Liquid crystal display device

• US 20030132713A1
• Filed: 07/17/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Original Assignee: Chi Mei Optoelectronics (InnoLux Corporation)
• Inventors: Wei, Chung-Kuang
• Granted Patent: US 6,674,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/169.3
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133342 for double-sided displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133616 Front illuminating devices

Abstract

A liquid crystal display (LCD) device has a first side and a second side in parallel with the first side. The LCD device includes a front light source positioned on the first side of the LCD device for generating light beams, and a transflective liquid crystal panel. The transflective liquid crystal panel includes a first glass substrate located between the front light source and the second side of the LCD device, a second glass substrate located between the first glass substrate and the second side of LCD device, and a transflective layer located between the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate for reflecting and transmitting the light beams generated by the front light source. The LCD devices can display images both through the first side and through the second side.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display (LCD) device having a first side and a second side parallel with the first side;

the LCD device comprising;

a front light source positioned on the first side of the LCD device for generating light beams; and

a transflective liquid crystal panel comprising;

a first glass substrate located between the front light source and the second side of the LCD device;

a second glass substrate located between the first glass substrate and the second side of LCD device; and

a transflective layer located between the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate for reflecting and transmitting the light beams generated by the front light source;

wherein when the light beams generated by the front light source are reflected by the transflective layer and then are emitted to the first side of the LCD device, the LCD device displays images through the first side in a reflective mode, and when the light beams generated by the front light source are transmitted by the transflective layer and then are emitted to the second side of the LCD device, the LCD device displays images through the second side in a transmissive mode.

2. The LCD device of claim 1 wherein the front light source is a cold cathode fluorescent tube.

3. The LCD device of claim 1 wherein the front light source is a light emitting diode (LED).

4. The LCD device of claim 1 further comprising a light guide plate located on the first side of the LCD device.

5. The LCD device of claim 1 wherein the transflective liquid crystal panel further comprises two polarizers respectively disposed on the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate, at least one of the two polarizers comprising a retardation film.

6. The LCD device of claim 1 wherein the transflective layer is a multi-layer dielectric film.

7. The LCD device of claim 1 wherein the transflective layer comprises a plurality of metal regions for reflecting the light beams generated by the front light source, and regions not covered by the plurality of metal regions transmit the light beams generated by the front light source.

8. The LCD device of claim 7 wherein the plurality of metal regions are composed of aluminum (Al).

9. The LCD device of claim 1 wherein the transflective layer is a metal layer.

10. The LCD device of claim 9 wherein the metal layer is composed of aluminum (Al) and chromium (Cr).

11. A liquid crystal display (LCD) device of a mobile phone having a first side and a second side parallel with the first side;

the LCD device comprising;

a front light source positioned on the first side of the LCD device for generating light beams;

a transflective liquid crystal panel comprising;

a first glass substrate located between the front light source and the second side of the LCD device;

a second glass substrate located between the first glass substrate and the second side of LCD device; and

a transflective layer located between the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate for reflecting and transmitting the light beams generated by the front light source;

wherein when the light beams generated by the front light source are reflected by the transflective layer and then are emitted to the first side of the LCD device, the LCD device displays images through the first side in a reflective mode, and when the light beams generated by the front light source are transmitted by the transflective layer and then are emitted to the second side of the LCD device, the LCD device displays images through the second side in a transmissive mode; and

a switching element for switching between reflective and transmissive modes of the LCD device.

12. The LCD device of claim 11 wherein the front light source is a cold cathode fluorescent tube.

13. The LCD device of claim 11 wherein the front light source is a light emitting diode (LED).

14. The LCD device of claim 11 further comprising a light guide plate located on the first side of the LCD device.

15. The LCD device of claim 11 wherein the transflective liquid crystal panel further comprises two polarizers respectively disposed on the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate, at least one of the two polarizers comprising a retardation film.

16. The LCD device of claim 11 wherein the transflective layer is a multi-layer dielectric film.

17. The LCD device of claim 11 wherein the transflective layer comprises a plurality of metal regions for reflecting the light beams generated by the front light source, and regions not covered by the plurality of metal regions transmit the light beams generated by the front light source.

18. The LCD device of claim 11 wherein the mobile phone comprises a folding section, the LCD device being disposed on the folding section.

19. The LCD device of claim 18 wherein when the folding section is flipped up, the switching element switches the LCD device to display images in the reflective mode.

20. The LCD device of claim 18 wherein when the folding section is flipped up, the switching element switches the LCD device to display images in the transmissive mode.

21. The LCD device of claim 18 wherein when the folding section is shut, the switching element switches the LCD device to display images in the reflective mode.

22. The LCD device of claim 18 wherein when the folding section is shut, the switching element switches the LCD device to display images in the transmissive mode.