Patents Assigned to Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
  • Patent number: 7443470
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer provided between the substrates, and a plurality of sub-pixels each having a transmissive display region and a reflective display region. One of the substrates includes switching elements corresponding to the sub-pixels, lines connected to the switching elements, and an insulating film provided on the switching elements and the lines. The insulating film includes first recesses provided in the transmissive display regions, and second recesses provided along boundaries between the adjoining sub-pixels. At least a part of the insulating film other than the first and second recesses planarly overlaps with the reflective display regions. The thickness of the liquid crystal layer is smaller in the reflective display regions than in the transmissive display regions having the first recesses. The depth of the second recesses is smaller than the depth of the first recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Norihito Harada, Kimitaka Kamijo, Katsuhiro Imai, Toshihiro Otake
  • Patent number: 7443459
    Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal display device that can be realized at lower cost, there are provided a liquid crystal panel 2, a liquid crystal shutter 3 and a light guide plate 4 placed behind the liquid crystal panel 2 in the order named, a lamp set 6a facing an end face of the light guide plate 4, a frame body 8 that supports edge portions of the liquid crystal panel 2, the liquid crystal shutter 3, and the light guide plate 4, a fixing plate 7 having a flat portion behind the light guide plate 4 and a side face that supports the lamp set 6a, a supporting plate 40 that is located behind the fixing plate 7 at a first distance away therefrom and that is partially supported by the fixing plate 7, a circuit board 20 placed behind the supporting plate 40, and a flexible circuit board 36 having one end connected to the edge portion of the liquid crystal panel 2 and the other end connected to an edge portion of the circuit board 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Taizo Kawamura, Toshio Ikeuchi
  • Publication number: 20080259257
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes: a pair of substrates; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates; an insulating layer provided for a first substrate of the pair of substrates; an upper electrode provided for the first substrate; and a lower electrode provided for the first substrate. The upper electrode is formed on the surface of the insulating layer adjacent to the liquid crystal layer. The upper electrode includes a plurality of branches each having a slit therebetween. The insulating layer has irregularities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki AOTA, Yasuo SEGAWA, Tomohide ONOGI
  • Publication number: 20080246741
    Abstract: An input device includes an input panel, a cover member that is provided with a housing portion, in which the input panel is housed, and a film member that is disposed over a main surface of the input panel provided in the housing portion and a main surface of the cover member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shoji Hinata
  • Patent number: 7432998
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device 1 having a liquid crystal display panel 2, a flexible printed circuit board 4, an optical member 7, a case 6 for housing the above-mentioned members, and a front frame 13 for fixing the members housed in the case 6, in which the flexible printed circuit board 4 is folded to form at least two layers and passes through the rear surface of the case 6 via slits 6e?, 8e? provided at the bottom of an optical member 7 and the case 6, and attached to the rear surface of the case 6. Further, protrusions 12a, 12b are formed on the rear surface of the case 6, and openings 41, 42 and 41?, 42? are formed on the board to fit the protrusions for fixing the flexible printed circuit board 4, and the flexible printed circuit board is fixed to the rear surface of the case 6 by fitting the openings 41, 42 and 41?, 42? to the protrusions 12a, 12b. Consequently, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device to which a long flexible printed circuit board is mounted in a compact state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiya Nishio, Satoshi Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20080239220
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device, in which a liquid crystal layer is held between a pair of substrates, includes a plurality of pixels and a retardation layer. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a transmissive display area and a reflective display area. The retardation layer is arranged at a position that at least overlaps the reflective display areas and on an inner surface side of the pair of substrates. The retardation layer is formed so as to extend over the reflective display areas of at least two adjacent pixels among the plurality of pixels. The retardation layer has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is located on one of the two adjacent pixels. The second end portion is opposite the first end portion and located on the other pixel of the two adjacent pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shin Fujita
  • Publication number: 20080239223
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device, which has a plurality of pixels and switching elements provided in correspondence with the pixels, includes an element substrate, an interlayer insulating film, a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer. The switching elements are formed in the element substrate. The interlayer insulating film is formed on the switching elements. The first electrode layer is formed on the interlayer insulating film. The second electrode layer is formed in the element substrate and overlaps the first electrode in plan view through an interelectrode insulating film. Each of the pixels includes a first region and a second region. The first electrode layer overlaps the second electrode layer in plan view in the first region. Of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, only the first electrode layer is formed in the second region. The thickness of the second electrode layer is smaller than the thickness of the first electrode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shin Fujita
  • Publication number: 20080239207
    Abstract: An electro-optical device includes: a substrate; a plurality of wiring lines which is formed on the substrate; and an IC which is mounted on the substrate so as to be electrically connected to the plurality of wiring lines. At least a pair of wiring lines among the plurality of wiring lines include a first conductive layer formed on the substrate and a second conductive layer formed on at least the first conductive layer. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer have different resistance values. The first conductive layer of one of the pair of wiring lines has a plurality of first resistors each extending toward the other wiring line, and the second conductive layer of the other wiring line has a second resistor extending toward the one wiring line. The plurality of first resistors is connected to the second resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fusashi Kimura, Shinichi Kobayashi, Yuki Okuhara, Kenichi Tajiri
  • Publication number: 20080238535
    Abstract: An unnecessary through current is suppressed and insufficiency of an output electric potential and increase in power consumption are suppressed in a power supply circuit using a charge pump method. In order to suppress a reduction in an output electric potential VPP as well as suppressing transient through currents I1 and I2 when a clock DCCLK is inverted, resistances R1 of a wiring 11, R2 of a wiring 12 and R4 of a wiring 14 are set so as to satisfy relations R4>R1 and R4>R2. That is, the through currents I1 and I2 can be suppressed by reducing the resistances R1 and R2 so that electric potentials V1 and V2 are quickly inverted when the clock DCCLK is inverted. Also, the through current I1 can be suppressed to suppress the reduction in the positive output electric potential VPP by setting the resistance R4 to be larger than either of the resistances R1 and R2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki HORIBATA
  • Patent number: 7429753
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a higher contrast in a display device having a lighting device as a front light. A lighting portion is attached to a reflective liquid crystal display portion. A first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate made of a glass substrate etc. are attached to each other with a sealing layer coated on those peripheral portions therebetween. The back surface of the first transparent substrate is attached to the reflective liquid crystal display portion, and an organic EL element is formed on the front surface of the first transparent substrate. The organic EL element is sealed in a space surrounded by the first transparent substrate, the second transparent substrate, and the sealing layer. The organic EL element is formed in a region corresponding to a pixel region of the reflective liquid crystal display portion. A desiccant layer is formed on the front surface of the second transparent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignees: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Tanase, Kazunobu Mameno, Norio Koma, Manabu Takemoto
  • Publication number: 20080231777
    Abstract: A liquid crystal apparatus includes a pair of substrates. The pair of substrates includes a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween, and a two-dimensional array of pixel regions each including a transmissive display region and a reflective display region, the transmissive display regions of different pixel regions having areas different from one another. One of the substrates has a plurality of color filter layers provided in correspondence with the pixel regions, a reflective film provided over the color filter layers, and an overcoat film covering the reflective film. Among the pixel regions including the transmissive display regions having different areas, a pixel region including a transmissive display region with a large area has a color filter layer with a thickness larger than that of a color filter layer provided in a pixel region including a transmissive display region with a small area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chiyoaki IIJIMA
  • Publication number: 20080231789
    Abstract: An electro-optical device includes an electro-optical panel including a first substrate and a second substrate which interpose an electro-optical material therebetween, a transparent conductive film disposed on an outer surface of the first substrate or the second substrate, and a base member having an electrode electrically connected to the transparent conductive film via an adhesive, in which the electrode is formed at a region having a plane shape, which is the same as or narrower than that of the base member, the base member is provided with concave portions or through-holes disposed along a side thereof, and the concave portions or the through-holes are provided with the adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Munenori KURASAWA
  • Publication number: 20080232047
    Abstract: A mounting structure includes a substrate, a first terminal, a first flexible circuit board, and a second terminal. The first terminal is arranged in a first region of a first face of the substrate. The first flexible circuit board is connected to the first terminal through an anisotropic conductive film. The second terminal is arranged in a second region of a second face, which is a rear face relative to the first face of the substrate, wherein the second region does not overlap the first region in plan view. A region of the second face of the substrate, which overlaps the first region in plan view, is formed to be a smooth face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuyuki YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20080231569
    Abstract: It is possible to suppress the voltage amplitudes of data lines and to prevent deterioration in display quality by a simple configuration. Each of pixels 110 includes a pixel capacitor and a storage capacitor of which one end is connected to a pixel electrode and the other end is connected to each capacitive line 132. If first, second, third, . . . , 320th, and 321st scanning lines 112 are sequentially selected, the capacitive line 132 of each row is provided with TFTs 152, 154, 156 and 158. A source electrode of the TFT 156 of a first row is connected to a first feed line 165 and a gate electrode thereof is connected to a first scanning line 112. A source electrode of the TFT 158 is connected to a second feed line 167 and a gate electrode thereof is connected to a common drain electrode of the TFTs 152 and 154. The drain electrodes of the TFT 156 and 158 are connected to the first capacitive line 132. A gate electrode of the TFT 152 is connected to a second scanning line 112.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsunori Yamazaki, Yasushi Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20080225193
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electro-optical device including an element substrate which includes a plurality of pixels including pixel electrodes and which is connected to a circuit board includes providing a UV-curable molding member on the element substrate such that the molding member extends from the element substrate to the circuit board and also includes curing the molding member by irradiating the molding member with UV light. The element substrate includes an electrostatic protection circuit. The electrostatic protection circuit is shielded from the UV light applied to the molding member in the operation of curing the molding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigenori KATAYAMA, Tomohide ONOGI, Kazuhiro IMAO
  • Publication number: 20080225209
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid crystal device, including: which makes it possible to dispose a spacer for setting a distance between substrates, to prevent deterioration of display quality by eliminating thickness non-uniformity of an alignment layer due to the presence of a retardation layer, to prevent deterioration of display quality by preventing dissolution and flow of an ingredient of the retardation layer to the liquid crystal layer side, and the like in the liquid crystal device having a horizontal electric field system of a transflective type, and to provide an electric apparatus using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masakatsu Higa
  • Publication number: 20080224982
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to decrease a frame size in a case where data lines are driven by using a demultiplexer. The data lines 114 are divided into groups each having three data lines. TFTs 52 and 54 are provided for each data line 114, and the TFT 52 between the TFTs has a source electrode commonly connected in each group and a drain electrode connected to the data line 114. In addition, the TFT 54 has a source electrode connected to the data line 114 and a drain electrode commonly connected in each group. A data signal output circuit 32 that outputs data signals having voltage values in accordance with gray scale levels of sub-pixels corresponding to intersections of a selected scan line and a selected data line in each group to each group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsunori Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20080224904
    Abstract: There is offered a Gray code counter with which a delay time of a critical path is reduced and a fast operation is made possible. A first Gray code bit Q0 is obtained by outputting an output signal Q0o of an RDFF 2 through an RDFF 31 to synchronize with a clock CLK. A second Gray code bit Q1 is obtained by outputting an output signal Q1o of an RDFF 2 through an RDFF 32 to synchronize with the clock CLK. A third Gray code bit Q2 is obtained by delaying an output signal Q2o of an RDFF 4 with a selection circuit 21 and outputting it through an RDFF 33 to synchronize with the clock CLK. A fourth Gray code bit Q3 is obtained by delaying an output signal Q3o of an RDFF 5 with an AND circuit 11 and a selection circuit 22 and outputting it through an RDFF 34 to synchronize with the clock CLK. Higher bits of the Gray code are similarly generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventor: Norio FUJIMURA
  • Publication number: 20080225194
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate and a second substrate opposite each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, wherein the first substrate includes a signal line, a switching element electrically connected to the signal line, a first electrode electrically connected to the switching element, a wiring line, a dielectric film covering the first electrode, the switching element, and the wiring line, and a second electrode disposed on the dielectric film so as to be opposite the first electrode, and wherein the second electrode is drawn from the dielectric film toward an area where the dielectric film does not exist and is electrically connected to the wiring line through the area where the dielectric film does not exist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norihito Harada, Katsuhiro Imai
  • Publication number: 20080220184
    Abstract: An electro-optic device includes an electro-optic panel, a transparent protective member disposed at a viewer side of the electro-optic panel, an adhesive provided between the electro-optic panel and the transparent protective member, and a gas barrier film provided on a surface of the transparent protective member at a side opposite to the viewer side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji SAKURAI, Shoji Hinata