Patents Examined by Sow-Fun Hon
  • Patent number: 7365359
    Abstract: An organic semiconductor material having high charge mobility characteristics and an organic semiconductor element is provided. The organic semiconductor material has rodlike low-molecular liquid crystallinity, including a skeleton structure comprising L 6 ? electron aromatic rings, M 10 ? electron aromatic rings, and N 14? electron aromatic rings, wherein L, M, and N are each an integer of 0 (zero) to 4 and L+M+N=1 to 4; and a terminal structure attached to both ends of the skeleton structure. The terminal structure can develop liquid crystallinity. The phase angle ? of impedance of the organic semiconductor material is ?80°????90° as determined in the measurement of impedance in a frequency f range of 100 Hz?f?1 MHz in such a state that the organic semiconductor material in an isotropic phase state is held between a pair of opposed substrates with an interelectrode spacing of 9 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinobu Sakurada, Ken Tomino, Hiroki Maeda, Masanori Akada, Jun-ichi Hanna
  • Patent number: 7357965
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising the steps of: (i) providing a layer on a substrate, the layer comprising a polythiophene according to formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent hydrogen or a C1-C4 alkyl group or together represent a C1-C4 alkylene group or a cycloalkylene group; and (ii) mechanically rendering the layer liquid crystal aligning; a liquid crystal alignment layer obtainable by the above-mentioned method; a liquid crystal device incorporating the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer; a liquid crystal display comprising the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer or the above-mentioned liquid crystal device; and the use of the polythiophene according to formula (I) for aligning liquid crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Tom Cloots, Roger Bäuerle
  • Patent number: 7354632
    Abstract: Provided are: a long optical laminate prepared by laminating two obliquely stretched long phase-difference films so that the respective delayed-phase axes cross each other at a specified angle, while at least one of the two phase-difference films is a film containing residual volatile component by 1000 ppm or less; a long optical element prepared by laminating the optical laminate on one surface of polarization film; a long broad-band ¼ wavelength plate; an optical member prepared by laminating a circularly polarized light separating layer of cholesteric liquid crystal on one surface of the broad-band ¼ wavelength plate; a broad-band circular element using the broad-band ¼ wavelength plate; and an optical product having the broad-band circular polarization element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Zeon Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihide Murakami, Kohei Arakawa
  • Patent number: 7354887
    Abstract: A high temperature liquid crystalline polyester (LCP) composition, and articles made therefrom, that provides “good” to “excellent” wear resistance at PVs (pressure×velocity) of at least 1.75 MPa-m/s (50,000 psi-fpm). The high temperature LCP being a matrix material containing lubricating fillers and having an onset of melting temperature of at least 320° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Joy Sawyer Bloom
  • Patent number: 7354633
    Abstract: A retardation film containing a polyalcohol ester, a polycarboxylic acid ester, and a cellulose ester, wherein a total acylation degree of the cellulose ester is in the range of 2.4-2.8; and a Mw/Mn value of the cellulose ester is in the range of 1.4-3.0, provided that Mw represents a weight average molecular weight and Mn represent a number average molecular weight of the cellulose ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Koichi Saito, Kunio Shimizu, Isamu Michihata
  • Patent number: 7344766
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of pharmaceutical packaging. More specifically the present invention relates to a stopper made from a thermoplastic elastomer for the use in medical containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
    Inventors: Anne Sørensen, Thomas Buch-Rasmussen, Ulrik Nøsted
  • Patent number: 7341766
    Abstract: There is provided a gas barrier clear film 10 as a polymer substrate that is flexible, is light, is free from cracking, can be bent, has a high level of heat resistance, is excellent particularly in gas shielding properties, and can be used as an alternative to glass substrates. The gas barrier clear film comprises: a clear resin base material film 11 having a coefficient of linear expansion of 15 to 100 ppm/K and a glass transition temperature Tg of 150 to 300° C.; and a first clear inorganic compound layer 13A, a sol-gel coat layer 15A, and a second clear inorganic compound layer 13B provided in that order on the clear resin base material film 11. The second clear inorganic compound layer 13B has an Ra (average roughness) value of not more than 5 nm and an Rmax (maximum roughness) value of not more than 80 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kishimoto, Minoru Komada
  • Patent number: 7326451
    Abstract: A rotatory polarization plate capable of extracting an emission polarized light from an incident polarized light and rotating an azimuth angle of an polarization axis of the incident polarized light, wherein a rotatory polarization angle of the azimuth angle is changed by an incidence angle of the incident polarized light, is useful for an optical element capable of condensing and collimating incident light from a light source in a specific direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Kentarou Takeda, Kazutaka Hara, Naoki Takahashi, Miki Shiraogawa
  • Patent number: 7326449
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises first and second opposed spaced-apart cell walls enclosing a layer of a liquid crystal material. Electrodes are provided on at least one cell wall for applying an electric field across at least some of the liquid crystal material. The first cell wall is provided with a first surface layer substantially comprising a polymerised aligned mesogenic material, which surface layer is in contact with the liquid crystal material. Preferably the alignment of the polymerised mesogenic material is substantially uniform across substantially the entire area of the display. The inner surface of the second cell wall may be provided with a similar second surface layer, preferably wherein the anchoring energy and/or order parameter of the liquid crystal adjacent the two surface layers is different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Adrian Derek Geisow, Stephen Christopher Kitson
  • Patent number: 7323232
    Abstract: To provide a resin composition for spacer useful for the formation of a pixel-patterned spacer on a substrate in a liquid crystal display device, a spacer using the composition, and a liquid crystal display device that can display high-quality images, a resin composition for spacer contains at least one resin selected from (1) an allyl-containing resin, (2) an allyl-and-hydroxyl-containing resin, and (3) a resin mixture of an allyl-containing resin and a hydroxyl-containing resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Takeda, Yoshio Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 7316831
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an alignment layer with constituent materials. The constituent materials have a stoichiometric relationship configured to provide a given pretilt angle. Liquid crystal material is provided in contact with the alignment layer. A method for forming an alignment layer for liquid crystal displays includes forming the alignment layer on a substrate by introducing an amount of material to adjust a stoichiometric ratio of constituent materials wherein the amount is determined to provide a given pretilt angle to the alignment layer. Ions are directed at the alignment layer to provide uniformity of the pretilt angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul S. Andry, Praveen Chaudhari, James P. Doyle, Eileen A. Galligan, James A. Lacey, Shui-Chih A. Lien, Minhua Lu
  • Patent number: 7314662
    Abstract: The present invention provides an elastomeric film having anti-skid properties. The film comprises one or more layers, wherein at least one of the layers comprises from 0.1 to 10% (by weight) of an anti-skid additive, which does not melt, or has a melt temperature greater than 500° F., and has a particle size between 50 and 500 microns. Suitable anti-skid additives may be sand, clay, silica, crosslinked polyethylenes, other polymers or ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Also provided is a resin composition and a method for manufacturing an elastomeric film having anti-skid properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Marko I.R.D.C., Inc.
    Inventors: Julien Lefebvre, José Garrocho, Mark Frohlich, Ludovic Leplatois
  • Patent number: 7311952
    Abstract: Reflective liquid crystalline polymer films having increased bandwidth have a single layer of liquid crystalline material with short, long, and medium pitch of the helical molecular structure of the liquid crystalline polymer. The films are easily produced by a readily reproducible and economic process of low complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventor: Eckhard Hanelt
  • Patent number: 7311951
    Abstract: A phoretic display having a liquid crystal suspension medium and a relief structure alignment layer comprising a relief structure surface incorporating a plurality of indentations. The relief structure alignment layer is adapted to generate a preferred alignment of the liquid crystal suspension medium within the display by creating defects within the alignment of the liquid crystal director at the base of each indentation. The relief structure alignment layer provides a substantially planar liquid crystal director alignment in the vicinity of the internal surface of each indentation and a substantially homeotropic liquid crystal director alignment in the vicinity of the relief structure surface and in the bulk of the liquid crystal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Qinetiq Limited
    Inventors: Richard Jonathan Miller, Victor Chaklam Hui
  • Patent number: 7311953
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to obtain color filters having a high contrast, a high color purity and an improved transmittance for blue color, and a display using the color filters. In the present invention, there is used a colored composition for color filter comprising at least one coloring agent, a base polymer and at least one solvent, said base polymer containing a polyamicacid whose light transmittance decreases by 2% or less in the visible region (wavelength: 400 nm to 800 nm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro Araya, Hiroshi Sasaki, Yasushi Tomioka
  • Patent number: 7306832
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a cellulose ester film satisfying the relationships, Nx>Ny>Nz, and 0.8?Rt/R0?3.5, the method comprising casting a cellulose ester dope containing a solvent of a good solvent and a poor solvent on a support to form a web; peeling the web from the support; transporting the peeled web (step D0); holding the edges in the transverse direction of the web (step A); stretching the resulting web in the transverse direction while applying a tension; reducing the tension in the transverse direction of the web; and drying the stretched web, wherein the residual solvent content of the web is 5 to 90% by weight at the beginning in the step A, and the residual poor solvent content in the residual solvent content of the web is from 15 to 95% by weight at the terminal point in the Step D0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Tasaka, Hiroki Umeda, Noriyasu Kuzuhara, Takatoshi Yajima
  • Patent number: 7303809
    Abstract: Substantially transparent electrodes are formed upon a substrate by forming on the substrate, in order, a high index layer, a metallic conductive layer, and a conductive or semi-conductive top layer; and patterning the top layer and the conductive layer, preferably by laser ablation, to form a plurality of discrete electrodes from the metallic conductive layer. Conductors can be attached directly to the top layer, without requiring removal of this layer to expose the metallic conductive layer. The high index layer, conductive layer and top layer can all be formed by sputtering or similar processes which do not require high temperatures, so that plastic substrates can be used. The electrodes can be used, for example, in flat panel displays and in touch screen displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Hyung-Chul Choi, Yi Zhi Chu, Linda S. Heath, William K. Smyth
  • Patent number: 7300688
    Abstract: The invention pertains to an alignment layer capable of aligning liquid crystal material, the alignment layer comprising: a first sublayer having regions capable of aligning the liquid crystal material in a first alignment, a second sublayer having regions capable of aligning the liquid crystal material in a second alignment, the first and the second alignment being different, the second sublayer overlaying the first sublayer and covering in accordance with a pre-determined pattern the first sublayer to provide, at desired locations, second sublayer regions capable of aligning the liquid crystal material and, at desired locations, regions of the underlying first sublayer that are not covered by the second sublayer, and to a method of making this alignment layer. The invention further relates to an optical or electro-optical device comprising said alignment layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Stichting Dutch Polymer Institute
    Inventors: Johannes T. A. Wilderbeek, Dirk J. Broer, Cornelis W. M. Bastiaansen
  • Patent number: 7297381
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are light diffusing films, methods of making the same and articles using the same. In one embodiment, a light diffusing film is formed from a composition comprising: a polycarbonate, phosphite stabilizer, epoxy stabilizer, hindered phenol stabilizer, and light diffusing particles having a refractive index of about 1.3 to about 1.7. The film comprises a hiding power of 0 to about 0.5. In one embodiment, a method for producing a film comprises combining a polycarbonate, a phosphite stabilizer, an epoxy stabilizer, and light diffusing particles to form a combination, and forming the combination into the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Cristina Cojocariu, Emine Elif Gurel, Grant Hay, Philip M. Peters, Shixiong Zhu, Christopher A. Coenjarts, Gareth Charles Riggs
  • Patent number: 7297377
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer filled between the pair of substrates and a plurality of pixel electrodes and common electrodes formed on one of the pair of substrates for supplying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal display device is configured so that a response time between a lowest brightness level and a highest brightness level is less than 16.7 ms, and the liquid crystal layer contains a range of 40% or more weight percentage to 100% or less weight percentage of a constituent component with a dielectric anisotropy of ???1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kagawa, Shintaro Takeda, Kotaro Araya, Sukekazu Aratani, Katsumi Kondo