Patents Examined by Anna L Verderame
  • Patent number: 8057980
    Abstract: Translucent, transparent, or semi-translucent microlens sheetings with composite images are disclosed, in which a composite image floats above or below the sheeting, or both. The composite image may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. The sheeting may have at least one layer of material having a surface of microlenses that form one or more images at positions internal to the layer of material, at least one of the images being a partially complete image. Additional layers, such as retroreflective, translucent, transparent, or optical structure layers may also be incorporated into the sheeting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventors: Douglas S. Dunn, Robert L. W. Smithson, Robert T. Krasa, Michael W. Dolezal, Jeffrey M. Florczak, Stephen P. Maki, Richard M. Osgood, III
  • Patent number: 8039076
    Abstract: The invention provides dyes for optical disc recoding media, having the general formula: wherein m, n is independently selected from integers 0-3; X represents oxygen, sulfur, C—R1, or N—R2R3; Y is oxygen or sulfur; each of R1, R2, and R3 can be the same or different; and Z? is a cation. The dyes have a maximum absorption in wavelength of 300-500 nm and can be used in recording layers of high density optical disc recording media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Shin-Shin Wang, Wen-Ping Chu, Chien-Liang Huang, Wen-Yih Liao, Hui-Ping Tsai, Jong-Lieh Yang, An-Tse Lee
  • Patent number: 8034530
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an information recording method for recording information in a data rewritable type optical recording medium having a plurality of information recording layers, which can form recording marks having good shapes. In the information recording method according to the present invention, information is recorded in an optical recording medium 10 having at least a stacked L0 layer 20 and L1 layer 30 by projecting a laser beam thereonto whose power is modulated between a plurality of powers including at least a recording power (Pw) and an erasing power (Pe) via a light incidence plane 13a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Miura, Tatsuya Kato
  • Patent number: 8021829
    Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a photoresist pattern enabling the three dimensional shape of a photoresist pattern to be controlled sufficiently. A photoresist pattern for forming a main magnetic pole layer can be formed by forming a preparatory photoresist pattern having a projected part at a position corresponding to a flare point by selectively exposing and developing a photoresist film, and then heating the preparatory photoresist pattern. In the heating process, the presence of the projected part in the preparatory photoresist pattern relaxes the influence of thermal contraction, and hence the photoresist film is hard to be rounded at the position. Moreover, in the heating process, the preparatory photoresist pattern can be thermally flown and thermally contracted, so that the internal wall in the opening part can be inclined and the projected part can be retreated. Thus, the three dimensional shape of the photoresist pattern approaches a desired three dimensional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Akifumi Kamijima
  • Patent number: 8021534
    Abstract: To provide an electroforming mold for manufacturing a multi-step structure minute component and a method for manufacturing the same, for which height control is possible and manufacturing process does not become complicated. On the upper face of a film of an electroconductive layer 2 formed on the upper face of a substrate 1, a resist 3 is formed in which a first soluble portion 3b and a first insoluble portion 3a are formed. Next, a light-absorbing body 10 is formed on the upper face of the resist, exposure and development are carried out, in addition a film of an electroconductive layer 2 is formed on the upper face thereof, and a light-absorbing body 10 and an electroconductive layer 5 on the upper face of the light-absorbing body 10 are removed by liftoff. Further, a resist is formed on the upper face thereof, in which a second soluble portion 6b and a second insoluble portion 6a are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Niwa, Susumu Ichihara, Koichiro Jujo, Hiroyuki Hoshina
  • Patent number: 8007967
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shadow mask having a fine slit that can improve precision and resolution of a pattern by reducing side etching during an etching process of a mask substrate, and a manufacturing method thereof. The shadow mask includes a mask substrate, a slit region formed by penetrating through the mask substrate, the slit region having a plurality of undercut portions at respective sides thereof, each undercut portion having a unit thickness, and a shadow region provided in the mask substrate, the shadow region corresponding to a region other than the slit region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon Sung Yoo, Oh Nam Kwon
  • Patent number: 7990838
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing inexpensively and effectively a stamper utilized for producing multi-valued ROM discs, which comprises: (i) irradiating a light onto a laminate, thereby producing reacted portions within a thermo reactive layer, (ii) maintaining the reacted portions, which are produced by irradiating the light, within the thermo reactive layer, (iii) maintaining an optical absorption layer under the reacted portions, (iv) maintaining a substrate under the reacted portions, and (v) removing the maintained optical absorption layer and the maintained thermo reactive layer, wherein the laminate comprises the optical absorption layer and the thermo reactive layer on the substrate, the optical absorption layer and the thermo reactive layer are disposed adjacently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunari Hanaoka, Hiroshi Miura
  • Patent number: 7989150
    Abstract: An optical waveguide production method for producing an optical waveguide comprising the steps of: forming an under-cladding layer and an alignment mark from the same material on a substrate; forming a thin metal film on the alignment mark; forming a first transparent photosensitive resin layer on the resultant substrate to cover the under-cladding layer and the thin metal film; positioning an exposure mask with reference to the thin metal film formed on the alignment mark; and selectively exposing a predetermined portion of the first photosensitive resin layer on the under-cladding layer via the exposure mask to form a core defined by the exposed portion of the first photosensitive resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventor: Sazzadur Rahman Khan
  • Patent number: 7967956
    Abstract: The information recording medium of the present invention comprises at least one of the following oxide-based material layers: (I) an oxide-based material layer containing Zr, at least one element selected from the group GL1 consisting of La, Ga and In, and oxygen (O); (II) an oxide-based material layer containing M1 (where M1 is a mixture of Zr and Hf, or Hf), at least one element selected from the group GL2 consisting of La, Ce, Al, Ga, In, Mg and Y, and O; (III) an oxide-based material layer containing at least one element selected from the group GM2 consisting of Zr and Hf, at least one element selected from the group GL2, Si, and O; and (IV) an oxide-based material layer containing at least one element selected from the group GM2, at least one element selected from the group GL2, Cr, and O. This oxide-based material layer can be used, for example, as a dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Rie Kojima, Yukako Doi, Noboru Yamada
  • Patent number: 7927771
    Abstract: A color filter and a fabrication method thereof are provided. In the method, color filter ink that includes wax beads is ejected by an inkjet printing process. A black matrix defining R/G/B pixels is formed on a first surface of a substrate and transparent electrodes are formed on a second surface of the substrate opposite to the first surface at positions corresponding to the R/G/B pixels. The fabricated color filter ink is injected into an inkjet head, and the color filter ink is ejected from the inkjet head into each of the R/G/B pixels. A predetermined voltage is applied between the inkjet head and the transparent electrode such that the ejected color filter ink is precisely injected into each of the R/G/B pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-hoon Kim, Kye-si Kwon, Jung-yong Lee
  • Patent number: 7901870
    Abstract: An optical thin film can have a refractive index variation along a dimension that is perpendicular to its thickness. Two areas that have equal physical thicknesses can have different optical thicknesses. Including the thin film as a layer in a thin film optical filter can provide a corresponding variation in the filter's spectral properties. Dosing an optical thin film with ultraviolet light can cause the refractive index variation. Subjecting the film to hydrogen can increase the refractive index's response to the dose of light. Dosing a region of a thin film optical filter with ultraviolet light can change the spectral properties of the region, for example shifting an out-of-specification optical filter into specification thereby increasing manufacturing yield. An agent can promote the film's response to the dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Cirrex Systems LLC
    Inventor: Michael L. Wach
  • Patent number: 7898049
    Abstract: A structure and method for increasing the sensitivity of pixel sensors by eliminating a gap space formed between adjacent microlens structures in a pixel sensor array. Advantageously, exposure and flowing conditions are such that adjacent microlens structures touch (are webbed) at a horizontal cross-section, yet have a round lens shape in all directions. Particularly, exposure and flowing conditions are such that each touching microlens structure is formed to have a matched uniform radius of curvature at a horizontal cross-section and at a 45 degree cross-sections. To improve quality of mircrolens structure uniformity exhibited at all pixel locations including those near a pixel array edge or corner, a top anti-reflective coating layer is applied on top of a photoresist layer prior to the exposure and flowing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Dillon, Timothy J. Hoague, Robert K. Leidy
  • Patent number: 7887995
    Abstract: An electroforming mold has a first negative type photosensitive material formed on an electroconductive substrate, and a first through-hole extends through the firs photosensitive material to expose the electroconductive substrate. An electroconductive layer formed on an upper face of the first photosensitive material surrounds the first through-hole. A second negative type photosensitive material formed on an upper face of the electroconductive layer has a second through-hole that overlies and exposes both the first through-hole and a peripheral part of the electroconductive layer that surrounds the first through-hole. Because the electroconductive substrate and the electroconductive layer are separated from one another, the first and second through-holes precipitate an electroformed object independently during use of the electroforming mold resulting in a uniform electroformed object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Niwa, Susumu Ichihara, Koichiro Jujo, Hiroyuki Hoshina
  • Patent number: 7876666
    Abstract: A write-once information recording medium comprises a transparent resin substrate having a concentrically or spirally shaped groove and a land formed thereon, and a recording firm formed on the groove and the land of the transparent resin substrate, a recording mark being formed on the medium by emission of a short wavelength laser light, the recording medium having an L to H feature in which a light reflectivity of the recording mark portion formed by the emission of the short wavelength laser light is higher than a light reflectivity obtained before the emission of the short wavelength laser light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Seiji Morita, Koji Takazawa, Naoki Morishita, Naomasa Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7858290
    Abstract: An information recording medium includes a substrate and an information layer formed on the substrate. The information layer includes a recording layer whose phase can be changed between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase by irradiation with a laser beam or application of electric energy; a Cr-containing layer including at least Cr and O, arranged in contact with a first surface of the recording layer; and a Ga-containing layer including at least Ga and O, arranged in contact with a second surface of the recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Nishihara, Yukako Doi, Rie Kojima, Noboru Yamada
  • Patent number: 7848215
    Abstract: An optical-recording medium is provided with at least a first recording layer for recording information optically; and a second recording layer for recording information optically by a light beam that passes through said first recording layer; wherein the track pitch of a recording track that is formed on said second recording layer is narrower than the track pitch of a recording track that is formed on said first recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Seiro Oshima, Masataka Yamaguchi, Toshihiko Takishita, Takao Tagiri
  • Patent number: 7829267
    Abstract: A stamper is formed so that a thickness between a concave/convex pattern formation surface, where a concave/convex pattern is formed, and a rear surface gradually decreases in a predetermined area of the stamper. The predetermined area corresponds to an area where pressure is likely to be concentrated when the concave/convex pattern of the stamper is used to form a concave/convex pattern on a substrate. A method of forming a concave/convex pattern uses such stamper, and a method of manufacturing an information recording medium uses a concave/convex pattern formed by such method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Fujita, Mikiharu Hibi
  • Patent number: 7829965
    Abstract: A structure and method for increasing the sensitivity of pixel sensors by eliminating a gap space formed between adjacent microlens structures in a pixel sensor array. Advantageously, exposure and flowing conditions are such that adjacent microlens structures touch (are webbed) at a horizontal cross-section, yet have a round lens shape in all directions. Particularly, exposure and flowing conditions are such that each touching microlens structure is formed to have a matched uniform radius of curvature at a horizontal cross-section and at a 45 degree cross-sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hoague, Robert K. Leidy
  • Patent number: 7820368
    Abstract: A photoresist stripper composition, a method for forming wire structures thereby, and a method of fabricating a thin film transistor substrate using the composition. The photoresist stripper composition includes about 50 WT % to about 70 WT % of butyldiglycol, about 20 to about 40 WT % of an alkylpyrrolidone, about 1 WT % to about 10 WT % of an organic amine compound, about 1 to about 5 WT % of aminopropylmorpholine, and about 0.01 to about 0.5 WT % of a mercapto compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong-sick Park, Shi-yul Kim, Jong-hyun Choung, Won-suk Shin
  • Patent number: 7817361
    Abstract: A beam direction control element has transparent areas and light absorption areas alternately arranged on a surface of a substrate, wherein the light absorption areas function as a louver for controlling the direction of a beam of light. The beam direction control element is manufactured by disposing an optically transparent material on a first transparent substrate to form transparent ridges which constitute the transparent areas, filling curable and photo-absorptive fluid in gaps between the transparent ridges, and then curing the fluid to form the light absorption areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Mimura, Ken Sumiyoshi