Patents by Inventor Tohru Yamaoka

Tohru Yamaoka 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: 8320589
    Abstract: An electret condenser includes a fixed film 110 including a conductive film 118 to be an upper electrode, a vibrating film 112 including a lower electrode 104 and a silicon oxide film 105 to be an electret film, and a silicon oxide film 108 provided between the fixed film 110 and the vibrating film 112 and including an air gap 109. Respective parts of the fixed film 110 and the vibrating film 112 exposed in the air gap 109 are formed of silicon nitride films 106 and 114.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Yamaoka, Hiroshi Ogura, Yuichi Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 8166827
    Abstract: A MEMS device, including: a substrate having a first principal plane and a second principal plane opposite to the first principal plane; a through hole formed in the substrate; and a vibrating film formed over the first principal plane so as to cover the through hole. The first principal plane and the second principal plane are both a (110) crystal face; and the through hole has a substantially rhombic shape on the second principal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Miyoshi, Tohru Yamaoka, Hidenori Notake, Yusuke Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8155355
    Abstract: An electret condenser microphone includes: a substrate 13 in which an opening 25 is formed; an electret condenser 50 connected to one face of the substrate 13 so as to close the opening 25 and having an acoustic hole 12 and a cavity 2; a drive circuit element 15 connected to the one face of the substrate 13; and a case 17 mounted over the substrate 13 so as to cover the electret condenser 50 and the drive circuit element 15. Electric contact is established at a joint part between the electret condenser 50 and the substrate 13. The acoustic hole 12 communicates with an external space through the opening 25. The cavity 2 and an internal region of the case 17 serve as a back air chamber for the electret condenser 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ogura, Tohru Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 8146437
    Abstract: A diaphragm structure for a MEMS device includes a through-hole formed so as to penetrate from an upper surface to a bottom surface of a substrate; and a vibrating electrode film formed on the upper surface of the substrate so as to cover the through-hole. An opening shape of the through-hole in the upper surface of the substrate is substantially hexagonal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Miyoshi, Yusuke Takeuchi, Tohru Yamaoka, Hiroshi Ogura
  • Patent number: 8067811
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a first insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a vibrating film formed on the first insulating film, and a fixed film above the vibrating film with an air gap being interposed therebetween. The semiconductor substrate has a region containing N-type majority carriers. A concentration of N-type majority carriers in a portion of the semiconductor substrate where the semiconductor substrate contacts the first insulating film, is higher than a concentration of N-type majority carriers in the other portion of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Yamaoka, Yuichi Miyoshi
  • Publication number: 20110215672
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a vibrating film formed on the semiconductor substrate with a restraining portion interposed between the vibrating film and the semiconductor substrate, and including a lower electrode, and a fixed film formed on the semiconductor substrate with a support portion interposed between the fixed film and the semiconductor substrate to cover the vibrating film, and including an upper electrode. A gap formed between the vibrating film and the fixed film opposed to each other forms an air gap. The restraining portion provides partial coupling between the semiconductor substrate and the vibrating film, and the vibrating film has a multilayer structure in which the lower electrode and a compressive stress inducing insulating film are laminated. The insulating film is located within the perimeter of the lower electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: TOHRU YAMAOKA, YUICHI MIYOSHI, YUSUKE TAKEUCHI
  • Publication number: 20110044480
    Abstract: An electret condenser includes a fixed film 110 including a conductive film 118 to be an upper electrode, a vibrating film 112 including a lower electrode 104 and a silicon oxide film 105 to be an electret film, and a silicon oxide film 108 provided between the fixed film 110 and the vibrating film 112 and including an air gap 109. Respective parts of the fixed film 110 and the vibrating film 112 exposed in the air gap 109 are formed of silicon nitride films 106 and 114.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tohru Yamaoka, Hiroshi Ogura, Yuichi Miyoshi
  • Publication number: 20110042763
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a first insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a vibrating film formed on the first insulating film, and a fixed film above the vibrating film with an air gap being interposed therebetween. The semiconductor substrate has a region containing N-type majority carriers. A concentration of N-type majority carriers in a portion of the semiconductor substrate where the semiconductor substrate contacts the first insulating film, is higher than a concentration of N-type majority carriers in the other portion of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tohru YAMAOKA, Yuichi Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 7853027
    Abstract: An electric condenser includes a fixed film 110 including a conductive film 118 to be an upper electrode, a vibrating film 112 including a lower electrode 104 and a silicon oxide film 105 to be an electric film, and a silicon oxide film 108 provided between the fixed film 110 and the vibrating film 112 and including an air gap 109. Respective parts of the fixed film 110 and the vibrating film 112 exposed in the air gap 109 are formed of silicon nitride films 106 and 114.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Yamaoka, Hiroshi Ogura, Yuichi Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 7847359
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a first insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a vibrating film formed on the first insulating film, and a fixed film above the vibrating film with an air gap being interposed therebetween. The semiconductor substrate has a region containing N-type majority carriers. A concentration of N-type majority carriers in a portion of the semiconductor substrate where the semiconductor substrate contacts the first insulating film, is higher than a concentration of N-type majority carriers in the other portion of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Yamaoka, Yuichi Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 7706554
    Abstract: An electret condenser 2 includes a fixed electrode 6, a vibrating electrode 5, an electretized silicon dioxide film 7 formed between the electrodes, and silicon nitride films 8 and 9 formed so as to cover the silicon dioxide film 7. The silicon dioxide film 7 covered with the silicon nitride films 8 and 9 is formed on the vibrating electrode 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ogura, Tohru Yamaoka
  • Publication number: 20100077863
    Abstract: A diaphragm structure for a MEMS device includes a through-hole formed so as to penetrate from an upper surface to a bottom surface of a substrate; and a vibrating electrode film formed on the upper surface of the substrate so as to cover the through-hole. An opening shape of the through-hole in the upper surface of the substrate is substantially hexagonal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi MIYOSHI, Yusuke Takeuchi, Tohru Yamaoka, Hiroshi Ogura
  • Publication number: 20100065932
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a first insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a vibrating film formed on the first insulating film, and a fixed film above the vibrating film with an air gap being interposed therebetween. The semiconductor substrate has a region containing N-type majority carriers. A concentration of N-type majority carriers in a portion of the semiconductor substrate where the semiconductor substrate contacts the first insulating film, is higher than a concentration of N-type majority carriers in the other portion of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tohru Yamaoka, Yuichi Miyoshi
  • Publication number: 20100059836
    Abstract: A MEMS device, including: a substrate having a first principal plane and a second principal plane opposite to the first principal plane; a through hole formed in the substrate; and a vibrating film formed over the first principal plane so as to cover the through hole. The first principal plane and the second principal plane are both a (110) crystal face; and the through hole has a substantially rhombic shape on the second principal plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Yuichi Miyoshi, Tohru Yamaoka, Hidenori Notake, Yusuke Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20100002895
    Abstract: An air gap is formed between a first film having a first electrode film and a second film having a second electrode film. The first film has a stopper protruding toward the second film, and a recess communicating with the air gap is provided in the center of the stopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidenori NOTAKE, Tohru YAMAOKA
  • Patent number: 7620192
    Abstract: A silicon nitride film (103) and a silicon nitride film (106) are formed to cover a charged silicon oxide film (105) serving as an electret.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Yamaoka, Hiroshi Ogura, Yuichi Miyoshi, Tomoyuki Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20090080682
    Abstract: An electret condenser microphone includes: a substrate 13 in which an opening 25 is formed; an electret condenser 50 connected to one face of the substrate 13 so as to close the opening 25 and having an acoustic hole 12 and a cavity 2; a drive circuit element 15 connected to the one face of the substrate 13; and a case 17 mounted over the substrate 13 so as to cover the electret condenser 50 and the drive circuit element 15. Electric contact is established at a joint part between the electret condenser 50 and the substrate 13. The acoustic hole 12 communicates with an external space through the opening 25. The cavity 2 and an internal region of the case 17 serve as a back air chamber for the electret condenser 50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi OGURA, Tohru Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 7466834
    Abstract: An electret condenser microphone includes: a substrate 13 in which an opening 25 is formed; an electret condenser 50 connected to one face of the substrate 13 so as to close the opening 25 and having an acoustic hole 12 and a cavity 2; a drive circuit element 15 connected to the one face of the substrate 13; and a case 17 mounted over the substrate 13 so as to cover the electret condenser 50 and the drive circuit element 15. Electric contact is established at a joint part between the electret condenser 50 and the substrate 13. The acoustic hole 12 communicates with an external space through the opening 25. The cavity 2 and an internal region of the case 17 serve as a back air chamber for the electret condenser 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ogura, Tohru Yamaoka
  • Publication number: 20070217635
    Abstract: An electret condenser 2 includes a fixed electrode 6, a vibrating electrode 5, an electretized silicon oxide film 7 formed between the electrodes, and silicon nitride films 8 and 9 formed so as to cover the silicon oxide film 7. The silicon oxide film 7 covered with the silicon nitride films 8 and 9 is formed on the vibrating electrode 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ogura, Tohru Yamaoka
  • Publication number: 20070189555
    Abstract: An electric condenser includes a fixed film 110 including a conductive film 118 to be an upper electrode, a vibrating film 112 including a lower electrode 104 and a silicon oxide film 105 to be an electric film, and a silicon oxide film 108 provided between the fixed film 110 and the vibrating film 112 and including an air gap 109. Respective parts of the fixed film 110 and the vibrating film 112 exposed in the air gap 109 are formed of silicon nitride films 106 and 114.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Tohru Yamaoka, Hiroshi Ogura, Yuichi Miyoshi