Patents by Inventor Mitsuro Atobe

Mitsuro Atobe 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: 6094294
    Abstract: An optical modulator device, a display unit and an electronic apparatus, each capable of presenting a high-contrast and bright image. An optical modulator device 101 includes a substrate and, on the substrate, an optical modulator structure in which a piezoelectric thin film layer 13 having piezoelectric property is interposed between thin film electrode layers 12, 14 having electrically conductive property with at least one of the thin film electrode layers 12, 14 having light reflective property, wherein the optical modulator structure is driven on a mirror element by mirror element basis, with one mirror element 15 being handled as a unit working independently to modulate a light ray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Yokoyama, Tatsuya Shimoda, Satoru Miyashita, Yuji Fujimori, Mitsuro Atobe, Taku Aoyama, Tatsuaki Funamoto
  • Patent number: 5999306
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator is constructed from a conductive silicon mirror substrate and a glass electrode substrate including sodium, anode-bonded together. The silicon mirror substrate has micromirrors arranged in a matrix, torsion bars coupling these micromirrors in the x-direction, and a frame coupled to both ends of the torsion bars. A glass electrode substrate has a central depression, a rim around the periphery thereof, pillars projecting from within the depression, and electrodes and wiring driving micromirrors formed within the depression in an inclining manner. Both ends of the torsion bars are bonded to the rim of the frame portion, and intermediate portions of the torsion bars are bonded to the pillars. Both ends of the torsion bars are cut away from the frame portion during dicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuro Atobe, Hiroshi Koeda, Shinichi Yotsuya
  • Patent number: 5912684
    Abstract: An inkjet head comprising a nozzle, an ink passage in communication with the nozzle, a diaphragm provided at one part of the ink passage, and an electrode provided in opposition to the diaphragm whereby an electrical pulse is applied between the diaphragm and electrode to deform the diaphragm by means of electrostatic force, thereby ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle. The actuator contains at least a vibration chamber formed by the diaphragm and electrode, and is sealed or made airtight with the volume V so that the ratio between the actuator volume V and the volume .DELTA.V eliminated by a distortion of the diaphragm during ink-jet head drive is within the range 2.ltoreq.V/.DELTA.V.ltoreq.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Fujii, Keiichi Mukaiyama, Hiroyuki Maruyama, Tadaaki Hagata, Mitsuro Atobe, Shinichi Kamisuki, Shinichi Yotsuya, Hiroshi Koeda, Yoshihiro Ohno, Hitoshi Tanbo
  • Patent number: 5734395
    Abstract: An ink jet head includes a common electrode formed on a semiconductor substrate. A charge is applied to the common electrode and an electrode disposed on another substrate in opposition to a diaphragm formed in the semiconductor substrate to electrostatically deform the diaphragm and eject ink. The common electrode comprises a single layer or multiple layer metallic coating forming ohmic contact on the semiconductor substrate. In addition, a group III or group V element is doped to a high concentration at the area on the semiconductor substrate where the common electrode is formed. The diaphragm can therefore vibrate at high speed. An ink jet head capable of high speed printing can be provided because supply and elimination of the charge to the diaphragm can be accomplished at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Kamisuki, Mitsuro Atobe, Hiroshi Koeda, Shinichi Yotsuya, Masahiro Fujii, Naoki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5534900
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus has an ink-jet head with a plurality of nozzle openings, a plurality of independent ejection chambers respectively communicating with the nozzle openings, diaphragms respectively formed in the ejection chambers partly on at least one side wall of each of the ejection chambers, a plurality of driving electrodes for respectively driving the diaphragms, and a common ink cavity for supplying ink to the plurality of ejection chambers. Upon application of electric pulses to the plurality of driving electrodes, the driving electrodes respectively distort the diaphragms by electrostatic force in a direction to increase the pressures in the respective ejection chambers to eject ink drops from the nozzle openings onto recording paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ohno, Mitsuro Atobe, Hitoshi Tanbo
  • Patent number: 5502470
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet recording head for use in an ink jet recording device, wherein a water-repellent layer (21) comprising a homogeneous layer of a fluoropolymer is formed on the surface of a nozzle for jetting an ink. This water-repellent layer can be formed as a dense, homogeneous layer through the use of a solvent-soluble fluoropolymer, which enables an ink jet recording head excellent in the water-repellent property, the persistence of the water repellency and the durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Miyashita, Mitsuro Atobe, Yasushi Karasawa, Kiyohiko Takemoto, Yasuhiro Ouki
  • Patent number: 5395678
    Abstract: Thin film devices including a film of a functional organic material, inorganic material or mixtures which are either insoluble or sparingly soluble in water, and deposited by electroplating. Particles of the functional material are dispersed in a micelle solution of a surfactant which is oxidizable and reducible by electrolysis in a colloidal state. Thin film devices prepared include color filters, optical recording media, electrochemical photoreceptors, nonlinear switching elements, and other devices requiring thin films of materials which are substantially insoluble in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiaki Matsushima, Mitsuro Atobe, Yoshihiro Ono, Yasuto Nose
  • Patent number: 5242558
    Abstract: Thin film devices including a film of a functional organic material, inorganic material or mixtures which are either insoluble or sparingly soluble in water, and deposited by electroplating. Particles of the functional material are dispersed in a micelle solution of a surfactant which is oxidizable and reducible by electrolysis in a colloidal state. Thin film devices prepared include color filters, optical recording media, electrochemical photoreceptors, nonlinear switching elements, and other devices requiring thin films of materials which are substantially insoluble in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiaki Matsushima, Mitsuro Atobe, Yoshihiro Ono, Yasuto Nose
  • Patent number: 5240797
    Abstract: Thin film devices including a film of a functional organic material, inorganic material or mixtures which are either insoluble or sparingly soluble in water, and deposited by electroplating. Particles of the functional material are dispersed in a micelle solution of a surfactant which is oxidizable and reducible by electrolysis in a colloidal state. Thin film devices prepared include color filters, optical recording media, electrochemical photoreceptors, nonlinear switching elements, and other devices requiring thin films of materials which are substantially insoluble in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiaki Matsushima, Mitsuro Atobe, Yoshihiro Ono, Yasuto Nose