Patents by Inventor Tsutomu Seino

Tsutomu Seino 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: 7952675
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including 1st and 2nd substrates. A linearly extending scan electrode and a linearly extending signal electrode are formed on the 1st substrate, wherein the scan electrode extends in a direction crossing an extension direction of the signal electrode. A liquid crystal layer is between the 1st and 2nd substrates, and a pixel electrode is formed on the 1st substrate. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to both the scan and signal electrodes. The pixel electrode is divided into at least two regions such that at least two domains of different liquid crystal orientation directions are defined within a single pixel. A 1st and a 2nd of the at least two regions are not aligned in parallel with either the extension direction of the scan electrode or the extension direction of the signal electrode. The 1st and 2nd regions each include a micro-cutout pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Arihiro Takeda, Takahiro Sasaki, Tsutomu Seino, Yoshio Koike, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Kimiaki Nakamura, Hideo Chida, Seiji Doi, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Takashi Takagi, Hiroyasu Inoue
  • Patent number: 7924381
    Abstract: A method for producing a liquid crystal display device including a first irradiation step for realizing alignment of liquid crystals in a first azimuth direction on a first alignment layer by obliquely irradiating the first substrate, a second irradiation step for realizing alignment of liquid crystals in a second azimuth direction by obliquely irradiating a region of the first substrate where irradiation has not been conducted in the first irradiation step with rays in an azimuth direction that is 180 degrees different from an azimuth direction of irradiation in the first irradiation step, a third irradiation step for realizing alignment of liquid crystals in a third azimuth direction on a second alignment layer by obliquely irradiating the second substrate, and a sticking step of sticking together the first and second substrates such that the first azimuth direction and the third azimuth direction are perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Tsutomu Seino, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Patent number: 7916256
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates, a first alignment layer formed on one substrate and a second alignment layer formed on the other substrate, and a plurality of pixels, each having four different alignment regions. The first alignment layer is treated to define two different pretilt directions for the liquid crystal molecules within the four alignment regions, wherein the two different pretilt directions are opposite each other and both extend in a generally parallel direction to a first boundary defined between two regions in which the two different pretilt directions are defined, and said second alignment layer defines another two different pretilt directions within the four alignment regions, wherein the two different pretilt directions are opposite each other and both extend in a generally parallel direction to a second boundary defined between two regions in which the another two different pretilt directions are defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Tsutomu Seino, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Publication number: 20100328602
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device comprising a pair of substrates with alignment layers formed thereon, and a liquid crystal filled between the substrates. Each pixel has pixel display portions CA, CB and non-display portions DA, EA, DB, EB. The pixel display portions are treated for realizing alignment in a different manner from the non-display portions and the alignment of the pixel display portions is controlled by the alignment of the non-display portions. Moreover, the alignment treatment is executed by the irradiation with ultraviolet rays in an inclined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Tsutomu Seino, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Publication number: 20100321622
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates, an electrode and an alignment layer formed on each of the substrates, and a liquid crystal filled between the pair of substrates. The alignment layer of one of the pair of substrates is treated so that the alignment layer is divided into a plurality of stripe regions including a first stripe region and a second stripe region adjacent to the first stripe region, the first and second stripe regions extending parallel to each other and forming a first boundary therebetween. A direction of alignment of liquid crystal molecules on the first stripe region is opposite to a direction of alignment of liquid crystal molecules on the second stripe region, and directions of alignment of liquid crystal molecules on the first and second stripe regions are parallel to the first boundary. A shading layer is provided to cover the first boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Tsutomu Seino, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Patent number: 7768622
    Abstract: A method for producing a liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates, an electrode and an alignment layer formed on each substrate and a liquid crystal filled between the substrates, where at least one alignment layer exhibits a vertically orienting property. The method includes alignment-treating at least one of the alignment layers by irradiating the alignment layer exhibiting a vertically orienting property with ultraviolet rays, in two different directions, by providing two lamps for projection of ultraviolet rays. Also disclosed is manufacturing equipment for orienting an alignment layer of a liquid crystal display device, including a first lamp and a second lamp located at a different position than the first lamp, but on the same side of the alignment layer. Also, both lamps irradiate different ultraviolet rays that are within ±10 degrees of parallelism, and the first and second lamps irradiate ultraviolet rays in two different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Tsutomu Seino, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Publication number: 20100035504
    Abstract: The invention has an object to provide a liquid crystal display in which a wide angle of view is obtained and a response time at a halftone can be shortened by regulating an alignment orientation of a liquid crystal by the use of a polymer fixation system in which a liquid crystal layer containing a polymerizable component is sealed between substrates, and the polymerizable component is polymerized while a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer to fix a liquid crystal alignment. A liquid crystal layer containing a polymer for regulating a pretilt angle of a liquid crystal molecule and a tilt direction at a time of driving is sealed between two substrates arranged opposite to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Tsutomu Seino, Yohei Nakanishi, Seiji Tanuma, Kimiaki Nakamura, Yuichi Inoue, Masakazu Shibasaki, Hideaki Tsuda, Yoshio Koike, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Hidefumi Yoshida, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20090141226
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a vertical direction to the first substrate and the second substrate by the first molecule orientation film and the second molecule orientation film, respectively, in a non-driving state. A structural pattern is formed so as to extend in a first direction parallel to a surface of the liquid crystal layer and so as to form, in a driving state, an electric field periodically changing in a second direction that is parallel to the liquid crystal layer and vertical to the first direction. The liquid crystal molecules substantially tilt in the first direction in the driving state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Arihiro Takeda, Takahiro Sasaki, Tsutomu Seino, Yoshio Koike, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Kimiaki Nakamura, Hideo Chida, Seiji Doi, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Takashi Takagi, Hiroyasu Inoue
  • Patent number: 7486366
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a vertical direction to the first substrate and the second substrate by the first molecule orientation film and the second molecule orientation film, respectively, in a non-driving state. A structural pattern is formed so as to extend in a first direction parallel to a surface of the liquid crystal layer and so as to form, in a driving state, an electric field periodically changing in a second direction that is parallel to the liquid crystal layer and vertical to the first direction. The liquid crystal molecules substantially tilt in the first direction in the driving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Arihiro Takeda, Takahiro Sasaki, Tsutomu Seino, Yoshio Koike, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Kimiaki Nakamura, Hideo Chida
  • Publication number: 20080316409
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device comprising a pair of substrates with alignment layers formed thereon, and a liquid crystal filled between the substrates. Each pixel has pixel display portions CA, CB and non-display portions DA, EA, DB, EB. The pixel display portions are treated for realizing alignment in a different manner from the non-display portions and the alignment of the pixel display portions is controlled by the alignment of the non-display portions. Moreover, the alignment treatment is executed by the irradiation with ultraviolet rays in an inclined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Tsutomu Seino, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Publication number: 20080316408
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device comprising a pair of substrates with alignment layers formed thereon, and a liquid crystal filled between the substrates. Each pixel has pixel display portions CA, CB and non-display portions DA, EA, DB, EB. The pixel display portions are treated for realizing alignment in a different manner from the non-display portions and the alignment of the pixel display portions is controlled by the alignment of the non-display portions. Moreover, the alignment treatment is executed by the irradiation with ultraviolet rays in an inclined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Tsutomu Seino, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Patent number: 7468772
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a pair of spaced and opposed substrates, an electrode and an alignment layer formed on one of the substartes and on the other substrates of said substrates, and a liquid crystal filled between the pair of substrates. The liquid crystal has a dielectric constant of negative anistrophy. The alignment layers on the one and the other substrates are formed so that one pixel has four regions divided by a crosswise boundary line in which the alignments of the liquid crystal are mutually different. A shading layer is provided to cover the crosswise boundary line, wherein the shading layer includes a storage capacity electrode formed on one of the substrates, and has a first portion extending in a first direction and a second portion extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Tsutomu Seino, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Publication number: 20080309863
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device comprising a pair of substrates with alignment layers formed thereon, and a liquid crystal filled between the substrates. Each pixel has pixel display portions CA, CB and non-display portions DA, EA, DB, EB. The pixel display portions are treated for realizing alignment in a different manner from the non-display portions and the alignment of the pixel display portions is controlled by the alignment of the non-display portions. Moreover, the alignment treatment is executed by the irradiation with ultraviolet rays in an inclined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Tsutomu Seino, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Publication number: 20080309862
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device comprising a pair of substrates with alignment layers formed thereon, and a liquid crystal filled between the substrates. Each pixel has pixel display portions CA, CB and non-display portions DA, EA, DB, EB. The pixel display portions are treated for realizing alignment in a different manner from the non-display portions and the alignment of the pixel display portions is controlled by the alignment of the non-display portions. Moreover, the alignment treatment is executed by the irradiation with ultraviolet rays in an inclined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Tsutomu Seino, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Publication number: 20070132929
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a vertical direction to the first substrate and the second substrate by the first molecule orientation film and the second molecule orientation film, respectively, in a non-driving state. A structural pattern is formed so as to extend in a first direction parallel to a surface of the liquid crystal layer and so as to form, in a driving state, an electric field periodically changing in a second direction that is parallel to the liquid crystal layer and vertical to the first direction. The liquid crystal molecules substantially tilt in the first direction in the driving state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Arihiro Takeda, Takahiro Sasaki, Tsutomu Seino, Yoshio Koike, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Seiji Tanuma, Takatoshi Mayama, Kimiaki Nakamura, Hideo Chida
  • Publication number: 20070024784
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device comprising a pair of substrates with alignment layers formed thereon, and a liquid crystal filled between the substrates. Each pixel has pixel display portions CA, DB and non-display portions DA, EA, DB, EB. The pixel display portions are treated for realizing alignment in a different manner from the non-display portions and the alignment of the pixel display portions is controlled by the alignment of the non-display portions. Moreover, the alignment treatment is executed by the irradiation with ultraviolet rays in an inclined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Tsutomu Seino, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Patent number: 7145622
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a vertical direction to the first substrate and the second substrate by the first molecule orientation film and the second molecule orientation film, respectively, in a non-driving state. And, a structural pattern is formed so as to extend in a first direction parallel to a surface of the liquid crystal layer and so as to form, in a driving state, an electric field periodically changing in a second direction that is parallel to the liquid crystal layer and vertical to the first direction. Then, the liquid crystal molecules substantially tilt in the first direction in the driving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Arihiro Takeda, Takahiro Sasaki, Tsutomu Seino, Yoshio Koike, Hidefumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7133099
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device comprising a pair of substrates with alignment layers formed thereon, and a liquid crystal filled between the substrates. Each pixel has pixel display portions CA, CB and non-display portions DA, EA, DB, EB. The pixel display portions are treated for realizing alignment in a different manner from the non-display portions and the alignment of the pixel display portions is controlled by the alignment of the non-display portions. Moreover, the alignment treatment is executed by the irradiation with ultraviolet rays in an inclined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Tsutomu Seino, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Publication number: 20060244881
    Abstract: The invention has an object to provide a liquid crystal display in which a wide angle of view is obtained and a response time at a halftone can be shortened by regulating an alignment orientation of a liquid crystal by the use of a polymer fixation system in which a liquid crystal layer containing a polymerizable component is sealed between substrates, and the polymerizable component is polymerized while a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer to fix a liquid crystal alignment. A liquid crystal layer containing a polymer for regulating a pretilt angle of a liquid crystal molecule and a tilt direction at a time of driving is sealed between two substrates arranged opposite to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Tsutomu Seino, Yohei Nakanishi, Seiji Tanuma, Kimiaki Nakamura, Yuichi Inoue, Masakazu Shibasaki, Hideaki Tsuda, Yoshio Koike, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Hidefumi Yoshida, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20040233365
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device comprising a pair of substrates with alignment layers formed thereon, and a liquid crystal filled between the substrates. Each pixel has pixel display portions CA, CB and non-display portions DA, EA, DB, EB. The pixel display portions are treated for realizing alignment in a different manner from the non-display portions and the alignment of the pixel display portions is controlled by the alignment of the non-display portions. Moreover, the alignment treatment is executed by the irradiation with ultraviolet rays in an inclined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: FUJITSU DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Tsutomu Seino, Yasutoshi Tasaka