Patents by Inventor Seiji Shibahara

Seiji Shibahara 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: 20090073372
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device capable of improving response characteristics while maintaining display characteristics, and a liquid crystal display using such a liquid crystal display device are provided. Provided is the liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates facing each other, and electrodes and a liquid crystal layer provided between the pair of substrates, where the liquid crystal layer is composed of liquid crystal material including a liquid crystal molecule showing a nematic liquid crystal phase and a molecule providing tilt to the liquid crystal molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Shibahara
  • Patent number: 7474373
    Abstract: A display element has a arrangement that allows the pixel to have at least two domains in which the medium shows optical anisotropies of different directions when a force (for example, an electric field) is applied or when no force is applied. It is preferable that directions of the optical anisotropies occurred in the respective domains when the electric field is applied respectively have 45 degrees±10 degrees with absorption axes of polarizers, and that the directions of the optical anisotropies occurred in the respective domains when the electric field is applied make 90 degrees±20 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Seiji Shibahara, Iichiro Inoue, Shoichi Ishihara, Takako Koide
  • Publication number: 20080106689
    Abstract: A display element of the present invention includes: a pair of substrates which are opposed to each other; and a substance layer, which is sandwiched between the substrates, exhibiting an optical isotropy when no electric field is applied, while exhibiting an optical anisotropy when an electric field is applied, and the display element performs display operation by applying an electric field to between the substrates. The substance layer includes a liquid crystalline medium exhibiting a nematic liquid crystal phase, and it is ?n×|??|?1.9, where ?n is a refractive index anisotropy at 550 nm in a nematic phase of the liquid crystalline medium, and |??| is an absolute value of a dielectric anisotropy at 1 kHz in the nematic phase of the liquid crystalline medium. The display element and a display device including the display element realize a fast response speed and a low driving voltage and driving in a wide temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Iichiro Inoue, Seiji Shibahara, Koichi Miyachi, Shoichi Ishihara
  • Patent number: 7342632
    Abstract: A display element of the present invention includes: a pair of substrates at least one of which is transparent; a medium layer, made of a medium sandwiched between the substrates 1 and 2, whose magnitude of an optical anisotropy is changed by applying an electric field; and at least a pair of electrodes applying to the medium layer an electric field which is substantially parallel to the substrates. The electrodes are provided above the substrate via insulating layers each of which is formed in a convex shape. Therefore, a maximal electric field region generated by the electrodes is separated from interfaces of the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Seiji Shibahara, Iichiro Inoue, Akihito Jinda, Takako Koide, Kiyoshi Ogishima
  • Patent number: 7327433
    Abstract: Each of a pair of substrates respectively comprises an electrode and a rubbed alignment film on one surface, while the other surface is provided with a polarizer. The substrates are placed so that the surfaces provided with the alignment films are opposed to each other, and the area between the substrates is filled with a medium to form a material layer. Then, a medium made of a negative-type liquid crystalline compound sing a photopolymerizable monomer and a polymerization initiator is injected into the material layer held between the substrates. Further, ultra violet irradiation is performed with the medium exhibiting a liquid crystal phase, so that the photopolymerized monomer is polymerized, thus forming a polymer chain. In this manner, obtained is a display element, that causes change in degree of optical anisotropy in response to application of electric (external) field, which display element can be driven by a lower intensity electric (external) field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Seiji Shibahara, Iichiro Inoue, Shoichi Ishihara, Takako Koide
  • Patent number: 7307685
    Abstract: An electrode is provided on one surface of each of a pair of substrates. On the other surface of each of the substrates, a polarizer is provided. The substrates are assembled together so that their surfaces on which the electrodes are formed face each other. Then, a medium is introduced between the substrates, to form a dielectric material layer. The medium is prepared by mixing a chiral agent in a negative type liquid crystalline compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Iichiro Inoue, Seiji Shibahara, Shoichi Ishihara
  • Patent number: 7307682
    Abstract: On one of surfaces of each substrate, an electrode is provided. Then, alignment films, which have been subjected to rubbing treatment, are provided on the respective electrodes so that the alignment films covers the respective electrodes. Moreover, on the other one of the surfaces of each substrate, a polarizer is provided so that its absorption axial direction matches with a rubbing direction of the corresponding alignment film. The substrates face each other so that the rubbing directions of the alignment films respectively provided on the substrates cross each other perpendicularly. A medium having a negative type liquid crystalline property is sealed between the substrates so as to form a material layer. In this way, it is possible to improve contrast and to alleviate coloring phenomenon in a display element in which transmittance is changed by controlling orientational order of molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Iichiro Inoue, Seiji Shibahara, Shoichi Ishihara
  • Publication number: 20070070282
    Abstract: A display panel includes (i) a first substrate and a second substrate, which face each other, (ii) a medium layer being sandwiched between the first and second substrate, and (iii) first electrodes and second electrodes being provided on that side of the first substrate which faces the second substrate, the display panel performing display operation by generating an electric field between the first and second electrodes. The display panel is configured such that the medium layer comprises a medium that is optically isotropic when no electric field is applied thereon, and whose optical anisotropy magnitude is changeable by and according to the electric field applied thereon; and the first and second electrodes are transparent electrodes, and a distance between the first and the second electrodes is shorter than a distance between the first substrate and second substrate. This configuration attains gives the display panel high response speed and high transmissivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Shibahara, Shoichi Ishihara, Koichi Miyachi
  • Patent number: 6985200
    Abstract: A liquid crystal optical element includes: first and second substrates; a liquid crystal layer provided between the substrates; first and second electrode layers provided on the first and second substrates, respectively, so as to face each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed between them; and first and second switching layers, which are provided between the first electrode layer and the liquid crystal layer and between the second electrode layer and the liquid crystal layer, respectively, and each of which includes molecules changing their orientation directions in response to a voltage applied between the first and second electrode layers. The liquid crystal layer changes its orientation state as the molecules in the first and second switching layers change their orientation directions. Each of the molecules included in one of the first and second switching layers and an associated one of the molecules included in the other switching layer behave as enantiomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Seiji Shibahara
  • Publication number: 20050237472
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a display element which achieves reduction in driving voltage. The display element according to the present invention includes substrates 1 and 2, at least one of which is transparent, and a medium layer 3 held between the substrates 1 and 2, the display element further including on the substrate 1 electrodes 4 and 5 for generating an electric field in a direction substantially parallel to the substrates so as to apply the electric field to the medium layer 3 to cause optical modulation of the medium; and an alignment film 6 which is provided on the surface of the substrate 2. With this arrangement, the voltage level is not decreased because of the alignment film 6, and the driving voltage of the display element does not need to be increased, thereby ensuring reduction of driving voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Shibahara, Iichiro Inoue, Koichi Miyachi
  • Publication number: 20050185125
    Abstract: On one of surfaces of each substrate, an electrode is provided. Then, alignment films, which have been subjected to rubbing treatment, are provided on the respective electrodes so that the alignment films covers the respective electrodes. Moreover, on the other one of the surfaces of each substrate, a polarizer is provided so that its absorption axial direction matches with a rubbing direction of the corresponding alignment film. The substrates face each other so that the rubbing directions of the alignment films respectively provided on the substrates cross each other perpendicularly. A medium having a negative type liquid crystalline property is sealed between the substrates so as to form a material layer. In this way, it is possible to improve contrast and to alleviate coloring phenomenon in a display element in which transmittance is changed by controlling orientational order of molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Iichiro Inoue, Seiji Shibahara, Shoichi Ishihara
  • Publication number: 20050185105
    Abstract: A display element according to the present invention is provided with a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent; a medium between the substrates, wherein optical anisotropy magnitude of the medium is changeable by and according to an electric field applied thereon; at least one pair of electrodes for applying, on the medium, the electric field substantially parallel to the substrates; and a shielding electrode overlapping at least a display portion of at least one of the substrates, and used for shielding the display element from static electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Seiji Shibahara, Iichiro Inoue, Shoichi Ishihara, Akihito Jinda, Kiyoshi Ogishima
  • Publication number: 20050185131
    Abstract: Each of a pair of substrates respectively comprises an electrode and a rubbed alignment film on one surface, while the other surface is provided with a polarizer. The substrates are placed so that the surfaces provided with the alignment films are opposed to each other, and the area between the substrates is filled with a medium to form a material layer. Then, a medium made of a negative-type liquid crystalline compound sing a photopolymerizable monomer and a polymerization initiator is injected into the material layer held between the substrates. Further, ultra violet irradiation is performed with the medium exhibiting a liquid crystal phase, so that the photopolymerized monomer is polymerized, thus forming a polymer chain. In this manner, obtained is a display element, that causes change in degree of optical anisotropy in response to application of electric (external) field, which display element can be driven by a lower intensity electric (external) field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Seiji Shibahara, Iichiro Inoue, Shoichi Ishihara, Takako Koide
  • Publication number: 20050179847
    Abstract: A display element of the present invention includes: a pair of substrates at least one of which is transparent; a medium layer, made of a medium sandwiched between the substrates 1 and 2, whose magnitude of an optical anisotropy is changed by applying an electric field; and at least a pair of electrodes applying to the medium layer an electric field which is substantially parallel to the substrates. The electrodes are provided above the substrate via insulating layers each of which is formed in a convex shape. Therefore, a maximal electric field region generated by the electrodes is separated from interfaces of the substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Seiji Shibahara, Iichiro Inoue, Akihito Jinda, Takako Koide, Kiyoshi Ogishima
  • Publication number: 20050179632
    Abstract: A display element includes: a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent; a medium, between the substrates, the medium being changeable in an optical anisotropy magnitude by and according to electric field application; and a region in which a pixel electrode and a counter electrode overlap with each other with an insulating layer therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Seiji Shibahara, Iichiro Inoue, Shoichi Ishihara, Takako Koide, Kiyoshi Ogishima, Akihito Jinda
  • Patent number: 6930750
    Abstract: A liquid crystal optical element includes two substrates, a liquid crystal layer, and at least two electrodes. The liquid crystal layer is provided between the substrates and includes liquid crystal molecules and dichroic dye molecules. The at least two electrodes are provided on the substrates so as to face each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed between them, and define one of multiple unit regions. In each unit region, the liquid crystal layer includes first and second liquid crystal regions within a range, which is approximately half or less as long as the wavelength of visible radiation as measured in a direction parallel to the surfaces of the substrates. The orientation directions of each pair of liquid crystal molecules in the first and second liquid crystal regions have azimuthal directions defining an angle of approximately 90 degrees while no voltage is being applied between the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Seiji Shibahara
  • Publication number: 20050168663
    Abstract: A display element includes a dielectric material layer 3, provided between a pair of substrates (substrates 1 and 2), which is made of a medium showing optical isotropy when no electric field is applied and showing optical anisotropy when an electric field is applied. Further, comb-shaped electrodes 4 and 5 are provided face to face on the substrate 1 so as to be positioned in a surface which faces the substrate 2. Furthermore, polarizing plates 6 and 7 are respectively provided on rear surfaces with respect to the counter surfaces of the substrates 1 and 2. Thus, it is possible to realize the display element which has a wide driving temperature range, a wide viewing angle property, and a high-speed response property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Seiji Shibahara, Iichiro Inoue, Shoichi Ishihara, Takako Koide
  • Publication number: 20050162607
    Abstract: An electrode is provided on one surface of each of a pair of substrates. On the other surface of each of the substrates, a polarizer is provided. The substrates are assembled together so that their surfaces on which the electrodes are formed face each other. Then, a medium is introduced between the substrates, to form a dielectric material layer. The medium is prepared by mixing a chiral agent in a negative type liquid crystalline compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Iichiro Inoue, Seiji Shibahara, Shoichi Ishihara
  • Publication number: 20050151912
    Abstract: A display element has a arrangement that allows the pixel to have at least two domains in which the medium shows optical anisotropies of different directions when a force (for example, an electric field) is applied or when no force is applied. It is preferable that directions of the optical anisotropies occurred in the respective domains when the electric field is applied respectively have 45 degrees±10 degrees with absorption axes of polarizers, and that the directions of the optical anisotropies occurred in the respective domains when the electric field is applied make 90 degrees±20 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Seiji Shibahara, Iichiro Inoue, Shoichi Ishihara, Takako Koide
  • Publication number: 20040085507
    Abstract: A liquid crystal optical element includes two substrates, a liquid crystal layer, and at least two electrodes. The liquid crystal layer is provided between the substrates and includes liquid crystal molecules and dichroic dye molecules. The at least two electrodes are provided on the substrates so as to face each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed between them, and define one of multiple unit regions. In each unit region, the liquid crystal layer includes first and second liquid crystal regions within a range, which is approximately half or less as long as the wavelength of visible radiation as measured in a direction parallel to the surfaces of the substrates. The orientation directions of each pair of liquid crystal molecules in the first and second liquid crystal regions have azimuthal directions defining an angle of approximately 90 degrees while no voltage is being applied between the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Miyachi, Seiji Shibahara