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).

  • Publication number: 20140111753
    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: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Chikashi Kobayashi, Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa
  • Patent number: 8696950
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa, Masahiko Nakamura, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Publication number: 20140071390
    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: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Nakamura, Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Publication number: 20140009732
    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 crosslinking 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: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Seiji Shibahara, Masashi Miyakawa, Masahiko Nakamura, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Patent number: 8619222
    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: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Nakamura, Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Patent number: 8467026
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: a plurality of pixel electrodes formed of a frame-shaped connection electrode and electrode bodies arranged in parallel to one another in a frame of the connection electrode and supported by and connected to the connection electrode; and a common electrode insulated from the plurality of pixel electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Inoue, Ryo Ogawa, Shunichi Suwa
  • Publication number: 20130010244
    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: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Seiji Shibahara, Masashi Miyakawa, Masahiko Nakamura, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Publication number: 20120242941
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: a first and a second substrate; and pixels having first electrodes provided on the first substrate which face the second substrate; first alignment control sections provided in the first electrodes; a first alignment film covering the first electrodes, the first alignment control sections, and the first substrate; second electrodes provided on the second substrate which face the first substrate; second alignment control sections provided in the second electrodes; a second alignment film covering the second electrodes, the second alignment control sections, and the second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first and the second alignment films and containing liquid crystal molecules. In the above device, the liquid crystal layer further contains a polymerized high molecular compound, and pretilts are provided to the liquid crystal molecules by the polymerized high molecular compound in contact with the alignment films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa, Masahiko Nakamura, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Publication number: 20120218500
    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: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Nakamura, Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Publication number: 20120212691
    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: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Miyakawa, Shunichi Suwa, Masahiko Nakamura, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Publication number: 20120212697
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display element including 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 at least 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 the side chain is cross-linked or polymerized, a pretilt is conferred on the liquid crystal molecules by the first alignment film, and the thickness of the second alignment film is thinner than the thickness of the first alignment film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Miyakawa, Shunichi Suwa, Masahiko Nakamura, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Publication number: 20120026440
    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: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa, Masahiko Nakamura, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Publication number: 20110317104
    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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiko Nakamura, Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa, Yuichi Inoue, Tadaaki Isozaki, Yoji Nagase
  • Publication number: 20110273652
    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: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Yuichi Inoue, Ryo Ogawa, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Masashi Miyakawa, Tadaaki Isozaki, Masahiko Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110157531
    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: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Yuichi Inoue, Ryo Ogawa, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Masashi Miyakawa, Tadaaki Isozaki, Masahiko Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110134382
    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: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Miyakawa, Shunichi Suwa, Yuichi Inoue, Tadaaki Isozaki, Masahiko Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110109855
    Abstract: A polyamic acid and a polyimide obtained by reacting a dianhydride and diamines. A substrate having a film of such polyimide or polyamic acid deposited thereon. A liquid crystal display containing a film of such polyimide as an alignment layer. A method for reducing the response times of a liquid crystal display and/or for improving the on-state- and off-state-transmission and/or the voltage holding ratio of a liquid crystal display, the method involving incorporating the polyimide as an alignment layer in the liquid crystal display. A method of producing a liquid crystal display involving depositing a film of the polyimide on a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pinar KILICKIRAN, Zakir HUSSAIN, David DANNER, Akira MASUTANI, Gabriele NELLES, Shunichi SUWA, Yuichi INOUE, Shuichi SHIMA
  • Publication number: 20110019142
    Abstract: A display device includes a pixel unit including a plurality of sub-pixels; a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed in the pixel unit so as to correspond to the plurality of sub-pixels; a scanning line disposed at a position between two adjacent pixel electrodes of the plurality of pixel electrodes; and two selecting devices configured to select whether a signal is supplied to the respective two pixel electrodes, the selecting devices being disposed on the scanning line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Yuichi Inoue, Ryo Ogawa, Shunichi Suwa
  • Publication number: 20100182521
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: a plurality of pixel electrodes formed of a frame-shaped connection electrode and electrode bodies arranged in parallel to one another in a frame of the connection electrode and supported by and connected to the connection electrode; and a common electrode insulated from the plurality of pixel electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Yuichi Inoue, Ryo Ogawa, Shunichi Suwa
  • Patent number: 7656489
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal display enabling well-balanced improvement of contrast and the response speed against voltage application, in vertical alignment mode using a vertical alignment type liquid crystal. A liquid crystal display includes a couple of substrates disposed facing each other, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates, the liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules having a negative dielectric anisotropy, each pixel in the liquid crystal layer having more than two regions, the liquid crystal molecules in one of the regions having a pre-tilt angle different from that of the liquid crystal in another region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Suwa, Tsuyoshi Kamada