Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus
Aspects of the invention provide a transflective liquid crystal display device that prevents display failure, such as an afterimage and unevenness like stains, and achieves a bright display with a wide viewing angle in both transmissive display and reflective display. The liquid crystal display device of the invention is a vertically-aligned transflective liquid crystal display device having a multigap structure. Each pixel can include, in a dot region, a plurality of islands, and connecting portions for electrically connecting the adjoining islands. Two islands, of the islands, can be disposed in a transmissive display region, and the remaining island is disposed in a reflective display region. A boundary sloping area in which the thickness of a liquid crystal layer continuously changes is disposed right below the connecting portion in the pixel electrode.
1. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:
a first substrate;
a second substrate;
a liquid crystal layer that is disposed between the first and second substrates and that contains liquid crystal that has a negative dielectric anisotropy;
a dot region including a transmissive display region and a reflective display region;
a film in between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, the film making the liquid crystal layer thinner in the reflective display region than in the transmissive display region;
an electrode located in between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer, the electrode including within the dot region a first electrode island, a second electrode island, and a connecting portion, the first electrode island being located in the transmissive display region, the second electrode island being located in the reflective display region, the connecting portion electrically connecting the first and second electrode islands together;
a first alignment control device located within a region of the first electrode island in plan view, the first alignment control device controlling alignment of the liquid crystal when an electric voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer via the electrode; and
a second alignment control device located within a region of the second electrode island in plan view, the second alignment control device controlling alignment of the liquid crystal when an electric voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer via the electrode, the second alignment control device having a smaller two-dimensional area in plan view than a two-dimensional area in plan view of the first alignment control device.
2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , the first and second alignment control devices being located at a substantial center of the first and second electrode islands, respectively.
3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , further comprising a counter electrode located in between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, the first and second alignment control devices being disposed within openings in the counter electrode.
4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , further comprising a counter electrode located in between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, the first and second alignment control devices each being a protrusion formed from a dielectric material disposed on the counter electrode.
5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , the first and second electrode islands each being a substantially circular or polygonal shape in plan view.
6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , the first and second electrode islands each being narrower where connected with the connecting portion than at a portion thereof remote from the connecting portion.
7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , the connecting portion connecting to a flat or protruding portion of at least one of the first and second electrode islands.
8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , further comprising a reflective film located in the reflective display region of the dot, the reflective film covering regions of the dot other than the transmissive display region of the dot.
9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a switching element electrically connected to the electrode; and
a reflective film located in the reflective display region of the dot and extending to a region of the dot where the switching element is formed.
10. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a reflective film located in the reflective display region of the dot; and
a light scattering device disposed between the reflective film and the liquid crystal layer, the light scattering device scattering light when the light is reflected by the reflective film, the light scattering device being located within a region of the second electrode island in plan view.