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).

  • Patent number: 6583839
    Abstract: 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 region. When no electric field is applied, liquid crystal molecules in the first and second 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 regions at 90° with respect to each other. Alternatively, the liquid crystal molecules in the first and second 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: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Teruaki Suzuki, Shinichi Nishida, Hideya Murai, Masayoshi Suzuki, Makoto Watanabe, Yoshihiko Hirai
  • Publication number: 20030081163
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: TERUAKI SUZUKI, SHINICHI NISHIDA, HIDEYA MURAI, MASAYOSHI SUZUKI, MAKOTO WATANABE, YOSHIHIKO HIRAI
  • Publication number: 20030025865
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 6515719
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate includes on a surface facing the second substrate, a plurality of gate bus lines extending into a row direction, a plurality of drain bus lines extending into a column direction, and a plurality of pixels arranged in matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Tanaka, Seiji Suzuki, Hiroaki Matsuyama, Takahiko Watanabe, Yoshihiko Hirai, Masayoshi Suzuki, Toshiya Ishii, Teruaki Suzuki, Syuusaku Kido
  • Publication number: 20030016325
    Abstract: A polarizer and a ¼ wavelength plate are bonded to each of first and second substrates of a liquid crystal panel that includes a liquid crystal layer having a bend alignment such that an angle between an optical axis of the ¼ wavelength plate and a transmission axis of the polarizer is made 45° relative to each other to make circularly polarized lights outputted respectively from the ¼ wavelength plate and the polarizer each have a polarity opposite each other. In this case, since a light inputted to a liquid crystal display device is converted into a circularly polarized light before entering a liquid crystal layer, the maximum value of an intensity of the light exited from the device becomes constant regardless of the orientation of the optical axis of the liquid crystal layer 101.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Konno, Masayoshi Suzuki, Toshiya Ishii, Kiyomi Kawada, Hiroaki Matsuyama, Yoshihiko Hirai
  • Patent number: 6504584
    Abstract: In a tablet integrated type liquid crystal display apparatus, a first transparent substrate is provided on a view side. The first substrate is a plastic substrate having a thickness equal to or thinner than 0.6 mm, and a counter electrode is formed on the first substrate. A second substrate on which a driving layer composed of switching elements and pixel electrodes respectively connected to the switching elements is formed. The second substrate is a glass substrate having a thickness in a range of 0.6 mm to 1.1 mm. A guest host liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the first substrate and the second substrate such that the guest host liquid crystal is driven by a voltage applied between the counter electrode and the pixel electrode. A tablet electrode layer may be provided between the first substrate and the counter electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyasu Ikeda, Eishi Mizobata, Yoshihiko Hirai
  • Patent number: 6504592
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 6473140
    Abstract: In an LCD, there is used a GH-mode liquid crystal of which change in transmittivity due to variation in gap thickness is less than that of the conventional TN liquid crystal. A tablet facility is directly arranged or electrodes having the function of the tablet are formed over or below the liquid crystal. Thanks to the structure, this protection plate conventionally required to prevent the change in gap thickness resulting due to pressure of a pen input device applied to the LCD can be eliminated. Consequently, it is possible to reduce weight, volume, and parallax of the LCD. An active matrix LCD with integrated table-type input device is attainable in a simple configuration without increasing weight and volume thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Eishi Mizobata, Naoyasu Ikeda, Yoshihiko Hirai
  • Patent number: 6469765
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display and a method of operating such liquid crystal display in which display operation is performed by changing a director of said liquid crystal molecules mainly in a plane parallel to first and second substrate forming a liquid crystal display panel. Liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal display panel have a negative anisotropy of permittivity. The liquid crystal display comprises: a first common electrode disposed on the side of said first substrate; an insulating layer formed on the first common electrode; at least one pixel electrodes each of which is formed on the insulating layer and has a plurality of opening portions; a second common electrode disposed on the side of the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Matsuyama, Yoshihiko Hirai, Kazumi Kobayashi, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Shinichi Nakata
  • Patent number: 6466293
    Abstract: This invention provide a liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal layer between two substrates each of which has an electrode, wherein the liquid crystal layer concomitantly has at least two micro-regions, and the electrode on one of the substrates has an opening, in the region of which there is provided a second electrode for controlling the initial orientation of the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal display has improved properties such as high contrast, quick response and excellent properties for an angle of visibility and can be manufactured without troublesome steps such as a photoresist step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Suzuki, Hideya Murai, Toshiya Ishii, Yoshihiko Hirai, Kazumi Kobayashi, Hiroaki Matsuyama, Daisuke Inoue
  • Patent number: 6456352
    Abstract: A liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between two substrates of glass or the like and a gate terminal, a gate wiring, a control electrode and a drain terminal are arranged on the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal display device further has a control electrode terminal of the control electrode which is in an independent condition without crossing the gate wiring. A terminal part including this control electrode terminal and the gate terminal as well as the drain terminal is arranged on the outer side of the substrate panel. According to this construction, an arbitrary voltage can be applied to the control electrode so that the diagonal electrical field, which is necessary for the orientation division, can be set optimum in the intensity. Thereby the orientation division can be carried out properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kazumi Kobayashi, Yoshihiko Hirai, Toshiya Ishii, Masayoshi Suzuki, Hideya Murai
  • Publication number: 20020127499
    Abstract: A mold body included in a mold of the invention has a pressing face. A surface treated layer including a compound represented by a general formula, CF3(CZ)nSiXaY3-a, wherein n is an integer of 8 or more; a is 1, 2 or 3; Z are the same or different and selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or non-substituted saturated or unsaturated alkyl group and a substituted or non-substituted aromatic group; X is a halogen atom; and Y is a hydrogen atom or a saturated alkyl group, is formed at least on the pressing face of the mold body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Masayuki Endo, Masaru Sasago, Norihisa Mino, Kazufumi Ogawa, Yoshihiko Hirai
  • Publication number: 20020080320
    Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal device a liquid crystal display having a high contrast over wide viewing angles while reducing the color distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Masayoshi Suzuki, Toshiya Ishii, Seiji Suzuki, Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Yoshihiko Hirai
  • Publication number: 20020030780
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: SHINICHI NISHIDA, TERUAKI SUZUKI, MASAYOSHI SUZUKI, MAKOTO WATANABE, ERIKO FUJIMAKI, YOSHIHIKO HIRAI
  • Publication number: 20010052949
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate includes on a surface facing the second substrate, a plurality of gate bus lines extending into a row direction, a plurality of drain bus lines extending into a column direction, and a plurality of pixels arranged in matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Hirotaka Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Tanaka, Seiji Suzuki, Hiroaki Matsuyama, Takahiko Watanabe, Yoshihiko Hirai, Masayoshi Suzuki, Toshiya Ishii, Teruaki Suzuki, Syuusaku Kido
  • Patent number: 6323922
    Abstract: Liquid crystal display (LCD) has sub-pixel domains in each of pixels to obtain a wide viewing angle. The sub-pixel domains are formed by divided orientation alignment in which the sub-pixel domain are subjected to rubbing in different directions opposite to each other. The liquid crystal has a splay-type TN deformation structure in the first sub-pixel domain and a normal TN deformation structure in the second sub-pixel domain. The pre-tilt angles of the liquid crystal in the first domain and second domain are selected to obtain a wide viewing angle. The LCD has a shield pattern for for shielding disclination causing afterimages and storage capacitor electrodes having a function as a signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Suzuki, Ken-Ichi Takatori, Ken Sumiyoshi, Setsuo Kaneko, Teruaki Suzuki, Hideo Shibahara, Yoshihiko Hirai
  • Patent number: 6300996
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device can suppress pixel-based gradation fluctuations observed upon change in angle of view with increased size as it meets wide angle of view characteristics required of a large-sized liquid crystal display device. A device in which a liquid crystal material is sealed between a pair of substrates 31, 32, a plurality of pixel electrodes 38 for applying voltage across the liquid crystal material is arranged on the substrate 31, a common electrode 12 for applying a voltage common to the pixel electrodes 38 is arranged on the substrate 32, and in which a gate line 22 and a drain line 23 of a switching element adapted to control the voltage applied across the pixel electrodes 38 are provided for extending substantially at right angles to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Coporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kazumi Kobayashi, Yoshihiko Hirai, Toshiya Ishii, Hideya Murai, Masayoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6295101
    Abstract: In a tablet integrated type liquid crystal display apparatus, a first transparent substrate is provided on a view side. The first substrate is a plastic substrate having a thickness equal to or thinner than 0.6 mm, and a counter electrode is formed on the first substrate. A second substrate on which a driving layer composed of switching elements and pixel electrodes respectively connected to the switching elements is formed. The second substrate is a glass substrate having a thickness in a range of 0.6 mm to 1.1 mm. A guest host liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the first substrate and the second substrate such that the guest host liquid crystal is driven by a voltage applied between the counter electrode and the pixel electrode. A tablet electrode layer may be provided between the first substrate and the counter electrode. Alternatively, a tablet electrode layer may be provided on the first substrate on an opposite side of the counter electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyasu Ikeda, Eishi Mizobata, Yoshihiko Hirai
  • Publication number: 20010020986
    Abstract: In a tablet integrated type liquid crystal display apparatus, a first transparent substrate is provided on a view side. The first substrate is a plastic substrate having a thickness equal to or thinner than 0.6 mm, and a counter electrode is formed on the first substrate. A second substrate on which a driving layer composed of switching elements and pixel electrodes respectively connected to the switching elements is formed. The second substrate is a glass substrate having a thickness in a range of 0.6 mm to 1.1 mm. A guest host liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the first substrate and the second substrate such that the guest host liquid crystal is driven by a voltage applied between the counter electrode and the pixel electrode. A tablet electrode layer may be provided between the first substrate and the counter electrode. Alternatively, a tablet electrode layer may be provided on the first substrate on an opposite side of the counter electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Naoyasu Ikeda, Eishi Mizobata, Yoshihiko Hirai
  • Publication number: 20010019392
    Abstract: 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 covers 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 predetermined space. A liquid crystal layer disposed between the TFT substrate unit and the opposite substrate and 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: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiaki Sakamoto, Teruaki Suzuki, Mamoru Okamoto, Masayoshi Suzuki, Toshiya Ishii, Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hirai, Yuji Yamamoto