Patents by Inventor Shinya Kondoh

Shinya Kondoh 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: 9922609
    Abstract: A drive circuit has a ferroelectric liquid crystal panel that operates at a given switching angle and response speed, a sensor that measures temperature, a drive circuit that supplies driving voltage to the ferroelectric liquid crystal panel, a waveform generation circuit that supplies a waveform signal to the drive circuit, and a control circuit that controls the waveform generation circuit; and in a first frame of the driving voltage, outputs during a first interval, a first voltage that is positive and outputs during a second interval that is longer than the first interval, a second voltage that is positive, and in a second frame, outputs during the first interval, the first voltage that is negative and outputs during the second interval that is longer than the first interval, the second voltage that is negative. The control circuit varies the first voltage and the second voltage according to the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruki Amakawa, Shinya Kondoh
  • Publication number: 20170287422
    Abstract: A drive circuit has a ferroelectric liquid crystal panel that operates at a given switching angle and response speed, a sensor that measures temperature, a drive circuit that supplies driving voltage to the ferroelectric liquid crystal panel, a waveform generation circuit that supplies a waveform signal to the drive circuit, and a control circuit that controls the waveform generation circuit; and in a first frame of the driving voltage, outputs during a first interval, a first voltage that is positive and outputs during a second interval that is longer than the first interval, a second voltage that is positive, and in a second frame, outputs during the first interval, the first voltage that is negative and outputs during the second interval that is longer than the first interval, the second voltage that is negative. The control circuit varies the first voltage and the second voltage according to the measured temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruki AMAKAWA, Shinya KONDOH
  • Patent number: 9741300
    Abstract: A drive circuit has a ferroelectric liquid crystal panel that operates at a given switching angle and response speed, a sensor that measures temperature, a drive circuit that supplies driving voltage to the ferroelectric liquid crystal panel, a waveform generation circuit that supplies a waveform signal to the drive circuit, and a control circuit that controls the waveform generation circuit; and in a first frame of the driving voltage, outputs during a first interval, a first voltage that is positive and outputs during a second interval that is longer than the first interval, a second voltage that is positive, and in a second frame, outputs during the first interval, the first voltage that is negative and outputs during the second interval that is longer than the first interval, the second voltage that is negative. The control circuit varies the first voltage and the second voltage according to the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruki Amakawa, Shinya Kondoh
  • Publication number: 20170003532
    Abstract: An optical device includes a liquid crystal shutter using a first liquid crystal material, the liquid crystal shutter controlling application of a light beam to a predetermined point, corresponding to a driving waveform supplied to the liquid crystal shutter; a spatial optical modulator using a second liquid crystal material whose contrast becomes a maximal contrast at a temperature different from that of the first liquid crystal material, the spatial optical modulator modulating the light beam corresponding to a driving waveform supplied to the spatial optical modulator; and a supplying unit that supplies to the liquid crystal shutter and the spatial optical modulator, driving waveforms that are adjusted such that the contrasts of the liquid crystal shutter and the spatial optical modulator each become equal to or greater than 50% of the maximal contrast at a same temperature,
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinya KONDOH
  • Publication number: 20160148586
    Abstract: A drive circuit has a ferroelectric liquid crystal panel that operates at a given switching angle and response speed, a sensor that measures temperature, a drive circuit that supplies driving voltage to the ferroelectric liquid crystal panel, a waveform generation circuit that supplies a waveform signal to the drive circuit, and a control circuit that controls the waveform generation circuit; and in a first frame of the driving voltage, outputs during a first interval, a first voltage that is positive and outputs during a second interval that is longer than the first interval, a second voltage that is positive, and in a second frame, outputs during the first interval, the first voltage that is negative and outputs during the second interval that is longer than the first interval, the second voltage that is negative. The control circuit varies the first voltage and the second voltage according to the measured temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruki AMAKAWA, Shinya KONDOH
  • Patent number: 7995178
    Abstract: In a liquid-crystal-display panel (1) for displaying a barcode that is formed with bars having various widths arranged in parallel at various intervals by an electro-optic effect of liquid crystal, a direction of a transmissive axis (P1) of a polarizing film disposed on a side on which light from a barcode reader is irradiated is set to coincides with a direction in which the light is polarized. Moreover, the direction of transmissive axis (P1) of the polarizing film is set to be parallel or substantially parallel to a short side or a long side of each of the bars forming the barcode. A direction (M) of a long axis of a liquid crystal molecule (LCM) in a first ferroelectric state or in a second ferroelectric state is set to be parallel or substantially parallel to the direction of transmissive axis (P1) of the polarizing film, or set to form an angel of 45 degrees or substantially 45 degrees therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Suguro, Shinya Kondoh
  • Patent number: 7948464
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a memory-type liquid crystal display device capable of controlling a color to be displayed in a peripheral area without using display data based on which display is achieved in the peripheral area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Kondoh, Akira Suguro, Takashi Ihara, Yuuji Yano
  • Patent number: 7787077
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a reflective polarizer, mounted on the first substrate and having a first transmission axis and a first reflection axis at right angles to each other, for transmitting linearly polarized light vibrating in a plane parallel to the first transmission axis and for reflecting linearly polarized light vibrating in a plane parallel to the first reflection axis, a polarizer, mounted on the second substrate and having a second transmission axis, for transmitting linearly polarized light vibrating in a plane parallel to the second transmission axis, and a liquid crystal layer, provided between the first and second substrates, having a first mode which causes the direction of polarization of incident light to change by utilizing birefringence and a second mode which does not utilize birefringence and therefore does not cause the direction of polarization of incident light to change, wherein a display
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Shinya Kondoh, Mie Ohara
  • Publication number: 20070206131
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the provision of a liquid crystal display apparatus that can produce a bright display state without utilizing birefringence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventors: Shinya Kondoh, Mie Ohara
  • Publication number: 20070024936
    Abstract: In a liquid-crystal-display panel (1) for displaying a barcode that is formed with bars having various widths arranged in parallel at various intervals by an electro-optic effect of liquid crystal, a direction of a transmissive axis (P1) of a polarizing film disposed on a side on which light from a barcode reader is irradiated is set to coincides with a direction in which the light is polarized. Moreover, the direction of transmissive axis (Pl) of the polarizing film is set to be parallel or substantially parallel to a short side or a long side of each of the bars forming the barcode. A direction (M) of a long axis of a liquid crystal molecule (LCM) in a first ferroelectric state or in a second ferroelectric state is set to be parallel or substantially parallel to the direction of transmissive axis (P1) of the polarizing film, or set to form an angel of 45 degrees or substantially 45 degrees therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Akira Suguro, Shinya Kondoh
  • Patent number: 7123330
    Abstract: A substrate for a liquid crystal panel having an alignment film, wherein an evaporated film is formed as the alignment film on the substrate, and wherein a portion of the evaporated film corresponding to each single pixel is split into a plurality of segments, and the evaporated film is formed with a different evaporation angle on each of the segments. The evaporation angle ? which is different for each of the plurality of segments is set within a range of 80°???88° with respect to the layer normal to the substrate, and the plurality of split segments have approximately equal areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Kondoh
  • Patent number: 7102603
    Abstract: An antiferroelectric liquid crystal display comprises: an antiferroelectric liquid crystal display element which includes an antiferroelectric liquid crystal that is sandwiched between a pair of substrates having a plurality of scanning electrodes and signal electrodes deposited respectively on the opposing surfaces thereof; and a light source which successively emits a plurality of different colors of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Kondoh, Shigekazu Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20060066545
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a memory-type liquid crystal display device capable of controlling a color to be displayed in a peripheral area without using display data based on which display is achieved in the peripheral area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Shinya Kondoh, Akira Suguro, Takashi Ihara, Yuuji Yano
  • Patent number: 6888527
    Abstract: An antiferroelectric liquid crystal panel, having an antiferroelectric liquid crystal between a pair of substrates, which comprises a driving circuit adapted to output a layer structure controlling voltage waveform having a frequency of 1 Hz to 100 Hz and a voltage in the range of +10 V to +50 V or ?10 V to ?50 V, for an optional length of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Kondoh
  • Patent number: 6847345
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal optical device which produces a color display by using a light source mounted behind a liquid crystal panel and capable of emitting a plurality of different colors, wherein the period from the time the light source mounted on the back emits one color to the time the light source switches to the next color is set as a scanning period, and the scanning period comprises a selection period (Se), a non-selection period (NSe), and a reset period (Rs), the length of the reset period being equal to one half the scanning period, and wherein a black display state is effected in the reset period (Rs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Kondoh
  • Patent number: 6804029
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal shutter that uses as a shutter a liquid crystal panel constructed by sandwiching DHF liquid crystal between a pair of substrates provided with one or more pixel electrodes and one or more counter electrodes, wherein a driving waveform for the panel has a write period comprising two subfields. In each of the subfields, a single pulse is applied to a pixel, the single pulse applied in one subfield being opposite in polarity to the single pulse applied in the other subfield. On the other hand, a constant voltage of 0 V or close to 0 V is applied to the pixel during a period in which neither of the single pulses is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Kondoh, Mie Ohara
  • Patent number: 6750837
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ferroelectric liquid crystal display in which the trailing phenomenon is eliminated by providing an optimum reset period. The ferroelectric liquid crystal display has a reset period for resetting the ferroelectric liquid crystal to a black display state before starting the scanning period, and includes a mechanism for adjusting the length of the reset period in accordance with the display data, thus setting an optimum reset period corresponding to the display data. The reset period is provided for each pixel. Also, the reset period can be provided at the same timing so that all the pixels may be reset at the same time. The ferroelectric liquid crystal panel includes a backlight, which is turned off during the reset period and turned on during the remaining period. A mechanism is provided for adjusting the brightness of the backlight in accordance with the length of the reset period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Kondoh
  • Patent number: 6724360
    Abstract: An antiferroelectric liquid crystal display, which is equipped with an antiferroelectric liquid crystal panel having an antiferroelectric liquid crystal sandwiched between a pair of substrates, performs at least one scanning period when carrying out a display based on one set of display data, wherein the scanning period comprises a selection period for determining the state of the antiferroelectric liquid crystal, a non-selection period for holding the state determined in the selection period, and a reset period for resetting pixels to a black display state before initiating the selection period. The length of the reset period is adjusted according to the speed of change in the display data. Alternatively, the pixels are reset to a white display state in the reset period and, during that period, the backlight is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Kondoh
  • Patent number: 6710759
    Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display element holds a ferroelectric liquid crystal between a pair of substrates. A driving scheme includes a reset period having a switching period and a non-switching period which precede application of a selection pulse. During the switching period, a voltage exceeding a threshold voltage required to switch the ferroelectric liquid crystal is applied irrespective of the display data to be written to a pixel, and during the non-switching period, an ion electric field in the ferroelectric liquid crystal is aligned in such a direction that cancels the direction of an electric field produced by spontaneous polarization of the liquid crystal molecules. A voltage not exceeding the threshold voltage of the ferroelectric liquid crystal, preferably a voltage of 0 V, that is, no voltage, is applied during the non-switching period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Kondoh
  • Patent number: 6567065
    Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display comprises: a ferroelectric liquid crystal display element which includes a ferroelectric liquid crystal that is sandwiched between a pair of substrates having a plurality of scanning electrodes and signal electrodes deposited respectively on the opposing surfaces thereof; and a light source which successively emits a plurality of different colors of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Kondoh, Shigekazu Takahashi