Patents by Inventor Hiroyuki Hakoi

Hiroyuki Hakoi 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: 11966125
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. Each pixel includes a reflection region and a transmission region. The first substrate includes a reflecting layer, a first insulating layer, and a pixel electrode. The thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmission region is greater than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflection region, and the liquid crystal layer has a twist angle of substantially 0 degree. A surface of the first substrate that faces the liquid crystal layer includes an upper step portion, a lower step portion, and an inclined portion. The length L1 of a portion of the inclined portion included in the reflection region and the length L2 of a portion of the lower step portion included in the reflection region satisfy the relationship L1+L2?1.81·L1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Sharp Display Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hakoi, Takashi Satoh
  • Patent number: 11953788
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate located closer to an observer than the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, and performs display in a twisted vertical alignment mode. Each pixel includes a reflective region where display is performed in a reflection mode. The first substrate includes a reflective electrode including a portion located in the reflective region, and a first vertical alignment film. The second substrate includes a second vertical alignment film. The liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal material having negative dielectric anisotropy, and a chiral agent. The reflective electrode includes silver or a silver alloy. The reflective region includes a plurality of liquid crystal domains in which reference alignment azimuths of liquid crystal molecules are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Sharp Display Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hakoi
  • Publication number: 20230350250
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. Each pixel includes a reflection region and a transmission region. The first substrate includes a reflecting layer, a first insulating layer, and a pixel electrode. The thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmission region is greater than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflection region, and the liquid crystal layer has a twist angle of substantially 0 degree. A surface of the first substrate that faces the liquid crystal layer includes an upper step portion, a lower step portion, and an inclined portion. The length L1 of a portion of the inclined portion included in the reflection region and the length L2 of a portion of the lower step portion included in the reflection region satisfy the relationship L1+L2?1.81·L1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Sharp Display Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki HAKOI, Takashi SATOH
  • Publication number: 20230324742
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate located closer to an observer than the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, and performs display in a twisted vertical alignment mode. Each pixel includes a reflective region where display is performed in a reflection mode. The first substrate includes a reflective electrode including a portion located in the reflective region, and a first vertical alignment film. The second substrate includes a second vertical alignment film. The liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal material having negative dielectric anisotropy, and a chiral agent. The reflective electrode includes silver or a silver alloy. The reflective region includes a plurality of liquid crystal domains in which reference alignment azimuths of liquid crystal molecules are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventor: Hiroyuki HAKOI
  • Patent number: 11644715
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate; a second substrate; and a vertical alignment-type liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes a backplane circuit, a first interlayer insulating layer covering the backplane circuit, a first reflective electrode provided on the first interlayer insulating layer and including a first region located in each of pixels and a second region located between any two adjacent pixels, a second interlayer insulating layer covering the first reflective electrode, and a pixel electrode provided on the second interlayer insulating layer in each pixel. The pixel electrode is electrically connected with the backplane circuit in first and second contact holes formed in the first and second interlayer insulating layers. The first substrate further includes a second reflective electrode provided on the second interlayer insulating layer so as to overlap the first contact hole as seen in a direction normal to a display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SHARP DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Satoh, Takahiro Sasaki, Hiroyuki Hakoi, Ming Ni
  • Publication number: 20230015072
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate; a second substrate; and a vertical alignment-type liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes a backplane circuit, a first interlayer insulating layer covering the backplane circuit, a first reflective electrode provided on the first interlayer insulating layer and including a first region located in each of pixels and a second region located between any two adjacent pixels, a second interlayer insulating layer covering the first reflective electrode, and a pixel electrode provided on the second interlayer insulating layer in each pixel. The pixel electrode is electrically connected with the backplane circuit in first and second contact holes formed in the first and second interlayer insulating layers. The first substrate further includes a second reflective electrode provided on the second interlayer insulating layer so as to overlap the first contact hole as seen in a direction normal to a display surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Takashi SATOH, Takahiro SASAKI, Hiroyuki HAKOI, Ming NI
  • Patent number: 11428981
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes pixels including a reflective region for display in a reflection mode and a transmissive region for display in a transmission mode. The liquid crystal display panel includes a liquid crystal layer including a nematic liquid crystal material having negative dielectric anisotropy and a chiral agent, a pixel electrode including a reflective conductive layer and a transparent conductive layer, a counter electrode, a light diffusing structure provided in common to the reflective region and the transmissive region, and a first vertical alignment film provided between the pixel electrode and the liquid crystal layer, and a second vertical alignment film provided between the counter electrode and the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Hiroyuki Hakoi, Takashi Satoh, Junichi Hashimoto, Ming Ni
  • Publication number: 20220155636
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal cell including a first substrate, a second substrate disposed on a viewer side to the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a first linear polarizer disposed on a viewer side to the liquid crystal cell, and has a plurality of pixels. Each of the pixels includes a reflective region where display is performed in a reflection mode. The liquid crystal display device does not include a ?/4 plate between the first linear polarizer and the liquid crystal layer. An in-plane retardation of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective region is configured to vary from approximately zero to approximately ?/4 depending on a voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: HIROYUKI HAKOI, TAKAHIRO SASAKI, TAKASHI SATOH
  • Publication number: 20210165274
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes pixels including a reflective region for display in a reflection mode and a transmissive region for display in a transmission mode. The liquid crystal display panel includes a liquid crystal layer including a nematic liquid crystal material having negative dielectric anisotropy and a chiral agent, a pixel electrode including a reflective conductive layer and a transparent conductive layer, a counter electrode, a light diffusing structure provided in common to the reflective region and the transmissive region, and a first vertical alignment film provided between the pixel electrode and the liquid crystal layer, and a second vertical alignment film provided between the counter electrode and the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: TAKAHIRO SASAKI, HIROYUKI HAKOI, TAKASHI SATOH, JUNICHI HASHIMOTO, MING NI
  • Patent number: 10989957
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which has a high luminance and consumes less power by increasing the utilization efficiency of light. The liquid crystal display device includes: a first absorptive polarizing plate; a liquid crystal panel including a first substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a second substrate in order from the first absorptive polarizing plate side; a second polarizing plate; and a backlight unit including a reflector in the stated order. The second substrate includes a reflective layer facing the second polarizing plate. A transmittance of polarized light vibrating in a direction parallel to a transmission axis of the second polarizing plate is greater than a transmittance of polarized light vibrating in a direction parallel to a transmission axis of the first absorptive polarizing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hakoi, Akira Sakai, Kiyoshi Minoura
  • Patent number: 10921638
    Abstract: The present invention provides a display device that can display chromatic color(s) and pattern(s) without power consumption in the non-display state (light off state) and an electronic apparatus including the display device. The display device includes a display panel and a transflective reflector disposed on a viewing surface side of the display panel. The transflective reflector includes a reflective polarizer and a color polarizer disposed on a side closer to the viewing surface than the reflective polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisashi Watanabe, Akira Sakai, Hiroyuki Hakoi, Masaki Tabata
  • Patent number: 10845648
    Abstract: The switching mirror panel of the present invention includes, in the following order: a reflective polarizing plate; a liquid crystal panel including a pair of substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the substrates; and an absorptive polarizing plate, at least one of the substrates including divided pixel regions, the pixel regions each including, in the following order from the liquid crystal layer side, a pixel electrode, a transparent insulating film, and transparent conductive lines superimposed on the pixel electrode, the pixel electrode being electrically connected to at least one of the transparent conductive lines through an aperture formed in the transparent insulating film, the switching mirror panel being configured to switch between a transparent mode and a mirror mode by applying voltage to the pixel electrode to control the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hakoi, Akira Sakai, Kiyoshi Minoura
  • Publication number: 20200174316
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which has a high luminance and consumes less power by increasing the utilization efficiency of light. The liquid crystal display device includes: a first absorptive polarizing plate; a liquid crystal panel including a first substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a second substrate in order from the first absorptive polarizing plate side; a second polarizing plate; and a backlight unit including a reflector in the stated order. The second substrate includes a reflective layer facing the second polarizing plate. A transmittance of polarized light vibrating in a direction parallel to a transmission axis of the second polarizing plate is greater than a transmittance of polarized light vibrating in a direction parallel to a transmission axis of the first absorptive polarizing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: HIROYUKI HAKOI, AKIRA SAKAI, KIYOSHI MINOURA
  • Publication number: 20200012150
    Abstract: The present invention provides a display device that can display chromatic color(s) and pattern(s) without power consumption in the non-display state (light off state) and an electronic apparatus including the display device. The display device includes a display panel and a transflective reflector disposed on a viewing surface side of the display panel. The transflective reflector includes a reflective polarizer. The reflective polarizer is chromatic and/or the transflective reflector further includes a chromatic layer on a side closer to the viewing surface than the reflective polarizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: HISASHI WATANABE, AKIRA SAKAI, HIROYUKI HAKOI
  • Publication number: 20190227378
    Abstract: The present invention provides a display device that can display chromatic color(s) and pattern(s) without power consumption in the non-display state (light off state) and an electronic apparatus including the display device. The display device includes a display panel and a transflective reflector disposed on a viewing surface side of the display panel. The transflective reflector includes a reflective polarizer and a color polarizer disposed on a side closer to the viewing surface than the reflective polarizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: HISASHI WATANABE, AKIRA SAKAI, HIROYUKI HAKOI, MASAKI TABATA
  • Publication number: 20190219856
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal panel that achieves low-voltage driving and wide color gamut and suppresses the generation of residual DC voltage caused by UV light included in backlight illumination or the like, a switchable mirror panel including the liquid crystal panel, and a switchable mirror display including the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel of the present invention includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer held between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a vertical alignment film disposed on a liquid crystal layer side of each of the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal layer contains a liquid crystal material with a negative anisotropy of dielectric constant. The liquid crystal material contains a tolan liquid crystal compound. The vertical alignment film contains a vertical alignment polymer that includes a main chain and a side chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanobu MIZUSAKI, Hiroyuki HAKOI
  • Patent number: 10269305
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mirror display that has improved design aesthetics and makes it possible to sufficiently improve visibility in mirror mode in dark environments. The mirror display according to the present invention includes a half mirror plate having a half mirror layer, a display device, a case, and an auxiliary illumination unit that includes an auxiliary light source. The case supports at least the half mirror plate and the display device and includes an outer frame that covers an edge of a front surface of the half mirror plate when viewed in a plan view from a viewing side. The display device is arranged on a rear side of the half mirror plate. The auxiliary light source is arranged on the rear side of the half mirror plate, the display device, or the outer frame. The auxiliary illumination unit is controlled separately from the display device and emits light towards the viewing side when the mirror display is in mirror mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hasegawa, Hiroyuki Hakoi, Akira Sakai, Hidefumi Yoshida, Takaharu Kanai, Takako Shimizu, Yuuki Itou, Atsushi Ogawa, Akira Tsuruta, Takayuki Yuasa, Shigeaki Mizushima
  • Publication number: 20190113790
    Abstract: The switching mirror panel of the present invention includes, in the following order: a reflective polarizing plate; a liquid crystal panel including a pair of substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the substrates; and an absorptive polarizing plate, at least one of the substrates including divided pixel regions, the pixel regions each including, in the following order from the liquid crystal layer side, a pixel electrode, a transparent insulating film, and transparent conductive lines superimposed on the pixel electrode, the pixel electrode being electrically connected to at least one of the transparent conductive lines through an aperture formed in the transparent insulating film, the switching mirror panel being configured to switch between a transparent mode and a mirror mode by applying voltage to the pixel electrode to control the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: HIROYUKI HAKOI, AKIRA SAKAI, KIYOSHI MINOURA
  • Patent number: 10254455
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mirror display that enables simultaneous perception of a mirror image and an image with suppressed uncomfortable feeling. The mirror display of the present invention includes a half mirror plate including a half mirror layer, and a display device. The display device is disposed on the back surface side of the half mirror plate. The distance between a display surface of the display device and a display surface of the half mirror plate is not smaller than 100 mm. The half mirror layer preferably includes a reflective polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Sakai, Masahiro Hasegawa, Hiroyuki Hakoi, Kiyoshi Minoura
  • Patent number: 10234727
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mirror display that can be enlarged without quality deterioration. The mirror display includes, in the order from a viewing surface side, a half mirror plate including a reflective polarizer, a polarization conversion layer, and a display device including an absorptive polarizer on a side of the polarization conversion layer. The reflective polarizer includes a transmission axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the display device and is jointless. The absorptive polarizer includes a transmission axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the display device and is jointless. The polarization conversion layer is configured to convert the polarization of polarized light passed through the absorptive polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Sakai, Hiroyuki Hakoi, Masahiro Hasegawa, Kiyoshi Minoura