Citizen Watch Company, Ltd.

Sony Corporation

Takashi Toida

Yukio Miya

Osamu Sugiyama

Ryota Koike

Toshiichi Sekine

Masami Kikuchi

Takashi Akiyama

Masafumi Ide

Kanetaka Sekiguchi

Yuichi Akiba

Koji Nakagawa

Koichi Hoshino

Fumio Nakajima

Akira Nikaido

Takayasu Machida

Hisato Hiraishi

Akira Azuma

Mitsuo Onda

Tomomi Murakami

Yuji Fukazawa

Toshiyuki Kishi

Sosaku Kimura

Satoshi Nakayama

Kunihiko Kokubo

Toshikazu Nakata

Masafuni Ide

A digital broadcast receiver includes: first reception means for receiving a certain channel of program from a multichannel digital broadcast under a state of normal viewing; first decoding means for decoding an encoded signal of the digital broadcast received by the first reception means and for outputting the decoded signal as a signal for viewing; second reception means for receiving the digital broadcast in the certain channel from the multichannel digital broadcast under the state of normal viewing; and second decoding means for decoding the encoded signal of the digital broadcast received by the second reception means and for outputting the decoded signal as a signal for recording.

Digital broadcast receiver and method of controlling reception of digital broadcasts

A watch unit having a time-displaying section, including a reflection-type polarizing filmdisposed on an upper portion or a lower portion of the time-displaying section or a portion comprising a part of the time-displaying section, an optical modulation section which varies the ratio of a transmission axis to a reflection axis of the reflection-type polarizing film, and a shutter function to shield a portion of or all of the watch unit having the time-display section by varying the reflection intensity and the transmission intensity in relation to the light incident direction using the reflection-type polarinzing filmand the optical modulation section, to enhance the appearance and to improve the versatility of the watch unit.

Time piece with power generation function

A liquid crystal display device is structured in such a manner that plural of liquid crystal display panels each comprised of a liquid crystal layer provided between a pair of transparent substrates which have electrodes disposed on each facing inner surface, and a reflection-type polarizing film is disposed at least on the top surface of the plural liquid crystal display panel, or between the liquid crystal display panels, or on the lowest surface of the plural liquid crystal display panel. By controlling a reflection state and a transmission state through the reflection-type polarizing film with electric voltage applied on the liquid crystal layer of the liquid crystal display panel, a display which represents the opening and closing of a metallic shutter is made possible.

Liquid crystal display

A watch unit having a time-displaying section, including a reflection-type polarizing film disposed on an upper portion or a lower portion of the time-displaying section or a portion comprising a part of the time-displaying section, an optical modulation section which varies the ratio of a transmission axis to a reflection axis of the reflection-type polarizing film , and a shutter function to shield a portion of or all of the watch unit having the time-display section by varying the reflection intensity and the transmission intensity in relation to the light incident direction using the reflection-type polarinzing film and the optical modulation section, to enhance the appearance and to improve the versatility of the watch unit.

Timepiece

The liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal cell with liquid crystals sealed thereinbetween, sandwiched between two transparent substrates having an electrode on each of the inner surfaces thereof facing each other, an absorption-type polarizing film disposed on the visible side of the liquid crystal cell, a reflection-type polarizing film disposed on the side of the liquid crystal cell, opposite from the visible side. The absorption-type polarizing film is a polarizing sheet absorbing a light linearly polarized in the direction orthogonal to the transmission axis thereof while the reflection-type polarizing film is a polarizing sheet reflecting a light linearly polarized in the direction orthogonal to the transmission axis thereof. A light reflection film or a color filter may preferably be disposed under the reflection-type polarizing film. Further, a light diffusing layer or a light diffusing film may preferably be disposed on the visible side of the absorption-type polarizing film.

A liquid crystal display device ( ) comprises a liquid crystal display panel ( ) and a reflector ( ) disposed on the side of the liquid crystal display panel, opposite from the visible side thereof. The liquid crystal display panel ( ) comprises liquid crystal ( ) sandwiched between two transparent substrates ( ), and display electrodes ( ) made up of a transparent and electrically conductive film provided on the inner faces of the respective substrates ( ). The reflector ( ) is provided with protrusions ( ) formed at positions corresponding to the display electrodes ( ) on a face thereof opposite to the liquid crystal display panel ( ). Accordingly, light transmitted through the liquid crystal display panel ( ) falls on the protrusions ( ) of the reflector ( ), and respective components of light reflected from the surface of the respective protrusion ( ) will reach the eyes of a viewer with differences in arrival time due to the surface condition of the respective protrusions ( ), so that information displayed by characters and so forth is three-dimensionally perceived by the viewer.

Liquid crystal display and timepiece

A hard carbon film ( ) is formed directly or through an intermediate layer for enhancing adhesion over an inner surface ( ) of a guide bush ( ) for holding a workpiece ( ) rotatably and axially slidable on an automatic lathe at a position near a cutting tool, to be in sliding contact with the workpiece ( ) or directly or through an intermediate layer for enhancing adhesion on the surface of a superhard lining fixed to the inner surface ( ). The guide bush ( ) has remarkably enhanced durability and prevents damaging the workpiece ( ) and seizing that makes a machining operation impossible even when the guide bush ( ) is used for an extended period of time and when the automatic lathe operates for heavy machining. The hard carbon film ( ) having satisfactory adhesion to the inner surface ( ) can be efficiently formed in a uniform thickness over the inner surface ( ) by placing the guide bush ( ) in a vacuum vessel, extending an auxiliary electrode in the center bore of the guide bush ) and producing a plasma of a gas containing carbon.

Guide bush and method of forming hard carbon film over the inner surface of the guide bush

A timepiece according to the invention is provided with a liquid crystal display panel capable of displaying at least either of time information or calendar information, and the liquid crystal display panel comprises a liquid crystal cell with liquid crystals sealed thereinbetween, sandwiched between two transparent substrates having an electrode on each of inner surfaces thereof facing each other, polarizing sheets disposed on the external surface of the respective substrates, and a light absorption film disposed on the side of one of the polarizing sheets opposite from the liquid crystal cell. For each of the polarizing sheets, a sheet reflecting the light linearly polarized in the direction orthogonal to the transmission axis thereof is used so that either of a background or a display segment is displayed in a metallic color while the other is displayed in the color of the light absorption film. Thus, the invention provides a timepiece (watch or clock) capable of indicating display that is attractively variable in design.

Liquid crystal display panel for using in a timepiece comprising reflective polarizers and absorption film

The invention provides a guide bush wherein a cemented carbide alloy containing at least cobalt is provided on an inner surface thereof for holding a workpiece rotatably and slidably in the longitudinal axial direction thereof in close proximity of a cutting tool, and a DLC film is formed over the cemented carbide alloy, cobalt being removed from the surface of the cemented carbide alloy, adjoining the DLC film. By forming the DLC film on the surface of the cemented carbide alloy from which cobalt has been removed, with an intermediate layer formed therebetween, adhesiveness of the DLC film against the cemented carbide alloy fixedly attached to the inner surface of the guide bush is further enhanced.

Guide bush and method of forming diamond-like carbon film over the guide bush

The liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal cell with liquid crystals sealed thereinbetween, sandwiched between two transparent substrates having an electrode on each of the inner surfaces thereof facing each other, a first reflective polarizing film disposed on the visible side of the liquid crystal cell, a second reflective polarizing film disposed on the side of the liquid crystal cell, opposite from the visible side, and a light absorption film disposed on the side of the second reflective polarizing film, opposite from the visible side. The first reflective polarizing film as well as the second reflective polarizing film is a polarizing sheet reflecting a light linearly polarized in the direction orthogonal to the transmission axis thereof. A light absorption film and/or a backlight may preferably be disposed under the second reflective polarizing film. Further, an absorption-type polarizing film or a light diffusion layer may preferably be disposed on the visible side of the first reflective polarizing film.

Liquid crystal display device with two reflective polarizers providing metallic appearance effects

The invention provides a guide bush wherein a cemented carbide alloy containing at least cobalt is provided on an inner surface thereof for holding a workpiece rotatably and slidably in the longitudinal axial direction thereof in close proximity of a cutting tool, and a DLC film is formed over the cemented carbide alloy, cobalt being removed from the surface of the cemented carbide alloy, adjoining the DLC film. By forming the DLC film,on the surface of the cemented carbide alloy,from which cobalt has been removed, with an intermediate layer formed therebetween, adhesiveness of the DLC film against the cemented carbide alloy fixedly attached to the inner surface of the guide bush is further enhanced.

The present invention relates to a method of forming an intermediate film and a hard carbon film over the inner surface of a cylindrical member having a bore, such as a bushing or a cylinder, with the hard carbon film being formed on the intermediate film with a uniform thickness, greatly enhancing of abrasion resistance of the inner surface. The cylindrical member is placed in a vacuum vessel, an auxiliary electrode of an intermediate film forming material, such as a titanium-silicon alloy or the like, is inserted in the bore of the cylindrical member, a sputtering gas is supplied into the vacuum vessel, a voltage is applied to the auxiliary electrode to produce a plasma around the auxiliary electrode in order that the intermediate film forming material is sputtered from the auxiliary electrode and an intermediate film is formed over the inner surface of the cylindrical member. Subsequently, a gas containing carbon, such as methane gas or the like, is supplied into the vacuum vessel, and a voltage is applied to the cylindrical member to produce a plasma in the vacuum vessel in order that a hard carbon film (DLC film) is formed on the previously formed intermediate film over the inner surface of the cylindrical member.

Method of forming films over inner surface of cylindrical member

A hard carbon film is formed over an inner surface of a guide bush by fixing an auxiliary electrode support member for supporting an auxiliary electrode of a jig for forming a film in a center bore of the guide bush by an auxiliary electrode insulation member, disposing an auxiliary electrode in alignment with the axis of the center bore so as to face the inner surface, disposing legs, and a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and the insulation member which are fixed to the legs are placed on the bottom of a vacuum vessel placing the guide bush on the first electrode plate contacted electrically with a power source, while the projection of the auxiliary electrode support member projecting out of the auxiliary electrode insulation member is contacted electrically with the second electrode plate. The auxiliary electrode is grounded through the auxiliary electrode support member, the second electrode plate, the legs, and the vacuum vessel, a gas containing carbon is introduced into the vacuum vessel after evacuating the vacuum vessel, and a plasma is produced in the vacuum vessel by supplying electric power to the guide bush through the first electrode plate from the power source.

Jig for forming hard carbon film over inner surface of guide bush using

The present invention relates to a method of forming an intermediate film and a hard cabon film over the inner surface of a cylindrical member having a bore, such as a bushing or a cylinder, with the hard carbon film being formed on the intermediate film with a uniform thickness, greatly enhancing of abrasion resistance of the inner surface. The cylindrical member is placed in a vacuum vessel, an auxiliary electrode of an intermediate film forming material, such as a titanium-silicon alloy or the like, is inserted in the bore of the cylindrical member, a sputtering gas is supplied into the vacuum vessel, a voltage is applied to the auxiliary electrode to produce a plasma around the auxiliary electrode in order that the intermediate film forming material is sputtered from the auxiliary electrode and an intermediate film is formed over the inner surface of the cylindrical member. Subsequently, a gas containing carbon, such as methane gas or the like, is supplied into the vacuum vessel, and a voltage is applied to the cylindrical member to produce a plasma in the vacuum vessel in order that a hard carbon film (DLC film) is formed on the previously formed intermediate film over the inner surface of the cylindrical member.

A hard carbon film is formed over an inner surface of a guide bush including the steps of fixing an auxiliary electrode support member for supporting an auxiliary electrode of a jig for forming a film in a center bore of the guide bush by an auxiliary electrode insulation member, disposing an auxiliary electrode in alignment with the axis of the center bore so as to face the inner surface, disposing legs, and a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and the insulation member which are fixed to the legs are placed on the bottom of a vacuum vessel placing the guide bush on the first electrode plate contacted electrically with a power source, while the projection of the auxiliary electrode support member projecting out of the auxiliary electrode insulation member is contacted electrically with the second electrode plate. The auxiliary electrode is grounded through the auxiliary electrode support member, the second electrode plate, the legs, and the vacuum vessel, a gas containing carbon is introduced into the vacuum vessel after evacuating the vacuum vessel, and a plasma is produced in the vacuum vessel by supplying electric power to the guide bush through the first electrode plate from the power source.

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Tokyo, Japan

Takashi Toida