Liquid-crystal display device

• US 6,359,670 B1
• Filed: 05/28/1998
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Cornelissen, Hugo J., Broer, Dirk J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TON, MINH TOAN T
• Application Number:
  US09/086,269
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 349/62, 349/115, 349/112, 349/96, 349/98, 349/185, 359/499
• US Class Current: 349/115
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3016 involving passive liquid crystal elements optical properties of liquid crystals G02F1/0063; polarising elements associated with active liquid crystal devices G02F1/133528
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133543 Cholesteric polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13362 providing polarized light, e.g. by converting a polarisation component into another one

Abstract

A transflective liquid-crystal display device comprising a display cell (1) and a reflective polarizer (9), which preferably incorporates a cholesteric mirror (12) which practically completely reflects incident radiation (light) (14) of a specific polarization (left-hand or right-hand) originating from the display cell (reflective effect) and which passes a substantial degree of radiation (15) of the same polarization originating from (a light source (10) on) the other side (transmissive effect).

Claims

1. A liquid-crystal display device provided with a display cell comprising a layer of a liquid-crystal material sandwiched between a first polarizer having a first direction of polarization and a second polarizer having a second direction of polarization, characterized in that said display cell is provided with a reflective polarizer of which the direction of polarization on the side of the second polarizer makes an angle relative to the second direction of polarization and which has on the side facing away from the second polarizer a polarization-changing effect for light incident at an angle relative to the normal to the reflective polarizer.

2. A liquid-crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the reflective polarizer comprises a cholesteric filter and a birefringent layer.

3. A liquid-crystal display device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the birefringence of the birefringent layer is adjustable over a part of the thickness of the layer.

4. A liquid-crystal display device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that, on the side of the second polarizer, the reflective polarizer is provided with a polarization-preserving diffusor layer.

5. A liquid-crystal display device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the diffusor layer serves as the birefringent layer.

6. A liquid-crystal display device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the cholesteric filter has a variable pitch.

7. A liquid-crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the display device comprises a radiation source which mainly spreads radiation which is incident on the side of the reflective polarizer facing away from the liquid crystal at an angle relative to the normal to the reflective polarizer.

8. A liquid-crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the directions of polarization of the reflective polarizer and the second polarizer cross each other substantially at right angles.

9. A liquid-crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, on the side of the second polarizer, the reflective polarizer is provided with a polarization-preserving diffusor layer.

10. A liquid-crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the display device comprises a diffusor layer which is situated on the side of the first polarizer facing away from the liquid crystal.

11. A reflective polarizer having a polarization direction at a first surface characterized in that the reflective polarizer is provided at said first surface with a polarization-preserving diffusor layer and the reflective polarizer on a second surface facing away from the first surface has a polarization changing effect to light incident at an angle relative to the normal to the second surface.

12. A reflective polarizer as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the reflective polarizer comprises a cholesteric filter and a birefringent layer.

13. A reflective polarizer as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the polarization-preserving diffuser layer serves as a birefringent layer.

14. A reflective polarizer as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the polarization-preserving layer is provided with a further polarization layer.

15. A liquid-crystal display device provided with a display cell comprising a layer of a liquid-crystal material sandwiched between a first polarizer having a first direction of polarization and a second polarizer having, a second direction of polarization, characterized in that said display cell is provided with a reflective polarizer the direction of polarization of which, on the side of the second polarizer makes an angle relative to the second direction of polarization, which reflective polarizer has, on the side facing away from the second polarizer, a polarization-changing effect for light incident at an angle relative to the normal to it and which reflective polarizer has an optical axis that is at least locally tilted relative to the normal to the plane of the second polarizer.

16. A reflective polarizer having a polarization direction at a first surface characterized in that the reflective polarizer is provided at said first surface with a polarization-preserving diffuser layer, the reflective polarizer, on a second surface facing away from the first surface, has a polarization changing effect to light incident at an angle relative to the normal to the second surface and the reflective polarizer is at least locally tilted with respect to the normal to the second surface.