Patents by Inventor Tohru Sonoda

Tohru Sonoda 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: 20220006050
    Abstract: In an organic EL display device in which an outer peripheral shape of a display region is a variant shape different from a rectangular shape and having rounded corner portions and a notch portion, a protruding portion having a height equal to or greater than heights of a first dam wall and a second dam wall is provided at positions facing the rounded corner portions and the notch portion in the display region through the second dam wall and the first dam wall positioned inside the second dam wall, on the outer side of the second dam wall in a frame region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: TOHRU SONODA, TAKASHI OCHI, JUMPEI TAKAHASHI, TOHRU SENOO
  • Publication number: 20210351252
    Abstract: A display device includes a display area, a frame area around the display area, and a contact area between the display area and the frame area. In the display area is there provided a light-emitting element layer including an anode, a functional layer, a cathode, and a pixel bank covering an edge of the anode. The cathode is electrically connected to a metal film in the contact area. An insular TEG pattern is provided in the contact area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: EIJI KOIKE, TOHRU SONODA, MASAHIRO INUZUKA
  • Publication number: 20210296425
    Abstract: A display panel includes a frame region surrounding a display region. The frame region includes: a frame corner including a round corner having a curved outline in plan view of the display panel; and two sides provided so that the frame corner is sandwiched between the two sides. The two sides include: a first frame side in parallel with gate wires; and a second frame side in parallel with source wires. A gate driver and an emission driver are divided and provided to the first frame side and the second frame side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: HISAO OCHI, JUMPEI TAKAHASHI, TOHRU SONODA
  • Patent number: 11069877
    Abstract: An organic EL display device is provided with an eaves body that includes a protruding portion outside a display region on a TFT substrate, along an edge portion on which a first inorganic layer and a second inorganic layer of a sealing film are provided. The first inorganic layer and the second inorganic layer cover the protruding portion and are split apart below the protruding portion facing a wall surface of the eaves body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tohru Sonoda, Takeshi Hirase, Hisao Ochi, Takashi Ochi, Tohru Senoo, Akihiro Matsui, Jumpei Takahashi, Yoshinobu Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20210210724
    Abstract: An organic EL display device includes an organic EL element disposed on a flattening film, and a sealing film disposed over the organic EL element, a display region, and a frame region disposed around the display region. The frame region includes a plurality of mask spacers. The flattening film has a recess disposed between the display region and the mask spacers adjacent to the display region. The recess is filled with an organic film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: TOHRU SENOO, TAKESHI HIRASE, HISAO OCHI, TAKASHI OCHI, TOHRU SONODA, AKIHIRO MATSUI, YOSHINOBU MIYAMOTO, JUMPEI TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20210159453
    Abstract: A display device includes a TFT substrate including a flattening layer on a surface, a sealing film including a resin film that is an ink-jet resin film, and a first bank that surrounds the flattening layer, is covered with the resin film on an inner side, and has a frame shape. The flattening layer includes, on an entire periphery of a circumferential end portion thereof, a recessed and protruding portion provided with recesses and protrusions having sizes different on a first side and a second side in a plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: JUMPEI TAKAHASHI, HISAO OCHI, TOHRU SENOO, TAKESHI HIRASE, TOHRU SONODA, TAKASHI OCHI, AKIHIRO MATSUI
  • Publication number: 20210135159
    Abstract: A display wiring line provided on a resin substrate layer, a flattening film covering the display wiring line, and an organic EL element provided on the flattening film are provided. The display wiring line includes first to third conductive layers layered sequentially from the resin substrate layer side. In the display wiring line, the second conductive layer is formed with a width smaller than a width of each of the first conductive layer and the third conductive layer, and a portion of a perimeter edge surface corresponding to the second conductive layer includes a recessed portion, and a resin cover covering a perimeter edge surface of the second conductive layer is provided in the recessed portion in a portion of the display wiring line exposed from the flattening film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tohru SENOO, Takeshi HIRASE, Hisao OCHI, Takashi OCHI, Tohru SONODA, Akihiro MATSUI, Jumpei TAKAHASHI, Yoshinobu MIYAMOTO, Takeshi YANEDA
  • Patent number: 10991910
    Abstract: An encapsulation film covering a light emitting element includes: a first inorganic layer covering the light emitting element; an organic layer formed on the first inorganic layer; a second inorganic layer formed on the organic layer; and a third inorganic layer formed on the second inorganic layer. The peripheral end face of the second inorganic layer is aligned with the peripheral end face of the organic layer. The third inorganic layer covers the peripheral end face of the first inorganic layer or the peripheral end face of the second inorganic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SAKAI DISPLAY PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, Tohru Sonoda, Takeshi Hirase, Katsuhiko Kishimoto
  • Publication number: 20210108310
    Abstract: In a A film forming mask includes a plurality of first openings are formed on the film-forming a thin film pattern on a substrate. A second opening is formed around each of the plurality of first openings An opening area of the second opening is smaller than an opening area of each of the plurality of first openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: YOSHINOBU MIYAMOTO, TOHRU SONODA
  • Publication number: 20210028410
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a display device, includes: forming a thin film transistor layer; forming a light-emitting element layer; and forming a sealing layer, wherein the display device includes: a display region; and a frame region being a non-display region formed on an outer side of the display region, during forming the thin film transistor layer, a mask spacer is formed on an outer side of a cutting surface corresponding to an end face of the frame region, the mask spacer on which a deposition mask is placed, during forming the sealing layer, at least one inorganic film is formed through use of the deposition mask, and the at least one inorganic film covers the display region, and is formed on an inner side of the cutting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: AKIHIRO MATSUI, TAKESHI HIRASE, YOSHINOBU MIYAMOTO, TOHRU SONODA, HISAO OCHI, TOHRU SENOO, JUMPEI TAKAHASHI, TAKASHI OCHI
  • Publication number: 20210028256
    Abstract: A display device includes: a plurality of pixel-region mask spacers disposed in a pixel region where a plurality of pixels are disposed; a plurality of frame-region mask spacers disposed in a frame region outside the pixel region so as to surround the pixel region; and a common layer disposed on the plurality of pixel-region mask spacers, the common layer being common to the plurality of pixels, wherein the common layer comprises an end that has undulations in a plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: TOHRU SONODA, TAKASHI OCHI, HISAO OCHI, TSUYOSHI SENZAKI, HIDEKI NAKADA
  • Publication number: 20210020863
    Abstract: A display device includes: a base substrate; a TFT layer; a plurality of light-emitting elements; a sealing portion; a display region; and a frame region, wherein the sealing portion includes a first sealing film provided on the plurality of light-emitting elements, a second sealing film provided above the first sealing film, a third sealing film provided above the second sealing film, and a light-transmissive conductive film provided between two sealing films of the first sealing film, the second sealing film, and the third sealing film, an edge of the first sealing film and an edge of the third sealing film are positioned outward of an edge of the second sealing film in the frame region, and the light-transmissive conductive film is electrically connected to a first electrodes or a second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: TOHRU SONODA, TAKASHI OCHI, HISAO OCHI, AKIHIRO MATSUI, TOHRU SENOO, TAKESHI HIRASE, JUMPEI TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20210013296
    Abstract: A display device includes: a first conductive layer on a resin substrate layer; a planarization film on the first conductive layer; and OLEDs on the planarization film. There is provided a second conductive layer in a frame area surrounding a display area. The second conductive layer is in contact with second electrodes of the OLEDs on the planarization film and also in contact with the first conductive layer in an external side of the planarization film. The second electrode is electrically connected to the first conductive layer via the second conductive layer. The planarization film includes, in the frame area, a portion where there is provided a trench. The first conductive layer is exposed from the planarization film in the trench. The second electrode is electrically connected to the first conductive layer via the second conductive layer in the trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: HISAO OCHI, JUMPEI TAKAHASHI, TOHRU SONODA
  • Publication number: 20210005842
    Abstract: Each of lead wiring lines that constitutes a TFT layer and is provided to extend parallel to each other in a frame region extends to intersect with a perimeter edge surface of a first organic film that constitutes the TFT layer and is provided on each of the lead wiring lines. A second organic film is provided to cover a lower portion of the perimeter edge surface of the first organic film and each of the lead wiring lines on a side of the perimeter edge surface of the first organic film, the lead wiring lines extending from the perimeter edge surface of the first organic film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: JUMPEI TAKAHASHI, AKIHIRO MATSUI, TAKASHI OCHI, TOHRU SONODA, YOSHINOBU MIYAMOTO
  • Patent number: 10826019
    Abstract: A display device includes: a plurality of organic layers each made of an organic material and each having a predetermined modulus of elasticity and a predetermined thickness; and a plurality of inorganic layers each made of an inorganic material and each having a predetermined modulus of elasticity and a predetermined thickness. The plurality of organic layers and the plurality of inorganic layers are stacked together to constitute a device body which forms the display device. A quotient obtained by dividing the sum of flexural rigidities of the plurality of inorganic layers by the sum total of the sum of flexural rigidities of the plurality of organic layers and the sum of the flexural rigidities of the plurality of inorganic layers is 0.78 or higher and 1 or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, Mamoru Ishida, Tohru Sonoda, Tohru Senoo, Takeshi Hirase
  • Publication number: 20200335564
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display including a plurality of light-emitting devices; a first bank provided outside the display; a second bank provided outside the first bank; and a plurality of peripheral lines formed below, and intersecting with, the first bank and the second bank, wherein each of the peripheral lines includes a plurality of bends provided between the first bank and the second bank in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: HISAO OCHI, TOHRU SENOO, JUMPEI TAKAHASHI, TOHRU SONODA, TAKASHI OCHI, TAKESHI HIRASE
  • Publication number: 20200302834
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display panel which is flexible, and including a pair of flat portions held in a flat state, and a bending portion provided between the pair of the flat portions and held to be bendable; a first support supporting one of the pair of the flat portions in a flat state; a second support supporting the other of the pair of the flat portions in a flat state; and a joint joining the first support and the second support together. The joint is flexible and provided not to interfere with the bending portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Takashi OCHI, Mamoru ISHIDA, Tohru SONODA, Tohru SENOO, Takeshi HIRASE
  • Patent number: 10726748
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display panel which is flexible, and including a pair of flat portions held in a flat state, and a bending portion provided between the pair of the flat portions and held to be bendable; a first support supporting one of the pair of the flat portions in a flat state; a second support supporting the other of the pair of the flat portions in a flat state; and a joint joining the first support and the second support together. The joint is flexible and provided not to interfere with the bending portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, Mamoru Ishida, Tohru Sonoda, Tohru Senoo, Takeshi Hirase
  • Patent number: 10714706
    Abstract: An organic EL display device including: a base substrate; an organic EL element formed on the base substrate, and including a plurality of organic EL layers arranged in a matrix shape; and a sealing film formed on the organic EL element, wherein a plurality of subpixels are defined in association with the plurality of organic EL layers, and a plurality of grooves are formed in the sealing film through the interstices among the plurality of subpixels, and a foreign-matter contact portion configured to be in contact with a foreign matter existing on the organic EL element is formed in the sealing film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jumpei Takahashi, Tohru Sonoda, Takashi Ochi, Takeshi Hirase, Hisao Ochi, Tohru Senoo, Akihiro Matsui
  • Patent number: 10673017
    Abstract: An organic EL display device includes an organic EL element and a sealing film. The organic EL element is formed over a display region of a base substrate. The sealing film covers the organic EL element. The sealing film includes a first barrier layer, a buffer layer, and a second barrier layer. The first barrier layer includes a first inorganic film and is disposed on the surface of the organic EL element. The buffer layer includes an organic film and is disposed on the surface of the first barrier layer. The second barrier layer includes a second inorganic film and is disposed on the surface of the buffer layer. The first barrier layer includes micropores in the surface, the surface being in contact with the buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Hirase, Tohru Sonoda, Takashi Ochi, Hisao Ochi, Tohru Senoo, Akihiro Matsui, Jumpei Takahashi