Patents by Inventor Katsufumi Ohmuro

Katsufumi Ohmuro 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: 8400592
    Abstract: A polarizing plate for a liquid crystal display is provided and includes a first protective film, a polarizer, a second protective film and a light diffusion layer in order. The light diffusion layer is a layer including a translucent resin and translucent particles having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the translucent resin. The internal haze of the light diffusion layer is 45% to 80%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Hirakata, Minoru Wada, Yukito Saitoh, Yusuke Ohashi, Katsufumi Ohmuro
  • Patent number: 8325306
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrate, with liquid crystal contained therebetween; a plurality of gate bus lines; a plurality of drain bus lines; and first and second sub picture element electrodes. The first sub picture element electrode is not in contact with the second sub picture element electrode. The first sub picture element electrode includes a first body portion and a plurality of first branches extending from the first body portion, with the first branches being separated from each other by a plurality of first slits. The second sub picture element electrode includes a second body portion and a plurality of second branches extending from the second body portion, with the second branches being separated from each other by a plurality of second slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Kunihiro Tashiro, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Jin Hirosawa, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii, Shota Makimoto, Naoto Kondo, Isao Tsushima, Tomonori Tanose, Takashi Takagi, Tetsuya Fujikawa
  • Publication number: 20120229738
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device, wherein u?on axis and v?on axis, u?max and v?max, and u?min and v?min satisfy following expressions (1), (2) and (3): u ave ? = ( u max ? - u min ? 2 ) , ? v ave ? = ( v max ? - v min ? 2 ) ( 1 ) ? ? ? u ? ? v ave - on ? ? axis ? = ( u ave ? - u on ? ? axis ? ) 2 + ( v ave ? - v on ? ? axis ? ) 2 ? 0.04 ( 2 ) 0.35 ? v on ? ? axis ? ? 0.55 ( 3 ) wherein u?on axis and v?on axis are hues in a black state observed in a front direction; u?max and v?max are maximum values of u? and v? in a black state among values observed in directions with an azimuth angle ranging from 0° to 360° and a polar angle of 60°; and u?min and v?min are minimum values of u? and v? in a black state among values observed in directions with an azimuth angle ranging from 0° to 360° and a polar angle of 60°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirofumi TOYAMA, Yujiro YANAI, Naoyoshi YAMADA, Katsufumi OHMURO, Takumi ANDO
  • Publication number: 20120219729
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal display utilizing a vertically aligned state of liquid crystal molecules when no voltage is applied and to a method of manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal display includes a monofunctional monomer having a structure expressed by X—R (where X represents an acrylate group or a methacrylate group, and R represents an organic group having a steroid skeleton). A liquid crystal material is sandwiched between substrates which is then irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the monofunctional monomer, thereby forming a polymer film at an interface of a substrate. The monofunctional monomer has a hydrophobic skeleton such as an alkyl chain and a photoreactive group on one side of the skeleton.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Hideaki Tsuda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Jin Hirosawa, Seiji Tanuma, Yoshio Koike
  • Patent number: 8212981
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates with liquid crystal contained therebetween, and a plurality of picture elements located on the first substrate. Each of the picture elements is defined between a pair of gate bus lines and a pair of data bus lines. At least one of the picture elements includes a switching element connected to one of the data bus lines, a first sub picture element electrode, and a second sub picture element electrode. At least one of the first and second sub picture element electrodes has a body portion and a plurality of branches that extend from the body portion. A neighboring two of the branches are parallel with each other. The first sub picture element electrode connects to the switching element, and the second sub picture element electrode connects, via capacitive coupling, to the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Kunihiro Tashiro, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Jin Hirosawa, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii, Shota Makimoto, Naoto Kondo, Isao Tsushima, Tomonori Tanose, Takashi Takagi, Tetsuya Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 8208106
    Abstract: A substrate for a liquid crystal display including a plurality of gate bus lines and a plurality of data bus lines that cross the gate bus lines, as well as a thin film transistor connected to one of the data bus lines. The display also includes a first electrode with a body portion and a plurality of branches extending from the body portion, wherein at least some of the branches include a first branch portion, which extends from the body portion and defines a first angle, and a second branch portion, which extends from the first branch portion, and which defines a second angle. The first angle is greater than said second angle, and both angles are between 0° and 90° Also included is a second electrode that overlaps at least a portion of the first electrode, and an insulation film between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Kunihiro Tashiro, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Jin Hirosawa, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii, Shota Makimoto, Naoto Kondo, Isao Tsushima, Tomonori Tanose, Takashi Takagi, Tetsuya Fujikawa
  • Publication number: 20120120338
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules provided between a first substrate and a second substrate; pixels forming a display area; electrodes for applying a voltage across the liquid crystal layer within each of the pixels; a plurality of domain regulating structures for dividing orientations of the liquid crystal molecules and forming multiple domains within each of the pixels, when a predetermined voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer within each of the pixels; and a structure which is formed in an outer area located next to the display area and is substantially the same as at least one of the plurality of domain regulating structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Yoshio Koike, Shingo Kataoka, Takahiro Sasaki, Takashi Sasabayashi, Hideaki Tsuda, Hideo Chida, Makoto Ohashi, Kenji Okamoto, Hisashi Yamaguchi, Minoru Otani, Makoto Morishige, Noriaki Furukawa, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Yoshinori Tanaka, Atuyuki Hoshino, Shougo Hayashi, Hideaki Takizawa, Takeshi Kinjou, Makoto Tachibanaki, Keiji Imoto, Tadashi Hasegawa, Hidefumi Yoshida, Hiroyasu Inoue, Yoji Taniguchi, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Satoshi Murata, Manabu Sawasaki, Tomonori Tanose, Siro Hirota, Masahiro Ikeda, Kunihiro Tashiro, Kouji Tsukao, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Takatoshi Mayama, Seiji Tanuma, Yohei Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 8178171
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal display utilizing a vertically aligned state of liquid crystal molecules when no voltage is applied and to a method of manufacturing the same. The invention is aimed at providing a liquid crystal display and a method of manufacturing the same in which the existing step for forming vertical alignment films can be omitted to achieve a cost reduction. The liquid crystal display includes a monofunctional monomer having a structure expressed by X—R (where X represents an acrylate group or a methacrylate group, and R represents an organic group having a steroid skeleton). A liquid crystal material is sandwiched between substrates which is then irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the monofunctional monomer, thereby forming a polymer film at an interface of a substrate. The monofunctional monomer has a hydrophobic skeleton such as an alkyl chain and a photoreactive group on one side of the skeleton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Hideaki Tsuda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Jin Hirosawa, Seiji Tanuma, Yoshio Koike
  • Patent number: 8164722
    Abstract: A liquid-crystal display device comprising a liquid-crystal cell and at least three optically-anisotropic layers disposed on each side of the liquid crystal cell, wherein they are combined so that the ?nd value of the liquid-crystal cell and the optical characteristics of the optically-anisotropic layers can satisfy predetermined relationships, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Katsufumi Ohmuro, Shun Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8134671
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates sandwiching liquid crystal molecules, a plurality of gate bus lines, and a plurality of data bus lines, with each of the data bus lines extending to intersect the gate bus lines and bending in a zigzag manner. A plurality of pixels are formed in areas enclosed by the data and gate bus lines, with a plurality of pixel electrodes, each covering a substantial area of one of the pixels. A plurality of domain regulating structures for regulating orientation directions of the liquid crystal molecules and for forming multiple domains are formed in each of the pixels. At least one of the domain regulating structures bends along a first side edge of the pixel electrode and domains are divided in accordance with the bending of the domain regulating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Yoshio Koike, Shingo Kataoka, Takahiro Sasaki, Takashi Sasabayashi, Hideaki Tsuda, Hideo Chida, Makoto Ohashi, Kenji Okamoto, Hisashi Yamaguchi, Minoru Otani, Makoto Morishige, Noriaki Furukawa, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Yoshinori Tanaka, Atuyuki Hoshino, Shougo Hayashi, Hideaki Takizawa, Takeshi Kinjou, Makoto Tachibanaki, Keiji Imoto, Tadashi Hasegawa, Hidefumi Yoshida, Hiroyasu Inoue, Yoji Taniguchi, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Satoshi Murata, Manabu Sawasaki, Tomonori Tanose, Siro Hirota, Masahiro Ikeda, Kunihiro Tashiro, Kouji Tsukao, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Takatoshi Mayama, Seiji Tanuma, Yohei Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20120050631
    Abstract: A high-performance liquid crystal display device is provided that can be manufactured at a low cost and a high production yield. In this liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal composition comprising liquid crystal molecules and a polymerizable compound that can be polymerized by ultraviolet rays or by a combination of ultraviolet rays and heat is disposed between a pair of substrates; the polymerizable compound is polymerized, forming a liquid crystal layer, by an operation including irradiation of ultraviolet rays that do not contain wavelength components of not higher than 313 nm; and uneven portions are installed on the liquid crystal layer contacting surface, or a slit pattern is installed in an electrode, or uneven portions are installed on the liquid crystal layer contacting surface, and a slit pattern is installed in the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsufumi Ohmuro, Hideaki Tsuda, Shingo Kataoka, Jin Hirosawa
  • Patent number: 8125600
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates which are arranged to be opposite to each other; liquid crystal with negative dielectric anisotropy contained between the first and the second substrates; a polymer which determines directions in which liquid crystal molecules tilt when voltage is applied: and a plurality of picture elements located on the first substrate. At least one of the picture elements on the first substrate includes a switching element; a first sub picture element electrode including a plurality of band-shaped microelectrode parts and a first connecting electrode part electrically connecting the microelectrode parts of the first sub picture element electrode with one another; and a second sub picture element electrode including a plurality of band-shaped microelectrode parts and a second connecting electrode part electrically connecting the microelectrode parts of the second sub picture element electrode with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Kunihiro Tashiro, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Jin Hirosawa, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii, Shota Makimoto, Naoto Kondo, Isao Tsushima, Tomonori Tanose, Takashi Takagi, Tetsuya Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 8094278
    Abstract: The present liquid crystal display is obtained by disposing, between two parallel substrates on which a pair of electrodes are formed, two alignment control films, and a liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal and a polymerizable compound that can be polymerized by light, a heat or a combination thereof, and then polymerizing the polymerizable compound. If the liquid crystal to be used is one having a negative dielectric constant anisotropy, the alignment control films are vertical alignment control films having been subjected to rubbing processing so that the rubbing directions are parallel to each other, and when voltage is not applied, only liquid crystal molecules in a specific area in a pixel present the splay alignment. According to the present invention, a liquid crystal display device having a high-speed response can be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Hanaoka, Kunihiro Tashiro, Takashi Sasabayashi, Katsufumi Ohmuro
  • Publication number: 20110299019
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus including a pair of substrates having electrodes and vertical alignment layers. A liquid crystal having a negative anisotropy of dielectric is inserted between the substrates. Each substrate has linearly arranged alignment control structures for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal. The alignment control structures are formed in the form of projections or slits. Each alignment control structure is formed of a plurality of constituent units. In addition, means for forming a boundary of alignment of liquid crystal (singular point in director field) to control the liquid crystal located on the alignment control structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Hideo Chida, Yoshio Koike, Kimiaki Nakamura, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Patent number: 8040468
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal display device comprising a retardation layer wherein an in-plane slow axis of the retardation layer is within the direction of 90±40 degrees relative to an absorption axis of the polarizing layer disposed at a closer position to the retardation layer; Re(550) meets following relation, 25 nm?Re(550)?230 nm; R[40°] of the retardation layer which is measured for incident light in a direction tilted by 40 degrees toward the tilt direction of the retardation layer relative to the normal line of the retardation layer meets following relation, 0 nm?R[40°]?300 nm; and R[+40°] of the retardation layer and retardation R[?40°] of the retardation layer meet following relation, 1<R[+40°]/R[?40°].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Katsufumi Ohmuro, Ryuta Takegami, Zemin Shi, Kiyokazu Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20110242462
    Abstract: A polarizing plate for a liquid crystal display is provided and includes a first protective film, a polarizer, a second protective film and a light diffusion layer in order. The light diffusion layer is a layer including a translucent resin and translucent particles having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the translucent resin. The internal haze of the light diffusion layer is 45% to 80%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi HIRAKATA, Minoru WADA, Yukito SAITOH, Yusuke OHASHI, Katsufumi OHMURO
  • Publication number: 20110234931
    Abstract: The technology presented herein has a feature of providing a liquid crystal display device of an excellent viewing angle characteristic and high brightness, including: liquid crystals containing polymerizable monomers between a first substrate with a pixel electrode having micro slits and a second substrate facing the first substrate; wherein the monomers are polymerizable with voltage applied to the liquid crystals; and an alignment orientation of the liquid crystals is controllable to a direction of extending the micro slit, wherein the pixel electrode includes: a direct coupling part electrically connected to a switching element; a capacitive coupling part electrically insulated from the switching element, and a space between the direct and capacitive coupling parts, wherein directions in which the micro slits are extended along the direct and capacitive coupling parts are orthogonal to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Hanaoka, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kunihiro Tashiro, Jin Hirosawa, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii, Shota Makimoto, Yasuhiro Ohno, Isao Tsushima, Tomonori Tanose, Takashi Takagi, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Takahiro Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20110228209
    Abstract: In accordance with a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device including, in a picture element, a first sub-picture-element region where a threshold voltage of the transmittance-applied voltage characteristic is Vth1 and a second sub-picture-element region where a threshold voltage of the transmittance-applied voltage characteristic is Vth2, liquid crystal, which polymerizable components are added to, is filled into the space between a first and a second substrates; thereafter, a voltage V1 slightly higher than the threshold voltage Vth1 is applied to a liquid crystal layer, and is held for a certain length of time; subsequently, a voltage V2 slightly higher than the threshold voltage Vth2 is applied to the liquid crystal layer, and is held for a certain length of time; additionally, a voltage V3 higher than a white-displaying voltage which is applied while the liquid crystal display device is in actual use is applied to the liquid crystal layer, and is held for a certain length of time; then, t
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Hanaoka, Yohei Nakanishi, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kunihiro Tashiro, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii
  • Patent number: 8023085
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus including a pair of substrates having electrodes and vertical alignment layers. A liquid crystal having a negative anisotropy of dielectric is inserted between the substrates. Each substrate has linearly arranged alignment control structures for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal. The alignment control structures are formed in the form of projections or slits. Each alignment control structure is formed of a plurality of constituent units. In addition, means for forming a boundary of alignment of liquid crystal (singular point in director field) to control the liquid crystal located on the alignment control structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Hideo Chida, Yoshio Koike, Kimiaki Nakamura, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Patent number: RE43123
    Abstract: A vertical alignment mode liquid crystal display device having an improved viewing angle characteristic is disclosed. The liquid crystal display device uses a liquid crystal having a negative anisotropic dielectric constant, and orientations of the liquid crystal are vertical to substrates when no voltage is applied, almost horizontal when a predetermined voltage is applied, and oblique when an intermediate voltage is applied. At least one of the substrates includes a structure as domain regulating means, and inclined surfaces of the structure operate to regulate azimuths of the oblique orientations of the liquid crystal when the intermediate voltage is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Sasabayashi, Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Yoshio Koike, Shingo Kataoka, Takahiro Sasaki, Kenji Okamoto, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Shougo Hayashi, Hideaki Takizawa, Keiji Imoto, Hidefumi Yoshida, Hiroyasu Inoue, Yoji Taniguchi, Satoshi Murata