Patents by Inventor Masatake Baba

Masatake Baba 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: 8552965
    Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal display device capable of switching the range of viewing angles while being able to reduce the cost and thickness of the device, and to provide an electronic appliance having the same. The display device according to the present invention includes: a liquid crystal type display panel having a diffusive reflection part which diffusively reflects light irradiated from the front side while transmitting light from the back side; and a backlight source disposed on a back face of the display panel along the display panel for switchably outputting transmission light of different directivities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Sumiyoshi, Koji Mimura, Yuji Kondo, Masatake Baba
  • Patent number: 7661865
    Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal display backlight and a liquid crystal display device, which can improve the heat dissipating effect, can reduce the thickness and weight of the device. The liquid crystal display backlight includes: an emission light guide plate for emitting illuminating light for a liquid crystal display panel from one face; one and other mixed-color light guides mounted on a same plane of other face of the emission light guide plate via a spacer; a heat-dissipating spatial area provided between the mixed-color light guide plates; light-emitting devices disposed within the heat-dissipating spatial area; and reflectors for guiding output light, propagated inside each mixed-color light guide plate, towards corresponding end faces of the emission light guide plate from outside end face of each mixed-color light guide plate. A holding plate for holding the light-emitting devices is provided, facing each mixed-color light guide plate with an airing gap provided therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatake Baba
  • Publication number: 20090109169
    Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal display device capable of switching the range of viewing angles while being able to reduce the cost and thickness of the device, and to provide an electronic appliance having the same. The display device according to the present invention includes: a liquid crystal type display panel having a diffusive reflection part which diffusively reflects light irradiated from the front side while transmitting light from the back side; and a backlight source disposed on a back face of the display panel along the display panel for switchably outputting transmission light of different directivities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: NEC LCD TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ken SUMIYOSHI, Koji Mimura, Yuji Kondo, Masatake Baba
  • Publication number: 20090103283
    Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal display backlight and a liquid crystal display device, which can improve the heat dissipating effect, can reduce the thickness and weight of the device. The liquid crystal display backlight includes: an emission light guide plate for emitting illuminating light for a liquid crystal display panel from one face; one and other mixed-color light guides mounted on a same plane of other face of the emission light guide plate via a spacer; a heat-dissipating spatial area provided between the mixed-color light guide plates; light-emitting devices disposed within the heat-dissipating spatial area; and reflectors for guiding output light, propagated inside each mixed-color light guide plate, towards corresponding end faces of the emission light guide plate from outside end face of each mixed-color light guide plate. A holding plate for holding the light-emitting devices is provided, facing each mixed-color light guide plate with an airing gap provided therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: NEC LCD TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masatake BABA
  • Patent number: 7413334
    Abstract: A plurality of LEDs are arrayed in a single row between the opposing end faces of a pair of first and second light guide plates that are disposed so that the end faces thereof face each other. A reflective sheet is disposed on the lower surfaces of the pair of first and second light guide plates, and a separation plate is disposed so as to cover the upper surfaces of the first and second light guide plates and the gap therebetween. A reflecting body for guiding light emitted upward from the LEDs to the first and second light guide plates is disposed in the area immediately above the LEDs on the lower surface of the separation plate. A diffusion plate is disposed with a fixed gap above the separation plate, and a hollow area is formed between the diffusion plate and the separation plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatake Baba
  • Publication number: 20070064421
    Abstract: A backlight source of a LCD device includes constant-power red, green and blue LEDs emitting light having a constant output power, and a tone-correction red LED emitting light having a controlled output power controlled based on the temperature of the backlight source. The tone-correction red LED has a larger output power upon a temperature rise to supplement the reduced output power of the constant-power red LED.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventor: Masatake Baba
  • Publication number: 20060262564
    Abstract: A plurality of LEDs are arrayed in a single row between the opposing end faces of a pair of first and second light guide plates that are disposed so that the end faces thereof face each other. A reflective sheet is disposed on the lower surfaces of the pair of first and second light guide plates, and a separation plate is disposed so as to cover the upper surfaces of the first and second light guide plates and the gap therebetween. A reflecting body for guiding light emitted upward from the LEDs to the first and second light guide plates is disposed in the area immediately above the LEDs on the lower surface of the separation plate. A diffusion plate is disposed with a fixed gap above the separation plate, and a hollow area is formed between the diffusion plate and the separation plate. Reflectors for causing light emitted from the first and second light guide plates to enter the hollow area are disposed at the end faces of the first and second light guide plates that face the LEDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: NEC LCD TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masatake Baba
  • Publication number: 20060002146
    Abstract: Light emitted in side surface directions from side-emitting red, green, and blue LEDs which are arranged on an LED array substrate is introduced into a light guide from side surfaces of a groove-shaped recessed portion, and propagates in the light guide. Thus, the three colors are mixed. The light further propagates in the light guide while being reflected at both side end surfaces of the light guide by the function of a reflective sheet and the like. Thus, color mixing progresses. Further, the light is reflected upward by diffuse reflective means provided on the lower surface of the light guide, and emitted as backlight light to the outside through a diffuse sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Applicant: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatake Baba
  • Patent number: 6917354
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has a fluorescent lamp and a driving circuit as a back light. A closed container, a discharge gas sealed in the closed container, first discharge electrodes, and second discharge electrodes are included in the fluorescent lamp. The driving circuit repeats a first step of causing electric discharge in first discharge areas by applying a voltage having a negative polarity to the first discharge electrodes and a voltage having a positive polarity to the second discharge electrodes, and a second step of causing electric discharge in second discharge areas which are different from the first discharge areas by applying a voltage having a positive polarity to the first discharge electrodes and a voltage having a negative polarity to the second discharge electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fumihiko Fujishiro, Masatake Baba, Syuuki Yamamori
  • Patent number: 6816213
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mounting structure for mounting a liquid crystal module to a cover of a mobile terminal. The mounting structure comprises: at least a pair of first and second engagement parts, wherein the first engagement part is provided on a side portion of the liquid crystal module, while the second engagement part is provided on a side portion of a structural member of the cover, so that the paired first and second engagement parts are engaged with each other only by fitting the liquid crystal module into the structural member of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kasuhiro Kato, Masatake Baba, Michiaki Nishiyama, Fumihiko Fujishiro, Takakazu Yano, Toshihisa Ogawa, Tomoo Miwa, Yasuhiro Sato
  • Patent number: 6654078
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mounting structure for mounting a liquid crystal module to a cover of a mobile terminal. The mounting structure comprises: at least a pair of first and second engagement parts, wherein the first engagement part is provided on a side portion of the liquid crystal module, whilst the second engagement part is provided on a side portion of a structural member of the cover, so that the paired first and second engagement parts are engaged with each other only by fitting the liquid crystal module into the structural member of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Kato, Masatake Baba, Michiaki Nishiyama, Fumihiko Fujishiro, Takakazu Yano, Toshihisa Ogawa, Tomoo Miwa, Yasuhiro Sato
  • Patent number: 6644824
    Abstract: In a light unit that converts a false linear light into which a light from a point light source has been converted by a columnar light guide, into a planar light by a plate-shaped light guide, the point light source is arranged only at an end of the columnar light guide at which an angle between a longitudinal direction of the columnar light guide and ridge lines of recesses and projections forming a prism surface is obtuse. Thus, a positional relationship between the point light source and the ridge lines is set so that a main irradiation direction of band-shaped light emitted from the columnar light guide and which has been obtained by converting the light from the point light source to a false linear light is not substantially orthogonal to the ridge lines of the recesses and projections forming the prism surface of the plate-shaped light guide. Consequently, light obtained by totally reflecting this band-shaped light is unlikely to be viewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatake Baba
  • Patent number: 6594143
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mounting structure for mounting a liquid crystal module having a display area. The mounting structure comprises: at least a frame member having a plurality of connecting members for connecting the frame member to the liquid crystal module substantially in parallel to each other, wherein each of the connecting members extends between the liquid crystal module and the frame member in a direction vertical to a surface of the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Takakazu Yano, Tomoo Miwa, Yasuhiro Sato, Toshihisa Ogawa, Michiaki Nishiyama, Masatake Baba, Hikaru Okabe, Fumihiko Fujishiro, Katsuhiro Kato, Kazuaki Mikami, Hirokazu Fukuyoshi
  • Publication number: 20030063230
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mounting structure for mounting a liquid crystal module to a cover of a mobile terminal. The mounting structure comprises: at least a pair of first and second engagement parts, wherein the first engagement part is provided on a side portion of the liquid crystal module, whilst the second engagement part is provided on a side portion of a structural member of the cover, so that the paired first and second engagement parts are engaged with each other only by fitting the liquid crystal module into the structural member of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Kato, Masatake Baba, Michiaki Nishiyama, Fumihiko Fujishiro, Takakazu Yano, Toshihisa Ogawa, Tomoo Miwa, Yasuhiro Sato
  • Patent number: 6518691
    Abstract: An area type light emitting device, in which a reflection component can be firmly fixed to a transparent light guide component, and the manufacturing cost of the device can be reduce, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masatake Baba
  • Publication number: 20020154258
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has a fluorescent lamp and a driving circuit as a back light. A closed container, a discharge gas sealed in the closed container, first discharge electrodes, and second discharge electrodes are included in the fluorescent lamp. The driving circuit repeats a first step of causing electric discharge in first discharge areas by applying a voltage having a negative polarity to the first discharge electrodes and a voltage having a positive polarity to the second discharge electrodes, and a second step of causing electric discharge in second discharge areas which are different from the first discharge areas by applying a voltage having a positive polarity to the first discharge electrodes and a voltage having a negative polarity to the second discharge electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Fumihiko Fujishiro, Masatake Baba, Syuuki Yamamori
  • Publication number: 20020109805
    Abstract: The invention relates to a backlight unit for a LCD unit provided with a light guide plate, at least one light source unit provided to at least one side of the light guide plate, a passive reflector provided so that it is opposite to the rear surface of the light guide plate and plural reflection regions and plural transmission regions respectively provided to the rear surface of the light guide plate and characterized in that an angle between the surface of the light guide plate opposite to the rear surface and at least one of the reflection regions is larger than an angle between the surface and at least one of the transmission regions. The invention is also characterized in that portable terminal equipment is provided with the backlight unit for the LCD device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: Masatake Baba
  • Publication number: 20020080433
    Abstract: In a light unit that converts a false linear light into which a light from a point light source has been converted by a columnar light guide, into a planar light by a plate-shaped light guide, the point light source is arranged only at an end of the columnar light guide at which an angle between a longitudinal direction of the columnar light guide and ridge lines of recesses and projections forming a prism surface is obtuse. Thus, a positional relationship between the point light source and the ridge lines is set so that a main irradiation direction of band-shaped light emitted from the columnar light guide and which has been obtained by converting the light from the point light source to a false linear light is not substantially orthogonal to the ridge lines of the recesses and projections forming the prism surface of the plate-shaped light guide. Consequently, light obtained by totally reflecting this band-shaped light is unlikely to be viewed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masatake Baba
  • Patent number: 5557433
    Abstract: In a TN LCD, a prism lens film and a wave lens film are disposed on the incoming and outgoing sides of a liquid crystal panel, respectively, to obtain an image wide in visual angle and good in its quality. Thus, outgoing light having a sharp directivity, can be obtained from light emitted from a surface illuminant and having a gradually varying directional property by the prism lens film. Further, with a louver film provided in front of the prism lens film, all the light traveling in the diagonal direction can be cut off so that substantially parallel light enter the liquid crystal panel. Since the light in which a variation in retardation is next to nothing, is diffused by the wave lens film, a wide visual-angle representation free of a dependence on the visual angle can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Muneo Maruyama, Toshihiko Ueno, Hiroshi Hada, Masatake Baba