Patents by Inventor Takeshi Nishi
Takeshi Nishi 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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Patent number: 6225966Abstract: In a reflection type liquid crystal panel, the flatness of a surface of a pixel electrode is secured. A drain electrode is extended to the lower portion of a reflecting pixel electrode. The drain electrode and an auxiliary capacitance electrode form an auxiliary capacitance. The drain electrode, a gate electrode, and a source wiring line exist, so that the roughness of the surface on which a resin layer is formed, is relaxed, and the securing of flatness by the resin layer is made easy. In this way, the reflecting pixel electrode can be formed on the flat surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1998Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hisahi Ohtani, Yasushi Ogata, Takeshi Nishi, Yutaka Shionoiri
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Patent number: 6195139Abstract: A liquid crystal electro-optical device comprising a pair of substrates at least one of them is light-transmitting, electrodes being provided on said substrates, and an electro-optical modulating layer being supported by said pair of substrates, provided that said electro-optical modulating layer comprises an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal material or a smectic liquid crystal material which exhibits anti-ferroelectricity, and a transparent material.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1996Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Takeshi Nishi, Toshimitsu Konuma, Michio Shimizu, Kouji Moriya
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Patent number: 6175395Abstract: In an active matrix type liquid crystal display device, a plurality of pixels connected to thin film transistors (TFTs) are arranged in an active matrix form in a pixel portion, and driven by a driver circuit portion. The pixel portion and the driver circuit portion are formed on one of a pair of insulating substrates. A liquid crystal material is interposed between the insulating substrates. An black matrix material made of an organic resin is formed over the one insulating substrate in which the driver circuit portion has been formed. An flat film is formed on the black matrix material.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 1996Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., LtdInventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Takeshi Nishi
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Patent number: 6160600Abstract: There is disclosed a lightweight and small liquid crystal display which achieves low power consumption and in which the optical anisotropy of the liquid crystal material is compensated for in order to enhance the viewing angle characteristics and the response speed of the liquid crystal material. Display electrodes and a common electrode are formed on one of the substrates. The orientation of the liquid crystal material is of the HAN (hybrid alignment nematic) type. This compensates for the optical anisotropy of the liquid crystal material and improves the response speed.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1996Date of Patent: December 12, 2000Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Takeshi Nishi
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Patent number: 6144426Abstract: A liquid crystal projector in which light is effectively used and an excellent picture can be obtained is provided. In the liquid crystal projector, dichroic mirrors arranged at different angles are used to separate white light into beams of light of three primary colors of R, G, and B, and the respective beams of the light are incident on microlenses at different angles. The respective beams of light of the three primary colors are distributed by the microlenses to optical components corresponding to pixels, and highly collimated light beams can be obtained by the optical components. Since the highly collimated light beams are made incident on the pixels of the liquid crystal panel, the beams can be certainly made incident on desired pixels.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1998Date of Patent: November 7, 2000Assignees: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory, Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yoshiharu Hirakata, Takeshi Nishi, Shunichi Naka, Shuhei Tuchimoto, Hiroshi Hamada, Yoshihiro Mizuguchi
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Patent number: 6099672Abstract: A multiple panel is manufactured having individual panels in each of which a sealing material surrounds a pixel region and peripheral driver circuit regions. At least a part of the sealing material in the respective panels is provided with seal openings to enable a liquid crystal material to be injected into the inside of the sealing material. A single or a plurality of injection holes leading to the seal openings to permit the liquid crystal material to pass are formed on a side among the peripheral portion of the multiple panel. Vacuum injection method is carried out in a vacuum chamber, and the liquid crystal material is injected into the inside of the sealing material of the respective panels over the pixel regions and the peripheral driver circuit regions from the injection hole through the seal openings of the respective panels. Thereafter, the multiple panel is separated into individual panels.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1997Date of Patent: August 8, 2000Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Takeshi Nishi
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Patent number: 6097465Abstract: A liquid crystal panel which can operate at high speed is provided. The liquid crystal panel is constructed such that an electric field having a direction parallel to substrates is formed between pairs of electrodes with respect to a liquid crystal layer in which TN type liquid crystal is disposed. This electric field boosts a change from a state in which major axes of liquid crystal molecules orient in a direction vertical to the substrates to a state in which the major axes orient in the direction parallel to the substrates. Thereby, the change of the states of the liquid crystal molecules which has relied only on orientation restricting force in the past may be accelerated. Then, it allows the liquid crystal panel to respond quickly.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1997Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaaki Hiroki, Satoshi Teramoto, Takeshi Nishi, Shunpei Yamazaki
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Patent number: 6055028Abstract: An electric field that is parallel with a TFT substrate is formed by a pair of electrodes formed on the TFT substrate. Liquid crystal molecules in a light modulating layer are caused to respond electro-optically to the electric field. The light modulating layer is constituted of a liquid crystal material, an optically active substance, and a dichroic dye. The spiral pitch p [.mu.m] of the light modulating layer, the cell thickness d [.mu.m], the twist angle n of liquid crystal molecules, and the interelectrode interval L [.mu.m] are set in ranges of 1.ltoreq.p.ltoreq.15, 1.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.10, n.ltoreq.300.degree., and L<25.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1997Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Nishi, Rumo Satake, Yoshiharu Hirakata
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Patent number: 5999241Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is characterized by comprising first and second substrates on a surface of which electrodes are formed, a liquid crystal material with ferroelectricity or antiferroelectricity interposed between the first and second electrodes, and an orientation film and disposed between the electrode or electrodes formed on the surface of said first and/or second substrate whose surface has been subjected to a process which gives optically uniaxial orientation to the liquid crystal material, wherein said orientation film has a pretilt angle of 1.6 to 3.1 degree with respect to a nematic liquid crystal. Further, a value of a polar term of surface tension on the surface of the orientation film ranges from 11 to 15 dyne/cm.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1997Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Nishi, Toshimitsu Konuma
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Patent number: 5976988Abstract: An alumina film, a silicon oxide film, and a silicon nitride film formed on a substrate containing a large amount of alumina are etched by using an etching material in which the concentration of ammonium fluoride, which is a component of BHF, is set low. Etching is performed by using an etching material that is an aqueous solution produced by mixing hydrofluoric acid, ammonium fluoride and water at a weight ratio of x:y:(100-x-y) where x and y satisfy a relationship y<-2x+10 (0<x.ltoreq.5, 0<y.ltoreq.10). 50% hydrofluoric acid on the market and 40% aqueous solution of ammonium fluoride are used.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1996Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshimitsu Konuma, Akira Sugawara, Takeshi Nishi, Yukiko Uehara, Satoshi Murakami, Misako Nakazawa
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Patent number: 5929961Abstract: Techniques for successively fabricating liquid crystal cells at low cost, using two resinous substrates wound on their respective rolls. A color filter and an electrode pattern are formed by printing techniques. Furthermore, an orientation film is printed. These manufacturing steps are carried out successively by rotating various rolls.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1995Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co. Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Nishi, Satoshi Teramoto
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Patent number: 5892562Abstract: In a horizontal electric field drive type liquid crystal electro-optic device wherein a liquid crystal material is driven by controlling the strength of an electric field parallel to a substrate, noncontinuity of the electric field strength around each pixel electrode is minimized and thereby the occurrence of flaws in the orientation of the liquid crystal material and dispersion in operation are reduced and a construction having improved display characteristics and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. In a horizontal electric field drive type liquid crystal electro-optic device wherein a gate electrode 403, a source electrode 407, a drain electrode 408, a semiconductor film 406 and a common electrode 404 are formed on a glass substrate and a liquid crystal material is driven by controlling the strength of an electric field substantially parallel to the glass substrate, the electrodes and the semiconductor film are made curved, for example semi-circular or semi-elliptical, in sectional profile.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1996Date of Patent: April 6, 1999Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Takeshi Nishi, Rumo Satake
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Patent number: 5870075Abstract: In an active matrix type liquid crystal display device, signal lines and scanning lines are crossed in a matrix form on a transparent substrate. A thin film transistor and a transparent pixel electrode are disposed at each intersecting portion. A liquid crystal is interposed between the transparent substrate and another transparent substrate. A central pixel electrode and a peripheral pixel electrode surrounding the central pixel electrode is arranged in each pixel region. When the pixel region has movement in a dynamic image display, after an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal by the peripheral pixel electrode, an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal by the central pixel electrode with a desired delay time.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1995Date of Patent: February 9, 1999Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Toshimitsu Konuma, Misako Nakazawa, Takeshi Nishi
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Patent number: 5818557Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising:a pair of substrates having an electrode arrangement thereon;an orientation control means provided on at least one of said substrates; anda ferroelectric or antiferroelectric liquid crystal layer interposed between said substrates, said liquid crystal layer being uniaxially oriented by virtue of said orientation control means,wherein means for suppressing an orientation control effect of said orientation control means with respect to said liquid crystal layer is provided between said liquid crystal layer and said orientation control means.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 1996Date of Patent: October 6, 1998Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshimitsu Konuma, Takeshi Nishi, Michio Shimizu, Harumi Mori, Kouji Moriya, Satoshi Murakami
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Patent number: 5815134Abstract: A liquid crystal electro-optical device has a first substrate on which a plurality of pixel electrodes to which thin-film transistors are connected are arranged in matrix form, a second substrate opposed to the first substrate and provided with an opposed electrode, and a ferroelectric or antiferroelectric liquid crystal material provided between the first and second substrates. A voltage value between a selected one of the pixel electrodes and the opposed electrode is detected, and a voltage value corresponding to the detected voltage value is applied to the selected pixel electrode.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1995Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takeshi Nishi
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Patent number: 5815231Abstract: There is provided an active matrix liquid crystal display having high reliability with improved yield of production.In an active matrix liquid crystal display in which peripheral driving circuits are in contact with a liquid crystal material, spacers are dispersed in peripheral driving circuit regions in a density lower than that in a pixel region to reduce damage to the peripheral driving circuits and to improve production yield and reliability of products.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1996Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignees: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd., Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takeshi Nishi, Toshimitsu Konuma, Takahiro Tsuji, Yoshitaka Yamamoto, Masahiro Adachi, Kiyoshi Ogishima
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Patent number: 5739882Abstract: A liquid crystal electro-optical device is fabricated by holding a mixture of a liquid crystal material and an uncured resin between a pair of substrates, precipitating the uncured resin from the mixture in the form of columns, and curing the thus precipitated columns of uncured resin. wherein a ultraviolet-curable resin is used as the sealing material and the uncured resin to cure the both by irradiating an ultraviolet radiation thereto. In this manner, the curing of the sealing material and the resin columns can be completed in a single process. Also, in a liquid crystal electro-optical device comprising a pair of substrates in which one of them is a light-transmitting substrate, a fabricating process comprises precipitating an uncured resin from a mixture of a liquid crystal material and a resin curable by either or both of ultraviolet radiation and heating, and curing the precipitated resin by irradiating an ultraviolet radiation and heating.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1994Date of Patent: April 14, 1998Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michio Shimizu, Toshimitsu Konuma, Takeshi Nishi
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Patent number: 5739884Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is characterized by comprising first and second substrates on a surface of which electrodes are formed, a liquid crystal material with ferroelectricity or antiferroelectricity interposed between the first and second electrodes, and an orientation film and disposed between the electrode or electrodes formed on the surface of said first and/or second substrate whose surface has been subjected to a process which gives optically uniaxial orientation to the liquid crystal material, wherein said orientation film has a pretilt angle of 1.6 to 3.1 degree with respect to a nematic liquid crystal. Further, a value of a polar term of surface tension on the surface of the orientation film ranges from 11 to 15 dyne/cm.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1994Date of Patent: April 14, 1998Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Nishi, Toshimitsu Konuma
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Patent number: 5682218Abstract: In a liquid crystal cell, a distance between substrates is fixed to be prevented from increasing without adversely affecting an orientation of liquid crystal material. An adverse effect of undesired charge within a liquid crystal layer is removed to stabilize optical characteristics. A mixture of the liquid crystal material and non-cured resin (i.e., resin forming material and reaction starter) is injected between light-transmissive substrates which form the liquid cell. The non-cured resin is precipitated into the interior of the cell, and the liquid crystal material is orientated. Thereafter, the reaction starter is opened or torn so that the resin is cured to thereby bond the two substrates together with the resin in the form of columns. In this case, the undesired charge within the liquid crystal layer is canceled by the curing effect of the resin concomitant with the opening or tearing of the reaction starter.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 1995Date of Patent: October 28, 1997Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michio Shimizu, Toshimitsu Konuma, Takeshi Nishi, Kouji Moriya
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Patent number: 5680189Abstract: A liquid crystal display using a hydrophobic material as the material of resinous columns to orient the molecules of the liquid crystal parallel to the substrates. A hydrophilic material can also be used as the material of resinous columns to orient the molecules of the liquid crystal vertical to the substrates. The liquid crystal molecules are oriented horizontally by making the surface tension of the orientation film greater than the surface tension of the resinous columns. The liquid crystal molecules are oriented vertically by making the surface tension of the orientation film smaller than the surface tension of the resinous columns. A mixture of a liquid crystal material and an uncured resin is placed in a liquid crystal cell. The uncured resin is precipitated (deposited) out of the mixture. The molecules of the liquid crystal material are oriented. Then, the uncured resin is cured. Thereafter, an aging step for reorienting the molecules of the liquid crystal material is carried out.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: October 21, 1997Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michio Shimizu, Takeshi Nishi, Toshimitsu Konuma