Patents by Inventor Hitoshi Yoshikawa

Hitoshi Yoshikawa 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: 20150202656
    Abstract: A flexible transducer includes: a dielectric layer including a semiconductor-containing layer that contains an elastomer and at least one of an inorganic semiconductor and an organic semiconductor; and a pair of electrodes disposed with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, and containing a binder and a conductive material. The semiconductor-containing layer has a large dielectric constant and has high insulation properties. According to the flexible transducer, a large voltage can be applied between the electrodes, and a high output can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Wataru TAKAHASHI, Hitoshi YOSHIKAWA, Shigeaki TAKAMATSU
  • Publication number: 20150204697
    Abstract: A conductive material includes metal nanowires and an extensible copolymer having an N—C?O structure and combined with the metal nanowires. The conductive material has excellent elongation properties and has an electrical resistance that is unlikely to increase even when the conductive material is extended. A method for producing a conductive material includes: a copolymer production step of polymerizing a plurality of monomers including a growth direction control monomer that has an N—C?O structure and controls a growth direction of metal nanowires to produce an extensible copolymer; a reaction step of reacting a metal compound in a solvent containing the copolymer to grow metal nanowires in a longitudinal direction; and an extraction step of extracting a product from the solution after the reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicants: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED, KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaro TAGUCHI, Hitoshi YOSHIKAWA, Hidetsugu TORIHARA, Ryosuke MATSUNO, Masaharu TSUJI, Atsushi TAKAHARA
  • Publication number: 20150200039
    Abstract: A conductive material includes an elastomer and a conductive agent contained in the elastomer. The elastomer has a crosslinked structure through a slide-ring molecule having a ring molecule and a linear molecule that passes through an opening of the ring molecule and is included in the ring molecule. At least a part of polymer chains of the elastomer is crosslinked with the ring molecule, and as the ring molecule moves along the linear molecule, a crosslinking point moves. A transducer includes an electrostrictive layer made of a polymer, a plurality of electrodes with the electrostrictive layer interposed therebetween, and wirings connecting to the electrodes, respectively. In the transducer, either one or both of the electrodes and the wirings are formed of the conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yutaro TAGUCHI, Jun KOBAYASHI, Hitoshi YOSHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9051446
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible conductive crosslinked body excellent in durability having a small influence of a reaction residue after the crosslinking on an object to which the conductive crosslinked body adheres, and a production process of the flexible conductive crosslinked body. The conductive crosslinked body is synthesized from a conductive composition containing a rubber polymer, an organic metal compound, and a conducting agent and has a crosslinked structure. The production process of the conductive crosslinked body includes: a mixed solution preparing step for preparing a mixed solution in which the rubber polymer, the conducting agent, and the organic metal compound are mixed in a solvent capable of dissolving the rubber polymer and capable of chelating the organic metal compound; and a crosslinking step for removing the solvent from the mixed solution to allow a crosslinking reaction to proceed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Jun Kobayashi, Hitoshi Yoshikawa, Wataru Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20150137666
    Abstract: A reactive ionic liquid to be used as an ionic component that is contained in an ion-containing layer in a transducer arranged in contact with a high-resistance layer as a dielectric layer of the transducer, and is restrained from migrating from the ion-containing layer to the high-resistance layer on application of a voltage is provided. The reactive ionic liquid comprises an ion pair that consists of an anion and a cation. (a) The cation (a1) is an imidazolium or quaternary ammonium cation, and (a2) comprises a reactive group that consists of an alkoxysilyl or phosphonate group. (b) The anion (b1) is a sulfonate, sulfonylimide, or nitrobenzoate anion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicants: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED, KYUSHU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shigeaki TAKAMATSU, Yota KOKUBO, Kazunobu HASHIMOTO, Hitoshi YOSHIKAWA, Atsushi TAKAHARA, Ryousuke MATSUNO, Hideyuki OTSUKA
  • Publication number: 20150110626
    Abstract: A ventilation fan with illumination includes a housing, a fan, and lighting equipment in the housing. The housing includes a first opening communicating with an air outlet, the first opening communicating with a duct, and a second opening that communicates with an interior space, The lighting equipment includes a light, a cover in the housing that surrounds the light periphery, the cover reflecting light and transmitting the light into the space through the second opening, and a restrictor that restricts passage of air between the light periphery and the lighting cover. An air intake gap is provided between a lower end of the cover and an edge of the second opening and introduced through the second opening and the air intake gap, is discharged through the first opening into the duct, the edge of the second opening being located below the lower end of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicants: PANASONIC ECOLOGY SYSTEMS GUANGDONG CO., LTD., PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Decong YANG, Qianhao TAN, Pingting YANG, Qiuqian LIANG, Yannong WU, Hitoshi YOSHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8958581
    Abstract: A polymer speaker is configured to include an electrostrictive element having an elastomer or resin dielectric layer and a plurality of electrode layers arranged on the front and back surfaces of the dielectric layer. The electrode layers are formed from a conductive material including a polymer binder and a conductor and having a modulus of elasticity of 100 MPa or less. The spring constant of the electrode layers in the surface direction is smaller than the spring constant of the dielectric layer in the surface direction. The volume resistivity of the electrode layers is 200 ?·cm or less. The polymer speaker provides a practical sound pressure in a wide frequency region from low frequencies to high frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takamasa Ito, Hitoshi Yoshikawa, Mitsuyoshi Kondo, Katsuhiko Nakano
  • Patent number: 8956113
    Abstract: A ventilation fan with illumination includes a housing, a fan, and lighting equipment in the housing. The housing includes a first opening connected to an air outlet, the first opening communicating with a duct, and a second opening that communicates with an interior space, The lighting equipment includes a light, a cover in the housing that surrounds the light periphery, the cover reflecting light and transmitting the light into the space through the second opening, and a restrictor that restricts passage of air between the light periphery and the lighting cover. An air intake gap is provided between a lower end of the cover and an edge of the second opening and introduced through the second opening and the air intake gap, is discharged through the first opening into the duct, the edge of the second opening being located below the lower end of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignees: Panasonic Ecology Systems Guangdong Co., Ltd., Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Decong Yang, Qianhao Tan, Pingting Yang, Qiuqian Liang, Yannong Wu, Hitoshi Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20140300247
    Abstract: A reactive ionic liquid to be used as an ionic component that is contained in an ion-containing layer in a transducer arranged in contact with a high-resistance layer as a dielectric layer of the transducer, and is restrained from migrating from the ion-containing layer to the high-resistance layer on application of a voltage is provided. The reactive ionic liquid comprises an ion pair that consists of an anion and a cation. In the reactive ionic liquid, (a) the anion comprises (a1) a reactive group that consists of an alkoxysilyl group and (a2) an anionic group consisting of a carboxylate (—COO?) group or a sulfonate (—SO3?) group. (b) The cation (b1) consists of an imidazolium, ammonium, pyrrolidinium, morpholinium, or phosphonium cation, and (b2) does not comprise an N—H group or a P—H group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Shigeaki TAKAMATSU, Ryosuke MATSUNO, Shingi KUMAGAI, Yota KOKUBO, Kazunobu HASHIMOTO, Hitoshi YOSHIKAWA, Atsushi TAKAHARA, Hideyuki OTSUKA
  • Patent number: 8814513
    Abstract: A ceiling mounted ventilation fan with illumination capable of suppressing conduction of noise to inside of a room is provided. In the fan, a restriction member is provided for restricting passage of air between a lighting cover and a periphery of a lighting part, the lighting cover having a reflecting surface for reflecting light from the lighting part to lead the light to the inside of the room. A gap for air intake is formed between a lower end of the lighting cover and an edge of the indoor-side opening. Thus, air introduced into the main housing through the gap is discharged into the duct by the fan unit and conduction of noises produced by the fan unit to the room inside with the noise directivity enhanced in the lighting cover can be suppressed by the restriction member, so that conduction of noise to the room inside can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Panasonic Ecology Systems Guangdong Co., Ltd., Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Decong Yang, Qianhao Tan, Pingting Yang, Qiuqian Liang, Yannong Wu, Hitoshi Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20140202745
    Abstract: Provided is a conductive composition that has a high conductivity and from which a coating can be formed easily. Also provided is a conductive film that has a high conductivity and in which electric resistance is less likely to increase even during expansion. A conductive composition is prepared by including an elastomer component, a fibrous carbon material having a graphite structure and a fiber diameter of not less than 30 nm, and a conductive carbon black having a structure. A conductive film formed from the conductive composition. The viscosity of the conductive composition formed into a coating with a solid content concentration of not less than 20% by mass, which is measured with a B-type viscometer with an H7 rotor under the conditions of a temperature of 25° C. and a rotation speed of 20 rpm, is not more than 200 Pa·s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Jun KOBAYASHI, Hitoshi YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20140202744
    Abstract: Provided is a conductive film having a high conductivity in which electric resistance is less likely to increase, and a conductive composition for forming the same. The conductive composition includes an elastomer component, a fibrous carbon material having a fiber diameter of less than 30 nm, and a flake-like carbon material having a graphite structure, having an intensity ratio (G/D ratio) of a peak (G band) appearing in the vicinity of 1580 cm?1 to a peak (D band) appearing in the vicinity of 1330 cm?1 of Raman spectrum of not less than 1.8, and having a maximum length of not less than 150 nm and a thickness of not more than 100 nm. The conductive film is formed from the conductive composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Jun KOBAYASHI, Yusuke YAMASHITA, Yutaro TAGUCHI, Hitoshi YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20140112781
    Abstract: A ventilation fan with illumination includes a housing, a fan, and lighting equipment in the housing. The housing includes a first opening connected to an air outlet, the first opening communicating with a duct, and a second opening that communicates with an interior space, The lighting equipment includes a light, a cover in the housing that surrounds the light periphery, the cover reflecting light and transmitting the light into the space through the second opening, and a restrictor that restricts passage of air between the light periphery and the lighting cover. An air intake gap is provided between a lower end of the cover and an edge of the second opening and introduced through the second opening and the air intake gap, is discharged through the first opening into the duct, the edge of the second opening being located below the lower end of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicants: PANASONIC CORPORATION, PANASONIC ECOLOGY SYSTEMS GUANGDONG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Decong YANG, Qianhao TAN, Pingting YANG, Qiuqian LIANG, Yannong WU, Hitoshi YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20140090884
    Abstract: An elastic conductive material includes a matrix and a conductor dispersed in the matrix. The matrix is formed by crosslinking a first polymer that is one or more selected from polymers of General Formulae (1) to (4) below and has a function of dispersing the conductor, and a second polymer crosslinkable with the first polymer. [In Formulae (1) to (4), X is a substituent crosslinkable with the second polymer; Y is a functional group having an affinity for the conductor; constitutional units A, B, and C each are one kind selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, salts of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, esters, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, urethane prepolymer, polyether, polyetheramine, polyamine, polyol, and polythiol; and l, m, and n each are an integer equal to or greater than one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Jun KOBAYASHI, Yutaro TAGUCHI, Hitoshi YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20140004364
    Abstract: A dielectric film of the present invention includes an elastomer and barium titanate particles with a crystallinity of 80% or more. The elastomer and each of the barium titanate particles each have a functional group, the functional groups can react with each other, and through the reaction of the functional groups, a cross-linked structure with the elastomer and the barium titanate particles is formed. With this structure, the dielectric constant and volume resistivity of the dielectric film of the present invention are high. A transducer of the present invention includes the dielectric film and a plurality of electrodes with the dielectric film interposed therebetween. The transducer of the present invention is excellent in resistance to dielectric breakdown and can output a large force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru TAKAHASHI, Hitoshi YOSHIKAWA, Shigeaki TAKAMATSU, Shinji KUMAGAI
  • Publication number: 20140003634
    Abstract: A polymer speaker is configured to include an electrostrictive element having an elastomer or resin dielectric layer and a plurality of electrode layers arranged on the front and back surfaces of the dielectric layer. The electrode layers are formed from a conductive material including a polymer binder and a conductor and having a modulus of elasticity of 100 MPa or less. The spring constant of the electrode layers in the surface direction is smaller than the spring constant of the dielectric layer in the surface direction. The volume resistivity of the electrode layers is 200 ?·cm or less. The polymer speaker provides a practical sound pressure in a wide frequency region from low frequencies to high frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takamasa ITO, Hitoshi YOSHIKAWA, Mitsuyoshi KONDO, Katsuhiko NAKANO
  • Publication number: 20130315731
    Abstract: The ceiling mounted ventilation fan with illumination employs a configuration in which a second opening for guiding light from an illumination unit into the room is formed in a lower part of a main housing and in which a air inlet on a fan casing of a fan unit is provided so as to open toward upper part of the main housing. Thus the air inlet of the fan unit opens in a direction opposite to the second opening communicating with inside of the room. As a result, sounds such as operation noises from the fan unit that are transmitted to outside of the fan unit chiefly through the air inlet can be made to resist being transmitted through the second opening into the room, so that the noises can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicants: PANASONIC CORPORATION, PANASONIC ECOLOGY SYSTEMS GUANGDONG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Decong Yang, Qianhao Tan, Pingting Yang, Qiuqian Liang, Yannong Wu, Hitoshi Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20130266443
    Abstract: A ceiling mounted ventilation fan with illumination capable of suppressing conduction of noise to inside of a room is provided. In the fan, a restriction member is provided for restricting passage of air between a lighting cover and a periphery of a lighting part, the lighting cover having a reflecting surface for reflecting light from the lighting part to lead the light to the inside of the room. A gap for air intake is formed between a lower end of the lighting cover and an edge of the indoor-side opening. Thus, air introduced into the main housing through the gap is discharged into the duct by the fan unit and conduction of noises produced by the fan unit to the room inside with the noise directivity enhanced in the lighting cover can be suppressed by the restriction member, so that conduction of noise to the room inside can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicants: PANASONIC CORPORATION, PANASONIC ECOLOGY SYSTEMS GUANGDONG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Decong Yang, Qianhao Tan, Pingting Yang, Qiuqian Liang, Yannong Wu, Hitoshi Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 8446075
    Abstract: To provide a conductive film that is flexible, extendable and contractible, and for which the electrical resistance hardly increases even when the conductive film is extended. The conductive film contains an elastomer and metallic filler particles, and satisfies a condition (A) [an average value of reference numbers is 0.8 (1/?m) or more, or the metallic filler particles include flake-like metallic filler particles having a thickness of 1 ?m or less and an aspect ratio of 26 or more and the average value of the reference numbers is 0.4 (1/?m) or more] and a condition (B) [a number of unit areas for which an area percentage of the elastomer is 60% or more is 20 or more], the condition (A) being a conductivity indicator and the condition (B) being a flexibility indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Takahashi, Hitoshi Yoshikawa, Jun Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20120241689
    Abstract: A flexible conductive material includes an elastomer, a conductive agent filled in the elastomer, and an adsorbent fixed inside the elastomer and able to adsorb ionic material. With the flexible conductive material, ionized impurities are unlikely to transfer to an adherend such as a dielectric film. Thus, leakage current during application of voltage decreases. Accordingly, by forming an electrode and a wiring with the flexible conductive material, leakage current can be reduced, and a transducer and a flexible wiring board having excellent durability can be produced. In addition, using the flexible conductive material, an electromagnetic shield can be produced having a small leakage current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takamasa ITOU, Jun KOBAYASHI, Hitoshi YOSHIKAWA