Patents by Inventor Akio Endo

Akio Endo has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20190148656
    Abstract: A highly portable and highly browsable light-emitting device is provided. A light-emitting device that is less likely to be broken is provided. The light-emitting device has a strip-like region having high flexibility and a strip-like region having low flexibility that are arranged alternately. In the region having high flexibility, a light-emitting panel and a plurality of spacers overlap with each other. In the region having low flexibility, the light-emitting panel and a support overlap with each other. When the region having high flexibility is bent, the angle between normals of facing planes of the two adjacent spacers changes according to the bending of the light-emitting panel; thus, a neutral plane can be formed in the light-emitting panel or in the vicinity of the light-emitting panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Masaaki HIROKI, Akio ENDO
  • Patent number: 10254796
    Abstract: An electronic device with a large display region and improved portability is provided. An electronic device with improved reliability is provided. The information processing device includes a first film, a second film, a panel substrate, and at least a first housing. The panel substrate has flexibility and includes a display region. The first film has visible light transmittance and flexibility, and the second film has flexibility. The first housing includes a first slit, the panel substrate includes a region interposed between the first film and the second film, the first slit is configured to store the region, and one or more of the panel substrate, the first film, and the second film can slide along the first slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Isa, Akio Endo, Yosuke Tsukamoto, Jun Koyama
  • Publication number: 20190086059
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a strip-like high flexibility region and a strip-like low flexibility region arranged alternately in a direction. The high flexibility region includes a flexible light-emitting panel. The low flexibility region includes the light-emitting panel and a support panel having a lower flexibility than that of the light-emitting panel and overlapping with the light-emitting panel. It is preferable that the light-emitting panel include an external connection electrode and that a length in the direction of a low flexibility region A that overlaps with the external connection electrode be longer than a length in the direction of a low flexibility region B that is closest to the region A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Yoshiharu HIRAKATA, Akio ENDO
  • Patent number: 10199585
    Abstract: A highly portable and highly browsable light-emitting device is provided. A light-emitting device that is less likely to be broken is provided. The light-emitting device has a strip-like region having high flexibility and a strip-like region having low flexibility that are arranged alternately. In the region having high flexibility, a light-emitting panel and a plurality of spacers overlap with each other. In the region having low flexibility, the light-emitting panel and a support overlap with each other. When the region having high flexibility is bent, the angle between normals of facing planes of the two adjacent spacers changes according to the bending of the light-emitting panel; thus, a neutral plane can be formed in the light-emitting panel or in the vicinity of the light-emitting panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Hiroki, Akio Endo
  • Patent number: 10125955
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a strip-like high flexibility region and a strip-like low flexibility region arranged alternately in a direction. The high flexibility region includes a flexible light-emitting panel. The low flexibility region includes the light-emitting panel and a support panel having a lower flexibility than that of the light-emitting panel and overlapping with the light-emitting panel. it is preferable that the light-emitting panel include an external connection electrode and that a length in the direction of a low flexibility region A that overlaps with the external connection electrode be longer than a length in the direction of a low flexibility region B that is closest to the region A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Hirakata, Akio Endo
  • Patent number: 10119683
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a strip-like high flexibility region and a strip-like low flexibility region arranged alternately in a direction. The high flexibility region includes a flexible light-emitting panel. The low flexibility region includes the light-emitting panel and a support panel having a lower flexibility than that of the light-emitting panel and overlapping with the light-emitting panel. It is preferable that the light-emitting panel include an external connection electrode and that a length in the direction of a low flexibility region A that overlaps with the external connection electrode be longer than a length in the direction of a low flexibility region B that is closest to the region A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Hirakata, Akio Endo
  • Publication number: 20180246609
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic device with high portability and/or high browsability. The electronic device includes first and second support bodies, a first hinge, and a flexible display panel. The first hinge has a first rotation axis and connects the first and second support bodies to each other, and the first and second support bodies are capable of relatively rotating on the first rotation axis. The display panel includes at least first and second portions supported by the first and second support bodies, respectively; the first rotation axis and a first plane including the display surface overlapping with the first portion or a second plane including the display surface overlapping with the second portion are parallel to each other; and each of a distance between the first rotation axis and the first plane or the second plane is greater than zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Endo, Shigeru Onoya, Masaaki Hiroki
  • Publication number: 20180231216
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a strip-like high flexibility region and a strip-like low flexibility region arranged alternately in a direction. The high flexibility region includes a flexible light-emitting panel. The low flexibility region includes the light-emitting panel and a support panel having a lower flexibility than that of the light-emitting panel and overlapping with the light-emitting panel. It is preferable that the light-emitting panel include an external connection electrode and that a length in the direction of a low flexibility region A that overlaps with the external connection electrode be longer than a length in the direction of a low flexibility region B that is closest to the region A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Yoshiharu HIRAKATA, Akio ENDO
  • Patent number: 9982871
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a strip-like high flexibility region and a strip-like low flexibility region arranged alternately in a direction. The high flexibility region includes a flexible light-emitting panel. The low flexibility region includes the light-emitting panel and a support panel having a lower flexibility than that of the light-emitting panel and overlapping with the light-emitting panel. it is preferable that the light-emitting panel include an external connection electrode and that a length in the direction of a low flexibility region A that overlaps with the external connection electrode be longer than a length in the direction of a low flexibility region B that is closest to the region A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Hirakata, Akio Endo
  • Publication number: 20180130967
    Abstract: A highly portable and highly browsable light-emitting device is provided. A light-emitting device that is less likely to be broken is provided. The light-emitting device has a strip-like region having high flexibility and a strip-like region having low flexibility that are arranged alternately. In the region having high flexibility, a light-emitting panel and a plurality of spacers overlap with each other. In the region having low flexibility, the light-emitting panel and a support overlap with each other. When the region having high flexibility is bent, the angle between normals of facing planes of the two adjacent spacers changes according to the bending of the light-emitting panel; thus, a neutral plane can be formed in the light-emitting panel or in the vicinity of the light-emitting panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Masaaki HIROKI, Akio ENDO
  • Patent number: 9958976
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic device with high portability and/or high browsability. The electronic device includes first and second support bodies, a first hinge, and a flexible display panel. The first hinge has a first rotation axis and connects the first and second support bodies to each other, and the first and second support bodies are capable of relatively rotating on the first rotation axis. The display panel includes at least first and second portions supported by the first and second support bodies, respectively; the first rotation axis and a first plane including the display surface overlapping with the first portion or a second plane including the display surface overlapping with the second portion are parallel to each other; and each of a distance between the first rotation axis and the first plane or the second plane is greater than zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Endo, Shigeru Onoya, Masaaki Hiroki
  • Publication number: 20180058665
    Abstract: To provide a support for supporting a flexible component and a light-emitting device. A first substrate, a second substrate, a rack, a pinion, and a hinge are provided. When the second substrate is moved, the rotational force of the pinion is transmitted to the rack of the first substrate and thus the first substrate is moved in the horizontal direction while being overlapped with one of hinge pieces of the hinge; accordingly, the flexible component can be bent while the flexible component is fixed to the first substrate and the second substrate and the allowable curvature radius is maintained in the vicinity of the hinge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventor: Akio ENDO
  • Patent number: 9818961
    Abstract: A highly portable and highly browsable light-emitting device is provided. A light-emitting device that is less likely to be broken is provided. The light-emitting device has a strip-like region having high flexibility and a strip-like region having low flexibility that are arranged alternately. In the region having high flexibility, a light-emitting panel and a plurality of spacers overlap with each other. In the region having low flexibility, the light-emitting panel and a support overlap with each other. When the region having high flexibility is bent, the angle between normals of facing planes of the two adjacent spacers changes according to the bending of the light-emitting panel; thus, a neutral plane can be formed in the light-emitting panel or in the vicinity of the light-emitting panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Hiroki, Akio Endo
  • Patent number: 9810406
    Abstract: To provide a support for supporting a flexible component and a light-emitting device. A first substrate, a second substrate, a rack, a pinion, and a hinge are provided. When the second substrate is moved, the rotational force of the pinion is transmitted to the rack of the first substrate and thus the first substrate is moved in the horizontal direction while being overlapped with one of hinge pieces of the hinge; accordingly, the flexible component can be bent while the flexible component is fixed to the first substrate and the second substrate and the allowable curvature radius is maintained in the vicinity of the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Endo
  • Publication number: 20170315589
    Abstract: An electronic device with a large display region and improved portability is provided. An electronic device with improved reliability is provided. The information processing device includes a first film, a second film, a panel substrate, and at least a first housing. The panel substrate has flexibility and includes a display region. The first film has visible light transmittance and flexibility, and the second film has flexibility. The first housing includes a first slit, the panel substrate includes a region interposed between the first film and the second film, the first slit is configured to store the region, and one or more of the panel substrate, the first film, and the second film can slide along the first slit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki ISA, Akio ENDO, Yosuke TSUKAMOTO, Jun KOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20170268750
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a strip-like high flexibility region and a strip-like low flexibility region arranged alternately in a direction. The high flexibility region includes a flexible light-emitting panel. The low flexibility region includes the light-emitting panel and a support panel having a lower flexibility than that of the light-emitting panel and overlapping with the light-emitting panel. it is preferable that the light-emitting panel include an external connection electrode and that a length in the direction of a low flexibility region A that overlaps with the external connection electrode be longer than a length in the direction of a low flexibility region B that is closest to the region A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Yoshiharu HIRAKATA, Akio ENDO
  • Publication number: 20170250156
    Abstract: An imaging system using ultraviolet light or a manufacturing apparatus including the imaging system is provided. An imaging system includes an imaging element and a light source, which operates the imaging element with light that is emitted from the light source and reflected or transmitted by an object. A pixel included in the imaging element includes a photoelectric conversion element and a charge holding part. The light source has a function of emitting ultraviolet light to an object. The photoelectric conversion element is irradiated with the ultraviolet light reflected or transmitted by the object. The photoelectric conversion element has a function of changing the potential of the charge holding part when irradiated with the ultraviolet light and retaining the potential when not irradiated with the ultraviolet light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Akio ENDO, Yusuke YOSHITANI, Jun KOYAMA, Naoto KUSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 9719665
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a strip-like high flexibility region and a strip-like low flexibility region arranged alternately in a direction. The high flexibility region includes a flexible light-emitting panel. The low flexibility region includes the light-emitting panel and a support panel having a lower flexibility than that of the light-emitting panel and overlapping with the light-emitting panel. It is preferable that the light-emitting panel include an external connection electrode and that a length in the direction of a low flexibility region A that overlaps with the external connection electrode be longer than a length in the direction of a low flexibility region B that is closest to the region A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Hirakata, Akio Endo
  • Publication number: 20170177130
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic device with high portability and/or high browsability. The electronic device includes first and second support bodies, a first hinge, and a flexible display panel. The first hinge has a first rotation axis and connects the first and second support bodies to each other, and the first and second support bodies are capable of relatively rotating on the first rotation axis. The display panel includes at least first and second portions supported by the first and second support bodies, respectively; the first rotation axis and a first plane including the display surface overlapping with the first portion or a second plane including the display surface overlapping with the second portion are parallel to each other; and each of a distance between the first rotation axis and the first plane or the second plane is greater than zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Akio ENDO, Shigeru ONOYA, Masaaki HIROKI
  • Patent number: 9588549
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic device with high portability and/or high browsability. The electronic device includes first and second support bodies, a first hinge, and a flexible display panel. The first hinge has a first rotation axis and connects the first and second support bodies to each other, and the first and second support bodies are capable of relatively rotating on the first rotation axis. The display panel includes at least first and second portions supported by the first and second support bodies, respectively; the first rotation axis and a first plane including the display surface overlapping with the first portion or a second plane including the display surface overlapping with the second portion are parallel to each other; and each of a distance between the first rotation axis and the first plane or the second plane is greater than zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Endo, Shigeru Onoya, Masaaki Hiroki