Patents Assigned to Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
  • Patent number: 7746433
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes an element substrate, pixel electrodes and a common electrode that are formed on the element substrate, a counter substrate, a liquid crystal layer that is formed between the counter substrate and the element substrate, first and second polarizing plates that are provided on an emitting side of display light and an opposite side, respectively, and a retardation film that is provided in a reflective region to be disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the first polarizing plate. Each pixel has a transmissive region where transmissive display light is emitted and a reflective region where reflective display light is emitted. The retardation of the retardation film has smaller temperature dependency than the retardation of the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Wada
  • Patent number: 7738060
    Abstract: Liquid crystal display panel 10 is provided with TFT and pixel electrode 19, between which interlayer insulator 17 is interposed, and with reflective section 15, in each of a matrix of pixels; having first substrate whereon the pixel electrode 19 and the TFT's electrode D electrically connect via contact hole 20 formed in the reflective section 15; second substrate whereon at least one protrusions 311 to 313 are formed on common electrode in positions corresponding to the each pixel; perpendicular alignment layers deposited on each substrate; and liquid crystal 29 with negative dielectric anisotropy disposed between substrates. In position corresponding to base of protrusion 313 provided opposite the second substrate's contact hole 20, light-blocking film 363 is formed so as to cover the base viewed from above. Thus, liquid crystal display panel is provided wherein light leakage from reflective section's contact hole and from protrusions is curbed, with high contrast and display quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Tanaka, Hironori Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 7738244
    Abstract: A display device of the invention includes a liquid crystal display panel 1, an FPC 5, a box-formed storing case 4, and an FPC 7. The liquid crystal display panel 1 is provided with an ITO film 18 on its front side. The FPC 5 is attached to the liquid crystal display panel 1, has at least a ground line 5a, and is connected to an external device 40. The storing case 4 includes at least a rear side case (metal case) 3 electrically connected to the ITO film 18, as well as stores the liquid crystal display panel 1. The FPC 7 electrically connects the ground lines 5a of the FPC 5 and the rear side case 3. With the above-mentioned configuration, a display device can be provided wherein static protection on the front side of the display panel is easily provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Noguchi, Hiroyasu Maeta, Tomokatsu Kinugawa
  • Publication number: 20100134740
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes an interlayer resin film covering a surface of the display area including thin film transistors, first electrodes formed of transparent conductive material on the surface of the interlayer resin film in regions defined by scan and signal lines and electrically connected to the thin film transistors. A second insulating film formed on the surface of the interlayer resin film includes the first electrodes and second electrodes formed of transparent conductive material on the second insulating film, the second electrodes having slits defined at the scan lines and signal lines. A circuit including thin film transistors with exposed channel regions is on the display area's periphery. The interlayer resin film directly covers the thin film transistors' channel regions in the display area and the peripheral area; and the surface of the display area's and peripheral circuit's interlayer resin films are covered with the second insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hajime NAKAO
  • Publication number: 20100127628
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display panel; an optical detector which includes an optical sensor formed by a thin film transistor for detecting external light and a capacitor connected between a pair of electrodes of the optical sensor; a switch which turns on or off a charging operation of the capacitor; an optical sensor controller which controls the switch to be turned on or off and measures illumination of the external light on the basis of a time period during which the switch is turned off and a voltage of the capacitor becomes a value not more than a threshold value; and a controller which controls brightness of the display panel on the basis of an output of the optical sensor controller, wherein after the optical sensor controller detects a fact that the voltage of the capacitor becomes the value not more than the threshold value, the optical sensor controller turns on the switch after a predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kunimori, Yukiya Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20100128208
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate which face each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, in which a display sub-pixel and a viewing angle control sub-pixel are placed adjacently to each other for each of pixels, wherein the first substrate is provided with a pixel electrode and a common electrode driven by a lateral electric field mode in the display sub-pixel and is provided with a viewing angle control electrode in the viewing angle control sub-pixel, and in which the second substrate is provided with a transparent conductive electrode formed to overlap with both of the display sub-pixel and the viewing angle control sub-pixel on a liquid crystal layer side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hayato KURASAWA
  • Patent number: 7724222
    Abstract: An image display device includes: pixels in first and second directions; a polarization controller providing first and second polarization axis light; and a controller. The polarization controller includes first electrodes extending in the first direction on a first substrate with a predetermined interval in the second direction, and second electrodes extending in the first direction on a second substrate with an interval in the second direction twice the predetermined interval. The controller switches display between dual-screen and three-dimensional modes. In the dual-screen mode, the controller applies voltages to the second electrodes so adjacent electrodes have opposite phases, and applies the same phase voltage as one of the second electrode voltages to the first electrodes. In the three-dimensional mode, the controller applies voltages to the first electrodes so adjacent electrodes have opposite phases, and applies the same phase voltage as one of the first electrode voltages to the second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Tajiri, Chiyoaki Iijima
  • Patent number: 7714959
    Abstract: A liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate having pixels defining a pixel region, and pixel electrodes and a common electrode disposed in the pixel region on the first substrate. The pixel electrodes are disposed for the respective pixels. The liquid crystal panel also includes a second substrate opposing the first substrate and a light-shielding film disposed on the second substrate. The light-shielding film includes a frame portion surrounding the pixel region and a middle portion disposed at least in the pixel region. The middle portion is made of a material having a higher specific resistance than the frame portion. The frame portion is made of a material having a higher light-shielding property than the middle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 7714411
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Fusashi Kimura, Shinichi Kobayashi, Yuki Okuhara, Kenichi Tajiri
  • Publication number: 20100110033
    Abstract: A touch panel device includes a touch panel that includes a first substrate, a second substrate that is arranged so as to face the first substrate with a gap interposed therebetween, a extension outer edge portion that is arranged in the first substrate and is formed so as to be extends the outer side relative to an outer edge portion of the second substrate, and a position detecting structure that is arranged in an area in which the first substrate and the second substrate overlap each other and a frame body that includes an opening portion used for exposing the second substrate of the touch panel. An opening edge portion of the opening portion is overlapped with the extension outer edge portion, and the opening edge portion directly or indirectly supports the extension outer edge portion from the second substrate side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toyohiro SAKAI
  • Patent number: 7708449
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a light source member, a flexible wired board the light source member mounted thereon and a wiring provided thereon, and a structure to be stuck to the wired hoard via sticking members at a plurality of sticking surfaces, wherein one end of the wiring provided on the wired board is electrically connected to and terminated at the light source member, and the other end of the wiring is provided with a connecting path to be electrically connected to the outside, and wherein the bond strength of the plurality of sticking surfaces is set in such a manner that the bond strength of the sticking surface located on the one end side of the wiring is lower than that of the sticking surface located on the other end side of the wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Eda
  • Patent number: 7710410
    Abstract: An electro-optical device includes an entire screen display mode in which an entire screen is displayed and a partial display mode in which a part of an entire screen is set to a display region and the remaining part is set to a non-display region. A scanning line driving circuit supplies a first voltage to the scanning lines of the display region for a predetermined period in the entire screen display mode, and supplies a second voltage to the scanning lines of the display region for a period longer than the predetermined period in the partial display mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7710519
    Abstract: An electro-optic device includes a frame, an optical member including a light guide plate accommodated within the flame, an illuminator, and a display panel disposed over the optical member. The display panel includes a substrate that has a light-shielding black mask extending in the shape of a picture frame along edges of the substrate. The black mask partially has at least one light-shielding extended segment extended toward at least one of the edges of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsumi Okuda
  • Patent number: 7710528
    Abstract: There is provided an electro optical device including an electro optical panel formed by sticking a first substrate and a second substrate together, and a flexible wiring substrate connected to the electro optical panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Hasegawa, Tatsumi Okuda
  • Patent number: 7705948
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having an upper electrode layer and a lower electrode layer formed on an identical substrate via an insulating layer includes slits formed on the upper electrode layer for applying voltage between the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer and driving liquid crystal molecules. Edge portions of the slits each include a first curved portion the tangential direction of which at the edge portions with respect to the rubbing direction falls within a range from 0° to +90° and a second curved portion the tangential direction of which at the edge portions with respect to the rubbing direction falls within the range from 0° to ?90°. The direction toward an acute angle subtended by the long sides of the slits with respect to the rubbing direction is the positive direction. The second curved portion is smaller than the first curved portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Segawa, Masaaki Aota, Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7704859
    Abstract: Provided is an electro-optical apparatus including a first thin-film transistor having a first gate electrode, a first gate insulating layer and a first active layer, which are respectively formed of a conductive film, an insulating film and a semiconductor film, in a pixel region of a device substrate, the apparatus including: a second thin-film transistor having a first gate electrode formed of the conductive film, a second gate insulating layer formed by removing a portion of the insulating film in a thickness direction and a second active layer formed of the semiconductor film, in a region other than the pixel region of the device substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Sato
  • Publication number: 20100097538
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate; a second substrate which faces the first substrate; and a liquid crystal which is interposed between the first and second substrates. A plurality of scanning lines and signal lines arranged in a matrix shape, a plurality of switching elements arranged in the vicinities of intersections of the scanning lines and the signal lines in a display area, a plurality of pixel electrodes electrically connected to the switching elements, and a plurality of dummy pixels formed in a non-display area located in the periphery of the display area are formed on the first substrate close to a liquid crystal layer. Each of the plurality of dummy pixels is provided with a plurality of switching elements connected to the scanning line or the signal line, the plurality of switching elements are connected to each other in parallel, and one electrode of each of the switching elements is connected to a wiring to be supplied with a common potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akio OTA
  • Publication number: 20100097369
    Abstract: A driving circuit of an electro-optical device, a capacitance-line-driving circuit shifting voltage of a capacitance line to one voltage of two-value voltage, and the capacitance-line-driving circuit includes a unit control circuit provided correspondingly to the capacitance line at both end portions of the capacitance line, and the unit control circuit corresponding to one capacitance line includes, a latch circuit maintaining a logic level at one level for at least a period of the scanning line corresponding to the one capacitance line being selected, a switch provided between the capacitance line and a signal line supplying a capacitance signal in which the two-value voltage is switched over at a predetermined cycle, the switch being electrically connected when the logic level is one level and electrically disconnected when the logic level is the other level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shin FUJITA
  • Patent number: 7701525
    Abstract: A liquid crystal panel includes a line extending between a first pixel and a second pixel which are adjacent to each other; a first pixel element portion for the first pixel; and a second pixel element portion for the second pixel. The first pixel element portion is provided on a side with respect to the line where the first pixel is disposed. The second pixel element portion is provided, along with the first pixel element portion, on the side with respect to the line where the first pixel is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohide Onogi, Yasuo Segawa
  • Patent number: 7701522
    Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display device 10 of the present invention includes: a plurality of signal lines Y1, . . . Ym and scanning lines X1, . . . Xn, Xn+1, Xn+2 which are arranged in a matrix state on a substrate; switching transistors 14 arranged near the intersection of each of the signal lines and the scanning lines; and pixel electrodes that are severally arranged in positions surrounded by the signal lines and the scanning lines and connected to the switching transistors, in which the pixel electrode is made up of a pixel electrode for display 12(25) that contributes to display, which is provided in an effective display region, and a dummy pixel electrode 27 that does not contribute to display, which is provided in a non-effective display region, and the dummy pixel electrode has a smaller area than the area of the pixel electrode for display and a plurality of the dummy pixel electrodes are parallelly provided for each signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Ota, Satoshi Morita, Makoto Murakami, Osamu Kobayashi