Patents by Inventor Toshihiro Yanagi

Toshihiro Yanagi 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: 8947419
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present application, a display controller is capable of changing a refresh rate, indicative of how often a screen displayed on a display device having a plurality of pixels is switched, between a low refresh rate of 40 Hz and a normal refresh rate of 60 Hz and generates (i) a dot clock (reference clock) serving as a timing signal indicative of a timing of operation in the display device, (ii) video data indicative of an image to be displayed on the screen, (iii) Hsync for defining a horizontal period of a display on the screen, and (vi) Vsync for defining a vertical period of the display on the screen, so as to supply the dot clock, the video data, Hsync, and Vsync to the display device, wherein the display controller includes a dot clock generation circuit for generating the reference clock whose frequency is constant without depending on a change of the refresh rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Yanagi, Takuji Miyamoto, Atsuhito Murai
  • Publication number: 20150029756
    Abstract: A frame includes a frame portion that surrounds the planar light source device inside of the bezel, and that has the display panel placed thereon, and insulating portions that are individually fitted into slits respectively of the bezel, and that have an side face facing a display panel, and the side face facing a display panel is closer to the display panel than a side face of the bezel facing the side face of the display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigenori Tanaka, Yoshinobu Hirayama, Toshihiro Yanagi
  • Publication number: 20150029175
    Abstract: A memory access section 16 writes, in a memory (10), a received image signal, in a case where a current frame is one that is located right before a frame in a scanning signal. On the other hand, the memory access section 16 does not write, in the memory (10), a received image signal, in a case where the current frame is one that is located right before a frame in a pause period. This allows a further reduction in electric power used to write, in the memory (10), an image signal received from outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Kobayashi, Akizumi Fujioka, Asahi Yamato, Taketoshi Nakano, Toshihiro Yanagi
  • Publication number: 20150022506
    Abstract: A display device (1) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: an LCD driving section (20) and an LCD controller (30) for causing an image based on an image signal to be displayed on an LCD (10); and a CPU (40) for supplying an image signal to the LCD controller (30), the LCD controller (30) being configured to supply, to the CPU (40), a control signal that instructs the CPU (40) to supply an image signal, and the CPU (40) being configured to supply an image signal in a case where the CPU (40) receives a control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Kazuki Takahashi, Akizumi Fujioka, Taketoshi Nakano, Toshihiro Yanagi, Kouji Kumada, Noriyuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150022476
    Abstract: A display device (1) in accordance with the present invention includes a detection section (21) provided along a display panel (11) and detecting an approach or a contact of an object. The detection section (21) detects the approach or the contact of the object in a period which (i) is from a time point when supply of a scanning signal to a gate signal line (G) is started to a time point when supply of the scanning signal to a subsequent gate signal line (G) is started but (ii) excludes a rising period of a source signal supplied to a source signal line (S).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Akizumi Fujioka, Toshihiro Yanagi
  • Publication number: 20150022509
    Abstract: A polarity of a POL signal is reversed at least every frame in each scanning period. The polarity of the POL signal in the first frame in each scanning period is reversed every scanning period. The polarity of the POL signal is maintained, without being reversed every frame, in each pause period. The polarity of the POL signal is reversed every pause period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Akizumi Fujioka, Kazuki Takahashi, Taketoshi Nakano, Toshihiro Yanagi, Yoshinori Shibata
  • Publication number: 20150015567
    Abstract: A polarity inversion control section (9) supplies a polarity designation signal, which designates a polarity of a data signal, to a data line drive circuit (5) while reversing a polarity of the polarity designation signal every frame. Even in a case where a pause driving control section (8) receives a designation signal that designates a sum of the number of frames constituting a scanning period and the number of frames constituting a pause period to be an even number, the pause driving control section (8) maintains the sum of the number of frames constituting a scanning period and the number of frames constituting a pause period to be an odd number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Akizumi Fujioka, Yoshinori Shibata, Kazuki Takahashi, Toshihiro Yanagi, Taketoshi Nakano
  • Publication number: 20150015555
    Abstract: A drive device of the present invention includes a VCOM selection circuit (122) for switching, before a display panel (102) is turned off, an electric potential of a counter electrode COM of each of pixels P from a VCOM1 to a VCOM2 which causes an electric potential of a drain electrode of each of the pixel P to be identical to the electric potential of the counter electrode COM after the display panel (102) is turned off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Kobayashi, Asahi Yamato, Kohzoh Takahashi, Taketoshi Nakano, Toshihiro Yanagi
  • Publication number: 20150009166
    Abstract: A display device; a method for driving the display device; and electronic equipment, each enabling a detection device to perform detection with a frequency higher than a refresh frequency of the display device and with improved accuracy are provided. The display device has a screen including pixels and repeatedly alternates between a scanning frame during which the pixels are scanned to be sequentially brought into a selected state and a pause frame during which the pixels are not scanned, and includes a detection instructing circuit configured to output detection operation control signals corresponding to touch panel detection periods to the detection device in at least one pause frame. The detection instruction signal instructs the detection device to detect at least one of detection targets which are input by touching or approaching the screen and a radio wave coming from outside the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Kohji SAITOH, Akizumi FUJIOKA, Masami OZAKI, Toshihiro YANAGI
  • Publication number: 20150002381
    Abstract: In a case where a display device (1) receives an instruction to change a refresh rate of a display panel (2), the display device (1) changes the refresh rate with a timing with which there is a balance between the length of time for which positive source signals are written and the length of time for which negative source signals are written.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akizumi Fujioka, Toshihiro Yanagi, Taketoshi Nakano
  • Publication number: 20150002492
    Abstract: A sum of the number of frames constituting a scanning period and the number of frames constituting a pause period is an even number. A polarity of a POL signal in each frame in each of the scanning period and the pause period is reversed every frame. Further, the polarity of the POL signal is reversed at a timing when switching from the scanning period to the pause period is carried out, and is maintained at a timing when switching from the pause period to the scanning period is carried out. Alternatively, the polarity of the POL signal is maintained at a timing when switching from the scanning period to the pause period is carried out, and is reversed at a timing when switching from the pause period to the scanning period is carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Akizumi Fujioka, Yoshinori Shibata, Kazuki Takahashi, Toshihiro Yanagi, Taketoshi Nakano
  • Publication number: 20140368492
    Abstract: Included are: refresh a rate changing section (15) for changing a refresh rate of a display panel (2) by configuring settings for scan periods during each of which a plurality of gate signal lines (G) of the display panel (2) are sequentially scanned and for pause periods during each of which sequential scanning of the plurality of gate signal lines (G) is suspended; and a drive amount control section (20) for controlling, in accordance with a ratio of the scan periods to the pause periods, drive time during which each of the gate signal lines is driven in each of the scan periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Akizumi Fujioka, Toshihiro Yanagi, Satoshi Ihida, Kazuki Takahashi, Taketoshi Nakano
  • Patent number: 8896590
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a display controller includes a stable pixel writing period in one horizontal period in a display device, the stable pixel writing period being a period during which a voltage outputted from a gate driver is at a high level. The display controller also includes a first stable pixel writing period determination circuit which determines, by using a reference signal independent from the frame rate in the display device, the stable pixel writing period during which the voltage is at the high level. Thus, the display controller can be provided in which, regardless of whether and how the frame rate is changed, the stable pixel writing period can be of a target length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Yanagi, Takuji Miyamoto, Atsuhito Murai
  • Publication number: 20140333563
    Abstract: A display device (110) is provided with a detection controller (122) that controls a detection device (130) such that detection is carried out within a horizontal blanking period for a display panel (112). An oxide semiconductor is used in the semiconductor layer for a TFT for each of the plurality of pixels provided in the display panel (112).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohji Saitoh, Akizumi Fujioka, Masami Ozaki, Toshihiro Yanagi
  • Publication number: 20140320554
    Abstract: A display device includes: a timing controller (10) for driving a scanning line driving circuit (4) and a signal line driving circuit (6) by providing a scanning period (T1) and a pause period (T2) which follows the scanning period (T1); a data analyzing section (101) for obtaining detection data on an external light intensity; and a BL luminance setting section (104) for outputting, at least during the pause period (T2), a BL control signal for adjusting, in accordance with the detection data obtained by the data analyzing section (101), a luminance of light to be emitted to a screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Kohzoh TAKAHASHI, Kohji SAITOH, Asahi YAMATO, Taketoshi NAKANO, Toshihiro YANAGI, Akizumi FUJIOKA, Jun NAKATA
  • Patent number: 8872783
    Abstract: A display device; a method for driving the display device; and electronic equipment, each enabling a detection device to perform detection with a frequency higher than a refresh frequency of the display device and with improved accuracy are provided. The display device has a screen including pixels and repeatedly alternates between a scanning frame during which the pixels are scanned to be sequentially brought into a selected state and a pause frame during which the pixels are not scanned, and includes a detection instructing circuit configured to output detection operation control signals corresponding to touch panel detection periods to the detection device in at least one pause frame. The detection instruction signal instructs the detection device to detect at least one of detection targets which are input by touching or approaching the screen and a radio wave coming from outside the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohji Saitoh, Akizumi Fujioka, Masami Ozaki, Toshihiro Yanagi
  • Patent number: 8866783
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display element for displaying an image on a screen; and driving means for driving the display element so that a scan mode for carrying out scanning and a pause mode for pausing the scanning are alternately repeated. The driving means drives, by transmitting a pause and drive control signal to the display element, the display element so that scanning of a single frame is carried out by going through the scan mode twice and the pause mode twice. During the pause mode, the driving means outputs, to a touch panel, a detection command signal which commands that detection be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohji Saitoh, Jun Nakata, Akizumi Fujioka, Masami Ozaki, Toshihiro Yanagi
  • Publication number: 20140286019
    Abstract: A lens cap (3) is arranged to cover a light-emitting surface (23) of a light source (2), the lens thereby guiding light from the light source (2) in oblique directions relative to the light source (2). The lens cap (3) includes, in a planar view, a light transmitting region (33) and a light blocking region (34), the light transmitting region (33) divided into a plurality of light transmitting regions by the light blocking region (34) so that the light from the light source (2) passes through the plurality of light transmitting regions (33) and is separated into beams traveling in different directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryoh Araki, Kei Oyobe, Yoshinobu Hirayama, Toshihiro Yanagi
  • Publication number: 20140246982
    Abstract: A display device (100) includes a sensor (6A) which measures luminance of light emitted from a display region at an A side of a display section (5), a sensor (6B) which measures luminance of light emitted from a display region at a B side of the display section (5), and an operation section (7) which, in accordance with a result of the measurement by the sensors (6A) and (6B), decreases luminance of an LED (4A) or LED (4B) which illuminates a display region from which light with higher luminance is emitted, and/or increases luminance of an LED (4A) or LED (4B) which illuminates a display region from which light with lower luminance is emitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryoh Araki, Shigenori Tanaka, Yoshinobu Hirayama, Toshihiro Yanagi
  • Patent number: 8810615
    Abstract: A display device includes: a timing controller (10) for driving a scanning line driving circuit (4) and a signal line driving circuit (6) by providing a scanning period (T1) and a pause period (T2) which follows the scanning period (T1); a data analyzing section (101) for obtaining detection data on an external light intensity; and a BL luminance setting section (104) for outputting, at least during the pause period (T2), a BL control signal for adjusting, in accordance with the detection data obtained by the data analyzing section (101), a luminance of light to be emitted to a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohzoh Takahashi, Kohji Saitoh, Asahi Yamato, Taketoshi Nakano, Toshihiro Yanagi, Akizumi Fujioka, Jun Nakata