Patents by Inventor Tatsuo Terahama

Tatsuo Terahama 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: 20010016105
    Abstract: A light transmission tube includes a tubular clad and a core section having a higher refractive index than that of the tubular clad, said light transmission tube is characterized in that a belt-like reflecting layer is formed between the tubular clad and the core section, extending in the longitudinal direction of the tubular clad, in a manner such that a light passing through the core section is reflected and scatterred by the reflecting layer and then emitted from an outer surface area of the tubular clad, which outer surface area is located opposite to one side of the tubular clad where the reflecting layer has been formed. Further, the reflecting layer may be so formed that a light is allowed to be emitted in a plurality of directions. Moreover, the belt-like reflecting layer may be formed into a spiral configuration. The width of the belt-like reflecting layer may be changed in the longitudinal direction of the light transmission tube. The tubular clad is allowed to have a non-circular cross section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Inventors: Hideo Sugiyama, Masato Sugimachi, Minoru Ishiharada, Yasuhiro Morimura, Tatsuo Terahama, Hiroshi Fukuyama, Itsuo Tanuma
  • Patent number: 6278827
    Abstract: A light transmission tube includes a tubular clad and a core section having a higher refractive index than that of the tubular clad. A belt-like reflecting layer is formed between the tubular clad and the core section, extending in the longitudinal direction of the tubular clad, in a manner such that a light passing through the core section is reflected and scatterred by the reflecting layer and then emitted from an outer surface area of the tubular clad, which outer surface area is located opposite to one side of the tubular clad where the reflecting layer has been formed. Further, the reflecting layer may be so formed that a light is allowed to be emitted in a plurality of directions. Moreover, the belt-like reflecting layer may be formed into a spiral configuration. The width of the belt-like reflecting layer may be changed in the longitudinal direction of the light transmission tube. The tubular clad is allowed to have a non-circular cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Sugiyama, Masato Sugimachi, Minoru Ishiharada, Yasuhiro Morimura, Tatsuo Terahama, Hiroshi Fukuyama, Itsuo Tanuma
  • Patent number: 6236797
    Abstract: A light transmitting tube 1, which can significantly reduce the loss of light at a bent portion, comprises a tubular cladding 3 and a solid core 2 made of material having reflection index higher than that of the material for the tubular cladding 3. The cladding 3 has rigidity higher than the core 2. The core 2 and the cladding 3 are not bonded to each other. As the light transmitting tube 1 is bent, an air layer 4 is appears between the core 2 and the cladding 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Hotta, Tatsuo Terahama, Itsuo Tanuma
  • Patent number: 6169836
    Abstract: A method of making an optical transmission tube comprises having a tubular clad and a core covered with the tube and having a refractive index higher than the clad. The core has light-scattering particles uniformly dispersed in or throughout the core, so that light passing through the core is reflected and scattered at individual scattering particles to permit the light to be emitted from outer surfaces of the clad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Sugiyama, Minoru Ishiharada, Tatsuo Terahama, Yasuhiro Morimura, Itsuo Tanuma
  • Patent number: 6104857
    Abstract: A line glower usable in water, rain, snow or in a place where an explosion may possibly take place, and adapted to work with a small power to emit light from the lateral side thereof. It comprises a light transmission tube including a transparent core and a clad having a smaller refractive index than the core; a water-proof light source disposed at at least one axial end of the light transmission tube; and a drive unit to turn on and off the light source; the light emitted from the light source and incident upon an end of the light transmission tube being let to go out from a lateral side of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Ishiharada, Hideo Sugiyama, Tatsuo Terahama
  • Patent number: 5982969
    Abstract: In an optical transmission tube comprising a tubular cladding and a core within the cladding having a higher index of refraction than the cladding, a strip-shaped reflecting layer is longitudinally extended between the cladding and the core. Light passing through the core is reflected and scattered by the reflecting layer to emerge from the tube through an area of the outer surface of the cladding opposed to the reflecting layer. The optical transmission tube is prepared by dispersing scattering particles in a monomer solution; filling a tubular cladding with the monomer solution; resting the cladding horizontally for allowing the scattering particles to settle on a lower inner surface of the cladding; and thereafter, causing the monomer solution to polymerize and solidify within the cladding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Sugiyama, Masato Sugimachi, Minoru Ishiharada, Yasuhiro Morimura, Tatsuo Terahama, Hiroshi Fukuyama, Itsuo Tanuma