Patents by Inventor Yoshitaka Uto

Yoshitaka Uto 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: 8796789
    Abstract: A first sealing layer having a frame-like shape and a first contact layer are formed on a back surface of a frame portion of a sensor substrate. The first contact layer is separated from the first sealing layer, extends through a functional member and an insulation layer, and is electrically connected to the functional member and a first base member. A second sealing layer and a second contact layer are formed on a surface of a wiring substrate. The second sealing layer faces the first sealing layer. The second contact layer is separated from the second sealing layer, extends through the insulation layer, and is electrically connected to the second base member. The sealing layers are eutectically bonded to each other. The contact layers are electrically connected to each other, and thereby the first and second base members and the frame portion have the same potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Uto, Akira Miyatake, Toru Takahashi, Toshihiro Kobayashi, Chiaki Kera, Hisayuki Yazawa, Hisanobu Okawa
  • Patent number: 8459116
    Abstract: A physical quantity sensor includes an anchor portion, a movable portion displaceable in a height direction, a supporting portion rotatably connected to the anchor portion and the movable portion, and a detection portion. The supporting portion includes a first connection arm connecting the anchor portion and the movable portion to each other and a leg portion extending from the anchor portion in a direction opposite to the first connection arm, the leg portion being displaced in a direction opposite to a displacement direction of the movable portion when the supporting portion rotates. A stopper surface is disposed at a position to which a distal end portion of the leg portion is contactable when the leg portion is displaced in the direction opposite to the displacement direction of the movable portion. Displacement of the movable portion is restricted when the distal end portion of the leg portion contacts the stopper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Miyatake, Toru Takahashi, Hisanobu Ohkawa, Katsuya Kikuiri, Hisayuki Yazawa, Toshihiro Kobayashi, Yoshitaka Uto
  • Patent number: 8207586
    Abstract: A MEMS sensor includes a first substrate; a second substrate; a movable electrode portion and a fixed electrode portion which are arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein: conductive supporting portions of the movable electrode portion and the fixed electrode portion are, respectively, fixedly secured to a surface of the first substrate via a first insulating layer; a second insulating layer, a lead layer buried into the second insulating layer, and connection electrode portions that are electrically connected to the lead layer to be individually connected to the conductive supporting portions are provided on a surface of the second substrate; a metallic connection layer is formed on the surface of one of the respective conductive supporting portions; one of the respective connection electrode portions and the metallic connection layer are bonded together by eutectic bonding or diffusion bonding; and, at least each of the connection electrode portions has a thickness of about 4 ?
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sato, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Yoshitaka Uto, Katsuya Kikuiri, Kazuyoshi Takahashi, Jun Suzuki, Hideki Gochou, Toru Takahashi, Hisanobu Ohkawa
  • Publication number: 20120104520
    Abstract: An MEMS sensor includes: a functional layer having a sensor section; a wiring substrate disposed facing the functional layer and having a conduction pathway for the sensor section; a first metal layer provided on the surface of the sensor section which faces the wiring substrate; and a second metal layer provided on the surface of the wiring substrate which faces the sensor section, wherein the first and second metal layers are joined to each other, a space is formed between a movable portion of the sensor section and the wiring substrate, and a stopper which is composed of a third metal layer being the same film as the first metal layer formed on the functional layer side and a contact portion formed on the wiring substrate side which come into contact with each other is formed between the functional layer and the wiring substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka UTO, Kiyoshi KOBAYASHI, Toshihiro KOBAYASHI, Toru TAKAHASHI, Jun SUZUKI, Katsuya KIKUIRI
  • Publication number: 20120055249
    Abstract: A physical quantity sensor includes an anchor portion, a movable portion displaceable in a height direction, a supporting portion rotatably connected to the anchor portion and the movable portion, and a detection portion. The supporting portion includes a first connection arm connecting the anchor portion and the movable portion to each other and a leg portion extending from the anchor portion in a direction opposite to the first connection arm, the leg portion being displaced in a direction opposite to a displacement direction of the movable portion when the supporting portion rotates. A stopper surface is disposed at a position to which a distal end portion of the leg portion is contactable when the leg portion is displaced in the direction opposite to the displacement direction of the movable portion. Displacement of the movable portion is restricted when the distal end portion of the leg portion contacts the stopper surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira MIYATAKE, Toru TAKAHASHI, Hisanobu OHKAWA, Katsuya KIKUIRI, Hisayuki YAZAWA, Toshihiro KOBAYASHI, Yoshitaka UTO
  • Publication number: 20100072563
    Abstract: A MEMS sensor includes a first substrate; a second substrate; a movable electrode portion and a fixed electrode portion which are arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein: conductive supporting portions of the movable electrode portion and the fixed electrode portion are, respectively, fixedly secured to a surface of the first substrate via a first insulating layer; a second insulating layer, a lead layer buried into the second insulating layer, and connection electrode portions that are electrically connected to the lead layer to be individually connected to the conductive supporting portions are provided on a surface of the second substrate; a metallic connection layer is formed on the surface of one of the respective conductive supporting portions; one of the respective connection electrode portions and the metallic connection layer are bonded together by eutectic bonding or diffusion bonding; and, at least each of the connection electrode portions has a thickness of about 4 ?
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sato, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Yoshitaka Uto, Katsuya Kikuiri, Kazuyoshi Takahashi, Jun Suzuki, Hideki Gochou, Toru Takahashi, Hisanobu Ohkawa