Patents by Inventor Seiji Tanuma

Seiji Tanuma 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: 9201275
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates, a liquid crystal layer, a pixel electrode, a counter electrode, a first molecule orientation film formed on the first substrate so as to cover the pixel electrode, and a second molecule orientation film formed on the second substrate so as to cover the counter electrode. The pixel electrode includes first micro-electrode patterns extending in a first direction, second micro-electrode patterns extending in a second direction, third micro-electrode patterns extending in a third direction and fourth micro-electrode patterns extending in a fourth direction, wherein the first, second, third and fourth directions are different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Arihiro Takeda, Takahiro Sasaki, Tsutomu Seino, Yoshio Koike, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Kimiaki Nakamura, Hideo Chida, Seiji Doi, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Takashi Takagi, Hiroyasu Inoue
  • Patent number: 9081239
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates, and a liquid crystal layer sealed therebetween. The device also includes a first electrode formed on the first substrate and a second electrode formed on the second substrate; a first molecule orientation film formed on the first substrate so as to cover the first electrode; a second molecule orientation film formed on the second substrate so as to cover the second electrode; a plurality of micro structures associated with at least one of the first and second electrodes; and a plurality of rough structural patterns associated with at least one of the first and second electrodes. At least some of the micro structures extend generally parallel to each other, and the rough structural patterns extend in directions different from directions in which the micro structures extend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Arihiro Takeda, Takahiro Sasaki, Tsutomu Seino, Yoshio Koike, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Kimiaki Nakamura, Hideo Chida, Seiji Doi, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Takashi Takagi, Hiroyasu Inoue
  • Patent number: 9057916
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display apparatus, an angle of orientation of a first extension orientation of a first slit is not greater than an angle of orientation of a first director orientation, an angle of orientation of a second extension orientation of a second slit is not smaller than an angle of orientation of a second director orientation, and a difference between the angle of orientation of the second extension orientation and the angle of orientation of the second director orientation is greater than a difference between the angle of orientation of the first extension orientation and the angle of orientation of the first director orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Kuboki, Akira Shibazaki, Satomi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Yusuke Nishihara, Taichi Sasaki, Seiji Tanuma
  • Patent number: 9011990
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Unified Innovative Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Hideaki Tsuda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Jin Hirosawa, Seiji Tanuma, Yoshio Koike
  • Patent number: 9001295
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal layer extending at least in a display region; first and second substrates affixed to each other so as to sandwich the liquid crystal layer therebetween; and a pair of polarization plates disposed to sandwich these substrates therebetween. The first substrate is provided with a pixel electrode corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels. The second substrate is provided with a counter electrode so as to face the pixel electrode. A first alignment film is disposed on the pixel electrode. A second alignment film is disposed on the counter electrode. The pixels each include a plurality of domains having different combinations of alignment directions of the first and second alignment films. The pixel electrode has a slit group along at least a part of an outline of the pixel electrode and in the vicinity of the outline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Shibazaki, Ken Kuboki, Satomi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Yusuke Nishihara, Taichi Sasaki, Seiji Tanuma
  • Patent number: 9001296
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes an electrode and a slit formation region provided in the electrode and extending in a direction of extension of a boundary line, a first alignment region and a third alignment region are formed such that liquid crystal molecules are aligned toward a first director orientation, a second alignment region and a fourth alignment region are formed such that liquid crystal molecules are aligned toward a second director orientation greater in an angle of orientation than the first director orientation, an angle of orientation of a first slit orientation is not greater than an angle of orientation of the first director orientation, and an angle of orientation of a second slit orientation is not smaller than an angle of orientation of the second director orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Kuboki, Akira Shibazaki, Satomi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Yusuke Nishihara, Taichi Sasaki, Seiji Tanuma
  • Publication number: 20150002770
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a vertical direction to the first substrate and the second substrate by the first molecule orientation film and the second molecule orientation film, respectively, in a non-driving state. A structural pattern is formed so as to extend in a first direction parallel a surface of the liquid crystal layer and so as to form, in a driving state, an electric field periodically changing in a second direction that is parallel to the liquid crystal layer and vertical to the first direction. The liquid crystal molecules substantially tilt in the first direction in the driving state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Arihiro Takeda, Takahiro Sasaki, Tsutomu Seino, Yoshio Koike, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Kimiaki Nakamura, Hideo Chida, Seiji Doi, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Takashi Takagi, Hiroyasu Inoue
  • Patent number: 8797485
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display including first and second substrates arranged opposite to each other to form a gap, with first and second alignment films provided on the first and second substrates, respectively. A cured material is provided on at least one of the first and second alignment films, and a liquid crystal layer of liquid crystal molecules is provided in the gap. The display includes a pixel electrode with a plurality of elongated members arranged with spaces therebetween, wherein the plurality of elongated members are electrically connected to each other, and a common electrode configured to apply a voltage to the liquid crystal layer in cooperation with the pixel electrode. The plurality of elongated members include first, second, third and fourth elongated members extending, respectively, in first, second, third and fourth directions in plan view. The cured material regulates alignment directions of the liquid crystal molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Yohei Nakanishi, Kazuya Ueda, Shingo Kataoka, Takahiro Sasaki, Arihiro Takeda, Hideaki Tsuda, Takatoshi Mayama, Yuichi Inoue, Norio Sugiura
  • Patent number: 8797490
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates, with a liquid crystal layer sealed therebetween. The device also includes a first electrode formed on the first substrate, a second electrode formed on the second substrate, a first molecule orientation film formed on the first substrate so as to cover the first electrode, a second molecule orientation film formed on the second substrate so as to cover the second electrode, and a plurality of micro structures associated with at least one of the first and second electrodes, wherein at least some of the micro structures extend generally parallel to each other. When a driving voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are oriented such that no dark line occurs in a vicinity of the plurality of micro structures and no dark line occurs between adjacent micro structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Arihiro Takeda, Takahiro Sasaki, Tsutomu Seino, Yoshio Koike, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Kimiaki Nakamura, Hideo Chida, Seiji Doi, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Hiroyasu Inoue, Takashi Takagi
  • Patent number: 8786808
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display including a pair of substrates; a plurality of electrodes formed in a matrix on one of the pair of substrates, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes includes a plurality of stripe-like portions that define a plurality of spaces therebetween; polymer material and liquid crystal between the pair of substrates; and polymer alignment films which are formed on each of the substrates and are affected by light irradiation and cause alignment of the liquid crystal in predetermined directions. The plurality of stripe-like portions extend in at least two different directions which are not parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Tsutomu Seino, Yohei Nakanishi, Seiji Tanuma, Kimiaki Nakamura, Yuichi Inoue, Masakazu Shibasaki, Hideaki Tsuda, Yoshio Koike, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Hidefumi Yoshida, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20140198274
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a vertical direction to the first substrate and the second substrate by the first molecule orientation film and the second molecule orientation film, respectively, in a non-driving state. A structural pattern is formed so as to extend in a first direction parallel to a surface of the liquid crystal layer and so as to form, in a driving state, an electric field periodically changing in a second direction that is parallel to the liquid crystal layer and vertical to the first direction. The liquid crystal molecules substantially tilt in the first direction in the driving state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Arihiro Takeda, Takahiro Sasaki, Tsutomu Seino, Yoshio Koike, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Kimiaki Nakamura, Hideo Chida, Seiji Doi, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Takashi Takagi, Hiroyasu Inoue
  • Patent number: 8717517
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display including two substrates arranged opposite to each other; a liquid crystal sealed between the substrates; and a polymer layer for regulating a pretilt angle of liquid crystal molecules and/or tilt directions at a time of driving. One of the substrates has a color filter layer formed on a side of the one substrate, and a plurality of stripe-like electrode patterns are provided on the color filter layer. The patterns are periodically arranged so that when polymerizable components mixed in the liquid crystal layer are polymerized to form the polymer layer while a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer between the electrode patterns and a second electrode on the other substrate, liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are aligned in the extending directions of stripe-like electrode patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Tsutomu Seino, Yohei Nakanishi, Seiji Tanuma, Kimiaki Nakamura, Yuichi Inoue, Masakazu Shibasaki, Hideaki Tsuda, Yoshio Koike, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Hidefumi Yoshida, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20140111761
    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: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Hideaki Tsuda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Jin Hirosawa, Seiji Tanuma, Yoshio Koike
  • Patent number: 8704860
    Abstract: An overshooting process is carried out, in an LCD device (1) whose LC layer thicknesses meet pixel R>pixel G>pixel B, so as to respectively set first through third output gray scales of current frame based on (i) first through third input gray scales of the current frame (current frame data) and (ii) first through third gray scales of frame which is one frame before the current frame (previous frame data). The first through third output gray scales are respectively set for the first through third pixels based on the thicknesses of the respective first through third liquid crystal layers so as to meet pixel R>pixel G>pixel B. This equalizes liquid crystal response speeds of the respective pixels R, G, and B, and therefore allows an improvement in display quality of the LCD device (1) having a multi gap structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Shibazaki, Seiji Tanuma, Kenji Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20140028935
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display including first and second substrates arranged opposite to each other to form a gap, with first and second alignment films provided on the first and second substrates, respectively. A cured material is provided on at least one of the first and second alignment films, and a liquid crystal layer of liquid crystal molecules is provided in the gap. The display includes a pixel electrode with a plurality of elongated members arranged with spaces therebetween, wherein the plurality of elongated members are electrically connected to each other, and a common electrode configured to apply a voltage to the liquid crystal layer in cooperation with the pixel electrode. The plurality of elongated members include first, second, third and fourth elongated members extending, respectively, in first, second, third and fourth directions in plan view. The cured material regulates alignment directions of the liquid crystal molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Yohei Nakanishi, Kazuya Ueda, Shingo Kataoka, Takahiro Sasaki, Arihiro Takeda, Hideaki Tsuda, Takatoshi Mayama, Yuichi Inoue, Norio Sugiura
  • Patent number: 8623474
    Abstract: 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. Objectives include 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 are 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: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Hideaki Tsuda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Jin Hirosawa, Seiji Tanuma, Yoshio Koike
  • Publication number: 20130329175
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes an electrode and a slit formation region provided in the electrode and extending in a direction of extension of a boundary line, a first alignment region and a third alignment region are formed such that liquid crystal molecules are aligned toward a first director orientation, a second alignment region and a fourth alignment region are formed such that liquid crystal molecules are aligned toward a second director orientation greater in an angle of orientation than the first director orientation, an angle of orientation of a first slit orientation is not greater than an angle of orientation of the first director orientation, and an angle of orientation of a second slit orientation is not smaller than an angle of orientation of the second director orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ken Kuboki, Akira Shibazaki, Satomi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Yusuke Nishihara, Taichi Sasaki, Seiji Tanuma
  • Publication number: 20130329148
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display apparatus, an angle of orientation of a first extension orientation of a first slit is not greater than an angle of orientation of a first director orientation, an angle of orientation of a second extension orientation of a second slit is not smaller than an angle of orientation of a second director orientation, and a difference between the angle of orientation of the second extension orientation and the angle of orientation of the second director orientation is greater than a difference between the angle of orientation of the first extension orientation and the angle of orientation of the first director orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Ken Kuboki, Akira Shibazaki, Satomi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Yusuke Nishihara, Taichi Sasaki, Seiji Tanuma
  • Publication number: 20130321747
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal layer extending in a display region; and a TFT substrate and a counter substrate affixed to each other so as to sandwich the liquid crystal layer therebetween. The TFT substrate is provided with a pixel electrode corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels. The counter substrate is provided with a counter electrode. A first alignment film is disposed on the surface of the pixel electrode that faces the liquid crystal layer. A second alignment film is disposed on the surface of the counter electrode that faces the liquid crystal layer. The pixels each include a plurality of domains having different combinations of alignment directions of the first and second alignment films. A slit is provided in the counter electrode at least in a part of a region corresponding to a boundary between the pixels adjacent to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatoshi Kondo, Akira Shibazaki, Ken Kuboki, Satomi Hasegawa, Seiji Tanuma
  • Publication number: 20130293815
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal layer extending at least in a display region; first and second substrates affixed to each other so as to sandwich the liquid crystal layer therebetween; and a pair of polarization plates disposed to sandwich these substrates therebetween. The first substrate is provided with a pixel electrode corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels. The second substrate is provided with a counter electrode so as to face the pixel electrode. A first alignment film is disposed on the pixel electrode. A second alignment film is disposed on the counter electrode. The pixels each include a plurality of domains having different combinations of alignment directions of the first and second alignment films. The pixel electrode has a slit group along at least a part of an outline of the pixel electrode and in the vicinity of the outline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Shibazaki, Ken Kobuki, Satomi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Yusuke Nishihara, Taichi Sasaki, Seiji Tanuma