Macromolecular dispersion type liquid crystal display element and method of manufacturing the same

• US 6,365,239 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakao, Kenji, Yamamoto, Masao, Kosako, Shinya, Uemura, Tsuyoshi, Kubota, Hirofumi, Naito, Noriko
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, SHEAN CHIU
• Application Number:
  US09/712,248
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 428/1.1, 428/402.2, 252/299.01, 349/10, 349/86, 349/88, 349/89, 349/92
• US Class Current: 428/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 19/544 as dispersing or encapsulating medium around the liquid crystal
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2019/546 creating a polymeric network
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/00 Functional layers of liquid crystal optical display excluding electroactive liquid crystal layer characterised by chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2984 Microcapsule with fluid core [includes liposome]

Abstract

A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element having a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal sandwiched between a pair of substrates, each having an inside electrode, is disclosed. The liquid crystal has liquid crystal droplets dispersed and held in either a polymer compound-containing continuous phase matrix or a three dimensional network of such a matrix. In one embodiment, the capacitance hysteresis, defined as Chys=(C2−C1)/C_max, does not exceed 1.5%. C1 is the capacitance for an applied voltage that is in the process of rising a voltage-capacitance characteristic; C2 is the capacitance of an applied voltage in the process of dropping; and C2 is the capacitance of a maximum applied voltage. In another embodiment, the Chys value does not exceed 0.6% when the optical hysteresis Thys is (P2−P1)/P_max where P1 is the intensity of transmitted light of an applied rising voltage V, P2 is the intensity of transmitted light of an applied dropping voltage, and P_max is the intensity of transmitted light of a maximum applied voltage.

Claims

1. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element in which a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal is sandwiched between a pair of substrates each having an electrode at the inside thereof, said polymer dispersion type liquid crystal being such that liquid crystal droplets are dispersed and held in a continuous phase of matrix comprising polymer compound or are dispersed and held in networks of a three dimensional network form of matrix comprising polymer compound, wherein, when capacitance hysteresis in an operating temperature of said polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element is defined by Chys=(C2−

C1)/Cmax, the Chys for any applied voltage V is 1.5% or less, where C1 is capacitance for any applied voltage V, which is in the process of rising, of a voltage-capacitance characteristic;

C2 is capacitance for the applied voltage in the process of dropping; and

Cmax is capacitance for the maximum applied voltage.

2. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 1, wherein, where a clear point transition temperature of said liquid crystal is let be Tni, said Chys is 1.5% or less in operating temperatures of said element falling in the range of from 5°

C. to (Tni−

5)°

C.

3. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 1, wherein, where a clear point transition temperature of said liquid crystal is let be Tni, said Chys is 1.5% or less in operating temperatures of said element falling in the range of from 0°

C. to (Tni−

5)°

C.

4. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 1, wherein, where a clear point transition temperature of said liquid crystal is let be Tni, said Chys is 1.5% or less in operating temperatures of said element falling in the range of from −

5°

C. to (Tni−

5)°

C.

5. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 1, wherein said maximum applied voltage is 10V or more.

25. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 2, wherein said maximum applied voltage is at least 10V.

26. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 3, wherein said maximum applied voltage is at least 10V.

27. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 4, wherein said maximum applied voltage is at least 10V.

6. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element in which a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal is sandwiched between a pair of substrates each having an electrode at the inside thereof, said polymer dispersion type liquid crystal being such that liquid crystal droplets are dispersed and held in a continuous phase of matrix comprising polymer compound or are dispersed and held in networks of a three dimensional network form of matrix comprising polymer compound, wherein, when optical hysteresis Thys in an operating temperature range of said polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element is defined by Thys=(P2−

P1)/Pmax, where P1 is intensity of transmitted light for an any applied voltage V, which is in the process of rising, of a voltage-transmittance quantity characteristic;

P2 is intensity of transmitted light for the applied voltage in the process of dropping; and

Pmax is intensity of transmitted light for μ

maximum applied voltage, and further when capacitance hysteresis Chys in an operating temperature of said polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element is defined by Chys=(C2−

C1)/Cmax, a value of the Chys for the applied voltage with which said Thys is maximized is 0.6% or less, where C1 is capacitance for any applied voltage V, which is in the process of rising, of a voltage-capacitance characteristic;

C2 is capacitance for the applied voltage in the process of dropping; and

Cmax is capacitance for the maximum applied voltage.

7. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 6, wherein, where a clear point transition temperature of said liquid crystal is let be Tni, the value of said Chys is 0.6% or less in operating temperatures of said element falling in the range of from 5°

C. to (Tni−

5)°

C.

8. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 6, wherein, where a clear point transition temperature of said liquid crystal is let be Tni, the value of said Chys is 0.6% or less in operating temperatures of said element falling in the range of from 0°

C. to (Tni−

5)°

C.

9. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 6, wherein, where a clear point transition temperature of said liquid crystal is let be Tni, the value of said Chys is 0.6% or less in operating temperatures of said element falling in the range of from −

5°

C. to (Tni−

5)°

C.

10. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 6, wherein said maximum applied voltage is 10V or more.

12. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 6, wherein said tension γ

LC of said liquid crystal and said critical surface tension γ

F of said insulating films further meet the relation of Expression 4-2;

13. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 12, wherein said polymer·

liquid crystal complex has a value of γ

, which indicates steepness of a threshold of a scattering-transmittance characteristic, falling in the range of 1.95 to 2.25.

28. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 7, wherein said maximum applied voltage is at least 10V.

29. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 8, wherein said maximum applied voltage is at least 10V.

30. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 9, wherein said maximum applied voltage is at least 10V.

31. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 12, wherein said insulating films are made of polyamino acids, polyamino acid derivatives or proteins.

32. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 13, wherein said insulating films are made of polyamino acids, polyamino acid derivatives or proteins.

34. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 12, wherein said critical surface tension γ

p of said polymer compound and said surface tension γ

LC of said liquid crystal meet the relation of Expression 4-4;

35. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 13, wherein said critical surface tension γ

p of said polymer compound and said surface tension γ

LC of said liquid crystal meet the relation of Expression 4-4;

11. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element in which a polymer -liquid crystal complex in which droplets of liquid crystal are dispersed in a polymer compound is filled in a space between a pair of electrodes supported by substrates and covered with insulating films, wherein surface tension γ

LC of said liquid crystal and critical surface tension γ

F of said insulating films meet the relation of Expression 4-1;

15. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 11, wherein said insulating films are made of polyamino acids, polyamino acid derivatives or proteins.

16. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 11, wherein said critical surface tension γ

P of said polymer compound and said surface tension γ

LC of said liquid crystal meet the relation of Expression 4-4;

17. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 16, wherein said polymer compound is formed by polymerization of polymerizable monomer and polymerizable oligomer, and further at least one of said polymerizable oligomer and said polymerizable monomer has a polar group.

18. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 17, wherein said polar group is at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group and an imino group.

19. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 17 or 18, wherein said γ

P and said γ

LC meet the relation of the Expression 4-4 in a full temperature range (−

10°

C. to 60°

C.) in actual operation of the display element;

20. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 16, wherein said γ

P and said γ

LC meet the relation of the Expression 4-4 in a full temperature range (−

10°

C. to 60°

C.) in actual operation of the display element;

21. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 15, wherein said critical surface tension γ

P of said polymer compound and said surface tension γ

LC of liquid crystal meet the relation of Expression 4-4;

22. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 21, wherein said polymer compound is formed by polymerization of polymerizable monomer and polymerizable oligomer, and further at least one of said polymerizable oligomer and said polymerizable monomer has a polar group.

23. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 22, wherein said polar group is at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group and an imino group.

24. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 21, wherein said γ

P and said γ

LC meet the relation of the Expression 4-4 in a full temperature range (−

10°

C. to 60°

C.) in actual operation of the display element;

37. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 18, wherein said γ

P and said γ

LC meet the relation of Expression 4-4 in a full temperature range (−

10°

C. to 60°

C.) in actual operation of the display element;

38. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 22, wherein said γ

P and said γ

LC meet the relation of Expression 4-4 in a full temperature range (−

10°

C. to 60°

C.) in actual operation of the display element;

39. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 23, wherein said γ

P and said γ

LC meet the relation of Expression 4-4 in a full temperature range (−

10°

C. to 60°

C.) in actual operation of the display element;

14. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element in which a polymer·

liquid crystal complex in which droplets of liquid crystal are dispersed in a polymer compound is filled in a space between a pair of electrodes supported by substrates and covered with insulating films, wherein surface tension γ

LC of said liquid crystal and critical surface tension γ

F of said insulating films meet the relation of Expression 4-3;

33. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 14, wherein said insulating films are made of polyamino acids, polyamino acid derivatives or proteins.

36. A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element as set forth in claim 14, wherein said critical surface tension γ

P of said polymer compound and said surface tension γ

LC of said liquid crystal meet the relation of Expression 4-4;