Patents Issued in February 21, 2017
  • Patent number: 9575355
    Abstract: The module for a liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel, a first polarizer formed on an upper side of the liquid crystal display panel, and a second polarizer formed on a lower side of the liquid crystal display panel, wherein the first polarizer has a length in a machine direction, the second polarizer has a width in the machine direction, a shrinkage force of the second polarizer is greater than a shrinkage force of the first polarizer, and the length of a polarizer is greater than the width of a polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Do Won Kim, Hae Ryong Chung
  • Patent number: 9575356
    Abstract: A display panel includes a light blocking pattern and a polarizer. The light blocking pattern is disposed on a base substrate. A plurality of opening areas is defined based on the light blocking pattern. The polarizer includes a plurality of linear patterns spaced apart from each other. The plurality of opening areas includes a color area transmitting color light and a white area transmitting white light. The polarizer overlaps the color area and the white area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Gun Nam, Gug-Rae Jo, Moon-Jung An, Dae-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 9575357
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, a color filter having a plurality of first color barriers, second color barriers, and third color barriers. A lower alignment layer is disposed on the first substrate having a plurality of first lower alignment units, second lower alignment units, and third lower alignment units corresponding to the plurality of first color barriers, second color barriers, and third color barriers, respectively. An upper alignment layer is disposed on the second substrate having a plurality of first upper alignment units, second upper alignment units, and third upper alignment units corresponding to the plurality of first color barriers, second color barriers, and third color barriers, respectively. A lower regionalized polarizer is disposed on the first substrate, and an upper regionalized polarizer is disposed on the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: XIAMEN TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shulin Yao, Long Zhang, Ting Zhou, Poping Shen, Zhaokeng Cao
  • Patent number: 9575358
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel, in which pixel units are provided on the liquid crystal display panel, each pixel unit includes sub-pixel units displaying different colors, at a position of the apposed substrate or the array substrate corresponding to the sub-pixel unit of at least one color in each pixel unit, a monochromatic quantum dot layer is disposed. This liquid crystal display panel has increased color gamut of the liquid crystal display panel, enhanced color saturation, increased display quality, and increased life of quantum dots. A display device and a process for patterning the monochromatic quantum dot layer are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Renwei Guo, Xue Dong, Chuncheng Che, Jianyun Xie
  • Patent number: 9575359
    Abstract: An emissive display system includes an electro-optic device having a first substantially transparent substrate including first and second surfaces disposed on opposite sides thereof. At least one of the first and second surfaces includes a first electrically conductive layer. A second substantially transparent substrate includes third and fourth surfaces disposed on opposite sides thereof. At least one of the third and fourth surfaces includes a second electrically conductive layer. A primary seal disposed between the first and second substrates. The seal and the first and second substrates define a cavity therebetween. An electro-optic medium is disposed in the cavity and is variably transmissive such that the electro-optic device is operable between substantially clear and darkened states. A substantially transparent light emitting display is disposed adjacent to the electro-optic device, which is converted to the darkened state when the light emitting display is emitting light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: David A. Theiste, Leroy J. Kloeppner, Sue F. Franz, Kevin L. Ash, William L. Tonar, David J. Cammenga
  • Patent number: 9575360
    Abstract: An emissive display system includes an electro-optic device having a first substantially transparent substrate. A second substantially transparent substrate is spaced apart from the first substrate to define a cavity therebetween. An electro-optic medium is disposed within the cavity and is variably transmissive such that the electro-optic device is operable between substantially clear and darkened states, and includes at least one solvent, at least one anodic material, and at least one cathodic material. One or more spacing members are deposited on one of the first substrate and the second substrate and are configured to maintain a cell spacing between the first and second substrates. The one or more spacing members at least substantially dissolve upon association with the electro-optic medium. A substantially transparent light emitting display is operably coupled to the electro-optic device, which is in the darkened state when the light emitting display is emitting light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: David A. Theiste, Sue F. Franz, Kevin L. Ash, Leroy J. Kloeppner, William L. Tonar
  • Patent number: 9575361
    Abstract: A reflection sheet and backlight unit including the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the reflection sheet includes a bottom surface, a plurality of side surfaces, each extending from the bottom surface and having an edge opposing the bottom surface, and a first cutting line formed in at least a first one of the side surfaces from a boundary between the first side surface and the bottom surface toward the opposing edge of the first side surface. The reflection sheet also includes a cover surface extending from the opposing edge of the first side surface, wherein the cover surface comprises a protruding surface protruding toward the first cutting line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang Wook Choi, Young Min Park, Young Keun Lee, Jae Sang Lee, Sang Ho Hwang
  • Patent number: 9575362
    Abstract: A backlight assembly and a display device including the same are provided. A backlight assembly includes a light source portion including a plurality of light sources having a first light source and a second light source, the second light source emits light of a color that is different from a color of light emitted from the first light source, and a reflective member that is adjacent to an edge portion of the light source portion, wherein the reflective member includes a base layer including a first region that faces the first light source and a second region that faces the second light source, and a plurality of color patterns including a plurality of first color patterns that are positioned on the first region of the base layer and a plurality of second color patterns that are positioned on the second region of the base layer, wherein the plurality of first color patterns and the plurality of second color patterns have different colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Won Lee, Ju Hee Song, Min Young Song, Ji Won Lee
  • Patent number: 9575363
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device 1 including a liquid crystal cell 2 having a liquid crystal layer, a first polarization plate 3 and a second polarization plate 4, and an optical compensation plate 5, when a differential coefficient of the amount of transmitted light I1 with respect to a time t when the driving voltage is turned off from on in a case in which the optical compensation plate 5 is not disposed is represented by ?I1/?t, and a differential coefficient of the amount of transmitted light I2 with respect to the time t when the driving voltage is turned off from on in a case in which the optical compensation plate 5 is disposed is represented by ?I2/?t, a phase difference in the liquid crystal layer and a phase difference in the optical compensation plate 5 are optically designed to satisfy a relationship of |?I2/?t|>|?I1/?t|.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE FOUNDATION, DIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Kobayashi, Kiyofumi Takeuchi, Masakazu Kaneoya
  • Patent number: 9575364
    Abstract: This liquid crystal display device (100) includes: a vertical alignment liquid crystal layer (30); first and second substrates (10, 20); first and second electrodes (11, 21) arranged on the first and second substrates to face the liquid crystal layer; and two photo-alignment films (12, 22). Each pixel region includes first and second liquid crystal domains, of which the reference alignment directions defined by the two photo-alignment films are a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction, respectively. The first electrode has a slit cut region (11R1), through which a slit (11s) has been cut to run substantially parallel to the reference alignment direction, in a part of a region allocated to each of the first and second liquid crystal domains. The width (W) of the slit is set so that when the highest grayscale voltage is applied to the first electrode, an effective applied voltage decreases by at least 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Tsuyoshi Maeda, Mitsuhiro Murata, Yoji Yoshimura, Yuichiro Yamada, Kenji Okamoto, Yosuke Iwata, Yasuhiro Nasu, Akira Sakai, Masahiro Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9575365
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device including a TFT substrate with display and peripheral regions. The display region has pixels each having a pixel electrode and a TFT. A counter substrate opposes the TFT substrate and has a color filter formed at a position corresponding to a position at which the pixel electrode is formed above the TFT substrate. The method includes coating, outside of the display region of the TFT substrate, a second alignment film in the shape of a frame, and coating, in the display region, a first alignment film that dries more slowly than the second alignment film. The first and second alignment films are in contact, and the second alignment film is thicker than the first alignment film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Shiromoto, Toshirou Iwata, Rai Yang, Shinichi Soto
  • Patent number: 9575366
    Abstract: A liquid crystal cell structure is provided. The liquid crystal cell structure includes: two polarizers; and a liquid crystal diffractive light modulating cell placed between the two polarizers. The cell includes: two transparent substrates treated by photoalignment; and a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer disposed between the two transparent substrates with current conducting layers, the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer comprising ferroelectric liquid crystals. The two transparent substrates treated by photoalignment are configured to provide multiple alignment domains in the ferroelectric liquid crystals with a planar surface orientation. Adjacent domains of the multiple alignment domains are oriented at an angle with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar Srivastava, Wei Hu, Yanqing Lu, Fei Xu, Vladimir Grigorievich Chigrinov, Hoi Sing Kwok
  • Patent number: 9575367
    Abstract: First alignment is performed by forming an alignment layer that includes a photopolymerizable monomer or oligomer on a substrate and the like, introducing liquid crystal, and bringing the liquid crystal into contact with the alignment layer including the photopolymerizable monomer or oligomer. The liquid crystal is then subjected to secondary alignment by photopolymerizing the photopolymerizable monomer or oligomer including the alignment layer to form an alignment regulator in a state in which an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal to hange the alignment of the liquid crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9575368
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is disclosed. The LCD panel includes a first alignment layer formed on a first substrate and a second alignment layer formed on a second substrate. A liquid crystal layer having a plurality of liquid crystal molecules between the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer is exposed using a photomask from a side of the second substrate away from the first substrate. Thus, a portion of the liquid crystal molecules are arranged at a first pre-tilt angle and the other portion of the liquid crystal molecules are arranged at a second pre-tilt angle less than the first pre-tilt angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Century Technology (Shenzhen) Corporation Limited
    Inventors: Hai-Bo Peng, Chen-Fu Mai, Yang Chen
  • Patent number: 9575369
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a display module is provided. The method comprises following steps. A module structure comprising a cover plate, a substrate, and a front plate disposed between the cover plate and the substrate is provided. A space is defined by a lower surface of the cover plate, an upper surface of the substrate, and a side surface of the front plate. A holding structure comprising a holding layer disposed under the module structure is provided. A sealant is filled into the space. Portions of the package layer and the holding structure disposed outside a side surface of the cover plate and a side surface of the substrate are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: E INK HOLDINGS INC.
    Inventors: Ming-Sheng Chiang, Chih-Cheng Wang, Chi-Ming Wu, Ta-Nien Luan, Shu-Ping Yan, Chin-Hsuan Kuan
  • Patent number: 9575370
    Abstract: An array substrate (20) is formed with a plurality of first grooves (28a), in a sealant region (SL), being apart from each other in the width direction of the sealant region (SL) and extending along a sealant (40) and a plurality of second grooves (28b), in the region where a common transition electrode (26c) is formed, being apart from each other in the length direction of the sealant region (SL) and extending along the width direction of the sealant region (SL).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Moriwaki
  • Patent number: 9575371
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal device, in an element substrate, a first area, a second area, and a third area are provided in an area overlapped with sealing material which bonds the element substrate and a counter substrate. In addition, a film which is in the same layer as a first pixel electrode is provided in all of the first area, the second area, and the third area. In addition, a plurality of second pixel electrodes which are in the same layer as the first pixel electrode are formed in a area overlapped with the seal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoya Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 9575372
    Abstract: A display device may include a first subpixel electrode; a first roof layer; a first liquid crystal layer disposed between the first subpixel electrode and the first roof layer; and a first support member overlapping a first end portion of the first roof layer in a first direction. The display device may further include a second subpixel electrode immediately neighboring the first subpixel electrode; a second roof layer; a second liquid crystal layer disposed between the second subpixel electrode and the second roof layer; and a second support member overlapping a first end portion of the second roof layer in the first direction. The first end portion of the first roof layer and the first end portion of the second roof layer may be disposed between a second end portion of the first roof layer and a second end portion of the second roof layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seon Uk Lee, Sung Hwan Won, Dae Ho Lee, Sun Hwa Lee, Kwang-Chul Jung
  • Patent number: 9575373
    Abstract: A display device may include a display panel configured to display an image. The display device may further include a first electrode overlapping the display panel and separated from the display panel. The display device may further include a second electrode overlapping the first electrode and separated from the display panel. The display device may further include a first liquid crystal layer disposed between the first electrode and a first portion of the second electrode. The display device may further include a third electrode electrically insulated from the first electrode, overlapping the second electrode, and separated from the display panel. The display device may further include a second liquid crystal layer disposed between the third electrode and a second portion of the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Hwan Yi, Hee-Keun Lee, Moon Jung Baek, Jong Suk Lee, Kyung Ho Jung, Jung-Hyun Cho
  • Patent number: 9575374
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device are provided. The liquid crystal display device includes: a thin film transistor substrate, a color filter substrate on the thin film transistor substrate, a transparent conductive plate on the color filter substrate, a pad portion on the thin film transistor substrate, a static-electricity transmission electrode on a region of the pad portion adjacent to the color filter substrate, a conductive member configured to electrically connect the transparent conductive plate and the static-electricity transmission electrode to each other, and a plurality of lattice patterns on the static-electricity transmission electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung Hun Jung
  • Patent number: 9575375
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid-crystal display (LCD) device. The LCD device includes: one pair of substrates; and a pixel electrode and a common electrode that are provided on the one pair of substrates to respectively face each other, wherein the pixel electrode includes: one pair of plate electrodes in which a horizontal slit and a plurality of first vertical slits that cross the horizontal slit are formed and that are divided by the horizontal slit and surround both sides of a cross pattern formed by the horizontal slit and the plurality of first vertical slits; and a plurality of fine branch electrodes that are obliquely formed to be connected to the plate electrode at a portion of the cross pattern including a point at which the horizontal slit and the first vertical slit cross each other, wherein one pixel region includes a first subpixel area and a second subpixel area that are divided by the horizontal slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheol Shin, Haksun Chang, Kaeun Kim, Kichul Shin, Hokil Oh, Sehyun Lee
  • Patent number: 9575376
    Abstract: A TFT array substrate for a TFT LCD includes a plurality of pixels each consisting of a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, a blue sub-pixel and a white sub-pixel arranged in a 2×2 matrix. Two data lines are located between each two neighboring columns of the sub-pixels. A scan line is located between two neighboring rows of the sub-pixels. The sub-pixels are driven by column inversion. The scan lines in electrical connections with different rows of the pixels are turned on successively along a vertical direction. Two neighboring same colored sub-pixels in a same row of the sub-pixels and two neighboring same colored sub-pixel in a same column of the sub-pixels respectively have opposite polarities when the TFT LCD is operated to output a screen having a color the same as the color of the two neighboring same colored sub-pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Century Technology (Shenzhen) Corporation Limited
    Inventors: Chih-Chung Liu, Ming-Tsung Wang, Li-Fang Wang, Jian-Xin Liu
  • Patent number: 9575377
    Abstract: A curved liquid crystal display including a first substrate having a curved shape; a plurality of gate lines and data lines on the first substrate; a plurality of thin film transistors connected to the gate lines and data lines; a plurality of color filters on the thin film transistors; a plurality of pixel electrodes and common electrodes on the plurality of color filters, the plurality of pixel electrodes and common electrodes overlapping with each other with a first insulating layer therebetween; a second substrate having a curved shape, the second substrate facing the first substrate; vertical alignment layers on inner sides of the first substrate and the second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer between the vertical alignment layers, wherein liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are aligned to be vertical to surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate when an electric field is not formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Wook Park, Joo Hwan Park, Jeong Man Son, Cheong Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 9575378
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device with a pair of substrates which are arranged to face each other with liquid crystal therebetween, columnar spacers having the substantially equal height formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one substrate, and the columnar spacers include the columnar spacer which is contact with a liquid-crystal-side surface of another substrate and the columnar spacer which is not contact with the liquid-crystal-side surface of another substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichiro Ashizawa, Mitsuo Nakatani, Hiroaki Miwa, Takao Tanaka, Sadafumi Hirai, Shinichi Kawabe, Makoto Sasaki, Kazuyuki Ito, Masahiro Ieda
  • Patent number: 9575379
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyo Sik Kim, Byung-Gon Kum, Min-Joo Han, Ji Phyo Hong
  • Patent number: 9575380
    Abstract: A display panel includes a first substrate in which a display region and a circuit component mounting region are defined and a second substrate, an end of which is cut to expose the circuit component mounting region. The first substrate includes a plurality of first source wirings formed from the display region to the circuit component mounting region and a wiring protection pattern formed in a region corresponding to the cut end of the second substrate between any adjacent first source wirings. In a cross sectional view, an upper end of the wiring protection pattern is located above an upper end of the first source wirings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Takeguchi
  • Patent number: 9575381
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a photodiode, a first transistor, and a second transistor. The photodiode has a function of supplying a charge corresponding to incident light to a gate of the first transistor, the first transistor has a function of accumulating the charge supplied to the gate, and the second transistor has a function of retaining the charge accumulated in the gate of the first transistor. The second transistor includes an oxide semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kurokawa, Takayuki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9575382
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display. The display may be a liquid crystal display having a thin-film transistor layer and a color filter layer. The thin-film transistor layer may have diagonally opposed recesses in its edges that form diagonally opposed display driver ledges that protrude outwardly from under the color filter layer. Display driver circuitry may be mounted on the display driver ledges. Gate driver circuitry may be formed on the thin-film transistor layer. Recesses may be formed along the left and right edges of the display to form left and right display driver ledges to support the gate driver circuitry. A single display drive integrated circuit or multiple display driver integrated circuits may be mounted on each display driver ledge. The recesses may accommodate components in the electronic device such as a camera and audio jack or other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Weber, Kenneth A. Jenks
  • Patent number: 9575383
    Abstract: A first semiconductor layer is formed in the shape of an island in an active area displaying images on an array substrate. A second semiconductor layer is formed in the shape of an island outside the active area. A first insulating film covers the first and second semiconductor layers. A gate line is formed on the first insulating film and extends in a first direction. The gate line includes a gate electrode crossing the first semiconductor layer and a crossing portion crossing the second semiconductor layer. A second insulating film covers the gate line. A source line is formed on the second insulating film and extends in a second direction. The source line includes a source electrode contacting with the first semiconductor layer. A drain electrode is formed on the second insulating film apart from the source line and contacting with the first semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Watanabe, Masakatsu Kitani
  • Patent number: 9575384
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first electrode includes an electrode base portion extending in a first direction, and a plurality of comb tooth portions extending in a second direction different from the first direction and protruding from the electrode base portion with a certain distance interposed therebetween. At least one of the first substrate and the second substrate includes a light-blocking part that reduces intensity of light passing therethrough at a position overlapping with at least one of the center of the comb tooth portion and the center between the adjacent comb tooth portions in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventor: Toshiharu Matsushima
  • Patent number: 9575385
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, a common electrode is formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed on the common electrode, a pixel electrode with a slit is formed on the interlayer insulating film, and a through hole is formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, so that the pixel electrode is connected to a source electrode of a TFT through the through hole. Further, the taper angle around the upper base of the through hole is smaller than the taper angle around the lower base. Thus, the alignment film material can easily flow into the through hole when the diameter of the through hole is reduced to connect the pixel and source electrodes, preventing display defects such as uneven brightness due to the absence of the alignment film or due to the alignment film irregularity around the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Yosuke Hyodo, Hidehiro Sonoda, Noboru Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 9575386
    Abstract: A thin film transistor substrate is provided. The thin film transistor substrate includes a display area including a plurality of pixels, wherein the pixels are connected to gate lines and data lines, a gate driver connected to the gate lines, a plurality of data pads connected to the data lines, a plurality of dummy pattern parts formed of a same layer as the gate lines, and a non-display area in which the gate driver, data pads, and dummy pattern parts are disposed, and the dummy pattern parts are disposed in an area within the non-display area where the gate driver is not disposed, and one of the dummy pattern parts is disposed overlapping with the data pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Young Choi, Jae-Sung Kim, Cha-Dong Kim
  • Patent number: 9575387
    Abstract: The present disclosure disclose a polymer stabilizing liquid crystal lens and a method for manufacturing the same, a display device and an electronic product. The polymer stabilizing liquid crystal lens includes a first substrate with a first electrode, a liquid crystal layer and a second substrate with a second electrode. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a plurality of electrode units. A periodic electric field which has voltages varying periodically is generated between the plurality of electrode units and the second electrode. The liquid crystal layer includes polymers and liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal molecules are deflected under action of the periodic electric field before the polymers are stabilized, and are maintained at a deflecting angle after the polymers are stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xinxing Wang, Jaegeon You, Jikai Yao
  • Patent number: 9575388
    Abstract: Provided is an electrochromic device including a first electrochromic layer, which includes a first nanostructure having first pores and first electrochromic molecules provided on the first nanostructure, on a first electrode, an electrolyte disposed on a top surface of the first electrochromic layer and extending to first recessed portions of the first electrochromic layer, and a second nanostructure disposed on the electrolyte. The first nanostructure may have the first recessed portions in a top surface thereof. The second nanostructure may have second pores therein and second recessed portions in a bottom surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chil Seong Ah, Tae-Youb Kim, Seong-Mok Cho, Hojun Ryu, Juhee Song
  • Patent number: 9575389
    Abstract: A first electro-optic crystal substrate and a second electro-optic crystal substrate are provided as an electro-optic crystal substrate. The first electro-optic crystal substrate comprises a first periodic polarization reversal structure in which first polarization pairs, in each of which the directions of polarization in response to electric fields are opposite to each other, are arranged in a first period along a first arrangement direction which is orthogonal or inclined with respect to the direction of propagation, and light passes through the first periodic polarization reversal structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: Screen Holdings Co., Ltd., Osaka University
    Inventors: Masahide Okazaki, Toshiaki Suhara
  • Patent number: 9575390
    Abstract: An optical fiber is optically coupled to an optical multiplexer. First and second wavelength-selective reflectors are formed onto the optical fiber. The first wavelength selective reflector is configured to reflect radiation of a first wavelength and the second wavelength reflective selector is configured to reflect radiation of a second wavelength that is longer than the first wavelength. A resonant laser cavity is formed between transmission fiber acting as distributed Rayleigh mirror and first and second wavelength selective reflectors. The first and second wavelength-selective reflectors and the optical fiber are configured such that Raman scattering and gain in the transmission fiber converts pump radiation at a pump wavelength less than the first wavelength to radiation of the first wavelength and also convert radiation of the first wavelength to radiation of the second wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cristiano Mornatta, Alessandro Festa
  • Patent number: 9575391
    Abstract: A zoom lens comprises, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit having a positive refractive power; a second lens unit having a negative refractive power; and a rear unit including at least one lens unit. The intervals between the adjacent lens units vary during zooming. The rear unit has a positive refractive power over the entire zoom range. The second lens unit includes at least three negative lenses, and at least two positive lenses. The materials of all the positive lenses included in the second lens unit are appropriately selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigenobu Sugita
  • Patent number: 9575392
    Abstract: An electronic device may contain a camera, a camera flash, and a display in a housing. The camera flash or the display may provide illumination while capturing images with camera. The camera flash may be formed from light guiding structures that receive camera flash light from a light source. The camera flash may be located under a speaker port mesh. A speaker port may contain a camera and a camera flash. Light guiding structures may have a ring shape with an opening. A speaker port, camera, or button may be located within the opening. A button may have an opaque portion in which a transparent light guiding structure for a camera flash is embedded. Camera flash structures may produce camera flash light to capture images and can serve as a status indicator to indicate when a message is received or other state change is detected during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lee E. Hooton, Kelvin Kwong
  • Patent number: 9575393
    Abstract: An image enhancement device and related techniques in support of polynomial texture mapping (PTM) (also known as reflectance transformation imaging (RTI)) photography. The device may include a number of pod legs that extend from a camera focal plane to a base location around an object of interest. At least some of the pod legs may include one or more markers that indicate locations at which directional light sources are used to illuminate an object for the purpose of creating PTM images. A user may place a light at a number of successive marker locations, and trigger the capture of images of the object. The successive images, along with the known locations of the markers, may be used to generate PTM images of the object. The device and associated techniques improve the accuracy and reliability of PTM image capture and creation as well as provide pedagogical support for teaching PTM techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventor: Benjamin F. S. Altshuler
  • Patent number: 9575394
    Abstract: A housing structure that can be used for forming a variety of camera arrays is disclosed. The housing structure comprises a plurality of camera retaining elements which can adaptably receive and retain cameras of various sizes and shapes. Adjacent camera retaining elements that form the housing structure are connected to each other via moveable couplings that enable the formation of camera arrays of various sizes and shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Otoy, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Wallace
  • Patent number: 9575395
    Abstract: A ceiling hanger includes: a first plate fixed to a ceiling surface; a second plate forming a first rotation axis in the up-down direction after fitted to the first plate, and allowing control in the horizontal direction; a third plate forming a second rotation axis in the front-rear direction after fitted to the second plate, and allowing control in the left-right direction; and a fourth plate fixing a projector, forming a third rotation axis in the left-right direction after fitted to the third plate, and allowing control in the up-down direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruhiko Unno
  • Patent number: 9575396
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an electronic device comprising a projector. The projector comprises: a projection module comprising a lens for projection, and a motor, wherein the motor is operable to rotate the lens of the projection module, in order to adjust an orientation of a projection by the projection module. Meantime, the disclosure also provides a control method for this electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: BEIJING LENOVO SOFTWARE LTD., LENOVO (BEIJING) LIMITED
    Inventors: Fei Cheng, Xiaodan Zhang, Zhurong Fu, Yanjiang Hu, Yuling Wei
  • Patent number: 9575397
    Abstract: An optical member driving device of the present disclosure includes an optical member for changing an optical path, the optical member having a parallel flat plate shape; a driving mechanism having a movable portion controlled to move in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the optical member by a drive signal, the driving mechanisms being disposed outside the optical member; a connecting member rotatably connecting an end of the optical member and the movable portion of the driving mechanism on two axes orthogonal to each other at a surface center of the optical member; a support portion disposed between the end of the optical member and the movable portion of the driving mechanism, the support portion rotatably pivoting the connecting member; and a controller configured to control the movable portion of the driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaaki Gyoten
  • Patent number: 9575398
    Abstract: A projector includes a projection optical apparatus that projects an image and a projection position adjustment apparatus that moves the projection optical apparatus in orthogonal directions orthogonal to a central axis of the projection optical apparatus. The projection position adjustment apparatus includes a first movable member that supports the projection optical apparatus, a support member that supports the first movable member movably in the orthogonal directions, and a first transmission unit that moves in the orthogonal directions with the first transmission unit engaging with the first movable member to move the first movable member in the orthogonal directions. The first transmission unit is disposed in a position where the first transmission unit overlaps with part of the first movable member when the projection position adjustment apparatus is viewed along the central axis of the projection optical apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yohei Sakai
  • Patent number: 9575399
    Abstract: A projector includes a shell, a projection lens, an optical engine module, a power supply module a light source module and a fan. The shell defines an air inlet, an air outlet and forms a first room, a second room and a third room. The first room and the second room communicate with the air inlet. The third room communicates with the air outlet. The projection lens and the optical engine module are positioned in the first room. The power supply module is positioned in the second room. The light source module is positioned in the third room. Heated air in the first room can flows to the second room. Heated air in the second room can flows to the third room. The fan is positioned in the third room to expel heated air from within the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WuHan) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chin-Wen Yeh, Zhi-Jian Peng
  • Patent number: 9575400
    Abstract: An image display apparatus projects a first image by using a light source constituted by a plurality of point light sources, performs lighting in a unit of lighting formed from at least one point light source of the plurality of point light sources, and controls, in the unit of lighting, lighting in an overlapped area between the first image and a second image projected from another image display apparatus so as to equalize luminances in the overlapped area and a non-overlapped area when the second image is a solid black frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Motohisa Ito
  • Patent number: 9575401
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes: at least one solid-state light source configured to output light in a predetermined wavelength range; a first optical system including at least one aspherical surface configured to convert a light flux from the solid-state light source into a substantially parallel light flux; an output unit including at least one light emitter that is excited by the light and emits visible light with a wavelength longer than that of the light, the output unit being configured to output light containing the light and the visible light; and a second optical system including at least one concave reflecting surface and being configured to reflect the light on the concave reflecting surface, the light coming from the solid-state light source and being converted into the substantially parallel light flux by the first optical system, to collect the light to the light emitter of the output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Nishikawa, Kazuya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9575402
    Abstract: An illumination optical system includes a first compression system configured to compress a light flux on each of first and second sections, a second compression system configured to compress the light flux on the first section, a polarization converter arranged so that a section that contains a normal of the second polarization splitting surface and the optical axis becomes the second section, and configured to convert non-polarized light into linearly polarized light, a first lens array arranged in front of the polarization converter along an optical path, and a second lens array arranged between the first lens array and the polarization converter along the optical path. Both of the first lens array and the second lens array have no optical power on the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuuki Maeda, Takashi Sudo, Hiroyuki Kodama, Yu Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9575403
    Abstract: An illumination optical system is provided with: a lens that condenses first luminous flux emitted from an optical fiber at an angle of divergence of ?1; a lens that condenses second luminous flux that has a color that is different from the color of the first luminous flux and that is emitted from an optical fiber at an angle of divergence of ?2 (??1); and a dichroic mirror that is provided at the position at which the optical axis of the lens intersects at a right angle with the optical axis of the lens, that transmits the first luminous flux that is irradiated from the lens, and that reflects the second luminous flux that was irradiated from the lens in the direction in which the first luminous flux was transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eisaku Shouji
  • Patent number: 9575404
    Abstract: A virtual reality theater structure, including a reflection screen which has a view angle of up down 40-360° and left right 120-360°, an effective range for virtual reality, and has a reflection rate of 1.1 gain or more; a projection system for projecting the 2D or 3D image for left eye and the 2D or 3D image for right eye on the reflection screen; and a chair structure that is rotatable up and downward 40-120° and left and rightward 120-360° where each chair is rotated with area of independent range that is separated individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventor: Hae-Yong Choi