Patents by Inventor Fumiaki Funada

Fumiaki Funada 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: 4528115
    Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprising a mixed phase of the six kinds of the compounds such as ##STR1## and a liquid crystal display device of the multiplex drive type such as liquid crystal television device, which uses the above composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Ishii, Shigehiro Minezaki, Shuichi Kozaki, Fumiaki Funada
  • Patent number: 4521080
    Abstract: A nematic-phase liquid crystal material is sandwiched between two opposing parallel plates at least one of which is transparent. The two parallel plates are respectively coated with transparent electrode films having parallel micro-groove structures at the respective inner surfaces in contact with the nematic-phase liquid crystal material established by unidirectional rubbing. In particular, an additional or second micro-groove structure is further provided for said fist-named micro-groove structure which has an asymmetric or anisotropic profile along the longitudinal axes of the respective micro-grooves within the first micro-groove structure, preferably of a substantially saw-tooth profile. This combination results in a surface anisotropy in solid geometry rather than in plane geometry in the interfacial surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiaki Funada, Keiichiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 4509099
    Abstract: This invention is directed to an electronic component with a plurality of terminals thereon for liquid crystal display apparatus or the like. Since the construction is rendered smaller in size and the distributing sheet is rendered rigid in the contact position of the elastic conductor along the juxtaposing direction of the terminal pieces, the terminal pieces of the base plate can be electrically conducted, without failure the terminals through the elastic conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takamatsu, Fumiaki Funada, Shuhei Yasuda, Masataka Matsuura
  • Patent number: 4486760
    Abstract: A photosensitive recording member is disposed above a twisted nematic field effect mode liquid crystal display cell for recording a light image formed by the twisted nematic field effect mode liquid crystal display cell. At least one of substrates which confronts the photosensitive recording member is made of a fiber plate including a plurality of optical fibers of which axes are perpendicular to the plane of a liquid crystal layer of the twisted nematic field effect mode liquid crystal display cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiaki Funada, Masataka Matsuura, Tomio Wada
  • Patent number: 4482212
    Abstract: The multi-layer liquid crystal display panel disclosed herein includes a plurality of liquid crystal layers, terminal electrodes for the respective liquid crystal layers disposed so as not to overlap each other in a plan view, and a wiring film for connecting the respective terminal electrodes. The terminal electrodes and the wiring film are bonded through infrared radiation or thermal bonding. The film is typically made of polyamide or polyester carrying a patterned conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takamatsu, Fumiaki Funada, Shuhei Yasuda, Masataka Matsuura
  • Patent number: 4478741
    Abstract: A liquid crystal composition contains a compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R and R' are straight chain alkyl groups each having 1 to 7 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Nakagawa, Shigehiro Minezaki, Fumiaki Funada
  • Patent number: 4474432
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display cell includes two opposing substrates at least one of which is made of a highly polymerized transparent compound film. The transparent film is extended from the liquid crystal display cell. Wiring patterns are formed on the thus extended portion of the transparent film. Semiconductor circuit elements for driving the liquid crystal display cell are mounted on the extended portion of the transparent film and electrically connected to the wiring patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takamatsu, Fumiaki Funada, Hiroshi Uede, Tomio Wada
  • Patent number: 4474839
    Abstract: Two or more liquid crystal units are disclosed herein to provide a greater area liquid crystal display panel. Each of the liquid crystal display units has a front support and a back support both of which are adhesively attached to each other via a proper seal resin applied on the supports along all but one side or along all but two opposite sides thereof. In an edge portion including the sides where no seal resin is applied, there is formed an opening for injection of liquid crystal material into a cavity defined between the two supports. After injection of the liquid crystal material the opening is pre-sealed with the adhesive material which may be solidified through thermal treatment or light treatment. The edge portions of the two liquid crystal display panels are situated in contact relationship with each other and bonded together by the use of the adhesive material which may be solidified through thermal treatment or light treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takamatsu, Fumiaki Funada, Shuuhei Yasuda, Masataka Matsuura
  • Patent number: 4443065
    Abstract: A double-layered twisted nematic liquid crystal display device which comprises a double layered structure including first and second layers of liquid crystal, the molecules of said liquid crystal having their longitudinal axes which are twisted, the direction of twist in the first layer being different from that in the second layer and wherein the longitudinal axes of the liquid crystal molecules in each of the first and second layers are perpendicular to each other, an electrical power supply means for applying a voltage to one of the first and second layers for controlling the orientation of the molecules of the liquid crystal in the first layer, the other of said first and second layers serving as a compensator which compensates for interference coloring, and a polarizing means for visibly enhancing the orientation of the molecules of the liquid crystal in the first layer when the voltage is applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiaki Funada, Masataka Matsuura, Tomio Wada
  • Patent number: 4443819
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display TV includes a TV housing, and a reflective type liquid crystal display panel installed in the housing. A magnifying lens is disposed for magnifying an image on the display area and a support assembly is provided for supporting the magnifying lens to allow a space where the ambient light enters from above a display area of said liquid crystal display panel when the magnifying lens lens is in use. This arrangement allows full utilization of the ambient light for the optical performance of the liquid crystal display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiaki Funada, Toshiaki Takamatsu, Tomio Wada
  • Patent number: 4436379
    Abstract: A twisted nematic liquid crystal display cell has two layers each containing a liquid crystal material. It is selected that the respective values of .DELTA.n.d, where .DELTA.n is the double refractive index of a liquid crystal layer and d is the thickness of a liquid crystal layer, deviate from each other, in connection with the two liquid crystal layers by about 5% to about 30%, more preferably, about 10% to about 20%. This leads to the advantage that coloration of transmission light owing to interference by double refraction is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1984
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiaki Funada, Syuichi Kozaki, Masataka Matsuura, Tomio Wada
  • Patent number: 4431270
    Abstract: In a multi-layer matrix type liquid crystal display panel having a stack of liquid crystal display cells and matrix electrodes provided for respective ones of the liquid crystal display cells, the supports of the respective liquid crystal display cells are piled sequentially, one on top of the other, with a first dimension sequentially longer and a second dimension sequentially shorter, thereby allowing enough room on all sides for electrode connections. A rigid circuit board has terminals which are located in a complementary fashion with respect to the terminals of the display panel. The opposing terminals of the display panel and the circuit board are connected through a flexible sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiaki Funada, Toshiaki Takamatsu, Shuuhei Yasuda, Masataka Matsuura
  • Patent number: 4426133
    Abstract: A twisted nematic liquid crystal is characterized in that the direction of longitudinal axes of liquid crystal molecules adjacent each of a pair of polarizers is deviated with respect to the orientation vector of each of the polarizers in order to improve display contrast ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1984
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiaki Funada, Shigehiro Minezaki, Syuichi Kozaki, Hisashi Uede
  • Patent number: 4425029
    Abstract: A fluorescent liquid crystal display of the type for reflecting radiation comprises a fluorescent material contained within a liquid crystal material for providing fluorescence in response to absorbance, and a filter element for reflecting at least one of the fluorescence and the absorbance and, if necessary, for showing low reflection in connection with radiation except for the at least one of the fluorescence and the absorbance to thereby enhance display contrast of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiaki Funada, Masataka Matsuura, Tomio Wada
  • Patent number: 4422730
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of substrates, a first patterned layer formed on a part of one of the substrates, a second layer formed on the remaining part of the one of the substrates, the thickness of the second layer being substantially identical to that of the first patterned layer to provide a layer uniform in thickness, and a third layer formed on the uniform layer to provide orientation of molecules of a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates. The uniform layer is manufactured by the steps of forming the first patterned layer on part of the one of the substrates, and forming the second layer on the remaining part of the one of the substrates, using a lift-off method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Kozaki, Fumiaki Funada, Shigehiro Minezaki, Hisashi Uede
  • Patent number: 4416515
    Abstract: A fluorescent liquid crystal display of the type where light is permeable comprises a fluorescent material contained within a liquid crystal material for providing fluorescence, an exciting source for dispersing exciting radiation to stimulate the fluorescent material, a wavelength band of the fluorescence being apart from that of the exciting radiation to be absorbed by the fluorescent material, and filter means for controlling the propagation of the exciting radiation to enhance display contrast of the fluorescent liquid crystal display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiaki Funada, Masataka Matsuura, Tomio Wada
  • Patent number: 4408837
    Abstract: A liquid crystal cell comprising a pair of opposing supports one carrying a patterned electrode and the other carrying a counter electrode placed vis-a-vis with the patterned electrode and a liquid crystal material sandwiched between the two electrodes, wherein at least the patterned electrode comprises an In.sub.2 O.sub.3 coating and a remaining portion of the support where the In.sub.2 O.sub.3 coating is not disposed comprises a CeO.sub.2 coating whose refractive index is substantially equal to that of the In.sub.2 O.sub.3 coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Syuichi Kozaki, Fumiaki Funada, Shigehiro Minezaki
  • Patent number: 4405209
    Abstract: There discloses a matrix liquid-crystal display device which is effective for the display of images particularly in a TV set and in which the liquid-crystal layer contains a dopant in a specific range of quantity which is far greater than a quantity of dopant employed in any known device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiaki Funada, Toshiaki Takamatsu, Ishii Yutaka, Tomio Wada
  • Patent number: 4383738
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display means which employs a mixture of a pleochroic dye and cholesteric or chiral, nematic liquid crystals as a dielectric in a cell whose optical density may be changed by application thereto of an electric field, and in which the mixture contains a substance which makes the characteristic pitch of the liquid crystals such that an improved switching response is achieved, and the molecular structure of the liquid crystals is such that improved contrast is achieved, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiaki Funada, Masataka Matsuura
  • Patent number: 4375317
    Abstract: A multi-layered liquid crystal display device has a stack of liquid crystal layers. Each of the liquid crystal layers is disposed in such an orientation vector between each pair of plates as to bring its good display contrast area following the conversion of the molecular alignment into agreement with each other with regard to a whole display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1983
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiaki Funada, Keisaku Nonomura, Hisashi Uede, Tomio Wada