Patents by Inventor Kenichi Iwamoto

Kenichi Iwamoto 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: 7997747
    Abstract: In a discharge tube, a conductive ferrule is provided on an end portion of a glass tube. The ferrule includes a body that is to be mounted to the outer circumference of the glass tube and has a contact portion to be electrically conductively fixed to a relay connector (or a bearing device). Further included is a conductive portion that extends from the body so as to have elastic contact with an outer lead. The outer lead will not be under load due to the weight of the discharge tube, but the conductive portion solely has elastic contact therewith. Thus, stress concentration on the outer lead can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiki Takata, Kenichi Iwamoto, Takaaki Kudo
  • Patent number: 7954968
    Abstract: In a backlight module, when relay connectors exposed to a back side of a chassis are engaged with the connector portions of a lighting jig, the power from the power supply source of the lighting jig is supplied to discharge tubes via the connector portions and the relay connectors. Thereby, the discharge tubes can be lighted, even if a power board is not connected to the relay connectors. At the time, the lighting jig is arranged to face the back surface of the chassis, and therefore optical sheets can be mounted to the chassis from the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiki Takata, Kenichi Iwamoto, Takaaki Kudo, Naofumi Ikenaga
  • Patent number: 7914164
    Abstract: A ferrule includes a body having a cylindrical shape. Elastic gripping portions are arranged on the body so as to bulge radially inwardly. The elastic gripping portions can have elastic contact with the outer circumferential surface of a glass tube. The body of the ferrule is mounted to the glass tube via the elastic gripping portions capable of elastic and radial deformation. Thereby, the variations in outer diameter of the glass tube can be absorbed, and therefore the dimensional control with high precision is not required for glass tubes at the time of manufacturing. This leads to cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiki Takata, Kenichi Iwamoto, Takaaki Kudo
  • Patent number: 7905733
    Abstract: A power board includes an on-board connector having an output terminal that is surrounded by a housing made of synthetic resin. The output terminal is arranged in an area of the housing that is farther from the edge portion of a circuit board so that sectional arrangement is provided. The output terminal is thus surrounded by the synthetic-resin housing, and thereby a leak at the output terminal can be prevented. Further, the output terminal is arranged in the limited area of the housing farther from the edge portion of the circuit board, resulting in a long distance maintained between the output terminal and the edge portion of the circuit board, which can effectively prevent the leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiki Takata, Kenichi Iwamoto, Takaaki Kudo, Naofumi Ikenaga
  • Patent number: 7905619
    Abstract: A notch is formed in a side of an optical sheet. As seen in plan view, the notch is shaped such that the maximum width of the notch as measured in the direction parallel to the line connecting both ends of a mouth portion of the notch is greater than the width of the mouth portion along the side of the optical sheet. Here, it is preferable that the notch be polygonal or have a curved shape as seen in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 7901101
    Abstract: Relay connectors are arranged to supply power from power boards arranged on the back side of a chassis having a substantially plate-shaped configuration to discharge tubes arranged on the front side of the chassis. Each relay connector includes a holder having an insulation property and to be mounted to the chassis, and further includes a relay terminal mounted to the holder and capable of electrical connection to the discharge tube and the power board. The relay terminal is immune to direct contact with the chassis. This enables the use of a metallic chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiki Takata, Kenichi Iwamoto, Takaaki Kudo, Naofumi Ikenaga
  • Patent number: 7896513
    Abstract: Relay connectors are arranged to supply power from power boards arranged on the back side of a chassis having a substantially plate-shaped configuration to discharge tubes arranged on the front side of the chassis. Each relay connector includes a holder having an insulation property and to be mounted to the chassis, and further includes a relay terminal mounted to the holder and capable of electrical connection to the discharge tube and the power board. The relay terminal is immune to direct contact with the chassis. This enables the use of a metallic chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiki Takata, Kenichi Iwamoto, Takaaki Kudo, Naofumi Ikenaga
  • Patent number: 7824048
    Abstract: A ferrule includes a body having a cylindrical shape. Elastic gripping portions are arranged on the body so as to bulge radially inwardly. The elastic gripping portions can have elastic contact with the outer circumferential surface of a glass tube. The body of the ferrule is mounted to the glass tube via the elastic gripping portions capable of elastic and radial deformation. Thereby, the variations in outer diameter of the glass tube can be absorbed, and therefore the dimensional control with high precision is not required for glass tubes at the time of manufacturing. This leads to cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiki Takata, Kenichi Iwamoto, Takaaki Kudo
  • Patent number: 7794096
    Abstract: An illuminating lamp for a display device is capable of minimizing a luminance difference between a high-voltage driving side and a low-voltage driving side. The illuminating lamp is arranged behind a display panel via optical sheets and driven in a high-voltage driving method. The illuminating lamp includes discharge lamps connected in series, wherein gas pressures of the discharge lamps at a high-voltage driving side are set to be higher than those of the discharge lamps at a low-voltage driving side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Iwamoto
  • Publication number: 20100214498
    Abstract: In a discharge tube, a conductive ferrule is provided on an end portion of a glass tube. The ferrule includes a body that is to be mounted to the outer circumference of the glass tube and has a contact portion to be electrically conductively fixed to a relay connector (or a bearing device). Further included is a conductive portion that extends from the body so as to have elastic contact with an outer lead. The outer lead will not be under load due to the weight of the discharge tube, but the conductive portion solely has elastic contact therewith. Thus, stress concentration on the outer lead can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicants: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshiki TAKATA, Kenichi IWAMOTO, Takaaki KUDO
  • Publication number: 20100201892
    Abstract: Relay connectors are arranged to supply power from power boards arranged on the back side of a chassis having a substantially plate-shaped configuration to discharge tubes arranged on the front side of the chassis. Each relay connector includes a holder having an insulation property and to be mounted to the chassis, and further includes a relay terminal mounted to the holder and capable of electrical connection to the discharge tube and the power board. The relay terminal is immune to direct contact with the chassis. This enables the use of a metallic chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicants: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshiki TAKATA, Kenichi IWAMOTO, Takaaki KUDO, Naofumi IKENAGA
  • Patent number: 7771124
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has a wheel hub integrally formed with a peripheral wheel mounting flange at one end and a double row rolling bearing. The double row rolling bearing has an outer member integrally formed with a peripheral body mounting flange and with double row outer raceway surfaces. An inner member, including the wheel hub, is formed with double row inner raceway surfaces each arranged opposite to each of the double row outer surfaces. Double row rolling elements are freely rotatably contained between the double row outer and inner raceway surfaces. The double row rolling bearing is adapted to receive a predetermined preload. A separate outer or inner ring is arranged on at least one of the outer or inner members. A preload varying mechanism is arranged at an abutting portion between the outer and inner members to vary the preload applied to the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Okada, Yutaka Hayashi, Kenichi Iwamoto, Takashi Koike
  • Patent number: 7762679
    Abstract: A ferrule includes a body having a cylindrical shape. Elastic gripping portions are arranged on the body so as to bulge radially inwardly. The elastic gripping portions can have elastic contact with the outer circumferential surface of a glass tube. The body of the ferrule is mounted to the glass tube via the elastic gripping portions capable of elastic and radial deformation. Thereby, the variations in outer diameter of the glass tube can be absorbed, and therefore the dimensional control with high precision is not required for glass tubes at the time of manufacturing. This leads to cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiki Takata, Kenichi Iwamoto, Takaaki Kudo
  • Patent number: 7741838
    Abstract: A rotation detecting device that includes an electric power generator having a stator and a rotor, said rotor having a plurality of alternating opposite magnetic poles in a circumferential direction of the rotor, at least a first magnetic sensor mounted on either the stator or a support member for supporting the stator and operable to detect the alternating opposite magnetic poles in the rotor; and an electric power supply circuit for utilizing an electric power generated by the electric power generator as an electric power source for the at least first magnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Koichi Okada, Kenichi Iwamoto, Hiroaki Ohba
  • Publication number: 20100141846
    Abstract: Discharge tubes, each of which includes a glass tube and a ferrule that has a substantially cylindrical shape and is fitted to each end portion of the glass tube, are supported by a plurality of pairs of relay connectors (or supporting members) provided on the front side of a chassis having substantially a plate-shaped configuration. When a discharge tube is supported by relay connectors, stoppers provided on the relay connectors lock the ferrules so that axial movement of the discharge tube relative to the relay connectors is restricted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicants: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshiki TAKATA, Kenichi IWAMOTO, Takaaki KUDO, Naofumi IKENAGA
  • Publication number: 20100134045
    Abstract: A cold cathode tube lighting device prevents emission-position-dependent unevenness from occurring in the brightness of light emitted from the cold cathode tube lighting device and includes a plurality of discharge tubes connected in parallel; ballast capacitors each integrally attached to a respective one the plurality of discharge tubes; power supplies arranged to that supply power to the plurality of discharge tubes; and a voltage detection unit connected to the plurality of discharge tubes to detect voltages between pairs of internal electrodes of the plurality of discharge tubes. The power supply to the plurality of discharge tubes is controlled according to the voltages detected by the voltage detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenichi Iwamoto
  • Publication number: 20100134690
    Abstract: The present invention is a television receiver, including a counter which measures a time period for which the television receiver continuously operates, an evaluator which determines whether the time period is more than a predetermined time period and a controller which adjusts a brightness value of a picture to more than a predetermined value when the time period is more than the predetermined time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinori Tsubouchi, Kenichi Iwamoto, Hiroki Gakumura
  • Patent number: 7717580
    Abstract: Relay connectors are arranged to supply power from power boards arranged on the back side of a chassis having a substantially plate-shaped configuration to discharge tubes arranged on the front side of the chassis. Each relay connector includes a holder having an insulation property and to be mounted to the chassis, and further includes a relay terminal mounted to the holder and capable of electrical connection to the discharge tube and the power board. The relay terminal is immune to direct contact with the chassis. This enables the use of a metallic chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Takata, Kenichi Iwamoto, Takaaki Kudo, Naofumi Ikenaga
  • Patent number: D628705
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Mycoal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasumasa Usui, Kenichi Iwamoto, Michio Aida, Yumiko Mine, Takashi Morito
  • Patent number: D628706
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Mycoal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasumasa Usui, Kenichi Iwamoto, Michio Aida, Yumiko Mine, Takashi Morito