IP Library Granted Patent US 7,092,051
Granted Patent B2
US 7,092,051 · App. 10/084,356 · Granted Aug 15, 2006

Reflection-type LCD device using the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,092,051
App. No.
10/084,356
Granted
Aug 15, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A reflector for a reflection-type LCD device is provided, which reflects efficiently incident light to the viewer's side and that suppresses the change of color tone. The reflector comprises a roughened surface having a protrusion pattern. The protrusion pattern gives inclination angle to the surface according to a specific distribution where a first component with an inclination angle value of 0° is 15% or less in area and a second component with an inclination angle value from 2° to 10° is 50% or greater in area. The protrusion pattern gives a variation range of chromaticity coordinates (x, y) on a chromaticity diagram dependent on an angle of view. The variation range is limited in a circle on the chromaticity diagram. The circle has a radius of approximately 0.05 and a center at a point corresponding to white color.

Claims (26)

1. A reflector for a reflection-type LCD device, comprising:

plural interconnected protrusions each having a first height and having depressed areas between adjoining ones of the plural protrusions, each of the depressed areas having a second height less than said first height and having a closed geometric shape, as seen in plan view, said closed geometric shape being defined by a plurality of virtual lines formed at a third height between said first and second heights, each of said depressed areas being isolated from others of said depressed areas;

a first bumpy layer covering the protrusions having a bumpiness generated by the protrusions; and

a base layer of a reflector on the first layer,

wherein the base layer has a bumpiness corresponding to the bumpiness of the first layer, thereby forming a protrusion pattern of a surface of the reflector, the protrusion pattern giving an inclination angle to the surface according to a specific distribution, and

wherein each of the protrusions has a width W and a height D, where the width W and the height D have a relationship of 0.5≦(D/W)≦1.0.

2. The reflector according to claim 1 , wherein the specific distribution of the inclination angle values of the surface has an average value within a range from 2 to 6°.

3. The reflector according to claim 1 , wherein the closed geomeoric shape of each of the depressed areas is one selected from the group consisting of triangle, rectangular, and ellipse.

4. The reflector according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusions included in a single pixel have a single maximum value of height.

5. A reflection-type LCD device comprising one of the reflectors according to claim 1 .

6. The reflector according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion pattern has a first component with an inclination angle value of 0° is 15% or less in frequency ratio and a second component with an inclination angle value from 2° to 10° is 50% or greater in frequency ratio, according to the specific distribution.

7. The reflector according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are linear.

8. The reflector according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are unified together to create triangular depressed areas.

9. The reflector according to claim 1 , wherein edges of the protrusions define sides of the closed geometric shapes.

10. A reflector for a reflection-type LCD device, comprising:

plural interconnected protrusions each having a first height and having depressed areas between adjoining ones of the plural protrusions, each of the depressed areas having a second height less than said first height and having a closed geometric shape as seen in plan view, said closed geometric shape being defined by a plurality of virtual lines formed at a third height between said first and second heights, each of said depressed areas being isolated from others of said depressed areas;

a first bumpy layer covering the protrusions having a bumpiness generated by the protrusions; and

a base layer of a reflector on the first layer,

wherein the base layer has a bumpiness corresponding to the bumpiness of the first layer, thereby forming a protrusion pattern of a surface of the reflector, the protrusion pattern giving an inclination angle to the surface according to a specific distribution, and

wherein the first bumpy layer has a minimum height d and the protrusions have an inter-center distance L, where the minimum height d and the inter-center distance L have a relationship of (1/20)≦(d/L)≦(1/5).

11. A reflector for a reflection-type LCD device, comprising:

plural interconnected protrusions each having a first height and having depressed areas between adjoining ones of the plural protrusions, each of the depressed areas having a second height less than said first height and having a closed geometric shape as seen in plan view, said closed geometric shape being defined by a plurality of virtual lines formed at a third height between said first and second heights, each of said depressed areas being isolated from others of said depressed areas;

a first bumpy layer covering the protrusions having a bumpiness generated by the protrusions; and

a base layer of a reflector on the first layer,

wherein the base layer has a bumpiness corresponding to the bumpiness of the first layer, thereby forming a protrusion pattern of a surface of the reflector, the protrusion pattern giving an inclination angle to the surface according to a specific distribution, and

wherein each of the protrusions has a height D and the first bumpy layer has a minimum height d, where the height D and the minimum height d have a relationship of (D/d)≦3.

Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 8, 2011
From: NEC LCD TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
To: NLT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 027188/0890 →