Patents Examined by Tiep H. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 5995189
    Abstract: The present invention related to unifying steps of sealing material so that the yield and the reliability of a liquid-crystal display device become high. A starting film of scanning lines is patterned so that prismatic dummy wirings 301 for the first layer which are not electrically connected are formed in regions R1 and R2, and wirings 302 extending from the pixel section are formed in a region R3, and wirings 303 having connection end portions 303a are formed in a region R4. After an interlayer insulation film is formed on those surface, the starting film of the signal lines is patterned so that the dummy wirings 304 for the second layer are formed to embed the gaps between the wirings 301 to 303, and also the wirings 305 and the wirings 303 which extend from the pixel portion are connected to each other. As a result, the cross-sectional structure along the line A-A' of the sealing material formation region 107 can be unified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hongyong Zhang
  • Patent number: 5955728
    Abstract: A method for detecting the point of origin of a position sensor such as an optical linear scale by first displacing an object member whose position is to be determined until it butts against a mechanical stopper, then determining the position of the object member at the mechanical stopper and using that position as a reference position for the point of origin, and thereafter detecting the position of the object member by means of the position sensor, thereby detecting the position of the object member relative to the point of origin. In another embodiment, a first point of origin signal is obtained from an optical linear scale used as a position sensor and stored in response to latching signal generated at an end point of travel of the object member. Subsequently, when a second point of origin signal from the optical linear scale is compared with the first point of origin signal, any deviation from the first point of origin signal may be corrected based on the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Akihito Nakayama
  • Patent number: 5953090
    Abstract: A reflection type color liquid crystal display apparatus comprising a polarizing plate 1 having an absorbing axis 18, a birefringent plate 3, a liquid crystal layer 6 and a reflection layer 8 wherein the absorbing axis 18, a first orientation 14, a second orientation 15, a first optical anisotropic axis 16 and a second anisotropic axis 17 are set so as to form predetermined crossing angles .theta..sub.1, .theta..sub.2, .theta..sub.3, .theta..sub.4, and selected voltage values of at least three values are applied to the liquid crystal layer 6 from a multiplex driving circuit 10.Without using a color filter, a very bright chromatic color (white or black) is displayed at the time of an OFF waveform even in multiplex driving, and development of colors of very bright red, blue and green can be obtained with a selection voltage or an intermediate voltage between the selection voltage and a non-selection voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Ozeki, Haruki Mori, Eiji Shidoji, Toshihiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5943112
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a first electrode pattern formed on the first substrate, a first molecular orientation film, formed on the first substrate to cover the first electrode pattern, for orienting liquid crystal molecules. The display device further includes a second substrate formed in a position parallel to and apart from the first substrate, a second electrode pattern formed on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate, a second molecular orientation film, formed on the second substrate to cover the second electrode pattern, for orienting the liquid crystal molecules. And the display device further includes a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer filled in a gap between the first molecular orientation film and the second molecular orientation film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Akihiro Mochizuki, Tetsuya Makino, Toshiaki Narusawa
  • Patent number: 5940152
    Abstract: A dual-Fresnel field lens liquid crystal display projection system which includes first and second flat Fresnel lenses having their faceted surfaces facing one another and positioned adjacent to one another along the optical axis of the system between a liquid crystal display light modulator and the entrance aperture to a projection lens assembly to form a field lens assembly for the projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventors: Stephen S. Wilson, Benjamin Wooley, Ronald F. Rykowski
  • Patent number: 5936696
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus including a heater for heating the liquid crystal light valve. The heater includes a transparent electrically conductive film formed on a transparent substrate and is supplied with electric power therethrough to generate heat. The supplied electric power is controlled in accordance with the temperature of the liquid crystal light valve so that the liquid crystal layer in the liquid crystal light valve is in its optimum operating temperature range. The heater may include a filter through which the illumination luminous flux is incident upon the liquid crystal light valve. The filter passes only visible light when inclined within a certain range of angle with the luminous flux, and passes a progressively large amount of heat rays with increasing deviation of the angle from the certain range. A cold mirror and reflecting mirror may be used in place of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Daijogo, Shinsuke Shikama
  • Patent number: 5936694
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing a liquid crystal between a pair of substrates each provided with an electrode to provide an effective optical modulation region and a peripheral region. At least one substrate of the pair of substrates comprises an intermediate layer disposed between the substrate and the electrode in the effective optical modulation region and the peripheral region, and the electrode on the intermediate layer comprises a first electrode disposed at least in the effective optical modulation region and a second electrode disposed in the peripheral region. The first and second electrodes are separated from each other. The intermediate layer may preferably include a color filter, a light-interrupting layer and a coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Suzuki, Noriyuki Nakai, Masayuki Shimamune
  • Patent number: 5929951
    Abstract: A display apparatus is constituted by a planar display device and a planar illumination device therefor. A lowering in light quantity at a periphery of the planar illumination device is prevented by inserting a reflection member, such as a reflection frame, having an inside reflection surface along the periphery of the illumination device, or a combination of a scattering means and a transparent sheet member between the display device and the illumination device. A plurality of the display apparatus may be combined to allow an associate movement thereof so as to constitute a composite display apparatus, such as a head-mount display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Sasakura, Noritaka Mochizuki, Hiroaki Hoshi
  • Patent number: 5923389
    Abstract: A plasma addressed electro-optical display which is capable of formation of amalgams in the terminal electrodes to elongate the lifetime of the plasma addressed electro-optical display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Seki
  • Patent number: 5920366
    Abstract: A multi-contact LCD heater system which include several contacts disposed around the periphery of a resistive film deposited on a substrate in which each contact is dynamically controlled in response to input from various temperature sensors. The control allows for each contact to be connected to a high potential or a low potential source or remain isolated. Spatial, temporal and amplitude modulation of the heat applied to the LCD is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. Dehmlow, Scott A. Bottorf, Gary D. Bishop, Martin J. Steffensmeier, James D. Sampica, Mark C. Skarohlid, William S. Ebeltoft
  • Patent number: 5917568
    Abstract: An optically addressed, optical relaying device placed between crossed polarizers utilizes an array of pixels made up of photodetectors, circuitry, and modulating pads, and an analog liquid crystal to modulate the intensity of an optical signal on a pixel by pixel basis. The photodetector generates a current proportional to the light detected. Once the current exceeds a certain level, the circuitry stores a charge on the modulating pad proportional to the photo-induced current. This stored charge rotates the molecules of the liquid crystal thereby rotating the polarization of the light signal. The output polarizer then attenuates the light beam according to the change in polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado
    Inventors: Kristina Mary Johnson, Ido Bar-Tana, Douglas John McKnight
  • Patent number: 5917564
    Abstract: Methods of forming active matrix display devices with reduced susceptibility to image sticking include the steps of forming a gate electrode on a face of a substrate and then forming a first insulating layer on the gate electrode and on the face to electrically isolate the gate electrode from adjacent regions. A first amorphous semiconductor layer is then formed on the first insulating layer. In particular, the first amorphous semiconductor layer, which acts as the active region of the TFT, is patterned to extend opposite the gate electrode. A channel protection layer is also formed on the first amorphous semiconductor layer. The channel protection layer is designed to protect the channel portion of the active region in the first amorphous semiconductor layer from potential damage which may occur during subsequent process steps. Then, the first insulating layer and the channel protection layer are etched simultaneously until the face of the substrate is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electornics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Gyu Kim, Won-Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 5914759
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp L is arranged in the vicinity of an incidence surface 2 of a light scattering guide plate 1. A prism sheet 4' having rows of prism elements and rows of lens elements on each side is arranged outside an exiting surface 5. The angles of inclination of slopes 4a and 4b satisfy a condition that .phi.a>.phi.b. The slopes 4a and 4b extend in the transverse direction of the light scattering guide plate 1, and slopes 4c and 4d extend in the longitudinal direction. A reflector 3 is arranged along a rear surface 6. Light emitted from the exiting surface 5 is efficiently propagated by an inner prism surface toward a forward direction, shifted in the transverse direction by an outer prism surface or the lens element surfaces 4c and 4d, and is then returned inwardly. The path histories of light emitted from the prism sheet 4' is diversified to improve visual characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Nitto Jushi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eizaburo Higuchi, Yasuhiro Koike
  • Patent number: 5910829
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: first and second substrates opposing each other; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates; a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of signal lines formed on the first substrate so as to cross each other, the scanning lines and the signal lines defining a plurality of pixel regions arranged in a matrix; a plurality of switching elements each provided in one of the pixel regions in a vicinity of an intersection of the scanning lines and the signal lines; a color filter provided on the second substrate, the color filter including a plurality of colored portions; and a light blocking layer provided on the second substrate, the light blocking layer being formed of at least one of materials that are used for the plurality of colored portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimada, Yuzuru Kanemori, Mikio Katayama, Shinya Tanaka, Masumi Kubo
  • Patent number: 5907380
    Abstract: A liquid crystal cell has a first substrate having a pixel electrode formed thereon, wherein the pixel electrode has a characteristic width; and a second substrate having a transparent conductive electrode layer formed thereon. Liquid crystal material is disposed between the pixel electrode and the transparent electrode layer. A wall of transparent conductive material projects from the transparent conductive electrode layer toward the liquid crystal material. The width of the wall is less than the characteristic width of the pixel electrode. The wall may comprise a transparent material layer formed on the second substrate and the transparent conductive electrode layer formed on the layer of transparent material. In the alternative, the wall may comprise a transparent conductive material layer formed on the transparent conductive electrode layer. The wall provides a lateral field that controls tilt direction of said liquid crystal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Shui-Chih Alan Lien
  • Patent number: 5905556
    Abstract: In an in-plane liquid crystal display apparatus including a ladder type source electrode having two first parallel sides and a plurality of first cross-pieces between the first parallel sides, and a ladder type common electrode having two second parallel sides and a plurality of second cross-pieces between the second parallel sides, the ladder type source electrode and the ladder type common electrode define one pixel area divided into a plurality of sub pixel areas. Each of the sub pixel areas is partitioned by one of the first parallel sides, one of the first cross-pieces, one of the second parallel sides and one of the second cross-pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Teruaki Suzuki, Shinichi Nishida, Masayoshi Suzuki, Takahiko Watanabe, Makoto Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5905547
    Abstract: The present invention provides an information recording medium having a liquid crystal phase, which can be repeatedly used. In an information recording medium where an information recording layer comprising a liquid crystal phase and a resin phase is laminated on an electrode, a mixture containing a smectic liquid crystal having good memory property and a liquid crystal having low memory property is used as the liquid crystal phase, the information recorded on the liquid crystal disappears as time elapses without being heated and the information recording medium can be repeatedly used for further information recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: DAI Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Shimizu, Hironori Kamiyama, Shyouji Takeshige
  • Patent number: 5899551
    Abstract: Display device (1) comprising an illumination system (3) having a radiation source (17; 31, 35) for supplying a radiation beam. The display device (1) also comprises a diffusing display panel (5). This panel (5) consists of an optically active diffusing medium (7) which is switchable between a transparent, polarization-maintaining state and a diffusing, depolarizing state for the radiation beam. The medium (7) is present between a first polarizer (9) having a first state of polarization and a second polarizer (11) having a second, complementary state of polarization. At least the first polarizer (9) is a reflecting polarizer and polarization-converting means (10) are arranged at a side of the first polarizer (9) facing away from the display panel (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Jacobus H. M. Neijzen, Anthonie H. Bergman
  • Patent number: 5897187
    Abstract: Electric field adjusting layers each of which is different from an aligning film in at least one of a resistivity and a dielectric constant are formed in each pixel on a pixel electrode of a first substrate. An electric field applied to a liquid crystal partially changes in each pixel, and regions which are different from each other in aligned state are formed in each pixel. Therefore, a field angle is widened. A value .DELTA.n.d of the liquid crystal is preferably set to be 600 nm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Aoki, Tetsushi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5894361
    Abstract: A display unit which allows stereoscopic images to be displayed on a direct-vision liquid crystal panel is provided. The display unit has the formation in which liquid crystal is sandwiched in a gap between a pair of glass substrates. When linearly polarized lights whose polarizing directions are differentiated by 90.degree. from each other by a .pi. cell are input alternately to the liquid crystal, images to be displayed turn out as two images whose polarizing directions differ by 90.degree. from each other and which are displayed in a time-division manner. The images may be perceived as a stereoscopic image by viewing them by glasses having polarizing directions different by 90.degree. for right and left eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yoshiharu Hirakata, Satoshi Teramoto, Jun Koyama