Patents by Inventor Masumi Kubo
Masumi Kubo 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: 7755087Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of this invention includes a plurality of picture element regions each defined by a first electrode provided on a face of a first substrate facing a liquid crystal layer and a second electrode provided on a second substrate so as to oppose the first electrode via the liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween. In each of the picture element regions, the first electrode has a plurality of openings and a solid portion, the liquid crystal layer is in a vertical orientation state when no voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, and when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, a plurality of liquid crystal domains each in a radially-inclined orientation state are respectively formed in the plurality of openings and the solid portion by inclined electrode fields generated at respective edge portions of the openings of the first electrode.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2006Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Takashi Ochi, Tetsuhiro Yamaguchi, Naoshi Yamada, Katsuhiko Morishita, Kiyoshi Ogishima, Kazuhiro Maekawa
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Publication number: 20100165274Abstract: There is provided a CPA-type liquid crystal display device in which deterioration in display quality due to application of stress to a liquid crystal panel is suppressed. A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a first substrate; a second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer of a vertical-alignment type provided therebetween. In each picture element region, a first electrode provided on a side of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer includes a solid portion formed of an electrically-conductive film and a non-solid portion in which no electrically-conductive film is formed. The solid portion includes a plurality of unit solid portions each of which is substantially surrounded by the non-solid portion, the plurality of unit solid portions being arranged at least along a first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2010Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hisakazu Nakamura, Masumi Kubo
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Publication number: 20100157182Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of this invention includes a plurality of picture element regions each defined by a first electrode provided on a face of a first substrate facing a liquid crystal layer and a second electrode provided on a second substrate so as to oppose the first electrode via the liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween. In each of the picture element regions, the first electrode has a plurality of openings and a solid portion, the liquid crystal layer is in a vertical orientation state when no voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, and when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, a plurality of liquid crystal domains each in a radially-inclined orientation state are respectively formed in the plurality of openings and the solid portion by inclined electrode fields generated at respective edge portions of the openings of the first electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2010Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Takashi Ochi, Tetsuhiro Yamaguchi, Naoshi Yamada, Katsuhiko Morishita, Kiyoshi Ogishima, Kazuhiro Maekawa
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Publication number: 20100157213Abstract: The viewing angle dependence of the ? characteristic in a CPA mode liquid crystal display device is reduced in a desired direction. The liquid crystal display device is usable for a use in which a viewing angle characteristic in direction D1 parallel to a display plane needs to be higher than a viewing angle characteristic in another direction D2 parallel to the display plane. An electrode of the liquid crystal display device includes a solid area formed of a conductive film and a non-solid area with no conductive film. The solid area of the electrode includes a plurality of unit solid areas, above each of which a liquid crystal domain exhibiting a radially inclined orientation state is formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2006Publication date: June 24, 2010Inventor: Masumi Kubo
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Publication number: 20100149474Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a picture element region defined by a first electrode 14 provided on a surface of a first substrate, the surface being on the side of a liquid crystal layer 30, and a second electrode 22 provided on a second substrate 21 and facing the first electrode with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. In the picture element region, the first electrode 14 includes a solid area 14b formed of a conductive layer and a non-solid area 14a, 14a? with no conductive layer. The solid area includes a plurality of unit solid areas 14b? each substantially surrounded by the non-solid area; and each of the plurality of unit solid areas 14b? has a recess 15a, concaved in a thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer, at a substantially central position thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2006Publication date: June 17, 2010Inventor: Masumi Kubo
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Publication number: 20100134738Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes: a vertical alignment liquid crystal layer; first and second electrodes arranged on one surface of first and second substrates to face the liquid crystal layer; and first and second alignment films arranged on the first and second electrodes, respectively, in contact with the liquid crystal layer. The first alignment film has been subjected to an optical alignment treatment by obliquely irradiating a first alignment film material, having a photosensitive wavelength within the wavelength range of 250 nm to 380 nm, with light including the photosensitive wavelength. The device further includes: a metal layer arranged between the first alignment film and the first substrate; and a first resin layer arranged between the metal layer and the first alignment film.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2010Publication date: June 3, 2010Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshito Hashimoto, Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20100073606Abstract: An MVA-type LCD capable of displaying with a high contrast ratio is provided. An LCD according to the present invention is an MVA-type LCD including a stripe-shaped rib 21b provided on a first electrode 11 of a liquid crystal layer and a stripe-shaped slit 22 formed in a second electrode 12 of the liquid crystal layer. The rib 21b has a side face whose taper angle in a cross section which is orthogonal to an azimuth direction that the rib 21 extends is 18° or less, and is made of a material such that a film of the material with a thickness corresponding to the height of the rib has an OD value of 0.8 or more.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2007Publication date: March 25, 2010Inventors: Yusuke Nishihara, Akihiro Yamamoto, Masumi Kubo, Kenji Okamoto
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Patent number: 7683995Abstract: There is provided a CPA-type liquid crystal display device in which deterioration in display quality due to application of stress to a liquid crystal panel is suppressed. A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a first substrate; a second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer of a vertical-alignment type provided therebetween. In each picture element region, a first electrode provided on a side of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer includes a solid portion formed of an electrically-conductive film and a non-solid portion in which no electrically-conductive film is formed. The solid portion includes a plurality of unit solid portions each of which is substantially surrounded by the non-solid portion, the plurality of unit solid portions being arranged at least along a first direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2005Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hisakazu Nakamura, Masumi Kubo
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Patent number: 7683875Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal panel, when both of transmittance at the front and transmittance at an oblique viewing angle are 1 in white display, having such display characteristics that transmission intensity at the oblique viewing angle is larger than transmission intensity at the front; and a drive voltage setting section (LUT and drive voltage generation section) which sets a drive voltage to activate the liquid crystal panel and supplies the set drive voltage to the liquid crystal panel. The drive voltage setting section (LUT and drive voltage generation section) sets a drive voltage in accordance with viewing angle characteristics of the liquid crystal panel, thereby controlling viewing angle characteristics. With this arrangement, it is possible to provide a simply-structured liquid crystal display device capable of displays with high definition without decrease in aperture ratios.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2004Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masumi Kubo
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Patent number: 7679703Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes: a vertical alignment liquid crystal layer; first and second electrodes arranged on one surface of first and second substrates to face the liquid crystal layer; and first and second alignment films arranged on the first and second electrodes, respectively, in contact with the liquid crystal layer. The first alignment film has been subjected to an optical alignment treatment by obliquely irradiating a first alignment film material, having a photosensitive wavelength within the wavelength range of 250 nm to 380 nm, with light including the photosensitive wavelength. The device further includes: a metal layer arranged between the first alignment film and the first substrate; and a first resin layer arranged between the metal layer and the first alignment film.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2006Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshito Hashimoto, Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20100060832Abstract: A color filter layer includes a first region and a second region, wherein the number of times that light used for display is transmitted through the color filter layer is different between the first region and the second region.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2009Publication date: March 11, 2010Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yozo Narutaki, Masumi Kubo, Shogo Fujioka, Takayuki Shimada, Mikio Katayama, Youjii Yoshimura, Yutaka Ishii
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Patent number: 7663717Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a first polarizer provided on a surface of the first substrate which is on the opposite side to the liquid crystal layer; a second polarizer provided on a surface of the second substrate which is on the opposite side to the liquid crystal layer; a first phase compensation element provided between the first polarizer and the liquid crystal layer; and a second phase compensation element provided between the second polarizer and the liquid crystal layer. A plurality of pixel areas are provided for display. The first substrate includes at least one transmissive electrode, and the second substrate includes a reflective electrode region and a transmissive electrode region in correspondence with each of the plurality of pixel areas.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2006Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Yozo Narutaki, Shogo Fujioka, Yuko Maruyama, Takayuki Shimada, Youji Yoshimura, Mikio Katayama, Yutaka Ishii, Shinya Yamakawa, Atsushi Ban
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Publication number: 20090284703Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: a vertical alignment liquid crystal layer; first and second substrates facing each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed; first and second electrodes arranged on the first and second substrates to face the liquid crystal layer; and at least one alignment film in contact with the liquid crystal layer. A pixel region includes a first liquid crystal domain in which liquid crystal molecules are tilted in a first direction around the center of a plane, and approximately at the middle of the thickness, of the liquid crystal layer responsive to a voltage applied. The first liquid crystal domain is close to at least a part of an edge of the first electrode. The part includes a first edge portion in which an azimuthal direction, perpendicular to the part and pointing toward the inside of the first electrode, defines an angle greater than 90 degrees to the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2006Publication date: November 19, 2009Inventors: Akihiro Shoraku, Toshihide Tsubata, Koichi Miyachi, Iichiro Inoue, Akihiro Yamamoto, Yoshito Hashimoto, Masumi Kubo, Akihito Jinda
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Patent number: 7619708Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of this invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules having negative dielectric anisotropy disposed between the two substrates. In each of a plurality of picture-element regions, the liquid crystal layer has a plurality of liquid crystal regions different in the direction in which liquid crystal molecules tilt upon application of a voltage. At least one of the first and second substrates has a light-shield layer overlapping at least part of boundary region defined as regions separating the plurality of liquid crystal regions from each other. The part of the boundary region overlapping the light-shield layer is a region permitting liquid crystal molecules surrounding the region to tilt so that the ends of the liquid crystal molecules closer to the substrate having the light-shield layer go away from the region upon application of a voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2008Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyoshi Ogishima, Masumi Kubo
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Publication number: 20090267880Abstract: A pixel has a first liquid crystal domain. In the first liquid crystal domain, first and second pretilt directions of liquid crystal molecules, defined by first and second alignment films, respectively, intersect with each other at substantially right angles. Also, in the first liquid crystal domain, when a signal voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer to display the highest gray scale, liquid crystal molecules, located around the center of a plane of the liquid crystal layer and around the middle of the thickness of the liquid crystal layer, are tilted in a first direction that substantially equally divides the first and second pretilt directions into two. A driver applies a signal voltage to the liquid crystal layer of the pixel every vertical scanning period. At least while display gray scales are changing from the lowest gray scale into the highest one, the driver applies a voltage that is at least 0.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2006Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshito Hashimoto, Masumi Kubo, Takako Nakai
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Publication number: 20090268141Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes: a vertical alignment liquid crystal layer; first and second electrodes arranged on one surface of first and second substrates to face the liquid crystal layer; and first and second alignment films arranged on the first and second electrodes, respectively, in contact with the liquid crystal layer. The first alignment film has been subjected to an optical alignment treatment by obliquely irradiating a first alignment film material, having a photosensitive wavelength within the wavelength range of 250 nm to 380 nm, with light including the photosensitive wavelength. The device further includes: a metal layer arranged between the first alignment film and the first substrate; and a first resin layer arranged between the metal layer and the first alignment film.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2006Publication date: October 29, 2009Inventors: Yoshito Hashimoto, Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto
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Patent number: 7599023Abstract: A color filter layer includes a first region and a second region, wherein the number of times that light used for display is transmitted through the color filter layer is different between the first region and the second region.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2007Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yozo Narutaki, Masumi Kubo, Shogo Fujioka, Takayuki Shimada, Mikio Katayama, Youji Yoshimura, Yutaka Ishii
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Publication number: 20090231502Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device of the present invention, when a display voltage is applied to picture element electrodes, each picture element electrode forms a plurality of domains in which liquid crystal molecules align themselves in different directions. The picture element electrodes are formed such that their edge portions on the opposite sides of a picture-element-electrode aperture portion formed between the picture element electrodes face parallel to each other with a certain interval. A source bus line is provided along the picture-element-electrode aperture portion formed between the picture element electrodes. The source bus line is disposed beneath the picture element electrodes and at the edge portions of the picture element electrodes by overlapping therewith in a direction of thickness.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2009Publication date: September 17, 2009Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20090213053Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixels each connected to a signal line via a switching element. Each pixel includes first and second sub-pixels having voltage vs. luminance characteristics different from each other with respect to a signal voltage supplied from the signal line. A threshold signal voltage of the first sub-pixel is lower than that of the second sub-pixel. The pixels form color display pixels which are red, green pixel and blue pixels. Where the area ratio of the first sub-pixel in each of the red, green and blue pixels is SR1, SG1 and SB1, and the ratio of the lighting-up time period of the first sub-pixel of each of the red, green and blue pixels in one vertical scanning period is TR1, TG1 and TB1, the relationship of (SR1×TR1)>(SG1×TG1)>(SB1×TB1) holds.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2006Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yohichi Naruse, Takashi Ochi, Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20090180068Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal module and a touch panel section arranged in front of the liquid crystal module. There is a space between the liquid crystal module and the touch panel section, and a layer of air is present in the space. The liquid crystal module has a ?/4 plate on the front side. The touch panel section includes a polarization plate and ?/4 plate which are arranged on the front side of a touch panel in this order.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2006Publication date: July 16, 2009Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Katsuhiro Kikuchi, Masumi Kubo, Takayuki Natsume