Patents by Inventor Masaru Uno

Masaru Uno 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: 9395510
    Abstract: A lens holding device includes a movable part having a coil attached to a lens holder holding a lens and includes a magnet part arranged around an outer peripheral side of the movable part so as to face the coil. The lens holding device includes a support part which supports the movable part so as to move relatively and a spring which connects the movable part and the support part resiliently. The magnet part includes a resin and has an alignment part which positions the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Uno, Kazutomo Imi, Noriyuki Kawano, Kazuhiko Inoue, Masashi Gotoh, Osamu Ohhata, Shintarou Koike, Yasuhide Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9140875
    Abstract: A lens drive device comprises a base, a lens holder, a piezoelectric actuator having a pair of frictional parts, and a pressing piece. The lens holder has a barrel, a projection projecting from the barrel, a support separated from the barrel, and a joint joining the projection and the support to each other. The pressing piece presses the piezoelectric actuator against the barrel so as to keep such a state that at least one of the pair of frictional parts is in contact with the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Uno, Kazutomo Imi
  • Patent number: 9041270
    Abstract: A driving apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element (12) expanding and contracting in accordance with a driving pulse signal (40, 42), a supporting shaft (14) connected to said piezoelectric element, a movable body (20) frictionally engaged with said supporting shaft and capable of moving along said supporting shaft, and a driving portion (30) applying said driving pulse signal having a voltage value that corresponds to a driving voltage value (VD) to said piezoelectric element in order to cause relative movement of said movable body to said supporting shaft, wherein a driving voltage waveform (50) showing a time-varying of said driving voltage value has a first dropping portion (55) where said driving voltage value sharply drops from a first value (V1) to a second value (V2), a second dropping portion (56) where said driving voltage value slowly drops from said second value (V2) to a third value (V3) compared with said first dropping portion, and a third dropping portion (57) where said driving voltage val
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Haga, Masaru Uno
  • Patent number: 8964315
    Abstract: A lens drive device comprises a lens holder, a piezoelectric actuator, a ball member held rotatably, and an biasing member configured to apply an biasing force to the lens holder toward the piezoelectric actuator through the ball member. The lens holder has a projection projecting outward from an outer peripheral surface and extending in a direction intersecting the projecting direction and optical axis. A side wall face of the projection is formed with a groove extending along the optical axis and engaging the ball member. A position receiving the biasing force from the biasing member and a position receiving the drive force from the actuator in the lens holder oppose each other through the projection interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Suzuki, Kazutomo Imi, Masaru Uno
  • Publication number: 20140307319
    Abstract: A lens holding unit is held so that it can relatively move with respect to a base part to a direction vertical to an optical axis direction. The lens holding unit has a lens holder, a magnet part, and a spring. The lens holder has a first coil. The magnet part has a first magnet part which includes a first face facing to the first coil and a second magnet part which includes a second face vertical to the first face and constitutes a magnetic domain different from that of the first magnet part. These first magnet part and second magnet part are integrated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Masaru UNO, Kazutomo IMI, Noriyuki KAWANO, Kazuhiko INOUE, Masashi GOTOH, Osamu OHHATA, Shintarou KOIKE, Yasuhide YAMASHITA
  • Publication number: 20140307341
    Abstract: A lens holding device includes a movable part having a coil attached to a lens holder holding a lens and includes a magnet part arranged around an outer peripheral side of the movable part so as to face the coil. The lens holding device includes a support part which supports the movable part so as to move relatively and a spring which connects the movable part and the support part resiliently. The magnet part includes a resin and has an alignment part which positions the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Uno, Kazutomo Imi, Noriyuki Kawano, Kazuhiko Inoue, Masashi Gotoh, Osamu Ohhata, Shintarou Koike, Yasuhide Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20140111877
    Abstract: A lens drive device comprises a base, a lens holder, a piezoelectric actuator having a pair of frictional parts, and a pressing piece. The lens holder has a barrel, a projection projecting from the barrel, a support separated from the barrel, and a joint joining the projection and the support to each other. The pressing piece presses the piezoelectric actuator against the barrel so as to keep such a state that at least one of the pair of frictional parts is in contact with the barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru UNO, Kazutomo IMI
  • Publication number: 20140084751
    Abstract: A driving apparatus capable of suppressing operation noise, the apparatus comprising a piezoelectric element expanding and contracting in accordance with a driving signal; a supporting shaft connected to said piezoelectric element; a movable body frictionally engaged with said supporting shaft and capable of moving along said supporting shaft; and a driving portion applying said driving signal including a first driving signal which moves said movable body towards a first direction to said piezoelectric element, wherein said driving portion can repeatedly apply said first driving signal against said piezoelectric element by taking a first time in between, and said first driving signal comprises a main driving waveform group which moves said movable body to said first direction, and a sub driving waveform group which is placed after said main driving waveform group by having the a second rest time shorter than said first time in between.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Suzuki, Masaru Uno, Kazutomo Imi, Yoshiaki Haga
  • Patent number: 8675294
    Abstract: A lens driving device comprises a lens holder for holding a lens, a shaft for supporting the lens holder so as to make the lens holder movable in an optical axis direction of the lens and swingable about an axis of the shaft, an actuator for applying a driving force to the lens holder so as to move the lens holder in the optical axis direction; and an urging member for applying an urging force to the lens holder so as to rotate the lens holder toward the actuator. In the lens holder, a position where the urging force is applied by the urging member and a position where the driving force is applied by the actuator oppose each other, so that the urging force from the urging member is directed to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Uno, Akira Suzuki, Kazutomo Imi
  • Publication number: 20140035437
    Abstract: A driving apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element (12) expanding and contracting in accordance with a driving pulse signal (40, 42), a supporting shaft (14) connected to said piezoelectric element, a movable body (20) frictionally engaged with said supporting shaft and capable of moving along said supporting shaft, and a driving portion (30) applying said driving pulse signal having a voltage value that corresponds to a driving voltage value (VD) to said piezoelectric element in order to cause relative movement of said movable body to said supporting shaft, wherein a driving voltage waveform (50) showing a time-varying of said driving voltage value has a first dropping portion (55) where said driving voltage value sharply drops from a first value (V1) to a second value (V2), a second dropping portion (56) where said driving voltage value slowly drops from said second value (V2) to a third value (V3) compared with said first dropping portion, and a third dropping portion (57) where said driving voltage val
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki HAGA, Masaru Uno
  • Publication number: 20120236423
    Abstract: A lens driving device comprises a lens holder for holding a lens, a shaft for supporting the lens holder so as to make the lens holder movable in an optical axis direction of the lens and swingable about an axis of the shaft, an actuator for applying a driving force to the lens holder so as to move the lens holder in the optical axis direction; and an urging member for applying an urging force to the lens holder so as to rotate the lens holder toward the actuator. In the lens holder, a position where the urging force is applied by the urging member and a position where the driving force is applied by the actuator oppose each other, so that the urging force from the urging member is directed to the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru UNO, Akira SUZUKI, Kazutomo IMI
  • Publication number: 20090086612
    Abstract: Optical pickup head comprises two semiconductor lasers for irradiating first to third optical beams, light receiving element for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal, and object lens unit. Object lens unit includes first object lens (object lens for CD, DVD, and HD-DVD) and second object lens (object lens for Blu-ray Disc) having a numerical aperture different from first object lens. First object lens and second object lens are moved in a tangential direction or in a radial direction of recording medium, so that first object lens and second object lens can be selectively arranged opposite to a position to be irradiated with the optical beam of recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: SAE MAGNETICS (H.K.) LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunori HIROSE, Masaru UNO
  • Publication number: 20080298214
    Abstract: An objective lens actuator includes a lens holder for holding an objective lens, a holder support member for holding the lens holder movably along a direction of an optical axis of the objective lens and rotatably about a rotation axis that is parallel to the direction of the optical axis, and a base for holding the holder support member. A gap is provided between the holder support member and the base, the gap extending around a junction which connects the holder support member with the base, wherein a plurality of piezoelectric elements are inserted in the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: SAE Magnetics (H.K) Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Uno, Makoto Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20070201322
    Abstract: Even when binder repeats expansion and contraction by the time progress after a reliability test or mounting, and change of circumference environment, in the offered optical head, a gap of optical axis and exfoliation of binder are not generated. The optical head indicated has the housing in which the optical detector holder-board 1 holding the optical detector 3 which detects the catoptric light beam reflected in respect of information record of an optical disc is attached. With this optical head, the optical detector holder-board 1 has through-holes 1a and 1b having the flat portions 11 and 12 inside, and the supports 2a and 2b having the flat portions 15 and 16 outside are formed on housing. The optical detector holder-board 1 is inserted in supports 2a and 2b by the through-holes 1a and 1b, and the binder 4 and 5 is filled up into the space 31 or the space 32, and is fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Uno, Shuji Murata, Xu Yitai
  • Publication number: 20070011694
    Abstract: The invention provides an optical head device in which the influence of mechanical vibration generated at resonance frequencies of high orders (second and higher orders) can be eliminated and an optical recording/reproducing apparatus utilizing the same. Sidewalls are formed from both ends of a sidewall constituting the top side of a trapezoidal contour of a lens holder portion, the sidewalls extending in the form of a fan to define a predetermined angle between them. A damping system includes a weight in the form of a metal thin plate and a visco-elastic adhesive for bonding the weight to the sidewalls. The visco-elastic adhesive transfers vibration of the lens holder in the direction of an optical axis of an objective lens to the weight and has a viscous damping property which damps vibration of the weight in the direction of the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicants: TDK CORPORATION, TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Masaru Uno, Yasuhiro Terasaki, Nobuo Uekusa, Yi Chan
  • Publication number: 20050132840
    Abstract: An automatic balancing device including a case body provided with a hollow annular member having an outer peripheral side sliding wall face and concentrically mounted on a rotation shaft, a plurality of balance spherical bodies which are accommodated within the inside of the hollow annular member of the case body and disposed movably in a free manner when the rotation body is rotated, and a lubricant containing a liquid system lubricant which is adhered in a film manner on at least the outer peripheral side sliding wall face of the case body. The lubricant containing a liquid system lubricant may be preferably coated in a concentrated manner on the sliding face, then rotationally driving the rotation body and then suddenly stopping the rotation body to adhere the lubricant in a film manner on the outer peripheral side sliding wall face of the case body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Atsushi Honda, Masaru Uno, Takaji Harata
  • Publication number: 20040261568
    Abstract: An automatic balancing system is provided for canceling a rotational imbalance of a rotary device that includes a body to be rotated. A rotation support member rotates with the rotary device and has a polyhedron shape to have multiple flat ball operating surfaces that define an outer circumferential surface. A hollow storage channel around the rotation support member provides an inner circumferential surface so that the balance balls positioned in the hollow storage channel can move freely between the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface. The polyhedron shape of the ball operating surfaces allows the balance balls to come in contact with the surfaces with minimized force during low speed rotation and beginning of rotation to prevent abrupt collisions of the balance balls which results in smooth and quiet operation of the rotary device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Shinichi Utsumi, Atsushi Honda, Takaji Harata, Masaru Uno
  • Publication number: 20030123375
    Abstract: A rotary driving mechanism includes a rotary body that is rotated by a motor section, a balancing device including a plurality of balancing members mounted on the rotary body, and a vibration absorber that attenuates vibrations provided on the rotary body. The balancing device adjusts balance of the rotary body by changing positions of the balancing members at a predetermined rotational speed or greater, and the vibration absorber adjusts balance of the rotary body until the rotary body reaches the predetermined rotational speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Masaru Uno, Shinichi Utsumi, Shigeru Kasai, Atsushi Honda
  • Patent number: 5999342
    Abstract: An objective lens driving system comprises a lens holder retaining an objective lens, a holder supporting member for movably supporting the lens holder in focusing and tracking directions, a magnetic driving circuit for moving the lens holder in the focusing and tracking directions, in which a flat driving coil made by winding a self-welding wire coated with a heat welding layer is face-bonded on either the lens holder or holder supporting member. The driving coil is configured such that the self-welding wire is united via the heat welding layer thereof and a surface thereof is coated with a reinforcing adhesive thinly. The reinforcing adhesive has a higher thermal stability than the heat welding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Sankyo Seiki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Okada, Masaru Uno, Hisao Isobe
  • Patent number: 5183484
    Abstract: An improved process for recovery of CO.sub.2 gas in a raw material mixed gas by a PSA apparatus. The process is characterized in that the removal of water in the raw material mixed gas is carried out by cooling the raw material mixed gas and passing it through a rotary dehumidification apparatus to remove water in the raw material mixed gas, and the regeneration of the rotary dehumidification apparatus is carried out by using as a gas for regeneration unadsorbed gas discharged from an adsorption step in the PSA apparatus with heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Yamaguchi, Masaru Uno, Norio Sekikawa, Fumio Arai, Kenji Matsuzaki