Patents by Inventor Michiko Okafuji

Michiko Okafuji 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: 20130015762
    Abstract: There is provided a PDP in which the structure of the periphery of a protective film is improved, excellent secondary electron emission property is exhibited, and improved efficiency and increased life can be expected. There is further provided a PDP in which occurrence of a discharge delay at the time of driving is prevented, and exhibition of high quality image display performance can be expected even in a high definition PDP that is driven at a high speed. Specifically, a crystalline film containing Sr in CeO2 in a concentration of 11.8 mol % to 49.4 mol % inclusive is formed on the surface of dielectric layer on the discharge space side as surface layer (protective film) having a thickness of about 1 ?m. High ? fine particles having secondary electron emission property higher than those of protective film are arranged thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Fukui, Mikihiko Nishitani, Masahiro Sakai, Michiko Okafuji, Yayoi Okui, Yosuke Honda, Yasuhiro Yamauchi, Osamu Inoue, Hiroshi Asano
  • Patent number: 8222814
    Abstract: The present invention improves discharge characteristics of a protective layer in order to provide a PDP that exhibits excellent display performance even if the PDP is of a fine-cell structure. The present invention also provides a manufacturing method for the PDP. In particular, a protective layer 8 is composed of an MgO film layer 81 and an MgO particle layer 82 that is made of MgO particles 16. The MgO particles 16 are formed by burning an MgO precursor and satisfy that a/b?1.2, where a denotes a spectrum integral value in a wavelength region of a CL spectrum from 650 nm to 900 nm, exclusive of 900 nm, and b denotes a spectrum integral value in a wavelength region of the CL spectrum from 300 nm to 550 nm, exclusive of 550 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaharu Terauchi, Yusuke Fukui, Takuji Tsujita, Michiko Okafuji, Mikihiko Nishitani
  • Patent number: 8164259
    Abstract: A first aim of the present invention is to provide a PDP capable of stably delivering favorable image display performance and being driven with low power, by improving the surface layer to improve secondary electron emission characteristics and charge retention characteristics. A second aim of the present invention is to provide a PDP, in addition to having the above-mentioned effects, capable of reducing an aging time. In order to achieve these aims, a crystalline film of a film thickness of approximately 1 ?m is disposed as a surface layer (protective film) 8 on a surface of the dielectric layer 7 that faces a discharge space. The surface layer 8 is made by adding Sr to CeO2, and a concentration of Sr in the surface layer 8 is in a range of 11.8 mol % to 49.4 mol % inclusive. With this structure, an attempt is made to improve the secondary electron emission characteristics and aging characteristics in the surface layer 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Fukui, Masahiro Sakai, Mikihiko Nishitani, Yosuke Honda, Michiko Okafuji, Yasuhiro Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20110298363
    Abstract: A first aim of the present invention is to provide a PDP capable of stably delivering favorable image display performance and being driven with low power, by improving the surface layer to improve secondary electron emission characteristics and charge retention characteristics. A second aim of the present invention is to provide a PDP, in addition to having the above-mentioned effects, capable of reducing an aging time. In order to achieve these aims, a crystalline film of a film thickness of approximately 1 ?m is disposed as a surface layer (protective film) 8 on a surface of the dielectric layer 7 that faces a discharge space. The surface layer 8 is made by adding Sr to CeO2, and a concentration of Sr in the surface layer 8 is in a range of 11.8 mol % to 49.4 mol % inclusive. With this structure, an attempt is made to improve the secondary electron emission characteristics and aging characteristics in the surface layer 8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Fukui, Masahiro Sakai, Mikihiko Nishitani, Yosuke Honda, Michiko Okafuji, Yasuhiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 8004190
    Abstract: The present invention improves discharge characteristics of a protective layer in order to provide a PDP that exhibits excellent display performance even if the PDP is of a fine-cell structure. The present invention also provides a manufacturing method for the PDP. In particular, a protective layer 8 is composed of an MgO film layer 81 and an MgO particle layer 82 that is made of MgO particles 16. The MgO particles 16 are formed by burning an MgO precursor and satisfy that a/b?1, where a denotes a spectrum integral value in a wavelength region of a CL spectrum from 200 nm to 300 nm, exclusive of 300 nm, and b denotes a spectrum integral value in a wavelength region of the CL spectrum from 300 nm to 550 nm, exclusive of 550 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takuji Tsujita, Yusuke Fukui, Masaharu Terauchi, Mikihiko Nishitani, Michiko Okafuji, Shinichiro Ishino, Kaname Mizokami
  • Publication number: 20110148744
    Abstract: A first aim of the present invention is to provide a PDP capable of stably delivering favorable image display performance and being driven with low power, by improving the surface layer to improve secondary electron emission characteristics and charge retention characteristics. A second aim of the present invention is to provide a PDP capable of displaying high-definition images even when the PDP is driven at high speed by preventing the discharge delay during driving. In order to achieve these aims, the surface layer (protective film) 8 of a film thickness of approximately 1 ?m is disposed on a surface of the dielectric layer 7 that faces a discharge space 15. The surface layer 8 includes CeO2 as the main component and Ba, and a concentration of Ba in the surface layer 8 is in a range of 16 mol % to 29 mol % inclusive. With this structure, an electron level having a certain depth is introduced in a forbidden band in the surface layer 8, or an electron level of a valence band is elevated to narrow a band gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Yusuke Fukui, Masahiro Sakai, Mikihiko Nishitani, Yosuke Honda, Michiko Okafuji, Yasuhiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7932676
    Abstract: The present invention provides a plasma display panel (PDP) with a protective film improved so as to achieve a lower discharge starting voltage. A surface portion of the protective film 16 substantially is composed of magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O). The protective film 16 is formed so that in the surface portion of the protective film 16, a ratio of the number of atoms of the aluminum to a total of the number of atoms of the magnesium and the number of atoms of the aluminum is at least 2.1% but not more than 66.5%, a ratio of the number of atoms of the nitrogen to a total of the number of atoms of the nitrogen and the number of atoms of the oxygen is at least 1.2% but not more than 17.2%, and a ratio of the total of the number of atoms of the nitrogen and the number of atoms of the oxygen to the total of the number of atoms of the magnesium and the number of atoms of the aluminum is at least 1.0 but not more than 1.35.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mikihiko Nishitani, Masahiro Sakai, Yusuke Fukui, Yosuke Honda, Yasuhiro Yamauchi, Michiko Okafuji
  • Publication number: 20100207524
    Abstract: The present invention provides a plasma display panel (PDP) with a protective film improved so as to achieve a lower discharge starting voltage. A surface portion of the protective film 16 substantially is composed of magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O). The protective film 16 is formed so that in the surface portion of the protective film 16, a ratio of the number of atoms of the aluminum to a total of the number of atoms of the magnesium and the number of atoms of the aluminum is at least 2.1% but not more than 66.5%, a ratio of the number of atoms of the nitrogen to a total of the number of atoms of the nitrogen and the number of atoms of the oxygen is at least 1.2% but not more than 17.2%, and a ratio of the total of the number of atoms of the nitrogen and the number of atoms of the oxygen to the total of the number of atoms of the magnesium and the number of atoms of the aluminum is at least 1.0 but not more than 1.35.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikihiko Nishitani, Masahiro Sakai, Yusuke Fukui, Yosuke Honda, Yasuhiro Yamauchi, Michiko Okafuji
  • Publication number: 20100181909
    Abstract: A plasma display panel demonstrating excellent image display performance by suppressing generation of initialization bright points through modification of the phosphor layer, and by eliminating variation in discharge characteristics between the discharge cells of each color. In addition to solving these problems, the luminance of the plasma display panel is also enhanced by using the ultraviolet rays emitted in the discharge space in order to promote the production of visible light on the front panel side. Specifically, the phosphor layer (14) is composed of a phosphor component and of MgO powder (16) disposed principally inside the phosphor layer and exposed towards the surface (140) facing the discharge space in order to impart secondary electron emission characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Takuji Tsujita, Yusuke Fukui, Masaharu Terauchi, Mikihiko Nishitani, Shinichiro Ishino, Kaname Mizokami, Michiko Okafuji, Hiroshi Asano, Kyohei Yoshino
  • Publication number: 20100096986
    Abstract: The present invention improves discharge characteristics of a protective layer in order to provide a PDP that exhibits excellent display performance even if the PDP is of a fine-cell structure. The present invention also provides a manufacturing method for the PDP. In particular, a protective layer 8 is composed of an MgO film layer 81 and an MgO particle layer 82 that is made of MgO particles 16. The MgO particles 16 are formed by burning an MgO precursor and satisfy that a/b?1, where a denotes a spectrum integral value in a wavelength region of a CL spectrum from 200 nm to 300 nm, exclusive of 300 nm, and b denotes a spectrum integral value in a wavelength region of the CL spectrum from 300 nm to 550 nm, exclusive of 550 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Takuji Tsujita, Yusuke Fukui, Masaharu Terauchi, Mikihiko Nishitani, Michiko Okafuji, Kaname Mizokami
  • Patent number: 7687993
    Abstract: A technology effective for improving the luminous efficiency, lifetime, and color temperature of a PDP having phosphor layers of three colors is disclosed. A PDP comprises a plurality of narrow tubes (60) arrayed on a substrate (51). In each narrow tube (60), one of phosphor layers (61R; 61B, 61G) is formed and a discharge gas is contained. The compositions and pressures of the discharge gases are set within appropriate ranges respectively corresponding to the phosphor layers (61R, 61B, 61G). Consequently, the PDP can have a lengthened life-time and an improved luminous efficiency. Reductions of variation in breakdown voltage and adjustment of color temperature are also possible with this constitution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Michiko Okafuji, Yukihiro Morita, Shinichiro Hashimoto, Masatoshi Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20100045573
    Abstract: The present invention improves discharge characteristics of a protective layer in order to provide a PDP that exhibits excellent display performance even if the PDP is of a fine-cell structure. The present invention also provides a manufacturing method for the PDP. In particular, a protective layer 8 is composed of an MgO film layer 81 and an MgO particle layer 82 that is made of MgO particles 16. The MgO particles 16 are formed by burning an MgO precursor and satisfy that a/b?1. 2, where a denotes a spectrum integral value in a wavelength region of a CL spectrum from 650 nm to 900 nm, exclusive of 900 nm, and b denotes a spectrum integral value in a wavelength region of the CL spectrum from 300 nm to 550 nm, exclusive of 550 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Masaharu Terauchi, Yusuke Fukui, Takuji Tsujita, Michiko Okafuji, Mikihiko Nishitana
  • Publication number: 20080157672
    Abstract: Disclosed is a PDP and a manufacturing method therefor having improved display performance even if the PDP is of a fine-cell structure. A protective layer of the PDP is composed of an MgO film layer and an MgO particle layer that is made of MgO particles. The MgO particles are formed by burning an MgO precursor and satisfy that a/b?1, where a denotes a spectrum integral value in a wavelength region of a CL spectrum from 200 nm to 300 nm, exclusive of 300 nm, and b denotes a spectrum integral value in a wavelength region of the CL spectrum from 300 nm to 550 nm, exclusive of 550 nm. With provision of the MgO particle layer, the discharge characteristics of the protective layer improve (shorter discharge delay and less temperature dependence of the discharge delay). Consequently, the PDP is ensured to exhibit excellent display performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Takuji Tsujita, Yusuke Fukui, Masaharu Terauchi, Mikihiko Nishitani, Michiko Okafuji, Shinichiro Ishino, Kaname Mizokami
  • Publication number: 20080160346
    Abstract: Disclosed is a PDP and a manufacturing method therefor having improved display performance even if the PDP is of a fine-cell structure. The PDP has a protective layer that is composed of an MgO film layer and an MgO particle layer made of MgO particles. The MgO particles are formed by burning an MgO precursor and satisfy that a/b?1.2, where a denotes a spectrum integral value in a wavelength region of a CL spectrum from 650 nm to 900 nm, exclusive of 900 nm, and b denotes a spectrum integral value of a wavelength region of the CL spectrum from 300 nm to 550 nm, exclusive of 550 nm. The MgO particles have many high energy levels in the energy band and thus emission of initial electrons is caused more easily, which leads to suppress discharge delay and also to suppress temperature dependence of the discharge delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Masaharu Terauchi, Yusuke Fukui, Takuji Tsujita, Michiko Okafuji, Mikihiko Nishitani
  • Publication number: 20060082301
    Abstract: A technology effective for improving the luminous efficiency, lifetime, and color temperature of a PDP having phosphor layers of three colors is disclosed. A PDP comprises a plurality of narrow tubes (60) arrayed on a substrate (51). In each narrow tube (60), one of phosphor layers (61R; 61B, 61G) is formed and a discharge gas is contained. The compositions and pressures of the discharge gases are set within appropriate ranges respectively corresponding to the phosphor layers (61R, 61B, 61G). Consequently, the PDP can have a lengthened life-time and an improved luminous efficiency. Reductions of variation in breakdown voltage and adjustment of color temperature are also possible with this constitution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventors: Michiko Okafuji, Yukihiro Morita, Shinichiro Hashimoto, Masatoshi Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 6787829
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel of the invention is such that, in a pixel region defined by a region of the array substrate surrounded by a pair of image signal lines and a pair of scanning signal lines, of a line-shaped pixel electrode and a common electrode, the electrode that is disposed adjacent to and parallel to a signal line is made of an opaque conductor and at least one of the other electrodes is made of a transparent conductor. Adverse effects of the electric field formed between a signal line and an adjacent electrode thereto are suppressed and a sufficient aperture ratio is ensured by using a transparent conductor for the electrode contributing good display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Fukami, Katsuhiko Kumagawa, Hiroyuki Yamakita, Masanori Kimura, Michiko Okafuji, Satoshi Asada
  • Publication number: 20020176043
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel of the invention is such that, in a pixel region defined by a region of the array substrate surrounded by a pair of image signal lines and a pair of scanning signal lines, of a line-shaped pixel electrode and a common electrode, the electrode that is disposed adjacent to and parallel to a signal line is made of an opaque conductor and at least one of the other electrodes is made of a transparent conductor. Adverse effects of the electric field formed between a signal line and an adjacent electrode thereto are suppressed and a sufficient aperture ratio is ensured by using a transparent conductor for the electrode contributing good display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Tetsuo Fukami, Katsuhiko Kumagawa, Hiroyuki Yamakita, Masanori Kimura, Michiko Okafuji, Satoshi Asada
  • Patent number: 5660971
    Abstract: A thin film device includes a substrate, a conductive oxide film formed on the substrate, and a metal film formed on the substrate and in contact with at least a part of the conductive oxide film. The metal film includes aluminum and a metallic material. The metallic material has a standard electrode potential higher than the standard electrode potential of the aluminum so that the standard electrode potential of the metal film is higher than the reduction potential of the conductive oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikunori Kobayashi, Shinichiro Ishihara, Michiko Okafuji