Liquid crystal display device

• US 6,445,434 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Japan Display Central Incorporated (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Seiichi, Takato, Kohki
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoan C.
• Application Number:
  US09/750,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20010015782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 349/123, 349/128, 349/129, 349/124, 349/125, 359/75
• US Class Current: 349/123
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1323 Arrangements for providing a switchable viewing angle
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133374 for displaying permanent signs or marks
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133753 with different alignment orientations or pretilt angles on a same surface, e.g. for grey scale or improved viewing angle
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133757 with different alignment orientations
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1347 Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal layer, an alignment layer orientating the liquid crystal layer, and a driving circuit that drives the liquid crystal layer. The alignment layer is divided into a plurality of specified regions, each having a recognizable size. The orientation direction of adjacent regions is different from one another. This makes it difficult to resolve a displayed image from directions other than that from the front of the display, and instead a fixed pattern is seen when the display is viewed from directions other than that from the front. This fixed pattern can be chosen as desired and can be, e.g., a figure or a trade name of a product.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display comprising:

a liquid crystal layer; and

alignment layers sandwiching said liquid crystal layer, comprising an alignment layer surface divided into a plurality of regions, each of said plurality of regions including a plurality of pixel units, with orientations of said alignment layers in adjacent said regions being different,

wherein at least one of said plurality of regions is configured to display a fixed image regardless of any condition of the liquid crystal layer.

2. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein said fixed image comprises a letter.

3. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein said fixed image comprises a visible figure.

4. The liquid crystal display according to claim 3, wherein said figure comprises square.

5. The liquid crystal display according to claim 3,

wherein a long side of a minimum hypothetical rectangular containing said visible figure has a length between 0.1 millimeters and 1 centimeters.

6. The liquid crystal display according to claim 3,

wherein a long side of a minimum hypothetical rectangular containing said visible figure has a length between 0.5 millimeters and 5 millimeters.

7. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein a long side of a minimum hypothetical rectangular containing one of said regions is equal to or larger than 0.1 millimeter.

8. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal layer is driven at a maximum voltage less than a saturation voltage of said liquid crystal layer.

9. The liquid crystal display according to claim 8, wherein said maximum voltage Vm and said saturation voltage Vs for normally black liquid crystal have a following relation:

10. The liquid crystal display according to claim 8, wherein a bias voltage Vb and said saturation voltage Vs for normally white liquid crystal have a following relation:

11. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein a region of said plurality of regions of said alignment layers comprises a unique orientation.

12. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein said fixed image is a logo.

13. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein a region of said plurality of regions of said alignment layers having a same color element comprises a unique orientation.

14. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein said fixed image is a logo.

15. A liquid crystal display comprising:

a liquid crystal layer; and

alignment layers sandwiching said liquid crystal layer, said alignment layers comprising surfaces divided into a plurality of regions having different orientation directions, a first ratio of areas of two regions of said plurality of regions in a first pixel being different from a second ratio of areas of said two regions of said plurality of regions in a second pixel,

wherein at least one of said plurality of regions is configured to display a fixed image regardless of any condition of the liquid crystal layer.

16. The liquid crystal display according to claim 15, wherein said fixed image comprises a letter.

17. The liquid crystal display according to claim 15, wherein said fixed image comprises a visible figure.

19. The liquid crystal display according to claim 17, wherein said fixed image comprises a letter.

18. A liquid crystal display comprising:

a liquid crystal layer;

alignment layers sandwiching said liquid crystal layer; and

a driving circuit configured to drive said liquid crystal layer,

wherein an image formed in said liquid crystal layer by said driving circuit is displayed at a front direction and a fixed image independent of said driving circuit is displayed at an oblique direction,

wherein said alignment layers comprise a plurality of regions having different orientations, and

wherein at least one of said plurality of regions is configured to display a fixed image regardless of any condition of the liquid crystal layer.

20. The liquid crystal display according to claim 18, wherein said fixed image comprises a visible figure.

21. The liquid crystal display according to claim 18, wherein said fixed image comprises a color.

22. A liquid crystal display comprising:

a liquid crystal layer;

alignment layers sandwiching said liquid crystal layer; and

a driving circuit configured to drive said liquid crystal layer,

wherein an image formed in said liquid crystal layer by said driving circuit is displayed at a first direction normal to said liquid crystal layer and a fixed image independent of said driving circuit is displayed at a second direction,

wherein said alignment layers comprise a plurality of regions having different orientations, and

wherein at least one of said plurality of regions is configured to display a fixed image regardless of any condition of the liquid crystal layer.

23. A liquid crystal display comprising:

a first liquid crystal layer displaying an image determined by a driving circuit;

a second liquid crystal layer; and

alignment layers sandwiching said second liquid crystal layer, said alignment layer including regions displaying a visible figure, with orientations of adjacent of said regions being different.

24. A liquid crystal display comprising:

a liquid crystal layer;

a pair of substrates sandwiching said liquid crystal layer; and

a driving circuit configured to drive said liquid crystal layer,

wherein an image formed in said liquid crystal layer by said driving circuit is displayed at a front direction and a fixed image independent of said driving circuit is displayed at an oblique direction, and said fixed image is formed on a surface of said liquid crystal layer.

25. The liquid crystal display according to claim 24, wherein said substrates comprise glass.

26. The liquid crystal display according to claim 24, wherein said driving circuit is formed on said substrate.

27. The liquid crystal display according to claim 24, wherein said driving circuit is formed separate from said substrate.

28. A terminal device comprising:

a liquid crystal layer;

a pair of substrates sandwiching said liquid crystal layer; and

a driving circuit configured to drive said liquid crystal layer,

wherein an image formed by said driving circuit is displayed at a front direction and a fixed image independent of said driving circuit is displayed at an oblique direction, and said fixed image is formed on a surface of said liquid crystal layer.

29. A portable terminal device comprising:

a liquid crystal layer;

a pair of substrates sandwiching said liquid crystal layer; and

a driving circuit configured to drive said liquid crystal layer,

wherein an image formed by said driving circuit is displayed at a front direction and a fixed image independent of said driving circuit is displayed at an oblique direction, and said fixed image is formed on a surface of said liquid crystal layer.

30. A method of forming a liquid crystal display device, comprising:

orienting a first portion of an alignment layer on a first substrate in a first direction;

orienting a second portion of said alignment layer on said first substrate in a second direction; and

sandwiching a liquid crystal layer between said first substrate and a second substrate;

wherein said first portion of said alignment layer is configured for a fixed image regardless of any condition of the liquid crystal layer.

31. A method of forming a liquid crystal display device, comprising:

orienting a first portion of an alignment layer on a first substrate in a first direction;

orienting a second portion of said alignment layer on said first substrate in a second direction; and

sandwiching a liquid crystal layer between said first substrate and a second substrate;

wherein said first portion of said alignment layer is configured to display a fixed logo regardless of any condition of the liquid crystal layer.

32. A liquid crystal display comprising:

a liquid crystal layer; and

means for sandwiching said liquid crystal layer, comprising at least two portions, each of said two portions comprising a different means for aligning an orientation of said liquid crystal layer sandwiched by said respective portion,

wherein at least one of said plurality of regions is configured to display a fixed image regardless of any condition of the liquid crystal layer.

33. A liquid crystal display comprising:

a liquid crystal layer;

alignment layers sandwiching said liquid crystal layer; and

a driving circuit configured to drive said liquid crystal layer,

wherein an image formed in said liquid crystal layer by said driving circuit is displayed at a front direction and a fixed image independent of said driving circuit is displayed at an oblique direction;

wherein said fixed image comprises a letter.

34. A liquid crystal display comprising:

a liquid crystal layer;

alignment layers sandwiching said liquid crystal layer; and

a driving circuit configured to drive said liquid crystal layer,

wherein an image formed in said liquid crystal layer by said driving circuit is displayed at a front direction and a fixed image independent of said driving circuit is displayed at an oblique direction;

wherein said fixed image comprises a visible figure.

35. A liquid crystal display comprising:

a liquid crystal layer;

alignment layers sandwiching said liquid crystal layer; and

a driving circuit configured to drive said liquid crystal layer,

wherein an image formed in said liquid crystal layer by said driving circuit is displayed at a front direction and a fixed image independent of said driving circuit is displayed at an oblique direction;

wherein said fixed image comprises a color.