IP Library Granted Patent US 7,256,846
Granted Patent B2
US 7,256,846 · App. 10/846,541 · Granted Aug 14, 2007

Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,256,846
App. No.
10/846,541
Granted
Aug 14, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention can provide a liquid crystal display device in which a homeotropic alignment liquid crystal layer is interposed between a pair of substrates and a transmissive display region and a reflective display region are provided in one dotregion. A liquid crystal layer thickness-adjusting layer for making the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region smaller than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region can be formed between at least one substrate of the pair of substrates and the liquid crystal layer, and wherein, in at least one substrate of the pair of substrates, convex portions that protrude from the internal surface of the substrate to the inside of the liquid crystal layer are formed in the transmissive display region in the dot region and in the region where the liquid crystal layer thickness-adjusting layer is formed outside the dot region. Accordingly, the invention can provide a liquid crystal display device capable of displaying images with a wide angle in both of transmissive display and reflective display.

Claims (20)

1. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a liquid crystal layer interposed between a pair of substrates, the liquid crystal layer including a liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy;

a dot region in which a transmissive display region and a reflective display region are provided;

a liquid crystal layer thickness-adjusting layer that makes a thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region smaller than a thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region, the liquid crystal layer thickness-adjusting layer being formed between at least one substrate of the pair of substrates and the liquid crystal layer;

a first convex portion made of dielectric material formed in the transmissive region; and

a second convex portion that protrudes from an internal surface of at least one of the substrates to an inside of the liquid crystal layer, and in contact with the other of the substrates, the second convex portion being formed in a region where the liquid crystal layer thickness-adjusting layer is formed outside the dot region.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 ,

the first convex portion including a surface inclined at an angle with respect to the surfaces of the substrates.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 ,

electrodes that drive the liquid crystal being provided on the liquid crystal layer sides of the pair of substrates, and

the first convex portion being formed on at least one electrode of the electrodes facing the liquid crystal layer.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 ,

an alignment film that vertically aligns the liquid crystal being formed on the convex portions and the internal surface of the electrodes facing the liquid crystal layer.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 ,

circular polarizers that make circularly polarized light incident on the liquid crystal layer being provided on sides of the pair of substrates opposite to the liquid crystal layer, respectively.

6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 ,

an upper substrate and a lower substrate being provided as the pair of substrates,

a backlight for transmissive display being provided at the side of the lower substrate opposite to the liquid crystal layer, and

a reflective layer selectively formed in the reflective display region being formed on the side of the lower substrate facing the liquid crystal layer.

7. An electronic apparatus, comprising the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 .

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2016
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: BOE TECHNOLOGY (HK) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 037515/0050 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2016
From: BOE TECHNOLOGY (HK) LIMITED
To: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 037515/0082 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2004
From: MAEDA, TSUYOSHI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 015151/0160 →