Patents by Inventor Kouichi Ohtaka

Kouichi Ohtaka 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).

  • Publication number: 20050264866
    Abstract: A center beam which is formed out of a thin film constituted to be combined with a light reflection film provided on one surface of the center beam, which has both ends fixed and which is deformed by an electronic force; a substrate electrode which is opposed to the center beam through a gap formed on the other surface of the center beam; an opposed surface which is a surface of the substrate electrode opposed to the center beam modulating the incident light on the light reflection film, the opposed surface restricting deformation of the center beam due to application of a driving voltage to the substrate electrode by abutting on the center beam; and a substrate which has the substrate electrode having the opposed surface, formed in a concave section, and which holds a to-be-held section of the center beam, are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Kouichi Ohtaka, Seiichi Katoh, Takeshi Nanjyo, Masanori Horike, Eiichi Ohta
  • Patent number: 6947195
    Abstract: A center beam which is formed out of a thin film constituted to be combined with a light reflection film provided on one surface of the center beam, which has both ends fixed and which is deformed by an electronic force; a substrate electrode which is opposed to the center beam through a gap formed on the other surface of the center beam; an opposed surface which is a surface of the substrate electrode opposed to the center beam modulating the incident light on the light reflection film, the opposed surface restricting deformation of the center beam due to application of a driving voltage to the substrate electrode by abutting on the center beam; and a substrate which has the substrate electrode having the opposed surface, formed in a concave section, and which holds a to-be-held section of the center beam, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Ohtaka, Seiichi Katoh, Takeshi Nanjyo, Masanori Horike, Eiichi Ohta
  • Publication number: 20050179973
    Abstract: Method of deflecting light includes the steps of providing a substrate and forming a supporting member on the substrate. Next forming step forms electrodes at predetermined positions on the substrate. Next forming step forms a plate-like-shaped thin film member including light reflecting means. Placing step places the plate-like-shaped thin film member on the supporting member so that an opposite surface thereof faces the electrodes. Forming step forms space regulating members on edges of the substrate for regulating a space formed above the substrate in which the plate-like-shaped thin film member is freely movable. Applying step applies predetermined voltages to the electrodes to change a tilt direction of the plate-like-shaped thin film member in accordance with the voltages applied to deflect the input light in an arbitrary direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventors: Takeshi Nanjyo, Seiichi Katoh, Kouichi Ohtaka
  • Publication number: 20050168786
    Abstract: Method of deflecting light includes the steps of providing a substrate and forming a supporting member on the substrate. Next forming step forms electrodes at predetermined positions on the substrate. Next forming step forms a plate-like-shaped thin film member including light reflecting means. Placing step places the plate-like-shaped thin film member on the supporting member so that an opposite surface thereof faces the electrodes. Forming step forms space regulating members on edges of the substrate for regulating a space formed above the substrate in which the plate-like-shaped thin film member is freely movable. Applying step applies predetermined voltages to the electrodes to change a tilt direction of the plate-like-shaped thin film member in accordance with the voltages applied to deflect the input light in an arbitrary direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Takeshi Nanjyo, Seiichi Katoh, Kouichi Ohtaka
  • Patent number: 6900915
    Abstract: Method of deflecting light includes the steps of providing a substrate and forming a supporting member on the substrate. Next forming step forms electrodes at predetermined positions on the substrate. Next forming step forms a plate-like-shaped thin film member including light reflecting means. Placing step places the plate-like-shaped thin film member on the supporting member so that an opposite surface thereof faces the electrodes. Forming step forms space regulating members on edges of the substrate for regulating a space formed above the substrate in which the plate-like-shaped thin film member is freely movable. Applying step applies predetermined voltages to the electrodes to change a tilt direction of the plate-like-shaped thin film member in accordance with the voltages applied to deflect the input light in an arbitrary direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nanjyo, Seiichi Katoh, Kouichi Ohtaka
  • Publication number: 20040263945
    Abstract: A method for driving a light deflector the method includes turning over a direction of an electric field acting on the plate shape member, in an optional period. In the method, the light deflector deflects a beam incident on a light reflection area by displacing a plate shape member having the light reflection area with an electrostatic force. The light deflector includes a substrate, a plurality of control members, a fulcrum member, the plate shape member, and a plurality of electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Takeshi Nanjyo, Seiichi Katoh, Kouichi Ohtaka
  • Publication number: 20040263936
    Abstract: A miniaturized and highly integrated optical deflection apparatus is realized in which the number of electrodes for driving the optical deflection apparatus is reduced. The optical deflection apparatus implements a sheet member that is electrically floating and plural electrodes that are implemented on a substrate. The sheet member includes a member having a light reflection region and an electret member that is charged at a predetermined electric potential. The sheet member is tilted by applying an electric potential that is substantially equivalent to an electric potential of the electret member to one of the electrodes and applying a ground potential to another one of the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Takeshi Nanjyo, Seiichi Katoh, Kouichi Ohtaka
  • Patent number: 6710949
    Abstract: A first substrate is formed with a lens, a plurality of beams for supporting the lens, and a first electrode provided on the plurality of beams. A second substrate is formed with second electrodes at location opposed to the plurality of beams through gaps. A voltage control circuit applies voltage between the first electrodes formed on the plurality of beams and the second electrodes to apply the electrostatic force to the plurality of beams to generate bending, thereby changing a tilting direction of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouichi Ohtaka
  • Publication number: 20040012667
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes optical modulation means having an one-dimensional optical modulator array wherein a plurality of optical modulators are arranged one-dimensionally; lighting means; and a scanning optical system for deflecting the beams modulated by the optical modulators in the one-dimensional optical modulator array in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the optical modulators. A plurality of the one-dimensional optical modulator arrays are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the optical modulators. The beams modulated by respective optical modulators of the one-dimensional optical modulator arrays can be irradiated on a pixel in piles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Kouichi Ohtaka, Takeshi Nanjyo, Seiichi Katoh
  • Publication number: 20030202261
    Abstract: A first substrate is formed with a lens, a plurality of beams for supporting the lens, and a first electrode provided on the plurality of beams. A second substrate is formed with second electrodes at location opposed to the plurality of beams through gaps. A voltage control circuit applies voltage between the first electrodes formed on the plurality of beams and the second electrodes to apply the electrostatic force to the plurality of beams to generate bending, thereby changing a tilting direction of the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventor: Kouichi Ohtaka
  • Patent number: 6636368
    Abstract: A first substrate is formed with a lens, a plurality of beams for supporting the lens, and a first electrode provided on the plurality of beams. A second substrate is formed with second electrodes at location opposed to the plurality of beams through gaps. A voltage control circuit applies voltage between the first electrodes formed on the plurality of beams and the second electrodes to apply the electrostatic force to the plurality of beams to generate bending, thereby changing a tilting direction of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouichi Ohtaka
  • Publication number: 20030142383
    Abstract: Method of deflecting light includes the steps of providing a substrate and forming a supporting member on the substrate. Next forming step forms electrodes at predetermined positions on the substrate. Next forming step forms a plate-like-shaped thin film member including light reflecting means. Placing step places the plate-like-shaped thin film member on the supporting member so that an opposite surface thereof faces the electrodes. Forming step forms space regulating members on edges of the substrate for regulating a space formed above the substrate in which the plate-like-shaped thin film member is freely movable. Applying step applies predetermined voltages to the electrodes to change a tilt direction of the plate-like-shaped thin film member in accordance with the voltages applied to deflect the input light in an arbitrary direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Takeshi Nanjyo, Seiichi Katoh, Kouichi Ohtaka
  • Patent number: 6485126
    Abstract: An ink jet head that can be easily connected to an external circuit is provided without an increase in the number of production procedures. Diaphragms and a diaphragm external electrode having the same thickness as the diaphragms are formed on a silicon substrate that is a first substrate located on the same plane as the diaphragms. The diaphragm external electrode is located within 2 &mgr;m from the individual external electrodes of a plurality of electrodes on a second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Kato, Kouichi Ohtaka, Makoto Tanaka, Eiji Mochizuki
  • Publication number: 20020109899
    Abstract: A center beam which is formed out of a thin film constituted to be combined with a light reflection film provided on one surface of the center beam, which has both ends fixed and which is deformed by an electronic force; a substrate electrode which is opposed to the center beam through a gap formed on the other surface of the center beam; an opposed surface which is a surface of the substrate electrode opposed to the center beam modulating the incident light on the light reflection film, the opposed surface restricting deformation of the center beam due to application of a driving voltage to the substrate electrode by abutting on the center beam; and a substrate which has the substrate electrode having the opposed surface, formed in a concave section, and which holds a to-be-held section of the center beam, are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Kouichi Ohtaka, Seiichi katoh, Takeshi Nanjyo, Masanori Horike, Eiichi Ohta
  • Publication number: 20020060863
    Abstract: A first substrate is formed with a lens, a plurality of beams for supporting the lens, and a first electrode provided on the plurality of beams. A second substrate is formed with second electrodes at location opposed to the plurality of beams through gaps. A voltage control circuit applies voltage between the first electrodes formed on the plurality of beams and the second electrodes to apply the electrostatic force to the plurality of beams to generate bending, thereby changing a tilting direction of the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventor: Kouichi Ohtaka
  • Patent number: 6367914
    Abstract: An electrostatic ink-jet head includes an oscillation plate which defines a bottom of a pressurizing chamber. An electrode substrate is bonded to the oscillation plate and includes a recessed portion that defines an internal space between the oscillation plate and the electrode substrate. A curved electrode is arranged on the recessed portion so as to face the oscillation plate via the internal space. When a driving voltage is applied to the electrode, the electrode actuates the oscillation plate via an electrostatic force, so as to pressurize ink in the pressurizing chamber, thereby ejecting an ink drop onto the recording paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Ohtaka, Eiichi Ohta, Mitsugu Irinoda, Yohichiro Miyaguchi, Takeshi Takemoto, Kenichiro Hashimoto, Makoto Tanaka, Yutaka Ebi
  • Patent number: 6332669
    Abstract: An ink jet head of the present invention compresses ink with an electrostatic force generated between each vibration plate and a counter electrode facing it. A glass substrate is formed with through holes in which a conductor is buried. A metal wiring pattern and conductor bumps are provided on the rear of each counter electrode. The conductor bumps and counter electrodes associated therewith are electrically connected together. Ink is fed from the rear of the glass substrate to a common ink chamber via a through hole assigned to ink feed. A metal wiring pattern on the rear of the glass substrate allows the conductor bumps to be arranged at any desired positions. The head does not need any flexible printed circuit board or any wiring substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Kato, Kouichi Ohtaka, Hiromichi Komai, Junichi Azumi
  • Patent number: 6324149
    Abstract: An optical-pick-up device focuses a coherent light beam to form a spot on an optical recording medium, and performs recording/reproducing of information with respect to the optical recording medium. The optical-pick-up device includes a substrate and an objective lens which is provided on one side of the substrate and focuses the coherent light beam at an exposed surface situated on another side of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironobu Mifune, Kouichi Ohtaka
  • Patent number: 5448113
    Abstract: A micro metal-wiring construction comprises a substrate having a first insulating layer thereon, a metal wiring formed on the first insulating layer of the substrate, and a second insulating layer covering the metal wiring. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the metal wiring is greater than those of the first and the second insulating layers. Intersection lines formed between grain boundaries of the metal wiring and a surface of the first insulating layer is nearly perpendicular to an extending direction of the metal wiring and an angle between grain boundary planes and a line that is perpendicular to a surface of the first insulating layer is greater than 20 degrees. Metal-wiring having a good resistance against stress-induced-migration is obtained by providing when this angle is greater than 20.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Ricoh Research Institute of General Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouei Suzuki, Kouichi Ohtaka, Ikue Kawashima, Shuichi Hikichi
  • Patent number: 5304357
    Abstract: An apparatus for zone melting a thin semiconductor film comprises an first laser for heating the thin semiconductor film, at least one additional laser for heating an insulating substrate, a first temperature detecting device for detecting the temperature of a melted portion of the thin semiconductor film, and a second temperature detecting device for detecting the temperature of a solidified portion of the thin semiconductor film. The apparatus further comprises a first controller for controlling an output of the first laser so as to maintain the temperature of the melted portion in a first predetermined temperature range, and a second controller for controlling an output of the additional laser so as to maintain the temperature of the solidified portion in a second predetermined temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Ricoh Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukito Sato, Mitsugu Irinoda, Kouichi Ohtaka, Takeshi Hino, Masafumi Kumano