Patents by Inventor Toshimitsu Gotoh

Toshimitsu Gotoh 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: 20100271335
    Abstract: A liquid crystal panel 11 with built-in sensors includes, in a pixel array 18, a plurality of pixel circuits and a plurality of optical sensors arranged two-dimensionally. When the liquid crystal panel 11 is formed of CG silicon, the light receiving sensitivity of the optical sensor is high for blue light but becomes low for red or green light. A display data processing unit 12 corrects a gradation having a value that is less than or equal to a predetermined value, to high for a blue component contained in display data D1. The display data processing unit 12 corrects only data displayed in a recognition area set in a display screen out of the blue component. Thus, even when the display image is dark, it can be converted to an image easy to recognize, a touch position can be detected properly irrespective of the display image, and a change of the display image by correction can be limited to the change of a specific color in a specific area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Gotoh, Akizumi Fujioka, Kei Oyobe, Takahiro Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7283775
    Abstract: A developing device prevents deterioration of toner, i.e., prevent the toner from being damaged, or fused onto the blade, to realize a more reliable developing operation. In the developing device, an electron emitting section is provided onto the toner regulation blade in which apertures (151) are formed, wherein each of the apertures (151) is formed by electroforming to have an inner surface curved convexly to be widened outwardly to the side irradiated with an ultraviolet ray (shape A). Further, a photoelectric surface (152) is laminated on the surface of the electron emitting section with the apertures (151). With an application of ultraviolet ray onto the electron emitting section, the resulting photoelectrons as emitted from the photoelectric surface (152) are guided to the toner through the apertures (151). Here, for the aperture (151) of the shape A, a larger amount of electrons can be guided to the toner than the apertures in other shapes (B to E).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taisuke Kamimura, Kiyoshi Toizumi, Toshimitsu Gotoh
  • Patent number: 7071960
    Abstract: Electron generating devices and LED arrays are arranged in a surrounding area of a photosensitive drum. The electron generating devices are located downstream of a cleaner and upstream of a developing unit with respect to a turning direction of the photosensitive drum with a specific gap between the electron generating devices and a surface of the photosensitive drum. The LED arrays are disposed against outer ends of the electron generating devices opposite to inner ends thereof facing the photosensitive drum. When activated by a driving circuit according to image information, individual LED elements of the LED arrays emit light, causing the electron generating devices to emit electrons in a pattern corresponding to the image information. The electrons emitted from the electron generating devices produce more electrons due to an electron avalanche phenomenon before reaching the photosensitive drum, eventually forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Toizumi, Taisuke Kamimura, Toshimitsu Gotoh, Tsutomu Yoshimoto, Yasuhiro Takai
  • Publication number: 20060133859
    Abstract: A developing device prevents deterioration of toner, i.e., prevent the toner from being damaged, or fused onto the blade, to realize a more reliable developing operation. In the developing device, an electron emitting section is provided onto the toner regulation blade in which apertures (151) are formed, wherein each of the apertures (151) is formed by electroforming to have an inner surface curved convexly to be widened outwardly to the side irradiated with an ultraviolet ray (shape A). Further, a photoelectric surface (152) is laminated on the surface of the electron emitting section with the apertures (151). With an application of ultraviolet ray onto the electron emitting section, the resulting photoelectrons as emitted from the photoelectric surface (152) are guided to the toner through the apertures (151). Here, for the aperture (151) of the shape A, a larger amount of electrons can be guided to the toner than the apertures in other shapes (B to E).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Taisuke Kamimura, Kiyoshi Toizumi, Toshimitsu Gotoh
  • Patent number: 7015938
    Abstract: Light emitted from an entire surface of a light source is passed selectively through a liquid crystal shutter. The shutter can be controlled to open/close on a pixel basis in response to image data and then selectively passed light is converted into light having a specified wavelength by a nonlinear optical element before impinging on a metal film. The metal film induces and emits its own electrons and forms an electrostatic latent image directly on a dielectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taisuke Kamimura, Kiyoshi Toizumi, Toshimitsu Gotoh
  • Patent number: 6934496
    Abstract: A developing device is provided with a developer conveying member in which a plurality of electrodes arranged on a substrate at a predetermined interval are coated with a surface protection layer, the developer conveying member being provided in a developing area that faces an image carrying body whose surface carries an electrostatic latent image, wherein developer is conveyed on the developer conveying member using a traveling-wave electric field that is formed by applying a polyphase voltage to the respective electrodes. The developing device is further provided with a supplying member for supplying the developer onto the developer conveying member, wherein (i) an effective electrode width Le of the respective electrodes in their width direction orthogonal to their arranging direction and (ii) a width Lt of a developer existing area on the supplying member, the width Lt being orthogonal to a direction of supplying the developer, are set so as to satisfy a relation of Lt<Le.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masamitsu Sakuma, Katsumi Adachi, Taisuke Kamimura, Kiyoshi Toizumi, Toshimitsu Gotoh
  • Patent number: 6901232
    Abstract: On surfaces of insulating layers 1b and 1c of a transportation member 1, a protective layer 1d having a volume resistivity of 1010 ?·cm to 1017 ?·cm is so laminated that a sum of thickness of the insulating layers 1b and 1c is less than intervals between adjacent ones of progressive wave generating electrodes 2. With this arrangement, it is ensured that a progressive wave electric field generated by the progressive wave generating electrodes 2 is exposed beyond a surface of the transportation member 1. Even if developer T and the transportation member 1 contact each other, a surface potential of the transportation member 1 is not changed. Moreover, firm adhering of the toner T to the surface of the transportation member 1 is prevented. It is therefore possible to certainly transport the developer T to a development position always stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masamitsu Sakuma, Katsumi Adachi, Taisuke Kamimura, Kiyoshi Toizumi, Toshimitsu Gotoh
  • Patent number: 6865350
    Abstract: The charging method is arranged so as to charge the toner on a developing roller by electrons as generated by the photoelectric effect from a photo-electric surface of a toner layer regulating/charging blade. An electric bias is applied across a toner layer thickness regulating/charging blade and a developing roller, and an amount of electrons discharged indicated by current flowing across the toner layer thickness regulating/charging blade and the developing roller is measured by an amplifier. When the amount of electrons discharged is detected to be 1/t of an initial amount, the amount of light to be received by the photo-electric surface of an ultraviolet ray luminescent is increased by t times to be the initial amount. According to the foregoing method, such event that the photoelectric effect is weakened due to the deterioration of the photoelectric surface can be detected with ease, and thus desirable charged state of toner can be maintained with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taisuke Kamimura, Kiyoshi Toizumi, Toshimitsu Gotoh
  • Patent number: 6829446
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a development section which has a blade for applying electrons generated in its photoelectric surface due to a photoelectric effect to a toner so as to charge the toner; an ultraviolet irradiator for irradiating the photoelectric surface with light; a development roller for holding the toner thus charged, and performing carriage of the toner to a photoconductive drum having an electrostatic latent image on a surface; wherein the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum is developed by the charged toner. The development section further includes a control section for performing control of application of a voltage to the ultraviolet irradiator, application of a voltage to the photoelectric surface, application of a voltage to the development roller, and beginning of the carriage of the toner by the development roller, at predetermined timings, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Toizumi, Taisuke Kamimura, Toshimitsu Gotoh
  • Publication number: 20040213608
    Abstract: On surfaces of insulating layers 1b and 1c of a transportation member 1, a protective layer 1d having a volume resistivity of 1010 &OHgr;·cm to 1017 &OHgr;·cm is so laminated that a sum of thickness of the insulating layers 1b and 1c is less than intervals between adjacent ones of progressive wave generating electrodes 2. With this arrangement, it is ensured that a progressive wave electric field generated by the progressive wave generating electrodes 2 is exposed beyond a surface of the transportation member 1. Even if developer T and the transportation member 1 contact each other, a surface potential of the transportation member 1 is not changed. Moreover, firm adhering of the toner T to the surface of the transportation member 1 is prevented. It is therefore possible to certainly transport the developer T to a development position always stably.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Masamitsu Sakuma, Katsumi Adachi, Taisuke Kamimura, Kiyoshi Toizumi, Toshimitsu Gotoh
  • Publication number: 20040189781
    Abstract: Electron generating devices and LED arrays are arranged in a surrounding area of a photosensitive drum. The electron generating devices are located downstream of a cleaner and upstream of a developing unit with respect to a turning direction of the photosensitive drum with a specific gap between the electron generating devices and a surface of the photosensitive drum. The LED arrays are disposed against outer ends of the electron generating devices opposite to inner ends thereof facing the photosensitive drum. When activated by a driving circuit according to image information, individual LED elements of the LED arrays emit light, causing the electron generating devices to emit electrons in a pattern corresponding to the image information. The electrons emitted from the electron generating devices produce more electrons due to an electron avalanche phenomenon before reaching the photosensitive drum, eventually forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Toizumi, Taisuke Kamimura, Toshimitsu Gotoh, Tsutomu Yoshimoto, Yasuhiro Takai
  • Publication number: 20040037593
    Abstract: A developing device is provided with a developer conveying member in which a plurality of electrodes arranged on a substrate at a predetermined interval are coated with a surface protection layer, the developer conveying member being provided in a developing area that faces an image carrying body whose surface carries an electrostatic latent image, wherein developer is conveyed on the developer conveying member using a traveling-wave electric field that is formed by applying a polyphase voltage to the respective electrodes. The developing device is further provided with a supplying member for supplying the developer onto the developer conveying member, wherein (i) an effective electrode width Le of the respective electrodes in their width direction orthogonal to their arranging direction and (ii) a width Lt of a developer existing area on the supplying member, the width Lt being orthogonal to a direction of supplying the developer, are set so as to satisfy a relation of Lt<Le.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Masamitsu Sakuma, Katsumi Adachi, Taisuke Kamimura, Kiyoshi Toizumi, Toshimitsu Gotoh
  • Patent number: 6697592
    Abstract: A developing device comprises: a toner carrying member (15) for carrying toner T towards a photosensitive drum, using a traveling wave electric field; a belt member (16) which is provided so as to cover the surface of the toner carrying member (15), the surface facing the photosensitive drum (2); a belt drive roller (18) which is in touch with the belt member (16) so as to rotate the belt member (16) around the toner carrying member (15); and a drive assistance roller (19) for sandwiching the belt member (16) with the belt drive roller (18). With this arrangement, it is possible to provide a developing device which is silent, small in size, and capable of reducing costs, and an image forming device including the developing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Adachi, Masamitsu Sakuma, Taisuke Kamimura, Kiyoshi Toizumi, Toshimitsu Gotoh
  • Publication number: 20030210918
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a development section which has a blade for applying electrons generated in its photoelectric surface due to a photoelectric effect to a toner so as to charge the toner; an ultraviolet irradiator for irradiating the photoelectric surface with light; a development roller for holding the toner thus charged, and performing carriage of the toner to a photoconductive drum having an electrostatic latent image on a surface; wherein the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum is developed by the charged toner. The development section further includes a control section for performing control of application of a voltage to the ultraviolet irradiator, application of a voltage to the photoelectric surface, application of a voltage to the development roller, and beginning of the carriage of the toner by the development roller, at predetermined timings, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Toizumi, Taisuke Kamimura, Toshimitsu Gotoh
  • Publication number: 20030202811
    Abstract: The charging method is arranged so as to charge the toner on a developing roller by electrons as generated by the photoelectric effect from a photo-electric surface of a toner layer regulating/charging blade. An electric bias is applied across a toner layer thickness regulating/charging blade and a developing roller, and an amount of electrons discharged indicated by current flowing across the toner layer thickness regulating/charging blade and the developing roller is measured by an amplifier. When the amount of electrons discharged is detected to be 1/t of an initial amount, the amount of light to be received by the photo-electric surface of an ultraviolet ray luminescent is increased by t times to be the initial amount. According to the foregoing method, such event that the photoelectric effect is weakened due to the deterioration of the photoelectric surface can be detected with ease, and thus desirable charged state of toner can be maintained with ease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Taisuke Kamimura, Kiyoshi Toizumi, Toshimitsu Gotoh
  • Publication number: 20030175052
    Abstract: A developing device comprises: a toner carrying member (15) for carrying toner T towards a photosensitive drum, using a traveling wave electric field; a belt member (16) which is provided so as to cover the surface of the toner carrying member (15), the surface facing the photosensitive drum (2); a belt drive roller (18) which is in touch with the belt member (16) so as to rotate the belt member (16) around the toner carrying member (15); and a drive assistance roller (19) for sandwiching the belt member (16) with the belt drive roller (18). With this arrangement, it is possible to provide a developing device which is silent, small in size, and capable of reducing costs, and an image forming device including the developing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Katsumi Adachi, Masamitsu Sakuma, Taisuke Kamimura, Kiyoshi Toizumi, Toshimitsu Gotoh