Patents by Inventor Akira Yamane

Akira Yamane 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: 9070398
    Abstract: Provided is a magnetic recording medium including a structure in which at least a soft magnetic underlayer, a non-magnetic intermediate layer, and a magnetic recording layer are sequentially laminated on a non-magnetic substrate, wherein the magnetic recording layer includes a first magnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer, and a second magnetic layer in order from the non-magnetic substrate side, has a structure in which the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer are magnetically separated from each other with the non-magnetic layer interposed therebetween, and consists of a plurality of patterns which are magnetically separated from each other, and the coercive force Hc of the second magnetic layer is larger than that of the first magnetic layer, and the coercive force Hc of the second magnetic layer is smaller than that of the first magnetic layer temporarily when the second magnetic layer is heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Akira Sakawaki, Akira Yamane
  • Patent number: 9064520
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a magnetic recording medium is provided including a disk-shaped non-magnetic substrate and at least a perpendicular magnetic layer formed on the disk-shaped non-magnetic substrate, wherein the perpendicular magnetic layer has a structure in which an FePt or CoPt nanoparticle array is formed on a formation surface, on which a plurality of striations each having a circumferential directional component are formed, by a texturing treatment; a manufacturing method thereof; and a magnetic record/reproduction apparatus including the magnetic recording medium or a magnetic recording medium manufactured according to the manufacturing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignees: SHOWA DENKO K.K., WASEDA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tetsuya Osaka, Atsushi Sugiyama, Takuma Hachisu, Tomoo Shige, Masato Fukushima, Akira Yamane, Akira Sakawaki
  • Patent number: 9013832
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a nonmagnetic substrate, an underlayer provided above the nonmagnetic substrate, and a perpendicular recording layer provided above the underlayer. The perpendicular recording layer includes a first magnetic layer including Co and Pt and having a granular structure, and a second magnetic layer having magnetic and ferroelectric properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Akira Sakawaki, Akira Yamane
  • Publication number: 20150016236
    Abstract: Provided is a magnetic recording medium including a structure in which at least a soft magnetic underlayer, a non-magnetic intermediate layer, and a magnetic recording layer are sequentially laminated on a non-magnetic substrate, wherein the magnetic recording layer includes a first magnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer, and a second magnetic layer in order from the non-magnetic substrate side, has a structure in which the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer are magnetically separated from each other with the non-magnetic layer interposed therebetween, and consists of a plurality of patterns which are magnetically separated from each other, and the coercive force Hc of the second magnetic layer is larger than that of the first magnetic layer, and the coercive force Hc of the second magnetic layer is smaller than that of the first magnetic layer temporarily when the second magnetic layer is heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Akira SAKAWAKI, Akira YAMANE
  • Publication number: 20140362472
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a nonmagnetic substrate, an underlayer provided above the nonmagnetic substrate, and a perpendicular recording layer provided above the underlayer. The perpendicular recording layer includes a first magnetic layer including Co and Pt and having a granular structure, and a second magnetic layer having magnetic and ferroelectric properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Akira SAKAWAKI, Akira Yamane
  • Patent number: 8896108
    Abstract: The invention enhances resistance to a surge in a semiconductor device having a semiconductor die mounted on a lead frame. An N type embedded layer, an epitaxial layer and a P type semiconductor layer are disposed on the front surface of a P type semiconductor substrate forming an IC die. A metal thin film is disposed on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a conductive paste containing silver particles and so on is disposed between the metal thin film and a metal island. When a surge is applied to a pad electrode disposed on the front surface of the semiconductor layer, the surge current flowing from the semiconductor layer into the semiconductor substrate runs toward the metal island through the metal thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Yuichi Watanabe, Akira Yamane, Yasuo Oishibashi
  • Patent number: 8828636
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a new alcohol compound, a polyester resin, an unsaturated polyester resin, a resin particle and an electrophotographic toner using the compound capable of using the renewable resources as a part of a raw material. An alcohol compound according to the present invention is characterized by representing the chemical formula [Chemical 1]. Furthermore, the polyester resin or the unsaturated polyester resin according to the present invention, is characterized in that the compound (wherein X is an aliphatic or an aromatic residue, Y is a refined rosin residue, a disproportionated rosin residue or a hydrogenated rosin residue, and n=0 to 1 in the formula.) is an essential component of an alcohol component. Further, the resin particle of the present invention is characterized by comprising the polyester resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Japan U-Pica Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Moroiwa, Nobutaka Yoshida, Hiroshi Aihara, Akira Yamane, Kei Yamasaki, Keiko Taniuchi
  • Patent number: 8790525
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium is provided. The method includes: forming a magnetic layer 2 on a non-magnetic substrate 1; forming a mask layer 3 on the magnetic layer 2; forming a resist layer 4 which is patterned into a predetermined shape on the mask layer 3; patterning the mask layer 3 into a shape corresponding to the resist layer 4 using the resist layer 4; patterning the magnetic layer 2 into a shape corresponding to the mask layer 3 using the patterned mask layer 3; and removing the mask layer 3 that remains on the magnetic layer 2 by reactive plasma etching. The reactive plasma etching is performed under an atmosphere containing an organic compound having at least one kind or plural kinds of functional groups selected from a hydroxyl group, a carbonyl group, a hydroxy carbonyl group, an alkoxy group, and an ether group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Makoto Hiwatari, Akira Yamane, Tomoo Shige, Akira Sakawaki
  • Patent number: 8568949
    Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic charge image which contains a polyester resin as a binder resin is provided. The toner has excellent toner properties including low temperature fixing properties, anti-blocking property and anti-offset property, etc. Also a polyester resin for a toner is provided, which is used in the above-mentioned toner. As the binder resin for toner, a polyester resin comprising (1) an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and (2) a disproportionated rosin as an acid component, and (3) a tri- or more-valent polyhydric alcohol as an alcohol component is used, wherein the molar ratio (3)/(1) of the alcohol component (3) and the acid component (1) is from 1.05 to 1.65 and the molar ratio (2)/(1) of the acid components (2) and (1) is from 0.40 to 2.60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Japan U-Pica Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Yamane, Tetsuji Moroiwa, Koji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8551349
    Abstract: A method for producing a magnetic recording medium having a magnetically partitioned magnetic recording pattern on at least one surface of a nonmagnetic substrate, characterized by comprising a step of reacting portions of a magnetic layer, formed on the non-magnetic substrate, with ozone to modify magnetic properties of said portions of the magnetic layer for forming the magnetically partitioned magnetic recording pattern. The magnetic layer can be a two-layer structure comprising a magnetic layer having a granular structure and formed thereon a magnetic layer having a non-granular structure. The produced magnetic recording medium exhibits a greatly enhanced recording density while recording/reproducing characteristics equal to or better than those of the heretofore proposed magnetic recording mediums are maintained, and it can be produced with an enhanced efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Masato Fukushima, Akira Sakawaki, Akira Yamane
  • Patent number: 8486486
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium having a magnetically separated magnetic recording pattern is provided, in which the surface of a magnetic layer is not oxidized or halogenated, the surface is not contaminated with dust, and the manufacturing process is not complex. The method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium having a magnetically separated magnetic recording pattern includes forming a magnetic layer on a nonmagnetic substrate, forming a mask layer made of carbon to form the magnetic recording pattern on the magnetic layer, forming cobalt carbide as a nonmagnetic material in the magnetic layer by irradiating a region of the magnetic layer not covered by the mask layer with ion beams including carbon hydride ions, and removing the mask layer in this order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Akira Yamane, Akira Sakawaki, Masato Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20130071785
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a new alcohol compound, a polyester resin, an unsaturated polyester resin, a resin particle and an electrophotographic toner using the compound capable of using the renewable resources as a part of a raw material. An alcohol compound according to the present invention is characterized by representing the chemical formula [Chemical 1]. Furthermore, the polyester resin or the unsaturated polyester resin according to the present invention, is characterized in that the compound (wherein X is an aliphatic or an aromatic residue, Y is a refined rosin residue, a disproportionated rosin residue or a hydrogenated rosin residue, and n=0 to 1 in the formula.) is an essential component of an alcohol component. Further, the resin particle of the present invention is characterized by comprising the polyester resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Japan U-Pica Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Moroiwa, Nobutaka Yoshida, Hiroshi Aihara, Akira Yamane, Kei Yamasaki, Keiko Taniuchi
  • Patent number: 8394514
    Abstract: A method for producing a magnetic recording medium having a magnetically partitioned magnetic recording pattern on a surface of a nonmagnetic substrate, which comprises the following steps. Step (A) of forming a magnetic layer on a non-magnetic substrate, step (B) of forming a carbon layer on the magnetic layer, step (C) of forming a resist layer on the carbon layer, step (D) of forming a negative pattern of magnetic recording pattern on the resist layer, step (E) of removing the portions of resist layer and carbon layer in regions corresponding to the negative pattern, step (F) of removing at least a surface layer portion of the magnetic layer in the regions corresponding to the negative pattern, and optional step (G) of removing the residual resist layer and carbon layer. The produced magnetic recording medium has a recording/reproducing property equal to or better than conventional ones and exhibits a high recording density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Masato Fukushima, Akira Sakawaki, Akira Yamane
  • Patent number: 8355223
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic recording medium that has sufficient recording/reproducing characteristics and good write characteristics and can correspond to high recording density, and a method of manufacturing the same. A magnetic recording medium 1 includes a plurality of magnetic recording patterns 2 that is magnetically separated from each other. Each of the magnetic recording patterns 2 includes a low-coercivity region 2a and a high-coercivity region 2b having a coercivity higher than the low-coercivity region, and the high-coercivity region 2b is arranged at the center of the low-coercivity region 2a in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Shinichi Ishibashi, Akira Yamane
  • Patent number: 8336193
    Abstract: Provided is a process for making a magnetic recording medium having a magnetically partitioned magnetic recording patterns, which comprises the following three steps (1), (2) and (3), conducted in this order: (1) a step of forming a magnetic layer on a non-magnetic substrate; (2) a step of removing surface layer portions of regions for magnetically partitioning the magnetic layer; and (3) a step of exposing the thus-exposed regions of the magnetic layer, from which the surface layer portions have been removed, to a reactive plasma or a reactive ion, to modify the magnetic characteristics of the regions of magnetic layer, whereby a magnetic recording pattern is formed which are magnetically partitioned by the regions of magnetic layer having the modified characteristics. Thus, a magnetic recording medium having an enhanced recording density and minimizing letter bleeding at writing can be made with a high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Masato Fukushima, Akira Sakawaki, Akira Yamane
  • Publication number: 20120300339
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a magnetic recording medium is provided including a disk-shaped non-magnetic substrate and at least a perpendicular magnetic layer formed on the disk-shaped non-magnetic substrate, wherein the perpendicular magnetic layer has a structure in which an FePt or CoPt nanoparticle array is formed on a formation surface, on which a plurality of striations each having a circumferential directional component are formed, by a texturing treatment; a manufacturing method thereof; and a magnetic record/reproduction apparatus including the magnetic recording medium or a magnetic recording medium manufactured according to the manufacturing method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicants: WASEDA UNIVERSITY, SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Tetsuya OSAKA, Atsushi SUGIYAMA, Takuma HACHISU, Tomoo SHIGE, Masato FUKUSHIMA, Akira YAMANE, Akira SAKAWAKI
  • Patent number: 8315018
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium capable of effectively and reliably removing foreign materials on the surface of a magnetic recording medium, preventing a mask layer from remaining on the surface of the magnetic recording medium, and forming the pattern of a magnetic layer with high productivity. The method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium includes: a step of forming a magnetic layer on a non-magnetic substrate; a step of forming a mask layer on the magnetic layer; a step of patterning the mask layer to form a mask pattern; a step of forming a magnetic recording pattern on the magnetic layer using the mask pattern; a step of burnishing the surface of the mask pattern with an abrasive; and a step of removing the mask pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Masato Fukushima, Akira Sakawaki, Akira Yamane
  • Patent number: 8303828
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing, in a simple process, a magnetic recording medium having a distinct magnetic recording pattern formed thereon. A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium having a magnetically-separated magnetic recording pattern MP, the method at least including; a first step of forming a first magnetic layer 11 on a non-magnetic substrate 10; a second step of forming a resist layer 12 on the first magnetic layer 11, the resist layer 12 being patterned in correspondence with the magnetic recording pattern MP; a third step of forming a second magnetic layer 13 so as to cover a surface of the first magnetic layer 11 having the resist layer 12 formed thereon; a fourth step of removing the resist layer 12 together with the second magnetic layer 13 formed thereon; and a fifth step of partially removing the first magnetic layer 11 or partially modifying magnetic property of the first magnetic layer 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Shinichi Ishibashi, Masato Fukushima, Akira Yamane
  • Patent number: 8250736
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium which does not easily cause a material containing Fe or Co to corrode is disclosed. The method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium 122 includes a process of forming a magnetic layer 30 on a non-magnetic substrate 10, a process of forming a recessed area 65 in the magnetic layer 30, a process of forming a corrosion-resistant film 60 to cover an exposure surface 65c of the recessed area 65, and a process of forming a magnetic recording pattern made of the magnetically separated magnetic layer 30 by forming a non-magnetic layer 40 to fill in the recessed area 65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Masato Fukushima, Shinichi Ishibashi, Akira Yamane
  • Publication number: 20120200956
    Abstract: A method for producing a magnetic recording medium which includes: forming a magnetic layer on a non-magnetic substrate; forming a dissolution layer on the magnetic layer; forming a mask layer on the dissolution layer; patterning the dissolution layer and the mask layer so as to have a pattern corresponding to a magnetic recording pattern; partially modifying or removing a part of the magnetic layer and the mask layer not covered with the dissolution layer; and dissolving the dissolution layer and removing the dissolution layer together with the mask layer which is on the dissolution layer from the surface of the magnetic layer. The dissolution layer is formed by coating a solution containing an organic silicon compound dissolved in an organic solvent on the magnetic layer, and solidifying the coated chemical solution in the step in which the dissolution layer is formed on the magnetic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Shinichi ISHIBASHI, Tsubasa OKADA, Akira YAMANE, Tomoo SHIGE, Manabu UEDA, Zhipeng WANG, Yuji MURAKAMI