Patents by Inventor Takao Imaoku
Takao Imaoku 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).
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Publication number: 20170205558Abstract: A backlight unit includes LEDs, a light guide plate, a prism sheet, exiting light reflecting portions, prisms, concave lenticular lens lenses, and flat portions. The concave lenticular lenses are configured such that an occupancy rate of concave cylindrical lenses with respect to the second direction is higher in an area closer to a light entering surface with respect to the first direction and the occupancy rate is lower in an area farther from the light entering surface. The flat portions are formed adjacent to the concave cylindrical lenses with respect to the second direction such that an occupancy rate of flat portions with respect to the second direction is lower in an area closer to a light entering surface with respect to the first direction and the occupancy rate of the flat portions with respect to the second direction is higher in an area farther from the light entering surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2015Publication date: July 20, 2017Inventors: Yoshinobu HIRAYAMA, Takao IMAOKU, Takeshi ISHIDA, Ryuzo YUKI, Shugo YAGI
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Patent number: 9653037Abstract: An optical device (100) includes a first substrate (10) and a second substrate (20), and an optical layer (30) interposed therebetween. The first substrate includes a first electrode (11) and a second electrode (12), and the second substrate includes a third electrode (21). The optical layer contains a medium (31) and anisotropically-shaped particles (32) whose alignment direction changes in accordance with the direction of an electric field applied to the optical layer. The first electrode and the second electrode, which are interdigitated electrodes, are disposed so that their respective branches (11a, 12a) mesh with one another via a predetermined interspace. The relationships w1<l, w2<l and g?l?w1+w2+g are satisfied, where w1 is the width of each branch of the first electrode, w2 is the width of each branch of the second electrode, g is the predetermined interspace, and l is the length of the anisotropically-shaped particles.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takao Imaoku, Iori Aoyama, Tsuyoshi Inoue, Hiroyuki Moriwaki, Eiji Satoh
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Publication number: 20170038515Abstract: A backlight unit includes a light emission reflecting portion, first reflecting protrusions, and second reflecting protrusions. The light emission reflecting portion includes unit reflecting portions that include main reflecting surfaces and light reentering surfaces arranged opposite to the main reflecting surfaces, respectively. The first reflecting protrusions include extended main reflecting surfaces that continue to the main reflecting surfaces, respectively, and first auxiliary reflecting surfaces that reflect rays of light traveling toward an opposite plate surface and direct the rays of light toward the main reflecting surfaces and the extended main reflecting surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2015Publication date: February 9, 2017Inventors: Ryuzo YUKI, Takeshi ISHIDA, Takao IMAOKU, Yoshinobu HIRAYAMA, Shugo YAGI
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Patent number: 9557600Abstract: A backlight unit includes excellent heat radiation characteristics. The backlight unit of an embodiment of the present invention includes a chassis and a light source attached to the chassis. As the light source, an LED is preferably used. The chassis includes an aluminum base or aluminum layer, and a porous alumina layer or pore-sealed porous alumina layer provided on the surface of the aluminum base or aluminum layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takao Imaoku, Takatomo Yoshioka, Kohji Fujiwara
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Patent number: 9445494Abstract: A display panel (100) of an embodiment of the present invention includes a wiring board (100a), a counter substrate (100b) which is provided on a viewer side of the wiring board (100a), and a display medium layer (32) which is provided between the wiring board (100a) and the counter substrate (100b), wherein the wiring board (100a) includes a substrate (11) and a plurality of metal wires (GB, SB, CSB, etc.) provided on the counter substrate (100b) side of the substrate (11), and at least part of the plurality of metal wires has a moth-eye structure or inverted moth-eye structure (12M) in its surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2012Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Chiaki Minari, Kiyoshi Minoura, Tokio Taguchi, Takao Imaoku
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Patent number: 9429685Abstract: The laminate of an embodiment is a laminate including an antireflection film and a protection film bonded onto the antireflection film, wherein the surface of the antireflection film includes a plurality of protrusions; the protection film includes a supporting film and an adhesive layer; the adhesive layer includes an adhesive agent, a copolymer, and a carboxyl group-containing monomer; the weight average molecular weight of the copolymer is 1000000 or more and 2000000 or less; the copolymer includes the (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester with the alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms in the largest weight proportion among the monomer components; the acid number of the copolymer is 16 mg KOH/g or more and 120 mg KOH/g or less; and the mixing amount of the epoxy cross-linking agent in relation to 100 parts by weight of the copolymer is 1.5 parts by weight or more.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2011Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Soken Chemical & Engineering Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kiyoshi Minoura, Takao Imaoku, Tokio Taguchi, Seiichi Shimizu, Ryuta Ooka
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Patent number: 9403293Abstract: An anodized layer formation method of an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: (a) providing an aluminum base which has a surface that is made of aluminum; (b) anodizing the surface to form a barrier-type alumina layer; and (c) after step (b), further anodizing the surface to form a porous alumina layer which has a plurality of minute recessed portions. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided that enables formation of a porous alumina layer which has an interpore distance of a desired magnitude with the use of an aluminum base which has a surface that is made of aluminum, irrespective of the surface form.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akinobu Isurugi, Kiyoshi Minoura, Takao Imaoku
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Patent number: 9389340Abstract: Disclosed are: an optical film which has a moth eye structure; a method for producing the optical film; and a method for controlling the optical characteristics of the optical film. An embodiment discloses an optical film having a moth eye structure that includes a plurality of projections, wherein the plurality of projections include a plurality of slanted projections that are inclined to a film surface and the plurality of slanted projections are inclined in a generally same direction when the film surface is viewed in plan. Also disclosed is a method for producing an optical film having a moth eye structure, including applying a physical force to the moth eye structure. Further specifically disclosed is a method for controlling the optical characteristics of an optical film having a moth eye structure that includes a plurality of projections, the method including applying a physical force to the moth eye structure.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2010Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takao Imaoku, Tokio Taguchi
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Publication number: 20160178979Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (100) has a liquid crystal display panel (1), which includes a first substrate (10), a second substrate (20), and a liquid crystal layer (30). The first substrate includes a first electrode (11) provided for each pixel, and a second electrode (12) for generating a lateral field across the liquid crystal layer in cooperation with the first electrode, whereas the second substrate includes a third electrode (21) for generating a vertical field across the liquid crystal layer in cooperation with the first electrode and the second electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2014Publication date: June 23, 2016Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuichi KITA, Yoshiki NAKATANI, Takao IMAOKU, Iori AOYAMA, Takatomo YOSHIOKA
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Patent number: 9372371Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel which is capable of providing a sufficiently high response speed and an excellent transmittance, and a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display panel of the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the substrates. The first substrate and the second substrate have electrodes. The electrodes of the second substrate include a pair of comb-shaped electrodes and a slit-formed electrode.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takatomo Yoshioka, Iori Aoyama, Takao Imaoku, Yuichi Iyama, Kazuhiko Tsuda
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Patent number: 9348178Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display device each of which exhibits a sufficiently high response speed and an excellent transmittance. The liquid crystal display panel of the present invention includes a first substrate; a second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the substrates, the first substrate and the second substrate each comprising an electrode, the electrode of the second substrate including a pair of comb-shaped electrodes and a planar electrode, the liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules which are inclined from an orthogonal direction to the main faces of the substrates between the pair of comb-shaped electrodes in a plan view of the main faces of the substrates when a voltage lower than a threshold voltage is applied.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Iori Aoyama, Takao Imaoku, Yuichi Iyama, Takatomo Yoshioka, Kazuhiko Tsuda
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Publication number: 20160104444Abstract: The color-field sequential liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid-crystal state value acquirer that acquires a liquid-crystal state value (a gradation value corresponding to the state of orientation of liquid crystal molecules) at the end of a displayed field on the basis of an input gradation value of the displayed field and the liquid-crystal state value at the end of a previous field (the first previous field of the displayed field) and an applied gradation value determiner that determines an applied gradation value of the displayed field by compensating the input gradation value of the displayed field on the basis of the liquid-crystal state value at the end of the previous field. The applied gradation value determiner determines the applied gradation value so that a display luminance in each field is a display luminance corresponding to the input gradation value.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2014Publication date: April 14, 2016Inventors: Hidekazu MIYATA, Takao IMAOKU
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Patent number: 9252282Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device that can achieve a sufficiently-high-speed response and has a sufficiently excellent transmittance and a thin film transistor array substrate preferably used in the liquid crystal display device. The thin film transistor array substrate according to the present invention is a thin film transistor array substrate that includes, as electrodes, one pair of comb electrodes and a sheet electrode, and at least one electrode selected from the group consisting of the pair of comb electrodes and the sheet electrode being electrically connected along a pixel line.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2012Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuichi Iyama, Takao Imaoku, Iori Aoyama, Takatomo Yoshioka, Kazuhiko Tsuda
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Publication number: 20150339968Abstract: The present invention provides a field sequential liquid crystal display device which can provide display with an appropriate gray scale value in a period when the period succeeds a period in which the light source in the backlight unit is turned off.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2013Publication date: November 26, 2015Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takatomo YOSHIOKA, Yuichi KITA, Yoshiki NAKATANI, Takao IMAOKU, Iori AOYAMA
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Publication number: 20150293413Abstract: The present invention provides a thin-film transistor array substrate capable of sufficiently preventing a decrease in the aperture ratio and insufficient charging of thin-film transistor elements due to shortening of signal writing time for pixels while achieving high speed driving; and a liquid crystal display device including the thin-film transistor array substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2013Publication date: October 15, 2015Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Iori AOYAMA, Yuichi KITA, Takatomo YOSHIOKA, Takao IMAOKU, Yoshiki NAKATANI
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Patent number: 9158038Abstract: An antireflection film is provided in which a light scattering property is suppressed. The antireflection film includes, on a surface thereof, a moth-eye structure including a plurality of convex portions such that a width between vertices of adjacent convex portions is no greater than a wavelength of visible light.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2010Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tokio Taguchi, Takao Imaoku
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Publication number: 20150287380Abstract: An optical device (100) includes a first substrate (10) and a second substrate (20), and an optical layer (30) interposed therebetween. The first substrate includes a first electrode (11) and a second electrode (12), and the second substrate includes a third electrode (21). The optical layer contains a medium (31) and anisotropically-shaped particles (32) whose alignment direction changes in accordance with the direction of an electric field applied to the optical layer. The first electrode and the second electrode, which are interdigitated electrodes, are disposed so that their respective branches (11a, 12a) mesh with one another via a predetermined interspace. The relationships w1<l, w2<l and g?l—w1+w2+g are satisfied, where w1 is the width of each branch of the first electrode, w2 is the width of each branch of the second electrode, g is the predetermined interspace, and l is the length of the anisotropically-shaped particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2013Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takao Imaoku, Iori Aoyama, Tsuyoshi Inoue, Hiroyuki Moriwaki, Eiji Satoh
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Patent number: 9127371Abstract: A moth-eye mold fabrication method of an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: (a) anodizing a surface of an aluminum film to form a porous alumina layer which has a plurality of minute recessed portions; (b) after step (a), bringing the porous alumina layer into contact with an etching solution, thereby enlarging the plurality of minute recessed portions of the porous alumina layer; and (c) after step (b), further anodizing the surface to grow the plurality of minute recessed portions, wherein a voltage applied in step (c) is higher than a voltage applied in step (a). According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mold fabrication method is provided which is capable of preventing formation of a plurality of tiny pores in one micropore.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2010Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akinobu Isurugi, Kiyoshi Minoura, Takao Imaoku
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Patent number: 9122002Abstract: Disclosed is a tabular member that has an excellent low reflectivity and that can reduce coloring due to reflected light. In at least one example embodiment, specifically disclosed is a tabular member which comprises a base, a first antireflective film disposed on a surface of the base, and a second antireflective film disposed on the other surface of the base. The first and second antireflective films each have a plurality of projections on the surface thereof, and the distances between the apexes of two adjacent projections are shorter than or equal to the wavelength of visible light. The light obtained by combining the light reflected from the surface of the first antireflective film and the light reflected from the surface of the second antireflective film together has flat wavelength dispersion within the range of visible light.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2010Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takao Imaoku, Akinobu Isurugi
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Publication number: 20150212377Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display device each of which exhibits a sufficiently increased transmittance and an excellent response speed in falling, with its three-layered electrode structure that controls the alignment of liquid crystal molecules by an electric field in both rising and falling. The liquid crystal display panel of the present invention includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the substrates, the first substrate and the second substrate each having an electrode, the first substrate further having a dielectric layer, the electrode of the second substrate including a pair of comb-shaped electrodes and a planar electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takao Imaoku, Yuichi Iyama, Iori Aoyama, Takatomo Yoshioka, Kazuhiko Tsuda, Mitsuhiro Murata