Patents by Inventor Muneo Maruyama

Muneo Maruyama 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: 7224414
    Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display device which has color filters disposed on a TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) substrate, and which reduces the effect of light leakage regions over data lines for an increased viewing angle. The liquid crystal display device has the data lines disposed on the TFT substrate at respective gaps between adjacent two of pixel electrodes, for supplying data signals to TFTs to drive pixel electrodes, and a black matrix disposed on the TFT substrate in association with the data lines for blocking light passing in a predetermined viewing angle range through a light leakage region created in the liquid crystal layer depending on a potential difference between adjacent two of the pixel electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiaki Sakamoto, Muneo Maruyama, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7046327
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device using columnar spacers to eliminate an influence of shades in rubbing an orientation film and to eliminate remaining of display unevenness (black haze) in black display is provided. Columnar spacers are provided above a black matrix of an opposite substrate disposed opposite to a TFT substrate. A position of a top of each columnar spacer in contact with the TFT substrate is shifted from a center of a gate line of the TFT substrate toward a common line parallel to the gate line. Moreover, a structure is adopted, in which the top of the columnar spacer contacting with the TFT substrate is not entirely brought into contact with the TFT substrate, but a gap is provided between a part of the top of the columnar spacer and the TFT substrate by providing an irregular surface on the top of the columnar spacer or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Okamoto, Shinichi Nishida, Takayuki Konno, Muneo Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7026100
    Abstract: An active matrix substrate forms a liquid crystal display panel together with a counter substrate and liquid crystal filling a gap therebetween, and color filters are covered with an overcoat layer of photo-sensitive acrylic resin, wherein column spacers of the photo-sensitive acrylic resin project from the overcoat layer so that the column spacers are hardly separated from the overcoat layer in a rubbing for producing an orientation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: NEC LCD Tecnologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakata, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Hironori Kikkawa, Muneo Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7008829
    Abstract: Alignment marks are formed when source and drain electrodes of a TFT are formed and thereon a thick red filter is formed. So that, the following respective color layers can be made thin on the red filter. Also, the exposure alignment laser permeates in an exposure step, and thereby the alignment marks can be accurately detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakata, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Hironori Kikkawa, Muneo Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20050190335
    Abstract: An LCD device includes a pair of transparent substrates bonded together by a seal resin stripe to sandwich therebetween a liquid crystal layer. The seal resin stripe has therein an injection hole plugged with UV-cured resin for sealing the liquid crystal. A dummy wire is provided having a first portion underlying the seal resin stripe and a second portion underlying the UV-cured resin, both portions having a thickness equal to that of gate lines for achieving a uniform gap between the transparent substrates. The second portion is of a comb shape for passing therethrough UV-rays for curing the UV-curable resin to obtain well cured resin, which will not enter the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Muneo Maruyama, Masaki Satoh
  • Publication number: 20040233378
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device using columnar spacers to eliminate an influence of shades in rubbing an orientation film and to eliminate remaining of display unevenness (black haze) in black display is provided. Columnar spacers are provided above a black matrix of an opposite substrate disposed opposite to a TFT substrate. A position of a top of each columnar spacer in contact with the TFT substrate is shifted from a center of a gate line of the TFT substrate toward a common line parallel to the gate line. Moreover, a structure is adopted, in which the top of the columnar spacer contacting with the TFT substrate is not entirely brought into contact with the TFT substrate, but a gap is provided between a part of the top of the columnar spacer and the TFT substrate by providing an irregular surface on the top of the columnar spacer or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Mamoru Okamoto, Shinichi Nishida, Takayuki Konno, Muneo Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6822704
    Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display device which has color filters disposed on a TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) substrate, and which reduces the effect of light leakage regions over data lines for an increased viewing angle. The liquid crystal display device has the data lines disposed on the TFT substrate at respective gaps between adjacent two of pixel electrodes, for supplying data signals to TFTs to drive pixel electrodes, and a black matrix disposed on the TFT substrate in association with the data lines for blocking light passing in a predetermined viewing angle range through a light leakage region created in the liquid crystal layer depending on a potential difference between adjacent two of the pixel electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiaki Sakamoto, Muneo Maruyama, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6806926
    Abstract: An opposite substrate of a reflection-type color liquid crystal display apparatus has a transparent insulation substrate made of glass or the like. An uneven portion is formed on a surface of the opposite substrate on the side of a liquid crystal. A flattened film made of acryl, polyimide or the like is formed to cover the uneven portion of the transparent insulation substrate. A common opposite electrode made of ITO or the like is formed on the flattened film. A liquid crystal orientation layer made of polyimide or the like is formed on the opposite electrode. A light scattering mechanism is constituted of said uneven portion of the transparent insulation substrate and the flattened film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Kikkawa, Mamoru Okamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Muneo Maruyama, Takahiko Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20040195704
    Abstract: Alignment marks are formed when source and drain electrodes of a TFT are formed and thereon a thick red filter is formed. So that, the following respective color layers can be made thin on the red filter. Also, the exposure alignment laser permeates in an exposure step, and thereby the alignment marks can be accurately detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakata, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Hironori Kikkawa, Muneo Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6787930
    Abstract: Alignment marks are formed when source and drain electrodes of a TFT are formed and thereon a thick red filter in formed. So that, the following respective color layers can be made thin on the red filter. Also, the exposure alignment laser permeates in an exposure step, and thereby the alignment marks can be accurately detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakata, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Hironori Kikkawa, Muneo Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20040150763
    Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display device which has color filters disposed on a TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) substrate, and which reduces the effect of light leakage regions over data lines for an increased viewing angle. The liquid crystal display device has the data lines disposed on the TFT substrate at respective gaps between adjacent two of pixel electrodes, for supplying data signals to TFTs to drive pixel electrodes, and a black matrix disposed on the TFT substrate in association with the data lines for blocking light passing in a predetermined viewing angle range through a light leakage region created in the liquid crystal layer depending on a potential difference between adjacent two of the pixel electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiaki Sakamoto, Muneo Maruyama, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6741306
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display unit produces image carrying light through a liquid crystal layer having a positive anisotropy of refractive index; an optically compensating layer with a negative anisotropy of refractive index is provided on an optical path of the image carrying light so as to compensate the optical anisotropy of the liquid crystal, and the image carrying light is incident onto an optically diffusing layer after the optical compensation so as to widen the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display unit without deterioration of image contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Muneo Maruyama, Susumu Ohi
  • Publication number: 20040007752
    Abstract: An active matrix substrate forms a liquid crystal display panel together with a counter substrate and liquid crystal filling a gap therebetween, and color filters are covered with an overcoat layer of photo-sensitive acrylic resin, wherein column spacers of the photo-sensitive acrylic resin project from the overcoat layer so that the column spacers are hardly separated from the overcoat layer in a rubbing for producing an orientation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakata, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Hironori Kikkawa, Muneo Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6667788
    Abstract: A liquid crystal panel has a cholesteric filter and the quarter wave plate inserted between a glass substrate and color filter elements, and each section of the cholesteric filter reflects either right-handed or left-handed circularly polarized light component recognized as one of the three primary colors and the circularly polarized light components recognized as other primary colors toward a light source so as to recycle these circularly polarized light components, thereby enhancing the utilization factor of incident light without increase of power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Muneo Maruyama, Eriko Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 6667777
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having a switching device with a first electrode connected to the scanning line to become a gate, a second electrode connected to the signal line to become a drain or a source, a third electrode connected to the pixel electrode to become the source or the drain and switching the display signal to feed the corresponding pixel electrode by the scanning signal; and an electrode for an auxiliary capacitor, located in a place opposite to the pixel electrode to define the auxiliary capacitor. Further, the second and third electrodes are formed in a layer different from the first electrode, the pixel electrode is formed in top of the first, second, and third electrodes, and the electrode for an auxiliary capacitor is formed on the same layer as the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Kikkawa, Muneo Maruyama, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6654073
    Abstract: Band-shaped data lines are arranged in parallel with each other so as to cross address lines via a gate insulating film formed over the address lines. An upper insulating film is formed over the data lines, and pixel electrodes are formed on the upper insulating film. Storage capacitance section includes common electrode and storage capacitance electrode. The common electrode is extended from the address line of adjacent pixel region. The storage capacitance electrode sandwiches the gate insulating film with the common electrode to store capacitance therebetween. The storage capacitance electrodes and the pixel electrodes are connected to each other via conductive through hole piercing through the upper insulating film. Besides, the storage capacitance electrode, source electrode of the thin film transistor section and a wiring connecting them are integrally formed of the same metal films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Muneo Maruyama, Takahiko Watanabe, Hironori Kikkawa, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Shinichi Nakata, Masanobu Hidehira, Yoshitaka Horie
  • Patent number: 6577374
    Abstract: An active matrix substrate forms a liquid crystal display panel together with a counter substrate and liquid crystal filling a gap therebetween, and color filters are covered with an overcoat layer of photo-sensitive acrylic resin, wherein column spacers of the photo-sensitive acrylic resin project from the overcoat layer so that the column spacers are hardly separated from the overcoat layer in a rubbing for producing an orientation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakata, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Hironori Kikkawa, Muneo Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20030035078
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display unit produces image carrying light through a liquid crystal layer having a positive anisotropy of refractive index; an optically compensating layer with a negative anisotropy of refractive index is provided on an optical path of the image carrying light so as to compensate the optical anisotropy of the liquid crystal, and the image carrying light is incident onto an optically diffusing layer after the optical compensation so as to widen the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display unit without deterioration of image contrast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Muneo Maruyama, Susumu Ohi
  • Patent number: 6483561
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display unit produces image carrying light through a liquid crystal layer having a positive anisotropy of refractive index; an optically compensating layer with a negative anisotropy of refractive index is provided on an optical path of the image carrying light so as to compensate the optical anisotropy of the liquid crystal, and the image carrying light is incident onto an optically diffusing layer after the optical compensation so as to widen the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display unit without deterioration of image contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Muneo Maruyama, Susumu Ohi
  • Patent number: 6445432
    Abstract: First and second transparent substrates which are arranged to face each other are provided to a color liquid crystal display panel. A liquid crystal layer is provided between the first and the second transparent substrates. A plurality of thin film transistors are provided on the first transparent substrate. An insulation film provided on the first transparent substrate so as to cover the thin film transistors. A color filter which includes first to third color layers stacked on the insulation layer is provided. A contacting color layer is provided on the insulation film in a region above the thin film transistors. The contacting color layer has at least one color layer selected from a group of composed of the first to third color layers. A black matrix is provided on the contacting color layer. The black matrix has opening portions for transmitting light from the color filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Takahiko Watanabe, Hironori Kikkawa, Muneo Maruyama