IP Library Granted Patent US 12676421
Granted Patent B2
US 12676421 · App. 18/624,181 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Intelligent reflecting surface

Inventors: Daiichi Suzuki (Tokyo, JP); Shinichiro Oka (Tokyo, JP); Shigesumi Araki (Tokyo, JP); Mitsutaka Okita (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
H01Q15/148H01Q3/36H01Q3/46G02F1/133757G02F1/133784
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12676421
App. No.
18/624,181
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a reflecting element including a first electrode, a first orientation film, a second orientation film, a liquid crystal layer, a third orientation film, a fourth orientation film, and a second electrode. The first orientation film is located over the first electrode. The second orientation film is located over and in contact with the first orientation film. The liquid crystal layer is located over the first orientation film and the second orientation film and contains liquid crystal molecules. The third orientation film is located over the liquid crystal layer. The fourth orientation film is located over and in contact with the liquid crystal layer and the third orientation film. The second electrode is located over the fourth orientation film. The first and fourth orientation films are exposed from the second and third orientation films, respectively, in a first region overlapping the first electrode.

Claims (54)

1 . A reflecting element comprising:

a first electrode;

a first orientation film over the first electrode;

a second orientation film over and in contact with the first orientation film;

a liquid crystal layer located over the first orientation film and the second orientation film and containing a liquid crystal molecule;

a third orientation film over the liquid crystal layer;

a fourth orientation film over and in contact with the liquid crystal layer and the third orientation film; and

a second electrode over the fourth orientation film,

wherein the first orientation film and the fourth orientation film are exposed from the second orientation film and the third orientation film, respectively, in a first region overlapping the first electrode, and

each of the second orientation film and the third orientation film does not overlap the first electrode in a plan view.

2 . The reflecting element according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first orientation film and the fourth orientation film are in direct contact with the liquid crystal layer in the first region,

the second orientation film is sandwiched by the first orientation film and the liquid crystal layer in a region other than the first region, and

the third orientation film is sandwiched by the fourth orientation film and the liquid crystal layer in a region other than the first region.

3 . The reflecting element according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second orientation film and the third orientation film each have a first opening overlapping each other in a plan view.

4 . The reflecting element according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first electrode has a first opening, and

the second orientation film and the third orientation film overlap the first opening in a plan view.

5 . The reflecting element according to claim 4 ,

wherein the second electrode overlaps the first opening in a plan view.

6 . The reflecting element according to claim 4 ,

wherein the second electrode has a second opening overlapping the first opening in a plan view.

7 . The reflecting element according to claim 6 ,

wherein the first opening and the second opening have the same shape.

8 . An intelligent reflecting surface comprising a plurality of reflecting elements arranged in a matrix shape, each of the plurality of reflecting elements comprising:

a first electrode;

a first orientation film over the first electrode;

a second orientation film over and in contact with the first orientation film;

a liquid crystal layer located over the first orientation film and the second orientation film and containing a liquid crystal molecule;

a third orientation film over the liquid crystal layer;

a fourth orientation film over and in contact with the liquid crystal layer and the third orientation film; and

a second electrode over the fourth orientation film,

wherein the first orientation film and the fourth orientation film are exposed from the second orientation film and the third orientation film, respectively, in a first region overlapping the first electrode, and

each of the second orientation film and the third orientation film does not overlap the first electrode.

9 . The intelligent reflecting surface according to claim 8 ,

wherein the first electrodes of two adjacent reflecting elements are electrically conductive with each other.

10 . The intelligent reflecting surface according to claim 8 ,

wherein each of the plurality of reflecting elements further includes a transistor electrically connected to the first electrode.

11 . The intelligent reflecting surface according to claim 8 ,

wherein the first orientation film and the fourth orientation film are in direct contact with the liquid crystal layer in the first region,

the second orientation film is sandwiched by the first orientation film and the liquid crystal layer in a region other than the first region, and

the third orientation film is sandwiched by the fourth orientation film and the liquid crystal layer in a region other than the first region.

12 . The intelligent reflecting surface according to claim 8 ,

wherein the second orientation film and the third orientation film each have a first opening overlapping each other in a plan view.

13 . The intelligent reflecting surface according to claim 8 ,

wherein the first electrode has a first opening, and

the second orientation film and the third orientation film overlap the first opening in a plan view.

14 . The intelligent reflecting surface according to claim 12 ,

wherein the second electrode overlaps the first opening in a plan view.

15 . The intelligent reflecting surface according to claim 12 ,

wherein the second electrode has a second opening overlapping the first opening in a plan view.

16 . The intelligent reflecting surface according to claim 15 ,

wherein the first opening and the second opening have the same shape.