Patents by Inventor Tomoko Ichikawa

Tomoko Ichikawa 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: 20170349720
    Abstract: Provided are a sizing agent coated carbon fiber bundle that has excellent mechanical characteristics when used as a carbon fiber reinforced composite material, as well as excellent ease of handling; a method for manufacturing the same; and a prepreg and carbon fiber reinforced composite material of excellent mechanical characteristics, employing the fiber bundle. The carbon fiber bundle is coated with a sizing agent that includes a polyether aliphatic epoxy compound having two or more epoxy groups per molecule and/or a polyol aliphatic epoxy compound or a non-water-soluble compound having a glass transition temperature of ?100-50° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Takumi HIASA, Daigo KOBAYASHI, Tomoko ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20170327657
    Abstract: A prepreg includes; sizing agent-coated carbon fibers coated with a sizing agent; and a thermosetting resin composition impregnated into the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers. The sizing agent includes an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and an aromatic compound (B) at least containing an aromatic epoxy compound (B1). The thermosetting resin composition includes a thermosetting resin (D) and a latent hardener (E), and optionally includes an additive (F) other than the thermosetting resin (D) and the latent hardener (E). The (a)/(b) ratio is within a predetermined range where (a) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to CHx, C—C, and C?C and (b) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to C—O in a C1s core spectrum of the surfaces of the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki ARAI, Tomoko ICHIKAWA, Hiroshi TAIKO, Makoto ENDO, Masanobu KOBAYASHI, Jun MISUMI
  • Patent number: 9765194
    Abstract: A prepreg includes; sizing agent-coated carbon fibers coated with a sizing agent; and a thermosetting resin composition impregnated into the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers. The sizing agent includes an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and an aromatic compound (B) at least containing an aromatic epoxy compound (B1). The thermosetting resin composition includes a thermosetting resin (D) and a latent hardener (E), and optionally includes an additive (F) other than the thermosetting resin (D) and the latent hardener (E). The (a)/(b) ratio is within a predetermined range where (a) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to CHx, C—C, and C?C and (b) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to C—O in a C1s core spectrum of the surfaces of the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Arai, Tomoko Ichikawa, Hiroshi Taiko, Makoto Endo, Masanobu Kobayashi, Jun Misumi
  • Patent number: 9734413
    Abstract: An image generation apparatus includes a processor that generates an output image based on input images captured by multiple imaging units mounted on a paver including a hopper, a tractor, and a screed. The output image includes a hopper image representing a downward view of the hopper, a left-side surrounding image representing a downward view of a surrounding area on the left side in a movement direction of the paver, a right-side surrounding image representing a downward view of a surrounding area on the right side in the moving direction of the paver, and an illustration image of the tractor. The processor arranges the hopper image, the left-side surrounding image, the right-side surrounding image, and the illustration image such that the output image represents a downward view of the paver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoko Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9683326
    Abstract: A prepreg is formed by impregnating sizing agent-coated carbon fibers coated with a sizing agent with a thermosetting resin composition. The sizing agent contains an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and an aromatic compound (B) at least containing an aromatic epoxy compound (B1). The sizing agent-coated carbon fibers has an (a)/(b) ratio of 0.50 to 0.90 where (a) is a height (cps) of a component at a binding energy (284.6 eV) assigned to CHx, C—C, and C?C and (b) is a height (cps) of a component at a binding energy (286.1 eV) assigned to C—O in a C1s core spectrum of a surface of the sizing agent applied onto the carbon fibers analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using AlK?1,2 as an X-ray source at a photoelectron takeoff angle of 15°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Arai, Tomoko Ichikawa, Hiroshi Taiko, Makoto Endo, Masanobu Kobayashi, Jun Misumi
  • Patent number: 9593238
    Abstract: A prepreg includes; agent-coated carbon fibers coated with a sizing agent; and a thermosetting resin composition impregnated into the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers. The sizing agent includes an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and an aromatic epoxy compound (B1). The sizing agent-coated carbon fibers are in a shape of woven fabric or braid. The thermosetting resin composition includes a thermosetting resin (D), a thermoplastic resin (F), and a latent hardener (G). The sizing agent-coated carbon fibers have an (a)/(b) ratio in a certain range where (a) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to CHx, C—C, and C?C and (b) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to C—O in a C1s core spectrum of the surfaces of the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Arai, Tomoko Ichikawa, Hiroshi Taiko, Makoto Endo, Masanobu Kobayashi, Jun Misumi
  • Publication number: 20170002154
    Abstract: Sizing agent-coated reinforcing fibers include reinforcing fibers and a sizing agent containing a polyrotaxane, the reinforcing fibers being coated with the sizing agent. Provided are sizing agent-coated reinforcing fibers that provide a fiber-reinforced composite material with excellent mechanical properties, a method for producing the sizing agent-coated reinforcing fibers, a prepreg including the sizing agent-coated reinforcing fibers, and a fiber-reinforced composite material with excellent mechanical properties including the sizing agent-coated reinforcing fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Takumi HIASA, Daigo KOBAYASHI, Tomoko ICHIKAWA, Makoto ENDO
  • Publication number: 20160328829
    Abstract: An image generation device generates an output image based on an input image captured by a camera attached to a shovel. Further, the image generation device includes an output image generation unit that associates a value of an input pixel in the input image with a value of an output pixel in the output image to generate the output image. A value of an output pixel specified by an integer coordinate point on an output image plane is determined based on values of two input pixels specified by two integer coordinate points selected from four integer coordinate points in the vicinity of a real number coordinate point on an input image plane corresponding to the integer coordinate point on the output image plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Kiyota, Tomoko Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20160328833
    Abstract: An image generation device generates an output image based on input images captured by three cameras. An input image portion corresponding to an overlap region of imaging ranges of the cameras forms a lattice pattern in the output image. The lattice pattern uses, as a unit pattern, lattice points divided by circles drawn by waves around two cameras. Pixel values of the unit pattern are obtained by weight-averaging pixel values of first and second input images. A weighted average value of pixel values of the first input image is equal to or larger than a weighted average value of pixel values of the second input image in one of two unit patterns through which an abdominal line and a nodal line pass, and is equal to or smaller than the weighted average value of the pixel values of the second input image in the other one thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Kiyota, Tomoko Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9435057
    Abstract: A sizing agent-coated carbon fiber bundle has a sizing agent containing an aliphatic epoxy compound (C) and an aromatic epoxy compound (D) coated on the carbon fiber bundle, wherein the carbon fiber in the carbon fiber bundle is the one which exhibits, when measured by single-fiber composite fragmentation method, a number of fiber breaks of at least 2.0/mm when apparent single-fiber stress is 15.3 GPa and the number of fiber breaks of up to 1.7/mm when the apparent single-fiber stress is 12.2 GPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Watanabe, Fumihiko Tanaka, Haruki Okuda, Yuuki Okishima, Kengo Hayashida, Masafumi Ise, Tomoko Ichikawa, Naoki Muraki
  • Patent number: 9255364
    Abstract: An image generating apparatus for a paving machine, which generates an output image based on input images captured by multiple image capturing parts attached to the paving machine, includes a coordinates correlating part that correlates coordinates in a space model disposed around the paving machine with coordinates in input image planes in which the input images are positioned and an output image generating part that generates the output image by correlating the values of the coordinates in the input image planes with the values of coordinates in an output image plane in which the output image is positioned, via the coordinates in the space model. The space model includes a first plane area parallel to a road surface and a second plane area that intersects the road surface. The second plane area is set at the front end of the paving machine in a traveling direction of the paving machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoko Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20150361591
    Abstract: A sizing agent-coated carbon fiber bundle has a sizing agent containing an aliphatic epoxy compound (C) and an aromatic epoxy compound (D) coated on the carbon fiber bundle, wherein the carbon fiber in the carbon fiber bundle is the one which exhibits, when measured by single-fiber composite fragmentation method, a number of fiber breaks of at least 2.0/mm when apparent single-fiber stress is 15.3 GPa and the number of fiber breaks of up to 1.7/mm when the apparent single-fiber stress is 12.2 GPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Jun Watanabe, Fumihiko Tanaka, Haruki Okuda, Yuuki Okishima, Kengo Hayashida, Masafumi Ise, Tomoko Ichikawa, Naoki Muraki
  • Publication number: 20150252184
    Abstract: To provide a prepreg and a carbon fiber reinforced composite material that are excellent in adhesion between a matrix resin and carbon fibers and long-term storage stability and also excellent in microcrack resistance due to the increased toughness. The present invention provides a prepreg that includes; agent-coated carbon fibers coated with a sizing agent; and a thermosetting resin composition impregnated into the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers. The sizing agent includes an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and an aromatic epoxy compound (B1). The sizing agent-coated carbon fibers are in a shape of woven fabric or braid. The thermosetting resin composition includes a thermosetting resin (D), a thermoplastic resin (F), and a latent hardener (G).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Arai, Tomoko Ichikawa, Hiroshi Taiko, Makoto Endo, Masanobu Kobayashi, Jun Misumi
  • Publication number: 20150247025
    Abstract: A carbon fiber-reinforced resin composition of the present invention includes: sizing agent-coated carbon fibers in which carbon fibers are coated with a sizing agent; and a matrix resin. The sizing agent includes at least an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and an aromatic epoxy compound (B1) as an aromatic compound (B). The sizing agent-coated carbon fibers have a ratio (a)/(b) of 0.50 to 0.90 where (a) is the height (cps) of a component having a binding energy (284.6 eV) attributed to CHx, C—C, and C?C and (b) is the height (cps) of a component having binding energy (286.1 eV) attributed to C—O in a C1s core spectrum of the surface of the sizing agent measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at a photoelectron takeoff angle of 15°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Tomoko Ichikawa, Atsuki Tsuchiya, Makoto Endo
  • Publication number: 20150210813
    Abstract: A prepreg includes; sizing agent-coated carbon fibers coated with a sizing agent; and a thermosetting resin composition impregnated into the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers. The sizing agent includes an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and an aromatic compound (B) at least containing an aromatic epoxy compound (B1). The thermosetting resin composition includes a thermosetting resin (D) and a latent hardener (E), and optionally includes an additive (F) other than the thermosetting resin (D) and the latent hardener (E). The (a)/(b) ratio is within a predetermined range where (a) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to CHx, C—C, and C?C and (b) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to C—O in a C1s core spectrum of the surfaces of the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Arai, Tomoko Ichikawa, Hiroshi Taiko, Makoto Endo, Masanobu Kobayashi, Jun Misumi
  • Publication number: 20150197900
    Abstract: An image generating apparatus for a paving machine, which generates an output image based on input images captured by multiple image capturing parts attached to the paving machine, includes a coordinates correlating part that correlates coordinates in a space model disposed around the paving machine with coordinates in input image planes in which the input images are positioned and an output image generating part that generates the output image by correlating the values of the coordinates in the input image planes with the values of coordinates in an output image plane in which the output image is positioned, via the coordinates in the space model. The space model includes a first plane area parallel to a road surface and a second plane area that intersects the road surface. The second plane area is set at the front end of the paving machine in a traveling direction of the paving machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventor: Tomoko ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20150199576
    Abstract: An image generation apparatus includes a processor that generates an output image based on input images captured by multiple imaging units mounted on a paver including a hopper, a tractor, and a screed. The output image includes a hopper image representing a downward view of the hopper, a left-side surrounding image representing a downward view of a surrounding area on the left side in a movement direction of the paver, a right-side surrounding image representing a downward view of a surrounding area on the right side in the moving direction of the paver, and an illustration image of the tractor. The processor arranges the hopper image, the left-side surrounding image, the right-side surrounding image, and the illustration image such that the output image represents a downward view of the paver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventor: Tomoko ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20150184333
    Abstract: A prepreg is formed by impregnating sizing agent-coated carbon fibers coated with a sizing agent with a thermosetting resin composition. The sizing agent contains an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and an aromatic compound (B) at least containing an aromatic epoxy compound (B1). The sizing agent-coated carbon fibers has an (a)/(b) ratio of 0.50 to 0.90 where (a) is a height (cps) of a component at a binding energy (284.6 eV) assigned to CHx, C—C, and C?C and (b) is a height (cps) of a component at a binding energy (286.1 eV) assigned to C—O in a C1s core spectrum of a surface of the sizing agent applied onto the carbon fibers analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using AlK?1,2 as an X-ray source at a photoelectron takeoff angle of 15°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Arai, Tomoko Ichikawa, Hiroshi Taiko, Makoto Endo, Masanobu Kobayashi, Jun Misumi
  • Publication number: 20140329075
    Abstract: Sizing agent-coated carbon fibers includes: a sizing agent including an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and at least containing an aromatic epoxy compound (B1) as an aromatic compound (B); and carbon fibers coated with the sizing agent, wherein the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers have an (a)/(b) ratio of 0.50 to 0.90 where (a) is a height (cps) of a component at a binding energy (284.6 eV) assigned to CHx, C—C, and C?C and (b) is a height (cps) of a component at a binding energy (286.1 eV) assigned to C—O in a C1s core spectrum of a surface of the sizing agent applied onto the carbon fibers analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using AlK?1,2 as an X-ray source at a photoelectron takeoff angle of 15°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Tomoko Ichikawa, Makoto Endo, Hiroshi Taiko, Masanobu Kobayashi, Nobuyuki Arai, Jun Misumi
  • Patent number: 8845938
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a polyacrylonitrile fiber includes a spinning process in which a spinning dope including polyacrylonitrile is spun; a first drawing process; a drying process; and a second hot drawing process in this order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoko Ichikawa, Takashi Ochi, Akira Kishiro, Yasutaka Kato, Takashi Shibata, Masafumi Ise