Patents by Inventor Hirofumi Ihara

Hirofumi Ihara 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: 7561238
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device comprising a first substrate 101 having a color filter, a second substrate 131 and a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween, a color filter layer 110 is disposed on a protection film 108 of a thin film transistor formed on the first substrate 101 so as to be partitioned by a light shielding portion 111, and a common electrode 103 is disposed thereon. A pixel electrode to be connected to a source electrode 107 is disposed through a through hole formed in an overcoat layer (interlayer separation film) 112. On the first substrate below the color filter layer 110 are provided plural scan signal electrodes, plural video signal electrodes crossing the scan signal electrodes in a matrix form, plural thin film transistors formed in association with the crossing points between the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiaki Sakamoto, Takahiko Watanabe, Hirofumi Ihara, Hironori Kikkawa, Mamoru Okamoto, Shinichi Nakata, Yuji Yamamoto, Masayoshi Suzuki, Teruaki Suzuki, Toshiya Ishii, Hiroshi Kanoh
  • Patent number: 7379685
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus that enables a temperature of an image heating element to be stably maintained at a target temperature as a fixing speed varies. A Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller determines whether a temperature control computation results in a range that allows temperature control with one IGBT, and a linear control is performed if the result is at least equal to a minimum power obtained as IH output. PWM control is performed at minimum power if the power is less than a required minimum power. Thus, a computation method of a supply power computator need not be switched according to the fixing speed, and a calorific value of a fixing belt can be controlled using one computation method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Tatematsu, Hirofumi Ihara, Tadafumi Shimizu, Masahiro Samei, Keiichi Matsuzaki, Tomoyuki Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20080074586
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device comprising a first substrate 101 having a color filter, a second substrate 131 and a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween, a color filter layer 110 is disposed on a protection film 108 of a thin film transistor formed on the first substrate 101 so as to be partitioned by a light shielding portion 111, and a common electrode 103 is disposed thereon. A pixel electrode to be connected to a source electrode 107 is disposed through a through hole formed in an overcoat layer (interlayer separation film) 112. On the first substrate below the color filter layer 110 are provided plural scan signal electrodes, plural video signal electrodes crossing the scan signal electrodes in a matrix form, plural thin film transistors formed in association with the crossing points between the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Michiaki Sakamoto, Takahiko Watanabe, Hirofumi Ihara, Hironori Kikkawa, Mamoru Okamoto, Shinichi Nakata, Yuji Yamamoto, Masayoshi Suzuki, Teruaki Suzuki, Toshiya Ishii, Hiroshi Kanoh
  • Patent number: 7277650
    Abstract: An image fixing device that is controllable with a high degree of reliability. The image fixing device is configured with a heat generator for fixing a toner image onto a recording medium that is opposed to an induction heater. Heat is generated in the heat generator through electromagnetic induction. An inverter circuit drives the induction heater. A power controller controls a power value that is output from the inverter circuit, whose power value is calculated by a power-value calculator. A power-value sensor acquires the power value output from the power controller, and a temperature sensor senses a temperature at least at one point of the heat generator. Thus, either the power value sensed by the power-value sensor or a temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor may be used as a reference value to calculate the power value in the power-value calculator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Ihara, Tomoyuki Noguchi, Yasuhiro Nonaka, Tadayuki Kajiwara, Masahiro Samei, Hideki Tatematsu
  • Publication number: 20070036570
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus is provided that enables the temperature of an image heating element to be maintained stably at a target temperature even when the fixing speed varies, and that enables lower cost and higher efficiency to be achieved. In this apparatus, with a calorific value control section 300 of a fixing apparatus 200, temperature control computation is not varied according to the rotational speed of a fixing belt 230, but it is determined whether a PID control computation result is in a range that allows temperature control with one IGBT, linear control is performed if the result is greater than or equal to the minimum power obtained as IH output, and PWM control is performed at minimum power if power less than or equal to the minimum power is required. It is thus not necessary for the computation method of a supply power computation section 301 to be switched according to the fixing speed, and the calorific value of fixing belt 230 can be controlled with one computation method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Tatematsu, Hirofumi Ihara, Tadafumi Shimizu, Masahiro Samei, Keiichi Matsuzaki, Tomoyuki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7088401
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes first and second electrodes and an insulating film. The first electrode is formed on a substrate as one of two electrodes of an accumulation capacitor and applied with a voltage. The insulating film is formed on the first electrode to cover the first electrode. The second electrode is formed on the first electrode via the insulating film as the other electrode of the accumulation capacitor and including a first conductive film and a second conductive film formed on the first conductive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Ihara, Wakahiko Kaneko, Takayasu Iida
  • Patent number: 6894734
    Abstract: A liquid-crystal display device is provided wherein large electrostatic capacitance can be obtained without exposure of a metal film on a surface of a TFT array substrate, and yield in production and stability in images are improved. In the liquid-crystal display device of the present invention, a thin-film transistor section is mounted which is used to selectively connect either of a data wiring formed on a gate insulating film or a transparent electrode by a gate connected to an address wiring placed in each of picture element areas. In each of picture element areas, a capacitor section is formed with a first electrode formed, on the gate insulating film, using the same conductive film as used for the data wiring and a second electrode formed, on an upper layer insulating film formed on the gate insulating film, using the same transparent conductive film as used for a transparent electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Ihara
  • Patent number: 6890783
    Abstract: An active matrix substrate plate having superior properties is manufactured at high yield using four photolithographic fabrication steps. In step 1, the scanning line and the gate electrode extending from the scanning line are formed in the glass plate. In step 2, the gate insulation layer and the semiconductor layer comprised by amorphous silicon layer and n+ amorphous silicon layer is laminated to provide the semiconductor layer for the TFT section. In step 3, the transparent conductive layer and the metallic layer are laminated, and the signal line, the drain electrode extending from the signal line, the pixel electrode and the source electrode extending from the pixel electrode are formed, and the n+ amorphous silicon layer of the channel gap is removed by etching. In step 4, the protective insulation layer is formed, and the protective insulation layer and the metal layer above the pixel electrode are removed by etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Kimura, Takahiko Watanabe, Tae Yoshikawa, Hiroyuki Uchida, Shusaku Kido, Shinichi Nakata, Tsutomu Hamada, Hisanobu Shimodouzono, Satoshi Doi, Toshihiko Harano, Akitoshi Maeda, Satoshi Ihida, Hiroaki Tanaka, Takasuke Hayase, Shouichi Kuroha, Hirofumi Ihara, Kazushige Takechi
  • Patent number: 6870592
    Abstract: In a liquid-crystal display panel, columnar spacers are formed on a substrate on the transparent electrode side in minimally a part of the pixel parts of a plurality of pixel parts, in which there is little variation in the film thickness of a plurality of films formed over the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Takahiko Watanabe, Hirofumi Ihara, Hironori Kikkawa, Shinichi Nakata
  • Publication number: 20050041991
    Abstract: A heat generating member for fixing a toner image onto a recording medium, an induction heating means arranged to oppose to the heat generating member, for generating heat in the heat generating member by electromagnetic induction, an inverter circuit for driving the induction heating means, a power controlling means for controlling a power value that is output from the inverter circuit, a power-value calculating means for calculating the power value, a power-value sensing means for acquiring the power value output from the power controlling means, and a temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature at least at one point of the heat generating member are provided, and thus either the power value sensed by the power-value sensing means or a temperature value sensed by the temperature sensing means is used as a reference value used to calculate the power value by the power-value calculating means. Therefore, the image fixing device can be controlled with the high reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Ihara, Tomoyuki Noguchi, Yasuhiro Nonaka, Tadayuki Kajiwara, Masahiro Samei, Hideki Tatematsu
  • Patent number: 6632696
    Abstract: An active matrix substrate plate having superior properties is manufactured at high yield using four photolithographic fabrication steps. In step 1, the scanning line and the gate electrode extending from the scanning line are formed in the glass plate. In step 2, the gate insulation layer and the semiconductor layer comprised by amorphous silicon layer and n+ amorphous silicon layer is laminated to provide the semiconductor layer for the TFT section. In step 3, the transparent conductive layer and the metallic layer are laminated, and the signal line, the drain electrode extending from the signal line, the pixel electrode and the source electrode extending from the pixel electrode are formed, and the n+ amorphous silicon layer of the channel gap is removed by etching. In step 4, the protective insulation layer is formed, and the protective insulation layer and the metal layer above the pixel electrode are removed by etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Kimura, Takahiko Watanabe, Tae Yoshikawa, Hiroyuki Uchida, Shusaku Kido, Shinichi Nakata, Tsutomu Hamada, Hisanobu Shimodouzono, Satoshi Doi, Toshihiko Harano, Akitoshi Maeda, Satoshi Ihida, Hiroaki Tanaka, Takasuke Hayase, Shouichi Kuroha, Hirofumi Ihara, Kazushige Takechi
  • Publication number: 20030013221
    Abstract: An active matrix substrate plate having superior properties is manufactured at high yield using four photolithographic fabrication steps. In step 1, the scanning line and the gate electrode extending from the scanning line are formed in the glass plate. In step 2, the gate insulation layer and the semiconductor layer comprised by amorphous silicon layer and n+ amorphous silicon layer is laminated to provide the semiconductor layer for the TFT section. In step 3, the transparent conductive layer and the metallic layer are laminated, and the signal line, the drain electrode extending from the signal line, the pixel electrode and the source electrode extending from the pixel electrode are formed, and the n+ amorphous silicon layer of the channel gap is removed by etching. In step 4, the protective insulation layer is formed, and the protective insulation layer and the metal layer above the pixel electrode are removed by etching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Shigeru Kimura, Takahiko Watanabe, Tae Yoshikawa, Hiroyuki Uchida, Shusaku Kido, Shinichi Nakata, Tsutomu Hamada, Hisanobu Shimodouzono, Satoshi Doi, Toshihiko Harano, Akitoshi Maeda, Satoshi Ihida, Hiroaki Tanaka, Takasuke Hayase, Shouichi Kuroha, Hirofumi Ihara, Kazushige Takechi
  • Patent number: 6507382
    Abstract: This invention provides a liquid-crystal display where both pixel electrode 14 and common electrode 3 for controlling a liquid-crystal layer 40 are disposed above a color filter 10 covered with a shield electrode 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Michiaki Sakamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Shinichi Nakata, Yuji Yamamoto, Takahiko Watanabe, Hirofumi Ihara, Hironori Kikkawa, Hiroaki Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 6429916
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a transparent insulator substrate, switching elements which are formed on the transparent insulator substrate, a passivation layer for passivating the switching elements, color filters of prescribed colors which are formed on the passivation layer so that no color filter will be formed in areas around contact holes, black matrixes as shields for preventing light leakage which are formed on the passivation layer after the formation of the color filters so as to cover at least the switching elements and so that no black matrix will be formed in areas around the contact holes, an overcoat layer which is formed on the color filters and the black matrixes, pixel electrodes formed on the overcoat layer, lead electrodes of the switching elements for being connected to corresponding pixel electrodes, and contact holes which are formed through the overcoat layer and the passivation layer for establishing connection between the pixel electrodes and lead electrodes of the switch
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakata, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Takahiko Watanabe, Hirofumi Ihara, Hironori Kikkawa, Muneo Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6429917
    Abstract: This invention provides a color liquid-crystal panel comprising the first substrate having pixel electrodes on which are formed a thin-film transistor as a switching element for each pixel, which is covered by a passivation film, and a color filter layer and a black matrix on the passivation film, which are covered by an overcoat layer, and where the first substrate and the second substrate having a transparent common electrode facing the first substrate are put together via a sealer, forming an inner space which is filled with a liquid-crystal material, wherein a frame-shaped black matrix is formed on the first substrate, covering the periphery of the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Okamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Shinichi Nakata, Hironori Kikkawa, Takahiko Watanabe, Hirofumi Ihara
  • Publication number: 20020024627
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device comprising a first substrate 101 having a color filter, a second substrate 131 and a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween, a color filter layer 110 is disposed on a protection film 108 of a thin film transistor formed on the first substrate 101 so as to be partitioned by a light shielding portion 111, and a common electrode 103 is disposed thereon. A pixel electrode to be connected to a source electrode 107 is disposed through a through hole formed in an overcoat layer (interlayer separation film) 112. On the first substrate below the color filter layer 110 are provided plural scan signal electrodes, plural video signal electrodes crossing the scan signal electrodes in a matrix form, plural thin film transistors formed in association with the crossing points between the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Michiaki Sakamoto, Takahiko Watanabe, Hirofumi Ihara, Hironori Kikkawa, Mamoru Okamoto, Shinichi Nakata, Yuji Yamamoto, Masayoshi Suzuki, Teruaki Suzuki, Toshiya Ishii, Hiroshi Kanoh
  • Patent number: 6330043
    Abstract: An LCD including a pair of transparent dielectric substrates, liquid crystal sandwiched between the transparent dielectric substrates; a TFT formed overlying the first transparent dielectric substrate, a first dielectric film made of non-photosensitive resin and a second dielectric film made of photosensitive resin which cover the inner side surface of a through-hole formed in the first and the second dielectric films. The yield and the reliability of the LCD are elevated because of the smooth shape of the second dielectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Kikkawa, Takahiko Watanabe, Hirofumi Ihara, Shinichi Nakata, Mamoru Okamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20010010370
    Abstract: An active matrix substrate plate having superior properties is manufactured at high yield using four photolithographic fabrication steps. In step 1, the scanning line and the gate electrode extending from the scanning line are formed in the glass plate. In step 2, the gate insulation layer and the semiconductor layer comprised by amorphous silicon layer and n+ amorphous silicon layer is laminated to provide the semiconductor layer for the TFT section. In step 3, the transparent conductive layer and the metallic layer are laminated, and the signal line, the drain electrode extending from the signal line, the pixel electrode and the source electrode extending from the pixel electrode are formed, and the n+ amorphous silicon layer of the channel gap is removed by etching. In step 4, the protective insulation layer is formed, and the protective insulation layer and the metal layer above the pixel electrode are removed by etching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Kimura, Takahiko Watanabe, Tae Yoshikawa, Hiroyuki Uchida, Shusaku Kido, Shinichi Nakata, Tsutomu Hamada, Hisanobu Shimodouzono, Satoshi Doi, Toshihiko Harano, Akitoshi Maeda, Satoshi Ihida, Hiroaki Tanaka, Takasuke Hayase, Shouichi Kuroha, Hirofumi Ihara, Kazushige Takechi
  • Patent number: 6268898
    Abstract: A TFTs substrate in a liquid crystal display device, according to the present invention, is made up of a polarizing plate 102, a glass substrate 101, the first metal film 301, a gate insulating film 14, the second metal film 303, a transparent conductive film 306, and a passivation film 15. A color filter substrate 20 is made up of a facing electrode 22, a black matrix 23, a glass substrate 21, and a polarizing plate 25. The transparent conductive film 306 is electrically connected to the facing electrode 22 via a transfer column 24. The first metal film 301 is connected to the second metal film 303. The partial area of the first and second metal films 301 and 303 corresponding to a region where the transfer column is fixed, is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hirofumi Ihara
  • Patent number: 6114184
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing an LCD device where a gate insulating layer is formed on an insulating substrate and a signal line pattern layer and a pixel electrode pattern layer are formed on a signal line forming area and a pixel electrode forming area, respectively, of the gate insulating layer, a part of the gate insulating layer between the signal line forming area and the pixel electrode forming area is etched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichi Matsumoto, Osamu Sukegawa, Wakahiko Kaneko, Hirofumi Ihara