Patents by Inventor Akihiko Ito

Akihiko Ito 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: 6674035
    Abstract: A paper discharge device has a first conveyance path having an input port through which paper is introduced, a second conveyance path having a discharge port through which the paper is discharged, and a third conveyance path. A paper feeding mechanism feeds the paper through the first, second and third conveyance paths. A paper storage space temporarily stores the paper to prevent removal of the paper from the discharge port prior to completion of a paper cutting operation or a paper printing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Akihiko Ito
  • Publication number: 20030197776
    Abstract: Providing a thermal activation device for heat-sensitive self-adhesive label and a printer including the same, the thermal activation device accomplishing an easy and efficient thermal activation of a heat-sensitive adhesive layer by means of heating means and including cleaning means capable of readily removing remainders of heat-sensitive adhesive mass and the like transferred to the heating means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Akihiko Ito, Shinichi Yoshida, Minoru Hoshino, Yoshinori Sato
  • Publication number: 20030197775
    Abstract: A thermal activating device of a thermal activation sheet having at least activation heating means (for example, the thermal head 40 and the heater element H) for heating and activating a thermal activator layer of the thermal activation sheet (for example, the heat sensitive adhesive label R) with the thermal activator layer (for example, the thermal activator layer K) formed at lease on one surface of a sheet-shaped substrate (for example, the base paper 500), forwarding means (platen roller 41 for thermal activation and the like) for forwarding the thermal activation sheet in a predetermined direction, and pushing means for pushing the thermal activation sheet toward the activation heating means, which is designed to comprise thermal activation sheet detecting means (heat sensitive adhesive label detecting sensor S1) for detecting a presence of the thermal activation sheet at a predetermined position, and pressure releasing means (a controller 1500, a cam mechanism 60, and a working mallet member 50) for r
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Yoshinori Sato, Minoru Hoshino, Akihiko Ito, Shinichi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20030189631
    Abstract: It is to provide a forwarding and cutting method and a printer capable of cutting a heat sensitive adhesive sheet to a predetermined length, without stopping the forwarding of the sheet in a state of the heat sensitive adhesive sheet being pinched between the heating means for thermal activation and the platen roller arranged on the side opposite to the heating means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Minoru Hoshino, Yoshinori Sato, Shinichi Yoshida, Akihiko Ito
  • Publication number: 20030174111
    Abstract: To reduce the number of voltage levels of a data signal and to simplify a generation process therefor when gray-scale display is performed using an MLS driving method. A scanning-electrode driving circuit 350 selects three scanning electrodes 312 n times every vertical scanning period. At each selection, selection voltages in accordance with three column elements, corresponding to the selection, of a 3-row n-column scanning pattern are applied to the scanning electrodes 312. In each selection period in which three scanning electrodes 312 are selected, a signal-electrode driving circuit 250 compares a bit string in accordance with the column elements corresponding to the selection of the scanning pattern with each of bit strings, which consists of a bit in each position of pieces of gray-scale data D for three pixels at the intersections of a signal electrode 212 and the three scanning electrodes 312, and conversion data Dt is generated in accordance with the comparison results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko Ito
  • Patent number: 6611246
    Abstract: A multiplex driving method and driving apparatus are provided for a liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal layer disposed between a pair of substrates, a plurality of row electrodes arranged on one of the substrates and a plurality of column electrodes arranged on the other substrate, the plurality of row electrodes being arranged in plural groups. A portion of the row electrodes are simultaneously selected a within a selection period in which the selection period is divided into a plurality of intervals. A weighted voltage is applied in accordance with desired display data in each of the plurality of intervals to achieve a gray scale display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Ito, Shoichi Iino
  • Publication number: 20030156128
    Abstract: To reduce the data transfer rate in one subfield while suppressing display nonuniformity, a pixel positioned corresponding to each intersection between a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of data lines is turned on or off in subfields sf1 to sf17, into which one field (1f) is divided, according to weighting of gray scale data (dcba) indicating the gray scale level of that pixel, and the reference time of weighting for the gray scale data is shifted every scanning line and every subfield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko Ito
  • Patent number: 6597119
    Abstract: An electro-optical device, such as a liquid crystal display device, includes a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes wherein the plurality of scanning electrodes intersect the plurality of signal electrodes, wherein the scanning electrodes are organized into groups, each group having a plural number of scanning electrodes to be simultaneously selected, and scanning electrodes are selected on a group-by-group basis according to the MLS (Multi-Line Selection) scheme. The amplitude of voltages applied to the scanning electrodes is set to be equal to the amplitude of voltages applied to the signal electrodes. This allows circuits such as driving circuits, or a power supply circuit to be constructed in a simple fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Ito
  • Publication number: 20030112210
    Abstract: A multiplex driving method and driving apparatus are provided for a liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal layer disposed between a pair of substrates, a plurality of row electrodes arranged on one of the substrates and a plurality of column electrodes arranged on the other substrate, the plurality of row electrodes being arranged in plural groups. A portion of the row electrodes are simultaneously selected a within a selection period in which the selection period is divided into a plurality of intervals. A weighted voltage is applied in accordance with desired display data in each of the plurality of intervals to achieve a gray scale display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Akihiko Ito, Shoichi Iino
  • Publication number: 20030043099
    Abstract: A multiplex driving method is provided for a liquid crystal cell device having a liquid crystal layer disposed between a pair of substrates, a plurality of row electrodes arranged on one of the substrates and a plurality of column electrodes arranged on the other substrate. The method comprises the steps of sequentially selecting a group of the plurality of row electrodes during a selection period, simultaneously selecting the row electrodes comprising the group, and dividing and separating the selection period into a plurality of intervals within one frame period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Akihiko Ito, Shoichi Iino
  • Patent number: 6521130
    Abstract: When forming a separating functional layer containing crosslinked polyamide, by carrying this out in the presence of 1) carboxylic acid ester with a total of 8 or more carbons, or 2) carboxylic acid, it is possible to provide a composite semipermeable membrane which, while still maintaining a high rejection rate, is more outstanding in its water permeability than hitherto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Shunji Kono, Akihiko Ito, Yoshinari Fusaoka
  • Publication number: 20030030608
    Abstract: In accordance with the invention, signal electrode voltages are generated based on a plurality of scanning pattern sets. A storage circuit stores a display pattern and scanning patterns belonging to a first scanning pattern set PA in association with selection data Ds. A data control unit inverts display data d based on an inversion control signal CTL to generate converted display data d′. The inversion control signal CTL becomes active in association with each element at which the first scanning pattern set differs from a second scanning pattern set. First to third data registers generate a display pattern based on the converted display data d′.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kurumisawa, Akihiko Ito, Suguru Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6496174
    Abstract: A driving method of a display device in which the number of voltage levels of scanning lines during a non-selection period is only one, and the voltage level of a data line corresponding to a display element that present no image is set to the voltage level of the scanning lines during the non-selection period. The power consumption of the display device is thus reduced. A minimum area of the entire screen of the device is used for image presentation while the remaining area is set to a display-off state (display-off mode) using the above driving method, and thus the power consumption of the display device, for example, in a standby state is reduced. Each of the display-enabled area and the display-off area is flexibly set. A combination of a multi-line driving method and the above driving method helps further reduce power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kurumisawa, Akihiko Ito, Shingo Isozaki, Masuhide Ikeda, Makoto Katase
  • Patent number: 6483497
    Abstract: A matrix display apparatus is provided for displaying an image in accordance with display data. The display matrix comprises a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes arranged in a matrix. A first driving circuit applies a plurality of selection voltages to the scanning electrodes. The scanning electrodes are divided into groups of h scanning electrodes. A selection voltage is applied to each of the plurality of scanning electrodes selected from the plurality of selection voltages in accordance with the selection pattern data. The second driving circuit provides a plurality of signal voltages to the plurality of signal electrodes. The second driver circuit comprises a memory for storing the display data for at least one group of h scanning electrodes and a selecting circuit for selecting a signal voltage applied to each of the plurality of signal electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shoichi Iino, Akihiko Ito, Yoichi Imamura
  • Publication number: 20020154104
    Abstract: In order to provide an electro-optical device capable of a high-quality and high-definition tone display, a driving method thereof, a driving circuit thereof, and electronic equipment using the electro-optical device, a driving method of an electro-optical device according to the present invention is characterized in that one field is divided into a plurality of sub-fields, such that each pixel is turned on or off in each of the sub-fields so that the proportion of the period during which each pixel is turned on to the period during which the associated pixel is turned off within the one field corresponds to the proportion according to the tone data, and when each pixel is turned on, either a first voltage which is higher than a constant reference voltage applied to a counter electrode or a second voltage which is lower than the reference voltage is applied to a pixel electrode of the associated pixel, and when the pixel is turned off, a voltage equal to the reference voltage is applied to the pixel electrode
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Akira Inoue, Akihiko Ito, Ryo Ishii, Suguru Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20020149323
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of driving an electro-optical device, such as a liquid crystal display device, including a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes which are formed such that the plurality of scanning electrodes intersect the plurality of signal electrodes, wherein the scanning electrodes are organized into groups, each group consisting of a plural number of scanning electrodes to be simultaneously selected, and scanning electrodes are selected on a group-by-group basis according to the MLS (Multi-Line Selection) scheme. The amplitude of voltages applied to the scanning electrodes is set to be equal to the amplitude of voltages applied to the signal electrodes. This allows circuits such as driving circuits, or a power supply circuit to be constructed in a simple fashion. This driving method is also employed to drive an electro-optical device constructed in a multiple-fold matrix structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Ito
  • Publication number: 20020145578
    Abstract: A related art driving method in which four scanning electrodes are selected simultaneously, the power circuit is complex and the power consumption is large. A liquid crystal display elements driving method according to the invention includes the steps of: simultaneously applying scanning signals of one of three predetermined voltages to three scanning electrodes and thereby simultaneously selecting a prescribed number of liquid crystal display elements arranged for each of the three scanning electrodes, the one voltage being determined according to an orthogonal function that prescribes voltages to be applied to a plurality of scanning electrodes; and applying a data signal of one of the three voltages to each of the prescribed number of signal electrodes, the one voltage being determined according to display data that prescribe gray shades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko Ito
  • Patent number: 6459259
    Abstract: An IC tester which is capable of reducing the time required before completion of testing on all of ICs to be tested is provided. The depth (length in the Y-axis direction) of the constant temperature chamber 4 and the exit chamber 5 is expanded by a dimension corresponding approximately to one transverse width (length of the minor edge) of the rectangular test tray 3, and two generally parallel test tray transport paths or alternatively a widened test tray transport path broad enough to transport two test trays simultaneously with the two test trays juxtaposed in a direction transverse to the widened test tray transport path are provided in the section of test tray transport path extending from the soak chamber 41 in the constant temperature chamber 4 through the testing section 42 in the constant temperature chamber 4 to the exit chamber 5 so that two test trays may be simultaneously transported along the two test tray transport paths or the widened test tray transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Ito, Yoshihito Kobayashi, Yoshiyuki Masuo, Tsuyoshi Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20020135356
    Abstract: An IC tester which is capable of reducing the time required before completion of testing on all of ICs to be tested is provided. The depth (length in the Y-axis direction) of the constant temperature chamber 4 and the exit chamber 5 is expanded by a dimension corresponding approximately to one transverse width (length of the minor edge) of the rectangular test tray 3, and two generally parallel test tray transport paths or alternatively a widened test tray transport path broad enough to transport two test trays simultaneously with the two test trays juxtaposed in a direction transverse to the widened test tray transport path are provided in the section of test tray transport path extending from the soak chamber 41 in the constant temperature chamber 4 through the testing section 42 in the constant temperature chamber 4 to the exit chamber 5 so that two test trays may be simultaneously transported along the two test tray transport paths or the widened test tray transport path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: AKIHIKO ITO, YOSHIHITO KOBAYASHI, YOSHIYUKI MASUO, TSUYOSHI YAMASHITA
  • Patent number: 6452578
    Abstract: A multiplex driving method and driving apparatus are provided for a liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal layer disposed between a pair of substrates, a plurality of row electrodes arranged on one of the substrates and a plurality of column electrodes arranged on the other substrate, the plurality of row electrodes being arranged in plural groups. A portion of the row electrodes are simultaneously selected a within a selection period in which the selection period is divided into a plurality of intervals. A weighted voltage is applied in accordance with desired display data in each of the plurality of intervals to achieve a gray scale display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Ito, Shoichi Iino