Patents by Inventor Takeshi Fukunaga

Takeshi Fukunaga 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: 7118994
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device having a driver circuit operable at high speed and a method for manufacturing same. An active matrix liquid crystal display device uses a polysilicon film for its TFT active layer constituting a pixel matrix circuit because of low off current characteristics. On the other hand, a TFT active layer constituting driver circuits and a signal processing circuit uses a poly silicon germanium film because of high speed operation characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratroy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7116044
    Abstract: The present invention provides a luminescent apparatus having a bright, high-quality image. A reflecting surface-including electrode, and an EL element formed of an organic EL layer and a transparent electrode are provided on an insulator. As shown in FIG. 1, an auxiliary electrode 107 formed of a transparent conductive film is connected to the transparent electrode via a conductor. This structure enables a resistance value of the transparent electrode 104 to be substantially lowered, and a uniform, voltage to be applied to the organic EL layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7115434
    Abstract: There is provided a method for precisely forming light emitting layers in a semiconductor device without a positional deviation and at a high throughput. A pixel portion is divided into a plurality of signal lines by banks, and a coating liquid (R), a coating liquid (G), and a coating liquid (B) are applied respectively in a stripe shape at the same time using a dispenser. Then, luminescent layers emitting lights of respective colors of red, green and blue can be formed by heating these coating liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kunitaka Yamamoto, Masaaki Hiroki, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7101242
    Abstract: To provide a bright and highly reliable light-emitting device. An anode (102), an EL layer (103), a cathode (104), and an auxiliary electrode (105) are formed sequentially in lamination on a reflecting electrode (101). Further, the anode (102), the cathode (104), and the auxiliary electrode (105) are either transparent or semi-transparent with respect to visible radiation. In such a structure, lights generated in the EL layer (103) are almost all irradiated to the side of the cathode (104), whereby an effect light emitting area of a pixel is drastically enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fukunaga, Junya Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7098602
    Abstract: To provide a light emitting device having a highly definite pixel portion. An anode (102) and a bank (104) orthogonal to the anode (102) are formed on an insulator (101). A portion of the bank (104) (controlling bank 104b) is made of a metal film. By applying a voltage thereto, an electric field is formed, and a track of an EL material that is charged with an electric charge can be controlled. Thus, it becomes possible to control a film deposition position of an EL layer with precision by utilizing the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Masaaki Hiroki, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7095478
    Abstract: To provide a technology for fabricating a high image quality liquid crystal display device, a set range of a cell gap for holding a liquid crystal layer is limited in accordance with a distance of a pixel pitch in which specifically, the cell gap is set to be a distance of one tenth of the pixel pitch, whereby the high image quality liquid crystal display device with no occurrence of image display failure caused by disturbances of an electric field such as disclination, can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongyong Zhang, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20060180826
    Abstract: To provide a high throughput film deposition means for film depositing an organic EL material made of polymer accurately and without any positional shift. A pixel portion is divided into a plurality of pixel rows by a bank, and a head portion of a thin film deposition apparatus is scanned along a pixel row to thereby simultaneously apply a red light emitting layer application liquid, a green light emitting layer application liquid, and a blue light emitting layer application liquid in stripe shapes. Heat treatment is then performed to thereby form light emitting layers luminescing each of the colors red, green, and blue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kunitaka Yamamoto, Masaaki Hiroki, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7089800
    Abstract: The invention provides a load detecting system comprising a core (83) of magnetostrictive material, a coil (85) disposed in the vicinity of the core, and a load detecting circuit (10) connected to the coil (85) for detecting the magnitude of a load acting on the core (83). The load detecting circuit (10) comprises an exciting circuit (102) for passing an a.c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., LTD
    Inventors: Kazushige Kakutani, Keiji Kishimoto, Kazunobu Yokotani, Hideaki Aoki, Kazufumi Ushijima, Takeshi Fukunaga, Minoru Nakanishi, Fumitake Kondo
  • Patent number: 7091519
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having an insulating film on its surface, and ac active layer made of a semiconductive thin film on the substrate surface. The thin film contains a mono-domain region formed of multiple columnar and/or needle-like crystals parallel to the substrate surface without including crystal boundaries therein, allowing the active layer to consist of the mono-domain region only. The insulating film underlying the active layer has a specific surface configuration of an intended pattern in profile, including projections or recesses. To fabricate the active layer, form a silicon oxide film by sputtering on the substrate. Pattern the silicon oxide film providing the surface configuration. Form an amorphous silicon film by low pressure CVD on the silicon oxide film. Retain in the silicon oxide film and/or the amorphous silicon film certain metallic element for acceleration of silicon film to a crystalline silicon film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Akiharu Miyanaga, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20060177580
    Abstract: A cleaning method of removing a vapor-deposition material adhering to equipments without exposure to the atmosphere is provided. A vapor-deposition material adhering to equipments (components of a film-forming apparatus) such as a substrate holder, a vapor-deposition mask, a mask holder, or an adhesion preventing shield provided in a film-forming chamber are subjected to heat treatment. Because of this, the adhering vapor-deposition material is re-sublimated, and removed by exhaust through a vacuum pump. By including such a cleaning method in the steps of manufacturing an electro-optical device, the manufacturing steps are shortened, and an electro-optical device with high reliability can be realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Toru Takayama, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20060145153
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a CMOS structure, wherein, in manufacturing a CMOS circuit, an impurity element which imparts p-type conductivity to the active layer of the p-channel type semiconductor device is added before forming the gate insulating film. Then, by applying thermal oxidation treatment to the active layer, the impurity element is subjected to redistribution, and the concentration of the impurity element in the principal surface of the active layer is minimized. The precise control of threshold voltage is enabled by the impurity element that is present in a trace quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunpei YAMAZAKI, Hisashi OHTANI, Takeshi FUKUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20060146266
    Abstract: To provide a technology for fabricating a high image quality liquid crystal display device, a set range of a cell gap for holding a liquid crystal layer is limited in accordance with a distance of a pixel pitch in which specifically, the cell gap is set to be a distance of one tenth of the pixel pitch, whereby the high image quality liquid crystal display device with no occurrence of image display failure caused by disturbances of an electric field such as disclination, can be realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongyong Zhang, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20060131583
    Abstract: A process for fabricating a highly stable and reliable semiconductor, comprising: coating the surface of an amorphous silicon film with a solution containing a catalyst element capable of accelerating the crystallization of the amorphous silicon film, and heat treating the amorphous silicon film thereafter to crystallize the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtani, Akiharu Miyanaga, Takeshi Fukunaga, Hongyong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20060125377
    Abstract: In order to emit light from the upper side of a substrate, for example, a treatment is required such that a cathode is thinned. Generally, when light produced in a light emitting layer is passed through the electrode, brightness of a light emitting device is decreased. In the light emitting device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, an anode and a cathode are located so as to produce an electric field in a direction parallel with the surface of a substrate. Thus, light produced in the light emitting layer is emitted from the lower side or the upper side of the substrate without passing through the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20060119754
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device which performs image display by controlling a liquid crystal layer by a lateral electric field that is parallel with a substrate, the lateral electric field is formed by a black matrix and a pixel electrode. That is, a common electrode and a black matrix are commonized which are separately provided conventionally. Further, a storage capacitor is formed in an area where the black matrix and a pixel line coextend with a third interlayer insulating film interposed in between. Since the storage capacitor is formed by using all the area where a thin-film transistor is covered with the black matrix, sufficient capacitance can be secured even if the widths of electrodes and wiring lines are reduced in the future.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Hirakata, Takeshi Nishi, Shunpei Yamazaki, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20060106121
    Abstract: Provided are a method for recycling expanded polystyrene, comprising steps of: reducing a volume of the expanded polystyrene 110; dissolving the volume-reduced polystyrene in a solvent 130; and extruding the dissolved expanded polystyrene 160; and a separation and recovery apparatus of a polystyrene solution used in the extruding step. The present invention makes it possible to recycle expanded polystyrene while minimizing the problems of the conventional methods such as difficulty in the removal of foreign matters and the reduction of the molecular weight caused by heating in the extrusion step in the heat melting method, and discharge of the vaporized solvent out of the system together with a gas emitted during the volume-reduction step and the loss of the solvent thereby in the dissolution method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Masahiko Seki, Toshihiro Yuuki, Takeshi Fukunaga, Taishi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7037765
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a CMOS structure, wherein, in manufacturing a CMOS circuit, an impurity element which imparts p-type conductivity to the active layer of the p-channel type semiconductor device is added before forming the gate insulating film. Then, by applying thermal oxidation treatment to the active layer, the impurity element is subjected to redistribution, and the concentration of the impurity element in the principal surface of the active layer is minimized. The precise control of threshold voltage is enabled by the impurity element that is present in a trace quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Hisashi Ohtani, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20060075824
    Abstract: The invention provides a load detecting system comprising a core (83) of magnetostrictive material, a coil (85) disposed in the vicinity of the core, and a load detecting circuit (10) connected to the coil (85) for detecting the magnitude of a load acting on the core (83). The load detecting circuit (10) comprises an exciting circuit (102) for passing an a.c.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Kishimoto, Kazunobu Yokotani, Hideaki Aoki, Kazufumi Ushijima, Takeshi Fukunaga, Minoru Nakanishi, Fumitake Kondo
  • Patent number: 7023052
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having performance comparable with a MOSFET is provided. An active layer of the semiconductor device is formed by a crystalline silicon film crystallized by using a metal element for promoting crystallization, and further by carrying out a heat treatment in an atmosphere containing a halogen element to carry out gettering of the metal element. The active layer after this process is constituted by an aggregation of a plurality of needle-shaped or column-shaped crystals. A semiconductor device manufactured by using this crystalline structure has extremely high performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Hisashi Ohtani, Jun Koyama, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7019457
    Abstract: In order to emit light from the upper side of a substrate, for example, a treatment is required such that a cathode is thinned. Generally, when light produced in a light emitting layer is passed through the electrode, brightness of a light emitting device is decreased. In the light emitting device of the present invention, an anode and a cathode are located so as to produce an electric field in a direction parallel with the surface of a substrate. Thus, light produced in the light emitting layer is emitted from the lower side or the upper side of the substrate without passing through the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Fukunaga