Liquid crystal display device and method of driving the same

1. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate separated from and opposing the first substrate;

a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates;

a first electrode between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer and comprising a first slit; and

a second electrode between the liquid crystal layer and the second substrate and comprising a second slit,

wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a negative nematic liquid crystal, a positive nematic liquid crystal and a ferroelectric liquid crystal,

wherein the liquid crystal layer includes a mixture of the positive nematic liquid crystal, the negative nematic liquid crystal, and the ferroelectric liquid crystal, the mixture being disposed throughout the entire liquid crystal layer.

2. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed so that the first slit and the second slit are not overlapped when seen from a plan view.

3. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal display device is in a patterned vertical alignment (PVA) mode.

4. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1 , further comprising a first alignment layer between the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer; and a second alignment layer between the second electrode and the liquid crystal layer.

5. The liquid crystal display device of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer comprises a reactive mesogen material.

6. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 70 wt % to about 99.9 wt % of the negative nematic liquid crystal; and from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the positive nematic liquid crystal and the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

7. The liquid crystal display device of claim 6 , wherein from about 10 wt % to about 99 wt % of the ferroelectric liquid crystal is comprised in the positive nematic liquid crystal and the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

8. The liquid crystal display device of claim 6 , wherein the liquid crystal layer further comprises a reactive mesogen material.

9. The liquid crystal display device of claim 8 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the positive nematic liquid crystal and the ferroelectric liquid crystal; from about 0.01 wt % to about 3wt % of the reactive mesogen material; and a remainder of the negative nematic liquid crystal.

10. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a first electrode and a second electrode separated from and opposing to each other; and

a liquid crystal layer filling up a space between the first and second electrodes and comprising a plurality of liquid crystal molecules having a first alignment direction perpendicular to the surface of the first or second electrode when no potential difference is present between the first and second electrodes,

wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a negative nematic liquid crystal, a positive nematic liquid crystal and a ferroelectric liquid crystal,

the plurality of liquid crystal molecules performs changing operation to have a second alignment direction substantially in parallel to an extended direction of the first or second electrode when potential difference is generated between the first and second electrodes,

the changing operation of the liquid crystal molecules comprises a first alignment step and a second alignment step in order,

the liquid crystal molecules change to have a third alignment direction different from the first or second alignment direction in the first alignment step, and

the liquid crystal molecules of the third alignment direction change to have the second alignment direction in the second alignment step,

wherein the liquid crystal layer includes a mixture of the positive nematic liquid crystal, the negative nematic liquid crystal, and the ferroelectric liquid crystal, the mixture being disposed throughout the entire liquid crystal layer.

11. The liquid crystal display device of claim 10 , further comprising an alignment layer disposed at least a portion between the liquid crystal layer and the first electrode and between the liquid crystal layer and the second electrode,

wherein at least one of the liquid crystal layer and the alignment layer comprises a reactive mesogen material, and

the plurality of liquid crystal molecules of the first alignment direction change to have the second alignment direction when potential difference is generated between the first and second electrodes due to the reactive mesogen.

12. The liquid crystal display device of claim 11 , wherein the alignment layer comprises at least one of a first alignment layer between the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer; and a second alignment layer between the second electrode and the liquid crystal layer.

13. The liquid crystal display device of claim 11 , wherein the alignment layer comprises a base material and a reactive mesogen material,

wherein the base material comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of polyamic acid, polyimide, lecithin, nylon and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

14. The liquid crystal display device of claim 10 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 70 wt % to about 99.9 wt % of the negative nematic liquid crystal; and from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the positive nematic liquid crystal and the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

15. The liquid crystal display device of claim 14 , wherein from about 10 wt % to about 99 wt % of the ferroelectric liquid crystal is comprised in the positive nematic liquid crystal and the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

16. The liquid crystal display device of claim 15 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a reactive mesogen material, and

the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the positive nematic liquid crystal and the ferroelectric liquid crystal; from about 0.01 wt % to about 3 wt % of the reactive mesogen material; and a remainder of the negative nematic liquid crystal.

17. The liquid crystal display device of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode has a slit.

18. The liquid crystal display device of claim 17 , wherein the first electrode comprises a first slit having a square ring shape and extended along an edge portion of the first electrode, and

the second electrode comprises a second slit having a cross shape and penetrating a center of the second electrode.

19. The liquid crystal display device of claim 18 , wherein when potential different is generated between the first and second electrodes,

liquid crystal molecules positioned at the first and second slits have a second alignment direction that is a perpendicular direction to the first and second slits, and

liquid crystal molecules separated apart from the first and second slits have a second alignment direction that has an angle of about 45° or about 135° with respect to the first and second slits.

20. The liquid crystal display device of claim 18 , wherein the first slit of the first electrode has a cut portion at the middle thereof.

21. The liquid crystal display device of claim 17 , wherein the first electrode comprises:

a stem part penetrating the center of the first electrode and having a cross shape; and

branch parts extended in a radial direction from the stem part and separated apart from each other by a plurality of slits.

22. The liquid crystal display device of claim 21 , wherein when potential different is generated between the first and second electrodes,

the liquid crystal molecules have a second alignment direction substantially in parallel to an extended direction of the slits of the branch parts.

23. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate separated from and opposing the first substrate;

a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates;

a common electrode between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer and having a plate shape; and

a pixel electrode between the common electrode and the liquid crystal layer and having a pattern for defining an opening part,

wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a negative nematic liquid crystal, a positive nematic liquid crystal and a ferroelectric liquid crystal, and

wherein the liquid crystal layer includes a mixture of the positive nematic liquid crystal, the negative nematic liquid crystal, and the ferroelectric liquid crystal, the mixture being disposed throughout the entire liquid crystal layer.

24. The liquid crystal display device of claim 23 , wherein the liquid crystal display device is in a field fringe switching (FFS) mode.

25. The liquid crystal display device of claim 23 , further comprising an alignment layer adjacent to the liquid crystal layer.

26. The liquid crystal display device of claim 25 , wherein the alignment layer further comprises a reactive mesogen material.

27. The liquid crystal display device of claim 23 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 70 wt % to about 99.9 wt % of the negative nematic liquid crystal; and from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the positive nematic liquid crystal and the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

28. The liquid crystal display device of claim 27 , wherein from about 10 wt % to about 99 wt % of the ferroelectric liquid crystal is comprised in the positive nematic liquid crystal and the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

29. The liquid crystal display device of claim 27 , wherein the liquid crystal layer further comprises a reactive mesogen material.

30. The liquid crystal display device of claim 29 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the positive nematic liquid crystal and the ferroelectric liquid crystal; from about 0.01 wt % to about 3 wt % of the reactive mesogen material; and a remainder of the negative nematic liquid crystal.

31. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate separated from and opposing the first substrate;

a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates;

a common electrode between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer and having a first pattern; and

a pixel electrode between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer and having a second pattern not overlapping with the first pattern,

wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a negative nematic liquid crystal, a positive nematic liquid crystal and a ferroelectric liquid crystal, and

wherein the liquid crystal layer includes a mixture of the positive nematic liquid crystal, the negative nematic liquid crystal, and the ferroelectric liquid crystal, the mixture being disposed throughout the entire liquid crystal layer.

32. The liquid crystal display device of claim 31 , wherein the liquid crystal display device is in an in plane switching (IPS) mode.

33. The liquid crystal display device of claim 31 , further comprising an alignment layer adjacent to the liquid crystal layer.

34. The liquid crystal display device of claim 33 , wherein the alignment layer further comprises a reactive mesogen material.

35. The liquid crystal display device of claim 31 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 70 wt % to about 99.9 wt % of the negative nematic liquid crystal; and from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the positive nematic liquid crystal and the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

36. The liquid crystal display device of claim 35 , wherein from about 10 wt % to about 99 wt % of the ferroelectric liquid crystal is comprised in the positive nematic liquid crystal and the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

37. The liquid crystal display device of claim 35 , wherein the liquid crystal layer further comprises a reactive mesogen material.

38. The liquid crystal display device of claim 37 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the positive nematic liquid crystal and the ferroelectric liquid crystal; from about 0.01 wt % to about 3 wt % of the reactive mesogen material; and a remainder of the negative nematic liquid crystal.

39. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate separated from and opposing the first substrate;

a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates;

a first electrode between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer and comprising a first slit; and

a second electrode between the liquid crystal layer and the second substrate and comprising a second slit,

wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a non-ferroelectric liquid crystal and a ferroelectric liquid crystal, and

wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a mixture of a positive nematic liquid crystal, a negative nematic liquid crystal, and the ferroelectric liquid crystal, the mixture being disposed throughout the entire liquid crystal layer.

40. The liquid crystal display device of claim 39 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

41. The liquid crystal display device of claim 39 , wherein the non-ferroelectric liquid crystal comprises the negative nematic liquid crystal.

42. The liquid crystal display device of claim 41 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 70 wt % to about 99.9 wt % of the negative nematic liquid crystal; and from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

43. The liquid crystal display device of claim 42 , wherein the liquid crystal layer further comprises a reactive mesogen material.

44. The liquid crystal display device of claim 43 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the ferroelectric liquid crystal; from about 0.01 wt % to about 3 wt % of the reactive mesogen material; and a remainder of the negative nematic liquid crystal.

45. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first electrode and a second electrode separated from and opposing to each other; and

a liquid crystal layer filling up a space between the first and second electrodes and comprising a plurality of liquid crystal molecules having a first alignment direction perpendicular to the surface of the first or second electrode when no potential difference is present between the first and second electrodes,

wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a non-ferroelectric liquid crystal and a ferroelectric liquid crystal,

the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer filling up a space between the first and second electrodes perform changing operation to have a second alignment direction substantially in parallel to an extended direction of the first or second electrode when potential difference is generated between the first and second electrodes,

the changing operation of the liquid crystal molecules comprises a first alignment step and a second alignment step in order,

the liquid crystal molecules change to have a third alignment direction different from the first or second alignment direction in the first alignment step, and

the liquid crystal molecules of the third alignment direction change to have the second alignment direction in the second alignment step,

wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a mixture of a positive nematic liquid crystal, a negative nematic liquid crystal, and the ferroelectric liquid crystal, the mixture being disposed throughout the entire liquid crystal layer.

46. The liquid crystal display device of claim 45 , further comprising an alignment layer between at least one portion between the liquid crystal layer and the first electrode and between the liquid crystal layer and the second electrode, wherein at least one of the liquid crystal layer and the alignment layer comprises a reactive mesogen material, and

the alignment direction of the plurality of the liquid crystal molecules of the first alignment direction change to have the second alignment direction when potential difference is generated between the first and second electrodes.

47. The liquid crystal display device of claim 45 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

48. The liquid crystal display device of claim 45 , wherein the non-ferroelectric liquid crystal comprises the negative nematic liquid crystal.

49. The liquid crystal display device of claim 48 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 70 wt % to about 99.9 wt % of the negative nematic liquid crystal; and from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

50. The liquid crystal display device of claim 49 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a reactive mesogen material, and

the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the ferroelectric liquid crystal; from about 0.01 to about 3 wt % of the reactive mesogen material; and a remainder of the negative nematic liquid crystal.

51. A method for driving a liquid crystal display device, comprising:

aligning liquid crystal molecules of a liquid crystal layer filled between first and second electrodes in a first alignment direction that is perpendicular to the surface of the first or second electrode;

generating potential difference between the first and second electrodes;

stabilizing the liquid crystal molecules by a ferroelectric liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer; and

changing alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules in a second alignment direction that is substantially in parallel to an extended direction of the first and second electrodes,

wherein the changing of the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules comprises a first alignment step and a second alignment step,

the liquid crystal molecules change to have a third alignment direction different from the first or second alignment direction in the first alignment step, and

the liquid crystal molecules in the third alignment direction change to have the second alignment direction in the second alignment step,

wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a mixture of a positive nematic liquid crystal, a negative nematic liquid crystal, and the ferroelectric liquid crystal, the mixture being disposed throughout the entire liquid crystal layer.

52. The method for driving a liquid crystal display device of claim 51 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a reactive mesogen material, and the liquid crystal molecules change the alignment direction from the first alignment direction to the second alignment direction when potential difference is generated between the first and second electrodes.

53. The method for driving a liquid crystal display device of claim 51 , wherein the liquid crystal molecules change the alignment direction from the first alignment direction to the second alignment direction when a potential difference is generated between the first and second electrodes, and

wherein a reactive mesogen material of an alignment layer is disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the first electrode, or between the liquid crystal layer and the second electrode.

54. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate separated from and opposing the first substrate;

a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates;

a common electrode between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer and having a plate shape; and

a pixel electrode between the common electrode and the liquid crystal layer and having a pattern for defining an opening part,

wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a non-ferroelectric liquid crystal and a ferroelectric liquid crystal, and

wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a mixture of a positive nematic liquid crystal, a negative nematic liquid crystal, and the ferroelectric liquid crystal, the mixture being disposed throughout the entire liquid crystal layer.

55. The liquid crystal display device of claim 54 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

56. The liquid crystal display device of claim 54 , wherein the non-ferroelectric liquid crystal comprises the negative nematic liquid crystal.

57. The liquid crystal display device of claim 56 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 70 wt % to about 99.9 wt % of the negative nematic liquid crystal; and from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

58. The liquid crystal display device of claim 57 , wherein the liquid crystal layer further comprises a reactive mesogen material.

59. The liquid crystal display device of claim 58 , wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % of the ferroelectric liquid crystal; from about 0.01 wt % to about 3 wt % of the reactive mesogen material; and a remainder of the negative nematic liquid crystal.