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).
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Publication number: 20110222007Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal display used as a display section of an electronic apparatus and provides a liquid crystal display having high chromaticity characteristics and viewing angle characteristics. A configuration is employed which includes substrates having electrodes on respective surfaces thereof opposite to each other, a liquid crystal sealed between the substrates, and a pixel region including a low effective voltage area in which an effective voltage applied to the liquid crystal is lower than a voltage applied between the electrodes, the low effective voltage area occupying part of the region in a predetermined area ratio, the pixel region having a threshold voltage that varies between the low effective voltage area and another area.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuya Ueda, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yoshio Koike, Kenji Okamoto, Yuichi Inoue, Seiji Tanuma
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Publication number: 20110216274Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2011Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20110176098Abstract: A vertically alignment mode liquid crystal display device having an improved viewing angle characteristic is disclosed. The disclosed 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 being 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 as a trigger to regulate azimuths of the oblique orientations of the liquid crystal when the intermediate voltage is applied.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2011Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: 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
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Patent number: 7973894Abstract: A transmissive liquid crystal display including a pair of substrates, a common electrode on one of the substrates, a pixel electrode on the other substrate, a liquid crystal sealed between the substrates, a polymer obtained by polymerizing a polymeric component mixed in the liquid crystal, and a pixel region having areas whose electro-optical characteristics are different from each other because of a difference between cell thicknesses. A distance between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, with respect to a direction of the cell thickness, is different in the areas of different cell thicknesses. Also, a liquid crystal display including a pair of substrates provided opposite to each other; a liquid crystal sealed between the pair of substrates; and an alignment film including a polymeric component and a polymerization initiator in a density that varies in each of a plurality of areas in the pixel region.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2009Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuya Ueda, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yoshio Koike, Kenji Okamoto, Yuichi Inoue, Seiji Tanuma
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Patent number: 7965363Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a common electrode on a first substrate, a pixel electrode on a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates. The device also include first and second alignment control structures formed, respectively, on the first and second substrates, for regulating azimuths of orientations of the liquid crystal when a voltage is applied thereto. The first and second alignment control structures each include a first line portion (extending in a first direction) and a second line portion (extending in a second direction, which is different from the first direction). The pixel electrode includes an edge extending in a direction different from both the first and second directions.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: 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
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Patent number: 7952675Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including 1st and 2nd substrates. A linearly extending scan electrode and a linearly extending signal electrode are formed on the 1st substrate, wherein the scan electrode extends in a direction crossing an extension direction of the signal electrode. A liquid crystal layer is between the 1st and 2nd substrates, and a pixel electrode is formed on the 1st substrate. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to both the scan and signal electrodes. The pixel electrode is divided into at least two regions such that at least two domains of different liquid crystal orientation directions are defined within a single pixel. A 1st and a 2nd of the at least two regions are not aligned in parallel with either the extension direction of the scan electrode or the extension direction of the signal electrode. The 1st and 2nd regions each include a micro-cutout pattern.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20110063553Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal display based on an MVA mode of multi-division alignment in which alignment states of liquid crystal molecules having a negative dielectric anisotropy are made different from each other, and provides a liquid crystal display in which a drop in transmittance is suppressed and response characteristics are improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Yohei Nakanishi, Kazuya Ueda, Shingo Kataoka, Takahiro Sasaki, Arihiro Takeda, Hideaki Tsuda, Takatoshi Mayama, Yuichi Inoue, Norio Sugiura
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Patent number: 7872719Abstract: A liquid crystal display including a pair of substrates having a predetermined cell gap and arranged opposite to each other, vertical alignment films formed between the pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer sealed between the vertical alignment films and having a negative dielectric anisotropy, and a cured material provided in the liquid crystal layer and including a liquid crystal skeleton, which is tilted with respect to the substrate at a first angle, for changing tilt angles of liquid crystal molecules for each of predetermined regions. The vertical alignment films have an alignment control direction that defines a second angle with respect to said substrates, wherein the second angle is different from the first angle.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2008Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Yohei Nakanishi, Kazuya Ueda, Shingo Kataoka, Takahiro Sasaki, Arihiro Takeda, Hideaki Tsuda, Takatoshi Mayama, Yuichi Inoue, Norio Sugiura
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Publication number: 20100302491Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal layer containing a nematic liquid crystal material; a pair of electrodes opposing each other via the liquid crystal layer; a pair of alignment films respectively provided between the pair of electrodes and the liquid crystal layer; and an alignment sustaining layer formed of a photopolymerized material on each of surfaces of the pair of alignment films which are closer to the liquid crystal layer, the alignment sustaining layer being configured to regulate a pretilt azimuth of a liquid crystal molecule of the liquid crystal layer during the absence of an applied voltage across the liquid crystal layer, wherein the pretilt azimuth of the liquid crystal molecule of the liquid crystal layer is regulated by the alignment sustaining layer during the absence of an applied voltage across the liquid crystal layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2008Publication date: December 2, 2010Inventors: Kentaro Usui, Seiji Tanuma, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Kimiaki Nakamura
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Patent number: 7821603Abstract: A vertical alignment type liquid crystal display device including a plurality of pixels, which further includes a first substrate and a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate and the second substrate include alignment control structures which extend linearly, and when viewed in a direction vertical to the first substrate, in a pixel, the alignment control structure of the first substrate and the alignment control structures of the second substrate are arranged alternately. The alignment control structure of the first substrate includes first and second linear portions, and distances between the first and second linear portions and an adjacent alignment control structure of the second substrate are different from each other. Additionally, each of the first and second linear portions and the alignment control structures of the second substrate are arranged in parallel.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2009Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20100225633Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a panel having pixel electrodes arranged at intersections of a plurality of signal lines via switching elements for transmitting display data and a plurality of scanning lines for transmitting control signals, and a control circuit for controlling the panel. The liquid crystal panel is divided into first pixel regions and second pixel regions adjacent to the first pixel regions. The control circuit carries out impulse driving in which the control signals transmitted to each of the scanning lines are activated two times in one frame period for displaying an image. The control circuit writes the display data in either one of the pixel regions and writes reset data in the other pixel regions when the control signals are activated once of the two times. By writing the reset data in the pixel regions, the display data written in an immediately preceding frame are reset.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2010Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Yuichi Inoue, Toshiaki Suzuki, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Takeshi Gotoh, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Makoto Ohashi, Hisashi Yamaguchi, Katsunori Tanaka, Koichi Katagawa
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Publication number: 20100225681Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a panel having pixel electrodes arranged at intersections of a plurality of signal lines via switching elements for transmitting display data and a plurality of scanning lines for transmitting control signals, and a control circuit for controlling the panel. The liquid crystal panel is divided into first pixel regions and second pixel regions adjacent to the first pixel regions. The control circuit carries out impulse driving in which the control signals transmitted to each of the scanning lines are activated two times in one frame period for displaying an image. The control circuit writes the display data in either one of the pixel regions and writes reset data in the other pixel regions when the control signals are activated once of the two times. By writing the reset data in the pixel regions, the display data written in an immediately preceding frame are reset.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2010Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Yuichi Inoue, Toshiaki Suzuki, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Takeshi Gotoh, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Makoto Ohashi, Hisashi Yamaguchi, Katsunori Tanaka, Koichi Katagawa
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Publication number: 20100221456Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shingo Kataoka, Hideaki Tsuda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Jin Hirosawa, Seiji Tanuma, Yoshio Koike
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Patent number: 7764261Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a panel having pixel electrodes arranged at intersections of a plurality of signal lines via switching elements for transmitting display data and a plurality of scanning lines for transmitting control signals, and a control circuit for controlling the panel. The liquid crystal panel is divided into first pixel regions and second pixel regions adjacent to the first pixel regions. The control circuit carries out impulse driving in which the control signals transmitted to each of the scanning lines are activated two times in one frame period for displaying an image. The control circuit writes the display data in either one of the pixel regions and writes reset data in the other pixel regions when the control signals are activated once of the two times. By writing the reset data in the pixel regions, the display data written in an immediately preceding frame are reset.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2006Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Yuichi Inoue, Toshiaki Suzuki, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Takeshi Gotoh, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Makoto Ohashi, Hisashi Yamaguchi, Katsunori Tanaka, Koichi Katagawa
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Patent number: 7760305Abstract: A liquid crystal display device that includes a plurality of pixels, a first substrate and a second substrate, as well as a liquid crystal layer provided between the first and second substrates. A first alignment structure and a second alignment structure are formed on the first substrate, and a third alignment structure and a fourth alignment structure are formed on the second substrate, for controlling an alignment of the liquid crystal. At least one auxiliary alignment structure is also formed on the first substrate for controlling an alignment of liquid crystals. The first and second alignment structures extend linearly in different directions from each other in a pixel, and the third and fourth alignment structures extend parallel to the first and second alignment structures, respectively. Also, the auxiliary alignment structure extends substantially along an edge of the pixel.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2008Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: 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
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Patent number: 7749575Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 25, 2004Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shingo Kataoka, Hideaki Tsuda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Jin Hirosawa, Seiji Tanuma, Yoshio Koike
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Publication number: 20100035504Abstract: The invention has an object to provide a liquid crystal display in which a wide angle of view is obtained and a response time at a halftone can be shortened by regulating an alignment orientation of a liquid crystal by the use of a polymer fixation system in which a liquid crystal layer containing a polymerizable component is sealed between substrates, and the polymerizable component is polymerized while a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer to fix a liquid crystal alignment. A liquid crystal layer containing a polymer for regulating a pretilt angle of a liquid crystal molecule and a tilt direction at a time of driving is sealed between two substrates arranged opposite to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2009Publication date: February 11, 2010Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20090207360Abstract: A vertically alignment mode liquid crystal display device having an improved viewing angle characteristic is disclosed. The disclosed 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 being 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 as a trigger to regulate azimuths of the oblique orientations of the liquid crystal when the intermediate voltage is applied.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20090167992Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal display used as a display section of an electronic apparatus and provides a liquid crystal display having high chromaticity characteristics and viewing angle characteristics. A configuration is employed which includes substrates having electrodes on respective surfaces thereof opposite to each other, a liquid crystal sealed between the substrates, and a pixel region including a low effective voltage area in which an effective voltage applied to the liquid crystal is lower than a voltage applied between the electrodes, the low effective voltage area occupying part of the region in a predetermined area ratio, the pixel region having a threshold voltage that varies between the low effective voltage area and another area.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2009Publication date: July 2, 2009Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuya Ueda, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yoshio Koike, Kenji Okamoto, Yuichi Inoue, Seiji Tanuma
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Publication number: 20090141226Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2008Publication date: June 4, 2009Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: 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