Patents by Inventor Noriaki Nagatomo

Noriaki Nagatomo 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: 11532410
    Abstract: Provided is a thermistor which has a smaller change in resistance value between before and after a heat resistance test and from which a high B constant is obtained, a method for manufacturing the same, and a thermistor sensor. The thermistor is a thermistor formed on a substrate and includes: an intermediate stacked portion formed on the substrate; and a main metal nitride film layer formed of a thermistor material of a metal nitride on the intermediate stacked portion, wherein the intermediate stacked portion includes a base thermistor layer formed of a thermistor material of a metal nitride and an intermediate oxynitride layer formed on the base thermistor layer, the main metal nitride film layer is formed on the intermediate oxynitride layer, and the intermediate oxynitride layer is a metal oxynitride layer formed through oxidation of the thermistor material of the base thermistor layer immediately below the intermediate oxynitride layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fujita, Shunpei Suzuki, Nagisa Sako, Norihisa Chitose, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Publication number: 20210074453
    Abstract: Provided is a thermistor which has a smaller change in resistance value between before and after a heat resistance test and from which a high B constant is obtained, a method for manufacturing the same, and a thermistor sensor. The thermistor is a thermistor formed on a substrate and includes: an intermediate stacked portion formed on the substrate; and a main metal nitride film layer formed of a thermistor material of a metal nitride on the intermediate stacked portion, wherein the intermediate stacked portion includes a base thermistor layer formed of a thermistor material of a metal nitride and an intermediate oxynitride layer formed on the base thermistor layer, the main metal nitride film layer is formed on the intermediate oxynitride layer, and the intermediate oxynitride layer is a metal oxynitride layer formed through oxidation of the thermistor material of the base thermistor layer immediately below the intermediate oxynitride layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fujita, Shunpei Suzuki, Nagisa Sako, Norihisa Chitose, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Publication number: 20200348186
    Abstract: Provided are a thermistor which can have a satisfactory thermistor film using a metal substrate as well as a high humidity resistance and heat resistance; a method for producing the same; and a thermistor sensor. The thermistor according to the present invention includes a metal substrate 2, an insulating base film 3 formed on the metal substrate, and a thermistor film 4 formed on the insulating base film, wherein the insulating base film is formed so as to fill the irregularities on the surface of the metal substrate where the surface roughness of the insulating base film is lower than that of the metal substrate. In the method for producing this thermistor includes the steps of: applying polysilazane on the metal substrate; drying the polysilazane to form the insulating base film of SiOx containing nitrogen; and depositing the thermistor film on the insulating base film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Shunpei Suzuki, Toshiaki Fujita, Norihisa Chitose, Gakuji Uozumi, Kazuta Takeshima, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 10488272
    Abstract: A temperature sensor having excellent humidity resistance and responsivity is provided. The temperature sensor according to the present invention includes an insulating substrate 2; a thin film thermistor portion 3 made of a thermistor material formed on either surface of the insulating substrate; and an opposed electrode pair 5 consisting of a pair of opposed electrodes 4 formed so as to be opposed to each other on at least either one of the top and bottom surfaces of the thin film thermistor portion, wherein a plurality of the opposed electrode pairs are provided and connected to one another in series. As a result, a voltage applied to a unit thermistor composed of one opposed electrode pair becomes 1/n fold, which can suppress the electrode corrosion due to humidity load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gakuji Uozumi, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 10304597
    Abstract: A metal nitride material for a thermistor consists of a metal nitride represented by the general formula: Mx(Al1-vSiv)y(N1-wOw)z (where “M” represents at least one of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Co, 0.0<v<0.3, 0.70?y/(x+y)?0.98, 0.45?z?0.55, 0<w?0.35, and x+y+z=1), wherein the crystal structure thereof is a hexagonal wurtzite-type single phase. A method for producing the metal nitride material for a thermistor includes a deposition step of performing film deposition by reactive sputtering in a nitrogen and oxygen-containing atmosphere using an M-Al—Si alloy sputtering target (where “M” represents at least one of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Co).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fujita, Hiroshi Tanaka, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Publication number: 20190078942
    Abstract: A temperature sensor having excellent humidity resistance and responsivity is provided. The temperature sensor according to the present invention includes an insulating substrate 2; a thin film thermistor portion 3 made of a thermistor material formed on either surface of the insulating substrate; and an opposed electrode pair 5 consisting of a pair of opposed electrodes 4 formed so as to be opposed to each other on at least either one of the top and bottom surfaces of the thin film thermistor portion, wherein a plurality of the opposed electrode pairs are provided and connected to one another in series. As a result, a voltage applied to a unit thermistor composed of one opposed electrode pair becomes 1/n fold, which can suppress the electrode corrosion due to humidity load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Gakuji Uozumi, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 10113919
    Abstract: Provided are a temperature sensor that is hard to increase resistance in the electrode structure with respect to a Ti—Al—N thermistor material layer even under a high-temperature environment, and has a high reliability with a high heat resistance as well as a method for producing the same. The temperature sensor includes an insulation substrate; a thin film thermistor portion formed on the insulation substrate; and a pair of pattern electrodes formed on the insulation substrate with a pair of opposed electrode portions being arranged so as to be opposed to each other on the thin film thermistor portion, wherein the thin film thermistor portion is made of a Ti—Al—N thermistor material, and the pair of pattern electrodes has a Ti—N bonding layer formed on the thin film thermistor portion and an electrode layer made of a noble metal formed on the bonding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriaki Nagatomo, Hitoshi Inaba, Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10054497
    Abstract: A metal nitride material for a thermistor consists of a metal nitride represented by the general formula: MxAly(N1-wOw)z (where “M” represents at least one of Fe, Co, Mn, Cu, and Ni, 0.70?y/(x+y)?0.98, 0.45?z?0.55, 0<w?0.35, and x+y+z=1), wherein the crystal structure thereof is a hexagonal wurtzite-type single phase. A method for producing the metal nitride material for a thermistor includes a deposition step of performing film deposition by reactive sputtering in a nitrogen and oxygen-containing atmosphere using an M-Al alloy sputtering target (where “M” represents at least one of Fe, Co, Mn, Cu, and Ni).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fujita, Hiroshi Tanaka, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Publication number: 20180217007
    Abstract: A temperature sensor comprises: a pair of lead frames; a sensor portion connected to the lead frames; and an insulating holding part holding the lead frames, wherein the sensor portion comprises: an insulating film having the lead frames bonded on an upper surface; a thermistor portion provided to the insulating film; a pair of electrodes formed on the thermistor portion; a pair of pattern electrodes patterned in the upper surface of the insulating film; and a pair of insulating protective tapes bonded to each other to hold the lead frames and the sensor in a vertical direction, wherein both sides of the insulating film are arranged in the vicinity of and inside outer corners on bonding surface sides of the lead frames, and both sides of the protective tapes are bent outward from both sides of the insulating film toward an upper surface side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriaki Nagatomo, Fumio Matsumoto, Hitoshi Inaba, Kazuta Takeshima, Kunio Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9978484
    Abstract: Provided are a metal nitride film for a thermistor, which has an excellent bending resistance and can be directly deposited on a film or the like without firing, a method for producing the same, and a film type thermistor sensor. The metal nitride film for a thermistor, which consists of a metal nitride represented by the general formula: TixAlyNz (where 0.70?y/(x+y)?0.95, 0.4?z?0.5, and x+y+z=1), wherein the crystal structure thereof is a hexagonal wurtzite-type single phase, and the peak ratio of the diffraction peak intensity of a-axis orientation (100) relative to the diffraction peak intensity of c-axis orientation (002) (i.e., the diffraction peak intensity of a-axis orientation (100)/the diffraction peak intensity of c-axis orientation (002)) is 0.1 or lower in X-ray diffraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Toshiaki Fujita, Noriaki Nagatomo, Kazutaka Fujiwara, Hitoshi Inaba
  • Patent number: 9964451
    Abstract: Provided is a temperature sensor which does not easily cause a crack in a Ti—Al—N-based thermistor material layer when the film is bent, can be directly deposited on a film or the like without firing, and has a high reliability with a high heat resistance. The temperature sensor includes an insulating film 2, a thin film thermistor portion 3 made of a Ti—Al—N-based thermistor material formed on the insulating film, a pair of pattern electrodes 4 formed on the insulating film with a pair of opposed electrode portions 4a being arranged so as to be opposed to each other on the thin film thermistor portion, wherein the pair of opposed electrode portions covers the entire surface of thin film thermistor portion excluding the region between the opposed electrode portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Hitoshi Inaba, Kazuta Takeshima, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 9903013
    Abstract: Provided are a metal nitride material for a thermistor, which has a high reliability and a high heat resistance and can be directly deposited on a film or the like without firing, a method for producing the same, and a film type thermistor sensor. The metal nitride material for a thermistor consists of a metal nitride represented by the general formula: (Ti1-wCrw)xAlyNz (where 0.0<w<1.0, 0.70?y/(x+y)?0.95, 0.4?z?0.5, and x+y+z=1), wherein the crystal structure thereof is a hexagonal wurtzite-type single phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fujita, Hiroshi Tanaka, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 9905341
    Abstract: Provided are a metal nitride material for a thermistor, which exhibits high reliability and high heat resistance and can be directly deposited on a film or the like without firing, a method for producing the metal nitride material for a thermistor, and a film type thermistor sensor. The metal nitride material for a thermistor consists of a metal nitride represented by the general formula: TixAlyNz (where 0.70?y/(x+y)?0.95, 0.4?z?0.5, and x+y+z=1), and the crystal structure thereof is a hexagonal wurtzite-type single phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fujita, Hiroshi Tanaka, Hitoshi Inaba, Kazutaka Fujiwara, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 9905342
    Abstract: Provided are a metal nitride material for a thermistor, which has a high reliability and a high heat resistance and can be directly deposited on a film or the like without firing, a method for producing the same, and a film type thermistor sensor. The metal nitride material for a thermistor consists of a metal nitride represented by the general formula: CrxAlyNz (0.70?y/(x+y)?0.95, 0.4?z?0.5, and x+y+z=1), wherein the crystal structure thereof is a hexagonal wurtzite-type single phase. The method for producing the metal nitride material for a thermistor includes a deposition step of performing film deposition by reactive sputtering in a nitrogen-containing atmosphere using a Cr—Al alloy sputtering target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fujita, Hiroshi Tanaka, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 9891117
    Abstract: The temperature sensor includes an insulating film; a thin film thermistor portion which is formed on the surface of the insulating film with a thermistor material of TiAlN; the pair of interdigitated electrodes which have a plurality of comb portions and are pattern-formed on the thin film thermistor portion using a metal so as to face each other; and the pair of pattern electrodes which are pattern-formed on the surface of the insulating film and are connected to the pair of interdigitated electrodes, wherein at least a part of each of the pattern electrodes is formed of a conductive resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Inaba, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 9863035
    Abstract: Provided are a metal nitride material for a thermistor, which has a high reliability and a high heat resistance and can be directly deposited on a film or the like without firing, a method for producing the same, and a film type thermistor sensor. The metal nitride material for a thermistor consists of a metal nitride represented by the general formula: (Ti1-vCrv)xAly (N1-wOw)z (where 0.0<v<1.0, 0.70?y/(x+y)?0.95, 0.45?z?0.55, 0<w?0.35, and x+y+z=1), wherein the crystal structure thereof is a hexagonal wurtzite-type single phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fujita, Hiroshi Tanaka, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 9851262
    Abstract: The temperature sensor is provided with a pair of lead frames, a sensor portion connected to the pair of lead frames, and an insulating holding portion which is fixed to the pair of lead frames and holds the lead frames. The sensor portion is provided with an insulating film; a thin film thermistor portion formed as a pattern on the surface of the insulating film with a thermistor material; a pair of interdigitated electrodes formed as patterns having multiple comb portions and facing each other on the thin film thermistor portion; and a pair of pattern electrodes connected to the pair of interdigitated electrodes and formed as patterns on the surface of the insulating film. The pair of lead frames is extended and adhered to the surface of the insulating film disposing the thin film thermistor portion therebetween and is connected to the pair of pattern electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriaki Nagatomo, Hitoshi Inaba, Hiroshi Tanaka, Kazuta Takeshima
  • Patent number: 9852829
    Abstract: Provided are a metal nitride material for a thermistor, which exhibits high reliability and high heat resistance and can be directly deposited on a film or the like without firing, a method for producing the metal nitride material for a thermistor, and a film type thermistor sensor. The metal nitride material for a thermistor consists of a metal nitride represented by the general formula: TixAly(N1-wOw)z (where 0.70?y/(x+y)?0.95, 0.45?z?0.55, 0<w?0.35, and x+y+z=1), and the crystal structure thereof is a hexagonal wurtzite-type single phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fujita, Hiroshi Tanaka, Hitoshi Inaba, Kazutaka Fujiwara, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 9842675
    Abstract: Provided are a metal nitride material for a thermistor, which has a high heat resistance and a high reliability and can be directly deposited on a film or the like without firing, a method for producing the same, and a film type thermistor sensor. The metal nitride material for a thermistor consists of a metal nitride represented by the general formula: VxAly(N1-wOw)z (where 0.70?y/(x+y)?0.98, 0.45?z?0.55, 0<w?0.35, and x+y+z=1), wherein the crystal structure thereof is a hexagonal wurtzite-type single phase. The method for producing the metal nitride material for a thermistor includes a deposition step of performing film deposition by reactive sputtering in a nitrogen and oxygen-containing atmosphere using a V—Al alloy sputtering target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fujita, Hiroshi Tanaka, Noriaki Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 9831019
    Abstract: Provided are a metal nitride material for a thermistor, which has a high reliability and a high heat resistance and can be directly deposited on a film or the like without firing, a method for producing the same, and a film type thermistor sensor. The metal nitride material for a thermistor consists of a metal nitride represented by the general formula: CrxAly(N1-wOw)z (where 0.70?y/(x+y)?0.95, 0.45?z?0.55, 0<w?0.35, and x+y+z=1), wherein the crystal structure thereof is a hexagonal wurtzite-type single phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fujita, Hiroshi Tanaka, Noriaki Nagatomo