Patents by Inventor Seiichi Mitsui

Seiichi Mitsui 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: 7542116
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display is furnished with: a liquid crystal display element having a pair of substrates, to which alignment members are provided to their respective opposing surfaces, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the pair of substrates; an alignment mechanism for providing at least two different director configurations simultaneously on different arbitrary regions used for display in the liquid crystal layer; and a reflection film provided to at least one of the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations; wherein the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations are used for a reflection display section for showing reflection display and a transmission display section for showing transmission display, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Hajime Hiraki, Seiichi Mitsui
  • Patent number: 7394511
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display is furnished with: a liquid crystal display element having a pair of substrates, to which alignment members are provided to their respective opposing surfaces, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the pair of substrates; an alignment mechanism for providing at least two different director configurations simultaneously on different arbitrary regions used for display in the liquid crystal layer; and a reflection film provided to at least one of the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations; wherein the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations are used for a reflection display section for showing reflection display and a transmission display section for showing transmission display, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Hajime Hiraki, Seiichi Mitsui
  • Patent number: 7385654
    Abstract: A display includes a polarizing member and a reflective display element behind an EL element. The EL element self-emits light to display information and doubles as a display-use light source for the reflective display element. In a sufficiently bright environment, ambient light enters a liquid crystal layer after passing through a frontal substrate of the reflective display element, and is reflected from a metal electrode to produce displays. In addition to the direct light from the EL element, light that enters the liquid crystal layer is simultaneously used. In a dark environment, the EL element emits light, and displayed contents are visible owing to the reflection from the metal electrode as well as directly exiting light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichi Mitsui, Masaaki Kabe, Teiyu Sako, Hideki Uchida
  • Patent number: 7176991
    Abstract: A display includes a polarizing member and a reflective display element behind an EL element. The EL element self-emits light to display information and doubles as a display-use light source for the reflective display element. In a sufficiently bright environment, ambient light enters a liquid crystal layer after passing through a frontal substrate of the reflective display element, and is reflected from a metal electrode to produce displays. In addition to the direct light from the EL element, light that enters the liquid crystal layer is simultaneously used. In a dark environment, the EL element emits light, and displayed contents are visible owing to the reflection from the metal electrode as well as directly exiting light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichi Mitsui, Masaaki Kabe, Teiyu Sako, Hideki Uchida
  • Publication number: 20060255706
    Abstract: A display includes a polarizing member and a reflective display element behind an EL element. The EL element self-emits light to display information and doubles as a display-use light source for the reflective display element. In a sufficiently bright environment, ambient light enters a liquid crystal layer after passing through a frontal substrate of the reflective display element, and is reflected from a metal electrode to produce displays. In addition to the direct light from the EL element, light that enters the liquid crystal layer is simultaneously used. In a dark environment, the EL element emits light, and displayed contents are visible owing to the reflection from the metal electrode as well as directly exiting light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichi Mitsui, Masaaki Kabe, Teiyu Sako, Hideki Uchida
  • Patent number: 7102704
    Abstract: A display includes a polarizing member and a reflective display element behind an EL element. The EL element self-emits light to display information and doubles as a display-use light source for the reflective display element. In a sufficiently bright environment, ambient light enters a liquid crystal layer after passing through a frontal substrate of the reflective display element, and is reflected from a metal electrode to produce displays. In addition to the direct light from the EL element, light that enters the liquid crystal layer is simultaneously used. In a dark environment, the EL element emits light, and displayed contents are visible owing to the reflection from the metal electrode as well as directly exiting light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichi Mitsui, Masaaki Kabe, Teiyu Sako, Hideki Uchida
  • Patent number: 7092052
    Abstract: A reflective color liquid crystal display device with a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate having a light reflectibility and a second substrate having a light transmissibility. The liquid crystal layer being composed of twist-aligned nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy. A circularly polarizing unit, including a single linear polarizer plate, selectively passes either right handed or left handed circularly polarized light out of natural light. The circularly polarizing unit is disposed so that a major surface of the circularly polarizing unit is on a liquid crystal layer side, the circularly polarized light exiting the circularly polarizing unit through the major surface when natural light enters the circularly polarizing unit. Various parameters of the liquid crystal layer are optimized for a liquid crystal layer having a twist angle in the range of 0° to 100°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Seiichi Mitsui, Takashi Satoh
  • Publication number: 20060119752
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display is furnished with: a liquid crystal display element having a pair of substrates, to which alignment members are provided to their respective opposing surfaces, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the pair of substrates; an alignment mechanism for providing at least two different director configurations simultaneously on different arbitrary regions used for display in the liquid crystal layer; and a reflection film provided to at least one of the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations; wherein the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations are used for a reflection display section for showing reflection display and a transmission display section for showing transmission display, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Hajime Hiraki, Seiichi Mitsui
  • Patent number: 7050132
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display is furnished with: a liquid crystal display element having a pair of substrates, to which alignment members are provided to their respective opposing surfaces, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the pair of substrates; an alignment mechanism for providing at least two different director configurations simultaneously on different arbitrary regions used for display in the liquid crystal layer; and a reflection film provided to at least one of the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations; wherein the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations are used for a reflection display section for showing reflection display and a transmission display section for showing transmission display, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Hajime Hiraki, Seiichi Mitsui
  • Patent number: 7023510
    Abstract: A reflective color liquid crystal display device with a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate having a light reflectibility and a second substrate having a light transmissibility. The liquid crystal layer being composed of twist-aligned nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy. A circularly polarizing unit, including a single linear polarizer plate, selectively passes either right handed or left handed circularly polarized light out of natural light. The circularly polarizing unit is disposed so that a major surface of the circularly polarizing unit is on a liquid crystal layer side, the circularly polarized light exiting the circularly polarizing unit through the major surface when natural light enters the circularly polarizing unit. Various parameters of the liquid crystal layer are optimized for a liquid crystal layer having a twist angle in the range of 0° to 100°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Seiichi Mitsui, Takashi Satoh
  • Publication number: 20050248698
    Abstract: A reflective color liquid crystal display device with a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate having a light reflectibility and a second substrate having a light transmissibility. The liquid crystal layer being composed of twist-aligned nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy. A circularly polarizing unit, including a single linear polarizer plate, selectively passes either right handed or left handed circularly polarized light out of natural light. The circularly polarizing unit is disposed so that a major surface of the circularly polarizing unit is on a liquid crystal layer side, the circularly polarized light exiting the circularly polarizing unit through the major surface when natural light enters the circularly polarizing unit. Various parameters of the liquid crystal layer are optimized for a liquid crystal layer having a twist angle in the range of 0° to 100°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Seiichi Mitsui, Takashi Satoh
  • Patent number: 6958794
    Abstract: A reflective color liquid crystal display device with a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate having a light reflectibility and a second substrate having a light transmissibility. The liquid crystal layer being composed of twist-aligned nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy. A circularly polarizing unit, including a single linear polarizer plate, selectively passes either right handed or left handed circularly polarized light out of natural light. The circularly polarizing unit is disposed so that a major surface of the circularly polarizing unit is on a liquid crystal layer side, the circularly polarized light exiting the circularly polarizing unit through the major surface when natural light enters the circularly polarizing unit. Various parameters of the liquid crystal layer are optimized for a liquid crystal layer having a twist angle in the range of 0° to 100°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Seiichi Mitsui, Takashi Satoh
  • Patent number: 6922220
    Abstract: A reflective color liquid crystal display device with a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate having a light reflectibility and a second substrate having a light transmissibility. The liquid crystal layer being composed of twist-aligned nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy. A circularly polarizing unit, including a single linear polarizer plate, selectively passes either right handed or left handed circularly polarized light out of natural light. The circularly polarizing unit is disposed so that a major surface of the circularly polarizing unit is on a liquid crystal layer side, the circularly polarized light exiting the circularly polarizing unit through the major surface when natural light enters the circularly polarizing unit. Various parameters of the liquid crystal layer are optimized for a liquid crystal layer having a twist angle in the range of 0° to 100°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Seiichi Mitsui, Takashi Satoh
  • Patent number: 6900863
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display is furnished with: a liquid crystal display element having a pair of substrates, to which alignment members are provided to their respective opposing surfaces, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the pair of substrates; an alignment mechanism for providing at least two different director configurations simultaneously on different arbitrary regions used for display in the liquid crystal layer; and a reflection film provided to at least one of the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations; wherein the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations are used for a reflection display section for showing reflection display and a transmission display section for showing transmission display, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Hajime Hiraki, Seiichi Mitsui
  • Publication number: 20050110926
    Abstract: A reflective color liquid crystal display device with a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate having a light reflectibility and a second substrate having a light transmissibility. The liquid crystal layer being composed of twist-aligned nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy. A circularly polarizing unit, including a single linear polarizer plate, selectively passes either right handed or left handed circularly polarized light out of natural light. The circularly polarizing unit is disposed so that a major surface of the circularly polarizing unit is on a liquid crystal layer side, the circularly polarized light exiting the circularly polarizing unit through the major surface when natural light enters the circularly polarizing unit. Various parameters of the liquid crystal layer are optimized for a liquid crystal layer having a twist angle in the range of 0° to 100°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Seiichi Mitsui, Takashi Satoh
  • Publication number: 20050088594
    Abstract: A display includes a polarizing member and a reflective display element behind an EL element. The EL element self-emits light to display information and doubles as a display-use light source for the reflective display element. In a sufficiently bright environment, ambient light enters a liquid crystal layer after passing through a frontal substrate of the reflective display element, and is reflected from a metal electrode to produce displays. In addition to the direct light from the EL element, light that enters the liquid crystal layer is simultaneously used. In a dark environment, the EL element emits light, and displayed contents are visible owing to the reflection from the metal electrode as well as directly exiting light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: Seiichi Mitsui, Masaaki Kabe, Teiyu Sako, Hideki Uchida
  • Publication number: 20050078238
    Abstract: A reflective color liquid crystal display device with a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate having a light reflectibility and a second substrate having a light transmissibility. The liquid crystal layer being composed of twist-aligned nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy. A circularly polarizing unit, including a single linear polarizer plate, selectively passes either right handed or left handed circularly polarized light out of natural light. The circularly polarizing unit is disposed so that a major surface of the circularly polarizing unit is on a liquid crystal layer side, the circularly polarized light exiting the circularly polarizing unit through the major surface when natural light enters the circularly polarizing unit. Various parameters of the liquid crystal layer are optimized for a liquid crystal layer having a twist angle in the range of 0° to 100°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Seiichi Mitsui, Takashi Satoh
  • Patent number: 6844956
    Abstract: A reflective display device includes a switching layer, placed between substrates, for switching between a transmissive state for allowing transmission of incident light and a scattering state for scattering the incident light, and a retro-reflector for reflecting an incident ray from the liquid crystal layer so that an outgoing ray of the reflected light is parallel to the incident ray. A pitch of smallest unit structures of the retro-reflector is set to be larger than 0 mm and not more than 5 mm. The retro-reflector is preferably in a form of a corner cube array and has light absorbing surface portions at borders of the smallest unit structures. With this reflective display device, brightness of white state and contrast ratio can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Minoura, Shun Ueki, Masahiko Tomikawa, Teiyu Sako, Masayuki Okamoto, Seiichi Mitsui
  • Patent number: 6791640
    Abstract: The present invention offers reflective color liquid crystal display devices with a high contrast ratio and eye-friendly multi-color display capability, and liquid crystal display devices incorporating a touch panel arranged therefrom, of which the display is not adversely affected by the installation of a pressure sensitive input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Seiichi Mitsui, Takashi Satoh
  • Publication number: 20040174477
    Abstract: A reflective color liquid crystal display device with a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate having a light reflectibility and a second substrate having a light transmissibility. The liquid crystal layer being composed of twist-aligned nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy. A circularly polarizing unit, including a single linear polarizer plate, selectively passes either right handed or left handed circularly polarized light out of natural light. The circularly polarizing unit is disposed so that a major surface of the circularly polarizing unit is on a liquid crystal layer side, the circularly polarized light exiting the circularly polarizing unit through the major surface when natural light enters the circularly polarizing unit. Various parameters of the liquid crystal layer are optimized for a liquid crystal layer having a twist angle in the range of 0° to 100°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Seiichi Mitsui, Takashi Satoh