Patents by Inventor Koji Ohashi

Koji Ohashi 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: 10161916
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor which includes a substrate where an opening section is formed, a vibration plate that is provided on the substrate so as to close the opening section, and a piezoelectric element that is layered on a surface of the vibration plate on an opposite side to the opening section and includes a first electrode, a piezoelectric element, and a second electrode, includes a reflection layer that is provided in a space around the piezoelectric element on the surface of the vibration plate on an opposite side to the opening section, to reflect other ultrasonic waves which are transmitted in a different direction from a transmitted ultrasonic wave transmitted to a measuring target side on an interface between the piezoelectric element and the reflection layer, and has a thickness so as to superimpose other ultrasonic waves on the transmitted ultrasonic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Chikara Kojima, Koji Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20180326455
    Abstract: A mounting structure includes a first substrate that has a first surface on which a functional element is provided, a wiring that is provided at a position which is different from a position of the functional element on the first surface, and is connected to the functional element, a second substrate that has a second surface facing the first surface, and a conductor that is provided on the second surface, and is connected to the wiring and the functional element, in which the shortest distance between the functional element and the second substrate is longer than a distance between a position where the wiring is connected to the conductor, and the second substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Koji OHASHI, Chikara KOJIMA, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Hironori SUZUKI, Shuichi TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20180277734
    Abstract: A supporting film is provided on an opening and a wall of a substrate. A piezoelectric film is provided on a first region of the supporting film corresponding to the opening and a second region of the supporting film corresponding to the wall. The thickness of the piezoelectric film at the second region is smaller than that of the piezoelectric film provided at the first region. Therefore, vibration of the piezoelectric film in the first region is large, and vibration of the piezoelectric film in the second region is small. This alleviates disadvantages such as a loss of the vibration characteristics of a piezoelectric element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Chikara KOJIMA, Koji OHASHI
  • Publication number: 20180277737
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a first electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode layer. The first electrode layer, the piezoelectric layer, and the second electrode layer are stacked in sequence on one another. The first electrode layer has a first part overlapping the piezoelectric layer in a plan view, and a second part at least partially separated from the first part and not overlapping the piezoelectric layer in the plan view. The second electrode layer has a third part overlapping the piezoelectric layer in the plan view, and a fourth part separated from the third part. The fourth part is in contact with the first part and the second part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventor: Koji OHASHI
  • Publication number: 20180277738
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element has a first electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer on the first electrode layer, a second electrode layer on the piezoelectric layer, a third electrode layer on part of the second electrode layer and including third metal, and an insulating layer covering at least a part of the piezoelectric layer not provided with the second electrode layer and having an aperture exposing a part of the second electrode layer. The second electrode layer has a first layer including first metal and a second layer including second metal on the first layer. The second layer is exposed in the aperture. A difference in standard redox potential between the second metal and the third metal is smaller than a difference in standard redox potential between the first metal and the third metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Koji OHASHI, Takahiro KAMIJO, Katsuhiro IMAI, Takumi YAMAOKA, Chikara KOJIMA
  • Publication number: 20180204997
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a first electrode layer, a piezoelectric body layer, and a second electrode layer laminated in this order, and a conductive layer that is located from the first electrode layer to the piezoelectric body layer, in which the piezoelectric body layer includes a first portion overlapping the second electrode layer, a second portion overlapping the conductive layer, and a third portion not overlapping the second electrode layer and the conductive layer, in a plan view which is viewed from a laminate direction of the first electrode layer, the piezoelectric body layer, and the second electrode layer, and in which a thickness of at least a part of the third portion is smaller than a thickness of the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventor: Koji OHASHI
  • Publication number: 20180182949
    Abstract: An ultrasonic device includes a vibration portion, a first electrode, a piezoelectric body, and a second electrode which are laminated in this order in a laminate direction, in which an outer circumferential edge of the first electrode is larger than an outer circumferential edge of the piezoelectric body in a plan view across the laminate direction, in which the piezoelectric body includes an active portion that is provided in the vibration portion, and an extraction portion that is connected to the active portion and is provided over the inside and the outside of the vibration portion, in which a width dimension of the extraction portion is smaller than a width dimension of the active portion, and in which the second electrode is provided on the active portion and the extraction portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Chikara KOJIMA, Koji OHASHI, Hikaru IWAI, Kanechika KIYOSE
  • Publication number: 20180090666
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric element main body as a laminated body of a first electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer disposed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer disposed on the piezoelectric layer, and a metal layer disposed on the second electrode layer via an insulating layer, the piezoelectric layer extends from an inner side of at least a part of an overlapping part of an outer peripheral edge of the second electrode layer overlapping an outer peripheral edge of the piezoelectric element main body to an outer side, and the metal layer and the insulating layer extend from an inner side of at least a part of the overlapping part to an outer side to overlap the piezoelectric layer on an outer side of an outer peripheral edge of the second electrode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Koji OHASHI, Chikara KOJIMA
  • Publication number: 20180084642
    Abstract: A mounting structure includes a first substrate on which an elastic core section is provided, a conductive film that is provided over the first substrate from an upper part of the core section, and a second substrate on which a wiring portion connected to the conductive film on the core section is provided, in which the conductive film has a notch that partially exposes an end part of a surface of the core section which is in contact with the first substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Hironori SUZUKI, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Koji OHASHI
  • Publication number: 20180065509
    Abstract: The vehicle seat comprises a seat main body, a base, a bracket, a link, and a contact portion. The base is located below the seat main body. The bracket is mounted on an upper side of the base. The link is rotatably coupled, at one end thereof, to the seat main body and is rotatably coupled, at an end thereof opposing the one end, to the bracket. The contact portion is provided to the bracket to restrict a rotatable range of the link by coming in contact with the link. The contact portion comprises a first contact portion and a second contact portion. The first contact portion is arranged in a position that partially differs from a position of the second contact portion in a width direction of the seat main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji OHASHI
  • Publication number: 20180053888
    Abstract: A mounting structure includes a first substrate which has a first surface on which a functional element is provided, a second substrate that has a second surface facing the first surface, a wiring portion that is provided at a position which is different from a position of the functional element on the first surface, has a third surface facing the second surface, and is electrically connected to the functional element, and a conduction portion that is provided on the second surface, protrudes toward the first surface, and is connected to the third surface so as to be electrically connected to the functional element, in which an area of the third surface is larger than an area of a first end section of the wiring portion on the first substrate side in a plan view which is viewed from a thickness direction of the first substrate and the second substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Hironori SUZUKI, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Koji OHASHI
  • Publication number: 20180011062
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor which includes a substrate where an opening section is formed, a vibration plate that is provided on the substrate so as to close the opening section, and a piezoelectric element that is layered on a surface of the vibration plate on an opposite side to the opening section and includes a first electrode, a piezoelectric element, and a second electrode, includes a reflection layer that is provided in a space around the piezoelectric element on the surface of the vibration plate on an opposite side to the opening section, to reflect other ultrasonic waves which are transmitted in a different direction from a transmitted ultrasonic wave transmitted to a measuring target side on an interface between the piezoelectric element and the reflection layer, and has a thickness so as to superimpose other ultrasonic waves on the transmitted ultrasonic wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Chikara KOJIMA, Koji OHASHI
  • Patent number: 9821342
    Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic sensor including a piezoelectric elements arranged along a first direction and a second direction on a vibration plate, an insulation layer, and conductive lines. Each piezoelectric element including a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode. The first electrode is partially removed in a regions between the piezoelectric elements. The second electrode is a separate electrode provided for each piezoelectric element. The insulation layer covers the second electrodes and has holes through which portions at opposite ends of the second electrodes along the first direction are partially exposed. Each conductive line is provided between adjacent ones of the second electrodes along the first direction and electrically connects, via the holes, the adjacent ones of the second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Chikara Kojima, Koji Ohashi, Yoshinao Miyata
  • Patent number: 9772314
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor which includes a substrate where an opening section is formed, a vibration plate that is provided on the substrate so as to close the opening section, and a piezoelectric element that is layered on a surface of the vibration plate on an opposite side to the opening section and includes a first electrode, a piezoelectric element, and a second electrode, includes a reflection layer that is provided in a space around the piezoelectric element on the surface of the vibration plate on an opposite side to the opening section, to reflect other ultrasonic waves which are transmitted in a different direction from a transmitted ultrasonic wave transmitted to a measuring target side on an interface between the piezoelectric element and the reflection layer, and has a thickness so as to superimpose other ultrasonic waves on the transmitted ultrasonic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Chikara Kojima, Koji Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20170227502
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes: a substrate in which an opening is formed; a vibration film that is provided on the substrate so as to close the opening; a plurality of vibration elements that are disposed at positions where the vibration film and the opening overlap each other in a plan view along a thickness direction of the vibration film; a sealing plate that is disposed so as to face the vibration film, supports the vibration film, and has a surface facing the vibration film as a flat surface; and a suppressing portion that is provided between the adjacent vibration elements in the plan view, is bonded to both the vibration film and the sealing plate, and is formed of a resin material for suppressing transmission of vibration of the vibration film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Chikara KOJIMA, Koji OHASHI
  • Publication number: 20160282454
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes: a substrate disposed across an XY plane; a plurality of spaces formed in the substrate in at least one direction of an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction; a vibrating plate that is provided on the substrate such that the spaces are enclosed and that has a first surface on the substrate side and a second surface facing the first surface; a piezoelectric element that is provided at a portion on the second surface side of the vibrating plate that corresponds to the space and that transmits and/or receives an ultrasonic wave; a surrounding plate that is provided on the second surface side of the vibrating plate and surrounds a peripheral region of the piezoelectric element; and a support member provided at a position, at which the support member is not overlapped with the piezoelectric element, between a surface of the surrounding plate on the piezoelectric element side and the second surface of the vibrating plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Koji OHASHI, Chikara KOJIMA, Hikaru IWAI
  • Publication number: 20160284973
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes: when two orthogonal axes are referred to as an X axis and a Y axis and a plane formed by the X axis and the Y axis is referred to as an XY plane, a substrate disposed across the XY plane; a plurality of spaces formed in the substrate in at least one direction of an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction; a vibrating plate that is provided on the substrate such that the spaces are closed and that has a first surface on the substrate side and a second surface facing the first surface; and a piezoelectric element that is provided at a portion on the second surface side of the vibrating plate that corresponds to the space, and that transmits/receives an ultrasonic wave. At least some of the spaces are arranged to form a zigzag shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventor: Koji OHASHI
  • Patent number: 9272515
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a passage-forming substrate provided with a pressure-generating chamber communicating with a nozzle orifice for ejecting a liquid and includes a piezoelectric element including a diaphragm disposed on the passage-forming substrate, a first electrode disposed on the diaphragm, a piezoelectric layer disposed on the first electrode, and second electrode disposed on the piezoelectric layer. The diaphragm includes a metal oxide layer of a metal oxide formed by a gas-phase method and a zirconium oxide layer of zirconium oxide formed by a liquid-phase method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ohashi, Shiro Yazaki, Eiju Hirai
  • Patent number: 9254651
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejecting head including a piezoelectric element which includes a piezoelectric layer and electrodes provided on the piezoelectric layer on an upper portion of a zirconium oxide layer, in which the zirconium oxide layer is formed of granular crystal grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ohashi, Yasuhiro Itayama, Kenichi Kurokawa, Eiji Osawa, Motohisa Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9233538
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device including: a first electrode layer provided so as to overlie a substrate; a second electrode layer disposed so as to face the first electrode layer; and a piezoelectric layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The first electrode layer has a conductive layer and a barrier layer. The barrier layer is provided between the conductive layer and the piezoelectric layer so as to prevent the conductive layer from contacting the piezoelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Osawa, Koji Ohashi, Eiju Hirai