Patents by Inventor Shigeaki Mizushima

Shigeaki Mizushima 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: 10269305
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mirror display that has improved design aesthetics and makes it possible to sufficiently improve visibility in mirror mode in dark environments. The mirror display according to the present invention includes a half mirror plate having a half mirror layer, a display device, a case, and an auxiliary illumination unit that includes an auxiliary light source. The case supports at least the half mirror plate and the display device and includes an outer frame that covers an edge of a front surface of the half mirror plate when viewed in a plan view from a viewing side. The display device is arranged on a rear side of the half mirror plate. The auxiliary light source is arranged on the rear side of the half mirror plate, the display device, or the outer frame. The auxiliary illumination unit is controlled separately from the display device and emits light towards the viewing side when the mirror display is in mirror mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hasegawa, Hiroyuki Hakoi, Akira Sakai, Hidefumi Yoshida, Takaharu Kanai, Takako Shimizu, Yuuki Itou, Atsushi Ogawa, Akira Tsuruta, Takayuki Yuasa, Shigeaki Mizushima
  • Patent number: 10146086
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mirror display that sufficiently prevents a decrease in the screen luminance in the display mode while sufficiently increasing the reflectance in the mirror mode, and also gives excellent production efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Sakai, Masahiro Hasegawa, Hiroyuki Hakoi, Hidefumi Yoshida, Shigeaki Mizushima
  • Patent number: 10012866
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mirror display that can match the peripheral environment having diffusely reflecting surfaces in the mirror mode, and an electronic device including the mirror display. The mirror display includes a half mirror plate that includes a reflective polarizer and a display device. The half mirror plate further includes a light-diffusing member that diffuses at least part of incident light. The mirror display includes, in the order from the back surface side, the display device, the reflective polarizer, and the light-diffusing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Sakai, Masahiro Hasegawa, Hiroyuki Hakoi, Kiyoshi Minoura, Shigeaki Mizushima
  • Patent number: 9841219
    Abstract: An object is to provide a storage container including latent heat storage materials that provide a high cold insulation effect. A storage container 401 has an electric cooling function and stores an object. The storage container 401 includes at least one storage chamber 100 that stores the object; a first latent heat storage material A that is disposed in the storage chamber 100 and has a predetermined phase change temperature; and a second latent heat storage material B that is disposed in the storage chamber 100 and has a phase change temperature higher than the phase change temperature of the first latent heat storage material A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Yamashita, Tetsuya Ide, Yasuyuki Umenaka, Tomohisa Miyatani, Kazuhiro Deguchi, Yuka Utsumi, Akio Miyata, Shigeaki Mizushima, Katsumi Kondoh, Tomoko Kase, Mitsuhiro Koden
  • Patent number: 9684204
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mirror display which prevents the boundary line between a frame region and a display region from being observed in a mirror mode and which thus has improved design quality. The mirror display of the present invention includes a half mirror plate including a half mirror layer, and a display device disposed behind the half mirror plate, the display device including a display panel and a frame component that supports a peripheral portion of the display panel, and the mirror display including a reflectance adjuster that makes equal the reflectance in a display region where the half mirror layer and the display panel face each other and the reflectance in a frame region where the half mirror layer and the frame component face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Sakai, Takayuki Nishiyama, Masahiro Hasegawa, Hidefumi Yoshida, Shigeaki Mizushima
  • Patent number: 9646383
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image processing intensity determination unit that determines an intensity of image processing and an image processing unit that performs the image processing to image information in accordance with the intensity determined by the image processing intensity determination unit. The image processing intensity determination unit determines the intensity of the image processing at a target pixel included in the image information on the basis of a depth value indicating a depth corresponding to the target pixel and a vertical position of the target pixel in the image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kei Tokui, Shigeaki Mizushima
  • Publication number: 20170082895
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mirror display that can match the peripheral environment having diffusely reflecting surfaces in the mirror mode, and an electronic device including the mirror display. The mirror display includes a half mirror plate that includes a reflective polarizer and a display device. The half mirror plate further includes a light-diffusing member that diffuses at least part of incident light. The mirror display includes, in the order from the back surface side, the display device, the reflective polarizer, and the light-diffusing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Akira SAKAI, Masahiro HASEGAWA, Hiroyuki HAKOI, Kiyoshi MINOURA, Shigeaki MIZUSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20160343308
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mirror display that has improved design aesthetics and makes it possible to sufficiently improve visibility in mirror mode in dark environments. The mirror display according to the present invention includes a half mirror plate having a half mirror layer, a display device, a case, and an auxiliary illumination unit that includes an auxiliary light source. The case supports at least the half mirror plate and the display device and includes an outer frame that covers an edge of a front surface of the half mirror plate when viewed in a plan view from a viewing side. The display device is arranged on a rear side of the half mirror plate. The auxiliary light source is arranged on the rear side of the half mirror plate, the display device, or the outer frame. The auxiliary illumination unit is controlled separately from the display device and emits light towards the viewing side when the mirror display is in mirror mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro HASEGAWA, Hiroyuki HAKOI, Akira SAKAI, Hidefumi YOSHIDA, Takaharu KANAI, Takako SHIMIZU, Yuuki ITOU, Atsushi OGAWA, Akira TSURUTA, Takayuki YUASA, Shigeaki MIZUSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20160178964
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mirror display that sufficiently prevents a decrease in the screen luminance in the display mode while sufficiently increasing the reflectance in the mirror mode, and also gives excellent production efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Akira SAKAI, Masahiro HASEGAWA, Hiroyuki HAKOI, Hidefumi YOSHIDA, Shigeaki MIZUSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20160026039
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mirror display which prevents the boundary line between a frame region and a display region from being observed in a mirror mode and which thus has improved design quality. The mirror display of the present invention includes a half mirror plate including a half mirror layer, and a display device disposed behind the half mirror plate, the display device including a display panel and a frame component that supports a peripheral portion of the display panel, and the mirror display including a reflectance adjuster that makes equal the reflectance in a display region where the half mirror layer and the display panel face each other and the reflectance in a frame region where the half mirror layer and the frame component face each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Akira SAKAI, Takayuki NISHIYAMA, Masahiro HASEGAWA, Hidefumi YOSHIDA, Shigeaki MIZUSHIMA
  • Patent number: 9091474
    Abstract: A storage container can maintain a temperature inside a storage room not to cause a temperature distribution for a certain time even if the operation is stopped. In a storage container 1 storing preserved goods and having an electrical cooling function, the storage container 1 includes a container body 10 and a door 20. A space enclosed by the container body 10 and the door 20 forms a storage room 100. The container body 10 and the door 20 have respectively heat insulating portions 12, 22 and heat accumulating portions 14, 24. The heat accumulating portions 14, 24 are each made of at least one type of material that causes liquid-solid phase transition at a temperature between a controllable temperature inside the storage room 100 and a living environmental temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ide, Yuka Utsumi, Tomoko Kase, Mitsuhiro Koden, Shigeaki Mizushima, Katsumi Kondoh
  • Publication number: 20150153087
    Abstract: An object is to provide a storage container including latent heat storage materials that provide a high cold insulation effect. A storage container 401 has an electric cooling function and stores an object. The storage container 401 includes at least one storage chamber 100 that stores the object; a first latent heat storage material A that is disposed in the storage chamber 100 and has a predetermined phase change temperature; and a second latent heat storage material B that is disposed in the storage chamber 100 and has a phase change temperature higher than the phase change temperature of the first latent heat storage material A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Takashi Yamashita, Tetsuya Ide, Yasuyuki Umenaka, Tomohisa Miyatani, Kazuhiro Deguchi, Yuka Utsumi, Akio Miyata, Shigeaki Mizushima, Katsumi Kondoh, Tomoko Kase, Mitsuhiro Koden
  • Publication number: 20140333726
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image processing intensity determination unit that determines an intensity of image processing and an image processing unit that performs the image processing to image information in accordance with the intensity determined by the image processing intensity determination unit. The image processing intensity determination unit determines the intensity of the image processing at a target pixel included in the image information on the basis of a depth value indicating a depth corresponding to the target pixel and a vertical position of the target pixel in the image information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Kei Tokui, Shigeaki Mizushima
  • Publication number: 20130239606
    Abstract: A storage container can maintain a temperature inside a storage room not to cause a temperature distribution for a certain time even if the operation is stopped. In a storage container 1 storing preserved goods and having an electrical cooling function, the storage container 1 includes a container body 10 and a door 20. A space enclosed by the container body 10 and the door 20 forms a storage room 100. The container body 10 and the door 20 have respectively heat insulating portions 12, 22 and heat accumulating portions 14, 24. The heat accumulating portions 14, 24 are each made of at least one type of material that causes liquid-solid phase transition at a temperature between a controllable temperature inside the storage room 100 and a living environmental temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ide, Yuka Utsumi, Tomoko Kase, Mitsuhiro Koden, Shigeaki Mizushima, Katsumi Kondoh
  • Patent number: 8451201
    Abstract: The method of driving a liquid crystal display in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a method of driving a liquid crystal display whereby a first liquid crystal panels produces a display from a first display signal and the second liquid crystal panel produces a display a second display signal derived from the first display signal, the first and second liquid crystal panels being stacked on top of each other. The luminance of the first liquid crystal panel is extended based on the luminance extension ratio obtained from the gray levels for dots contained in the first display signal and a logical maximum gray level of input image data. The luminance of the second liquid crystal panel which produces a display from the second display signal is lowered by the amount by which luminance is extended on the first liquid crystal panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Hirata, Masayuki Katakami, Toshihide Tsubata, Makoto Shiomi, Shigeaki Mizushima
  • Publication number: 20110261268
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display of the present invention contains a first panel and a second panel being stacked. Adjacent pairs of polarizers (A to C) disposed on the panels form crossed Nicols. When the first panel produces a display according to a first display signal, the second panel produces a display according to a second display signal obtained from the first display signal. Each of the two joined panels is provided with a light diffusion layer having a light diffusing property. The provision of the light diffusion layers enables reducing moire pattern occurrences which would otherwise markedly increase when two liquid crystal panels are stacked. As a result, the liquid crystal display has high display quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Nakai, Mitsuaki Hirata, Mitsuhiro Shigeta, Naoshi Yamada, Toshihide Tsubata, Shigeaki Mizushima, Yoshiki Takata, Masayuki Katakami, Makoto Shiomi
  • Patent number: 8009248
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display of the present invention contains a first panel and a second panel being stacked. Adjacent pairs of polarizers (A to C) disposed on the panels form crossed Nicols. When the first panel produces a display according to a first display signal, the second panel produces a display according to a second display signal obtained from the first display signal. Each of the two joined panels is provided with a light diffusion layer having a light diffusing property. The provision of the light diffusion layers enables reducing moire pattern occurrences which would otherwise markedly increase when two liquid crystal panels are stacked. As a result, the liquid crystal display has high display quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Nakai, Mitsuaki Hirata, Mitsuhiro Shigeta, Naoshi Yamada, Toshihide Tsubata, Shigeaki Mizushima, Yoshiki Takata
  • Patent number: 7719656
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display device in which a liquid crystal layer may form a stable transparent state and, in addition, which provides for a black display with an excellent viewing angle characteristic, as well as a high contrast ratio and a high response speed in liquid crystal display. The present invention is directed to a liquid crystal display device comprising an electrode and a liquid crystal layer between substrates, said liquid crystal layer consists of a liquid crystalline material containing liquid crystal molecules and fine particles, and is optically isotropic when the voltage applied to the electrode is lower than a threshold value and undergoes optical transition due to change in the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules when the applied voltage is not lower than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masako Nakamura, Yoshito Hashimoto, Tokihiko Shinomiya, Shigeaki Mizushima
  • Publication number: 20090147186
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display of the present invention contains a first panel and a second panel being stacked. Adjacent pairs of polarizers (A to C) disposed on the panels form crossed Nicols. When the first panel produces a display according to a first display signal, the second panel produces a display according to a second display signal obtained from the first display signal. Each of the two joined panels is provided with a light diffusion layer having a light diffusing property. The provision of the light diffusion layers enables reducing moire pattern occurrences which would otherwise markedly increase when two liquid crystal panels are stacked. As a result, the liquid crystal display has high display quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Nakai, Mitsuaki Hirata, Mitsuhiro Shigeta, Naoshi Yamada, Toshihide Tsubata, Shigeaki Mizushima, Yoshiki Takata, Masayuki Katakami, Makoto Shiomi
  • Publication number: 20090051707
    Abstract: The method of driving a liquid crystal display in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a method of driving a liquid crystal display whereby a first liquid crystal panels produces a display from a first display signal and the second liquid crystal panel produces a display a second display signal derived from the first display signal, the first and second liquid crystal panels being stacked on top of each other. The luminance of the first liquid crystal panel is extended based on the luminance extension ratio obtained from the gray levels for dots contained in the first display signal and a logical maximum gray level of input image data. The luminance of the second liquid crystal panel which produces a display from the second display signal is lowered by the amount by which luminance is extended on the first liquid crystal panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Hirata, Masayuki Katakami, Toshihide Tsubata, Makoto Shiomi, Shigeaki Mizushima