Patents by Inventor Katsufumi Ohmuro

Katsufumi Ohmuro 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: 8018559
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus having a plurality of pixels, including: a pair of substrates; a liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy inserted between the pair of substrates; and first and second electrodes formed on the pair of substrates, respectively. A first alignment control structure is formed linearly on one of the pair of substrates for controlling an alignment of the liquid crystal and a second alignment control structure is formed linearly on the other of the pair of substrates for controlling an alignment of the liquid crystal. The first and second alignment control structures are bent in zigzag fashion and extend parallel with each other. The liquid crystal display apparatus also includes an additional structure for controlling an alignment of the liquid crystal. The additional structure extends from a bent portion of at least one of the first and second alignment control structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Hideo Chida, Yoshio Koike, Kimiaki Nakamura, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Patent number: 7995175
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates sandwiching therebetween a liquid crystal layer, and first and second polarizers. The first polarizer and the second polarizer are disposed such that an optical absorption axis of the first polarizer and an optical absorption axis of the second polarizer cross each other perpendicularly. There is disposed an optically biaxial retardation film having refractive indices nx, ny and nz respectively in x-, y- and z-directions, wherein the optically biaxial retardation film provides an in-plane retardation having a magnitude defined by |nx-ny| • d, with d representing a thickness of the optically biaxial retardation film, and further wherein the in-plane retardation of the optically biaxial retardation film has a value of 20 nm or more but does not exceed 80 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsufumi Ohmuro, Yoshio Koike, Takahiro Sasaki, Hideaki Tsuda, Hideo Chida
  • Publication number: 20110176098
    Abstract: A vertically alignment mode liquid crystal display device having an improved viewing angle characteristic is disclosed. The disclosed liquid crystal display device uses a liquid crystal having a negative anisotropic dielectric constant, and orientations of the liquid crystal are vertical to substrates when no voltage being applied, almost horizontal when a predetermined voltage is applied, and oblique when an intermediate voltage is applied. At least one of the substrates includes a structure as domain regulating means, and inclined surfaces of the structure operate as a trigger to regulate azimuths of the oblique orientations of the liquid crystal when the intermediate voltage is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Yoshio Koike, Shingo Kataoka, Takahiro Sasaki, Takashi Sasabayashi, Hideaki Tsuda, Hideo Chida, Makoto Ohashi, Kenji Okamoto, Hisashi Yamaguchi, Minoru Otani, Makoto Morishige, Noriaki Furukawa, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Yoshinori Tanaka, Atuyuki Hoshino, Shougo Hayashi, Hideaki Takizawa, Takeshi Kinjou, Makoto Tachibanaki, Keiji Imoto, Tadashi Hasegawa, Hidefumi Yoshida, Hiroyasu Inoue, Yoji Taniguchi, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Satoshi Murata, Manabu Sawasaki, Tomonori Tanose, Siro Hirota, Masahiro Ikeda, Kunihiro Tashiro, Kouji Tsukao, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Takatoshi Mayama, Seiji Tanuma, Yohei Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 7982826
    Abstract: A polarizing plate for a liquid crystal display is provided and includes a first protective film, a polarizer, a second protective film and a light diffusion layer in order. The light diffusion layer is a layer including a translucent resin and translucent particles having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the translucent resin. The internal haze of the light diffusion layer is 45% to 80%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Hirakata, Minoru Wada, Yukito Saitoh, Yusuke Ohashi, Katsufumi Ohmuro
  • Patent number: 7982829
    Abstract: The technology presented herein has a feature of providing a liquid crystal display device of an excellent viewing angle characteristic and high brightness, including: liquid crystals containing polymerizable monomers between a first substrate with a pixel electrode having micro slits and a second substrate facing the first substrate; wherein the monomers are polymerizable with voltage applied to the liquid crystals; and an alignment orientation of the liquid crystals is controllable to a direction of extending the micro slit, wherein the pixel electrode includes: a direct coupling part electrically connected to a switching element; a capacitive coupling part electrically insulated from the switching element, and a space between the direct and capacitive coupling parts, wherein directions in which the micro slits are extended along the direct and capacitive coupling parts are orthogonal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Hanaoka, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kunihiro Tashiro, Jin Hirosawa, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii, Shota Makimoto, Yasuhiro Ohno, Isao Tsushima, Tomonori Tanose, Takashi Takagi, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Takahiro Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20110170027
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is constituted of a TFT substrate and an opposing substrate which are arranged so as to be opposite to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. In addition, in the liquid crystal layer, formed is a polymer into which a polymer component added to liquid crystal is polymerized, and which determines directions in which liquid crystal molecules tilt when voltage is applied. In the TFT substrate, formed are a sub picture element electrode directly connected to a TFT and a sub picture element electrode connected to the TFT through capacitive coupling. In each of these sub picture element electrodes, formed are slits extending in directions respectively at angles of 45 degrees, 135 degrees, 225 degrees and 315 degrees to the X axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Kunihiro Tashiro, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Jin Hirosawa, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii, Shota Makimoto, Naoto Kondo, Isao Tsushima, Tomonori Tanose, Takashi Takagi, Tetsuya Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 7978290
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates, liquid crystal with negative dielectric anisotropy, a polymer which determines directions in which liquid crystal molecules tilt when voltage is applied, and a plurality of picture elements located on the first substrate. At least one of the picture elements includes a switching element, a first sub picture element electrode with a plurality of band-shaped microelectrode parts and a first connecting electrode part electrically connecting the microelectrode parts with one another, and a second sub picture element electrode including a plurality of band-shaped microelectrode parts and a second connecting electrode part electrically connecting the microelectrode parts of the second sub picture element electrode with one another. A voltage applied to the second sub picture element electrode is different from a voltage applied to the first sub picture element electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Kunihiro Tashiro, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Jin Hirosawa, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii, Shota Makimoto, Naoto Kondo, Isao Tsushima, Tomonori Tanose, Takashi Takagi, Tetsuya Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 7965363
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a common electrode on a first substrate, a pixel electrode on a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates. The device also include first and second alignment control structures formed, respectively, on the first and second substrates, for regulating azimuths of orientations of the liquid crystal when a voltage is applied thereto. The first and second alignment control structures each include a first line portion (extending in a first direction) and a second line portion (extending in a second direction, which is different from the first direction). The pixel electrode includes an edge extending in a direction different from both the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Yoshio Koike, Shingo Kataoka, Takahiro Sasaki, Takashi Sasabayashi, Hideaki Tsuda, Hideo Chida, Makoto Ohashi, Kenji Okamoto, Hisashi Yamaguchi, Minoru Otani, Makoto Morishige, Noriaki Furukawa, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Yoshinori Tanaka, Atuyuki Hoshino, Shougo Hayashi, Hideaki Takizawa, Takeshi Kinjou, Makoto Tachibanaki, Keiji Imoto, Tadashi Hasegawa, Hidefumi Yoshida, Hiroyasu Inoue, Yoji Taniguchi, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Satoshi Murata, Manabu Sawasaki, Tomonori Tanose, Siro Hirota, Masahiro Ikeda, Kunihiro Tashiro, Kouji Tsukao, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Takatoshi Mayama, Seiji Tanuma, Yohei Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 7956956
    Abstract: An ECB-mode liquid crystal display device having a pair of substrates 9 and 12, a liquid crystal layer 11, a pair of polarizing plates (1,3,5) (16,18,20) and at least one optically anisotropic layer 7 and/or 14, wherein they are disposed such that the absorption axes 4 and 19 of the polarizing films 3 and 18 in the polarizing plates are parallel or vertical to the left-rightward direction of the screen of the display device. The orientation axes 10 and 13 of the substrates 9 and 12 and the orientation axes 8 and 15 of the optically anisotropic layers 7 and 14 preferably cross the absorption axes 4 and 19 of the polarizing films 3 and 18 of the adjacent polarizing plates at an angle of 45°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yukito Saitoh, Yusuke Ohashi, Katsufumi Ohmuro
  • Patent number: 7944541
    Abstract: In accordance with a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device including, in a picture element, a first sub-picture-element region where a threshold voltage of the transmittance-applied voltage characteristic is Vth1 and a second sub-picture-element region where a threshold voltage of the transmittance-applied voltage characteristic is Vth2, liquid crystal, which polymerizable components are added to, is filled into the space between a first and a second substrates; thereafter, a voltage V1 slightly higher than the threshold voltage Vth1 is applied to a liquid crystal layer, and is held for a certain length of time; subsequently, a voltage V2 slightly higher than the threshold voltage Vth2 is applied to the liquid crystal layer, and is held for a certain length of time; additionally, a voltage V3 higher than a white-displaying voltage which is applied while the liquid crystal display device is in actual use is applied to the liquid crystal layer, and is held for a certain length of time; then, t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Hanaoka, Yohei Nakanishi, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kunihiro Tashiro, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii
  • Publication number: 20110109826
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is constituted of a TFT substrate and an opposing substrate which are arranged so as to be opposite to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. In addition, in the liquid crystal layer, formed is a polymer into which a polymer component added to liquid crystal is polymerized, and which determines directions in which liquid crystal molecules tilt when voltage is applied. In the TFT substrate, formed are a sub picture element electrode directly connected to a TFT and a sub picture element electrode connected to the TFT through capacitive coupling. In each of these sub picture element electrodes, formed are slits extending in directions respectively at angles of 45 degrees, 135 degrees, 225 degrees and 315 degrees to the X axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Kunihiro Tashiro, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Jin Hirosawa, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii, Shota Makimoto, Naoto Kondo, Isao Tsushima, Tomonori Tanose, Takashi Takagi, Tetsuya Fujikawa
  • Publication number: 20110109860
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is constituted of a TFT substrate and an opposing substrate which are arranged so as to be opposite to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. In addition, in the liquid crystal layer, formed is a polymer into which a polymer component added to liquid crystal is polymerized, and which determines directions in which liquid crystal molecules tilt when voltage is applied. In the TFT substrate, formed are a sub picture element electrode directly connected to a TFT and a sub picture element electrode connected to the TFT through capacitive coupling. In each of these sub picture element electrodes, formed are slits extending in directions respectively at angles of 45 degrees, 135 degrees, 225 degrees and 315 degrees to the X axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Kunihiro Tashiro, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Jin Hirosawa, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii, Shota Makimoto, Naoto Kondo, Isao Tsushima, Tomonori Tanose, Takashi Takagi, Tetsuya Fujikawa
  • Publication number: 20110090449
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is constituted of a TFT substrate and an opposing substrate which are arranged so as to be opposite to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. In addition, in the liquid crystal layer, formed is a polymer into which a polymer component added to liquid crystal is polymerized, and which determines directions in which liquid crystal molecules tilt when voltage is applied. In the TFT substrate, formed are a sub picture element electrode directly connected to a TFT and a sub picture element electrode connected to the TFT through capacitive coupling. In each of these sub picture element electrodes, formed are slits extending in directions respectively at angles of 45 degrees, 135 degrees, 225 degrees and 315 degrees to the X axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Kunihiro Tashiro, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Jin Hirosawa, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii, Shota Makimoto, Naoto Kondo, Isao Tsushima, Tomonori Tanose, Takashi Takagi, Tetsuya Fujikawa
  • Publication number: 20110090448
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is constituted of a TFT substrate and an opposing substrate which are arranged so as to be opposite to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. In addition, in the liquid crystal layer, formed is a polymer into which a polymer component added to liquid crystal is polymerized, and which determines directions in which liquid crystal molecules tilt when voltage is applied. In the TFT substrate, formed are a sub picture element electrode directly connected to a TFT and a sub picture element electrode connected to the TFT through capacitive coupling. In each of these sub picture element electrodes, formed are slits extending in directions respectively at angles of 45 degrees, 135 degrees, 225 degrees and 315 degrees to the X axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Kunihiro Tashiro, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Jin Hirosawa, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii, Shota Makimoto, Naoto Kondo, Isao Tsushima, Tomonori Tanose, Takashi Takagi, Tetsuya Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 7929090
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal display used as a display unit of an electronic apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same and provides a liquid crystal display which can achieve high display quality and a method of manufacturing the same. A liquid crystal including a polymeric component and having a specific resistance of 1×1013 ?·cm or more at room temperature (25° C.) is dispensed onto a TFT substrate. After combining the TFT substrate with an opposite substrate in vacuum, the atmospheric pressure is restored to fill a gap between the TFT substrate and the opposite substrate with the liquid crystal, thereby forming a liquid crystal layer. The polymeric component is polymerized while applying a predetermined voltage to the liquid crystal layer to form polymer layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norio Sugiura, Satoshi Murata, Kengo Kanii, Shota Makimoto, Katsufumi Ohmuro
  • Patent number: 7920239
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates, liquid crystal between the substrates, a plurality of gate bus lines extending in a first direction, a plurality of drain bus lines extending in a second direction, and a picture element electrode. The picture element electrode includes a body portion and a plurality of branches, separated by slits, extending therefrom. The body portion includes a first body portion extending generally in the first direction and a second body portion extending generally in the second direction, and further wherein the first body portion includes at least one wide portion and at least one narrow portion. The liquid crystal display device also includes a capacitor electrode and a capacitor upper electrode that overlap the wide portion. The capacitor upper electrode connects to the picture element electrode through a contact hole formed at the wide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Kunihiro Tashiro, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Jin Hirosawa, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii, Shota Makimoto, Naoto Kondo, Isao Tsushima, Tomonori Tanose, Takashi Takagi, Tetsuya Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 7911573
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates, a liquid crystal layer, a plurality of gate bus lines extending in a first direction, a plurality of drain bus lines extending in a second direction, at least one auxiliary capacitance bus line extending in the first direction, a first sub picture element electrode, a second sub picture element electrode, and first and second auxiliary capacitance lower electrodes extending from the auxiliary capacitance bus line in the second direction, such that a combination of the first and second auxiliary capacitance lower electrodes and a portion of the auxiliary capacitance bus line within a picture element region form a generally cross-shaped structure. Also, a portion of the first sub picture element electrode overlaps a portion of the first auxiliary capacitance lower electrode, a portion of the second auxiliary capacitance lower electrode, and a portion of the auxiliary capacitance bus line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Kunihiro Tashiro, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Jin Hirosawa, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii, Shota Makimoto, Naoto Kondo, Isao Tsushima, Tomonori Tanose, Takashi Takagi, Tetsuya Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 7910178
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device which is capable of further decreasing the cost of production yet obtaining a good liquid crystal alignment, and a method of producing the same. The liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of substrates arranged facing each other; a liquid crystal sealed between the substrates; and an ultraviolet ray-cured product for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal. The ultraviolet ray-cured product is formed near the interfaces to the substrates by polymerizing a polymerizable component mixed in the liquid crystal with light. The polymerizable component contains a polyfunctional monomer having a symmetrical structure, and the ultraviolet ray-cured product has a side-chain structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Hideaki Tsuda, Jin Hirosawa
  • Patent number: 7903211
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display including a first substrate including a gate bus line, a data bus line intersecting the gate bus line, a thin film transistor formed near an intersection between the gate bus line and the data bus line, and a pixel electrode including a transmission electrode electrically connected to the thin film transistor and a reflection electrode electrically connected to the transmission electrode, a second substrate opposed to the first substrate and including an opposed electrode opposed to the pixel electrode, and a liquid crystal layer sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The transmission electrode includes a plurality of electrode units interconnected to each other by an interconnection pattern, and the reflection electrode is formed over the electrode unit with an insulation layer with convexities formed in the surface of the insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiro Tashiro, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yoshinori Tanaka, Norio Sugiura, Seiji Doi, Manabu Sawasaki, Tomonori Tanose, Isao Tsushima, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Tomoshige Oda
  • Patent number: 7903210
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, wherein light having an exposure energy is irradiated on the surface of a photo-sensitive resin layer having a predetermined film thickness, and a distribution of thermal deformation characteristics in the thickness direction (or the plane direction) of the photo-sensitive resin layer is formed, then heat treatment is performed to form random undulation (micro-grooves or micro-wrinkles) on the surface of the photo-sensitive resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Inventors: Norio Sugiura, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Kunihiro Tashiro