Patents by Inventor Iwao Ohwada

Iwao Ohwada 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).

  • Publication number: 20030222862
    Abstract: A display device has first row select lines for selecting rows of picture elements, picture element signal lines for supplying picture element signals to picture elements which are selected, a drive unit having drive circuits arrayed at respective picture elements each for driving the corresponding actuator in response to a picture element signal, and a selector unit for selecting the actuators corresponding to selected picture elements. Each of the drive circuits has a drives potential generating circuit for applying a drive potential based on a signal from a picture element signal line to upper electrodes of actuators. The selector unit has selector circuits for applying a select potential to lower electrodes of the actuators corresponding to selected guide elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada, Yasuharu Kuno, Takayoshi Akao
  • Publication number: 20030116643
    Abstract: A circuit for driving a liquid drop spraying apparatus capable of smoothly supplying liquid to a pressurizing chamber is provided. A coil is provided in series with respect to a resistor that determines the charge characteristics of a charge circuit of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element, thereby enabling gentle start characteristics when a charge voltage rises. In addition, discharge circuits are provided at two stages. A constant of the second discharging circuit is set to be smaller than a constant of the first discharging circuit. Coils are provided in series with resistors that determine their discharge characteristics. In this manner, even in the case where a large amount of liquid is sprayed, liquid is smoothly supplied to the pressurizing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Ohnishi, Iwao Ohwada, Toshikazu Hirota
  • Publication number: 20030098656
    Abstract: An electron-emitting element includes an electric field applying portion composed of a dielectric, a first electrode formed on one surface of the electric field applying portion, and a second electrode being formed on the surface and forming a slit in cooperation with the first electrode, and is formed on a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada, Tomoya Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 6565331
    Abstract: A pump having a main pump body including a casing to which a fluid is supplied, and a pump section, an input valve section, and an output valve section which are provided opposingly to one surface in the casing. Each of the pump sections, the input valve section, and the output valve section has an actuator section. The input valve section, the pump section, and the output valve section are provided opposingly to the back surface of the casing for selectively forming a flow passage on the back surface of the casing in accordance with selective displacement action of the input valve section, the pump section, and the output valve section in a direction approaching or separating from the back surface of the casing. The fluid is controlled for its flow in accordance with the selective formation of the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada
  • Patent number: 6549437
    Abstract: Two sets of two relay switches, which charge a pump capacitor and a reservoir capacitor of a charge pump type voltage converter, are formed respectively by a set of plural piezo-electric relays, and both the capacitors are formed together with the piezo-electric relays on one substrate. Electrodes are provided respectively on both surfaced of a piezo-electric film, and operating sections are operated by applying a power-supply voltage thereto, and a movable terminal is brought into contact with a counter terminal plate due to deformation of the operating section so that the piezo-electric relays are turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Iwao Ohwada
  • Patent number: 6545421
    Abstract: An actuator having a fixed portion, a vibrating portion supported on the fixed portion so as to undergo vibrations, and an actuating portion including a first and a second electrodes formed on both sides or one side of a deformable layer is provided. The actuator generates a displacement motion by holding the offset electric potential of the first electrode at a desired valve and variable-controlling an electric potential of the second electrode. A cathode for emitting electrons is formed on the actuator. The current controlling element changes the position of the cathode with respect to the plate by the displacement motion of the actuator obtained by changing an electric potential difference of the second electrode to the offset electric potential, and adjusts the offset position of the cathode according to the offset electric potential, to adjust a control range of a current value taken out of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada
  • Publication number: 20030063046
    Abstract: There is provided an optical system of a display constituted of: a light conducting plate introduced with light; and a panel portion provided to oppose to one plate surface of the light conducting plate; the panel portion including a driving part arranged with actuator parts each corresponding to a plurality of pixels so as to control displacement motions of the actuator parts in the contacting/separating directions to/from the light conducting plate correspondingly to attributions of input image signals, thereby controlling leaked light-beams in predetermined regions of the light conducting plate, to thereby cause the light conducting plate to display an image corresponding to the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada, Isao Shikata, Kei Sato
  • Publication number: 20030043091
    Abstract: A display system includes a light guide plate for transmitting light therethrough, and a panel portion arranged opposite to a back of said light guide plate. The panel portion includes a driving portion provided with actuators of the number corresponding to that of a number of pixels. The panel portion causes a video image to be displayed on the light guide plate according to an inputted image signal, by introducing light into the light guide plate and controlling displacement operations in contact and separation directions of the actuators with respect to the light guide plate according to properties of the image signal, and thereby controlling leakage light in a predetermined region of the light guide plate. The display system further includes a cooling device for controlling flow of a fluid in contact with the back of the light guide plate, to cool the light guide plate from its backside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada, Isao Shikata, Kei Sato
  • Patent number: 6528925
    Abstract: A first charging circuit and a third charging circuit are provided as first-step charging circuits to first and second piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements, and a second charging circuit and a fourth charging circuit are provided as next-step charging circuits. Moreover, the first-step charging circuits of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements serve also as first-step discharging circuits, and a first discharging circuit and a second discharging circuit are provided as next-step discharging circuits. Resistances as well as coils intervene in the first charging circuit and the third charging circuit in a series with the piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Iwao Ohwada
  • Publication number: 20030038600
    Abstract: An electron-emitting element includes an electric field applying portion composed of a dielectric, a first electrode formed on one surface of the electric field applying portion, and a second electrode being formed on the surface and forming a slit in cooperation with the first electrode, and is formed on a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada, Tomoya Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20030025442
    Abstract: A display device comprises a main display device body incorporated into a frame constructed by assembling transparent plate members. Specifically, a plurality of display blocks are arranged in a matrix configuration in an opening of the frame. Further, a substance having a light-transmitting property adjusted for its refractive index, for example, a flexible type adhesive made of an acrylic material is allowed to intervene at end surface portions of the respective display blocks and between the display blocks and the inner wall of the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Tsuji, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada, Nobutoshi Toyama, Nobuchika Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20030026713
    Abstract: A pump having a main pump body including a casing to which a fluid is supplied, and a pump section, an input valve section, and an output valve section which are provided opposingly to one surface in the casing. Each of the pump section, the input valve section, and the output valve section has an actuator section. The input valve section, the pump section, and the output valve section are provided opposingly to the back surface of the casing for selectively forming a flow passage on the back surface of the casing in accordance with selective displacement action of the input valve section, the pump section, and the output valve section in a direction approaching or separating from the back surface of the casing. The fluid is controlled for its flow in accordance with the selective formation of the flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada
  • Publication number: 20030026564
    Abstract: A large number of display components are arranged and fixed, for example, in a matrix configuration on a first principal surface of a large optical guide plate to construct a main display device body. A substance having a light-transmitting property adjusted for its refractive index is allowed to intervene at least between the large optical guide plate and the display components. The refractive index of the substance is preferably similar to the refractive index of the large optical guide plate as closely as possible. As for the light-transmitting property of the substrate, it is preferable that the transmittance is not less than 50% for the perpendicular incident light at the wavelength in the visible light region, and it is more preferable that the transmittance is not less than 70%, in order to successfully introduce the light into the display component in an efficient manner and suppress the electric power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Tsuji, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada, Nobutoshi Toyama, Nobuchika Noguchi
  • Patent number: 6508411
    Abstract: A liquid-drop spraying device is provided which can perform a stable liquid discharge without producing air bubbles in the liquid of the pressurized room as well as the amount of liquid supply per unit time is increased. The liquid can be flowed into the pressurized room uniformly and without entrainment of bubbles from the nozzle side by making an initial discharge (or charge) time constant larger than a subsequent discharge (or charge) time constant, which in turn allows liquid in the pressurized room to be replaced by slow suction followed by fast suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Ohnishi, Iwao Ohwada, Toshikazu Hirota
  • Publication number: 20030012666
    Abstract: A pump having a main pump body including a casing to which a fluid is supplied, and a pump section, an input valve section, and an output valve section which are provided opposingly to one surface in the casing. Each of the pump section, the input valve section, and the output valve section has an actuator section. The input valve section, the pump section, and the output valve section are provided opposingly to the back surface of the casing for selectively forming a flow passage on the back surface of the casing in accordance with selective displacement action of the input valve section, the pump section, and the output valve section in a direction approaching or separating from the back surface of the casing. The fluid is controlled for its flow in accordance with the selective formation of the flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada
  • Patent number: 6483492
    Abstract: One selection period S and display cycles Td of a number corresponding to a maximum gradation level are allotted in one field, and the display cycle Td is composed of an unselection period U and a reset period R to perform the following control. A row electrode-driving circuit is used to output a selection pulse Ps during the selection period S, output an unselection signal Su during the unselection period U in the display cycle Td, and output a reset pulse Pr during the reset period R. A column electrode-driving circuit is used to output an ON signal during a light emission maintenance period, and output an OFF signal at least at an end timing of the light emission maintenance period, of the period other than the light emission maintenance period. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively reduce the electric power consumption, and it is possible to achieve the high brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada, Takayoshi Akao
  • Patent number: 6476336
    Abstract: An actuator having a fixed portion, a vibrating portion supported on the fixed portion so as to undergo vibrations, and an actuating portion including a first and a second electrodes formed on both sides or one side of a deformable layer is provided. The actuator generates displacement motion by holding the electric potential of the first electrode at a constant value and variably controlling the electric potential of the second electrode. A cathode for emitting electrons is formed on the actuator. The current controlling element changes the position of the cathode with respect to the plate by the displacement motion of the actuator to control a current value taken out of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada
  • Publication number: 20020153827
    Abstract: An electron-emitting element includes an electric field applying portion composed of a dielectric, a first electrode formed on one surface of the electric field applying portion, and a second electrode being formed on the surface and forming a slit in cooperation with the first electrode, and is formed on a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada, Tomoya Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20020140348
    Abstract: A light absorbing member is disposed on the periphery of a display element, a light absorbing layer is applied to an area that appears as a bright defect, and a projection is disposed on a surface of an optical waveguide panel of the display element which confronts a large-size light guide panel. If the projection comprises at least three projections, then the projections should preferably be disposed in respective positions spaced from the closest side of the display element by a distance of at most L/3 where L represents the length of a longer side of the display element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Tsuji, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada, Nobutoshi Toyama, Nobuchika Noguchi
  • Patent number: 6452583
    Abstract: Assuming that a display period for one image is one field, a light source turn on period and a light source turn off period are set for the one field. An overall bending displacement period for making bending displacement of all actuator elements is set within the light source turn off period. A gradational display period for performing substantial gradational display and a reset period for resetting the bending displacement of all of the actuator elements are set within the light source turn on period. Subfields of a number corresponding to the maximum gradation level are set within the gradational display period. Timing control is performed so that all row selection is completed within each of the subfields. Accordingly, the gradation level is advantageously extended when a relationship of Tr>>Tf is given between a light-emitting rising time Tr of the picture element and a quenching falling time Tf of the picture element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Iwao Ohwada, Takayoshi Akao