Patents by Inventor Takashi Niwa

Takashi Niwa 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: 20050025032
    Abstract: A near-field optical probe has a planar substrate formed with a through-hole and a phase shifter layer translucent to light having a wavelength of illumination light used to illuminate the substrate for producing near-field light. The phase shifter layer is effective to cause a shift of phase in the illumination light by 180 degrees and is provided on the substrate so as to cover one opening of the through-hole to form a microscopic aperture for producing near-field light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Manabu Oumi, Yasuyuki Mitsuoka, Norio Chiba, Nobuyuki Kasama, Kenji Kato, Takashi Niwa
  • Patent number: 6842558
    Abstract: There is disclosed an optical switch consisting of a support substrate, a movable raw optical fiber, a fixed raw optical fiber, a magnetic member for the movable raw optical fiber, and a leaf spring. The fibers are disposed in a V-shaped groove formed in the substrate. The magnetic member is actuated by an electromagnet disposed above the substrate. The leaf spring pushes the movable raw optical fiber into the V-shaped groove. The structure of the switch is relatively simple. Since the movable raw optical fiber is pushed using the leaf spring, the switch is less affected by the assembly accuracy than conventional. It is easy to make adjustments during assembly. Consequently, high-performance, low-cost, optical switch that can be mass-produced can be offered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Mitsuoka, Hidetaka Maeda, Norio Chiba, Takashi Niwa, Yoko Shinohara, Kenji Kato, Susumu Ichihara, Norihiro Dejima
  • Patent number: 6834537
    Abstract: An optical microcantilever has an optical waveguide for propagating light. The optical waveguide has a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and a tip portion formed on the first side and at a free end of the optical waveguide. The tip portion has a microscopic aperture. A light blocking film is disposed on the first side of the optical waveguide. A reflecting film is disposed on the second side of the optical waveguide. A reflecting member forms part of the reflecting film and is disposed at the free end of the optical waveguide. The reflecting member has a generally planar surface for reflecting light propagated by the optical waveguide and for guiding the reflected light towards the microscopic aperture to generate near-field light at the microscopic aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Niwa, Kenji Kato, Susumu Ichihara, Norio Chiba, Yasuyuki Mitsuoka, Manabu Oumi, Nobuyuki Kasama
  • Patent number: 6831887
    Abstract: A recording medium stores information that is reproducible utilizing near-field light. A phase shift arrangement layer is formed with alternately arranged phase shifter regions for shifting incident light by 180 degrees and transmission regions that are transparent to the incident light. A row of data marks is arranged above the phase shifter regions and transmission regions. As a result, the spread of near-field light due to incident light transmitted through the phase shifter regions and transmission regions is canceled, to provide a sharp distribution of near-field light over the data marks. light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Manabu Oumi, Yasuyuki Mitsuoka, Norio Chiba, Nobuyuki Kasama, Kenji Kato, Takashi Niwa
  • Publication number: 20040240227
    Abstract: LEDs (10) are used as a tail stop lamp (L1). A socket (21) for the LEDs (10) is provided at the left end of a socket base (20), and a lighting circuit (15) for the LEDs (10) including the socket (21) and a connector portion (25) is constructed on the socket base (20). Thus, electronic parts, such as resistors for luminance adjustment, are formed into control modules (30) by molding. Lead terminals (32) of the respective control modules (30) are formed by insulation-displacement terminals. On the other hand, insulated wires (40) are laid through mount bases (35) in a specified circuit pattern on the socket base (20). When the control modules (30) are mounted into the corresponding mount bases (35), the lead terminals (32) are pressed into connection to form the lighting circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Asao, Takashi Niwa, Takashi Kitade
  • Publication number: 20040232889
    Abstract: A smart battery pack having an inexpensive, high-performance N-channel MOS transistor is provided. A level shift is conducted in communications between a remaining battery power detecting circuit of the smart battery pack and an electronic device such that the shifted level matches the signal level of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Minoru Sudo, Takashi Niwa, Norio Chiba, Susumu Ichihara
  • Publication number: 20040232106
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a mirror having high verticality and less surface roughness, comprising forming a mask material to the surface of a silicon substrate, applying anisotropic dry etching and anisotropic wet etching, thereby anisotropically dry etching the surface substantially parallel with the crystal face in perpendicular to the surface of the substrate and then forming a reflection surface by the anisotropic wet etching step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Kazunari Oka, Minoru Sudo, Takashi Niwa, Norio Chiba, Susumu Ichihara
  • Patent number: 6785201
    Abstract: It is an optical information recording and reading apparatus for recording and/or reading information at a high density by using a near-field light-generating device as a near-field optical head. The end surface of the core of a flexible optical waveguide is formed in an intermediate position in the optical waveguide and in a portion fixed to the near-field optical head. Light for recording and reading information is spread within the clad. The spread light flux is reflected toward the near-field optical head by a reflective surface formed on the side of one end of the optical waveguide. The reflected light flux is collected by light-collecting structures and then is made to enter an optical minute aperture formed in the near-field optical head. Near-field light is created near the minute aperture. Light scattered by the surface of the recording medium is received. Thus, information on the recording medium can be recorded and read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignees: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Yoko Shinohara, Yasuyuki Mitsuoka, Manabu Oumi, Nobuyuki Kasama, Hidetaka Maeda, Kenji Kato, Susumu Ichihara, Takashi Niwa, Toshifumi Ohkubo, Terunao Hirota, Hiroshi Hosaka, Kiyoshi Itao
  • Publication number: 20040154367
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing optical aperture is disclosed. A pressing body has a plane covering a tip and at least a part of stoppers. An opaque film formed on the tip. The pressing body is displaced toward the tip for forming an aperture on a point of the tip. According to the apparatus, the amount of displacement of the plate can be controlled excellently by the stopper and can be made very small. Thus, the aperture having a uniform and small size can be produced on the point of the tip easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Oumi, Susumu Ichihara, Takashi Niwa, Kenji Kato, Yoko Shinohara, Hidetaka Maeda, Nobuyuki Kasama, Yasuyuki Mitsuoka
  • Patent number: 6768095
    Abstract: A near-field optical probe has a cantilever formed of a transparent material and having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite the first main surface. A base supports the cantilever at the first main surface. A tip extends from the second main surface of the cantilever and has a microscopic aperture at an end thereof. The tip is formed of a transparent material having a higher refractive index than that of the transparent material of the cantilever to increase an amount of near-field light generated or detected by the microscopic aperture. A shade film is formed on the second main surface of the cantilever and on a surface of the tip except for the microscopic aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments R & D Center Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Niwa, Kenji Kato, Nobuyuki Kasama, Manabu Oumi, Yasuyuki Mitsuoka, Susumu Ichihara
  • Publication number: 20040131306
    Abstract: The invention equalizes the lengths of optical paths required in optical communication among optical paths constructed by plural optical fibers. Optical fibers parallel to each other at non-equal intervals are set to ADD, OUT, IN and DROP, and are used for add-drop. An ADD-OUT optical path of an optical path length A+2E from the optical fiber to the optical fiber through a fixing mirror and a movable mirror, and an IN-DROP optical path of an optical path length C+2E from the optical fiber to the optical fiber through a movable mirror and a fixing mirror are formed. When the movable mirrors are escaped, an ADD-DROP optical path of an optical path length A+B+C+2E from the optical fiber to the optical fiber through the fixing mirrors, and an IN-OUT optical path of an optical path length B+2D+2E from the optical fiber to the optical fiber through fixing mirrors are formed. Three optical paths except for ADD-DROP are set to the same length by setting A=C=B+2D.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Norihiro Dejima, Norio Chiba, Kenji Kato, Toshiya Kubo, Hiromitsu Nakayama, Takashi Niwa
  • Patent number: 6754163
    Abstract: In a recording apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a recording medium by utilizing near-field light, the recording apparatus realizes reliable information reproduction with a simple structure. Illumination light 20 is illuminated to the recording medium 10 to create near-field light on a surface of the recording medium 10. The created near-field light is scattered by a microscopic aperture 12 formed in the aperture element 11 so that scattering light (propagation light) thereof is detected to create a reproduced signal. Derived from the created reproduced light a distance control signal representative of a distance between the microscopic aperture 12 and the recording medium 10. Based on the distance control signal, the aperture element 11 is controlled in position. Due to this, the microscopic aperture 12 is brought into proximity to the recording medium 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kasama, Norio Chiba, Yasuyuki Mitsuoka, Manabu Oumi, Kenji Kato, Takashi Niwa, Kunio Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6747265
    Abstract: An optical cantilever for an SNOM has a base portion, a cantilever portion extending from the base portion and having a hole formed proximate a distal end thereof, a dielectric member extending through the hole and having a sharpened tip at a first end projecting outward of a first surface of the cantilever portion, and a light shielding film covering the first surface of the cantilever portion and the first end of the dielectric member except for a portion of the sharpened tip so as to form a very small aperture at the sharpened tip which is not covered by the light shielding film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Niwa, Susumu Ichihara, Yasuyuki Mitsuoka, Kenji Kato, Norio Chiba, Manabu Oumi, Nobuyuki Kasama
  • Patent number: 6744030
    Abstract: An optical waveguide probe is disclosed which is used for a scanning near-field optical microscope, has a low light propagation loss, and is capable of performing an AFM operation, and a manufacturing method thereof is disclosed. The vicinity of the tip of an optical waveguide 2 is bent toward a side of a probe portion 9 through a plurality of surfaces symmetrical with respect to a plane including an optical axis of the optical waveguide 2. By this, a loss of a propagated light 7 at a bent portion 10 is reduced, and the propagated light 7 can be condensed to a minute aperture 5, so that near-field light can be efficiently emitted from the minute aperture 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Mitsuoka, Takashi Niwa, Kenji Kato, Manabu Oumi, Nobuyuki Kasama, Susumu Ichihara
  • Patent number: 6744708
    Abstract: A near-field optical head capable of rapid recording and/or reproducing of the information is provided. The near-field optical head condenses the light from the light source and irradiates the light on the minute opening 1. Then, by means of detecting the reflected light from the light condensing mark 501 provided on the circumference of the minute opening 1, the relative position between the light condensing point condensed by the lens and the light condensing mark 501 is detected so that the light condensing point is controlled to follow the light condensing mark 501. Thus, intensive and constant near-field light can be generated in the minute opening 1 and a signal having high S/N can be obtained even by a rapid scanning of the minute opening 1 over the recording medium so that rapid recording and/or reproducing of the information is made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Yoko Shinohara, Yasuyuki Mitsuoka, Manabu Oumi, Nobuyuki Kasama, Hidetaka Maeda, Kenji Kato, Takashi Niwa
  • Patent number: 6738338
    Abstract: There is disclosed a near-field optical head having an microscopic aperture whose size can be varied. The optical head comprises a substrate of silicon. A hole in the form of an inverted cone is formed in the substrate. The top portion of this hole forms the microscopic aperture. A support portion for supporting an actuator is formed on the substrate. The actuator holds a light-blocking film in such a way that the light-blocking film stays in the hole and that the bottom surface of the light-blocking film is flush with the bottom surface of the microscopic aperture. The light-blocking film is moved by the actuator to change the aperture to desired size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Maeda, Takashi Niwa, Kenji Kato, Susumu Ichihara, Norio Chiba, Yasuyuki Mitsuoka, Manabu Oumi, Nobuyuki Kasama
  • Publication number: 20040086808
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an information recording/reproduction device for implementing high-density information recording and reading using mutual interaction of a recording medium with near field light, and particularly to a near field optical head with a high optical efficiency and a manufacturing method thereof. This is achieved by enabling an energy propagation mechanism via a plasmon by forming a layer dispersed with metal particulate at a microscopic opening generating near field light, and therefore increase optical efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Oumi, Nobuyuki Kasama, Hidetaka Maeda, Kenji Kato, Takashi Niwa, Yasuyuki Mitsuoka, Yoko Shinohara
  • Patent number: 6724718
    Abstract: A near-field optical head has a slider having a minute aperture for emitting near-field light. The minute aperture has a diameter equal to or less than a wavelength of visible light. The slider is supported by a suspension arm for exerting a load, receiving a floating force due to relative movement with a recording medium, and forming a gap between the slider and the recording medium through a balance between the load and the floating force. A light propagating medium has an output end for emitting light. An optical path length shortening structure shortens an optical path length between the output end of the light propagating medium and the minute aperture of the slider. A mirror is disposed over the slider for guiding light emitted from the light propagating medium to the minute aperture of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Yoko Shinohara, Takashi Niwa, Susumu Ichihara, Yasuyuki Mitsuoka, Manabu Oumi, Nobuyuki Kasama, Kenji Kato
  • Patent number: 6720508
    Abstract: A switch includes a switching mechanism, an operating mechanism with a key which normally causes the switching mechanism to be in a switched-off condition when it is pulled out and to be displaced against a biasing force to be in a switched-on condition when the key is inserted, and a locking mechanism for maintaining the switching mechanism locked in the switched-on condition and releasing it from the locked condition if a load greater than a specified magnitude is applied to the key while the switching mechanism is locked such that the switching mechanism is set back in the switched-off condition. The switching mechanism may be contained in a head case attached to a main case containing the operating mechanism. The main case also includes a forcing mechanism which tends to force the switching mechanism in the switched-off condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Moriyama, Shingo Akiyama, Takashi Niwa, Sueaki Honda, Minoru Yoshii, Hiroyuki Kajio, Hidemitsu Takenaka, Kazuki Kawata, Tetsuhiko Miyoshi
  • Publication number: 20040057370
    Abstract: In a recording apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a recording medium by utilizing near-field light, the recording apparatus realizes reliable information reproduction with a simple structure. Illumination light 20 is illuminated to the recording medium 10 to create near-field light on a surface of the recording medium 10. The created near-field light is scattered by a microscopic aperture 12 formed in the aperture element 11 so that scattering light (propagation light) thereof is detected to create a reproduced signal. Derived from the created reproduced light a distance control signal representative of a distance between the microscopic aperture 12 and the recording medium 10. Based on the distance control signal, the aperture element 11 is controlled in position. Due to this, the microscopic aperture 12 is brought into proximity to the recording medium 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kasama, Norio Chiba, Yasuyuki Mitsuoka, Manabu Oumi, Kenji Kato, Takashi Niwa, Kunio Nakajima