Patents by Inventor Akira Ebisui

Akira Ebisui 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: 10540017
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing device including a capacitance variation detection unit configured to detect an operation input to each of a plurality of key regions as a capacitance variation amount of a capacitive element, the key region being provided on a sheet-like operation member, the capacitive element being provided in association with each of the key regions, the capacitance variation amount being dependent on a change in a distance between the key region and the capacitive element, and an input state determination unit configured to determine whether an input state of the key region is an ON state based on the detected capacitance variation amount, the ON state being a state in which the operation input to the key region is decided to be valid. The input state determination unit determines an end of the ON state based on a differential value of the capacitance variation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Goto, Hiroto Kawaguchi, Takashi Itaya, Toshio Kano, Akira Ebisui
  • Publication number: 20190376852
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: an exterior body; a pressure-sensitive sensor having a first surface and a second surface; a support body supporting the pressure-sensitive sensor such that the exterior body faces the first surface; and a first deformation layer disposed at least either between the first surface and the exterior body or between the second surface and the support body. The pressure-sensitive sensor includes a capacitive sensor electrode unit including a sensing unit, a reference electrode layer, and a second deformation layer disposed between the reference electrode layer and the sensor electrode unit. The first deformation layer and the second deformation layer satisfy a predetermined relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Ken KOBAYASHI, Akira EBISUI, Kei TSUKAMOTO, Taizo NISHIMURA, Tetsuro GOTO, Tomoki KAWABATA, Makoto YAMAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10394339
    Abstract: A sensor is provided with a conductor layer, a sensor layer including a plurality of sensor units, and a separating layer which separates the conductor layer from the sensor layer, the sensor unit is formed of alternately arranged first and second electrode elements, and sensitivity on an outer periphery of the sensor unit is higher than the sensitivity in a central portion of the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Ebisui, Hiroto Kawaguchi, Tomoko Katsuhara, Hiroshi Mizuno, Taizo Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20190107447
    Abstract: A sensor includes a base layer and a pressing unit protruding with respect to the base layer. The pressing unit includes a first structure unit and a hollow second structure unit disposed on the first structure unit and having a bottom side opened. The second structure unit has a shape portion on a surface facing the base layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: AKIRA EBISUI, HIROSHI MIZUNO, TOMOKO KATSUHARA, TAIZO NISHIMURA, YOSHIAKI SAKAKURA, TOSHIO KANO, TOSHIYUKI ONODERA, TAKESHI TAKAHASHI, TORU TAKAHASHI, TATSUO SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 10234959
    Abstract: An input apparatus includes a conductive layer having flexibility, a capacitance-type sensor layer having a plurality of detection units, and a structure layer having a plurality of structures, a reaction force of which is non-linearly changed with respect to a pressing amount. The structure layer is disposed between the conductive layer and the sensor layer. The two or more structures are disposed in an operation area corresponding to the detection units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroto Kawaguchi, Tomoko Katsuhara, Akira Ebisui, Taizo Nishimura, Hiroshi Mizuno, Yoshiaki Sakakura
  • Patent number: 10197849
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes a pair of substrates arranged oppositely to each other with a distance, and a light source disposed on a side surface of one of the pair of substrates. The illumination apparatus further includes an electrode that is provided on a surface of each of the pair of substrates and generates an electric field in a direction intersecting perpendicularly to the surface of the substrate. The illumination apparatus further includes a light modulation layer that is disposed at a clearance between the pair of substrates and is configured to exhibit scattering property or transparency to light from the light source, based on magnitude of the electric field generated by the electrode. The electrode includes a plurality of first electrode blocks on a surface of one of the pair of substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Shinkai, Akira Ebisui
  • Patent number: 10175782
    Abstract: An input apparatus includes a conductive layer having flexibility, a plurality of structures, a reaction force of which is non-linearly changed with respect to a pressing amount, a capacitance-type sensor layer, and an intermediate layer disposed between the plurality of structures and the sensor layer. The intermediate layer has a plurality of hole portions into which the plurality of structures is pressed, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoko Katsuhara, Hiroto Kawaguchi, Akira Ebisui, Taizo Nishimura, Hiroshi Mizuno, Yoshiaki Sakakura
  • Publication number: 20180348889
    Abstract: Provided are an input device and an electronic apparatus each including capacitive elements and being capable of allowing a plurality of information items to be separately input by simple operations. The input device includes: a capacitive element; a conductor that can be electrostatically coupled to the capacitive element; an operation portion that allows a load to be applied to the conductor; and a retaining portion that retains the conductor apart from the capacitive element. The retaining portion is capable of displacing the conductor with respect to the capacitive element in a stepwise manner in accordance with the load that is applied to the conductor through intermediation of the operation portion, and is capable of retaining the conductor at a plurality of positions with respect to the capacitive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: TAIZO NISHIMURA, HIROTO KAWAGUCHI, HIROSHI MIZUNO, TAKASHI ITAYA, AKIRA EBISUI, TOMOKO KATSUHARA, YOSHITERU TAKA
  • Patent number: 10115543
    Abstract: There is provided a keyboard cover including a first sheet material having a surface including a plurality of key tops configured of roughened surfaces and a base configured of a smooth surface connecting a plurality of the key tops, a plurality of the key tops being projected from the base viewed from the surface; and a second sheet material covering a rear surface of the first sheet material and having concave parts corresponding to a plurality of the key tops viewed from the rear surface. Also provided is an electronic apparatus, including a keyboard body and the keyboard cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoko Katsuhara, Hiroto Kawaguchi, Akira Ebisui
  • Publication number: 20180011561
    Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus, an input apparatus, a method of controlling an information processing apparatus, a method of controlling an input apparatus, and a program capable of improving operability. An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a main body, a detection unit, and a control unit. The main body includes a display unit and a casing unit that supports the display unit. The detection unit has a detection area provided on a surface of the casing unit, and is configured to be capable of electrostatically detecting a pressing force to the detection area. The control unit is configured to control an image displayed on the display unit on a basis of a pressing input operation in the detection area and a motion thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroto Kawaguchi, Hiroshi Mizuno, Akira Ebisui, Taizo Nishimura, Yoshiteru Taka
  • Publication number: 20180004306
    Abstract: A sensor is provided with a conductor layer, a sensor layer including a plurality of sensor units, and a separating layer which separates the conductor layer from the sensor layer, the sensor unit is formed of alternately arranged first and second electrode elements, and sensitivity on an outer periphery of the sensor unit is higher than the sensitivity in a central portion of the sensor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: AKIRA EBISUI, HIROTO KAWAGUCHI, TOMOKO KATSUHARA, HIROSHI MIZUNO, TAIZO NISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20170351339
    Abstract: An input apparatus includes a conductive layer having flexibility, a capacitance-type sensor layer having a plurality of detection units, and a structure layer having a plurality of structures, a reaction force of which is non-linearly changed with respect to a pressing amount. The structure layer is disposed between the conductive layer and the sensor layer. The two or more structures are disposed in an operation area corresponding to the detection units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: HIROTO KAWAGUCHI, TOMOKO KATSUHARA, AKIRA EBISUI, TAIZO NISHIMURA, HIROSHI MIZUNO, YOSHIAKI SAKAKURA
  • Publication number: 20170322647
    Abstract: An input apparatus includes a conductive layer having flexibility, a plurality of structures, a reaction force of which is non-linearly changed with respect to a pressing amount, a capacitance-type sensor layer, and an intermediate layer disposed between the plurality of structures and the sensor layer. The intermediate layer has a plurality of hole portions into which the plurality of structures is pressed, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: TOMOKO KATSUHARA, HIROTO KAWAGUCHI, AKIRA EBISUI, TAIZO NISHIMURA, HIROSHI MIZUNO, YOSHIAKI SAKAKURA
  • Patent number: 9785006
    Abstract: An illumination unit of an embodiment of the present technology includes: an illumination optical system configured to generate illumination light; and a plurality of lenses configured to reduce a divergence angle of the illumination light. The illumination optical system includes: a light source (20) configured to apply light onto an end surface of one of a first substrate and a second substrate; and a light modulation layer (30) provided in a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate. The illumination optical system includes an electrode configured to generate an electric filed that generates, in the light modulation layer (30), a plurality of linear scattering regions (30B) in a three-dimensional mode, and to generate an electric field that generates, in the light modulation layer, a planar scattering region in a two-dimensional display mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Shinkai, Akira Ebisui
  • Patent number: 9733500
    Abstract: An illumination unit includes a light modulation layer including a first region and a second region that have optical anisotropy and different responsiveness to an electric field. The light modulation layer satisfies an expression A/B<A1/B1 when the light modulation layer exhibits the scattering characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Ebisui, Harumi Sato, Kentaro Okuyama, Shogo Shinkai
  • Publication number: 20170115792
    Abstract: A sensor panel includes a sensor section that detects magnetic force of a contacting surface or a region in the vicinity of the contacting surface on a basis of a change in capacitance and is allowed to output a signal depending on the change in capacitance along with information on a position where the change in capacitance has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: TAIZO NISHIMURA, HIROTO KAWAGUCHI, HIROSHI MIZUNO, SHOGO SHINKAI, FUMIHIKO IIDA, AKIRA EBISUI, KEI TSUKAMOTO, TOMOKO KATSUHARA
  • Patent number: 9618790
    Abstract: An illumination unit includes: a light modulation layer disposed in a gap between a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate, and exhibiting a scattering property or transparency with respect to light from a light source, depending on magnitude of an electric field; and an electrode generating an electric field in the light modulation layer, when a voltage is applied thereto, in which the light modulation layer generates a plurality of strip-like illumination light beams extending in a direction intersecting with a first end surface of the first or second transparent substrate with use of light from the light source, when an electric field for a three-dimensional display mode is applied from the electrode to the light modulation layer, and a light emission area per unit area of each of the strip-like illumination light beams varies with a distance from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Shinkai, Kentaro Okuyama, Akira Ebisui, Harumi Sato
  • Patent number: 9581749
    Abstract: In a scan system, a lighting unit, a display, and a three-dimensional display that have all of high luminance, low power consumption, and high reliability of a circuit board are provided. A light modulation device bonded to a light guide plate is provided with a light modulation layer exhibiting scattering property or transparency to light propagating through the light guide plate. The light modulation layer is interposed between a lower electrode that is configured of a plurality of partial electrodes extending in a direction parallel to a light incident surface and a sheet-like upper electrode. A drive circuit sequentially drives the plurality of partial electrodes to scan a region exhibiting the scattering property of the light modulation layer in a direction orthogonal to the light incident surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Okuyama, Makoto Shinoda, Shinpei Nagatani, Yuji Takahashi, Tomoaki Suzuki, Shogo Shinkai, Akira Ebisui, Taizo Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9513487
    Abstract: A display unit is provided including: a display panel having a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged; a first polarization plate and a second polarization plate that face each other with the display panel in between; and an illumination device configured to illuminate the display panel through the first polarization plate. The illumination device includes a light modulation layer provided in a clearance between first and second transparent substrates, the light modulation layer being configured to exhibit scattering property or transparency of the light from the light source depending on a magnitude of an electric field. The light modulation layer includes a first portion having optical anisotropy, and relatively high responsiveness to the electric field, and a second portion having optical anisotropy, and relatively low responsiveness to the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Shinkai, Harumi Sato, Akira Ebisui, Kentaro Okuyama, Yuji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9494803
    Abstract: An illumination unit capable of obtaining high luminance and a display apparatus including it are provided. The illumination unit includes an illumination optical system generating the illumination light, and a lens sheet narrowing a divergence angle of the illumination light. The illumination optical system includes a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate that are separated from each other and are arranged to face each other, and a light source applying light to an end face of the first transparent substrate or of the second transparent substrate. The illumination optical system is provided in a gap between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate, and includes a light modulation layer exhibiting scattering characteristics or transparent characteristics with respect to the light from the light source in accordance with a magnitude of an electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Ebisui, Shogo Shinkai, Kentaro Okuyama, Harumi Sato