Patents by Inventor Yoshiharu Hirai

Yoshiharu Hirai 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: 8419973
    Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal composition is provided that can contains a mixture of polymerizable compounds containing a compound represented by the formula (1-1), a compound represented by the formula (2), a compound represented by the formula (3-1) and a compound represented by the formula (4), and a amine silane coupling agent. The composition can form a polymerizable liquid crystal layer exhibiting a uniform homeotropic alignment by coating the composition on a supporting substrate, independently from the kind of the supporting substrate without a special alignment film. Examples of each of the components are shown below, in which ring T represents triptycen-1,4-diyl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: JNC Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Hirai
  • Patent number: 8419972
    Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal composition is provided that is excellent in UV curing characteristics in the air and is excellent in orientation homogeneity, and a polymer film as a selective reflection film is provided that is obtained by orienting and polymerizing the composition on a supporting substrate. The liquid crystal composition contains a compound (1), a compound (2), a compound (3), a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by the formulae (4) to (6), and a surfactant. In the following formulae Y1 to Y4 and Y6 are each alkylene, A2, A3, A41, A42, A51, A52 and A6 are each a cyclic group, Z2 to Z4 and Z6 are each a bonding group, P4 and P6 are each an integer of from 0 to 3, R2, R31 and R32 are each hydrogen, halogen or alkyl, and Q1 and Q2 are each a polymerizable group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: JNC Corporation, JNC Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Hirai, Kazumi Hagihara
  • Publication number: 20120274888
    Abstract: A polyamic acid-type photo-alignment layer in a heating process only below approximately 140° C., and an optically anisotropic substance in which various polymerizable liquid crystal compositions are uniformly oriented by use of the layer are provided. An optically anisotropic substance obtained by applying a polyamic acid varnish which is a composition including a polyamic acid having a divalent azobenzene group in the principal chain or its derivative, or a composition including a mixture of both this polyamic acid or its derivative and other polyamic acids or its derivative as a polymer component, to a supporting substrate, by drying the resultant layer at a temperature range of approximately 50° C. to approximately 140° C., by carrying out alignment treatment by irradiation of the layer with light, applying a polymerizable liquid crystal composition to a alignment layer formed by means of the treatment, and polymerizing the composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicants: JNC PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION, JNC CORPORATION
    Inventors: YOSHIHARU HIRAI, NORIO TAMURA
  • Patent number: 8246855
    Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal composition is provided that has a wide range where a liquid crystal phase is exhibited, has excellent solubility in an organic solvent, and is facilitated in control of an alignment state. The use of the polymerizable liquid crystal composition provides a polymerizable liquid crystal composition that has good solubility in a solvent with high safety, such as PGMEA, and can control various alignment states. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition in one aspect contains a fluorenone derivative represented by the formula (1) and a compound having a bisphenol skeleton represented by the formula (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: JNC Corporation, JNC Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Hirai
  • Patent number: 8048496
    Abstract: The purpose the invention is to provide a polymerizable liquid crystal compound which has an excellent solubility with other compounds, a high homeotropic property, and a spirobiindan-backbone, and a liquid crystal composition comprising this compound. The purpose is attained with a polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by Formula (1). A polymer which is excellent in many characteristics can be obtained from this compound and a formed body having optical anisotropy, produced from this polymer can be obtained. In Formula (1), G is a single bond or oxygen; R is hydrogen, methyl (Me) or a group represented by Formula (a), wherein at least two of R are groups represented by Formula (a); P is a polymerizable group represented by any of Formula (P1) to Formula (P8). In Formula (a), a desirable A is 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene; Z is a bonding group; m is an integer of 0 to 3; X0 is a single bond or alkylene; Z0 is a single bond, —O—, —OCO—, or —OCOO—; X is a single bond or alkylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: JNC Corporation
    Inventors: Maiko Itoh, Yoshiharu Hirai, Junichi Inagaki, Daisuke Ootsuki
  • Publication number: 20110147657
    Abstract: The main aim of the invention is to provide a polymerizable compound that is excellent in the stability of a liquid crystal phase, a polymerizable liquid crystal composition, and an anisotropic polymer in which the optical anisotropy can be adjusted and a uniform orientation is excellent. An anisotropic polymer having a uniform orientation formed by polymerization of a paint film that was prepared by application of a polymerizable liquid crystal composition including a compound represented by formula (1) having a benzyl ester moiety in the minor axis direction of the molecule to a supporting substrate; wherein at least one of Ra is a polymerizable group, A is a divalent cyclic-structure group, B is phenyl that may have a substituent, Y and Z are a single bond or alkylene, and m and n are an integer from 0 to 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicants: CHISSO CORPORATION, CHISSO PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiharu HIRAI, Takashi KATO
  • Publication number: 20110114882
    Abstract: The invention provides a compound represented by formula (1). In the formula (1), R1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; X1 is a single bond, —O— or —OCO—; X2 is a single bond, —O—, —COO— or —OCO—; A1 and A2 are each independently a divalent aromatic ring or a divalent cyclohexane ring, and in these rings, arbitrary hydrogen may be replaced by halogen, alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons or halogenated alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons; Z1 is independently a single bond, —O—, —S—, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH2O—, —OCH2—, —CH?CH—COO—, —OCO—CH?CH—, —CH2CH2—COO—, —OCO—CH2CH2—, —CON(R)— or —N(R)CO—; R is hydrogen or methyl; Y is a terpenoid residue or a steroid residue; m is an integer from 0 to 20; and n is an integer from 0 to 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicants: CHISSO CORPORATION, CHISSO PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MAYUMI TANABE, Yoshiharu Hirai
  • Publication number: 20100304148
    Abstract: A compound represented by the formula (1) is provided. A polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing the compound can be controlled in birefringence and is excellent in stability of a liquid crystal phase. An anisotropic polymer excellent in uniformity of alignment is obtained by coating and polymerizing the composition on a supporting substrate. In the formula (1), at least one of Ra represents a polymerizable group, A represents a ring group, Y and Z each represent a single bond or alkylene; in which —CH2— in the alkylene may be replaced by another group, and m and n each represent an integer of from 0 to 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Hirai, Ryushi Shundo, Takashi Kato
  • Publication number: 20100297367
    Abstract: Subject to be Solved The invention aims to provide a polyamic acid-type photo-alignment layer in a heating process only below approximately 140° C., and to provide an optically anisotropic substance in which various polymerizable liquid crystal compositions are uniformly oriented by use of the layer. Means for Solving the Subject An optically anisotropic substance obtained by applying a polyamic acid varnish which is a composition including a polyamic acid having a divalent azobenzene group in the principal chain or its derivative, or a composition including a mixture of both this polyamic acid or its derivative and other polyamic acids or its derivative as a polymer component, to a supporting substrate, by drying the resultant layer at a temperature range of approximately 50° C. to approximately 140° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicants: CHISSO CORPORATION, CHISSO PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: YOSHIHARU HIRAI, NORIO TAMURA
  • Publication number: 20100151154
    Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal composition is provided that can contains a mixture of polymerizable compounds containing a compound represented by the formula (1-1), a compound represented by the formula (2), a compound represented by the formula (3-1) and a compound represented by the formula (4), and a amine silane coupling agent. The composition can form a polymerizable liquid crystal layer exhibiting a uniform homeotropic alignment by coating the composition on a supporting substrate, independently from the kind of the supporting substrate without a special alignment film. Examples of each of the components are shown below, in which ring T represents triptycen-1,4-diyl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Hirai
  • Publication number: 20100143612
    Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal composition is provided that can exhibit a uniform homogeneous alignment by coating the composition on a supporting substrate having been subjected to an alignment treatment. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains a mixture of polymerizable compounds containing a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by the formula (1-1) as a component A and a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by the formula (2-1) as a component B as essential components, and optionally containing a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by the formulae (3-1) to (3-3) as a component C and/or a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by the formula (4-1) as a component D, and contains at least one nonionic surfactant as a component E. Examples of each of the components are shown below, in which T represents triptycen-1,4-diyl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Hirai
  • Publication number: 20100117027
    Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal composition is provided that is excellent in UV curing characteristics in the air and is excellent in orientation homogeneity, and a polymer film as a selective reflection film is provided that is obtained by orienting and polymerizing the composition on a supporting substrate. The liquid crystal composition contains a compound (1), a compound (2), a compound (3), a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by the formulae (4) to (6), and a surfactant. In the following formulae Y1 to Y4 and Y6 are each alkylene, A2, A3, A41, A42, A51, A52 and A6 are each a cyclic group, Z2 to Z4 and Z6 are each a bonding group, P4 and P6 are each an integer of from 0 to 3, R2, R31 and R32 are each hydrogen, halogen or alkyl, and Q1 and Q2 are each a polymerizable group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Hirai, Kazumi Hagihara
  • Publication number: 20100096591
    Abstract: The purpose the invention is to provide a polymerizable liquid crystal compound which has an excellent solubility with other compounds, a high homeotropic property, and a spirobiindan-backbone, and a liquid crystal composition comprising this compound. The purpose is attained with a polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by Formula (1). A polymer which is excellent in many characteristics can be obtained from this compound and a formed body having optical anisotropy, produced from this polymer can be obtained. In Formula (1), G is a single bond or oxygen; R is hydrogen, methyl (Me) or a group represented by Formula (a), wherein at least two of R are groups represented by Formula (a); P is a polymerizable group represented by any of Formula (P1) to Formula (P8). In Formula (a), a desirable A is 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene; Z is a bonding group; m is an integer of 0 to 3; X0 is a single bond or alkylene; Z0 is a single bond, —O—, —OCO—, or —OCOO—; X is a single bond or alkylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Maiko ITOH, Yoshiharu HIRAI, Junichi INAGAKI, Daisuke OOTSUKI
  • Publication number: 20100051866
    Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal composition is provided that has a wide range where a liquid crystal phase is exhibited, has excellent solubility in an organic solvent, and is facilitated in control of an alignment state. The use of the polymerizable liquid crystal composition provides a polymerizable liquid crystal composition that has good solubility in a solvent with high safety, such as PGMEA, and can control various alignment states. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition in one aspect contains a fluorenone derivative represented by the formula (1) and a compound having a bisphenol skeleton represented by the formula (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Hirai
  • Patent number: 7597945
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer satisfying at least two characteristics among the characteristics such that it has orientation of homeotropic and so forth; it has an orientation having no (or less) defects; it has a large optical anisotropy; it is tightly adhered to a supporting plate; it has a sufficient hardness; it is colorless and transparent; it has a large heat resistance; it has a large weatherability; and so forth and to a composition which is the precursor. The composition contains the following the compound (1), (2) and (3). In the above formulas, R is hydrogen or methyl, L is hydrogen, fluorine and so forth, A is 1,4-phenylene and so forth, X is trifluoromethyl and so forth, Y is hydrogen or fluorine, Z is —COO— and so forth, and n is an integer of 1 to 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignees: Chisso Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Hirai, Takashi Kato
  • Patent number: 7588806
    Abstract: The invention includes homeotropically aligned liquid crystal films obtained by applying a polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of polymerizable liquid crystal compounds represented by the following formula (1-1) to the following formula (1-3) onto a substrate having a polar surface, and polymerizing the composition: wherein R1 is methyl or ethyl; Z1 is a single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH?CH—COO— or —CH2CH2—COO—; Z2 is —COO— or —OCO—; each Y is independently hydrogen or fluorine; X is —OCF3 or —CN; w is 0, 1 or 2; and a is an integer of 1 to 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignees: Chisso Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Hirai
  • Patent number: 7488519
    Abstract: Such a polymerizable liquid crystal composition is to be provided that is excellent in stability in a solution state, shows good coating property on a supporting substrate, and has a uniform homeotropic alignment property. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains an acrylate compound, an epoxy compound and a bisphenol fluorene compound. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (1-1) and (1-2) as a component (A), a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formula (2) as a component (B), a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (3-1) to (3-3) as a component (C) and a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (4-1A), (4-1B), (4-2), (4-3), (4-4) and (4-5) as a component (D), and may optionally contain a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (5-1) and (5-2) as a component (E).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignees: Chisso Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Hirai
  • Patent number: 7476423
    Abstract: The invention is to provide such a polymerizable liquid crystal composition that is excellent in stability in a solution state, shows good coating property on a supporting substrate, and has uniform homeotropic alignment property. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition of the invention contains an acrylate compound and a bisphenol fluorene compound. The bisphenol fluorene compound is effective for controlling uniform homeotropic alignment of the polymerizable liquid crystal composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignees: Chisso Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Hirai
  • Publication number: 20080241431
    Abstract: Such a polymerizable liquid crystal composition is to be provided that is excellent in stability in a solution state, shows good coating property on a supporting substrate, and has a uniform homeotropic alignment property. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains an acrylate compound, an epoxy compound and a bisphenol fluorene compound. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (1-1) and (1-2) as a component (A), a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formula (2) as a component (B), a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (3-1) to (3-3) as a component (C) and a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (4-1A), (4-1B), (4-2), (4-3), (4-4) and (4-5) as a component (D), and may optionally contain a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (5-1) and (5-2) as a component (E).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Hirai
  • Patent number: 7425354
    Abstract: The present invention provides a photopolymerizable liquid crystal composition comprising at least a compound having oxiranyl as a first component and at least a compound having oxetanyl as a second component, a polymer or a polymer composition obtained from the liquid crystal composition, a film obtained from the polymer or polymer composition, and an optical compensation element using the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignees: Chisso Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventors: Motoki Yanai, Kazuhiko Saigusa, Ryushi Shundo, Yoshiharu Hirai