IP Library Granted Patent US 7,385,658
Granted Patent B2
US 7,385,658 · App. 10/809,394 · Granted Jun 10, 2008

Dual display mode liquid crystal display device, communication device using the same, and method of fabricating the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,385,658
App. No.
10/809,394
Granted
Jun 10, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A dual display mode liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates spaced apart from and facing each other, a first transparent electrode on an inner surface of the first substrate, a second transparent electrode on an inner surface of the second substrate, a liquid crystal layer between the first and second transparent electrodes, a first polarizer on an outer surface of the first substrate, the first polarizer having a first light transmission axis, a front light unit on an outer surface of the first polarizer, a selective reflection/transmission part on an outer surface of the second substrate, the selective reflection/transmission part selectively reflecting linearly polarized light corresponding to the first light transmission axis, and a second polarizer on an outer surface of the selective reflection/transmission part.

Claims (74)

1. A dual display mode liquid crystal display device, comprising:

first and second substrates spaced apart from and facing each other;

a first transparent electrode on an inner surface of the first substrate;

a second transparent electrode on an inner surface of the second substrate;

a liquid crystal layer between the first and second transparent electrodes;

a first polarizer on an outer surface of the first substrate, the first polarizer having a first light transmission axis;

a front light unit on an outer surface of the first polarizer;

a single selective reflection/transmission part, the single selective reflection/transmission part selectively reflecting linearly polarized light corresponding to the first light transmission axis; and

a second polarizer on an outer surface of the selective reflection/transmission part.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a region where the front light unit is situated functions as a reflective mode to display a normally-white mode, and an opposite region to the first display side functions as a transmissive mode to display a normally-black mode.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the front light unit includes a light transmittable material.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the second polarizer has a second light transmission axis perpendicular to the first light transmission axis.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the selective reflection/transmission part includes a double brightness enhancement film.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal layer includes a twisted nematic (TN) mode.

7. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a thin film transistor connected to the first transparent electrode.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the second transparent electrode is formed on an entire surface of the second substrate.

9. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an array element including a thin film transistor between the first substrate and the first transparent electrode; and

a color filter element between the second substrate and the second transparent electrode.

10. The device according to claim 9 , further comprising a retardation film on an outer surface of the second polarizer.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the retardation film has a phase difference of about λ/4.

12. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a color filter element between the first substrate and the first transparent electrode; and

an array element including a thin film transistor between the second substrate and the second transparent electrode.

13. The device according to claim 12 , further comprising a retardation film on an outer surface of the second polarizer.

14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the retardation film has a phase difference of about λ/4.

15. A communication device, comprising:

first and second substrates spaced apart from and facing each other;

a first transparent electrode on an inner surface of the first substrate;

a second transparent electrode on an inner surface of the second substrate;

a liquid crystal layer between the first and second transparent electrodes;

a first polarizer on an outer surface of the first substrate, the first polarizer having a first light transmission axis;

a front light unit on an outer surface of the first polarizer;

a single selective reflection/transmission part, the single selective reflection/transmission part selectively reflecting linearly polarized light corresponding to the first light transmission axis;

a second polarizer on an outer surface of the selective reflection/transmission part; and

a data entry device adjacent to a second polarizer for inputting data.

16. The communication device according to claim 15 , wherein the data entry device includes a key pad, and the data includes at least one of numbers and letters.

17. The communication device according to claim 15 , further comprising a retardation film between the second polarizer and the data entry device.

18. The communication device according to claim 17 , wherein the retardation film has a phase difference of about λ/4.

19. The communication device according to claim 18 , wherein the liquid crystal layer includes a twisted nematic mode.

20. The communication device according to claim 18 , wherein light provided from one of the front light unit and outer light sources passes through the first polarizer and is transformed into first linearly polarized light.

21. The communication device according to claim 20 , wherein the first linearly polarized light is transformed into a second linearly polarized light while passing the liquid crystal layer.

22. The communication device according to claim 21 , wherein the second linearly polarized light is perpendicular to the first linearly polarized light.

23. The communication device according to claim 22 , wherein the second linearly polarized light passes through a selective reflection/transmission part and is transformed into a first circularly polarized light by the retardation film.

24. The communication device according to claim 23 , wherein the first circularly polarized light is reflected at the data entry device and transformed into a second circularly polarized light that is symmetric to the first circularly polarized light.

25. The communication device according to claim 24 , wherein the second circularly polarized light is transformed into first linearly polarized light through the retardation film.

26. The communication device according to claim 25 , wherein the first linearly polarized light is blocked by the second polarizer.

27. A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device, comprising:

forming a first transparent electrode on an inner surface of a first substrate;

forming a second transparent electrode on an inner surface of a second substrate, the second substrate facing the first substrate;

providing a liquid crystal layer between the first and second transparent electrodes;

forming a first polarizer on an outer surface of the first substrate, the first polarizer having a first light transmission axis;

providing a front light unit at an outer surface of the first polarizer;

forming a single selective reflection/transmission part, the single selective reflection/transmission part selectively reflecting linearly polarized light corresponding to the first light transmission axis; and

forming a second polarizer on an outer surface of the selective reflection/transmission part.

28. The method according to claim 27 , wherein a region where the front light unit is situated functions as a reflective mode to display a normally-white mode, and an opposite region to the first display side functions as a transmissive mode to display a normally-black mode.

29. The method according to claim 27 , wherein the front light unit includes a light transmittable material.

30. The method according to claim 27 , wherein the second polarizer has a second light transmission axis perpendicular to the first light transmission axis.

31. The method according to claim 27 , wherein the selective reflection/transmission part includes a double brightness enhancement film.

32. The method according to claim 27 , wherein the liquid crystal layer includes a twisted nematic (TN) mode.

33. The method according to claim 27 , further comprising providing a thin film transistor connected to the first transparent electrode.

34. The method according to claim 33 , wherein the second transparent electrode is formed on an entire surface of the second substrate.

35. The method according to claim 27 , further comprising:

providing an array element including a thin film transistor between the first substrate and the first transparent electrode; and

providing a color filter element between the second substrate and the second transparent electrode.

36. The method according to claim 35 , further comprising providing a retardation film on an outer surface of the second polarizer.

37. The method according to claim 36 , wherein the retardation film has a phase difference of about λ/4.

38. The method according to claim 27 , further comprising:

providing a color filter element between the first substrate and the first transparent electrode; and

providing an array element including a thin film transistor between the second substrate and the second transparent electrode.

39. The method according to claim 38 , further comprising providing a retardation film on an outer surface of the second polarizer.

40. The method according to claim 39 , wherein the retardation film has a phase difference of about λ/4.

41. The method according to claim 37 , further comprising providing a data entry device adjacent to a second polarizer for inputting data.

42. The method according to claim 41 , wherein the data entry device includes a key pad, and the data includes at least one of numbers and letters.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 19, 2008
From: LG.PHILIPS LCD CO., LTD.
To: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 021147/0009 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2004
From: KANG, HOON; SHIN, HYUNG-BEOM
To: LG.PHILIPS LCD CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 015158/0382 →