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).

  • Publication number: 20170184929
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel which includes a pixel electrode, a liquid crystal layer and an alignment film, and a driver. The driver drives the pixel electrode at a drive frequency of 1 to 20 Hz. The alignment film has a resistivity of 5×1014 ?·cm or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Daiichi SUZUKI, Yoshifumi Saeki, Yukio Tanaka, Noboru Kunimatsu, Hidehiro Sonoda, Masahiro Kosuge
  • Publication number: 20170146872
    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: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Yosuke HYODO, Hidehiro SONODA, Noboru KUNIMATSU
  • Publication number: 20170137667
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a varnish for a photo alignment film includes a first polyamic acid-based compound, which is a polyamic acid or a polyamic acid ester, in an organic solvent. The first polyamic acid-based compound has terminal skeletons containing no primary amino group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Hidehiro SONODA, Yasushi TOMIOKA, Noboru KUNIMATSU, Takenori HIROTA
  • Publication number: 20170075179
    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: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Toshimasa ISHIGAKI, Hidehiro SONODA, Sumito UETA
  • Publication number: 20170075172
    Abstract: 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 (1) and (2): 0 nm<d2<30 nm ??(1); d2<d1 ??(2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Hidehiro SONODA, Chikae Matsui, Noboru Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 9581864
    Abstract: 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 (1) and (2): 0 nm<d2<30 nm??(1); d2<d1??(2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignees: JAPAN DISPLAY INC., PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Sonoda, Chikae Matsui, Noboru Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 9575385
    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: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Yosuke Hyodo, Hidehiro Sonoda, Noboru Kunimatsu
  • Publication number: 20170023814
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Noboru KUNIMATSU, Masaki MATSUMORI, Hidehiro SONODA, Yasushi TOMIOKA, Toshiki KANEKO
  • Patent number: 9523897
    Abstract: To take measures against the phenomenon of difficulty for the orientation film material to flow into the through-hole when the diameter of through-holes which connects the pixel electrode and the source electrode becomes small. An interlayer insulating film 109 made of SiN is formed on a counter electrode, and a pixel electrode 110 having a slit 1101 is formed on the interlayer insulating film 109. A through-hole 111 which connects the pixel electrode 110 and the source electrode of a TFT has a large opening on the upper side, a small opening on the lower side, and an inner wall extending between the large opening and the small opening. The pixel electrode 110 covers the through-hole 111 on an inner side of the pixel of the through-hole 111 but does not cover a periphery of the large opening of the through-hole on an outer side of the through-hole 111.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yosuke Hyodo, Yasushi Tomioka, Noboru Kunimatsu, Hidehiro Sonoda, Yasuo Imanishi, Takenori Hirota
  • Patent number: 9519196
    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: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Toshimasa Ishigaki, Hidehiro Sonoda, Sumito Ueta
  • Publication number: 20160357040
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device having an alignment film subjected to an optical alignment process, the frame area can be reduced while maintaining the reliability of the sealing portion. To achieve this, in the display area, the alignment process is performed with UV light on the alignment film, to form an area in which the alignment film is not formed in the opposing first and second sides, and to form an area in which the amount of UV light irradiation on the alignment film is one fourth or less of the display area in the opposing third and fourth sides. In the first and second sides, the sealing material overlaps the area in which the alignment film is not formed. In the third and fourth sides, the sealing material overlaps the area in which the amount of UV light irradiation is one fourth or less of the display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Hidehiro SONODA, Noboru KUNIMATSU, Takenori HIROTA, Yosuke HYODO, Yasuo IMANISHI, Yasushi TOMIOKA
  • Patent number: 9507211
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal display device which is highly reliable even with a slim frame area. Ina liquid crystal display device having a display area and a frame area, the frame area includes, in an area close to the display area, a flat portion where an organic insulation film, a transparent conductive film, and an alignment film are stacked in this order and, in an area away from the display area, a groove structure formed in the organic insulation film, the groove structure being continuous surrounding the display area. The organic insulation film is less wettable than the transparent conductive film by the alignment film ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Noboru Kunimatsu, Hidehiro Sonoda, Yosuke Hyodo
  • Patent number: 9494826
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal display panel including pixels each having an active device, a pixel electrode, a common electrode and a liquid crystal layer arranged in a dot matrix array. The liquid crystal display panel has a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate has the active device, the pixel electrode, the common electrode and a first alignment film. The second substrate has a second alignment film. The first alignment film and the second alignment film are respectively a photo alignment film formed by irradiating a photo decomposition type insulating film with light. The second alignment film has a thickness of at least 10 nm and no greater 50 nm and is thinner than the first alignment film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Sonoda, Chikae Matsui, Noboru Kunimatsu, Yuko Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20160327843
    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: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Yosuke Hyodo, Hidehiro Sonoda, Noboru Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 9482901
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Noboru Kunimatsu, Masaki Matsumori, Hidehiro Sonoda, Yasushi Tomioka, Toshiki Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20160291416
    Abstract: 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 (1) and (2): 0 nm<d2<30 nm??(1); d2<d1??(2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Hidehiro SONODA, Chikae MATSUI, Noboru KUNIMATSU
  • Patent number: 9417485
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, a light shielding film, a color filter, an overcoat film, and an alignment film are formed in this order on a counter substrate. However, the alignment film is not formed in a seal portion. When the alignment film is subjected to photo-alignment with ultraviolet radiation, a portion of the overcoat film not covered with the alignment film is degraded by ultraviolet radiation. In order to prevent moisture penetrating from the degraded overcoat film from reaching the light shielding film to thereby alter the light shielding film and from causing the peeling of the light shielding film, the color filter is disposed below the overcoat film to block the moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., LTD
    Inventors: Chikae Matsui, Hidehiro Sonoda, Noboru Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 9417496
    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: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Yosuke Hyodo, Hidehiro Sonoda, Noboru Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 9389465
    Abstract: 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 (1) and (2): 0 nm<d2<30 nm??(1); d2<d1??(2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Sonoda, Chikae Matsui, Noboru Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 9360709
    Abstract: A TFT substrate and a counter substrate are bonded via a seal material. Alignment films are applied to entire surfaces of the TFT substrate and the counter substrate so as to realize even thickness of the alignment film. This allows a display region to be formed up to the area around the seal material. The alignment film is photo-alignment processed. An organic film formed of the material which is not photo-aligned is interposed between the alignment film and the seal material. High bonding strength between the organic film and the seal material improves reliability of a seal portion as well as reduces a frame region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Noboru Kunimatsu, Yasushi Tomioka, Hidehiro Sonoda, Yosuke Hyodo, Yasuo Imanishi