Patents by Inventor Kaoru Hatano

Kaoru Hatano 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: 9356255
    Abstract: When a hollow structure in which a light-emitting element is provided between a pair of substrates is used in order to prevent oxygen or moisture from reaching the light-emitting element, light leakage to an adjacent pixel easily occurs as compared to a structure in which a space between a pair of substrates is filled with a resin such as an adhesive. In order to reduce light leakage to an adjacent pixel in the hollow structure, a light-blocking spacer is formed over a partition to keep the distance between the pair of substrates uniform. The cross-sectional shape of the light-blocking spacer is a trapezoid having a lower side shorter than an upper side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Hatano
  • Patent number: 9347628
    Abstract: A light energy reuse type light-emitting device with low power consumption is provided by converting light from a light-emitting device into electric power efficiently for reuse. Also, a light energy reuse type light-emitting device with high yield is provided. A light-blocking film of the light-emitting device is replaced to a photoelectric conversion element, so that light is converted into electric power. That is, conventionally, light is not emitted in a portion of a light-blocking film. In the disclosed invention, light which is not emitted can be converted into electric power by a photoelectric conversion element, and can be reused. Therefore, a light-emitting device with low power consumption is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Seo, Kaoru Hatano
  • Patent number: 9337244
    Abstract: Provided is a highly reliable light-emitting device in which a light-emitting element is prevented from being damaged when external physical force is applied. The light-emitting device includes a light-emitting element formed over a first substrate, including a first electrode layer, a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode layer; a structure body formed over the first substrate; a second substrate provided to face the first substrate; and a bonding layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. The light-emitting layer is separated by the structure body. By strengthening adhesion between the structure body and the bonding layer, or between the structure body and the second electrode, the highly reliable light-emitting device in which damage of the light-emitting element is prevented can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Hatano, Satoshi Seo, Akihiro Chida, Yoshiaki Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20160126493
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a flexible light-emitting device with high reliability in a simple way. Further, it is an object to provide an electronic device or a lighting device each mounted with the light-emitting device. A light-emitting device with high reliability can be obtained with the use of a light-emitting device having the following structure: an element portion including a light-emitting element is interposed between a substrate having flexibility and a light-transmitting property with respect to visible light and a metal substrate; and insulating layers provided over and under the element portion are in contact with each other in the outer periphery of the element portion to seal the element portion. Further, by mounting an electronic device or a lighting device with a light-emitting device having such a structure, an electronic device or a lighting device with high reliability can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Kaoru HATANO, Masahiro KATAYAMA, Shingo EGUCHI, Yoshiaki OIKAWA, Ami NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 9331310
    Abstract: A method for exposing an electrode terminal covered with an organic film in a light-emitting device without damaging the electrode terminal is provided. In a region of the electrode terminal to which electric power from an external power supply or an external signal is input, an island-shaped organic compound-containing layer is formed and the organic film is formed thereover. The organic film is removed by utilizing low adhesion of an interface between the organic compound-containing layer and the electrode terminal, whereby the electrode terminal can be exposed without damage to the electrode terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Chida, Kaoru Hatano, Tomoya Aoyama, Ryu Komatsu, Masatoshi Kataniwa
  • Patent number: 9305944
    Abstract: Provided is a method to manufacture a liquid crystal display device in which a contact hole for the electrical connection of the pixel electrode and one of the source and drain electrode of a transistor and a contact hole for the processing of a semiconductor layer are formed simultaneously. The method contributes to the reduction of a photography step. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor layer where a channel formation region is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kaoru Hatano
  • Patent number: 9299900
    Abstract: An object is to provide a light-emitting device having a structure in which an external connection portion can easily be connected and a method for manufacturing the light-emitting device. A light-emitting device includes a lower support 110, a base insulating film 112 over the lower support 110 which has a through-hole 130, a light-emitting element 127 over the base insulating film 112, and an upper support 122 over the light-emitting element 127. An electrode 131 is provided in the through-hole 130, and the external connection terminal 132 electrically connected to the electrode 131 is provided below the base insulating film 112. The external connection terminal 132 is electrically connected to the external connection portion 133 and functions as a terminal that inputs a signal or a power supply into the light-emitting device. This light-emitting device has a structure in which an external connection portion can easily be connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Hatano, Satoshi Seo
  • Patent number: 9287332
    Abstract: A light-emitting device and a lighting device each of which includes a plurality of light-emitting elements exhibiting light with different wavelengths are provided. The light-emitting device and the lighting device each have an element structure in which each of the light-emitting elements emits only light with a desired wavelength, and thus the light-emitting elements have favorable color purity. In the light-emitting element emitting light (?R) with the longest wavelength of the light with different wavelengths, the optical path length from a reflective electrode to a light-emitting layer (a light-emitting region) included in an EL layer is set to ?R/4 and the optical path length from the reflective electrode to a semi-transmissive and semi-reflective electrode is set to ?R/2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Hatano
  • Patent number: 9240525
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a flexible light-emitting device with high reliability in a simple way. Further, it is an object to provide an electronic device or a lighting device each mounted with the light-emitting device. A light-emitting device with high reliability can be obtained with the use of a light-emitting device having the following structure: an element portion including a light-emitting element is interposed between a substrate having flexibility and a light-transmitting property with respect to visible light and a metal substrate; and insulating layers provided over and under the element portion are in contact with each other in the outer periphery of the element portion to seal the element portion. Further, by mounting an electronic device or a lighting device with a light-emitting device having such a structure, an electronic device or a lighting device with high reliability can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kaoru Hatano, Masahiro Katayama, Shingo Eguchi, Yoshiaki Oikawa, Ami Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9240425
    Abstract: It is an object of one embodiment of the present invention to manufacture a light-emitting display device by simplifying a manufacturing process of a transistor, without an increase in the number of steps as well as the number of photomasks as compared to those in the conventional case. A step for processing a semiconductor layer into an island shape is omitted by using a high-resistance oxide semiconductor which is intrinsic or substantially intrinsic for the semiconductor layer, used to form transistors. Formation of an opening in the semiconductor layer or an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor layer and etching of an unnecessary portion of the semiconductor layer are performed at the same time; thus, the number of photolithography steps is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Kaoru Hatano
  • Publication number: 20150325595
    Abstract: It is an object of one embodiment of the present invention to manufacture a light-emitting display device by simplifying a manufacturing process of a transistor, without an increase in the number of steps as well as the number of photomasks as compared to those in the conventional case. A step for processing a semiconductor layer into an island shape is omitted by using a high-resistance oxide semiconductor which is intrinsic or substantially intrinsic for the semiconductor layer, used to form transistors. Formation of an opening in the semiconductor layer or an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor layer and etching of an unnecessary portion of the semiconductor layer are performed at the same time; thus, the number of photolithography steps is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Jun KOYAMA, Kaoru HATANO
  • Patent number: 9142568
    Abstract: It is an object of one embodiment of the present invention to manufacture a light-emitting display device by simplifying a manufacturing process of a transistor, without an increase in the number of steps as well as the number of photomasks as compared to those in the conventional case. A step for processing a semiconductor layer into an island shape is omitted by using a high-resistance oxide semiconductor which is intrinsic or substantially intrinsic for the semiconductor layer, used to form transistors. Formation of an opening in the semiconductor layer or an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor layer and etching of an unnecessary portion of the semiconductor layer are performed at the same time; thus, the number of photolithography steps is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Kaoru Hatano
  • Patent number: 9117976
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a flexible light-emitting device with long lifetime in a simple way and to provide an inexpensive electronic device with long lifetime using the flexible light-emitting device. A flexible light-emitting device is provided, which includes a substrate having flexibility and a light-transmitting property with respect to visible light; a first adhesive layer over the substrate; an insulating film containing nitrogen and silicon over the first adhesive layer; a light-emitting element including a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and an EL layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; a second adhesive layer over the second electrode; and a metal substrate over the second adhesive layer, wherein the thickness of the metal substrate is 10 ?m to 200 ?m inclusive. Further, an electronic device using the flexible light-emitting device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Hatano, Satoshi Seo, Takaaki Nagata, Tatsuya Okano
  • Publication number: 20150214251
    Abstract: A lightweight flexible light-emitting device which is able to possess a curved display portion and display a full color image with high resolution and the manufacturing process thereof are disclosed. The light-emitting device comprises: a plastic substrate; an insulating layer with an adhesive interposed therebetween; a thin film transistor over the insulating layer; a protective insulating film over the thin film transistor; a color filter over the protective insulating film; an interlayer insulating film over the color filter; and a white-emissive light-emitting element formed over the interlayer insulating film and being electrically connected to the thin film transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Satoshi SEO, Kaoru HATANO
  • Patent number: 9087964
    Abstract: Occurrence of a crosstalk phenomenon is suppressed in a light-emitting device including a tandem element. A light-emitting device includes a first lower electrode and a second lower electrode over an insulating layer; a partition which is formed over the insulating layer and positioned between the first lower electrode and the second lower electrode; a projecting object formed over the partition; a first light-emitting unit over each of the first lower electrode, the partition, the projecting object, and the second lower electrode; an intermediate layer over the first light-emitting unit; a second light-emitting unit over the intermediate layer; and an upper electrode over the second light-emitting unit. A recess is formed by a side surface of the projecting object and a side surface of the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignees: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd., Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaoru Hatano, Naoyuki Senda, Manabu Niboshi, Katsuhiro Kikuchi, Shinichi Kawato, Takashi Ochi, Yuto Tsukamoto, Tomohiro Kosaka, Tomofumi Osaki
  • Patent number: 9054058
    Abstract: A high-quality light-emitting device having low power consumption, capability of emitting light of a bright color, and less luminance unevenness is provided. Provided is a light-emitting device in which a plurality of light-emitting units each include a light-emitting element which includes a layer (EL layer) containing an organic compound between a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode is separated between light-emitting elements. The EL layer includes a layer (light-emitting layer) containing a light-emitting substance and a layer containing a donor substance and an acceptor substance provided between the first electrode and the light-emitting layer. An inversely tapered partition is provided only between adjacent light-emitting units emitting light of different colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nozomu Sugisawa, Kaoru Hatano, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20150108463
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a flexible light-emitting device with long lifetime in a simple way and to provide an inexpensive electronic device with long lifetime using the flexible light-emitting device. A flexible light-emitting device is provided, which includes a substrate having flexibility and a light-transmitting property with respect to visible light; a first adhesive layer over the substrate; an insulating film containing nitrogen and silicon over the first adhesive layer; a light-emitting element including a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and an EL layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; a second adhesive layer over the second electrode; and a metal substrate over the second adhesive layer, wherein the thickness of the metal substrate is 10 ?m to 200 ?m inclusive. Further, an electronic device using the flexible light-emitting device is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Kaoru HATANO, Satoshi SEO, Takaaki NAGATA, Tatsuya OKANO
  • Patent number: 9006965
    Abstract: A lightweight flexible light-emitting device which is able to possess a curved display portion and display a full color image with high resolution and the manufacturing process thereof are disclosed. The light-emitting device comprises: a plastic substrate; an insulating layer with an adhesive interposed therebetween; a thin film transistor over the insulating layer; a protective insulating film over the thin film transistor; a color filter over the protective insulating film; an interlayer insulating film over the color filter; and a white-emissive light-emitting element formed over the interlayer insulating film and being electrically connected to the thin film transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Seo, Kaoru Hatano
  • Patent number: 9000443
    Abstract: An object is to provide a light-emitting device or a flexible light-emitting device having low surface temperature, a long lifetime, and high reliability. Another object is to provide a simple method of manufacturing the light-emitting device or the flexible light-emitting device. Provided is a light-emitting device or a flexible light-emitting device which includes: a substrate having a light-transmitting property with respect to visible light; a first adhesive layer provided over the substrate; an insulating layer located over the first adhesive layer; a light-emitting element comprising a first electrode formed over the insulating layer, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and a layer including an organic compound having a light-emitting property between the first electrode and the second electrode, a second adhesive layer formed over the second electrode; a metal substrate provided over the second adhesive layer; and a heat radiation material layer formed over the metal substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Hatano
  • Patent number: 9000442
    Abstract: To simply provide a flexible light-emitting device with long lifetime. To provide a flexible light-emitting device with favorable display characteristics, high yield, and high reliability without display unevenness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Hatano, Takaaki Nagata, Nozomu Sugisawa, Tatsuya Okano, Akihiro Chida, Tatsunori Inoue