In plane switching liquid crystal display with transflector

• US 20050140902A1
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Original Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Inventors: Yang, Chiu-Lien, Pang, Jia-Pang, Chen, Chueh-Ju
• Application Number:
  US10/997,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20050140902A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/141
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134363 for applying an electric field parallel to the substrate, i.e. in-plane switching [IPS]

Abstract

An in plane switching liquid crystal display (2) includes a first substrate (220) and a second substrate (210) disposed opposite each other and spaced apart a predetermined distance. A liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the liquid crystal layer containing a plurality of liquid crystal molecules (230). A plurality of pixel electrodes (213) and a plurality of counter electrodes (211) are formed on the first substrate in parallel alternating fashion. Two polarizers (240, 241) are disposed on the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively. A transflector (217) capable of transmitting and reflecting light beams is disposed on the first substrate. The in plane switching liquid crystal display can thus utilize ambient light beams as well as light beams provided by a backlight, so that the in plane switching liquid crystal display has low power consumption.

Claims

1. An in plane switching liquid crystal display comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite each other and spaced apart a predetermined distance;

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

a plurality of pixel electrodes and a plurality of counter electrodes formed on the first substrate;

two polarizers formed at the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively; and

a transflector disposed on the first substrate.

2. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transflector has a multiple-layered structure, in which layers having different refractive indexes are stacked one on the other in alternating fashion.

3. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transflector comprises indium tin oxide (ITO) layers and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) layers.

4. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transflector comprises aluminum or silver.

5. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 4, wherein the transflector defines a plurality of holes.

6. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 5, wherein the holes are circular, elliptical or polygonal.

7. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transflector is disposed between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, or is disposed on an undersurface of the first substrate.

8. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 1, wherein each counter electrode and each pixel electrode is strip-shaped.

9. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polarizer of the second substrate is disposed at an inner side thereof, said inner side corresponding to the liquid crystal layer.

10. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the polarizers is an extraordinary type polarizer.

11. An in plane switching liquid crystal display comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite each other and spaced apart a predetermined distance;

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

a plurality of pixel electrodes and a plurality of counter electrodes formed on the first substrate;

two polarizers formed on the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively; and

a film disposed on the first substrate, the film being able to reflect light beams as well as transmit light beams.

12. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 11, wherein the film has a multiple-layered structure, in which layers having different refractive indexes are stacked one on the other in alternating fashion.

13. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 12, wherein the film comprises indium tin oxide (ITO) layers and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) layers.

14. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 11, wherein the film comprises aluminum or silver.

15. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 14, wherein the film defines a plurality of holes.

16. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 15, wherein the holes are circular, elliptical or polygonal.

17. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 11, wherein the film is disposed between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, or is disposed on an undersurface of the first substrate.

18. An in plane switching liquid crystal display comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite each other and spaced apart a predetermined distance;

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

a plurality of pixel electrodes and a plurality of counter electrodes, wherein an electric field having horizontal components is generated between the pixel electrodes and the counter electrodes when a voltage is applied therebetween;

two polarizers formed on the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively; and

a film disposed on the first substrate, the film reflecting light beams as well as transmitting light beams.

19. The in plane switching liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 18, wherein the pixel electrodes and the counter electrodes are all disposed on the first substrate, or are disposed on the first substrate and the second substrate respectively.