Patents by Inventor Makoto Okeya

Makoto Okeya 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: 10747248
    Abstract: Across the entire operating temperature range, and without requiring a new transistor element, the constant voltage output by a constant voltage circuit can be controlled to a voltage greater than or equal to the stop-oscillating voltage and as low as possible. A resistance 11b that negatively feeds back a reference current Iref is connected between the gate and source of a depletion mode n-channel transistor 11a configured to produce the reference current Iref on which the constant voltage VREG is based. The resistance of resistance 11b has a gradient to temperature change of the same sign as the gradient of the difference between the constant voltage and the stop-oscillating voltage to temperature change when the gradient of the resistance value of the resistance to temperature change is 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Makoto Okeya
  • Publication number: 20190294190
    Abstract: Across the entire operating temperature range, and without requiring a new transistor element, the constant voltage output by a constant voltage circuit can be controlled to a voltage greater than or equal to the stop-oscillating voltage and as low as possible. A resistance 11b that negatively feeds back a reference current Iref is connected between the gate and source of a depletion mode n-channel transistor 11a configured to produce the reference current Iref on which the constant voltage VREG is based. The resistance of resistance 11b has a gradient to temperature change of the same sign as the gradient of the difference between the constant voltage and the stop-oscillating voltage to temperature change when the gradient of the resistance value of the resistance to temperature change is 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Makoto OKEYA
  • Patent number: 9740172
    Abstract: An analog electronic timepiece is an analog electronic watch capable of displaying a plurality of types of calendar information, and includes a first index adapted to indicate the type of the calendar information, and a second index adapted to indicate a value of the calendar information of the type indicated by the first index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kojima, Makoto Okeya
  • Publication number: 20160223991
    Abstract: An analog electronic timepiece is an analog electronic watch capable of displaying a plurality of types of calendar information, and includes a first index adapted to indicate the type of the calendar information, and a second index adapted to indicate a value of the calendar information of the type indicated by the first index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Hiroyuki KOJIMA, Makoto OKEYA
  • Patent number: 9354610
    Abstract: An analog electronic timepiece including: a second hand; a driver configured to drive the second hand; a current time display processor configured to control the driver to move the second hand at a first time interval such that the second hand indicates a second of a current time; and a measured time display processor configured to control the driver to move the second hand at a second time interval different from the first time interval such that the second hand indicates a second of a measured time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignees: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, CASIO COMPUTER Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Okeya, Katsuaki Karasawa, Hideyuki Arai
  • Publication number: 20150309477
    Abstract: An analog electronic timepiece including: a second hand; a driver configured to drive the second hand; a current time display processor configured to control the driver to move the second hand at a first time interval such that the second hand indicates a second of a current time; and a measured time display processor configured to control the driver to move the second hand at a second time interval different from the first time interval such that the second hand indicates a second of a measured time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Makoto OKEYA, Katsuaki KARASAWA, Hideyuki ARAI
  • Patent number: 7675218
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a power source, a piezoelectric actuator A, and a drive control apparatus 100 for controlling the driving of the piezoelectric actuator, wherein the drive control apparatus 100 is provided with a drive circuit 111 for supplying a drive signal SDR to the piezoelectric element of the vibrating body 12, a phase difference detection means 120 for detecting the phase difference indicating the vibration state of the vibrating body 12, a comparison voltage setting circuit 133 for correcting the target phase difference to be the target for the vibration state, and a drive frequency setting means 140 for comparing the phase difference with the target phase difference; and the piezoelectric actuator A can be driven with high efficiency independent of the drive voltage by modifying the drive frequency of the drive signal SDR so that the phase difference approaches the target phase difference based on the results of the above comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kawaguchi, Akihiro Sawada, Yutaka Yamazaki, Makoto Okeya
  • Patent number: 7663978
    Abstract: In an electronic device 1 comprising a battery 200 and a piezoelectric actuator A, a power source voltage before drive control is started is maintained by a sample holding circuit 102, a reference voltage is set by a reference voltage generating circuit 103 on the basis of the power source voltage, and a control circuit 106 stops driving when the power source voltage falls below a drive stop voltage as compared by a second comparison circuit 105, and begins driving the piezoelectric actuator A again when the power source voltage exceeds the reference voltage as compared by a first comparison circuit 104. Therefore, the device can be more easily reduced in size by using a small power source, and the driving time can be markedly reduced using an intermittent driving procedure that corresponds to the conditions of the battery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kawaguchi, Joji Kitahara, Makoto Okeya
  • Publication number: 20070278976
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a power source, a piezoelectric actuator A, and a drive control apparatus 100 for controlling the driving of the piezoelectric actuator, wherein the drive control apparatus 100 is provided with a drive circuit 111 for supplying a drive signal SDR to the piezoelectric element of the vibrating body 12, a phase difference detection means 120 for detecting the phase difference indicating the vibration state of the vibrating body 12, a comparison voltage setting circuit 133 for correcting the target phase difference to be the target for the vibration state, and a drive frequency setting means 140 for comparing the phase difference with the target phase difference; and the piezoelectric actuator A can be driven with high efficiency independent of the drive voltage by modifying the drive frequency of the drive signal SDR so that the phase difference approaches the target phase difference based on the results of the above comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kawaguchi, Akihiro Sawada, Yutaka Yamazaki, Makoto Okeya
  • Patent number: 7298066
    Abstract: A drive apparatus for a piezoelectric actuator prevents locking drive frequency in a state of resonance due to harmonics. There is no need to provide external components to filter, and circuitry can easily be reduced in size. The drive apparatus has a phase difference-DC conversion circuit to detect vibrating state of the vibrating body, a comparison circuit, a harmonics detection circuit to detect that the vibrating body is resonating due to harmonics and outputting a harmonics detection signal, an integration circuit to control the frequency of the drive signal supplied to the piezoelectric element of the vibrating body, a variable frequency oscillation circuit, and a drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kawaguchi, Akihiro Sawada, Yutaka Yamazaki, Makoto Okeya
  • Patent number: 7119475
    Abstract: A drive device for a piezoelectric actuator, wherein the time needed to achieve highly efficient drive conditions is shortened to reduce power consumption, and stabilized control can be performed. The device has a phase difference detection device (phase difference/voltage conversion circuit (51)) for detecting detection signals of longitudinal oscillation and bending oscillation from an oscillator (5) and detecting the phase difference between these two signals, frequency control devices (52 to 56) for comparing the phase difference detected by the phase difference detection device with a standard phase difference value and controlling the frequency of a drive signal sent to a piezoelectric element (17) on the basis of the results of this comparison, and an amplitude detection device (amplitude detection circuit (57)) for detecting the amplitude of the detection signal of the piezoelectric element (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Matsuzaki, Takashi Kawaguchi, Makoto Okeya
  • Patent number: 7079451
    Abstract: A time measurement device includes a power generator 2, secondary power source 31, current time counters 922 and 932, receiver circuit 42 for receiving a time standard radio wave, time display means 5 for displaying the current time, power detector 83 for outputting a power detection signal when the power generator 2 is in a power generating state or when a voltage stored in the secondary power source 31 is at a predetermined voltage value, operation mode switcher 874 switching, in response to the power detection signal, between a power saving mode in which time display is suspended and a standard mode in which time display is not suspended. The operation mode switcher 874 causes the time display means 5 to display the current time based on the time information counted by the time counters 922 and 932 and the time information received by the receiver circuit in response to the device being switched from the power saving mode to the standard mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Okeya
  • Publication number: 20060113863
    Abstract: A drive apparatus for a piezoelectric actuator prevents locking drive frequency in a state of resonance due to harmonics. There is no need to provide external components to filter, and circuitry can easily be reduced in size. The drive apparatus has a phase difference-DC conversion circuit to detect vibrating state of the vibrating body, a comparison circuit, a harmonics detection circuit to detect that the vibrating body is resonating due to harmonics and outputting a harmonics detection signal, an integration circuit to control the frequency of the drive signal supplied to the piezoelectric element of the vibrating body, a variable frequency oscillation circuit, and a drive circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kawaguchi, Akihiro Sawada, Yutaka Yamazaki, Makoto Okeya
  • Publication number: 20050231184
    Abstract: In an electronic device 1 comprising a battery 200 and a piezoelectric actuator A, a power source voltage before drive control is started is maintained by a sample holding circuit 102, a reference voltage is set by a reference voltage generating circuit 103 on the basis of the power source voltage, and a control circuit 106 stops driving when the power source voltage falls below a drive stop voltage as compared by a second comparison circuit 105, and begins driving the piezoelectric actuator A again when the power source voltage exceeds the reference voltage as compared by a first comparison circuit 104. Therefore, the device can be more easily reduced in size by using a small power source, and the driving time can be markedly reduced using an intermittent driving procedure that corresponds to the conditions of the battery voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kawaguchi, Joji Kitahara, Makoto Okeya
  • Publication number: 20040239381
    Abstract: A drive device for a piezoelectric actuator, wherein the time needed to achieve highly efficient drive conditions is shortened to reduce power consumption, and stabilized control can be performed. The device has a phase difference detection device (phase difference/voltage conversion circuit (51)) for detecting detection signals of longitudinal oscillation and bending oscillation from an oscillator (5) and detecting the phase difference between these two signals, frequency control devices (52 to 56) for comparing the phase difference detected by the phase difference detection device with a standard phase difference value and controlling the frequency of a drive signal sent to a piezoelectric element (17) on the basis of the results of this comparison, and an amplitude detection device (amplitude detection circuit (57)) for detecting the amplitude of the detection signal of the piezoelectric element (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Matsuzaki, Takashi Kawaguchi, Makoto Okeya
  • Publication number: 20040037172
    Abstract: A time measurement device includes a power generator 2, secondary power source 31, current time counters 922 and 932, receiver circuit 42 for receiving a time standard radio wave, time display means 5 for displaying the current time, power detector 83 for outputting a power detection signal when the power generator 2 is in a power generating state or when a voltage stored in the secondary power source 31 is at a predetermined voltage value, operation mode switcher 874 switching, in response to the power detection signal, between a power saving mode in which time display is suspended and a standard mode in which time display is not suspended. The operation mode switcher 874 causes the time display means 5 to display the current time based on the time information counted by the time counters 922 and 932 and the time information received by the receiver circuit in response to the device being switched from the power saving mode to the standard mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventor: Makoto Okeya
  • Patent number: 6693851
    Abstract: When an electronic timepiece is in a power-saving mode in which the current time display is suspended, it is determined whether or not the charge voltage supplied from a high-capacity capacitor is higher than a predetermined reference voltage, and if higher, enough electrical energy is stored in the high-capacity capacitor to return from the power-saving mode to the display mode, so that a current time restoration process is performed upon detecting power generation. On the other hand, if the charge voltage is less than or equal to the predetermined reference voltage, the supply of the power supply voltage to the control circuits is stopped to prevent the electrical energy stored in the high-capacity capacitor from being consumed needlessly. As a result, the electronic timepiece can be reactivated quickly when the power generating device begins to generate power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Teruhiko Fujisawa, Makoto Okeya
  • Patent number: 6628572
    Abstract: If a supply voltage reaches a voltage level that may lead to detection errors of a supply voltage detecting circuit, then a voltage detecting operation is prohibited if generation of power that can be charged into a high-capacity secondary power source is not detected, while the voltage detecting operation is continued if the generation of power that can be charged into the high-capacity secondary power source is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yabe, Makoto Okeya
  • Patent number: 6462967
    Abstract: An oscillation circuit 80 produces an oscillation signal in accordance with the oscillation frequency of a quartz oscillator 81, and a frequency dividing circuit 90 divides the frequency of the oscillation signal to produce a sampling clock CKs having a duty ratio of 1/8. A constant-voltage circuit 70 is operated during the period in which the sampling clock CKs takes an “H” level, and is stopped during the period in which the sampling clock CKs takes an “L” level. During the period in which the constant-voltage circuit 70 stops the operation, a voltage Vreg affected by fluctuations in a second lower potential side voltage Vss2 is generated. However, since the cycle of the sampling clock CKs is short, a fluctuation width of the voltage Vreg is suppressed. Power consumption of the constant-voltage circuit 70 is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Teruhiko Fujisawa, Makoto Okeya
  • Patent number: 6424600
    Abstract: To provide a portable electronic device which is easily shifted into a power save mode at the discretion of an operator, such as a user, and optimally reduces power consumption in accordance with the current use of the device. An operator can force an electronic device into a power save mode at the operator's discretion by manipulating a control. Electrical energy stored is thus reliably saved in accordance with the usage by the operator, and unnecessary power consumption is efficiently reduced, even more than in a method in which a device automatically stops the time display and is shifted into a power save mode in accordance with the presence or absence of power generation. Setting a time limit within which the operational state of the control needs to be complete, the operator is prevented from erroneously shifting into the power save mode, and the ease of use of the time measurement device is still assured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Okeya, Noriaki Shimura, Joji Kitahara, Hiroyuki Kojima, Hiroshi Yabe