IP Library Granted Patent US 7,839,471
Granted Patent B2
US 7,839,471 · App. 11/686,229 · Granted Nov 23, 2010

Transflective liquid crystal device having a wire serpentinely bypassing a light-shielding layer in an interpixel region

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 7,839,471
App. No.
11/686,229
Granted
Nov 23, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid crystal device has a plurality of pixels arranged. The liquid crystal device includes a first substrate, a second substrate opposing the first substrate, liquid crystal provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, wires formed on the first substrate, and a reflective layer formed on the first substrate. Each pixel has a reflective display region formed by the reflective layer and a transparent display region without the reflective layer, and each wire is routed between two pixels in the transparent display region and in the reflective display region.

Claims (17)

1. A liquid crystal device comprising a plurality of pixels each having a switching element, the liquid crystal device further comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate opposing the first substrate;

a liquid crystal material provided between the first substrate and the second substrate;

wires formed on the first substrate and electrically, respectively connected to the switching elements which are also formed on the first substrate;

a reflective layer formed above the wires and the switching elements;

an insulating layer provided between (i) the reflective layer and (ii) the wires and switching elements formed on the first substrate; and

a first light-shielding layer,

wherein:

each pixel has a reflective display region formed by the reflective layer and a transparent display region without the reflective layer; and

for each pixel,

an interpixel region between said pixel and adjacent pixels includes a first zone adjacent to the reflective display region of said pixel, and a second zone adjacent to the transparent display region of said pixel,

one of the wires passes between the reflective layer and the first substrate in the reflective display region and passes through the first zone,

said wire continuously extends across said pixel and at least one adjacent pixel and is electrically connected to the switching elements of said pixel and said at least one adjacent pixel, and

the first light-shielding layer is formed on the first substrate in the first zone;

the first light-shielding layer is formed of a material identical to a material of at least one layer included in the wire or each switching element; and

the wire serpentinely extends in the vicinity of the reflective display region and the transparent display region so as to bypass the first light-shielding layer.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2018
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: 138 EAST LCD ADVANCEMENTS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 046153/0397 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2007
From: MATSUO, MUTSUMI; IMAI, KATSUHIRO; KOJIMA, TOMOHIKO; YAMAGUCHI, YOSHIO
To: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019015/0854 →