Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Brian L. Michaelis
  • Patent number: 5659537
    Abstract: A recording layer including a recording magnetic domain for recording thereon information is formed. A reproducing layer for reproducing information by projecting thereto a light beam is formed on the recording layer. A non-magnetic intermediate layer for intercepting a magnetic exchange coupling force exerted between the recording layer and the reproducing layer is formed between the recording layer and the reproducing layer. The reproducing layer is arranged such that the width of the stable magnetic domain on the reproducing layer at room temperature is larger than the width of the recording magnetic domain in the recording layer. At a reproducing temperature by the light beam, the width of the stable magnetic domain becomes smaller than the width of the recording magnetic domain, and the information is copied by the leakage magnetic flux of the recording magnetic domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junji Hirokane, Junichiro Nakayama, Michinobu Mieda, Akira Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5657299
    Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium has magnetic multi-layers including a reproductive layer, which is a magnetic layer having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, for reading out magneto-optically recorded information and a recording layer, which is a magnetic layer having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, for magneto-optically recording information. In the magneto-optical recording medium, the following conditions are fulfilled:H.sub.C1 (ta)+.sigma.w(ta)/2M.sub.S1 (ta)h.sub.1<-H.sub.C1 (t)+.sigma.w(t)/2M.sub.S1 (t)h.sub.1, and40(nm).ltoreq.h.sub.1 .ltoreq.120(nm)where h.sub.1 is the thickness of the reproductive layer, H.sub.C1 (ta) is coercive force of the reproductive layer at room temperature (ta), M.sub.S1 (ta) is saturation magnetization of the reproductive layer, M.sub.S2 (ta) is saturation magnetization of the recording layer, .sigma.w(ta) is magnetic domain wall energy of the magnetic domain wall formed between said reproductive layer and the recording layer, H.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junsaku Nakajima, Yoshiteru Murakami, Akira Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5652830
    Abstract: An apparatus, which has a second memory for storing data and which calls for the stored data from the second memory so as to output the data, is provided with an inputted-time storing means for storing in the means the times at which respective data were stored, a timer for counting time, a compression processing section, and a compressed-time measuring section for storing the times at which the compression processing section carried out its compressing operations. In accordance with information from the inputted-time storing means, the timer and the compressed-time measuring section, the compression processing section detects data whose compressing times have been due from the data stored the second memory, and carries out processes on the selected data in order to increase the remaining amount of the second memory. Thus, it becomes possible to maintain necessary data efficiently using the limited storage capacity of the second memory, without imposing a greater workload on the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuuhei Yamamoto, Toru Morooka, Tamotsu Shuto
  • Patent number: 5648162
    Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium including a base; a readout layer formed on the base; a recording layer formed on the readout layer; and an auxiliary recording layer formed on the recording layer, each of the readout layer, recording layer and auxiliary recording layer being made of an alloy of rare-earth metal and transition metal showing ferrimagnetism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junji Hirokane, Hiroyuki Katayama, Akira Takahashi, Kenji Ohta
  • Patent number: 5646754
    Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device includes: a pair of insulating substrates having alignment films and electrodes thereon; and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of insulating substrates, the liquid crystal layer including a ferroelectric liquid crystal material being capable of exhibiting at least the smectic A phase and the chiral smectic C phase in its phase sequence, and the ferroelectric liquid crystal device being driven by switching an optic axis of the liquid crystal layer by selectively applying a driving voltage to at least one of the electrodes, wherein ferroelectric liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer have a tilt angle of 8.degree. or less at a (Tc-1).degree.C. where Tc.degree.C. is an uppermost temperature limit of the chiral smectic C phase of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Takeda, Masami Kido, Takashi Kaneko, Mitsuhiro Koden
  • Patent number: 5644566
    Abstract: An intermediate layer is formed between a memory layer and a writing layer. The intermediate layer shows in-plane magnetization at room temperature, and perpendicular magnetization within a temperature range within which the coercive force of the memory layer is lower than that of the writing layer. The Curie point of the intermediate layer is lower than that of the memory layer. Like a conventional method, light-intensity modulation overwriting is performed by irradiating laser light whose intensity has been modulated between high level and low level while applying a recording magnetic field after performing an initialization. Even when there are variations in the raised temperature by the irradiation of laser light of high level, it is possible to perform stable overwriting with light-intensity modulation by satisfactorily restraining the exchange forces between the intermediate layer and the writing layer from causing coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichiro Nakayama, Michinobu Mieda, Hiroyuki Katayama, Junji Hirokane, Akira Takahashi, Kenji Ohta
  • Patent number: 5640400
    Abstract: A gateway as one example of a mutual connecting appraratus between networks virtually provides an address of a mini manufacturing automation protocol (miniMAP) device to a mechatronics network (ME-NET) device in plural devices forming a network so that the miniMAP device uniquely identifies the ME-NET device. These plural devices connected to respective networks can mutually transmit and receive data in a network environment in which the ME-NET device is connected to the miniMAP device or another ME-NET device. Conversely, an address of the ME-NET device may be virtually provided to the miniMAP device so that the ME-NET device uniquely identifies the miniMAP device. Further, for example, the plural devices may be constructed by ME-NET devices. In this case, one ME-NET device uniquely identifies another ME-NET device in the plural ME-NET devices by virtually providing a station address unused in this one ME-NET device to this another ME-NET device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoichi Sato, Hirofumi Kita, Kouiti Matuo, Masahiko Tsukamoto, Ikuya Suwa, Hideto Naraki, Noriyuki Takao, Hidetoshi Takano
  • Patent number: 5638089
    Abstract: A coordinate detecting method for a liquid crystal display unit has the steps of generating a second display control signal for controlling a display provided in a display period and a non-display period on the basis of a first display control signal set such that one frame is constructed by only the display period; the display period and the non-display periods being set such that an image is displayed on a liquid crystal panel in the display period and is not displayed on the liquid crystal panel in the non-display period; storing transmitted image data to a memory in accordance with timings shown by the first display control signal; reading these stored image data from the memory in accordance with timings shown by the second display control signal; displaying the image on the liquid crystal panel by the read image data and the second display control signal; and detecting coordinates by a detecting pen in the non-display period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Takemoto
  • Patent number: 5637208
    Abstract: A pumping system for continuously delivering fluid at a selected flow rate to a receiving system. The system includes at least a first and a second pumping unit, each of the individual units comprises a syringe and a valve. The syringe comprises a piston and a piston actuator, cylinder, and pressure sensor. The valve comprises a positively-actuated zero switching volume valve and valve actuator. The first and second pumping units are in fluid communication with one another and are capable of independent actuation. The individual valves are arranged to isolate either the first syringe or the second syringe, respectively, from the receiving system while at least one of the syringes remains in fluid communication with the receiving system whereby system pressure can be continuously monitored and the selected system flow rate maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Inventor: Theodore A. Dourdeville
  • Patent number: 5638111
    Abstract: An optical probe element for focusing light from a light source into micro light of a diameter not larger than the diffraction limit, includes a light transmitting flat substrate and an optical probe formed on one of the surfaces of the flat substrate. The optical probe has a substantially conical light transmitting projection, and a reflective film which covers the conical surface of the projection so that the tip of the projection is exposed. The optical probe element enables the optical probe to be formed on the flat substrate using a semiconductor processing technique, thereby achieving efficient mass production of a standardized optical probe element. Thus, a recording and reproduction apparatus using the optical probe element is efficiently mass-produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junji Hirokane, Hiroyuki Katayama, Akira Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5638350
    Abstract: A multibeam recording/reproducing apparatus is disclosed in which respective light beams are arranged so as to have a predetermined interval in the direction in which the light beams cross a track. Reflected light from an optical recording medium which is produced by irradiation with each of the light beams is detected. The order in which each of the light beams crosses a track is determined based on change, which occurs for every crossing of the track by each of the light beams, of each received reflected light. A number representative of change of reflected light is counted. Based on the crossing order and the number of change, the direction of movement and the speed of movement of the light beams are determined. Based on this information, the light beams are moved to a desired track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Fuji
  • Patent number: 5637394
    Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium comprising a readout layer and a recording layer has a relationship that an external magnetic field H1 is smaller than an external magnetic field H4, where the H1 is a minimum external magnetic field necessary to make a magnetization direction of the readout layer direct to the direction reverse to a magnetization direction of the recording layer substantially at the room temperature, and the H4 is a maximum external magnetic field necessary to make the magnetization direction of the readout layer direct to the direction same as the magnetization direction of the recording layer at an high temperature not lower than a predetermined temperature. Moreover, the magneto-optical disk is provided, between the readout layer and the recording layer, with an intermediate layer which inhibits an effective bias magnetic field from the recording layer to the readout layer at the room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junsaku Nakajima, Naoyasu Iketani, Yoshiteru Murakami, Akira Takahashi, Hiroyuki Katayama, Kenji Ohta
  • Patent number: 5635977
    Abstract: An optical probe element for focusing light from a light source into micro light of a diameter not larger than the diffraction limit, includes a light transmitting flat substrate and an optical probe formed on one of the surfaces of the flat substrate. The optical probe has a substantially conical light transmitting projection, and a reflective film which covers the conical surface of the projection so that the tip of the projection is exposed. The optical probe element enables the optical probe to be formed on the flat substrate using a semiconductor processing technique, thereby achieving efficient mass production of a standardized optical probe element. Thus, a recording and reproduction apparatus using the optical probe element is efficiently mass-produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junji Hirokane, Hiroyuki Katayama, Akira Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5633838
    Abstract: A non-magnetic intermediate layer is provided between a reproductive layer and a recording layer. The reproductive layer is composed of a first reproductive layer and a second reproductive layer. When the first reproductive layer has a temperature that is higher than a first critical temperature, its stable magnetic domain width becomes smaller than a recording magnetic domain width so that the magnetization is reversed. When the second reproductive layer has a temperature that is higher than a second critical temperature, its stable magnetic domain width becomes larger than the recording magnetic domain width so that the reversed magnetic domain is collapsed. The first critical temperature is lower than the second critical temperature. A reproductive output having abrupt rising and falling can be obtained by the generation and the collapse of the reverse magnetic domain on the reproductive layer. For this reason, higher density recording required for larger capacity can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junji Hirokane, Junichiro Nakayama, Michinobu Mieda, Akira Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5628407
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated separation of fluid borne magnetically responsive spheres into different populations by carefully manipulating forces of gravity, buoyancy, fluid friction, and magnetism. Distinct homogeneous sphere populations are separated from a non-homogeneous population including a plurality of intermixed homogeneous sphere populations, without significant manual processing, by: effecting magnetic distancing of an initial non-homogeneous sphere population; facilitating enhanced separation of the non-homogeneous population in accordance with rate of descent of spheres within homogeneous populations; providing magnetic acceleration of the separation process; and effecting magnetic concentration of the separated homogeneous sphere populations. The process and apparatus provide for improved bio-sensing resulting from the automated condensing of homogeneous groups of spheres from a non-homogeneous sphere population.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Gilbert, Peter G. Cable
  • Patent number: 5629726
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a control electrode having a plurality of gates where negatively charged toner passes through, and the control electrode is arranged such that an electrode layer is formed on an insulating layer made of synthetic resin having electron attractiveness stronger than that of synthetic resin contained in the toner. For this reason, on the control electrode, when the toner flies to contact with the insulating layer, electrostatic force (repulsive force) acts between negative charges of the contact portion and the negative charges of the toner, and thus the charges repulse each other. Therefore, the toner does not adhere to the insulating layer. In such a manner, the adhesion of the toner to the control electrode is prevented and thus each gate is not blocked. As a result, even after long or frequent use of the control electrode, the flying of the toner by the control electrode can be stably controlled, thereby making it possible to obtain an image with excellent quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Yamasa
  • Patent number: 5629787
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a first substrate, a second substrate, and a sealing member for bonding the first and the second substrates, wherein a spacer for determining a thickness of a gap between the first and the second substrates is included only in the sealing member and wherein d<D where D is the thickness of the gap and d is the thickness of the sealing member. The gap is filled with a liquid crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koujiro Tsubota, Kazuyoshi Fujioka, Yohji Yoshimura, Hiroyuki Ohgami, Yutaka Takafuji, Katsumi Nomura, Masumi Kubo, Hirokazu Kamei
  • Patent number: 5619356
    Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display device including: a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; electrodes for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer; a polarizing plate provided on a side of the liquid crystal layer on which the first substrate is provided; a reflective member provided on a side of the liquid crystal layer on which the second substrate is provided; and an optical compensation member provided between the polarizing plate and the liquid crystal layer, wherein the liquid crystal layer has a twist angle in a range of 220.degree. to 260.degree. and a retardation value of 0.5 .mu.m to 0.8 .mu.m, the optical compensation member has a retardation value in a range of 0.15 .mu.m to 0.38 .mu.m, and an angle .beta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nakamura Kozo, Mitsui Seiichi, Fukuda Ichiro
  • Patent number: 5619044
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a semiconductor device and a method for producing a semiconductor device in which an active region made of a crystalline silicon film is formed on an insulating surface of a substrate is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Makita, Yoshitaka Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5619518
    Abstract: The disclosure described a semiconductor laser diode comprising at least a first clad layer, an active layer and a second clad layer disposed in this order on the substrate, anda buried layer for current blocking disposed at both sides in the cavity direction of the active layer,at least one of the first clad layer and second clad layer having at least one superlattice in the direction parallel with the substrate, and the average refractive index (nc1) of the first clad layer, the refractive index (na) of the active layer and the average refractive index (nc2) of the second clad layer satisfying the following equations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyoshi Horie, Yuichi Inoue, Kenji Shimoyama, Nobuyuki Hosoi, Goto Hideki