Patents by Inventor Mamoru Okamoto

Mamoru Okamoto 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).

  • Publication number: 20050200790
    Abstract: Lattice-shaped pixel electrodes and lattice-shaped common electrodes are provided on a substrate in which switching elements of a horizontal electric-field liquid crystal display device such as a TFT are formed. Each pixel electrode is integrally formed with one electrode of the switching element such as the TFT. Each pixel electrode has a notch at an external periphery of a horizontal bar of the lattice-shaped pixel electrode. A contact hole connecting the common signal wiring and the common electrode in the substrate is provided in an area of the notch of the pixel electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Applicant: NEC LCD TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Konno, Shinichi Nishida, Mamoru Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20050190316
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate arranged in facing relation to the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates. The first substrate includes a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode associated with a pixel, a common electrode to which a reference voltage is applied, a data line, a scanning line, and a common electrode line. The second substrate is designed to include no electrodes thereon. The first substrate includes an electric-field shielding layer for preventing an electric field from leaking into pixels in which images are to be displayed, from the scanning line, the electric-field shielding layer being comprised of an electrically conductive layer and being formed in a layer located closer to the liquid crystal layer than an area in which the scanning line is arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Sounosuke Takahashi, Mamoru Okamoto, Shinichi Nishida
  • Patent number: 6927822
    Abstract: In an orientation division type liquid crystal display device for widen a viewing angle of a display pixel of an active matrix type liquid crystal color display device having a COT structure, pixel color layers (6B, 6R, 6G) as color filters and pixel electrodes 3 are formed on a substrate on the side of the pixel electrodes and slopes 13 are provided along four side peripheries of each pixel electrode. Liquid crystal molecules 8 between each pixel electrode of the pixel electrode substrate and a common electrode of an opposing substrate are controlled in orientation direction along the slopes to divide it to a plurality of directions to thereby widen a viewing angle of a pixel display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies
    Inventors: Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hirai, Michiaki Sakamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Toshiya Ishii, Teruaki Suzuki, Ken Sumiyoshi, Masayoshi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20050151921
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal panel, a color filter substrate and an array substrate are provided in parallel with each other, and a liquid crystal layer is sealed therebetween. In the color filter substrate, a black matrix made of a resin and color filters are provided on a transparent substrate. In the array substrate, a pixel circuit is provided on a transparent substrate. The pixel circuit includes a gate interconnection, a gate insulating film, a semiconductor region, a drain interconnection, a passivation film, a pixel electrode, and the like. The sum of the step heights on the surfaces of the color filter substrate and the array substrate both facing the liquid crystal layer is 0.83 ?m, and the pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal layer is set to 4 degrees or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Applicant: NEC LCD TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Mamoru Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20050152230
    Abstract: An active matrix type liquid crystal display device in the lateral electric field system is disclosed, in which a high aperture factor is ensured even in a narrow pitch case, while also ensuring high contract and reduced vertical stroke is disclosed. In a liquid crystal display device, in which substantially bank-like third insulating film 208 is formed a video signal line 204 and covered by a common electrode 210, a light shield electrode 213 is formed underneath an extension of a common electrode 210 from an edge of a video signal line 204. With this arrangement, a liquid crystal display device is realized, which shields light from the sides of a step part as well as ensuring high aperture factor and high contrast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Applicant: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Konno, Shinichi Nishida, Mamoru Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6870592
    Abstract: In a liquid-crystal display panel, columnar spacers are formed on a substrate on the transparent electrode side in minimally a part of the pixel parts of a plurality of pixel parts, in which there is little variation in the film thickness of a plurality of films formed over the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Takahiko Watanabe, Hirofumi Ihara, Hironori Kikkawa, Shinichi Nakata
  • Publication number: 20050036096
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display having a wide viewing angle and easily manufactured. The liquid crystal display comprises an upper substrate and a lower substrate, and a liquid crystal material disposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate. The liquid crystal display has a conductive protrusion disposed on the surface of the upper substrate opposing to the lower substrate. The conductive protrusion is disposed over a scanning electrode line or a signal electrode line and has the same potential as that of the upper electrode. As another structure, each of pixel electrodes on the lower substrate has a smaller area than that of a common electrode on the upper substrate and is covered by the common electrode, and each of the pixel electrodes comprises an electrode portion having approximately symmetrical shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ken-Ichi Takatori, Masayoshi Suzuki, Toshiya Ishii, Teruaki Suzuki, Hiroshi Kanoh, Ken Sumiyoshi, Michiaki Sakamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hirai
  • Publication number: 20050030450
    Abstract: A semi-transmissive-type liquid crystal display device is provided which is capable of preventing an electric erosion reaction between a reflective film made of Al (aluminum) or an Al alloy and a transparent electrode film made of ITO or a like (Indium Tin Oxide) and of inhibiting occurrence of a flicker caused by a residual DC (Direct Current) voltage in the reflective film. In the semi-transmissive-type of a liquid crystal display device, a transmissive region to provide light from a backlight source and a reflective region to receive ambient light are placed in a pixel region and a transparent electrode film is formed above a reflective film formed in the reflective region on an active matrix substrate with a second passivation film being interposed between the reflective film and the transparent electrode film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Osamu Sukegawa, Ken-Ichirou Naka, Shin-Ichi Nakata, Masami Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6853408
    Abstract: A CF on TFT type liquid crystal display and a method of manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal display has a plurality of parallel scanning lines, a plurality of parallel data lines which cross the scanning lines, thin film transistors each disposed in the proximity of an intersection between one of the scanning lines and one of the data lines, and pixel electrodes disposed in a matrix and each coupled with one of the thin film transistors. The light shield film is formed over areas including at least the thin film transistors but except over portions which become banks and hinder flow of developer for patterning the light shield film. As an embodiment, the light shield film can be formed along the data lines, and also partially along the scanning lines except a part of each portion of the scanning lines between adjacent data lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Masanobu Hidehira
  • Patent number: 6847423
    Abstract: A liquid-crystal display (LCD) device improves the performance of preventing the elution of impurity contained in the light-shielding layer (and the color layer) of the monochrome or color filter into the liquid crystal, thereby preventing defective operations of the LCD device (e.g., displaying defect) caused by impurity existing in the liquid crystal. The LCD device includes the protection layer made of a transparent organic resin, which satisfies at least one of a condition (a) that the transparent organic resin has a cross-link density of 70% or greater, and a condition (b) that the transparent organic resin has a Vickers hardness of 50 kgf/mm2 or greater. Preferably, an amount of internal impurity of the filter is 3 ng/cm2 or less. It is preferred that at least one selected from the group consisting of an acrylic resin, a styrene resin, and a polyimide resin is used as a base or matrix material of the transparent organic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Okamoto, Tetuya Kimura, Sounosuke Takahashi, Nariyoshi Kotake, Shinichi Nishida
  • Publication number: 20040233378
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device using columnar spacers to eliminate an influence of shades in rubbing an orientation film and to eliminate remaining of display unevenness (black haze) in black display is provided. Columnar spacers are provided above a black matrix of an opposite substrate disposed opposite to a TFT substrate. A position of a top of each columnar spacer in contact with the TFT substrate is shifted from a center of a gate line of the TFT substrate toward a common line parallel to the gate line. Moreover, a structure is adopted, in which the top of the columnar spacer contacting with the TFT substrate is not entirely brought into contact with the TFT substrate, but a gap is provided between a part of the top of the columnar spacer and the TFT substrate by providing an irregular surface on the top of the columnar spacer or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Mamoru Okamoto, Shinichi Nishida, Takayuki Konno, Muneo Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6822704
    Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display device which has color filters disposed on a TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) substrate, and which reduces the effect of light leakage regions over data lines for an increased viewing angle. The liquid crystal display device has the data lines disposed on the TFT substrate at respective gaps between adjacent two of pixel electrodes, for supplying data signals to TFTs to drive pixel electrodes, and a black matrix disposed on the TFT substrate in association with the data lines for blocking light passing in a predetermined viewing angle range through a light leakage region created in the liquid crystal layer depending on a potential difference between adjacent two of the pixel electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiaki Sakamoto, Muneo Maruyama, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20040218128
    Abstract: In an orientation division type liquid crystal display device for widen a viewing angle of a display pixel of an active matrix type liquid crystal color display device having a COT structure, pixel color layers (6B, 6R, 6G) as color filters and pixel electrodes 3 are formed on a substrate on the side of the pixel electrodes and slopes 13 are provided along four side peripheries of each pixel electrode. Liquid crystal molecules 8 between each pixel electrode of the pixel electrode substrate and a common electrode of an opposing substrate are controlled in orientation direction along the slopes to divide it to a plurality of directions to thereby widen a viewing angle of a pixel display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hirai, Michiaki Sakamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Toshiya Ishii, Teruaki Suzuki, Ken Sumiyoshi, Masayoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6812986
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display having a wide viewing angle and easily manufactured. The liquid crystal display comprises an upper substrate and a lower substrate, and a liquid crystal material disposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate. The liquid crystal display has a conductive protrusion disposed on the surface of the upper substrate opposing to the lower substrate. The conductive protrusion is disposed over a scanning electrode line or a signal electrode line and has the same potential as that of the upper electrode. As another structure, each of pixel electrodes on the lower substrate has a smaller area than that of a common electrode on the upper substrate and is covered by the common electrode, and each of the pixel electrodes comprises an electrode portion having approximately symmetrical shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Ken-Ichi Takatori, Masayoshi Suzuki, Toshiya Ishii, Teruaki Suzuki, Hiroshi Kanoh, Ken Sumiyoshi, Michiaki Sakamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hirai
  • Patent number: 6806926
    Abstract: An opposite substrate of a reflection-type color liquid crystal display apparatus has a transparent insulation substrate made of glass or the like. An uneven portion is formed on a surface of the opposite substrate on the side of a liquid crystal. A flattened film made of acryl, polyimide or the like is formed to cover the uneven portion of the transparent insulation substrate. A common opposite electrode made of ITO or the like is formed on the flattened film. A liquid crystal orientation layer made of polyimide or the like is formed on the opposite electrode. A light scattering mechanism is constituted of said uneven portion of the transparent insulation substrate and the flattened film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Kikkawa, Mamoru Okamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Muneo Maruyama, Takahiko Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20040195704
    Abstract: Alignment marks are formed when source and drain electrodes of a TFT are formed and thereon a thick red filter is formed. So that, the following respective color layers can be made thin on the red filter. Also, the exposure alignment laser permeates in an exposure step, and thereby the alignment marks can be accurately detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakata, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Hironori Kikkawa, Muneo Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6787930
    Abstract: Alignment marks are formed when source and drain electrodes of a TFT are formed and thereon a thick red filter in formed. So that, the following respective color layers can be made thin on the red filter. Also, the exposure alignment laser permeates in an exposure step, and thereby the alignment marks can be accurately detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakata, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Hironori Kikkawa, Muneo Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20040150763
    Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display device which has color filters disposed on a TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) substrate, and which reduces the effect of light leakage regions over data lines for an increased viewing angle. The liquid crystal display device has the data lines disposed on the TFT substrate at respective gaps between adjacent two of pixel electrodes, for supplying data signals to TFTs to drive pixel electrodes, and a black matrix disposed on the TFT substrate in association with the data lines for blocking light passing in a predetermined viewing angle range through a light leakage region created in the liquid crystal layer depending on a potential difference between adjacent two of the pixel electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiaki Sakamoto, Muneo Maruyama, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6768530
    Abstract: In an orientation division type liquid crystal display device for widen a viewing angle of a display pixel of an active matrix type liquid crystal color display device having a COT structure, pixel color layers (6B, 6R, 6G) as color filters and pixel electrodes 3 are formed on a substrate on the side of the pixel electrodes and slopes 13 are provided along four side peripheries of each pixel electrode. Liquid crystal molecules 8 between each pixel electrode of the pixel electrode substrate and a common electrode of an opposing substrate are controlled in orientation direction along the slopes to divide it to a plurality of directions to thereby widen a viewing angle of a pixel display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hirai, Michiaki Sakamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Toshiya Ishii, Teruaki Suzuki, Ken Sumiyoshi, Masayoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6750934
    Abstract: A VA (Vertical Aligned) type active-matrix liquid crystal display capable of stabilizing a boundary position between divided areas (alignment areas). The liquid crystal display comprises a TFT (thin film transistor) substrate including a pixel electrode provided for each pixel and a driving element such as a TFT provided for each pixel electrode, an opposite substrate disposed opposite to the TFT substrate and including an opposite electrode, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the opposite substrate. Each pixel electrode has a recess in groove shape formed therein. The pixel electrode preferably has a generally rectangular shape. The recess is provided such that it extends from one of a pair of opposite sides of the pixel electrode to the other to divide the pixel electrode into two parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiaki Sakamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Masayoshi Suzuki, Toshiya Ishii, Teruaki Suzuki, Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hirai