Patents by Inventor Mitsuaki Hirata

Mitsuaki Hirata 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).

  • Patent number: 12313939
    Abstract: Each pixel includes first through fourth liquid crystal domains. The first through fourth liquid crystal domains are arranged in this order along the pixel longitudinal direction. The reference alignment direction of the second liquid crystal domain and the reference alignment direction of the third liquid crystal domain are respectively essentially the 135° direction and essentially the 315° direction, or respectively essentially the 45° direction and essentially the 225° direction. The pixel electrode includes a first through fourth slitted regions corresponding to the first through fourth liquid crystal domains, and a boundary region located between the second and third slitted regions. The boundary region includes n boundary slits (where n?3) extending essentially in parallel to the pixel transverse direction; (n-1) first bridging portions each located between two adjacent boundary slits; and (n-2) dent patterns each located between two adjacent first bridging portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: SAKAI DISPLAY PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuaki Hirata
  • Patent number: 12287547
    Abstract: Each pixel of the liquid crystal display device includes a first, second, third, and fourth domains arranged in two rows and two columns, and reference alignment directions of the respective domains are first, second, third, and fourth directions. The first direction and the second direction form an angle of approximately 180°, and the first domain and the second domain are adjacent to each other in an oblique direction. The pixel electrode includes a plurality of first slits formed in a region corresponding to the first domain and extending approximately parallel to the first direction, and a plurality of second slits formed in a region corresponding to the second domain and extending approximately parallel to the second direction, and has no slits in a region corresponding to the third domain and no slits in a region corresponding to the fourth domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Sharp Display Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuaki Hirata
  • Publication number: 20240353715
    Abstract: Each pixel includes first through fourth liquid crystal domains. The first through fourth liquid crystal domains are arranged in this order along the pixel longitudinal direction. The reference alignment direction of the second liquid crystal domain and the reference alignment direction of the third liquid crystal domain are respectively essentially the 135° direction and essentially the 315° direction, or respectively essentially the 45° direction and essentially the 225° direction. The pixel electrode includes a first through fourth slitted regions corresponding to the first through fourth liquid crystal domains, and a boundary region located between the second and third slitted regions. The boundary region includes n boundary slits (where n?3) extending essentially in parallel to the pixel transverse direction; (n-1) first bridging portions each located between two adjacent boundary slits; and (n-2) dent patterns each located between two adjacent first bridging portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventor: MITSUAKI HIRATA
  • Publication number: 20240210767
    Abstract: Each pixel of the liquid crystal display device includes a first, second, third, and fourth domains arranged in two rows and two columns, and reference alignment directions of the respective domains are first, second, third, and fourth directions. The first direction and the second direction form an angle of approximately 180°, and the first domain and the second domain are adjacent to each other in an oblique direction. The pixel electrode includes a plurality of first slits formed in a region corresponding to the first domain and extending approximately parallel to the first direction, and a plurality of second slits formed in a region corresponding to the second domain and extending approximately parallel to the second direction, and has no slits in a region corresponding to the third domain and no slits in a region corresponding to the fourth domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2024
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventor: Mitsuaki HIRATA
  • Publication number: 20240201544
    Abstract: Each pixel in the liquid crystal display apparatus includes first to fourth liquid crystal domains which are arranged in two rows and two columns, and have reference alignment directions of first to fourth directions, respectively. In edges of a pixel electrode, a portion provided close to the first liquid crystal domain and a portion provided close to the third liquid crystal domain include a first edge portion and a third edge portion, respectively, which extend along a pixel transverse direction, and a portion provided close to the second liquid crystal domain and a portion provided close to the fourth liquid crystal domain include a second edge portion and a fourth edge portion, respectively, which extend along a pixel longitudinal direction. The pixel electrode includes first to fourth slits which are formed in regions corresponding to the first to fourth liquid crystal domains, and extend in fifth to eighth directions, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventor: MITSUAKI HIRATA
  • Patent number: 11960176
    Abstract: Each pixel of the liquid crystal display device includes a first, second, third, and fourth domains arranged in two rows and two columns, and reference alignment directions of the respective domains are first, second, third, and fourth directions. The first direction and the second direction form an angle of approximately 180°, and the first domain and the second domain are adjacent to each other in an oblique direction. The pixel electrode includes a plurality of first slits formed in a region corresponding to the first domain and extending approximately parallel to the first direction, and a plurality of second slits formed in a region corresponding to the second domain and extending approximately parallel to the second direction, and has no slits in a region corresponding to the third domain and no slits in a region corresponding to the fourth domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Sharp Display Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuaki Hirata
  • Publication number: 20230251532
    Abstract: Each pixel of the liquid crystal display device includes a first, second, third, and fourth domains arranged in two rows and two columns, and reference alignment directions of the respective domains are first, second, third, and fourth directions. The first direction and the second direction form an angle of approximately 180°, and the first domain and the second domain are adjacent to each other in an oblique direction. The pixel electrode includes a plurality of first slits formed in a region corresponding to the first domain and extending approximately parallel to the first direction, and a plurality of second slits formed in a region corresponding to the second domain and extending approximately parallel to the second direction, and has no slits in a region corresponding to the third domain and no slits in a region corresponding to the fourth domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventor: Mitsuaki HIRATA
  • Patent number: 11656506
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate section having a first substrate and pixel electrodes (102). Each pixel electrode (102) includes a bridging portion (102c) provided between a first pixel electrode portion (102a) and a second pixel electrode portion (102b) and linking together the first pixel electrode portion (102a) and the second pixel electrode portion (102b). A first recess (102d) is provided at one side along the width direction of the pixel electrode (102), the first recess (102d) extending from one side along the width direction of the pixel electrode (102) toward the bridging portion (102c) and being located between the first pixel electrode portion (102a) and the second pixel electrode portion (102b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: SAKAI DISPLAY PRODUCTS CORPORATION, SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Hirata, Fumikazu Shimoshikiryoh
  • Publication number: 20220326575
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a vertical alignment-type liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes source lines and pixel electrodes. A pixel includes first, second, third and fourth liquid crystal domains. The pixel electrode has slits formed therein. The first substrate further includes a shield common electrode. The shield common electrode is located between the source lines and the pixel electrodes. The shield common electrode includes a solid portion overlapping the source lines and one end portion and the other end portion, in a row direction, of the pixel electrode, and also includes a first cutout portion formed across regions corresponding to the first, second, third and fourth liquid crystal domains in each pixel, the first cutout portion including portions overlapping the slits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventor: MITSUAKI HIRATA
  • Patent number: 11448921
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a vertical alignment-type liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes source lines and pixel electrodes. A pixel includes first, second, third and fourth liquid crystal domains. The pixel electrode has slits formed therein. The first substrate further includes a shield common electrode. The shield common electrode is located between the source lines and the pixel eleotrodes. The shield common electrode includes a solid portion overlapping the source lines and one end portion and the other end portion, in a row direction, of the pixel electrode, and also includes a first cutout portion formed across regions corresponding to the first, second, third and fourth liquid crystal domains in each pixel, the first cutout portion including portions overlapping the slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mitsuaki Hirata
  • Publication number: 20220252946
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate section having a first substrate and pixel electrodes (102). Each pixel electrode (102) includes a bridging portion (102c) provided between a first pixel electrode portion (102a) and a second pixel electrode portion (102b) and linking together the first pixel electrode portion (102a) and the second pixel electrode portion (102b). A first recess (102d) is provided at one side along the width direction of the pixel electrode (102), the first recess (102d) extending from one side along the width direction of the pixel electrode (102) toward the bridging portion (102c) and being located between the first pixel electrode portion (102a) and the second pixel electrode portion (102b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: MITSUAKI HIRATA, FUMIKAZU SHIMOSHIKIRYOH
  • Patent number: 11347115
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate section having a first substrate and pixel electrodes (102). Each pixel electrode (102) includes a bridging portion (102c) provided between a first pixel electrode portion (102a) and a second pixel electrode portion (102b) and linking together the first pixel electrode portion (102a) and the second pixel electrode portion (102b). A first recess (102d) is provided at one side along the width direction of the pixel electrode (102), the first recess (102d) extending from one side along the width direction of the pixel electrode (102) toward the bridging portion (102c) and being located between the first pixel electrode portion (102a) and the second pixel electrode portion (102b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignees: SAKAI DISPLAY PRODUCTS CORPORATION, SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Hirata, Fumikazu Shimoshikiryoh
  • Patent number: 11270659
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes: a liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate, a second substrate, and a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer; and a control circuit configured to generate a display signal voltage. The first substrate has pixel electrodes to which the display signal voltage is applied, and a first alignment film. The second substrate has a counter electrode to which a common voltage is applied, and a second alignment film. Each pixel has liquid crystal domains having different reference alignment directions defined by the first and second alignment films. The pixel electrode has slits. The control circuit is configured to generate, as the display signal voltage, a voltage obtained by adding a predetermined offset voltage to an original voltage corresponding to a gray level. The offset voltage is substantially the same for gray levels higher than or equal to a predetermined intermediate gray level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: SAKAI DISPLAY PRODUCTS CORPORATION, SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ichiro Takada, Kentaroh Irie, Mitsuaki Hirata, Fumikazu Shimoshikiryoh
  • Patent number: 11256142
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes first and second substrates and a liquid crystal layer of vertical alignment type. The first substrate includes pixel electrodes and a first alignment film, whereas the second substrate includes a counter electrode and a second alignment film. Each pixel includes first and second subpixels which allow respectively different voltages to be applied across the liquid crystal layer. Each pixel electrode includes a subpixel electrode provided for each of the first and second subpixels. Each of the first and second subpixels includes first to fourth liquid crystal domains having respectively different reference alignment directions being defined by the first and second alignment films. First to fourth directions, which are the reference alignment directions of the first to fourth liquid crystal domains, each make an angle which is substantially equal to an odd multiple of 45° with respect to the pixel transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: SAKAI DISPLAY PRODUCTS CORPORATION, SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Hirata, Fumikazu Shimoshikiryoh
  • Publication number: 20220050337
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display panel includes a first vertical alignment film (20), a liquid crystal layer (30), and a second vertical alignment film (40). First and second high-pretilt angle regions (21a, 21b) of the first vertical alignment film (20) are opposed to first and second high-pretilt angle regions (41a, 41b) of the second vertical alignment film (40), and are shorter in length than the first and second high-pretilt angle regions (41a, 41b) of the second vertical alignment film (40) in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the pixel region 101. First and second high-pretilt angle regions (23a, 23b) of the first vertical alignment film (20) are opposed to first and second high-pretilt angle regions (43a, 43b) of the second vertical alignment film (40), and are shorter in length than the first and second high-pretilt angle regions (43a, 43b) of the second vertical alignment film (40) in the direction along the longitudinal direction of the pixel region (101).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: MITSUAKI HIRATA, FUMIKAZU SHIMOSHIKIRYOH
  • Publication number: 20210389617
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display panel, when a center line (C101) which extends along a longitudinal direction of a pixel and which passes through a center of a width direction of a pixel electrode (102) is defined, a boundary region (131) includes: a first portion (131a) provided on one side of the center line (C101) along a transverse direction of the pixel; and a second portion (131b) provided on another side of the center line (C101) along the transverse direction of the pixel. Among ends of the plurality of first slits (112A to 112G) that are closer to the boundary region (131), an end that is adjacent to the first portion (131a) of the boundary region (131) is located nearer the boundary region (131) than is an end that is adjacent to the second portion (131b) of the boundary region (131).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: MITSUAKI HIRATA, FUMIKAZU SHIMOSHIKIRYOH
  • Patent number: 11181781
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate section that includes a first substrate and pixel electrodes (102). Each pixel electrode (102) includes: a first slitted region (111) in which a plurality of first slits (112A to 112G) extending along a direction parallel to the alignment azimuth of liquid crystal molecules in the first domain are formed; a second slitted region (121) in which a plurality of second slits (122A to 122H) extending along a direction parallel to the alignment azimuth of liquid crystal molecules in the second domain are formed; and a boundary region (131) provided between the first slitted region (111) and the second slitted region (121). No slits are formed in the first and second end portions (131a, 131c) of the boundary region (131), and at least one third slit (132) is formed in the central portion (131b) of the boundary region (131).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: SAKAI DISPLAY PRODUCTS CORPORATION, SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Hirata, Fumikazu Shimoshikiryoh
  • Publication number: 20210318580
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate section having a first substrate and pixel electrodes (102). Each pixel electrode (102) includes a bridging portion (102c) provided between a first pixel electrode portion (102a) and a second pixel electrode portion (102b) and linking together the first pixel electrode portion (102a) and the second pixel electrode portion (102b). A first recess (102d) is provided at one side along the width direction of the pixel electrode (102), the first recess (102d) extending from one side along the width direction of the pixel electrode (102) toward the bridging portion (102c) and being located between the first pixel electrode portion (102a) and the second pixel electrode portion (102b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: MITSUAKI HIRATA, FUMIKAZU SHIMOSHIKIRYOH
  • Patent number: 11079633
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes first and second substrates and a liquid crystal layer of vertical alignment type. The first substrate includes pixel electrodes and a first alignment film, whereas the second substrate includes a counter electrode and a second alignment film. Each pixel includes first and second subpixels which allow respectively different voltages to be applied across the liquid crystal layer. Each pixel electrode includes first and second subpixel electrodes. Each of the first and second subpixels includes first to fourth liquid crystal domains having respectively different reference alignment directions being defined by the first and second alignment films. First to fourth directions, which are the reference alignment directions of the first to fourth liquid crystal domains, each make an angle which is substantially equal to an odd multiple of 45° with respect to the pixel transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: SAKAI DISPLAY PRODUCTS CORPORATION, SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Hirata, Fumikazu Shimoshikiryoh
  • Publication number: 20210109407
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate section that includes a first substrate and pixel electrodes (102). Each pixel electrode (102) includes: a first slitted region (111) in which a plurality of first slits (112A to 112G) extending along a direction parallel to the alignment azimuth of liquid crystal molecules in the first domain are formed; a second slitted region (121) in which a plurality of second slits (122A to 122H) extending along a direction parallel to the alignment azimuth of liquid crystal molecules in the second domain are formed; and a boundary region (131) provided between the first slitted region (111) and the second slitted region (121). No slits are formed in the first and second end portions (131a, 131c) of the boundary region (131), and at least one third slit (132) is formed in the central portion (131b) of the boundary region (131).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: MITSUAKI HIRATA, FUMIKAZU SHIMOSHIKIRYOH