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).

  • Patent number: 9947894
    Abstract: Provided is a TFT substrate (substrate); a second electrode (vapor-deposited membrane) that is formed on the TFT substrate and includes a protruding portion; and a sealing membrane provided so as to cover the second electrode, wherein, when ? represents an absolute value of a stress of the sealing membrane, t represents a thickness of the sealing membrane, and P represents a sum of a product of an oblique side length and an oblique side slope in a minute region on an oblique side of the protruding portion, a value of an index N expressed by the expression (N=?·t·P) is less than or equal to 935 MPa·?m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tohru Sonoda, Takeshi Hirase, Tetsuya Okamoto, Tohru Senoo, Seiji Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20180097046
    Abstract: Disclosed is an organic EL display device which includes: a first resin substrate 10a; a basecoat film 11a provided on the first resin substrate 10a; an organic EL element 18 provided over the basecoat film 11a, a first sealing film 19 covering the organic EL element 18; a second resin substrate 10b facing the first resin substrate 10a, and provided closer to the first sealing film 19 with an adhesive layer 21 interposed between the second resin substrate 10b and the first sealing film 19; and a second sealing film 23a provided outside the first sealing film 19 and enhancing adhesion between the basecoat film 11a and a stack including the first sealing film 19 and the adhesive layer 21.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Tetsuya OKAMOTO, Takeshi HIRASE, Tohru SENOO, Tohru SONODA, Mamoru ISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20180083225
    Abstract: An organic EL display device 1 includes: an organic EL element 4 provided above an element substrate 10; and a sealing film 2 formed above the element substrate 10 so as to cover the organic EL element 4, and made of silicon nitride (SiNx). The sealing film 2 is comprised of a first sealing layer 25, a second sealing layer 26 provided on the surface of the first sealing layer 25, and a third sealing layer 27 provided on the surface of the second sealing layer 26. This organic EL display device 1 is characterized in that a ratio of an SiN-group content to an NH-group content is higher in the first and third sealing layers 25 and 27 than in the second sealing layer 26 based on the absorption area ratio determined by FT-IR measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Daichi NISHIKAWA, Takeshi HIRASE, Tetsuya OKAMOTO, Tohru SENOO, Tohru SONODA, Mamoru ISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20180047940
    Abstract: An organic EL display device including a TFT substrate (substrate) and an organic EL element (electroluminescent element) that is provided on the TFT substrate includes a sealing layer that seals the organic EL element. The sealing layer is composed of a laminated structure that is constituted by an organic film and first and second inorganic films. Recessed/protruding portions are provided on surfaces of the organic film and the first and second inorganic films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tohru SONODA, Takeshi HIRASE, Tetsuya OKAMOTO, Tohru SENOO, Daichi NISHIKAWA, Mamoru ISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20180040848
    Abstract: An organic EL display device (electroluminescence device) including a TFT substrate (substrate), an organic EL element (electroluminescence element) disposed on the TFT substrate, a first inorganic film covering the organic EL element, at least one protruding body having a frame shape, the at least one protruding body being configured by an organic film and surrounding the electroluminescence element on the first inorganic film, a second inorganic film covering the first inorganic film and the at least one protruding body, and a leveled film configured by an organic film and provided on the second inorganic film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Takeshi HIRASE, Tetsuya OKAMOTO, Tohru SENOO, Tohru SONODA, Mamoru ISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20180040849
    Abstract: An organic EL display 1 includes a sealing film 2 provided on a plastic substrate 10 to cover an organic EL element 4. The sealing film 2 includes a first sealing layer 25 on a surface of the plastic substrate 10, three stress relief layers 26, 27, and 28 on a surface of the first sealing layer 25, and a second sealing layer 29 on a surface of the stress relief layer 28. The stress relief layers 26, 27, and 28 each have a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the first and second sealing layers 25 and 29. The stress relief layer 27 interposed between the stress relief layers 26 and 28 has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the stress relief layers 26 and 28.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: MAMORU ISHIDA, TETSUYA OKAMOTO, TAKESHI HIRASE, TOHRU SENOO, TOHRU SONODA, DAICHI NISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9871221
    Abstract: The present invention includes a frame-shaped sealing material, a filling layer, and a support. The frame-shaped sealing material is provided between a TFT substrate and a counter substrate, and is configured to seal an organic EL element (electroluminescent element) along with the TFT substrate and the counter substrate. The filling layer is composed of a liquid filler, and is filled in the space between the counter substrate, a sealing film, and the sealing material. The support is located inside the sealing material and between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate, and also supports the TFT substrate and the counter substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tohru Senoo, Tetsuya Okamoto, Tohru Sonoda, Seiji Fujiwara, Takeshi Hirase
  • Publication number: 20180010244
    Abstract: A mask comprises a mask substrate having a protruding section in an opening end surface of an opening, having an acute angle defined by ?1 and ?2 of no more than 43°, and having a height from a film-formation surface on the substrate to a tip section of the protruding section greater than the thickness of the film to be formed on the film-formation surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: TETSUYA OKAMOTO, TAKESHI HIRASE, TOHRU SENOO, TOHRU SONODA, DAICHI NISHIKAWA, MAMORU ISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20170365815
    Abstract: A the organic EL display 1 includes: a first substrate 10; an organic EL element 4 provided above the first substrate 10; and a multilayer sealing film 2 provided above the first substrate 10 to cover the organic EL element 4, and including a barrier layer and a buffer layer lower in hardness than the barrier layer. The organic EL element covered with the multilayer sealing film includes a protrusion, and a relationship (d/h)<2 holds where h is a height of the protrusion directly below the buffer layer and d is a thickness of the buffer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: TOHRU SONODA, TAKESHI HIRASE, TETSUYA OKAMOTO, TOHRU SENOO, DAICHI NISHIKAWA, MAMORU ISHIDA
  • Patent number: 9847504
    Abstract: An organic EL display device (electroluminescent device) equipped with an organic EL element (electroluminescent element) includes an opposing substrate that is provided on an organic EL element side and that opposes a TFT substrate (substrate), a desiccant that is provided between the TFT substrate and the opposing substrate in such a manner as to cover the organic EL element, a frame-shaped seal material that seals the organic EL element between the TFT substrate and the opposing substrate, and a holding member for holding the desiccant, the holding member being provided on the opposing substrate side inside the seal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tohru Senoo, Takeshi Hirase, Tetsuya Okamoto, Tohru Sonoda
  • Patent number: 9843013
    Abstract: In an organic EL display device (electroluminescent device) including an organic EL element (electroluminescent element), a sealing film is provided to seal the organic EL element. The sealing film includes a first inorganic layer, a first organic layer, a second inorganic layer, a second organic layer, and a third inorganic layer (uppermost inorganic layer), which are arranged in this order. The first and second organic layers are formed so that the thickness of the end portions gradually decreases from the thickness of the central portions. The third inorganic layer is provided to cover the end portions of each of the first inorganic layer, the first organic layer, the second inorganic layer, and the second organic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tohru Sonoda, Takeshi Hirase, Tetsuya Okamoto, Tohru Senoo
  • Publication number: 20170352832
    Abstract: An organic EL device includes a TFT substrate 1, a first electrode 5 provided on the TFT substrate 1, an organic EL layer 6 provided on the first electrode 5, a second electrode 7 provided on the organic EL layer 6, and a sealing film 10 covering the second electrode 7. The TFT substrate 1 is provided thereon with upward projections 11 and 12. The upward projections 11 and 12 are covered with the sealing film 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: TETSUYA OKAMOTO, TAKESHI HIRASE, TOHRU SENOO, TOHRU SONODA, SEIJI FUJIWARA, DAICHI NISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20170352835
    Abstract: In an organic EL display device that includes a TFT substrate (substrate) and an organic EL element (electroluminescent element) provided on the TFT substrate, a sealing film is provided that seals the organic EL element. The sealing film includes one or more layers of inorganic film. The thickness of a peripheral portion of at least one layer of inorganic film among the one or more layers of inorganic film is made thick. Further, a liquid repellent layer is provided covering the sealing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: TAKESHI HIRASE, TETSUYA OKAMOTO, TOHRU SENOO, TOHRU SONODA, DAICHI NISHIKAWA, SEIJI FUJIWARA
  • Publication number: 20170324061
    Abstract: An organic EL display device 1 that includes a TFT substrate (substrate) 2 and an organic EL element (electroluminescent element) 4 provided on the TFT substrate 2 includes a sealing film 14 that seals the organic EL element 4. The sealing film 14 has a layered structure composed of an organic layer 14b and inorganic layers 14a, 14c. At least a peripheral portion 14b2 of the organic layer 14b has a lower carbon content than a central portion 14b1 of the organic layer 14b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Tohru SONODA, Takeshi HIRASE, Tetsuya OKAMOTO, Tohru SENOO, Seiji FUJIWARA, Daichi NISHIKAWA, Mamoru ISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20170263892
    Abstract: In an organic EL display device (electroluminescence device) including a flexible TFT substrate (substrate), an organic EL element (electroluminescence element) provided on the TFT substrate, and a sealing film that seals the organic EL element, a foldable bend portion is provided. The film thickness of the sealing film is reduced at the bend portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Tohru SENOO, Takeshi HIRASE, Tetsuya OKAMOTO, Tohru SONODA, Mamoru ISHIDA, Seiji FUJIWARA, Daichi NISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9748526
    Abstract: A vapor deposition device (1) performs a vapor deposition treatment to form a luminescent layer (47) having a predetermined pattern on a film formation substrate (40). The vapor deposition device includes: a nozzle (13) having a plurality of injection holes (16) from which vapor deposition particles (17), which constitute the luminescent layer, are injected toward the film formation substrate when the vapor deposition treatment is carried out; and a plurality of control plates (20) provided between the nozzle and the film formation substrate and restricting an incident angle, with respect to the film formation substrate, of the vapor deposition particles injected from the plurality of injection holes. The nozzle includes: a nozzle main body (14b) in a container shape having an opening (14c) on a surface thereof on a film formation substrate side and (ii) a plurality of blocks (15) covering the opening and separated from each other, each of the plurality of blocks having the plurality of injection holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tohru Sonoda, Shinichi Kawato, Satoshi Inoue, Satoshi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9741932
    Abstract: A vapor deposition device (50) disclosed, a partition wall (26) standing between film formation regions on a film formation substrate (200), includes: a mask unit (80) including a shadow mask (81) and a vapor deposition source (85) fixed in position relative to each other; contacting means for bringing the film formation substrate (200) and the shadow mask (81) into contact with each other at the partition wall (26); and moving means for moving at least a first one of the mask unit (80) and the film formation substrate (200) relative to a second one thereof in a state in which the contact caused by the contacting means is kept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tohru Sonoda, Shinichi Kawato, Satoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 9714466
    Abstract: A vapor deposition device (50) in accordance with the present invention is a vapor deposition device for forming a film on a film formation substrate (60), the vapor deposition device including a vapor deposition source (80) that has an injection hole (81) from which vapor deposition particles are injected, a vapor deposition particle crucible (82) for supplying the vapor deposition particles to the vapor deposition source (80), and a rotation motor (86) for changing a distribution of the injection amount of the vapor deposition particles by rotating the vapor deposition source (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tohru Sonoda, Shinichi Kawato, Satoshi Inoue, Satoshi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9692011
    Abstract: In an organic EL display device (electroluminescence device) including an organic EL element (electroluminescence element), the organic EL element is covered with a desiccant layer. Between a TFT substrate (substrate) and an opposite substrate, a frame-shaped moisture high-permeable layer and a frame-shaped sealing member are disposed in a state successively surrounding the desiccant layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tohru Senoo, Tohru Sonoda, Takeshi Hirase, Tetsuya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9653703
    Abstract: In an organic EL display device (electroluminescent device) equipped with an organic EL element (electroluminescent element), the organic EL element is encapsulated by a TFT substrate (substrate), a counter substrate, and a sealing resin. A desiccant layer and a highly-moisture-permeable layer are laminated in this order on the organic EL element. The highly-moisture-permeable layer is in direct contact with the sealing resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tohru Sonoda, Takeshi Hirase, Tetsuya Okamoto, Tohru Senoo