Patents by Inventor Ikuo Mimura

Ikuo Mimura 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: 7532124
    Abstract: In a retroreflective display device comprising at least a surface-protective layer, information display layer, retroreflective layer and a back-protective layer, on or between these layers radio frequency identification unit or units enclosing radio frequency identification integrated circuit or circuits are disposed, and communication antenna or antennas which are connected to said radio frequency identification integrated circuit or circuits are installed. At the back of the retroreflective layer an illuminator is disposed. The retroreflective layer is retroreflective to the light coming from the front of the sign and is transmissive to the light from the interior of the sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ikuo Mimura
  • Publication number: 20090097114
    Abstract: This invention provides a retroreflective sheeting which at least comprises a printed image-incorporated retroreflective sheeting and an optical element array sheet in which a large number of light-transmissive optical elements are regularly disposed at least at a fixed location; more particularly a printed image-incorporated retroreflective sheeting which reveals a stereoscopic image when the printed image is seen through a lenticular lens sheet or a convex lens array sheet; and a reflective sheeting which uses the stereoscopic image for tamper prevention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: NIPPON CARBIDE KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ikuo Mimura, Keizo Takayama
  • Publication number: 20080226906
    Abstract: The invention provides an enclosed lens-type retroreflective sheeting comprising at least a large number of micro glass beads (3), a holding layer (2) made of a light-transmissive resin, which holds the glass beads (3), a specular reflective layer (6) to reflect incident light, and a focusing layer (4) which is composed of at least one layer of light-transmissive resin and is disposed between the glass beads (3) and the specular reflective layer (6), the sheeting being characterized in that an adhesive layer (7) is provided under the specular reflective layer (6) of the retroreflective sheeting so that the sheeting is stuck on a substrate (8) by the adhesive layer (7), and an attempt to peel the sheeting off from the substrate (8) causes interlayer peeling of the focusing layer (4) from the glass beads (3) and/or the holding layer (2), or interlayer peeling between the focusing layers and/or destruction of the focusing layer (4), leading to damage or loss in the retroreflective performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: NIPPON CARBIDE KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Futoshi Nomura, Ikuo Mimura, Hiroki Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20080198461
    Abstract: This invention provides a retroreflective sheeting provided with a destructive layer, which comprises at least a surface layer, retroreflective element layer and adhesive layer, characterized in that at least one destructive layer is provided between the layers constituting the retroreflective sheeting, that the resin constituting said destructive layer is alicyclic polyolefin resin or alicyclic acrylic resin; and when the retroreflective sheeting which is once stuck on a substrate is peeled off from the substrate, that the peeling takes place at the interface of the destructive layer and the layer which is in intimate contact therewith and/or by destruction of the destructive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: NIPPON CARBIDE KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Futoshi Nomura, Ikuo Mimura
  • Publication number: 20080193683
    Abstract: A display device provided with a specular reflective layer, which is excellent in preventing theft and tampering is provided. The display device is composed of a surface-protective layer, information display layer, reflective resin sheet and substrate-adhesive layer. A specular reflective layer is installed on the reflective resin sheet via a destructive layer and focusing layer. When the display device is peeled off from the installation substrate, the peeling takes place at the interface of the destructive layer and the reflective resin sheet or specular reflective layer in contact with the destructive layer, and/or by destruction of the destructive layer, and the specular reflective layer remains on the installation substrate. RFID device may be installed on the back of the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ikuo Mimura
  • Publication number: 20070194133
    Abstract: An integrated circuit enclosed retroreflective product which comprises an integrated circuit module having built-in integrated circuit(s), a retroreflective element, and their carrier layer(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: NIPPON CARBIDE KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ikuo Mimura
  • Patent number: 7248169
    Abstract: In a retroreflective display device comprising at least a surface-protective layer, information display layer, retroreflective layer and a back-protective layer, on or between these layers radio frequency identification unit or units enclosing radio frequency identification integrated circuit or circuits are disposed, and communication antenna or antennas which are connected to said radio frequency identification integrated circuit or circuits are installed. At the back of the retroreflective layer an illuminator is disposed. The retroreflective layer is retroreflective to the light coming from the front of the sign and is transmissive to the light from the interior of the sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ikuo Mimura
  • Publication number: 20070152834
    Abstract: In a retroreflective display device comprising at least a surface-protective layer, information display layer, retroreflective layer and a back-protective layer, on or between these layers radio frequency identification unit or units enclosing radio frequency identification integrated circuit or circuits are disposed, and communication antenna or antennas which are connected to said radio frequency identification integrated circuit or circuits are installed. At the back of the retroreflective layer an illuminator is disposed. The retroreflective layer is retroreflective to the light coming from the front of the sign and is transmissive to the light from the interior of the sign.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ikuo Mimura
  • Patent number: 7224279
    Abstract: An integrated circuit enclosed retroreflective product which comprises an integrated circuit module having built-in integrated circuit(s), a retroreflective element, and their carrier layer(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ikuo Mimura
  • Publication number: 20070109641
    Abstract: To provide a retroreflective article formed of many triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective element pairs. One-side groove angle formed between a cross line between a plane vertical to the common plane and a V-groove vertical plane which includes the base line of a V-shaped groove and perpendicular to said the common plane, and a reflective lateral face, and the V-groove vertical plane does not form a constant angle in the reflective lateral face but the lateral face forms a curved and/or multiple surface. A base line constituting any directional V-shaped groove in retroreflective element pairs is a nonlinear base line which does not form a linear trajectory and the reflective lateral face formed of the V-shaped groove forms a curved and/or multiple surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ikuo Mimura
  • Publication number: 20060044651
    Abstract: In a retroreflective display device comprising at least a surface-protective layer, information display layer, retroreflective layer and a back-protective layer, on or between these layers radio frequency identification unit or units enclosing radio frequency identification integrated circuit or circuits are disposed, and communication antenna or antennas which are connected to said radio frequency identification integrated circuit or circuits are installed. At the back of the retroreflective layer an illuminator is disposed. The retroreflective layer is retroreflective to the light coming from the front of the sign and is transmissive to the light from the interior of the sign.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Applicant: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ikuo Mimura
  • Publication number: 20060021267
    Abstract: The invention provides an internally illuminated sign comprising an information display section having at least one flat or curved surface which retroreflects light coming from the front of said sign and transmits light from the interior of said sign; an illuminator disposed behind the information display section; and a housing which encloses and holds said information display section and the illuminator. Those retroreflective elements used in said information display section are prismatic retroreflective elements according to the principle of total internal reflection, a large number of which are densely arranged to form a continuous retroreflective plane, at least the retroreflecting area of the back of said large number of prismatic retroreflective elements has no bonded area to other layer(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventors: Akihiro Matsuda, Yutaka Hamada, Ikuo Mimura
  • Patent number: 6942350
    Abstract: A triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective sheeting wherein a pair of triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective elements partitioned by three lateral faces (face a1, b1, and c1; faces a2, b2, and c2; . . . ) intersect almost perpendicularly because intersecting V-shaped grooves having substantially-symmetric cross sections are arranged in a closest-packed state so as to protrude to one side on a common-bottom plane (S-S?). Opposite faces (faces c1 and c2) of this pair of triangular-pyramidal retroreflective elements share a base (x), the common bottom plane (S-S?) including bases (z and z) of one-side lateral faces (faces a1 and a2) and bases (y and y) of the other-side lateral faces (face b1 and b2), this pair of triangular-pyramidal retroreflective elements have faced lateral faces (face c1 and c2) with shapes, and heights from the bottom plane (S-S?) up to apexes of the elements, that differ from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ikuo Mimura, Yutaka Hamada, Takehito Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6911486
    Abstract: This invention provides encapsulated type fluorescent retroreflective sheeting which is excellent in appearance and weatherability, and which comprises a surface-protective layer disposed on the side on which light is to strike, a binder layer connected to the surface-protective layer through network bonding parts, an air layer which is sealed-up by the network bonding parts between the surface-protective layer and the binder layer, and a retroreflective element layer disposed between the surface-protective layer and the air layer, or between the binder layer and the air layer, wherein at least one layer located on the light-incident side of sealed-up air layer contains at least one fluorescent dye selected from the group consisting of benzimidazole coumarin type-fluorescent dyes of formula (1) as follows: and benzopyran type-fluorescent dyes of formula (2) as follows:
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ikuo Mimura, Akihiro Matsuda, Takashi Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 6899944
    Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting including a retroreflective base having a light-incident layer on its light-incident side and a fluorine-containing resin film having a total light transmittance of 80% or more which is provided on the light-incident layer by an adhesive layer, a printed layer made of discontinuous printed parts is provided between the film and the adhesive layer. The printed layer does not cause the film to separate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Tanaka, Ikuo Mimura
  • Patent number: 6883921
    Abstract: The first reflective lateral face of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is on the same plane with the first lateral face of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit, the second reflective lateral face of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is on the same plane with the second lateral face of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit, the third reflective lateral face of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is parallel to one of the two lateral faces forming a V-shaped groove, the third reflective lateral face of the second triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is identical with, or parallel to, the other of the two faces forming said V-shaped groove, and the third reflective lateral face of said tetrahedral retroreflective unit is same as one of the two faces forming said V-shaped groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ikuo Mimura, Yutaka Hamada
  • Publication number: 20050018292
    Abstract: The first reflective lateral face of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is on the same plane with the first lateral face of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit, the second reflective lateral face of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is on the same plane with the second lateral face of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit, the third reflective lateral face of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is parallel to one of the two lateral faces forming a V-shaped groove, the third reflective lateral face of the second triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is identical with, or parallel to, the other of the two faces forming said V-shaped groove, and the third reflective lateral face of said tetrahedral retroreflective unit is same as one of the two faces forming said V-shaped groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Ikuo Mimura, Yutaka Hamada
  • Patent number: 6817724
    Abstract: To provide a triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective elements extremely superior in reflectivity at an entrance angle of 30° or more, preferably 40° or more. Triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective elements characterized in that when assuming the height from a bottom plane (Sx-Sx′) including base edges (x,x, . . . ) shared by two triangular-pyramidal reflective elements faced each other up to apexes (H1 and H2) of the triangular-pyramidal reflective elements as hx, the height from a bottom plane (Sy-Sy′) including other base edges (y,y, . . . ) of the triangular-pyramidal reflective elements as hy, and the height from a bottom plane (Sz—Sz) including still other base edges (z,z . . . ) of the triangular-pyramidal reflective elements as hz, any two of hx, hy, and hz are substantially different from each other and a mirror reflective layer is formed on surfaces of the triangular-pyramidal reflective elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ikuo Mimura, Yutaka Hamada, Takashi Yoshioka, Akihiro Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20040218273
    Abstract: An integrated circuit enclosed retroreflective product which comprises an integrated circuit module having built-in integrated circuit(s), a retroreflective element, and their carrier layer(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventor: Ikuo Mimura
  • Patent number: 6802616
    Abstract: To provide a retroreflective sheeting not only superior in high-brightness characteristic which is a basic optical characteristic generally requested for a triangular-pyramidal reflective element, that is, reflectivity represented by the reflectivity of the light incoming from the front of the triangular-pyramidal reflective element but also whose entrance angularity and rotation angularity are greatly improved. A pair of triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective elements characterized in that the optical axis of the triangular-pyramidal reflective element pair tilts so that the angle formed between the optical axis and a vertical line extended from apexes (H1 and H2) of the elements to a bottom plane (Sx-Sx′) ranges between 0.5 and 1.5° in the direction in which the difference (q−p) between the distance (q) from the intersection (Q) of the optical axis and the bottom plane (Sx-Sx′) up to base edges (x,x, . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ikuo Mimura