Display Device, Viewing Angel Control Device, and Electronic Apparatus

• US 20080316198A1
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fukushima, Hiroshi, Yabuta, Koji, Takatani, Tomoo
• Granted Patent: US 7,817,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/214
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13471 in which all the liquid crystal cells or layers remain transparent, e.g. FLC, ECB, DAP, HAN, TN, STN, SBE-LC cells G02F1/13475 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable phone has a main LCD and a SW-LCD, provided on a path of light to be transmitted by the main LCD, which electrically switches between (i) an image to be seen in a single image display mode and (ii) an image to be seen in a multiple image display mode. Furthermore, a first polarization plate serving as a reflective polarization plate is provided between the SW-LCD and the main LCD, and a second polarization plate is provided on a front surface side of the SW-LCD. The SW-LCD has a liquid crystal layer to which a voltage is applied in the multiple image display mode. With this, an image displayed by an image display can be seen from a front direction. In addition, the image displayed by the image display is blocked by the second polarization plate when the image is seen from the an oblique direction, and outside light from the oblique direction is reflected by the first polarization plate, so that a mirror surface display is carried out.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

image display means for displaying an image; and

display switching means, provided on a front surface side of the image display means, for electrically switching between (i) an image to be seen in a single image display mode and (ii) an image to be seen in a multiple image display mode,

the display switching means being a liquid crystal layer provided between a pair of substrates,

the display switching means further including (a) first polarizing means provided between the display switching means and the image display means and (b) second polarizing means provided on a front surface side of the display switching means,

the first polarizing means being a reflective polarization plate.

2. The display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the liquid crystal layer has liquid crystal molecules whose long axis direction that is always substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular to a polarization direction of linear polarized light incident on the liquid crystal molecules, the long axis direction being a direction obtained when the liquid crystal molecules are projected from a direction perpendicular to the substrates;

in the single image display mode, at least part of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer is oriented so as to have a long axis direction substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular to the substrates; and

in the multiple image display mode, at least part of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer is oriented so as to have a long axis direction tilted with respect to the substrates.

3. The display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first polarizing means has an absorptive polarization plate further provided on a back surface side thereof.

4. The display device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

at least one of the pair of substrates of the display switching means includes a pattern electrode having a specific shape; and

a direction of orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is changed in a region receiving a voltage applied to the pattern electrode.

6. An electronic apparatus, comprising a display apparatus as set forth in claim 1.

5. A viewing angle control device in which outputting is carried out by controlling a viewing angle of incident light,

the viewing angle control device, comprising:

a liquid crystal element which includes a liquid crystal layer provided between a pair of substrates;

first polarizing means provided on a back surface side of the liquid crystal element; and

second polarizing means provided on a front surface side of the liquid crystal element,

the liquid crystal element having liquid crystal molecules whose long axis direction is included in a surface defined by a transmission axis or an absorption axis of the linear polarization plate and a light traveling direction,

the liquid crystal molecules being able to be (a) in a state of being substantially perpendicular or substantially parallel to the light traveling direction or (b) in a state of being tilted with respect to the light traveling direction,

the first polarizing means being a reflective polarization plate.

7. An electronic apparatus, comprising a viewing angle control device as set forth in claim 5.