Patents Examined by Tai V. Duong
  • Patent number: 6295113
    Abstract: A twisted nematic color liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display comprises parallel glass substrates covered by a transparent electrode and an alignment film, a twisted nematic liquid crystal between the glass substrates, a retardation layer and polarizers. Between the glass substrates, a liquid crystal unit which forms the liquid crystal has a twist angle about 70 to about 180 about degree while free of an externally applying voltage. A product of anisotropy of refractive index for the twisted nematic liquid crystal &Dgr;n and the thickness d thereof, that is, &Dgr;n·d, is set in a range between about 1100 Å to about 2000 Å. Without using a passive device such as an external color light source or color filter, a multi-color or full color display is formed by an active controlling method of birefringence of electric field via applying a voltage on the transparent electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Picvue Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chiu-Lien Yang
  • Patent number: 6292238
    Abstract: A reflection-type liquid crystal apparatus has a liquid crystal panel which includes a pair of a back side substrate and a viewer's side substrate disposed opposite to each other, and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates. The back side substrate is provided with a plurality of scanning electrodes for applying a scanning signal to the liquid crystal, and the viewer's side substrate is provided with a plurality of transparent data electrodes for applying data signals to the liquid crystal. Further, the scanning electrodes are provided with a reflective and diffusive surface of a metal so as to reflect light incident thereto through the viewer's side substrate. The reflective and diffusive metal scanning electrodes formed on the back substrate are not only effective for providing improved drive characteristics because of its high conductivity but also provides uniform diffusive reflected light for providing a paper-like improved display quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinjiro Okada, Hidemasa Mizutani
  • Patent number: 6285430
    Abstract: This LCD cell device configuration reduces the deterioration in contrast when the display surface of the active matrix type liquid crystal display device of the in-plane switching mode is viewed from the direction of azimuth 45° without decreasing the viewing characteristic from a frontal direction. This is accomplished using an optical compensation film having a retardation axis which is parallel to or vertical to the transmission axes of the polarizer plates at the lower and upper side. By so selecting the in-plane retardation and the retardation in the thickness direction of the optical compensation film, the optical compensation film performs the function of a &lgr;/2 plate, to rotate the polarizing plane of the transmitted light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Yukito Saito
  • Patent number: 6281956
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate sandwiching a liquid crystal layer therebetween, a first polarizer disposed adjacent to the first substrate at a side opposite to a side of the first polarizer facing the liquid crystal layer, with a first gap between the first polarizer and the first substrate, a second polarizer disposed adjacent to the second substrate at a side opposite to a side of the second polarizer facing the liquid crystal layer, with a second gap between the second polarizer and the second substrate, wherein at least one of the first and second gaps includes therein a first retardation film having a positive optical anisotropy and a second retardation film having a negative optical anisotropy, such that the first retardation film is disposed closer to the liquid crystal layer with respect to the second retardation film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Katsufumi Ohmuro, Yoshio Koike, Takahiro Sasaki, Hideaki Tsuda, Hideo Chida
  • Patent number: 6281952
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display is furnished with: a liquid crystal display element having a pair of substrates, to which alignment members are provided to their respective opposing surfaces, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the pair of substrates; an alignment mechanism for providing at least two different director configurations simultaneously on different arbitrary regions used for display in the liquid crystal layer; and a reflection film provided to at least one of the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations; wherein the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations are used for a reflection display section for showing reflection display and a transmission display section for showing transmission display, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Hajime Hiraki, Seiichi Mitsui
  • Patent number: 6278505
    Abstract: A liquid crystal reflective display comprising cholesteric liquid crystal capable of selectively reflecting spectral rays of a specific wavelength in a visible range; and a carrier carrying said cholesteric liquid crystal, wherein at least one of said cholesteric liquid crystal and said carrier contains a coloring agent absorbing spectral rays in a wavelength range different from the selective reflection wavelength of said cholesteric liquid crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Okada, Takuji Hatano, Kiyofumi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6271904
    Abstract: The present invention includes a pair of light polarizers. An pair of transparent substrates are formed between the pair of light polarizer. A compensator is formed on the analyzer. A bump structure is formed above the lower substrate. A orientation layer is formed on the bump structure and the substrate. The bump structures are formed on at least one of the pair of glass substrate to provide pre-titled angle for liquid crystal molecules filled between the pair of glass substrate, wherein the bump structure includes inclined surfaces, the heights of the two ends of the bump structure are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Hong-Da Liu
  • Patent number: 6268893
    Abstract: A structure and method of operation of a fringe direct writing system to produce a hologram or the like. The apparatus is roughly classified into four parts: an illumination part; an image display and optical imaging part; an optically autofocusing part; and a two dimensional moveable stage part. The method of operation directly images a pattern, which is previously calculated by computer and displayed on the LCD panel, onto a recording material. This method affords the possibility to write a fringe pattern in a large region within a short period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: American Bank Note Holographics
    Inventors: Lily O'Boyle, Der-Kuam Kang
  • Patent number: 6262786
    Abstract: The radiation beam emitted by a polychromatic source of finite dimension is incident onto an array of microlenses which have the function of converging and dividing the beam into a plurality of microbeams directed towards a matrix containing colored microfilters. Once the microfilters have been passed, the radiation reaches a matrix of microchoppers which can be selected independently from each other by a controller, for generating images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Piero Perlo, Piermario Repetto, Sabino Sinesi
  • Patent number: 6246454
    Abstract: There is disclosed a small-sized, active matrix liquid crystal display having high reliability. The liquid crystal display comprises a TFT substrate, a counter substrate, and a layer of a liquid crystal material held between these two substrates. A plurality of pixel TFTs are arranged in rows and columns on the TFT substrate. Driver TFTs forming a driver circuit for driving the pixel TFTs are formed also on the TFT substrate. All of these TFTs are covered by the liquid crystal material directly or via a thin film to protect these TFTs. A short ring is cut after a rubbing operation and before bonding of the substrates. Therefore, during manufacturing, the TFTs are protected from static charges. Also, the cutting operation is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignees: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd., Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Koyama, Yoshitaka Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6236445
    Abstract: A method for producing topographic projections, especially useful for producing many small projections of less than about 100 &mgr;m in diameter and in height. This method is useful for making contact pads of membrane probes used to test integrated circuits and spacers of liquid crystal light valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Foschaar, Hugh L. Garvin
  • Patent number: 6236441
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus and a method of manufacturing wherein the liquid crystal display apparatus includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of substrates, plural electrodes formed on at least one of the pair of substrates, a passivation layer formed on the plural electrodes and having concave portions, a thin film having low wettability formed on the passivation layer, and an insulating layer formed on the thin film having low wettability. The method includes the steps of irradiating light onto the thin film through a mask, and applying a solution containing organic high polymers so as to form the insulating layer at the concave portions of the passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sukekazu Aratani, Yoshiyuki Umeda, Hiroyuki Kagawa, Hisao Yokokura, Katsumi Kondo, Shigeru Matsuyama, Masahito Oh-e
  • Patent number: 6229583
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal panel is disclosed. The liquid crystal display device includes: a display data transformer for receiving input image data for one frame, for dividing a selection period for each row electrode in the frame into subframes of a number equal to or greater than a number of gray-scale bits representing a gray-scale level of the input image data, the scanning signal being applied to the row electrode during the corresponding selection period, and for generating binary display data in which respective binary data is associated with each subframe according to the gray-scale bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Norio Yasunishi
  • Patent number: 6226058
    Abstract: A pixel electrode and a counter electrode of an active matrix liquid crystal display unit are respectively covered with orientation layers differently rubbed, one end portion of the pixel electrode forms an accumulating capacitor together with a gate line and a gate insulating layer inserted therebetween, and the one end portion is varied in width along the gate line so as to confine a disclination line into the liquid crystal over the gate line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Ohi
  • Patent number: 6226062
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display with a high transmittance and a low power consumption rate, includes first and second transmittable substrates, a plurality of gate and data bus lines formed on the first substrate, a plurality of color filters formed on the second substrate, and a plurality of microlenses formed on the first or second substrate corresponding to the gate and data bus lines. The microlenses are formed at positions corresponding to the gate and data bus lines which block incident lights, so that most incident lights can be transmitted. Further, the transmittance can be greatly improved by forming the microlenses at the positions corresponding to storage capacitor lines as well as the gate and data bus lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong-Hyo Gu, Min-Cheol Shin
  • Patent number: 6222605
    Abstract: A surface mode liquid crystal device is made by forming a cell containing a mixture of a liquid crystal and a pre-polymer. An electric field is applied across the cell to arrange the liquid crystal in a predetermined surface mode state, such as the V state in the case of a pi-cell configuration. The liquid crystal is held in this state by the field while the pre-polymer is polymerized or cross-linked, for instance by ultraviolet irradiation. The electric field is then removed. The polymer stabilizes the predetermined surface mode state, for instance preventing relaxation of the V state to twist or splay state in the pi-cell configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Martin David Tillin, Edward Peter Raynes, Michael John Towler
  • Patent number: 6222598
    Abstract: A backlight device having a light source, a waveguide provided close to the light source, this waveguide being a wedge-shaped waveguide so constructed that the incident light from the light source can be greatly changed in its direction and made to exit therefrom, a polarizing beam splitter provided on the light-exiting side of the wedge-shaped waveguide, and a light converter disposed on the light-exiting side of the polarizing beam splitter. This backlight device is used for liquid crystal displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuo Hiyama, Katsuyuki Funahata, Katsumi Kondo
  • Patent number: 6222602
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display having a wide viewing angle, a large contrast ratio, and little nonuniformity of display, is formed by a pair of substrates, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of substrates, wherein at least one of the pair of substrates has plural electrodes, a passivation layer formed on the plural electrodes, and an insulating layer formed at concave portions of the passivation layer for making the thickness of the liquid crystal layer uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd
    Inventors: Sukekazu Aratani, Yoshiyuki Umeda, Hiroyuki Kagawa, Hisao Yokokura, Katsumi Kondo, Shigeru Matsuyama, Masahito Oh-e
  • Patent number: 6211928
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a substrate; a transistor over the substrate, the transistor having a gate, a source, and a drain; a passivation layer over the transistor; a light shielding layer over a portion of the passivation layer over the transistor; a planarization layer over the light shielding layer and the passivation layer, the planarization layer having a contact hole over one of the source and the drain; a pixel electrode over the planarization layer, the pixel electrode being connected to the one of the source and the drain through the contact hole; and an alignment layer over the pixel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young-Jin Oh, Yong-Min Ha, Jeong-Hyun Kim, Kyoung-Nam Lim
  • Patent number: 6208404
    Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a color display including a color filter and a black matrix, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: forming a film of zinc oxide on a transparent substrate; forming the the color filter on the said film of zinc oxide; and thereafter, applying a deposit of electroless copper plating on an area of the said film of zinc oxide on which the said color filter is not formed, the said deposit having a thickness which is substantially equal to a thickness of the said color filter and constituting an element of said black matrix. Thus, a color display may be provided with a black matrix that is of high optical density and a low reflectivity. The black matrix can also be commensurate with film thickness with the color matrix. No photo lithographic process is required in preparing the color filter and black matrix. Various modified forms of embodiments of the method of manufacturing a color display are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Tryonics Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Tomoyori, Akira Fujishima, Kazuhito Hashimoto