Patents by Inventor Tomio Sonehara

Tomio Sonehara 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: 6031201
    Abstract: A laser machining method and apparatus for performing high-speed and high-precision machining on a thin film deposited on a substrate, as well as a liquid crystal panel. The apparatus includes: a plurality of pulse laser generators; a system for alternately driving a plurality of pulse laser generators so that the plurality of pulse laser generators generate laser beams having a delay in phase between each other; a system for making the laser beams generated by the plurality of laser beam generators equal in quality; a system for converting the laser beams generated by the plurality of laser beam generators into elliptically polarized laser beams; and a system for dividing each laser beam emitted by each of the plurality of laser beam generators into a plurality of laser beams; whereby an object to be processed is selectively illuminated with the plurality of laser beams produced by the beam-dividing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Amako, Masami Murai, Tsutomu Ota, Tomio Sonehara
  • Patent number: 5682214
    Abstract: An optical apparatus for controlling a wave front of a coherent light including at least a coherent light source, an electrically addressable liquid crystal device having a plurality of pixels receiving the light from said light source, and a signal generator for recording a complex amplitude distribution or hologram on the liquid crystal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Amako, Hirotsuna Miura, Tomio Sonehara, Yoshio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5589955
    Abstract: The invention provides an optical device with high light utilization efficiency that is capable of scribing patterns on curved surfaces, as well as flat surfaces, using a liquid crystal spatial light modulator. The invention offers an optical device with high light utilization efficiency and that is capable of three-dimensional formation of curved surfaces using a liquid crystal spatial light modulator. Additionally, the invention offers a widely applicable optical processing system that mounts these optical devices on robots. The invention includes at least a coherent light source, a liquid crystal spatial light modulator for controlling the wavefront of the light from the coherent light source, and a means that records the complex amplitude distribution on the liquid crystal spatial light modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Amako, Hirotsuna Miura, Tomio Sonehara
  • Patent number: 5497254
    Abstract: An optical apparatus for controlling a wave front of a coherent light including at least a coherent light source, an electrically addressable liquid crystal device having a plurality of pixels receiving the light from said light source, and a signal generator for recording a complex amplitude distribution or hologram on the liquid crystal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Amako, Hirotsuna Miura, Tomio Sonehara, Yoshio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5440424
    Abstract: A polarizer optical device for receiving and transmitting light is provided. The polarizer optical device includes a light separating section for separating the light into two polarization components which are othogonal with respect to one another. Further, the optical device is provided with a polarization rotating section for rotating the two polarization components so that a phase difference between the two polarization components othogonal to each other is 1/2.lambda.. Finally, a light combining section is provided for combining the light into a outputted light beam. The light combining section may be formed with a combination of birefringent prisms and isotropic mediums interfacing one another. In these configurations, the refractive index of each prism or medium is selected so that an angle formed with two unparallel incident lights differs from an angle formed with two output or transmitted lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Seiko Epson
    Inventors: Jin-Jei Wu, Shoichi Uchiyama, Yoshitaka Itoh, Tomio Sonehara
  • Patent number: 5361151
    Abstract: A reflection-type liquid crystal (LC) device having a twisted nematic (TN) LC layer that lets linearly-polarized incident light enter and become circularly-polarized at a reflecting surface, and then linearly polarizes it, after reflecting, with a plane of polarization that has been rotated 90.degree. from the incident light at an light output surface. The TN LC layer allows linearly-polarized incident light to enter at an angle to the molecular plane of light input of the twisted nematic LC, and to linearly polarize the light after reflection. The plane of polarization is rotated 90.degree. from the incident light at the light output surface. The TN LC layer also allows circularly-polarized incident light to enter and become linearly-polarized light at the reflecting surface. Circularly-polarized light after reflection may be rotated opposite the incident circularly-polarized light at the light output surface to provide for reverse on/off states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Sonehara, Osamu Okumura
  • Patent number: 5241407
    Abstract: A projection-type display device having a single light source which produces light. A first dichroic mirror group receives the light and separates it into colored light. A transmissive light valve system modulates the colored light and a second dichroic mirror group synthesizes the modulated colored light. A projection system projects the synthesized colored light onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Sonehara, Shuji Aruga, Shinji Morozumi
  • Patent number: 5105289
    Abstract: In a reflection type liquid crystal electrooptical device having a twisted nematic liquid crystal sandwiched between two substrates faced to each other, a linearly polarized incident light enters into the liquid crystal layer and after the reflection in the state of a circularly polarized light, enters into the liquid crystal layer again. As to an outgoing light, twisted angle, .DELTA.nd and polarized incident angle are fixed so as to rotate the polarized surface at 90.degree. with respect to that of the incident light (the condition of twist angle of 63.degree., 0.33.lambda..ltoreq..DELTA.nd.ltoreq.0.47.lambda., and twist angle of 193.degree., 0.95.lambda..ltoreq..DELTA.nd.ltoreq.1.15.lambda. (.mu.m) is preferable, wherein the direction of polarizing shaft coincides with the direction of liquid cyrstal molecules.) Whereby, it is possible to use the largest value of .DELTA.nd so that the thick liquid crystal layer can be used and a wide margin for manufacturing can be also secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Sonehara, Chiharu Ito
  • Patent number: 5098183
    Abstract: A dichroic optical element disposed on at least one surface of each of four right angled prisms for transmitting and reflecting different wavelengths of polarized light. Each of the dichroic layers is characterized by wavelength selection properties which vary in response to the polarization of the light received by the dichroic layers. A projection type display device includes a first optical device characterized by at least one first wavelength transition region and a second optical device characterized by at least one second wavelength transition period. The first wavelength transition region does not effectively overlap the second wavelength transition region. Efficient utilization of the light source for projecting an image results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomio Sonehara
  • Patent number: 5075798
    Abstract: A projection-type display device having a single light source which produces light. A first dichroic mirror group receives the light and separates it into colored light. A transmissive light valve system modulates the colored light and a second dichroic mirror group synthesizaes the modulated colored light. A projection system projects the synthesized colored light onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Sonehara, Shuji Aruga, Shinji Morozumi
  • Patent number: 5073013
    Abstract: A projection-type display device having a single light source which produces light. A first dichroic mirror group receives the light and separates it into colored light. A transmissive light valve system modulates the colored light and a second dichoric mirror group synthesizes the modulated colored light. A projection system projects the synthesized colored light onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Sonehara, Shuji Aruga, Shinji Morozumi
  • Patent number: 5053765
    Abstract: A light guide type display apparatus having a plurality of optical fibers which couple a light shutter which serves as an image forming device to a display screen. The plurality of optical fibers are effectively interlaced with each other so as to substantially eliminate any boundaries which appear on the display screen. The plurality of optical fibers are segregated into bundles which correspond to at least one trio of blue, green and red picture elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Sonehara, Jun Sugiyama, Shinji Morozumi
  • Patent number: 4870484
    Abstract: A color display device particularly adapted for use in flat panel applications provides a bright picture with high saturation and excellent color reproduction. The color display device includes a light shutter mechanism which controls the amount of light passing therethrough. Color filters of different colors are disposed adjacent to the light shutter mechanism and include a plurality of color elements. Each color filter has a peak at the transmittance spectrum thereof. A light source illuminates the light shutter mechanism with the light source having peaks in a luminance spectrum adjusted to correspond to the peaks of the transmittance spectrum of each color filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomio Sonehara
  • Patent number: 4850685
    Abstract: A projection-type color display device. The display device includes a light source which provides light and a color separation member which receives the light and which separates the received light into the different colors of red, blue and green light. A light valve device receives the red, blue and green light and modulates the light to produce images. A color synthesis cube prism synthesizes the three monochromatic lights modulated by the light valve. A projection lens system projects the synthesized image onto a screen for viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kamakura, Tomio Sonehara, Takeshi Ono, Junichi Nakamura, Akitaka Yajima, Shuji Aruga
  • Patent number: 4560982
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having non-linear characteristics provides uniform quality in a matrix display. In driving rows and columns of picture elements the duty ratio is substantially increased by shortening the time in which the picture element is selected and charged for lighting. Charging time is less than the half frame period divided by the number of columns to be driven in the half frame, and more rows of elements can be driven in the half frame period. The portion of time actually used for charging is designated as a fine scanning period. By modulating the voltage levels across the liquid crystal layer during fine scanning periods when the crystal element is not selected, effective voltage across the picture elements is maintained with little variation regardless of the number of picture elements driven on the same signal line. A gray scale display can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha
    Inventors: Tomio Sonehara, Masami Murata, Tadashi Ota
  • Patent number: RE35799
    Abstract: A reflection-type liquid crystal (LC) device having a twisted nematic (TN) LC layer that lets linearly-polarized incident light enter and become circularly-polarized at a reflecting surface, and then linearly polarizes it, after reflecting, with a plane of polarization that has been rotated 90.degree. from the incident light at an light output surface. The TN LC layer allows linearly-polarized incident light to enter at an angle to the molecular plane of light input of the twisted nematic LC, and to linearly polarize the light after reflection. The plane of polarization is rotated 90.degree. from the incident light at the light output surface. The TN LC layer also allows circularly-polarized incident light to enter and become linearly-polarized light at the reflecting surface. Circularly-polarized light after reflection may be rotated opposite the incident circularly-polarized light at the light output surface to provide for reverse on/off states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Sonehara, Osamu Okumura
  • Patent number: RE36725
    Abstract: A projection-type display device having a single light source which produces light. A first dichroic mirror group receives the light and separates it into colored light. A transmissive light valve system modulates the colored light and a second dichroic mirror group synthesizes the modulated colored light. A projection system projects the synthesized colored light onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Sonehara, Shuji Aruga, Shinji Morozumi
  • Patent number: RE36792
    Abstract: A color display device particularly adapted for use in flat panel applications provides a bright picture with high saturation and excellent color reproduction. The color display device includes a light shutter mechanism which controls the amount of light passing therethrough. Color filters of different colors are disposed adjacent to the light shutter mechanism and include a plurality of color elements. Each color filter has a peak at the transmittance spectrum thereof. A light source illuminates the light shutter mechanism with the light source having peaks in a luminance spectrum adjusted to correspond to the peaks of the transmittance spectrum of each color filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomio Sonehara