IP Library Granted Patent US 7,417,698
Granted Patent B2
US 7,417,698 · App. 11/225,673 · Granted Aug 26, 2008

Transflective liquid crystal device and electronic device using the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,417,698
App. No.
11/225,673
Granted
Aug 26, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid crystal device includes a transparent first substrate with a first transparent electrode formed on the surface thereof, a transparent second substrate with a second transparent electrode is formed thereon, and a liquid crystal layer. A light reflecting layer defining the reflective display region and the transmissive display region is formed on each pixel region. A layer-thickness adjusting layer where a region corresponding to the transmissive display region constitutes an opening, is formed on the upper layer side of the light reflecting layer. In the layer-thickness adjusting layer, the boundary portion of the reflective display region and the transmissive display region constitutes an inclined surface, and a light shielding film is two-dimensionally superimposed on this boundary region.

Claims (33)

1. A transflective liquid crystal device comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate opposite the first substrate;

a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates;

a light reflecting layer between the liquid crystal layer and the first substrate, the light reflecting layer being located in a reflective display region;

a layer thickness adjusting layer between the liquid crystal layer and the first substrate, the layer thickness adjusting layer setting a layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in at least a portion of the reflective display region to less than a layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in at least a portion of a transmissive display region; and

a light shielding film that overlaps a boundary region between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region in plan view.

2. The transflective liquid crystal device according to claim 1 , wherein the light shielding film is formed on a side of the first substrate.

3. The transflective liquid crystal device according to claim 1 , wherein the layer-thickness adjusting layer includes an inclined surface that overlaps the light shielding film in plan view.

4. The transflective liquid crystal device according to claim 1 , wherein the reflective display region and the transmissive display region are individually provided with a color filter.

5. The transflective liquid crystal device according to claim 1 , wherein a reflective display color filter is formed in the reflective display region, and a transmissive display color filter having a higher coloring degree than the reflective display color filter is formed in the transmissive display region.

6. A transflective liquid crystal device according to claim 1 , wherein the reflective display region and the transmissive display region are substantially equal in area.

7. The transflective liquid crystal device according to claim 1 , the light reflecting layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the layer thickness adjusting layer.

8. The transflective liquid crystal device according to claim 1 , the light reflecting layer serving as an electrode for applying voltage to the liquid crystal layer.

9. The transflective liquid crystal device according to claim 1 , the light reflecting layer overlapping the light shielding film in plan view.

10. A transflective liquid crystal device, comprising:

a first substrate:

a second opposite the first substrate;

a liquid crystal layer held between the first and second substrates;

a light reflecting layer between the liquid crystal layer and the first substrate, the light reflecting layer being located in a reflective display region;

a layer-thickness adjusting layer formed between the liquid crystal layer and the first substrate, the layer-thickness adjusting layer setting a layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in at least a portion of the reflective display region to less than a layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in at least a portion of a transmissive display region, the layer-thickness adjusting layer including a sloping section; and

a light shielding film that overlaps the sloping section of the layer-thickness adjusting layer and the light reflecting layer.

11. The transflective liquid crystal device of claim 10 , the light reflecting layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the layer thickness adjusting layer.

12. The transflective liquid crystal device of claim 10 , the light reflecting layer serving as an electrode for applying voltage to the liquid crystal layer.

13. The transflective liquid crystal device of claim 10 , the light reflecting layer overlapping the light shielding film in plan view.

14. A transflective liquid crystal device, comprising:

a first substrate:

a second opposite the first substrate;

a liquid crystal layer held between the first and second substrates;

a light reflecting layer between the liquid crystal layer and the first substrate, the light reflecting layer being located in a reflective display region and having an edge located between the reflective display region and a light transmissive display region;

a layer-thickness adjusting layer formed between the liquid crystal layer and the first substrate, the layer-thickness adjusting layer setting a layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in at least a portion of the reflective display region to less than a layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in at least a portion of the transmissive display region: and

a light shielding film that overlaps in plan view the edge of the light reflecting layer that is located between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region.

15. The transflective liquid crystal device according to claim 14 , the layer-thickness adjusting layer including a sloping section that overlaps the light shielding film and the edge of the light reflecting layer in plan view.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2018
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: 138 EAST LCD ADVANCEMENTS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 046153/0397 →