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).

  • Publication number: 20030107695
    Abstract: A first substrate includes, on one side thereof that is closer to a liquid crystal layer, a picture element electrode provided for each picture element region, a switching element, and a bus line. A second substrate includes a counter electrode opposing the picture element electrode. The picture element electrode includes a plurality of openings and a solid portion that includes a plurality of unit solid portions. In each picture element region, the liquid crystal layer takes a vertical alignment in the absence of an applied voltage, and forms a plurality of liquid crystal domains, each of which takes a radially-inclined orientation, in the plurality of openings and the solid portion by inclined electric fields produced at respective edge portions of the plurality of openings of the picture element electrode in response to an applied voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Kiyoshi Ogishima, Takashi Ochi, Keizoh Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20020149728
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of this invention includes a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer between a first substrate and a second substrate. A picture element region is defined by a first electrode provided on the surface of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer and a second electrode provided on the surface of the second substrate facing the liquid crystal layer. The first substrate has at least one first protrusion with an inclined side face on the surface thereof facing the liquid crystal layer in each of the plurality of picture element regions. A portion of the liquid crystal layer included in each of the plurality of picture element regions is in a substantially vertical orientation state under application of no voltage, and includes at least a part of a first liquid crystal domain placed in a radially-inclined orientation state about the first protrusion under voltage application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Ogishima, Masumi Kubo
  • Patent number: 6452654
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate includes: a plurality of gate lines; a plurality of source lines arranged to cross with the plurality of gate lines; a plurality of switching elements disposed in the vicinity of crossings of the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of source lines; and a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the plurality of switching elements. The second substrate includes a counter electrode. A plurality of pixel regions are defined by the plurality of pixel electrodes, the counter electrode, and the liquid crystal layer interposed between the plurality of pixel electrodes and the counter electrode, and each of the plurality of pixel regions includes a reflection region and a transmission region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Yozo Narutaki, Atsushi Ban, Takayuki Shimada, Yoji Yoshimura, Mikio Katayama, Yutaka Ishii, Hirohiko Nishiki
  • Publication number: 20020075436
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Kiyoshi Ogishima, Takashi Ochi, Kazuhiro Maekawa
  • Patent number: 6407786
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of this invention includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix constituting a plurality of pixel columns. Each of the plurality of pixels has a reflection region permitting reflection-mode display, the reflection region including an insulating layer having a convex/concave surface and a reflector formed on the convex/concave surface of the insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Yamamoto, Takeshi Hara, Kazuki Kobayashi, Masumi Kubo
  • Publication number: 20020036740
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Takashi Ochi, Tetsuhiro Yamaguchi, Naoshi Yamada, Katsuhiko Morishita, Kiyoshi Ogishima, Kazuhiro Maekawa
  • Publication number: 20020036744
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Takashi Ochi, Kiyoshi Ogishima, Kazuhiro Maekawa
  • Patent number: 6341002
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, includes: a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, and a plurality of pixel regions defined by a pair of electrodes for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer. Each of the plurality of pixel regions includes a reflection region and a transmission region, and the liquid crystal layer is made of a liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy. A first polarizing element is provided on the first substrate opposite to the liquid crystal layer; a second polarizing element is provided on the second substrate opposite to the liquid crystal layer; a first phase difference compensator is provided between the first polarizing element and the liquid crystal layer; and a second phase difference compensator is provided between the second polarizing element and the liquid crystal layer. A twist angle &thgr;t of the liquid crystal layer is in a range of 0° to 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Shimizu, Yasuhisa Itoh, Masumi Kubo
  • Publication number: 20010055082
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Yozo Narutaki, Shogo Fujioka, Yuko Maruyama, Takayuki Shimada, Youji Yoshimura, Mikio Katayama, Yutaka Ishii, Shinya Yamakawa, Atsushi Ban
  • Patent number: 6330047
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates, a plurality of pixel regions being defined by respective pairs of electrodes for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer, wherein each of the plurality of pixel regions includes a reflection region and a transmission region, and the first substrate includes, a transmission electrode through which light from a light source passes within the transmission region, and a reflection electrode by which ambient light is reflected within the reflection region, wherein the transmission electrode and the reflection electrode are electrically connected to each other in an interface area between the transmission region and the reflection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Yozo Narutaki, Atsushi Ban, Takayuki Shimada, Yoji Yoshimura, Mikio Katayama, Yutaka Ishii, Hirohiko Nishiki, Akihiro Yamamoto, Yoshinori Shimada
  • Publication number: 20010026343
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device in which each pixel electrode includes a plurality of sub-pixel electrodes and for which it is easy to correct a short-circuit defect, and a method for correcting such a defect. A pixel electrode includes a transparent electrode (first sub-pixel electrode) and a reflection electrode (second sub-pixel electrode). The distance between the transparent electrode and a counter electrode is greater than the distance between the reflection electrode and the counter electrode. The reflection electrode is connected to the drain electrode via a connection line provided separately from a path which electrically connects the transparent electrode to the drain electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Yasunobu Akebi
  • Patent number: 6297520
    Abstract: In an active matrix substrate having thereon a matrix of pixels each composed of a pair of a TFT and a pixel electrode, when the shorting of the pixel electrodes in adjacent pixels occurs, an electrical connection between the pixel electrode and drain electrode in the TFT of a matching pair in either of the shorted pixel electrodes is cut. For example, when the shorting of two adjacent pixels occurs, the pixel electrodes in both the pixels are driven by the TFT in the non-cut pixel. This arrangement makes it possible to make a display defect resulted from the shorting of adjacent pixels on the active matrix substrate less noticeable, and hence to upgrade display quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Toshihiro Yamashita, Yoshimitsu Tajima
  • Publication number: 20010024257
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Takashi Ochi, Kazuhiro Maekawa, Shohgo Fujioka
  • Patent number: 6295109
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Yozo Narutaki, Shogo Fujioka, Yuko Maruyama, Takayuki Shimada, Youji Yoshimura, Mikio Katayama, Yutaka Ishii, Shinya Yamakawa, Atsushi Ban
  • Publication number: 20010020991
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid, crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate includes: a plurality of gate lines; a plurality of source lines arranged to cross with the plurality of gate lines; a plurality of switching elements disposed in the vicinity of crossings of the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of source lines; and a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the plurality of switching elements. The second substrate includes a counter electrode. A plurality of pixel regions are defined by the plurality of pixel electrodes, the counter electrode, and the liquid crystal layer interposed between the plurality of pixel electrodes and the counter electrode, and each of the plurality of pixel regions includes a reflection region and a transmission region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Yozo Narutaki, Atsushi Ban, Takayuki Shimada, Yoji Yoshimura, Mikio Katayama, Yutaka Ishii, Hirohiko Nishiki
  • Publication number: 20010008437
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Inventors: Koichi Fujimori, Masumi Kubo, Yozo Narutaki
  • Patent number: 6259500
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a display region including a plurality of pixel regions each defined by a pair of electrodes for applying a voltage across the liquid crystal layer; and a non-display region surrounding the display region. The first substrate includes a reflection electrode region provided in the display region for each of the pixel electrodes. The reflection electrode region includes a first insulating layer having a surface which exhibits a concave/convex profile and a reflection layer formed on the first insulating layer. The first substrate includes a second insulating layer in the non-display region. Hmin−0.5≦hmode≦Hmax+0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuichi Kijima, Shogo Fujioka, Masumi Kubo, Yozo Narutaki
  • Patent number: 6215538
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates; a plurality of pixel regions for providing a display; and a reflective region for providing a display by using reflected light, the reflective region being provided in each of the plurality of pixel regions, wherein the first substrate includes a reflective electrode region in the reflective region, the second substrate includes a color filter layer, the color filter layer having a color filter region and a non-color filter region in the reflective electrode region, and the color filter region and the non-color filter region are located such that an overlapping area of the reflective electrode region and the non-color filter region is not changed even when the first and second substrates are mis-aligned with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yozo Narutaki, Masumi Kubo, Shogo Fujioka, Takayuki Shimada, Mikio Katayama, Youji Yoshimura, Yutaka Ishii
  • Patent number: 6195140
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate includes: a plurality of gate lines; a plurality of source lines arranged to cross with the plurality of gate lines; a plurality of switching elements disposed in the vicinity of crossings of the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of source lines; and a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the plurality of switching elements. The second substrate includes a counter electrode. A plurality of pixel regions are defined by the plurality of pixel electrodes, the counter electrode, and the liquid crystal layer interposed between the plurality of pixel electrodes and the counter electrode, and each of the plurality of pixel regions includes a reflection region and a transmission region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Yozo Narutaki, Atsushi Ban, Takayuki Shimada, Yoji Yoshimura, Mikio Katayama, Yutaka Ishii, Hirohiko Nishiki
  • Patent number: RE37591
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device includes an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate having a counter electrode, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the active matrix substrate and the counter substrate. The liquid crystal display device further includes a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of signal lines formed perpendicular to the plurality of scanning lines, switching elements formed in the vicinity of crossings of the plurality of scanning lines ad the plurality of signal lines, a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the corresponding signal lines via the switching elements, and a plurality of supplemental capacitance lines formed in parallel with the corresponding scanning lines, wherein the pixel electrodes are formed over the corresponding scanning lines, and divisions of the adjacent pixel electrodes along the signal lines are located above the corresponding supplemental capacitance lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimada, Miyuki Tsuruya, Masumi Kubo, Kazuyori Mitsumoto, Naofumi Kondo, Mikio Katayama