Liquid crystal display device

• US 20040066477A1
• Filed: 08/13/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Morimoto, Hirokazu, Kurauchi, Shoichi
• Granted Patent: US 6,947,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/113
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133371 Cells with varying thickness of the liquid crystal layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors

Abstract

A semi-transparent type liquid crystal display device includes circuit array substrate AR, counter substrate CT and liquid crystal layer LQ held between circuit array and counter substrates AR and CT. The alignment of liquid crystal layer LQ is also controlled by circuit array and counter substrates AR and CT. Circuit array substrate AR has transparent and reflective electrode films 8 and 9 at pixel regions. Transparent electrode films 8 to allow light from a rear light source to pass are lower in level than the reflective electrode films 9 to reflect ambient incident light. Counter substrate CT is provided with recesses RS corresponding to the transparent electrode films 8 of circuit array substrate AR to make the thickness of liquid crystal layer LQ thicker at transparent electrode films 8 than at reflective electrode films 9.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

first and second electrode substrates;

a liquid crystal layer held between said first and second electrode substrates, molecular alignment of said liquid crystal layer being controlled by said first and second electrode substrates; and

a rear light source,

wherein said first electrode substrate includes reflective portions to reflect ambient incident light from said second electrode substrate to pixel regions of said liquid crystal layer and transparent portions provided at a lower position than said reflective portions to allow incident light from said rear light source pass, and

said second electrode substrate includes recesses to make said liquid crystal layer thicker in thickness at said transparent portions than at said reflective portions.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said pixel region includes pixels which are disposed in pitches of less than 60 μ

m.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal layer is made of a homogeneous type liquid crystal material.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal layer is made of a twisted nematic type liquid crystal material.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said second electrode substrate includes a transparent resin film, and

said recesses are defined in said transparent resin film.