Patents by Inventor Issei Chiba

Issei Chiba 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: 6312787
    Abstract: A resin sheet having laminated transparent resin layers and a smooth outer surface, the refractive indexes of two resins of any adjacent two resin layers differing from each other, the interfaces among the resin layers having an uneven shape, is produced with an extrusion molding apparatus having such a structure that a plurality of transparent resins are extruded from respective separate flow passages into a composite resin flow passage to form a composite resin flow having a laminate structure with an uneven shape at the interfaces of the resin layers, and that the composite resin flow is extruded from an outlet of the composite resin flow passage. The resin sheet is used as a laminate, or a light guide of a surface light source element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuko Hayashi, Masaharu Oda, Issei Chiba
  • Publication number: 20010030861
    Abstract: A surface light source device, comprising a light source (2); a light conductor (1) which has a light incident face (11) on at least one side end surface thereof which confronts the light source (2), and a light emitting face (12) on one surface thereof which is substantially perpendicular to the light incident face (11); and a light angle varying sheet (3) which is disposed at a side of the light emitting face (12) of the light conductor (1). wherein at least one of the light emitting face (12) and a back surface (13) of the light conductor (1) comprises a minute structure having an average slant angle of 0.5 to 7.5 degrees. The light angle varying sheet (3) may comprise a prism sheet having a plurality of prisms (31) which are formed parallel to one another on at least one surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mosaharu Oda, Issei Chiba, Yasuko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6244719
    Abstract: A surface light source device, comprising a light source (2); a light conductor (1) which has a light incident face (11) on at least one side end surface thereof which confronts the light source (2), and a light emitting face (12) on one surface thereof which is substantially perpendicular to the light incident face (11); and a light angle varying sheet (3) which is disposed at a side of the light emitting face (12) of the light conductor (1), wherein at least one of the light emitting face (12) and a back surface (13) of the light conductor (1) comprises a minute structure having an average slant angle of 0.5 to 7.5 degrees. The light angle varying sheet (3) may comprise a prism sheet having a plurality of prisms (31) which are formed parallel to one another on at least one surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaharu Oda, Issei Chiba, Yasuko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6099135
    Abstract: A surface light source device, comprising a light source (2); a light conductor (1) which has a light incident face (11) on at least one side end surface thereof which confronts the light source (2), and a light emitting face (12) on one surface thereof which is substantially perpendicular to the light incident face (11); and a light angle varying sheet (3) which is disposed at a side of the light emitting face (12) of the light conductor (1), wherein at least one of the light emitting face (12) and a back surface (13) of the light conductor (1) comprises a minute structure having an average slant angle of 0.5 to 7.5 degrees. The light angle varying sheet (3) may comprise a prism sheet having a plurality of prisms (31) which are formed parallel to one another on at least one surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaharu Oda, Issei Chiba, Yasuko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5863113
    Abstract: A plane light source unit which may be advantageously used as a backlighting means for a liquid crystal display device, and which includes a transparent light guide having a side end surface as a light incident surface, a surface perpendicular to the light incident surface as a light emitting surface, and a light reflecting layer provided on an opposite surface to the light emitting surface; and a second element having a large number of prism units formed on the light emitting surface of the transparent light guide which receives the light emitted from the transparent light guide and emits the light in a predetermined direction; wherein at least one of the light emitting surface and the opposite surface of said transparent light guide has a directional light emitting function which emits the incident light from the light incident surface of the transparent light guide in an oblique direction to the incident light and has a regulation function which makes the luminance of the light through the light emitting s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Oe, Issei Chiba
  • Patent number: 5711589
    Abstract: A plane light source unit which may be advantageously used as a backlighting means for a liquid crystal display device, and which includes a transparent light guide having a side end surface as a light incident surface, a surface perpendicular to the light incident surface as a light emitting surface, and a light reflecting layer provided on an opposite surface to the light emitting surface; and a second element having a large number of prism units formed on the light emitting surface of the transparent light guide which receives the light emitted from the transparent light guide and emits the light in a predetermined direction; wherein at least one of the light emitting surface and the opposite surface of said transparent light guide has a directional light emitting function which emits the incident light from the light incident surface of the transparent light guide in an oblique direction to the incident light and has a regulation function which makes the luminance of the light through the light emitting s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Oe, Issei Chiba
  • Patent number: 5550676
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a surface light source element used for a surface light source device, and in particular, to a surface light source element which can be used as a back light device for a liquid crystal display element. The surface light source element according to the invention is characterized in that at least one of the light emitting surface and the opposed surface of the transparent light guide has a directional light emitting function which radiates the incident light from the light incident surface of the transparent light guide in an oblique direction to the incident light and has a regulation function which makes the luminance of the light uniform over the light emitting surface in the whole surface thereof. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a very thin type of a surface light source element which can produce emitted light with a uniform and high luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Makoto Ohe, Issei Chiba
  • Patent number: 5193899
    Abstract: A box-type planar light-source device has incorporated therein a linear light source and is provided with a reflecting surface and a multi-prism sheet. The reflecting surface has such function that a major portion of a light reflected by the reflecting surface is obliquely incident upon the multi-prism sheet. The multi-prism sheet has its inner surface formed with a group of prisms so arranged as to extend in parallel relation to the light source and having such function that the light incident directly or obliquely in reflection outgoes in concentration toward a predetermined direction. Accordingly, so as to eliminate portion by the fact that the light outgoing at an angle separated from the normal direction converges at the dark portion. A dark-portion removing sheet for eliminating a dark portion at a location immediately above the light source is arranged on the side of the front face of the multi-prism sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Oe, Issei Chiba
  • Patent number: 5089944
    Abstract: A box-type planar light-source device has incorporated therein a linear light source and is provided with a reflecting surface and a multi-prism sheet. The reflecting surface has such function that a major portion of a light reflected by the reflecting surface is obliquely incident upon the multi-prism sheet. The multi-prism sheet has its inner surface formed with a group of prisms so arranged as to extend in parallel relation to the light source and having such function that the light incident directly or obliquely in reflection outgoes in concentration toward a predetermined direction. Accordingly, so as to eliminate portion by the fact that the light outgoing at an angle separated from the normal direction converges at the dark portion. A dark-portion removing sheet for eliminating a dark portion at a location immediately above the light source is arranged on the side of the front face of the multi-prism sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Oe, Issei Chiba