Patents by Inventor Takashi Kunimori

Takashi Kunimori 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: 20240079188
    Abstract: An electronic component includes a capacitor element, an inductor element connected electrically to the capacitor element, and an interlayer-insulation layer between the capacitor and inductor elements. The interlayer-insulation layer has a first principal surface, a second principal surface, and a via hole through the interlayer-insulation layer between the first and second principal surfaces. The capacitor element is at a side of the second principal surface of the interlayer-insulation layer and includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a dielectric layer interposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The inductor element is at a side of the first principal surface of the interlayer-insulation layer and includes an inductor wire that has an inductor portion disposed on the first principal surface and also has a via portion through the via hole to connect the inductor portion to the second electrode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuichiro TOMINAGA, Takashi KOMIYAMA, Keisuke KUNIMORI, Yoshimasa YOSHIOKA
  • Patent number: 9366891
    Abstract: An LCD includes a liquid crystal panel having a TFT substrate, a CF substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the two substrates; a TFT ambient light photosensor having a semiconductor layer for detecting external light; a photodetector unit having a capacitor in which a predetermined reference voltage is charged and a voltage charged by leakage current of the TFT ambient light photosensor is lowered; and an ambient light photosensor reader unit for reading a voltage charged in the capacitor for a predetermined read period. The photodetector unit is disposed on a first surface of the TFT substrate that is in contact with the liquid crystal layer, and the surface of the photodetector unit except for the semiconductor layer and its periphery is covered by a light-shielding layer. Malfunction or reduced sensitivity of an ambient light photosensor due to light from backlights is prevented with a simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
    Inventors: Yutaka Sano, Takashi Kunimori, Toshihiko Tanaka, Masanori Yasumori
  • Publication number: 20140362319
    Abstract: An LCD includes a liquid crystal panel having a TFT substrate, a CF substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the two substrates; a TFT ambient light photosensor having a semiconductor layer for detecting external light; a photodetector unit having a capacitor in which a predetermined reference voltage is charged and a voltage charged by leakage current of the TFT ambient light photosensor is lowered; and an ambient light photosensor reader unit for reading a voltage charged in the capacitor for a predetermined read period. The photodetector unit is disposed on a first surface of the TFT substrate that is in contact with the liquid crystal layer, and the surface of the photodetector unit except for the semiconductor layer and its periphery is covered by a light-shielding layer. Malfunction or reduced sensitivity of an ambient light photosensor due to light from backlights is prevented with a simple structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Yutaka Sano, Takashi Kunimori, Toshihiko Tanaka, Masanori Yasumori
  • Patent number: 8810553
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid crystal panel having a TFT substrate 2, a CF substrate 25, and a liquid crystal layer 14 interposed between the two substrates; a TFT ambient light photosensor having a semiconductor layer 19L for detecting external light; a photodetector unit LS1 having a capacitor Cw in which a predetermined reference voltage is charged and a voltage charged by leakage current of the TFT ambient light photosensor is lowered; and an ambient light photosensor reader unit Re1 for reading a voltage charged in the capacitor for a predetermined read period. The photodetector unit is disposed on a first surface of the TFT substrate 2 that is in contact with the liquid crystal layer, and the surface of the photodetector unit except for the semiconductor layer 19L and its periphery is covered by a light-shielding layer 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Japan Display West Inc.
    Inventors: Yutaka Sano, Takashi Kunimori, Toshihiko Tanaka, Masanori Yasumori
  • Patent number: 8669933
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel, an illumination unit for the liquid crystal display panel, a plurality of photodetectors, and a control unit Cnt to control the brightness of the illumination unit. The photodetectors are TFT ambient light photosensors LS1 to LS3, for example, which produce outputs that require time to reach a predetermined value, which the time is correlated with the intensity of ambient light. Detection circuits coupled to the photodetectors include circuits (Cmp1 to Cmp3) logically inverted when an output from the TFT ambient light photosensors LS1 to LS3 reaches a predetermined value. The control unit Cnt includes a discrimination implement Maj that determines that the intensity of ambient light has changed when outputs from the majority of the detection circuits are logically inverted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Japan Display West Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Kunimori, Yasushi Yamazaki, Masanori Yasumori
  • Patent number: 8432510
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal display device including: a liquid crystal display panel; a light detector which is mounted on the liquid crystal display panel and has a plurality of TFT ambient light photo-sensors composed of thin-film transistors (TFTs) for detecting external light; an illumination unit which illuminates light on the liquid crystal display panel; a detection circuit connected to the light detector; and a control unit which controls the brightness of the illumination unit on the basis of the output of the detection circuit, wherein the plurality of TFT ambient light photo-sensors include first and second TFT ambient light photo-sensors for detecting lights of different systems, and, among source wires or drain wires of the first TFT ambient light photo-sensors and the second TFT ambient light photo-sensors, wires which are not connected to the detection circuit are formed by a single wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Horiguchi, Takashi Kunimori
  • Patent number: 8379005
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device 1 having a liquid crystal display panel and an illuminating means controlled according to the output of the light sensing component. The light sensing component is deployed at the periphery of the TFT substrate's display area DA and uses a thin film transistor as photosensor. A capacitor C is connected between source and drain electrodes SL, DL for such TFT photosensor. One of the capacitor's terminals is connected to a standard voltage source VS via a switch element SW, and the other to the common electrode 26. Voltage that is always lower than the voltage applied to the common electrode by an amount corresponding to a reverse bias voltage is applied to the gate electrode GL for the TFT photosensor. The capacitor's voltage a certain time after the switch element turns off is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Sano, Takashi Kunimori, Masanori Yasumori, Toshihiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8324818
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display panel; an optical detector which includes an optical sensor formed by a thin film transistor for detecting external light and a capacitor connected between a pair of electrodes of the optical sensor; a switch which turns on or off a charging operation of the capacitor; an optical sensor controller which controls the switch to be turned on or off and measures illumination of the external light on the basis of a time period during which the switch is turned off and a voltage of the capacitor becomes a value not more than a threshold value; and a controller which controls brightness of the display panel on the basis of an output of the optical sensor controller, wherein after the optical sensor controller detects a fact that the voltage of the capacitor becomes the value not more than the threshold value, the optical sensor controller turns on the switch after a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kunimori, Yukiya Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 8217927
    Abstract: The invention provides a display unit that has a display area and first and second photodetectors 10a and 10b on a substrate and outputs as a light intensity signal S a light intensity detected by the first and second photodetectors 10a and 10b. The first photodetector 10a includes a first photodetection circuit LS1 outputting a first output signal Sa to an ambient light photosensor reader 20, and the second photodetector 10b includes a light-reducing unit and a second photodetection circuit LS2 outputting a second output signal Sb to an ambient light photosensor reader 20. The ambient light photosensor reader 20 includes a photodegradation factor calculator 21 calculating a photodegradation reparation factor K, a photodegradation rate calculator 22 deriving a photodegradation rate D based on the photodegradation reparation factor K, and a light signal output unit 24 outputting a light intensity signal S based on the photodegradation rate D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kunimori, Yasushi Yamazaki, Takashi Sato, Masanori Yasumori
  • Patent number: 8125474
    Abstract: A display device includes: first and second photosensors; a reader; a light detector outputting the light amount detected by the photosensors; a first circuit outputting a first signal based on incident light entering the first photosensor; and a second circuit outputting a second signal based on dimmed incident light entering the second photosensor. The reader includes: a coefficient calculator calculating a first measurement ratio of the first signal to the second signal, and a power correction coefficient; a rate calculator deriving modified power coefficients from the power correction coefficient, calculating a second measurement ratio of the power-corrected first and second signals, and calculating a slope correction coefficient; and an output unit deriving modified proportional coefficients from the slope correction coefficient, and correcting the power-corrected first and second signals using the modified proportional coefficients to yield outputted initial light amount signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kunimori
  • Patent number: 8068198
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes: a display with an array substrate having scanning and data lines and an IC chip driving liquid crystal, and a color filter substrate; a light-detector having an optical sensor integrated in the display detecting external light; a detection circuit connected via sensor laid-around lines connecting to light-detector lines; an illuminator illuminating the display panel; and a controller controlling the illuminator based on the detection circuit's output. The data lines are distributed to the chip-mounting area and have terminals at an end for connecting to IC chip bump terminals. Leader lines distribute from the terminals toward the chip-mounting area and have inspection terminals at their ends. Sensor inspection lines connect at one end to the sensor laid-around lines and extend at the other end to the chip-mounting area. Sensor detection terminals are formed at the other end of the sensor inspection lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Moriyama, Takashi Kunimori
  • Publication number: 20110193831
    Abstract: A display device includes a switching element that is formed for each pixel; a gate line that is connected to the switching element; a first scanning line driving circuit and a second scanning line driving circuit that are connected to the gate line; and a control unit that normally controls the first scanning line driving circuit to output a signal driving the switching element, and controls an output of the second scanning line driving circuit to be brought into a high-impedance state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Kunimori
  • Patent number: 7936346
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel, a photodetector unit LS1 that is built into the liquid crystal display panel and has a TFT ambient light photosensor, an ambient light photosensor reader Re1 for reading a voltage due to photo-leakage from the TFT ambient light photosensor, and a control means 20 for controlling the photodetector unit and the ambient light photosensor reader, and a backlight 24, etc., according to an output from the ambient light photosensor reader. The photodetector unit has a switching element SW2 coupled between a source line coupled to the TFT ambient light photosensor's source electrode SL and a drain line coupled to the TFT ambient light photosensor's drain electrode DL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kunimori, Yutaka Sano, Masanori Yasumori
  • Patent number: 7885778
    Abstract: An optical detection device comprising an optical sensing section that has an optical detection transistor, a threshold voltage detecting section that has a threshold value detection transistor, a sensor output value generating section that generates a sensor output value on the basis of a signal outputted from the optical sensing section, a correction coefficient determining section that determines a correction coefficient that is used for correcting a change in the sensor output value that corresponds to a threshold voltage detected at the threshold voltage section, and a correction processing section that corrects the sensor output value on the basis of the correction coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yukiya Hirabayashi, Takashi Kunimori
  • Patent number: 7880495
    Abstract: A display device is provided with a light detection unit that detects the intensity of ambient light and is capable of automatically controlling the luminosity of an illumination unit and/or the luminosity of the display device on the basis of the intensity of ambient light detected by the light detection unit. Moreover, the display device makes it possible to easily conduct a test on light-sensor characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kunimori, Yasushi Yamazaki, Hajime Nakao
  • Patent number: 7852440
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the invention has: a display panel with an active matrix substrate 2 and a second substrate of transparent material deposed opposite that substrate; an illuminating unit that illuminates the display panel; and a photosensing unit that is provided on the active matrix substrate and has an ambient light photosensor that senses external light. The ambient light photosensor is constituted of a thin film transistor. At least the source electrode SL and drain electrode DL of the thin film transistor are covered by a shielding transparent electrode 6, with transparent insulator 3 and 5 interposed. The transparent electrode 6 is electrically connected to the drain electrode DL, and moreover is connected to a power source supplying constant voltage. Thanks to such structure, a display device is provided in which the ambient light photosensor is built into a panel substrate so as not to be affected by external noise and the peripheral circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Sony corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kunimori, Yutaka Sano, Masanori Yasumori, Yukiya Hirabayashi, Yasushi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7805272
    Abstract: A sensing circuit includes a first sensing element, a second sensing element, a reduction unit, a storage unit, a specifying unit and a detection unit. The reduction unit reduces the amount of the energy applied to the second sensing element. The storage unit stores a degradation characteristic of the sensing element. The specifying unit specifies a rate of degradation. The detection unit detects the amount of the energy on the basis of the rate of degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Ishii, Takashi Sato, Takashi Kunimori
  • Patent number: 7759627
    Abstract: A display device according to an embodiment of the invention includes a display panel, a drive circuit that drives the display panel, an illuminating unit that illuminates the display panel, a photosensing section Ls having an ambient light photosensor Ts that senses the brightness of ambient light and a capacitor Cw that is charged with a predetermined reference voltage via a first switch S1, an ambient light photosensor reading section Re1 that reads a value sensed by the photosensing section, and a controller that controls the illuminating unit according to an output of the ambient light photosensor reading section. The ambient light photosensor reading section is provided with a noise avoidance unit that avoids erroneous sensing in the photosensing section induced as a result of noise generated when the drive circuit operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kunimori, Yasushi Yamazaki, Masanori Yasumori
  • Publication number: 20100127628
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display panel; an optical detector which includes an optical sensor formed by a thin film transistor for detecting external light and a capacitor connected between a pair of electrodes of the optical sensor; a switch which turns on or off a charging operation of the capacitor; an optical sensor controller which controls the switch to be turned on or off and measures illumination of the external light on the basis of a time period during which the switch is turned off and a voltage of the capacitor becomes a value not more than a threshold value; and a controller which controls brightness of the display panel on the basis of an output of the optical sensor controller, wherein after the optical sensor controller detects a fact that the voltage of the capacitor becomes the value not more than the threshold value, the optical sensor controller turns on the switch after a predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kunimori, Yukiya Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20100052713
    Abstract: A display device is provided with a light detection unit that detects the intensity of ambient light and is capable of automatically controlling the luminosity of an illumination unit and/or the luminosity of the display device on the basis of the intensity of ambient light detected by the light detection unit. Moreover, the display device makes it possible to easily conduct a test on light-sensor characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi KUNIMORI, Yasushi YAMAZAKI, Hajime NAKAO