Liquid crystal display device

• US 20060114374A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Aota, Masaaki, Segawa, Yasuo
• Application Number:
  US11/290,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20060114374A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/95
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133526 Lenses, e.g. microlenses or Fresnel lenses

Abstract

Liquid crystal is sealed between two substrates. On the viewing side substrate, a lens structure is provided in positions corresponding to the display regions capable of display in the respective pixels or the light-shielding regions. By enlarging and displaying the display regions, or by reducing and displaying the light-shielding regions surrounding the pixels, the light-shielding regions are displayed in relatively reduced sizes, thereby minimizing roughness in displayed images.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device in which liquid crystal is sealed between two substrates, wherein

a lens structure is provided on a side of a viewing side substrate, among the two substrates, in a position corresponding to each pixel or a pixel group including a plurality of pixels, and the lens structure serves to enlarge and display a display region of the pixel or the pixel group.

2. A liquid crystal display device as defined in claim 1, wherein

the pixel group comprises a plurality of pixels arranged along a horizontal scan direction of the liquid crystal display device.

3. A liquid crystal display device as defined in claim 1, wherein

the lens structure is a convex lens and is provided corresponding to the display region within each pixel or the pixel group.

4. A liquid crystal display device as defined in claim 1, wherein

the lens structure is formed by selectively etching a liquid crystal side surface of the viewing side substrate so as to create a concave surface, and by coating the concave surface with a layer having a refractive index different from that of the substrate.

5. A liquid crystal display device as defined in claim 1, wherein

the lens structure is composed of a convex surface formed by selectively etching a viewing side surface of the viewing side substrate.

6. A liquid crystal display device as defined in claim 1, wherein

the lens structure serves to reduce and display a light-shielding region formed at a gap between pixels.

7. A liquid crystal display device as defined in claim 6, wherein

the lens structure served to reduce the light-shielding region is formed by selectively etching the liquid crystal side surface of the viewing side substrate so as to create a convex surface, and by coating the convex surface with a layer having a refractive index different from that of the substrate.

8. A liquid crystal display device as defined in claim 6, wherein

the lens structure is composed of a concave surface formed by selectively etching a viewing side surface of the viewing side substrate.

9. A liquid crystal display device in which liquid crystal is sealed between two substrates, wherein

a lens structure is provided on a side of a viewing side substrate, among the two substrates, in a position corresponding to a light-shielding region formed at a gap between adjacent pixels, and the lens structure serves to reduce the light-shielding region.

10. A liquid crystal display device as defined in claim 9, wherein

the lens structure is arranged corresponding to at least the light-shielding region extending along a horizontal scan direction.

11. A liquid crystal display device as defined in claim 9, wherein

the lens structure provided corresponding to the light-shielding region is a concave lens.

12. A liquid crystal display device as defined in claim 9, wherein

the lens structure is formed by selectively etching the liquid crystal side surface of the viewing side substrate so as to create a convex surface, and by coating the convex surface with a layer having a refractive index different from that of the substrate.

13. A liquid crystal display device as defined in claim 9, wherein

the lens structure is composed of a convex surface formed by selectively etching a viewing side surface of the viewing side substrate.