Liquid crystal display device

• US 20030160919A1
• Filed: 09/04/2002
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Yutaka, Doi, Yoshifumi
• Granted Patent: US 6,853,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/113
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133342 for double-sided displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133616 Front illuminating devices

Abstract

A liquid crystal display device including a single liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal is sealed in a clearance formed between two transparent substrates, at least one light source, and at least one light-conducting plate. The liquid crystal panel includes a transmitting type region and a reflecting type region. A part of one surface of the liquid crystal panel is defined to be a first display surface for the transmitting type region and a part of the other surface of the liquid crystal panel is defined to be a second display surface for the reflecting type region. Both-sided display is enabled by using a single liquid crystal panel and a thin and light-weighted structure of the liquid crystal display device is achieved thereby.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising a single liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal is sealed in a clearance formed between two transparent substrates, at least one light source, and at least one light-conducting plate,

wherein the liquid crystal panel includes a transmitting type region and a reflecting type region, a part of one surface of the liquid crystal panel is defined to be a first display surface for the transmitting type region, and a part of the other surface of the liquid crystal panel is defined to be a second display surface for the reflecting type region.

2. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein one group composed of the light source and the light-conducting plate is disposed on the side of the other surface of the liquid crystal panel, a part of the light-conducting plate functions as a back light for the first display surface, and another part of the light-conducting plate functions as a front light for the second display surface.

3. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein a first group composed of the light source and the light-conducting plate, which functions as the back light for the first display surface, and a second group composed of the light source and the light-conducting plate, which functions as the front light for the second display surface, are respectively disposed on the side of the other surface of the liquid crystal panel.

4. A liquid crystal display device comprising a single liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal is sealed in a clearance formed between two transparent substrates, at least one light source, and at least one light-conducting plate,

wherein the liquid crystal panel is composed of a single transmitting type liquid crystal panel, a part of one surface of the liquid crystal panel is defined to be a first display surface for display by using transmitted light from the other surface of the liquid crystal panel, and a part of the other surface of the liquid crystal panel is defined to be a second display surface for display by using transmitted light from the one surface of the liquid crystal panel.

5. The liquid crystal display device of claim 4, wherein a reflecting plate for sending transmitted light to the second display surface is provided on a side of the one surface of the liquid crystal panel, and a group composed of the light source and the light-conducting plate are disposed on a side of the other surface of the liquid crystal panel for functioning as a back light for the first display surface as well as for sending light to the reflecting plate.

6. The liquid crystal display device of claim 4, wherein a first group composed of the light source and the light-conducting plate, which functions as a back light for the second display surface is disposed on a side of the one surface of the liquid crystal panel, and a second group composed of the light source and the light-conducting plate, which functions as a back light for the first display surface, is disposed on a side of the other surface of the liquid crystal panel, respectively.