Liquid crystal display device, manufacturing method therefor, and electronic apparatus

• US 20040027510A1
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Iijima, Chiyoaki, Hirata, Yoshitomo
• Granted Patent: US 7,023,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/61
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13356 characterised by the placement of the optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/09 transflective

Abstract

A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal panel 10 including a liquid crystal layer 4 sandwiched between opposed upper and lower substrates 1 and 2, and upper and lower polarizing layers 19 and 21 provided at the top and bottom of the liquid crystal layer 4, a reflective layer 20 formed on the inner surface of the lower substrate 2 and having through holes 20a for transmitting light, a lower polarizing plate 21 provided on the reflective layer 20, the lower polarizing layer 21 having apertures 21a which are continued from the through holes 20a of the reflective layer 20 and which are formed at substantially the same planar portions as the through holes 20a. Therefore, the present invention provides a transflective liquid crystal display device capable of a light display even in a transmissive mode, and a manufacturing method therefor.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal panel comprising a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between opposed upper and lower substrates, and upper and lower polarizing layers provided at the top and bottom of the liquid crystal layer;

a lower polarizing plate provided on the outer surface of the lower substrate; and

a reflective layer partially formed on the inner surface of the lower substrate;

wherein the lower polarizing layer is formed only on the reflective layer within a display region.

2. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective layer and the lower polarizing layer are formed in substantially the same planar shape.

3. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a light diffusing means provided above the reflective layer or on the reflective layer.

4. A liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a light transmitting resin layer provided in a region where the reflective layer and lower polarizing layer are not provided.

5. A liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a protective layer formed to cover the reflective layer, the lower polarizing layer being formed on the protective layer at substantially the same planar position as the reflective layer.

6. A liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the lower polarizing layer comprises a water-soluble dichroic dye.

14. An electronic apparatus comprising a liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

7. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal panel which comprises a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between opposed upper and lower substrates, and upper and lower polarizing layers provided at the top and bottom of the liquid crystal layer, the method comprising the steps of:

partially forming a reflective layer on the lower substrate;

forming a protective layer to cover the reflective layer;

forming a lower polarizing layer on the protective layer by using a water-soluble lyotropic liquid crystal dye material;

forming a photosensitive resin layer on the lower polarizing layer;

patterning the photosensitive resin layer in substantially the same planar shape as the reflective layer; and

patterning the lower polarizing layer in substantially the same planar shape as the reflective layer by using the photosensitive resin layer as a mask layer.

8. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal panel which comprises a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between opposed upper and lower substrates, and upper and lower polarizing layers provided at the top and bottom of the liquid crystal layer, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a reflective layer on the lower substrate;

forming a lower polarizing layer on the reflective layer by using a water-soluble lyotropic liquid crystal dye material;

forming a photosensitive resin layer on the lower polarizing layer;

patterning the photosensitive resin layer;

patterning the lower polarizing layer by using the photosensitive resin layer as a mask layer; and

patterning the reflective layer by using the photosensitive resin layer as a mask layer.

9. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal panel which comprises a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between opposed upper and lower substrates, and upper and lower polarizing layers provided at the top and bottom of the liquid crystal layer, the method comprising the steps of:

partially forming a reflective layer on the lower substrate;

selectively providing a light-transmitting water-repellent resin in a region where the reflective layer is not formed, to form a resin layer; and

forming a lower polarizing layer on the reflective layer by using a water-soluble lyotropic liquid crystal dye material.

10. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal panel which comprises a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between opposed upper and lower substrates, and upper and lower polarizing layers provided at the top and bottom of the liquid crystal layer, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a reflective layer on the lower substrate;

forming a transparent conductive material layer on the reflective layer;

patterning the reflective layer and the transparent conductive material layer;

forming a lower polarizing layer on the patterned transparent electrode layer by using a water-soluble lyotropic liquid crystal dye material; and

removing the lower polarizing layer from a region other than a region on the transparent electrode layer.

11. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the step of patterning the lower polarizing layer or the step of partially removing the lower polarizing layer is performed by water washing.

12. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 7 to 11, further comprising the step of forming a protective layer to cover the lower polarizing layer.

13. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein in the step of forming the lower polarizing layer, a solution of the liquid crystal material is coated on a coating surface under the stress applied thereto.