Patents by Inventor Yasushi Asaoka

Yasushi Asaoka 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: 20170003545
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light diffusion member which includes a light diffusion film, a polarizing film, and a retardation film. The light diffusion film includes a first substrate, a light diffusion portion, and a light shielding layer. The polarizing film includes a second substrate and a polarization layer. The retardation film includes a third substrate and a retardation layer. The retardation layer is formed from a birefringence body which has optically-negative uniaxiality. An alignment direction of the birefringence body is different in a thickness direction thereof. A slow axis of the retardation layer is positioned at azimuth between a transmission axis and an absorption axis of the polarization layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Yasushi ASAOKA, Tsuyoshi MAEDA, Shohei KATSUTA, Emi YAMAMOTO, Sho OCHI
  • Publication number: 20160370512
    Abstract: A light diffusing film (a light diffusing member) according to the present invention includes a substrate which has optical transparency and a birefringence, a wavelength control layer which is formed one surface of the substrate, a light diffusing portion which is formed in a region other than a forming region of the wavelength control layer in the one surface of the substrate, and a light scattering layer, the light diffusing portion includes a light emitting end surface which comes into contact with the substrate and a light incident end surface which is opposite to the light emitting end surface and has a larger area than an area of the light emitting end surface, and a height from the light incident end surface to the light emitting end surface is larger than a layer thickness of the wavelength control layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Emi YAMAMOTO, Tsuyoshi MAEDA, Yasushi ASAOKA, Shohei KATSUTA, Hideomi YUI
  • Publication number: 20160291218
    Abstract: A light-control member (13) includes a substrate (39); light-shielding layers (40) provided in a first area (A1) on one surface (39a) of the substrate (39); a light-diffusion section (41) provided in an area other than the light-shielding layers (40) in the first area (A1) and formed of light transmitting material; and a support section(45) provided in a second area (A2) positioned on an outer side of the first area (A1) on the one surface (39a), in which the light-diffusion section (41) has a light emitting end surface (41a) in contact with the one surface (39a) of the substrate (39), a light incident end surface (41b) opposing the light emitting end surface (41a) and having an area greater than an area of the light emitting end surface (41a), and a reflective surface (41c) which is in contact with the light emitting end surface (41a) and the light incident end surface (41b) and on which light incident from the light incident end surface (41b) is reflected, and a formation area of the support section (45) pe
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Yasushi ASAOKA, Shohei KATSUTA, Hideomi YUI, Sho OCHI, Tsuyoshi MAEDA
  • Patent number: 9453946
    Abstract: Provided is a display device including a light-diffusing member that includes a substrate, a plurality of light-shielding layers, and a light-diffusing section, and a polarizing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Asaoka, Tsuyoshi Maeda, Emi Yamamoto, Toru Kanno, Shohei Katsuta, Hideomi Yui
  • Publication number: 20160259097
    Abstract: A light-diffusing-member manufacturing method includes a step of forming a light diffusion portion on one surface side of a base, by developing an exposed negative photosensitive resin layer with an alkali developing solution, and a step of performing an acid treatment on the light diffusion portion with an acid solution, after removing the alkali developing solution which is adhered to the light diffusion portion and suspended matter in the alkali developing solution in the negative photosensitive resin layer, so as to lower an ionization degree of the negative photosensitive resin layer which is in an ionized state due to the alkali developing solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Sho OCHI, Yasushi ASAOKA, Tsuyoshi MAEDA, Toru KANNO
  • Publication number: 20160231469
    Abstract: A light dispersion member includes a substrate having optical transparency, a light diffusion portion formed with a predetermined height on one surface of the substrate, light shielding layers formed with a thickness smaller than the height of the light diffusion portion in regions other than the light diffusion portion within the one surface of the substrate, and a buffer layer formed on the surface on the opposite side of the light diffusion portion to the surface thereof facing the substrate, the light diffusion portion has a light emitting end surface contacting the substrate and a light incident end surface opposing the light emitting end surface and having a larger area than the area of the light emitting end surface a, and the buffer layer, by elastically deforming when pressure is applied from the substrate side, relaxes pressure applied to the light diffusion portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Yasushi ASAOKA, Shohei KATSUTA, Hideomi YUI, Toru KANNO, Sho OCHI, Tsuyoshi MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20160202541
    Abstract: Provided is a display device including a substrate that has light transmissivity, a plurality of light shielding layers that is formed at a recurring period on one face of the substrate, and a light-diffusing unit that is formed in an area of the one face of the substrate except for the area where the light shielding layers are formed, in which the light-diffusing unit includes a light emitting end face on the substrate side and includes a light incident end face having an area larger than the area of the light emitting end face on the side opposite to the substrate side, the height of the light-diffusing unit from the light incident end face to the light emitting end face is greater than the thickness of the light shielding layer, and the periodic direction at which the light shielding layers are recurrently formed is non-parallel to the direction of a pixel pitch of a display body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi ASAOKA, Shohei KATSUTA, Tsuyoshi MAEDA, Tsuyoshi KAMADA
  • Patent number: 9366902
    Abstract: A display device capable of emitting sufficient fluorescence is provided without an increase in the thickness of the liquid crystal layer. The device includes: a fluorescent emission layer (23) having fluorescent pigment molecules that absorb light to emit fluorescence; and a liquid crystal layer (4) capable of switching between a transparent state and a scattering state. The fluorescent pigment molecules are dichroic fluorescent pigment molecules (23a) with different emission intensities depending on the direction of emission. The dichroic fluorescent pigment molecules (23a) in the fluorescent emission layer (23) are oriented so as to have transition dipole moments with the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi Asaoka, Kiyoshi Minoura, Kazuhiro Deguchi, Eiji Satoh, Sayuri Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9366915
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel (100A) includes: a first substrate (2) and a second substrate (3), a liquid crystal layer (1) retained between the first substrate (2) and the second substrate (3), and plurality of pixels. The liquid crystal layer (1) has a first liquid crystal region (81) and a second liquid crystal region (82) provided outside the first liquid crystal region (81). The first liquid crystal region (81) is essentially composed of a nematic liquid crystal material alone, whereas the second liquid crystal region (82) has a plurality of liquid crystal subregions (11) containing a nematic liquid crystal material and polymer-containing walls (12) formed between adjacent ones of the plurality of liquid crystal subregions (11). The plurality of pixels include pixels accounting for the first liquid crystal region (81) and pixels accounting for the second liquid crystal region (82).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisashi Watanabe, Akira Sakai, Yuichi Iyama, Akiko Miyazaki, Eiji Satoh, Yasushi Asaoka
  • Patent number: 9360697
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel (100A) according to an embodiment of the present invention is a liquid crystal display panel including: a first substrate (2) having a pixel electrode (4) formed thereon; a second substrate (3) opposing the first substrate (2); and a liquid crystal layer (1) retained between the first substrate (2) and the second substrate (3). The liquid crystal layer (1) edges near at least one of side faces of the liquid crystal display panel (100A), and includes a black layer (52) in contact with the side face of the liquid crystal layer (1) along which the liquid crystal layer (1) edges near at least one of the side faces of the liquid crystal display panel (100A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Iyama, Hisashi Watanabe, Eiji Satoh, Yasushi Asaoka, Akira Sakai, Akiko Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20160139454
    Abstract: A light diffusion member includes a substrate that has optical transparency, a light diffusion portion that is formed with a prescribed height on one surface of the substrate, a light shielding layer that is formed with a thickness less than the height of the light diffusion portion in another region of the one surface of the substrate than the light diffusion portion, and an antiglare layer that is formed on the other surface of the substrate. The light diffusion portion includes a light emission end surface that contacts with the substrate, a light incident end surface that faces the light emission end surface and has a larger area than an area of the light emission end surface, and a side surface that is formed between the light emission end surface and the light incident end surface, and the antiglare layer includes a binder layer and plural light diffusion particles that are dispersedly arranged in the binder layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shohei KATSUTA, Yasushi ASAOKA, Toru KANNO, Hideomi YUI, Emi YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160123879
    Abstract: An inspection device of the present invention is provided with a light source unit which is disposed either one of a base material side and a light diffusing portion side and irradiates light toward a light-regulating film with respect to the light-regulating film which includes a base material, a light diffusing portion, and a light shielding layer, and a light receiver which is disposed on either the other of the base material side and the light diffusing portion side and measures an intensity of transmitted light which is emitted from the light source unit and is transmitted through the light-regulating film, and inspects a state of an inclined surface of the light diffusing portion based on a measurement result of the intensity of the transmitted light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Daisuke SHINOZAKI, Yasushi ASAOKA, Shohei KATSUTA, Tsuyoshi MAEDA
  • Patent number: 9250475
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (100A) of the present invention includes a liquid crystal layer (1) and first and second alignment films (12, 13) which are provided with an alignment treatment. The liquid crystal layer (1) includes, in each of the pixels, a plurality of first small sections (14a) separated by a wall (10) and the first alignment film (12) and a plurality of second small sections (14b) separated by the wall (10) and the second alignment film (13). Each of the plurality of first small sections (14a) has a first liquid crystal region (11a). Each of the plurality of second small sections (14b) has a second liquid crystal region (11b). Each of the first and second liquid crystal regions (11a, 11b) includes a nematic liquid crystal material and a dichromatic dye (21a, 21b). The dichromatic dye (21a) of the first liquid crystal region (11a) is aligned along the alignment direction of the first alignment film (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Asaoka, Kiyoshi Minoura, Eiji Satoh, Sayuri Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20160018572
    Abstract: This light diffusion member includes: a substrate having light transmissivity; a plurality of light shielding layers formed on one face of the substrate; and light diffusion portions formed on the one face of the substrate at regions other than the regions where the light shielding layers have been formed. The light diffusion portions have a light-emitting end surface coming into contact with the substrate, a light incident end surface which faces the light-emitting end surface and has a larger area than the area of the light-emitting end surface, and a reflecting face coming into contact with the light-emitting end surface and the light incident end surface, and reflecting light entering from the light incident end surface. The height from the light incident end surface to the light-emitting end surface of the light diffusion portion is greater than the thickness of the light shielding layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shohei KATSUTA, Yasushi ASAOKA, Hideomi YUI, Tsuyoshi MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20150378069
    Abstract: This light-diffusing member includes a light-transmissive substrate, a plurality of wavelength-controlling layers formed on one surface of the light-transmissive substrate, and a light-diffusing portion formed on the one surface of the light-transmissive substrate in a region other than a region where the wavelength-controlling layers are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Emi YAMAMOTO, Yuhsuke TSUDA, Tsuyoshi MAEDA, Yasushi ASAOKA, Shohei KATSUTA
  • Publication number: 20150369972
    Abstract: The light diffusion member includes a substrate having light transmissivity, a plurality of light shielding layers, and light diffusion portions. The light diffusion portions have a light-emitting end surface, a light incident end surface which has a larger area than the area of the light-emitting end surface, and a reflecting face. Light which enters from the light incident end surface is anisotropically diffused in an azimuth direction seen from a normal direction of the substrate, and the height from the light incident end surface to the light-emitting end surface of the light diffusion portion is configured to be greater than the thickness of the light shielding layers. The azimuth direction where the diffusion by the light diffusion portion is relatively strong, and any one side making up the outer shape of the substrate, are generally parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Yasushi Asaoka, Tsuyoshi Maeda, Emi Yamamoto, Toru Kanno, Shohei Katsuta
  • Publication number: 20150285963
    Abstract: Provided is a display device including a light-diffusing member that includes a substrate, a plurality of light-shielding layers, and a light-diffusing section, and a polarizing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Asaoka, Tsuyoshi Maeda, Emi Yamamoto, Toru Kanno, Shohei Katsuta, Hideomi Yui
  • Publication number: 20150070629
    Abstract: A display device capable of emitting sufficient fluorescence is provided without an increase in the thickness of the liquid crystal layer. The device includes: a fluorescent emission layer (23) having fluorescent pigment molecules that absorb light to emit fluorescence; and a liquid crystal layer (4) capable of switching between a transparent state and a scattering state. The fluorescent pigment molecules are dichroic fluorescent pigment molecules (23a) with different emission intensities depending on the direction of emission. The dichroic fluorescent pigment molecules (23a) in the fluorescent emission layer (23) are oriented so as to have transition dipole moments with the same direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Yasushi ASAOKA, Kiyoshi MINOURA, Kazuhiro DEGUCHI, Eiji SATOH, Sayuri FUJIWARA
  • Publication number: 20150029437
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device that can prevent light leakage in black images, has an improved viewing angle of white images, and can avoid an increase in the thickness and additional costs. The liquid crystal display device includes: a collimating backlight unit; and a liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel includes: a pair of substrates; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the substrates, and the liquid crystal layer includes a polymer dispersed liquid crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Akira Sakai, Hisashi Watanabe, Yuichi Iyama, Akiko Miyazaki, Yasushi Asaoka, Eiji Satoh
  • Patent number: 8922737
    Abstract: A display device capable of emitting sufficient fluorescence is provided without an increase in the thickness of the liquid crystal layer. The device includes: a fluorescent emission layer (23) having fluorescent pigment molecules that absorb light to emit fluorescence; and a liquid crystal layer (4) capable of switching between a transparent state and a scattering state. The fluorescent pigment molecules are dichroic fluorescent pigment molecules (23a) with different emission intensities depending on the direction of emission. The dichroic fluorescent pigment molecules (23a) in the fluorescent emission layer (23) are oriented so as to have transition dipole moments with the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Asaoka, Kiyoshi Minoura, Kazuhiro Deguchi, Eiji Satoh, Sayuri Fujiwara