IP Library Granted Patent US 8,031,305
Granted Patent B2
US 8,031,305 · App. 11/954,021 · Granted Oct 4, 2011

Transflective liquid crystal display comprising a polarizing layer disposed between a reflective layer and an electrode group, and the reflective layer is an upper layer of a TFT in the reflection area

Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
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 8,031,305
App. No.
11/954,021
Filed
Dec 11, 2007
Granted
Oct 4, 2011
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2883
USPC
349/114
Abstract

A transflective liquid crystal display includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and liquid crystal intercalated between the first and second substrates in which each pixel includes a reflection area and a transmission area. The second substrate includes pixel electrodes and common electrodes to drive the liquid crystal. In the reflection area, a reflective layer is arranged between the pixel and common electrodes and the second substrate, and a polarizing layer is disposed between the pixel and common electrodes and the reflective layer.

Claims (56)

1. A transflective liquid crystal display, comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel comprising a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer intercalated between the first substrate and the second substrate, and pixel electrodes and common electrodes disposed on the second substrate for driving the liquid crystal layer;

a backlight disposed on one surface of the liquid crystal display panel;

a first polarizer disposed on a first side of the first substrate, the first side being opposite to a side of the first substrate where the second substrate is disposed;

a second polarizer disposed on a first side of the second substrate, the first side being opposite to a side of the second substrate where the first substrate is disposed; and

a thin film transistor (TFT), wherein

the liquid crystal display panel includes pixels, each pixel including a reflection area and a transmission area;

the reflection area includes a reflective layer disposed between the second substrate and an electrode group including the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes, and a polarizing layer disposed between the reflective layer and an electrode group including the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes;

the first polarizer includes an absorption axis and the second polarizer includes an absorption axis, the axes being perpendicular to each other, and the polarizing layer includes an absorption axis parallel to the absorption axis of the second polarizer;

the liquid crystal layer includes an alignment direction parallel or perpendicular to the absorption axis of the first polarizer;

the reflective layer includes a contour of depressions and projections on at least one surface thereof, the liquid crystal display further comprising:

a planarizing layer between the polarizing layer and the reflective layer;

the planarizing layer being employed to provide a planar surface on which the polarizing layer is formed;

the reflective layer is an upper layer of the TFT in the reflection area; and

the reflective layer is a lower layer of the planarizing layer in the reflection area.

2. A transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 1 , further comprising a protection layer between the polarizing layer and an electrode group including the common electrodes and the pixel electrodes, wherein

the protection layer is formed using a photoresist material.

3. A transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 1 , further comprising a protection layer between the polarizing layer and an electrode group including the common electrodes and the pixel electrodes, wherein

the protection layer is formed using silicon nitride.

4. A transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 1 , wherein:

the common electrodes and the pixel electrodes are formed on mutually different layers, the layers intercalating an insulation layer;

the pixel electrodes or the common electrodes less apart from the liquid crystal layer are formed in a contour of a comb, and the pixel electrodes or the common electrodes more apart from the liquid crystal layer are formed in a planar contour; and

the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes are formed using a transparent electrically conductive material.

5. A transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 1 , wherein:

the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes are formed on one and the same layer;

the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes are formed respectively in a contour of a comb, the pixel and common electrodes being alternately disposed; and

the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes are formed using a transparent electrical conductive material.

6. A transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 1 , wherein:

the transmission area includes a polarizing layer between the second substrate and a electrode group including the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes; and

the polarizing layer includes an absorption axis parallel to the absorption axis of the second polarizer.

7. A transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 5 , wherein the electrodes formed in a contour of a comb are bent.

8. A transflective liquid crystal display, comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel comprising a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer intercalated between the first substrate and the second substrate, and pixel electrodes and common electrodes disposed on the second substrate for driving the liquid crystal layer;

a backlight disposed on one surface of the liquid crystal display panel;

a first polarizer disposed on a first side of the first substrate, the first side being opposite to a side of the first substrate where the second substrate is disposed;

a second polarizer disposed on a first side of the second substrate, the first side being opposite to a side of the second substrate where the first substrate is disposed; and

a thin film transistor (TFT),

wherein:

the liquid crystal display panel includes pixels, each pixel including a reflection area and a transmission area;

the reflection area includes a reflective layer disposed between the second substrate and a electrode group including the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes, and a polarizing layer disposed between the reflective layer and the liquid crystal layer;

the first polarizer includes an absorption axis and the second polarizer includes an absorption axis, the axes being perpendicular to each other, and the polarizing layer includes an absorption axis parallel to the absorption axis of the second polarizer;

the liquid crystal layer includes an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules, the alignment direction being parallel or perpendicular to the absorption axis of the first polarizer;

the common electrodes and the pixel electrodes are formed on mutually different layers, the layers intercalating an insulation layer;

the pixel electrodes or the common electrodes less apart from the liquid crystal layer are formed in a contour of a comb, and the pixel electrodes or the common electrodes more apart from the liquid crystal layer are formed in a planar contour;

the electrodes formed in a contour of a comb are bent,

the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes are formed using a transparent electrical conductive material;

the absorption axis of the polarizing layer is parallel or perpendicular to one edge of the second substrate;

the reflective layer includes a contour of depressions and projections on at least one surface thereof, the liquid crystal display further comprising:

a planarizing layer between the polarizing layer and the reflective layer;

the planarizing layer being employed to provide a planar surface on which the polarizing layer is formed;

the reflective layer is an upper layer of the TFT in the reflection area; and

the reflective layer is a lower layer of the planarizing layer in the reflection area.

9. A transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 8 , wherein:

the second substrate includes a switching element for applying to the pixel electrodes a voltage corresponding to image information inputted thereto and a through-hole for connecting the pixel electrodes to the switching element; and

the through-hole is formed in a bending section of the pixel electrodes.

10. A transflective liquid crystal display according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode group including the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes are configured is an upper layer of the polarizing layer.

Assignments (3)
COMPANY SPLIT PLAN TRANSFERRING FIFTY (50) PERCENT SHARE OF PATENTS Recorded Oct 13, 2011
From: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
To: IPS ALPHA SUPPORT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027056/0692 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 13, 2011
From: IPS ALPHA SUPPORT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027056/0914 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2008
From: ADACHI, MASAYA; ARAKI, CHIEKO; TANAKA, JUN; OTANI, MIHARU; ITOU, OSAMU; OKA, SHINICHIRO
To: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 020643/0072 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2006-336477 · Dec 14, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080143939A1 · Jun 19, 2008