Conductive Mask Patents (Class 349/111)
  • Patent number: 6268895
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: an active matrix substrate; a counter substrate; and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the active matrix substrate and the counter substrate, wherein the active matrix substrate includes a plurality of switching elements, a plurality of pixel electrodes, gate lines for supplying a control signal to the switching elements, and source lines for supplying a data signal to the switching elements, the gate lines and the source lines crossing each other, and the pixel electrodes being connected to the respective source lines through the switching elements, the counter substrate includes a counter electrode opposed to the plurality of pixel electrodes through the liquid crystal layer, the plurality of pixel electrodes, the counter electrodes and the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween form a plurality of pixel regions, and wherein the liquid crystal display device includes a display region including the plurality of pixel regions and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimada, Yuzuru Kanemori, Mikio Katayama, Shinya Tanaka, Takashi Ochi
  • Patent number: 6266110
    Abstract: An uppermost metal wiring layer is formed of titan Ti and titan nitride TiN formed thereon, on which tungsten W for filling a via hole can be deposited. The via hole is filled with W. The surface of a metal wiring layer below the uppermost metal wiring layer is covered with a low reflectivity film made of titan nitride. Thus, light incident on the surface of the semiconductor chip is prevented from reaching a substrate transistor within a semiconductor device and malfunctioning of the semiconductor device is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignees: Kawasaki Steel Corporation, Pioneer Electronic Corporation, Pioneer Video Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Mizuno, Masanori Iwahashi, Toshihiro Shimizu, Masaaki Fujishima, Koji Hanihara, Itaru Tsuchiya, Yasuo Yagi
  • Patent number: 6266117
    Abstract: In order to improve the picture quality, such as by minimizing the smear in a liquid crystal display device of the in-plane field type having a wide viewing field, and to reduce power consumption, in the active-matrix liquid crystal display device, over the transparent substrate opposed to the transparent substrate over which the video signal lines are provided, a shield electrode is formed completely overlapping the video signal lines in plan view, the light shielding layer has a multilayer structure comprising CrO and Cr layers in this order from the transparent substrate side to the liquid crystal layer side, a connection terminal for supplying a reference signal to the light shielding layer is formed over the transparent substrate over which the display electrodes, the scan signal lines, the video signal lines and the active devices are provided, and a conductive layer to electrically connect the light shielding layer and the connection terminal is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Hiatchi, LTD
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yanagawa, Masuyuki Ohta, Kazuhiro Ogawa, Keiichiro Ashizawa, Masahiro Yanai, Nobutake Konishi
  • Patent number: 6262783
    Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display device includes a pair of transparent plates, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of plates, and a light-shielding layer provided on one of the plates. The light-shielding layer has a light-transmitting portion and a light-shielding portion. The reflective liquid crystal display device further includes a storage capacitor electrode and an insulating layer covering the light-shielding layer and the storage capacitor electrode. The insulating layer has concave and convex surfaces. The reflective liquid crystal display device further includes a reflective pixel electrode provided on the concave and convex surfaces of the insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Tsuda, Mariko Ban, Tomoko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6259505
    Abstract: In an electro-optical apparatus, such as a liquid crystal apparatus using a UV-ray curable sealing member, the remnants of non-cured portions in the sealing member is prevented. The liquid crystal apparatus has a structure in which a UV-ray shielding member or a film member, such as an overcoat formed on an opposing-side substrate and a frame-shaped light shielding member formed on a device-side substrate, is placed within the outer frame portion of the liquid crystal apparatus in an neighboring state to the sealing member. The outer periphery portions of the overcoat and the frame-shaped light shielding member corresponding to the corner portion of the sealing member are formed in a curved shape or a shape having obtuse angles such as an arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Makino
  • Patent number: 6246457
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a black mask formed by depositing two substances, the interface between the two substances having a black color. In a method for making a liquid crystal display device having a color filter substrate, composed of a transparent substrate, color filters, and transparent electrodes, a process for fabricating the color filter substrate comprises: a step for forming a plurality of striped zinc oxide layers; a step for forming color filters each having a color; a step for forming a copper layer; a step for forming an overcoat layer; and a step for forming a plurality of transparent electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakazu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6218679
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a counter substrate having a counter electrode and a multi-layered dielectric film both formed thereon, and an array substrate formed with pixel electrodes and thin-film transistors serving as switching elements. A layer of polymer dispersed liquid crystal material containing a UV-curable resin component and a liquid crystal component is sandwiched and sealed between the counter and array substrates. A light shielding film is formed over each thin-film transistor. The multi-layered dielectric film is a laminated structure of alternating thin-films of SiO2 and HfO2. Since the multi-layered dielectric film is of a nature capable of transmitting UV-rays of light therethrough, the UV-curable resin component positioned underneath the multi-layered dielectric film can be cured during the manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takahara, Shinya Sannohe
  • Patent number: 6208404
    Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a color display including a color filter and a black matrix, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: forming a film of zinc oxide on a transparent substrate; forming the the color filter on the said film of zinc oxide; and thereafter, applying a deposit of electroless copper plating on an area of the said film of zinc oxide on which the said color filter is not formed, the said deposit having a thickness which is substantially equal to a thickness of the said color filter and constituting an element of said black matrix. Thus, a color display may be provided with a black matrix that is of high optical density and a low reflectivity. The black matrix can also be commensurate with film thickness with the color matrix. No photo lithographic process is required in preparing the color filter and black matrix. Various modified forms of embodiments of the method of manufacturing a color display are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Tryonics Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Tomoyori, Akira Fujishima, Kazuhito Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6204897
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a liquid crystal display device with a signal layer integrated onto a substrate. Circuitry derives touch position based upon response to signals applied to the signal layer. At least one resistor is integrated onto the substrate. The resistor is coupled between the signal layer and the circuitry. The resistor is formed in conjunction with the signal layer. Preferably, the resistor is part of a resistor network for linearizing resistance of the signal layer in a vertical direction and horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Evan George Colgan, James Lewis Levine, Michael Alan Schappert
  • Patent number: 6201590
    Abstract: A panel of a liquid crystal display, having a transparent insulating substrate, a gate line which is formed on the substrate, has a double-layered structure including a bottom metal layer and a top indium tin oxide layer, and extends to form a gate pad. A plurality of common electrodes which are formed on the substrate, connected to each other and separated from the gate line. An insulating layer covering the gate line and the common electrodes. A plurality of pixel electrodes which are formed on the insulating layer and are arranged between two of the common electrodes. A data line which is formed on the insulating layer and extends to form a data pad and a switching element having a gate connected to the gate line, a source connected to the data line and a drain connected to the pixel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masuyuki Ohta, Kazuhiko Yanagawa, Keiichiro Ashizawa, Yasuyuki Mishima, Kazuhiro Ogawa, Masahito Ohe, Masahiro Yanai, Katsumi Kondo
  • Patent number: 6195140
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention 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: a plurality of gate lines; a plurality of source lines arranged to cross with the plurality of gate lines; a plurality of switching elements disposed in the vicinity of crossings of the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of source lines; and a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the plurality of switching elements. The second substrate includes a counter electrode. A plurality of pixel regions are defined by the plurality of pixel electrodes, the counter electrode, and the liquid crystal layer interposed between the plurality of pixel electrodes and the counter electrode, and each of the plurality of pixel regions includes a reflection region and a transmission region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Yozo Narutaki, Atsushi Ban, Takayuki Shimada, Yoji Yoshimura, Mikio Katayama, Yutaka Ishii, Hirohiko Nishiki
  • Patent number: 6184962
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed first and second substrates each having thereon a plurality of transparent stripe-shaped electrodes so that the transparent stripe-shaped electrodes on the first and second substrates intersect each other to form an electrode matrix, each stripe-shaped electrode being provided with a sub-electrode superposed thereon; and a liquid crystal disposed between the first and second substrates so as to provide a plurality of pixels each at an intersection of the stripe-shaped electrodes on the first and second substrates, thereby forming a display region including the pixels and a visible peripheral region surrounding the display region. In the visible peripheral region of the display device, the sub-electrodes on the first and second substrates are extended to mask or light-interrupt the stripe-shaped electrodes and spacings between the stripe-shaped electrodes on the first and second substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Suzuki, Noriyuki Nakai, Hiroki Hiyama
  • Patent number: 6177918
    Abstract: The present invention provides for touch input functionality in a liquid crystal display having a plurality of cells each comprising a first substrate having a common electrode integrated thereon, a second substrate having a pixel electrode integrated thereon, and liquid crystal material disposed between the common electrode and pixel electrode. A first conductive layer (signal layer) and second conductive layer (guard plane layer) are integrated onto the first substrate and disposed between the first substrate and the common electrode. Contact position of a touch input device with the first substrate is determined by applying a first signal to the signal layer. A second signal is applied to the guard plane layer to thereby lower capacitive coupling between the signal layer and the common electrode. The second signal may be generated by scaling amplitude and/or phase shifting the first signal. Response to the first signal is measured to determine contact position of the touch input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Evan George Colgan, James Lewis Levine, Michael Alan Schappert, Gregory Fraser Russell
  • Patent number: 6166795
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus of the present invention includes an array substrate, a counter substrate, and liquid crystal that is interposed and held by a space formed by maintaining the array substrate and the counter substrate at a specified interval in a parallel manner, the liquid crystal display apparatus being of in-plane switching in which voltage is impressed on a pair of electrodes disposed on the array substrate to generate an electric field substantially parallel with respect to the array substrate surface and in which liquid crystal is driven through in-plane switching of liquid crystal molecules, wherein the array substrate is formed with a conductive film layer on a surface opposite to the surface on which the pair of electrodes are disposed. Providing a liquid crystal display apparatus with no electric charged being stored on the substrate surface thereof and no afterimages appear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Advanced Display Inc.
    Inventors: Masayuki Fujii, Fumio Matsukawa, Akira Tsumura, Shin Tahata, Masaya Mizunuma, Akira Tamatani, Yasuhiro Morii, Yasuo Fujita
  • Patent number: 6160598
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a substrate, a transparent electrode on the substrate, an anodizing layer and a non-anodizing layer on the transparent electrode, and a thin film transistor over the non-anodizing layer. The anodizing layer is a transparent insulating layer and the non-anodizing layer is an opaque metal layer. These layer are formed by anodizing a metal layer, of which a portion is blocked by a photoresist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Ki Hyun Lyu
  • Patent number: 6157426
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a multilayer black matrix system for improving the contrast of displayed images. The black matrix system includes at least one layer of a material that has variable amounts of chemical elements. By, for example, varying "x" and "y" in SiO.sub.x N.sub.y, the refractive index "n" of adjacent SiO.sub.x N.sub.y layers can be slowly varied through the thickness of the system so that the refractive index adjacent the substrate substantially matches that of the substrate and so that there are no overly large refractive index differences between adjacent layers in the system. This reduces light reflections off of the black matrix system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: OIS Optical Imaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Tieer Gu
  • Patent number: 6128057
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a planar optical modulation device having a transparent substrate and a plurality of pixels disposed thereon so as to be each capable of optical modulation thereat, and a masking member disposed on the transparent substrate and including spacings. The making member includes a layer of a metal compound containing C, O and a metal element. The masking member is effective in reducing a degree of reflection of external light (from a viewer side) while maintaining a sufficient light-interrupting property, thus resulting in a display apparatus exhibiting good display performances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Mitsuharu Sawamura, Makoto Kameyama, Toshiaki Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 6124910
    Abstract: An active matrix-type liquid crystal display device driven by a transverse electric field is provided which is capable of providing a superior image quality without showing after images or uneven images by maintaining the potential of the black matrix at an optimum value, while maintaining the black matrix in a floating state; the active matrix-type liquid crystal display device being constructed by a pair of transparent insulating substrates, and on the TFT substrate, a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of signal lines, thin film transistors formed near the crossover points of the scanning and signal lines, pixel electrodes connected to the TFTs, and counter electrodes formed facing to the pixel electrodes are formed with a transverse electric field being generated by applying a voltage between the pixel electrodes and the counter electrodes, and a slit with a predetermined size being formed in the black matrix formed on the other CF substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Nishida, Tsutomu Kadotani, Shunsuke Shiga
  • Patent number: 6118506
    Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display having a high aperture ratio is provided. Retaining capacitors are created between a black matrix and pixel electrodes via a dielectric layer made from an organic resinous material or inorganic material. Those regions of the black matrix which cover TFTs are fully utilized. Therefore, wider area can be used to display an image than heretofore. In the present invention, the difference in relative dielectric constant between different dielectric layers is employed. Therefore, retaining capacitors can be created without the need to take account of parasitic capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Naoaki Yamaguchi, Katunobu Awane, Funiaki Funada, Yoshitaka Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6115088
    Abstract: The present invention provides an active matrix type display device having a high aperture ratio and a required auxiliary capacitor. A source line and a gate line are overlapped with part of a pixel electrode. This overlapped region functions to be a black matrix. Further, an electrode pattern made of the same material as the pixel electrode is disposed to form the auxiliary capacitor by utilizing the pixel electrode. It allows a required value of auxiliary capacitor to be obtained without dropping the aperture ratio. Also, it allows the electrode pattern to function as a electrically shielding film for suppressing the cross-talk between the source and gate lines and the pixel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongyong Zhang, Satoshi Teramoto
  • Patent number: 6115097
    Abstract: An active matrix type liquid crystal device with a peripheral driver circuit. The peripheral driver is formed inside an area surrounded by a sealing member. That sealing member bonds together a pair of glass substrates and seals liquid crystal material therein. The peripheral driver circuit is covered with the sealing material enabling the entire device to be reduced in size. The sealing member can also have a light blocking function to avoid the need for a separate light blocking film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6108056
    Abstract: In an active matrix display device integrated with a peripheral drive circuit using thin film transistors, when Vgr is a voltage required for one gradation, Ct is capacitance of all pixels, Cgd is capacitance between a gate and a drain, .DELTA.Vg is a difference between ON/OFF gate voltages, and .DELTA.Vs is a feedthrough voltage, the respective parameters satisfy an expression: .vertline.Vgr.vertline.>.vertline.(1/Ct) [Cgd.multidot..DELTA.Vg-Ct.multidot..DELTA.Vs].vertline.. According to this, even if dispersion occurs in the characteristics of the thin film transistors arranged for a buffer circuit or an active matrix circuit, it is possible to prevent the dispersion from influencing the gradation display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Setsuo Nakajima, Katunobu Awane, Tatsuo Morita
  • Patent number: 6100956
    Abstract: In an active matrix type liquid crystal display apparatus, respective ones of the electrodes on a substrate are provided so that an electric field substantially parallel to the substrate can be supplied to a liquid crystal layer. Polarizers for changing the optical characteristics based on the alignment of the liquid crystal layer are provided, as well as a shielding layer formed in parallel to the image signal electrodes on the substrate. The specific resistivity of the shielding layer is less than 10.sup.8 .OMEGA..multidot.cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahito Oh-e, Sukekazu Aratani, Shigeru Matsuyama, Hiroaki Asuma, Kiyoshige Kinugawa
  • Patent number: 6099993
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for forming a color filter panel of a liquid crystal display device, including the steps of forming a first black matrix (BM) array on a substrate, the first BM array including a plurality of first horizontal BM strips and a plurality of first vertical BM strips; forming a plurality of color filters on the substrate; forming a second BM array on the first BM array; and forming a common electrode on the substrate. Further, the present invention is directed to a color filter panel of a liquid crystal display device, including a substrate; a first BM array formed on a substrate, the first BM array including a plurality of first horizontal BM strips and a plurality of first vertical BM strips; a plurality of color filters formed on the substrate; a second BM array formed on the first BM array; and a common electrode formed on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Woong Kwon Kim, Jae Yong Park, Kyoung Nam Lim
  • Patent number: 6091467
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to attain proper display free from improper display conditions, such as crosstalk, improper contrast and uneven display. Another object is to obtain a high aperture ratio by reducing a margin for bonding. Light shielding films are used to cover the overlap portion of the source electrode and the semiconductor layer and the overlap portion of the drain electrode and the semiconductor layer of a bottom gate type TFT device, such as a staggered type. This structure can suppress off-current due to light leakage, and can prevent deterioration of display quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Katsuhiro Kawai, Shinya Yamakawa, Masaya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6088070
    Abstract: An conductive coating serves as a light shield film and is kept at a give voltage. A metal interconnection is located in the same layer as a source line and connected to the drain of a thin-film transistor. An interlayer insulating film is constituted of at least lower and upper insulating layers and formed between the conductive coating and the source line. According to one aspect of the invention, an auxiliary capacitor is formed by the metal interconnection and the conductive coating serving as both electrodes and at least the lower insulating layer film serving as a dielectric. The auxiliary capacitor is formed in a region of the interlayer insulating film in which the upper insulating layer has been removed by etching. According to another aspect of the invention, the conductive coating has a portion that is in contact with the lower insulating layer in a region where the conductive coating coextends with the metal interconnection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtani, Yasushi Ogata, Yoshiharu Hirakata
  • Patent number: 6081314
    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 shielding disclination causing afterimages and storage capacitor electrodes having a function as signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Suzuki, Ken-Ichi Takatori, Ken Sumiyoshi, Setsuo Kaneko, Teruaki Suzuki, Hideo Shibahara, Yoshihiko Hirai
  • Patent number: 6081305
    Abstract: A liquid crystal light valve for a projection type display such that a pixel circuit area in which a plurality of switching elements are disposed in a matrix state, a drive circuit area in which drive circuit elements are disposed, and the peripheral area are formed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate and further metal layers are provided through insulating layers. The uppermost layer of the metal layers are partitioned by slits to arrange reflectors as output terminals of the switching elements. As middle layers, a shading layer of the pixel circuit area for interrupting an incident light from the slits and a shading layer for interrupting an irradiation to the peripheral area and the drive circuit area are formed. Further, when image data to be displayed in the pixel circuit area has a construction of n.times.m pixels (where, n and m are even numbers), the number of columns and the number of lines are increased by one, respectively, thereby obtaining a construction of (n+1).times.(m+1) pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Sato, Shoichi Hirota, Iwao Takemoto, Katsumi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6075580
    Abstract: An active matrix type liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal layer disposed between a device substrate and an opposite substrate wherein the device substrate includes: a plurality of switching elements disposed at a plurality of locations determined by data signal interconnections and scanning signal interconnections; and a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed at locations corresponding to the plurality of switching elements, the plurality of pixel elements being connected to the corresponding switching elements, and wherein the opposite substrate includes an opposite electrode disposed opposite to the pixel electrodes, the active matrix type liquid crystal display apparatus being characterized in that: a light shielding layer having electrical conductivity is disposed at least partially on the data signal interconnections or the scanning signal interconnections via an insulating layer; the pixel electrodes are disposed on the light shielding layer via a second insulating layer; and a vo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsunobu Kouchi
  • Patent number: 6069677
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal projector using the same are provided for suppressing reduction in liquid crystal properties due to heat and light by precisely shielding light in regions other than a region irradiated with light corresponding to effective pixels. Light-shielding substrates are each brought to absolute contact with a back of a drive substrate and a front of an opposed substrate, respectively. One of the light-shielding substrates is provided with a frame-shaped light-shielding film formed in a region on a surface of a transparent substrate opposed to a non-irradiated region in the drive substrate. Similarly, the other of the light-shielding substrates is provided with a frame-shaped light-shielding film formed in a region on a surface of a transparent substrate opposed to a non-irradiated region in the opposed substrate. The light-shielding films each have an excellent light-shielding property with optical density of 3.0 or above, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hisao Kitai
  • Patent number: 6067131
    Abstract: A transmissive display device includes a driving substrate positioned on a emergent side which has both a group of pixels including component units each having a pixel electrode and a switching device, and a black matrix for shielding light from reaching the non-aperture part of each pixel from the incident side. The black matrix has an overlaid structure formed by overlaying a low-reflection metallic layer and a high-reflection metallic layer with an interlayer insulating film provided therebetween. Both layers are patterned, and partially overlap with each other as mutually complement to shield incident light. When observed in plan view from the incident side, the exposing area of the low-reflection layer is enlarged, while the exposing area of the high-reflection metallic layer is reduced to suppress the surface reflectance of the black matrix. Thereby, multiple reflection inside liquid crystal does not occur, and it is possible to prevent contrast deterioration caused by leaked rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takusei Sato
  • Patent number: 6064358
    Abstract: A liquid crystal active matrix display device includes a first substrate having a thin film transistor formed thereon. A light-screening film 1 is located on the first substrate in a manner to be overlapped with an ITO. The display device includes a second substrate having a color filter and a light-screening film 2 formed thereon. The second substrate is opposed to the first substrate. The light-screening film 2 extends from the uncontrollable area by a certain value depending on a voltage from the external, resulting in improving a numerical aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Haramachi Semi-Conductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kitajima, Makoto Tsumura, Yoshiro Mikami, Katsuyuki Funahata, Yoshiharu Nagae, Yoko Wakui, Ryuichi Saito, Makoto Matsui, Fumiaki Nemoto
  • Patent number: 6064454
    Abstract: A device and method for manufacturing a high aperture ratio color filter panel of a liquid crystal display by reducing the resistance of the common electrode is disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming a black matrix array on a substrate, the black matrix array including a plurality of horizontal black matrix strips and a plurality of vertical black matrix strips, forming a plurality of color filters on the substrate, and the horizontal black matrix strips, so that portions of the horizontal black matrix strips are exposed, and forming a common electrode over the color filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jeong Hyun Kim, Jae Yong Park, Woong Kwon Kim, Kyoung Nam Lim, Sung Il Park
  • Patent number: 6061109
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a color filter for a multicolor liquid crystal display unit comprises the steps of forming an organic high-polymer color filter layer over a surface of a substrate. A protective film is then formed on the color filter layer and on the surface of the substrate. Thereafter, a thin metal electroless plating film is formed on the protective film. The electroless plating film is then patterned to form a shading film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Suginoya, Tsutomu Matsuhira, Toshihiko Harajiri
  • Patent number: 6057903
    Abstract: The present invention provides for touch input functionality in a liquid crystal display having a plurality of cells each comprising a first substrate having a common electrode integrated thereon, a second substrate having a pixel electrode integrated thereon, and liquid crystal material disposed between the common electrode and pixel electrode. A first conductive layer (signal layer) and second conductive layer (guard plane layer) are integrated onto the first substrate and disposed between the first substrate and the common electrode. Contact position of a touch input device with the first substrate is determined by applying a first signal to the signal layer. A second signal is applied to the guard plane layer to thereby lower capacitive coupling between the signal layer and the common electrode. Response to the first signal is measured to determine contact position of the touch input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Evan George Colgan, James Lewis Levine, Michael Alan Schappert, Gregory Fraser Russell
  • Patent number: 6049364
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a counter substrate having a counter electrode and a multi-layered dielectric film both formed thereon, and an array substrate formed with pixel electrodes and thin-film transistors serving as switching elements. A layer of polymer dispersed liquid crystal material containing a UV-curable resin component and a liquid crystal component is sandwiched and sealed between the counter and array substrates. A light shielding film is formed over each thin-film transistor. The multi-layered dielectric film is a laminated structure of alternating thin-films of SiO.sub.2 and HfO.sub.2. Since the multi-layered dielectric film is of a nature capable of transmitting UV-rays of light therethrough, the UV-curable resin component positioned underneath the multi-layered dielectric film can be cured during the manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takahara, Shinya Sannohe
  • Patent number: 6043856
    Abstract: A liquid crystal dispersion display including an opaque first conductive layer including developed silver crystals and having a plurality of first openings for transmission of light; a water permeable coated layer having dispersed liquid crystals in a binder over the opaque first conductive layer; an opaque second conductive layer including developed silver crystals coated over and coextensive with portions of the opaque first conductive layer and formed with second openings which are offset from the first openings; and a structure for changing the electrical potential between the first and second conductive layers so as to effect a change in the dispersed liquid crystals which in a first state causes light which passes through the first openings to be absorbed by the second conductive layer and in a second state which causes light to be scattered and passed out through the second openings in the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Stanley W. Stephenson, Charles D. DeBoer, Roger T. McCleary
  • Patent number: 6043511
    Abstract: A gate insulating layer, an amorphous silicon layer, an n.sup.+ amorphous silicon layer and a metal layer are deposited in sequence after a gate line, and a gate electrode and a gate pad are formed on a substrate. The metal layer forms a data line, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a data pad on a n.sup.+ amorphous silicon layer. A patterned light shielding film and a passivation film, or a passivation film also having a function of the light shielding film are provided. The amorphous silicon layer and the gate insulating layer are etched, using the patterned light shielding film and passivation film, or the patterned passivation film also having the function of the light shielding film as the mask. Here, the gate pad, the data pad and a part of the drain electrode are exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-Gyu Kim
  • Patent number: 6040882
    Abstract: Pairs of liquid crystal display pixel electrodes are fabricated to commonly share a capacitor electrode in the shape of an "H" character which overlaps along periphery portions of the corresponding two pixel electrodes, except for periphery portions thereof respectively connected to corresponding switching devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Mok Jun, Seok-Lyul Lee
  • Patent number: 6040886
    Abstract: An active matrix type liquid crystal display system having a liquid crystal composition being interposed between a first and a second substrates, a plurality of pixel parts being constructed with a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes arranged in a matrix, a switching element being provided in each of the pixel parts, wherein the switching element is connected to a pixel electrode, the pixel electrode and a common electrode being so constructed as operable in keeping the major axes of the liquid crystal molecules parallel to the surface of the substrate. In the pixel part, the signal electrode and the pixel electrode is formed and a shield electrode is formed between the signal electrode and the pixel electrode. The system requires no transparent electrode, being excellent in visual angle characteristic, being high in contrast, being small in cross-talk producing probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masuyuki Ota, Genshiro Kawachi, Masaaki Kitajima, Tohru Sasaki, Masahito Oh-e, Katsumi Kondo, Makoto Tsumura
  • Patent number: 6038007
    Abstract: In an in-plane liquid crystal display apparatus including a first transparent substrate having a plurality of gate bus lines, a plurality of drain bus lines, a plurality of pixel electrodes each connected via a switching element to one of the drain bus lines, and a common electrode on the first transparent substrate; a second transparent substrate; and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second transparent substrate, an optical shield layer, is formed on the first transparent substrate and covers the drain bus lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Watanabe, Takahiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6034747
    Abstract: An active matrix substrate includes a gate line, a source line, and a thin film transistor provided in the vicinity of an intersection between the gate line and the source line. The thin film transistor includes a gate electrode connected to the gate line, a source electrode connected to the source line, and a drain electrode connected to a pixel electrode. An interlayer insulating film is provided over the thin film transistor, the gate line, and the source line. The pixel electrode is provided on the interlayer insulating film, and is connected to the drain electrode via a contact hole formed in the interlayer insulating film. A conductive layer extends over a channel region of the thin film transistor via the interlayer insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Tanaka, Atsushi Ban, Takayuki Shimada, Mikio Katayama
  • Patent number: 6023309
    Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display such as an AMLCD includes an array of reflective pixels located over a surface of a silicon substrate, with light transmissive regions being located between the reflective pixels. The structure includes two metal layers between the reflective pixels and the silicon substrate surface, with segments of one metal layer extending in a first direction to form row electrodes of the LCD and segments of the other metal layer extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first to form column electrodes of the LCD. In order to block light that would otherwise pass through light transmissive regions between the reflective pixels, portions of the first two metal layers extend beneath the light transmissive regions between the reflective pixels. In this manner, a light-blocking function is provided without the need for a separate blocking or shading metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation
    Inventors: Pawan Gogna, Peter J. Janssen
  • Patent number: 5995182
    Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display having first and second substrate portions, a liquid crystal layer (#107) held therebetween, and a light-shielding metal film (#401) arranged in the second substrate portion in a matrix pattern and split into a plurality of film pieces (#401a and #401b) electrically isolated from one another. The matrix pattern is partitioned into each frame defined by two pairs of opposite ones of the film pieces. A nonconductive opaque resin (#402) is formed in a gap between the metal film patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Watanabe, Osamu Sukegawa
  • Patent number: 5995176
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display apparatus including first and second substrates having a liquid crystal layer therebetween, a plurality of pixel electrodes formed over the first substrate, and a counter electrode formed on the second substrate, the liquid crystal layer is divided into a plurality of regions having different orientation of liquid crystal for one of the pixel electrodes, and openings are provided in the pixel electrodes in alignment with discontinuity of orientation of liquid crystal formed by the different orientation of liquid crystal. Also, a plurality of conductive light shield layers are provided in alignment with the openings. Further, a bias voltage is applied to the conductive light shield layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Sibahara
  • Patent number: 5976641
    Abstract: An Al alloy film containing one kind or two or more kinds of alloy components selected from a group of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo and Mn in a total amount of 0.1 to 10 at %, and a melting Al alloy sputtering target for depositing the Al alloy film, wherein the above-mentioned film is used as a reflection film for an optical recording medium, a shading film for a liquid crystal display panel or for a solid image pickup device, and an Al alloy thin film line or electrode material for a semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Takashi Onishi, Kazuo Yoshikawa, Seiji Nishi, Seigou Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5978056
    Abstract: An active circuit element substrate is provided with a matrix array of active circuit elements. Each of the active circuit elements includes 1) a switching element, 2) a capacitor, 3) an electrically-conductive portion connecting the switching element and the capacitor, 4) an insulating layer covering the switching element, the capacitor, and the electrically-conductive portion, and 5) a reflective electrode layer connected to the electrically-conductive portion and extending on the insulating layer. The insulating layer has a surface flat so as to agree with a mirror finished surface. The reflective electrode layer extends on the surface of the insulating layer. A transparent common electrode film extends on a surface of a transparent substrate. An optical modulation layer is located between the reflective electrode layers on the active circuit element substrate and the common electrode film on the transparent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd
    Inventors: Masaki Shintani, Masanobu Shigeta, Toshihiko Nishihata, Hideo Kurogane, Akira Honma
  • Patent number: 5959706
    Abstract: An active matrix substrate includes: scanning lines provided on a transparent substrate having an insulating property; a transparent insulating film formed on the scanning lines and the transparent substrate; signal lines provided on the transparent insulating film so as to cross the scanning lines; pixel electrodes provided in areas surrounded by the scanning lines and signal lines having lateral separation between the pixel electrode and the signal electrode; and switching elements connected to the scanning lines, the signal lines and the pixel electrodes, wherein a light-shielding member is provided within the lateral separation, the light-shielding member being located between the transparent substrate and the transparent insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisashi Nagata, Yoshinori Shimada, Naofumi Kondo
  • Patent number: 5956103
    Abstract: An active matrix substrate including: pixel electrodes provided in a matrix; a TFT composed essentially of a semiconductor layer; a scanning signal line; a data signal line; a conductive light-shielding film formed on a substrate; a first insulating film formed on the substrate so as to cover the conductive light-shielding film; a thin semiconductor film formed on the first insulating film, the thin semiconductor film being formed of the same material as the semiconductor layer composing the TFT; a second insulating film formed on the first insulating film so as to cover the thin semiconductor film; and a storage capacitance electrode formed on the second insulating film. The storage capacitance electrode is a thin metal film formed of the same material as the scanning signal line. The storage capacitance electrode is electrically coupled to the conductive light-shielding film. A first storage capacitance is formed between the conductive light-shielding film and the thin semiconductor film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 5936292
    Abstract: A thin film transistor of an active matrix liquid crystal display unit has a gate electrode continued to a gate terminal supplied with a gate control signal, a gate insulating layer formed beneath the gate electrode and the gate terminal, source and drain electrodes formed between the gate insulating layer and an insulating layer and an amorphous silicon layer extending on the insulating layer between the source and drain electrodes, and a silicide layer is inserted between the insulating layer and the gate insulating layer so as to enhance the adhesion therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shin Koide, Susumu Ohi, Shigeru Kimura