Laminated phase plate and liquid crystal display comprising the laminated phase plate

• US 6,580,484 B2
• Filed: 10/28/1999
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ueki, Shun, Minoura, Kiyoshi, Hiraki, Hajime, Okamoto, Masayuki, Mitsui, Seiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/403,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20020063826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 349/117, 349/119, 349/113
• US Class Current: 349/119
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3083 Birefringent or phase retarding elements G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13363 Birefringent elements, e.g. for optical compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133638 Waveplates, i.e. plates with a retardation value of lambda/n
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/40 Materials having a particular birefringence, retardation
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/02 reflective
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2413/02 Number of plates being 2
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2413/08 with a particular optical axis orientation

Abstract

A laminated phase plate is formed by laminating a first optical phase difference compensation plate, having a retardation between 100 and 180 nm for transmitted light, with a wavelength of 550 nm and a second optical phase difference compensation plate having a retardation between 200 and 360 nm for transmitted light with a wavelength of 550 nm. The optical phase difference compensation plates are arranged so that |θ1−(2×θ2)| is between 80 and 100 degrees. The term θ1 is an angle between a vibration direction of linearly polarized light and a slow axis direction of the first optical phase difference compensation plate when the linearly polarized light, which is visible light and has a fixed plane of vibration, is incident on the second optical phase difference compensation plate. The term θ2 is an angle between the vibration direction of linearly polarized light incident on the second optical phase difference compensation plate and a slow axis direction of the second optical phase difference compensation plate.

Claims

1. A laminated phase plate formed by laminating a first optical phase difference compensation plate and a second optical phase difference compensation plate,

said first optical phase difference compensation plate having a retardation between 100 nm and 180 nm for transmitted light in a direction normal to said first optical phase difference compensation plate, so as to provide a phase difference of ¼

wavelength for light of a principal visible wavelength range between 400-700 nm,

said second optical phase difference compensation plate having a retardation between 200 nm and 360 nm for transmitted light in a direction normal to said second optical phase difference compensation plate, so as to provide a phase difference of ½

wavelength for light of a principal visible wavelength range between 400-700 nm,

wherein when linearly polarized light having different wavelengths in a visible light range and having a fixed plane of vibration is incident on said second optical phase difference compensation plate and emerges from said first optical phase difference compensation plate, said linearly polarized light becomes linearly polarized light having different vibration plane directions for the different wavelengths.

2. The laminated phase plate as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second optical phase difference compensation plates are arranged to satisfy an expression

3. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

the laminated phase plate of claim 1;

a first substrate;

a second substrate having light transmitting properties;

a liquid crystal layer formed by a liquid crystal compound including a liquid crystal, said liquid crystal layer being sandwiched between said first and second substrates, wherein said laminated phase plate is disposed on a display side of said second substrate;

polarizing means, disposed on the second optical phase difference compensation plate side of said laminated phase plate, for causing the linearly polarized light to be incident on said second optical phase difference compensation plate; and

light reflecting means for reflecting at least a part of the light which has been transmitted through said second optical phase compensation plate, first optical phase compensation plate, second substrate and liquid crystal layer and gone out of said liquid crystal layer, when the polarizing means causes the linearly polarized light to be incident on said second optical phase difference compensation plate.

4. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 3

wherein said liquid crystal compound has a positive dielectric anisotropy,

wherein the liquid crystal between said first and second substrates has a twist angle between 60 degrees and 100 degrees, and

wherein the product (d×

Δ

n), Δ

n representing a difference of refractive indices of the liquid crystal of said liquid crystal layer and d representing a thickness of said liquid crystal layer, is between 150 nm and 330 nm.

5. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 3,

wherein said polarizing means is a polarizer.

6. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 5

wherein said liquid crystal compound has a positive dielectric anisotropy,

wherein the liquid crystal between said first and second substrates has a twist angle between 60 degrees and 100 degrees, and

wherein the product (d×

Δ

n), Δ

n representing a difference of refractive indices of the liquid crystal of said liquid crystal layer and d representing a thickness of said liquid crystal layer, is between 150 nm and 330 nm.

7. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 3,

wherein said light reflecting means is a light reflecting film made of a conductive material, and is provided on the liquid crystal layer side of said first substrate,

said light reflecting film having smooth and continuously changing undulations on a surface thereof.

8. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the surface of the light reflecting film having the undulations has an anisotropy that is dependent on a direction in a plane of said first substrate.

9. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 7,

wherein an average interval of the undulations on the surface of said light reflecting film is varied depending on a direction in a plane of said first substrate.

10. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 3,

wherein a plurality of protruding portions are formed on a liquid crystal layer side surface of said first substrate so that an undulating surface is formed by said protruding portions and said first substrate,

wherein a planerization film for smoothing the undulating surface is formed on said protruding portions, and

wherein said light reflecting means is a light reflecting film which is made of a conductive material and is provided on said planerization film.

11. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 10,

wherein said protruding portions are elliptical when seen along a direction normal to said first substrate and aligned so that the longer axes are oriented in a same direction.

12. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 3,

wherein said liquid crystal layer includes:

a liquid crystal whose alignment varies according to an applied voltage; and

a dispersed polymer with an optical anisotropy and alignment which does not vary according to an applied voltage.

13. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 3,

wherein said polarizing means is a polarizing beam splitter.

14. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 13,

wherein said liquid crystal compound has a negative dielectric anisotropy, and

the liquid crystal of said liquid crystal layer is aligned in a direction perpendicular to said first and second substrates in the absence of an applied voltage.

15. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 14, wherein a value of is arranged to be greater than zero but smaller than 0.5, where p denotes a natural pitch of the liquid crystal and d denotes a thickness of the liquid crystal layer, and

wherein the product (d×

Δ

n), Δ

n representing a difference of refractive indices of the liquid crystal of said liquid crystal layer and d representing a thickness of said liquid crystal layer, is between 200 nm and 500 nm.

16. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 15,

wherein said light reflecting means is a light reflecting film made of a conductive material, and is provided on the liquid crystal layer side of said first substrate, and

wherein said light reflecting film has an anisotropy depending on a direction in a plane thereof, and includes smooth and continuously changing undulations, and

wherein said light reflecting film functions as an electrode for applying a voltage to said liquid crystal layer with a transparent electrode provided on said second substrate as a counter electrode.

17. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 14, further comprising a viewing angle compensation plate.

18. The liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a color filter.