Patents by Inventor Yoshihiro Onitsuka

Yoshihiro Onitsuka 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: 6614415
    Abstract: A display apparatus features an optical modulation device including a plurality of pixels and a pair of electrodes to which a voltage is applied, and an illumination device for illuminating the optical modulation device instantaneously and successively with a plurality of monochromatic lights of different colors in a frame period to provide a full-color image in combination with application of the voltage to the electrodes of the optical modulation device thereby effecting a full-color display over a succession of the prescribed period. A controller divides each frame period into two periods including a first period for displaying a full-color image at each pixel and a second period immediately after the first period and for placing the optical modulation device in a non-display state, thus effectively suppressing an after image phenomenon adversely affecting a full-color image display in a subsequent frame period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidemasa Mizutani, Yoshihiro Onitsuka
  • Publication number: 20020093480
    Abstract: A display apparatus is constituted by an optical modulation device including a plurality of pixels and a pair of electrodes to which a voltage is applied, an illumination device for illuminating the optical modulation device instantaneously and successively with a plurality of monochromatic lights of different colors in a frame period to provide a full-color image in combination with application of the voltage to the electrodes of the optical modulation device thereby effecting a full-color display over a succession of the prescribed period, and control means for dividing each frame period into two periods including a first period for displaying a full-color image at each pixel and a second period immediately after the first period and for placing the optical modulation device in a non-display state, thus effectively suppressing an after image phenomenon adversely affecting a full-color image display in ai subsequent frame period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Hidemasa Mizutani, Yoshihiro Onitsuka
  • Patent number: 6392620
    Abstract: A display apparatus features an optical modulation device including a plurality of pixels and a pair of electrodes to which a voltage is applied, and an illumination device for illuminating the optical modulation device instantaneously and successively with a plurality of monochromatic lights of different colors in a frame period to provide a full-color image in combination with application of the voltage to the electrodes of the optical modulation device thereby effecting a full-color display over a succession of the prescribed period. A controller divides each frame period into two periods including a first period for displaying a full-color image at each pixel and a second period immediately after the first period and for placing the optical modulation device in a non-display state, thus effectively suppressing an after image phenomenon adversely affecting a full-color image display in a subsequent frame period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidemasa Mizutani, Yoshihiro Onitsuka
  • Patent number: 6046717
    Abstract: A liquid crystal apparatus comprises scanning electrodes and data electrodes intersecting with each other to form a pixel at each intersection, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the scanning electrodes and data electrodes. The apparatus includes a first unit for applying to the scanning electrodes at least two scanning selection signals in at least two vertical scanning periods; the scanning selection signals having mutually different waveforms and each having a pulse of one or the other voltage polarity with respect to the level of a voltage applied a scanning electrode when it is not selected; and a second unit for applying data pulses to the data electrodes in phase with said pulse of one or the other voltage polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Taniguchi, Hiroshi Inoue, Atsushi Mizutome, Tadashi Mihara, Yoshihiro Onitsuka, Masahiro Terada
  • Patent number: 6020867
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display unit for displaying images, a backlight unit disposed behind the display unit for illuminating the display unit, an inverter unit for electrically controlling the backlight unit, a controller unit for controlling the inverter unit and the display unit, and a power supply unit having an exothermic heat distribution for supplying electricity to the inverter unit and the controller unit. The inverter unit and controller unit are disposed behind the backlight unit and the power supply unit is disposed on a side of the display unit, backlight unit, inverter unit and controller unit. The display unit, backlight unit, inverter unit, controller unit and power supply unit are disposed in a common housing. The inverter unit and the controller unit are arranged behind the backlight unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shimada, Katsumi Kurematsu, Hiroshi Takabayashi, Shigeki Yabu, Makoto Uehara, Toshiaki Itazawa, Yasushi Maeda, Masanori Takahashi, Yoshihiro Onitsuka, Kumiharu Takai, Osamu Yuki
  • Patent number: 5816677
    Abstract: A backlight device suitable for illuminating a transmission-type display device, such as a liquid crystal device, is constituted by a reflection member for reflecting light, a transmission member disposed opposite to the reflection member so as to form a space from the reflection member, and a light source disposed to emit light into the space. Light issued from the light source into the space is reflected by the reflection member and transmitted through the transmission member. The transmission member is preferably provided with a reflection layer having apertures having an aperture ratio which increases with an increase in distance from the light source toward a center of the space in a linear function, a hyperbolic function or a function intermediate therebetween of the distance from the light source. Between the transmission member and the display device, a prism sheet and/or a diffusion sheet may be disposed so as to improve the frontal illumination performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurematsu, Yoshihiro Onitsuka, Toshiyuki Kanda
  • Patent number: 5818408
    Abstract: A liquid crystal apparatus comprises a) a liquid crystal device comprising an electrode matrix composed of scanning electrodes and data electrodes, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal; and b) a driving means. The driving means includes a first drive means for applying a scanning selection signal two or more scanning electrodes apart in one vertical scanning so at to effect in one picture scanning in plural times of vertical scanning, and a second drive means for applying data signals in synchronism with the scanning selection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Mihara, Hiroshi Inoue, Atsushi Mizutome, Akira Tsuboyama, Osamu Taniguchi, Yoshihiro Onitsuka
  • Patent number: 5808597
    Abstract: An illumination device for a liquid crystal display apparatus to be disposed on a back side of a liquid crystal display panel is constituted by a plurality of illumination circuits, and plural hot cathode tubes including at least one hot cathode tube associated with each illumination circuit. Each illumination circuit includes a life detection circuit for detecting an end of life of a hot cathode tube, and a turn-off circuit for turning off the hot cathode tube depending on an output of the life detection circuit. Each illumination circuit controls said at least one hot cathode tube associated therewith independently from the other hot cathode tubes. As a result, even when a hot cathode tube approaches its end of life, the illumination device can be partially turned off to allow an operator to continue the operation on the liquid crystal display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Onitsuka, Hiroshi Takabayashi, Toshiyuki Kanda
  • Patent number: 5796450
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a plurality of linear light sources disposed with a prescribed spacing therebetween, a light guide means disposed between or among the linear light sources, and a reflection means disposed behind the light guide means so that light issued from the linear light sources is transmitted through the light guide means and reflected by the reflection means to be emitted in a direction forward from the light guide means. Further, a luminance distribution-adjusting means for reflecting light transmitted through the light guide means is disposed along the light guide means in a disribuption density which varies continuously at a changing rate free from discontinuity so as to adjust the luminance distribution of the light emitted in the direction forward from the light guide means. The illumination device may be suitably used as a backlight behind a liquid crystal panel to provide a liquid crystal display apparatus having improved display qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kanda, Hiroshi Takabayashi, Yoshihiro Onitsuka
  • Patent number: 5777592
    Abstract: A liquid crystal apparatus comprises a) a liquid crystal device comprising an electrode matrix composed of scanning electrodes and data electrodes, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal; and b) a driving means. The driving means includes a first drive means for applying a scanning selection signal two or more scanning electrodes apart in one vertical scanning so at to effect in one picture scanning in plural times of vertical scanning, and a second drive means for applying data signals in synchronism with the scanning selection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Mihara, Hiroshi Inoue, Atsushi Mizutome, Akira Tsuboyama, Osamu Taniguchi, Yoshihiro Onitsuka
  • Patent number: 5751386
    Abstract: An illumination device includes: a linear light source; first reflection means disposed opposite to and with a spacing from the linear light source; a light guide means disposed between the linear light source and the first reflection means; and a second reflection means disposed behind the light guide means so that light issued from the linear light source is transmitted through the light guide means and reflected by the first and second reflection means to be emitted in a direction forward from the light guide means. Further, a luminance distribution-adjusting means for reflecting light transmitted through the light guide means is disposed along the light guide means in a distribution density which varies at a changing rate free from discontinuity so as to adjust the luminance distribution of the light emitted in the direction forward from the light guide means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kanda, Hiroshi Takabayashi, Yoshihiro Onitsuka
  • Patent number: 5726722
    Abstract: A rear right source device having a lamp chamber in which straight-tube light source lamps are arranged in the vertical direction. The light source device includes a ventilating hole formed on the upper lateral face of the lamp chamber for releasing the air of the lamp chamber heated by the light source lamps to the extrior, and a seal member mounted on the lower lateral face of the lamp chamber and substantially closing the gap between the lamp and an aperture for inserting the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Uehara, Shigeki Yabu, Yoshihiro Onitsuka
  • Patent number: 5710607
    Abstract: A method of producing an impact resistant liquid crystal display, for a nematic liquid crystal display or a chiral smectic ferroelectric liquid crystal display, includes the steps of fixing a liquid crystal panel onto a panel fixing member so as to substantially expose the liquid crystal panel through an opening of the panel fixing member and disposing an elastic member along a periphery of the panel fixing member. The elastic member is affixed to a supporting member so as to define an almost closed space with the liquid crystal panel, the panel fixing member, the elastic member and the supporting member, whereby an air damping effect is created to suppress flexural deformation of the liquid crystal panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Iwamoto, Hisao Tajima, Makoto Uehara, Yoshihiro Onitsuka, Takao Miyamoto, Hiroshi Takabayashi, Satoshi Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 5691740
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus having scanning electrodes, data electrodes, and ferroelectric liquid crystal material placed between the scanning electrodes and the data electrodes. Scanning signals are applied sequentially to the scanning electrodes to select a scanning electrode. Data signals are applied in synchronization with the scanning signals to place a voltage at the intersection of the data electrode and the selected scanning electrode which will place the ferroelectric material at the intersection into the desired optical state. The scanning signals and the data signals are such that pixels located at the intersection of the non selected scanning electrodes and data electrodes receive an AC voltage superimposed onto a DC voltage. Pixels on selected scanning electrodes may also receive the AC voltage superimposed onto the DC voltage. The DC voltage has its polarity inverted with every vertical scanning period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Onitsuka, Hiroshi Inoue, Osamu Taniguchi, Atsushi Mizutome, Tadashi Mihara, Akira Tsuboyama
  • Patent number: 5659376
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus is constituted by: a housing; a liquid crystal panel comprising a liquid crystal disposed between a pair of substrates each provided with electrodes, the liquid crystal panel being affixed to the housing; and a backlight for illuminating the liquid crystal panel, detachably affixed to the housing. A light-transmissive plate, such as a diffusion plate, allowing transmission of light from the backlight is further disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the backlight so as to define an almost closed first space in cooperation with the liquid crystal panel, whereby the first space retaina its almost closed state even when the backlight is detached from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Uehara, Hidetarou Tsuchiya, Hisao Tajima, Hiroyuki Yokomizo, Hiroshi Takabayashi, Shigeki Yabu, Toshiaki Itazawa, Mitsuo Iwayama, Yoshihiro Onitsuka, Yasushi Shioya
  • Patent number: 5602562
    Abstract: A liquid crystal apparatus includes a liquid crystal device including scanning electrodes, data electrodes and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the scanning electrodes and the data electrodes. A scanning selection signal and a scanning nonselection signal are applied to the scanning electrodes. The data signals are applied to the data electrodes in phase with the scanning selection signal. The average voltage values of the data signals are varied during the period of applying a scanning selection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Onitsuka, Hiroshi Inoue, Osamu Taniguchi, Atsushi Mizutome, Tadashi Mihara, Akira Tsuboyama
  • Patent number: 5506601
    Abstract: A liquid crystal apparatus comprises a) a liquid crystal device comprising an electrode matrix composed of scanning electrodes and data electrodes, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal; and b) a driving means. The driving means includes a first drive means for applying a scanning selection signal two or more scanning electrodes apart in one vertical scanning so at to effect in one picture scanning in plural times of vertical scanning, and a second drive means for applying data signals in synchronism with the scanning selection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Mihara, Hiroshi Inoue, Atsushi Mizutome, Akira Tsuboyama, Osamu Taniguchi, Yoshihiro Onitsuka
  • Patent number: 5488388
    Abstract: Driving apparatus including scanning electrodes and data electrodes, a liquid crystal assuming first and second optical states according to the polarity of a writing voltage applied thereto and disposed between the scanning and data electrodes, scanning-side and drive-side drivers, and a controller for controlling these drivers. The scanning-side drive supplies first and second scanning selections signals having mutually different voltage wave forms to the scanning electrodes so that the first and second scanning selection signals are applied alternately in respective vertical scanning periods. The data-side driver supplies data pulses to the data electrodes in synchronism with the first and second scanning selection signals so as to form one picture in at least four vertical scanning periods. The controller controls the scanning-side and data-side drivers so as to scroll each picture in at least four vertical scanning periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Taniguchi, Hiroshi Inoue, Atsushi Mizutome, Tadashi Mihara, Yoshihiro Onitsuka, Masahiro Terada
  • Patent number: 5182549
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal apparatus the scanning electrodes are applied with at least two scanning selection signals in at least two vertical scanning periods. The scanning selection signals comprise mutually different waveforms, each comprising a pulse of one or the opposite voltage polarity with respect to the level of a voltage applied to a scanning electrode when it is not selected. Data pulses are applied to the data electrodes in phase with the pulse. A writing voltage and a fore voltage are applied prior to the writing voltage formed by the combination of the pulse and a data voltage to a pixel on a scanning electrode during a selection period determined by application of the one or the opposite polarity to the scanning electrode. The fore voltage pulse has a polarity opposite to that of the writing voltage and an amplitude which is 1/2 or less of that of the writing voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Taniguchi, Hiroshi Inoue, Atsushi Mizutome, Tadashi Mihara, Yoshihiro Onitsuka, Masahiro Terada
  • Patent number: 5150231
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus is provided with a liquid crystal panel comprising a pair of substrates each provided with an electrode and a liquid crystal disposed between the pair of substrates. A supporting member having a frame supports the liquid crystal panel, and an elastic member for secures the liquid crystal panel in a floating state to the frame of the supporting member so as to define an almost closed space enclosed with the liquid crystal panel, the supporting member and the elastic member. A backlight illuminates the liquid crystal panel below the supporting member so as to define the almost closed space enclosed with the liquid crystal panel, the supporting member, the elastic member and the backlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Iwamoto, Hisao Tajima, Makoto Uehara, Yoshihiro Onitsuka, Takao Miyamoto, Hiroshi Takabayashi, Satoshi Yoshihara