Transflective liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof

• US 20050140879A1
• Filed: 12/28/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: LG Philips LCD Company Limited (LG Display Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nam, Chul
• Granted Patent: US 7,545,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/114
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors

Abstract

A transflective liquid crystal display device includes opposing substrates having a liquid crystal layer interposed between the substrates. Polarizers are disposed on outer sides of the substrates. An uneven transflective film is disposed on one of the polarizers. A backlight unit is disposed outside of the uneven transflective film. The uneven transflective film includes a base film, convex patterns on the base film and a reflective layer in concave portions between the convex patterns. A passivation layer is disposed on the convex patterns and the reflective layer. Light from the backlight unit is transmitted through the convex patterns and ambient light is reflected by the reflective layer in the concave portions.

Claims

1. A transflective liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate facing the first substrate;

a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates;

a first polarizer on an outer side of the first substrate;

a second polarizer on an outer side of the second substrate;

an uneven transflective film on the first polarizer; and

a backlight unit outside of the uneven transflective film.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the uneven transflective film includes a base film, a plurality of convex patterns on the base film and a reflective layer in a plurality of concave portions between the convex patterns.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the convex patterns and the base film are formed in a single layer.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the convex patterns face toward an inner side of the liquid crystal device.

5. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a passivation layer on the convex patterns and the reflective layer.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the passivation layer is a transparent material.

7. The device according to claim 2, wherein the base film comprises a polymer.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the base film comprises polyester.

9. The device according to claim 2, wherein the reflective layer comprises aluminum (Al) or silver (Ag).

10. The device according to claim 2, wherein the reflective layer is a single layer.

11. The device according to claim 2, wherein the reflective layer is only formed between the convex patterns.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate includes a switching element and a pixel electrode connected to the switching element.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second substrate includes a color filter layer.

14. The device according to claim 2, wherein the reflective layer corresponds to a first region where incident light from outside is reflected, and the convex patterns correspond to a second region where incident light from the backlight unit is transmitted.

15. The device according to claim 1.4, wherein the convex patterns are uncovered by the reflected layer, and an exposed portion of the convex patterns corresponds to the second region.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the uneven transflective film and the first polarizer are a single layer.

17. The device according to claim 2, wherein the reflective layer has open portions with hexagonal shapes.

18. An uneven transflective film comprising:

a base film including a plurality of convex patterns and a plurality of concave portions between the plurality of convex patterns; and

a reflective layer in the plurality of concave portions, the reflective layer formed in a region excluding the convex patterns.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the reflective layer is only formed between the convex patterns.

20. The film according to claim 18, wherein the base film is transparent.

21. The film according to claim 18, further comprising a passivation layer on the convex patterns and the reflective layer.

22. The film according to claim 21, wherein the passivation layer is transparent.

23. The film according to claim 18, wherein the convex pattern has a hemispherical shape.

24. The film according to claim 18, wherein the base film comprises a polymer.

25. The film according to claim 24, wherein the base film comprises polyester.

26. The film according to claim 18, wherein the reflective layer comprises aluminum (Al) or silver (Ag).

27. The device according to claim 18, wherein the reflective layer has open portions with hexagonal shapes.

28. A method of fabricating an uneven transflective film, the method comprising:

forming a plurality of convex patterns on a base film;

forming a reflective material layer on an entire surface of the convex patterns; and

etching the reflective material layer corresponding to the convex patterns to form a reflective layer between the convex patterns.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein forming the convex patterns includes stamping a surface of the base film.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein etching the reflective material layer utilizes photolithography.

31. The method according to claim 28, wherein each of the convex patterns has a hemispherical shape.

32. The method according to claim 28, wherein the reflective layer is a single layer.

33. The method according to claim 28, wherein the reflective material layer is etched such that no reflective layer remains on the convex patterns.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the reflective material layer is etched such that the reflective layer only remains between the convex patterns.