Patents by Inventor Akira Tokai
Akira Tokai 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).
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Patent number: 8008847Abstract: A gas discharge tube is manufactured by closing an opening of a glass tube by forming a glass layer with outer peripheral shape identical to the outer peripheral shape of the glass tube on an end face of the glass tube. An open end face (opening) of the glass tube is pressure-welded to a dry film containing a low melting point glass powder and a binder resin, and then the glass tube is lifted up to transfer the dry film for closing the opening to the end face of the glass tube. A phosphor support member is inserted into the glass tube from a side opposite to the end face and then an end of the phosphor support member is caused to adhere to the dry film. The binder resin is burnt off, and the dry film is vitrified to produce a low melting point glass layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2008Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Shinoda Plasma CorporationInventors: Akira Tokai, Hitoshi Yamada, Kenji Awamoto
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Patent number: 7880374Abstract: A display device (10) includes a plurality of gas discharge tubes (11R, 11G, 11B, . . . ) sandwiched between a front support plate (31) and a plurality of rear support plates (321, 322, . . . 328). The display device further includes: a plurality of display electrodes (2) formed on a surface of the front support plate facing the plurality of gas discharge tubes to extend across tube axes of the plurality of gas discharge tubes; a plurality of signal electrodes (3) formed on surfaces of the plurality of rear support plates facing the plurality of gas discharge tubes to extend along the longitudinal direction of the plurality of gas discharge tubes. Another rear support plate (330) for supporting the plurality of rear support plates is disposed on surfaces of the plurality of rear support plates opposite to the surfaces facing the plurality of gas discharge tubes.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2007Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Shinoda Plasma Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akira Tokai, Manabu Ishimoto, Hitoshi Hirakawa, Yosuke Yamazaki, Koji Shinohe, Kenji Awamoto
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Publication number: 20100329640Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus, for enabling recording/reproducing of a three-dimensional (3D) video stream, by taking a display environment into the consideration thereof, comprises: a stream distinguishing means for distinguishing the three-dimensional (3D) video stream; a 3D/2D stream converting for converting the three-dimensional (3D) video stream distinguished by the stream distinguishing means into a two-dimensional (2D) video stream; and a conversion indicating means for indicating to execute the 3D/2D conversion, wherein the three-dimensional (3D) video stream is converted into the two-dimensional (2D) video stream by the 3D/2D stream means, when the 3D/2D conversion is indicted in the conversion indicating means.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuhiro Okada, Tomoyuki Nonaka, Yuichi Nonaka, Hironori Komi, Akira Tokai
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Publication number: 20100201249Abstract: A plasma display panel in which projections are formed in grooves between partitions and phosphor layers are provided on the projections so as to increase the area where phosphor adheres and thereby to increase the luminance. A couple of substrates are opposed to each other to form a discharge space. Band-like partitions partitioning the discharge space are arranged on the back or front substrate. Wall-like projections lower than the partitions and high enough to increase the area where phosphor layers are formed are provided in the region where the discharge space is formed in the long grooves between the partitions or around the discharge space. Phosphor layers are formed in the grooves between the partitions including the wall-like projections. A method for producing such a plasma display panel is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2010Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: HITACHI LTD.Inventors: Osamu Toyoda, Akira Tokai, Kazunori Inoue, Fumihiro Namiki, Saburou Morita, Yojiro Shimada, Hitoshi Hirakawa, Takashi Katayama
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Patent number: 7656082Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a color display device (10) includes a plurality of gas discharge tubes disposed side by side. The gas discharge tubes have respective phosphor layers (4R, 4G, 4B) of different materials for different colors disposed therein and containing discharge gas therein. Each of the gas discharge tubes has a plurality of light-emitting points disposed along the length thereof. The color display device further includes a plurality of display electrodes disposed on the display screen side of the gas discharge tubes, and a plurality of signal electrodes (3) disposed on the rear side of the gas discharge tubes. Voltage control layers (6R, 6G, 6B) are disposed between the phosphor layers and the signal electrodes. The voltage control layers are made of materials which change firing voltages applied between the display electrodes and the signal electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2007Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Shinoda Plasma Co., Ltd.Inventors: Manabu Ishimoto, Hitoshi Hirakawa, Kenji Awamoto, Hitoshi Yamada, Akira Tokai
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Patent number: 7629733Abstract: A display device (12) has a display screen, the display screen comprising a plurality of gas discharge tubes (20R, 20G, 20B, . . . 28R, 28G, 28B) disposed side by side. Each of the gas discharge tubes includes a phosphor layer (4) formed therein and also includes a discharge gas contained therein. Each gas discharge tube has a plurality of light-emitting points. Each of the plurality of gas discharge tubes (20R, 20G, 20B, . . . 28R, 28G, 28B) is curved along the longitudinal direction thereof. The display screen is formed by combining the plurality of gas discharge tubes having different magnitudes of curvature.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2007Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Shinoda Plasma Co., Ltd.Inventors: Manabu Ishimoto, Yosuke Yamazaki, Hitoshi Yamada, Hitoshi Hirakawa, Akira Tokai, Koji Shinohe, Kenji Awamoto
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Publication number: 20090278438Abstract: This invention provides a plasma display panel in which a blue fluorescent material layer is provided isolatedly from a green fluorescent material layer to prevent the green fluorescent material from being deteriorated. The plasma display panel includes fluorescent material layers of a plurality of colors provided between a pair of substrates. The fluorescent material layers are partitioned on a color to color basis with a barrier rib having predetermined width and height. Discharge is generated in the area partitioned by the barrier rib to perform display. At least one of the width and the height in the barrier rib for partitioning the blue fluorescent material layer from the green fluorescent material layer adjacent to the blue fluorescent material layer, is larger than that in the other barrier ribs.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2005Publication date: November 12, 2009Inventors: Minoru Hasegawa, Akira Tokai, Shigeo Kasahara
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Light-emitting discharge tube, method of fabricating the same, and protective film forming apparatus
Publication number: 20090128038Abstract: A light-emitting discharge tube in which an outer wall surface of a glass tube is made less susceptible to flaws by forming a protective film on the outer wall surface of the glass tube, a method of fabricating the light-emitting discharge tube, and a protective film forming apparatus are provided. The light-emitting discharge tube defines light-emitting discharge regions by a plurality of external electrodes. The outer wall surface of the light-emitting discharge tube (the glass tube) is coated with the protective film (a metal film, a conductive metal oxide film, an insulating metal oxide film, or an organic film).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2009Publication date: May 21, 2009Inventors: Hitoshi Yamada, Akira Tokai, Manabu Ishimoto, Yosuke Yamazaki, Kenji Awamoto, Koji Shinohe, Hitoshi Hirakawa -
Patent number: 7530305Abstract: The present invention provides a new and highly reliable substrate manufacturing technology for manufacturing a substrate with a protrusion pattern, which can decrease structural defects caused by involving bubbles when the protrusion pattern is formed, can improve the reliability of the product and the yield of the product, does not require off-line steps such as vacuum deaeration, and therefore improves the production efficiency and simplifies the steps. According to the present invention, a molding material paste is filled into the concave portions of an intaglio plate for filling, an intaglio plate for transfer on which a specific groove pattern is formed is partially contacted with the intaglio plate for filling, the molding material is filled into the grooves of the intaglio plate for transfer, then the molding material is transferred from the intaglio plate for transfer to a substrate as a protrusion pattern.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2005Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Hitachi LimitedInventors: Osamu Toyoda, Kazunori Inoue, Akira Tokai
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Patent number: 7524229Abstract: A method of manufacturing a gas discharge tube by closing an opening of a glass tube by forming a glass layer with outer peripheral shape identical to the outer peripheral shape of the glass tube on an end face of the glass tube. An open end face (opening) of the glass tube is pressure-welded to a dry film containing a low melting point glass powder and a binder resin, and then the glass tube is lifted up to transfer the dry film for closing the opening to the end face of the glass tube. A phosphor support member is inserted into the glass tube from a side opposite to the end face and then an end of the phosphor support member is caused to adhere to the dry film. The binder resin is burnt off, and the dry film is vitrified to produce a low melting point glass layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Shinoda Plasma CorporationInventors: Akira Tokai, Hitoshi Yamada, Kenji Awamoto
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Patent number: 7479736Abstract: A display device capable of realizing a desired color temperature is provided. Phosphor layers 5a, 5b and 5c, which are excited by ultraviolet radiation produced by discharge and emit red, green and blue visible light, are formed inside a red, green and blue gas discharge tube 1a, 1b, and 1c, respectively. The height Yc of the phosphor layer 5c with respect to a rear support body 20 is higher than the heights Ya and Yb of the phosphor layers 5a and 5b with respect to the rear support member 20, and establishes the relationship Yc>Ya=Yb. Therefore, the distance from the phosphor layer 5c to the opposite discharge surface on a front support body is shorter than those from the phosphor layers 5a and 5b, the visible light emitted from the display device 10 is shifted toward blue, that is, the color temperature increases.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2005Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: Shinoda Plasma CorporationInventors: Koji Shinohe, Manabu Ishimoto, Kenji Awamoto, Hitoshi Yamada, Akira Tokai, Yosuke Yamazaki, Hitoshi Hirakawa
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Publication number: 20080224590Abstract: A gas discharge tube is manufactured by closing an opening of a glass tube by forming a glass layer with outer peripheral shape identical to the outer peripheral shape of the glass tube on an end face of the glass tube. An open end face (opening) of the glass tube is pressure-welded to a dry film containing a low melting point glass powder and a binder resin, and then the glass tube is lifted up to transfer the dry film for closing the opening to the end face of the glass tube. A phosphor support member is inserted into the glass tube from a side opposite to the end face and then an end of the phosphor support member is caused to adhere to the dry film. The binder resin is burnt off, and the dry film is vitrified to produce a low melting point glass layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: Shinoda Plasma CorporationInventors: Akira Tokai, Hitoshi Yamada, Kenji Awamoto
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Publication number: 20080199815Abstract: A plasma display panel in which projections are formed in grooves between partitions and phosphor layers are provided on the projections so as to increase the area where phosphor adheres and thereby to increase the luminance. A couple of substrates are opposed to each other to form a discharge space. Band-like partitions partitioning the discharge space are arranged on the back or front substrate. Wall-like projections lower than the partitions and high enough to increase the area where phosphor layers are formed are provided in the region where the discharge space is formed in the long grooves between the partitions or around the discharge space. Phosphor layers are formed in the grooves between the partitions including the wall-like projections. A method for producing such a plasma display panel is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2007Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Osamu Toyoda, Akira Tokai, Kazunori Inoue, Fumihiro Namiki, Saburou Morita, Yojiro Shimada, Hitoshi Hirakawa, Takashi Katayama
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Patent number: 7371508Abstract: A plasma display panel in which projections are formed in grooves between partitions and phosphor layers are provided on the projections so as to increase the area where phosphor adheres and thereby to increase the luminance. A couple of substrates are opposed to each other to form a discharge space. Band-like partitions partitioning the discharge space are arranged on the back or front substrate. Wall-like projections lower than the partitions and high enough to increase the area where phosphor layers are formed are provided in the region where the discharge space is formed in the long grooves between the partitions or around the discharge space. Phosphor layers are formed in the grooves between the partitions including the wall-like projections. A method for producing such a plasma display panel is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2004Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Osamu Toyoda, Akira Tokai, Kazunori Inoue, Fumihiro Namiki, Saburou Morita, Yojiro Shimada, Hitoshi Hirakawa, Takashi Katayama
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Publication number: 20080079346Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a color display device (10) includes a plurality of gas discharge tubes disposed side by side. The gas discharge tubes have respective phosphor layers (4R, 4G, 4B) of different materials for different colors disposed therein and containing discharge gas therein. Each of the gas discharge tubes has a plurality of light-emitting points disposed along the length thereof. The color display device further includes a plurality of display electrodes disposed on the display screen side of the gas discharge tubes, and a plurality of signal electrodes (3) disposed on the rear side of the gas discharge tubes. Voltage control layers (6R, 6G, 6B) are disposed between the phosphor layers and the signal electrodes. The voltage control layers are made of materials which change firing voltages applied between the display electrodes and the signal electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2007Publication date: April 3, 2008Applicant: SHINODA PLASMA CORPORATIONInventors: Manabu Ishimoto, Hitoshi Hirakawa, Kenji Awamoto, Hitoshi Yamada, Akira Tokai
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Publication number: 20080079365Abstract: A plasma display panel includes a pair of substrates and spacers. On one of the substrates, closed-type barrier ribs for dividing a discharge space into respective cells are formed. The one of the substrates is aligned face to face with the other substrate. The peripheral portion of the substrates is sealed by a sealing material that is softened by applying heat thereto. The spacers are softened at a temperature higher than the softening temperature of the sealing material at the time of applying heat during sealing the substrates and used for bonding top portions of the barrier ribs and the other substrate to each other. The spacers are placed between the top portion of the barrier ribs formed on the one of the substrates and the other substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2007Publication date: April 3, 2008Inventors: Akira Tokai, Shigeo Kasahara
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Publication number: 20080061691Abstract: A display device (10) includes a plurality of gas discharge tubes (11R, 11G, 11B, . . . ) sandwiched between a front support plate (31) and a plurality of rear support plates (321, 322, . . . 328). The display device further includes: a plurality of display electrodes (2) formed on a surface of the front support plate facing the plurality of gas discharge tubes to extend across tube axes of the plurality of gas discharge tubes; a plurality of signal electrodes (3) formed on surfaces of the plurality of rear support plates facing the plurality of gas discharge tubes to extend along the longitudinal direction of the plurality of gas discharge tubes. Another rear support plate (330) for supporting the plurality of rear support plates is disposed on surfaces of the plurality of rear support plates opposite to the surfaces facing the plurality of gas discharge tubes.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2007Publication date: March 13, 2008Applicant: SHINODA PLASMA CO., LTD.Inventors: Akira Tokai, Manabu Ishimoto, Hitoshi Hirakawa, Yosuke Yamazaki, Koji Shinohe, Kenji Awamoto
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Patent number: 7339312Abstract: A gas discharge tube includes a thin tube having a discharge space therein and an electron emissive coating formed within the thin tube. The thin tube has a display surface on which a pair of display electrodes is adapted to be disposed, and has a rear surface on which a signal electrode is adapted to be disposed. A surface portion facing toward the display surface is formed within the thin tube at a location nearer to the display surface from the midway between the display and rear surfaces. An electron emissive coating is formed on the surface portion. Thus the gas discharge tube can reduce its firing voltage without lowering the light-emission efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2005Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: Shinoda Plasma CorporationInventors: Hitoshi Yamada, Akira Tokai, Kenji Awamoto
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Publication number: 20080048546Abstract: A display device (12) has a display screen, the display screen comprising a plurality of gas discharge tubes (20R, 20G, 20B, . . . 28R, 28G, 28B) disposed side by side. Each of the gas discharge tubes includes a phosphor layer (4) formed therein and also includes a discharge gas contained therein. Each gas discharge tube has a plurality of light-emitting points. Each of the plurality of gas discharge tubes (20R, 20G, 20B, . . . 28R, 28G, 28B) is curved along the longitudinal direction thereof. The display screen is formed by combining the plurality of gas discharge tubes having different magnitudes of curvature.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2007Publication date: February 28, 2008Applicant: SHINODA PLASMA CO.,LTDInventors: Manabu Ishimoto, Yosuke Yamazaki, Hitoshi Yamada, Hitoshi Hirakawa, Akira Tokai, Koji Shinohe, Kenji Awamoto
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Patent number: 7336027Abstract: A plasma tube array according to the present invention includes plural light emitting tubes that have fluorescent material layers inside and are mutually lined up in parallel. The plasma tube array includes pairs of display electrodes that are formed along the respective fluorescent material layers. The fluorescent material layers are disposed in sequence in the longitudinal direction of the light emitting tubes.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2005Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: Shinoda Plasma CorporationInventors: Yosuke Yamazaki, Manabu Ishimoto, Hitoshi Yamada, Hitoshi Hirakawa, Akira Tokai, Koji Shinohe, Kenji Awamoto