Patents by Inventor Soichiro Hiraoka
Soichiro Hiraoka 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: 11692826Abstract: An anchor member supports a frame-shaped member. A first input electrode is located outside the frame-shaped member and separate from the frame-shaped member and fixed to a substrate. A second input electrode includes an electrode portion located outside the frame-shaped member and connected to the frame-shaped member. The second input electrode is displaceable in a prescribed direction. A first reference electrode is inside the frame-shaped member and fixed to the substrate. A second reference electrode includes an electrode portion located inside of the frame-shaped member and connected to the frame-shaped member. The second reference electrode is displaceable in the prescribed direction. In the structural component, the first input electrode and the electrode portion of the second input electrode are located between the frame-shaped member and a weight member in the prescribed direction in plan view in a thickness direction defined with respect to the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Shoichi Taji, Hiroyuki Aizawa, Soichiro Hiraoka
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Publication number: 20220178695Abstract: An anchor member supports a frame-shaped member. A first input electrode is located outside the frame-shaped member and separate from the frame-shaped member and fixed to a substrate. A second input electrode includes an electrode portion located outside the frame-shaped member and connected to the frame-shaped member. The second input electrode is displaceable in a prescribed direction. A first reference electrode is inside the frame-shaped member and fixed to the substrate. A second reference electrode includes an electrode portion located inside of the frame-shaped member and connected to the frame-shaped member. The second reference electrode is displaceable in the prescribed direction. In the structural component, the first input electrode and the electrode portion of the second input electrode are located between the frame-shaped member and a weight member in the prescribed direction in plan view in a thickness direction defined with respect to the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2020Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Shoichi TAJI, Hiroyuki AIZAWA, Soichiro HIRAOKA
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Patent number: 11150092Abstract: A sensor includes a sensor substrate, and an upper lid substrate joined to an upper surface of the sensor substrate. The sensor substrate includes a fixed part, a deformable beam connected to the fixed part, and a weight connected to the beam. The weight is movable relative to the fixed part. The upper lid substrate includes a first part containing silicon and a second part joined to the first part and containing glass. The first part includes a projection protruding toward the sensor substrate relative to the second part. The sensor has high accuracy or high reliability.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2017Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Takashi Imanaka, Shoichi Taji, Soichiro Hiraoka, Katsuya Morinaka
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Publication number: 20190242709Abstract: A sensor includes a sensor substrate, and an upper lid substrate joined to an upper surface of the sensor substrate. The sensor substrate includes a fixed part, a deformable beam connected to the fixed part, and a weight connected to the beam. The weight is movable relative to the fixed part. The upper lid substrate includes a first part containing silicon and a second part joined to the first part and containing glass. The first part includes a projection protruding toward the sensor substrate relative to the second part. The sensor has high accuracy or high reliability.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2017Publication date: August 8, 2019Inventors: TAKASHI IMANAKA, SHOICHI TAJI, SOICHIRO HIRAOKA, KATSUYA MORINAKA
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Patent number: 10247608Abstract: A method of controlling a spectroscopic module that includes a measurement light source, a variable-wavelength optical filter, a photodiode, and a conversion circuit for converting a drive signal voltage into a gap displacement amount. The spectroscopic module has a reference light source for emitting a reference light beam of a known wavelength. The controlling method involves varying a gap for the incident reference light beam, extracting two maximum points among data output from the photodiode, and updating a first conversion formula provided in the conversion circuit through use of drive signal voltages and gap amounts corresponding to the two points.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2016Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Soichiro Hiraoka, Masaya Nakatani
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Publication number: 20180087964Abstract: A method of controlling a spectroscopic module that includes a measurement light source, a variable-wavelength optical filter, a photodiode, and a conversion circuit for converting a drive signal voltage into a gap displacement amount. The spectroscopic module has a reference light source for emitting a reference light beam of a known wavelength. The controlling method involves varying a gap for the incident reference light beam, extracting two maximum points among data output from the photodiode, and updating a first conversion formula provided in the conversion circuit through use of drive signal voltages and gap amounts corresponding to the two points.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: SOICHIRO HIRAOKA, MASAYA NAKATANI
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Patent number: 9810576Abstract: A variable wavelength optical filter module according to the present invention includes a package, a variable wavelength optical filter, and a detector. The package includes a reflection part (reflecting faces) in the inside of the package. The variable wavelength optical filter is disposed in the inside of the package and includes a first reflecting plate and a second reflecting plate facing each other, with a clearance between the first reflecting plate and the second reflecting plate being variable. The detector is disposed in the inside of the package and detects a ray of light having passed through the variable wavelength optical filter. Then, the variable wavelength optical filter and the detector are disposed on the opposite side to the reflection part (reflecting faces). The ray of the light incident into the inside of the package via the variable wavelength optical filter enters the detector via the reflection part (reflecting faces).Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2014Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Mitsuhiro Okada, Soichiro Hiraoka
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Patent number: 9778549Abstract: An optical reflecting device includes a mirror part, a pair of joints, a pair of vibration parts, a plurality of driving parts, and a fixed part. Each of the joints has a first end connected to respective one the facing positions to each other on the mirror part and a second end opposite to the first end, and extends along a first axis. Each of the vibration parts has a central portion connected to the second end of respective one of the joints. A plurality of driving parts is disposed in each of the pair of vibration parts, and rotates the mirror part. Both ends of each of the pair of vibration parts are connected to the fixed part. The beam width defined as the length of each of the joints in a direction orthogonal to the first axis is greater than the beam width of each of the pair of vibration parts.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2016Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiaki Horie, Soichiro Hiraoka, Shinsuke Nakazono, Kazuki Komaki
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Patent number: 9523849Abstract: An optical reflecting device includes a mirror part, a pair of joints, a pair of vibration parts, a plurality of driving parts, and a fixed part. Each of the joints has a first end connected to respective one the facing positions to each other on the mirror part and a second end opposite to the first end, and extends along a first axis. Each of the vibration parts has a central portion connected to the second end of respective one of the joints. A plurality of driving parts are disposed in each of the pair of vibration parts, and rotate the mirror part. Both ends of each of the pair of vibration parts are connected to the fixed part. The beam width defined as the length of each of the joints in a direction orthogonal to the first axis is greater than the beam width of each of the pair of vibration parts.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2013Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiaki Horie, Soichiro Hiraoka, Shinsuke Nakazono, Kazuki Komaki
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Publication number: 20160356984Abstract: An optical reflecting device includes a mirror part, a pair of joints, a pair of vibration parts, a plurality of driving parts, and a fixed part. Each of the joints has a first end connected to respective one the facing positions to each other on the mirror part and a second end opposite to the first end, and extends along a first axis. Each of the vibration parts has a central portion connected to the second end of respective one of the joints. A plurality of driving parts is disposed in each of the pair of vibration parts, and rotates the mirror part. Both ends of each of the pair of vibration parts are connected to the fixed part. The beam width defined as the length of each of the joints in a direction orthogonal to the first axis is greater than the beam width of each of the pair of vibration parts.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: Toshiaki HORIE, Soichiro HIRAOKA, Shinsuke NAKAZONO, Kazuki KOMAKI
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Publication number: 20160258812Abstract: A variable wavelength optical filter module according to the present invention includes a package, a variable wavelength optical filter, and a detector. The package includes a reflection part (reflecting faces) in the inside of the package. The variable wavelength optical filter is disposed in the inside of the package and includes a first reflecting plate and a second reflecting plate facing each other, with a clearance between the first reflecting plate and the second reflecting plate being variable. The detector is disposed in the inside of the package and detects a ray of light having passed through the variable wavelength optical filter. Then, the variable wavelength optical filter and the detector are disposed on the opposite side to the reflection part (reflecting faces). The ray of the light incident into the inside of the package via the variable wavelength optical filter enters the detector via the reflection part (reflecting faces).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2014Publication date: September 8, 2016Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: MITSUHIRO OKADA, SOICHIRO HIRAOKA
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Patent number: 9291815Abstract: An optical reflection element includes a fixed portion having a pair of sides opposite to each other, a pair of first vibration portions having one ends each connected to respective one of the sides of the fixed portion, a pair of connection portions each connected to respective one of another ends of the first vibration portions, a movable frame rotatably supported by another ends of the first vibration portions via the connection portions, a pair of second vibration portions having one ends each connected to respective one of a pair of sides of the movable frame, and a mirror rotatably connected to another ends of the second vibration portions. The second vibration portions are configured to transmit a rotational vibration about a rotation axis to the mirror. The connection portions are connected to the movable frame in a direction of the rotation axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiaki Horie, Soichiro Hiraoka, Shinsuke Nakazono, Kazuki Komaki
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Patent number: 9287488Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator device includes a vibrator and a driver to vibrate the vibrator. The vibrator includes a lower vibration layer configured to vibrate and an upper vibration layer coupled to an upper surface of the lower vibration layer and configured to vibrate together with the lower vibration layer. The driver includes an upper electrode layer on a lower surface of the lower vibration layer, a piezoelectric layer on a lower surface of the upper electrode layer, and a lower electrode layer on a lower surface of the piezoelectric layer. The lower vibration layer of the vibrator is made of organic material. The upper vibration layer is mainly made of inorganic material. The lower vibration layer has a smaller longitudinal elastic modulus than the upper vibration layer. The piezoelectric actuator device has a large resistance to disturbance vibrations and a large warping amount of the vibrator without increasing power consumption.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2013Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Soichiro Hiraoka, Kazuki Komaki, Shinsuke Nakazono, Akira Kurozuka, Toshiaki Horie
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Patent number: 9261669Abstract: A vibrating element having a meandering shape includes a vibrating beam and a piezoelectric actuator provided on the vibrating beam. The vibrating beam has a meandering-shape substantially formed into the plurality of continuous turned-down shapes. The vibrating beam includes the plurality of turned-down units and the plurality of coupling units coupled to the turned-down units, and the coupling units and the turned-down units are alternately disposed. The piezoelectric actuator includes a lower electrode provided on the vibrating beam, a piezoelectric film provided on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode provided on the piezoelectric film. A non-existence region where the piezoelectric film does not exist is provided in at least one of a neighborhood of a midpoint of an inner circumference of each of the turned-down units and a neighborhood of a curvature changing point in which a curvature of the inner circumference of each of the turned-down shapes changes.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2012Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiaki Horie, Shinsuke Nakazono, Soichiro Hiraoka, Yuta Yamamoto, Kazuki Komaki
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Patent number: 9207451Abstract: An actuator includes a frame, a driver portion having one end connected to an inside of the frame, a movable portion connected to another end of the driver portion, and an electrode provided at the movable portion. The driver portion vibrates the movable portion by being driven by a driving signal. The electrode receives a high-frequency signal higher than that of the driving signal. This actuator is driven at a high speed by a large deflection angle, and can prevent dust from adhering to the movable portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2013Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Akihiro Morikawa, Soichiro Hiraoka, Shinsuke Nakazono, Kazuki Komaki
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Publication number: 20150323783Abstract: An optical reflecting device includes a mirror part, a pair of joints, a pair of vibration parts, a plurality of driving parts, and a fixed part. Each of the joints has a first end connected to respective one the facing positions to each other on the mirror part and a second end opposite to the first end, and extends along a first axis. Each of the vibration parts has a central portion connected to the second end of respective one of the joints. A plurality of driving parts are disposed in each of the pair of vibration parts, and rotate the mirror part. Both ends of each of the pair of vibration parts are connected to the fixed part. The beam width defined as the length of each of the joints in a direction orthogonal to the first axis is greater than the beam width of each of the pair of vibration parts.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2013Publication date: November 12, 2015Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Toshiaki HORIE, Soichiro HIRAOKA, Shinsuke NAKAZONO, Kazuki KOMAKI
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Publication number: 20150270477Abstract: An actuator includes a fixed frame, a pair of first vibrating portions, a movable frame, a pair of second vibrating portions, a movable portion, and a first monitor signal detector. Each of the first vibrating portions faces the inside of the fixed frame; and has a first end connected to the inside of the fixed frame, and a second end connected to the outside of the movable frame. Each of the second vibrating portions faces the inside of the movable frame; and has a first end connected to the inside of the movable frame, and a second end connected to the movable portion. The second vibrating portions extend in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the first vibrating portions extend. The first monitor signal detector capable of detecting displacement of the movable frame is provided on a connection portion between the movable frame and the first vibrating portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2013Publication date: September 24, 2015Inventors: Toshiaki Horie, Shinsuke Nakazono, Soichiro Hiraoka, Kazuki Komaki, Akira Kurozuka, Yuta Yamamoto, Takehiro Kobayashi
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Patent number: 9091856Abstract: An optical reflecting device includes a mirror, a frame connected to the mirror, and a driver beam configured to vibrate to rotate the mirror about a rotation axis. Rigidity of the frame is higher than rigidity of the mirror. The rotation axis is perpendicular to a line that connects a first connecting part to a second connecting part. This optical reflecting device can suppress a dynamic warp of the mirror.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2012Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLCTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Kensuke Mihara, Akira Kurozuka, Shinsuke Nakazono, Soichiro Hiraoka, Yuta Yamamoto, Toshiaki Horie, Kazuki Komaki
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Patent number: 9025228Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 7, 2015Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiaki Horie, Shinsuke Nakazono, Soichiro Hiraoka, Shigeo Furukawa, Yuta Yamamoto, Kazuki Komaki, Masaki Tada
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Publication number: 20150116803Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2015Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventors: TOSHIAKI HORIE, SHINSUKE NAKAZONO, SOICHIRO HIRAOKA, SHIGEO FURUKAWA, YUTA YAMAMOTO, KAZUKI KOMAKI, MASAKI TADA