Semi-transmissible reflector, semi-transmission type polarizer and liquid-crystal display device using the sames

• US 20020145690A1
• Filed: 02/07/2002
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Inventors: Osuka, Tatsuya, Sakuramoto, Takafumi, Miyatake, Minoru, Hara, Kazutaka
• Granted Patent: US 6,876,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/114
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133545 Dielectric stack polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13362 providing polarized light, e.g. by converting a polarisation component into another one

Abstract

A semi-transmissible reflection layer is formed on a light-transmissible polymer substrate uniaxially drawn to have uniaxial orientation characteristic to thereby form a semi-transmissible reflector.

Claims

1. A semi-transmissible reflector comprising a light-transmissible polymer substrate uniaxially drawn to have uniaxial orientation characteristic, and a semi-transmissible reflection layer formed on said light-transmissible polymer substrate.

2. A semi-transmissible reflector according to claim 1, wherein said semi-transmissible reflection layer is made of a metal vapor-deposited film or metal thin film having light transmissibility.

3. A semi-transmission type polarizer comprising a semi-transmissible reflector defined in claim 1, and a polarizer stuck onto said semi-transmissible reflector.

4. A semi-transmission type polarizer according to claim 3, wherein the angle between a retardation axis of said light-transmissible polymer substrate in said semi-transmissible reflector and an absorption axis of said polarizer is not larger than 9 degrees, said polarizer being stuck on said semi-transmissible reflector.

5. A liquid-crystal display device comprising a liquid-crystal cell, at least one semi-transmission type polarizer defined in claim 3 or 4 and disposed on at least one of opposite surfaces of said liquid-crystal cell, and a backlight having polarizing characteristic and combined with said semi-transmission type polarizer.

6. A liquid-crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein a reflection polarizing element is used as said backlight.