Patents by Inventor Tomomi Kawase

Tomomi Kawase 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: 20140015897
    Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus supplies liquid materials onto a base with performing a positional change of at least one of the base and first, second and third droplet ejection heads relative to the other. The base includes a first area to which the first droplet ejection head ejects the first liquid material, a second area to which the second droplet ejection head ejects the first liquid material and a third area to which the third droplet ejection head ejects the second liquid material. The first droplet ejection head, the second droplet ejection head and the third droplet ejection head are arranged so that the first area, the second area and the third area overlap partially when performing the positional change in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomomi KAWASE
  • Patent number: 8556381
    Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus includes first to fourth droplet ejection heads for ejecting a first liquid material and fifth and sixth droplet ejection heads for ejecting a second liquid material. The first and second droplet ejection heads, the third and fourth droplet ejection heads, and the fifth and sixth droplet ejection heads are arranged along a first direction so that nozzles of the first and second droplet ejection heads, the third and fourth droplet ejection heads, and the fifth and sixth droplet ejection heads are consecutive with a predetermined pitch via a first seam, a second seam and a third seam, respectively, when viewed from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The third seam is arranged between the first seam and the second seam when viewed from the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Kawase
  • Patent number: 8211493
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a panel from a base using a droplet ejection apparatus including two groups of heads with each group including first to fourth heads. In each group, the nozzle arrays of the first and third heads overlap throughout a first sub-area, the nozzle arrays of the first and fourth heads overlap throughout a second sub-area, and the nozzle arrays of the second and fourth heads overlap throughout a third sub-area when viewed from a second direction. The second sub-areas of the two groups partially overlap each other when viewed from the second direction. The method includes preparing the base, and supplying the liquid materials of the predetermined colors onto the base in the form of the droplets by ejecting the droplets by the droplet ejection apparatus while mutually moving the base and the head unit in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Kawase
  • Patent number: 8093656
    Abstract: The present invention provides a color filter substrate that can include color filters 12, which are formed in at least a display region and each of which are composed of colored portions, and a light shielding layer on a substrate main body. The light shielding layer can be formed on the approximately entire surface of a color filter non-forming region, in addition to the display region. Further, the colored portions can be formed by an inkjet method, and the color filter substrate can further include a resin member for partitioning pixels for forming the respective colored portions, and the resin member can be formed on the approximately entire surface of the color filter non-forming region, in addition to along the peripheries of the respective colored portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Kawase
  • Publication number: 20110261279
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a panel from a base using a droplet ejection apparatus including two groups of heads with each group including first to fourth heads. In each group, the nozzle arrays of the first and third heads overlap throughout a first sub-area, the nozzle arrays of the first and fourth heads overlap throughout a second sub-area, and the nozzle arrays of the second and fourth heads overlap throughout a third sub-area when viewed from a second direction. The second sub-areas of the two groups partially overlap each other when viewed from the second direction. The method includes preparing the base, and supplying the liquid materials of the predetermined colors onto the base in the form of the droplets by ejecting the droplets by the droplet ejection apparatus while mutually moving the base and the head unit in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomomi KAWASE
  • Publication number: 20110261111
    Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus includes first to fourth droplet ejection heads for ejecting a first liquid material and fifth and sixth droplet ejection heads for ejecting a second liquid material. The first and second droplet ejection heads, the third and fourth droplet ejection heads, and the fifth and sixth droplet ejection heads are arranged along a first direction so that nozzles of the first and second droplet ejection heads, the third and fourth droplet ejection heads, and the fifth and sixth droplet ejection heads are consecutive with a predetermined pitch via a first seam, a second seam and a third seam, respectively, when viewed from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The third seam is arranged between the first seam and the second seam when viewed from the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomomi KAWASE
  • Patent number: 8002385
    Abstract: A head unit for use in a droplet ejection apparatus is provided with a plurality of droplet ejection heads for ejecting liquid material of a predetermined color onto a base as droplets. In each of the droplet ejection heads, first and second nozzle arrays are arranged in a side by side relation in a second direction and nozzles of the first nozzle array are shifted with a half pitch in a first direction perpendicular to the second direction with respect to the nozzles of the second nozzle array when viewed from the second direction. The nozzles of the first and second nozzle arrays of the first and second droplet ejection heads of the first set are arranged so as not to overlap with the nozzles of the first and second nozzle arrays of the third and fourth droplet ejection heads of the second set when viewed from the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Kawase
  • Patent number: 8001923
    Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus includes a plurality of droplet ejection heads divided into three groups with each group including first to fourth heads with a second head being disposed between the third and fourth heads, and the third head being disposed between the first and second heads when viewed in a direction parallel to nozzle arrays. In each group, the nozzle array of the first head overlaps the nozzle array of the third head throughout a first sub-area, the nozzle array of the first head overlaps the nozzle array of the fourth head throughout a second sub-area, and the nozzle array of the second head overlaps the nozzle array of the fourth head throughout a third sub-area when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the nozzle arrays. The second sub-areas of the three groups partially overlap each other when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the nozzle arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Kawase
  • Patent number: 7950344
    Abstract: A head unit 103 for use in a droplet ejection apparatus is provided with a plurality of droplet ejection heads for ejecting some kinds of liquid materials each having a predetermined color onto a base in the form of droplets. Each of the droplet ejection heads includes at least one nozzle array constituted from a plurality of nozzles linearly aligned. The some kinds of liquid materials are adapted to be ejected through the plurality of nozzles of the plurality of droplet ejection heads in the form of droplets. The plurality of droplet ejection heads include at least two sets of two adjacent droplet ejection heads which are arranged in a consecutive manner in a first direction parallel to each of the nozzle arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Kawase
  • Publication number: 20110090293
    Abstract: A droplet discharge apparatus includes: a plurality of tanks for respectively storing a plurality of types of function liquids; a plurality of pressure control valves for controlling a pressure of the plurality of types of function liquids supplied from the tanks to a predetermined pressure; a plurality of droplet discharge heads for respectively discharging the plurality of types of function liquids let out from the pressure control valves in the form of droplets; and a plurality of second supply tubes for respectively supplying the plurality of types of function liquids from outlets of the pressure control valves to inlets of the droplet discharge heads. Distances between the outlets and the corresponding inlets are different from one another depending on the second supply tubes. Lengths of the second supply tubes for supplying the same type of the functional liquid are equalized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomomi KAWASE
  • Patent number: 7901741
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system which shortens the scanning time with an ink jet head for forming a pattern of filter elements of a color filter, picture element pixels of an electroluminescence (EL) device, or the like. An apparatus for producing a color filter can include a plurality of filter elements arranged on a substrate. The apparatus can further include a plurality of heads each having a nozzle row having a plurality of nozzles arranged, an ink supply device for supplying a filter element material to the heads, a carriage supporting the heads arranged thereon, a main scanning driving device for moving the carriage by main scanning in the X direction, and a sub-scanning driving device for moving the carriage by sub-scanning in the Y direction. The carriage supports the plurality of heads each of which is inclined at an in-plane inclination angle ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Katagami, Hisashi Aruga, Hiroshi Kiguchi, Tatsuya Ito, Tomomi Kawase, Masaharu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7883190
    Abstract: A droplet discharge apparatus includes: a tank for storing a function liquid; a first supply tube for supplying the function liquid; a plurality of pressure control valves for controlling a pressure of the function liquid supplied from the tank via the first supply tube, to a predetermined pressure and then letting out the function liquid; a plurality of droplet discharge heads for discharging the function liquid let out from the pressure control valves in the form of droplets; and a plurality of second supply tubes for connecting outlets of the pressure control valves and inlets of the droplet discharge heads so that the function liquid let out from the pressure control valves is supplied to the droplet discharge heads. Distances between the outlets and the corresponding inlets are different from one another, and lengths of the second supply tubes are equalized so that resistances of flow paths between the outlets and the corresponding inlets are equalized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Kawase
  • Patent number: 7748825
    Abstract: A droplet discharge method for discharging a liquid material from a discharge device and arranging the liquid material in a specified quantity on a substrate, the discharge device includes a nozzle for discharging the liquid material in droplets, and the droplet discharge method include the steps of cleaning the nozzle using the liquid material, and arranging at least a part of the liquid material used for cleaning on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Hiruma, Tomomi Kawase
  • Patent number: 7703887
    Abstract: A head unit includes first to fourth droplet ejection heads. The first and second droplet ejection heads are arranged along a first direction parallel to nozzle arrays so that the nozzles constitute a first consecutive long nozzle array when viewed from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Also, the nozzles of the third and fourth droplet ejection heads constitute a second consecutive long nozzle array. In the first to fourth droplet ejection heads the nozzle arrays are arranged side by side in the second direction and the first nozzle array is shifted with a half pitch in the first direction with respect to the second nozzle array when viewed from the second direction. The nozzles of the first and second droplet ejection heads are arranged so as not to overlap with the nozzles of the third and fourth droplet ejection heads when viewed from the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Kawase
  • Publication number: 20090244115
    Abstract: A droplet discharge apparatus includes: a tank for storing a function liquid; a first supply tube for supplying the function liquid; a plurality of pressure control valves for controlling a pressure of the function liquid supplied from the tank via the first supply tube, to a predetermined pressure and then letting out the function liquid; a plurality of droplet discharge heads for discharging the function liquid let out from the pressure control valves in the form of droplets; and a plurality of second supply tubes for connecting outlets of the pressure control valves and inlets of the droplet discharge heads so that the function liquid let out from the pressure control valves is supplied to the droplet discharge heads. Distances between the outlets and the corresponding inlets are different from one another, and lengths of the second supply tubes are equalized so that resistances of flow paths between the outlets and the corresponding inlets are equalized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Kawase
  • Publication number: 20090068351
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for suppressing insufficient spread of droplets or mixing of the droplets in neighboring regions when a liquid material is disposed in the regions on a substrate by ejecting the droplets composed of the liquid material. In addition, for a display device, the structure in which insufficient spread of droplets or mixing of the droplets in neighboring regions can be suppressed and the manufacturing method therefor are provided. To accomplish the above, substantially square regions can be formed by a partition provided on a substrate. In each region, among internal surfaces and of the partition surrounding this region, the internal surfaces forming the long sides of the region have irregularities. In addition, the distance between parts of the partition opposing each other with one of regions provided therebetween is increased and decreased along the long side of the region. Furthermore, along the long side of the region, the width of the partition will be increased and decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ito, Satoru Katagami, Tomomi Kawase
  • Patent number: 7481515
    Abstract: The invention makes uniform, in a plane, optical properties of optical members, such as the distribution properties of light transmission of a color filter, the color display properties of a liquid crystal device, and the light emission properties of an EL luminescent plane. During main scanning of color filter formation areas of a board in the X direction with an ink jet head having a nozzle row formed of a plurality of nozzles arranged in a row, a filter material is selectively discharged from the plurality of the nozzles to each of filer element areas arranged in a dot matrix to form filter elements, producing a color filter. First, the nozzle row is moved to positions “a” and “b” by main scanning in the X direction to enhance wettability of the surface of the areas and then main scanning is executed at each of the positions while successively moving the nozzle row to positions “c” through “k” by sub-scanning, thereby repeatedly discharging ink in the same portion of the areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomomi Kawase, Hisashi Aruga, Satoru Katagami, Masaharu Shimizu, Hiroshi Kiguchi
  • Patent number: 7459322
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for suppressing insufficient spread of droplets or mixing of the droplets in neighboring regions when a liquid material is disposed in the regions on a substrate by ejecting the droplets composed of the liquid material. In addition, for a display device, the structure in which insufficient spread of droplets or mixing of the droplets in neighboring regions can be suppressed and the manufacturing method therefor are provided. To accomplish the above, substantially square regions can be formed by a partition provided on a substrate. In each region, among internal surfaces and of the partition surrounding this region, the internal surfaces forming the long sides of the region have irregularities. In addition, the distance between parts of the partition opposing each other with one of regions provided therebetween is increased and decreased along the long side of the region. Furthermore, along the long side of the region, the width of the partition will be increased and decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ito, Satoru Katagami, Tomomi Kawase
  • Publication number: 20080266354
    Abstract: A head unit includes first to fourth droplet ejection heads. The first and second droplet ejection heads are arranged along a first direction parallel to nozzle arrays so that the nozzles constitute a first consecutive long nozzle array when viewed from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Also, the nozzles of the third and fourth droplet ejection heads constitute a second consecutive long nozzle array. In the first to fourth droplet ejection heads the nozzle arrays are arranged side by side in the second direction and the first nozzle array is shifted with a half pitch in the first direction with respect to the second nozzle array when viewed from the second direction. The nozzles of the first and second droplet ejection heads are arranged so as not to overlap with the nozzles of the third and fourth droplet ejection heads when viewed from the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: TOMOMI KAWASE
  • Patent number: 7410244
    Abstract: A head unit 103 for use in a droplet ejection apparatus is provided with a plurality of droplet ejection heads for ejecting one or more kind of liquid material of a predetermined color onto a base in the form of droplets. Each of the droplet ejection heads includes at least one nozzle array constituted from a plurality of nozzles linearly aligned. The liquid material is adapted to be ejected through the plurality of nozzles of the plurality of droplet ejection heads in the form of droplets. The plurality of droplet ejection heads for ejecting the liquid material of the same color are arranged so that the nozzle arrays of the plurality of droplet ejection heads are parallel to each other in a first direction and each of the plurality of droplet ejection heads partially overlaps at least one of the other droplet ejection heads when viewed from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Kawase