Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Masutani

Hiroshi Masutani 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: 10099486
    Abstract: A thermal head includes a substrate; a plurality of heat generating portions; a common electrode disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the plurality of heat generating portions; a plurality of individual electrodes disposed on the substrate and each electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of heat generating portions; a first insulation layer disposed on the heat generating portions, a part of the common electrode, and a part of the individual electrodes; a second insulation layer located adjacent to the first insulation layer and disposed on a part of the individual electrodes; and a static removing layer disposed on the first insulation layer and grounded. The static removing layer includes a first portion disposed on an upper surface of the first insulation layer and a second portion electrically connected to the first portion and disposed on an upper surface of the second insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Andou, Kouji Ochi, Hiroshi Masutani
  • Publication number: 20170320334
    Abstract: A thermal head includes a substrate; a plurality of heat generating portions; a common electrode disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the plurality of heat generating portions; a plurality of individual electrodes disposed on the substrate and each electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of heat generating portions; a first insulation layer disposed on the heat generating portions, a part of the common electrode, and a part of the individual electrodes; a second insulation layer located adjacent to the first insulation layer and disposed on a part of the individual electrodes; and a static removing layer disposed on the first insulation layer and grounded. The static removing layer includes a first portion disposed on an upper surface of the first insulation layer and a second portion electrically connected to the first portion and disposed on an upper surface of the second insulation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi ANDOU, Kouji OCHI, Hiroshi MASUTANI
  • Patent number: 9475306
    Abstract: To provide a thermal head in which separation of a protective layer is unlikely to occur. A thermal head X1 includes a substrate 7, a heat-generating portion 9 disposed on the substrate 7, electrodes 17 and 19 disposed on the substrate 7 and electrically connected to the heat-generating portion 9, and a protective layer 25 which covers the heat-generating portion 9 and part of the electrodes 17 and 19. The electrodes 17 and 19 each includes a first region R1 which lies below a depth of 150 nm from the surface 17e or 19e located on the protective layer 25 side, and the first region R1 contains oxygen. It is possible to suppress separation of each of the electrodes 17 and 19 from the protective layer 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Andou, Hiroshi Masutani, Kouji Ochi, Youichi Moto, Yousuke Iwamoto
  • Publication number: 20160059580
    Abstract: Problem: To provide a thermal head in which separation of a protective layer is unlikely to occur. Solution: A thermal head X1 includes a substrate 7, a heat-generating portion 9 disposed on the substrate 7, electrodes 17 and 19 disposed on the substrate 7 and electrically connected to the heat-generating portion 9, and a protective layer 25 which covers the heat-generating portion 9 and part of the electrodes 17 and 19. The electrodes 17 and 19 each include a first region R1 which lies below a depth of 150 nm from the surface 17e or 19e located on the protective layer 25 side, and the first region R1 contains oxygen. It is possible to suppress separation of each of the electrodes 17 and 19 from the protective layer 25.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi ANDOU, Hiroshi MASUTANI, Kouji OCHI, Youichi MOTO, Yousuke IWAMOTO
  • Patent number: 9238376
    Abstract: There are provided a thermal head capable of decreasing the possibility of occurrence of layer separation in a protective layer, and a thermal printer equipped with the same. A thermal head includes a substrate; an electrode disposed on the substrate; an electric resistor connected to the electrode, part of which serves as a heat-generating section; and a protective layer disposed on the electrode and on the heat-generating section. The protective layer includes a first layer containing silicon nitride or silicon oxide; and a second layer disposed on the first layer, containing tantalum oxide and silicon oxynitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Ochi, Hiroshi Masutani, Youichi Moto, Yoshihiko Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20140333708
    Abstract: There are provided a thermal head capable of decreasing the possibility of occurrence of layer separation in a protective layer, and a thermal printer equipped with the same. A thermal head includes a substrate; an electrode disposed on the substrate; an electric resistor connected to the electrode, part of which serves as a heat-generating section; and a protective layer disposed on the electrode and on the heat-generating section. The protective layer includes a first layer containing silicon nitride or silicon oxide; and a second layer disposed on the first layer, containing tantalum oxide and silicon oxynitride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Ochi, Hiroshi Masutani, Youichi Moto, Yoshihiko Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8885005
    Abstract: A thermal head and a thermal printer are disclosed. The thermal head includes a substrate, an electrode on the substrate, a heating portion connected to the electrode, and a protective layer on the heating portion. The protective layer includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is disposed on the heating portion and includes silicon carbonitride. The second layer is disposed on the first layer and includes silicon oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Masutani, Yoshihiko Fujiwara, Kouji Ochi
  • Publication number: 20140232807
    Abstract: A thermal head and a thermal printer are disclosed. The thermal head includes a substrate, an an electrode on the substrate, a heating portion connected to the electrode, and a protective layer on the heating portion. The protective layer includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is disposed on the heating portion and includes silicon carbonitride. The second layer is disposed on the first layer and includes silicon oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Masutani, Yoshihiko Fujiwara, Kouji Ochi
  • Patent number: 8810618
    Abstract: A thermal head in which power durability of the heat-generating element is improved and a thermal printer including the same. A thermal head according to an embodiment includes a substrate, electrodes disposed in a pair on the substrate, a heat-generating element disposed between the electrodes and connecting the electrodes to one another, an electric resistor layer disposed below the electrodes, and a protection film disposed on the electrodes and the heat-generating element. The electrodes include a first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected to the heat-generating element. The heat-generating element and the electric resistor layer each contain at least one metal selected from Al, Cu, Ag, Mo, Y, Nd, Cr, Ni and W, in a region on a protection film side thereof. A content of the metal contained in the heat-generating element is higher than a content of the metal contained in the electric resistor layer disposed below the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Fujiwara, Hiroshi Masutani
  • Publication number: 20130286137
    Abstract: A thermal head in which power durability of the heat-generating element is improved and a thermal printer including the same. A thermal head according to an embodiment includes a substrate, electrodes disposed in a pair on the substrate, a heat-generating element disposed between the electrodes and connecting the electrodes to one another, an electric resistor layer disposed below the electrodes, and a protection film disposed on the electrodes and the heat-generating element. The electrodes include a first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected to the heat-generating element. The heat-generating element and the electric resistor layer each contain at least one metal selected from Al, Cu, Ag, Mo, Y, Nd, Cr, Ni and W, in a region on a protection film side thereof. A content of the metal contained in the heat-generating element is higher than a content of the metal contained in the electric resistor layer disposed below the first electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Fujiwara, Hiroshi Masutani
  • Patent number: 8450099
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a process for conveniently and efficiently producing high purity thioredoxin from yeast. In the production of thioredoxin using yeast, thioredoxin is produced through the following steps (i) to (iii): (1) culturing the yeast; (2) stressing the yeast obtained in step (1) to cause a release of thioredoxin from a cell of the yeast; and (3) collecting the thioredoxin released from the yeast cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignees: Kyoto University, Redox Bioscience Inc., Kizakura Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Yodoi, Yoshiharu Inoue, Shingo Izawa, Hiroshi Masutani, Kazuo Murata, Shogo Tamasu
  • Patent number: 8325209
    Abstract: There are provided a recording head capable of properly maintaining the function of a protective layer, and a recording apparatus provided with the recording head. A thermal head includes a substrate, a heat-generating element disposed on the substrate, and a protective layer disposed on the heat-generating element. The protective layer includes first layers and second layers. The first layers and the second layers are laminated one after another alternately multiple times. A constituent material of the second layer having higher sublimation resistance than a constituent material of the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Masutani, Kouji Ochi, Tetsuya Ookubo
  • Publication number: 20110187807
    Abstract: There are provided a recording head capable of properly maintaining the function of a protective layer, and a recording apparatus provided with the recording head. A thermal head includes a substrate, a heat-generating element disposed on the substrate, and a protective disposed on the heat-generating element. The protective layer includes first layers and second layers. The first layers and the second layers are laminated one after another alternately multiple times. A constituent material of the second layer having higher sublimation resistance than a constituent material of the first layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Masutani, Kouji Ochi, Tetsuya Ookubo
  • Publication number: 20090215122
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a process for conveniently and efficiently producing high purity thioredoxin from yeast. In the production of thioredoxin using yeast, thioredoxin is produced through the following steps (i) to (iii): (1) culturing the yeast; (2) stressing the yeast obtained in step (1) to cause a release of thioredoxin from a cell of the yeast; and (3) collecting the thioredoxin released from the yeast cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicants: KYOTO UNIVERSITY, REDOX BIOSCIENCE INC., KIZAKURA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Yodoi, Yoshiharu Inoue, Shingo Izawa, Hiroshi Masutani, Kazuo Murata, Shogo Tamasu
  • Publication number: 20080182812
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide animal model of disorder and method of screening an agent for preventing or treating Metabolic Syndrome by using the animal model, wherein said animal model is used as experimental material which is essential to detailed analysis of component and pathologic condition of Metabolic Syndrome and to development of the method for treating and the agent for preventing and treating the Metabolic Syndrome. The above object is achieved by the non-human mammal model of disorders, whose TBP-2 gene is functionally deficient on chromosome, wherein the disorders are caused by impaired fatty acid utilization, and a method of screening an agent for preventing or treating Metabolic syndrome comprising; administering a test article to the non-human mammal whose TBP-2 gene is functionally deficient on chromosome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: REDOX BIOSCIENCE INC.
    Inventors: Junji Yodoi, Hiroshi Masutani, Shinichi Oka, Hajime Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20080104722
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide animal model of disorder and method of screening an agent for preventing or treating Metabolic Syndrome by using the animal model, wherein said animal model is used as experimental material which is essential to detailed analysis of component and pathologic condition of Metabolic Syndrome and to development of the method for treating and the agent for preventing and treating the Metabolic Syndrome. The above object is achieved by the non-human mammal model of disorders, whose TBP-2 gene is functionally deficient on chromosome, wherein the disorders are caused by impaired fatty acid utilization, and a method of screening an agent for preventing or treating Metabolic syndrome comprising; administering a test article to the non-human mammal whose TBP-2 gene is functionally deficient on chromosome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: REDOX BIOSCIENCE INC.
    Inventors: Junji Yodoi, Hiroshi Masutani, Shinichi Oka, Hajime Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6441839
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a thermal head provided with an excellent protective layer where a dielectric breakdown is hardly caused even when printing is performed on a recording medium of low moisture absorbency. In a thermal head of the invention, heating resistors are provided on an insulating substrate, and the heating resistors are coated with a protective layer containing carbon and silicon. The protective layer contains 65 to 90 atm % carbon, and carbon-to-carbon bonds of the protective layer include 95.0% or more covalent bonds related to an sp2 hybrid orbital.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Masutani, Takayuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5545482
    Abstract: A two-phase stainless steel wire rope having a high fatigue resistance and a high corrosion resistance, containing two-phase stainless steel wires of 0.03 to 0.1% by weight of C, 0.33 to 1.0% by weight of Si, 0.65 to 1.5% by weight of Mn, 0.019 to 0.04% by weight P, 0.004 to 0.03% by weight of S, 18.21 to 30% by weight of Cr, 3.10 to 8.0% by weight of Ni, 0.1 to 3.0% by weight of Mo, with the balance being Fe, and 30.0 to 80.0% by volume of ferrite, which wire rope has a means slenderness ratio, M.sub.R, of 4 to 20 by wire drawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Shinko Kosen Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Yamaoka, Kishio Tamai, Hiroshi Masutani