Patents by Inventor Shigeru Shoji

Shigeru Shoji 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: 20060170529
    Abstract: A current sensor that is compact can detect with high sensitivity and high accuracy a magnetic field generated by a current. The current sensor has a thin film coil including turn portions extending in an X-axis direction at a second layer, and a first magnetoresistive element which includes element patterns disposed at a first layer in areas corresponding to the turn portions, the resistance value of which varies according to a magnetic field generated by a current detected of from 10 to 50 mA flowing through the turn portions. The distance between each turn portion and each element pattern is from 0.4 to 1.0 ?m. Each cross-sectional area at the turn portions is from 0.4 to 3.0 ?m2. This permits efficient detection of a magnetic field without the influence of heat generated from the thin film coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Publication number: 20060159930
    Abstract: An adhesive comprises a base material which generates adhesive strength through curing, a hardening agent which promotes the curing of the base material, and a filler. In order to solve the problems mentioned above, the adhesive is made of particles having a maximum particle diameter of 0.8 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masaharu Ishizuka, Shigeru Shoji
  • Publication number: 20060158181
    Abstract: An eddy-current probe according to the present invention comprises: a substrate having a first surface facing to a subject to be tested and a second surface opposite to said first surface; an exciting coil formed on the second surface, having a pair of current lines in parallel with each other through which exciting currents flow in opposite directions to each other during testing, for generating an alternate magnetic field applied to the subject by the exciting currents; and at least one eddy-current sensor positioned on a central axis between the pair of current lines on the second surface of the substrate, for detecting a magnetic field generated newly from the subject by an eddy-current induced by the alternate magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Patent number: 7078895
    Abstract: An eddy-current probe according to the present invention comprises: a substrate having a first surface facing to a subject to be tested and a second surface opposite to said first surface; an exciting coil formed on the second surface, having a pair of current lines in parallel with each other through which exciting currents flow in opposite directions to each other during testing, for generating an alternate magnetic field applied to the subject by the exciting currents; and at least one eddy-current sensor positioned on a central axis between the pair of current lines on the second surface of the substrate, for detecting a magnetic field generated newly from the subject by an eddy-current induced by the alternate magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Publication number: 20060145690
    Abstract: The present invention provides a current sensor capable of sensing a current to be detected with high precision while realizing a compact configuration. The current sensor includes a first MR element including element patterns disposed at a first level, a second MR element including element patterns disposed at a second level, and a thin film coil which winds at a third level provided between the first and second levels while including winding body portions extending in an X axis direction in correspondence with the element patterns of the first and second MR elements, and which applies a current magnetic field to each of the element patterns when a current to be detected is supplied. Therefore, by using both of the first and second MR elements, the current magnetic field can be detected with high sensitivity and high precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Patent number: 7064629
    Abstract: A thin-film common mode filter is provided, comprising: a pair of magnetic plates; an upper coil conductor and a lower coil conductor formed between the pair of magnetic plates, spirally wound in the magnetic plate surface direction, and overlapped each other; an upper lead conductor and a lower lead conductor, one ends of the upper lead conductor and the lower lead conductor connected electrically to one ends in center portions of the upper coil conductor and the lower coil conductor, respectively, and extended to external portions across the upper coil conductor and the lower coil conductor; and a pedestal part formed below a connection portion between the upper coil conductor and the upper lead conductor, for lifting the connection portion to an upper position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Publication number: 20060128857
    Abstract: A composition for epihalohydrin vulcanized rubber excellent in heat resistance while keeping good vulcanization rate and store stability, comprising (a) an epihalohydrin robber, (b) a metal soap, (c) an acid acceptor, and (d) a vulcanizing agent, the composition further preferably containing (e) a fatty acid for suppressing vulcanization, or preferably containing (f) an alcohol for accelerating vulcanization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: DAISO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toyofumi Otaka, Shigeru Shoji, Yasushi Hamura, Toshiyuki Funayama
  • Publication number: 20060124682
    Abstract: The present invention provides a conveying mechanism capable of precisely detecting a conveyance amount of an object to be conveyed with a simple configuration. A head suspension assembly includes a suspension having a pair of attachment parts and an arm extending in a U shape so as to connect the pair of attachment parts to each other and showing elasticity in a Z axis direction, and a magnetic sensor provided on the arm. The arm deflects in the Z axis direction in accordance with the magnitude of an external force pressing the magnetic sensor against a recording surface. Even in the case where the recording surface slightly fluctuates in the Z axis direction at the time of conveying operation, the contact state between the magnetic sensor and the recording surface can be maintained in the range that the arm can deflect. Consequently, magnetic information on the recording surface can be precisely read and the rotation amount of a conveying roller can be detected with high precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Publication number: 20060127106
    Abstract: The present invention provides a conveying mechanism capable of accurately detecting a conveyance amount of an object to be conveyed with a simple configuration. A magnetic sensor is fixed to a casing along a locus of a contact point between a sheet and a conveying roller on the basis of a play between the conveying roller and an opening. With the configuration, the contact point and the magnetic sensor are disposed relatively close to each other. Consequently, the pure conveyance amount according to the rotation amount of a magnetic recording medium using the contact point as a reference can be detected by the magnetic sensor. Moreover, the movement amount of the contact point relative to the center axis of the opening as a reference position in association with the play can be also detected with high sensitivity. Thus, the conveyance amount of the sheet can be accurately obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Publication number: 20060114098
    Abstract: The present invention provides a compact current sensor capable of measuring a current to be detected with high precision. A current sensor includes: a first magnetoresistive element including a plurality of element patterns which extend in an X axis direction at a first level, are disposed so as to be adjacent to each other in a Y axis direction orthogonal to the X axis direction, and are connected in parallel with each other; and a thin film coil which includes a plurality of winding body portions extending in the X axis direction in correspondence with the element patterns and winds at a second level different from the first level, and applies a current magnetic field to each of the element patterns when a current to be detected is supplied. Therefore, the absolute value of the resistance change amount in the magnetoresistive element increases. While realizing a compact configuration, the current to be detected, flowing in the thin film coil can be measured with high precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Publication number: 20060101911
    Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes a housing member, a spring member attached to the housing member, the spring member having freedom in at least one direction of acceleration to be detected, a weight and magnetic field generation member fixed to the spring member, and at least one magnetic field detection sensor attached to the housing member to face the weight and magnetic field generation member. The at least one magnetic field detection sensor is provided with at least one multi-layered MR element including a magnetization fixed layer and a magnetization free layer. A direction of magnetic field applied to the at least one multi-layered MR element from the weight and magnetic field generation member is perpendicular to a lamination plane of the at least one multi-layered MR element when no acceleration is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Patent number: 7040014
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a coil chip having a structure with which downsizing of the coil chip can be realized and a high inductance and a high Q can be obtained and to provide a method of producing such a coil chip. In order to attain the object, according to the present invention, there is provided a coil structure including a core member made of a material having low dielectric loss characteristics, a coil formed by metal plating and wound around the core member, and a layer functioning as a seed for metal plating provided between the core member and the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Publication number: 20060093986
    Abstract: Root apex position model data associated with electrical characteristic values between a measurement electrode and a mouth electrode in a state in which the distal end of the measurement electrode is located at a root apex position of a root canal is stored in a storage unit. A power supply applies measurement signals of 500 Hz and 2 kHz between the measurement electrode and the mouth electrode. Two different current values flowing between the measurement electrode and the mouth electrode are detected. These current values are compared with the root apex position mode data stored in the storage unit. If the root apex position data includes any data which coincides with the current values, it is detected that the distal end of the measurement electrode is located at the root apex position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Shigeru Shoji, Masahiro Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20060091993
    Abstract: The present invention provides a current sensor capable of sensing a current to be detected with high precision. The current sensor includes a bus line which extends in an X direction at a first level and to which a current to be detected is supplied, a first magnetoresistive element extending in the X direction in a region corresponding to the bus line at a second level, and a second magnetoresistive element extending in the X direction in a region corresponding to the bus line at a third level. The resistance value of the first magnetoresistive element and that of the second magnetoresistive element change in directions opposite to the second level in accordance with a current magnetic field generated by the current to be detected. With the configuration, the first and second magnetoresistive elements and the bus line can be disposed close to each other. While realizing compactness, the current magnetic field can be detected with high sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Publication number: 20060071655
    Abstract: The present invention provides a current sensor capable of adjusting an offset value at a zero magnetic field more easily and detecting a current magnetic field generated by a current to be detected with high sensitivity and high precision. The current sensor has: first and second magnetoresistive elements disposed along a conductor so that resistance values change in directions opposite to each other in accordance with a current magnetic field generated by a current to be detected flowing in the conductor; and first and second constant current sources that supply constant currents equal to each other to the first and second magnetoresistive elements, respectively. The current sensor further includes a differential amplifier that detects the difference between voltage drops occurring in the first and second magnetoresistive elements by the constant current. The current to be detected is detected on the basis of the difference between the voltage drops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Patent number: 7023299
    Abstract: A thin-film common mode filter is provided, comprising: a pair of magnetic plates; upper/lower coil conductors formed between the magnetic plates, spirally wound in the magnetic plate surface direction, overlapped each other; upper/lower lead conductors one ends of which are connected electrically to one ends in centers of the upper/lower coil conductors, respectively, extended to external portions across these coil conductors; an upper/lower lead drawing terminals to which the other ends of the upper/lower lead conductors are connected, respectively; an upper/lower coil drawing terminals to which the other ends of the upper/lower coil conductors are connected, respectively; and each of the lower lead/coil drawing terminals and the upper coil/lead drawing terminals having a structure where at least two of conductor layers to be patterned into the upper/lower lead conductors and the upper/lower coil conductors are stacked, and brought into conduction with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Patent number: 7019948
    Abstract: A thin film magnetic head has a reading element including a magnetoresistive effective film, a pair of magnetic domain-controlling films and a pair of electrode films. The magnetic domain-controlling films are provided both sides of the magnetoresistive effective film in a track width direction, respectively, so that the depth of the magnetic domain-controlling films is set equal to the depth of the magnetoresistive effective film in a depth direction perpendicular to the track width direction. The electrode films are provided on the magnetic domain-controlling films so as to have elongated portions, respectively, beyond a region where the depth of the magnetic domain-controlling films is set equal to the depth of the magnetoresistive effective film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Patent number: 7012425
    Abstract: An eddy-current probe according to the present invention comprises: a substrate having a first surface facing to a subject to be tested and a second surface opposite to said first surface; an exciting coil formed on the second surface, having a pair of current lines in parallel with each other through which exciting currents flow in opposite directions to each other during testing, for generating an alternate magnetic field applied to the subject by the exciting currents; and at least one eddy-current sensor positioned on a central axis between the pair of current lines on the second surface of the substrate, for detecting a magnetic field generated newly from the subject by an eddy-current induced by the alternate magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Publication number: 20060012922
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor for an encoder has a sliding surface and detects magnetic field by keeping the sliding surface in contact with a surface of a magnetic medium to which a magnetic pattern with a predetermined magnetization pitch is recorded. The magnetic sensor includes a plurality of MR elements laminated with each other in a direction parallel to a direction of the magnetization pitch of the magnetic medium. Between two of the MR elements an insulation layer is sandwiched. Each of the MR elements has a plurality of linear sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Shoji
  • Patent number: 6984333
    Abstract: Provided is a thin film magnetic head capable of improving recording performance. The thin film magnetic head comprises a laminate including a main pole layer and an auxiliary pole layer being disposed in a region facing the main pole layer with a non-magnetic layer in between. After magnetic flux generated in a thin film coil is contained in the auxiliary pole layer through the non-magnetic layer, and then is concentrated on a front end neighboring portion of a front end portion in the auxiliary pole layer, the magnetic flux passes through the non-magnetic layer again so as to flow into a front end portion of the main pole layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignees: TDK Corporation, SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Matono, Shigeru Shoji