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: 7535528Abstract: 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: May 19, 2009Assignee: 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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Patent number: 7532291Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, and includes a plurality of picture element regions each defined by a first electrode provided on one side of the first substrate that is closer to the liquid crystal layer and a second electrode provided on the second substrate so as to oppose the first electrode via the liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes a first orientation-regulating structure in each of the plurality of picture element regions, the first orientation-regulating structure exerting an orientation-regulating force so as to form a plurality of liquid crystal domains in the liquid crystal layer, each of the liquid crystal domains taking a radially-inclined orientation in the presence of an applied voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2007Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Kiyoshi Ogishima, Takashi Ochi, Kazuhiro Maekawa
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Patent number: 7505102Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention comprises picture element regions each defined by a first electrode on a first substrate on the liquid crystal layer side and a second electrode provided on a second substrate and opposing the first electrode via the liquid crystal layer. In each picture element region, the first electrode includes openings and a solid portion; and the liquid crystal layer is in a vertical alignment with no voltage, and upon voltage application, forms liquid crystal domains each taking a radially-inclined orientation above the openings and the solid portion by an oblique electric field produced in edge portions of the openings. The solid portion of the first electrode includes unit solid portions and connecting portions each for connecting at least three unit solid portions to one another.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2004Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Sharp kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Takashi Ochi
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Patent number: 7499136Abstract: The LCD of the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer provided therebetween. In each picture element region, a first electrode provided on the first substrate on the side of the liquid crystal layer has a solid portion formed of a conductive film and a non-solid portion with no conductive film provided. The liquid crystal layer has an orientation regulated by an inclined electric field produced above the non-solid portion of the first electrode when a voltage is applied. A portion of the liquid crystal layer above the solid portion includes a first region having a first thickness d1 and a second region having a second thickness d2 smaller than the first thickness d1 and located near the non-solid portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2005Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masumi Kubo
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Patent number: 7471359Abstract: 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: July 30, 2007Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yozo Narutaki, Masumi Kubo, Shogo Fujioka, Takayuki Shimada, Mikio Katayama, Youji Yoshimura, Yutaka Ishii
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Patent number: 7468768Abstract: 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: December 23, 2008Assignee: 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: 20080266499Abstract: In each picture element region, a first electrode provided on one side of the first substrate that is closer to the liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of sub-electrodes, whereby the liquid crystal layer forms a liquid crystal domain taking a radially-inclined orientation above each sub-electrode by an inclined electric field produced around the sub-electrode. The second substrate includes a stepped portion including an upper tier located in the reflection region, a lower tier located in the transmission region and a side surface connecting the upper tier and the lower tier to each other, the side surface of the stepped portion being located in the reflection region and covered by the second electrode. The plurality of sub-electrodes are arranged in a line in a column direction D2, and picture elements that are adjacent to each other in a row direction D1 are driven with voltages of opposite polarities in each frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masumi Kubo
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Patent number: 7403248Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the invention includes: a liquid crystal layer taking on a roughly vertically aligned state in the black display state: first and second polarizing plates placed to face each other so that the transmission axes are orthogonal to each other; at least one first phase plate placed between the liquid crystal layer and the first polarizing plate and/or the second polarizing plate; at least one second phase plate placed between the first phase plate and the first or second polarizing plate whichever is farther from the first phase plate; and an illuminator for illuminating the liquid crystal layer with light via the first or second polarizing plate.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2003Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshihisa Uchida, Koichi Miyachi, Masumi Kubo, Nobuhiko Nakai, Hidehiko Ohkura
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Patent number: 7391400Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal panel having a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer, and a drive circuit for supplying a driving voltage to the liquid crystal panel, and performs display in a normally black mode. At least at panel temperature 40° C., a rise transmittance Tr is equal to or greater than 75% of the transmittance in the highest gray scale level displaying state, and a decay transmittance Td is equal to or less than 8% of the transmittance in the highest gray scale level displaying state. At a panel temperature T1 below 40° C.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2005Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Tomoo Furukawa
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Publication number: 20080143898Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2008Publication date: June 19, 2008Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyoshi Ogishima, Masumi Kubo
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Patent number: 7379137Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes picture element regions each include a transparent region for providing a transmission mode display and a reflection region for providing a reflection mode display. In each of the picture element regions, the first electrode includes a solid area formed of a conductive film and a non-solid area with no conductive film provided, the liquid crystal layer, in the presence of an applied voltage, forms liquid crystal domains each in a radially-inclined orientation by an inclined electric field generated in the vicinity of the solid area. The second substrate includes a stepped portion having an upper tier located in the reflection region, a lower tier located in the transmission region and a side surface connecting the upper tier and the lower tier to each other, and the side surface of the stepped portion is located in the reflection region and is covered with the second electrode.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masumi Kubo
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Patent number: 7375781Abstract: In each picture element region, a first electrode provided on one side of the first substrate that is closer to the liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of sub-electrodes, whereby the liquid crystal layer forms a liquid crystal domain taking a radially-inclined orientation above each sub-electrode by an inclined electric field produced around the sub-electrode. The second substrate includes a stepped portion including an upper tier located in the reflection region, a lower tier located in the transmission region and a side surface connecting the upper tier and the lower tier to each other, the side surface of the stepped portion being located in the reflection region and covered by the second electrode. The plurality of sub-electrodes are arranged in a line in a column direction D2, and picture elements that are adjacent to each other in a row direction D1 are driven with voltages of opposite polarities in each frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masumi Kubo
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Patent number: 7355664Abstract: 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: August 27, 2003Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyoshi Ogishima, Masumi Kubo
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Patent number: 7345666Abstract: To facilitate a gradation transition from the last gradation to a current gradation, in a modulation driving processing section for correcting current image data, the gradation transition is facilitated in such a degree that an actual luminance of the pixel can be a luminance indicated by image data of a current frame in a state where the gradation transition is made to a sufficient level from the second last gradation to the last gradation. In the liquid crystal display panel, d2·?/?V is set to be not larger than 41×10?6[mm4/(V·s)] wherein d [?m] indicates a thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the liquid crystal panel, ?[mm2/s] indicates a flow viscosity when the liquid crystal panel is set to a temperature of 5° C., and ?V[V] indicates a difference in liquid crystal layer application voltage between a maximum luminance display and a minimum luminance display.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2004Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Tomoo Furukawa
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Publication number: 20080013027Abstract: While securing adequate response characteristics and brightness of an orientation-divided vertical alignment type liquid crystal display device, variations in display quality that are ascribable to variations in the pixel structure are suppressed. A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a plurality of pixels each having a first electrode, a second electrode opposing the first electrode, and a vertical-alignment type liquid crystal layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, including: a rib provided on the first electrode side of the liquid crystal layer, and a slit provided in the second electrode of the liquid crystal layer. The thickness of the liquid crystal layer is no more than 2.5 ?m, and the width of the rib is no less than 5 ?m and no more than 13 ?m.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2005Publication date: January 17, 2008Inventors: Tadashi Kawamura, Masumi Kubo, Hiroyuki Ohgami, Hisakazu Nakamura, Akihiro Yamamoto, Takashi Ochi, Yohichi Naruse
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Publication number: 20080002085Abstract: 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: July 30, 2007Publication date: January 3, 2008Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yozo Narutaki, Masumi Kubo, Shogo Fujioka, Takayuki Shimada, Mikio Katayama, Youji Yoshimura, Yutaka Ishii
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Patent number: 7292300Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes picture element regions defined each by a first electrode and a second electrode opposing the first electrode via the liquid crystal layer therebetween. The first electrode includes, in each picture element region, a plurality of unit solid portions arranged in a first direction, whereby the liquid crystal layer takes a vertical alignment in the absence of an applied voltage, and forms a liquid crystal domain taking a radially-inclined orientation in each unit solid portion by an inclined electric field produced around the unit solid portion in response to an applied voltage. The picture element regions are arranged in a matrix pattern including a rows extending in the second direction different from the first direction and columns extending in the first direction, and picture elements adjacent to each other in the second direction are driven with voltages of opposite polarities in each frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2003Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Kiyoshi Ogishima
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Patent number: 7292301Abstract: An alignment-divided vertical alignment liquid crystal display device permitting high-definition moving image display when OS driving is adopted. The device has a plurality of pixels each having a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and a vertical alignment liquid crystal layer placed between the first and second electrodes. The device includes: first alignment regulating structure having a first width W1 placed in the first electrode side of the liquid crystal layer; second alignment regulating structure having a second width placed in the second electrode side of the liquid crystal layer; and a liquid crystal region having a third width defined between the first and second alignment regulating structures. The third width W3 is in a range between 2 ?m and 14 ?m in certain embodiments.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2004Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Ohgami, Takashi Ochi
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Publication number: 20070247570Abstract: 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: June 22, 2007Publication date: October 25, 2007Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yozo Narutaki, Masumi Kubo, Shogo Fujioka, Takayuki Shimada, Mikio Katayama, Youji Yoshimura, Yutaka Ishii
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Publication number: 20070199504Abstract: 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: May 17, 2005Publication date: August 30, 2007Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hisakazu Nakamura, Masumi Kubo