LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

• US 20140293175A1
• Filed: 03/26/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Display Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Japan Display Incorporated
• Inventors: Tamaki, Masaya, Matsushima, Toshiharu
• Granted Patent: US 9,377,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/33
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133707 Structures for producing distorted electric fields, e.g. bumps, protrusions, recesses, slits in pixel electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133784 by rubbing
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134318 having a patterned common electrode
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134363 for applying an electric field parallel to the substrate, i.e. in-plane switching [IPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1365 in which the switching element is a two-electrode device G02F1/136277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/124 interdigital

Abstract

According to an aspect, a liquid crystal display device includes a first electrode having a plurality of electrode base portions that extend in a first direction; a plurality of first comb-shaped portions that protrude from each of the plurality of electrode base portions in a second direction; and a plurality of second comb-shaped portions that protrude from each of the plurality of electrode base portions in an opposite direction to the second direction. Front edges of the first comb-shaped portions and the second comb-shaped portions that extend from the adjacent electrode base portions face each other with a gap therebetween, respectively. Transmission ineffective areas are formed at portions between the front edges facing each other, respectively, and not continuously aligned.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate that face each other;

a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; and

a first electrode and a second electrode provided between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, wherein

the first electrode includes;

a plurality of electrode base portions that extend in a first direction;

a plurality of first comb-shaped portions that protrude from each of the plurality of electrode base portions at a fixed distance away in the first direction from each other in a comb-teeth manner, and extend in a second direction different from the first direction; and

a plurality of second comb-shaped portions that protrude from each of the plurality of electrode base portions at a fixed distance away in the first direction from each other in a comb-teeth manner, and extend in an opposite direction to the second direction, and

front edges of the first comb-shaped portions and the second comb-shaped portions that extend from the adjacent electrode base portions face each other with a gap therebetween, respectively,

transmission ineffective areas are formed at portions between the front edges facing each other, respectively, and

the transmission ineffective areas are not continuously aligned in the first direction.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode includes the first comb-shaped portions in which protruded lengths from the electrode base portion are different from each other.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein the gap is smaller than ½

of a difference between the protruded lengths of the first comb-shaped portions.

4. The liquid crystal display device according claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged such that a horizontal electric field for driving the liquid crystal layer is generated.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the first electrode is layered over the second electrode with an insulating layer interposed.

6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode,

in a region where long sides of the first comb-shaped portions are adjacent to each other, liquid crystal molecules in an area near one of the long sides and liquid crystal molecules in an area near the other one of the long sides rotate in opposite directions to each other with respect to the second direction.

7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein

the first electrode includes

the first comb-shaped portions in which protruded lengths from the electrode base portion are different from each other and

the second comb-shaped portions in which protruded lengths from the electrode base portion are different from each other, and

when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode,

in a region where long sides of the first comb-shaped portion and the second comb-shaped portion are adjacent to each other, liquid crystal molecules in areas respectively near the long sides rotate in a same direction to each other with respect to the second direction.

8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first orientation film provided between the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer; and

a second orientation film provided between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer, wherein

the first orientation film is subjected to an orientation process in a first orientation direction that is a parallel direction to the second direction,

the second orientation film is subjected to an orientation process in a second orientation direction that is an opposite direction to the first orientation direction of the first orientation film, and

when a voltage is not applied between the first electrode and the second electrode,

long axes of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are aligned and oriented in the first orientation direction.

9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 8, wherein when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode,

the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules are oriented to rise toward a direction vertical to the first substrate while rotating clockwise in an in-plane direction of the first substrate in an area near one of the long sides of the adjacent first comb-shaped portions and rotating counterclockwise in the in-plane direction of the first substrate in an area near the other one.

10. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first comb-shaped portion or the second comb-shaped portion has a coupling portion on which or below which the electrode base portion is layered.

11. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode base portion is formed of a translucent conductive material.

12. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode base portion is formed of a metal material.

13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the comb-shaped portion is formed of a translucent conductive material.

14. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode base portion is formed in a lower layer than the coupling portion.

15. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a liquid crystal display device according to claim 1; and

a control device that supplies an input signal to the liquid crystal display device.