Patents by Inventor Seiya Shibuya

Seiya Shibuya 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: 9643444
    Abstract: An identification medium can be affixed to cloth or leather products by sewing. A cholesteric liquid crystal layer on which an embossed surface for forming a hologram is formed, is sandwiched between a first supporting member and a second supporting member. A mounting region that can be affixed to clothing, etc., by sewing, is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi, Tohru Ida, Seiya Shibuya
  • Patent number: 9298036
    Abstract: In an identification medium, switching of images can be clearly observed, and the medium has a structure produced at low cost. The structure comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 102 in which a hologram is formed, and which selectively reflects circularly polarized light of a specific rotating direction of a specific central wavelength, a cholesteric liquid crystal layer reflecting the entire range of visible light 105 which has reflection characteristics equivalent to a case of reflecting the entire range of visible light and which reflects circularly polarized light of the same rotating direction as the circularly polarized light reflected from the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 102, and a display pattern 106 having a specific content displayed, arranged in this order, as seen from the side of observation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi, Seiya Shibuya, Tooru Ida
  • Publication number: 20150069128
    Abstract: An optical reading device authenticates an identification medium with cholesteric liquid crystal layer, having a structure in which no movable parts are necessary for switching circular circularly polarized light filter. The optical reading device reads an image from an identification medium having a cholesteric liquid crystal layer having a hologram processed, and an ink printed pattern layer in this order, and the device includes a light emitting part in which a right circularly polarized light filter is arranged in front of an LED, a light emitting part in which a right circularly polarized light filter is arranged in front of an LED, and a controlling part which switches light emission between the light emitting parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi, Shinsuke Yoshida, Seiya Shibuya, Tohru Ida, Syuhei Okubo
  • Publication number: 20150062504
    Abstract: An identification medium can be affixed to cloth or leather products by sewing. A cholesteric liquid crystal layer on which an embossed surface for forming a hologram is formed, is sandwiched between a first supporting member and a second supporting member. A mounting region that can be affixed to clothing, etc., by sewing, is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi, Tohru Ida, Seiya Shibuya
  • Patent number: 8970953
    Abstract: An identification medium is provided in which latent image having plural colors can be observed even when the identification medium is spaced away from a polarization filter. A cholesteric liquid crystal layer is provided as a specific polarization light reflection layer which reflects light having a specific polarized condition. An optical anisotropic layer having an optical anisotropy is provided at an upper position overlapping with the specific polarization light reflection layer. An image A fanned by an area having an optical anisotropy different from that of surroundings is formed at the optical anisotropic layer. When the identification medium is directly viewed, the influence of the optical anisotropy cannot be seen. When the identification medium is observed via a circular polarization filter, the image can be seen to have a specific color by the influence of the optical anisotropy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi, Tokio Sakauchi, Seiya Shibuya, Tohru Ida
  • Publication number: 20140160540
    Abstract: An identification medium cannot be reused when an attempt has been made to remove it from an object by using solvent. A cholesteric liquid crystal layer subjected to a hologram processing is formed while contacting a COP (cycloolefin polymer) layer. When the identification medium is removed using a solvent from a state in which it was adhered to an object by an adhesive layer, the COP layer is melted by the solvent and is damaged. The COP layer is a layer which functions as a substrate of the identification medium, and the identification medium is damaged by contacting with the solvent, as described above, and it is difficult to reuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi, Seiya Shibuya, Tooru Ida
  • Publication number: 20140022493
    Abstract: In an identification medium, switching of images can be clearly observed, and the medium has a structure produced at low cost. The structure comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 102 in which a hologram is formed, and which selectively reflects circularly polarized light of a specific rotating direction of a specific central wavelength, a cholesteric liquid crystal layer reflecting the entire range of visible light 105 which has reflection characteristics equivalent to a case of reflecting the entire range of visible light and which reflects circularly polarized light of the same rotating direction as the circularly polarized light reflected from the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 102, and a display pattern 106 having a specific content displayed, arranged in this order, as seen from the side of observation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi, Seiya Shibuya, Tooru Ida
  • Publication number: 20120236292
    Abstract: An identification medium is provided in which latent image having plural colors can be observed even when the identification medium is spaced away from a polarization filter. A cholesteric liquid crystal layer is provided as a specific polarization light reflection layer which reflects light having a specific polarized condition. An optical anisotropic layer having an optical anisotropy is provided at an upper position overlapping with the specific polarization light reflection layer. An image A formed by an area having an optical anisotropy different from that of surroundings is formed at the optical anisotropic layer. When the identification medium is directly viewed, the influence of the optical anisotropy cannot be seen. When the identification medium is observed via a circular polarization filter, the image can be seen to have a specific color by the influence of the optical anisotropy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi, Tokio Sakauchi, Seiya Shibuya, Tohru Ida
  • Patent number: 6740431
    Abstract: In an identification medium for identifying an authenticity of an object either visually or optically by using an identification device, high polymer cholesteric liquid crystal is applied onto the object, onto a sticker adapted to be affixed to the object or onto a base for hot stamping onto the object, and the high polymer cholesteric liquid crystal is patterned, and/or a graphic representation layer such as a figure and letter is formed under or over the high polymer cholesteric liquid crystal to enhance the aesthetic quality of the identification medium or the object, and improve the capability to identify and prevent forgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi, Seiya Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20030133098
    Abstract: In an identification medium for identifying an authenticity of an object either visually or optically by using an identification device, high polymer cholesteric liquid crystal is applied onto the object, onto a sticker adapted to affixed to the object or onto a base for hot stamping onto the object, and the high polymer cholesteric liquid crystal is patterned, and/or a graphic representation layer such as a figure and letter is formed under or over the high polymer cholesteric liquid crystal to enhance the aesthetic quality of the identification medium or the object, and improve the capability to identify and prevent forgery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd., a corporation of Japan
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi, Seiya Shibuya
  • Patent number: 6301047
    Abstract: The object to be identified is affixed with an identification medium comprising a reflective layer consisting of a reflective hologram or diffraction grating. The high polymer cholesteric liquid crystal provides an inexpensive identification medium, and the use of the second light receiving unit for providing a reference signal provides a high S/N output signal which is highly distinct and resistant to the contamination of the identification medium. Also, the elimination of the need for expensive optical elements such as beam splitters also contributes to the reduction of cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi, Seiya Shibuya
  • Patent number: 6061122
    Abstract: Provided is an economical identification system suitable for use on commercial products which is difficult to duplicate, and highly identifiable. The system includes an identification medium having a high-polymer cholesteric liquid crystal material applied thereon. The high-polymer cholesteric liquid crystals selectively reflect a certain wavelength, and this wavelength changes with the change in the incident angle of the light. The liquid crystals also have the property to circularly polarize the reflected light in either sense. By taking advantages of such properties, it is possible to provide a highly identifiable structure which, however, is highly difficult to illicitly duplicate. In particular, by forming the reflective layer of a hologram with high-polymer cholesteric liquid crystals, the hologram can be used as an identification medium which is highly difficult to duplicate but easy to identify with a machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignees: NHK Spring Co., Ltd., Nippon Mitsubishi Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi, Seiya Shibuya