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).
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Patent number: 11384204Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 2, 2021Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Japan Display Inc.Inventors: Hidehiro Sonoda, Takenori Hirota, Yasushi Tomioka, Noboru Kunimatsu
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Publication number: 20220187641Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2022Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventors: Takenori HIROTA, Yasuhiro KANAYA, Hidehiro SONODA, Toshiki KANEKO
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Patent number: 11300835Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 24, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Japan Display Inc.Inventors: Takenori Hirota, Yasuhiro Kanaya, Hidehiro Sonoda, Toshiki Kaneko
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Patent number: 11275274Abstract: The present invention prevents the shaving of an alignment film caused by a columnar spacer in a liquid crystal display device of an IPS method using photo-alignment. A plinth higher than a pixel electrode is formed at a part where a columnar spacer formed over a counter substrate touches a TFT substrate. When an alignment film of a double-layered structure is applied over the pixel electrode and the plinth, the thickness of the alignment film over the plinth reduces by a leveling effect. When photo-alignment is applied in the state, a photodegraded upper alignment film over the plinth disappears and a lower alignment film having a high mechanical strength remains. As a result, it is possible to prevent the shaving of the alignment film.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2020Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Japan Display Inc.Inventors: Noboru Kunimatsu, Masaki Matsumori, Hidehiro Sonoda, Yasushi Tomioka, Toshiki Kaneko
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Publication number: 20220026768Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a first alignment film formed over the first substrate, a second substrate, a second alignment film formed over the second substrate, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first alignment film and the second alignment film, and a projecting portion formed over the second substrate. The first alignment film is a photo alignment film ,and a thickness “d2” of the second alignment film over the projecting portion and a film thickness “d1” of a portion of the first alignment film facing the projecting portion satisfy formula (2), d2<d1 ??(2).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: Hidehiro Sonoda, Chikae Matsui, Noboru Kunimatsu
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Publication number: 20220026753Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Toshimasa ISHIGAKI, Hidehiro SONODA, Sumito UETA
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Publication number: 20220004061Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a TFT substrate having a first alignment film and an opposing substrate having a second alignment film with liquid crystals sandwiched therebetween. One of the first and second alignment films, comprises a first polyimide produced via polyamide acid ester containing cyclobutane as a precursor and a second polyimide produced via polyamide acid as a precursor. The polyamide acid has a higher polarity than that of the polyamide acid ester. The one of the first and second alignment films is responsive to photo-alignment. A first side of the one of the first and second alignment films is adjacent to the liquid crystals, and a second side thereof is closer to one of the TFT substrate and the counter substrate than the first side. The first side contains more of the first polyimide and less of the second polyimide than the second side.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Noboru KUNIMATSU, Chikae MATSUI, Hidehiro SONODA, Yuko MATSUMOTO, Shoichi UCHINO, Masaki MATSUMORI, Yasushi TOMIOKA
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Publication number: 20220004064Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Yosuke HYODO, Hidehiro SONODA, Noboru KUNIMATSU
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Patent number: 11175546Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 23, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Japan Display Inc.Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Toshimasa Ishigaki, Hidehiro Sonoda, Sumito Ueta
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Patent number: 11169416Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a first alignment film formed over the first substrate, a second substrate, a second alignment film formed over the second substrate, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first alignment film and the second alignment film, and a projecting portion formed over the second substrate. The first film is a photo alignment film, and a thickness “d2” of the second alignment film over the projecting portion and a film thickness “d1” of a portion of the first alignment film facing the projecting portion satisfy formula (2), d2<d1??(2).Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidehiro Sonoda, Chikae Matsui, Noboru Kunimatsu
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Patent number: 11156875Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a TFT substrate having a first alignment film and an opposing substrate having a second alignment film with liquid crystals sandwiched therebetween. One of the first and second alignment films, comprises a first polyimide produced via polyamide acid ester containing cyclobutane as a precursor and a second polyimide produced via polyamide acid as a precursor. The polyamide acid has a higher polarity than that of the polyamide acid ester. The one of the first and second alignment films is responsive to photo-alignment. A first side of the one of the first and second alignment films is adjacent to the liquid crystals, and a second side thereof is closer to one of the TFT substrate and the counter substrate than the first side. The first side contains more of the first polyimide and less of the second polyimide than the second side.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Noboru Kunimatsu, Chikae Matsui, Hidehiro Sonoda, Yuko Matsumoto, Shoichi Uchino, Masaki Matsumori, Yasushi Tomioka
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Patent number: 11150523Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Japan Display Inc.Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Yosuke Hyodo, Hidehiro Sonoda, Noboru Kunimatsu
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Publication number: 20210208442Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2021Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: Hidehiro Sonoda, Chikae Matsui, Noboru Kunimatsu
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Patent number: 11036088Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed to oppose the first substrate, a layer of liquid crystal located between the first substrate and the second substrate, and an alignment film disposed on the first substrate so as to be in contact with the layer of the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal has a refractive-index anisotropy ?n of 0.11 or more, the layer of the liquid crystal has a thickness d of 2.5 ?m or less, and a product ?nd of the refractive-index anisotropy ?n and the thickness d is 0.20 or more but 0.31 or less. The transmissivity of light having a wavelength of 450 nm in the first substrate and the alignment film is 85% or more but 97% or less.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2018Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Japan Display Inc.Inventors: Hidehiro Sonoda, Masahiro Kosuge, Yasushi Tomioka, Takenori Hirota, Noboru Kunimatsu
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Publication number: 20210155755Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2021Publication date: May 27, 2021Applicant: Japan Display Inc.Inventors: Hidehiro Sonoda, Takenori Hirota, Yasushi Tomioka, Noboru Kunimatsu
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Patent number: 10989965Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidehiro Sonoda, Chikae Matsui, Noboru Kunimatsu
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Publication number: 20210088829Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: Japan Display Inc.Inventors: Koichi IGETA, Hidehiro SONODA
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Patent number: 10947345Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 12, 2017Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Japan Display Inc.Inventors: Hidehiro Sonoda, Takenori Hirota, Yasushi Tomioka, Noboru Kunimatsu
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Publication number: 20210072603Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Yosuke HYODO, Hidehiro SONODA, Noboru KUNIMATSU
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Publication number: 20210072606Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Toshimasa ISHIGAKI, Hidehiro SONODA, Sumito UETA