Patents by Inventor Masato Kuwabara

Masato Kuwabara 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: 11846984
    Abstract: Protective cover layers for electronic devices are described. In an embodiment, an electronic device includes a display panel and a protective cover layer over the display panel. The protective cover layer includes a transparent support substrate and a hardcoat layer covering an exterior facing surface of the transparent support substrate. The display panel may be a flexible display panel and the protective cover layer may flex with the flexible display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hoon Sik Kim, Chang-Chia Huang, Christopher D. Jones, Masato Kuwabara, Nikhil D. Kalyankar, Terry C. Shyu, Yasmin F. Afsar, Paul S. Drzaic
  • Publication number: 20230067589
    Abstract: An optical device includes a dielectric substrate and a cured resin coating adhered to the substrate. The resin coating includes an organic component and an inorganic component. A surface portion of the resin coating includes greater than about 60 at. % inorganic component and less than about 40 at. % organic component, an intermediate portion includes between about 10 at. % and about 60 at. % inorganic component, and between about 40 at. % and about 90 at. % inorganic component, and a bottom portion includes less than about 10 at. % inorganic component and greater than about 90 at. % organic component. The resin coating has improved hard coat properties and excellent adhesion to a dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Shigeto Kobori, Avery P. Yuen, Khadijeh Bayat, Masato Kuwabara, Nikhil D. Kalyankar
  • Publication number: 20230011092
    Abstract: Protective cover layers for electronic devices are described. In an embodiment, an electronic device includes a display panel and a protective cover layer over the display panel. The protective cover layer includes a transparent support substrate and a hardcoat layer covering an exterior facing surface of the transparent support substrate. The display panel may be a flexible display panel and the protective cover layer may flex with the flexible display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Hoon Sik Kim, Chang-Chia Huang, Christopher D. Jones, Masato Kuwabara, Nikhil D. Kalyankar, Terry C. Shyu, Yasmin F. Afsar, Paul S. Drzaic
  • Patent number: 11402868
    Abstract: Protective cover layers for electronic devices are described. In an embodiment, an electronic device includes a display panel and a protective cover layer over the display panel. The protective cover layer includes a transparent support substrate and a hardcoat layer covering an exterior facing surface of the transparent support substrate. The display panel may be a flexible display panel and the protective cover layer may flex with the flexible display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hoon Sik Kim, Chang-Chia Huang, Christopher D. Jones, Masato Kuwabara, Nikhil D. Kalyankar, Terry C. Shyu, Yasmin F. Afsar, Paul S. Drzaic
  • Publication number: 20210096595
    Abstract: Protective cover layers for electronic devices are described. In an embodiment, an electronic device includes a display panel and a protective cover layer over the display panel. The protective cover layer includes a transparent support substrate and a hardcoat layer covering an exterior facing surface of the transparent support substrate. The display panel may be a flexible display panel and the protective cover layer may flex with the flexible display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Hoon Sik Kim, Chang-Chia Huang, Christopher D. Jones, Masato Kuwabara, Nikhil D. Kalyankar, Terry C. Shyu, Yasmin F. Afsar, Paul S. Drzaic
  • Patent number: 10817016
    Abstract: Protective cover layers for electronic devices are described. In an embodiment, an electronic device includes a display panel and a protective cover layer over the display panel. The protective cover layer includes a transparent support substrate and a hardcoat layer covering an exterior facing surface of the transparent support substrate. The display panel may be a flexible display panel and the protective cover layer may flex with the flexible display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hoon Sik Kim, Chang-Chia Huang, Christopher D. Jones, Masato Kuwabara, Nikhil D. Kalyankar, Terry C. Shyu, Yasmin F. Afsar, Paul S. Drzaic
  • Publication number: 20200097044
    Abstract: Protective cover layers for electronic devices are described. In an embodiment, an electronic device includes a display panel and a protective cover layer over the display panel. The protective cover layer includes a transparent support substrate and a hardcoat layer covering an exterior facing surface of the transparent support substrate. The display panel may be a flexible display panel and the protective cover layer may flex with the flexible display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Hoon Sik Kim, Chang-Chia Huang, Christopher D. Jones, Masato Kuwabara, Nikhil D. Kalyankar, Terry C. Shyu, Yasmin F. Afsar, Paul S. Drzaic
  • Patent number: 10558281
    Abstract: Touch sensor panels typically include a plurality of layers that can be stacked on top of each other. When the touch sensor panel is used in a bright environment, incident light can hit the interfaces between those layers of the stackup having mismatched refractive indices and can reflect off those interfaces. The light reflected from those interfaces can give rise to the appearance of fringes on the touch sensor panel, which can be visually distracting. In order to reduce the appearance of these fringes, embodiments of the disclosure are directed to the addition of an index matching passivation layer between a conductive layer of traces and an adhesive layer in the touch sensor panel stackup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chun-Hao Tung, EnkhAmgalan Dorjgotov, Masato Kuwabara, Sunggu Kang, Cheng Chen, John Z. Zhong
  • Patent number: 10444874
    Abstract: Touch sensor panels typically include a plurality of layers that can be stacked on top of each other. When the touch sensor panel is used in a bright environment, incident light can hit the interfaces between those layers of the stackup having mismatched refractive indices and can reflect off those interfaces. The light reflected from those interfaces can give rise to the appearance of fringes on the touch sensor panel, which can be visually distracting. In order to reduce the appearance of these fringes, embodiments of the disclosure are directed to the addition of an index matching passivation layer between a conductive layer of traces and an adhesive layer in the touch sensor panel stackup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chun-Hao Tung, EnkhAmgalan Dorjgotov, Masato Kuwabara, Sunggu Kang, Cheng Chen, John Z. Zhong
  • Patent number: 10288788
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided with displays that have polarizers. A polarizer may have a polymer layer that has a portion covered with a dichroic dye to form a polarized region and a portion that is free of dichroic dye to form an unpolarized region. The unpolarized region may be formed by masking the polymer layer during a dye coating process. Masks may be formed from polymers. The shape of the mask may define the shape of the unpolarized region. The mask may be left in place within the polarizer or may be removed from the polarizer during fabrication. Unpolarized regions may also be formed by light bleaching, chemical bleaching, and material removal techniques. Bleached areas may be chemically stabilized. A moisture barrier layer may be incorporated into the polarizer to help prevent the unpolarized region from reverting to a polarized state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, Masato Kuwabara, Christopher L. Boitnott, Jun Qi, Nathan K. Gupta, Victor H. Yin, John Z. Zhong
  • Patent number: 10073569
    Abstract: A polarizer integrated with conductive material and a process for forming a polarizer integrated with conductive material are disclosed. A polarizer can be integrated with conductive material to form a portion of a touch sensor panel. In one example, a layer of conductive film forming either the row or column traces can be patterned on a surface of a substrate in the polarizer. In another example, the layer of conductive film can be patterned on a viewing angle compensation film of the polarizer. One or more of the polarizer's polarizing layer, protective substrates or viewing angle compensation film can act as a dielectric between the conductive material forming the rows and column traces in the stack-up. As a result, the clear polymer spacer acting as a dielectric in touch panels can be removed, reducing the thickness of the touch screen stack-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, Masato Kuwabara, Sunggu Kang, John Z. Zhong
  • Publication number: 20170176657
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided with displays that have polarizers. A polarizer may have a polymer layer that has a portion covered with a dichroic dye to form a polarized region and a portion that is free of dichroic dye to form an unpolarized region. The unpolarized region may be formed by masking the polymer layer during a dye coating process. Masks may be formed from polymers. The shape of the mask may define the shape of the unpolarized region. The mask may be left in place within the polarizer or may be removed from the polarizer during fabrication. Unpolarized regions may also be formed by light bleaching, chemical bleaching, and material removal techniques. Bleached areas may be chemically stabilized. A moisture barrier layer may be incorporated into the polarizer to help prevent the unpolarized region from reverting to a polarized state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, Masato Kuwabara, Christopher L. Boitnott, Jun Qi, Nathan K. Gupta, Victor H. Yin, John Z. Zhong
  • Patent number: 9618669
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided with displays that have polarizers. A polarizer may have a polymer layer that has a portion covered with a dichroic dye to form a polarized region and a portion that is free of dichroic dye to form an unpolarized region. The unpolarized region may be formed by masking the polymer layer during a dye coating process. Masks may be formed from polymers. The shape of the mask may define the shape of the unpolarized region. The mask may be left in place within the polarizer or may be removed from the polarizer during fabrication. Unpolarized regions may also be formed by light bleaching, chemical bleaching, and material removal techniques. Bleached areas may be chemically stabilized. A moisture barrier layer may be incorporated into the polarizer to help prevent the unpolarized region from reverting to a polarized state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, Masato Kuwabara, Christopher L. Boitnott, Jun Qi, Nathan K. Gupta, Victor H. Yin, John Z. Zhong
  • Patent number: 9612377
    Abstract: A polarizer includes a polarizer component having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface. The bottom surface is configured to couple to a color filter layer for a liquid crystal display. The polarizer also includes a transparent conducting layer disposed over the top surface. The transparent conducting layer being configured to electrically shield the LCD from a touch panel. The polarizer further includes a coating layer disposed over the transparent conducting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, Enkhamgalan Dorjgotov, Masato Kuwabara, Wonjae Choi, Martin P. Grunthaner, Albert Lin, John Z. Zhong, Wei Chen, Steven P. Hotelling, Lynn R. Youngs
  • Publication number: 20160195949
    Abstract: Touch sensor panels typically include a plurality of layers that can be stacked on top of each other. When the touch sensor panel is used in a bright environment, incident light can hit the interfaces between those layers of the stackup having mismatched refractive indices and can reflect off those interfaces. The light reflected from those interfaces can give rise to the appearance of fringes on the touch sensor panel, which can be visually distracting. In order to reduce the appearance of these fringes, embodiments of the disclosure are directed to the addition of an index matching passivation layer between a conductive layer of traces and an adhesive layer in the touch sensor panel stackup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Chun-Hao TUNG, EnkhAmgalan DORJGOTOV, Masato KUWABARA, Sunggu KANG, Cheng CHEN, John Z. ZHONG
  • Patent number: 9329314
    Abstract: A polarizer includes a polarizer component having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface. The bottom surface is configured to couple to a color filter layer for a liquid crystal display. The polarizer also includes a transparent conducting layer disposed over the top surface. The transparent conducting layer being configured to electrically shield the LCD from a touch panel. The polarizer further includes a coating layer disposed over the transparent conducting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, Enkhamgalan Dorjgotov, Masato Kuwabara, Wonjae Choi, Martin P. Grunthaner, Albert Lin, John Z. Zhong, Wei Chen, Steven P. Hotelling, Lynn R. Youngs
  • Publication number: 20160097882
    Abstract: A polarizer includes a polarizer component having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface. The bottom surface is configured to couple to a color filter layer for a liquid crystal display. The polarizer also includes a transparent conducting layer disposed over the top surface. The transparent conducting layer being configured to electrically shield the LCD from a touch panel. The polarizer further includes a coating layer disposed over the transparent conducting layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, Enkhamgalan Dorjgotov, Masato Kuwabara, Wonjae Choi, Martin P. Grunthaner, Albert Lin, John Z. Zhong, Wei Chen, Steven P. Hotelling, Lynn R. Youngs
  • Publication number: 20150316689
    Abstract: Touch sensor panels typically include a plurality of layers that can be stacked on top of each other. When the touch sensor panel is used in a bright environment, incident light can hit the interfaces between those layers of the stackup having mismatched refractive indices and can reflect off those interfaces. The light reflected from those interfaces can give rise to the appearance of fringes on the touch sensor panel, which can be visually distracting. In order to reduce the appearance of these fringes, embodiments of the disclosure are directed to the addition of an index matching passivation layer between a conductive layer of traces and an adhesive layer in the touch sensor panel stackup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Chun-Hao TUNG, EnkhAmgalan DORJGOTOV, Masato KUWABARA, Sunggu KANG, Cheng CHEN, John Z. ZHONG
  • Patent number: 9158143
    Abstract: When a user operates a touch sensor panel having an LCD device outdoors or in a bright environment, light reflecting off the device can create glare. In order to reduce glare, a user can view the device through polarized filters such as polarized sunglasses. Doing so can reduce the visibility of the image displayed on the LCD. A quarter-wave retardation film can be added to the touch sensor panel's LCD device to mitigate these effects by producing circularly polarized light. However, adding a separate quarter-wave retardation film can increase the thickness and cost of manufacturing the touch sensor panel. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a touch sensor panel constructed from a base film having quarter-wave retardation properties that can produce circularly polarized light. Because the base film has the desired optical properties, a separate quarter-wave retardation film may not be needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, Siddharth Mohapatra, Lili Huang, John Z. Zhong, Masato Kuwabara
  • Publication number: 20150212614
    Abstract: A polarizer integrated with conductive material and a process for forming a polarizer integrated with conductive material are disclosed. A polarizer can be integrated with conductive material to form a portion of a touch sensor panel. In one example, a layer of conductive film forming either the row or column traces can be patterned on a surface of a substrate in the polarizer. In another example, the layer of conductive film can be patterned on a viewing angle compensation film of the polarizer. One or more of the polarizer's polarizing layer, protective substrates or viewing angle compensation film can act as a dielectric between the conductive material forming the rows and column traces in the stack-up. As a result, the clear polymer spacer acting as a dielectric in touch panels can be removed, reducing the thickness of the touch screen stack-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, Masato Kuwabara, Sunggu Kang, John Z. Zhong