Patents by Inventor Ken Kuboki
Ken Kuboki 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: 10073306Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (100) includes: a liquid crystal layer (42) held between a pair of substrates (10, 30), the liquid crystal layer containing one or more types of positive liquid crystal compounds whose dielectric anisotropy is positive and one or more types of negative liquid crystal compounds whose dielectric anisotropy is negative, a total content of the positive liquid crystal compounds not being smaller than a total content of the negative liquid crystal compounds; a pixel electrode (24) provided in the pair of substrates, the pixel electrode having a plurality of linear portions and a slit; and a common electrode (22) insulated from the pixel electrode, wherein the pixel electrode and the common electrode apply across the liquid crystal layer a pixel voltage of positive polarity and a pixel voltage of negative polarity alternately at a frequency lower than 60 Hz.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2015Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuichi Kita, Tsuyoshi Okazaki, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Kazuhito Matsumoto, Ken Kuboki
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Patent number: 9933662Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (100) includes a liquid crystal layer (30) of a vertical alignment type, a first photo-alignment film (12), and a second photo-alignment film (22). The first photo-alignment film includes a first pre-tilt region (12a) and a second pre-tilt region (12b) defining pre-tilt directions (PD1, PD2) that are anti-parallel to each other. The second photo-alignment film includes a third pre-tilt region (22a) and a fourth pre-tilt region (22b) defining pre-tilt directions (PD3, PD4) that are anti-parallel to each other. The entire boundary (BD1) between the first pre-tilt region and the second pre-tilt region and the entire boundary (BD2) between the third pre-tilt region and the fourth pre-tilt region are aligned with each other, as seen from the display plane normal direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2014Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ken Kuboki, Yusuke Nishihara
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Patent number: 9897860Abstract: A first photo-alignment film (12) of a liquid crystal display device (100) includes a first and a second pre-tilt region (12a, 12b) defining pre-tilt directions (PD1, PD2) that are anti-parallel to each other, and a second photo-alignment film (22) thereof includes a third and a fourth pre-tilt region (22a, 22b) defining pre-tilt directions (PD3, PD4) that are anti-parallel to each other. The entire boundary (BD1) between the first and second pre-tilt regions and the entire boundary (BD2) between the third and fourth pre-tilt regions are aligned with each other, as seen from the display plane normal direction. A pixel electrode (11) includes a first and a second cut-off portion (11a1, 11a2) provided by cutting off at least a part of a particular edge portion (11e1, 11e2) of the outer perimeter thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2014Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ken Kuboki, Tsuyoshi Okazaki, Yusuke Nishihara
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Publication number: 20170045787Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (100) includes: a liquid crystal layer (42) held between a pair of substrates (10, 30), the liquid crystal layer containing one or more types of positive liquid crystal compounds whose dielectric anisotropy is positive and one or more types of negative liquid crystal compounds whose dielectric anisotropy is negative, a total content of the positive liquid crystal compounds not being smaller than a total content of the negative liquid crystal compounds; a pixel electrode (24) provided in the pair of substrates, the pixel electrode having a plurality of linear portions and a slit; and a common electrode (22) insulated from the pixel electrode, wherein the pixel electrode and the common electrode apply across the liquid crystal layer a pixel voltage of positive polarity and a pixel voltage of negative polarity alternately at a frequency lower than 60 Hz.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2015Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Yuichi KITA, Tsuyoshi OKAZAKI, Hiroshi TSUCHIYA, Kazuhito MATSUMOTO, Ken KUBOKI
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Publication number: 20160266442Abstract: A first photo-alignment film (12) of a liquid crystal display device (100) includes a first and a second pre-tilt region (12a, 12b) defining pre-tilt directions (PD1, PD2) that are anti-parallel to each other, and a second photo-alignment film (22) thereof includes a third and a fourth pre-tilt region (22a, 22b) defining pre-tilt directions (PD3, PD4) that are anti-parallel to each other. The entire boundary (BD1) between the first and second pre-tilt regions and the entire boundary (BD2) between the third and fourth pre-tilt regions are aligned with each other, as seen from the display plane normal direction. A pixel electrode (11) includes a first and a second cut-off portion (11a1, 11a2) provided by cutting off at least a part of a particular edge portion (11e1, 11e2) of the outer perimeter thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2014Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Ken KUBOKI, Tsuyoshi OKAZAKI, Yusuke NISHIHARA
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Publication number: 20160139466Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (100) includes a liquid crystal layer (30) of a vertical alignment type, a first photo-alignment film (12), and a second photo-alignment film (22). The first photo-alignment film includes a first pre-tilt region (12a) and a second pre-tilt region (12b) defining pre-tilt directions (PD1, PD2) that are anti-parallel to each other. The second photo-alignment film includes a third pre-tilt region (22a) and a fourth pre-tilt region (22b) defining pre-tilt directions (PD3, PD4) that are anti-parallel to each other. The entire boundary (BD1) between the first pre-tilt region and the second pre-tilt region and the entire boundary (BD2) between the third pre-tilt region and the fourth pre-tilt region are aligned with each other, as seen from the display plane normal direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2014Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Ken KUBOKI, Yusuke NISHIHARA
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Patent number: 9341904Abstract: The TFT substrate (10) of this liquid crystal display device (100) includes: a TFT (11) which is provided for each pixel; an upper electrode (12) which is electrically connected to the TFT's drain electrode (11d); a lower electrode (13) which is arranged under the upper electrode; and a dielectric layer (14) which is arranged between the upper and lower electrodes. Its counter substrate (20) includes a counter electrode (21) which faces the upper electrode. The upper electrode has first and second regions (R1, R2) which have mutually different electrode structures, and a third region (R3) which electrically connects the first and second regions to the drain electrode. The third region of the upper electrode includes a symmetrical connecting portion (12c) that is a conductive film pattern, of which the shape is substantially symmetrical with respect to a virtual line (L1) that splits each pixel into two adjacent regions in a row direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Seiichi Uchida, Seiji Kaneko, Yasuyuki Ogawa, Yutaka Takamaru, Kohhei Tanaka, Mitsuhiro Murata, Akira Shibazaki, Ken Kuboki
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Patent number: 9057916Abstract: In a liquid crystal display apparatus, an angle of orientation of a first extension orientation of a first slit is not greater than an angle of orientation of a first director orientation, an angle of orientation of a second extension orientation of a second slit is not smaller than an angle of orientation of a second director orientation, and a difference between the angle of orientation of the second extension orientation and the angle of orientation of the second director orientation is greater than a difference between the angle of orientation of the first extension orientation and the angle of orientation of the first director orientation.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2012Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ken Kuboki, Akira Shibazaki, Satomi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Yusuke Nishihara, Taichi Sasaki, Seiji Tanuma
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Patent number: 9001296Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes an electrode and a slit formation region provided in the electrode and extending in a direction of extension of a boundary line, a first alignment region and a third alignment region are formed such that liquid crystal molecules are aligned toward a first director orientation, a second alignment region and a fourth alignment region are formed such that liquid crystal molecules are aligned toward a second director orientation greater in an angle of orientation than the first director orientation, an angle of orientation of a first slit orientation is not greater than an angle of orientation of the first director orientation, and an angle of orientation of a second slit orientation is not smaller than an angle of orientation of the second director orientation.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ken Kuboki, Akira Shibazaki, Satomi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Yusuke Nishihara, Taichi Sasaki, Seiji Tanuma
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Patent number: 9001295Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal layer extending at least in a display region; first and second substrates affixed to each other so as to sandwich the liquid crystal layer therebetween; and a pair of polarization plates disposed to sandwich these substrates therebetween. The first substrate is provided with a pixel electrode corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels. The second substrate is provided with a counter electrode so as to face the pixel electrode. A first alignment film is disposed on the pixel electrode. A second alignment film is disposed on the counter electrode. The pixels each include a plurality of domains having different combinations of alignment directions of the first and second alignment films. The pixel electrode has a slit group along at least a part of an outline of the pixel electrode and in the vicinity of the outline.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akira Shibazaki, Ken Kuboki, Satomi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Yusuke Nishihara, Taichi Sasaki, Seiji Tanuma
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Publication number: 20150049290Abstract: The TFT substrate (10) of this liquid crystal display device (100) includes: a TFT (11) which is provided for each pixel; an upper electrode (12) which is electrically connected to the TFT's drain electrode (11d); a lower electrode (13) which is arranged under the upper electrode; and a dielectric layer (14) which is arranged between the upper and lower electrodes. Its counter substrate (20) includes a counter electrode (21) which faces the upper electrode. The upper electrode has first and second regions (R1, R2) which have mutually different electrode structures, and a third region (R3) which electrically connects the first and second regions to the drain electrode. The third region of the upper electrode includes a symmetrical connecting portion (12c) that is a conductive film pattern, of which the shape is substantially symmetrical with respect to a virtual line (L1) that splits each pixel into two adjacent regions in a row direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: February 19, 2015Inventors: Seiichi Uchida, Seiji Kaneko, Yasuyuki Ogawa, Yutaka Takamaru, Kohhei Tanaka, Mitsuhiro Murata, Akira Shibazaki, Ken Kuboki
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Patent number: 8847863Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device of active matrix type. Each pixel electrode (1) includes either a single regional electrode (2) or two or more regional electrodes (2) which are electrically connected to each other. The or each regional electrode is provided with: a first electrode (cross-shaped electrode) (3) which has a pattern dividing a first region into a plurality of second regions (R1, R2, R3, and R4); and a plurality of stripe electrodes (4) which are provided in each of the second regions so as to extend from the first electrode and so as to be separated from each other by a distance. A storage capacitor line (CSL) is provided facing one of pixel electrodes (1) in a film thickness direction to form a storage capacitor. The storage capacitor line (CSL) is provided so as not to extend facing an edge (2e, 2e?) of a first region in the film thickness direction parallelly to the edge (2e, 2e?).Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2010Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuichi Iyama, Akira Shibazaki, Yoshito Hashimoto, Masahiro Shimizu, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Yusuke Nishihara, Ken Kuboki
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Publication number: 20130329148Abstract: In a liquid crystal display apparatus, an angle of orientation of a first extension orientation of a first slit is not greater than an angle of orientation of a first director orientation, an angle of orientation of a second extension orientation of a second slit is not smaller than an angle of orientation of a second director orientation, and a difference between the angle of orientation of the second extension orientation and the angle of orientation of the second director orientation is greater than a difference between the angle of orientation of the first extension orientation and the angle of orientation of the first director orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2012Publication date: December 12, 2013Inventors: Ken Kuboki, Akira Shibazaki, Satomi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Yusuke Nishihara, Taichi Sasaki, Seiji Tanuma
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Publication number: 20130329175Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes an electrode and a slit formation region provided in the electrode and extending in a direction of extension of a boundary line, a first alignment region and a third alignment region are formed such that liquid crystal molecules are aligned toward a first director orientation, a second alignment region and a fourth alignment region are formed such that liquid crystal molecules are aligned toward a second director orientation greater in an angle of orientation than the first director orientation, an angle of orientation of a first slit orientation is not greater than an angle of orientation of the first director orientation, and an angle of orientation of a second slit orientation is not smaller than an angle of orientation of the second director orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2012Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ken Kuboki, Akira Shibazaki, Satomi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Yusuke Nishihara, Taichi Sasaki, Seiji Tanuma
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Publication number: 20130321747Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal layer extending in a display region; and a TFT substrate and a counter substrate affixed to each other so as to sandwich the liquid crystal layer therebetween. The TFT substrate is provided with a pixel electrode corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels. The counter substrate is provided with a counter electrode. A first alignment film is disposed on the surface of the pixel electrode that faces the liquid crystal layer. A second alignment film is disposed on the surface of the counter electrode that faces the liquid crystal layer. The pixels each include a plurality of domains having different combinations of alignment directions of the first and second alignment films. A slit is provided in the counter electrode at least in a part of a region corresponding to a boundary between the pixels adjacent to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masatoshi Kondo, Akira Shibazaki, Ken Kuboki, Satomi Hasegawa, Seiji Tanuma
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Publication number: 20130003004Abstract: A liquid crystal panel includes (i) an active matrix substrate (10) on which pixel electrodes (12) are provided for respective pixels (8), (ii) a counter substrate (20) on which a common electrode is provided and which faces the active matrix substrate (10), (iii) a liquid crystal layer which is provided between the active and counter substrates (10, 20) and has a negative dielectric anisotropy, and (iv) two vertical alignment films (14, 24) provided over respective of the active and counter substrates (10, 20). The pixel electrode (12) has subpixel electrodes (12a, 12b) and connection electrodes (15) for connecting the subpixel electrodes (12a, 12b). Each of the subpixel electrodes (12a, 12b) has branch line parts (18) and a trunk line part (17) demarcated by slits (16). In the pixel (8), the subpixel electrodes (12a, 12b) are connected with each other via the connection electrodes (15) in a plurality of locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2010Publication date: January 3, 2013Inventors: Masahiro Shimizu, Ken Kuboki, Hiroyuki Ohgami, Yoshito Hashimoto, Yuichi Iyama, Yusuke Nishihara
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Publication number: 20120306731Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device of active matrix type. Each pixel electrode (1) includes either a single regional electrode (2) or two or more regional electrodes (2) which are electrically connected to each other. The or each regional electrode is provided with: a first electrode (cross-shaped electrode) (3) which has a pattern dividing a first region into a plurality of second regions (R1, R2, R3, and R4); and a plurality of stripe electrodes (4) which are provided in each of the second regions so as to extend from the first electrode and so as to be separated from each other by a distance. A storage capacitor line (CSL) is provided facing one of pixel electrodes (1) in a film thickness direction to form a storage capacitor. The storage capacitor line (CSL) is provided so as not to extend facing an edge (2e, 2e?) of a first region in the film thickness direction parallelly to the edge (2e, 2e?).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2010Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuichi Iyama, Akira Shibazaki, Yoshito Hashimoto, Masahiro Shimizu, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Yusuke Nishihara, Ken Kuboki
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Publication number: 20120001840Abstract: A liquid crystal display device providing a high image quality with good viewing angle characteristics and being produced at a high efficiency is provided. A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a TFT substrate including a plurality of pixel electrodes in correspondence with a plurality of pixels, respectively; a counter substrate including a counter electrode facing the plurality of pixel electrodes; and a liquid crystal layer located between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate. The plurality of pixel electrodes each include a first trunk portion, a plurality of first branch portions extending from the first trunk portion in a first direction, and a plurality of second branch portions extending from the first trunk portion in a direction opposite to the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2009Publication date: January 5, 2012Inventors: Hiroyuki Ohgami, Yoshito Hashimoto, Ken Kuboki, Seiji Tanuma
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Publication number: 20110310335Abstract: A high image quality liquid crystal display device having a high viewing angle characteristic is provided. The liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is of a vertical alignment type and includes a plurality of pixels. The liquid crystal display device includes a first polarizing plate having an absorption axis extending in a first direction; a second polarizing plate having an absorption axis extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a pixel electrode located in each of the plurality of pixels and including a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode to which different levels of voltage can be applied; a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode; and a liquid crystal layer provided between the pixel electrodes and the counter electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 25, 2009Publication date: December 22, 2011Inventors: Yoshito Hashimoto, Hiroyuki Ohgami, Ken Kuboki
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Publication number: 20070146599Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is provided. In the liquid crystal display device, a whole face of an alignment layer disposed above a substrate is uniformly subjected to first alignment treatment (uniform treatment) such as rubbing treatment in an a direction. Second alignment treatment is performed in a b direction (second direction) making an angle of about 90 degrees with the a direction and in a c direction (third direction) opposite to the a direction such that regions narrow than regions subjected to the first alignment treatment. This allows micro-regions subjected to alignment treatment in the a, b, and/or c direction to be present at intersections of zones extending in the b or c direction. The micro-regions are located in light-shielding sections.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2006Publication date: June 28, 2007Applicants: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD., TOHOKU UNIVERSITYInventors: Tatsuo UCHIDA, Takahiro Ishinabe, Tetsuya Miyashita, Ken Kuboki, Mitsuru Kano, Yuzo Hayashi, Yohei Iida, Mitsuo Oizumi