Patents by Inventor Kimiaki Nakamura

Kimiaki Nakamura 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: 8092871
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal layer containing a nematic liquid crystal material; a pair of electrodes opposing each other via the liquid crystal layer; a pair of alignment films respectively provided between the pair of electrodes and the liquid crystal layer; and an alignment sustaining layer formed of a photopolymerized material on each of surfaces of the pair of alignment films which are closer to the liquid crystal layer, the alignment sustaining layer being configured to regulate a pretilt azimuth of a liquid crystal molecule of the liquid crystal layer during the absence of an applied voltage across the liquid crystal layer, wherein the pretilt azimuth of the liquid crystal molecule of the liquid crystal layer is regulated by the alignment sustaining layer during the absence of an applied voltage across the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kentaro Usui, Seiji Tanuma, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Kimiaki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110299019
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus including a pair of substrates having electrodes and vertical alignment layers. A liquid crystal having a negative anisotropy of dielectric is inserted between the substrates. Each substrate has linearly arranged alignment control structures for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal. The alignment control structures are formed in the form of projections or slits. Each alignment control structure is formed of a plurality of constituent units. In addition, means for forming a boundary of alignment of liquid crystal (singular point in director field) to control the liquid crystal located on the alignment control structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Hideo Chida, Yoshio Koike, Kimiaki Nakamura, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Patent number: 8054429
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates, with a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules between the first and second substrates. A first electrode formed on the first substrate and a second electrode formed on the second substrate. An alignment layer is formed on at least one of the substrates, and a polymer is formed on the alignment layer. The liquid crystal molecules are tilted when no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal molecules. The first electrode has a plurality of stripe-like electrode patterns, and the stripe-like electrode patterns have a width that is wider than a width of a space between adjacent strip-like electrode patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Hanaoka, Takahiro Sasaki, Tsutomu Seino, Yohei Nakanishi, Seiji Tanuma, Kimiaki Nakamura, Yuichi Inoue, Masakazu Shibasaki, Hideaki Tsuda, Yoshio Koike, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Hidefumi Yoshida, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Patent number: 8044907
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display including two substrates, gate bus lines, liquid crystal molecules, and a polymer that determines directions in which the liquid crystal molecules tilt. A plurality of divisional areas are arranged on one of the substrates. The pixels are aligned in a column between drain bus lines. A pixel electrode is formed at each of the divisional areas. A first thin film transistor drives a first divisional area, and a second thin film transistor drives a second divisional area of the same column. The first and second thin film transistors are electrically connected to the same gate bus line. Either the pixel electrodes formed at each of the divisional areas are electrically insulated from each other, or they are connected to each other through a high resistance. A first threshold voltage within the first divisional area is different from a second threshold voltage of the second divisional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Sasabayashi, Arihiro Takeda, Hiroyasu Inoue, Kazuya Ueda, Yoshio Koike, Hideaki Tsuda, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Hidefumi Yoshida, Kunihiro Tashiro, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Kimiaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8023085
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus including a pair of substrates having electrodes and vertical alignment layers. A liquid crystal having a negative anisotropy of dielectric is inserted between the substrates. Each substrate has linearly arranged alignment control structures for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal. The alignment control structures are formed in the form of projections or slits. Each alignment control structure is formed of a plurality of constituent units. In addition, means for forming a boundary of alignment of liquid crystal (singular point in director field) to control the liquid crystal located on the alignment control structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Hideo Chida, Yoshio Koike, Kimiaki Nakamura, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110216274
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a vertical direction to the first substrate and the second substrate by the first molecule orientation film and the second molecule orientation film, respectively, in a non-driving state. A structural pattern is formed so as to extend in a first direction parallel to a surface of the liquid crystal layer and so as to form, in a driving state, an electric field periodically changing in a second direction that is parallel to the liquid crystal layer and vertical to the first direction. The liquid crystal molecules substantially tilt in the first direction in the driving state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Arihiro Takeda, Takahiro Sasaki, Tsutomu Seino, Yoshio Koike, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Kimiaki Nakamura, Hideo Chida, Seiji Doi, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Takashi Takagi, Hiroyasu Inoue
  • Patent number: 7965014
    Abstract: A stator includes: a plurality of divided cores disposed to have a ring shape; a stator winding toroidally wound on the stator; and a holding member that holds the divided cores in the ring shape. Each of the divided cores includes: a bobbin part for the stator winding; a yoke extending from the bobbin part in the circumferential direction; a connection part extending from the yoke outwardly in a radial direction with a connection face that is connected to the holding member; and a tooth extending from the yoke inwardly. The connection part has a magnetic gap to increase a magnetic resistance in a path of magnetic flux, generated by the stator winding, leaked to the holding member through the connection face. The magnetic gap is a notch or a weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Shinagawa, Kimiaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7952675
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including 1st and 2nd substrates. A linearly extending scan electrode and a linearly extending signal electrode are formed on the 1st substrate, wherein the scan electrode extends in a direction crossing an extension direction of the signal electrode. A liquid crystal layer is between the 1st and 2nd substrates, and a pixel electrode is formed on the 1st substrate. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to both the scan and signal electrodes. The pixel electrode is divided into at least two regions such that at least two domains of different liquid crystal orientation directions are defined within a single pixel. A 1st and a 2nd of the at least two regions are not aligned in parallel with either the extension direction of the scan electrode or the extension direction of the signal electrode. The 1st and 2nd regions each include a micro-cutout pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Arihiro Takeda, Takahiro Sasaki, Tsutomu Seino, Yoshio Koike, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Kimiaki Nakamura, Hideo Chida, Seiji Doi, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Takashi Takagi, Hiroyasu Inoue
  • Publication number: 20110102720
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (100) according to the present invention includes an active matrix substrate (120), a counter substrate (140), and a vertical-alignment type liquid crystal layer (160) provided between the active matrix substrate (120) and the counter substrate (140). At least one of the active matrix substrate (120) and the counter substrate (140) includes a photo-alignment film (128, 148). The liquid crystal display device (100) further includes an alignment sustaining layer (130, 150) provided between the photo-alignment film (128, 148) and the liquid crystal layer (160). The alignment sustaining layer (130, 150) contains a polymer (132, 152) resulting from polymerization of a photopolymerizable compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Masanobu Mizusaki, Kimiaki Nakamura, Yohei Nakanishi, Yuichiro Yamada
  • Publication number: 20110075060
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal display used as a display section of an electronic apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same, and it is aimed at providing a liquid crystal display which can achieve high viewing angle characteristics and a method of manufacturing the same. A configuration is employed which includes a pair of substrates provided opposite to each other, a liquid crystal sealed between the pair of substrates, protrusions formed on at least one of the pair of substrates for regulating the alignment of the liquid crystal, and a plurality of pixel regions having both of a first area in which the protrusions are disposed at first intervals a2 and which has a first threshold voltage for driving of the liquid crystal and a second area in which the protrusions are disposed at second intervals a2 smaller than the first intervals and which has a second threshold voltage lower than the first threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Sasabayashi, Arihiro Takeda, Hiroyasu Inoue, Kazuya Ueda, Yoshio Koike, Hideaki Tsuda, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Hidefumi Yoshida, Kunihiro Tashiro, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Kimiaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7898627
    Abstract: A vertical alignment type liquid crystal display apparatus including first and second substrates facing each other and liquid crystals inserted therebetween. The first substrate includes first and second structures which extend, respectively, in first and second directions, and the second substrate includes third and fourth structures which extend, respectively, in the first and second directions. A plurality of liquid crystal domains are formed by the first, second, third, and fourth structures in the pixel when a voltage is applied to liquid crystals. Alignment directions of liquid crystals in the plurality of liquid crystal domains are different from each other, and perpendicular to the first or second direction when viewed in a direction vertical to the first and second substrates. The first structure includes a plurality of separate constituent units, arranged along the first direction, and the second structure includes a plurality of separate constituent units, arranged along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Hideo Chida, Yoshio Koike, Kimiaki Nakamura, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20100302491
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal layer containing a nematic liquid crystal material; a pair of electrodes opposing each other via the liquid crystal layer; a pair of alignment films respectively provided between the pair of electrodes and the liquid crystal layer; and an alignment sustaining layer formed of a photopolymerized material on each of surfaces of the pair of alignment films which are closer to the liquid crystal layer, the alignment sustaining layer being configured to regulate a pretilt azimuth of a liquid crystal molecule of the liquid crystal layer during the absence of an applied voltage across the liquid crystal layer, wherein the pretilt azimuth of the liquid crystal molecule of the liquid crystal layer is regulated by the alignment sustaining layer during the absence of an applied voltage across the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Kentaro Usui, Seiji Tanuma, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Kimiaki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100283953
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus including a pair of substrates having electrodes and vertical alignment layers. A liquid crystal having a negative anisotropy of dielectric is inserted between the substrates. Each substrate has linearly arranged alignment control structures for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal. The alignment control structures are formed in the form of projections or slits. Each alignment control structure is formed of a plurality of constituent units. In addition, means for forming a boundary of alignment of liquid crystal (singular point in director field) to control the liquid crystal located on the alignment control structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Hideo Chida, Yoshio Koike, Kimiaki Nakamura, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Patent number: 7808594
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus including a plurality of pixels, including a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy inserted between the pair of substrates. First and second electrodes are 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 a zigzag fashion and extend parallel with each other, and at least one of the first and second alignment control structures includes a linear portion and a narrow portion having a width narrower than a width of the linear portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Hideo Chida, Yoshio Koike, Kimiaki Nakamura, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20100231833
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus including a pair of substrates having electrodes and vertical alignment layers. A liquid crystal having a negative anisotropy of dielectric is inserted between the substrates. Each substrate has linearly arranged alignment control structures for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal. The alignment control structures are formed in the form of projections or slits. Each alignment control structure is formed of a plurality of constituent units. In addition, means for forming a boundary of alignment of liquid crystal (singular point in director field) to control the liquid crystal located on the alignment control structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Hideo Chida, Yoshio Koike, Kimiaki Nakamura, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20100066199
    Abstract: A stator includes: a plurality of divided cores disposed to have a ring shape; a stator winding troidally wound on the stator; and a holding member that holds the divided cores in the ring shape. Each of the divided cores includes: a bobbin part for the stator winding; a yoke extending from the bobbin part in the circumferential direction; a connection part extending from the yoke outwardly in a radial direction with a connection face that is connected to the holding member; and a tooth extending from the yoke inwardly. The connection part has a magnetic gap to increase a magnetic resistance in a path of magnetic flux, generated by the stator winding, leaked to the holding member through the connection face. The magnetic gap is a notch or a weld.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka SHINAGAWA, Kimiaki NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20100035504
    Abstract: The invention has an object to provide a liquid crystal display in which a wide angle of view is obtained and a response time at a halftone can be shortened by regulating an alignment orientation of a liquid crystal by the use of a polymer fixation system in which a liquid crystal layer containing a polymerizable component is sealed between substrates, and the polymerizable component is polymerized while a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer to fix a liquid crystal alignment. A liquid crystal layer containing a polymer for regulating a pretilt angle of a liquid crystal molecule and a tilt direction at a time of driving is sealed between two substrates arranged opposite to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Tsutomu Seino, Yohei Nakanishi, Seiji Tanuma, Kimiaki Nakamura, Yuichi Inoue, Masakazu Shibasaki, Hideaki Tsuda, Yoshio Koike, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Hidefumi Yoshida, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Patent number: 7656465
    Abstract: Fine electrode patterns pattern-formed in the shape of fine teeth of a comb bilaterally symmetrical with respect to band-shaped portions are formed at even intervals in a pixel electrode, and band-shaped dielectric layers are pattern-formed at even intervals to cover the fine electrode patterns in a display pixel. By the existence of the dielectric layer and the fine electrode patterns complementing this, a portion formed with this layer and the fine electrode patterns is a high threshold voltage region, and relatively, a low threshold voltage region where the dielectric layer does not exist is formed. By the aforementioned construction, it becomes possible to improve a delay in response speed at low gray levels and increase the speed of halftone response, whereby a very reliable image display having moving image performance almost equal to that of a CRT is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Arihiro Takeda, Shingo Kataoka, Kimiaki Nakamura, Hideaki Tsuda, Takahiro Sasaki, Kazuya Ueda, Masahiro Ikeda, Katsunori Misaki, Naoto Kondo, Akira Komorita
  • Publication number: 20090290111
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus including a pair of substrates having electrodes and vertical alignment layers. A liquid crystal having a negative anisotropy of dielectric is inserted between the substrates. Each substrate has linearly arranged alignment control structures for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal. The alignment control structures are formed in the form of projections or slits. Each alignment control structure is formed of a plurality of constituent units. In addition, means for forming a boundary of alignment of liquid crystal (singular point in director field) to control the liquid crystal located on the alignment control structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Arihiro Takeda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Hideo Chida, Yoshio Koike, Kimiaki Nakamura, Kunihiro Tashiro