Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus

• US 20060215087A1
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Display West Incorporated (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Epson Imaging Devices Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Matsushima, Toshiharu, Kaneko, Hideki
• Granted Patent: US 7,477,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/114
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13439 characterised by their electrical, optical, physical properties; materials therefor; method of making
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/42 Materials having a particular dielectric constant

Abstract

A liquid crystal device in which a reflective display region for performing reflective display and a transmissive display region for performing transmissive display are provided in one dot region, includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed so as to be opposite to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween; a first electrode and a second electrode provided on a surface of the first substrate which faces the liquid crystal layer, each of the first and second electrodes applying an in-plane electric field to the liquid crystal layer in the one dot region, and a reflective portion dielectric film provided on the first electrode and/or the second electrode in the reflective display region, the reflective portion dielectric film making a capacitance between the first and second electrodes in the reflective display region smaller than a capacitance between the first and second electrodes in the transmissive display region.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal device in which a reflective display region for performing reflective display and a transmissive display region for performing transmissive display are provided in one dot region, comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate disposed so as to be opposite to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween;

a first electrode and a second electrode disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the first substrate, the first and second electrodes applying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer in the one dot region, and

a reflective portion dielectric film provided between the liquid crystal and at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode in the reflective display region, the reflective portion dielectric film rendering capacitance between the first and second electrodes smaller in the reflective display region than in the transmissive display region.

2. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

further comprising a transmissive portion dielectric film provided between the liquid crystal layer and at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode in the transmissive display region, the reflective portion dielectric film having a smaller relative dielectric constant than a relative dielectric constant of the transmissive portion dielectric film.

3. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein the reflective portion dielectric film does not apply a phase difference to light transmitting the corresponding reflective portion dielectric film.

4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein a voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region is approximately half of a voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region.

5. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged to induce an IPS mode.

6. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged to induce an FFS mode.

7. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein the reflective portion dielectric film is buried in a concave portion formed on the first substrate.

8. The liquid crystal device according to claim 7,

wherein a depth of the concave portion is approximately equal to a thickness of the reflective portion dielectric film.

9. The liquid crystal device according to claim 7,

wherein the first substrate is formed by sequentially laminating an interlayer insulating film, the first and second electrodes, and the reflective portion dielectric film on a base, and

the concave portion is formed on a surface of the interlayer insulating film.

10. The liquid crystal device according to claim 7,

wherein the first substrate is formed by sequentially laminating the first and second electrodes and the reflective portion dielectric film on a base, and

the concave portion is formed on a surface of the base.

11. An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal device according to claim 1.