IP Library Granted Patent US 8,531,639
Granted Patent B2
US 8,531,639 · App. 13/165,193 · Granted Sep 10, 2013

Liquid crystal display device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,531,639
App. No.
13/165,193
Granted
Sep 10, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid crystal display device includes a substrate, an insulating layer, an upper electrode layer, and a lower electrode layer. The upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer are formed on the same the substrate via the insulating layer. A plurality of openings are formed in the upper electrode layer and arranged parallel to each other so that an electric field is passed therethrough. Liquid crystal molecules are driven by applying voltage between the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer. A minor axis of each of the openings has a width in a range in which a V-T curve, which represents a relationship between voltage and transmittance ratio, does not shift with variation in the width of the minor axis.

Claims (41)

1. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a substrate;

an insulating layer;

an upper electrode layer;

a plurality of gate wirings extending in a first direction and a plurality of drain wirings extending in a second direction and intersecting with the gate wirings to form a plurality of pixel regions, each pixel region including a pixel thin film transistor; and

a lower electrode layer, wherein the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer are formed above a same major surface of the substrate with the insulating layer therebetween, wherein a plurality of openings are formed in the upper electrode layer and arranged parallel to each other so that an electric field is passed therethrough, wherein liquid crystal molecules are driven by applying voltage between the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer,

wherein an electrode width, which corresponds to a distance between the adjacent openings, is L and the width of a minor axis of each of the openings is S, and all of the following conditions are satisfied:

(i) the sum of L and S is equal to or below 10 μm,

(ii) the electrode width L ranges from 2.5 μm to 6 μm, and

(iii) the width S of the minor axis of each of the openings ranges from 4.0 μm to 7.5 μm,

wherein the openings extend in a third direction that is slightly inclined relative to the first direction, and

wherein the lower electrode layer is arranged to extend across a plurality of the pixel regions, and the upper electrode layer and lower electrode layers are formed above the pixel thin film transistors.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein an angle of inclination between the first direction and the third direction is about 5 degrees.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the openings is a slit opening that opens with a closed shape.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings form a comb-shaped opening such that one end of the openings are connected to each other.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the upper electrode layer is a common electrode layer.

6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the upper electrode layer is a pixel electrode layer.

7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode width L is about 2.5 μm, and the width S of the minor axis of each of the openings is about 4 μm.

8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of L/S is 2.5 μm/4 μm.

9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein all of the openings in the pixel regions extend in the third direction.

10. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a substrate;

an insulating layer;

an upper electrode layer;

a plurality of gate wirings extending in a first direction and a plurality of drain wirings extending in a second direction and intersecting with the gate wirings to form a plurality of pixel regions, each pixel region including a pixel thin film transistor;

an alignment layer formed above the upper electrode layer, the alignment layer having been subjected to a rubbing process in the first direction; and

a lower electrode layer, wherein the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer are formed above a same major surface of the substrate with the insulating layer therebetween, wherein a plurality of openings are formed in the upper electrode layer and arranged parallel to each other so that an electric field is passed therethrough, wherein liquid crystal molecules are driven by applying voltage between the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer,

wherein an electrode width, which corresponds to a distance between the adjacent openings, is L and the width of a minor axis of each of the openings is S, and all of the following conditions are satisfied:

(i) the sum of L and S is equal to or below 10 μm,

(ii) the electrode width L ranges from 2.5 μm to 6 μm, and

(iii) the width S of the minor axis of each of the openings ranges from 4.0 μm to 7.5 μm,

wherein the openings extend in a third direction that is slightly inclined relative to the first direction, and

wherein the lower electrode layer is arranged to extend across a plurality of the pixel regions, and the upper electrode layer and lower electrode layers are formed above the pixel thin film transistors.

11. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 , wherein an angle of inclination between the first direction and the third direction is about 5 degrees.

12. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 , wherein each of the openings is a slit opening that opens with a closed shape.

13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of openings form a comb-shaped opening such that one ends of the openings are connected to each other.

14. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 , wherein the upper electrode layer is a common electrode layer.

15. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 , wherein the upper electrode layer is a pixel electrode layer.

16. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 , wherein the electrode width L is about 2.5 μm, and the width S of the minor axis of each of the openings is about 4 μm.

17. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 , wherein the ratio of L/S is 2.5 μm/4 μm.

18. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 , wherein all of the openings in the pixel regions extend in the third direction.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2025
From: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
To: MAGNOLIA WHITE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072398/0001 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 24, 2025
From: JAPAN DISPLAY EAST INC.; JAPAN DISPLAY WEST INC.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
Reel/Frame 071935/0063 →
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 Mar 8, 2013
From: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029948/0812 →