Patents by Inventor Nobuaki Konno

Nobuaki Konno 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: 20240142770
    Abstract: The MEMS mirror device includes a fixed member, a movable member rotatably coupled to the fixed member, a mirror, and a wire. The movable member includes a movable plate, a twist beam, and a meander beam. The meander beam is arranged along the twist beam. The mirror is formed on the movable plate. The wire extends from the movable plate to the fixed member. The wire is formed on the meander beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki HIRATA, Nobuaki KONNO, Yoshitaka KAJIYAMA
  • Patent number: 11762192
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a mirror and a drive beam. The drive beam includes a piezoelectric portion. The piezoelectric portion is partitioned by a plurality of first grooves into a plurality of piezoelectric bodies. The piezoelectric bodies are reduced in length in an X-axis direction as the piezoelectric bodies approach one end side connected to an anchor. The piezoelectric bodies are reduced in length in the X-axis direction as the piezoelectric bodies approach the other end side connected to a link beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuaki Konno, Yoshiaki Hirata, Takahiko Ito
  • Publication number: 20230161153
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a substrate and a plurality of movable mirror elements. The substrate includes a main surface. The plurality of movable mirror elements are two-dimensionally arranged on the main surface of the substrate. The plurality of movable mirror elements are capable of operating independently of each other and capable of forming a diffraction grating. Each of the plurality of movable mirror elements includes a beam, a movable mirror, and a pillar. The beam is bendable in a direction perpendicular to the main surface. The movable mirror includes a movable plate and a mirror film disposed on the movable plate. The pillar connects the movable plate and the beam to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki KONNO, Takahiko ITO
  • Patent number: 11467259
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source, a substrate, a reflection member, a drive unit, and a controller. A scanning mirror and an attitude detector are integrated with substrate. An attitude detector outputs a first signal according to an attitude angle of substrate. A reflection member reflects a light beam reflected by scanning mirror. A drive unit can adjust an inclination of reflection member with respect to a main surface of substrate. A controller controls drive unit based on first signal. For this reason, an outgoing angle of light beam from optical scanning apparatus with respect to a horizontal surface can stably be maintained regardless of the inclination of optical scanning apparatus with respect to horizontal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiko Ito, Nobuaki Konno, Yoshiaki Hirata
  • Publication number: 20220075180
    Abstract: An optical scanning device comprises a scanning structure, an anchor, and a drive unit. The drive unit includes a first drive unit and a second drive unit. The first drive unit includes a first drive beam, an electrode interconnect, paired supports, and a thin film magnet. The first drive beam has a first fixed end connected to the support and a first drive end connected to the scanning structure. The electrode interconnect is formed on the first drive beam. The supports are connected to the anchor and disposed to sandwich the first drive beam. The thin film magnet is disposed on each of the supports. The thin film magnet is disposed in such a manner that a magnetic line of force is generated in a direction intersecting a direction in which the electrode interconnect extends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki KONNO, Yoshiaki HIRATA, Takahiko ITO
  • Publication number: 20220057625
    Abstract: A MEMS mirror device includes a frame body (an outer movable frame body), an inner movable member, a first beam, a reflective mirror member, and a coupling member. The inner movable member is disposed inside the frame body. The first beam couples the inner movable member rotatably to the frame body. The reflective mirror member has a reflective surface and a rear surface. The coupling member couples the reflective mirror member and the inner movable member. The first beam is coupled to the inner movable member at the rear surface of the reflective mirror member. The MEMS mirror device may be reduced in size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki HIRATA, Nobuaki KONNO, Takahiko ITO, Yoshitaka KAJIYAMA
  • Patent number: 11150464
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a mirror part having a mirror surface configured to reflect light, N support cantilevers supporting the mirror part swingably, N drive cantilevers, and a plurality of driving piezoelectric elements secured on N drive cantilevers. The mirror part precesses by setting the frequency of AC voltage applied to each of a plurality of piezoelectric elements to a determined common value and setting the phase of AC voltage applied to each of a plurality of piezoelectric elements to a value determined according to the position of each piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hirata, Nobuaki Konno, Takahiko Ito, Kozo Ishida, Yoshitaka Kajiyama
  • Publication number: 20210011282
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical scanning device capable of optical scanning without reducing the spatial resolution even when the scanning range is expanded. The optical scanning device 100 comprises: a light source 101 emitting a light; a scanning mirror 106 that includes a reflecting plane reflecting a light entering from the light source and that is allowed to oscillate independently around each of a first axis extending in the reflecting plane and a second axis orthogonal to the first axis and extending in the reflecting plane; and a controller 103 controlling the scanning mirror in terms of a first frequency and a first amplitude of oscillation around the first axis as well as a second frequency and a second amplitude of oscillation around the second axis for scanning with the light reflected by the reflecting plane of the scanning mirror. The controller 103 controls the second frequency based on the maximum scanning angle in the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiko ITO, Nobuaki KONNO, Yoshiaki HIRATA
  • Patent number: 10852529
    Abstract: In a mirror driving apparatus, a pair of beam portions includes: a pair of first beams directly adjacent to a reflector to sandwich the reflector between the first beams; and a pair of second beams each coupled to one side of a corresponding one of the first beams, the one side being opposite to the reflector with respect to the corresponding one of the first beams. A plurality of electrodes are spaced from each other on a main surface of each of the first beams, a piezoelectric material being interposed between the main surface and the plurality of electrodes. The first beams are displaceable crosswise to the main surface in respective directions opposite to each other. The pair of second beams is displaceable in a direction connecting the first beams and the second beams, along the main surface of the second beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiko Ito, Nobuaki Konno, Yoshiaki Hirata, Yukihisa Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20200271920
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a mirror part having a mirror surface configured to reflect light, N support cantilevers supporting the mirror part swingably, N drive cantilevers, and a plurality of driving piezoelectric elements secured on N drive cantilevers. The mirror part precesses by setting the frequency of AC voltage applied to each of a plurality of piezoelectric elements to a determined common value and setting the phase of AC voltage applied to each of a plurality of piezoelectric elements to a value determined according to the position of each piezoelectric element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki HIRATA, Nobuaki KONNO, Takahiko ITO, Kozo ISHIDA, Yoshitaka KAJIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20200233205
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a mirror and a drive beam. The drive beam includes a piezoelectric portion. The piezoelectric portion is partitioned by a plurality of first grooves into a plurality of piezoelectric bodies. The piezoelectric bodies are reduced in length in an X-axis direction as the piezoelectric bodies approach one end side connected to an anchor. The piezoelectric bodies are reduced in length in the X-axis direction as the piezoelectric bodies approach the other end side connected to a link beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki KONNO, Yoshiaki HIRATA, Takahiko ITO
  • Patent number: 10654710
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a first substrate having a first surface, a semiconductor device, a first flexible connecting member electrically connected to the semiconductor device, a first pad connected to the first flexible connecting member, and a second substrate including a bump and an interconnect. The second substrate is a low-temperature sintered ceramic substrate containing alkali metal ions. The first pad is connected to the interconnect via the bump. The first pad has at least a portion overlapping the semiconductor device in a plan view seen in a direction along a normal to the first surface. The semiconductor apparatus can thus be miniaturized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hirata, Nobuaki Konno
  • Publication number: 20200096611
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source, a substrate, a reflection member, a drive unit, and a controller. A scanning mirror and an attitude detector are integrated with substrate. An attitude detector outputs a first signal according to an attitude angle of substrate. A reflection member reflects a light beam reflected by scanning mirror. A drive unit can adjust an inclination of reflection member with respect to a main surface of substrate. A controller controls drive unit based on first signal. For this reason, an outgoing angle of light beam from optical scanning apparatus with respect to a horizontal surface can stably be maintained regardless of the inclination of optical scanning apparatus with respect to horizontal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiko ITO, Nobuaki KONNO, Yoshiaki HIRATA
  • Publication number: 20200081243
    Abstract: In a mirror driving apparatus, a pair of beam portions includes: a pair of first beams directly adjacent to a reflector to sandwich the reflector between the first beams; and a pair of second beams each coupled to one side of a corresponding one of the first beams, the one side being opposite to the reflector with respect to the corresponding one of the first beams. A plurality of electrodes are spaced from each other on a main surface of each of the first beams, a piezoelectric material being interposed between the main surface and the plurality of electrodes. The first beams are displaceable crosswise to the main surface in respective directions opposite to each other. The pair of second beams is displaceable in a direction connecting the first beams and the second beams, along the main surface of the second beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiko ITO, Nobuaki KONNO, Yoshiaki HIRATA, Yukihisa YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 10347553
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of ceramic substrate members includes a via reaching an other main surface from one main surface. A gap is formed in each of first and second ceramic substrate members of the plurality of stacked ceramic substrate members to penetrate each of the first and second ceramic substrate members, the first ceramic substrate member being arranged at an outermost surface on one side in a stacking direction of the ceramic substrate members, the second ceramic substrate member being arranged at an outermost surface on the other side opposite to the one side in the stacking direction. At least a portion of a side surface and a bottom surface within the gap are covered with a protection layer. The protection layer is made of a material having an etching rate lower than that of the ceramic substrate members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki Konno, Yoshiaki Hirata, Yukihisa Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20190127215
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a first substrate having a first surface, a semiconductor device, a first flexible connecting member electrically connected to the semiconductor device, a first pad connected to the first flexible connecting member, and a second substrate including a bump and an interconnect. The second substrate is a low-temperature sintered ceramic substrate containing alkali metal ions. The first pad is connected to the interconnect via the bump. The first pad has at least a portion overlapping the semiconductor device in a plan view seen in a direction along a normal to the first surface. The semiconductor apparatus can thus be miniaturized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki HIRATA, Nobuaki KONNO
  • Patent number: 10160636
    Abstract: A ceramic substrate is mainly constituted of ceramic, and has a first main surface and a second main surface located opposite to the first main surface. A recessed portion recessed toward a first main surface side is formed in the second main surface. A wire portion extending from an outer peripheral surface of the ceramic substrate to inside of the recessed portion is formed, and a bottom portion located on the first main surface side in the recessed portion has a portion thinner than another portion of the ceramic substrate other than the bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki Konno, Yoshiaki Hirata
  • Publication number: 20180366384
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of ceramic substrate members includes a via reaching an other main surface from one main surface. A gap is formed in each of first and second ceramic substrate members of the plurality of stacked ceramic substrate members to penetrate each of the first and second ceramic substrate members, the first ceramic substrate member being arranged at an outermost surface on one side in a stacking direction of the ceramic substrate members, the second ceramic substrate member being arranged at an outermost surface on the other side opposite to the one side in the stacking direction. At least a portion of a side surface and a bottom surface within the gap are covered with a protection layer. The protection layer is made of a material having an etching rate lower than that of the ceramic substrate members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki KONNO, Yoshiaki HIRATA, Yukihisa YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20170362079
    Abstract: A ceramic substrate is mainly constituted of ceramic, and has a first main surface and a second main surface located opposite to the first main surface. A recessed portion recessed toward a first main surface side is formed in the second main surface. A wire portion extending from an outer peripheral surface of the ceramic substrate to inside of the recessed portion is formed, and a bottom portion located on the first main surface side in the recessed portion has a portion thinner than another portion of the ceramic substrate other than the bottom portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki KONNO, Yoshiaki HIRATA
  • Patent number: 8368387
    Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes a substrate, first and second torsion beams, first and second detection frames, first and second detection electrodes, first and second link beams, and an inertial mass body. The first and second torsion beams are distorted around the first and second torsion axes. The first and second detection frames are rotated about the first and second torsion axes. The first and second detection electrodes detect an angle formed between the substrate and each of the first and second detection frames. The first link beam is on a first axis located at a position shifted from a position of the first torsion axis to one end side of the first detection frame along a direction crossing the first torsion axis. The second link beam is on a second axis located at a position shifted from a position of the second torsion axis in a direction identical to the direction of shift from the position of the first torsion axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuaki Konno