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: 7505103
    Abstract: In a vertically aligned liquid crystal display device for controlling liquid crystal molecules alignment in voltage application by providing linear structures or linear slits consisting of a plurality of constituent units to at least one of a pair of substrates having an electrode thereon, there is provided alignment controlling means for forming an alignment singular point s=?1 of liquid crystal molecules at an intersecting point between the structures on the pixel electrode or the slits in the electrode and an edge of a pixel electrode on one of the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Arihiro Takeda, Yoshio Koike, Takahiro Sasaki, Kouji Tsukao, Shingo Kataoka, Kimiaki Nakamura, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Takashi Sasabayashi, Yohei Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20090059148
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    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: 7499132
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display including a pair of substrates arranged opposite to each other, electrodes respectively formed on opposite surfaces of the pair of substrates, and an alignment regulating structural member, formed on at least one of the pair of substrates, and which includes at least one of a linear projection arranged on the electrode and a slit portion formed by removing a part of an electrode material of the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    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: 7486366
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    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
  • Publication number: 20080303997
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    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: 7450205
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal cell, polarizers, a first retardation plate arranged between the liquid crystal cell and the first polarizer, and a second retardation plate arranged between the liquid crystal cell and the second polarizer. Each retardation plate has an optical axis in a plane parallel to the substrate surface and a retardation of substantially ?/4. The optical axis of one retardation plate is perpendicular to the optical axis of the other. The polarizing axes of the polarizers are arranged at an angle of 45° with respect to the optical axes of the retardation plates. The liquid crystal cell is arranged such that a state of alignment of liquid crystal molecules changes, accompanying a change in a polar angle and/or change in an azimuth, upon application of a voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Kenji Okamoto, Hideo Chida, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Yohei Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20080165314
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    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: 7319500
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display which exhibits preferable viewing angle characteristics even in a diagonal viewing angle. Optical retardation films of a first type that satisfy nx>ny, nz and optical retardation films of a second type that satisfy nx?ny>nz are used, and a setting is made to satisfy Rp?t=2×(?0.08×RLC+58 nm+?) (?=±30 nm) and Rt?t=(1.05±0.05)×RLC?47 nm+?(?100 nm???47 nm) where ?nd represents a retardation RLC in the liquid crystal display; Rp?t represents the sum of retardations Rp in in-plane directions of a plurality of optical retardation films; and Rt?t represents the sum of retardations Rt in the direction of the thickness of the plurality of optical retardation films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Takashi Sasabayashi, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Yohei Nakanishi, Kenji Okamoto, Seiji Tanuma, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Takatoshi Mayama, Yuichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7304703
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    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
  • Patent number: 7279203
    Abstract: A liquid crystal panel is provided that has a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of substrates, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a liquid crystal and a cross-linked resin, the cross-linked resin comprises a cross-linked structural part adhered to a liquid crystal layer contacting surface and a terminal part rising from the liquid crystal layer contacting surface, and at least one of three conditions: the outer surface of at least one substrate is curved; a liquid crystal layer contacting surface is curved; and the thickness of one of the substrates is not more than ½ of the thickness of the other substrate, is satisfied. It is possible to obtain a liquid crystal panel having increased freedom in the appearance, device weight reduction, simplified structure, etc. by improving the outer and/or inner surfaces of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Tsuda, Seiji Tanuma, Yoshio Koike
  • Publication number: 20070132929
    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: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    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
  • Patent number: 7227606
    Abstract: A vertical alignment mode liquid crystal display device having an improved viewing angle characteristic is provided. 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 as a trigger to regulate azimuths of the oblique orientations of the liquid crystal when the intermediate voltage is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Yoshio Koike, Shingo Kataoka, Takahiro Sasaki, 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: 7224421
    Abstract: A vertical alignment mode liquid crystal display device having an improved viewing angle characteristic 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 two substrates includes a structure as domain regulating means, to regulate azimuths of the oblique orientations of the liquid crystal when the intermediate voltage is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    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: 20070064187
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    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: 7193672
    Abstract: A vertically aligned liquid crystal display device for controlling liquid crystal molecules alignment with linear structures or slits consisting of a plurality of constituent units on at least one of a pair of substrates. In one configuration, an alignment controlling means forms an alignment singular points s=+1 of liquid crystal molecules at an intersecting point between the structures (or slits) and an edge of a pixel electrode. Preferably, at least one of the constituent units has bending portions over a capacitive bus line. In one preferred embodiment, the height of a portion of the linear structure opposite an edge of a pixel electrode is higher than other areas of the linear structures. Additionally, all liquid crystal molecules around an intersecting point between the structures or the slits formed on one substrate and an edge of a pixel electrode formed on the other substrate are preferably aligned to the intersecting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Arihiro Takeda, Yoshio Koike, Takahiro Sasaki, Kouji Tsukao, Shingo Kataoka, Kimiaki Nakamura, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Takashi Sasabayashi, Yohei Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 7167224
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    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: 20060262261
    Abstract: In a vertically aligned liquid crystal display device for controlling liquid crystal molecules alignment in voltage application by providing linear structures or linear slits consisting of a plurality of constituent units to at least one of a pair of substrates having an electrode thereon, there is provided alignment controlling means for forming an alignment singular point s=?1 of liquid crystal molecules at an intersecting point between the structures on the pixel electrode or the slits in the electrode and an edge of a pixel electrode on one of the substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventors: Arihiro Takeda, Yoshio Koike, Takahiro Sasaki, Kouji Tsukao, Shingo Kataoka, Kimiaki Nakamura, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Takashi Sasabayashi, Yohei Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20060244881
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    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
  • Patent number: 7110074
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a first substrate on which a first electrode and a bus line for transmitting a signal to the first electrode are formed; a second substrate on which a second electrode is formed; and domain defining projections provided on one of the first substrate and the second substrate. A plurality of domain defining slits are provided on the electrode on the other of the first substrate and the second substrate to be aligned on a straight line, and liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy is sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate. A width of a bus line opposite side end of a first slit of the plurality of slits, that is positioned closest to the bus line, is set smaller than a width of a bus line side end of a second slit positioned adjacent to the first slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Arihiro Takeda, Yoshio Koike, Takahiro Sasaki, Kouji Tsukao, Shingo Kataoka, Kimiaki Nakamura, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Takashi Sasabayashi, Yohei Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 7092057
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal layer confined between first and second substrates, an electrode formed on the first substrate so as to create an electric field acting generally parallel to a plane of the liquid crystal layer, and a plurality of pixels being defined in the liquid crystal layer, wherein each of the pixels includes therein a plurality of domains having respective orientations for liquid crystal molecules, such that the orientation is different between a domain and another domain within the plane of the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama