Patents by Inventor Iwao Ushinohama

Iwao Ushinohama 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: 9640101
    Abstract: There is provided a display apparatus including a display panel where display elements connected to a scanning line and a signal line are arrayed in a two dimensional matrix, and a driving circuit unit configured to drive the display panel, the driving circuit unit including a gate driver configured to feed a scanning signal to the scanning line such that a back gate voltage of a field effect transistor configuring an output buffer for generating the scanning signal is capable of controlling. Also, there is provided an electronic device including the display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: JOLED Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Aoki, Iwao Ushinohama
  • Publication number: 20150302803
    Abstract: A signal output circuit that alternately supplies a reference voltage and a video signal voltage to a data line includes: an output node to which the data line is connected; a reference voltage node to which the reference voltage is applied; a source amplifier that outputs the video signal voltage in accordance with an input gradation signal; a first switch provided between the output side of the source amplifier and the output node; a second switch provided between the reference voltage node and the output node; and a third switch provided in the power supply path of the source amplifier, wherein, during a scanning period for scanning display elements row by row, switching is performed between a state where the first switch is non-conductive while the second switch is conductive and a state where the first switch is conductive while the second switch is non-conductive, and the third switch is put into a conductive state when the first switch is put into a conductive state, and is put into a non-conductive
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Takeshi Aoki, Iwao Ushinohama
  • Publication number: 20150255018
    Abstract: There is provided a display apparatus including a display panel where display elements connected to a scanning line and a signal line are arrayed in a two dimensional matrix, and a driving circuit unit configured to drive the display panel, the driving circuit unit including a gate driver configured to feed a scanning signal to the scanning line such that a back gate voltage of a field effect transistor configuring an output buffer for generating the scanning signal is capable of controlling. Also, there is provided an electronic device including the display apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Takeshi Aoki, Iwao Ushinohama
  • Publication number: 20140300591
    Abstract: A data driver for driving data lines of a display panel includes a reference voltage section, a resistance circuit, and a selector section. The reference voltage section has at least three kinds of reference voltage sources for supplying their respective reference voltages, arranged in descending or ascending order of voltage values. The resistance circuit has a plurality of voltage division nodes connected between adjacent reference voltage sources, for dividing the reference voltages. The selector section selects and allows output of one voltage corresponding to an input value of a gradation signal, among the reference voltages or the voltages of the voltage division nodes. When the voltage to be output corresponding to the value of the gradation signal is one of the voltages of the voltage division nodes, the selector section selects at least one reference voltage and subsequently selects the voltage of the corresponding voltage division node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Aoki, Iwao Ushinohama
  • Patent number: 8267506
    Abstract: An inkjet printer device includes: an ejection portion that ejects an ink droplet onto a recording medium; a humidification portion that is provided upstream of the ejection portion in a transportation direction of the recording medium and ejects a wetting liquid droplet onto the recording medium; and a control portion that makes the ink droplet be ejected onto the recording medium from the ejection portion and the wetting liquid droplet be ejected onto the recording medium from the humidification portion, wherein the ejection portion is humidified during printing by letting the wetting liquid droplet ejected onto the recording medium evaporate from the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Iwao Ushinohama
  • Patent number: 8182067
    Abstract: A droplet discharge head includes: a liquid reservoir which holds a liquid; a channel through which the liquid is guided to the liquid reservoir; and a driving element which changes the pressure in the liquid reservoir so as to discharge droplets of the liquid contained in the liquid reservoir through a nozzle, in which wall surfaces of the liquid reservoir and of the nozzle are arranged in a continuous line at a side opposite the channel with respect to the center of the nozzle as seen in a cross-sectional view through a central axis of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kamoda, Manabu Tomita, Iwao Ushinohama, Soichi Kuwahara, Shigeyoshi Hirashima
  • Patent number: 8109592
    Abstract: A liquid-ejecting head includes a liquid cell that contains an ejection medium that is liquid at normal temperature, a nozzle for ejecting the ejection medium in the liquid cell, an energy unit for supplying ejection energy to the ejection medium in the liquid cell, and heating means for heating the liquid cell independently of the supply of the ejection energy to the ejection medium in the liquid cell. The energy unit is driven to eject the ejection medium from the nozzle in a droplet form. The heating means is supplied with a substantially direct current component to generate heat so that at least the temperature of the liquid cell is constantly maintained above the ambient temperature irrespective of whether the energy unit is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Eguchi, Iwao Ushinohama
  • Patent number: 8087741
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus that is capable of setting a proper deflection amount for deflecting an ink discharge direction even when the distance between the ink discharge surface and the ink landing surface of print paper varies and method of using same. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a head in which a plurality of nozzle-incorporated ink discharge sections are arrayed, discharge direction deflection means for deflecting the discharge direction of an ink discharged from a nozzle of each ink discharge section in the direction of ink discharge section arrangement, distance detection means for detecting the distance between the ink discharge surface of the head and the ink landing surface of print paper, and discharge deflection amount determination means for determining the ink discharge deflection amount (discharge angle) to be provided by the discharge direction deflection means in accordance with the results of detection by the distance detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Iwao Ushinohama, Manabu Tomita, Yuichiro Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 8087742
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus that is capable of setting a proper deflection amount for deflecting an ink discharge direction even when the distance between the ink discharge surface and the ink landing surface of print paper varies and method of using same. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a head in which a plurality of nozzle-incorporated ink discharge sections are arrayed, discharge direction deflection means for deflecting the discharge direction of an ink discharged from a nozzle of each ink discharge section in the direction of ink discharge section arrangement, distance detection means for detecting the distance between the ink discharge surface of the head and the ink landing surface of print paper and discharge deflection amount determination means for determining the ink discharge deflection amount (discharge angle) to be provided by the discharge direction deflection means in accordance with the results of detection by the distance detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Iwao Ushinohama, Manabu Tomita, Yuichiro Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 7959249
    Abstract: A liquid-ejecting head includes a liquid cell that contains an ejection medium that is liquid at normal temperature, a nozzle for ejecting the ejection medium in the liquid cell, an energy unit for supplying ejection energy to the ejection medium in the liquid cell, and heating means for heating the liquid cell independently of the supply of the ejection energy to the ejection medium in the liquid cell. The energy unit is driven to eject the ejection medium from the nozzle in a droplet form. The heating means is supplied with a substantially direct current component to generate heat so that at least the temperature of the liquid cell is constantly maintained above the ambient temperature irrespective of whether the energy unit is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Eguchi, Iwao Ushinohama
  • Patent number: 7942489
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid emitting apparatus for emitting a liquid pressurized by a pressure generated by a pressure generating element is emitted as liquid droplets onto a support. A controller (68) controls an emission controller (63) so that the current value of the pulse current supplied to a heating resistor (42a) will have a current value difference within ±10% with respect to the current value of the pulse current supplied to a heating resistor (42b). By so doing, variations in the position of deposition of an ink droplet i emitted with variable emitting directions may be suppressed to enable printing to a high-quality image in which deterioration in the image quality variations ascribable to color time variations or white streaks is prohibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Iwao Ushinohama, Yuichiro Ikemoto, Kazuyasu Takenaka, Takeo Eguchi
  • Patent number: 7891751
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus that is capable of setting a proper deflection amount for deflecting an ink discharge direction even when the distance between the ink discharge surface and the ink landing surface of print paper varies and method of using same. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a head in which a plurality of nozzle-incorporated ink discharge sections are arrayed, discharge direction deflection means for deflecting the discharge direction of an ink discharged from a nozzle of each ink discharge section in the direction of ink discharge section arrangement, distance detection means for detecting the distance between the ink discharge surface of the head and the ink landing surface of print paper, and discharge deflection amount determination means for determining the ink discharge deflection amount (discharge angle) to be provided by the discharge direction deflection means in accordance with the results of detection by the distance detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Iwao Ushinohama, Manabu Tomita, Yuichiro Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 7883166
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus that is capable of setting a proper deflection amount for deflecting an ink discharge direction even when the distance between the ink discharge surface and the ink landing surface of print paper varies and method of using same. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a head in which a plurality of nozzle-incorporated ink discharge sections are arrayed, discharge direction deflection means for deflecting the discharge direction of an ink discharged from a nozzle of each ink discharge section in the direction of ink discharge section arrangement, distance detection means for detecting the distance between the ink discharge surface of the head and the ink landing surface of print paper and discharge deflection amount determination means for determining the ink discharge deflection amount (discharge angle) to be provided by the discharge direction deflection means in accordance with the results of detection by the distance detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Iwao Ushinohama, Manabu Tomita, Yuichiro Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 7883167
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus that is capable of setting a proper deflection amount for deflecting an ink discharge direction even when the distance between the ink discharge surface and the ink landing surface of print paper varies and method of using same. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a head in which a plurality of nozzle-incorporated ink discharge sections are arrayed, discharge direction deflection means for deflecting the discharge direction of an ink discharged from a nozzle of each ink discharge section in the direction of ink discharge section arrangement, distance detection means for detecting the distance between the ink discharge surface of the head and the ink landing surface of print paper, and discharge deflection amount determination means for determining the ink discharge deflection amount (discharge angle) to be provided by the discharge direction deflection means in accordance with the results of detection by the distance detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Iwao Ushinohama, Manabu Tomita, Yuichiro Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 7837304
    Abstract: The present invention is a liquid discharge device having a function of supplying liquid to liquid chambers in a stable manner, and also has a function of suppressing interference between liquid discharge portions due to discharging of liquid droplets. The liquid discharge device has a liquid discharge head in which a plurality of liquid discharge portions including an ink liquid chamber (12) for storing a liquid to be discharged, and nozzles (18) for discharging the liquid stored in the ink liquid chamber (12), are arrayed on a substrate. The liquid discharge device comprises: individual channels (20) provided for each of the liquid discharge portions so as to communicate with the ink liquid chamber (12) and supply liquid to within the ink liquid chamber (12); and a common channel (30) which is provided to the plurality of individual channels (20) so as to communicate with each of the plurality of individual channels (20), for supplying liquid to the plurality of individual channels (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Eguchi, Kazuyasu Takenaka, Shin Todo, Atsushi Nakamura, Iwao Ushinohama
  • Patent number: 7823998
    Abstract: Even when ejection characteristics of ink droplets are dispersed between unit heads and when arrangement accuracies of unit heads are dispersed, stripe unevenness is alleviated by correction corresponding to each unit head. In a liquid ejection apparatus having a line head (10) arranged by juxtaposing a plurality of (unit) heads (11) of liquid ejection parts so as to connect the head (11) to the adjacent head (11), the liquid ejection apparatus includes ejection direction changing means for enabling the ejection direction of liquid droplets ejected from a nozzle of each liquid ejection part to change in a plurality of directions in the arranging direction of liquid ejection parts and reference direction setting means for individually setting one reference principal direction for each head (11) among a plurality of ejection directions of liquid droplets by the ejection direction changing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Kazuyasu Takenaka, Iwao Ushinohama, Yuichiro Ikemoto
  • Publication number: 20100079515
    Abstract: An inkjet printer device includes: an ejection portion that ejects an ink droplet onto a recording medium; a humidification portion that is provided upstream of the ejection portion in a transportation direction of the recording medium and ejects a wetting liquid droplet onto the recording medium; and a control portion that makes the ink droplet be ejected onto the recording medium from the ejection portion and the wetting liquid droplet be ejected onto the recording medium from the humidification portion, wherein the ejection portion is humidified during printing by letting the wetting liquid droplet ejected onto the recording medium evaporate from the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Iwao Ushinohama
  • Publication number: 20100026764
    Abstract: A droplet discharge head includes: a liquid reservoir which holds a liquid; a channel through which the liquid is guided to the liquid reservoir; and a driving element which changes the pressure in the liquid reservoir so as to discharge droplets of the liquid contained in the liquid reservoir through a nozzle, in which wall surfaces of the liquid reservoir and of the nozzle are arranged in a continuous line at a side opposite the channel with respect to the center of the nozzle as seen in a cross-sectional view through a central axis of the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kamoda, Manabu Tomita, Iwao Ushinohama, Soichi Kuwahara, Shigeyoshi Hirashima
  • Patent number: 7537311
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for ejecting liquid, the processing accuracy of an ejection unit for ejecting ink can be easily increased and the variations in the volume of ink drops, the ejection angle thereof, etc., can be reduced even when dust is mixed in ink. In addition, a reduction in an ink-supply speed at which ink is supplied to an ink ejection unit can be prevented. An ink ejection apparatus includes a plurality of heating units (13) provided on a base member (11), ink cells for pressurizing ink with energy generated by the heating units (13), and nozzles (17) having ejection holes for ejecting the ink which is pressurized in the ink cells. Each of the nozzles (17) is disposed above each of the heating units (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Eguchi, Masato Nakamura, Toru Tanikawa, Minoru Kohno, Koichi Igarashi, Manabu Tomita, Shogo Ono, Takaaki Miyamoto, Iwao Ushinohama
  • Patent number: 7530668
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a liquid chamber configured to contain liquid to be ejected from a nozzle, a liquid ejection member including the nozzle, and an energy generating element configured to provide energy to the liquid contained in the liquid chamber. The energy generating element ejects the liquid contained in the liquid chamber from the nozzle as a liquid droplet. A depression is formed on a surface of the liquid ejection member around the nozzle such that an opening of the depression has a width greater than a width of an opening of the nozzle and the nozzle is positioned at the bottom of the depression. The interior angle of the bottom corner of the depression is determined to be greater than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Tomita, Iwao Ushinohama, Shinji Kayaba, Takeo Eguchi