Patents by Inventor Shunichi Suwa

Shunichi Suwa 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: 9465244
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display including: a liquid crystal display element which includes a pair of alignment films which are provided on facing surface sides of a pair of substrates, and a liquid crystal layer which is provided between the pair of alignment films and is configured to have a liquid crystal composition containing liquid crystal molecules having negative dielectric anisotropy, in which at least one of the pair of alignment films contains a compound obtained by crosslinking polymer compounds each including a first side chain which interacts with the liquid crystal molecules and a crosslinkable functional group as a second side chain, with each other, the liquid crystal composition configuring the liquid crystal layer contains at least one kind of an alkenyl compound represented by the following general formula (AN-1), and pretilt is applied to the liquid crystal molecules by the crosslinked compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Seiji Shibahara, Masashi Miyakawa, Chikashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9389468
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes multiple pixels which are arrayed. Each pixel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first electrode formed on an opposing face of the first substrate which faces the second substrate, a second electrode formed on an opposing face of the second substrate which faces the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer which includes liquid crystal molecules, situated between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a planarization layer. The liquid crystal molecules are pretilted. Multiple ridge-and-groove portions are formed at the first electrode. At least the grooves of the first electrode are filled in by the planarization layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Miyakawa, Chikashi Kobayashi, Shunichi Suwa
  • Patent number: 9366910
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display element capable of easily improving response characteristics without using a large apparatus is provided. After alignment films 22 and 32 made of a polymer compound including a crosslinkable functional group as a side chain and a bulky skeleton such as an adamantane skeleton are formed in a TFT substrate 20 and a CF substrate 30, the alignment films 22 and 32 are arranged to face each other, and a liquid crystal layer 40 including liquid crystal molecules 41 is sealed between the alignment films 22 and 32, and then, in a state where the liquid crystal molecules 41 are aligned to allow long-axis directions thereof to be oblique with respect to a substrate surface, the polymer compound in the alignment films 22 and 32 is reacted to form a polymer compound including a cross-linked structure, and predetermined pretilts are provided to liquid crystal molecules 41A and 41B placed in proximity to the alignment films 22 and 32, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Yuichi Inoue, Ryo Ogawa, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Masashi Miyakawa, Tadaaki Isozaki, Masahiko Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20160011463
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device with which response characteristics are able to be easily improved without using major equipment is provided. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device includes steps of forming a first alignment film including a polymer compound having a crosslinkable functional group as a side chain on one substrate of a pair of substrates; forming a second alignment film on the other substrate of the pair of substrates; arranging the pair of substrates so that the first alignment film and the second alignment film are opposed to each other, and sealing a liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal molecule having negative dielectric constant anisotropy between the first alignment film and the second alignment film; and bridging the polymer compound to give pre-tilt to the liquid crystal molecule 41 after sealing the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Yuichi Inoue, Ryo Ogawa, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Masashi Miyakawa, Tadaaki Isozaki, Masahiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9235084
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display device that includes a first alignment film and a second alignment film that are provided on opposing face sides of a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first alignment film and the second alignment film and that includes liquid crystal molecules with negative dielectric constant anisotropy, wherein the first alignment film includes a compound in which a first polymer compound that includes a cross-linked functional group or a polymerized functional group as a side chain is cross-linked or polymerized, the second alignment film includes a compound in which a second polymer compound is cross-linked or polymerized, and a pretilt is conferred on the liquid crystal molecules by cross-linking or polymerizing the first polymer compound by the first alignment film and vertically aligning the liquid crystal molecules by the second alignment film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Miyakawa, Shunichi Suwa, Masahiko Nakamura, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Patent number: 9146422
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display capable of realizing a high transmittance while maintaining favorable voltage response characteristics, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal layer; a first substrate and a second substrate arranged to face each other with the liquid crystal layer in between; a plurality of pixel electrodes provided on a liquid crystal layer side of the first substrate; and an opposite electrode provided on the second substrate to face the plurality of pixel electrodes. One or both of a face on the liquid crystal layer side of the pixel electrode, and a face on the liquid crystal layer side of the opposite electrode includes a concavo-convex structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiko Nakamura, Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa, Yuichi Inoue, Tadaaki Isozaki, Yoji Nagase
  • Patent number: 9146425
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal display having a liquid crystal display element, the liquid crystal display element including: a pair of alignment films provided on mutually facing sides of a pair of substrates; and a liquid crystal layer which is provided between the pair of alignment films and contains a liquid crystal molecule having a negative dielectric anisotropy, wherein at least one of the pair of alignment films contains a cross-linked compound obtained by cross-linking a polymer compound having a cross-linkable functional group as a side chain, the liquid crystal layer further contains a molecule which has a ring structure and a spacer linking the ring structure, and the liquid crystal molecule is given a pre-tilt by the cross-linked compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Seiji Shibahara, Masashi Miyakawa, Masahiko Nakamura, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Publication number: 20150198836
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display capable of realizing a high transmittance while maintaining favorable voltage response characteristics, and a method of manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal layer; a first substrate and a second substrate arranged to face each other with the liquid crystal layer in between; a plurality of pixel electrodes provided on a liquid crystal layer side of the first substrate; and an opposite electrode provided on the second substrate to face the plurality of pixel electrodes. One or both of a face on the liquid crystal layer side of the pixel electrode, and a face on the liquid crystal layer side of the opposite electrode includes a concavo-convex structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Masahiko Nakamura, Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa, Yuichi Inoue, Tadaaki Isozaki, Yoji Nagase
  • Publication number: 20150146148
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device with which response characteristics are able to be easily improved without using major equipment is provided. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device includes steps of forming a first alignment film including a polymer compound having a crosslinkable functional group as a side chain on one substrate of a pair of substrates; forming a second alignment film on the other substrate of the pair of substrates; arranging the pair of substrates so that the first alignment film and the second alignment film are opposed to each other, and sealing a liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal molecule having negative dielectric constant anisotropy between the first alignment film and the second alignment film; and bridging the polymer compound to give pre-tilt to the liquid crystal molecule 41 after sealing the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Yuichi Inoue, Ryo Ogawa, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Masashi Miyakawa, Tadaaki Isozaki, Masahiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9041887
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display element including a first alignment film and a second alignment film and a liquid crystal layer that is provided between the first alignment film and the second alignment film, wherein the first alignment film includes a compound in which a polymer compound that includes a cross-linked functional group or a polymerized functional group as a side chain is cross-linked or polymerized, the second alignment film includes the same compound as the compound that configures the first alignment film, and the formation and processing of the second alignment film is different from the formation and processing of the first alignment film and when a pretilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules which is conferred by the first alignment film is ?1 and a pretilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules which is conferred by the second alignment film is ?2, ?1>?2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Nakamura, Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Publication number: 20150131040
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display device comprising: a first substrate (20); a second substrate (50); a first electrode (140) formed on a first surface of the first substrate (20), the first surface facing the second substrate (50), the first electrode (140) including a plurality of convex and concave portions (141); a first oriented film (21) formed on the first surface of the first substrate (20); a second electrode (160) formed on a second surface of a second substrate (50), the second surface facing the first substrate (20); and a liquid crystal layer (70) provided between the first substrate (20) and the second substrate (50), wherein at least one of the convex portions (143,144) includes a plurality of stepped portions. There is also provided a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa, Chikashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9025123
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, each pixel having: first and second substrates; a first electrode formed on an opposing face of the first substrate opposing the second substrate; a first alignment film covering the first electrode and the opposing face of the first substrate; a second electrode formed on the opposing face of the second substrate opposing the first substrate; a second alignment film covering the second electrode and the opposing face of the second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer which is provided between the first alignment film and the second alignment film and includes liquid crystal molecules, where a pretilt is imparted on the liquid crystal molecules, a plurality of uneven portions is formed on the first electrode, and a width of a portion of the convex portions provided on the first electrode becomes narrower toward the tip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Chikashi Kobayashi, Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa
  • Patent number: 8993074
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display element including a first alignment film and a second alignment film provided on opposing surfaces of a pair of substrates, and a liquid crystal layer arranged between the first alignment film and the second alignment film and including crystal molecules having negative dielectric constant anisotropy. At least the first alignment film includes a compound in which a polymer compound having a first side chain and a second side chain is crosslinked or polymerized. The first side chain has a crosslinkable functional group or a polymerizable functional group. The second side chain has a structure inducing dielectric anisotropy. The liquid crystal molecules are pretilted by the first alignment film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Miyakawa, Shunichi Suwa, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Patent number: 8945692
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device with which response characteristics are able to be easily improved without using major equipment is provided. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device includes steps of forming a first alignment film 22 including a polymer compound having a crosslinkable functional group as a side chain on one substrate of a pair of substrates 20 and 30; forming a second alignment film 32 on the other substrate of the pair of substrates 20 and 30; arranging the pair of substrates 20 and 30 so that the first alignment film 22 and the second alignment film 32 are opposed to each other, and sealing a liquid crystal layer 40 containing a liquid crystal molecule 41 having negative dielectric constant anisotropy between the first alignment film 22 and the second alignment film 32; and bridging the polymer compound to give pretilt to the liquid crystal molecule 41 after sealing the liquid crystal layer 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Yuichi Inoue, Ryo Ogawa, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Masashi Miyakawa, Tadaaki Isozaki, Masahiko Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20150002798
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes multiple pixels which are arrayed. Each pixel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first electrode formed on an opposing face of the first substrate which faces the second substrate, a second electrode formed on an opposing face of the second substrate which faces the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer which includes liquid crystal molecules, situated between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a planarization layer. The liquid crystal molecules are pretilted. Multiple ridge-and-groove portions are formed at the first electrode. At least the grooves of the first electrode are filled in by the planarization layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Miyakawa, Chikashi Kobayashi, Shunichi Suwa
  • Publication number: 20140307211
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display including: a liquid crystal display element which includes a pair of alignment films which are provided on facing surface sides of a pair of substrates, and a liquid crystal layer which is provided between the pair of alignment films and is configured to have a liquid crystal composition containing liquid crystal molecules having negative dielectric anisotropy, in which at least one of the pair of alignment films contains a compound obtained by crosslinking polymer compounds each including a first side chain which interacts with the liquid crystal molecules and a crosslinkable functional group as a second side chain, with each other, the liquid crystal composition configuring the liquid crystal layer contains at least one kind of an alkenyl compound represented by the following general formula (AN-1), and pretilt is applied to the liquid crystal molecules by the crosslinked compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Seiji Shibahara, Masashi Miyakawa, Chikashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8830428
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display element for performing a display by a VA mode includes a first substrate including a first electrode, a liquid crystal layer including a liquid crystal molecule exhibiting a negative dielectric anisotropy, and a second substrate facing the first substrate with the liquid crystal layer in between, and including a second electrode facing the first electrode. Only the first electrode, or both of the first electrode and the second electrode are provided with a structure generating a distortion in an electric field, and the liquid crystal molecule located on the second substrate side has a pre-tilt angle larger than that of the liquid crystal molecule located on the first substrate side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Miyakawa, Shunichi Suwa, Yuichi Inoue, Tadaaki Isozaki, Masahiko Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140168588
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including an array of pixels each including first and second substrates, first and second electrodes formed on opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, which surfaces are positioned opposite to the second and first substrates, first and second alignment restricting portions provided in the first and second electrodes, first and second alignment films covering respectively the first and second electrodes, the first and second alignment restricting portions, and the opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the first and second alignment films and containing liquid crystal molecules, wherein, in each pixel, major axes of a group of liquid crystal molecules are positioned substantially in the same imaginary plane in a predetermined overlapped region between the first and second electrodes, and a pre-tilt is given to the liquid crystal molecules by at least the first alignment film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa, Masahiko Nakamura, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Publication number: 20140170926
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display element capable of easily improving response characteristics without using a large apparatus is provided. After alignment films made of a polymer compound including a crosslinkable functional group as a side chain and a bulky skeleton such as an adamantane skeleton are formed in a TFT substrate and a CF substrate, the alignment films are arranged to face each other, and a liquid crystal layer 40 including liquid crystal molecules is sealed between the alignment films, and then, in a state where the liquid crystal molecules are aligned to allow long-axis directions thereof to be oblique with respect to a substrate surface, the polymer compound in the alignment films is reacted to form a polymer compound including a cross-linked structure, and predetermined pretilts are provided to liquid crystal molecules placed in proximity to the alignment films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Yuichi Inoue, Ryo Ogawa, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Masashi Miyakawa, Tadaaki Isozaki, Masahiko Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140125896
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a liquid crystal display panel comprising an electrode is provided. The electrode comprises a plurality of convex branch electrode portions arranged in a plane, the convex branch electrode portions being convex when viewed from a first direction perpendicular to the plane and extending from a central region of the electrode to a periphery of the electrode, and a plurality of concave branch electrode portions, the concave branch electrode portions being concave when viewed from the first direction, extending from the central region to the periphery and adjacent to convex branch electrode portions. According to some aspects, a method of applying a pretilt to molecules in a liquid crystal layer of a liquid crystal display panel by applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer via first and second electrodes is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa, Chikashi Kobayashi, Yoji Nagase