Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Tao

Hiroaki Tao 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: 10566457
    Abstract: Provided is a thin film transistor comprising an oxide semiconductor thin film layer and has a threshold voltage that does not change much due to light, a bias stress or the like, thereby exhibiting excellent stress stability. A thin film transistor of the present invention is provided with: a gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor layer that is used as a channel layer; and a gate insulator film that is arranged between the gate electrode and the channel layer. The oxide semiconductor layer is configured of at least one metal element that is selected from the group consisting of In, Ga, Zn and Sn (excluding the cases where the oxide semiconductor layer is constituted of metal elements Sn, and at least one of In and Zn). The hydrogen concentration in the gate insulator film, which is in direct contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, is controlled to 4 atomic % or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Aya Miki, Shinya Morita, Hiroshi Goto, Toshihiro Kugimiya, Hiroaki Tao, Kenta Hirose
  • Patent number: 10533231
    Abstract: The invention relates to establishment of a series of artificial luciferases based on artificial amino acid sequences extracted by amino acid alignment of copepod-derived luciferase sequences in a database based on amino acid similarity. The invention provides high luminescence intensity, high luminescence stability, and a spectrum with increased wavelength as luminescence characteristics. A series of artificial luciferases (ALuc) was established. The group of ALucs has superior luminescence characteristics, such as an increase in luminescence intensity, an increase in luminescence stability, or an increase in wavelength of the luminescence spectrum, which were not obtained before. Further, by using the artificial luciferases (ALuc) of the invention, it is possible to provide a novel, superior bioassay system, such as a bioluminescent probe, two-hybrid assay, a luminescent capsule, or the like having improved measurement function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Sung Bae Kim, Masaki Torimura, Hiroaki Tao, Tetsuya Nakazato
  • Patent number: 10256091
    Abstract: The oxide of the present invention for thin-film transistors is an In—Zn—Sn-based oxide containing In, Zn, and Sn, wherein when the respective contents (atomic %) of metal elements contained in the In—Zn—Sn-based oxide are expressed by [Zn], [Sn], and [In], the In—Zn—Sn-based oxide fulfills the following expressions (2) and (4) when [In]/([In]+[Sn])?0.5; or the following expressions (1), (3), and (4) when [In]/([In]+[Sn])>0.5. [In]/([In]+[Zn]+[Sn])?0.3??(1), [In]/([In]+[Zn]+[Sn])?1.4×{[Zn]/([Zn]+[Sn])}?0.5??(2), [Zn]/([In]+[Zn]+[Sn])?0.83??(3), and 0.1?[In]/([In]+[Zn]+[Sn])??(4). According to the present invention, oxide thin films for thin-film transistors can be obtained, which provide TFTs with excellent switching characteristics, and which have high sputtering rate in the sputtering and properly controlled etching rate in the wet etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tao, Aya Miki, Shinya Morita, Satoshi Yasuno, Toshihiro Kugimiya, Jae Woo Park, Je Hun Lee, Byung Du Ahn, Gun Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 10214766
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bioluminescent substrate suitably usable in a series of artificial luciferases (ALuc), and the invention provides a wavelength-shifted spectrum with a selective high intensity luminescence and high luminescence stability obtained by the use of the substrate together with ALuc. The luminescent substrate for ALuc obtained by the invention can be included together with a suitable luminescence solution in a luminescence kit. The bioluminescent substrate for ALuc of the invention can exhibit unprecedented excellent luminescence specificity and functionality in the conventional bioluminescence probe, two-hybrid assay, bioluminescent capsule, and reporter gene assay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Sung Bae Kim, Hiroshi Izumi, Hiroaki Tao, Masaki Torimura, Akihiro Wakisaka
  • Publication number: 20170053800
    Abstract: The oxide of the present invention for thin-film transistors is an In—Zn—Sn-based oxide containing In, Zn, and Sn, wherein when the respective contents (atomic %) of metal elements contained in the In—Zn—Sn-based oxide are expressed by [Zn], [Sn], and [In], the In—Zn—Sn-based oxide fulfills the following expressions (2) and (4) when [In]/([In]+[Sn])?0.5; or the following expressions (1), (3), and (4) when [In]/([In]+[Sn])>0.5. [In]/([In]+[Zn]+[Sn])?0.3 - - - (1), [In]/([In]+[Zn]+[Sn])?1.4×{[Zn]/([Zn]+[Sn])}?0.5 - - - (2), [Zn]/([In]+[Zn]+[Sn])?0.83 - - - (3), and 0.1?[In]/([In]+[Zn]+[Sn]) - - - (4). According to the present invention, oxide thin films for thin-film transistors can be obtained, which provide TFTs with excellent switching characteristics, and which have high sputtering rate in the sputtering and properly controlled etching rate in the wet etching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd.), Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAO, Aya MIKI, Shinya MORITA, Satoshi YASUNO, Toshihiro KUGIMIYA, Jae Woo PARK, Je Hun LEE, Byung Du AHN, Gun Hee KIM
  • Patent number: 9508856
    Abstract: Provided is a thin film transistor wherein the shape of a protrusion formed on the interface between an oxide semiconductor layer and a protection film is suitably controlled, and stable characteristics are achieved. This thin film transistor is characterized in that: the thin film transistor has an oxide semiconductor layer formed of an oxide containing at least In, Zn and Sn as metal elements, and a protection film directly in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer; and the maximum height of a protrusion formed on the oxide semiconductor layer surface directly in contact with the protection film is less than 5 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tao, Takeaki Maeda, Aya Miki, Toshihiro Kugimiya, Byung Du Ahn, So Young Koo, Gun Hee Kim
  • Publication number: 20160281129
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bioluminescent substrate suitably usable in a series of artificial luciferases (ALuc), and the invention provides a wavelength-shifted spectrum with a selective high intensity luminescence and high luminescence stability obtained by the use of the substrate together with ALuc. The luminescent substrate for ALuc obtained by the invention can be included together with a suitable luminescence solution in a luminescence kit. The bioluminescent substrate for ALuc of the invention can exhibit unprecedented excellent luminescence specificity and functionality in the conventional bioluminescence probe, two-hybrid assay, bioluminescent capsule, and reporter gene assay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Sung Bae KIM, Hiroshi IZUMI, Hiroaki TAO, Masaki TORIMURA, Akihiro WAKISAKA
  • Patent number: 9449990
    Abstract: Provided is a thin film transistor which is provided with an oxide semiconductor thin film layer and has a threshold voltage that does not change much due to light, a bias stress or the like, thereby exhibiting excellent stress stability. A thin film transistor of the present invention is provided with a gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor layer composed of a single layer which is used as a channel layer, an etch stopper layer to protect a surface of the oxide semiconductor layer, a source-drain electrode, and a gate insulator layer arranged between the gate electrode and the channel layer. The metal elements constituting the oxide semiconductor layer comprise In, Zn and Sn. The hydrogen concentration in the gate insulator layer in direct contact with the oxide semiconductor layer is controlled to 4 atomic % or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: KOBE STEEL, LTD., Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aya Miki, Shinya Morita, Hiroshi Goto, Hiroaki Tao, Toshihiro Kugimiya, Byung Du Ahn, Gun Hee Kim, Jin Hyun Park, Yeon Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 9362313
    Abstract: Provided is an oxide-semiconductor-based thin film transistor having satisfactory switching characteristics and stress resistance. Change in threshold voltage through stress application is suppressed in the thin film transistor. The thin film transistor of excellent stability comprises a substrate and, formed thereon, at least a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, oxide semiconductor layers, a source-drain electrode, and a passivation film for protecting the gate insulating film, and oxide semiconductor layers, wherein the oxide semiconductor layers are laminated layers comprising a second oxide semiconductor layer consisting of In, Zn, Sn, and O and a first oxide semiconductor layer consisting of In, Ga, Zn, and O. The second oxide semiconductor layer is formed on the gate insulating film. The first oxide semiconductor layer is interposed between the second oxide semiconductor layer and the passivation film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Morita, Aya Miki, Hiroaki Tao, Toshihiro Kugimiya
  • Patent number: 9318507
    Abstract: Provided is a thin film transistor comprising an oxide semiconductor thin film layer and has a threshold voltage that does not change much due to light, a bias stress or the like, thereby exhibiting excellent stress stability. A thin film transistor of the present invention is provided with: a gate electrode; two or more oxide semiconductor layers that are used as a channel layer; an etch stopper layer for protecting the surfaces of the oxide semiconductor layers; a source-drain electrode; and a gate insulator film interposed between the gate electrode and the channel layer. The metal elements constituting an oxide semiconductor layer that is in direct contact with the gate insulator film are In, Zn and Sn. The hydrogen concentration in the gate insulator film, which is in direct contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, is controlled to 4 atomic % or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Aya Miki, Shinya Morita, Hiroshi Goto, Hiroaki Tao, Toshihiro Kugimiya
  • Patent number: 9306250
    Abstract: A protrusion 53 is shaped to protrude from a main body 51 toward a supporter non-contact part 23 so as to circumvent a supporter 30. The protrusion 53 includes a protrusion heat transfer surface 55 which is a surface on the battery heat transfer surface 20 side (i.e., an upper side Y2). A heat conduction member 40 contacts with the supporter non-contact part 23 and the protrusion heat transfer surface 55.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignees: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD., GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tao, Naoki Goto, Yoichiro Yamazaki, Yusuke Sawada, Yasutaka Miyawaki, Hiroshi Yamashiro
  • Patent number: 9287538
    Abstract: An electric storage apparatus in which a first projecting portion projecting on one side and a second projecting portion projecting on the opposite side of the one side are formed at different positions in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the first and second projecting portions project.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD., KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Miyawaki, Hiroshi Yamashiro, Hiroaki Tao, Yoshihiro Nakamura, Yusuke Sawada
  • Patent number: 9190523
    Abstract: An oxide semiconductor includes a first material including at least one selected from the group consisting of zinc (Zn) and tin (Sn), and a second material, where a value acquired by subtracting an electronegativity difference value between the second material and oxygen (O) from the electronegativity difference value between the first material and oxygen (O) is less than about 1.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignees: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD., KOBE STEEL, LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Du Ahn, Je Hun Lee, Sei-Yong Park, Jun Hyun Park, Gun Hee Kim, Ji Hun Lim, Jae Woo Park, Jin Seong Park, Toshihiro Kugimiya, Aya Miki, Shinya Morita, Tomoya Kishi, Hiroaki Tao
  • Publication number: 20150318400
    Abstract: Provided is a back-channel etch (BCE) thin-film transistor (TFT) without an etch stopper layer, wherein an oxide semiconductor layer of the TFT has excellent resistance to an acid etchant used when forming a source-drain electrode, and has excellent stress stability. The TFT comprises a gate electrode, a gate insulator film, an oxide semiconductor layer, a source-drain electrode, and a passivation film which protects the source-drain electrode, on a substrate. The oxide semiconductor layer comprises one or more elements selected from a group consisting tin, indium, gallium and zinc; and oxygen; and a value in a cross-section in the lamination direction of the TFT, as determined by [100×(the thickness of the oxide semiconductor layer directly below a source-drain electrode end?the thickness in the center portion of the semiconductor layer)/the thickness of the semiconductor layer directly below the source-drain electrode end], is not more than 5%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Shinya MORITA, Mototaka OCHI, Hiroshi GOTO, Toshihiro KUGIMIYA, Kenta HIROSE, Hiroaki TAO, Yasuyuki TAKANASHI
  • Publication number: 20150284813
    Abstract: The invention relates to establishment of a series of artificial luciferases based on artificial amino acid sequences extracted by amino acid alignment of copepod-derived luciferase sequences in a database based on amino acid similarity. The invention provides high luminescence intensity, high luminescence stability, and a spectrum with increased wavelength as luminescence characteristics. A series of artificial luciferases (ALuc) was established. The group of ALucs has superior luminescence characteristics, such as an increase in luminescence intensity, an increase in luminescence stability, or an increase in wavelength of the luminescence spectrum, which were not obtained before. Further, by using the artificial luciferases (ALuc) of the invention, it is possible to provide a novel, superior bioassay system, such as a bioluminescent probe, two-hybrid assay, a luminescent capsule, or the like having improved measurement function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Sung Bae Kim, Masaki Torimura, Hiroaki Tao, Tetsuya Nakazato
  • Publication number: 20150249159
    Abstract: Provided is a thin film transistor wherein the shape of a protrusion formed on the interface between an oxide semiconductor layer and a protection film is suitably controlled, and stable characteristics are achieved. This thin film transistor is characterized in that: the thin film transistor has an oxide semiconductor layer formed of an oxide containing at least In, Zn and Sn as metal elements, and a protection film directly in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer; and the maximum height of a protrusion formed on the oxide semiconductor layer surface directly in contact with the protection film is less than 5 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.), Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tao, Takeaki Maeda, Aya Miki, Toshihiro Kugimiya, Byung Du Ahn, So Young Koo, Gun Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 9120071
    Abstract: A spotter that includes a plurality of spotting heads, each of the plurality of spotting heads having a discharging portion at a tip portion, the plurality of spotting heads form an m×n array (m, n>1) with m spotting heads arranged lengthwise and n spotting heads arranged crosswise; and a pitch varying mechanism configured to vary an array pitch of the plurality of spotting heads arrayed in a lengthwise direction and an array pitch of the plurality of spotting heads arrayed in a crosswise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoki, Masaki Torimura, Hiroaki Tao, Takashi Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20150228674
    Abstract: Provided is a thin film transistor which is provided with an oxide semiconductor thin film layer and has a threshold voltage that does not change much due to light, a bias stress or the like, thereby exhibiting excellent stress stability. A thin film transistor of the present invention is provided with a gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor layer composed of a single layer which is used as a channel layer, an etch stopper layer to protect a surface of the oxide semiconductor layer, a source-drain electrode, and a gate insulator layer arranged between the gate electrode and the channel layer. The metal elements constituting the oxide semiconductor layer comprise In, Zn and Sn. The hydrogen concentration in the gate insulator layer in direct contact with the oxide semiconductor layer is controlled to 4 atomic % or lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.), Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aya Miki, Shinya Morita, Hiroshi Goto, Hiroaki Tao, Toshihiro Kugimiya, Byung Du Ahn, Gun Hee Kim, Jin Hyun Park, Yeon Hong Kim
  • Publication number: 20150206978
    Abstract: Provided is a thin film transistor comprising an oxide semiconductor thin film layer and has a threshold voltage that does not change much due to light, a bias stress or the like, thereby exhibiting excellent stress stability. A thin film transistor of the present invention is provided with: a gate electrode; two or more oxide semiconductor layers that are used as a channel layer; an etch stopper layer for protecting the surfaces of the oxide semiconductor layers; a source-drain electrode; and a gate insulator film interposed between the gate electrode and the channel layer. The metal elements constituting an oxide semiconductor layer that is in direct contact with the gate insulator film are In, Zn and Sn. The hydrogen concentration in the gate insulator film, which is in direct contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, is controlled to 4 atomic % or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Aya Miki, Shinya Morita, Hiroshi Goto, Hiroaki Tao, Toshihiro Kugimiya
  • Patent number: D758301
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignees: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD., KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Miyawaki, Hiroshi Yamashiro, Hiroaki Tao, Yoshihiro Nakamura, Yusuke Sawada