Patents by Inventor Yoshie Yagi

Yoshie Yagi 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: 20090213298
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical modulating display device (200) such as a liquid crystal displaying device provided with a front-light type planar illuminating device. The above front-light type planar illuminating device allows illuminating light to propagate inside a substrate (1), and is provided with a low refraction layer (3) being lower in refractive index than the substrate (1) and being in close contact with the inner surface of the substrate (1), and with reflection structure (11) on the outer surface of the substrate (1). The optical modulating display device (200) provided with the above front-light type planar illuminating device can ensure a sufficient amount of guide light propagating inside the substrate (1) and reduce non-uniformity in display illumination. And a display apparatus mounting the above optical modulating display device (200) thereon can be reduced in thickness and weight and provide a high quality display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Mimura, Ken Sumiyoshi, Goroh Saitoh, Jin Matsusima, Yoshie Yagi
  • Publication number: 20090096956
    Abstract: A light source apparatus permits an angular range of illumination light to be changed, wherein the apparatus can be made thin. A related display apparatus permits a visible angular range to be changed using the light source apparatus. The display apparatus can be mounted in a terminal device, and an optical member and an optical unit can be incorporated in the light source apparatus. The light source apparatus is provided with a light guide plate with a conical sheet. Two light sources are provided on side surfaces of the light guide plate. Two inclined surfaces whose inclination angles to a light output surface differ from each other are formed at a light diffusion surface of the light guide plate. The conical sheet is provided with a flat plate portion on which a plurality of cones are formed. The cones protrude toward the light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi UEHARA, Masao Imai, Yoshie Yagi
  • Patent number: 7090388
    Abstract: A light source device which is uniform in the intensity of distribution of an emitted light and high in the optical utilization efficiency, a display device which is high in recognability and is energy-saving, and an information terminal are provided. A reflecting portion is formed on a surface opposed to an emitting surface of a linear light guide. The reflecting portion is periodically formed with a total reflecting surface guiding a light incident on a linear light guide from a point light source, a light extracting surface allowing the light to reflect in such a way as to emit the light guiding the linear light guide from the emitting surface, and a re-incidence plane which takes the light transmitted but not reflected on the light extracting surface into the linear light guide again. By changing the size of the light extracting surface and the re-incidence plane, the intensity of distribution of the emitting light from the linear light guide can be made uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshie Yagi, Masao Imai, Goro Saito, Koji Mimura
  • Publication number: 20060077688
    Abstract: A light source apparatus permits an angular range of illumination light to be changed and can be made thin. A related display apparatus permits a visible angular range to be changed using the light source apparatus. The display apparatus can be mounted in a terminal device, and an optical member and an optical unit can be incorporated in the light source apparatus. The light source apparatus is provided with a light guide plate with a conical sheet provided in front. Two light sources are provided on side surfaces of the light guide plate. Two inclined surfaces whose inclination angles to a light output surface differ from each other are formed at a light diffusion surface of the light guide plate. The conical sheet is provided with a flat plate portion on the back side of which a plurality of cones are formed. The cones protrude toward the light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Uehara, Masao Imai, Yoshie Yagi
  • Publication number: 20050146897
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical modulating display device (200) such as a liquid crystal displaying device provided with a front-light type planar illuminating device. The above front-light type planar illuminating device allows illuminating light to propagate inside a substrate (1), and is provided with a low refraction layer (3) being lower in refractive index than the substrate (1) and being in close contact with the inner surface of the substrate (1), and with reflection structure (11) on the outer surface of the substrate (1). The optical modulating display device (200) provided with the above front-light type planar illuminating device can ensure a sufficient amount of guide light propagating inside the substrate (1) and reduce non-uniformity in display illumination. And a display apparatus mounting the above optical modulating display device (200) thereon can be reduced in thickness and weight and provide a high quality display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Mimura, Ken Sumiyoshi, Goroh Saitoh, Jin Matsusima, Yoshie Yagi
  • Patent number: 6824285
    Abstract: A small light source unit of simple structure that emits light forward with high efficiency is well-suited as a backlight in a liquid crystal display device. The light director in this unit has reflective internal faces adjacent opposite peripheral regions of the entrance face and two refractive index interfaces in it. The reflective internal faces and the refractive index interfaces are oriented on inclined planes. The refractive index of a middle region between the two interfaces is the smallest among those of the three regions making up the light director.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Goroh Saitoh, Yoshie Yagi, Koji Mimura, Ken Sumiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20040234229
    Abstract: A light source device which is uniform in the intensity of distribution of an emitted light and high in the optical utilization efficiency, a display device which is high in recognability and is energy-saving, and an information terminal are provided. A reflecting portion is formed on a surface opposed to an emitting surface of a linear light guide. The reflecting portion is periodically formed with a total reflecting surface guiding a light incident on a linear light guide from a point light source, a light extracting surface allowing the light to reflect in such a way as to emit the light guiding the linear light guide from the emitting surface, and a re-incidence plane which takes the light transmitted but not reflected on the light extracting surface into the linear light guide again. By changing the size of the light extracting surface and the re-incidence plane, the intensity of distribution of the emitting light from the linear light guide can be made uniform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshie Yagi, Masao Imai, Goro Saito, Koji Mimura
  • Publication number: 20030099118
    Abstract: A small light source unit of simple structure that emits light forward with high efficiency is well-suited as a backlight in a liquid crystal display device. The light director in this unit has reflective internal faces adjacent opposite peripheral regions of the entrance face and two refractive index interfaces in it. The reflective internal faces and the refractive index interfaces are oriented on inclined planes. The refractive index of a middle region between the two interfaces is the smallest among those of the three regions making up the light director.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Goroh Saitoh, Yoshie Yagi, Koji Mimura, Ken Sumiyoshi