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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Publication number: 20050219180Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2005Publication date: October 6, 2005Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masumi Kubo, Tomoo Furukawa
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Publication number: 20050219445Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel 2 containing a liquid crystal having an alignment state which is so controlled that: a transmission intensity at an oblique viewing angle is greater than a frontal transmission intensity assuming a frontal transmittance of 1 for a white display and a transmittance of 1 at the oblique viewing angle for a white display; and a first region and a second region coexist in one or multiple picture element regions constituting a pixel, excess brightness occurring at the oblique viewing angle in the first region, no excess brightness occurring at the oblique viewing angle in the second region. The liquid crystal display device also includes a panel, 3, for use in viewing angle property control setting all or part of the second region of the liquid crystal display panel 2 to either a light-blocking state or a light-transmitting state as viewed from an oblique direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2005Publication date: October 6, 2005Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masumi Kubo
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Publication number: 20050219182Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the invention includes a plurality of pixels each having a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer placed between the first and second electrodes. The device further includes stripe-shaped first alignment regulating means having a first width placed in the first electrode side of the liquid crystal layer; stripe-shaped second alignment regulating means having a second width placed in the second electrode side of the liquid crystal layer; and a stripe-shaped liquid crystal region having a third width defined between the first and second regulating means. The third width is in a range between 7 ?m and 12 ?m.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2005Publication date: October 6, 2005Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hisakazu Nakamura, Masumi Kubo, Hiroyuki Ohgami, Tadashi Kawamura, Akihiro Yamamoto, Takashi Ochi, Yohichi Naruse
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Publication number: 20050213008Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the invention includes a plurality of pixels each having a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer placed between the first and second electrodes. The device includes ribs in a stripe shape having a first width placed in the first electrode side of the liquid crystal layer; slits in a stripe shape having a second width placed in the second electrode side of the liquid crystal layer; and liquid crystal regions in a stripe shape having a third width defined between the ribs and the slits. The third width is in a range between 2 ?m and 14 ?m. The liquid crystal regions include at least one each of four liquid crystal regions A to D in which liquid crystal molecules tilt in directions different from one another by 90° each. The relationship |((a+c)?(b+d))/(a+b+c+d)|<0.25 is satisfied where a, b, c and d are the total areas of the liquid crystal regions A, B, C and D, respectively, in each pixel.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2005Publication date: September 29, 2005Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Ohgami, Takashi Ochi
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Patent number: 6950160Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of this invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and a plurality of picture element regions for producing a display. In each of the plurality of picture element regions, a picture element electrode provided on the face of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer and a switching element electrically connected to the picture element electrode are provided. The picture element electrode includes a plurality of sub-picture element electrodes and a plurality of contact portions for mutually electrically connecting at least some of the plurality of sub-picture element electrodes. At least one of the plurality of sub-picture element electrodes is electrically connected to the switching element via a plurality of connection paths.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2003Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Takashi Ochi, Kiyoshi Ogishima, Kazuhiro Maekawa
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Patent number: 6950159Abstract: 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 20, 2004Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: 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: 6950161Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of a vertical alignment mode is provided in which a quenching pattern, which is generated by such liquid crystal molecules whose in-plane component of the alignment directions under applied voltage is aligned along the cross nicole directions, is unrecognizable for a user. In the liquid crystal display device of a vertical alignment mode, a liquid crystal layer is has a defined value of d/p between 0.0021×(Vmax)2?0.0458×(Vmax)+0.65 and 0.0021×(Vmax)2?0.0458×(Vmax)+0.50, and a defined value of d·?n/? between ?0.00026×(Vmax)3+0.016×(Vmax)2?0.2281×(Vmax)+2.124 and ?0.00026×(Vmax)3+0.016×(Vmax)2?0.2281×(Vmax)+1.7603, where Vmax [V] is the maximum applied effective voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2004Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyoshi Ogishima, Masumi Kubo
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Publication number: 20050195352Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the invention has a plurality of pixels each having a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer placed between the first and second electrodes. The device includes: ribs in a stripe shape having a first width placed in the first electrode side of the liquid crystal layer; slits in a stripe shape having a second width placed in the second electrode side of the liquid crystal layer; and liquid crystal regions having a third width defined between the ribs and the slits. The third width is in a range between 2 ?m and 14 ?m, and the ratio of the third width to the second width is in a range between 1.0 and less than 1.5.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2005Publication date: September 8, 2005Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Ohgami, Takashi Ochi, Ryuichi Yokoyama
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Publication number: 20050174528Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device having a high display quality. The liquid crystal display device displays an image by applying a voltage by a first electrode and a second electrode across a liquid crystal layer which takes a vertical alignment in the absence of an applied voltage. The first electrode includes a lower conductive layer, a dielectric layer covering at least a portion of the lower conductive layer, and an upper conductive layer provided on one side of the dielectric layer which is closer to the liquid crystal layer. The upper conductive layer includes a first opening, and the lower conductive layer is provided so as to oppose at least a portion of the first opening via the dielectric layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2005Publication date: August 11, 2005Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Takashi Ochi, Kazuhiro Maekawa, Shohgo Fujioka
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Publication number: 20050168674Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2005Publication date: August 4, 2005Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masumi Kubo
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Patent number: 6924876Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device having a high display quality. The liquid crystal display device displays an image by applying a voltage by a first electrode and a second electrode across a liquid crystal layer which takes a vertical alignment in the absence of an applied voltage. The first electrode includes a lower conductive layer, a dielectric layer covering at least a portion of the lower conductive layer, and an upper conductive layer provided on one side of the dielectric layer which is closer to the liquid crystal layer. The upper conductive layer includes a first opening, and the lower conductive layer is provided so as to oppose at least a portion of the first opening via the dielectric layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2001Date of Patent: August 2, 2005Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Takashi Ochi, Kazuhiro Maekawa, Shohgo Fujioka
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Publication number: 20050162588Abstract: 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: March 21, 2005Publication date: July 28, 2005Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yozo Narutaki, Masumi Kubo, Shogo Fujioka, Takayuki Shimada, Mikio Katayama, Youjii Yoshimura, Yutaka Ishii
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Publication number: 20050140876Abstract: 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: December 22, 2004Publication date: June 30, 2005Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masumi Kubo
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Patent number: 6906765Abstract: 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 15, 2003Date of Patent: June 14, 2005Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yozo Narutaki, Masumi Kubo, Shogo Fujioka, Takayuki Shimada, Mikio Katayama, Youji Yoshimura, Yutaka Ishii
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Publication number: 20050122296Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2004Publication date: June 9, 2005Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Tomoo Furukawa
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Patent number: 6894745Abstract: Each pixel region includes a transmission region for display in a transmission mode using light entering through a first substrate and a reflection region for display in a reflection mode using light entering through a second substrate. The first substrate includes a transparent electrode region and a reflection electrode region, both of which have flat surfaces facing a liquid crystal layer. The second substrate includes a transparent electrode in the reflection region and the transmission region on its surface facing the liquid crystal layer and includes a light diffusion layer in the reflection region, and the surface facing the liquid crystal layer is flat in the transmission region and the reflection region.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2001Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koichi Fujimori, Masumi Kubo, Yozo Narutaki
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Publication number: 20050088608Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of a vertical alignment mode is provided in which a quenching pattern, which is generated by such liquid crystal molecules whose in-plane component of the alignment directions under applied voltage is aligned along the cross nicole directions, is unrecognizable for a user. In the liquid crystal display device of a vertical alignment mode, a liquid crystal layer is has a defined value of d/p between 0.0021×(Vmax)2?0.0458×(Vmax)+0.65 and 0.0021×(Vmax)2?0.0458×(Vmax)+0.50, and a defined value of d·?n/? between ?0.00026×(Vmax)3+0.016×(Vmax)2?0.2281×(Vmax)+2.124 and ?0.00026×(Vmax)3+0.016×(Vmax)2?0.2281×(Vmax)+1.7603, where Vmax [V] is the maximum applied effective voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2004Publication date: April 28, 2005Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyoshi Ogishima, Masumi Kubo
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Publication number: 20050052601Abstract: An alignment-divided vertical alignment liquid crystal display device permitting improvement in response characteristic while suppressing reduction in contrast ratio is provided. 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. Ribs are placed in a surface portion of the liquid crystal layer close to the first electrode and/or a surface portion thereof close to the second electrode. The ribs have slope side faces put in contact with the liquid crystal layer, and satisfy the relationships RL/PS?0.05 (?m?1) and RS/PS?0.05 where RS is the product (RL·RH) of the total length RL of the side faces in a pixel as viewed from the normal to the liquid crystal layer and the height RH of the ribs, and PS is the pixel area.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2004Publication date: March 10, 2005Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Ohgami, Takashi Ochi
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Publication number: 20050046772Abstract: 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: August 25, 2004Publication date: March 3, 2005Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto
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Patent number: 6862062Abstract: 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 11, 2004Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Kiyoshi Ogishima, Takashi Ochi, Kazuhiro Maekawa