Patents by Inventor Noritaka Ide
Noritaka 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).
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Patent number: 9048420Abstract: A power generation unit includes a beam (a deforming member) having a piezoelectric element and deforming while switching a deformation direction, an inductor electrically connected to the piezoelectric element, a switch disposed between the piezoelectric element and the inductor, a memory (a storage section) adapted to store switching period information (information of a characteristic vibration period of the beam), and a control circuit (a control section) adapted to control one of a timing at which the switch is set to a conductive state and a timing at which the switch is set to a nonconductive state in accordance with the switching period information stored in the memory.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2012Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Atsushi Oshima, Kunio Tabata, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Noritaka Ide, Atsuya Hirabayashi
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Patent number: 9028023Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes: a modulator adapted to pulse-modulate a drive waveform signal forming a basis of a drive signal of an actuator to obtain a modulated signal; a digital power amplifier circuit adapted to power-amplify the modulated signal to obtain a power-amplified modulated signal; a low pass filter adapted to smooth the power-amplified modulated signal to obtain the drive signal; and a power amplification stopping section operating when holding a voltage of the actuator constant.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2014Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kunio Tabata, Atsushi Oshima, Noritaka Ide, Shinichi Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Yoshino
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Patent number: 9018824Abstract: A power-generating apparatus includes: a deformation member that is provided with a first piezoelectric device and deformed while switching a deformation direction; an amount of deformation detection unit that detects an amount of deformation of the deformation member; a pair of electrodes provided on the first piezoelectric device; a switch provided between the pair of electrodes; and a switch control unit that controls the switch to cause short-circuit between the pair of electrodes for a predetermined period when the amount of deformation is equal to or more than a predetermined amount.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2012Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kunio Tabata, Noritaka Ide, Atsuya Hirabayashi, Yasuhiro Ono
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Patent number: 9006957Abstract: A power generation unit includes a deforming member (a beam) adapted to deform while switching a deformation direction, a first piezoelectric device provided to the deforming member (the beam), a second piezoelectric device provided to the deforming member (the beam), an inductor electrically connected to the first piezoelectric device, a switch disposed between the first piezoelectric device and the inductor, and a control section adapted to detect a voltage generated in the second piezoelectric device, and if the voltage detected has a level one of equal to and higher than a predetermined level, electrically connect the first piezoelectric device and the inductor to each other using the switch.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kunio Tabata, Atsuya Hirabayashi, Atsushi Oshima, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Noritaka Ide
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Patent number: 8957566Abstract: A power generation unit includes a first piezoelectric device having a pair of electrodes, a second piezoelectric device stacked on the first piezoelectric device, a switch electrically connected between the pair of electrodes, a current detection section adapted to detect a current generated in the second piezoelectric device, and a control section adapted to control the switch, and the control section electrically connects the switch for a predetermined period in at least either one of a case in which the current detected by the current detection section reaches a level one of equal to and higher than a first reference value or a case in which the current reaches a level one of equal to and lower than a second reference value.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2012Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kunio Tabata, Atsushi Oshima, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Noritaka Ide, Yasuhiro Ono, Atsuya Hirabayashi
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Publication number: 20150029251Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes: a modulator adapted to pulse-modulate a drive waveform signal forming a basis of a drive signal of an actuator to obtain a modulated signal; a digital power amplifier circuit adapted to power-amplify the modulated signal to obtain a power-amplified modulated signal; a low pass filter adapted to smooth the power-amplified modulated signal to obtain the drive signal; and a power amplification stopping section operating when holding a voltage of the actuator constant.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2014Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventors: Kunio TABATA, Atsushi OSHIMA, Noritaka IDE, Shinichi MIYAZAKI, Hiroyuki YOSHINO
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Patent number: 8941289Abstract: A power generation unit includes: a deforming member adapted to deform while switching a deformation direction; a piezoelectric device provided to the deforming member, and having a pair of electrodes; a displacement sensor adapted to detect a deformation amount of the deforming member, and then output deformation amount information as information related to the deformation amount; an inductor electrically connected to the piezoelectric device; a switch disposed between the piezoelectric device and the inductor; and a switch control section adapted to control the switch so as to set the pair of electrodes to a shorted state for a predetermined period of time when the deformation amount exceeds a predetermined level.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Atsuya Hirabayashi, Kunio Tabata, Atsushi Oshima, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Noritaka Ide, Yasuhiro Ono
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Patent number: 8939534Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus which, by applying a drive voltage waveform to a piezoelectric element which drives an ejection nozzle, ejects a liquid from the ejection nozzle. The apparatus includes a reference voltage generating unit which generates a plurality of reference voltages, a drive voltage waveform data storage unit classifies the drive voltage waveform as either a voltage increasing section, decreasing section, or holding section, and stores drive voltage waveform data including a required time of a waveform section configuring the drive voltage waveform, and a voltage, selected from the plurality of reference voltages for the waveform section. The apparatus also includes a drive voltage waveform application unit which, in accordance with information relating to an adjustment of the ejection amount of the liquid ejected from the ejection nozzle, changes the required time included in the drive voltage waveform data, and applies the drive voltage waveform to the piezoelectric element.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2010Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shinichi Miyazaki, Kunio Tabata, Atsushi Oshima, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Noritaka Ide
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Patent number: 8939533Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a drive waveform generator generating a drive waveform signal; a modulator performing pulse modulation on a signal from the drive waveform generator to provide a modulated signal; a digital power amplifier performing power amplification on the modulated signal to provide an amplified digital signal; a lowpass filter smoothing the amplified digital signal to provide a drive signal of an actuator; a compensator advancing the phase of the drive signal to provide a negative feedback signal; and a subtractor providing a differential signal between the drive waveform signal and the negative feedback signal as an input signal to the modulator. The liquid ejection device can be used as a liquid ejection surgical instrument.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2014Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Atsushi Oshima, Kunio Tabata, Shinichi Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Noritaka Ide
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Publication number: 20140346925Abstract: A power generation unit includes a deforming member adapted to repeatedly deform a piezoelectric element, a pair of electrodes provided to the piezoelectric element, an inductor disposed between the pair of electrodes, and constituting a resonant circuit together with a capacitive component of the piezoelectric element, a first switch connected in series to the inductor, a member adapted to detect a timing at which a deformation direction of the deforming member is switched, a full bridge rectifier adapted to rectify a current output from the pair of electrodes, a capacitor connected to the full bridge rectifier, and adapted to store a current supplied from the full bridge rectifier, a second switch connected between either one of the pair of electrodes and the capacitor, and a control circuit adapted to operate the first switch and the second switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2014Publication date: November 27, 2014Inventors: Noritaka IDE, Kunio TABATA, Atsushi OSHIMA, Hiroyuki YOSHINO
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Patent number: 8894170Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes: a modulator adapted to pulse-modulate a drive waveform signal forming a basis of a drive signal of an actuator to obtain a modulated signal; a digital power amplifier circuit adapted to power-amplify the modulated signal to obtain a power-amplified modulated signal; a low pass filter adapted to smooth the power-amplified modulated signal to obtain the drive signal; and a power amplification stopping section operating when holding a voltage of the actuator constant.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2013Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kunio Tabata, Atsushi Oshima, Noritaka Ide, Shinichi Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Yoshino
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Publication number: 20140285579Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a switching circuit. The switching circuit includes: a multilayer wiring board including a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer; a first transistor and a second transistor mounted on the first wiring layer side of the multilayer wiring board; and a capacitor mounted on the second wiring layer side of the multilayer wiring board. When the multilayer wiring board is viewed in a plan view, a third via conductor is arranged in an area not overlapping a straight-line path connecting a source electrode of the first transistor with a drain electrode of the second transistor in a second wire.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2014Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Atsushi OSHIMA, Noritaka IDE
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Patent number: 8836199Abstract: A power generation unit includes a deforming member adapted to repeatedly deform a piezoelectric element, a pair of electrodes provided to the piezoelectric element, an inductor disposed between the pair of electrodes, and constituting a resonant circuit together with a capacitive component of the piezoelectric element, a first switch connected in series to the inductor, a member adapted to detect a timing at which a deformation direction of the deforming member is switched, a full bridge rectifier adapted to rectify a current output from the pair of electrodes, a capacitor connected to the full bridge rectifier, and adapted to store a current supplied from the full bridge rectifier, a second switch connected between either one of the pair of electrodes and the capacitor, and a control circuit adapted to operate the first switch and the second switch.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Noritaka Ide, Kunio Tabata, Atsushi Oshima, Hiroyuki Yoshino
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Publication number: 20140253187Abstract: Operation of a digital power amplifier for power amplification of a modulated signal is stopped in a period in which a voltage value of a drive signal applied to a capacitive load is constant, to thereby suppress power loss. The power amplification is stopped either when half a period of time when the modulated signal in a first voltage state maintains the first voltage state elapses or when half a period of time when the modulated signal in a second voltage state which is lower in voltage than the first voltage state maintains the second voltage state elapses. Accordingly, when electric current does not flow in a inductor of a low pass filter, it is possible to stop the power amplification. Thus, it is possible to prevent generation of voltage fluctuation in the drive signal due to an electromotive force caused by a self-induction phenomenon of the inductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Kunio TABATA, Atsushi OSHIMA, Hiroyuki YOSHINO, Noritaka IDE
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Publication number: 20140252116Abstract: A liquid ejection device, includes: a drive waveform signal output circuit which outputs a drive waveform signal to serve as a reference for the drive signal; a modulator which pulse-modulates the drive waveform signal and thus generates a first modulated signal and a second modulated signal having a different phase from the first modulated signal within a range from greater than 90 degrees to smaller than 270 degrees; a first digital power amplifier; a second digital power amplifier a first low pass filter which performs low pass filtering of the first amplified digital signal and thus generates a first demodulated signal; and a second low pass filter which performs low pass filtering of the second amplified digital signal and thus generates a second demodulated signal; wherein the first demodulated signal and the second demodulated signal are combined and applied as the drive signal to the capacitive load.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Atsushi OSHIMA, Kunio TABATA, Noritaka IDE, Hiroyuki YOSHINO
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Publication number: 20140228870Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a drive waveform generator generating a drive waveform signal; a modulator performing pulse modulation on a signal from the drive waveform generator to provide a modulated signal; a digital power amplifier performing power amplification on the modulated signal to provide an amplified digital signal; a lowpass filter smoothing the amplified digital signal to provide a drive signal of an actuator; a compensator advancing the phase of the drive signal to provide a negative feedback signal; and a subtractor providing a differential signal between the drive waveform signal and the negative feedback signal as an input signal to the modulator. The liquid ejection device can be used as a liquid ejection surgical instrument.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Atsushi OSHIMA, Kunio TABATA, Shinichi MIYAZAKI, Hiroyuki YOSHINO, Noritaka IDE
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Patent number: 8773098Abstract: Operation of a digital power amplifier for power amplification of a modulated signal is stopped in a period in which a voltage value of a drive signal applied to a capacitive load is constant, to thereby suppress power loss. The power amplification is stopped either when half a period of time when the modulated signal in a first voltage state maintains the first voltage state elapses or when half a period of time when the modulated signal in a second voltage state which is lower in voltage than the first voltage state maintains the second voltage state elapses. Accordingly, when electric current does not flow in a inductor of a low pass filter, it is possible to stop the power amplification. Thus, it is possible to prevent generation of voltage fluctuation in the drive signal due to an electromotive force caused by a self-induction phenomenon of the inductor.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kunio Tabata, Atsushi Oshima, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Noritaka Ide
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Patent number: 8757749Abstract: A liquid ejection device, includes: a drive waveform signal output circuit which outputs a drive waveform signal to serve as a reference for the drive signal; a modulator which pulse-modulates the drive waveform signal and thus generates a first modulated signal and a second modulated signal having a different phase from the first modulated signal within a range from greater than 90 degrees to smaller than 270 degrees; a first digital power amplifier; a second digital power amplifier a first low pass filter which performs low pass filtering of the first amplified digital signal and thus generates a first demodulated signal; and a second low pass filter which performs low pass filtering of the second amplified digital signal and thus generates a second demodulated signal; wherein the first demodulated signal and the second demodulated signal are combined and applied as the drive signal to the capacitive load.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2012Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Atsushi Oshima, Kunio Tabata, Noritaka Ide, Hiroyuki Yoshino
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Patent number: 8733873Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes: a drive waveform generator generating a drive waveform signal; a modulator performing pulse modulation on a signal from the drive waveform generator to provide a modulated signal; a digital power amplifier performing power amplification on the modulated signal to provide an amplified digital signal; a Lowpass Filter smoothing the amplified digital signal to provide a drive signal of an actuator; a compensator advancing the phase of the drive signal to provide a negative feedback signal; and a subtractor providing a differential signal between the drive waveform signal and the negative feedback signal as an input signal to the modulator.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Atsushi Oshima, Kunio Tabata, Shinichi Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Noritaka Ide
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Publication number: 20140111571Abstract: A liquid jet apparatus according to the present invention includes a drive waveform generator adapted to generate a drive waveform signal, a modulator adapted to execute pulse modulation on the drive waveform signal, a digital power amplifier adapted to power-amplify the modulated signal, on which the pulse modulation is executed by the modulator, with a pair of switching elements push-pull coupled with each other, a low pass filter adapted to smooth the amplified digital signal obtained by the power-amplification of the digital power amplifier, and a modulation period modification circuit adapted to modify a modulation period of the pulse modulation of the modulator based on data of the drive waveform signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2013Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Noritaka IDE, Kunio TABATA, Atsushi OSHIMA, Shinichi MIYAZAKI, Hiroyuki AIZAWA, Seiichi TANIGUCHI