Patents by Inventor Yasutoshi Tasaka

Yasutoshi Tasaka 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: 8502762
    Abstract: This invention relates to an image processing method for improving the quality of an image to be displayed on a display device and to a liquid-crystal display device using the same, and aims at providing an image processing method for providing wide viewing angle and excellent tonal-intensity viewing angle characteristic and a liquid-crystal display device using the same. Combined together are a higher-luminance pixel to be driven higher in luminance than the luminance data of an image to be displayed and a lower-luminance pixel to be driven lower in luminance than the luminance data, to determine a luminance on the higher-luminance pixel and luminance on the lower-luminance pixel as well as an area ratio of the higher-luminance and lower-luminance pixels in a manner obtaining a luminance nearly equal to a desired luminance based on the luminance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kamada, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yoshio Koike, Toshiaki Suzuki, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Masakazu Shibasaki, Kunihiro Tashiro, Kazuya Ueda, Katsuyoshi Hiraki
  • Patent number: 8416379
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates in a spaced relationship with one another. A pair of alignment films are provided, one alignment film being formed on each substrate such that the alignment films face one another. A liquid crystal layer, including plural liquid crystals, is inserted between the pair of alignment films, wherein the alignment films impart a given pre-tilt angle to the liquid crystals. The alignment films are composed of a material containing at least two types of polymers having a prescribed initial alignment and different alignment variation rates in response to ultraviolet ray irradiation. The pre-tilt angle being adjusted, without rubbing the alignment films, through ultraviolet exposure of the alignment films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Takashi Sasabayashi, Yohei Nakanishi, Kenji Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20130071792
    Abstract: An amount of exposure of the photosensitive resin is controlled using a photomask in an exposure treatment. The photosensitive resin subjected to the exposure treatment is developed, thereby simultaneously forming a protrusion which regulates the alignment of liquid crystal molecules comprising the liquid crystal layer, and a photo spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuyoshi Kaise, Mutsumi Nakajima, Keisuke Yoshida, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Keiichi Ina
  • Patent number: 8400595
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal between substrates and alignment layers disposed on the inner surface sides of the substrates. The alignment layer is made from a material including polyamic acid containing a diamine component and polyimide containing a diamine component different from the diamine component of the polyamic acid. The alignment layer is subjected to alignment treatment by irradiation of light. UV light can be irradiated in the oblique direction onto the alignment layer through a mask having openings. A reflecting plate can be arranged between a UV light source and the mask. Also, bank structures having a thickness from 0.1 to 0.15 ?m can be provided on the alignment layer of the TFT substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Chida, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Publication number: 20130027650
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device 20 including a display region 11a and a display region 11b. The display region 11a includes pixels 10a provided with, as pixel electrodes, transflective electrodes 15, each including a transmissive electrode 15a that carries out transmissive display, and a reflective electrode 15b that carries out reflective display. The display region 11b includes pixels 10b provided with, as pixel electrodes, transmissive electrodes 16 that carry out transmissive display. The direction in which the long side of the transmissive electrode 15a of the pixel 10a extends is positioned in the same direction in which the long side of the transmissive electrode 16 of the pixel 10b extends. By aligning the long side direction of the transmissive electrode 15a with the long side direction of the transmissive electrode 16, the direction of change in chromaticity in the display region 11a and the direction of change in chromaticity in the display region 11b become the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Kawashima, Keisuke Yoshida, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Ryohji Yayotani, Yoshimizu Moriya, Keiichi Ina
  • Publication number: 20130027367
    Abstract: In a picture element (100), transmissive electrodes (130, 140) are connected to each other, and reflective electrodes (110, 120) adjacent to the transmissive electrodes are connected to the transmissive electrodes (130, 140), respectively. However, the reflective electrodes (110, 120) are not connected to each other. Alignment controlling structures (111, 121, 131, 141) are provided in regions which correspond to central parts of the respective electrodes, and an alignment controlling structure (151) is provided between the reflective electrodes (110, 120) which are not connected to each other. An alignment of liquid crystals is forcibly made stable in the vicinity of the reflective electrodes by providing the alignment controlling structure (151). It is thus possible to achieve a transflective liquid crystal display device having an excellent display characteristic, such as less roughness and fewer residual images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Kaori Saitoh, Keisuke Yoshida, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Yoshimizu Moriya, Keiichi Ina
  • Publication number: 20130027649
    Abstract: Each pixel includes: a pixel electrode (1) which is rectangular and a counter electrode (2) which has an opening (5a), the pixel electrode (1) and the counter electrode (2) being provided so as to face each other; and a liquid crystal layer which is provided between the pixel electrode (1) and the counter electrode(2), in plan view, a distance being not less than 10 ?m and not more than 30 ?m between each of short sides of the pixel electrode (1) and the opening (5a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Tasaka, Keiichi Ina, Kaori Saitoh
  • Publication number: 20130021564
    Abstract: A pixel electrode (1) has a frame portion (6) along the entire inner circumference of a pixel (10). The frame portion (6) is provided with a plurality of fine electrodes (7a to 7d) each disposed to form an angle of 45 degrees to the polarization axis of a linear polarizing plate. The pixel electrode (1) has a slit (8) formed in a portion other than the frame portion (6) and the fine electrodes (7a to 7d), i.e., the center portion. When the pixel electrode (1) is applied with a voltage, liquid crystal molecules (4) are oriented in four different directions along the fine electrodes (7a to 7d). Furthermore, by the effects from the frame portion (6) along the entire inner circumference of the pixel (10), the liquid crystal molecules (4) are tilted from the center of the pixel electrode (1) toward the outer circumference of an opposite electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Tasaka, Keisuke Yoshida, Yuki Kawashima, Kaori Saitoh, Mutsumi Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20130021231
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device (20), a liquid crystal panel (14) is divided into a display region (15a) including a plurality of pixels (10a) and a display region (15b) including a plurality of pixels (10b). A memory circuit (1) is provided to each pixel (10a) included in the display region (15a). The memory circuit (1) is capable of storing a data signal supplied from a signal line (3). As such, writing the data signal, which has been stored in the memory circuit (1), into a pixel electrode (2) allows an image to be displayed in accordance with the data signal. That is, in the display region (15a), it is possible to display an image without supplying image data from the outside via a scanning line (4) and the signal line (3). This allows a reduction in electric power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Yuki Kawashima, Keisuke Yoshida, Yohsuke Fujikawa, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Yoshimizu Moriya
  • Publication number: 20130010221
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is provided which has a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates, in which liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned with respect to the substrates when no voltage is applied between the substrates and the liquid crystal molecules tilt in a plurality of directions to be almost parallel to the substrates by applying a voltage between the substrates. In the liquid crystal layer, when the voltage is applied, a proportion of a region where the liquid crystal molecules tilt in a direction of 0 degrees to 180 degrees is different from a proportion of a region where the liquid crystal molecules tilt in a direction of 180 degrees to 360 degrees with the angle being defined counterclockwise with the right direction on a screen being 0 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Takashi Sasabayashi, Arihiro Takeda, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Hideo Chida, Yoshio Koike
  • Patent number: 8339532
    Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal layer; two substrates sandwiching the liquid crystal layer; and electrodes respectively provided in the two substrates, the electrodes applying voltage across the liquid crystal layer. A first electrode (15) in the substrate including a pixel selecting element (11) has a striped electrode pattern (15c) aligning liquid crystal molecules along a stripe line direction when voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer. A contact (25h) of the first electrode (15) with the selecting element (11) is formed in a region opposed to, along a film thickness direction, a first region to which a signal liner (GLi) is allocated. This provides a liquid crystal display device in which a contact is made with the pixel electrode having the striped electrode pattern having the periodical arrangement, while alignment disorder of the liquid crystal molecules is not reflected on display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshida, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Noritaka Ajari, Kohhei Tanaka, Ryohji Yayotani, Keisuke Yoshida, Yoshito Hashimoto, Masayuki Soga, Hiroyuki Ohgami, Masakazu Shibasaki
  • Publication number: 20120320325
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel that has an enhanced liquid crystal alignment controlling force irrespective of the external conditions or environments. The enhanced liquid crystal alignment controlling force sufficiently prevents surface roughness or color unevenness that can occur depending on the viewing angle, so that favorable display qualities and excellent transmittance can be achieved. The liquid crystal display panel includes a pair of substrates comprising a pixel electrode and a counter electrode; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the substrates, the liquid crystal display panel comprising spacers at at least four corners of a pixel defined by the pixel electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshimizu Moriya, Yasuyoshi Kaise, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Yuki Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8294860
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is provided which has a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates, in which liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned with respect to the substrates when no voltage is applied between the substrates and the liquid crystal molecules tilt in a plurality of directions to be almost parallel to the substrates by applying a voltage between the substrates. In the liquid crystal layer, when the voltage is applied, a proportion of a region where the liquid crystal molecules tilt in a direction of 0 degrees to 180 degrees is different from a proportion of a region where the liquid crystal molecules tilt in a direction of 180 degrees to 360 degrees with the angle being defined counterclockwise with the right direction on a screen being 0 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Takashi Sasabayashi, Arihiro Takeda, Hideo Chida, Yoshio Koike, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Publication number: 20120262657
    Abstract: A polymerizable compound in a liquid crystal composition is polymerized in a state that liquid crystal molecules present in a gap between a pixel electrode and at least either one of signal electrodes and scanning electrodes are tilted in a direction from the at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes toward the pixel electrode. Preferably, the amount of the polymerizable compound remaining in the liquid crystal phase after the polymerization is not more than 0.05 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the liquid crystal. In a seal section surrounding the liquid crystal layer, a second seal wall is preferably provided at a position opposite to the liquid crystal injection inlet in the non-display section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20120261846
    Abstract: A polymerizable compound in a liquid crystal composition is polymerized in a state that liquid crystal molecules present in a gap between a pixel electrode and at least either one of signal electrodes and scanning electrodes are tilted in a direction from the at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes toward the pixel electrode. Preferably, the amount of the polymerizable compound remaining in the liquid crystal phase after the polymerization is not more than 0.05 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the liquid crystal. In a seal section surrounding the liquid crystal layer, a second seal wall is preferably provided at a position opposite to the liquid crystal injection inlet in the non-display section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Patent number: 8253669
    Abstract: A first edge (61a) and a second edge (61b) are not uniformly parallel to each other in a direction perpendicular to a first direction (A); a protrusion that is provided on one or both of the first edge (61a) and the second edge (61b), which protrusion protrudes into a slit (62b), is increased in just a direction from one predetermined region on one side of a bisector (C) shared by the first edge (61a) and the second edge (61b) to another region on the other side of the bisector C, which region on one predetermined region and the another region on the other side are regions of the first edge (61a) and the second edge (61b), and all of the protrusion(s) being extended into the slit to reach its maximum in the another region on the other side of the bisector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Ina, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Patent number: 8243241
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates with a liquid crystal layer therebetween. A first electrode is formed on the first substrate, and a second electrode is formed on the second substrate. The first 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 first of the at least two regions and a second of the at least two regions are located in a diagonal manner with respect to each other, and each include a slit pattern. A polymer, formed from a polymerizable compound that has been polymerized, is formed between the first and second substrates, wherein the amount of the polymerizable compound remaining in the liquid crystal layer after the polymerization is not more than 0.05 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Yuichi Inoue, Kazutaka Hanaoka, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Kunihiro Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20120154701
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display has a pair of substrates with liquid crystal sealed between them. A polymer layer regulates directions in which the liquid crystal molecules tilt. A plurality of gate bus lines and a plurality of drain bus lines are provided on one of the substrates. Color filters and a pixel electrode are provided on the substrate. The pixel electrode includes a first sub-pixel electrode and a second sub-pixel electrode. A common electrode is provided on the other substrate. A first thin film transistor is connected to the first sub-pixel electrode, a second thin film transistor is connected to the second sub-pixel electrode, and a third thin film transistor is connected to the second sub-pixel electrode. The first and second thin film transistors are both connected to a first gate bus line, and the third thin film transistor is connected to a second bus line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Sasabayashi, Arihiro Takeda, Hiroyasu Inoue, Kazuya Ueda, Yoshio Koike, Hideaki Tsuda, Yasutoshi Tasaka, Hidefumi Yoshida, Kunihiro Tashiro, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Kimiaki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20120140153
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (100) of the present invention includes: an active matrix substrate (1) which includes a pixel electrode (12) provided in each of a plurality of pixels; a counter substrate (2) which has a counter electrode (22) that is arranged so as to oppose the pixel electrode (12); a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer (3) interposed between the active matrix substrate (1) and the counter substrate (2); and a pair of polarizers (40a, 40b) which are arranged so as to oppose each other via the liquid crystal layer (3) and which are in a crossed Nicols arrangement. The pixel electrode (12) includes a cruciform trunk portion (12a) which is arranged so as to coincide with polarization axes (P1, P2) of the pair of polarizers (40a, 40b), a plurality of branch portions (12b) extending from the trunk portion (12a) in a direction of approximately 45°, and a plurality of slits (12c) provided between the plurality of branch portions (12b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Kawashima, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Publication number: 20120133864
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal sealed between two substrates, and a polymer layer for regulating a pretilt angle of liquid crystal molecules and/or tilt directions at a time of driving. One of the substrates has a color filter layer formed on a side of the one substrate. A plurality of stripe-like electrode patterns are provided on the color filter layer. The patterns are periodically arranged so that when polymerizable components mixed in the liquid crystal layer are polymerized to form the polymer layer while a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer between the electrode patterns and a second electrode on the other substrate, liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are aligned in the extending directions of stripe-like electrode patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    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