generates air flow capable of cooling the heat sink. The heat sink is configured such that the air flow is not directly blown against the drive circuit and such that the air flow having changed a direction after blown against the heat sink is not blown against the drive circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2016Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Koji Kitazawa, Toshio Kumagai
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Publication number: 20160297221Abstract: An ink jet apparatus includes: a head that discharges liquid; a circuit substrate that has a drive circuit for driving the head; a heat sink which has a part that is in direct or indirect contact with the circuit substrate and is able to dissipate heat generated in the circuit substrate; and a fan that generates air flow capable of cooling the heat sink. The heat sink is configured such that the air flow is not directly blown against the drive circuit and such that the air flow having changed a direction after blown against the heat sink is not blown against the drive circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2016Publication date: October 13, 2016Inventors: Koji KITAZAWA, Toshio KUMAGAI
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Patent number: 9180666Abstract: An image recording device includes a head unit having a print head and a first substrate, a second substrate provided separate to the head unit, a support member that supports the head unit and the second substrate while a first positional relationship in which the head unit and the second substrate are close to each other and a second positional relationship in which the head unit and the second substrate are away from each other are changed. Moreover, in the first positional relationship, the head unit and the second substrate are connected to each other to form an electric signal supply path from the second substrate to the head unit, and, conversely, in the second positional relationship, the connection between the head unit and the second substrate is released such that the head unit is dismountable from the support member.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CoporationInventors: Akihisa Wanibe, Teruo Nakayama, Koji Kitazawa, Masahiko Tsuyuki
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Publication number: 20140292858Abstract: An image recording device includes a head unit having a print head and a first substrate, a second substrate provided separate to the head unit, a support member that supports the head unit and the second substrate while a first positional relationship in which the head unit and the second substrate are close to each other and a second positional relationship in which the head unit and the second substrate are away from each other are changed. Moreover, in the first positional relationship, the head unit and the second substrate are connected to each other to form an electric signal supply path from the second substrate to the head unit, and, conversely, in the second positional relationship, the connection between the head unit and the second substrate is released such that the head unit is dismountable from the support member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Akihisa WANIBE, Teruo NAKAYAMA, Koji KITAZAWA, Masahiko TSUYUKI
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Patent number: 8740342Abstract: A test apparatus for a liquid drop emission apparatus having a plurality of emission mechanisms, the emission mechanisms each having a driving element configured to emit an ink drop from a nozzle, and an application switch coupled with a driving voltage source and the driving element in series, the application switch being configured to switch a driving voltage for emission of a liquid drop between being applied and not being applied to the driving element, the test apparatus including a test switch configured to make each of the emission mechanisms output a test voltage which appears between both ends of the application switch to a test terminal, the test apparatus including a failure deciding section configured to decide whether the emission mechanism is in failure or not on the basis of the test voltage outputted to the test terminal.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2013Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Koji Kitazawa
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Patent number: 7880515Abstract: A driving circuit that drives a capacitive load includes a drive signal generator that generates a drive signal driving the capacitive load via a transistor pair in response to an analog signal, and a power-source voltage generator that generates a high-voltage power-source voltage and a low-voltage power-source voltage and that supplies the high-voltage power-source voltage and the low-voltage power-source voltage respectively to collectors of the transistors of the transistor pair via a high-voltage output terminal and a low-voltage output terminal. The power-source voltage generator includes multiple power sources connected in parallel, a backcurrent prevention diode connected between the adjacent power sources, and a switch unit that connects the adjacent power sources in series under the on-off control of a controller each time the drive signal rises above a predetermined threshold value or falls below a predetermined threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Koji Kitazawa, Noboru Tamura
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Patent number: 7852127Abstract: A driving circuit that drives a capacitive load includes a drive signal generator that generates a drive signal that drives the capacitive load via a transistor pair in response to an analog signal. A power-source voltage generator generates high-voltage and low-voltage power-source voltages and supplies the power-source voltages to collectors of the transistors via a high-voltage output terminal and a low-voltage output terminal. The power-source voltage generator includes multiple power sources connected in parallel and a switch unit that connects the adjacent power sources in series each time the drive signal rises above or falls below a predetermined threshold value. The driving circuit further includes a voltage controlling capacitor connected to the low-voltage output terminal of the power source, and a power recovery unit having a switch unit that recovers a charge accumulated in the voltage controlling capacitor back to the power source via the high-voltage output terminal.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Koji Kitazawa, Noboru Tamura
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Patent number: 7852128Abstract: A driving circuit for a capacitive load includes a driving signal generating unit that generates a driving signal for driving the capacitive load by using a pair of driving transistors. A power source voltage generating unit generates high-voltage and low-voltage power source voltages that are higher and lower, respectively, than the voltage of the driving signal and applies the voltages to collectors of the driving transistors. The power source voltage generating unit includes a pair of power source transistors and a capacitor. The low-voltage power source voltage is generated in an output side of the power-source transistor pair as a voltage that is in a voltage region lower than that of the driving signal and follows the driving signal. The high-voltage power source voltage is output from a high-voltage terminal of the capacitor, is in a voltage region higher than that of the driving signal, and follows the driving signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Koji Kitazawa, Noboru Tamura
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Patent number: 7634202Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming stations. In each image forming station an electrostatic latent image carrier and a charging member are arranged to face each other with a specified gap therebetween. A charging failure caused by an abnormal discharge in the gap is detected based on a current detection result by a current sensor, and an image forming station having an abnormality is reliably specified.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2007Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Koji Kitazawa, Shinichi Kamoshida
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Publication number: 20090206888Abstract: A driving circuit for a capacitive load includes a driving signal generating unit that generates a driving signal for driving the capacitive load by using a pair of driving transistors. A power source voltage generating unit generates high-voltage and low-voltage power source voltages that are higher and lower, respectively, than the voltage of the driving signal and applies the voltages to collectors of the driving transistors. The power source voltage generating unit includes a pair of power source transistors and a capacitor. The low-voltage power source voltage is generated in an output side of the power-source transistor pair as a voltage that is in a voltage region lower than that of the driving signal and follows the driving signal. The high-voltage power source voltage is output from a high-voltage terminal of the capacitor, is in a voltage region higher than that of the driving signal, and follows the driving signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Koji KITAZAWA, Noboru TAMURA
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Publication number: 20090189957Abstract: A driving circuit that drives a capacitive load includes a drive signal generator that generates a drive signal that drives the capacitive load via a transistor pair in response to an analog signal. A power-source voltage generator generates high-voltage and low-voltage power-source voltages and supplies the power-source voltages to collectors of the transistors via a high-voltage output terminal and a low-voltage output terminal. The power-source voltage generator includes multiple power sources connected in parallel and a switch unit that connects the adjacent power sources in series each time the drive signal rises above or falls below a predetermined threshold value. The driving circuit further includes a voltage controlling capacitor connected to the low-voltage output terminal of the power source, and a power recovery unit having a switch unit that recovers a charge accumulated in the voltage controlling capacitor back to the power source via the high-voltage output terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2009Publication date: July 30, 2009Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Koji KITAZAWA, Noboru TAMURA
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Publication number: 20090189453Abstract: A driving circuit that drives a capacitive load includes a drive signal generator that generates a drive signal driving the capacitive load via a transistor pair in response to an analog signal, and a power-source voltage generator that generates a high-voltage power-source voltage and a low-voltage power-source voltage and that supplies the high-voltage power-source voltage and the low-voltage power-source voltage respectively to collectors of the transistors of the transistor pair via a high-voltage output terminal and a low-voltage output terminal. The power-source voltage generator includes multiple power sources connected in parallel, a backcurrent prevention diode connected between the adjacent power sources, and a switch unit that connects the adjacent power sources in series under the on-off control of a controller each time the drive signal rises above a predetermined threshold value or falls below a predetermined threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2009Publication date: July 30, 2009Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Koji Kitazawa, Noboru Tamura