Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Kiguchi

Hiroshi Kiguchi 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: 7198676
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device manufacturing apparatus in which a device can be precisely manufactured by stably ejecting a predetermined amount of droplets when the device is manufactured using a droplet ejecting device. The apparatus can include a pressure generation chamber having a Helmholtz resonance frequency of a period TH. A driving signal includes a first signal element to cause the pressure generation chamber to expand, a second signal element to cause the expanded pressure generation chamber to contract, and a third signal element to cause the pressure generation chamber to expand to its original state, which is held before the first signal element is output, after ejection of a droplet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kiguchi
  • Patent number: 7182815
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system which shortens the scanning time with an ink jet head for forming a pattern of filter elements of a color filter, picture element pixels of an electroluminescence (EL) device, or the like. An apparatus for producing a color filter can include a plurality of filter elements arranged on a substrate. The apparatus can further include a plurality of heads each having a nozzle row having a plurality of nozzles arranged, an ink supply device for supplying a filter element material to the heads, a carriage supporting the heads arranged thereon, a main scanning driving device for moving the carriage by main scanning in the X direction, and a sub-scanning driving device for moving the carriage by sub-scanning in the Y direction. The carriage supports the plurality of heads each of which is inclined at an in-plane inclination angle ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Katagami, Hisashi Aruga, Hiroshi Kiguchi, Tatsuya Ito, Tomomi Kawase, Masaharu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7114802
    Abstract: A pattern formation method for discharging a prescribed fluid onto a substrate form an ink-jet head and forming an arbitrary pattern. The method including the steps of discharging the fluid onto the substrate from an ink jet head and defining a pattern-forming region by subjecting the substrate to a specific treatment to prevent the fluid from spreading. The pattern forming region is formed after the fluid has been ejected so that the arbitrary pattern is formed in the fluid corresponding to the pattern-forming region. The treatment is one in which banks for preventing the fluid from flowing out are formed around the pattern-forming region. The method also includes removing the banks following the formation of the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kiguchi, Hitoshi Fukushima, Satoshi Nebashi, Tatsuya Shimoda
  • Publication number: 20060216617
    Abstract: The color filter of the present invention comprises ink films colored by ink drops 140 inside openings 111 enclosed by banks 112 demarcated and formed on a substrate 110. The banks 112 have a laminar structure comprising a metal film 120 and a photosensitive organic thin film 130 from the substrate 110 side. The inks should contain a solvent having a high boiling point. The bank layer may also be configured so that the peripheral edges of the bottom surface thereof are positioned inside from the peripheral edges of the light blocking layers, so that the light blocking layers have exposed surfaces on the upper surface thereof where the bank layer is not superimposed. Thus color filters can be provided which exhibit outstanding contrast without coloring irregularities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kiguchi, Natsuo Fujimori, Satoru Katagami, Masaharu Shimizu, Keiji Takizawa, Tadaaki Kuno
  • Publication number: 20060210704
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to improve patterning accuracy while maintaining low cost, high throughput and a high degree of freedom of an optical material in a matrix type display device and a manufacturing method thereof. In order to achieve the object, surface features, including structural surface features, a desired distribution of water repellency, liquid repellency, hydrophilicity and lyophilicity, or a desired potential distribution are formed by utilizing first bus lines in a passive matrix type display device or utilizing scanning lines, signal lines, common feeder lines, pixel electrodes, an interlayer insulation film, or a light shielding layer in an active matrix type display device. A liquid optical material is selectively coated at predetermined positions by utilizing the surface features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mutsumi Kimura, Hiroshi Kiguchi
  • Publication number: 20060203153
    Abstract: The invention mitigates a drop of a protective layer and reduces disconnection of an electrode. A shading layer, a partition layer to partition a color filter layer, formed on the shading layer, and a protective layer to seal the shading layer, the partition layer and the color filter layer, are arranged on a substrate. At least a part of the partition layer covers the shading layer and separates the protective layer from the shading layer under a non-contact state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kiguchi, Satoru Katagami
  • Patent number: 7106399
    Abstract: The invention mitigates a drop of a protective layer and reduces disconnection of an electrode. A shading layer, a partition layer to partition a color filter layer, formed on the shading layer, and a protective layer to seal the shading layer, the partition layer and the color filter layer, are arranged on a substrate. At least a part of the partition layer covers the shading layer and separates the protective layer from the shading layer under a non-contact state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kiguchi, Satoru Katagami
  • Publication number: 20060146379
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system which shortens the scanning time with an ink jet head for forming a pattern of filter elements of a color filter, picture element pixels of an electroluminescence (EL) device, or the like. An apparatus for producing a color filter can include a plurality of filter elements arranged on a substrate. The apparatus can further include a plurality of heads each having a nozzle row having a plurality of nozzles arranged, an ink supply device for supplying a filter element material to the heads, a carriage supporting the heads arranged thereon, a main scanning driving device for moving the carriage by main scanning in the X direction, and a sub-scanning driving device for moving the carriage by sub-scanning in the Y direction. The carriage supports the plurality of heads each of which is inclined at an in-plane inclination angle ?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Katagami, Hisashi Aruga, Hiroshi Kiguchi, Tatsuya Ito, Tomomi Kawase, Masaharu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7070890
    Abstract: The color filter of the present invention comprises ink films colored by ink drops 140 inside openings 111 enclosed by banks 112 demarcated and formed on a substrate 110. The banks 112 have a laminar structure comprising a metal film 120 and a photosensitive organic thin film 130 from the substrate 110 side. The inks should contain a solvent having a high boiling point. The bank layer may also be configured so that the peripheral edges of the bottom surface thereof are positioned inside from the peripheral edges of the light blocking layers, so that the light blocking layers have exposed surfaces on the upper surface thereof where the bank layer is not superimposed. Thus color filters can be provided which exhibit outstanding contrast without coloring irregularities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kiguchi, Natsuo Fujimori, Satoru Katagami, Masaharu Shimizu, Keiji Takizawa, Tadaaki Kuno
  • Patent number: 7037737
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of an active matrix substrate which can prevent the complexity of manufacturing processes, widens the range of material choice and allows high manufacturing yield, and a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display using such active matrix substrate. Conductive colored layers (606 to 608) functioning as pixel electrodes and color filters are formed by a process of discharging, by an ink jet method, a mixed ink of coloring material and conductive material to the formation area of a pixel electrode to be connected electrically to an active element (602).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kiguchi, Satoru Katagami, Tomomi Kawase, Hisashi Aruga, Masaharu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7015503
    Abstract: Display devices such as EL elements or LED elements, or color filters, are provided, wherewith, when forming thin films such as organic semiconductor films or colored resins, there is remarkably little variation in film thickness from pixel to pixel. A method for fabricating thin film elements having banks of a prescribed height and a thin film layer formed by an ink jet method in areas to be coated that are partitioned by those banks is disclosed. Furthermore, banks are formed of an organic material on a bank formation surface configured of an inorganic material, plasma treatment is performed under conditions that the induction gas is fluorine-based and that fluorine is present excessively, and the areas enclosed by the banks subjected to surface treatment are filled with the liquid thin film material to form the thin film layer or layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Seki, Hiroshi Kiguchi, Ichio Yudasaka, Hiroo Miyajima
  • Patent number: 7012278
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to simultaneously achieve a reduction in the off current of a switching thin-film transistor and an increase in the on current of a current thin-film transistor in a current-drive thin-film transistor display apparatus. To achieve this object, the switching thin-film transistor is formed as a transistor of LDD structure or offset structure while the current thin-film transistor is formed as a transistor of self-alignment structure. Alternatively, each of the switching thin-film transistor and the current thin-film transistor is formed as a transistor of LDD structure or offset structure, and the LDD length or offset length of the switching thin-film transistor is increased relative to that of the current thin-film transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mutsumi Kimura, Hiroshi Kiguchi
  • Patent number: 6998208
    Abstract: The invention provides a color filter which includes a light shielding region having sufficient light shielding performance, and a transmitting region having no color mixing, and which has high contrast without pixel defect and irregularity in color tone. A color filter of the present invention can include a pixel region and a spotting precision test region. The pixel region includes a light shielding region and a transmitting region partitioned by the light shielding region. The light shielding region includes a first light shielding layer. The transmitting region includes a color element. The spotting precision test region is positioned apart from the pixel region and includes a second light shielding layer and a spotting precision test layer provided to cover at least the second light shielding layer. The spotting precision test layer region includes an evaluation region partitioned by the second light shielding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kiguchi, Satoru Katagami, Tatsuya Ito, Hisashi Aruga
  • Patent number: 6973710
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a device are provided. The method and the apparatus can form micro wiring without undesired wetting and spreading using an inexpensive functional-liquid supplying method. A method for forming a device, such as a radiofrequency identification tag, includes: making patterns at a plurality of sections having different degrees of affinity to the functional liquid on a substrate to form the device; and supplying the functional liquid to the selected section having high affinity to the functional liquid. Forming the plurality of sections having different degrees of affinity to the functional liquid includes, for example: supplying an organosiloxane film on the substrate, and exposing the organosiloxane film through an optical mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kiguchi, Masahiro Furusawa, Hirotsuna Miura
  • Patent number: 6964474
    Abstract: A highly quality printing of images such as photographs, designs, and the like, is effected without using special paper. The following is provided: a supply mechanism for supplying a recording medium; means for applying a surface modifier for coating the surface modifier on the surface modification area, which is the area to be the modified of the recording medium supplied with the aforementioned means for supplying; and means for drying for drying the surface modification area coated on the aforementioned surface modification area. An area can be printed on the surface modification area with high quality. As such, high quality printing is made possible with regular paper, without using special paper, as before.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Shimoda, Hiroshi Kiguchi, Satoru Miyashita
  • Patent number: 6939407
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a color filter having a plurality of filter elements aligned in a dot-matrix on a substrate. The method has a first-scanning step of moving the inkjet head having a nozzle line including a plurality of nozzles relative to the substrate while selectively discharging a filter material from the plurality of nozzles so as to form filter elements on filter element forming regions of the substrate and a second-scanning step of moving the inkjet head by a second-scanning distance ? in a second-scanning direction. The plurality of nozzles are divided into a plurality of groups and the first-scanning step and the second-scanning step are repeated so that all the nozzle groups scan the same section of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomomi Kawase, Hisashi Aruga, Satoru Katagami, Masaharu Shimizu, Hiroshi Kiguchi
  • Publication number: 20050186403
    Abstract: Display devices such as EL elements or LED elements, are formed from thin film elements having banks of prescribed height and a thin film layer formed by an ink jet method in areas to be coated that are partitioned by those banks. The banks may be formed of an organic material on a bank formation surface configured of an inorganic material, plasma treatment is performed under conditions that the induction gas is fluorine-based and that fluorine is present excessively, and the areas enclosed by the banks subjected to surface treatment are filled with the liquid thin film material to form the thin film layer or layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunichi Seki, Hiroshi Kiguchi, Ichio Yudasaka, Hiroo Miyajima
  • Publication number: 20050174043
    Abstract: A color filter (200) comprises pixels (13) separated from each other by partitions (14) formed on a substrate (12) so as to have a plurality of color elements of ink. Dummy pixels (13?) are formed outside the area in which the pixels (13) are formed. The amount of ink applied to each of said pixels and the amount of ink applied to each of said dummy pixels are substantially equal. A protective film (21) covering said pixels (13) is formed so as to also cover said dummy pixels (13?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kiguchi, Hisashi Aruga, Satoru Katagami
  • Publication number: 20050170550
    Abstract: Display devices such as EL elements or LED elements, are formed from thin film elements having banks of prescribed height and a thin film layer formed by an ink jet method in areas to be coated that are partitioned by those banks. The banks may be formed of an organic material on a bank formation surface configured of an inorganic material, plasma treatment is performed under conditions that the induction gas is fluorine-based and that fluorine is present excessively, and the areas enclosed by the banks subjected to surface treatment are filled with the liquid thin film material to form the thin film layer or layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunichi Seki, Hiroshi Kiguchi, Ichio Yudasaka, Hiroo Miyajima
  • Publication number: 20050170076
    Abstract: Display devices such as EL elements or LED elements, are formed from thin film elements having banks of prescribed height and a thin film layer formed by an ink jet method in areas to be coated that are partitioned by those banks. The banks may be formed of an organic material on a bank formation surface configured of an inorganic material, plasma treatment is performed under conditions that the induction gas is fluorine-based and that fluorine is present excessively, and the areas enclosed by the banks subjected to surface treatment are filled with the liquid thin film material to form the thin film layer or layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunichi Seki, Hiroshi Kiguchi, Ichio Yudasaka, Hiroo Miyajima