Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus

• US 20060268206A1
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Display West Incorporated (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Epson Imaging Devices Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Nishimura, Joji
• Granted Patent: US 7,502,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/114
• 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

A liquid crystal device includes first and second substrates which are arranged to face each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, and first and second electrodes which are provided on the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer is driven by electric fields generated between the first and second electrodes. A reflective display region for reflective display and a transmissive display region for transmissive display are provided in each of a plurality of subpixel regions. A main direction of an electric field generated between the first and second electrodes in the transmissive display region is different from a main direction of an electric field between the first and second electrodes in the reflective display region.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal device comprising:

first and second substrates which are arranged to face each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween; and

first and second electrodes which are provided on the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer,

wherein the liquid crystal layer is driven by electric fields generated between the first and second electrodes,

a reflective display region for reflective display and a transmissive display region for transmissive display are provided in each of a plurality of subpixel regions, and

a main direction of an electric field generated between the first and second electrodes in the transmissive display region is different from a main direction of an electric field between the first and second electrodes in the reflective display region.

4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein each of the first and second electrodes has one or more strip electrodes, and

the one or more strip electrodes of the first electrode and the one or more strip electrodes of the second electrode are substantially arranged in parallel with each other in each of the transmissive display region and the reflective display region.

5. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1,

wherein the first electrode has a plurality of strip electrodes, and is formed on the second electrode having a flat, substantially uniform shape through an insulating film, and

the plurality of strip electrodes are substantially arranged in parallel with one another in each of the transmissive display region and the reflective display region.

6. The liquid crystal device according to claim 4,

wherein an extension direction of the strip electrodes in the transmissive display region and an extension direction of the strip electrodes in the reflective display region are made different from each other.

7. The liquid crystal device according to claim 4,

wherein the strip electrodes have bent shapes in plan view in a planar region of the transmissive display region or the reflective display region and are arranged in parallel with one another, and

the bent portions of the strip electrodes are arranged along the initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region or the reflective display region.

8. The liquid crystal device according to claim 4,

wherein the strip electrodes having the bent shapes in plan view are provided in the transmissive display region, and the strip electrodes having substantially linear shapes are provided in the reflective display region.

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

2. A liquid crystal device comprising:

first and second substrates which are arranged to face each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween; and

first and second electrodes which are provided on the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer,

wherein the liquid crystal layer is driven by electric fields generated between the first and second electrodes,

a reflective display region for reflective display and a transmissive display region for transmissive display are provided in each of a plurality of subpixel regions,

initial alignment states of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are uniform in the subpixel region, and

a maximum rotation angle of the liquid crystal molecules by the electric fields generated between the first and second electrodes is different between the transmissive display region and the reflective display region.

3. The liquid crystal device according to claim 2,

wherein the maximum rotation angle in the transmissive display region is larger than the maximum rotation angle in the reflective display region.