Patents by Inventor Koji Higashi
Koji Higashi 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: 6208396Abstract: A normally white mode twisted nematic liquid crystal display devices having significantly improved viewing angle characteristics of display contrast and gray scale inversion comprising an about 90° twisted nematic liquid crystal cell and a first and a second light polarizing film separately disposed on two sides of said liquid crystal cell, a first and a second optical compensation layer which each comprises at least one optical compensation layer and has almost no refractive index anisotropy in-plane of the optical compensation layer A and has a characteristic wherein a refractive index in the thickness direction of the optical compensation layer A is lower than that in-plane of the optical compensation layer A, and a first and second optical compensation layer B, which each comprises at least one optical compensation layer and has optically positive refractive index anisotropy and has a characteristic wherein a principal optic axis of the optical compensation layer B is tilted 20 to 70° from the norType: GrantFiled: October 24, 1997Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventors: Akiko Shimizu, Takahiro Hishinuma, Koji Higashi
-
Patent number: 6097460Abstract: A phase retarder film is provided wherein at least one oblique evaporation layer comprising an inorganic dielectric mainly containing TiO.sub.2 is formed on at least one surface of a transparent polymer film with an intermediate layer between, the evaporation layer having positive refractive index anisotropy and a principal optic axis tilted 20 degrees to 70 degrees from a normal direction to said transparent polymer film. The phase retarder film is suitable for improving viewing angle characteristics of the TN-LCD.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 1999Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventors: Akiko Shimizu, Koji Higashi, Takahiro Hishinuma
-
Patent number: 6083340Abstract: A multi-layer circuit board capable of reducing an electrical resistance between circuit patterns positioned inside the circuit board and a through-hole connection conductor. A plurality of circuit patterns are superposed on each other with a plurality of insulating layers being alternately interposed therebetween in turn. A solution in which ultrafine metal particles of the independent dispersion type such as silver, gold, palladium or the like are contained in a colloid-like manner is applied so as to extend from one of lands through an inner surface of a through-hole to the other land. Then, the solution is calcined to form a metal particle film, The metal particle film is coated thereon with a conductive paste such as a resin/silver paste or the like, which is then calcined to form a conductive paste layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1998Date of Patent: July 4, 2000Assignee: Hokuriku Electric Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuo Nomura, Ichiro Ishiyama, Koji Higashi, Masaki Kato, Ichiro Nagare, Hiroyuki Kurokawa, Yozo Ohara
-
Patent number: 6060183Abstract: A phase retarder film comprising a layer of polyvinyl alcohol or a derivative thereof and a water-swellable layered inorganic compound, wherein the in-plane retardation value is smaller than the retardation value in the thickness direction, sometimes causes durability failures, that is, the layer is peeled off from a transparent resin substrate in high temperature and high humidity environment. Therefore, the present invention provides a phase retarder film which is superior in durability.With respect to a phase retarder film comprising at least one layer containing at least one organic clay compound which can be dispersed in an organic solvent, wherein the in-plane retardation value is smaller than the retardation value in the thickness direction, the durability is remarkably improved.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 1997Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventors: Koji Higashi, Akiko Shimizu
-
Patent number: 5926313Abstract: As a phase retarder film in which at least one oblique evaporation layer of an inorganic dielectric having positive refractive index anisotropy and having its principal optic axis tilted 20 degrees to 70 degrees from the direction of the normal to the film is formed on at least one surface of a transparent polymer film with an intermediate layer between, a large area film is easily and inexpensivly obtained.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1997Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventors: Takahiro Hishinuma, Akiko Shimizu, Koji Higashi
-
Patent number: 5920454Abstract: A printed capacitor-mounted circuit board capable of increasing a capacity of each of printed capacitors formed on a printed board. A copper-clad laminate is arranged so as to act as an insulating substrate. The printed capacitors each include a first electrode made of a copper foil and arranged on a front surface of the copper-clad laminate. Then, a dielectric layer made of a dielectric paste is arranged on the first electrode and a second electrode made of a conductive paint is arranged on the dielectric layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 1997Date of Patent: July 6, 1999Assignee: Hokuriko Electric Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuo Nomura, Nobutsugu Nakanuma, Ichiro Ishiyama, Koji Higashi, Masaki Kato, Ichiro Nagare, Hiroyuki Kurokawa, Yozo Ohara
-
Patent number: 5888634Abstract: Disclosed is a phase retarder film made of a thermoplastic resin having an in-plane retardation of 50 to 300 nm and a ratio of the in-plane retardation to the retardation normal to the plane of not less than 0.5, but not more than 1.8, a process for the production thereof and a laminate phase retarder film using said phase retarder film above.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1997Date of Patent: March 30, 1999Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventors: Akiko Shimizu, Koji Higashi
-
Patent number: 5693253Abstract: By using an optically anisotropic film having the optical axis substantially parallel to the normal line of the film and comprising a polymer of a liquid crystal oligomerhaving positive anisotropy of refractive index and showing nematic or smectic phase, or by lamining the optically anisotropic film and a transparent or semitransparent polymer film, or by combining the optically anisotropic film with a uniaxially oriented retardation film, it is possible to obtain a composite retardation plate with a large viewing angle, and this retardation plate can be applied to a liquid crystal display device.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1996Date of Patent: December 2, 1997Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventors: Toshihiro Ohnishi, Takanobu Noguchi, Masato Kuwabara, Koji Higashi, Makoto Namioka, Akiko Shimizu
-
Patent number: 5688436Abstract: By using an optically anisotropic film having the optical axis substantially parallel to the normal line of the film and comprising a polymer of a liquid crystal oligomerhaving positive anisotropy of refractive index and showing nematic or smectic phase, or by lamining the optically anisotropic film and a transparent or semitransparent polymer film, or by combining the optically anisotropic film with a uniaxially oriented retardation film, it is possible to obtain a composite retardation plate with a large viewing angle, and this retardation plate can be applied to a liquid crystal display device.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1996Date of Patent: November 18, 1997Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventors: Toshihiro Ohnishi, Takanobu Noguchi, Masato Kuwabara, Koji Higashi, Makoto Namioka, Akiko Shimizu
-
Patent number: 5658505Abstract: A phase retarder film made of a thermoplastic resin having an in-plane retardation of 50 to 300 nm and a ratio of the in-plane retardation to the retardation normal to the plane of not less than 0.5 but not more than 1.8, a process for the production thereof and a laminate phase retarder film using said phase retarder film above.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1995Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventors: Akiko Shimizu, Koji Higashi
-
Patent number: 5631755Abstract: A phase retarder including a layered inorganic compound-containing sheet or layered inorganic compound-containing film, the inorganic compound being selected from the group consisting of a clay mineral, a chalcogen compound, a zirconium phosphate compound, an oxyacid salt of a transition metal, a layered polysilicate, a metal oxyhalogenide, and an intercalary decoration thereof intercalated with ions or molecules between crystalline layer units, the inorganic compound having a mean particle size of 5000 nm or less and a stratified structure with a plurality of crystalline layer units wherein the phase retarder has a refractive index in the plane of the phase retarder that is different from a refractive index in the thickness direction of the phase retarder.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1995Date of Patent: May 20, 1997Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventors: Taiichi Sakaya, Toshiya Kuroda, Koji Higashi, Tadashi Shindo, Akiko Shimizu
-
Patent number: 5474731Abstract: A process for continuously producing a phase retarder film or sheet comprising continuously supplying a stretched thermoplastic resin film or sheet to a heating zone in parallel with the stretching direction of the film or sheet and heating the film or sheet to a temperature not lower than the glass transition temperature of the resin while applying pressure to the surface of the film or sheet passing through the heating zone, thereby continuously subjecting the film or sheet to thermal relaxation while suppressing the expansion of the film or sheet in a direction parallel to the surface of the film or sheet and perpendicular to the stretching axis. According to the present invention, a phase retarder film or sheet having a low angular dependence of retardation can be produced continuously. By using the phase retarder film(s) or sheet(s) thus obtained as optical compensator(s), the viewing angle characteristics of liquid crystal display devices can remarkably be improved.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1994Date of Patent: December 12, 1995Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Ltd.Inventors: Michitaka Morikawa, Koji Higashi, Tadashi Shindo
-
Patent number: 5430566Abstract: A liquid crystal device with a compensator made of a layered inorganic compound sheet or film in which a refractive index in the plane and a refractive index in the thickness direction are different from each other. The layered inorganic compound may be smectite group minerals. The layered inorganic compound has a mean particle size of 500 nm or less. The phase retarder is employed in a liquid crystal device.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1994Date of Patent: July 4, 1995Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventors: Taiichi Sakaya, Toshiya Kuroda, Koji Higashi, Tadashi Shindo, Akiko Shimizu
-
Patent number: 5366682Abstract: A process for producing a phase retarder film or sheet, which comprises subjecting a stretched thermoplastic resin film or sheet to thermal relaxation at a temperature not lower than the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic resin to shrink the film or sheet in the stretching axis direction while suppressing the expansion of the film or sheet in a direction parallel to the film or sheet surface and perpendicular to the stretching axis.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1992Date of Patent: November 22, 1994Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventors: Michitaka Morikawa, Koji Higashi, Tadashi Shindo
-
Patent number: 5354512Abstract: A dye-containing polarizing film comprising a polarizing film material and a metal-containing dye represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein Me is a transition metal selected from copper, nickel, zinc and iron;Z is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, sulfo or amino which is unsubstituted or substituted;Q is a 1-naphthol or 2-naphthol residue which is unsubstituted or substituted and has no or an additional phenylazo or naphthylazo group unsubstituted or substituted and in which a hydroxy group is adjacent to the azo group bonding to the benzene ring having Z and is linked with the transition metal denoted by Me to form the complex;when Q is the naphthol residue having no additional azo group, then T is naphthyl which is unsubstituted or substituted; andwhen Q is the naphthol residue having an additional azo group, the T is a phenyl or naphthyl group which is unsubstituted or substituted, which film exhibits comparable high polarizing activity with film using iodine and superior durability.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1992Date of Patent: October 11, 1994Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company LimitedInventors: Kazuya Ogino, Setsuko Aoki, Koji Higashi
-
Patent number: 5310509Abstract: The present invention relates to a dye-containing light-polarizing film wherein a disazo dye represented by the formula (I) is used: ##STR1## wherein Me represents a transition metal, being copper, nickel, zinc or iron, R represents a 1-naphthol or 2-naphthol residue which is bonded to azo group at the position adjacent to its hydroxyl group forming a complex bond together with the transition metal and which may have a substituent such as a sulfonic acid, sulfonamide, amino, acylamino or arylamino group or a hydroxyl group not adjacent to the azo group, X and Y represent a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, lower alkoxy, carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid, sulfonamide, sulfonalkylamide, amino, acrylamino or nitro group or a halogen atom, and Z represents a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or lower alkoxy group, said formula (I) having from 1 to 3 sulfonic acid groups.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1992Date of Patent: May 10, 1994Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventors: Toyokazu Okada, Koji Higashi, Shinjiro Kawasaki, Yutaka Nishii
-
Patent number: 5285303Abstract: A phase retarder and a process for producing the same are disclosed. The phase retarder is obtained by shrinking a uniaxially stretched thermoplastic high polymer film in the direction perpendicular to the stretching direction at a lengthwise shrink of at least 2%. The phase retarder has a ratio of a retardation value (R.sub.30) measured on the phase retarder being inclined at a angle of 30.degree. with respect to the orientation axis as an axis of rotation to a retardation value (R.sub.0) measured on the phase retarder being held horizontally, each measured with a polarizing microscope, (R.sub.30 /R.sub.0) of not more than 1.10, and preferably not more than 1.07. A liquid crystal display fitted with the phase retarder exhibits broad viewing angle characteristics while achieving a satisfactory B/W display level.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1991Date of Patent: February 8, 1994Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toyokazu Okada, Kazuaki Sakakura, Koji Higashi, Akiko Shimizu
-
Patent number: 5082601Abstract: A light-polarizing film is disclosed, comprising a conductive polymer having dichroism and having an unsaturated cyclic structure in the main chain thereof. The light-polarizing film of the invention has good polarization quality and is excellent in durability under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1990Date of Patent: January 21, 1992Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toyokazu Okada, Koji Higashi, Satoshi Taguchi
-
Patent number: 5061042Abstract: A phase retarder obtained by uniaxially stretching a thermoplastic resin film, whose retardation value ranges from 30 to 1200 nm and whose color difference .DELTA.E* is not more than 30 as defined with the phase retarder being set between crossed polarizers in such a manner that the optical axis thereof makes an angle of 45.degree. with respect to the planes of polarization of the polarizers, and a liquid crystal display using the phase retarder are disclosed. The phase retarder has a fixed optical axis, a retardation value suited for new optical uses including liquid crystal displays, and freedom from optical color unevenness. The liquid crystal display using the phase retarder exhibits markedly improved image quality.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 1991Date of Patent: October 29, 1991Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kimishige Nakamura, Shuji Kitamura, Toyokazu Okada, Kazuaki Sakakura, Hitoshi Kikui, Koji Higashi, Keizo Ichinose
-
Patent number: 4802745Abstract: A light-polarizing film is disclosed, comprising a conductive polymer having dichroism and having an unsaturated cyclic structure in the main chain thereof. The light-polarizing film of the invention has good polarization quality and is excellent in durability under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1987Date of Patent: February 7, 1989Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventors: Toyokazu Okada, Koji Higashi, Satoshi Taguchi