Patents by Inventor Kaoru Hatano

Kaoru Hatano 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: 8946699
    Abstract: A light energy reuse type display device, light-emitting device, and lighting device with low power consumption, which efficiently convert light emitted from a light source (including light emission from a light-emitting element) into electric power, are provided. A photoelectric conversion element interposed between a pair of substrates functions as a color filter (a colored layer); thus, light emitted from a light source (including light emission from a light-emitting element) is efficiently converted into electric power, and a light energy reuse type display device, light-emitting device, and lighting device with low power consumption can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Hatano, Satoshi Seo, Yoshiaki Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8911653
    Abstract: An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a more convenient highly reliable light-emitting device which can be used for a variety of applications. Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to manufacture, without complicating the process, a highly reliable light-emitting device having a shape suitable for its intended purpose. In a manufacturing process of a light-emitting device, a light-emitting panel is manufactured which is at least partly curved by processing the shape to be molded after the manufacture of an electrode layer and/or an element layer, and a protective film covering a surface of the light-emitting panel which is at least partly curved is formed, so that a light-emitting device using the light-emitting panel has a more useful function and higher reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kaoru Hatano
  • Patent number: 8912544
    Abstract: Provided is a method to manufacture a light-emitting display device in which a contact hole for the electrical connection of the pixel electrode and one of the source and drain electrode of a transistor and a contact hole for the processing of a semiconductor layer are formed simultaneously. The method contributes to the reduction of a photography step. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor layer where a channel formation region is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kaoru Hatano
  • Publication number: 20140346491
    Abstract: A highly reliable light-emitting module including an organic EL element or a light-emitting device using a highly reliable light-emitting module including an organic EL element is provided. Alternatively, a method of manufacturing a highly reliable light-emitting module including an organic EL element, or a method of manufacturing a light-emitting device using a highly reliable light-emitting module including an organic EL element is provided. The light-emitting module has a structure in which a light-emitting element formed over a first substrate and a viscous material layer are sealed in a space between the first substrate and a second substrate which face each other, with a sealing material surrounding the light-emitting element. The viscous material layer is provided between the light-emitting element and the second substrate and includes a non-solid material and a drying agent which reacts with or adsorbs an impurity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kaoru Hatano, Satoshi Seo, Akihiro Chida
  • Publication number: 20140293192
    Abstract: A display panel can display images or information on at least one surface side and transmit external light through a transmissive display element. The display panel includes a plurality of light-emitting elements that emit light to the one surface side and can be driven independently and a plurality of transmissive display elements that can be driven independently. Alternatively, a display panel transmits external light through a double-side light-emitting element and a transmissive display element. The display panel includes a plurality of double-side light-emitting elements that can be driven independently and a plurality of transmissive display elements that can be driven independently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Hatano
  • Patent number: 8816581
    Abstract: Provided is a lighting device capable of displaying a desired image without an element such as a TFT in a light-emitting portion of the lighting device. The lighting device includes a light-emitting portion in which a plurality of light-emitting segments arranged in matrix and each including an EL layer between a pair of electrodes (an anode and a cathode). The area of a light-emitting region is varied as appropriate so as to obtain a desired light-emitting luminance from the light-emitting region in each the light-emitting segment; accordingly, gray-scale display can be performed and a still image can be displayed only by 1 external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Hatano
  • Patent number: 8803136
    Abstract: A highly reliable light-emitting module including an organic EL element or a light-emitting device using a highly reliable light-emitting module including an organic EL element is provided. Alternatively, a method of manufacturing a highly reliable light-emitting module including an organic EL element, or a method of manufacturing a light-emitting device using a highly reliable light-emitting module including an organic EL element is provided. The light-emitting module has a structure in which a light-emitting element formed over a first substrate and a viscous material layer are sealed in a space between the first substrate and a second substrate which face each other, with a sealing material surrounding the light-emitting element. The viscous material layer is provided between the light-emitting element and the second substrate and includes a non-solid material and a drying agent which reacts with or adsorbs an impurity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kaoru Hatano, Satoshi Seo, Akihiro Chida
  • Patent number: 8766269
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a flexible light-emitting device with high reliability in a simple way. Further, it is an object to provide an electronic device or a lighting device each mounted with the light-emitting device. A light-emitting device with high reliability can be obtained with the use of a light-emitting device having the following structure: an element portion including a light-emitting element is interposed between a substrate having flexibility and a light-transmitting property with respect to visible light and a metal substrate; and insulating layers provided over and under the element portion are in contact with each other in the outer periphery of the element portion to seal the element portion. Further, by mounting an electronic device or a lighting device with a light-emitting device having such a structure, an electronic device or a lighting device with high reliability can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kaoru Hatano, Masahiro Katayama, Shingo Eguchi, Yoshiaki Oikawa, Ami Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8766314
    Abstract: An object is to provide a light-emitting device having a structure in which an external connection portion can easily be connected and a method for manufacturing the light-emitting device. A light-emitting device includes a lower support 110, a base insulating film 112 over the lower support 110 which has a through-hole 130, a light-emitting element 127 over the base insulating film 112, and an upper support 122 over the light-emitting element 127. An electrode 131 is provided in the through-hole 130, and the external connection terminal 132 electrically connected to the electrode 131 is provided below the base insulating film 112. The external connection terminal 132 is electrically connected to the external connection portion 133 and functions as a terminal that inputs a signal or a power supply into the light-emitting device. This light-emitting device has a structure in which an external connection portion can easily be connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Hatano, Satoshi Seo
  • Patent number: 8760046
    Abstract: A lightweight flexible light-emitting device which is able to possess a curved display portion and display a full color image with high resolution and the manufacturing process thereof are disclosed. The light-emitting device comprises: a plastic substrate; an insulating layer with an adhesive interposed therebetween; a thin film transistor over the insulating layer; a protective insulating film over the thin film transistor; a color filter over the protective insulating film; an interlayer insulating film over the color filter; and a white-emissive light-emitting element formed over the interlayer insulating film and being electrically connected to the thin film transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Seo, Kaoru Hatano
  • Publication number: 20140151674
    Abstract: Provided is a method to manufacture a light-emitting display device in which a contact hole for the electrical connection of the pixel electrode and one of the source and drain electrode of a transistor and a contact hole for the processing of a semiconductor layer are formed simultaneously. The method contributes to the reduction of a photography step. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor layer where a channel formation region is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kaoru Hatano
  • Publication number: 20140145190
    Abstract: A lightweight flexible light-emitting device which is able to possess a curved display portion and display a full color image with high resolution and the manufacturing process thereof are disclosed. The light-emitting device comprises: a plastic substrate; an insulating layer with an adhesive interposed therebetween; a thin film transistor over the insulating layer; a protective insulating film over the thin film transistor; a color filter over the protective insulating film; an interlayer insulating film over the color filter; and a white-emissive light-emitting element formed over the interlayer insulating film and being electrically connected to the thin film transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi SEO, Kaoru HATANO
  • Publication number: 20140138711
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a flexible light-emitting device with high reliability in a simple way. Further, it is an object to provide an electronic device or a lighting device each mounted with the light-emitting device. A light-emitting device with high reliability can be obtained with the use of a light-emitting device having the following structure: an element portion including a light-emitting element is interposed between a substrate having flexibility and a light-transmitting property with respect to visible light and a metal substrate; and insulating layers provided over and under the element portion are in contact with each other in the outer periphery of the element portion to seal the element portion. Further, by mounting an electronic device or a lighting device with a light-emitting device having such a structure, an electronic device or a lighting device with high reliability can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kaoru Hatano, Masahiro Katayama, Shingo Eguchi, Yoshiaki Oikawa, Ami Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140138733
    Abstract: An object is to provide a light-emitting device having a structure in which an external connection portion can easily be connected and a method for manufacturing the light-emitting device. A light-emitting device includes a lower support 110, a base insulating film 112 over the lower support 110 which has a through-hole 130, a light-emitting element 127 over the base insulating film 112, and an upper support 122 over the light-emitting element 127. An electrode 131 is provided in the through-hole 130, and the external connection terminal 132 electrically connected to the electrode 131 is provided below the base insulating film 112. The external connection terminal 132 is electrically connected to the external connection portion 133 and functions as a terminal that inputs a signal or a power supply into the light-emitting device. This light-emitting device has a structure in which an external connection portion can easily be connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kaoru HATANO, Satoshi Seo
  • Publication number: 20140124796
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a flexible light-emitting device with long lifetime in a simple way and to provide an inexpensive electronic device with long lifetime using the flexible light-emitting device. A flexible light-emitting device is provided, which includes a substrate having flexibility and a light-transmitting property with respect to visible light; a first adhesive layer over the substrate; an insulating film containing nitrogen and silicon over the first adhesive layer; a light-emitting element including a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and an EL layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; a second adhesive layer over the second electrode; and a metal substrate over the second adhesive layer, wherein the thickness of the metal substrate is 10 ?m to 200 ?m inclusive. Further, an electronic device using the flexible light-emitting device is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru HATANO, Satoshi SEO, Takaaki NAGATA, Tatsuya OKANO
  • Publication number: 20140126188
    Abstract: A light energy reuse type light-emitting device with low power consumption is provided by converting light from a light-emitting device into electric power efficiently for reuse. Also, a light energy reuse type light-emitting device with high yield is provided. A light-blocking film of the light-emitting device is replaced to a photoelectric conversion element, so that light is converted into electric power. That is, conventionally, light is not emitted in a portion of a light-blocking film. In the disclosed invention, light which is not emitted can be converted into electric power by a photoelectric conversion element, and can be reused. Therefore, a light-emitting device with low power consumption is realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Seo, Kaoru Hatano
  • Publication number: 20140103385
    Abstract: Occurrence of a crosstalk phenomenon in a light-emitting device including a tandem element is suppressed. A light-emitting device includes: lower electrodes over an insulating layer; a partition over a portion between the lower electrodes, which includes an overhang portion over an end portion of each of the lower electrodes; a first light-emitting unit over each of the lower electrodes and the partition; an intermediate layer over the first light-emitting unit; a second light-emitting unit over the intermediate layer; and an upper electrode over the second light-emitting unit. The distance between the overhang portion and each of the lower electrodes is larger than the total thickness of the first light-emitting unit and the intermediate layer over the lower electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Kaoru HATANO, Takashi HAMADA, Kikuo MIYATA, Hiromitsu KATSUI, Shoji OKAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20140103368
    Abstract: Occurrence of a crosstalk phenomenon is suppressed in a light-emitting device including a tandem element. A light-emitting device includes a first lower electrode and a second lower electrode over an insulating layer; a partition which is formed over the insulating layer and positioned between the first lower electrode and the second lower electrode; a projecting object formed over the partition; a first light-emitting unit over each of the first lower electrode, the partition, the projecting object, and the second lower electrode; an intermediate layer over the first light-emitting unit; a second light-emitting unit over the intermediate layer; and an upper electrode over the second light-emitting unit. A recess is formed by a side surface of the projecting object and a side surface of the partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Kaoru HATANO, Naoyuki SENDA, Manabu NIBOSHI, Katsuhiro KIKUCHI, Shinichi KAWATO, Takashi OCHI, Yuto TSUKAMOTO, Tomohiro KOSAKA, Tomofumi OSAKI
  • Patent number: 8698172
    Abstract: Thinned and highly reliable light emitting elements are provided. Further, light emitting devices in which light emitting elements are formed over flexible substrates are manufactured with high yield. One light emitting device includes a flexible substrate, a light emitting element formed over the flexible substrate, and a resin film covering the light emitting element, and in the light emitting element, an insulating layer serving as a partition has a convex portion and the convex portion is embedded in the resin film, that is, the resin film covers an entire surface of the insulating layer and an entire surface of the second electrode, whereby the light emitting element can be thinned and highly reliable. In addition, a light emitting device can be manufactured with high yield in a manufacturing process thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Masahiro Katayama, Shingo Eguchi, Yoshiaki Oikawa, Ami Nakamura, Satoshi Seo, Kaoru Hatano
  • Publication number: 20140099999
    Abstract: The invention relates to: a light-emitting device which includes a first flexible substrate having a first electrode, a light-emitting layer over the first electrode, and a second electrode with a projecting portion over the light-emitting layer and a second flexible substrate having a semiconductor circuit and a third electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor circuit, in which the projecting portion of the second electrode and the third electrode are electrically connected to each other, a method for manufacturing the light-emitting device; and a cellular phone which includes a housing incorporating the light-emitting device and having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, in which the light-emitting device is disposed on a front side and in an upper portion in the longitudinal direction of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Hatano, Satoshi Seo, Shunpei Yamazaki