IP Library Granted Patent US 7,483,099
Granted Patent B2
US 7,483,099 · App. 11/354,194 · Granted Jan 27, 2009

Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,483,099
App. No.
11/354,194
Granted
Jan 27, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid crystal device includes a pair of substrates that face each other, a liquid crystal layer that is interposed between the pair of substrates, electrodes that are formed on opposing surfaces of the pair of substrates so as form a plurality of subpixel regions, in each of which a reflective display region having a light-reflective film reflecting light and a transmissive display region transmitting light are provided, and an insulating layer that is formed between one of the pair of substrates and the liquid crystal layer such that a thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region is smaller than a thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region. The insulating layer is formed to have a first film thickness in the reflective display region, and is provided between the transmissive display region of a predetermined subpixel region and the transmissive display region of a subpixel region adjacent to the predetermined subpixel region. A portion of the insulating layer is formed to have a film thickness smaller than the first film thickness between the transmissive display region of the predetermined subpixel region and the transmissive display region of the subpixel region adjacent to the predetermined subpixel region.

Claims (28)

1. A liquid crystal device comprising:

a pair of substrates that face each other;

a liquid crystal layer that is interposed between the pair of substrates;

electrodes that form a plurality of subpixel regions, each subpixel region including a reflective display region having a light-reflective film reflecting light and a transmissive display region transmitting light; and

an insulating layer disposed between one of the pair of substrates and the liquid crystal layer, the insulating layer rendering the liquid crystal layer to a smaller thickness in the reflective display region than in the transmissive display region, the insulating layer having a first film thickness in the reflective display region, the insulating layer being disposed in an inter-transmissive display region between the transmissive display region of a predetermined subpixel region and the transmissive display region of a subpixel region adjacent to the predetermined subpixel region, the insulating layer at the inter-transmissive display region including a portion that is thinner than the first film thickness.

2. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the insulating layer is not provided in the transmissive display region.

3. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the liquid crystal layer at the portion of the insulating layer that is thinner than the first film thickness has substantially the same thickness as the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region.

4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the insulating layer includes a non formation portion at the portion of the insulating layer that is thinner than the first film thickness.

5. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1 ,

wherein another portion of the insulating layer at the inter-transmissive display region has the first film thickness.

6. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1 , further comprising a light-shielding film that shields the portion of the insulating layer that is thinner than the first film thickness.

7. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the transmissive display region is elongated in one direction in plan view, and the portion of the insulating layer that is thinner than the first film thickness is at a side in the one direction.

8. The liquid crystal device according to claim 6 ,

wherein the transmissive display region extends in a predetermined direction through the portion of the insulating layer that is thinner than the first film thickness, and a light-shielding film is provided between adjacent subpixel regions in a direction crossing the predetermined direction.

9. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1 ,

wherein a resin film is formed below the light-reflective film, the a resin film having a concavo-convex pattern that causes a surface of the light-reflective film to have concavo-convexes, the insulating layer being formed from the resin film.

10. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the condition W 3 <W 1 is established,

W 3 is a width of the insulating layer in the portion of the insulating layer that is thinner than the first film thickness in a longitudinal direction of the transmissive display region, and

W 1 is a width of the insulating layer at the inter-transmissive display region in the longitudinal direction of the transmissive display region.

11. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the condition W 3 <W 1 / 2 is established, W 3 is a width of the insulating layer in the portion of the insulating layer that is thinner than the first film thickness in a longitudinal direction of the transmissive display region, and

W 1 is a width of the insulating layer at the inter-transmissive display region in the longitudinal direction of the transmissive display region.

12. An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal device according to claim 1 .

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2018
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: 138 EAST LCD ADVANCEMENTS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 046153/0397 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 22, 2007
From: SANYO EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
To: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019066/0784 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2006
From: KAMIJO, KIMITAKA; KANEKO, HIDEKI; IMAI, KATSUHIRO; NAKANO, TOMOYUKI
To: SANYO EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORP.
Reel/Frame 017578/0217 →