Patents by Inventor Masahiko Hitomi

Masahiko Hitomi 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: 7715280
    Abstract: The invention provides a rechargeable electronic timepiece that restarts the operation of a clock circuit by inputting a power source, thereby securely confirming the clock operation. The electronic timepiece includes a first power source (2), a clock circuit (8) connected to the first power source, a power source input detecting circuit (86) for detecting an input of a second power source (3), a switch circuit (7, 9) for connecting the first power source and the second power source, and a control circuit (87) for controlling the switch circuit to connect the first power source and the second power source so that the first power source is charged by the second power source thereby operating the clock circuit when the power source input detecting circuit detects an input of the second power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Murakami, Motoki Funahashi, Masahiko Hitomi, Yoichi Nagata
  • Patent number: 7560980
    Abstract: A constant voltage generating circuit according to the present invention includes a reference voltage generation source 1, a differential amplifier 2 that receives an output voltage (REF1) of the reference voltage generation source 1 at one terminal and receives a potential (VREF2), generated by adding a predetermined potential difference to a regulator voltage (VREG), at another terminal, and switching means 6 that controls the current amount of an output terminal 10 of the reference voltage generation source 1 so that the current amount increases for a fixed period of time immediately after the power is turned on. The switching means 6, which is turned on/off based on VREF2, stabilizes the output voltage (REF1) of the reference voltage generation source 1 quickly after the power is turned on and then stabilizes the regulator voltage (VREG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Hitomi, Masashi Shimozuru
  • Publication number: 20080018386
    Abstract: A constant voltage generating circuit according to the present invention includes a reference voltage generation source 1, a differential amplifier 2 that receives an output voltage (REF1) of the reference voltage generation source 1 at one terminal and receives a potential (VREF2), generated by adding a predetermined potential difference to a regulator voltage (VREG), at another terminal, and switching means 6 that controls the current amount of an output terminal 10 of the reference voltage generation source 1 so that the current amount increases for a fixed period of time immediately after the power is turned on. The switching means 6, which is turned on/off based on VREF2, stabilizes the output voltage (REF1) of the reference voltage generation source 1 quickly after the power is turned on and then stabilizes the regulator voltage (VREG).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Hitomi, Masashi Shimozuru
  • Patent number: 7151419
    Abstract: An oscillation-stop detection circuit includes a switching unit that repeats turning on and off based on a cycle of an oscillation signal from an outside; a capacitor that is charged when the switching unit is turned on, and discharged when the switching unit is turned off; a first MOS transistor that flows a discharge current of the capacitor when the capacitor is discharged; a discharge cutoff unit that cuts off a discharge path for the discharge current to flow, for a predetermined time right after a power is turned on; and a detecting unit that detects a status of the oscillation signal based on a voltage of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Hitomi, Masashi Shimozuru
  • Publication number: 20060120221
    Abstract: The invention provides a rechargeable electronic timepiece that restarts the operation of a clock circuit by inputting a power source, thereby securely confirming the clock operation. The electronic timepiece includes a first power source (2), a clock circuit (8) connected to the first power source, a power source input detecting circuit (86) for detecting an input of a second power source (3), a switch circuit (7, 9) for connecting the first power source and the second power source, and a control circuit (87) for controlling the switch circuit to connect the first power source and the second power source so that the first power source is charged by the second power source thereby operating the clock circuit when the power source input detecting circuit detects an input of the second power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Murakami, Motoki Funahashi, Masahiko Hitomi, Yoichi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20050195044
    Abstract: An oscillation-stop detection circuit includes a switching unit that repeats turning on and off based on a cycle of an oscillation signal from an outside; a capacitor that is charged when the switching unit is turned on, and discharged when the switching unit is turned off; a first MOS transistor that flows a discharge current of the capacitor when the capacitor is discharged; a discharge cutoff unit that cuts off a discharge path for the discharge current to flow, for a predetermined time right after a power is turned on; and a detecting unit that detects a status of the oscillation signal based on a voltage of the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Inventors: Masahiko Hitomi, Masashi Shimozuru