Patents by Inventor Eiji Satoh

Eiji Satoh 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).

  • Patent number: 9366902
    Abstract: A display device capable of emitting sufficient fluorescence is provided without an increase in the thickness of the liquid crystal layer. The device includes: a fluorescent emission layer (23) having fluorescent pigment molecules that absorb light to emit fluorescence; and a liquid crystal layer (4) capable of switching between a transparent state and a scattering state. The fluorescent pigment molecules are dichroic fluorescent pigment molecules (23a) with different emission intensities depending on the direction of emission. The dichroic fluorescent pigment molecules (23a) in the fluorescent emission layer (23) are oriented so as to have transition dipole moments with the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi Asaoka, Kiyoshi Minoura, Kazuhiro Deguchi, Eiji Satoh, Sayuri Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9366915
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel (100A) includes: a first substrate (2) and a second substrate (3), a liquid crystal layer (1) retained between the first substrate (2) and the second substrate (3), and plurality of pixels. The liquid crystal layer (1) has a first liquid crystal region (81) and a second liquid crystal region (82) provided outside the first liquid crystal region (81). The first liquid crystal region (81) is essentially composed of a nematic liquid crystal material alone, whereas the second liquid crystal region (82) has a plurality of liquid crystal subregions (11) containing a nematic liquid crystal material and polymer-containing walls (12) formed between adjacent ones of the plurality of liquid crystal subregions (11). The plurality of pixels include pixels accounting for the first liquid crystal region (81) and pixels accounting for the second liquid crystal region (82).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisashi Watanabe, Akira Sakai, Yuichi Iyama, Akiko Miyazaki, Eiji Satoh, Yasushi Asaoka
  • Patent number: 9360697
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel (100A) according to an embodiment of the present invention is a liquid crystal display panel including: a first substrate (2) having a pixel electrode (4) formed thereon; a second substrate (3) opposing the first substrate (2); and a liquid crystal layer (1) retained between the first substrate (2) and the second substrate (3). The liquid crystal layer (1) edges near at least one of side faces of the liquid crystal display panel (100A), and includes a black layer (52) in contact with the side face of the liquid crystal layer (1) along which the liquid crystal layer (1) edges near at least one of the side faces of the liquid crystal display panel (100A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Iyama, Hisashi Watanabe, Eiji Satoh, Yasushi Asaoka, Akira Sakai, Akiko Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20160116814
    Abstract: A modulation layer in a display device is made of a dispersion liquid including: a plurality of shape-anisotropic members that, by rotating or moving in accordance with changes in the magnitude of frequency of an applied voltage, change the area thereof projected onto substrates in a direction normal to the substrates; a dispersion medium; and a thickening agent. When shear stress applied to the dispersion liquid is high, the thickening agent reduces the viscosity of the dispersion liquid more than when shear stress is low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoko TERANISHI, Eiji SATOH, Takuma TOMOTOSHI, Takahiro NAKAHARA
  • Patent number: 9304369
    Abstract: A display panel includes: a substrate constituted by an active matrix substrate; a substrate opposite the substrate; and a light modulation layer interposed between the substrates. The change in the magnitude or the frequency of the voltage applied between a pixel electrode and a common electrode rotates a shape-anisometric member in the light modulation layer, and the pixel electrode extends over a scan signal line over an insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohzoh Nakamura, Eiji Satoh, Hisashi Watanabe, Takahiro Nakahara
  • Patent number: 9298059
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transflective display device which is high in transmittance, can secure sufficient brightness in display, and can display black. A transflective display device 1 includes a display panel 2 and a backlight 3. The display panel 2 includes a substrate 10 having an electrode 12. a substrate 20 having an electrode 22, and an optical modulation layer 30 containing shape-anisotropic members 32. A frequency of a voltage to be applied to the electrodes 12 and 22 is changed so as to rotate the shape-anisotropic members 32. When the shape-anisotropic members 32 are oriented such that their major axes extend in parallel with one of the substrates on which the shape-anisotropic members 32 abut, multiple reflection of incoming light is caused, and thus black is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Nakahara, Eiji Satoh, Kohzoh Nakamura, Hisashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9291812
    Abstract: This light modulation panel is provided with: a first substrate having comb electrodes disposed on a uniformly planar electrode with an insulating layer therebetween; a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate and provided with a uniformly planar electrode; a light modulation layer obtained by dispersing anisometric members in a medium; and formed between the substrates; and a circuit for changing the direction in which an electric field is applied, which changes the direction of an electric field applied to the light modulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Satoh, Kohzoh Nakamura, Hisashi Watanabe, Takahiro Nakahara
  • Patent number: 9291855
    Abstract: A light modulation layer of a display panel in the present invention includes shape-anisotropic members and liquid crystal molecules. The projected area of the shape-anisotropic members on a first substrate and a second substrate is changed by altering the voltage applied to the light modulation layer, which changes the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules. According to the present invention, it is possible to increase light use efficiency with a simple configuration and to control light/dark switching in both directions at a high switching speed. The present invention is applicable to a television.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Satoh, Kohzoh Nakamura, Hisashi Watanabe, Takahiro Nakahara
  • Patent number: 9250475
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (100A) of the present invention includes a liquid crystal layer (1) and first and second alignment films (12, 13) which are provided with an alignment treatment. The liquid crystal layer (1) includes, in each of the pixels, a plurality of first small sections (14a) separated by a wall (10) and the first alignment film (12) and a plurality of second small sections (14b) separated by the wall (10) and the second alignment film (13). Each of the plurality of first small sections (14a) has a first liquid crystal region (11a). Each of the plurality of second small sections (14b) has a second liquid crystal region (11b). Each of the first and second liquid crystal regions (11a, 11b) includes a nematic liquid crystal material and a dichromatic dye (21a, 21b). The dichromatic dye (21a) of the first liquid crystal region (11a) is aligned along the alignment direction of the first alignment film (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Asaoka, Kiyoshi Minoura, Eiji Satoh, Sayuri Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9201253
    Abstract: A display device (100A) includes a first substrate (11) and second substrate (41) that are placed so as to face each other; active color filter layers (32) which are placed between the first substrate (11) and the second substrate (41), which have memory properties, and which become in a colored state or an uncolored state depending on the voltage applied thereto; and a light-modulating layer (17) for controlling the intensity or degree of scattering of light incident on the active color filter layers (32) or the intensity or degree of scattering of light passing through the active color filter layers (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Satoh, Akio Miyata, Kazuhiro Deguchi
  • Patent number: 9164347
    Abstract: A display device (100A) according to the present invention includes a first substrate (11), a second substrate (21) facing the first substrate (11), a first electrode (15) formed on the first substrate (11), a second electrode (25) formed on the second substrate (21), and an electrochromic layer (17) provided between the first electrode (15) and the second electrode (25) and containing an oxidation coloring-type dye and a reduction coloring-type dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Deguchi, Eiji Satoh, Akio Miyata
  • Publication number: 20150287380
    Abstract: An optical device (100) includes a first substrate (10) and a second substrate (20), and an optical layer (30) interposed therebetween. The first substrate includes a first electrode (11) and a second electrode (12), and the second substrate includes a third electrode (21). The optical layer contains a medium (31) and anisotropically-shaped particles (32) whose alignment direction changes in accordance with the direction of an electric field applied to the optical layer. The first electrode and the second electrode, which are interdigitated electrodes, are disposed so that their respective branches (11a, 12a) mesh with one another via a predetermined interspace. The relationships w1<l, w2<l and g?l—w1+w2+g are satisfied, where w1 is the width of each branch of the first electrode, w2 is the width of each branch of the second electrode, g is the predetermined interspace, and l is the length of the anisotropically-shaped particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Imaoku, Iori Aoyama, Tsuyoshi Inoue, Hiroyuki Moriwaki, Eiji Satoh
  • Patent number: 9134475
    Abstract: A front light (1) includes a light source (8), a light guide plate (9), and a plurality of dots (4) that are provided on a surface of the light guide plate (9), which surface faces a light exit surface of the light guide plate (9). Each of the plurality of dots (4) includes (i) a light reflective layer (2) for reflecting light toward the light guide plate (9), and (ii) a dark layer (3) for absorbing light, the dark layer completely covering the light reflective layer (2) so as to be in contact with the light guide plate (9) without any gap between the light guide plate (9) and the dark layer (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisashi Watanabe, Tomoko Teranishi, Toshiki Matsuoka, Takahiro Nakahara, Takuma Tomotoshi, Eiji Satoh, Kohzoh Nakamura, Yohzoh Narutaki
  • Publication number: 20150241753
    Abstract: Provided are a display panel and a display device in which light usage efficiency can be improved using a simple structure. A light modulating layer disposed between substrates of a display panel includes a polar solvent, a non-polar solvent, and hydrophilic shape-anisotropic members. The hydrophilic substrate is in contact with the polar solvent and the hydrophobic substrate is in contact with the non-polar solvent. The disposition of the shape-anisotropic hydrophilic members in the light modulating layer is varied by varying the voltage applied to the light modulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Satoh, Tomoko Teranishi, Takuma Tomotoshi, Takahiro Nakahara
  • Publication number: 20150234249
    Abstract: A display panel includes: a substrate constituted by an active matrix substrate; a substrate opposite the substrate; and a light modulation layer interposed between the substrates. The change in the magnitude or the frequency of the voltage applied between a pixel electrode and a common electrode rotates a shape-anisometric member in the light modulation layer, and the pixel electrode extends over a scan signal line over an insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohzoh Nakamura, Eiji Satoh, Hisashi Watanabe, Takahiro Nakahara
  • Publication number: 20150226961
    Abstract: The present invention provides a moth-eye film that is not likely to cause condensation on the surface. A moth-eye film including: a resin composition that, when formed into a flat film, has a contact angle with water of larger than 5° but smaller than 31.3°, the contact angle measured between a surface of the flat film and a droplet of water dropped onto the surface of the flat film, after 100 msec from contact of the droplet and the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Minoura, Akinobu Isurugi, Tomoko Teranishi, Eiji Satoh
  • Publication number: 20150219946
    Abstract: The present invention provides a display panel that exhibits increased light use efficiency and decreased occurrence of display anomalies. The display panel includes substrates; a light modulating layer that contains shape-anisotropic members that rotate according to the direction of an electric field and that controls the transmittance of incident light by changing the area projected onto the substrates by the shape-anisotropic members; and supporting members that support the shape-anisotropic members and are rotatably connected thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2013
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Satoh, Takuma Tomotoshi, Tomoko Teranishi, Takahiro Nakahara
  • Publication number: 20150192807
    Abstract: A display panel (2) in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes: substrates (10) and (20) which are provided so as to face each other; and an optical modulation layer (30) including a plurality of shape anisotropy members (32) each of which includes (i) a core that is an electric conductor and (ii) a covering layer that is a dielectric and that covers an entire periphery of the core. The display panel (2) changes an area of each image of the plurality of shape anisotropy members (32) which image is projected on the substrates (10) and (20), by changing a voltage to be applied to the optical modulation layer (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventor: Eiji Satoh
  • Publication number: 20150179139
    Abstract: Provided is a display apparatus which is capable of indicating information, such as a name of a manufacturer, while achieving a state wherein a frame region is narrow or the frame region is not seen, at the time of providing images to a user. A display apparatus has: a first display panel that has a first display region; and a second display panel that is disposed on the observer side of the first display region. When the first display panel is in a display state, the second display panel becomes transparent, and when the first display panel is in a non-display state, the second display panel displays previously determined information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisashi Watanabe, Eiji Satoh
  • Publication number: 20150146131
    Abstract: A light modulation layer of a display panel in the present invention includes shape-anisotropic members and liquid crystal molecules. The projected area of the shape-anisotropic members on a first substrate and a second substrate is changed by altering the voltage applied to the light modulation layer, which changes the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules. According to the present invention, it is possible to increase light use efficiency with a simple configuration and to control light/dark switching in both directions at a high switching speed. The present invention is applicable to a television.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Satoh, Kohzoh Nakamura, Hisashi Watanabe, Takahiro Nakahara