Patents by Inventor Shigeo Furukawa

Shigeo Furukawa 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: 9025228
    Abstract: An optical reflecting device includes a fixed frame, a pair of first oscillation parts, a movable frame, a pair of second oscillation parts, and a mirror part. One-side ends of the first oscillation parts are connected to the inside of the fixed frame. The movable frame is connected to and held by the other-side ends of the pair of first oscillation parts to be pivotable. One-side ends of the pair of second oscillation parts are connected to the inside of the movable frame and the pair of second oscillation parts are disposed to be substantially perpendicular to the pair of first oscillation parts. The mirror part is connected to and held by the other-side ends of the pair of second oscillation parts to be pivotable. The first oscillation parts have a meandering shape in which a plurality of straight portions and a plurality of folded portions are formed, and a stepped structure portion is provided in part of the folded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Horie, Shinsuke Nakazono, Soichiro Hiraoka, Shigeo Furukawa, Yuta Yamamoto, Kazuki Komaki, Masaki Tada
  • Publication number: 20150116803
    Abstract: An optical reflecting device includes a fixed frame, a pair of first oscillation parts, a movable frame, a pair of second oscillation parts, and a mirror part. One-side ends of the first oscillation parts are connected to the inside of the fixed frame. The movable frame is connected to and held by the other-side ends of the pair of first oscillation parts to be pivotable. One-side ends of the pair of second oscillation parts are connected to the inside of the movable frame and the pair of second oscillation parts are disposed to be substantially perpendicular to the pair of first oscillation parts. The mirror part is connected to and held by the other-side ends of the pair of second oscillation parts to be pivotable. The first oscillation parts have a meandering shape in which a plurality of straight portions and a plurality of folded portions are formed, and a stepped structure portion is provided in part of the folded portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: TOSHIAKI HORIE, SHINSUKE NAKAZONO, SOICHIRO HIRAOKA, SHIGEO FURUKAWA, YUTA YAMAMOTO, KAZUKI KOMAKI, MASAKI TADA
  • Patent number: 8681407
    Abstract: An optical reflection element has a frame, a pair of meandering-shaped vibration elements, a mirror having a reflection surface, and a pair of protective beams. The vibration elements have their respective outer ends supported by confronting portions of an inside of the frame. The vibration elements support the mirror with respective inner ends thereof. The protective beams extend from the respective confronting portions of the inside of the frame toward the mirror with a predetermined space from the vibration elements and in parallel with a vibration axis of the vibration elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Soichiro Hiraoka, Kazuki Komaki, Masaki Tada, Shigeo Furukawa, Kiyomi Furukawa, Shinsuke Nakazono, Yuta Yamamoto, Toshiaki Horie
  • Patent number: 8437061
    Abstract: A first oscillating portion is provided with a first piezoelectric element having a first drive electrode. A second oscillating portion has a central axis different from that of the first oscillating portion and is provided with a second piezoelectric element having a second drive electrode. The first drive electrode and the second drive electrode are connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Jirou Terada, Shinsuke Nakazono, Shigeo Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8422109
    Abstract: An optical reflection device includes a mirror having a reflection surface configured to reflect light, a first support beam connected to the mirror, a tuning fork vibrator connected to the first support beam, a second support beam connected to the tuning fork vibrator, and a supporter connected to the second support beam. The first support beam has a first end connected to the mirror and a second end located on an opposite side to the first end, and extends along a center axis. The tuning fork vibrator includes a joining portion connected to the second end of the first support beam, a first arm extending from the first joining portion while separated from the first center axis, and a second arm extending from the first joining portion symmetrically to the first arm about the first center axis. The second support beam has a third end connected to the joining portion of the tuning fork vibrator and a fourth end located on an opposite side to the third end, and extends along the first center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Jirou Terada, Shinsuke Nakazono, Shigeo Furukawa, Kazuki Komaki
  • Publication number: 20120320439
    Abstract: An optical reflection element has a frame, a pair of meandering-shaped vibration elements, a mirror having a reflection surface, and a pair of protective beams. The vibration elements have their respective outer ends supported by confronting portions of an inside of the frame. The vibration elements support the mirror with respective inner ends thereof. The protective beams extend from the respective confronting portions of the inside of the frame toward the mirror with a predetermined space from the vibration elements and in parallel with a vibration axis of the vibration elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichiro Hiraoka, Kazuki Komaki, Masaki Tada, Shigeo Furukawa, Kiyomi Furukawa, Shinsuke Nakazono, Yuta Yamamoto, Toshiaki Horie
  • Patent number: 8279508
    Abstract: An optical reflecting element includes a mirror, and a pair of high-frequency vibrators and a pair of low-frequency vibrators for vibrating the mirror. The high-frequency vibrators include a substrate, a bottom electrode layer formed on the substrate, a piezoelectric layer, and a drive electrode and a first monitor electrode as the top electrode layer. One end of the low-frequency vibrator has the substrate shared with the high-frequency vibrator, a bottom electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer, a drive electrode, and a second monitor electrode as the top electrode layer. The other end of the low-frequency vibrator has the substrate shared with the high-frequency vibrator, a bottom electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer, a drive electrode, a first monitor electrode, and an insulator layer as a dead zone for preventing a piezoelectric effect due to the piezoelectric layer from reaching the first monitor electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Nakazono, Soichiro Hiraoka, Jirou Terada, Shigeo Furukawa, Kiyomi Furukawa, legal representative, Toshiaki Horie, Kazuki Komaki, Masaki Tada, Yuta Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20120113492
    Abstract: An optical reflecting element includes a mirror, and a pair of high-frequency vibrators and a pair of low-frequency vibrators for vibrating the mirror. The high-frequency vibrators include a substrate, a bottom electrode layer formed on the substrate, a piezoelectric layer, and a drive electrode and a first monitor electrode as the top electrode layer. One end of the low-frequency vibrator has the substrate shared with the high-frequency vibrator, a bottom electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer, a drive electrode, and a second monitor electrode as the top electrode layer. The other end of the low-frequency vibrator has the substrate shared with the high-frequency vibrator, a bottom electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer, a drive electrode, a first monitor electrode, and an insulator layer as a dead zone for preventing a piezoelectric effect due to the piezoelectric layer from reaching the first monitor electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinsuke Nakazono, Soichiro Hiraoka, Jirou Terada, Shigeo Furukawa, Kiyomi Furukawa, Toshiaki Horie, Kazuki Komaki, Masaki Tada, Yuta Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20120033279
    Abstract: An optical reflection element has a frame-shaped supporting body, a first oscillator and a second oscillator each having a meander shape, and a mirror portion. A line segment connecting a joining position between the mirror portion and the first oscillator to a joining position between the supporting body and the first oscillator, and a line segment connecting a joining position of the mirror portion and the second oscillator to a joining position of the supporting body and the second oscillator cross a mirror portion central axis. An outer circumference of at least any one of turn portions of the first oscillator and the second oscillator is deviated from a first end portion axis that is parallel to the mirror portion central axis and extends along a first side of the mirror portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeo Furukawa, Kiyomi Furukawa, Jirou Terada, Shinsuke Nakazono, Soichiro Hiraoka
  • Publication number: 20110292479
    Abstract: An optical reflection element includes a mirror portion and an oscillator coupled to the mirror portion. The oscillator includes a base, an insulating layer, a drive element, and a monitor element. The insulating layer is formed on the base. The drive element and the monitor element are formed on the insulating layer, and are separated from each other by a separation groove. Each of the drive element and the monitor element includes a lower electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode layer formed in that order on the insulating layer. The monitor element has high detection accuracy, allowing the optical reflection element to perform self-excited driving with high accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Soichiro Hiraoka, Jirou Terada, Shinsuke Nakazono, Shigeo Furukawa, Kiyomi Furukawa
  • Publication number: 20110122471
    Abstract: A first oscillating portion is provided with a first piezoelectric element having a first drive electrode. A second oscillating portion has a central axis different from that of the first oscillating portion and is provided with a second piezoelectric element having a second drive electrode. The first drive electrode and the second drive electrode are connected together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Jirou Terada, Shinsuke Nakazono, Shigeo Furukawa
  • Publication number: 20110032590
    Abstract: A meandering oscillator includes a plurality of oscillating plates bent and coupled in predetermined directions and piezoelectric actuators each including a lower electrode, a piezoelectric body, and an upper electrode stacked on the oscillating plate in this order, and wherein the piezoelectric actuators are alternately arranged on the oscillating plates. Thus, even when an element is made smaller, electrodes can be easily arranged. As a result, the productivity can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Jirou Terada, Shinsuke Nakazono, Shigeo Furukawa, Kiyomi Furukawa, Kazuki Komaki
  • Publication number: 20100296147
    Abstract: An optical reflection device includes a mirror having a reflection surface configured to reflect light, a first support beam connected to the mirror, a tuning fork vibrator connected to the first support beam, a second support beam connected to the tuning fork vibrator, and a supporter connected to the second support beam. The first support beam has a first end connected to the mirror and a second end located on an opposite side to the first end, and extends along a center axis. The tuning fork vibrator includes a joining portion connected to the second end of the first support beam, a first arm extending from the first joining portion while separated from the first center axis, and a second arm extending from the first joining portion symmetrically to the first arm about the first center axis. The second support beam has a third end connected to the joining portion of the tuning fork vibrator and a fourth end located on an opposite side to the third end, and extends along the first center axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Jirou Terada, Shinsuke Nakazono, Shigeo Furukawa, Kazuki Komaki
  • Publication number: 20090237628
    Abstract: An optical reflection device includes a mirror adapted to reflect light thereon, a first meander vibration beam supporting the mirror rotatably about the first rotation axis, a movable frame connected to the first meander vibration beam, a second meander vibration beam supporting the movable frame rotatably about a second rotation axis, and a supporter connected to the second meander vibration beam. The first meander vibration beam meanderingly extends along a first rotation axis, and has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The movable frame is connected to the second end of the first meander vibration beam. The second meander vibration beam extends meanderingly along the second rotation axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis, and has a third end and a fourth end opposite to the third end. The supporter is connected to the fourth end of the second meander vibration beam. The mirror is coupled to the movable frame only via the first meander vibration beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Shigeo Furukawa, Jirou Terada, Shinsuke Nakazono
  • Patent number: 7542221
    Abstract: A lens unit includes a first lens (2) and a second lens (3) housed in a holder (1) which may improve aberration. The first lens (2) is cylindrical having a top that functions as a lens (2a), and the second lens (3) is pressed into the cylindrical portion (2b) of the first lens (2) having a top in such a manner that the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion (2b) of the first lens (2) is pressed by the outer periphery of the second lens (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunari Nishihara, Shigeo Furukawa, Toshinari Noda, Naoki Tatehata
  • Patent number: 7240518
    Abstract: The apparatus for producing glass beads of the present invention comprises a melting pot 2 for heating and melting glass, a nozzle 2A for dripping molten glass 4 in the melting pot 2, which is disposed at the bottom of the melting pot 2, and a liquid glass droplet receiver 11 filled with cooling solution 150 for cooling the liquid glass droplet 10 dripped from the nozzle 2A, which is disposed under the nozzle 2A, wherein the cooling solution 150 is made from a material that forms a bubble layer around the liquid glass droplet 10 as the cooling solution 150 is vaporized due to the heat of the liquid glass droplet 10 during a period when the liquid glass droplet 10 is cooled down to a temperature lower than the glass transfer temperature in the cooling solution 150.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Hiraka, Shigeo Furukawa, Mitsuhiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 7151063
    Abstract: Glass can have a high thermal expansion coefficient when it is made up of SiO2, B2O3, Na2O, K2O, MgO and Al2O3; contains a partial crystal; and has a mean linear expansion coefficient not lower than of 125×10?7K?1 in a temperature range of 50° C. to 150° C. Using this glass as a substrate for a multilayer film filter can fully reduce temperature fluctuations in the filter properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Furukawa, Takaaki Furumochi
  • Patent number: 6996324
    Abstract: An optical waveguide comprising cladding 1 and core segment 20 buried in cladding 1 and serving as a waveguide, wherein a combination of glass material constituting the core segment 20 and another glass material constituting the cladding 1 is so selected that an absolute value of difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between these materials (?1-?2) is within a range of 0 and 9×10?7° C., where ?1 denotes a coefficient of thermal expansion of the former material and ?2 denotes that of the latter material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Hiraka, Shigeo Furukawa
  • Publication number: 20050239627
    Abstract: Glass can have a high thermal expansion coefficient when it is made up of SiO2, B2O3, Na2O, K2O, MgO and Al2O3; contains a partial crystal; and has a mean linear expansion coefficient not lower than of 125×10?7K?1 in a temperature range of 50° C. to 150° C. Using this glass as a substrate for a multilayer film filter can fully reduce temperature fluctuations in the filter properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Indus. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Furukawa, Takaaki Furumochi
  • Publication number: 20050200979
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a lens unit with first lens (2) and second lens (3) housed in holder (1) which may improve the aberration. It comprises cylindrical holder (1), first lens (2) and second lens (3) housed in holder (1). First lens (2) is cylindrical having a top that functions as lens (2a), and second lens (3) is pressed into cylindrical portion (2b) of first lens (2) having a top in such manner that the inner periphery of cylindrical portion (2b) of first lens (2) is pressed by the outer periphery of second lens (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Kazunari Nishihara, Shigeo Furukawa, Toshinari Noda, Naoki Tatehata