Patents by Inventor Tsutomu Nishiwaki

Tsutomu Nishiwaki 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: 20140078215
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid jet head includes depositing a lower electrode film on a passage forming substrate and patterning the lower electrode film into a predetermined pattern, forming a piezoelectric layer on the passage forming substrate, forming an intermediate film made of a conductive material on the piezoelectric layer, forming a protective film on the intermediate film and, using the protective film as a mask, patterning by etching the piezoelectric layer together with the intermediate film into a predetermined pattern, peeling off the protective film, and depositing an upper electrode film on the passage forming substrate and patterning the upper electrode film into a predetermined pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Yazaki, Setsuya Iwashita, Eiju Hirai, Tsutomu Nishiwaki
  • Publication number: 20140066778
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer device includes a substrate, a vibrating film, a piezoelectric element, an input section and a detection section. The substrate has a plurality of openings. The vibrating film provided in each of the openings to cover a corresponding one of the openings. The piezoelectric element is provided in each of the openings on the vibrating film. The input section is configured and arranged to input a drive signal to a part of piezoelectric elements among the piezoelectric elements. The detection section is configured and arranged to detect vibration of the piezoelectric elements, in which the drive signal is not inputted, among the piezoelectric elements while the drive signal is inputted to the part of the piezoelectric elements among the piezoelectric elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsutomu NISHIWAKI
  • Patent number: 8640550
    Abstract: A shear force detection device for detecting a shear force includes: a support body including an opening defined by a pair of straight parts perpendicular to a detection direction of the shear force and parallel to each other; a support film on the support body and closing the opening, the support film having flexibility; a piezoelectric part on the support film and extending astride an inside and outside of the opening and along at least one of the pair of straight parts of the opening when viewed in a plane in which the support body is seen in a substrate thickness direction, the piezoelectric part being bendable to output an electric signal; and an elastic layer covering the piezoelectric part and the support film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 8640551
    Abstract: A shear force detection device for detecting a shear force includes: a support body including an opening defined by a pair of straight parts perpendicular to a detection direction of the shear force and parallel to each other; a support film on the support body and closing the opening, the support film having flexibility; a piezoelectric part on the support film and extending astride an inside and outside of the opening and along at least one of the pair of straight parts of the opening when viewed in a plane in which the support body is seen in a substrate thickness direction, the piezoelectric part being bendable to output an electric signal; and an elastic layer covering the piezoelectric part and the support film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Nishiwaki
  • Publication number: 20130342810
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, an eyeball biological information collection device that is arranged to be worn by a subject includes a ultrasonic sensor part and a pressing part. The ultrasonic sensor part is configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave to an eyeball of the subject and receive a reflection wave of the ultrasonic wave reflected within the eyeball at a time of use of the eyeball biological information collection device. The pressing part is configured to press the ultrasonic sensor part to eyelid of the subject at the time of use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Tsutomu NISHIWAKI
  • Patent number: 8613498
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid jet head includes depositing a lower electrode film on a passage forming substrate and patterning the lower electrode film into a predetermined pattern, forming a piezoelectric layer on the passage forming substrate, forming an intermediate film made of a conductive material on the piezoelectric layer, forming a protective film on the intermediate film and, using the protective film as a mask, patterning by etching the piezoelectric layer together with the intermediate film into a predetermined pattern, peeling off the protective film, and depositing an upper electrode film on the passage forming substrate and patterning the upper electrode film into a predetermined pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Yazaki, Setsuya Iwashita, Eiju Hirai, Tsutomu Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 8573069
    Abstract: A stress sensing device senses a shear force and a pressing force. The stress sensing device includes a support body, a support film, first and second piezoelectric parts and an elastic layer. The support body has an opening defined by a pair of straight parts perpendicular to a sensing direction of the shear force and parallel to each other. The support film having flexibility closes off the opening. The first piezoelectric part is disposed over the support film and straddling an inside portion and an outside portion of the opening along at least one of the straight parts of the opening as seen in plan view. The second piezoelectric part is disposed to the inside portion of the opening and set apart from the first piezoelectric part as seen in the plan view. The elastic layer covers the first piezoelectric part, the second piezoelectric part, and the support film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Nishiwaki
  • Publication number: 20130261465
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes an element chip, a flexible wiring member and a control circuit. The element chip includes a substrate forming a plurality of openings arranged in an array pattern and a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements disposed at the openings. The flexible wiring member is connected to the element chip, and forming at least a part of an annular body surrounding a space. The control circuit is connected to the flexible wiring member and electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer elements via the flexible wiring member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoaki NAKAMURA, Tsutomu NISHIWAKI, Yasunori ONISHI, Takao MIYAZAWA
  • Patent number: 8536763
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer includes: a support member having an opening section; a diaphragm adapted to cover the opening section; and a piezoelectric member provided to the diaphragm and at least one of expanding and contracting in an in-plane direction in response to application of a voltage, wherein the diaphragm has a concave groove section formed to have a concave shape on a surface on an opposite side to one side exposed to the opening section, and the piezoelectric member is fixed to the diaphragm in an area outside the concave groove section, and disposed to cover the concave groove section so as to be opposed to a bottom of the concave groove section via a space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoaki Nakamura, Tsutomu Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 8359931
    Abstract: A shear force detection device for detecting a shear force includes: a support body including an opening defined by a pair of straight parts perpendicular to a detection direction of the shear force and parallel to each other; a support film on the support body and closing the opening, the support film having flexibility; a piezoelectric part on the support film and extending astride an inside and outside of the opening and along at least one of the pair of straight parts of the opening when viewed in a plane in which the support body is seen in a substrate thickness direction, the piezoelectric part being bendable to output an electric signal; and an elastic layer covering the piezoelectric part and the support film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Nishiwaki
  • Publication number: 20120319418
    Abstract: A shear force detection device for detecting a shear force includes: a support body including an opening defined by a pair of straight parts perpendicular to a detection direction of the shear force and parallel to each other; a support film on the support body and closing the opening, the support film having flexibility; a piezoelectric part on the support film and extending astride an inside and outside of the opening and along at least one of the pair of straight parts of the opening when viewed in a plane in which the support body is seen in a substrate thickness direction, the piezoelectric part being bendable to output an electric signal; and an elastic layer covering the piezoelectric part and the support film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsutomu NISHIWAKI
  • Publication number: 20120304778
    Abstract: A stress-detecting element includes a support body, a support film, a first piezoelectric element, first and second elastic parts. The support body has an opening part with first and second rectilinear sections extending parallel to each other. The support film blocks off the opening part. The first piezoelectric element straddles the first rectilinear section from an interior area to an exterior area of the opening part as seen in plan view. The first elastic part straddles the first rectilinear section from the interior area to the exterior area of the opening part. The second elastic part straddles the second rectilinear section from the interior area to the exterior area of the opening part. The first and second elastic parts respectively have first and second elastic end sections disposed in the interior area of the opening part and spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoaki NAKAMURA, Tsutomu NISHIWAKI
  • Publication number: 20120174672
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes: a substrate; an ultrasonic transducer disposed on the substrate, and configured and arranged to transmit ultrasonic waves that propagate as plane waves in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the substrate; an acoustic refracting part contacting the ultrasonic transducer, and configured and arranged to refract the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer; an elastically deformable elastic portion contacting the acoustic refracting part; and an ultrasonic reflecting member disposed within the elastic portion, and configured and arranged to reflect the ultrasonic waves. The acoustic refracting part is configured and arranged to refract, toward the ultrasonic reflecting member, the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jiro TSURUNO, Tsutomu NISHIWAKI, Tomoaki NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20120026250
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid jet head includes depositing a lower electrode film on a passage forming substrate and patterning the lower electrode film into a predetermined pattern, forming a piezoelectric layer on the passage forming substrate, forming an intermediate film made of a conductive material on the piezoelectric layer, forming a protective film on the intermediate film and, using the protective film as a mask, patterning by etching the piezoelectric layer together with the intermediate film into a predetermined pattern, peeling off the protective film, and depositing an upper electrode film on the passage forming substrate and patterning the upper electrode film into a predetermined pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Yazaki, Setsuya Iwashita, Eiju Hirai, Tsutomu Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 8057018
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid jet head includes depositing a lower electrode film on a passage forming substrate and patterning the lower electrode film into a predetermined pattern, forming a piezoelectric layer on the passage forming substrate, forming an intermediate film made of a conductive material on the piezoelectric layer, forming a protective film on the intermediate film and, using the protective film as a mask, patterning by etching the piezoelectric layer together with the intermediate film into a predetermined pattern, peeling off the protective film, and depositing an upper electrode film on the passage forming substrate and patterning the upper electrode film into a predetermined pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Yazaki, Setsuya Iwashita, Eiju Hirai, Tsutomu Nishiwaki
  • Publication number: 20110193363
    Abstract: A stress sensing device senses a shear force and a pressing force. The stress sensing device includes a support body, a support film, first and second piezoelectric parts and an elastic layer. The support body has an opening defined by a pair of straight parts perpendicular to a sensing direction of the shear force and parallel to each other. The support film having flexibility closes off the opening. The first piezoelectric part is disposed over the support film and straddling an inside portion and an outside portion of the opening along at least one of the straight parts of the opening as seen in plan view. The second piezoelectric part is disposed to the inside portion of the opening and set apart from the first piezoelectric part as seen in the plan view. The elastic layer covers the first piezoelectric part, the second piezoelectric part, and the support film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsutomu NISHIWAKI
  • Patent number: 7992972
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric layer forming step of sequentially and repeatedly performing a heat treatment step of applying a piezoelectric material containing lead to a lower electrode film at a relative humidity in the range of 30% to 50% Rh and then performing a heat treatment to form a piezoelectric precursor film and a crystallization step of firing the piezoelectric precursor film to form a piezoelectric film on the lower electrode film, thereby forming a piezoelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshinao Shinbo, Kazushige Hakeda, Koji Sumi, Tsutomu Nishiwaki
  • Publication number: 20110121591
    Abstract: A shear force detection device for detecting a shear force includes: a support body including an opening defined by a pair of straight parts perpendicular to a detection direction of the shear force and parallel to each other; a support film on the support body and closing the opening, the support film having flexibility; a piezoelectric part on the support film and extending astride an inside and outside of the opening and along at least one of the pair of straight parts of the opening when viewed in a plane in which the support body is seen in a substrate thickness direction, the piezoelectric part being bendable to output an electric signal; and an elastic layer covering the piezoelectric part and the support film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsutomu NISHIWAKI
  • Publication number: 20110115337
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer includes: a support member having an opening section; a diaphragm adapted to cover the opening section; and a piezoelectric member provided to the diaphragm and at least one of expanding and contracting in an in-plane direction in response to application of a voltage, wherein the diaphragm has a concave groove section formed to have a concave shape on a surface on an opposite side to one side exposed to the opening section, and the piezoelectric member is fixed to the diaphragm in an area outside the concave groove section, and disposed to cover the concave groove section so as to be opposed to a bottom of the concave groove section via a space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoaki NAKAMURA, Tsutomu NISHIWAKI
  • Patent number: 7725996
    Abstract: A method for producing an actuator device, comprising the steps of: forming a vibration plate on a substrate; and forming a piezoelectric element composed of a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode on the vibration plate, wherein in the step of forming the piezoelectric element, the upper electrode is formed on the piezoelectric layer by sputtering, a temperature of 25 to 250 (° C.) and a pressure of 0.4 to 1.5 (Pa) are used during the sputtering, and upon the sputtering, the upper electrode having a thickness of 30 to 100 (nm), stress of 0.3 to 2.0 (GPa), and specific resistance of 2.0 (×10?7 ?·m) or less is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Xin-Shan Li, Tsutomu Nishiwaki