Patents Assigned to Sharp
  • Publication number: 20090206495
    Abstract: A semiconductor device wherein a force of peeling a chip from a substrate does not operate even the semiconductor device is exposed under a high temperature condition after bonding and a bonding state of the substrate and the chip can be maintained, and a method for manufacturing such semiconductor device are provided. Specifically, in the semiconductor manufacture, a recessed alignment mark is formed on a front plane of a high distortion point glass substrate as a target for alignment for bonding, and the recessed alignment mark is permitted to have a shape which extends to an external side of the semiconductor device. Thus, excellent bonding between the high distortion point glass substrate and the semiconductor device can be provided, and at the same time, since the recessed alignment mark is not sealed, the bonding state can be maintained even when the high distortion point glass substrate is exposed under the high temperature condition after bonding the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Itoga, Yasuyuki Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20090207629
    Abstract: In order to realize a thin and simple-structured planar illuminating device which is capable of carrying out the regional light control, a backlight module 1 of the present invention includes a light guiding plate 2 including steps 21a, 21b, and 21c, a plurality of LEDs 3 provided in the vicinity of one side surface of the light guiding plate 2, and light guides 4a, 4b, and 4c which are provided respectively between each of the steps 21a, 21b, 21c and each of the LEDs 3 facing each other. The regional light control is possible by controlling brightness of each of the LEDs 3. Each of the regions is formed so as to correspond to each of the bottom surfaces 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaka Fujiyama, Hiroaki Kimura
  • Publication number: 20090207702
    Abstract: An electromagnetic field generating element includes a conductor that generates near-field light when irradiated with light and generates a magnetic field when a current flows through the conductor. The electromagnetic field generating element further includes a soft magnetic body provided at a position along a dimension of the conductor, the dimension being perpendicular to (i) a direction in which the conductor faces a magnetic recording medium to which the near-field light and the magnetic field are applied and to (ii) a direction in which the current flows. The present invention thus allows for provision of an electromagnetic field generating element that allows for reduction in its power consumption in optically assisted magnetic read/write using near-field light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Sato, Yoshiteru Murakami, Hideki Eto
  • Publication number: 20090207329
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix array, each pixel including a liquid crystal capacitor which includes a pixel electrode subjected to switching by a top-gate type thin film transistor, a counter electrode opposing the pixel electrode, and a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween, and a first storage capacitor and a second storage capacitor which are in parallel electrical connection to the liquid crystal capacitor. The first storage capacitor includes a first storage capacitor electrode which is electrically connected to the pixel electrode, a first storage-capacitor counter electrode opposing the first storage capacitor electrode, and a first dielectric layer disposed therebetween. The second storage capacitor includes a second storage capacitor electrode which is electrically connected to the pixel electrode, a second storage-capacitor counter electrode opposing the second storage capacitor electrode, and a second dielectric layer disposed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshimizu Moriya, Mutsumi Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20090208236
    Abstract: In a fixing unit, a fixing roller is rotated under driving force transmitted from a paper discharge unit-side gear of a driving section via a fixing roller driving gear, and holds and conveys a recording medium in cooperation with a pressure roller in a nip region. When a control section determines that acceleration conditions are fulfilled, the driving section increases the rotating speed of the paper discharge unit-side gear so that it is rotated at higher speed than before-acceleration speed over predetermined high-speed rotating period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norichika KATSURA, Tadasu TANIGUCHI, Masahiko FUJITA, Masaharu KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20090206373
    Abstract: A field effect transistor includes a GaN epitaxial substrate, a gate electrode formed on an electron channel layer of the substrate, and source and drain electrodes arranged spaced apart by a prescribed distance on opposite sides of the gate electrode. The source and drain electrodes are in ohmic contact with the substrate. At an upper portion of the gate electrode, a field plate is formed protruding like a visor to the side of drain electrode. Between the electron channel layer of the epitaxial substrate and the field plate, a dielectric film is formed. The dielectric film is partially removed at a region immediately below the field plate, to be flush with a terminal end surface of the field plate. The dielectric film extends from a lower end of the removed portion to the drain electrode, to be overlapped on the drain electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norimasa YAFUNE, John Kevin Twynam
  • Publication number: 20090207360
    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: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    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
  • Publication number: 20090210193
    Abstract: A person location detecting apparatus according to the present invention includes a light emitting section for radiating a projection light and a TOF method distance image sensor for receiving a reflected light from a room space of the projection light to output distance information in accordance with a distance to an object in the room space from each of a plurality of light receiving sections, and further includes a distance change detecting section for detecting a distance change to the object in the room space based on the distance information from the TOF method distance image sensor and a person distinguishing section for distinguishing a person by specifying a shape of a detected distance change area to detect a direction and distance to the distance change area that is specified as a shape of a person as a location of a person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiji Nagase
  • Patent number: 7577461
    Abstract: A cellular phone includes a first case and a second case, which are connected in a foldable manner through a hinge. When the cellular phone is in a folded state, a second display unit displays an image with the side (upper side) closer to the hinge as the upper side. Accordingly, the user can hold the second case of the cellular phone in his/her hand regardless of whether the cellular phone is in a folded state or in an open state. The user can easily switch between a folded state and an open state with respect to the first case and the second case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohji Sawayama, Satoshi Mizuno, Yonosuke Amano, Tamaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7575843
    Abstract: A toner is manufactured by way of a coarse particle preparing step, a slurry preparing step, a pulverizing step, a cooling step, and a depressurizing step. Slurry of toner coarse particles obtained by way of the coarse particle preparing step and the slurry preparing step is made to pass under heat and pressure through a pressure-resistant nozzle whereby toner coarse particles are pulverized into diameter-reduced toner particles. By providing the cooling step immediately after the pulverizing step, dispersion of wax component into the toner particles is promoted. And by further providing the depressurizing step, bubbling and coarsening of the toner particles due to the bubbling are prevented. By so doing, there is obtained a diameter-reduced toner particle in which wax is evenly dispersed and which does not cause bleeding out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuru Matsumoto, Yasuhiro Shibai
  • Patent number: 7575684
    Abstract: In waste water treatment apparatus and method, a mineral mixing tank receives biologically treated water, sludge which is generated by biological treatment, and mineral sludge which contains calcium and so on from a settling tank. A mineral pump returns the sludge and the treated water from the mineral mixing tank to a raw water tank. An air-lift pump circulates treatment water between a reaeration tank having a semi-anaerobic section and a denitrification tank. In circulation of the treatment water between the reaeration tank and the denitrification tank, the semi-anaerobic section alleviates the change of environment for microorganisms and thereby realizes the environment easy to propagate for the microorganisms. The air-lift pump allows the agitation with low energy consumption even when the microorganisms are cultured up to a high concentration thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Yamasaki, Kazuyuki Sakata
  • Patent number: 7576820
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus, provided with liquid crystal compensation plates and ?/4 plates on both sides of a liquid crystal cell, in a sequence that the liquid crystal compensation plates, then the ?/4 plates. Further provided is Rth compensation film between the ?/4 plate and linear polarization film. Set substantially at zero is a retardation Rth1 in a perpendicular direction in a range from the linear polarization films to the ?/4 plates, excluding the ?/4 plates. This gives a retardation (in a perpendicular direction) for optically compensating the liquid crystal cell a closer position to the liquid crystal cell. As a result, a broad angle of visibility can be maintained, without losing a balance between viewing angle characteristics from the above position (or the bottom position) and those from the right position (or the left position), while it is possible to prevent contrast ratio in a front direction from being lowered. Therefore, an LCD having good display quality can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Motohiro Yamahara
  • Patent number: 7577295
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for processing a document. The method comprises: marking an area of a document, using at least one predetermined markup symbol; identifying a markup symbol; using the identified markup symbol to locate the document area; determining characters in the document area; and, processing the determined characters. Fields that can be processed include title, keywords, author, signature, document name, category, subject, or document status, to name but a few examples. In some aspects, marking an area of a document, using at least one predetermined markup symbol includes: electronically marking using a medium such as a touchscreen, pressure pad, or a mouse. Alternately, the paper document can be physically marked (with a pen or pencil) before scanning. Typically, marking an area of a document includes forming a markup character proximate to an enclosing figure. A wide range of markup characters can be defined cross-referenced to document processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Laboraties of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Constantin, David Lovat
  • Patent number: 7576278
    Abstract: A characteristic-data-extraction unit 13 extracts characteristic data containing changing information from song data, then an impression-data-conversion unit 14 uses a pre-learned hierarchical neural network to convert the characteristic data extracted by the characteristic-data-extraction unit 13 to impression data and stores it together with song data into a song database 15. A song search unit 18 searches the song database 15 based on impression data input from a PC-control unit 19, and outputs the search results to a search-results-output unit 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigefumi Urata
  • Patent number: 7575960
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a thin film transistor matrix device which includes forming a transparent insulating substrate, arranging a plurality of thin film transistors on the substrate in a matrix, arranging a plurality of picture element electrodes on the substrate in a matrix and connecting the picture element electrodes to sources of the thin film transistors. The method also includes forming a plurality of bus lines for commonly connecting gates or drains of the thin film transistors, forming a plurality of bus line terminals on the ends of the bus lines, respectively, with each bus line terminal being provided for each bus line, and forming one connection line on the substrate in a region outer of plurality of the bus line terminals and commonly connecting the plurality of bus lines. The method further includes the step of electrically disconnecting the bus lines from the connection line by laser melting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidaki Takizawa, Shougo Hayashi, Takeshi Kinjo, Makoto Tachibanaki, Kenji Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7576721
    Abstract: The display device substrate according to the present invention is arranged so that: a source line is provided on an area on which a pixel electrode is not provided, and a gap is provided between the source line and the pixel electrode, and a black matrix (light shielding film) which covers a surface of the source line overlaps with the pixel electrode. Thus, it is possible to prevent parasitic capacitance (Csd) between the pixel electrode and the source line from becoming uneven in a display area, so that it is possible to reduce display unevenness of a liquid crystal display device using the present display device substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihide Tsubata, Morihide Ohsaki, Masanori Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7577145
    Abstract: To transmit a packet to be transmitted, a transmitting station specifies information indicating an expiration time for the packet. Upon receiving the packet, a receiving station analyzes the expiration time information to output data to the upper layer based on the information. This enables more efficient transmission while following the Strict Order, in a transmission/receipt system where realtime data is transfer using a collective DELAYED-ACK returned instead of ACKs for multiple packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhito Maruyama, Yoshihiro Ohtani
  • Patent number: 7575836
    Abstract: The fabrication method for a color filter substrate of the present invention includes the step of forming a coloring layer, which includes the steps of: forming first coloring lines each including a plurality of first coloring portions lined in a first direction with a gap given between the adjacent first coloring portions; and forming second coloring lines after the formation of the first coloring lines. The step of forming second coloring lines includes the step of pressing a dry film for the second coloring lines against a substrate to stick the dry film on the substrate along a third direction crossing the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihide Tsubata, Tsuyoshi Tokuda
  • Publication number: 20090201440
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a bump-shaped slug having a support plane at the top of the bump-shaped slug. The slug includes side planes arranged to function as optical action planes arranged to receive and reflect a portion of the light from the light emitting chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsuya Hamada
  • Publication number: 20090201454
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate 1110a, a second substrate 1110b placed to face the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer 1120 interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal display device has a plurality of pixels each including a first electrode 1111 formed on the first substrate, a second electrode 1131 formed on the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The second electrode 1131 has at least one opening 1114 formed at a predetermined position in the pixel, the first substrate has a shading region in gaps between the plurality of pixels, and a wall structure 1115 is placed regularly on the surface of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer in the shading region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kume, Nobukazu Nagae, Kazuhiko Tamai, Noriaki Onishi, Takashi Kurihara