Patents by Inventor Koji Hirota

Koji Hirota 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: 9050386
    Abstract: Provided is an antimicrobial raw material having excellent antibacterial and corrosion-resistance properties, which can be directly formed as a film even on a plastic substrate with low heat-resistance or a substrate whereof the color or properties are likely to change due to heat, and this can be achieved at relatively low cost. The antimicrobial raw material is a laminated structure which comprises a substrate layer and a copper-tin alloy layer disposed on the substrate layer, and which has a thickness ranging from 5 nm to 200 nm. The substrate layer is made of resin, natural fiber, or paper, the resin having the deflection temperature under load being 115° C. or lower when measured in accordance with ASTM-D648-56 under a load of 1820 kPa. The copper-tin alloy layer contains over 60 at % but no more than 90 at % of copper and 10 at % or more but less than 40 at % of tin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUI CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mase, Koji Hirota
  • Patent number: 8778408
    Abstract: Provided an antimicrobial substance that includes a base material layer, and a copper-tin alloy layer 5-200 nm in thickness disposed on the base material layer, the copper-tin alloy layer containing copper in an amount of more than 60 atomic percent but not more than 90 atomic percent, and containing tin in an amount of not less than 10 atomic percent but less than 40 atomic percent. The copper-tin alloy layer includes a Cu41Sn11 crystalline phase, and a Cu3Sn crystalline phase. The Q value (?/(nm·Cu atomic percent)), which is derived by dividing the sheet resistance (?) of the copper-tin alloy layer by the thickness of the copper-tin alloy layer and the copper content (Cu atomic percent), is 1.5×10?4-6.0×10?4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Hirota, Hiroshi Mase
  • Publication number: 20130323289
    Abstract: Provided an antimicrobial substance that includes a base material layer, and a copper-tin alloy layer 5-200 nm in thickness disposed on the base material layer, the copper-tin alloy layer containing copper in an amount of more than 60 atomic percent but not more than 90 atomic percent, and containing tin in an amount of not less than 10 atomic percent but less than 40 atomic percent. The copper-tin alloy layer includes a Cu41Sn11 crystalline phase, and a Cu3Sn crystalline phase. The Q value (?/(nm·Cu atomic percent)), which is derived by dividing the sheet resistance (?) of the copper-tin alloy layer by the thickness of the copper-tin alloy layer and the copper content (Cu atomic percent), is 1.5×10?4-6.0×10?4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Hirota, Hiroshi Mase
  • Patent number: 8522617
    Abstract: An acoustic matching device has a water bag (64) that contains water and a water bag support frame (66) that sandwiches and supports the water bag on the left and right sides of the knee and curves along the knee cap. The water bag becomes a plate shape curved along the shape of the water bag support frame, which touches the knee cap and fits the unevenness of the knee. When an ultrasonic probe is moved along the knee cap, the acoustic matching between the knee cap and the ultrasonic probe is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kozo Nakamura, Isao Onishi, Satoru Ohashi, Eiichi Minagawa, Koji Hirota, Ryoichi Sakai, Koji Ogawa, Koichi Miyasaka, Masaru Murashita
  • Patent number: 8512462
    Abstract: Azo compounds represented by general formula (1) or salts thereof are provided as highly water-soluble colorants which have hues of yellow, orange, brown or red, and excellent color development properties and which, when used in various recording processes, particularly in an inkjet recording process, ensure various excellent fastnesses such as light fastness, ozone fastness, and fading balance. Ink compositions containing the colorants are also provided. In general formula (1), R1 to R8 are each independently a hydrogen atom, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, or the like; and X is C1-8 alkylenediamino, xylylenediamino, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Kayaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Matsui, Takashi Yoshimoto, Hiroaki Ohno, Koji Hirota, Takashi Yoneda, Akira Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 8453511
    Abstract: A mounting unit (16) is aligned by using a mounting unit frame (58) touching the thigh and a knee-contacting portion (62) touching the knee, with the knee being bent. The mounting unit is also equipped with a probe support frame (60) used for moving an ultrasonic probe along the knee cap. The probe support frame moves rotationally about the mechanical center of the knee joint, thereby allowing the ultrasonic probe (78) to move along the knee cap while facing toward the mechanical center of the knee joint and to perform scanning of an ultrasonic beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kozo Nakamura, Isao Onishi, Satoru Ohashi, Eiichi Minagawa, Koji Hirota, Ryoichi Sakai, Koji Ogawa, Koichi Miyasaka, Masaru Murashita
  • Patent number: 8404036
    Abstract: Coloring matters represented by general formula (1) or salts thereof are simply provided at a low cost as water-soluble coloring matters which exhibit absorption in the near-infrared region. Further, aqueous ink compositions which contain the coloring matters and have excellent storage stability are also provided. In general formula (1), Nc is optionally substituted naphthalocyanine; M is a metal oxide or the like; R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or the like; A is a crosslinking group; X and Y are each independently substituted arylamino or the like; k is more than 0 but up to 12 (on average); p is 0 to less than 12; the sum of k and p is more than 0 but up to 12; and any two or the three of R1, R2 and A may be united to form a ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Kayaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Hirota, Takafumi Fujii, Tatsuto Yui
  • Publication number: 20120202019
    Abstract: Azo compounds represented by general formula (1) or salts thereof are provided as highly water-soluble colorants which have hues of yellow, orange, brown or red, and excellent color development properties and which, when used in various recording processes, particularly in an inkjet recording process, ensure various excellent fastnesses such as light fastness, ozone fastness, and fading balance. Ink compositions containing the colorants are also provided. In general formula (1), R1 to R8 are each independently a hydrogen atom, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, or the like; and X is C1-8 alkylenediamino, xylylenediamino, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: NIPPON KAYAKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiko Matsui, Takashi Yoshimoto, Hiroaki Ohno, Koji Hirota, Takashi Yoneda, Akira Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20120171406
    Abstract: Provided is an antimicrobial raw material having excellent antibacterial and corrosion-resistance properties, which can be directly formed as a film even on a plastic substrate with low heat-resistance or a substrate whereof the color or properties are likely to change due to heat, and this can be achieved at relatively low cost. The antimicrobial raw material is a laminated structure which comprises a substrate layer and a copper-tin alloy layer disposed on the substrate layer, and which has a thickness ranging from 5 nm to 200 nm. The substrate layer is made of resin, natural fiber, or paper, the resin having the deflection temperature under load being 115° C. or lower when measured in accordance with ASTM-D648-56 under a load of 1820 kPa. The copper-tin alloy layer contains over 60 at % but no more than 90 at % of copper and 10 at % or more but less than 40 at % of tin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mase, Koji Hirota
  • Patent number: 8167991
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a trisazo compound represented by the following formula (1) or a salt thereof, The formula (1) wherein, the group A is a substituted phenyl group, the group B and the group C are substituted para-phenylene groups, R1 represents a C1 to C4 alkyl group which may be substituted by a carboxy group, a phenyl group which may be substituted by a sulfo group, or a carboxy group, R2 represents a cyano group, a carbamoyl group or a carboxy group, each of R3 and R4 independently represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a chlorine atom or a sulfo group, respectively and a water-based black ink composition containing said compound; said compound has high solubility in a medium where the main component is water, its aqueous solution having a high concentration and ink are stable when stored for a long period of time, black-recorded images with it can be provided where both light fastness and ozone gas fastness of the printed images are excellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Kayaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Matsui, Yoshiyuki Dejima, Takashi Yoshimoto, Ryoutarou Morita, Koji Hirota
  • Publication number: 20120056931
    Abstract: As an ink composition which is highly soluble in water and has a hue and clarity suitable for inkjet recording, an ink composition containing at least one pigment represented by formula (1) or a salt thereof as a pigment is provided. In formula (1), Xa to Xc each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted sulfoanilino group, a substituted or unsubstituted sulfonaphthylamino group, a hydroxy group, or the like, and at least one of Xa to Xc is a group other than a hydroxy group; R represents a hydrogen atom or the like; R1 represents an alkyl group or the like; and R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: NIPPON KAYAKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Ono, Yutaka Ishii, Koji Hirota, Noriko Kajiura
  • Publication number: 20110132094
    Abstract: A mounting unit (16) is aligned by using a mounting unit frame (58) touching the thigh and a knee-contacting portion (62) touching the knee, with the knee being bent. The mounting unit is also equipped with a probe support frame (60) used for moving an ultrasonic probe along the knee cap. The probe support frame moves rotationally about the mechanical center of the knee joint, thereby allowing the ultrasonic probe (78) to move along the knee cap while facing toward the mechanical center of the knee joint and to perform scanning of an ultrasonic beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicants: THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO, ALOKA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kozo Nakamura, Isao Onishi, Satoru Ohashi, Eiichi Minagawa, Koji Hirota, Ryoichi Sakai, Koji Ogawa, Koichi Miyasaka, Masaru Murashita
  • Publication number: 20110126629
    Abstract: An acoustic matching device has a water bag (64) that contains water and a water bag support frame (66) that sandwiches and supports the water bag on the left and right sides of the knee and curves along the knee cap. The water bag becomes a plate shape curved along the shape of the water bag support frame, which touches the knee cap and fits the unevenness of the knee. When an ultrasonic probe is moved along the knee cap, the acoustic matching between the knee cap and the ultrasonic probe is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicants: THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO, ALOKA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kozo Nakamura, Isao Onishi, Satoru Ohashi, Eiichi Minagawa, Koji Hirota, Ryoichi Sakai, Koji Ogawa, Koichi Miyasaka, Masaru Murashita
  • Publication number: 20110123784
    Abstract: Coloring matters represented by general formula (1) or salts thereof are simply provided at a low cost as water-soluble coloring matters which exhibit absorption in the near-infrared region. Further, aqueous ink compositions which contain the coloring matters and have excellent storage stability are also provided. In general formula (1), Nc is optionally substituted naphthalocyanine; M is a metal oxide or the like; R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or the like; A is a crosslinking group; X and Y are each independently substituted arylamino or the like; k is more than 0 but up to 12 (on average); p is 0 to less than 12; the sum of k and p is more than 0 but up to 12; and any two or the three of R1, R2 and A may be united to form a ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: NIPPON KAYAKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Hirota, Takafumi Fujii, Tatsuto Yui
  • Patent number: 7901497
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous solution composition (water-based ink composition) containing a water-soluble naphthalocyanine coloring matter represented by the following formula (1): wherein, M represents a hydrogen atom, a metal atom, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide or a metal halide, X represents a carbonyl group or a sulfonyl group, W1 to W4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an ionic hydrophilic group or the like, at least one of W1 to W4 is a group other than a hydrogen atom, and n represents an integer number of 1 to 24, respectively, or a salt thereof, and a novel naphthalocyanine coloring matter, and said compound is useful as a near-infrared ray absorbent because it has a high absorption in the near-infrared region, and it is useful as a near-infrared ray absorbing water-based ink because it has an excellent storage stability in aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Nippon Kayaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Kurata, Takashi Yoneda, Takafumi Fujii, Tadayuki Kiyoyanagi, Koji Hirota
  • Patent number: 7901498
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a trisazo compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein, n represents 0 or 1, the group A represents a substituted heterocyclic group, R1 represents a C1-C4 alkyl group which may be substituted or the like, R2 represents a cyano group or the like, R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a sulfo group or the like, R5 to R7 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group which may be substituted, a C1-C4 alkoxy group which may be substituted or the like, respectively or salt thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Nippon Kayaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Hirota, Takahiko Matsui, Takashi Yoshimoto, Shinsuke Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20100309246
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a trisazo compound represented by the following formula (1): (wherein, n represents 0 or 1, the group A represents a substituted heterocyclic group, R1 represents a C1-C4 alkyl group which may be substituted or the like, R2 represents a cyano group or the like, R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a sulfo group or the like, R5 to R7 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group which may be substituted, a C1-C4 alkoxy group which may be substituted or the like, respectively) or a salt thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: Nippon Kayaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Hirota, Takahiko Matsui, Takashi Yoshimoto, Shinsuke Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20100236448
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous solution composition (water-based ink composition) containing a water-soluble naphthalocyanine coloring matter represented by the following formula (1): (wherein, M represents a hydrogen atom, a metal atom, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide or a metal halide, X represents a carbonyl group or a sulfonyl group, W1 to W4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an ionic hydrophilic group or the like, at least one of W1 to W4 is a group other than a hydrogen atom, and n represents an integer number of 1 to 24, respectively) or a salt thereof, and a novel naphthalocyanine coloring matter; and said compound is useful as a near-infrared ray absorbent because it has a high absorption in the near-infrared region, and it is useful as an near-infrared ray absorbing water-based ink because it has an excellent storage stability in aqueous solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Nippon Kayaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Kurata, Takashi Yoneda, Takafumi Fujii, Tadayuki Kiyoyanagi, Koji Hirota
  • Publication number: 20090062545
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a trisazo compound represented by the following formula (1) or a salt thereof, The formula (1) (wherein, the group A is a substituted phenyl group, the group B and the group C are substituted para-phenylene groups, R1 represents a C1 to C4 alkyl group (which may be substituted by a carboxy group), a phenyl group (which may be substituted by a sulfo group), or a carboxy group, R2 represents a cyano group, a carbamoyl group or a carboxy group, each of R3 and R4 independently represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a chlorine atom or a sulfo group, respectively) and a water-based black ink composition containing said compound; said compound has high solubility in a medium where the main component is water, its aqueous solution having a high concentration and ink are stable when stored for a long period of time, black-recorded images with it can be provided where both light fastness and ozone gas fastness of the printed images are excellent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Takahiko Matsui, Yoshiyuki Dejima, Takashi Yoshimoto, Ryoutarou Morita, Koji Hirota
  • Publication number: 20090035541
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyimide metal laminate which is a metal laminate comprising a stainless steel layer/a conductor layer/a polyimide resin layer/a metal layer, wherein the conductor layer is interposed between the stainless steel layer and the polyimide resin layer as a ground, and having a strong adhesion between the conductor layer and the polyimide resin layer, thus being able to be processed and used as a hard disk suspension. Specifically, the metal laminate of the present invention is characterized in that a surface of the conductor layer in contact with the polyimide resin layer is not smooth (preferably its 10-point average surface roughness is 0.5 ?m or more).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuichi Yokozawa, Koji Hirota, Shuji Tahara