Patents by Inventor Shuhichi Odahara

Shuhichi Odahara 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: 7936439
    Abstract: A broad crystal display panel having a color filter substrate is supported by supporting nails and the middle portion of a supporting span is pressed by a loading bar. From this state, the supporting nails are removed to release the supporting, and subsequently the supporting nails are also removed to release the supporting the color filter substrate. While preventing the displacement between the color filter substrate and a TFT array substrate, the color filter substrate and the TFT array substrate can be stacked with a specified distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kamiya, Shuhichi Odahara, Kohichi Toriumi, Toshiyuki Yokoue
  • Patent number: 7400376
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for forming an alignment layer to align the orientation direction of liquid crystals. In an apparatus 10 for forming an alignment layer according to the present invention, the shape of an edge 32a of a mask 12 for forming a slit 14 is determined by integrating the orientation direction of liquid crystals. The liquid crystals can be uniformly oriented by the edge 32a having such shape. This leads to the manufacturing of a liquid crystal display free from irregularity in brightness and color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Nakano, Nobuo Okazaki, Yukito Saitoh, Shuhichi Odahara
  • Publication number: 20070026589
    Abstract: A broad crystal display panel having a color filter substrate is supported by supporting nails and the middle portion of a supporting span is pressed by a loading bar. From this state, the supporting nails are removed to release the supporting, and subsequently the supporting nails are also removed to release the supporting the color filter substrate. While preventing the displacement between the color filter substrate and a TFT array substrate, the color filter substrate and the TFT array substrate can be stacked with a specified distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kamiya, Shuhichi Odahara, Kohichi Toriumi, Toshiyuki Yokoue
  • Patent number: 7150298
    Abstract: A broad crystal display panel having a color filter substrate is supported by supporting nails and the middle portion of a supporting span is pressed by a loading bar. From this state, the supporting nails are removed to release the supporting, and subsequently the supporting nails are also removed to release the supporting the color filter substrate. While preventing the displacement between the color filter substrate and a TFT array substrate, the color filter substrate and the TFT array substrate can be stacked with a specified distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kamiya, Shuhichi Odahara, Kohichi Toriumi, Toshiyuki Yokoue
  • Publication number: 20060132689
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for forming an alignment layer to align the orientation direction of liquid crystals. In an apparatus 10 for forming an alignment layer according to the present invention, the shape of an edge 32a of a mask 12 for forming a slit 14 is determined by integrating the orientation direction of liquid crystals. The liquid crystals can be uniformly oriented by the edge 32a having such shape. This leads to the manufacturing of a liquid crystal display free from irregularity in brightness and color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroki Nakano, Nobuo Okazaki, Yukito Saltoh, Shuhichi Odahara
  • Patent number: 7057692
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for forming an alignment layer to align the orientation direction of liquid crystals. In an apparatus 10 for forming an alignment layer according to the present invention, the shape of an edge 32a of a mask 12 for forming a slit 14 is determined by integrating the orientation direction of liquid crystals. The liquid crystals can be uniformly oriented by the edge 32a having such shape. This leads to the manufacturing of a liquid crystal display free from irregularity in brightness and color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Nakano, Nobuo Okazaki, Yukito Saitoh, Shuhichi Odahara
  • Patent number: 7038756
    Abstract: Disclosed are a fixing device and method of fixing substrate to provide holding means capable of surely fixing and positioning a sheet-like substrate even in vacuum, and to provide an operational mechanism thereof. A fixing device includes: a carrier plate for setting a glass substrate thereon; a claw for pressing the glass substrate set on the carrier plate, when the glass substrate is set thereon, by sandwiching the glass substrate from the periphery thereof; and an airbag having air sealed therein and expanding by lowering an external pressure. The claw is operated by using expansion of the airbag as power, thereby fixing the glass substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Yokoue, Shuhichi Odahara, Kohichi Toriumi, Hiroyuki Kamiya
  • Publication number: 20050190339
    Abstract: Disclosed are a fixing device and method of fixing substrate to provide holding means capable of surely fixing and positioning a sheet-like substrate even in vacuum, and to provide an operational mechanism thereof. A fixing device includes: a carrier plate for setting a glass substrate thereon; a claw for pressing the glass substrate set on the carrier plate, when the glass substrate is set thereon, by sandwiching the glass substrate from the periphery thereof; and an airbag having air sealed therein and expanding by lowering an external pressure. The claw is operated by using expansion of the airbag as power, thereby fixing the glass substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Applicant: IBM Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Yokoue, Shuhichi Odahara, Kohichi Toriumi, Hiroyuki Kamiya
  • Patent number: 6879370
    Abstract: Disclosed are a fixing device and method of fixing substrate to provide holding means capable of surely fixing and positioning a sheet-like substrate even in vacuum, and to provide an operational mechanism thereof. A fixing device includes: a carrier plate for setting a glass substrate thereon; a claw for pressing the glass substrate set on the carrier plate, when the glass substrate is set thereon, by sandwiching the glass substrate from the periphery thereof; and an airbag having air sealed therein and expanding by lowering an external pressure. The claw is operated by using expansion of the airbag as power, thereby fixing the glass substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Yokoue, Shuhichi Odahara, Kohichi Toriumi, Hiroyuki Kamiya
  • Patent number: 6830947
    Abstract: A broad crystal display panel having a color filter substrate is supported by supporting nails and the middle portion of a supporting span is pressed by a loading bar. From this state, the supporting nails are removed to release the supporting, and subsequently the supporting nails are also removed to release the supporting the color filter substrate. While preventing the displacement between the color filter substrate and a TFT array substrate, the color filter substrate and the TFT array substrate can be stacked with a specified distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kamiya, Shuhichi Odahara, Kohichi Toriumi, Toshiyuki Yokoue
  • Publication number: 20040246419
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for forming an alignment layer to align the orientation direction of liquid crystals. In an apparatus 10 for forming an alignment layer according to the present invention, the shape of an edge 32a of a mask 12 for forming a slit 14 is determined by integrating the orientation direction of liquid crystals. The liquid crystals can be uniformly oriented by the edge 32a having such shape. This leads to the manufacturing of a liquid crystal display free from irregularity in brightness and color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Nakano, Nobuo Okazaki, Yukito Saitoh, Shuhichi Odahara
  • Publication number: 20040223111
    Abstract: A broad crystal display panel having a color filter substrate is supported by supporting nails and the middle portion of a supporting span is pressed by a loading bar. From this state, the supporting nails are removed to release the supporting, and subsequently the supporting nails are also removed to release the supporting the color filter substrate. While preventing the displacement between the color filter substrate and a TFT array substrate, the color filter substrate and the TFT array substrate can be stacked with a specified distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kamiya, Shuhichi Odahara, Kohichi Toriumi, Toshiyuki Yokoue
  • Publication number: 20030128328
    Abstract: Disclosed are a fixing device and method of fixing substrate to provide holding means capable of surely fixing and positioning a sheet-like substrate even in vacuum, and to provide an operational mechanism thereof. A fixing device includes: a carrier plate for setting a glass substrate thereon; a claw for pressing the glass substrate set on the carrier plate, when the glass substrate is set thereon, by sandwiching the glass substrate from the periphery thereof; and an airbag having air sealed therein and expanding by lowering an external pressure. The claw is operated by using expansion of the airbag as power, thereby fixing the glass substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Yokoue, Shuhichi Odahara, Kohichi Toriumi, Hiroyuki Kamiya
  • Patent number: 6493050
    Abstract: A method for forming functional structures for a liquid crystal display, in accordance with the present invention includes providing a substrate and patterning a first color filter layer on the substrate. A second color filter layer is patterned on the first color filter layer and the substrate such that the first color filter layer and the second color filter layer overlap at predetermined locations. A third color filter layer is patterned on the second color filter layer and the substrate such that an overlap region exists between the first, second and third color filter layers at the predetermined locations. The overlap region includes a thickness of the first, second and third color filter layers. A dielectric layer is provided to form the functional structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shui-Chih A. Lien, Shuhichi Odahara, Yukito Saitoh
  • Patent number: 6485614
    Abstract: A method for improving the anchoring of liquid crystals on carbon alignment layers used in liquid crystal displays involves exposing the alignment layer to hydrogen atoms. The atomic hydrogen exposure passivates the surface of the carbon layer to stabilize the anchoring of the subsequently deposited liquid crystals. The substrate on which the carbon layer is supported is located beneath a stretched tungsten filament, and the substrate and filament are located in a vacuum chamber containing hydrogen gas. The heating of the tungsten filament by an appropriate power source dissociates the hydrogen gas into hydrogen atoms and the hydrogen atoms contact the surface of the carbon layer. The process is applicable to stabilize carbon alignment layers that have been formed by directional deposition of carbon, as well as carbon alignment layers where the alignment is caused by a separate ion irradiation step after the carbon layer is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimine Katoh, Yoshiki Nakagawa, Shuhichi Odahara, Mahesh Govind Samant
  • Publication number: 20020063055
    Abstract: A method for improving the anchoring of liquid crystals on carbon alignment layers used in liquid crystal displays involves exposing the alignment layer to hydrogen atoms. The atomic hydrogen exposure passivates the surface of the carbon layer to stabilize the anchoring of the subsequently deposited liquid crystals. The substrate on which the carbon layer is supported is located beneath a stretched tungsten filament, and the substrate and filament are located in a vacuum chamber containing hydrogen gas. The heating of the tungsten filament by an appropriate power source dissociates the hydrogen gas into hydrogen atoms and the hydrogen atoms contact the surface of the carbon layer. The process is applicable to stabilize carbon alignment layers that have been formed by directional deposition of carbon, as well as carbon alignment layers where the alignment is caused by a separate ion irradiation step after the carbon layer is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimine Katoh, Yoshiki Nakagawa, Shuhichi Odahara, Mahesh Govind Samant
  • Publication number: 20020051113
    Abstract: A broad crystal display panel having a color filter substrate is supported by supporting nails and the middle portion of a supporting span is pressed by a loading bar. From this state, the supporting nails are removed to release the supporting, and subsequently the supporting nails are also removed to release the supporting the color filter substrate. While preventing the displacement between the color filter substrate and a TFT array substrate, the color filter substrate and the TFT array substrate can be stacked with a specified distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kamiya, Shuhichi Odahara, Kohichi Toriumi, Toshiyuki Yokoue