DISPLAY DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR

• US 20110261308A1
• Filed: 04/20/2011
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: IKEDA, Takayuki, ISHITANI, Tetsuji, KUROKAWA, Yoshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,836,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/138
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1339 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells

Abstract

An object is to provide a display device which has high visibility and has a touch recognition function with a high degree of accuracy, by combining a liquid crystal layer where liquid crystals are dispersed in a polymer and a light emitting element. In a display device using a liquid crystal layer where liquid crystals are dispersed in a polymer, a light-transmitting spacer is provided so as to overlap with a light receiving element which has a touch recognition function. The light-transmitting spacer can prevent light incident on the light receiving element from being dispersed by the liquid crystals, while maintaining a cell gap in the liquid crystal layer, and thus achieve a touch recognition function with a high degree of accuracy with high visibility.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a pixel section comprising;

a display section comprising;

a first portion of a first substrate;

a first portion of an insulating layer over the first portion of the first substrate;

a liquid crystal element over the first portion of the insulating layer; and

a first portion of a second substrate over the liquid crystal element, and

a sensor section comprising;

a second portion of the first substrate;

a light receiving element over the second portion of the first substrate;

a second portion of the insulating layer over the light receiving element;

a spacer over the second portion of the insulating layer; and

a second portion of the second substrate over the spacer,

wherein the liquid crystal element comprises a first electrode, a liquid crystal layer over the first electrode, and a second electrode over the liquid crystal layer,

wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a liquid crystal and a polymer,

wherein the liquid crystal is dispersed in the polymer, and

wherein the spacer is capable of transmitting a light.

2. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the spacer maintains a thickness of the liquid crystal layer.

3. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the display section comprises a coloring layer between the first portion of the insulating layer and the first electrode.

4. A display device according to claim 1,

wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a polymer dispersed liquid crystal or a polymer network liquid crystal.

5. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the display section comprises a transistor between the first portion of the first substrate and the first portion of the insulating layer.

6. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the display section comprises a coloring layer between the first portion of the insulating layer and the first electrode and a transistor between the first portion of the first substrate and the coloring layer.

7. A display device according to claim 1,

wherein the light receiving element is configured to detect an infra-red light.

8. A display device comprising:

a pixel section comprising;

a first display section;

a second display section;

a third display section;

a fourth display section; and

a sensor section comprising;

a second portion of a first substrate;

a light receiving element over the second portion of the first substrate;

a second portion of an insulating layer over the light receiving element;

a spacer over the second portion of the insulating layer; and

a second portion of a second substrate over the spacer,

wherein each of the first display section, the second display section, the third display section, and the fourth display section comprises a first portion of the first substrate, a first portion of the insulating layer over the first portion of the first substrate, a liquid crystal element over the first portion of the insulating layer, and a first portion of the second substrate over the liquid crystal element,

wherein the liquid crystal element comprises a first electrode, a liquid crystal layer over the first electrode, and a second electrode over the liquid crystal layer,

wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a liquid crystal and a polymer,

wherein the liquid crystal is dispersed in the polymer,

wherein the spacer is capable of transmitting a light, and

wherein the sensor section is adjacent to the first display section, the second display section, the third display section, and the fourth display section.

9. A display device according to claim 8, wherein the spacer maintains a thickness of the liquid crystal layer.

10. A display device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the first display section, the second display section, the third display section, and the fourth display section comprises a coloring layer between the first portion of the insulating layer and the first electrode.

11. A display device according to claim 8, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a polymer dispersed liquid crystal or a polymer network liquid crystal.

12. A display device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the first display section, the second display section, the third display section, and the fourth display section comprises a transistor between the first portion of the first substrate and the first portion of the insulating layer.

13. A display device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the first display section, the second display section, the third display section, and the fourth display section comprises a coloring layer between the first portion of the insulating layer and the first electrode and a transistor between the first portion of the first substrate and the first portion of the insulating layer.

14. A display device according to claim 8,

wherein the first display section comprises a first coloring layer between the first portion of the insulating layer of the first display section and the first electrode of the first display section,

wherein the second display section comprises a second coloring layer between the first portion of the insulating layer of the second display section and the first electrode of the second display section, and

wherein an area of the first electrode of the first display section and an area of the first electrode of the second display section are different.

15. A display device according to claim 8,

wherein the first display section comprises a first coloring layer between the first portion of the insulating layer of the first display section and the first electrode of the first display section,

wherein the second display section comprises a second coloring layer between the first portion of the insulating layer of the second display section and the first electrode of the second display section,

wherein an area of the first electrode of the first display section and an area of the first electrode of the second display section are different, and

wherein a color of the first coloring layer and a color of the second coloring layer are different.

16. A display device according to claim 8,

wherein the light receiving element is configured to detect an infra-red light.