Liquid crystal display device with two reflective polarizers providing metallic appearance effects

• US 6,271,901 B1
• Filed: 03/11/1999
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Citizen Watch Co Limited (Citizen Electronics Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Citizen Watch Co Limited (Citizen Electronics Company Limited)
• Inventors: Akiba, Yuichi, Akiyama, Takashi, Ide, Masafumi, Nakagawa, Koji, Kikuchi, Masami, Toida, Takashi, Sekiguchi, Kanetaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOWDHURY, TARIFUR RASHID
• Application Number:
  US09/254,642
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 349/96, 349/98, 349/99, 349/61, 349/106, 349/64
• US Class Current: 349/96
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence

Abstract

The liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal cell with liquid crystals sealed thereinbetween, sandwiched between two transparent substrates having an electrode on each of the inner surfaces thereof facing each other, a first reflective polarizing film disposed on the visible side of the liquid crystal cell, a second reflective polarizing film disposed on the side of the liquid crystal cell, opposite from the visible side, and a light absorption film disposed on the side of the second reflective polarizing film, opposite from the visible side. The first reflective polarizing film as well as the second reflective polarizing film is a polarizing sheet reflecting a light linearly polarized in the direction orthogonal to the transmission axis thereof. A light absorption film and/or a backlight may preferably be disposed under the second reflective polarizing film. Further, an absorption-type polarizing film or a light diffusion layer may preferably be disposed on the visible side of the first reflective polarizing film.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device displaying in a metallic tone on an information displaying segment or on a background part, comprising:

an information displaying liquid crystal cell, with liquid crystals sealed thereinbetween, sandwiched between two transparent substrates having an electrode on each of inner surfaces thereof facing each other;

a first reflective polarizing film disposed on a visible side of the liquid crystal cell;

a second reflective polarizing film disposed on a side of the liquid crystal cell, opposite from the visible side thereof; and

a light absorption film disposed on a side of the second reflective polarizing film, opposite from the liquid crystal cell;

said first reflective polarizing film as well as said second reflective polarizing film is a polarizing sheet reflecting light linearly polarized in a direction orthogonal to the transmission axis thereof.

2. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first reflective polarizing film and the second reflective polarizing film are disposed such that the transmission axes thereof cross each other at right angles.

3. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first reflective polarizing film and the second reflective polarizing film are disposed such that the transmission axes thereof run in parallel with each other.

4. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein liquid crystals causing linearly polarized light passing therethrough to undergo phase modulation or intensity modulation are sealed in the liquid crystal cell.

5. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the liquid crystals are twisted nematic liquid crystals.

6. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the liquid crystals are supertwisted nematic liquid crystals.

7. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the liquid crystals are guest host liquid crystals.

8. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first reflective polarizing film is disposed such that the transmission axis thereof is oriented in direction parallel with or orthogonal to the long axes of liquid crystal molecules located on the visible side of the liquid crystal cell.

9. A liquid crystal display device displaying in a metallic tone on an information displaying segment or on a background part, comprising:

an information displaying liquid crystal cell with liquid crystals sealed thereinbetween, sandwiched between two transparent substrates having an electrode on each of inner surfaces thereof facing each other;

a first reflective polarizing film disposed on a visible side of the liquid crystal cell;

a second reflective polarizing film disposed on the side of the liquid crystal cell, opposite from the visible side thereof;

a backlight disposed on a side of the second reflective polarizing film, opposite from the liquid crystal cell; and

a translucent absorbing film installed between the backlight and the second reflective polarizing film;

said first reflective polarizing film as well as said second reflective polarizing film is a polarizing sheet reflecting light linearly polarized in a direction orthogonal to the transmission axis thereof.

10. A liquid crystal display device displaying in a metallic tone on an information display segment or on a background part, comprising:

an information displaying liquid crystal cell with liquid crystals sealed thereinbetween, sandwiched between two transparent substrates having an electrode on each of inner surfaces thereof facing each other;

a first reflective polarizing film disposed on a visible side of the liquid crystal cell;

a second reflective polarizing film disposed on a side of the liquid crystal cell, opposite from the visible side thereof; and

an absorption-type polarizing film disposed on a visible side of the first reflective polarizing film;

said first reflective polarizing film as well as said second reflective polarizing film is a polarizing sheet reflecting light linearly polarized in a direction orthogonal to the transmission axis thereof;

said absorption-type polarizing film is a color polarizing film mainly absorbing a light component at a specific wavelength, out of the linearly polarized in a direction orthogonal to the transmission axis thereof; and

said transmission axis of the absorption-type polarizing film is oriented substantially in a direction of said transmission axis of the first reflective polarizing film.

11. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein a light absorption film is disposed on the side of the second reflective polarizing film, opposite from the liquid crystal cell.

12. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein a backlight is disposed on the side of the second reflective polarizing film, opposite from the liquid crystal cell.

13. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 12, wherein a translucent absorbing film is installed between the backlight and the second reflective polarizing film.

14. A liquid crystal display device displaying in a metallic tone on an information display segment or on a background part, comprising:

an information displaying liquid crystal cell with liquid crystals sealed thereinbetween, sandwiched between two transparent substrates having an electrode on each of inner surfaces thereof facing each other;

a first reflective polarizing film disposed on a visible side of the liquid crystal cell;

a second reflective polarizing film disposed on a side of the liquid crystal cell, opposite from the visible side thereof; and

a light diffusion layer disposed on a visible side of the first reflective polarizing film;

said first reflective polarizing film as well as said second reflective polarizing film is a polarizing sheet reflecting light linearly polarized in a direction orthogonal to the transmission axis thereof.

15. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 14, wherein a light absorption film is disposed on the side of the second reflective polarizing film, opposite from the liquid crystal cell.

16. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 14, wherein a backlight is disposed on the side of the second reflective polarizing film, opposite from the liquid crystal cell.

17. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein a translucent absorbing film is installed between the backlight and the second reflective polarizing film.