Patents by Inventor Yoshitomo Kumai

Yoshitomo Kumai 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: 20120234046
    Abstract: A method for producing a polarizing element includes the steps of: forming an island-shaped film of a metal halide on a glass substrate; forming needle-shaped particles of the metal halide by stretching the glass substrate through heating to elongate the island-shaped film; and forming needle-shaped metal particles composed of a metal by reducing the metal halide of the needle-shaped particles, wherein the metal halide is deposited on the glass substrate by a reactive physical vapor deposition method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Kumai
  • Patent number: 8205992
    Abstract: A polarization element includes: a substrate; a plurality of convex line sections on one surface of the substrate and forming stripes in a plan view; and a multilayer thin line provided to each convex line section and extending along the convex line sections, wherein the multilayer thin line has a lower layer on the convex line section, and an upper layer stacked on the lower layer, the lower layer and the upper layer each have a first thin line on one side surface in a direction along a shorter dimension of the convex line section, and a second thin line on the other side surface, the materials of the lower layer first thin line and the upper layer first thin line are different from each other, and the materials of the lower layer second thin line and the upper layer second thin line are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Kumai
  • Publication number: 20120105745
    Abstract: A polarization element according to the invention includes a substrate, a metal layer and an absorber layer formed on the substrate to form a stripe in a plan view and stacked in a thickness direction of the substrate, a first dielectric layer formed on a surface of the metal layer and a second dielectric layer formed on a surface of the absorber layer. The first dielectric layer is made of an oxide of a metal constituting the metal layer, and the second dielectric layer is made of an oxide of a material constituting the absorber layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Kumai
  • Patent number: 8094373
    Abstract: A polarization element including a plurality of protection films, one of the plurality of protection films being provided on one of the plurality of metal thin wires. The plurality of metal thin wires includes a first metal thin wire, and a second metal thin wire adjacent to the first metal thin wire. The plurality of protection films includes a protection first film and a second protection film. A first mask is provided between the upper end of the first metal thin wire and the first protection film, and a second mask is provided between the upper end of the second metal thin wire and the second protection film. The first and second protection films form an air gap below the first mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Kumai
  • Publication number: 20110310329
    Abstract: The wire grid type polarization device includes a substrate, and a metal layer formed on one face of the substrate in a substantially stripe shape in a plan view, a first dielectric layer provided on two side faces opposite to each other among a plurality of side faces of the metal layer and in a top part of the metal layer, and a second dielectric layer provided on the first dielectric layer. A substrate side end portion of the second dielectric layer is located between the one surface of the substrate and the top part of the first metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Kumai
  • Publication number: 20110310328
    Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a polarization device having a plurality of metal layers provided on a substrate in a stripe shape in a plan view, and a dielectric layer provided on a surface of one metal layer among the plurality of metal layers, includes forming the dielectric layer by oxidizing a surface of one of the plurality of meal layers in an oxide gas atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Kumai
  • Patent number: 7969534
    Abstract: A polarizing element manufacturing method includes (a) forming a plurality of fine metal wires by forming a metal film on a substrate and patterning the metal film, (b) applying, onto a base material, a glass precursor solution for forming a protective layer for protecting the fine metal wires, (c) placing the substrate on the base material so that ends of the fine metal wires are immersed in the glass precursor solution, and (d) forming the protective layer by drying the glass precursor solution, and bonding together the base material and the substrate with the protective layer therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Huiping Zhang, Yoshitomo Kumai
  • Publication number: 20110102712
    Abstract: A polarization element includes: a substrate; a plurality of protruding sections formed on the substrate in a striped manner in a plan view; and a heat radiation section formed on a top portion of each of the protruding sections, wherein the heat radiation section has a concavo-convex section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo KUMAI
  • Patent number: 7894020
    Abstract: A polarizing device includes: a polarizing device unit composed of a metallic film formed on a base, the metallic film having a plurality of slit-shaped openings; and an etching sacrifice layer provided between the base and the polarizing device unit, so that the etching sacrifice layer is partly etched together with the metallic film during the etching of the polarizing device unit; wherein the etching sacrifice layer is composed of a material that has an etching rate equal to or greater than that of the metallic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Kumai
  • Publication number: 20100238385
    Abstract: A polarizing element manufacturing method includes (a) forming a plurality of fine metal wires by forming a metal film on a substrate and patterning the metal film, (b) applying, onto a base material, a glass precursor solution for forming a protective layer for protecting the fine metal wires, (c) placing the substrate on the base material so that ends of the fine metal wires are immersed in the glass precursor solution, and (d) forming the protective layer by drying the glass precursor solution, and bonding together the base material and the substrate with the protective layer therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Huiping Zhang, Yoshitomo Kumai
  • Publication number: 20100225832
    Abstract: A polarizing element includes a substrate with protruded threads, and metal thin wires provided on the protruded threads. Each metal thin wire includes a first thin wire provided to a first side surface of the protruded thread and a second thin wire provided to a second side surface of the protruded thread. Each first thin wire has a first volume. Each second thin wire has a second volume. Each metal thin wire has a third volume which is the sum of the first and second volumes. As a distance from one end of the substrate increases, the volume of each first thin wire decreases and the volume of each second thin wire increases so that the third volume is maintained within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo KUMAI
  • Publication number: 20100227054
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a polarization element, adapted to form a film at least on a part of a surface of a plurality of convex sections provided to at least one surface of the substrate, includes: (a) depositing a first film material on the one surface of the substrate in a first direction to thereby form a first film on the convex section; and (b) depositing a second film material in a second direction different from the first direction to thereby form a second film on the convex section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo KUMAI
  • Publication number: 20100225886
    Abstract: A polarization element includes: a substrate; a plurality of convex line sections disposed on one surface of the substrate so as to form substantial stripes in a plan view; and a multilayer thin line provided to each of the convex line sections and extending along an extending direction of the convex line sections, wherein the multilayer thin line has a lower layer thin line disposed on the convex line section, and an upper layer thin line stacked on the lower layer thin line, the lower layer thin line and the upper layer thin line each have a first thin line disposed on one side surface out of both side surfaces in a direction along a shorter dimension of the convex line section, and a second thin line disposed on the other side surface, materials of the first thin line belonging to the lower layer thin line and the first thin line belonging to the upper layer thin line are different from each other, and materials of the second thin line belonging to the lower layer thin line and the second thin line belongi
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo KUMAI
  • Patent number: 7755717
    Abstract: A polarizing element manufacturing method includes (a) forming a plurality of fine metal wires by forming a metal film on a substrate and patterning the metal film, (b) applying, onto a base material, a glass precursor solution for forming a protective layer for protecting the fine metal wires, (c) placing the substrate on the base material so that ends of the fine metal wires are immersed in the glass precursor solution, and (d) forming the protective layer by drying the glass precursor solution, and bonding together the base material and the substrate with the protective layer therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Huiping Zhang, Yoshitomo Kumai
  • Publication number: 20100149443
    Abstract: A polarizing element includes a substrate; a plurality of protruded threads formed on one of surfaces of the substrate in a rough stripe pattern when viewed two-dimensionally, each of the protruded threads having a side surface forming a slope inclined with respect to the one surface of the substrate; a plurality of metal thin wires each formed on the slope of the each protruded thread so as to be cantilever-supported by the slope and each extended in an extension direction of the protruded thread; and a protection film covering the protruded threads and the metal thin wires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo KUMAI
  • Publication number: 20100149441
    Abstract: A polarizing element includes a substrate; a plurality of protruded threads formed on one of surfaces of the substrate in a rough stripe pattern when viewed two-dimensionally, each of the protruded threads having a side surface forming a slope inclined with respect to the one surface of the substrate; and a plurality of metal thin wires each formed on the slope of the each protruded thread so as to be cantilever-supported by the slope and each extended in an extension direction of the protruded thread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo KUMAI
  • Patent number: 7666468
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical element having a metal wire grid containing a plurality of metal wires on a substrate includes forming the metal wire grid with an LSP (Liquid Self-patterning Process).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Kumai, Daisuke Sawaki
  • Patent number: 7608474
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical element having a metal wire grid containing a plurality of metal wires on a substrate includes forming the metal wire grid using an electrolytic plating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Kumai, Daisuke Sawaki
  • Publication number: 20090135355
    Abstract: An optical element includes: a substrate having a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions that are partitioned in plan view; a first grid one-dimensionally formed in the plurality of first regions on the substrate; a diffraction function portion including a plurality of grooves parallel to each other in the plurality of second regions on the substrate; and a second grid formed in a region excluding the plurality of grooves on the diffraction function portion. The optical element reflects a part of incident light and transmits a part of the incident light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo KUMAI
  • Publication number: 20090066885
    Abstract: A polarization element includes: a base; a plurality of metal thin wires provided on the base along a predetermined alignment axis; and a plurality of protection films covering each of the plurality of metal thin wires. In the element, each of the protection films covers an upper end and both sidewalls of one of the metal thin wires. Further, a width of a part, which is on the upper end of the one of the metal thin wires, of the each of the protection films in a direction of the alignment axis is larger than a width obtained by summing a width of the one of the metal thin wires in the direction of the alignment axis and widths of parts, which are on the both sidewalls of the one of the metal thin wires, of the each of the protection films in the direction of the alignment axis. The protection films on sidewalls, which are opposed to each other, of the metal thin wires that are adjacent form an air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo KUMAI