Patents by Inventor Hiroji Ohigashi

Hiroji Ohigashi 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: 11469366
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve the piezoelectricity of a PVT having the VDF ratio of 82 to 90% represented by a copolymer, in which copolymerization of vinylidene fluoride VDF and trifluoroethylene TrFe is 85 versus 15 (this is written as PVT85/15, and which is excellent in resistance to deformation, and heat resistance, etc. And therefore, it is also to obtain a piezoelectric film having piezoelectricity exceeding a PVT of less than 82 mol % of VDF represented by a PVT75/25, which conventionally shows the highest piezoelectricity, and a method of producing the same. A piezoelectric film is made of a mixture of two kinds (for example, a first copolymer is PVT85/15 and a second copolymer is PVT75/25) having different polymerization ratios of vinylidene fluoride VDF and trifluoroethylene TrFE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventors: Kenji Omote, Tsurugi Samezawa, Hiroji Ohigashi
  • Publication number: 20210135089
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve the piezoelectricity of a PVT having the VDF ratio of 82 to 90% represented by a copolymer, in which copolymerization of vinylidene fluoride VDF and trifluoroethylene TrFe is 85 versus 15 (this is written as PVT85/15, and which is excellent in resistance to deformation, and heat resistance, etc. And therefore, it is also to obtain a piezoelectric film having piezoelectricity exceeding a PVT of less than 82 mol % of VDF represented by a PVT75/25, which conventionally shows the highest piezoelectricity, and a method of producing the same. A piezoelectric film is made of a mixture of two kinds (for example, a first copolymer is PVT85/15 and a second copolymer is PVT75/25) having different polymerization ratios of vinylidene fluoride VDF and trifluoroethylene TrFE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Kenji OMOTE, Tsurugi SAMEZAWA, Hiroji OHIGASHI
  • Patent number: 10535811
    Abstract: A piezoelectric film which is better in heat and deformation resistant properties than those in the prior art is provided along with a method of manufacture. The film is a piezoelectric film that is composed of a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene, the copolymer having a content of vinylidene fluoride in a range of not less than 82 mol % and not more than 86 mol % and having a molecular weight not less than 600,000. The piezoelectric film is subjected to a heat treatment for crystallization of the copolymer at a temperature ranging from not less than 140° C. to not more than 150° C., and is thereby caused to develop piezoelectric property. The piezoelectric film further has a heat resistance of not less than 140° C. and a breaking distortion of not less than 8% and not more than 55%, and an excellent deformation resistant property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: IDEAL STAR INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Omote, Tsurugi Samezawa, Hiroji Ohigashi
  • Publication number: 20180097171
    Abstract: A piezoelectric film which is better in heat and deformation resistant properties than those in the prior art is provided along with a method of manufacture. The film is a piezoelectric film that is composed of a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene, the copolymer having a content of vinylidene fluoride in a range of not less than 82 mol % and not more than 86 mol % and having a molecular weight not less than 600,000. The piezoelectric film is subjected to a heat treatment for crystallization of the copolymer at a temperature ranging from not less than 140° C. to not more than 150° C., and is thereby caused to develop piezoelectric property. The piezoelectric film further has a heat resistance of not less than 140° C. and a breaking distortion of not less than 8% and not more than 55%, and an excellent deformation resistant property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Kenji OMOTE, Tsurugi SAMEZAWA, Hiroji OHIGASHI
  • Patent number: 9200970
    Abstract: A transparent piezoelectric sheet-with-a-frame includes a transparent piezoelectric sheet and a frame covering a peripheral edge portion of the transparent piezoelectric sheet. The transparent piezoelectric sheet includes one transparent piezoelectric film including an organic polymer, one first transparent plate electrode placed on a first main surface of the transparent piezoelectric film and having a first transparent plate electrode portion, and one second transparent plate electrode placed on a second main surface of the transparent piezoelectric film and having a second transparent plate electrode portion. An outline of the second transparent plate electrode portion is positioned inside an outline of the first transparent plate electrode portion as seen in a plan view. The outline of the first transparent plate electrode portion completely coincides with the frame, and the outline of the second transparent plate electrode portion does not at all coincide with the frame as seen in the plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignees: Daikin Industries, Ltd., IDEAL STAR INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Kodani, Yuuki Kuwajima, Eri Mukai, Meiten Koh, Takashi Kanemura, Kenji Omote, Hiroji Ohigashi
  • Patent number: 9128547
    Abstract: A transparent piezoelectric sheet includes a quadrilateral-shaped transparent piezoelectric film and a first transparent plate electrode. The quadrilateral-shaped transparent piezoelectric film includes an organic polymer. The quadrilateral-shaped transparent piezoelectric film has entire main surfaces that are piezoelectric. The first transparent plate electrode is layered on part of a first main surface of the main surfaces of the transparent piezoelectric film. One to three sides of the four sides of the quadrilateral shape of the transparent piezoelectric film and area(s) of the first main surface adjacent thereto are not covered by the first transparent plate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignees: Daikin Industries, Ltd., Ideal Star Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Kodani, Yuuki Kuwajima, Eri Mukai, Takashi Kanemura, Meiten Koh, Kenji Omote, Hiroji Ohigashi
  • Publication number: 20130027340
    Abstract: A transparent piezoelectric sheet includes a quadrilateral-shaped transparent piezoelectric film and a first transparent plate electrode. The quadrilateral-shaped transparent piezoelectric film includes an organic polymer. The quadrilateral-shaped transparent piezoelectric film has entire main surfaces that are piezoelectric. The first transparent plate electrode is layered on part of a first main surface of the main surfaces of the transparent piezoelectric film. One to three sides of the four sides of the quadrilateral shape of the transparent piezoelectric film and area(s) of the first main surface adjacent thereto are not covered by the first transparent plate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicants: IDEAL STAR INC., DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Kodani, Yuuki Kuwajima, Eri Mukai, Takashi Kanemura, Meiten Koh, Kenji Omote, Hiroji Ohigashi
  • Publication number: 20130027339
    Abstract: A transparent piezoelectric sheet-with-a-frame includes a transparent piezoelectric sheet and a frame covering a peripheral edge portion of the transparent piezoelectric sheet. The transparent piezoelectric sheet includes one transparent piezoelectric film including an organic polymer, one first transparent plate electrode placed on a first main surface of the transparent piezoelectric film and having a first transparent plate electrode portion, and one second transparent plate electrode placed on a second main surface of the transparent piezoelectric film and having a second transparent plate electrode portion. An outline of the second transparent plate electrode portion is positioned inside an outline of the first transparent plate electrode portion as seen in a plan view. The outline of the first transparent plate electrode portion completely coincides with the frame, and the outline of the second transparent plate electrode portion does not at all coincide with the frame as seen in the plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicants: IDEAL STAR INC., DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Kodani, Yuuki Kuwajima, Eri Mukai, Meiten Koh, Takashi Kanemura, Kenji Omote, Hiroji Ohigashi
  • Patent number: 6843941
    Abstract: A film made of a vinylidene-trifluoroethylene or tetrafluoroethylene copolymer is uniaxially drawn to fabricate a uniaxially drawn film. Then, the uniaxially drawn film is thermally treated at a temperature within a temperature range of the Curie temperature through the melting point of the vinylidene-trifluoroethylene or tetrafluoroethylene copolymer for five hours or over, to diffuse the molecular chains of the uniaxially drawn film along the orientation direction and thus, to remove the intertwining between the molecular chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventor: Hiroji Ohigashi
  • Publication number: 20030052437
    Abstract: A film made of a vinylidende-trifluoroethylene or tetrafluoroethylene copolymer is uniaxially drawn to fabricate a uniaxially drawn film. Then, the uniaxially drawn film is thermally treated at a temperature within a temperature range of the Curie temperature through the melting point of the vinylidende-trifluoroethylene or tetrafluoroethylene copolymer for five hours or over, to diffuse the molecular chains of the uniaxially drawn film along the orientation direction and thus, to remove the intertwining between the molecular chains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: YAMAGATA UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Hiroji Ohigashi
  • Patent number: 5679753
    Abstract: A ferroelectric polymer single crystalline body consists of a copolymer of ethylene trifluoride and/or ethylene tetrafluoride and vinylidene fluoride in form of a film or a fiber and is used in a piezoelectric, pyroelectric or nonlinear optical element. The single crystalline body is produced by crystallizing a stretched film of the single crystalline body at hexagonal phase while maintaining the stretched film surface at a free state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Yamagata University
    Inventors: Hiroji Ohigashi, Kenji Omote, Teruhisa Gomyo
  • Patent number: 4578442
    Abstract: A piezoelectric polymeric material having utility in ultrasonic transducers is disclosed which consists essentially of a copolymer of about 65 to 82 mol percent of vinylidene fluoride and about 35 to 18 mol percent of ethylene trifluoride. The polymeric material is formed into a film of the desired thickness and then heated to a temperature greater than about the crystal phase transition temperature and less than about the melting-point temperature to produce a heat-treated film. The heat-treated film is poled in an electrical field of from about 50 to about 1,500 kilovolts per centimeter to give the film a thickness extensional electromechanical coupling factor of at least 0.05 and preferably greater than 0.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroji Ohigashi, Keiko Koga, Toshiharu Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 4577132
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is disclosed which includes a vibrating element comprising a sheet of a piezoelectric polymeric material which consists essentially of a copolymer of about 65 to 82 mol percent of vinylidene fluoride and about 35 to 18 mol percent of ethylene trifluoride. The polymeric material is formed into a film of the desired thickness and then heated to a temperature greater than about the crystal phase transition temperature and less than about the melting-point temperature for a period of time of about ten minutes to about two hours to produce a heat-treated film. The heat-treated film is poled in an electrical field of from about 50 to about 1,500 kilovolts per centimeter to give the film a thickness extensional electromechanical coupling factor of at least 0.05 and preferably greater than 0.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroji Ohigashi, Keiko Koga, Toshiharu Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 4424465
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibration transducer is disclosed which includes a polymeric piezoelectric film as the active element. The film is a selectively or fully polarized, uniaxially oriented material selected from the group of polyvinylidene fluoride, blended material such as polyvinylidene fluoride and PZT powder, polyvinyl fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, copolymers or vinylidene fluoride such as vinylidene fluoride and tetrafluoroethylene or trifluoroethylene. The film is bonded to electrode strips formed by printed circuit methods and then overcoated with a front electrode layer. The sandwich formed by the electrode layers and intermediate polymeric piezoelectric film can be reversed so that the front electrode layer is discontinuous while the back electrode layer is continuous, or both electrode layers can be formed to be discontinuous. Special configurations for the discontinuous pattern of electrode layers can be employed such as that specified by Fresnel's theory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroji Ohigashi, Toshiharu Nakanishi, Miyo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4395652
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer element includes a polymer piezoelectric film having a plurality of sections. The sections are defined by wave planes of ultrasonic waves having substantially .lambda./2 phase difference emanated from an imaginary focal point or line located in front of the piezoelectric film. .lambda. is the wave length of the ultrasonic waves within an acoustic transmission medium located between the piezoelectric film and the imaginary focal point or line. The sections are arranged so that ultrasonic waves emanated from adjacent sections have substantially no phase difference at the imaginary focal point or line. Front and rear electrodes are deposited on opposite surfaces of the piezoelectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Nakanishi, Miyo Suzuki, Hiroji Ohigashi
  • Patent number: 4383194
    Abstract: Electro-acoustic transducer element having its resonant frequency in a lower frequency range advantageously usable for diagnostic purposes comprises a polymeric piezoelectric film such as polyvinylidene fluoride film being coupled with an additional layer having a thickness specified in relation to the wavelength of sound waves within the additional layer at the free resonant frequency of the polymeric piezoelectric film, the additional layer having an acoustic impedance related to the acoustic impedance of the polymeric piezoelectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroji Ohigashi, Joshiharu Nakanishi, Miyo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4296349
    Abstract: Ultrasonic transducer advantageously usable for diagnostic purpose includes a piezoelectric element such as a PVDF film backed with a reflective layer of a reduced thickness specified in relation to the wavelength of sound waves within the reflective layer at one-half of the free resonant frequency of the piezoelectric element. Remarkable reduction in thickness assures high transfer efficiency, broad available frequency-band and easy application of fine treatments such as etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Nakanishi, Miyo Suzuki, Hiroji Ohigashi
  • Patent number: 4234813
    Abstract: An input element for use as a transducer in keyboards is disclosed, which utilizes a polymeric material having piezoelectric or pyroelectric property as a stimulus-receiving portion of the element. The element has a plurality of stimulus-receiving portions. One face of each of stimulus-receiving portions has mutually independent electrodes, of which one is for detecting signal and another is for earthing, and another face of each stimulus-receiving portions has mutually independent electrodes, of which one is for detecting signal and another is for earthing. The signal-detecting electrode on the one face is disposed corresponding to the earthing electrode on the another face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1980
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Heishaburo Iguchi, Hiroji Ohigashi
  • Patent number: 3940637
    Abstract: A key input device which forms a key switch with high reliability or an integrated keyboard with small dimensions which can produce coded signals with high reliability and a S/N ratio of high value without any encoder circuits, comprising a piezoelectric polymer film, applied as a pressure sensor, having layer electrodes on both surfaces thereof and at least one device for straining the film, the straining device defining a key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1976
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroji Ohigashi, Reiko Shigenari, Syozo Ogawa, Nobuo Sekine