Patents by Inventor Shuhei Hiwada

Shuhei Hiwada 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: 11919302
    Abstract: There is provided a print apparatus including: a piezoelectric member; an individual electrode formed in the piezoelectric member; a first common electrode formed in the piezoelectric member so that the first common electrode is opposed to the individual electrode; a second common electrode formed in the piezoelectric member so that the second common electrode is opposed to the individual electrode, a voltage to be applied to the second common electrode being different from a voltage to be applied to the first common electrode; and a detection circuit configured to detect a capacitance of a first capacitor configured by the piezoelectric member, the individual electrode, and the first common electrode and a second capacitor configured by the piezoelectric member, the individual electrode, and the second common electrode. The detection circuit includes an oscillation circuit configured to be connected to the individual electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shuhei Hiwada
  • Publication number: 20240007053
    Abstract: A printing device comprises an amplifying circuit configured to amplify a drive waveform signal, and an energy generating element. The energy generating element is configured to eject the liquid from a nozzle. The amplifying circuit includes a comparator of which the drive waveform signal is input to a positive input terminal, a gate driver, an output signal being input to the gate driver from the comparator, a first N-type MOSFET and a second N-type MOSFET. A drain of the first N-type MOSFET is connected to a power supply. A source of the first N-type MOSFET is connected to a drain of the second N-type MOSFET. The printing device comprises negative feedback wiring configured to connect a negative input terminal of the comparator to the source of the first N-type MOSFET and the drain of the second N-type MOSFET.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsubasa Horie, Shuhei Hiwada
  • Publication number: 20230311490
    Abstract: A printing device comprises a nozzle configured to eject liquid by an energy generating element, and a signal generator configured to generate a time-division multiplexed signal where first data indicating a first drive waveform and second data indicating a second drive waveform are multiplexed transmittable through a single signal line. The time-division multiplexed signal included a first part and a second part of the first drive waveform, and a third part and a fourth part of the second drive waveform. The third part is arranged between the first part and the second part, and the second part is arranged between the third part and the fourth part. The printing device further comprises a separator configured to separate one of a first drive waveform signal indicating the first drive waveform and a second drive waveform signal indicating the second drive waveform from the time-division multiplexed signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi MAEDA, Shoko OTA, Shuhei HIWADA
  • Publication number: 20220314617
    Abstract: There is provided head including: nozzle configured to discharge liquid by energy generating element; signal generator configured to generate, based on first and second data representing first and second driving waveform, time division multiplex signal including first and second portions of the first driving waveform, and third and fourth portions of the second driving waveform; and separator configured to separate first or second driving waveform signal representing the first or second driving waveform from the time division multiplex signal. The energy generating element is configured to be driven by the first or second driving waveform signal. In the time division multiplex signal, the third portion is aligned between the first and second portions and the second portion is aligned between the third and fourth portions. The time division multiplex signal is capable of transmitting the first and second data via single signal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventor: Shuhei Hiwada
  • Publication number: 20220203680
    Abstract: There is provided a print apparatus including: a piezoelectric member; an individual electrode formed in the piezoelectric member; a first common electrode formed in the piezoelectric member so that the first common electrode is opposed to the individual electrode; a second common electrode formed in the piezoelectric member so that the second common electrode is opposed to the individual electrode, a voltage to be applied to the second common electrode being different from a voltage to be applied to the first common electrode; and a detection circuit configured to detect a capacitance of a first capacitor configured by the piezoelectric member, the individual electrode, and the first common electrode and a second capacitor configured by the piezoelectric member, the individual electrode, and the second common electrode. The detection circuit includes an oscillation circuit configured to be connected to the individual electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventor: Shuhei HIWADA
  • Patent number: 10252522
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejection head, a plurality of amplifiers, and a plurality of signal line sets. The liquid ejection head has a plurality of actuators. The plurality of amplifiers is configured to amplify driving signals supplied to each of the plurality of actuators. The plurality of signal line sets is provided for respective ones of the plurality of amplifiers. Each of the plurality of signal line sets includes a supply line and a return line. The supply line is configured to supply the driving signals amplified by a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers to the plurality of actuators. The return line is configured to return the driving signals to the corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers. Each of the plurality of amplifiers is electrically floating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuhei Hiwada
  • Publication number: 20180281388
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejection head, a plurality of amplifiers, and a plurality of signal line sets. The liquid ejection head has a plurality of actuators. The plurality of amplifiers is configured to amplify driving signals supplied to each of the plurality of actuators. The plurality of signal line sets is provided for respective ones of the plurality of amplifiers. Each of the plurality of signal line sets includes a supply line and a return line. The supply line is configured to supply the driving signals amplified by a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers to the plurality of actuators. The return line is configured to return the driving signals to the corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers. Each of the plurality of amplifiers is electrically floating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventor: Shuhei HIWADA
  • Patent number: 9764546
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus, including: a drive element configured to apply discharge energy to the liquid to discharge the liquid; signal generators configured to generate a plurality of types of drive signals having mutually different waveforms to drive the drive element; and drive switches electrically located between the signal generators and the drive element to correspond to the plurality of types of drive signals respectively. The drive switches include a first drive switch and a second drive switch which are different in ON-resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayoshi Hayashi, Shuhei Hiwada, Takahiko Watari, Jie Chen
  • Publication number: 20170087828
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus, including: a drive element configured to apply discharge energy to the liquid to discharge the liquid; signal generators configured to generate a plurality of types of drive signals having mutually different waveforms to drive the drive element; and drive switches electrically located between the signal generators and the drive element to correspond to the plurality of types of drive signals respectively. The drive switches include a first drive switch and a second drive switch which are different in ON-resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Masayoshi HAYASHI, Shuhei HIWADA, Takahiko WATARI, Jie CHEN
  • Patent number: 9033467
    Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a channel unit formed with a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of liquid channels communicating with the nozzles; an actuator including a plurality of drive sections, which are provided to correspond to the nozzles, include a plurality of connecting terminals, and are configured to apply jetting energy to a liquid in the liquid channels; and a flexible wiring member including a plurality of connecting portions joined to the plurality of connecting terminals of the actuator and a plurality of wires connected to the connecting portions. The wiring member includes a protrusion formed by bending a portion, different from a portion formed with the connecting portions, at which at least a part of the wires are formed, to project toward a side opposite to a connecting surface for connecting with the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kondo, Shuhei Hiwada, Kazuteru Kojima
  • Patent number: 8888237
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus including: a liquid jetting head configured to jet liquid; a liquid discharge unit configured to discharge the liquid from the liquid jetting head; a waste liquid recover unit including a waste liquid absorber configured to absorb a waste liquid discharged from the liquid jetting head by the liquid discharge unit and detection electrodes configured to detect a waste liquid amount absorbed into the waste liquid absorber; and a vibration generating source configured to vibrate the waste liquid absorber in a vibration direction, wherein the detection electrodes are disposed to make contact with an end surface defining the waste liquid absorber, and a normal direction of the end surface intersects with the vibration direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kondo, Shuhei Hiwada, Masato Sueyasu, Yasuhiro Kato, Reiko Higashikawa, Tomoyuki Kubo, Toru Yamashita, Shigeru Suzuki, Hiroto Sugahara, Masayoshi Hayashi, Tatsuya Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8888248
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet jetting apparatus, including: a liquid droplet jetting head configured to include a liquid droplet jetting surface formed with a plurality of nozzles from which liquid droplets are jetted, an energy applying mechanism configured to apply a jetting energy to a liquid in each of the nozzles, and a driving device configured to drive the energy applying mechanism; a relative movement mechanism configured to relatively move, along the liquid droplet jetting surface, the liquid droplet jetting head and an object to be jetted; and a heat radiating member configured to be provided in the liquid droplet jetting head to radiate heat generated in the driving device. The heat radiating member includes a heat radiating surface which is positioned on a plane including the liquid droplet jetting surface or which projects toward the object as compared with the plane including the liquid droplet jetting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuhei Hiwada, Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8827425
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet jetting apparatus configured to jet liquid droplets onto an object, including: a channel member in which a nozzle for jetting the liquid droplets and a liquid channel communicating with the nozzle are formed; an energy conversion element which is configured to apply a jetting energy to the liquid in the nozzle; a drive unit which is configured to supply a driving signal to the energy conversion element; a flow detecting sensor which is configured to detect a liquid flow inside the liquid channel; and a cabling member which includes a drive line connected to the energy conversion element, and a signal output line connected to the flow detecting sensor to transmit a detection signal corresponding to the liquid flow inside the liquid channel output from the flow detecting sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroto Sugahara, Shuhei Hiwada
  • Patent number: 8789931
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus which includes: a liquid jetting head including a channel unit and a piezoelectric actuator, an elastic deformation layer arranged on the piezoelectric actuator, a plurality of head-side contact points arranged on the elastic deformation layer, a substrate arranged to face a surface of the liquid jetting head, a plurality of substrate-side contact points arranged on the substrate, and a fixing member fixing the liquid jetting head and the substrate. When the fixing member fixes the liquid jetting head and the substrate, a portion of the elastic deformation layer, on which the head-side contact points are arranged, is sandwiched by the piezoelectric actuator and the substrate to undergo elastic deformation. The elastic deformation layer is configured to press the plurality of head-side contact points onto the substrate-side contact points by a force arising from a tendency to restore a state before elastic deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroto Sugahara, Shuhei Hiwada
  • Patent number: 8757763
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid-jetting head includes: providing a flow passage unit in which a plurality of jetting ports and a plurality of individual liquid flow passages are formed; providing a plurality of actuator units which are arranged to be adjacent to each other on a surface of the flow passage unit and each of which includes a plurality of actuators having individual electrodes corresponding to the individual liquid flow passages; providing a drive circuit for each of the actuator units which supplies a drive signal to each of the actuators; providing a plurality of wiring members each of which is fixed on one of the actuator units to electrically connect the actuator unit and the drive circuit; folding base materials of the wiring members; and joining the base materials to the actuator units after folding the base materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuhei Hiwada
  • Publication number: 20140092177
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus which includes: a liquid jetting head including a channel unit and a piezoelectric actuator, an elastic deformation layer arranged on the piezoelectric actuator, a plurality of head-side contact points arranged on the elastic deformation layer, a substrate arranged to face a surface of the liquid jetting head, a plurality of substrate-side contact points arranged on the substrate, and a fixing member fixing the liquid jetting head and the substrate. When the fixing member fixes the liquid jetting head and the substrate, a portion of the elastic deformation layer, on which the head-side contact points are arranged, is sandwiched by the piezoelectric actuator and the substrate to undergo elastic deformation. The elastic deformation layer is configured to press the plurality of head-side contact points onto the substrate-side contact points by a force arising from a tendency to restore a state before elastic deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto SUGAHARA, Shuhei Hiwada
  • Publication number: 20140063125
    Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a channel unit formed with a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of liquid channels communicating with the nozzles; an actuator including a plurality of drive sections, which are provided to correspond to the nozzles, include a plurality of connecting terminals, and are configured to apply jetting energy to a liquid in the liquid channels; and a flexible wiring member including a plurality of connecting portions joined to the plurality of connecting terminals of the actuator and a plurality of wires connected to the connecting portions. The wiring member includes a protrusion formed by bending a portion, different from a portion formed with the connecting portions, at which at least a part of the wires are formed, to project toward a side opposite to a connecting surface for connecting with the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirofumi KONDO, Shuhei Hiwada, Kazuteru Kojima
  • Patent number: 8657406
    Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus is provided including: a liquid jetting head having a nozzle formed therein through which the liquid is jetted; a driving unit which is configured to output energy to the liquid jetting head; an energy recovery mechanism which is configured to recover and supply a part of the energy supplied from the driving unit to the liquid jetting head; and a mist removing unit to which the part of the energy recovered by the energy recovery mechanism is supplied so that the supplied energy is used to remove a mist generated under a condition that the liquid jetting head jets the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Reiko Higashikawa, Hirofumi Kondo, Tomoyuki Kubo, Masayoshi Hayashi, Masato Sueyasu, Toru Yamashita, Tatsuya Nishikawa, Yasuhiro Kato, Shuhei Hiwada
  • Publication number: 20130235122
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet jetting apparatus, including: a liquid droplet jetting head configured to include a liquid droplet jetting surface formed with a plurality of nozzles from which liquid droplets are jetted, an energy applying mechanism configured to apply a jetting energy to a liquid in each of the nozzles, and a driving device configured to drive the energy applying mechanism; a relative movement mechanism configured to relatively move, along the liquid droplet jetting surface, the liquid droplet jetting head and an object to be jetted; and a heat radiating member configured to be provided in the liquid droplet jetting head to radiate heat generated in the driving device. The heat radiating member includes a heat radiating surface which is positioned on a plane including the liquid droplet jetting surface or which projects toward the object as compared with the plane including the liquid droplet jetting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuhei HIWADA, Hiroto Sugahara
  • Publication number: 20130083121
    Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus is provided including: a liquid jetting head having a nozzle formed therein through which the liquid is jetted; a driving unit which is configured to output energy to the liquid jetting head; an energy recovery mechanism which is configured to recover and supply a part of the energy supplied from the driving unit to the liquid jetting head; and a mist removing unit to which the part of the energy recovered by the energy recovery mechanism is supplied so that the supplied energy is used to remove a mist generated under a condition that the liquid jetting head jets the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: Reiko HIGASHIKAWA, Hirofumi KONDO, Tomoyuki KUBO, Masayoshi HAYASHI, Masato SUEYASU, Toru YAMASHITA, Tatsuya NISHIKAWA, Yasuhiro KATO, Shuhei HIWADA