Patents by Inventor Yasushi Tomioka

Yasushi Tomioka 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: 20240142830
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, a common electrode is formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed on the common electrode, a pixel electrode with a slit is formed on the interlayer insulating film, and a through hole is formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, so that the pixel electrode is connected to a source electrode of a TFT through the through hole. Further, the taper angle around the upper base of the through hole is smaller than the taper angle around the lower base. Thus, the alignment film material can easily flow into the through hole when the diameter of the through hole is reduced to connect the pixel and source electrodes, preventing display defects such as uneven brightness due to the absence of the alignment film or due to the alignment film irregularity around the through hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Yosuke HYODO, Hidehiro SONODA, Noboru KUNIMATSU
  • Publication number: 20240121893
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a stretchable device includes: a resin base member; and a signal line and a strain gauge stacked on the resin base member. The resin base member includes: a plurality of bodies disposed separately from each other; and a plurality of hinges that couple the bodies while meandering. The hinges each include: a plurality of bends that bend and are disposed between the bodies; and a base that linearly extends to couple one of the bodies to a corresponding one of the bends. The signal line includes: a bend signal line stacked on the bends; and a base signal line stacked on the base. The base signal line has an occupied area per unit length in a length direction of the signal line larger than the bend signal line when viewed in a stacking direction in which the signal line is stacked on the resin base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Takumi SANO, Masatomo HISHINUMA, Yasushi TOMIOKA, Akio MURAYAMA, Shinichiro OKA
  • Publication number: 20240074264
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a display device including, a substrate including a first area including a display area, a second area including a mount area, and a third area located between the first area and the second area, a first inorganic insulating layer provided on the substrate in the first area and the second area, a line provided on the first inorganic insulating layer and extending across the first area, the second area, and the third area, and, a second inorganic insulating layer provided on the line, the second inorganic insulating layer extending to an area overlaid on at least the first inorganic insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventor: Yasushi TOMIOKA
  • Patent number: 11914254
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprising a TFT substrate having pixels each including a common electrode formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film formed so as to cover the common electrode, a pixel electrode having a slit and formed on the interlayer insulating film, a through-hole formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, and a source electrode electrically conducted to the pixel electrode via the through-hole. A taper angle at a depth of D/2 of the through-hole is equal to or more than 50 degrees. The pixel electrode covers part of a side wall of the through-hole but does not cover the remaining part of the side wall of the through-hole. This configuration facilitates the alignment film material to flow into the through-hole, thereby solving a thickness unevenness of the alignment film in vicinity of the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Toshimasa Ishigaki, Hidehiro Sonoda, Sumito Ueta
  • Patent number: 11906857
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, a common electrode is formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed on the common electrode, a pixel electrode with a slit is formed on the interlayer insulating film, and a through hole is formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, so that the pixel electrode is connected to a source electrode of a TFT through the through hole. Further, the taper angle around the upper base of the through hole is smaller than the taper angle around the lower base. Thus, the alignment film material can easily flow into the through hole when the diameter of the through hole is reduced to connect the pixel and source electrodes, preventing display defects such as uneven brightness due to the absence of the alignment film or due to the alignment film irregularity around the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Yosuke Hyodo, Hidehiro Sonoda, Noboru Kunimatsu
  • Publication number: 20240045273
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal optical element includes a substrate, a first alignment control layer disposed on the substrate and comprising projections arranged at a predetermined pitch, and a first liquid crystal layer disposed on the first alignment control layer. The first liquid crystal layer comprises liquid crystal molecules which are aligned such that major axes of the liquid crystal molecules extend along the projections, respectively, and cured in a state where alignment directions of the liquid crystal molecules are fixed. The first alignment control layer is formed of a crosslinkable liquid crystal polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Shinichiro OKA, Koichi IGETA, Junji KOBASHI, Ayaka HIGUCHI
  • Patent number: 11881047
    Abstract: An optical sensor capable of obtaining a plurality of types of information by a plurality of wavelengths in a short time is provided. The optical sensor includes a light receiving unit that includes a first and second pinhole layer that includes a plurality of pinholes, a first and second transmission layer, and a plurality of microlenses belonging to a first and second group, the microlenses being disposed at positions respectively overlapping the plurality of pixels on the second transmission layer. Either of the plurality of microlenses belonging to the first or second group is a first wavelength selection unit that transmits light of a first wavelength. At least one of the other of the plurality of microlenses belonging to the first and second group, the first transmission layer, and the second transmission layer is a second wavelength selection unit that transmits light of a second wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuki Matsunaga, Shigesumi Araki, Yasushi Tomioka
  • Publication number: 20240021747
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a photovoltaic cell device includes a transparent substrate including a first side surface, a second side surface, and a third side surface, a first liquid crystal layer, a second liquid crystal layer, a first photovoltaic cell opposed to the first side surface, a second photovoltaic cell opposed to the second side surface, and a third photovoltaic cell opposed to the third side surface. The first liquid crystal layer comprises a first reflective surface. The second liquid crystal layer comprises a second reflective surface. In plan view, an angle formed by a normal of the first reflective surface and a normal of the second reflective surface is greater than 0° but less than 180°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Junji KOBASHI, Shinichiro OKA
  • Publication number: 20230408743
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal optical element includes a first liquid crystal layer including a first cholesteric liquid crystal and a second liquid crystal layer including a second cholesteric liquid crystal, a helical pitch of each of the first cholesteric liquid crystal and the second cholesteric liquid crystal changing continuously. The first cholesteric liquid crystal including a first portion having a first helical pitch and a second portion having a second helical pitch different from the first helical pitch. The second cholesteric liquid crystal including a third portion having a third helical pitch and a fourth portion having a fourth helical pitch different from the third helical pitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicants: Japan Display Inc., OSAKA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ayaka HIGUCHI, Koichi IGETA, Shinichiro OKA, Yasushi TOMIOKA, Hiroyuki YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 11849609
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a display device including, a substrate including a first area including a display area, a second area including a mount area, and a third area located between the first area and the second area, a first inorganic insulating layer provided on the substrate in the first area and the second area, a line provided on the first inorganic insulating layer and extending across the first area, the second area, and the third area, and, a second inorganic insulating layer provided on the line, the second inorganic insulating layer extending to an area overlaid on at least the first inorganic insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventor: Yasushi Tomioka
  • Publication number: 20230375764
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal optical element includes a transparent substrate including a main surface, an alignment film disposed on the main surface, and a liquid crystal layer overlapping the alignment film and including a cholesteric liquid crystal including liquid crystal molecules stacked helically and an additive exhibiting a liquid crystalline property. In the liquid crystal layer, a reflective surface along which alignment directions of the liquid crystal molecules are identical is inclined with respect to the main surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicants: Japan Display Inc., Osaka University
    Inventors: Koichi IGETA, Shinichiro OKA, Yasushi TOMIOKA, Hiroyuki YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20230375874
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal optical element comprises a transparent substrate comprising a first main surface and a second main surface opposed to the first main surface, an alignment film disposed on the second main surface, and a liquid crystal layer overlapping the alignment film and comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal and an additive exhibiting a liquid crystalline property. Refractive anisotropy of the additive is greater than refractive anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicants: Japan Display Inc., OSAKA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Koichi IGETA, Yasushi TOMIOKA, Shinichiro OKA, Hiroyuki YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20230298379
    Abstract: An optical sensor capable of obtaining a plurality of types of information by a plurality of wavelengths in a short time is provided. The optical sensor includes a light receiving unit that includes a first and second pinhole layer that includes a plurality of pinholes, a first and second transmission layer, and a plurality of microlenses belonging to a first and second group, the microlenses being disposed at positions respectively overlapping the plurality of pixels on the second transmission layer. Either of the plurality of microlenses belonging to the first or second group is a first wavelength selection unit that transmits light of a first wavelength. At least one of the other of the plurality of microlenses belonging to the first and second group, the first transmission layer, and the second transmission layer is a second wavelength selection unit that transmits light of a second wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuki MATSUNAGA, Shigesumi ARAKI, Yasushi TOMIOKA
  • Publication number: 20230288759
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, a common electrode is formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed on the common electrode, a pixel electrode with a slit is formed on the interlayer insulating film, and a through hole is formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, so that the pixel electrode is connected to a source electrode of a TFT through the through hole. Further, the taper angle around the upper base of the through hole is smaller than the taper angle around the lower base. Thus, the alignment film material can easily flow into the through hole when the diameter of the through hole is reduced to connect the pixel and source electrodes, preventing display defects such as uneven brightness due to the absence of the alignment film or due to the alignment film irregularity around the through hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Yosuke HYODO, Hidehiro SONODA, Noboru KUNIMATSU
  • Publication number: 20230258849
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal optical element includes a substrate, a first alignment film, a second alignment film opposite to the first alignment film, a spacer between the substrate and the second alignment film, and a liquid crystal layer in contact with the first alignment film and the second alignment film. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules including a plurality of first liquid crystal molecules arranged along a boundary surface with the first alignment film and a plurality of second liquid crystal molecules arranged along a boundary surface with the second alignment film, and is cured in a state where alignment directions of the liquid crystal molecules are fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicants: Japan Display Inc., OSAKA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shinichiro OKA, Yasushi TOMIOKA, Junji KOBASHI, Hiroyuki YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20230261129
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a photovoltaic cell device includes an optical waveguide including a first main surface, a second main surface opposed to the first main surface, and a side surface, an optical element opposed to the second main surface, containing cholesteric liquid crystal, and reflecting at least a part of incident light via the optical waveguide toward the optical waveguide, a photovoltaic cell opposed to the side surface, and a protective film, and the protective film is provided to be in contact with the first main surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicants: Japan Display Inc., OSAKA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shinichiro OKA, Yasushi TOMIOKA, Junji KOBASHI, Hiroyuki YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20230246590
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solar power generation apparatus includes an optical waveguide that includes a first main surface, a second main surface, and a lower side surface, an optical element that faces the second main surface, includes cholesteric liquid crystal, and reflects at least a part of ultraviolet ray of incident light from the first main surface toward the optical waveguide, and a solar cell that faces the lower side surface. The optical element includes a reflective surface angled with respect to a boundary surface between the optical waveguide and the optical element. An inclination angle of the reflective surface with respect to the boundary surface is an acute angle toward the solar cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicants: Japan Display Inc., OSAKA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Junji KOBASHI, Shinichiro OKA, Yasushi TOMIOKA, Hiroyuki YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20230236463
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprising a TFT substrate having pixels each including a common electrode formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film formed so as to cover the common electrode, a pixel electrode having a slit and formed on the interlayer insulating film, a through-hole formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, and a source electrode electrically conducted to the pixel electrode via the through-hole. A taper angle at a depth of D/2 of the through-hole is equal to or more than 50 degrees. The pixel electrode covers part of a side wall of the through-hole but does not cover the remaining part of the side wall of the through-hole. This configuration facilitates the alignment film material to flow into the through-hole, thereby solving a thickness unevenness of the alignment film in vicinity of the through-hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Toshimasa Ishigaki, Hidehiro Sonoda, Sumito Ueta
  • Publication number: 20230186674
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a detection device includes: a plurality of light-receiving elements configured to receive light; and a light guide portion one surface of which faces the light-receiving elements. The light guide portion includes a plurality of light guide paths provided throughout from the one surface to the other surface of the light guide portion, and a light-absorbing portion having higher absorbance of the light than that of the light guide paths. When viewed from a direction in which the light-receiving elements and the light guide portion are stacked, more than one of the light guide paths overlap one of the light-receiving elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Yasushi TOMIOKA, Kazuki MATSUNAGA, Toshiyuki HIGANO, Kazuhiro NISHIYAMA
  • Patent number: 11668982
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, a common electrode is formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed on the common electrode, a pixel electrode with a slit is formed on the interlayer insulating film, and a through hole is formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, so that the pixel electrode is connected to a source electrode of a TFT through the through hole. Further, the taper angle around the upper base of the through hole is smaller than the taper angle around the lower base. Thus, the alignment film material can easily flow into the through hole when the dimeter of the through hole is reduced to connect the pixel and source electrodes, preventing display defects such as uneven brightness due to the absence of the alignment film or due to the alignment film irregularity around the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Yosuke Hyodo, Hidehiro Sonoda, Noboru Kunimatsu