Patents by Inventor Yoshiharu Kataoka

Yoshiharu Kataoka 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: 8189147
    Abstract: A negative C plate (31) is arranged to be between a polarizing plate (32) and a reflective liquid crystal panel (20). A retardation of the negative C plate (31) is set so that a combination of the negative C plate (31) and the liquid crystal panel (20) generates a phase difference of “n?/4+?/8 (n is 0, or a positive or negative integer)” for a one-way light path with respect to linearly-polarized light entering into the liquid crystal display device. This makes it possible to provide, at low cost, a liquid crystal display device whose viewing angle can be narrowed by arbitrarily setting a direction in which visibility is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiko Sakai, Dai Chiba, Katsuhiko Morishita, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Chikanori Tsukamura
  • Patent number: 8169567
    Abstract: A viewing angle controlling liquid crystal panel in which uniformity of a shielding effect in a screen is further improved is provided. Linearly polarized light enters a liquid crystal layer. Further, the liquid crystal layer is provided, on a light exit side of the liquid crystal layer, with a polarizing plate transmitting only a component of light having exited from the liquid crystal layer which component is parallel to a polarization axis of the linearly polarized light having entered the liquid crystal layer. Liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal layer are tilted in a direction parallel to or perpendicular to the polarization axis of the linearly polarized light having entered the liquid crystal layer. In addition, an electrode (26) is provided so that two or more different voltages can be applied to the liquid crystal layer simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiko Sakai, Dai Chiba, Katsuhiko Morishita, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Chikanori Tsukamura
  • Patent number: 8125595
    Abstract: A difference of work functions in different metal thin films is suppressed without causing the increase of the manufacturing steps or the decrease of the optical performance. In a semi-transmissive reflective liquid crystal display apparatus 1 including a reflective electrode 62 and a transmissive electrode 63 in the pixel electrode 64, the surface of the reflective electrode 62 is subject to a plasma treatment, so that the work function of the reflective electrode 62 is controlled by changing by a value of 0.1 eV from the original value. Thus, it is possible to place the work function of the reflective electrode 62 within a difference of ±0.2 eV with respect to the work function of the transmissive electrode 63. As a result, a number of the manufacturing steps is not increased or no optical performance is decreased, unlike conventional liquid crystal display apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Fujita, Masafumi Kokura, Mitsunori Harada, Hijiri Nakahara, Yoshiharu Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20120037905
    Abstract: A display device of the present invention includes a display panel (101) including a photodiode (17), which generates a current having a magnitude corresponding to an intensity of light incident on the photoelectric conversion element; and, a backlight (108) for irradiating light from behind the photodiode (17) to beyond a front surface of the display panel (101), wherein: the photodiode (17) includes an activating layer made of hydrogenated a-Si; the light source (108) has a peak wavelength within a range from 780 nm or more to 830 nm or less; and the display device further includes a light blocking member (15) for blocking light having a wavelength less than 780 nm, the light blocking member (15) being provided between a front surface of the display panel (101) and the photodiode (17) and over the photodiode (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuhito Murai, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Takuya Watanabe, Hajime Imai, Hideki Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20120019496
    Abstract: A field-effect transistor (62a) has a back gate (62ag2). The back gate (62ag2), a cathode of a photodiode (62b), and a first end of a first capacitor (62c) are connected with each other via a first node (netA). An anode of the photodiode (62b) is connected with a first line (Vrst). A second end of the first capacitor (62c) is connected with a second line (Csn). A gate (62ag1) of the field-effect transistor (62a) is connected with a third line (Vrwn), and a drain of the filed-effect transistor (62a) is connected with a fourth line (Vsm). A source of the field-effect transistor (62a) is an output of an output amplifier (62a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuhito Murai, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Takuya Watanabe, Hajime Imai, Hideki Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20120013595
    Abstract: A display device includes, in a display region, a first circuit including a photodiode (62b), a first capacitor (62c), a second capacitor (62d), and an output amplifier (62a). A cathode of the photodiode (62b), one end of the first capacitor (62c), one end of the second capacitor (62d), and an input of the output amplifier (62a) are connected with one another via a first node (netA). An electrode at the other end of the second capacitor (62d) is provided on a substrate having a display surface of a display panel, and an electrode at the one end of the second capacitor (62d) is positioned to be away from the display surface in a thickness direction of the display panel in such a manner as to face the electrode at the other end of the second capacitor (62d).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuhito Murai, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Takuya Watanabe, Hajime Imai, Hideki Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20120013574
    Abstract: A display device includes: an optical sensor circuit provided in a display region, the optical sensor circuit including a light-receiving element and detecting intensity of light incident to the light-receiving element; and a pressure detection circuit which detects pressure applied to a display surface of a display panel on a basis of a change of the display surface in a panel thickness direction which change is caused by the pressure, with respect to a region in which the pressure is to be detected, both of the detection of the pressure by the pressure detection circuit and the detection of the intensity of the light by the optical sensor circuit being carried out within a period allocated to acquisition of detection data concerning the pressure in the display region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuhito Murai, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Takuya Watanabe, Hajime Imai, Hideki Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 8098350
    Abstract: There are provided a display that can block light so that a display on an image display device is invisible from a wide range of view angles in an oblique direction, and a view angle control element employed therein. In a narrow view angle state, a view angle control liquid crystal panel (2) prevents light in a predetermined wavelength region that has been incident at a polar angle of ?H or more from being transmitted through a polarizing plate (22) by using a phase difference imparted by a liquid crystal cell (21). In the narrow view angle state, a view angle control liquid crystal panel (3) prevents light that has been incident at a polar angle of ?L or more, among light that has been transmitted through the polarizing plate (22), from being transmitted through a polarizing plate (32) by using a phase difference imparted by a liquid crystal cell (31). Consequently, light forming a polar angle of ?L or more is blocked as a whole, which allows the narrow view angle state to cover a wide range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiko Sakai, Dai Chiba, Katsuhiko Morishita, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Chikanori Tsukamura
  • Patent number: 8054433
    Abstract: There are provided a viewing angle control device that can provide a black display without coloring and achieve a significantly improved shielding ability during a narrow viewing angle state, and a display using the same. In order to adjust VT (voltage-transmittance) characteristics of a viewing angle control liquid crystal panel (2) that switches a viewing angle between a wide viewing angle state and a narrow viewing angle state by using birefringence of liquid crystal, the viewing angle control liquid crystal panel (2) includes a translucent dielectric film (206g, 206r) for adjusting the voltage-transmittance characteristics of the liquid crystal at a position corresponding to a picture element of at least one color in a display liquid crystal panel (1) on at least one of a pair of translucent substrates (201, 202) that sandwich the liquid crystal therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Okazaki, Takehiko Sakai, Katsuhiko Morishita, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Chikanori Tsukamura, Dai Chiba
  • Patent number: 8045097
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device including a display liquid crystal panel and a viewing-angle-control liquid crystal panel and capable of switching viewing angle characteristics, a half wavelength plate for setting a viewing restricted direction is provided between the display liquid crystal panel and the viewing-angle-control liquid crystal panel. This makes it possible to realize a liquid crystal display device that allows a viewing restricted direction to be set as appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiko Sakai, Tsuyoshi Okazaki, Katsuhiko Morishita, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Chikanori Tsukamura, Dai Chiba
  • Patent number: 8045103
    Abstract: The present invention provides a color filter substrate which can suppress a reverse tilt domain from being generated in a liquid crystal layer near a boundary between a colored layer and a bank without forming a flattening layer on the colored layer. The color filter substrate of the present invention is a color filter substrate including a substrate, an insulating film having transparency, a bank, and a colored layer, the insulating film being arranged on the substrate, the bank and the colored layer being arranged on the insulating film, the colored layer being surrounded by the bank, wherein a thickness of the insulating film in a region overlapping with the center of the colored layer is smaller than a thickness of the insulating film in a region overlapping with an edge of the colored part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Hayano, Dai Chiba, Yoshiharu Kataoka
  • Patent number: 8013943
    Abstract: A display device includes: a first substrate and a second substrate disposed to face each other; a display medium layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix between the first substrate and the display medium layer; a first transparent electrode, interposed between the second substrate and the display medium layer, for detecting a touched location; and a second transparent electrode, interposed between the first transparent electrode and the display medium layer, for receiving a display signal. The display device detects the touched location using a capacitive coupling method and displays an image. A shield electrode for suppressing capacitive coupling is formed between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Tanaka, Yoshiharu Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20110175836
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an active matrix substrate (20a) including a plurality of first touch panel interconnects (19b) extending in parallel with each other, a counter substrate (30a) facing the active matrix substrate (20a) and including a plurality of second touch panel interconnects (25a) extending in parallel with each other in a direction intersecting the first touch panel interconnects (19b), a liquid crystal layer (40) provided between the active matrix substrate (20a) and the counter substrate (30a) with an alignment film (9a, 9b) being interposed between the liquid crystal layer (40) and each of the active matrix substrate (20a) and the counter substrate (30a), and a plurality of columnar touch pins (P) connected to the first or second touch panel interconnects (19b, 25a). Repellency to the alignment films (9a, 9b) is imparted to at least a portion of a top portion of each of the touch pins (P).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiko Sakai, Dai Chiba, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Takuya Watanabe, Shogo Nishiwaki, Kazunori Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20110169761
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an active matrix substrate (20a) including a plurality of first touch panel interconnects (19b) extending in parallel with each other, a counter substrate (30a) facing the active matrix substrate (20a) and including a plurality of second touch panel interconnects (25a) extending in parallel with each other in a direction intersecting the first touch panel interconnects (19b), and a liquid crystal layer (40) provided between the active matrix substrate (20a) and the counter substrate (30a) with an alignment film (9a, 9b) being interposed between the liquid crystal layer (40) and each of the active matrix substrate (20a) and the counter substrate (30a). The first touch panel interconnects (19b) each have a plurality of first touch pins (Pa) having a columnar shape in regions where the first touch panel interconnects (19b) intersect the second touch panel interconnects (25a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiko Sakai, Dai Chiba, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Takuya Watanabe, Shogo Nishiwaki
  • Publication number: 20110141413
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel (50a) including: an active matrix substrate (20a) including a plurality of light-reflecting lines (11), an insulating film (16) provided so as to cover the lines (11), and a plurality of pixel electrodes (19) provided in a matrix pattern on the insulating film (16); a counter substrate (30a) placed opposing the active matrix substrate (20a) and including a plurality of colored layers (22) provided in a matrix pattern so as to respectively overlap the pixel electrodes (19), and a black matrix (21a) provided between the colored layers (22); and a liquid crystal layer (40) provided between the active matrix substrate (20a) and the counter substrate (30a), wherein at least one of the black matrix (21a) and the lines (11) has a raised/recessed portion (C) whose surface is formed in a raised/recessed shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiko Sakai, Dai Chiba, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Tetsuo Fujita, Kazunori Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7956940
    Abstract: A display system includes a liquid crystal display (10) including a backlight (3), a liquid crystal display panel (1), and a viewing angle control panel (2) for controlling the viewing angle of the display panel (1), the display system causing the amount of external light reflected by the liquid crystal display (10) to be relatively larger than the amount of light leaked from the backlight (3) onto the liquid crystal display panel (1). This provides a display system having an enhanced blocking effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiko Sakai, Tsuyoshi Okazaki, Katsuhiko Morishita, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Chikanori Tsukamura, Takahiro Sasaki, Dai Chiba
  • Publication number: 20110122361
    Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate for a display device and a liquid crystal display device, which are capable of preventing a reflective layer from being damaged in a resist separation step for patterning the reflective layer. The present invention is a substrate for a display device provided with a reflective layer in a display region, comprising: a pattern film that is disposed outside the display region except a terminal region and on the same side as a side of the reflective layer, the pattern film including either one of a material that has the same ionizability as a material of the reflective layer and a material that has higher ionizability than the material of the reflective layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Fujita, Takehiko Sakai, Dai Chiba, Kazunori Morimoto, Yoshiharu Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20110122348
    Abstract: A device includes: an active matrix substrate (20a) including a plurality of first display lines (11a) extending parallel to each other and a plurality of second display lines extending parallel to each other in a direction crossing the first display lines (11a); and a counter substrate (30a) including a black matrix (B) provided so as to overlap the first display lines (11a) and the second display lines, wherein the active matrix substrate (20a) includes a plurality of touch panel lines (11b) extending parallel to each other in a direction in which the first display lines (11a) extend, and portions of the black matrix (B) overlapping the second display lines are electrically conductive and are configured so as to come into contact with the touch panel lines (11b) when the surface of the active matrix substrate (20a) or the counter substrate (30a) is pressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiko Sakai, Dai Chiba, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Takuya Watanaba
  • Patent number: 7948580
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a backlight (3), a liquid crystal display panel (1), and a viewing angle control panel (2) for controlling the viewing angle of the display panel (1), the liquid crystal display further including a lens sheet (41) provided between the backlight (3) and the liquid crystal display panel (1). This provides a display device system which is capable of providing better blocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiko Sakai, Tsuyoshi Okazaki, Katsuhiko Morishita, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Chikanori Tsukamura, Dai Chiba
  • Publication number: 20110102359
    Abstract: A touch electrode and a detection element are positioned in at least two of pixels. The touch electrode is formed in a first substrate, and is positioned so as to face a counter electrode. The touch electrode contacts the counter electrode and is electrically connected thereto when a second substrate is pressed and bent toward the first substrate. The detection element is connected to the touch electrode, and detects the electrical connection between the touch electrode and the counter electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Dai Chiba, Takehiko Sakai, Tetsuo Fujita, Kazunori Morimoto, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Shogo Nishiwaki