Patents by Inventor Hideharu Kawachi

Hideharu Kawachi 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).

  • Publication number: 20140071680
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a light-emission unit having plate shape; and a base unit configured to be detachably attached thereto the light-emission unit. The base unit has substantially rectangular shape. The base unit includes a power supply rail for supplying electricity to the light-emission unit and a support section supporting the light-emission unit. The power supply rail has rail-shape and extending in a longitudinal direction of the base unit. The light-emission unit includes a luminescent panel, a control circuit configured to control lighting of the luminescent panel and an electrically conductive connection terminal electrically connecting the control circuit to the power supply rail. The base unit is formed so as to be capable of being attached thereto a plurality of the light-emission units along the longitudinal direction of the base unit. The connection terminal is connected to an arbitrary point of the rail-shaped power supply rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yohei HAYASHI, Hirofumi KONISHI, Osamu TANAHASHI, Hideharu KAWACHI, Masanao OKAWA, Koji NORO, Ryusuke KOTERA
  • Patent number: 8643312
    Abstract: A method for feeding electric power to a planar light-emitting element which includes a planar anode electrode, a planar cathode electrode, a light-emitting layer provided between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, two or more anode terminal portions protruding from the anode electrode and one or more cathode terminal portions protruding from the cathode electrode. The method includes sequentially providing the electric power to the anode terminal portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masanao Okawa, Hirofumi Konishi, Takeo Miyai, Hideharu Kawachi, Koki Fujihara
  • Publication number: 20140009924
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a plurality of flat light source units and an elongated base unit to which the light source units are removably attached. The base unit includes one or more connectors connected to the light source units and used in supplying an electric current to the light source units and a plurality of connector attachment portions arranged at a specified interval along a longitudinal direction of the base unit. The connectors are removably attached to the connector attachment portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryusuke KOTERA, Hideharu KAWACHI
  • Publication number: 20130279181
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes: a light source unit that has a case storing therein a light-emitting panel and a wiring board mounted on a non-light emitting face thereof; and an attachment unit that has a housing storing therein a circuit board and configured to be detachably attached to the light source unit. The case has a wiring board storage. The housing has a circuit board storage. The case and the housing are arranged such that a whole of the wiring board storage and a whole of the circuit board storage are arranged at different positions in a direction perpendicular to an attachment direction of the light source unit and the attachment unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideharu Kawachi, Noboru Miyakawa, Hirofumi Konishi, Osamu Tanahashi
  • Publication number: 20130134866
    Abstract: The light emitting module includes: a light emitting panel which has feeding electrodes each of which being electrically connected to a positive electrode or a negative electrode of the light emitting unit; a circuit board which is electrically connected to the feeding electrodes and is configured to supply electric power to the light emitting unit; and a case unit in which the light emitting panel and the circuit board are housed. The feeding electrodes are arranged at a peripheral region of the light emitting panel. The electrical connection between the feeding electrode and the circuit board (or the land-board) is obtained by a wiring which is elongated from the center region to the peripheral region of the light emitting panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideharu Kawachi, Shigetsugu Sumiyama, Satoshi Fukano
  • Patent number: 8419201
    Abstract: A light emitting module includes an organic EL light emitting element and a support body supporting the organic EL light emitting element. The support body is attached to the organic EL light emitting element at the side of the non-light emitting surface of the light emitting module to cover one surface of the organic EL light emitting element. The organic EL light emitting element includes power feeding electrodes. The support body includes openings formed in a corresponding relationship with the power feeding electrodes. The power feeding electrodes exposed on the non-light emitting side of the support body through the openings. The support body includes power feeding terminals. The power feeding terminals partially exposed on the non-light emitting side of the support body. The power feeding terminals electrically connected to the power feeding electrodes by electric connection members extending via the non-light emitting side and the openings of the support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Tanahashi, Satoshi Fukano, Shintarou Hayashi, Shinichi Anami, Shigetsugu Sumiyama, Motohiro Saimi, Hideharu Kawachi
  • Publication number: 20130051033
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a mounting unit and a light source unit removably mounted to the mounting unit and provided with a flat light emitting panel. The mounting unit includes an engaged portion provided in one end portion of a mounting surface to which the light source unit is mounted and a held portion provided in the other end portion of the mounting surface opposing to one end portion. The light source unit includes a package configured to cover the light emitting panel and an engaging portion and a holding portion arranged on the surface of the package facing the mounting unit. The engaging portion is arranged to engage with the engaged portion. The holding portion is arranged to engage with the held portion. The engaging portion and the holding portion has mutually-opposing slant surfaces. The slant surfaces are inclined toward a center of the light source unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryusuke KOTERA, Hideharu KAWACHI
  • Publication number: 20130051078
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a light source unit having a light emitting panel, and a mounting unit attached to a non-light-emission surface of the light source unit and provided with a circuit board for controlling energization of the light emitting panel. The mounting unit includes a connection terminal to which an external conductor for electrically interconnecting the circuit board and an external device is connected. The connection terminal is arranged inward of an outer peripheral end of a surface of the mounting unit to which the light source unit is attached. A clearance for passing the external conductor therethrough is formed between the light source unit and the mounting unit in a state that the external conductor is connected to the connection terminal and the mounting unit is attached to the light source unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryusuke KOTERA, Hideharu KAWACHI
  • Patent number: 8339035
    Abstract: An organic EL light emitting module includes an organic EL light emitting panel 5 including an organic EL light emitting unit 52 formed on a substrate 51 and electrode terminals 53 for supplying power to the organic EL light emitting unit 52; a circuit substrate 3, electrically connected to the electrode terminals 53, for supplying power to the electrode terminals 53; and a casing 4 to which the organic EL light emitting panel 5 and the circuit substrate 3 are attached. The electrode terminals 53 are disposed at left and right end portions of the organic EL light emitting panel 5 having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the top, and extended portions 4a protruding by a predetermined width are formed at side surfaces of the casing 4 where the electrode terminals 53 of the organic EL light emitting panel 5 are absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Fukano, Hideharu Kawachi, Shigetsugu Sumiyama
  • Patent number: 8207664
    Abstract: An organic electroluminescence (EL) module capable of reducing a processing loss of wiring boards for supplying power to an anode and a cathode is provided. Each wiring board (5) is formed by bending a strip conductor in a manner that parts of the strip in the same surface contacting each other, and is arranged on the outer periphery of the element substrate (2) in a manner of connecting the extended anode (31P) with the same pole and connecting the extended cathode (31M) with the same pole. In this manner, the wiring boards (5) having a width satisfying a shape of the electrodes without cutting a conductive plate into a U shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hideharu Kawachi, Hirofumi Konishi, Osamu Tanahashi, Satoshi Fukano, Masanao Okawa
  • Publication number: 20110248627
    Abstract: An organic EL light emitting module includes an organic EL light emitting panel 5 including an organic EL light emitting unit 52 formed on a substrate 51 and electrode terminals 53 for supplying power to the organic EL light emitting unit 52; a circuit substrate 3, electrically connected to the electrode terminals 53, for supplying power to the electrode terminals 53; and a casing 4 to which the organic EL light emitting panel 5 and the circuit substrate 3 are attached. The electrode terminals 53 are disposed at left and right end portions of the organic EL light emitting panel 5 having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the top, and extended portions 4a protruding by a predetermined width are formed at side surfaces of the casing 4 where the electrode terminals 53 of the organic EL light emitting panel 5 are absent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Fukano, Hideharu Kawachi, Shigetsugu Sumiyama
  • Publication number: 20110204789
    Abstract: A display device 1 includes light emitting sections 36, 37 of different luminous colors disposed between anode and cathode electrodes, current control units 34, 35 for controlling currents supplied to the light emitting sections 36, 37 to desired current levels, respectively, and an emergency power supply for supplying a current to the current control units 34, 35 in an emergency in which a commercial power source does not perform a desired function. When operated by the emergency power supply, the current control units turn on and off the light emitting sections 36, 37 of different luminous colors such that they are turned on during different periods of time. When the emergency power supply is used, the display device 1 controls turning on of the planar light emitting element using an organic EL light emitting element depending on luminous colors thereof, thereby suppressing the power consumption of the emergency power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Co., LTD
    Inventors: Hideharu KAWACHI, Shin Ukegawa, Yoshinori Tsuzuki, Tadasi Nisimura, Hiroyuki Hirose, Masanao Okawa
  • Publication number: 20110095701
    Abstract: A light emitting module includes an organic EL light emitting element and a support body supporting the organic EL light emitting element. The support body is attached to the organic EL light emitting element at the side of the non-light emitting surface of the light emitting module to cover one surface of the organic EL light emitting element. The organic EL light emitting element includes power feeding electrodes. The support body includes openings formed in a corresponding relationship with the power feeding electrodes. The power feeding electrodes exposed on the non-light emitting side of the support body through the openings. The support body includes power feeding terminals. The power feeding terminals partially exposed on the non-light emitting side of the support body. The power feeding terminals electrically connected to the power feeding electrodes by electric connection members extending via the non-light emitting side and the openings of the support body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu TANAHASHI, Satoshi Fukano, Shintarou Hayashi, Shinichi Anami, Shigetsugu Sumiyama, Motohiro Saimi, Hideharu Kawachi
  • Publication number: 20110069495
    Abstract: A light module 1 includes a planar light emitting device 2, a wiring board 3, and an optical sheet 4. The wiring board 3 has a hole 8 for accommodating the planar light emitting device 2. The optical sheet 4 holds the planar light emitting device 2 and the wiring board 3 such that the planar light emitting device 2 accommodated in the hole 8 of the wiring board 3 and the wiring board 3 are flush with each other on the light emitting surface side of the light module 1. The optical sheet 4 holds the planar light emitting device 2 and the wiring board 3, and prevents dust and moisture from entering the inside the light module 1. This eliminates the necessity for the light module 1 to include a casing, packing, and the like. Therefore, the thickness of the module can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sintarou HAYASI, Osamu TANAHASI, Satosi FUKANO, Shinichi ANAMI, Shigetsugu SUMIYAMA, Motohiro SAIMI, Hideharu KAWACHI
  • Publication number: 20100244749
    Abstract: A method for feeding electric power to a planar light-emitting element which includes a planar anode electrode, a planar cathode electrode, a light-emitting layer provided between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, two or more anode terminal portions protruding from the anode electrode and one or more cathode terminal portions protruding from the cathode electrode. The method includes sequentially providing the electric power to the anode terminal portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanao Okawa, Hirofumi Konishi, Takeo Miyai, Hideharu Kawachi, Koki Fujihara
  • Publication number: 20100213833
    Abstract: An organic electroluminescence (EL) module capable of reducing a processing loss of wiring boards for supplying power to an anode and a cathode is provided. Each wiring board (5) is formed by bending a strip conductor in a manner that parts of the strip in the same surface contacting each other, and is arranged on the outer periphery of the element substrate (2) in a manner of connecting the extended anode (31P) with the same pole and connecting the extended cathode (31M) with the same pole. In this manner, the wiring boards (5) having a width satisfying a shape of the electrodes without cutting a conductive plate into a U shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: HIDEHARU KAWACHI, Hirofumi Konishi, Osamu Tanahashi, Satoshi Fukano, Masanao Okawa
  • Patent number: D684125
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hideharu Kawachi, Ryusuke Kotera, Yoshiyuki Miyake, Osamu Tanahashi
  • Patent number: D684126
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hideharu Kawachi, Ryusuke Kotera, Yoshiyuki Miyake, Osamu Tanahashi
  • Patent number: D684547
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hideharu Kawachi, Ryusuke Kotera, Yoshiyuki Miyake, Osamu Tanahashi