Patents by Inventor Manabu YAZAWA

Manabu YAZAWA 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: 11762514
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor has a structure in which first transparent electrode portions and second transparent electrode portions formed from crystalline indium tin oxide (ITO) are provided on a base material by patterning. A bridge wiring portion formed from amorphous indium zinc oxide (IZO) is provided on each two adjacent first transparent electrode portions and a link continuous to them, with an insulating layer intervening between the bridge wiring portion and the two first transparent electrode portions and link. These two adjacent second transparent electrode portions are electrically connected together by the bridge wiring portion. The thickness of the second transparent electrode portion TE and the thickness of the bridge wiring portion TB satisfy the following expressions: 0.28×TE+83 nm?TB?0.69×TE+105 nm; and 30 nm?TE?50 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Yazawa, Ken Yamamura, Sota Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20220382413
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor has a structure in which first transparent electrode portions and second transparent electrode portions formed from crystalline indium tin oxide (ITO) are provided on a base material by patterning. A bridge wiring portion formed from amorphous indium zinc oxide (IZO) is provided on each two adjacent first transparent electrode portions and a link continuous to them, with an insulating layer intervening between the bridge wiring portion and the two first transparent electrode portions and link. These two adjacent second transparent electrode portions are electrically connected together by the bridge wiring portion. The thickness of the second transparent electrode portion TE and the thickness of the bridge wiring portion TB satisfy the following expressions: 0.28×TE+83 nm?TB?0.69×TE+105 nm; and 30 nm?TE?50 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Manabu YAZAWA, Ken YAMAMURA, Sota TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 11194434
    Abstract: An input device includes a plurality of first transparent electrodes, a plurality of second transparent electrodes, coupling portions each electrically connecting two adjacent second transparent electrodes of the second transparent electrodes, and bridge portions each electrically connecting two adjacent first transparent electrodes of the first transparent electrodes. The first and second transparent electrodes are arranged in directions orthogonal to each other and are formed of a material containing conductive nanowires. The bridge portions each include a bridge wiring part, an insulating layer, and a buffer layer. The buffer layer is disposed between each of the coupling portions and the insulating layer. The buffer layer is formed of a light-transmissive, inorganic oxide-based material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamai, Yasuyuki Kitamura, Manabu Yazawa, Ken Yamamura, Tomoya Kuwabara, Sota Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11073953
    Abstract: A transparent electrode member has a transparent electrode layer formed of a dispersion layer which includes a matrix and conductive nanowires dispersed therein to provide an optical adjustment region including a conductive portion having a first dispersion density and an optical adjustment portion having a second dispersion density smaller than the first dispersion density. The transparent electrode layer includes a plurality of first and second electrodes each having the optical adjustment region, and a first wire provided between and electrically connecting two adjacent first electrodes. A region of an insulating layer is formed between the first wire and the second electrodes, and between the first electrodes and the second electrodes. The first wire and a part of the first electrodes in a vicinity of the first wire are formed of a non-adjustment region of the dispersion layer including the conductive portion while lacking the optical adjustment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamai, Eiichi Komai, Yuta Hiraki, Manabu Yazawa, Keita Tashiro, Hideaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10969915
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor has: a base material; a plurality of first transparent electrodes arranged along a first direction on one main surface of the base material; a plurality of second transparent electrodes arranged along a second direction that closes the first direction, the second transparent electrode including conductive nanowires; a link that electrically connects two adjacent first transparent electrodes to each other; a bridge wiring part provided at a portion where the bridge wiring part closes the link, the bridge wiring part electrically connecting two adjacent second transparent electrodes to each other and including an amorphous oxide material; and a reflection reduction layer that has a refractive index higher than the refractive index of the second transparent electrode and lower than the refractive index of the bridge wiring part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamai, Manabu Yazawa, Yuta Hiraki, Keita Tashiro, Yasuyuki Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20200371642
    Abstract: An input device includes a plurality of first transparent electrodes, a plurality of second transparent electrodes, coupling portions each electrically connecting two adjacent second transparent electrodes of the second transparent electrodes, and bridge portions each electrically connecting two adjacent first transparent electrodes of the first transparent electrodes. The first and second transparent electrodes are arranged in directions orthogonal to each other and are formed of a material containing conductive nanowires. The bridge portions each include a bridge wiring part, an insulating layer, and a buffer layer. The buffer layer is disposed between each of the coupling portions and the insulating layer. The buffer layer is formed of a light-transmissive, inorganic oxide-based material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Tomoyuki YAMAI, Yasuyuki KITAMURA, Manabu YAZAWA, Ken YAMAMURA, Tomoya KUWABARA, Sota TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 10747383
    Abstract: A transparent electrode member has a transparent base material, a transparent electrode placed on the first surface of the base material, and an insulating layer placed in an insulating region positioned in at least part of the circumference of a region in which the transparent electrode is placed, when viewed from the direction of the normal to the first surface. The transparent electrode has a dispersion layer that includes a matrix composed of an insulating material and also includes conductive nanowires dispersed in the matrix. The transparent electrode also has a region composed of the conductive part and regions composed of optical adjustment parts when viewed from the direction of the normal to the first surface. The conductive region has conductivity higher than the optical adjustment part. In the dispersion layer, the dispersion density of conductive nanowires in the optical adjustment part is lower than that in the conductive part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamai, Eiichi Komai, Yuta Hiraki, Manabu Yazawa, Keita Tashiro, Hideaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10684735
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes first transparent electrodes arranged in a first direction; second transparent electrodes arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction and containing conductive nanowires; coupling parts provided integrally with the first transparent electrodes; and bridge wiring parts provided independently of the second transparent electrodes so as to intersect the coupling parts and electrically connecting two adjacent second transparent electrodes to each other. Each of the bridge wiring parts is composed of contact portions in contact with the second transparent electrodes and a bridge portion provided continuously with the contact portions and separated from the second transparent electrodes. Each of the contact portions has a multilayer structure, and a layer including a portion in contact with the second transparent electrode is formed of a zinc-oxide-based material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Sasaki, Manabu Yazawa
  • Publication number: 20200133416
    Abstract: A transparent electrode member has a transparent electrode layer formed of a dispersion layer which includes a matrix and conductive nanowires dispersed therein to provide an optical adjustment region including a conductive portion having a first dispersion density and an optical adjustment portion having a second dispersion density smaller than the first dispersion density. The transparent electrode layer includes a plurality of first and second electrodes each having the optical adjustment region, and a first wire provided between and electrically connecting two adjacent first electrodes. A region of an insulating layer is formed between the first wire and the second electrodes, and between the first electrodes and the second electrodes. The first wire and a part of the first electrodes in a vicinity of the first wire are formed of a non-adjustment region of the dispersion layer including the conductive portion while lacking the optical adjustment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Tomoyuki YAMAI, Eiichi KOMAI, Yuta HIRAKI, Manabu YAZAWA, Keita TASHIRO, Hideaki TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 10564010
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes a base material provided with a pattern of a light-transmissive conductive film. The light-transmissive conductive film contains metal nanowires. The pattern includes a detection pattern of a plurality of detection electrodes arranged with intervals, a plurality of lead-out wirings linearly extending in a first direction from corresponding ones of the detection electrodes, and a resistance-setting section connected to at least any one of the lead-out wirings and including a portion extending in a direction not parallel to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamai, Yasuyuki Kitamura, Yuta Hiraki, Setsuo Ishibashi, Mitsuo Bito, Manabu Yazawa
  • Publication number: 20190272054
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes first transparent electrodes arranged in a first direction; second transparent electrodes arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction and containing conductive nanowires; coupling parts provided integrally with the first transparent electrodes; and bridge wiring parts provided independently of the second transparent electrodes so as to intersect the coupling parts and electrically connecting two adjacent second transparent electrodes to each other. Each of the bridge wiring parts is composed of contact portions in contact with the second transparent electrodes and a bridge portion provided continuously with the contact portions and separated from the second transparent electrodes. Each of the contact portions has a multilayer structure, and a layer including a portion in contact with the second transparent electrode is formed of a zinc-oxide-based material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Makoto SASAKI, Manabu YAZAWA
  • Patent number: 10372280
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes a base material provided with a pattern of a light-transmissive conductive film. The light-transmissive conductive film contains metal nanowires. The pattern includes a detection pattern formed of a plurality of detection electrodes arranged with intervals and a plurality of lead-out wirings linearly extending in a first direction from the corresponding ones of the plurality of the detection electrodes. At least one of the detection electrodes of the detection pattern includes a current path-setting section for elongating the linear path length of the current from the detection electrode toward the lead-out wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamai, Mitsuo Bito, Yasuyuki Kitamura, Yuta Hiraki, Setsuo Ishibashi, Manabu Yazawa
  • Publication number: 20190235667
    Abstract: A transparent electrode member has a transparent base material, a transparent electrode placed on the first surface of the base material, and an insulating layer placed in an insulating region positioned in at least part of the circumference of a region in which the transparent electrode is placed, when viewed from the direction of the normal to the first surface. The transparent electrode has a dispersion layer that includes a matrix composed of an insulating material and also includes conductive nanowires dispersed in the matrix. The transparent electrode also has a region composed of the conductive part and regions composed of optical adjustment parts when viewed from the direction of the normal to the first surface. The conductive region has conductivity higher than the optical adjustment part. In the dispersion layer, the dispersion density of conductive nanowires in the optical adjustment part is lower than that in the conductive part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Tomoyuki YAMAI, Eiichi KOMAI, Yuta HIRAKI, Manabu YAZAWA, Keita TASHIRO, Hideaki TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20190220117
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor has: a base material; a plurality of first transparent electrodes arranged along a first direction on one main surface of the base material; a plurality of second transparent electrodes arranged along a second direction that closes the first direction, the second transparent electrode including conductive nanowires; a link that electrically connects two adjacent first transparent electrodes to each other; a bridge wiring part provided at a portion where the bridge wiring part closes the link, the bridge wiring part electrically connecting two adjacent second transparent electrodes to each other and including an amorphous oxide material; and a reflection reduction layer that has a refractive index higher than the refractive index of the second transparent electrode and lower than the refractive index of the bridge wiring part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Tomoyuki YAMAI, Manabu YAZAWA, Yuta HIRAKI, Keita TASHIRO, Yasuyuki KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20170308206
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes a base material provided with a pattern of a light-transmissive conductive film. The light-transmissive conductive film contains metal nanowires. The pattern includes a detection pattern formed of a plurality of detection electrodes arranged with intervals and a plurality of lead-out wirings linearly extending in a first direction from the corresponding ones of the plurality of the detection electrodes. At least one of the detection electrodes of the detection pattern includes a current path-setting section for elongating the linear path length of the current from the detection electrode toward the lead-out wiring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Tomoyuki YAMAI, Mitsuo BITO, Yasuyuki KITAMURA, Yuta HIRAKI, Setsuo ISHIBASHI, Manabu YAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20170307413
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes a base material provided with a pattern of a light-transmissive conductive film. The light-transmissive conductive film contains metal nanowires. The pattern includes a detection pattern of a plurality of detection electrodes arranged with intervals, a plurality of lead-out wirings linearly extending in a first direction from corresponding ones of the detection electrodes, and a resistance-setting section connected to at least any one of the lead-out wirings and including a portion extending in a direction not parallel to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Tomoyuki YAMAI, Yasuyuki KITAMURA, Yuta HIRAKI, Setsuo ISHIBASHI, Mitsuo BITO, Manabu YAZAWA