Patents by Inventor Yoshihiko Hirai
Yoshihiko Hirai 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).
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Patent number: 6987551Abstract: An in-plane-switching liquid crystal display unit has a two-dimensional matrix of pixel regions each including a first auxiliary region and a second auxiliary region. When no electric field is applied, liquid crystal molecules in the first and second auxiliary regions are directed in respective orientations that lie at 90° with respect to each other. When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are rotated in the same direction while maintaining their orientations in the first and second auxiliary regions at 90° with respect to each other. Alternatively, the liquid crystal molecules in the first and second auxiliary regions are directed in the same orientation when no electric field is applied, and when a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are rotated opposite directions while maintaining their orientations in symmetric relationship.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2003Date of Patent: January 17, 2006Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Teruaki Suzuki, Shinichi Nishida, Hideya Murai, Masayoshi Suzuki, Makoto Watanabe, Yoshihiko Hirai
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Publication number: 20050280755Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display panel by which a good display characteristic can be obtained without suffering from gradation reversal over a wide visibility angle range. A liquid crystal layer 4 is formed such that the thickness thereof varies in accordance with transmission wavelengths of color layers 6, 7 and 8 so that a very good display which does not exhibit any coloring in whichever direction it is viewed may be obtained. An active matrix substrate A includes a plurality of opposing electrodes 2, a plurality of pixel electrodes 3 parallel to the opposing electrodes 2, a thin film transistor, and an orientation film 23 all formed on a glass substrate 10. A color filter substrate C includes an orientation film 56 provided on one surface of another glass substrate 10 and an optical compensation layer 35 provided on the other surface of the glass substrate 10 and formed from a plastic film.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2005Publication date: December 22, 2005Inventors: Shinichi Nishida, Teruaki Suzuki, Masayoshi Suzuki, Makoto Watanabe, Eriko Fujimaki, Yoshihiko Hirai
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Publication number: 20050264743Abstract: An in-plane-switching liquid crystal display unit has a two-dimensional matrix of pixel regions each including a first auxiliary region and a second auxiliary region. When no electric field is applied, liquid crystal molecules in the first and second auxiliary regions are directed in respective orientations that lie at 90° with respect to each other. When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are rotated in the same direction while maintaining their orientations in the first and second auxiliary regions at 90° with respect to each other. Alternatively, the liquid crystal molecules in the first and second auxiliary regions are directed in the same orientation when no electric field is applied, and when a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are rotated 15 opposite directions while maintaining their orientations in symmetric relationship.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2005Publication date: December 1, 2005Inventors: Teruaki Suzuki, Shinichi Nishida, Hideya Murai, Masayoshi Suzuki, Makoto Watanabe, Yoshihiko Hirai
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Publication number: 20050259197Abstract: An LCD device includes front substrate and rear substrate sandwiching therebetween an LC layer, front polarizing film and rear polarizing film disposed on the front side of the front substrate and the rear side of the rear substrate, respectively, and a reflecting film disposed on the rear side of the rear polarizing film. The distance between the LC layer and the reflecting film is set at 0.8 mm or smaller, to solve a parallax problem.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2005Publication date: November 24, 2005Inventors: Yoshihiko Hirai, Kenichiro Naka
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Patent number: 6965419Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display panel by which a good display characteristic can be obtained without suffering from gradation reversal over a wide visibility angle range. A liquid crystal layer 4 is formed such that the thickness thereof varies in accordance with transmission wavelengths of color layers 6, 7 and 8 so that a very good display which does not exhibit any coloring in whichever direction it is viewed may be obtained. An active matrix substrate A includes a plurality of opposing electrodes 2, a plurality of pixel electrodes 3 parallel to the opposing electrodes 2, a thin film transistor, and an orientation film 23 all formed on a glass substrate 10. A color filter substrate C includes an orientation film 56 provided on one surface of another glass substrate 10 and an optical compensation layer 35 provided on the other surface of the glass substrate 10 and formed from a plastic film.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2004Date of Patent: November 15, 2005Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Shinichi Nishida, Teruaki Suzuki, Masayoshi Suzuki, Makoto Watanabe, Eriko Fujimaki, Yoshihiko Hirai
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Publication number: 20050191860Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming, on a substrate, a flowable film made of an insulating material with flowability; planarizing a top face of the flowable film by pressing the flowable film with a pressing member; forming a solidified film by annealing the flowable film at a first temperature with the pressing member pressed against the flowable film; and forming a burned film with a flat top face by burning the solidified film through annealing of the solidified film at a second temperature higher than the first temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2005Publication date: September 1, 2005Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideo Nakagawa, Masaru Sasago, Yoshihiko Hirai
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Patent number: 6927822Abstract: In an orientation division type liquid crystal display device for widen a viewing angle of a display pixel of an active matrix type liquid crystal color display device having a COT structure, pixel color layers (6B, 6R, 6G) as color filters and pixel electrodes 3 are formed on a substrate on the side of the pixel electrodes and slopes 13 are provided along four side peripheries of each pixel electrode. Liquid crystal molecules 8 between each pixel electrode of the pixel electrode substrate and a common electrode of an opposing substrate are controlled in orientation direction along the slopes to divide it to a plurality of directions to thereby widen a viewing angle of a pixel display.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2004Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: NEC LCD TechnologiesInventors: Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hirai, Michiaki Sakamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Toshiya Ishii, Teruaki Suzuki, Ken Sumiyoshi, Masayoshi Suzuki
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Publication number: 20050170269Abstract: A pattern formation method includes the steps of forming a flowable film made of a material with flowability; forming at least one of a concave portion and a convex portion provided on a pressing face of a pressing member onto the flowable film by pressing the pressing member against the flowable film; forming a solidified film by solidifying the flowable film, onto which the at least one of a concave portion and a convex portion has been transferred, through annealing at a first temperature with the pressing member pressed against the flowable film; and forming a pattern made of the solidified film burnt by annealing at a second temperature higher than the first temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2005Publication date: August 4, 2005Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideo Nakagawa, Masaru Sasago, Yoshihiko Hirai
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Publication number: 20050164494Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a flowable film made of an insulating material with flowability; forming a first concave portion in the flowable film through transfer of a convex portion of a pressing face of a pressing member by pressing the pressing member against the flowable film; forming a solidified film having the first concave portion by solidifying the flowable film through annealing at a first temperature with the pressing member pressed against the flowable film; forming a burnt film having the first concave portion by burning the solidified film through annealing at a second temperature higher than the first temperature; forming a second concave portion connected at least to the first concave portion in the burnt film by forming, on the burnt film, a mask having an opening for forming the second concave portion and etching the burnt film by using the mask; and forming a plug and a metal interconnect by filing the first concave portion and the second concavType: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2005Publication date: July 28, 2005Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideo Nakagawa, Masaru Sasago, Yoshihiko Hirai
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Publication number: 20050036096Abstract: A liquid crystal display having a wide viewing angle and easily manufactured. The liquid crystal display comprises an upper substrate and a lower substrate, and a liquid crystal material disposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate. The liquid crystal display has a conductive protrusion disposed on the surface of the upper substrate opposing to the lower substrate. The conductive protrusion is disposed over a scanning electrode line or a signal electrode line and has the same potential as that of the upper electrode. As another structure, each of pixel electrodes on the lower substrate has a smaller area than that of a common electrode on the upper substrate and is covered by the common electrode, and each of the pixel electrodes comprises an electrode portion having approximately symmetrical shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2004Publication date: February 17, 2005Applicant: NEC CORPORATIONInventors: Ken-Ichi Takatori, Masayoshi Suzuki, Toshiya Ishii, Teruaki Suzuki, Hiroshi Kanoh, Ken Sumiyoshi, Michiaki Sakamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hirai
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Patent number: 6842207Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display panel by which a good display characteristic can be obtained without suffering from gradation reversal over a wide visibility angle range. A liquid crystal layer 4 is formed such that the thickness thereof varies in accordance with transmission wavelengths of color layers 6, 7 and 8 so that a very good display which does not exhibit any coloring in whichever direction it is viewed may be obtained. An active matrix substrate A includes a plurality of opposing electrodes 2, a plurality of pixel electrodes 3 parallel to the opposing electrodes 2, a thin film transistor, and an orientation film 23 all formed on a glass substrate 10. A color filter substrate C includes an orientation film 56 provided on one surface of another glass substrate 10 and an optical compensation layer 35 provided on the other surface of the glass substrate 10 and formed from a plastic film.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1997Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignees: NEC Corporation, NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.Inventors: Shinichi Nishida, Teruaki Suzuki, Masayoshi Suzuki, Makoto Watanabe, Eriko Fujimaki, Yoshihiko Hirai
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Publication number: 20040252260Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display panel by which a good display characteristic can be obtained without suffering from gradation reversal over a wide visibility angle range. A liquid crystal layer 4 is formed such that the thickness thereof varies in accordance with transmission wavelengths of color layers 6, 7 and 8 so that a very good display which does not exhibit any coloring in whichever direction it is viewed may be obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2004Publication date: December 16, 2004Applicant: NEC CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichi Nishida, Teruaki Suzuki, Masayoshi Suzuki, Makoto Watanabe, Eriko Fujimaki, Yoshihiko Hirai
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Publication number: 20040218128Abstract: In an orientation division type liquid crystal display device for widen a viewing angle of a display pixel of an active matrix type liquid crystal color display device having a COT structure, pixel color layers (6B, 6R, 6G) as color filters and pixel electrodes 3 are formed on a substrate on the side of the pixel electrodes and slopes 13 are provided along four side peripheries of each pixel electrode. Liquid crystal molecules 8 between each pixel electrode of the pixel electrode substrate and a common electrode of an opposing substrate are controlled in orientation direction along the slopes to divide it to a plurality of directions to thereby widen a viewing angle of a pixel display.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2004Publication date: November 4, 2004Applicant: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hirai, Michiaki Sakamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Toshiya Ishii, Teruaki Suzuki, Ken Sumiyoshi, Masayoshi Suzuki
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Patent number: 6812986Abstract: A liquid crystal display having a wide viewing angle and easily manufactured. The liquid crystal display comprises an upper substrate and a lower substrate, and a liquid crystal material disposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate. The liquid crystal display has a conductive protrusion disposed on the surface of the upper substrate opposing to the lower substrate. The conductive protrusion is disposed over a scanning electrode line or a signal electrode line and has the same potential as that of the upper electrode. As another structure, each of pixel electrodes on the lower substrate has a smaller area than that of a common electrode on the upper substrate and is covered by the common electrode, and each of the pixel electrodes comprises an electrode portion having approximately symmetrical shape.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2002Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Ken-Ichi Takatori, Masayoshi Suzuki, Toshiya Ishii, Teruaki Suzuki, Hiroshi Kanoh, Ken Sumiyoshi, Michiaki Sakamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hirai
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Patent number: 6768530Abstract: In an orientation division type liquid crystal display device for widen a viewing angle of a display pixel of an active matrix type liquid crystal color display device having a COT structure, pixel color layers (6B, 6R, 6G) as color filters and pixel electrodes 3 are formed on a substrate on the side of the pixel electrodes and slopes 13 are provided along four side peripheries of each pixel electrode. Liquid crystal molecules 8 between each pixel electrode of the pixel electrode substrate and a common electrode of an opposing substrate are controlled in orientation direction along the slopes to divide it to a plurality of directions to thereby widen a viewing angle of a pixel display.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2000Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hirai, Michiaki Sakamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Toshiya Ishii, Teruaki Suzuki, Ken Sumiyoshi, Masayoshi Suzuki
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Patent number: 6750934Abstract: A VA (Vertical Aligned) type active-matrix liquid crystal display capable of stabilizing a boundary position between divided areas (alignment areas). The liquid crystal display comprises a TFT (thin film transistor) substrate including a pixel electrode provided for each pixel and a driving element such as a TFT provided for each pixel electrode, an opposite substrate disposed opposite to the TFT substrate and including an opposite electrode, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the opposite substrate. Each pixel electrode has a recess in groove shape formed therein. The pixel electrode preferably has a generally rectangular shape. The recess is provided such that it extends from one of a pair of opposite sides of the pixel electrode to the other to divide the pixel electrode into two parts.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2000Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.Inventors: Michiaki Sakamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Masayoshi Suzuki, Toshiya Ishii, Teruaki Suzuki, Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hirai
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Patent number: 6714271Abstract: In an LCD, according to the present invention, an electrode 3 is made up of a transparent film such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and is formed on top of transparent substrate 1. An aperture 5, with its width W being equal to or longer than the width x of the defectively oriented region C, is formed on both the electrode 3 and the substrate 1. An alignment layer 10, made of a transparent insulating film, is formed on top of the electrode 3. The surface of the alignment layer 10 is subjected to an optically orienting process using UV rays. Thereby, differently oriented regions that orient respective liquid crystal molecules 15, 16 and 14 almost perpendicular to the surface of the alignment layer 10 when no electric field is applied via the electrode 3, are generated on the alignment layer 10. An electrode 4, made of a transparent conductive film such as an ITO, is formed on the underside of transparent substrate 2.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2000Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Matsuyama, Yoshihiko Hirai
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Publication number: 20040029363Abstract: After a fluid film is formed by supplying a material with fluidity to the surface of a substrate formed with a stepped layer, the fluid film is pressed against the substrate by a pressing member having a planar pressing surface so that the surface of the fluid film is planarized. The fluid film is heated in this state and thereby solidified to form a solidified film having a planar surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventors: Hideo Nakagawa, Masaru Sasago, Masayuki Endo, Yoshihiko Hirai
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Patent number: 6650390Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel comprises a TFT substrate unit having a thin film transistor (TFT), a control electrode connected to the TFT, a flattening film covering the control electrode, and a pixel electrode having a cross slit and formed on the flattening film and insulated from the control electrode. An opposite substrate unit has an opposite electrode facing the pixel electrode at a predetermined position. A liquid crystal layer disposed between the TFT substrate unit and the opposite substrate includes liquid crystal molecules having negative dielectric aeolotropy. When voltage is supplied between the control electrode and the opposite electrode, an electric field is generated between them. The electric field divides the liquid crystal layer into four domains in each pixel according to the cross slit formed in the pixel electrode.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michiaki Sakamoto, Teruaki Suzuki, Mamoru Okamoto, Masayoshi Suzuki, Toshiya Ishii, Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hirai, Yuji Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20030133068Abstract: An in-plane-switching liquid crystal display unit has a two-dimensional matrix of pixel regions each including a first auxiliary region and a second auxiliary region. When no electric field is applied, liquid crystal molecules in the first and second auxiliary regions are directed in respective orientations that lie at 90° with respect to each other. When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are rotated in the same direction while maintaining their orientations in the first and second auxiliary regions at 90° with respect to each other. Alternatively, the liquid crystal molecules in the first and second auxiliary regions are directed in the same orientation when no electric field is applied, and when a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are rotated opposite directions while maintaining their orientations in symmetric relationship.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2003Publication date: July 17, 2003Applicant: NEC CORPORATIONInventors: Teruaki Suzuki, Shinichi Nishida, Hideya Murai, Masayoshi Suzuki, Makoto Watanabe, Yoshihiko Hirai