Patents by Inventor Ikuko Ebihara

Ikuko Ebihara 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: 7717564
    Abstract: A projection system includes a light source producing illumination light, an imager disposed to receive the illumination light, and a projection lens disposed to receive the illumination light from the imager. The imager includes an intrinsic polarizer. The intrinsic polarizer can be an intrinsic polarizer stack including a U.V. curable adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Philip J. Ralli, Pradnya V. Nagarkar, James N. Gordon, Ikuko Ebihara, Charles L. Bruzzone, Giorgio B. Trapani
  • Publication number: 20080218698
    Abstract: A projection system including an intrinsic polarizer is disclosed. The projection system includes a light source producing illumination light, an imager disposed to receive the illumination light, and a projection lens disposed to receive the illumination light from the imager. The imager includes an intrinsic polarizer. An intrinsic polarizer stack including a U.V. curable adhesive is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: PHILIP J. RALLI, Pradnya V. Nagarkar, James N. Gordon, Ikuko Ebihara, Charles L. Bruzzone, Giorgio B. Trapani
  • Patent number: 7391569
    Abstract: A projection system including an intrinsic polarizer is disclosed. The projection system includes a light source producing illumination light, an imager disposed to receive the illumination light, and a projection lens disposed to receive the illumination light from the imager. The imager includes an intrinsic polarizer. An intrinsic polarizer stack including a U.V. curable adhesive is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Philip J. Ralli, Pradnya V. Nagarkar, James N. Gordon, Ikuko Ebihara, Charles L. Bruzzone, Giorgio B. Trapani
  • Patent number: 7298442
    Abstract: An optical body includes a) first particles comprising a first cholesteric liquid crystal material and b) a second cholesteric liquid crystal material. The first particles and the second cholesteric liquid crystal material form a structure where the first cholesteric liquid crystal material has a pitch that is different than the second cholesteric liquid crystal material. In one example, the second cholesteric liquid crystal material is in the form of second particles. In another example, the first particles are dispersed in a matrix of the second cholesteric liquid crystal material. In other examples, the optical body has more than one layer. In addition, one or more additional cholesteric liquid crystal materials can be used in the optical body. These optical bodies can be used as a reflective polarizer and can be used in a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher C. Bowley, Ikuko Ebihara, Gregory Edward Gilligan, Richard John Pokorny, Marc Dudley Radcliffe, Prabhakara Satyauolu Rao, Philip Edwin Watson
  • Patent number: 7277141
    Abstract: An optical body includes a substrate and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer disposed on the substrate. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer has a non-uniform pitch along a thickness direction of the layer and comprises a crosslinked polymer material that substantially fixes the cholesteric liquid crystal layer. The crosslinking hinders diffusion of cholesteric liquid crystal material within the cholesteric liquid crystal layer. In other methods of making an optical body, a reservoir of chiral material is provided during the process over a first cholesteric liquid crystal layer to diffuse into the layer and provide a non-uniform pitch. Alternatively, two coating compositions can be disposed on a substrate where the material of the first coating composition is not substantially soluble in the second coating composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Pokorny, Marc D. Radcliffe, Philip E. Watson, Christopher C. Bowley, Ikuko Ebihara
  • Publication number: 20060197903
    Abstract: An optical body includes a substrate and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer disposed on the substrate. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer has a non-uniform pitch along a thickness direction of the layer and comprises a crosslinked polymer material that substantially fixes the cholesteric liquid crystal layer. The crosslinking hinders diffusion of cholesteric liquid crystal material within the cholesteric liquid crystal layer. In other methods of making an optical body, a reservoir of chiral material is provided during the process over a first cholesteric liquid crystal layer to diffuse into the layer and provide a non-uniform pitch. Alternatively, two coating compositions can be disposed on a substrate where the material of the first coating composition is not substantially soluble in the second coating composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Pokorny, Marc Radcliffe, Philip Watson, Christopher Bowley, Ikuko Ebihara
  • Publication number: 20060139574
    Abstract: A projection system including an intrinsic polarizer is disclosed. The projection system includes a light source producing illumination light, an imager disposed to receive the illumination light, and a projection lens disposed to receive the illumination light from the imager. The imager includes an intrinsic polarizer. An intrinsic polarizer stack including a U.V. curable adhesive is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: Philip Ralli, Pradnya Nagarkar, James Gordon, Ikuko Ebihara, Charles Bruzzone, Giorgio Trapani
  • Patent number: 6917399
    Abstract: An optical body includes a substrate and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer disposed on the substrate. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer has a non-uniform pitch along a thickness direction of the layer and comprises a crosslinked polymer material that substantially fixes the cholesteric liquid crystal layer. The crosslinking hinders diffusion of cholesteric liquid crystal material within the cholesteric liquid crystal layer. In other methods of making an optical body, a reservoir of chiral material is provided during the process over a first cholesteric liquid crystal layer to diffuse into the layer and provide a non-uniform pitch. Alternatively, two coating compositions can be disposed on a substrate where the material of the first coating composition is not substantially soluble in the second coating composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard John Pokorny, Marc Dudley Radcliffe, Philip Edwin Watson, Christopher Chadwick Bowley, Ikuko Ebihara
  • Publication number: 20050140918
    Abstract: An optical body includes a) first particles comprising a first cholesteric liquid crystal material and b) a second cholesteric liquid crystal material. The first particles and the second cholesteric liquid crystal material form a structure where the first cholesteric liquid crystal material has a pitch that is different than the second cholesteric liquid crystal material. In one example, the second cholesteric liquid crystal material is in the form of second particles. In another example, the first particles are dispersed in a matrix of the second cholesteric liquid crystal material. In other examples, the optical body has more than one layer. In addition, one or more additional cholesteric liquid crystal materials can be used in the optical body. These optical bodies can be used as a reflective polarizer and can be used in a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: Christopher Bowley, Ikuko Ebihara, Gregory Gilligan, Richard Pokorny, Marc Radcliffe, Prabhakara Rao, Philip Watson
  • Patent number: 6876427
    Abstract: An optical body includes a) first particles comprising a first cholesteric liquid crystal material and b) a second cholesteric liquid crystal material. The first particles and the second cholesteric liquid crystal material form a structure where the first cholesteric liquid crystal material has a pitch that is different than the second cholesteric liquid crystal material. In one example, the second cholesteric liquid crystal material is in the form of second particles. In another example, the first particles are dispersed in a matrix of the second cholesteric liquid crystal material. In other examples, the optical body has more than one layer. In addition, one or more additional cholesteric liquid crystal materials can be used in the optical body. These optical bodies can be used as a reflective polarizer and can be used in a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher C. Bowley, Ikuko Ebihara, Gregory Edward Gilligan, Richard John Pokorny, Marc Dudley Radcliffe, Prabhakara Satyauolu Rao, Philip Edwin Watson
  • Patent number: 6624936
    Abstract: A polarizer has low color shift and is particularly well suited to use in an LCD display. The polarizer has a double pass color shift of |&Dgr;x|≦0.005 and |&Dgr;y|≦0.005 for illumination by a C-illuminant, and a double pass contrast modulation of at least 90%. The display includes two or more layers stacked together, at least one of the layers being an absorbing polarizer having a double pass color shift of |&Dgr;x|≦0.005 and |&Dgr;y|≦0.005 for illumination by a C-illuminant. A polarizer with a selected color shift is also used with a rear projection screen having a dispersing layer stacked together with first absorbing polarizer. The polarizer has a single pass color shift with at least one of &Dgr;x and &Dgr;y being negative under illumination by a C-illuminant, and a polarization co-efficiency greater than 90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Keith M. Kotchick, Ikuko Ebihara, Gregory E. Gilligan
  • Patent number: 6521732
    Abstract: A (meth)acrylate terpolymer comprising 1-30% of total terpolymer weight epoxy-functional (meth)acrylate monomer units, 1-98% of total terpolymer weight tackifier (meth)acrylate monomer units, and 1-98% of total terpolymer weight compatibilizing (meth)acrylate monomer units, wherein the compatibilizing (meth)acrylate monomer unit is a (meth)acrylic ester derived from an aromatic alcohol containing 6-14 carbon atoms. Also provided are self-fixturing adhesive compositions comprising the acrylate terpolymer of the present invention and methods of their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mario Alberto Perez, Ahmed Salih Abuelyaman, Ikuko Ebihara, Lani S. Kangas
  • Publication number: 20020159019
    Abstract: An optical body includes a substrate and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer disposed on the substrate. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer has a non-uniform pitch along a thickness direction of the layer and comprises a crosslinked polymer material that substantially fixes the cholesteric liquid crystal layer. The crosslinking hinders diffusion of cholesteric liquid crystal material within the cholesteric liquid crystal layer. In other methods of making an optical body, a reservoir of chiral material is provided during the process over a first cholesteric liquid crystal layer to diffuse into the layer and provide a non-uniform pitch. Alternatively, two coating compositions can be disposed on a substrate where the material of the first coating composition is not substantially soluble in the second coating composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Richard John Pokorny, Marc Dudley Radcliffe, Philip Edwin Watson, Christopher Chadwick Bowley, Ikuko Ebihara
  • Publication number: 20020110685
    Abstract: A tie layer film, comprising an admixture of polyvinyl alcohol and a water dispersible polyester, for bonding a support film to a topcoat layer. The preferred tie layer comprises a sulfopolyester, preferably including terephthalate groups or isophthalate groups. Most preferred are sulfopolyesters produced from ingredients comprising monomers selected from the group consisting of dimethyl 5-sodiosulfoisophthalate, dimethyl terephthalate, dimethyl isophthalate, ethylene glycol, and polycaprolactone diol. Alternatively the support film may be a layered film. In a preferred embodiment, the topcoat layer is formed from the same PVA material as the tie layer and the support film includes at least a portion of the same sulfopolyester as the tie layer. The tie layer is capable of maintaining the bond between the support film and the topcoat layer when heat stretched to a stretch ratio in the range of 2 times to 10 times its original dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Ikuko Ebihara, Guy M. Kallman, Gregory E. Gilligan, William L. Kausch, Brian H. Williams, Robert W. Horn
  • Publication number: 20010055153
    Abstract: A polarizer has low color shift and is particularly well suited to use in an LCD display. The polarizer has a double pass color shift of |&Dgr;x|≦0.005 and |&Dgr;y|≦0.005 for illumination by a C-illuminant, and a double pass contrast modulation of at least 90%. The display includes two or more layers stacked together, at least one of the layers being an absorbing polarizer having a double pass color shift of |&Dgr;x|≦0.005 and |&Dgr;y|≦0.005 for illumination by a C-illuminant. A polarizer with a selected color shift is also used with a rear projection screen having a dispersing layer stacked together with first absorbing polarizer. The polarizer has a single pass color shift with at least one of &Dgr;x and &Dgr;y being negative under illumination by a C-illuminant, and a polarization co-efficiency greater than 90%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert S. Moshrefzadeh, Keith M. Kotchick, Ikuko Ebihara, Gregory E. Gilligan
  • Publication number: 20010031837
    Abstract: A (meth)acrylate terpolymer is provided comprising 1-30% of total terpolymer weight epoxy-functional (meth)acrylate monomer units, 1-98% of total terpolymer weight tackifier (meth)acrylate monomer units, and 1-98% of total terpolymer weight compatibilizing (meth)acrylate monomer units, wherein said compatibilizing (meth)acrylate monomer unit is a (meth)acrylic ester derived from an aromatic alcohol containing 6-14 carbon atoms. Also provided are self-fixturing adhesive compositions comprising the acrylate terpolymer of the present invention and methods of their use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mario Alberto Perez, Ahmed Salih Abuelyaman, Ikuko Ebihara, Lani S. Kangas
  • Patent number: 6235850
    Abstract: A (meth)acrylate terpolymer is provided comprising 1-30% of total terpolymer weight epoxy-functional (meth)acrylate monomer units, 1-98% of total terpolymer weight tackifier (meth)acrylate monomer units, and 1-98% of total terpolymer weight compatibilizing (meth)acrylate monomer units, wherein said compatibilizing (meth)acrylate monomer unit is a (meth)acrylic ester derived from an aromatic alcohol containing 6-14 carbon atoms. Also provided are self-fixturing adhesive compositions comprising the acrylate terpolymer of the present invention and methods of their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Immovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mario Alberto Perez, Ahmed Salih Abuelyaman, Ikuko Ebihara, Lani S. Kangas