Patents by Inventor Tohru Sonoda

Tohru Sonoda 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: 20240164145
    Abstract: A display device includes the following: a plurality of first spacers provided at a first pitch that is constant, in a given direction in the display region except where light-emitting elements are provided, the plurality of first spacers having heights that are identical; and n?1 second spacers provided between two of the plurality of first spacers adjacent to each other in the given direction, except where the light-emitting elements are provided, the n?1 second spacers having heights that are smaller than the heights of the plurality of first spacers, where n is a natural number equal to or greater than two. The pitch in the given direction of all spacers including the plurality of first spacers and the n?1 second spacers is a second pitch that is constant, and that is the first pitch divided into n equal parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Applicant: Sharp Display Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Norio MUROFUSHI, Tohru SONODA
  • Patent number: 11963384
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, in a non-display region inside a display region, an oxide semiconductor layer is provided in an island shape, a first opening is provided in a first inorganic insulating film so as to expose the oxide semiconductor layer in the non-display region, a common functional layer is provided so as to extend from the display region to the non-display region, and a second opening is provided so as to expose the oxide semiconductor layer in the common functional layer, a peripheral end of the second opening being surrounded by a peripheral end of the first opening in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tohru Sonoda, Takashi Ochi, Jumpei Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11864436
    Abstract: A display panel includes a frame region surrounding a display region. The frame region includes: a frame corner including a round corner having a curved outline in plan view of the display panel; and two sides provided so that the frame corner is sandwiched between the two sides. The two sides include: a first frame side in parallel with gate wires; and a second frame side in parallel with source wires. A gate driver and an emission driver are divided and provided to the first frame side and the second frame side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisao Ochi, Jumpei Takahashi, Tohru Sonoda
  • Patent number: 11765941
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display including a plurality of light-emitting devices; a first bank provided outside the display; a second bank provided outside the first bank; and a plurality of peripheral lines formed below, and intersecting with, the first bank and the second bank, wherein each of the peripheral lines includes a plurality of bends provided between the first bank and the second bank in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisao Ochi, Tohru Senoo, Jumpei Takahashi, Tohru Sonoda, Takashi Ochi, Takeshi Hirase
  • Patent number: 11751445
    Abstract: A display device includes: a first conductive layer on a resin substrate layer; a planarization film on the first conductive layer; and OLEDs on the planarization film. There is provided a second conductive layer in a frame area surrounding a display area. The second conductive layer is in contact with second electrodes of the OLEDs on the planarization film and also in contact with the first conductive layer in an external side of the planarization film. The second electrode is electrically connected to the first conductive layer via the second conductive layer. The planarization film includes, in the frame area, a portion where there is provided a trench. The first conductive layer is exposed from the planarization film in the trench. The second electrode is electrically connected to the first conductive layer via the second conductive layer in the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisao Ochi, Jumpei Takahashi, Tohru Sonoda
  • Patent number: 11655536
    Abstract: A film forming mask includes a plurality of first openings that are formed on the film-forming mask to form a thin film pattern on a substrate. A second opening includes a plurality of second openings that corresponds and is aligned along a side of at least one of the plurality of first openings. An opening area of the second opening is smaller than an opening area of each of the plurality of first openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Miyamoto, Tohru Sonoda
  • Publication number: 20230134804
    Abstract: A display device includes a thin film transistor layer and a light-emitting element layer in which a plurality of light-emitting elements is formed. Each of the plurality of pixels is provided with a rectangular portion formed in a rectangular shape in a light-emitting region. A long side direction of the rectangular portion is inclined at an angle predetermined with respect to a first direction predetermined in the display region. In pixels of the same luminescent color of the plurality of pixels, the rectangular portions of two pixels adjacent to each other in the first direction or a second direction orthogonal to the first direction are provided at positions rotated by 90° with respect to each other. In the plurality of pixels, a short side of each of the rectangular portions faces the light-emitting region of an adjacent pixel of a different luminescent color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: TOHRU SONODA, EIJI KOIKE
  • Patent number: 11637269
    Abstract: An organic EL display device includes an organic EL element disposed on a flattening film, and a sealing film disposed over the organic EL element, a display region, and a frame region disposed around the display region. The frame region includes a plurality of mask spacers. The flattening film has a recess disposed between the display region and the mask spacers adjacent to the display region. The recess is filled with an organic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tohru Senoo, Takeshi Hirase, Hisao Ochi, Takashi Ochi, Tohru Sonoda, Akihiro Matsui, Yoshinobu Miyamoto, Jumpei Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20230032985
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel and a reinforcement body. The display panel includes in at least a part thereof a flexible section that is flexible. The reinforcement body is attached to the flexible section. The reinforcement body includes a reinforcement main body, a dispersion medium, a plurality of particles, and an aggregation section. The reinforcement main body has an accommodation space overlapping the flexible section. The reinforcement main body is flexible. The dispersion medium is contained in the accommodation space. The plurality of particles are dispersed in the dispersion medium. The aggregation section aggregates the plurality of particles so as to form an aggregation layer in the accommodation space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: TOHRU SONODA, MASAHIRO INUZUKA
  • Patent number: 11522156
    Abstract: A display device includes: a base substrate; a TFT layer; a plurality of light-emitting elements; a sealing portion; a display region; and a frame region, wherein the sealing portion includes a first sealing film provided on the plurality of light-emitting elements, a second sealing film provided above the first sealing film, a third sealing film provided above the second sealing film, and a light-transmissive conductive film provided between two sealing films of the first sealing film, the second sealing film, and the third sealing film, an edge of the first sealing film and an edge of the third sealing film are positioned outward of an edge of the second sealing film in the frame region, and the light-transmissive conductive film is electrically connected to a first electrodes or a second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tohru Sonoda, Takashi Ochi, Hisao Ochi, Akihiro Matsui, Tohru Senoo, Takeshi Hirase, Jumpei Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11417862
    Abstract: Each of lead wiring lines that constitutes a TFT layer and is provided to extend parallel to each other in a frame region extends to intersect with a perimeter edge surface of a first organic film that constitutes the TFT layer and is provided on each of the lead wiring lines. A second organic film is provided to cover a lower portion of the perimeter edge surface of the first organic film and each of the lead wiring lines on a side of the perimeter edge surface of the first organic film, the lead wiring lines extending from the perimeter edge surface of the first organic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jumpei Takahashi, Akihiro Matsui, Takashi Ochi, Tohru Sonoda, Yoshinobu Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11417863
    Abstract: A display device includes a TFT substrate including a flattening layer on a surface, a sealing film including a resin film that is an ink-jet resin film, and a first bank that surrounds the flattening layer, is covered with the resin film on an inner side, and has a frame shape. The flattening layer includes, on an entire periphery of a circumferential end portion thereof, a recessed and protruding portion provided with recesses and protrusions having sizes different on a first side and a second side in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jumpei Takahashi, Hisao Ochi, Tohru Senoo, Takeshi Hirase, Tohru Sonoda, Takashi Ochi, Akihiro Matsui
  • Patent number: 11380872
    Abstract: A display wiring line provided on a resin substrate layer, a flattening film covering the display wiring line, and an organic EL element provided on the flattening film are provided. The display wiring line includes first to third conductive layers layered sequentially from the resin substrate layer side. In the display wiring line, the second conductive layer is formed with a width smaller than a width of each of the first conductive layer and the third conductive layer, and a portion of a perimeter edge surface corresponding to the second conductive layer includes a recessed portion, and a resin cover covering a perimeter edge surface of the second conductive layer is provided in the recessed portion in a portion of the display wiring line exposed from the flattening film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tohru Senoo, Takeshi Hirase, Hisao Ochi, Takashi Ochi, Tohru Sonoda, Akihiro Matsui, Jumpei Takahashi, Yoshinobu Miyamoto, Takeshi Yaneda
  • Publication number: 20220190288
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, in a non-display region inside a display region, an oxide semiconductor layer is provided in an island shape, a first opening is provided in a first inorganic insulating film so as to expose the oxide semiconductor layer in the non-display region, a common functional layer is provided so as to extend from the display region to the non-display region, and a second opening is provided so as to expose the oxide semiconductor layer in the common functional layer, a peripheral end of the second opening being surrounded by a peripheral end of the first opening in a plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: TOHRU SONODA, TAKASHI OCHI, JUMPEI TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20220190289
    Abstract: A separation wall is provided in a frame shape along a circumferential edge of a through-hole in a non-display region inside a display region. Both side surfaces of the separation wall are inclined in a reverse tapered shape in which a width between both side surfaces gradually decreases toward a base substrate side. An internal dam wall is provided in a frame shape to overlap a circumferential end portion of an organic insulating film of a sealing film on a display region side of the separation wall in the non-display region. A frame-like slit is provided in a common function layer configuring each of the light-emitting elements to surround the separation wall on the display region side of the separation wall and to pass through the common function layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: TAKASHI OCHI, TOHRU SONODA
  • Publication number: 20220190069
    Abstract: A display device includes an active matrix substrate; a light-emitting element layer including a plurality of first electrodes, a function layer, and a second electrode; and a sealing layer. The light-emitting element layer further includes an edge cover layer configured to cover an end portion of each one of the plurality of first electrodes. The edge cover layer includes a plurality of openings configured to expose the plurality of first electrodes included in a plurality of pixels. The plurality of openings include a first opening with a rectangular shape. A first individual vapor deposition film with a rectangular shape is formed on the first electrode covering the first opening. In the first individual vapor deposition film, projection portions projecting from sections corresponding to at least some opposing vertices of the first opening to an opposite side to the first opening are provided on the edge cover layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: EIJI KOIKE, TOHRU SONODA, MASAHIRO INUZUKA, JUNYA SHIMADA
  • Publication number: 20220190290
    Abstract: A display device includes a base substrate, a thin film transistor layer including an upper layer insulating film and an organic resin layer, a plurality of light-emitting elements provided on the thin film transistor layer and each including a common function layer, a non-display region provided in the display region, an opening provided in the non-display region and passing through the base substrate, and a first frame-shaped protruding portion provided on the upper layer insulating film in a circumferential shape along the opening. The first frame-shaped protruding portion includes a portion where an area of a transverse section parallel to an upper face of the base substrate decreases from an upper face to a bottom face, the common function layer is also provided in the non-display region, and a slit surrounding the first frame-shaped protruding portion is formed in the common function layer provided in the non-display region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: TAKASHI OCHI, JUMPEI TAKAHASHI, TAKESHI HIRASE, TOHRU SONODA, TSUYOSHI SENZAKI, TAKESHI YANEDA
  • Publication number: 20220190291
    Abstract: An aspect of the disclosure, in a non-display region, an oxide semiconductor layer is provided in a frame-like shape along a peripheral edge of a through hole, a first opening is provided in a first inorganic insulating film so as to surround the through hole in a plan view and expose the oxide semiconductor layer in the non-display region, a common functional layer is provided so as to extend from a display region to the non-display region, a second opening is provided in a frame-like shape so as to surround the through hole in a plan view and expose the oxide semiconductor layer in the common functional layer, and a second inorganic insulating film is in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer via the second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: TOHRU SONODA, TAKASHI OCHI, JUMPEI TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 11270605
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display panel which is flexible, and including a pair of flat portions held in a flat state, and a bending portion provided between the pair of the flat portions and held to be bendable; a first support supporting one of the pair of the flat portions in a flat state; a second support supporting the other of the pair of the flat portions in a flat state; and a joint joining the first support and the second support together. The joint is flexible and provided not to interfere with the bending portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, Mamoru Ishida, Tohru Sonoda, Tohru Senoo, Takeshi Hirase
  • Publication number: 20220052293
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display region including a TFT layer provided with a plurality of transistors, a light-emitting element layer provided with a plurality of light-emitting elements, and a sealing layer; and a frame region surrounding the display region. The light-emitting element includes a first electrode, an edge cover provided with an opening that exposes the first electrode and configured to cover an end portion of the first electrode, a function layer, and a second electrode. A first hydrogen adsorption film is provided at an upper layer overlying the edge cover and in contact with the edge cover. The first hydrogen adsorption film overlaps the transistor, at the adjacent light-emitting element. The first hydrogen adsorption film is provided overlapping the first electrode of the adjacent light-emitting element, with the edge cover interposed therebetween, and spanning the adjacent light-emitting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: TAKESHI HIRASE, TOHRU SONODA