Patents by Inventor Kouichi Taira

Kouichi Taira 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: 8142906
    Abstract: In Sn-plated copper or a Sn-plated copper alloy according to the present invention, a surface plating layer including a Ni layer, a Cu—Sn alloy layer, and a Sn layer which are deposited in this order is formed on a surface of a base material made of copper or a copper alloy. An average thickness of the Ni layer is 0.1 to 1.0 ?m, an average thickness of the Cu—Sn alloy layer is 0.55 to 1.0 ?m, and an average thickness of the Sn layer is 0.2 to 1.0 ?m. The Cu—Sn alloy layer includes Cu—Sn alloy layers having two compositions, a portion thereof in contact with the Ni layer is formed of an ?-phase having an average thickness of 0.5 to 0.95 ?m, and a portion thereof in contact with the Sn layer is formed of a ?-phase having an average thickness of 0.05 to 0.2 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Taira, Yasushi Masago
  • Patent number: 8076582
    Abstract: A terminal for an engaging type connector includes a punched Cu alloy strip as a base material, a coating formed on the Cu alloy strip by postplating processes and including a Sn layer, and a Cu—Sn alloy layer sandwiched between the base material and the Sn layer. The Sn layer is smoothed by a reflowing process. The terminal has an engaging part and a solder-bonding part, and the surface of a part of the base material corresponding to the engaging part has a surface roughness higher than that of the surface of the base material corresponding to the solder-bonding part. The engaging part has a low frictional property and the solder-bonding part has improved solder wettability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Masago, Ryoichi Ozaki, Kouichi Taira
  • Publication number: 20100247959
    Abstract: In Sn-plated copper or a Sn-plated copper alloy according to the present invention, a surface plating layer including a Ni layer, a Cu—Sn alloy layer, and a Sn layer which are deposited in this order is formed on a surface of a base material made of copper or a copper alloy. An average thickness of the Ni layer is 0.1 to 1.0 ?m, an average thickness of the Cu—Sn alloy layer is 0.55 to 1.0 ?m, and an average thickness of the Sn layer is 0.2 to 1.0 ?m. The Cu—Sn alloy layer includes Cu—Sn alloy layers having two compositions, a portion thereof in contact with the Ni layer is formed of an ?-phase having an average thickness of 0.5 to 0.95 ?m, and a portion thereof in contact with the Sn layer is formed of a ?-phase having an average thickness of 0.05 to 0.2 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Kouichi TAIRA, Yasushi MASAGO
  • Publication number: 20100163277
    Abstract: A terminal for an engaging type connector includes a punched Cu alloy strip as a base material, a coating formed on the Cu alloy strip by postplating processes and including a Sn layer, and a Cu—Sn alloy layer sandwiched between the base material and the Sn layer. The Sn layer is smoothed by a reflowing process. The terminal has an engaging part and a solder-bonding part, and the surface of a part of the base material corresponding to the engaging part has a surface roughness higher than that of the surface of the base material corresponding to the solder-bonding part. The engaging part has a low frictional property and the solder-bonding part has improved solder wettability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd)
    Inventors: Yasushi Masago, Ryoichi Ozaki, Kouichi Taira
  • Patent number: 7700883
    Abstract: A terminal for an engaging type connector includes a punched Cu alloy strip as a base material, a coating formed on the Cu alloy strip by postplating processes and including a Sn layer, and a Cu—Sn alloy layer sandwiched between the base material and the Sn layer. The Sn layer is smoothed by a reflowing process. The terminal has an engaging part and a solder-bonding part, and the surface of a part of the base material corresponding to the engaging part has a surface roughness higher than that of the surface of the base material corresponding to the solder-bonding part. The engaging part has a low frictional property and the solder-bonding part has improved solder wettability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Yasushi Masago, Ryoichi Ozaki, Kouichi Taira
  • Publication number: 20080257581
    Abstract: A terminal for an engaging type connector includes a punched Cu alloy strip as a base material, a coating formed on the Cu alloy strip by postplating processes and including a Sn layer, and a Cu—Sn alloy layer sandwiched between the base material and the Sn layer. The Sn layer is smoothed by a reflowing process. The terminal has an engaging part and a solder-bonding part, and the surface of a part of the base material corresponding to the engaging part has a surface roughness higher than that of the surface of the base material corresponding to the solder-bonding part. The engaging part has a low frictional property and the solder-bonding part has improved solder wettability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd)
    Inventors: Yasushi MASAGO, Ryoichi Ozaki, Kouichi Taira