Patents by Inventor Ryutaro NITOBE

Ryutaro NITOBE 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: 20260126870
    Abstract: A sensor includes sensor electrodes extending in a first direction and arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and routing lines connecting the sensor electrodes to a sensor controller. In the second direction, a first group of sensor electrodes on a first side of the sensor is connected to routing lines at a first end in the first direction, a second group of sensor electrodes on a second side of the sensor opposite to the first side of the sensor is connected to routing lines at a second end in the first direction, and a third sensor electrode between the first group and the second group includes a first sub-electrode connected to one of the routing lines at the first end in the first direction, and a second sub-electrode connected to one of the routing lines at the second end in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2025
    Publication date: May 7, 2026
    Applicant: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun KADOWAKI, Ryutaro NITOBE
  • Patent number: 12608099
    Abstract: Provided is an active pen used with electronic equipment including a touch sensor that is of a capacitive system and that includes sensor electrodes, the active pen including a receiving circuit that receives an uplink signal from the electronic equipment, a transmitting circuit that transmits a downlink signal to the electronic equipment, an attendant function circuit that performs an attendant function different from reception of the uplink signal and transmission of the downlink signal, and a controller that controls operation of the receiving circuit, the transmitting circuit, or the attendant function circuit according to a plurality of kinds of operation modes including a normal mode and a low power consumption mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Nomura, Masafumi Utsugi, Jun Kadowaki, Ryutaro Nitobe, Susumu Yamada, Haruhiko Hisano, Hideyuki Hara, Naoki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 12561021
    Abstract: A position detection device includes first and second sensor electrodes that are adjacent to each other, connection wires connected to the respective sensor electrodes and including first and second connection wires connected to the first and second sensor electrodes, respectively, a sensor controller connected to the connection wires, and a first extension line; and a second extension line. Some of the plurality of connection wires, including the first connection wire, extend at regular intervals in a first region. The connection wires, including the second connection wire, are arranged to extend at regular intervals in a second region different from the first region. The first extension line extends along the second connection wire in the second region and is electrically connected to the first sensor electrode. The second extension line extends along the first connection wire in the first region and is electrically connected to the second sensor electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Kadowaki, Ryutaro Nitobe
  • Patent number: 12541263
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor including sensor electrodes disposed from a first end to a second end in a first direction in a touch surface, terminals that are each disposed for a corresponding one of sets of sensor electrodes among the sensor electrodes and connected to a sensor controller, and routing lines that connect each of the sensor electrodes to one of the terminals corresponding to one of the sensor electrodes. An interconnect resistance per unit length of each of the sensor electrodes becomes lower continuously or in a stepwise manner, according to an interconnect distance from a portion connecting with one of the routing lines corresponding to one of the sensor electrodes, and a difference in the interconnect resistances between any two sensor electrodes among the sensor electrodes is smaller than a case in which an interconnect resistance per unit length in each of the routing lines is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2025
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2026
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Kadowaki, Ryutaro Nitobe
  • Publication number: 20250251819
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor including sensor electrodes disposed from a first end to a second end in a first direction in a touch surface, terminals that are each disposed for a corresponding one of sets of sensor electrodes among the sensor electrodes and connected to a sensor controller, and routing lines that connect each of the sensor electrodes to one of the terminals corresponding to one of the sensor electrodes. An interconnect resistance per unit length of each of the sensor electrodes becomes lower continuously or in a stepwise manner, according to an interconnect distance from a portion connecting with one of the routing lines corresponding to one of the sensor electrodes, and a difference in the interconnect resistances between any two sensor electrodes among the sensor electrodes is smaller than a case in which an interconnect resistance per unit length in each of the routing lines is constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2025
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Inventors: Jun KADOWAKI, Ryutaro NITOBE
  • Publication number: 20250068278
    Abstract: A position detection device includes first and second sensor electrodes that are adjacent to each other, connection wires connected to the respective sensor electrodes and including first and second connection wires connected to the first and second sensor electrodes, respectively, a sensor controller connected to the connection wires, and a first extension line; and a second extension line. Some of the plurality of connection wires, including the first connection wire, extend at regular intervals in a first region. The connection wires, including the second connection wire, are arranged to extend at regular intervals in a second region different from the first region. The first extension line extends along the second connection wire in the second region and is electrically connected to the first sensor electrode. The second extension line extends along the first connection wire in the first region and is electrically connected to the second sensor electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Jun KADOWAKI, Ryutaro NITOBE
  • Publication number: 20250068271
    Abstract: Provided is an active pen used with electronic equipment including a touch sensor that is of a capacitive system and that includes sensor electrodes, the active pen including a receiving circuit that receives an uplink signal from the electronic equipment, a transmitting circuit that transmits a downlink signal to the electronic equipment, an attendant function circuit that performs an attendant function different from reception of the uplink signal and transmission of the downlink signal, and a controller that controls operation of the receiving circuit, the transmitting circuit, or the attendant function circuit according to a plurality of kinds of operation modes including a normal mode and a low power consumption mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Yoshio NOMURA, Masafumi UTSUGI, Jun KADOWAKI, Ryutaro NITOBE, Susumu YAMADA, Haruhiko HISANO, Hideyuki HARA, Naoki WATANABE
  • Patent number: 12169605
    Abstract: A position detection device includes first and second sensor electrodes that are adjacent to each other, connection wires connected to the respective sensor electrodes and including first and second connection wires connected to the first and second sensor electrodes, respectively, a sensor controller connected to the connection wires, and a first extension line; and a second extension line. Some of the plurality of connection wires, including the first connection wire, extend at regular intervals in a first region. The connection wires, including the second connection wire, are arranged to extend at regular intervals in a second region different from the first region. The first extension line extends along the second connection wire in the second region and is electrically connected to the first sensor electrode. The second extension line extends along the first connection wire in the first region and is electrically connected to the second sensor electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Kadowaki, Ryutaro Nitobe
  • Patent number: 12067179
    Abstract: A display device is provided and includes common electrodes overlapping pixels; common driver configured to supply voltage during a display period and an AC drive signal for touch detection during touch detection period; source lines connected to columns of pixels; source driver configured to supply an image signal; gate lines connected to rows of the pixels; select transistors connected between source driver and source lines; and controller configured to supply DC control signal to gate terminals of select transistors during display period, supply an AC control signal to gate terminals of select transistors during touch detection period, wherein AC control signal is synchronous with AC drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Ryutaro Nitobe, Yoshihiro Kotani
  • Publication number: 20230359302
    Abstract: A position detection device includes first and second sensor electrodes that are adjacent to each other, connection wires connected to the respective sensor electrodes and including first and second connection wires connected to the first and second sensor electrodes, respectively, a sensor controller connected to the connection wires, and a first extension line; and a second extension line. Some of the plurality of connection wires, including the first connection wire, extend at regular intervals in a first region. The connection wires, including the second connection wire, are arranged to extend at regular intervals in a second region different from the first region. The first extension line extends along the second connection wire in the second region and is electrically connected to the first sensor electrode. The second extension line extends along the first connection wire in the first region and is electrically connected to the second sensor electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Jun KADOWAKI, Ryutaro NITOBE
  • Patent number: 11775105
    Abstract: A position detection device includes a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode adjacent to the first sensor electrode, first and second connection wires connected to the first and second sensor electrodes, respectively, a sensor controller connected to the connection wires, and a first extension line; and a second extension line. Some of the plurality of connection wires, including the first connection wire, extend at regular intervals in a first region. The connection wires, including the second connection wire, are arranged to extend at regular intervals in a second region different from the first region. The first extension line extends along the second connection wire in the second region and is electrically connected to the first sensor electrode. The second extension line extends along the first connection wire in the first region and is electrically connected to the second sensor electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Kadowaki, Ryutaro Nitobe
  • Patent number: 11740733
    Abstract: A position detection device includes a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode adjacent to the first sensor electrode, first and second connection wires connected to the first and second sensor electrodes, respectively, a sensor controller connected to the connection wires, and a first extension line; and a second extension line. Some of the plurality of connection wires, including the first connection wire, extend at regular intervals in a first region. The connection wires, including the second connection wire, are arranged to extend at regular intervals in a second region different from the first region. The first extension line extends along the second connection wire in the second region and is electrically connected to the first sensor electrode. The second extension line extends along the first connection wire in the first region and is electrically connected to the second sensor electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Kadowaki, Ryutaro Nitobe
  • Publication number: 20230068170
    Abstract: A position detection device includes sensor electrodes including a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode that are adjacent to each other, connection wires connected to the respective sensor electrodes and including first and second connection wires connected to the first and second sensor electrodes, respectively, a sensor controller connected to the connection wires, and a first extension line; and a second extension line. Some of the plurality of connection wires, including the first connection wire, extend at regular intervals in a first region. The connection wires, including the second connection wire, are arranged to extend at regular intervals in a second region different from the first region. The first extension line extends along the second connection wire in the second region and is electrically connected to the first sensor electrode. The second extension line extends along the first connection wire in the first region and is electrically connected to the second sensor electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Jun KADOWAKI, Ryutaro NITOBE
  • Publication number: 20210365142
    Abstract: A display device is provided and includes common electrodes overlapping pixels; common driver configured to supply voltage during a display period and an AC drive signal touch detection during touch detection period; source lines connected to columns of pixels; source driver configured to supply an image signal; gate lines connected to rows of the pixels; select transistors connected between source driver and source lines; and controller configured to supply DC control signal to gate terminals of select transistors during display period, supply an AC control signal to gate terminals of select transistors during touch detection period, wherein AC control signal is synchronous with AC drive signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Ryutaro NITOBE, Yoshihiro KOTANI
  • Patent number: 11094265
    Abstract: A display device capable of suppressing the display quality deterioration is provided even if an optically transparent nondisplay area is formed inside the display area of the display panel of the display device. The display device comprises a display panel including signal lines, scanning lines, and pixels that are connected to the signal lines and scanning lines and surrounded by the signal lines and scanning lines. The display panel includes a display area and an optically transparent nondisplay area inside the display area, and a drive circuit for driving the signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Motonari Kato, Ryutaro Nitobe, Norio Mamba
  • Patent number: 11086430
    Abstract: A display device is provided and includes pixels and common electrodes overlapping the pixels; gate lines connected to pixels in row; source lines connected to pixels in column; source amplifiers; and a gate drive circuit configured to supply at least one first pulse to the gate lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Ryutaro Nitobe, Yoshihiro Kotani
  • Publication number: 20200302878
    Abstract: A display device capable of suppressing the display quality deterioration is provided even if an optically transparent nondisplay area is formed inside the display area of the display panel of the display device. The display device comprises a display panel including signal lines, scanning lines, and pixels that are connected to the signal lines and scanning lines and surrounded by the signal lines and scanning lines. The display panel includes a display area and an optically transparent nondisplay area inside the display area, and a drive circuit for driving the signal lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Motonari KATO, Ryutaro NITOBE, Norio MAMBA
  • Publication number: 20200097115
    Abstract: A display device is provided and includes pixels and common electrodes overlapping the pixels; gate lines connected to pixels in row; source lines connected to pixels in column; source amplifiers; and a gate drive circuit configured to supply at least one first pulse to the gate lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Ryutaro Nitobe, Yoshihiro Kotani
  • Patent number: 10551950
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a display device comprises a common electrode driver configured to supply to common electrodes a display voltage during a display period and a touch detection drive signal during a touch detection period, a source amplifier configured to supply an image signal to source lines, a gate driver configured to supply to gate lines a scanning signal during a display period and a guard signal during a touch detection period, and switches configured to connect the source lines and the common electrodes during a touch detection period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Ryutaro Nitobe, Yoshihiro Kotani
  • Patent number: 10453379
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes: a plurality of pixels arranged in a row-column configuration and divided into a plurality of units each including a plurality of rows; a plurality of scanning signal lines configured to select one row from the pixels; a plurality of pixel signal lines configured to supply pixel signals to the one row; a control circuit configured to output an image signal in which the pixel signals are time-division multiplexed and a plurality of separation control signals for separating the pixel signals from the image signal; and a separation circuit including signal lines and configured to separate the pixel signals from the image signal and output the pixel signals to the pixel signal lines based on the separation control signals. The control circuit switches ends to be supplied with the separation control signals between first ends and second ends of the signal lines in each unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventor: Ryutaro Nitobe