Patents by Inventor Yuichi Kawahira

Yuichi Kawahira 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).

  • Publication number: 20190094593
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal module being excellent in durability and manufacturing cost and exhibiting reduced variations in peak luminance that are caused depending on an azimuth angle during black display when the polar angle is large. The liquid crystal module includes: a liquid crystal panel including a first polarizer, a first substrate, a liquid crystal layer, an in-cell retardation layer (?/4 plate of nx>ny=nz), a second substrate, an out-cell retardation layer (?/4 plate of nx>ny?nz), and a second polarizer, from a back side toward an observation side; and a backlight. The backlight includes a first prism sheet including a first ridge line, and a second prism sheet provided on a back side from the first prism sheet and including a second ridge line orthogonal to the first ridge line. The first ridge line is parallel to an azimuth at which the liquid crystal panel has a maximized transmittance in an oblique direction during black display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: MASAHIRO HASEGAWA, KOJI MURATA, YUICHI KAWAHIRA, TAKAKO KOIDE, AKIRA SAKAI, KIYOSHI MINOURA
  • Patent number: 10241364
    Abstract: The present invention is a liquid crystal display device including a first polarizer, a first protective layer, a first substrate, a first optical alignment film, a liquid crystal layer, a second optical alignment film, a second substrate including a signal electrode and an opposite electrode, a second protective layer, a second polarizer in this order, in which the layers satisfy the relationship nx=ny?nz, an in-plane retardation of each of optical alignment films is greater than or equal to 1 nm, given that R1 is a thickness-direction retardation of each of the protective layers and that R2 is the in-plane retardation of each of optical alignment films, the relationship R1?0.047R22?2.1R2+44.3 is satisfied, the liquid crystal layer has a positive dielectric anisotropy, and a transmission axis of the second polarizer is perpendicular to an initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Kawahira, Isamu Miyake
  • Publication number: 20180129101
    Abstract: The present invention is a liquid crystal display device including a first polarizer, a first protective layer, a first substrate, a first optical alignment film, a liquid crystal layer, a second optical alignment film, a second substrate including a signal electrode and an opposite electrode, a second protective layer, a second polarizer in this order, in which the layers satisfy the relationship nx=ny?nz, an in-plane retardation of each of optical alignment films is greater than or equal to 1 nm, given that R1 is a thickness-direction retardation of each of the protective layers and that R2 is the in-plane retardation of each of optical alignment films, the relationship R1?0.047R22?2.1R2+44.3 is satisfied, the liquid crystal layer has a positive dielectric anisotropy, and a transmission axis of the second polarizer is perpendicular to an initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Yuichi KAWAHIRA, Isamu MIYAKE
  • Publication number: 20170355853
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device which requires a reduced light irradiation dose in the alignment treatment for a photo-alignment film and achieves a favorable contrast ratio and a viewing angle property. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device includes, in the following order, the steps of: (1) forming on a substrate a film of a photo-alignment film material containing two or more polymers and a solvent; (2) pre-baking the film to evaporate the solvent; (3) post-baking the pre-baked film gradually at multiple temperatures from a low temperature to a high temperature; and (4) irradiating the post-baked film with polarized light, at least one of the two or more polymers being a photo-reactive polymer containing a photo-functional group in a side chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Hiroaki ASAGI, Isamu MIYAKE, Yuichi KAWAHIRA
  • Patent number: 9651828
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device capable of reducing image sticking phenomena and of maintaining the voltage holding ratio, the liquid crystal display device being produced using photo-alignment technology and PSA technology in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: MERCK PATENT GmbH
    Inventors: Toshihiro Matsumoto, Masanobu Mizusaki, Masayuki Kanehiro, Yuichi Kawahira
  • Patent number: 9274375
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a metal electrode, a transparent electrode, an interlayer insulating film, and a comb-shaped electrode. Distorted horizontal electric fields are generated in order to distort the orientation of liquid crystal molecules. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve a transflective liquid crystal display device that has high transmittance, reflectance, and yield, and that can suppress display defects such as screen burn-in without using a panel gap adjusting structure, a driving method that respectively applies different electric fields to the reflective region and the transmissive region, or a multi-L/S structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Kawahira, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Mitsuhiro Murata, Yosuke Iwata
  • Patent number: 8962104
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel that suppresses the temperature dependence of transmittance-gradation characteristics and thus overcomes problems in which significant changes in transmittance-gradation characteristics are caused by the effects of environmental temperature and a light source to lead to the degradation of display performance, and a liquid crystal display device including the liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel of the present invention includes a liquid crystal medium containing a plurality of liquid crystal compounds each having a negative dielectric constant anisotropy, the liquid crystal medium being held between a first substrate and a second substrate that are located opposite each other, and a side of each of the substrates in contact with the liquid crystal medium having vertical alignment properties for the liquid crystal compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, DIC Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Matsumoto, Yuichi Kawahira, Masayuki Kanehiro, Shoutarou Kawakami, Gou Sudou
  • Publication number: 20150042922
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a metal electrode, a transparent electrode, an interlayer insulating film, and a comb-shaped electrode. Distorted horizontal electric fields are generated in order to distort the orientation of liquid crystal molecules. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve a transflective liquid crystal display device that has high transmittance, reflectance, and yield, and that can suppress display defects such as screen burn-in without using a panel gap adjusting structure, a driving method that respectively applies different electric fields to the reflective region and the transmissive region, or a multi-L/S structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Kawahira, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Mitsuhiro Murata, Yosuke Iwata
  • Publication number: 20140111754
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device capable of reducing image sticking phenomena and of maintaining the voltage holding ratio, the liquid crystal display device being produced using photo-alignment technology and PSA technology in combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiro Matsumoto, Masanobu Mizusaki, Masayuki Kanehiro, Yuichi Kawahira
  • Patent number: 8647724
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device capable of reducing the probability of image sticking. The liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates. At least one of the substrates includes an alignment film and a polymer layer on the alignment film. The polymer layer includes monomer units derived from at least two species of polymerizable monomers. The at least two species of polymerizable monomers include at least two species of monomers selected from the group consisting of: specific polyfunctional monomers and specific monofunctional monomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanobu Mizusaki, Takashi Katayama, Yuichi Kawahira, Takeshi Noma, Yohei Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20130293817
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (10) includes an array substrate (20), a counter substrate (22), and a liquid crystal layer (60). Liquid crystal molecules (62) are initially aligned in the vertical direction, and the liquid crystal display device displays an image by controlling the liquid crystal molecules with a transverse electric field. A convex projection (42) is disposed on the array substrate (20), and a pixel electrode (24) is disposed to cover at least a part of a side surface (44) of the convex projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Kawahira, Mitsuhiro Murata, Toshihiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8564751
    Abstract: A VA-mode liquid crystal display device having a high display quality is provided. A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer; a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween; a first electrode provided in the first substrate on the liquid crystal layer side and a second electrode provided in the second substrate on the liquid crystal layer side; and a first alignment film provided between the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer and a second alignment film provided between the second electrode and the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixel areas located in a matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Masanobu Mizusaki, Takashi Katayama, Yuichi Kawahira
  • Publication number: 20130208213
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel that suppresses the temperature dependence of transmittance-gradation characteristics and thus overcomes problems in which significant changes in transmittance-gradation characteristics are caused by the effects of environmental temperature and a light source to lead to the degradation of display performance, and a liquid crystal display device including the liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel of the present invention includes a liquid crystal medium containing a plurality of liquid crystal compounds each having a negative dielectric constant anisotropy, the liquid crystal medium being held between a first substrate and a second substrate that are located opposite each other, and a side of each of the substrates in contact with the liquid crystal medium having vertical alignment properties for the liquid crystal compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Matsumoto, Yuichi Kawahira, Masayuki Kanehiro, Shoutarou Kawakami, Gou Sudou
  • Publication number: 20120293756
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device capable of enhancing the transmittance and the display quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Toshihiro Matsumoto, Mitsuhiro Murata, Yuichi Kawahira
  • Publication number: 20120141694
    Abstract: A TBA-liquid crystal display panel including a liquid crystal medium with positive dielectric anisotropy, wherein the liquid crystal medium includes, in 100% by weight of the liquid crystal compounds identified by the compounds recited in formulas I through IX below: wherein, R1, R3, R3*, R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 independently denote C2-5 linear alkyl, preferably propyl or pentyl, R2 denote C4-6 linear alkyl, preferably butyl or pentyl; and R4 denotes C1-3 linear alkyl, preferably methyl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Toshihiro Matsumoto, Mitsuhiro Murata, Yuichi Kawahira, Masayuki Kanehiro, Takanori Takeda, Norihiko Tanaka, Hideo Ichinose
  • Patent number: 8178173
    Abstract: A TBA-liquid crystal display panel including a liquid crystal medium with positive dielectric anisotropy, wherein the liquid crystal medium includes, in 100% by weight of the liquid crystal compounds identified by the compounds recited in formulas I through IX below: wherein, R1, R3, R3*, R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 independently denote C2-5 linear alkyl, preferably propyl or pentyl, R2 denote C4-6 linear alkyl, preferably butyl or pentyl; and R4 denotes C1-3 linear alkyl, preferably methyl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Toshihiro Matsumoto, Mitsuhiro Murata, Yuichi Kawahira, Masayuki Kanehiro, Takanori Takeda, Norihiro Tanaka, Hideo Ichinose
  • Publication number: 20120099060
    Abstract: A vertical alignment type liquid crystal display element (10) which carries out display operation by controlling orientations of liquid crystal molecules (52) by use of transverse electric fields, wherein interleaved electrodes (30) are provided on an array substrate (22), and a thickness (dl) of a liquid crystal layer (50) at portions where the interleaved electrodes (30) are provided is larger than a thickness (ds) of the liquid crystal layer (50) in an inter-electrode area (RS).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Toshihiro Matsumoto, Mitsuhiro Murata, Yuichi Kawahira
  • Publication number: 20120033158
    Abstract: A VA-mode liquid crystal display device having a high display quality is provided. A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer; a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween; a first electrode provided in the first substrate on the liquid crystal layer side and a second electrode provided in the second substrate on the liquid crystal layer side; and a first alignment film provided between the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer and a second alignment film provided between the second electrode and the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixel areas located in a matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Masanobu Mizusaki, Takashi Katayama, Yuichi Kawahira
  • Publication number: 20120033167
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device capable of reducing the probability of image sticking. The liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of substrates, and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates, wherein at least one of the substrates comprises an alignment film and a polymer layer on the alignment film, and the polymer layer is formed by polymerization of a polymerizable monomer triggered by a polymerization initiator existing at a concentration of 1 mol % or lower relative to the polymerizable monomer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanobu Mizusaki, Yohei Nakanishi, Takashi Katayama, Yuichi Kawahira
  • Publication number: 20120008079
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device capable of reducing the probability of image sticking. The liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates. At least one of the substrates includes an alignment film and a polymer layer on the alignment film. The polymer layer includes monomer units derived from at least two species of polymerizable monomers. The at least two species of polymerizable monomers include at least two species of monomers selected from the group consisting of: specific polyfunctional monomers and specific monofunctional monomers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Masanobu Mizusaki, Takashi Katayama, Yuichi Kawahira, Takeshi Noma, Yohei Nakanishi