Patents by Inventor Takeru Mutoh

Takeru Mutoh 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: 9016128
    Abstract: A technique for detecting external force applied to a piezoelectric plate is provided. A crystal plate is cantilever-supported in a container. Excitation electrodes are formed on an upper face and lower face, respectively, of the crystal plate. A movable electrode is formed on the lower face side. A fixed electrode is provided on a bottom portion of the container facing the movable electrode. The excitation electrode on the upper face side and the fixed electrode are connected to an oscillation circuit. When the crystal plate bends by external force applied, capacitance between. A direction of the movable electrode along a length direction of the crystal plate is set to 30° to 60°, relative to a face orthogonal to an intended direction of the external force. The movable electrode and fixed electrode changes, and this capacitance change and a deformation of the crystal circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Koyama, Takeru Mutoh, Hiroki Iwai
  • Patent number: 8966980
    Abstract: A device is provided for a detecting external force applied to piezoelectric piece. A crystal piece is cantilever-supported in a container. Excitation electrodes are formed on an upper face and lower face, respectively. A movable electrode, connected via a lead-out electrode to the excitation electrode, is formed on the lower face side at a front end of the crystal piece. A fixed electrode is provided on a bottom portion of the container to face this movable electrode. The excitation electrode on the upper face side and the fixed electrode are connected to an oscillation circuit. When the crystal piece bends in response to an applied external force, capacitance between the movable electrode and fixed electrode, changes. This capacitance change results in a corresponding change in oscillation frequency of the crystal piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Koyama, Takeru Mutoh, Hiroki Iwai, Yoshiaki Amano, Ryoichi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8919201
    Abstract: An acceleration measuring apparatus that can easily detect acceleration with high accuracy is provided. In the apparatus, positional displacement of a swingable pendulum member is detected, feedback control is performed to maintain the pendulum member in a stationary state using an actuator, and acceleration is measured by measuring the output of the actuator at this time. A movable electrode is provided to the pendulum member, and a loop is formed in which a fixed electrode provided to oppose the movable electrode, and an oscillating circuit, a crystal unit, and the movable electrode are electrically connected in series. By measuring an oscillating frequency of the oscillating circuit at this time, a change in the size of a variable capacitance formed between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode is detected, and thereby the positional displacement of the pendulum member is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Koyama, Takeru Mutoh, Hiroki Iwai, Ryoichi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8890391
    Abstract: In an external force detection apparatus, a crystal plate is cantilevered within a container. Excitation electrodes are formed on the top surface and the bottom surface of the crystal plate. A movable electrode is formed on a distal end on the bottom surface of the crystal plate and is connected to the excitation electrode on the bottom surface via an extraction electrode. A fixed electrode is provided on the bottom of the container to oppose the movable electrode. The excitation electrode on the top surface and the fixed electrode are connected to an oscillating circuit. When an external force acts on the crystal plate to bend it, the capacitance between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode changes, and this capacitance change is captured as a change in the oscillating frequency of the crystal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Koyama, Takeru Mutoh, Hiroki Iwai, Ryoichi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8830004
    Abstract: A crystal resonator comprises a first vibrating region provided on a crystal wafer, a second vibrating region provided on the crystal wafer, the second vibrating region having a different thickness and positive/negative orientation of the X-axis from those of the first vibrating region, and excitation electrodes which are provided respectively on the first vibrating region and the second vibrating region for causing the vibrating regions to vibrate independently. Frequencies that change by different amounts from each other relative to a temperature change can be retrieved from one vibrating region and the other vibrating region. Thus, based on an oscillating frequency of the vibrating region in which a clear frequency change occurs relative to the temperature, the oscillating frequency of the other vibrating region can be controlled. Thereby, increases in the complexity of the crystal oscillator can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Koyama, Toshihiko Kagami, Takeshi Matsumoto, Takeru Mutoh, Manabu Ishikawa, Shinichi Sato
  • Publication number: 20140210566
    Abstract: A crystal resonator includes a crystal element and excitation electrodes. The crystal element includes an ? crystal region and a ? crystal region that have mutually different positive/negative directions along an X-axis. Each two or more of the ? crystal regions and the ? crystal regions are alternately formed along a direction perpendicular to the X-axis. The excitation electrodes are formed on both surfaces of the respective ? crystal region and ? crystal region other than crystal regions positioned at both end portions of a row of the ? crystal regions and the ? crystal regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MITSUAKI KOYAMA, TAKERU MUTOH, NAOKI ONISHI
  • Publication number: 20140175944
    Abstract: A crystal resonator includes a mesa-type crystal element, a pair of excitation electrodes, and a deformed portion. The mesa-type crystal element has a principal surface portion and a peripheral edge portion. The peripheral edge portion surrounds the principal surface portion and has a smaller thickness than the principal surface portion. The pair of excitation electrodes are formed at the principal surface portion on one surface side and the principal surface portion on an other surface side of the crystal element, respectively. The deformed portion is configured to reduce a vibration different from a main vibration and confine energy to the principal surface portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MITSUAKI KOYAMA, MANABU ISHIKAWA, TAKERU MUTOH
  • Publication number: 20140125422
    Abstract: A self-oscillation circuit includes an oscillating unit, an amplifying unit, and a resonator. The oscillating unit is configured to self-oscillate. The amplifying unit is configured to amplify a frequency signal oscillated at the oscillating unit and to feed back the amplified frequency signal to the oscillating unit. The resonator is disposed in an oscillation loop that includes the oscillating unit and the amplifying unit. The resonator has a resonant frequency near an oscillation frequency of the oscillating unit and has a higher Q-value than a Q-value of the oscillating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MITSUAKI KOYAMA, TAKERU MUTOH, MANABU ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8677828
    Abstract: Provided is a device capable of easily and accurately detecting a vibration period when, for example, an earthquake occurs. When a quartz-crystal plate bends upon application of a force, capacitance between a movable electrode provided at its tip portion and a fixed electrode provided on a vessel to face the movable electrode changes, so that an oscillation frequency of the quartz-crystal plate changes according to this capacitance. Therefore, when the vessel is vibrated, there appear a first state where the quartz-crystal plate ends to approach the fixed electrode and a second state where the quartz-crystal plate is in an original state or bends to be apart from the fixed electrode. Accordingly, an oscillation frequency corresponding to the first state and corresponding to the second state alternately appear, and therefore, it is possible to find the period (frequency) of the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Koyama, Takeru Mutoh
  • Publication number: 20140062258
    Abstract: External force detection equipment according to the present disclosure includes a container, a supporting portion, one excitation electrode, another excitation electrode, an oscillation circuit, a movable electrode, a fixed electrode, a frequency information detecting unit, and a conductor. An oscillation loop is formed from the oscillation circuit to pass through the one excitation electrode, the other excitation electrode, the movable electrode, and the fixed electrode, and return to the oscillation circuit. The frequency information detected by the frequency information detecting unit is used for estimating an external force acting on the piezoelectric plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MITSUAKI KOYAMA, TAKERU MUTOH
  • Publication number: 20140041454
    Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator includes a plate-shaped crystal element, excitation electrodes, and an unwanted response suppression portion. The excitation electrodes are disposed on both surfaces of the crystal element. The unwanted response suppression portion is formed by inverting a crystallographic axis of the crystal element to suppress an unwanted response that oscillates at a different frequency from a frequency of a main vibration of the crystal element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: MITSUAKI KOYAMA, TAKERU MUTOH, MANABU ISHIKAWA, SHINICHI SATO
  • Publication number: 20130255402
    Abstract: An external force detection sensor includes a piezoelectric piece, excitation electrodes, an oscillation circuit, a movable electrode, and a fixed electrode. The fixed electrode forms variable capacitance with variation in capacitance between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode that is caused by deflection of the piezoelectric piece. The piezoelectric piece, the excitation electrode, the movable electrode, and the fixed electrode constitute combinations of a first combination and a second combination. The first combination constitutes a first sensor unit by disposing a first piezoelectric piece on a first crystal plane of the crystalline body. The second combination constitutes a second sensor unit by disposing a second piezoelectric piece on a second crystal plane. The second crystal plane does not opposite to the first crystal plane of the crystalline body. A relative position of the second crystal plane with respect to the first crystal plane is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MITSUAKI KOYAMA, TAKERU MUTOH
  • Patent number: 8377380
    Abstract: To provide a sensing device using a piezoelectric sensor having an oscillation area for detection and an oscillation area for reference and capable of achieving a high measurement sensitivity by improving shapes of excitation electrodes. On a quartz-crystal piece 20a, there are provided strip-shaped left side area and right side area which are formed symmetrically to be separated from each other into left and right with respect to a center of a circle 53 being a contour of a planar shape of a reaction channel 52 and extend in a longitudinal direction in a parallel manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Yorita, Shunichi Wakamatsu, Shigenori Watanabe, Takeru Mutoh
  • Publication number: 20130027141
    Abstract: A crystal resonator comprises a first vibrating region provided on a crystal wafer, a second vibrating region provided on the crystal wafer, the second vibrating region having a different thickness and positive/negative orientation of the X-axis from those of the first vibrating region, and excitation electrodes which are provided respectively on the first vibrating region and the second vibrating region for causing the vibrating regions to vibrate independently. Frequencies that change by different amounts from each other relative to a temperature change can be retrieved from one vibrating region and the other vibrating region. Thus, based on an oscillating frequency of the vibrating region in which a clear frequency change occurs relative to the temperature, the oscillating frequency of the other vibrating region can be controlled. Thereby, increases in the complexity of the crystal oscillator can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MITSUAKI KOYAMA, TOSHIHIKO KAGAMI, TAKESHI MATSUMOTO, TAKERU MUTOH, MANABU ISHIKAWA, SHINICHI SATO
  • Publication number: 20120326566
    Abstract: In an external force detection apparatus, a crystal plate is cantilevered within a container. Excitation electrodes are formed on the top surface and the bottom surface of the crystal plate. A movable electrode is formed on a distal end on the bottom surface of the crystal plate and is connected to the excitation electrode on the bottom surface via an extraction electrode. A fixed electrode is provided on the bottom of the container to oppose the movable electrode. The excitation electrode on the top surface and the fixed electrode are connected to an oscillating circuit. When an external force acts on the crystal plate to bend it, the capacitance between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode changes, and this capacitance change is captured as a change in the oscillating frequency of the crystal plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MITSUAKI KOYAMA, TAKERU MUTOH, HIROKI IWAI, RYOICHI ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20120312097
    Abstract: An acceleration measuring apparatus that can easily detect acceleration with high accuracy is provided. In the apparatus, positional displacement of a swingable pendulum member is detected, feedback control is performed to maintain the pendulum member in a stationary state using an actuator, and acceleration is measured by measuring the output of the actuator at this time. A movable electrode is provided to the pendulum member, and a loop is formed in which a fixed electrode provided to oppose the movable electrode, and an oscillating circuit, a crystal unit, and the movable electrode are electrically connected in series. By measuring an oscillating frequency of the oscillating circuit at this time, a change in the size of a variable capacitance formed between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode is detected, and thereby the positional displacement of the pendulum member is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MITSUAKI KOYAMA, TAKERU MUTOH, HIROKI IWAI, RYOICHI ICHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8298486
    Abstract: Objects of the present invention is to provide a piezoelectric resonator having high frequency stability and a sensing sensor using the piezoelectric resonator. In the present invention, a piezoelectric resonator 1 has: a first oscillation area 105 which is provided in a piezoelectric piece 100 and from which a first oscillation frequency is taken out; a second oscillation area which is provided in an area 105 different from the first oscillation area 106 via an elastic boundary area 107 and from which a second oscillation frequency is taken out; and excitation electrodes 101 to 103 provided on one surface side and another surface side of the oscillation areas 105, 106 across the piezoelectric piece 100, and a frequency difference between the first oscillation frequency and the second oscillation frequency is not less than 0.2% nor greater than 2.2% of these oscillation frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigenori Watanabe, Takeru Mutoh, Mitsuaki Koyama
  • Publication number: 20120186351
    Abstract: Provided is a device capable of easily and accurately detecting a vibration period when, for example, an earthquake occurs. When a quartz-crystal plate bends upon application of a force, capacitance between a movable electrode provided at its tip portion and a fixed electrode provided on a vessel to face the movable electrode changes, so that an oscillation frequency of the quartz-crystal plate changes according to this capacitance. Therefore, when the vessel is vibrated, there appear a first state where the quartz-crystal plate ends to approach the fixed electrode and a second state where the quartz-crystal plate is in an original state or bends to be apart from the fixed electrode. Accordingly, an oscillation frequency corresponding to the first state and corresponding to the second state alternately appear, and therefore, it is possible to find the period (frequency) of the vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki KOYAMA, Takeru MUTOH
  • Publication number: 20120180567
    Abstract: A technique for detecting external force applied to a piezoelectric plate is provided. A crystal plate is cantilever-supported in a container. Excitation electrodes are formed on an upper face and lower face, respectively, of the crystal plate. A movable electrode is formed on the lower face side. A fixed electrode is provided on a bottom portion of the container facing the movable electrode. The excitation electrode on the upper face side and the fixed electrode are connected to an oscillation circuit. When the crystal plate bends by external force applied, capacitance between. A direction of the movable electrode along a length direction of the crystal plate is set to 30° to 60°, relative to a face orthogonal to an intended direction of the external force. The movable electrode and fixed electrode changes, and this capacitance change and a deformation of the crystal circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki KOYAMA, Takeru MUTOH, Hiroki IWAI
  • Publication number: 20120180568
    Abstract: A device is provided for a detecting external force applied to piezoelectric piece. A crystal piece is cantilever-supported in a container. Excitation electrodes are formed on an upper face and lower face, respectively. A movable electrode, connected via a lead-out electrode to the excitation electrode, is formed on the lower face side at a front end of the crystal piece. A fixed electrode is provided on a bottom portion of the container to face this movable electrode. The excitation electrode on the upper face side and the fixed electrode are connected to an oscillation circuit. When the crystal piece bends in response to an applied external force, capacitance between the movable electrode and fixed electrode, changes. This capacitance change results in a corresponding change in oscillation frequency of the crystal piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki KOYAMA, Takeru MUTOH, Hiroki IWAI, Yoshiaki AMANO, Ryoichi ICHIKAWA