Patents by Inventor Hidehiro Sonoda

Hidehiro Sonoda 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: 11914254
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprising a TFT substrate having pixels each including a common electrode formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film formed so as to cover the common electrode, a pixel electrode having a slit and formed on the interlayer insulating film, a through-hole formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, and a source electrode electrically conducted to the pixel electrode via the through-hole. A taper angle at a depth of D/2 of the through-hole is equal to or more than 50 degrees. The pixel electrode covers part of a side wall of the through-hole but does not cover the remaining part of the side wall of the through-hole. This configuration facilitates the alignment film material to flow into the through-hole, thereby solving a thickness unevenness of the alignment film in vicinity of the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Toshimasa Ishigaki, Hidehiro Sonoda, Sumito Ueta
  • Patent number: 11906857
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, a common electrode is formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed on the common electrode, a pixel electrode with a slit is formed on the interlayer insulating film, and a through hole is formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, so that the pixel electrode is connected to a source electrode of a TFT through the through hole. Further, the taper angle around the upper base of the through hole is smaller than the taper angle around the lower base. Thus, the alignment film material can easily flow into the through hole when the diameter of the through hole is reduced to connect the pixel and source electrodes, preventing display defects such as uneven brightness due to the absence of the alignment film or due to the alignment film irregularity around the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Yosuke Hyodo, Hidehiro Sonoda, Noboru Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 11852923
    Abstract: A reliability of seal portion of a liquid crystal display device can be improved by the following structure. A liquid crystal display device includes: a TFT substrate which includes a display region and a terminal part, and has an inorganic insulating film formed on an organic passivation film and an alignment film formed over the inorganic insulating film; a counter substrate, the TFT substrate and the counter substrate bonded together by a sealing material formed at a seal part surrounding the display region; and a liquid crystal sealed inside. At the seal part, a transparent conductive oxide film is formed between the inorganic insulating film and the alignment film. The transparent conductive oxide film exists inside an edge of the TFT substrate and hence, the edge of the TFT substrate is free of the transparent conductive oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Takenori Hirota, Yasuhiro Kanaya, Hidehiro Sonoda, Toshiki Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20230288759
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, a common electrode is formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed on the common electrode, a pixel electrode with a slit is formed on the interlayer insulating film, and a through hole is formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, so that the pixel electrode is connected to a source electrode of a TFT through the through hole. Further, the taper angle around the upper base of the through hole is smaller than the taper angle around the lower base. Thus, the alignment film material can easily flow into the through hole when the diameter of the through hole is reduced to connect the pixel and source electrodes, preventing display defects such as uneven brightness due to the absence of the alignment film or due to the alignment film irregularity around the through hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Yosuke HYODO, Hidehiro SONODA, Noboru KUNIMATSU
  • Publication number: 20230273483
    Abstract: Disclosed is a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device which is a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal alignment film to which an alignment regulating force is imparted by a photo-alignment treatment, including: a film forming step of forming a film containing a polymer whose main chain is cleaved by irradiation with light; a photo-alignment step of imparting an alignment regulating force to the film formed in the film forming step by irradiation of the film with light in an atmosphere of a temperature lower than 100° C.; and a removing step of removing a low-molecular weight component generated by cleaving the main chain of the polymer through the light irradiation after the light irradiation. Also disclosed is a liquid crystal display device manufactured by the manufacturing method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Shoichi UCHINO, Noboru KUNIMATSU, Hidehiro SONODA, Chikae MATSUI, Yuko MATSUMOTO, Tomio YAGUCHI, Toshiki KANEKO, Jun TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20230236463
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprising a TFT substrate having pixels each including a common electrode formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film formed so as to cover the common electrode, a pixel electrode having a slit and formed on the interlayer insulating film, a through-hole formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, and a source electrode electrically conducted to the pixel electrode via the through-hole. A taper angle at a depth of D/2 of the through-hole is equal to or more than 50 degrees. The pixel electrode covers part of a side wall of the through-hole but does not cover the remaining part of the side wall of the through-hole. This configuration facilitates the alignment film material to flow into the through-hole, thereby solving a thickness unevenness of the alignment film in vicinity of the through-hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Toshimasa Ishigaki, Hidehiro Sonoda, Sumito Ueta
  • Patent number: 11681184
    Abstract: Disclosed is a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device which is a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal alignment film to which an alignment regulating force is imparted by a photo-alignment treatment, including: a film forming step of forming a film containing a polymer whose main chain is cleaved by irradiation with light; a photo-alignment step of imparting an alignment regulating force to the film formed in the film forming step by irradiation of the film with light in an atmosphere of a temperature lower than 100° C.; and a removing step of removing a low-molecular weight component generated by cleaving the main chain of the polymer through the light irradiation after the light irradiation. Also disclosed is a liquid crystal display device manufactured by the manufacturing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Uchino, Noboru Kunimatsu, Hidehiro Sonoda, Chikae Matsui, Yuko Matsumoto, Tomio Yaguchi, Toshiki Kaneko, Jun Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11668982
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, a common electrode is formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed on the common electrode, a pixel electrode with a slit is formed on the interlayer insulating film, and a through hole is formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, so that the pixel electrode is connected to a source electrode of a TFT through the through hole. Further, the taper angle around the upper base of the through hole is smaller than the taper angle around the lower base. Thus, the alignment film material can easily flow into the through hole when the dimeter of the through hole is reduced to connect the pixel and source electrodes, preventing display defects such as uneven brightness due to the absence of the alignment film or due to the alignment film irregularity around the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Yosuke Hyodo, Hidehiro Sonoda, Noboru Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 11650467
    Abstract: To prevent a phenomenon that an alignment film material is difficult to flow into the through-hole where a diameter of a through-hole for connecting between a pixel electrode and a source electrode is reduced. A liquid crystal display device comprising a TFT substrate having pixels each including a common electrode formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film formed so as to cover the common electrode, a pixel electrode having a slit and formed on the interlayer insulating film, a through-hole formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, and a source electrode electrically conducted to the pixel electrode via the through-hole. A taper angle at a depth of D/2 of the through-hole is equal to or more than 50 degrees. The pixel electrode covers part of a side wall of the through-hole but does not cover the remaining part of the side wall of the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Toshimasa Ishigaki, Hidehiro Sonoda, Sumito Ueta
  • Publication number: 20230020723
    Abstract: In a liquid Crystal display device, a common electrode is formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed on the common electrode, a pixel electrode with a slit is formed on the interlayer insulating film, and a through hole is formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, so that the pixel electrode is connected to a source to electrode of a TFT through the through hole. Further, the taper angle around the upper base of the through hole is smaller than the taper angle around the lower base. Thus, the alignment film material can easily flow into the through hole when the dimeter of the through hole is reduced to connect the pixel and source electrodes, preventing display defects such as uneven brightness due to the absence of the alignment film or due to the alignment film irregularity around the through hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Yosuke HYODO, Hidehiro SONODA, Noboru KUNIMATSU
  • Publication number: 20230004053
    Abstract: To prevent a phenomenon that an alignment film material is difficult to flow into the through-hole where a diameter of a through-hole for connecting between a pixel electrode and a source electrode is reduced. A liquid crystal display device comprising a TFT substrate having pixels each including a common electrode formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film formed so as to cover the common electrode, a pixel electrode having a slit and formed on the interlayer insulating film, a through-hole formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, and a source electrode electrically conducted to the pixel electrode via the through-hole. A taper angle at a depth of D/2 of the through-hole is equal to or more than 50 degrees. The pixel electrode covers part of a side wall of the through-hole but does not cover the remaining part of the side wall of the through-hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Toshimasa ISHIGAKI, Hidehiro SONODA, Sumito UETA
  • Patent number: 11513396
    Abstract: An alignment film is given a 2-layer structure comprising a photoalignment film that is photoalignable and a low-resistivity alignment film whose resistivity is smaller than that of the photoalignment film. The photoalignment film is formed by a polyimide whose precursor is polyamide acid alkyl ester, the number molecular weight of the photoalignment film is large, and the stability of alignment of the photoalignment film by photoalignment is excellent. The low-resistivity alignment film is formed by a polyimide whose precursor is polyamide acid, the number molecular weight of the low-resistivity alignment film is small, and the resistivity of the low-resistivity alignment film is small. The 2-layer structure alignment film can be maintaining an excellent photoalignment characteristic, so DC afterimages can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chikae Matsui, Noboru Kunimatsu, Hidehiro Sonoda
  • Patent number: 11480833
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, a common electrode is formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed on the common electrode, a pixel electrode with a slit is formed on the interlayer insulating film, and a through hole is formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, so that the pixel electrode is connected to a source electrode of a TFT through the through hole. Further, the taper angle around the upper base of the through hole is smaller than the taper angle around the lower base. Thus, the alignment film material can easily flow into the through hole when the diameter of the through hole is reduced to connect the pixel and source electrodes, preventing display defects such as uneven brightness due to the absence of the alignment film or due to the alignment film irregularity around the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Yosuke Hyodo, Hidehiro Sonoda, Noboru Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 11480831
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a TFT substrate and a counter substrate and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween. A scanning line, a video signal line, a thin film transistor connected to the scanning line and the video signal line, a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, and a counter electrode are formed on the TFT substrate, and a columnar spacer formed on the counter substrate. The pixel and counter electrodes are transparent, and the liquid crystal layer is controlled by an electric field generated between the pixel and counter electrodes. The counter electrode contacts with a metal line having a first part which is extended in parallel with the scanning line and a second part which is extended in parallel with the video signal line, a width of the first part of the metal line being narrower than a width of the scanning line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co.. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Sonoda, Chikae Matsui, Noboru Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 11474387
    Abstract: A display apparatus (DSP1) includes: a flexible substrate (10) configured to include a region (DA1) and a region (DA2) on its surface; a liquid crystal film (LQ); and a photolytic alignment film configured to be in contact with the liquid crystal film (LQ). A material of the alignment film (AL1) in the region (DA1) is different from a material of the alignment film (AL2) in the region (DA2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Koichi Igeta, Hidehiro Sonoda
  • Patent number: 11474403
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprising a TFT substrate having pixels each including a common electrode formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film formed so as to cover the common electrode, a pixel electrode having a slit and formed on the interlayer insulating film, a through-hole formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, and a source electrode electrically conducted to the pixel electrode via the through-hole. A taper angle at a depth of D/2 of the through-hole is equal to or more than 50 degrees. The pixel electrode covers part of a side wall of the through-hole but does not cover the remaining part of the side wall of the through-hole. This configuration facilitates the alignment film material to flow into the through-hole, thereby solving a thickness unevenness of the alignment film in vicinity of the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Toshimasa Ishigaki, Hidehiro Sonoda, Sumito Ueta
  • Publication number: 20220326577
    Abstract: Disclosed is a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device which is a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal alignment film to which an alignment regulating force is imparted by a photo-alignment treatment, including: a film forming step of forming a film containing a polymer whose main chain is cleaved by irradiation with light; a photo-alignment step of imparting an alignment regulating force to the film formed in the film forming step by irradiation of the film with light in an atmosphere of a temperature lower than 100° C.; and a removing step of removing a low-molecular weight component generated by cleaving the main chain of the polymer through the light irradiation after the light irradiation. Also disclosed is a liquid crystal display device manufactured by the manufacturing method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Shoichi UCHINO, Noboru KUNIMATSU, Hidehiro SONODA, Chikae MATSUI, Yuko MATSUMOTO, Tomio YAGUCHI, Toshiki KANEKO, Jun TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20220315703
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a varnish for a photo alignment film includes an imidization promotor and a first polyamic acid-based compound in an organic solvent. The first polyamic acid-based compound is a polyamic acid or a polyamic acid ester. The imidization promotor has skeleton containing no primary amino group and no secondary amino group. The first polyamic acid-based compound has terminal skeletons containing no primary amino group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Hidehiro SONODA, Takenori Hirota, Yasushi Tomioka, Noboru Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 11391993
    Abstract: Disclosed is a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device which is a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal alignment film to which an alignment regulating force is imparted by a photo-alignment treatment, including: a film forming step of forming a film containing a polymer whose main chain is cleaved by irradiation with light; a photo-alignment step of imparting an alignment regulating force to the film formed in the film forming step by irradiation of the film with light in an atmosphere of a temperature lower than 100° C.; and a removing step of removing a low-molecular weight component generated by cleaving the main chain of the polymer through the light irradiation after the light irradiation. Also disclosed is a liquid crystal display device manufactured by the manufacturing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Uchino, Noboru Kunimatsu, Hidehiro Sonoda, Chikae Matsui, Yuko Matsumoto, Tomio Yaguchi, Toshiki Kaneko, Jun Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11384204
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a varnish for a photo alignment film includes an imidization promotor and a first polyamic acid-based compound in an organic solvent. The first polyamic acid-based compound is a polyamic acid or a polyamic acid ester. The imidization promotor has skeleton containing no primary amino group and no secondary amino group. The first polyamic acid-based compound has terminal skeletons containing no primary amino group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Sonoda, Takenori Hirota, Yasushi Tomioka, Noboru Kunimatsu