Patents by Inventor Naoki Tomikawa

Naoki Tomikawa 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: 11656504
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal apparatus, a liquid crystal is provided in a cavity surrounded by a seal material between a first substrate and a second substrate, and the liquid crystal is aligned in a diagonal direction formed by corners 10a1, 10a3. Between a pixel area and the seal material, a first groove is formed along a side 20a6 from the corner 10a1 toward a corner 10a2. When a first pump is driven, the liquid crystal of the pixel area is drawn from a first end of the first groove on the corner 10a1 side, and the liquid crystal is ejected from a second end into the pixel area. As a result, a liquid crystal flow from the side of a side 20a7 toward the side of a side 20a9 occurs in the pixel area, and thus the liquid crystal can be smoothly circulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Tomikawa
  • Patent number: 11378830
    Abstract: A projection-type display device includes a liquid crystal device, a transmittance measuring device configured to measure a transmittance of a liquid crystal panel, and a cooling device. After a result of measurement of the transmittance by the transmittance measuring device changes by 10% relative to a default value, a control unit controls the cooling device to raise temperatures of a liquid crystal layer to be not less than 60° C. and not more than a nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature Tni-20° C. This makes it possible to efficiently sweep impurities from a display region to the outside of the display region without heating the liquid crystal layer more than necessary. In addition, a liquid crystal volume ratio V1/V2 of a liquid crystal device for blue among a plurality of liquid crystal devices is greater than that of the other liquid crystal panels, where V1 is a volume of liquid crystal at the inner side of a seal material, and V2 is a volume of the liquid crystal layer in the display region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Tomikawa, Nobutaka Tanaka, Satoshi Yatabe
  • Publication number: 20210325702
    Abstract: A projection-type display device includes a liquid crystal device, a transmittance measuring device configured to measure a transmittance of a liquid crystal panel, and a cooling device. After a result of measurement of the transmittance by the transmittance measuring device changes by 10% relative to a default value, a control unit controls the cooling device to raise temperatures of a liquid crystal layer to be not less than 60° C. and not more than a nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature Tni-20° C. This makes it possible to efficiently sweep impurities from a display region to the outside of the display region without heating the liquid crystal layer more than necessary. In addition, a liquid crystal volume ratio V1/V2 of a liquid crystal device for blue among a plurality of liquid crystal devices is greater than that of the other liquid crystal panels, where V1 is a volume of liquid crystal at the inner side of a seal material, and V2 is a volume of the liquid crystal layer in the display region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki TOMIKAWA, Nobutaka TANAKA, Satoshi YATABE
  • Patent number: 10884294
    Abstract: In an electro-optical device, a first ion trap electrode, a second ion trap electrode, and a third ion trap electrode are provided between a pixel region and a sealing material, the first ion trap electrode, the second ion trap electrode, and the third ion trap electrode are applied with signals whose phases are shifted by 120° from each other. Since a diffusion preventing portion in which the thickness of an electro-optical layer is thinner than the thickness of the pixel region is provided between a pixel electrode and the first ion trap electrode, ionic impurities are less likely to diffuse into the pixel region even if application of a potential to an ion trap electrode is paused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Tomikawa
  • Publication number: 20200393710
    Abstract: In an electro-optical device, a first ion trap electrode, a second ion trap electrode, and a third ion trap electrode are provided between a pixel region and a sealing material, the first ion trap electrode, the second ion trap electrode, and the third ion trap electrode are applied with signals whose phases are shifted by 120° from each other. Since a diffusion preventing portion in which the thickness of an electro-optical layer is thinner than the thickness of the pixel region is provided between a pixel electrode and the first ion trap electrode, ionic impurities are less likely to diffuse into the pixel region even if application of a potential to an ion trap electrode is paused.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki TOMIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10866445
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate in which a pixel electrode having reflectivity, an insulating film, and an orientation film including an oblique angle vapor deposition film are laminated in this order, and a second substrate in which a common electrode having light transmissivity and an orientation film are laminated in this order. A center wavelength ? (nm) of light source light incident from the second substrate side, a refractive index n of the insulating film, a penetration depth ? (nm) of the light source light into the pixel electrode, and a film thickness d (nm) from the pixel electrode to the center in a thickness of the orientation film satisfy the following conditional expression where m is a positive integer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Tomikawa, Kazu Kobayashi, Mitsutaka Ohori
  • Patent number: 10867567
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes, peripheral electrodes including three electrodes for ion trapping, and a transistor coupled to each of the three electrodes. A common signal (COM signal) that varies between a first potential and a second potential in a first period is applied to a counter electrode. A driving signal that varies between a third potential and a fourth potential is input to the transistor. The driving signal is coupled to or uncoupled from the peripheral electrodes by the transistor in a unit of a duration equal to or less than ½ of the first period. AC signals varying between a positive-polarity potential and a negative-polarity potential, with a potential of the common signal being a reference, in a second period longer than the first period, are applied to the three electrodes of the peripheral electrodes, in a state where phases of the AC signals are shifted mutually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Yatabe, Naoki Tomikawa
  • Publication number: 20200363667
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal apparatus, a liquid crystal is provided in a cavity surrounded by a seal material between a first substrate and a second substrate, and the liquid crystal is aligned in a diagonal direction formed by corners 10a1, 10a3. Between a pixel area and the seal material, a first groove is formed along a side 20a6 from the corner 10a1 toward a corner 10a2. When a first pump is driven, the liquid crystal of the pixel area is drawn from a first end of the first groove on the corner 10a1 side, and the liquid crystal is ejected from a second end into the pixel area. As a result, a liquid crystal flow from the side of a side 20a7 toward the side of a side 20a9 occurs in the pixel area, and thus the liquid crystal can be smoothly circulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki TOMIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10762861
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal device, a plurality of pixel electrodes are provided in a pixel region E, in a first substrate. The first substrate is provided with a first electrode interposed between the pixel region and a sealing material in a plan view, and a second electrode interposed between the first electrode and the sealing material in a plan view. Of the plurality of pixel electrodes, a first signal of a first phase is supplied to a first pixel electrode that is adjacent to the first electrode, a second signal of a second phase having a phase delay with respect to the first signal is applied to the first electrode, and a third signal of a third phase having a phase delay with respect to the second signal is applied to a second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Tomikawa
  • Publication number: 20200026131
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal device, in an area located between a pixel area and a sealing material in plan view in a first substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode are provided sequentially from the pixel area toward the sealing material, the first electrode being supplied with a first signal, the second electrode being supplied with a second signal having a phase different from the first signal, and the third electrode being supplied with a third signal having a phase different from those of the first signal and the second signal. Here, a distance (first distance) from a pixel electrode, which is adjacent to the first electrode, among a plurality of pixel electrodes to the first electrode is equal to or less than a distance (second distance) from the first electrode to the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki TOMIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20200027413
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal device, a plurality of pixel electrodes are provided in a pixel region E, in a first substrate. The first substrate is provided with a first electrode interposed between the pixel region and a sealing material in a plan view, and a second electrode interposed between the first electrode and the sealing material in a plan view. Of the plurality of pixel electrodes, a first signal of a first phase is supplied to a first pixel electrode that is adjacent to the first electrode, a second signal of a second phase having a phase delay with respect to the first signal is applied to the first electrode, and a third signal of a third phase having a phase delay with respect to the second signal is applied to a second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki TOMIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20190355319
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes, peripheral electrodes including three electrodes for ion trapping, and a transistor coupled to each of the three electrodes. A common signal (COM signal) that varies between a first potential and a second potential in a first period is applied to a counter electrode. A driving signal that varies between a third potential and a fourth potential is input to the transistor. The driving signal is coupled to or uncoupled from the peripheral electrodes by the transistor in a unit of a duration equal to or less than ½ of the first period. AC signals varying between a positive-polarity potential and a negative-polarity potential, with a potential of the common signal being a reference, in a second period longer than the first period, are applied to the three electrodes of the peripheral electrodes, in a state where phases of the AC signals are shifted mutually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi YATABE, Naoki TOMIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20190146265
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate in which a pixel electrode having reflectivity, an insulating film, and an orientation film including an oblique angle vapor deposition film are laminated in this order, and a second substrate in which a common electrode having light transmissivity and an orientation film are laminated in this order. A center wavelength ? (nm) of light source light incident from the second substrate side, a refractive index n of the insulating film, a penetration depth ? (nm) of the light source light into the pixel electrode, and a film thickness d (nm) from the pixel electrode to the center in a thickness of the orientation film satisfy the following conditional expression where m is a positive integer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki TOMIKAWA, Kazu KOBAYASHI, Mitsutaka OHORI
  • Patent number: 10217425
    Abstract: Provided are a driving method of an electro-optical device, an electro-optical device and an electronic apparatus in which reductions in display quality are suppressed. The driving method of an electro-optical device that is provided with an element substrate, a facing substrate, and a liquid crystal layer that is disposed between the element substrate and the facing substrate, includes applying an AC signal V1 to a plurality of first pixel electrode that are electrically connected to a first scanning line of the element substrate 10, and applying an AC signal V2 to a plurality of second pixel electrodes that are electrically connected to a second scanning line, which is disposed adjacent to the first scanning line, and the phase of the AC signal V2 is delayed by a predetermined amount with respect to that of the AC signal V1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tomikawa, Nariya Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20180282407
    Abstract: An inhibitor of HCV infection having a high inhibitory effect on HCV infection wherein the effect is unaffected by genotypes or gene mutations of HCV is developed and provided. The present invention provides an anti-occludin antibody binding to a peptide which consists of a portion of an amino acid sequence constituting a second extracellular domain of occludin and contains the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 as an epitope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: Fukushima Medical University
    Inventors: Hideki CHIBA, Naoki TOMIKAWA, Hiromasa OHIRA, Ken OKAI
  • Patent number: 9870742
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes a first electrode that is supplied with a first potential, a second electrode that is provided between the first electrode and a sealing member and is supplied with a second potential, and a third electrode that is provided between the second electrode and the sealing member and is supplied with a third potential. A width of the third electrode is greater than widths of the first electrode and the second electrode in a direction from an outer edge of a display region toward the sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Nishida, Naoki Tomikawa
  • Patent number: 9858875
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes a first and second substrate, a sealant, a liquid crystal layer, and a first and second electrode. The first substrate includes a display region in which a plurality of pixel electrodes are aligned in a matrix. The second substrate includes a common electrode. The sealant is disposed between the first and second substrate so as to surround the display region. The liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first substrate, the second substrate and the sealant. The first electrode is disposed between the display region and the sealant. The second electrode is disposed between the display region and the first pixel electrode. The first electrode is supplied a first signal. The second electrode is supplied a second signal. The pixel electrodes are supplied an image signal. A frequency of each of the first and second signals are lower than a frequency of the image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Tomikawa
  • Patent number: 9693026
    Abstract: In a projection type display apparatus, a lighting device includes two reflection type cutoff filters (first cutoff filter and reflective second cutoff filter) which block out ultraviolet range light on an output optical path from a light source. A cut on wavelength of the second cutoff filter on the front side is longer than that of the first cutoff filter on the rear side. The two cutoff filters are formed on planar-shaped first faces of a first integrator lens and a second integrator lens. For this reason, both input faces of the two cutoff filters are orthogonal to an apparatus optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tomikawa, Takenori Hirota, Ryuichi Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 9670411
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal device including an element substrate, a counter substrate which is arranged to face the element substrate, a liquid crystal layer which is arranged between the element substrate and the counter substrate, and inorganic alignment films which are arranged between the element substrate and the liquid crystal layer and between the counter substrate and the liquid crystal layer. A silane compound film with which a fullerene is modified is arranged to cover the inorganic alignment film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Tomikawa
  • Publication number: 20160314753
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes a first and second substrate, a sealant, a liquid crystal layer, and a first and second electrode. The first substrate includes a display region in which a plurality of pixel electrodes are aligned in a matrix. The second substrate includes a common electrode. The sealant is disposed between the first and second substrate so as to surround the display region. The liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first substrate, the second substrate and the sealant. The first electrode is disposed between the display region and the sealant. The second electrode is disposed between the display region and the first pixel electrode. The first electrode is supplied a first signal. The second electrode is supplied a second signal. The pixel electrodes are supplied an image signal. A frequency of each of the first and second signals are lower than a frequency of the image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventor: Naoki Tomikawa