IP Library Granted Patent US 9,366,903
Granted Patent B2
US 9,366,903 · App. 12/642,346 · Granted Jun 14, 2016

Liquid crystal panel and pixel structure thereof

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 9,366,903
App. No.
12/642,346
Granted
Jun 14, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid crystal panel includes: first and second substrates arranged to be opposite each other at a predetermined gap; a liquid crystal layer filled between the first and second substrates; alignment films; a counter electrode pattern formed on the first substrate; and a pixel electrode pattern formed on the first substrate so as to have a plurality of electrode branches, wherein the extension direction of at least one of slits formed at both ends from among slits formed between the plurality of electrode branches crosses the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer at an angle of 7° or larger.

Claims (40)

1. A liquid crystal panel comprising:

first and second substrates arranged to be opposite each other at a predetermined gap;

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

alignment films;

a pixel region surrounded by a signal line and a scanning line;

a counter electrode pattern formed on the first substrate; and

a pixel electrode pattern formed on the first substrate so as to have a plurality of electrode branches and slits formed between the electrode branches, the pixel electrode pattern being connected to the signal line through a thin film transistor,

wherein a first slit disposed next to the signal line has a length greater than a width, and extends in a first slit extension direction in a lengthwise direction of the first slit based on an overall shape of the first slit, wherein a first cross angle (α 1 ) between the first slit extension direction and an alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer is equal to 7° or larger,

wherein a plurality of second slits other than the first slit each have lengths greater than widths, and extend in a second slit extension direction in a lengthwise direction of the rest of the slits based on overall shapes of the second slits, the second slit extension direction being parallel to the signal line, and the second slit extension direction is at an angle relative to the first slit extension direction, and

wherein a second cross angle (α 2 ) between the second slit extension direction and the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer is larger than the first cross angle (α 1 ).

2. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1 ,

wherein the cross angle (α 1 ) is equal to or larger than 7° and equal to or smaller than 15°.

3. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1 ,

wherein the cross angle (α 2 ) is larger than 7° and equal to or smaller than 15°.

4. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 3 ,

wherein the pixel electrode pattern and the counter electrode pattern are formed on the same layer surface.

5. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 3 ,

wherein the pixel electrode pattern and the counter electrode pattern are formed on different layer surfaces.

6. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a liquid crystal panel, the liquid crystal panel including first and second substrates arranged to be opposite each other at a predetermined gap, a liquid crystal layer filled between the first and second substrates, alignment films, a counter electrode pattern formed on the first substrate, a pixel region surrounded by a signal line and a scanning line, and a pixel electrode pattern formed on the first substrate so as to have a plurality of electrode branches and slits formed between the electrode branches, the pixel electrode pattern being connected to the signal line through a thin film transistor,

wherein a first slit disposed next to the signal line has a length greater than a width, and extends in a first slit extension direction in a lengthwise direction of the first slit based on an overall shape of the first slit, wherein a first cross angle (α 1 ) between the first slit extension direction and an alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer is equal to 7° or larger, wherein a plurality of second slits other than the first slit each have lengths greater than widths, and extend in a second slit extension direction in a lengthwise direction of the rest of the slits based on overall shapes of the second slits, the second slit extension direction being parallel to the signal line, and the second slit extension direction is at an angle relative to the first slit extension direction, and wherein a second cross angle (α 2 ) is between the second slit extension direction and the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer is larger than the first cross angle (α 1 );

a driving circuit driving the liquid crystal panel;

a system control unit controlling the operation of the entire system; and

an operation input unit receiving an operation input to the system control unit.

7. The electric apparatus according to claim 6 ,

wherein the first cross angle (α 1 ) is equal to or larger than 7° and equal to or smaller than 15°.

8. The electric apparatus according to claim 6 ,

wherein the second cross angle (α 2 ) is larger than 7° and equal to or smaller than 15°.

9. The electric apparatus according to claim 8 ,

wherein the pixel electrode pattern and the counter electrode pattern are formed on the same layer surface.

10. The electric apparatus according to claim 8 ,

wherein the pixel electrode pattern and the counter electrode pattern are formed on different layer surfaces.

11. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1 ,

wherein a distance between the first slit disposed next to the signal line and a second slit disposed next to the first slit continuously increases as a distance between the first slit and the signal line decreases.

12. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1 ,

wherein at least a portion of the first slit is closer to the signal line than any portion of the other slits of the pixel electrode pattern.

13. The electric apparatus according to claim 6 ,

wherein a distance between the first slit disposed next to the signal line and a second slit disposed next to the first slit continuously increases as a distance between the first slit and the signal line decreases.

14. The electric apparatus according to claim 6 ,

wherein at least a portion of the first slit is closer to the signal line than any portion of the other slits of the pixel electrode pattern.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2025
From: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
To: MAGNOLIA WHITE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072130/0313 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 21, 2015
From: JAPAN DISPLAY WEST INC.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
Reel/Frame 036643/0470 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2013
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: JAPAN DISPLAY WEST INC.
Reel/Frame 030182/0522 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2010
From: SAKURAI, YOSHIHIRO; TANAKA, HIRONAO; YAMAGUCHI, HIDEMASA
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023945/0894 →