Transflective liquid crystal display

1. A pixel electrode structure for an array substrate of a transflective liquid crystal display, the array substrate includes a gate line, a data line, a gate-insulating layer that covers the gate line and a switching device that respectively connects to the pixel electrode structure, the gate line and the data line, the pixel electrode structure comprises:

a reflective electrode laid on a surface of the gate-insulating layer;

a dielectric layer covering the reflective electrode;

a transmissive electrode on a surface of the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the reflective electrode; and

a common voltage electrode underlying the reflective electrode and the transmissive electrode, wherein a portion of the common voltage electrode uncovered by the reflective electrode is located in an area between the reflective electrode and the transmissive electrode.

2. The pixel electrode structure according to claim 1 , wherein the transmissive electrode connects to the reflective electrode via a contact hole through the dielectric layer.

3. The pixel electrode structure according to claim 1 , wherein the dielectric layer has a low dielectric constant of about 3.5 or smaller.

4. The pixel electrode structure according to claim 1 , wherein the common voltage electrode is configured to receive a voltage signal different from a voltage signal applied to the reflective and transmissive electrode.

5. The pixel electrode structure according to claim 1 , wherein the dielectric layer has a thickness of about 1.7 μm to 2 μm.

6. A transflective liquid crystal display, comprising:

a first substrate including a first common voltage electrode;

a second substrate that includes a gate line, a gate-insulating layer covering the gate line, a data line, a switching device coupled to the gate line and the data line, and a pixel area;

a pixel electrode structure formed in the pixel area and coupled to the switching device, wherein the pixel electrode structure includes a reflective electrode on a surface of the gate-insulating layer and a transmissive electrode spaced apart from the reflective electrode via a dielectric layer;

a second common voltage electrode provided on the second substrate at a position underlying the reflective electrode and the transmissive electrode, wherein a portion of the second common voltage electrode uncovered by the reflective electrode is located in an area between the reflective electrode and the transmissive electrode; and

a liquid crystal placed between the first and second substrate.

7. The transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 6 , wherein a protrusion is formed over an inner surface of the first substrate at a location opposite to the reflective electrode.

8. The transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 6 , wherein a protrusion is formed over an inner surface of the first substrate at a location opposite to the transmissive electrode.

9. The transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 6 , wherein the dielectric layer has a low dielectric constant of about 3.5 or smaller.

10. The transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 6 , further comprising a color filter placed at an area overlapping with the pixel area, wherein the color filter includes a thinner section in an area corresponding to the reflective electrode.

11. The transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 6 , wherein the transmissive electrode is connected to the reflective electrode via a contact hole through the dielectric layer.

12. The transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 6 , wherein a second portion of the second common voltage electrode uncovered by the pixel electrode structure is located in a area between the data line and the pixel electrode structure.

13. The transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 6 , wherein a third portion of the second common voltage electrode uncovered by the pixel electrode structure is located in an area between the pixel electrode structure and the gate line.

14. The transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 6 , wherein the switching device is operable to apply a voltage signal to the reflective and transmissive electrode for generating a gradient of electric potentials that lie across the liquid crystal and the dielectric layer in a region between the first common voltage electrode and the reflective electrode.

15. The transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 14 , wherein the gradient of electric potentials produces an electric field that is greater in a first region of the liquid crystal located between the first common voltage electrode and the transmissive electrode than in a second region of the liquid crystal located between the first common voltage electrode and the reflective electrode.

16. The transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 6 , wherein the dielectric layer has a thickness of about 1.7 μm to 2 μm.

17. The transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 6 , wherein the pixel electrode structure overlaps an area of the gate line.

18. A method for operating a liquid crystal display including a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal material sealed between the first and second substrates, wherein the method comprising:

applying a first voltage signal on a first common voltage electrode provided on an inner surface of the first substrate;

applying a second voltage signal on a reflective electrode provided on an inner surface of the second substrate opposing the first common voltage electrode;

applying the second voltage signal on a transmissive electrode adjacent to the reflective electrode on the second substrate, wherein the transmissive electrode is spaced apart from the reflective electrode via a dielectric layer; and

applying the first voltage signal on a second common voltage electrode provided on the second substrate at a position underlying the reflective and transmissive electrodes, a portion of the second common voltage electrode being located in an area between the reflective electrode and the transmissive electrode.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein a voltage difference between the first common voltage electrode and the reflective and transmissive electrodes creates a gradient of electric potentials that lie across the liquid crystal material and the dielectric layer in a region between the first common voltage electrode and the reflective electrode.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the gradient of electric potentials produces an electric field that is greater in a first region of the liquid crystal material located between the first common voltage electrode and the transmissive electrode than in a second region of the liquid crystal material located between the first common voltage electrode and the reflective electrode.