Patents by Inventor Shuji Nishi

Shuji Nishi 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: 8314648
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a power supply circuit including a charge-pumping booster section which uses switching elements provided only by N-channel transistors yet does not have a problem of voltage drop by threshold value. When a boosted voltage is obtained at a first terminal of a first capacitor in a booster section, a booster control section supplies this boosted voltage to a third capacitor, to boost the voltage further thereby turning ON a first transistor. When a boosted voltage is obtained at a first terminal of a second capacitor in the booster section, the booster control section supplies this boosted voltage to a fourth capacitor, to boost the voltage further thereby turning ON a second transistor. This arrangement eliminates a problem of voltage drop by threshold value in the first and the second transistors which serve as output-side switching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Nishi, Sachio Tsujino, Yuhichiroh Murakami, Yasushi Sasaki, Seijirou Gyouten
  • Patent number: 8305315
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a monolithic driver-type display device capable of reducing circuit scale of a sampling circuit, and keeping low power consumption by directly driving a source driver with an externally provided video signal. In the monolithic driver-type display device having a display portion for displaying video and circuits for driving the display portion formed on the same insulating substrate, a plurality of sampling switches are provided in association with a plurality of pieces of bit data contained in externally inputted digital video signals. The sampling switches are opened/closed based on sampling signals, thereby sampling the digital video signals for each piece of the bit data and converting the signals into parallel format for output to data lines. The outputted digital video signals charge parasitic capacitances on the data lines and are held therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yousuke Nakagawa, Kazuhiro Maeda, Ichiro Shiraki, Shuji Nishi, Sachio Tsujino
  • Publication number: 20120200549
    Abstract: Provided is a display device which can prevent screen noise caused such that a potential of a common electrode is reversed after a memory mode enters from a refresh period to an entire write-in period, and a method for driving the display device. The memory mode includes (i) an entire write-in period in which a potential of the common electrode (COM) is fixed and the display data is written into all the memory circuits (node (PIX)) in each row and (ii) a refresh period in which the display data which has been written during the entire write-in period is refreshed at least once while the common electrode (COM) is driven. In the memory mode, the potential of the common electrode during the entire write-in period being a potential which the common electrode having been driven had at the end of a refresh period preceding the entire write-in period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi Sasaki, Yuhichiroh Murakami, Shige Furuta, Seijirou Gyouten, Shuji Nishi
  • Publication number: 20120188218
    Abstract: A memory-type liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel including memory circuits, and conducts a refresh operation more than once during a display holding period after rewriting of a screen. The memory-type liquid crystal display device increases at least one of (i) a frequency at which the screen is rewritten and (ii) a frequency at which the refresh operation is conducted during the display holding period as an intensity of light received by the liquid crystal panel increases. This allows the memory-type liquid crystal display device to reduce power consumption while keeping its display quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Hachida, Yasushi Sasaki, Yuhichiroh Murakami, Shuji Nishi, Seijirou Gyouten
  • Publication number: 20120176393
    Abstract: Provided is a memory device that allows an amount of leakage into a first retaining section to which a binary logic level is written to be balanced between different circuit states. A predetermined period is set in which in a state where a first control section turns off an output element, (i) a first retaining section and a second retaining section retain an identical binary logic level, (ii) an electric potential of a voltage supply is set to one of a first electric potential level and a second electric potential level, (iii) the other one of the first electric potential level and the second electric potential level is supplied from a column driver to a fourth wire, and (iv) subsequently the fourth wire is shifted to a floating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ohkawa, Yasushi Sasaki, Yuhichiroh Murakami, Shige Furuta, Seijirou Gyouten, Shuji Nishi
  • Publication number: 20120176388
    Abstract: In a memory liquid crystal display device, a potential of a storage capacitor line signal (CS) supplied to the CS lines (CSL(i)) are once decreased (?Vcs) while the gate lines (GL(i)) are made simultaneously active (period t4, period t10) in the data holding period (T2), and the potential of the storage capacitor line signal (CS) is made back to its original potential while the gate lines (GL(i)) are made simultaneously inactive and the refresh output control lines (RC(i)) are made active (period t5, period t11). This reduces flicker, thereby allowing for improvement in display quality of the memory liquid crystal display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Yokoyama, Shige Furuta, Yuhichiroh Murakami, Yasushi Sasaki, Seijirou Gyouten, Shuji Nishi
  • Publication number: 20120179923
    Abstract: A memory device can perform a first operation mode in which a discrete level is supplied to cause the memory cell to retain a logical level, and prevent unnecessary power consumption due to an operation of a power source which is unnecessary in the first operation mode. The memory device includes: a first power source (VDD) for supplying a first potential level; a second power source (VSS) for supplying a second potential level, a third power source (GVDD) for supplying a potential higher than a highest potential of discrete levels; and a fourth power source for supplying a potential lower than a lowest potential of the discrete levels, the first and second potential levels being used to supply the discrete levels, when the first operation is carried out, VDD, VSS, and GVDD being caused to be in operation and the fourth power source being stopped from being in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi Sasaki, Yuhichiroh Murakami, Shige Furuta, Seijirou Gyouten, Shuji Nishi
  • Publication number: 20120169580
    Abstract: A memory liquid crystal display device includes a transistor (N1), a transistor (N2), a transistor (N3), a transistor (N4), a first storage capacitor (storage capacitor of an overlapping part of a capacitor electrode 37a and a CS line CSL(i)) connected to a pixel electrode (7), and a second storage capacitor (storage capacitor of an overlapping part of a capacitor electrode 37b and a CS extension section 10bb) connected to the pixel electrode (7) via the transistor (N2), the pixel electrode (7) being connected to (a) a source line (SL(j)) via the transistor (N1), (b) a data transfer control line (DT(i)) via the transistor (N4) and the third transistor, (c) a drain electrode (9a) of the transistor (N1) via a contact hole (13), and (d) a source electrode (8b) of the transistor (N2) and to a drain electrode (9c) of the transistor (N4), via a contact hole (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuji Nishi, Seijirou Gyouten, Yuhichiroh Murakami, Shige Furuta, Yasushi Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20120169579
    Abstract: A transistor (N1) has a gate terminal connected to a word line (Xi(1)) and a first conduction terminal connected to a bit line (Yj). A transistor (N2) has a gate terminal connected to the word line (Xi(2)) and a first conduction terminal connected to a node (PIX). A transistor (N3) has a gate terminal connected to a node (MRY) and a first conduction terminal connected to the word line (Xi(2)). A transistor (N4) has a gate terminal connected to the word line (Xi(3)), a first conduction terminal connected to a second conduction terminal of the transistor (N3), and a second conduction terminal connected to the node (PIX). Capacitors (Ca1), (Cb1), (Cap1) are formed between the node (PIX) and a reference electric potential wire (RL1), between the node (MRY) and the reference electric potential wire (RL1), and between the first conduction terminal of the transistor (N3) and the node (MRY), respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuji Nishi, Yuhichiroh Murakami, Shige Furuta, Yasushi Sasaki, Seijirou Gyouten
  • Publication number: 20120169690
    Abstract: Provided are a display device capable of preventing image noise arising from changes in potential of a common electrode and auxiliary capacitor lines at the time of a switch between a normal mode and a memory mode and a method for driving such a display device. In a case where it is necessary to cause the common electrode and the auxiliary capacitor lines to change in potential along with a switch between the normal mode and the memory mode, the change in potential is made while electrically connecting a node of each memory circuit to a corresponding source line with the corresponding source line having its potential fixed and with the memory circuit having its a switch circuit in a conductive state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi Sasaki, Yuhichiroh Murakami, Shige Furuta, Seijirou Gyouten, Shuji Nishi
  • Publication number: 20120169750
    Abstract: Provided are a memory-type display device capable of improving image quality during a normal mode and a method for driving such a display device. Each memory circuit (MR1) includes: a node (PIX) (pixel electrode); a node (MRY) (memory electrode); a switch circuit (SW1); a first data-retention section (DS1) composed of a capacitor (Ca1); a data transfer section (TS1) composed of a transistor (N2); a second data-retention section (DS2) composed of a capacitor (Cb1); and a refresh output control section (RS1) including a transistor (N4). During the normal mode, and the capacitor (Ca1) and the capacitor (Cb1) are both used as auxiliary capacitors with the transistor (N2) in a conductive state and the transistor (N4) in a cutoff state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuhichiroh Murakami, Yasushi Sasaki, Shige Furuta, Seijirou Gyouten, Shuji Nishi
  • Publication number: 20120169751
    Abstract: In an active matrix display apparatus including: pixels provided in a matrix pattern, the pixels each including a memory circuit which retains data while refreshing the data, a data signal electric potential which is supplied from a source line in a period t1 and written to a node which is connected to a liquid capacitor is higher than a data electric potential of the node, the data electric potential being obtained in a period t14 after a refresh operation of the memory circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Etsuo Yamamoto, Yasushi Sasaki, Yuhichiroh Murakami, Shige Furuta, Seijirou Gyouten, Shuji Nishi
  • Publication number: 20120169753
    Abstract: A memory device is provided which includes a memory circuit that allows a circuit which carries out a refresh operation to suitably carry out an original operation of the circuit even if an off-leakage current occurs in a transfer element used in a transfer section. A memory cell includes a switching circuit, a first retaining section, a transfer section, a second retaining section, a first control section, and a voltage supply, and the first control section is controlled to be in (i) a state in which the first control section carries out a first operation in which the first control section is in an active state or a non-active state and (ii) a state in which the first control section carries out a second operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuhichiroh Murakami, Shige Furuta, Yasushi Sasaki, Seijirou Gyouten, Shuji Nishi
  • Patent number: 8094116
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a serial-parallel conversion circuit of a display device. First latch circuits for sampling and latching a serial signal in accordance with sampling pulses outputted from a shift register (31) are provided in association with stages of the shift register (31). In addition, second latch circuits for latching signals outputted from the first latch circuits are provided in association with portions of the stages of the shift register (31). In this case, of all the stages of the shift register (31), the number of stages associated with the second latch circuits is less than the total number of stages of the shift register by two or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabsuhiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tamotsu Sakai, Tomoyuki Nagai, Kazuhiro Maeda, Shuji Nishi, Masakazu Satoh
  • Publication number: 20110181556
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a serial-parallel conversion circuit of a display device. First latch circuits for sampling and latching a serial signal in accordance with sampling pulses outputted from a shift register (31) are provided in association with stages of the shift register (31). In addition, second latch circuits for latching signals outputted from the first latch circuits are provided in association with portions of the stages of the shift register (31). In this case, of all the stages of the shift register (31), the number of stages associated with the second latch circuits is less than the total number of stages of the shift register by two or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Tamotsu Sakai, Tomoyuki Nagai, Kazuhiro Maeda, Shuji Nishi, Masakazu Satoh
  • Publication number: 20100259529
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a power supply circuit including a charge-pumping booster section which uses switching elements provided only by N-channel transistors yet does not have a problem of voltage drop by threshold value. When a boosted voltage is obtained at a first terminal of a first capacitor in a booster section, a booster control section supplies this boosted voltage to a third capacitor, to boost the voltage further thereby turning ON a first transistor. When a boosted voltage is obtained at a first terminal of a second capacitor in the booster section, the booster control section supplies this boosted voltage to a fourth capacitor, to boost the voltage further thereby turning ON a second transistor. This arrangement eliminates a problem of voltage drop by threshold value in the first and the second transistors which serve as output-side switching elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Shuji Nishi, Sachio Tsujino, Yuhichiroh Murakami, Yasushi Sasaki, Seijirou Gyouten
  • Publication number: 20100259565
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a monolithic driver-type display device capable of reducing circuit scale of a sampling circuit, and keeping low power consumption by directly driving a source driver with an externally provided video signal. In the monolithic driver-type display device having a display portion for displaying video and circuits for driving the display portion formed on the same insulating substrate, a plurality of sampling switches are provided in association with a plurality of pieces of bit data contained in externally inputted digital video signals. The sampling switches are opened/closed based on sampling signals, thereby sampling the digital video signals for each piece of the bit data and converting the signals into parallel format for output to data lines. The outputted digital video signals charge parasitic capacitances on the data lines and are held therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Yousuke Nakagawa, Kazuhiro Maeda, Ichiro Shiraki, Shuji Nishi, Sachio Tsujino
  • Publication number: 20100245327
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a power supply circuit including a charge-pumping booster section which uses switching elements provided only by N-channel transistors yet does not have a problem of voltage drop by threshold value. In a booster section (11a), capacitors (C1) and (C2) have their respective first terminals connected with transistors (Q1, Q3) and (Q2, Q4) respectively. Each transistor has its gate terminal supplied with control signals generated in a driver section (11b). The driver section (11b) includes capacitors (C3, C4) connected with input terminals (Ti3, Ti4) for respective supply of clock signals DCK2, DCK2B each having a voltage alternating between ?VDD and VDD (VDD represents an input supply voltage from outside), as level-shifted signals of clock signals DCK1, DCK1B which are supplied to second terminals of the capacitors (C1, C2) respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sachio Tsujino, Shuji Nishi, Yuhichiroh Murakami, Yasushi Sasaki, Seijirou Gyouten
  • Publication number: 20090289932
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a reset signal changes into a High level in sync with rising and falling edges of a common electric potential. This causes a comparator to be reset in sync with the rising and falling edges of the common electric potential, so that a comparator output signal is maintained in a ground level. Therefore, even if a voltage held by a capacitor is suddenly changed by the inversion of the common electric potential, a wrong comparator output signal cannot be outputted. In a charge pump type power supply circuit having, for the purpose of regulating an output voltage, the comparator that fulfills an offset cancel function by using the capacitor, it is possible to obtain a stable output with little fluctuation without being affected by a change in the common electric potential of a common electrode of pixels in a liquid crystal display apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventor: Shuji Nishi
  • Publication number: 20090201274
    Abstract: A timing signal generating device for a matrix-type display apparatus is disclosed, conducive to reduction of power consumption, the matrix-type display apparatus including the timing signal generating device, and a driving method thereof. In at least one embodiment, a timing signal generating apparatus provided in an active-matrix liquid crystal display apparatus includes a horizontal direction counter and a vertical direction counter for counting a clock number; and a horizontal counter cessation circuit and a vertical counter cessation circuit for stopping the horizontal direction counter and the vertical direction counter at a predetermined timing. With this structure, at least one embodiment of the present invention achieves reduction in power consumption in the liquid crystal display apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kuwabara, Tomoyuki Nagai, Tamotsu Sakai, Kazuhiro Maeda, Shuji Nishi, Masakazu Satoh