IP Library Granted Patent US 7,679,705
Granted Patent B2
US 7,679,705 · App. 11/466,230 · Granted Mar 16, 2010

Liquid crystal display device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,679,705
App. No.
11/466,230
Granted
Mar 16, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid crystal display device includes an array substrate and a counter-substrate, a liquid crystal layer which is held between the array substrate and counter-substrate and includes a transmissive display part and a reflective display part which neighbor each other via a boundary, an alignment state of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer being controlled by an application voltage from the array substrate and counter-substrate in the transmissive display part and the reflective display part, and control means for making an alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules, which are present near the boundary in the reflective display part, substantially match an alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules which are present near the boundary in the transmissive display part.

Claims (24)

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first electrode substrate including pixel electrodes which are formed in association with the transmissive display part and the reflective display part;

a second electrode substrate including a counter-electrode which is opposed to the pixel electrodes;

a liquid crystal layer which is held between the first and second electrode substrates, and includes a transmissive display part and a reflective display part which neighbor each other via a boundary, an alignment state of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer being controlled by an application voltage from the first and second electrode substrates in the transmissive display part and the reflective display part; and

control means for making an alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules, which are present near the boundary in the reflective display part, substantially match an alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecule which are present near the boundary in the transmissive display part, said control means include a dielectric element which is provided on the counter-electrode in the vicinity of the boundary and extends substantially perpendicular to the boundary and an alignment element provided on the reflective display part,

wherein the alignment element includes a missing part which is provided on the pixel electrode and extends parallel to the boundary in the reflective display part in the vicinity of the boundary.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the control means deforms an electric-field perpendicular to the substrates.

3. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first electrode substrate including pixel electrodes which are formed in association with the transmissive display part and the reflective display part;

a second electrode substrate including a counter-electrode which is opposed to the pixel electrodes;

a liquid crystal layer which is held between the first and second electrode substrates, and includes a transmissive display part and a reflective display part which neighbor each other via a boundary, an alignment state of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer being controlled by an application voltage from the first and second electrode substrates in the transmissive display part and the reflective display part; and

control means for making an alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules, which are present near the boundary in the reflective display part, substantially match an alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules which are present near the boundary in the transmissive display part, said control means include a dielectric element which is provided on the counter-electrode in the vicinity of the boundary and extends substantially perpendicular to the boundary and an alignment element provided on the reflective display part,

wherein the alignment element includes a second dielectric element which is provided on the counter-electrode in the reflective display part in the vicinity of the boundary, and

the second dielectric element extends parallel to the boundary.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 , wherein the control means deforms an electric-field perpendicular to the substrates.

5. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first electrode substrate including pixel electrodes which are formed in association with the transmissive display part and the reflective display part;

a second electrode substrate including a counter-electrode which is opposed to the pixel electrodes;

a liquid crystal layer which is held between the first and second electrode substrates, and includes a transmissive display part and a reflective display part which neighbor each other via a boundary, an alignment state of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer being controlled by an application voltage from the first and second electrode substrates in the transmissive display part and the reflective display part; and

control means for making an alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules, which are present near the boundary in the reflective display part, substantially match an alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules which are present near the boundary in the transmissive display part, said control means include a dielectric element which is provided on the counter-electrode in the vicinity of the boundary and extends substantially perpendicular to the boundary and an alignment element provided on the reflective display part,

wherein the alignment element includes a recess part which is provided on the pixel electrode in the reflective display part in the vicinity of the boundary, and

the recess part extends parallel to the boundary.

6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 5 , wherein the recess part on the pixel electrode depends on unevenness of an insulation layer which is disposed as an underlayer of the pixel electrode.

7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 5 , wherein the control means deforms an electric-field perpendicular to the substrates.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 8, 2012
From: TOSHIBA MATSUSHITA DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
To: TOSHIBA MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 028339/0273 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 8, 2012
From: TOSHIBA MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY CENTRAL INC.
Reel/Frame 028339/0316 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SERIAL NUMBER ON THE ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 018686/0983. (ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST) Recorded Feb 8, 2007
From: YAMAGUCHI, TAKESHI; NINOMIYA, KISAKO; KAWATA, YASUSHI; HISATAKE, YUUZO; MURAYAMA, AKIO; YOSHIDA, NORIHIRO; TAGO, CHIGUSA
To: TOSHIBA MATSUSHITA DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 018915/0468 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2006
From: YAMAGUCHI, TAKESHI; NINOMIYA, KISAKO; KAWATA, YASUSHI; HISATAKE, YUUZO; MURAYAMA, AKIO; YOSHIDA, NORIHIRO; TAGO, CHIGUSA
To: TOSHIBA MATSUSHITA DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 018686/0983 →