Patents by Inventor Mayuko Sakamoto

Mayuko Sakamoto 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: 20120235983
    Abstract: In order to supply a low-level potential VSS from a trunk line (21) for the low-level potential VSS to each stage of a shift register (11), a branch line (22) and an auxiliary line (23) are provided for every plurality of stages of the shift register (11), and the auxiliary lines (23) are connected to the respective branch lines (22) and the plurality of stages of the shift register (11). It is also possible to provide an auxiliary line (23) having substantially the same length as the trunk line (21) and to connect all of the branch lines (22) and all of the stages in the shift register (11) to this auxiliary line (23). A high-level potential VDD may also be supplied using the same method. Consequently, a scanning-signal-line driving circuit is provided in which the frame area and power consumption of a display panel can be reduced when formed on the display panel as an integral unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mayuko Sakamoto, Yasuaki Iwase, Isao Ogasawara, Takaharu Yamada
  • Patent number: 8248395
    Abstract: An image display device includes an image display panel (4) with an image detection function, and includes a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix and a plurality of photosensors (17) disposed in correspondence with the pixels in a display region. The pixels each have a plurality of sub-pixels (5), and a color filter in which colors of color layers are formed in correspondence with the sub-pixels (5) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mayuko Sakamoto, Hiromi Katoh, Christopher Brown
  • Publication number: 20120169681
    Abstract: A display device as an electronic apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a clock signal wiring (104) for connecting to a source driver circuit; a power supply wiring (105) formed at a position where the power supply wiring (105) does not overlap with a projection plane of the clock signal wiring (104), so as to sandwich at least an insulating layer with a layer in which the clock signal wiring (104) is formed; and a capacitive electrode (109) electrically connected to the clock signal wiring (104). The capacitive electrode (109) is formed so as to overlap at least partially with a projection plane of the power supply wiring (105). A capacitance (301) is formed between the capacitive electrode (109) and the power supply wiring (105).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Moriwaki, Mayuko Sakamoto, Kenichi Ishii
  • Publication number: 20120146969
    Abstract: A gate driver is implemented that includes an easily testable shift register to improve panel yields. In a monolithic gate driver including a shift register that operates based on 4-phase clock signals, each stage of the shift register is provided with an inter-stage connecting wiring line for receiving a clock signal other than clock signals received from a clock signal trunk wiring line, from a different stage than the stage; and a contact that connects a wiring line formed on the stage to the inter-stage connecting wiring line. The shift register is grouped every four consecutive stages. Markings formed of different numbers of planar-view circular-shaped structures are formed on bistable circuits of four stages included in each group such that the same type of marking appears every four stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mayuko Sakamoto, Masashi Yonemaru, Kenichi Ishii, Masahiko Nakamizo
  • Publication number: 20120121061
    Abstract: A shift register according to the present invention is supported on an insulating substrate and has multiple stages that sequentially shift an output signal from one stage to the next. Each of those stages has a circuit 20 including multiple thin-film transistors. The multiple thin-film transistors include a first thin-film transistor MK, which influences the operation of the circuit, and a second thin-film transistor MK_YOBI, which has at least one floating terminal and other terminal(s) that is/are connected to corresponding terminal(s) of the first thin-film transistor MK. The at least one floating terminal is arranged so as to be connectible to a predetermined line N2. Consequently, the yield of shift registers with a monolithic gate driver can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mayuko Sakamoto, Yasuaki Iwase
  • Publication number: 20120105396
    Abstract: A gate driver is provided with an odd-numbered stage shift register, an even-numbered stage shift register, and main lines including clock signal main lines. In at least one example embodiment, each stage of one of the shift registers receives the first clock and the second clock from the clock signal main lines, and the third clock and the fourth clock from an adjacently provided stage of the other shift register. Each stage of the shift register can receive the second clock from a different stage of the same shift register. With this, it is possible to reduce a picture-frame area of a panel in a display device provided with a scanning signal line drive circuit having the plurality of shift registers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mayuko Sakamoto, Yasuaki Iwase
  • Patent number: 8085256
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided which can appropriately adjust the brightness of a display apparatus in accordance with the lightness of visible light by preventing UV-light from being incident upon an optical sensor. An electronic device having, in a housing, a display apparatus (1) that includes an active matrix substrate (2) having a pixel array region (8) in which a plurality of pixels (5) are arranged and a display medium (4) provided in a gap between the active matrix substrate (2) and a counter substrate (3), includes an optical sensor (11) provided in a peripheral region (9) present in a periphery of the pixel array region (8) in the active matrix substrate (2) of a display apparatus (1), and a UV-light blocking member (70) that is provided in a portion covering the optical sensor (11) in the housing and transmits visible light and absorbs UV-light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mayuko Sakamoto, Yoshihiro Izumi, Hiromi Katoh, Tomoyuki Nagai
  • Publication number: 20110274234
    Abstract: A shift register of at least one embodiment of the present invention is a shift register supported by an insulative substrate, wherein: the shift register includes a plurality of stages each sequentially outputting output signals; each of the plurality of stages includes a first transistor for outputting the output signals, and a plurality of second transistors whose source region or drain region is electrically connected to a gate electrode of the first transistor; and the plurality of second transistors include a multi-channel transistor having an active layer including at least two channel regions, a source region and a drain region. This improves characteristics of a shift register forming a monolithic gate driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Mayuko Sakamoto, Masao Moriguchi, Yasuaki Iwase, Yuhichi Saitoh, Tokuo Yoshida, Yohsuke Kanzaki
  • Publication number: 20110273223
    Abstract: A peripheral region of a display panel includes a signal distribution device (4) for time-dividing and distributing, to output terminals (7), an output signal from a source driver. The signal distribution device (4) includes switching elements (20) for the output terminals (7). Each switching element (20) is controlled by a selection signal supplied to a control line (9) connected with a gate electrode. Each switching element (20) includes a source electrode and the drain electrode each having a comb-like shape having a stem part and branch parts extending therefrom. In at least one switching element (20), only all of or part of the branch parts overlap the control line (9) and a semiconductor layer (10). This suppresses abnormal heat generation of a source driver in a display device including the signal distribution circuit by which an output signal from the source driver is distributed to pixels in time series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Mayuko Sakamoto, Yoshihisa Takahashi, Yasuaki Iwase
  • Publication number: 20110205194
    Abstract: A display device of at least one embodiment of the present invention has a connection changeover circuit, including switch elements for time-division driving, formed on a liquid crystal panel, and the switch elements are paired so that two switch elements in each pair are connected in parallel to one video signal line. The paired switch elements are turned on at the same time, and immediately before one of the switch elements is turned off upon completion of a charging period for its corresponding video signal line, only the other switch element is turned off. As a result, while maintaining drive performance, it is possible to solve the impact of fieldthrough phenomenon caused by one of the switch elements, which are transistors, and also reduce parasitic capacitance formed in the other switch element, thereby suppress the impact of fieldthrough phenomenon caused by that switch element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Takahashi, Yasuaki Iwase, Mayuko Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20110199354
    Abstract: There is realized a scanning signal line drive circuit (in a display device) capable of, even in a case where a circuit in a shift register is formed using a thin-film transistor which is relatively large in off leakage, suppressing unnecessary power consumption due to a leakage current in the thin-film transistor. In at least one embodiment, bistable circuit that forms the shift register includes a thin-film transistor for raising a potential of an output terminal based on a first dock, a region netA connected to a gate terminal of the thin-film transistor, another thin-film transistor for lowering a potential of the region netA, and a region netB connected to a gate terminal of the other thin-film transistor. With this configuration, the potential of the region netB is raised based on a third clock which is advanced in phase by 90 degrees with respect to the first clock and is lowered based on a fourth clock which is delayed in phase by 90 degrees with respect to the first clock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Yasuaki Iwase, Mayuko Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20110193853
    Abstract: There is provided a display device capable of preventing a malfunction and a display defect due to an off-leak from occurring even when a circuit in a shift register is configured utilizing thin film transistors of relatively large off-leaks. In at least one embodiment, each of bistable circuits that constitute the shift register includes: a thin film transistor for increasing a potential of an output terminal based on a first clock; a thin film transistor for decreasing the potential of the output terminal; a thin film transistor for increasing a potential of a range netA connected to a gate terminal of the thin film transistor based on a start signal; thin film transistors for decreasing the potential of the range netA; a capacitor for increasing the potential of a range netB connected to a gate terminal of the thin film transistor; and a thin film transistor for decreasing the potential of the range netB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mayuko Sakamoto, Yasuaki Iwase, Yoshiki Nakatani, Yoshihisa Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20110169005
    Abstract: A diode 201 includes a gate electrode 2, a gate insulating layer 5 provided on the gate electrode 2, at least one semiconductor layer 6, 7 provided on the gate insulating layer 5 and which includes a first region 6a and a second region 7b, a first electrode 10 which is provided on the first region 6a and which is electrically coupled to the first region 6a and the gate electrode 2, and a second electrode 12 which is provided on the second region 7b and which is electrically coupled to the second region 7b. The at least one semiconductor layer 6, 7 includes a channel region 6c which extends above the gate electrode 2 with the intervention of the gate insulating layer 5 therebetween, and a resistor region 7d which does not extend above the gate electrode 2. When the diode 201 is in an ON state, an electric current path is formed between the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 12, the electric current path including the channel region 6c and the resistor region 7d.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Saito, Masao Moriguchi, Tokuo Yoshida, Yasuaki Iwase, Yohsuke Kanzaki, Mayuko Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20110147756
    Abstract: A semiconductor device 10 according to the present invention includes an active layer 14 supported on a substrate 11 and having two channel regions 14c1, 14c2, a source region 14s, a drain region 14d, and an intermediate region 14m formed between the two channel regions 14c1, 14c2; a contact layer 16 having a source contact region 16s, a drain contact region 16d, and an intermediate contact region 16m; a source electrode 18s; a drain electrode 18d; an intermediate electrode 18m; and a gate electrode 12 facing the two channel regions and the intermediate region through a gate insulating film 13 interposed therebetween. An entire portion of the intermediate electrode 18m that is located between the first channel region 14c1 and the second channel region 14c2 overlaps the gate electrode 12 through the intermediate region 14m and the gate insulating film 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Moriguchi, Tokuo Yoshida, Yuhichi Saitoh, Yasuaki Iwase, Yosuke Kanzaki, Mayuko Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20100302223
    Abstract: An image display device includes an image display panel (4) with an image detection function, and includes a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix and a plurality of photosensors (17) disposed in correspondence with the pixels in a display region. The pixels each have a plurality of sub-pixels (5), and a color filter in which colors of color layers are formed in correspondence with the sub-pixels (5) is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Mayuko Sakamoto, Hiromi Katoh, Christopher Brown
  • Publication number: 20090135115
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided which can appropriately adjust the brightness of a display apparatus in accordance with the lightness of visible light by preventing UV-light from being incident upon an optical sensor. An electronic device having, in a housing, a display apparatus (1) that includes an active matrix substrate (2) having a pixel array region (8) in which a plurality of pixels (5) are arranged and a display medium (4) provided in a gap between the active matrix substrate (2) and a counter substrate (3), includes an optical sensor (11) provided in a peripheral region (9) present in a periphery of the pixel array region (8) in the active matrix substrate (2) of a display apparatus (1), and a UV-light blocking member (70) that is provided in a portion covering the optical sensor (11) in the housing and transmits visible light and absorbs UV-light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Mayuko Sakamoto, Yoshihiro Izumi, Hiromi Katoh, Tomoyuki Nagai