Patents by Inventor Tomoyuki Kuwamoto

Tomoyuki Kuwamoto 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: 8547324
    Abstract: An electrophoretic display sheet comprising a display layer, a first electrode, and second electrodes. The display layer has a plurality of reservoir portions filled with a dispersion liquid containing particles. Each of the plurality of reservoir portions has predetermined positions. When an electric field having a direction is generated by applying a voltage to between the first electrode and the second electrodes, the particles are locally gathered to the predetermined positions of each of the plurality of reservoir portions so as to make rows of the particles along the direction of the electric field in the dispersion liquid. The electrophoretic display sheet is capable of exhibiting both superior responsiveness (responsibility) and superior color display performance with high contrast in changing a display color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harunobu Komatsu, Hitoshi Yamamoto, Akira Matsumoto, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto, Teruki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8361613
    Abstract: The coating composition for electrophoretic display devices according to the present invention contains microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices and a binder resin, wherein the binder resin has a glass transition temperature (Tg) in a range of from ?85° C. to ?10° C. as calculated by FOX formula and has a residual monomer concentration of 500 ppm or lower in a solid content thereof. The sheet for electrophoretic display devices according to the present invention has a microcapsule layer formed from the above-described coating composition for electrophoretic display devices on a base material sheet. The sheet for electrophoretic display devices according to the present invention can be used, as its applications, for electrophoretic display devices using the sheets, and electronic equipments using the electrophoretic display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yamamoto, Harunobu Komatsu, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto, Mitsuo Kushino
  • Patent number: 8236371
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrophoretic display device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harunobu Komatsu, Hitoshi Yamamoto, Akira Matsumoto, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto, Teruki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8174755
    Abstract: The microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices according to the present invention each enclose a dispersion containing electrophoretic particles and a solvent in a shell having an inner shell made of a mercapto group-containing amino resin and an outer shell made of an epoxy resin. Alternatively, the microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices according to the present invention each have a capsule strength of 0.6 MPa or higher. These microcapsules are produced by dispersing a dispersion containing electrophoretic particles and a solvent as a core substance in a water-based medium, and subsequently forming at least one shell on the surface of the core substance. These microcapsules can be used, as their applications, for sheets for electrophoretic display devices, electrophoretic display devices using the sheets, and electronic equipments using the electrophoretic display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignees: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yamamoto, Harunobu Komatsu, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto, Teruki Matsuhita
  • Patent number: 8164822
    Abstract: A display device having a display surface, comprises: a contact particle-containing layer including a wall portion with an inner surface for defining a space, contact particles electrically charged and provided within the space in a contact state that the contact particles are in contact with the inner surface of the wall portion, the contact particles having a hue, and a scattering medium for scattering light or a colored medium having a different hue from the hue of the contact particles which is provided within the space; and a pair of electrodes that, when applied with an electrical voltage, generate electrical fields to act on the contact particles, wherein the display device is configured so that when the electrical voltage is applied to between the pair of electrodes, the contact particles are moved along the inner surface of the wall portion while maintaining the contact state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeo Kawase, Harunobu Komatsu, Hitoshi Yamamoto, Akira Matsumoto, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto, Teruki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8119739
    Abstract: The invention provides a retardation film, composed primarily of an acrylic polymer, with transparency, heat resistance, and large retardation. The retardation film of the present invention is composed primarily of an acrylic polymer. The film has an in-plane retardation of from 130 nm to 500 nm, inclusive, per 100 ?m thickness at a wavelength of 589 nm. The film has a total light transmittance of not less than 85%. The retardation film has a glass transition temperature of preferably from 110° C. to 200° C., inclusive. The acrylic polymer, which is the primary component, preferably has a lactone ring structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Asano, Akio Naka, Hirokazu Niwa, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto, Hiroyasu Watabe, Yoshiyuki Shiotani
  • Patent number: 8081375
    Abstract: An electrophoretic sheet includes a substrate having one surface and the other surface, a microcapsule-containing layer comprised of a plurality of microcapsules, the microcapsule-containing layer provided on the other surface of the substrate, each of the plurality of microcapsules having a capsule body and an electrophoretic dispersion liquid contained in the capsule body, the electrophoretic dispersion liquid containing a plurality of electrophoretic particles of at least one color, and the capsule body having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, and at least one colored part provided on the external side of the inner circumferential surface of the capsule body of each of the plurality of microcapsules, and wherein each colored part has a color complementary to the color of the plurality of electrophoretic particles. By using the electrophoretic sheet mentioned above, it is possible to provide the increased whiteness in display of the electrophoretic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harunobu Komatsu, Hitoshi Yamamoto, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto
  • Patent number: 7999997
    Abstract: An electrophoretic display device is provided. The electrophoretic display device comprises a first electrode provided on a surface of a first base member; second electrodes provided on a surface of a second base member so that the second electrodes are placed in a facing relationship with the first electrode; and a plurality of microcapsules provided between the first electrode and the second electrodes, the plurality of microcapsules each having an internal space filled with an electrophoretic dispersion liquid, and the electrophoretic dispersion liquid containing electrophoretic particles. The electrophoretic display device is configured so that spaces are formed between the adjacent microcapsules and between the first electrode and the second electrodes. The electrophoretic display device can exhibit superior display performance and can be driven with a low voltage and reduced electricity consumption. A method of manufacturing an electrophoretic display device and an electronic device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harunobu Komatsu, Hitoshi Yamamoto, Akira Masumoto, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto, Teruki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 7957052
    Abstract: A display device comprises a microcapsule-containing layer including a plurality of microcapsules. A variation of the outer diameters of the microcapsules can be defined by an average value and a CV value. Each of the microcapsules is comprised of: a shell having an inner surface; contact particles electrically charged and provided within the shell in an contact state that the contact particles are in contact with the inner surface of the shell; and a scattering body for scattering light; or a colored particles having a different hue from the hue of the contact particles. The display device further comprises a pair of electrodes that when an electrical voltage is applied to between the pair of electrodes, electrical fields to act on the contact particles are generated. The average value of the outer diameters of the microcapsules is in the range of 20 to 60 ?m, and the CV value of the outer diameters of the microcapsules is 20% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeo Kawase, Harunobu Komatsu, Hitoshi Yamamoto, Akira Matsumoto, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto, Teruki Matsushita, Hironobu Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20110032180
    Abstract: A display device is equipped with a laminate portion of a plurality of laminated adsorption particle-containing layers including a first adsorption particle-containing layer having a wall portion defining a space and electrically charged adsorption particles adsorbed to an inner surface of the wall portion, and a second adsorption particle-containing layer including a wall portion defining a space and electrically charged adsorption particles adsorbed to an inner surface of the wall portion and having a hue different from that of the adsorption particles of the first adsorption particle-containing layer: and one or more pairs of electrodes that, when applied with an electrical voltage, generate electric fields to act on the adsorption particles, and characterized in that, upon application of an electrical voltage across the one or more pairs of electrodes, the adsorption particles of each of the absorption particle-containing layers are moved, while being adsorbed to the inner surface of the wall portion, alo
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeo KAWASE, Harunobu KOMATSU, Hitoshi YAMAMOTO, Akira MATSUMOTO, Mitsuo KUSHINO, Tomoyuki KUWAMOTO, Teruki MATSUSHITA
  • Patent number: 7864405
    Abstract: An electrophoretic display sheet capable of increasing pressure resistance and bleed resistance of microcapsules and constructing an electrophoretic display device stably operable for a long period of time, a highly reliable electrophoretic display device and a highly reliable electronic apparatus are provided. The electrophoretic display sheet includes a base substrate having one major surface, and a microcapsule-containing layer provided on the side of the one major surface of the base substrate and having one major surface, the microcapsule-containing layer including a plurality of microcapsules, each of the microcapsules having a shell and an electrophoretic dispersion liquid containing at least one kind of electrophoretic particles and encapsulated into the shell, wherein the microcapsules exist in a generally spherical shape within the microcapsule-containing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harunobu Komatsu, Hitoshi Yamamoto, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto
  • Publication number: 20100259813
    Abstract: A display device having a display surface, comprises: a contact particle-containing layer including a wall portion with an inner surface for defining a space, contact particles electrically charged and provided within the space in a contact state that the contact particles are in contact with the inner surface of the wall portion, the contact particles having a hue, and a scattering medium for scattering light or a colored medium having a different hue from the hue of the contact particles which is provided within the space; and a pair of electrodes that, when applied with an electrical voltage, generate electrical fields to act on the contact particles, wherein the display device is configured so that when the electrical voltage is applied to between the pair of electrodes, the contact particles are moved along the inner surface of the wall portion while maintaining the contact state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicants: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeo Kawase, Harunobu Komatsu, Hitoshi Yamamoto, Akira Matsumoto, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto, Teruki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 7764419
    Abstract: The preservation method of microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices according to the present invention includes preserving microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices in a water-based medium having an electric conductivity of 500 ?S/cm or lower. The preservation under such conditions makes it possible to preserve microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices over a long period of time without deteriorating their electrophoretic properties. The microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices, which have been preserved by the preservation method of the present invention, can be used, as its applications, for sheets for electrophoretic display devices and electrophoretic display devices using the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yamamoto, Harunobu Komatsu, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto
  • Patent number: 7764420
    Abstract: A display device capable of easily and reliably obtaining an intermediate tone and reliably maintaining individual colors including the intermediate tone even at stoppage of application of an electrical voltage, a manufacturing method of a display device capable of easily and reliably manufacturing the display device, and an electronic apparatus provided with the display device are provided. The display device has a display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeo Kawase, Harunobu Komatsu, Hitoshi Yamamoto, Akira Matsumoto, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto, Teruki Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20100097686
    Abstract: An electrophoretic sheet includes a substrate having one surface and the other surface, a microcapsule-containing layer comprised of a plurality of microcapsules, the microcapsule-containing layer provided on the other surface of the substrate, each of the plurality of microcapsules having a capsule body and an electrophoretic dispersion liquid contained in the capsule body, the electrophoretic dispersion liquid containing a plurality of electrophoretic particles of at least one color, and the capsule body having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, and at least one colored part provided on the external side of the inner circumferential surface of the capsule body of each of the plurality of microcapsules, and wherein each colored part has a color complementary to the color of the plurality of electrophoretic particles. By using the electrophoretic sheet mentioned above, it is possible to provide the increased whiteness in display of the electrophoretic particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicants: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Harunobu Komatsu, Hitoshi Yamamoto, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto
  • Publication number: 20100097685
    Abstract: A display device comprises a microcapsule-containing layer including a plurality of microcapsules. A variation of the outer diameters of the microcapsules can be defined by an average value and a CV value. Each of the microcapsules is comprised of: a shell having an inner surface; contact particles electrically charged and provided within the shell in an contact state that the contact particles are in contact with the inner surface of the shell; and a scattering body for scattering light; or a colored particles having a different hue from the hue of the contact particles. The display device further comprises a pair of electrodes that when an electrical voltage is applied to between the pair of electrodes, electrical fields to act on the contact particles are generated. The average value of the outer diameters of the microcapsules is in the range of 20 to 60 ?m, and the CV value of the outer diameters of the microcapsules is 20% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicants: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeo Kawase, Harunobu Komatsu, Hitoshi Yamamoto, Akira Matsumoto, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto, Teruki Matsushita, Hironobu Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20100020385
    Abstract: The microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices according to the present invention each enclose a dispersion containing electrophoretic particles and a solvent in a shell having an inner shell made of a mercapto group-containing amino resin and an outer shell made of an epoxy resin. Alternatively, the microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices according to the present invention each have a capsule strength of 0.6 MPa or higher. These microcapsules are produced by dispersing a dispersion containing electrophoretic particles and a solvent as a core substance in a water-based medium, and subsequently forming at least one shell on the surface of the core substance. These microcapsules can be used, as their applications, for sheets for electrophoretic display devices, electrophoretic display devices using the sheets, and electronic equipments using the electrophoretic display devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yamamoto, Harunobu Komatsu, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto, Teruki Matsuhita
  • Publication number: 20090315824
    Abstract: An electrophoretic display sheet comprising a display layer, a first electrode, and second electrodes. The display layer has a plurality of reservoir portions filled with a dispersion liquid containing particles. Each of the plurality of reservoir portions has predetermined positions. When an electric field having a direction is generated by applying a voltage to between the first electrode and the second electrodes, the particles are locally gathered to the predetermined positions of each of the plurality of reservoir portions so as to make rows of the particles along the direction of the electric field in the dispersion liquid. The electrophoretic display sheet is capable of exhibiting both superior responsiveness (responsibility) and superior color display performance with high contrast in changing a display color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicants: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Harunobu Komatsu, Hitoshi Yamamoto, Akira Matsumoto, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto, Teruki Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20090207477
    Abstract: An electrophoretic display device is provided. The electrophoretic display device comprises a first electrode provided on a surface of a first base member; second electrodes provided on a surface of a second base member so that the second electrodes are placed in a facing relationship with the first electrode; and a plurality of microcapsules provided between the first electrode and the second electrodes, the plurality of microcapsules each having an internal space filled with an electrophoretic dispersion liquid, and the electrophoretic dispersion liquid containing electrophoretic particles. The electrophoretic display device is configured so that spaces are formed between the adjacent microcapsules and between the first electrode and the second electrodes. The electrophoretic display device can exhibit superior display performance and can be driven with a low voltage and reduced electricity consumption. A method of manufacturing an electrophoretic display device and an electronic device are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicants: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Harunobu Komatsu, Hitoshi Yamamoto, Akira Matsumoto, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto, Teruki Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20090208730
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrophoretic display device is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicants: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Harunobu Komatsu, Hitoshi Yamamoto, Akira Matsumoto, Mitsuo Kushino, Tomoyuki Kuwamoto, Teruki Matsushita