Patents by Inventor Naoki Tatehata

Naoki Tatehata 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: 20130088847
    Abstract: A light-guiding sheet includes a film-shaped light-transmitting base material, a plurality of light-emitting portions formed on the base material, and a light-transmitting light-guiding layer covering the plurality of light-emitting portions. With this configuration, light enters the light-emitting portion from the base material and the light-guiding layer, thereby increasing an amount of light scattered and reflected by the light-emitting portions. Therefore, a movable contact body using the light-guiding sheet enables bright illumination, thus enabling easy-to-see and easy operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Tatehata
  • Patent number: 8388157
    Abstract: A light guide sheet includes a material sheet having a film shape, first and second illuminations portion provided on the material sheet for diffusing light. The material sheet has a slit having substantially a strip shape provided therein and provided around the first illumination portion. The slit has a first edge and a second edge opposite to the first edge. The first edge faces the first illumination portion. The material sheet includes a first bridge and a second bridge linking the first edge of the first slit to the second edge across the first slit. This light guide sheet provides a movable contact assembly which is easily fabricated and provides preferable illuminating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tatehata, Nobuhisa Takahashi, Masahiro Ito, Makoto Sadakane, Shinji Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 8378992
    Abstract: A touch panel includes multiple belt-like lower electrodes formed on a light transparent base sheet and multiple belt-like upper electrodes placed away from the lower electrodes with a predetermined distance therebetween and in a direction crossing with the lower electrodes at right angles. The lower and upper electrodes are made of light transmissive and electrically conductive resin, so that they can be formed in a simple way such as printing. The foregoing structure thus allows obtaining the touch panel manufactured in a simple way at a lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tatehata, Yousuke Chikahisa, Koji Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8339368
    Abstract: An input device includes an input section formed of a display sheet and a coordinate input sheet, and a switch section allowing a push-input and placed on a substrate at a place corresponding to a display section of the display sheet. A foamed layer containing air and working as an insulating resin layer is placed between the input section and the substrate. The input section is supported via the foamed layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takefumi Inoue, Naoki Tatehata
  • Patent number: 8337028
    Abstract: A light guide sheet is adapted to be used with a light emitter. The light guide sheet includes a light-transmissive base, a light inlet section having bonded to a lower surface of the base, and an illumination section for diffusing the light entering into the base. The light inlet section has an upper surface and an edge surface connected to the upper surface. The upper surface of the light inlet section is bonded to the lower surface of the base. Light emitted from the light emitter enters into the edge surface the light inlet section. The light inlet section causes the entering light to enter into the base. The light inlet section has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the base. The light guide sheet provides a movable contact assembly capable of reliably illumination inexpensively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tatehata, Yousuke Chikahisa
  • Patent number: 8232491
    Abstract: A movable contact point made of a thin conductive metal sheet in an approximate dome shape is attached to the lower surface of a transparent base sheet, and the base sheet is provided at the upper or the lower surface with a fluorescent layer in the location above the movable contact point. Since, in the make-up, light can be made available for illumination in many colors other than that generated from a light emitting device, a movable contact element, as well as a switch formed using the contact element, that offers various illuminating modes can be implemented in a simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tatehata, Takefumi Inoue, Koji Tanabe, Yousuke Chikahisa
  • Patent number: 8212787
    Abstract: A touch panel has a plurality of band-like optically transmissive lower electrodes and upper electrodes formed at predetermined intervals in directions perpendicular to each other on an upper surface of an optically transparent base sheet. A dome-like movable contact is formed from a conductive metal sheet which is mounted under the touch panel. A light guide sheet with a plurality of convex-concave light emitting portions is formed on an optically transparent substrate, which is disposed between the touch panel and the movable contact. Accordingly, uniform illumination can be attained by using only one or two light emitting elements, and it is possible to obtain a movable contact body capable of inexpensive and reliable illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tatehata, Yousuke Chikahisa, Koji Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8196060
    Abstract: A planar image and a mark are displayed on a display having an outer periphery. A region is provided on the display. The region has a boundary distanced from the outer periphery of the display. The mark is moved with respect to the planar image on the display when the mark is positioned in the region. The planar image is scrolled in a direction directed from the region to the mark on the display when the mark is positioned at an outside of the region. This method allows the mark to be positioned efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tatehata, Teruyuki Kimata
  • Patent number: 8164014
    Abstract: A concavo-convex light emitting section provided on an under surface of a base material is formed of a synthetic resin with inorganic oxide dispersed therein. A larger amount of light is reflected by inorganic oxide having a large refractive index and dispersed inside the synthetic resin, to cause a plurality of light emitting sections to emit bright light with a small number of light emitting elements. A light guiding sheet capable of making bright and uniform illumination and a movable contact body using the same are realized with a simple configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tatehata, Tsutomu Aisaka, Hirotoshi Watanabe, Yousuke Chikahisa
  • Patent number: 8164015
    Abstract: A movable contact unit includes a light-guide sheet, a cover sheet, a movable contact, and a light-transmissive light-guide portion. The light-guide sheet includes a film-shaped substrate, and a convex and concave luminescent portion provided on the substrate. The cover sheet faces the substrate. A dome-shaped resilient movable contact made of a thin metal sheet is attached to the cover sheet at a position corresponding to the luminescent portion. The light-guide portion is provided on the cover sheet at a position other than an area where the movable contact is disposed or on the light-guide sheet at a position other than an area where the light-guide portion is disposed. If the light-guide portion is provided on the light-guide sheet, the movable contact may be attached to the light-guide sheet without using the cover sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tatehata, Yousuke Chikahisa, Tsutomu Aisaka, Koji Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8124903
    Abstract: An input device for constructing an inputting operation unit for various electronic apparatus and a method of manufacturing the input device are provided. The input device allows push-down inputting operation and position inputting operation using the same operating unit. The input device has a position input sensor provided under a key, and a base sheet having a movable contact joined to its bottom face depending on the location where the key is disposed, and a columnar section is disposed in a manner sandwiched between the position input sensor and the base sheet at the center of the movable contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tatehata, Hiroshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8097821
    Abstract: The movable contact unit with a light-guiding function has the following structure. An uneven section is formed in a section that is to be lighted on the lower surface of a TPU base sheet. A film with a refractive index of light lower than that of the base sheet is disposed beneath the lower surface of the base sheet in a manner that the uneven section is embedded in the film. Besides, an adhesive layer is disposed beneath the film so as to hold a movable contact. The movable contact unit structured above is effectively employed for a lighted panel switch capable of reducing loss in amount of light and providing the section that is to be lighted with required illuminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tatehata, Tsutomu Aisaka, Yousuke Chikahisa
  • Publication number: 20110315534
    Abstract: A light guide sheet guides light emitted from a light introducer. The light guide sheet includes a film-shaped substrate, a light emitting section formed on the substrate, and a belt-shaped light-blocking section. The light emitting section reflects or scatters light transmitting in the substrate to the outside. The light-blocking section is formed in the substrate by coloring a position of the substrate to a color. In the position, the light emitting section is not formed. The color absorbs the light which is emitted from the light introducer. The light emitting section can alternatively be composed of a plurality of projections and/or a plurality of recesses. Such a light-blocking section is formed in a position of the substrate where the projections and/or the recesses are not formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Tanabe, Naoki Tatehata, Hirotoshi Watanabe, Tsutomu Aisaka
  • Publication number: 20110280024
    Abstract: The light guide sheet has a base of a light transmissive film, a first light-extracting section, and a second light-extracting section. The light-extracting sections having pits and projections are formed on a surface of the base. The base has a first color converter at least at a part corresponding to the position having the first light-extracting section in a thickness direction of the base. The first color converter converts light from a light source into a first color. Forming a color converter for predetermined color at each part corresponding to a plurality of the light-extracting sections allows the one color emitted from a light-emitting element to be converted into differently colored light beams at the light-extracting sections. The structure offers various patterns of illumination without increase in number of the light-emitting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: KOJI TANABE, NAOKI TATEHATA, HIROTOSHI WATANABE
  • Patent number: 8025435
    Abstract: A light guide sheet and a movable contact element using the single sheet have a simple structure and can be variously illuminated. The light guide sheet includes irregular-shaped light extracting elements formed on a film-like base material; and light-transmissive, belt-shaped light guide parts each connecting a predetermined number of groups of the light extracting elements. In addition, dome-shaped movable contacts formed of a conductive sheet metal are arranged on the bottom surfaces of the light extracting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tatehata, Yousuke Chikahisa, Tsutomu Aisaka, Koji Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20110198204
    Abstract: A light guide sheet has a light-transmissive film-shaped base material, and a convex first light emitting section formed on the base material. In the first light emitting section, a fluorescent pigment and a dyeing pigment are dispersed. The light guide sheet of the present invention emits light of a pure and vivid color by using the fluorescent pigment and the dyeing pigment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: NAOKI TATEHATA, HIROTOSHI WATANABE
  • Patent number: 7946720
    Abstract: A light shielding part includes a slit provided between a first light guide body and a second light guide body, and an attenuation part which has unevenness formed by print and is additionally provided near end sides of the first light guide body and the second light guide body. The light shielding part can prevent light from being transmitted between the first light guide body and the second light guide body. With this configuration, when illumination parts of the first and second light guide bodies are illuminated, it is possible to illuminate the illumination parts of the first and second light guide bodies at different timings without the illumination part of one light guide body being illuminated with light leaked from the other light guide body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tatehata, Tsutomu Aisaka, Naoki Sera, Yousuke Chikahisa
  • Publication number: 20100323751
    Abstract: A light guide sheet is adapted to be used with a light emitter. The light guide sheet includes a light-transmissive base, a light inlet section having bonded to a lower surface of the base, and an illumination section for diffusing the light entering into the base. The light inlet section has an upper surface and an edge surface connected to the upper surface. The upper surface of the light inlet section is bonded to the lower surface of the base. Light emitted from the light emitter enters into the edge surface the light inlet section. The light inlet section causes the entering light to enter into the base. The light inlet section has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the base. The light guide sheet provides a movable contact assembly capable of reliably illumination inexpensively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: NAOKI TATEHATA, YOUSUKE CHIKAHISA
  • Patent number: 7851717
    Abstract: A light-guide sheet includes a light transmissive film substrate, and luminescent protrusions formed at predetermined points on the substrate. At least one of the substrate and each of the luminescent protrusions is colored to a color tone that absorbs yellow light more than blue light. Alternatively, a reflective layer colored to a color tone that absorbs yellow light more than blue light is provided on at least one of the top and bottom faces of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tatehata, Yousuke Chikahisa, Tsutomu Aisaka, Koji Tanabe, Hirotoshi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20100187077
    Abstract: A movable contact unit includes a light-guide sheet, a cover sheet, a movable contact, and a light-transmissive light-guide portion. The light-guide sheet includes a film-shaped substrate, and a convex and concave luminescent portion provided on the substrate. The cover sheet faces the substrate. A dome-shaped resilient movable contact made of a thin metal sheet is attached to the cover sheet at a position corresponding to the luminescent portion. The light-guide portion is provided on the cover sheet at a position other than an area where the movable contact is disposed or on the light-guide sheet at a position other than an area where the light-guide portion is disposed. If the light-guide portion is provided on the light-guide sheet, the movable contact may be attached to the light-guide sheet without using the cover sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Naoki Tatehata, Yousuke Chikahisa, Tsutomu Aisaka, Koji Tanabe