Patents by Inventor Masafumi Ide

Masafumi Ide 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: 9995889
    Abstract: Provided is a mounting component for an optical fiber that allows a laser device and an optical fiber to be aligned with higher precision while providing protection for the laser device mounted on a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kaoru Yoda, Masafumi Ide
  • Patent number: 9798153
    Abstract: Provided is a projection apparatus for projecting an image which can be seen stereoscopically, wherein the apparatus is made smaller and the definition of the projected image is higher than would be the case if the present configuration were not employed. The projection apparatus is an apparatus for projecting an image which can be seen stereoscopically, by scanning with one set of at least red, green, and blue laser beams, and includes a light source section that emits the laser beams, a scan section that scans a projection region two-dimensionally with the laser beams, and a microlens array that includes microlenses on which the laser beams from the scan section are incident and that changes emission angles of the laser beams in accordance with incident positions of the laser beams on the microlenses to create a light ray field in which light rays whose positions and directions are controlled are emitted from each point on surfaces of the microlenses in accordance with an image to be projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masafumi Ide
  • Patent number: 9725307
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a microchannel including an approximately circular cross section with neither a joined surface nor an inlet in a smaller number of steps than has been conventional. The method for producing a microchannel includes the steps of forming a layer of an uncured curable resin (2) on a substrate (1), inserting into the curable resin a needle body (3) that can inject a liquid (4), injecting a liquid in a tubular shape into the curable resin via the needle body while moving the needle body, extracting the needle body from the curable resin, and curing the curable resin to form a channel (4A) in a tubular region injected with the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignees: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD., KEIO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Seiko Kato, Masafumi Ide, Takaaki Nozaki, Takaaki Takeishi, Takaaki Ishigure, Kazutomo Soma
  • Patent number: 9664859
    Abstract: Provided is a downsized connector for a multicore fiber and a plurality of single-mode fibers which can simplify the core alignment process between the fibers. The optical fiber connector includes a mount substrate, a multicore fiber including a plurality of cores arrayed in the same plane, a first sub-substrate configured to fix an end part of the multicore fiber, and to be bonded on the mount substrate, a plurality of single-mode fibers including at least the same number of fibers as the plurality of cores of the multicore fiber, and a second sub-substrate configured to fix end parts of the plurality of single-mode fibers, and to be bonded on the mount substrate. A relative position between the first sub-substrate and the second sub-substrate is determined, so that the plurality of cores of the multicore fiber and the plurality of single-mode fibers of the same number as the plurality of cores are optically coupled, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masafumi Ide, Kaoru Yoda
  • Patent number: 9631781
    Abstract: The invention is directed to the provision of an optical integrated device wherein provisions are made to be able to mount components on a substrate with high accuracy and high packing density without having to heat the components. The optical integrated device includes a substrate, an optical device optically coupled to a first device, and an electrical device mounted on top of the optical device or on top of a second device, wherein the optical device is bonded to the substrate by surface activated bonding via a first bonding portion formed from a metallic material on the substrate, and the electrical device is bonded to the optical device or the second device by surface activated bonding via a second bonding portion formed from a metallic material on the optical device or the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masafumi Ide, Kaoru Yoda
  • Publication number: 20170102508
    Abstract: Provided is a mounting component for an optical fiber that allows a laser device and an optical fiber to be aligned with higher precision while providing protection for the laser device mounted on a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Kaoru YODA, Masafumi IDE
  • Publication number: 20170010473
    Abstract: Provided is a projection apparatus for projecting an image which can be seen stereoscopically, wherein the apparatus is made smaller and the definition of the projected image is higher than would be the case if the present configuration were not employed. The projection apparatus is an apparatus for projecting an image which can be seen stereoscopically, by scanning with one set of at least red, green, and blue laser beams, and includes a light source section that emits the laser beams, a scan section that scans a projection region two-dimensionally with the laser beams, and a microlens array that includes microlenses on which the laser beams from the scan section are incident and that changes emission angles of the laser beams in accordance with incident positions of the laser beams on the microlenses to create a light ray field in which light rays whose positions and directions are controlled are emitted from each point on surfaces of the microlenses in accordance with an image to be projected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventor: Masafumi IDE
  • Patent number: 9470957
    Abstract: The invention is directed to the provision of an optical device in which provisions are made to form a gap between an optical waveguide and a substrate without having to form a groove or the like in the substrate and to prevent any stress from being applied to an optical element even when it is heated by a heater for temperature adjustment. More specifically, the invention provides an optical device includes a substrate, an optical element with an optical waveguide formed in a surface thereof that faces the substrate, bonding portions formed on the substrate at positions that oppose each other across the optical waveguide, a heater, formed on at least one of the optical element and the substrate, for heating the optical waveguide, and a micro bump structure formed from a metallic material, wherein the optical element is bonded to the bonding portions via the micro bump structure in such a manner that a gap is formed between the optical waveguide and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masafumi Ide, Takaaki Nozaki, Kaoru Yoda, Yosuke Abe
  • Patent number: 9448360
    Abstract: Provided is an optical element having an optical waveguide region that can propagate azimuthally polarized light or radially polarized light while maintaining the direction of polarization. The optical element has a resin layer and an optical waveguide region that is formed in the resin layer and guides light in the lengthwise direction of the resin layer. Liquid crystal molecules are oriented in an approximately radiating shape in a cross section perpendicular to the lengthwise direction in the optical waveguide region, and the refractive index of the optical waveguide region is greater than that of the resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiko Kato, Masafumi Ide
  • Patent number: 9438871
    Abstract: Provided is a projection apparatus that can enhance the efficiency of utilization of RGB laser lights, eliminate positional displacement in projection point caused by spaced-apart fiber cores emitting the laser lights, and detect additional information while projecting an image with the laser lights. The projection apparatus includes a laser light source emitting infrared and RGB laser lights, a fixing device fixing end portions of an infrared-light fiber and colored-light fibers used to transmit the infrared and RGB laser lights, a scanning unit projecting an image on a projection surface by scanning the projection surface with the RGB laser lights emitted from the end portions of the colored-light fibers, a detection unit detecting reflection of the infrared laser light emitted from the end portion of the infrared-light fiber, and a control unit controlling emission of the RGB laser lights from the light source, based on information detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masafumi Ide, Shinpei Fukaya, Masaya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9304358
    Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal device and a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal device which has high durability in an environment of high temperature and high humidity, and which can be applied to optical communication device. A liquid crystal device and a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal device includes a first substrate provided with a frame shaped seal region for encapsulating a liquid crystal layer, and a second substrate provided in opposition to the first substrate, wherein a gold frame shaped structure is provided in the seal region of the first substrate so as to be crushed and deformed to form metallic bond when superimposed and joined to the second substrate, and wherein a gold film is disposed in the portion of the second substrate opposed to the gold frame shaped structure so as to form metallic bond to the gold frame shaped structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masafumi Ide, Takaaki Nozaki, Takaaki Takeishi, Kenichiro Kimura, Kaoru Yoda
  • Patent number: 9297945
    Abstract: Provided is a light source device having optical fiber arrays arranged so that different sets of RGB laser lights are focused at different depth positions, while enhancing the efficiency of light utilization. The light source device includes a plurality of optical devices each of which generate red, green, or blue laser light, a plurality of first, second, and third optical fibers through each of which the red, green, or blue laser light from a corresponding one of the plurality of optical devices is guided, and a fiber bundle combiner which forms a fiber bundle by fixedly holding together end portions of the plurality of first, second, and third optical fibers in such a manner that a plurality of optical fiber sets, each comprising three optical fibers one from the first optical fibers, one from the second optical fibers, and one from the third optical fibers, are stacked in layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masafumi Ide, Shinpei Fukaya, Kaoru Yoda
  • Patent number: 9285601
    Abstract: A light source unit (110) emits linearly polarized laser light of a given wavelength. A wave plate (121) transmits the laser light emitted from the light source unit (110) and has a phase delay axis of which the direction is adjusted to about 0 degrees with respect to the polarization direction (101) of the laser light. A liquid crystal cell (123) transmits laser light that has passed through the wave plate (121) and by a switchable rotation amount, rotates the polarization direction (101) of the laser light transmitted through the liquid crystal cell (123). A wave plate (125) transmits laser light that has passed through the liquid crystal cell (123); and further has a phase delay axis of which the direction is adjusted to about 0 degrees with respect to the polarization direction (101) of the laser light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masafumi Ide, Seiko Kato, Takaaki Takeishi
  • Patent number: 9257812
    Abstract: Provided is a laser module wherein any defective laser device can be isolated by performing burn-in on laser devices mounted on a mounting substrate. The laser module includes laser devices that emit laser light, a driver IC for driving the laser devices, a mounting substrate on which the laser devices and the driver IC are mounted, a common electrode terminal to which a common electrode of the laser devices is connected, individual electrode terminals to which individual electrodes of the laser devices are respectively connected, driver terminals to which the driver IC is connected, and test terminals which are respectively connected to the common electrode terminal and the individual electrode terminals, and to which an external power supply is to be connected when performing burn-in of the laser devices, wherein the number of the laser devices and the number of the test terminals are each larger than the number of the driver terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masafumi Ide, Kaoru Yoda, Shinpei Fukaya
  • Publication number: 20160025935
    Abstract: Provided is a downsized connector for a multicore fiber and a plurality of single-mode fibers which can simplify the core alignment process between the fibers. The optical fiber connector includes a mount substrate, a multicore fiber including a plurality of cores arrayed in the same plane, a first sub-substrate configured to fix an end part of the multicore fiber, and to be bonded on the mount substrate, a plurality of single-mode fibers including at least the same number of fibers as the plurality of cores of the multicore fiber, and a second sub-substrate configured to fix end parts of the plurality of single-mode fibers, and to be bonded on the mount substrate. A relative position between the first sub-substrate and the second sub-substrate is determined, so that the plurality of cores of the multicore fiber and the plurality of single-mode fibers of the same number as the plurality of cores are optically coupled, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Masafumi IDE, Kaoru YODA
  • Patent number: 9240671
    Abstract: A laser light source (100) includes a laser element (102) that emits a fundamental wave, a wavelength converting element (104) that performs wavelength conversion on the fundamental wave emitted from the laser element (102) and outputs the converted wave, and an optical waveguide (103) that guides the light output from the wavelength converting element (104). The optical waveguide (103) has a direction changing portion (113) that changes the travel direction of the guided light. The direction changing portion (113) has a function of transmitting the converted wave alone and of not transmitting the fundamental wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masafumi Ide
  • Patent number: 9229584
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the provision of an information input apparatus that can change the projection position of an input image by tracking a target object and can detect an information input to the input image. More specifically, the invention provides an information input apparatus includes a projection unit which projects an input image, a projection position changing unit which changes the projection position of the input image, a detection sensor which detects the position of a detection target, and an information detection unit which causes the projection position changing unit to change the projection position of the input image by tracking the position of the detection target detected by the detection sensor, and which detects an information input to the input image based on data supplied from the detection sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masafumi Ide, Masaya Suzuki, Yosuke Abe, Takaaki Nozaki, Akio Yoshinaga, Yuji Noda
  • Patent number: 9195114
    Abstract: The invention is directed to the provision of an optical device in which provisions are made to form a gap between an optical waveguide and a substrate without having to form a groove or the like in the substrate and to prevent any stress from being applied to an optical element even when it is heated by a heater for temperature adjustment. More specifically, the invention provides an optical device includes a substrate, an optical element with an optical waveguide formed in a surface thereof that faces the substrate, bonding portions formed on the substrate at positions that oppose each other across the optical waveguide, a heater, formed on at least one of the optical element and the substrate, for heating the optical waveguide, and a micro bump structure formed from a metallic material, wherein the optical element is bonded to the bonding portions via the micro bump structure in such a manner that a gap is formed between the optical waveguide and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masafumi Ide, Takaaki Nozaki, Kaoru Yoda, Yosuke Abe
  • Publication number: 20150329354
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a microchannel including an approximately circular cross section with neither a joined surface nor an inlet in a smaller number of steps than has been conventional. The method for producing a microchannel includes the steps of forming a layer of an uncured curable resin (2) on a substrate (1), inserting into the curable resin a needle body (3) that can inject a liquid (4), injecting a liquid in a tubular shape into the curable resin via the needle body while moving the needle body, extracting the needle body from the curable resin, and curing the curable resin to form a channel (4A) in a tubular region injected with the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Seiko KATO, Masafumi IDE, Takaaki NOZAKI, Takaaki TAKEISHI, Takaaki ISHIGURE, Kazutomo SOMA
  • Publication number: 20150323734
    Abstract: Provided is an optical element having an optical waveguide region that can propagate azimuthally polarized light or radially polarized light while maintaining the direction of polarization. The optical element has a resin layer and an optical waveguide region that is formed in the resin layer and guides light in the lengthwise direction of the resin layer. Liquid crystal molecules are oriented in an approximately radiating shape in a cross section perpendicular to the lengthwise direction in the optical waveguide region, and the refractive index of the optical waveguide region is greater than that of the resin layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Seiko KATO, Masafumi IDE