Patents by Inventor Natsumi Shimogawa

Natsumi Shimogawa 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).

  • Publication number: 20060214557
    Abstract: A light source has a transparent substrate, a fixed substrate disposed in facing relation to the transparent substrate, and a plurality of electron emitters disposed on a principal surface of the fixed substrate. A light reflecting film is disposed on a portion of the principal surface of the fixed substrate which is free of the electron emitters. An anode electrode in the form of a transparent electrode is disposed on a substantially entire reverse side of the transparent substrate. Phosphor layers are disposed on the anode electrode at respective positions facing the electron emitters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Iwao Ohwada, Natsumi Shimogawa, Tetsuyuki Kameji, Naoki Goto, Isao Shikata
  • Publication number: 20060197413
    Abstract: An actuator device has a drive section including a plurality of actuators arranged in a plane on a substrate, and a single first plate member to which drive forces from the actuators of the drive section are transmitted. A plurality of spacers are disposed between the first plate member and the substrate, forming m cells. Each of the actuators has a cavity, a vibrating section and a fixed section formed on the substrate. The rigidity of the first plate member is greater than the rigidity of the vibrating section of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Koji Kimura, Natsumi Shimogawa, Takayoshi Akao
  • Publication number: 20050232573
    Abstract: A display device includes an illuminating device having an optical waveguide plate for introducing light thereinto, a drive assembly having a planar array of actuators disposed in facing relation to the optical waveguide plate, a displacement transmitter assembly disposed between the optical waveguide plate and the drive assembly, and a light scattering layer disposed on the displacement transmitter assembly. The actuators are selectively displaceable to bring the light scattering layer into and out of contact with the optical waveguide plate, for controlling light that leaks from the optical waveguide plate as emitted light. The display device also includes an optical modulator for modulating the emitted light from the illuminating device to display an image. The illuminating device has a light reflecting layer disposed on at least a portion of the displacement transmitter assembly that confronts the optical waveguide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Applicants: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Iwauchi, Kei Tokui, Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Natsumi Shimogawa, Isao Shikata
  • Patent number: 6922274
    Abstract: A crosspiece precursor and a picture element assembly precursor are hardened at mutually different timings to form a crosspiece and a picture element assembly. For example, the crosspiece precursor is firstly hardened to form the crosspiece. After that, the picture element assembly precursor is hardened while allowing an upper end surface of the picture element assembly precursor to make pressed contact with an optical waveguide plate, by displacing an actuator element toward an actuator substrate. The picture element assembly, which is formed by hardening the picture element assembly precursor, reliably abuts against the optical waveguide plate when a display device is in a light emission state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Natsumi Shimogawa, Takayoshi Akao
  • Publication number: 20050082946
    Abstract: An actuator element has a plate member, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body disposed in facing, relation to the plate member, and a beam disposed between the plate member and the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body and fixing the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body to the plate member. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive body has a piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer, an upper electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer which faces the plate member, and a lower electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer which is opposite to the surface thereof facing the plate member. When an electric field is applied to the upper electrode and the lower electrode, a portion of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body is displaced toward or away from the plate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Koji Kimura, Natsumi Shimogawa, Takayoshi Akao
  • Patent number: 6879753
    Abstract: A display device comprises an actuator substrate which has actuator elements, an optical waveguide plate, crosspieces which intervene between the optical waveguide plate and the actuator substrate and which surround the actuator element, and picture element assemblies which are joined onto the actuator elements. The picture element assembly includes a transparent layer which makes contact with the optical waveguide plate or which stands close to the optical waveguide plate, and a color layer which is arranged under the transparent layer. An opposed area of the transparent layer opposed to the optical waveguide plate is identical with or smaller than a projected area of the color layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Natsumi Shimogawa, Takayoshi Akao
  • Publication number: 20050057120
    Abstract: An actuator element has a plate member, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body disposed in facing relation to the plate member, and a beam disposed between the plate member and the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body and fixing the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body to the plate member. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive body has a piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer, an upper electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer which faces the plate member, and a lower electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer which is opposite to the surface thereof facing the plate member. When an electric field is applied to the upper electrode and the lower electrode, a portion of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body is displaced toward or away from the plate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Nanataki, Koji Kimura, Natsumi Shimogawa, Hisanori Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6798959
    Abstract: A display device comprises an actuator substrate which has actuator elements, an optical waveguide plate, crosspieces which is interposed between the optical waveguide plate and the actuator substrate and which surround the actuator elements, and picture element assemblies which are joined onto the actuator elements. A stack for constructing each of the picture element assemblies has a transparent layer opposed to the optical waveguide plate. The transparent layer contains a major component of a cured resin obtained by polymerization with a principal ingredient which is composed of one or more materials selected from modified epoxy, bisphenol A type epoxy, bisphenol F type epoxy, and glycidyl ether type epoxy, and a curing agent which is composed of one or more materials selected from modified polyamine, modified alicyclic polyamine, and heterocyclic diamine modified product of tertiary amine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Natsumi Shimogawa, Kazuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6768846
    Abstract: An adhesion-suppressing agent is added or applied to a picture element assembly precursor which is a precursor of a picture element assembly. Accordingly, when the hardening is performed while allowing the picture element assembly precursor to make pressed contact with an optical waveguide plate, the picture element assembly precursor is prevented from adhesion to the optical waveguide plate. Further, the gap between the picture element assembly and the optical waveguide plate is narrowed by allowing the adhesion-suppressing agent to intervene. Therefore, when a display device is in the light emission state, the picture element assembly reliably makes pressed contact with the optical waveguide plate. Further, owing to the adhesion-suppressing agent, the mutual adhesion between the picture element assembly and the optical waveguide plate is remarkably suppressed when the display device is used. Preferred examples of the adhesion-suppressing agent include silicone-based substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Natsumi Shimogawa, Takayoshi Akao, Kazuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6753846
    Abstract: A reflective display device includes a transparent display panel into which light is introduced. A driving section is disposed at the back of the display panel. Actuator elements corresponding to a number of picture elements are arranged in the driving section. A picture element assembly is provided on each of the actuator elements. The picture element assembly includes a light-reflecting layer and a color filter. A light-absorptive material is filled between the display panel and an actuator substrate. The actuator elements are selectively driven according to an attribute of an input image signal for controlling displacement of the picture element assembly in a direction closer to or away from the display panel, thereby adjusting degree of light-absorption and/or light reflection between the display panel and the picture element assembly so that a screen image corresponding to the image signal is displayed on the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Natsumi Shimogawa, Takayoshi Akao
  • Patent number: 6724973
    Abstract: Disclosed is a display device comprising an optical waveguide plate 12 for introducing light 10 thereinto; an actuator substrate 18 provided opposingly to one plate surface of the optical waveguide plate 12 and arranged with actuator elements 14 of a number corresponding to a large number of pixels; a pixel structure 102 formed on each of the actuator elements 14 of the actuator substrate 18; and a crosspiece 70 formed at a portion other than the pixel structure 102 between the optical waveguide plate 12 and the actuator substrate 18. Accordingly, it is easy to form a gap between the optical waveguide plate and the pixel structure. Further, the gap can be formed uniformly for all of the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Natsumi Shimogawa, Takayoshi Akao
  • Patent number: 6584660
    Abstract: A method for making a piezoelectric device wherein residual stresses in the piezoelectric transducer element of the piezoelectric device are relieved by forming a groove or grooves extending into a thick-walled region of the peripheral wall of a ceramic substrate in the piezoelectric device. The stresses to be relieved are caused by a difference in shrinkage between the ceramic substrate and the piezoelectric transducer as a result of sintering the substrate and the transducer to form an integral product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignees: NGK Indulators, LTD, Seiko Epson Corp.
    Inventors: Natsumi Shimogawa, Koji Kimura, Yukihisa Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20030063368
    Abstract: A display device comprises an actuator substrate which has actuator elements, an optical waveguide plate, crosspieces which is interposed between the optical waveguide plate and the actuator substrate and which surround the actuator elements, and picture element assemblies which are joined onto the actuator elements. A stack for constructing each of the picture element assemblies has a transparent layer opposed to the optical waveguide plate. The transparent layer contains a major component of a cured resin obtained by polymerization with a principal ingredient which is composed of one or more materials selected from modified epoxy, bisphenol A type epoxy, bisphenol F type epoxy, and glycidyl ether type epoxy, and a curing agent which is composed of one or more materials selected from modified polyamine, modified alicyclic polyamine, and heterocyclic diamine modified product of tertiary amine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Natsumi Shimogawa, Kazuhiro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20030043449
    Abstract: A display device comprises an actuator substrate which has actuator elements, an optical waveguide plate, crosspieces which is interposed between the optical waveguide plate and the actuator substrate and which surround the actuator elements, and picture element assemblies which are joined onto the actuator elements. A stack for constructing each of the picture element assemblies has a transparent layer opposed to the optical waveguide plate. The transparent layer contains a major component of a cured resin obtained by polymerization with a principal ingredient which is composed of one or more materials selected from modified epoxy, bisphenol A type epoxy, bisphenol F type epoxy, and glycidyl ether type epoxy, and a curing agent which is composed of one or more materials selected from modified polyamine, modified alicyclic polyamine, and heterocyclic diamine modified product of tertiary amine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Natsumi Shimogawa, Kazuhiro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20020191947
    Abstract: A display device comprises an actuator substrate which has actuator elements, an optical waveguide plate, crosspieces which intervene between the optical waveguide plate and the actuator substrate and which surround the actuator element, and picture element assemblies which are joined onto the actuator elements. The picture element assembly includes a transparent layer which makes contact with the optical waveguide plate or which stands close to the optical waveguide plate, and a color layer which is arranged under the transparent layer. An opposed area of the transparent layer opposed to the optical waveguide plate is identical with or smaller than a projected area of the color layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Natsumi Shimogawa, Takayoshi Akao
  • Publication number: 20020135854
    Abstract: A crosspiece precursor and a picture element assembly precursor are hardened at mutually different timings to form a crosspiece and a picture element assembly. For example, the crosspiece precursor is firstly hardened to form the crosspiece. After that, the picture element assembly precursor is hardened while allowing an upper end surface of the picture element assembly precursor to make pressed contact with an optical waveguide plate, by displacing an actuator element toward an actuator substrate. The picture element assembly, which is formed by hardening the picture element assembly precursor, reliably abuts against the optical waveguide plate when a display device is in a light emission state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Natsumi Shimogawa, Takayoshi Akao
  • Publication number: 20020080129
    Abstract: A reflective display device includes a transparent display panel into which light is introduced. A driving section is disposed at the back of the display panel. Actuator elements corresponding to a number of picture elements are arranged in the driving section. A picture element assembly is provided on each of the actuator elements. The picture element assembly includes a light-reflecting layer and a color filter. A light-absorptive material is filled between the display panel and an actuator substrate. The actuator elements are selectively driven according to an attribute of an input image signal for controlling displacement of the picture element assembly in a direction closer to or away from the display panel, thereby adjusting degree of light-absorption and/or light reflection between the display panel and the picture element assembly so that a screen image corresponding to the image signal is displayed on the display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: NGK Insulator, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Natsumi Shimogawa, Takayoshi Akao
  • Publication number: 20010053259
    Abstract: A crosspiece is formed by hardening a resin containing a filler. The crosspiece and a substrate or an optical waveguide plate are joined to one another by the aid of a filler-containing adhesive containing a filler. After that, the filler-containing adhesive is hardened. Those preferably used as the fillers include high strength substances composed of, for example, ceramics, plastic, and glass. Especially, it is preferable that the filler is spherical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Natsumi Shimogawa, Takayoshi Akao
  • Publication number: 20010024555
    Abstract: An adhesion-suppressing agent is added or applied to a picture element assembly precursor which is a precursor of a picture element assembly. Accordingly, when the hardening is performed while allowing the picture element assembly precursor to make pressed contact with an optical waveguide plate, the picture element assembly precursor is prevented from adhesion to the optical waveguide plate. Further, the gap between the picture element assembly and the optical waveguide plate is narrowed by allowing the adhesion-suppressing agent to intervene. Therefore, when a display device is in the light emission state, the picture element assembly reliably makes pressed contact with the optical waveguide plate. Further, owing to the adhesion-suppressing agent, the mutual adhesion between the picture element assembly and the optical waveguide plate is remarkably suppressed when the display device is used. Preferred examples of the adhesion-suppressing agent include silicone-based substances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Natsumi Shimogawa, Takayoshi Akao, Kazuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6249370
    Abstract: Disclosed is a display device comprising a light-shielding plate including a metal thin film formed on a first principal surface of an optical waveguide plate for introducing the light thereinto and including light-transmitting sections formed at portions corresponding to picture elements to make penetration through the optical waveguide plate, and shutter sections provided opposingly to a second principal surface of the light-shielding plate, for selectively intercepting the light transmitted through the light-transmitting sections in accordance with an input signal. The shutter sections include actuator elements provided corresponding to the large number of light-transmitting sections so that the light to be transmitted through the light-transmitting sections is intercepted substantially in synchronization with the operation of the actuator elements. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the contrast and improve the image quality of a displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Natsumi Shimogawa, Shigeki Okada, Masao Takahashi