SEMITRANSPARENT REFLECTIVE LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING DECREASED NUMBER OF PHASE DIFFERENCE AND POLARIZING PLATES AND HAVING REFLECTOR WITH CONCAVE PORTIONS ON OUTER SURFACE OF TRANSPARENT SUBSTRATE

• US 6,788,371 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kano, Mitsuru, Ohizumi, Mitsuo, Tanada, Tetsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOWDHURY, TARIFUR RASHID
• Application Number:
  US10/201,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20030086039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 349/117-120, 349/96, 349/113-114
• US Class Current: 349/119
• 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

Abstract

A liquid crystal display device has a pair of transparent substrates facing each other with a liquid crystal layer therebetween. First and second phase difference plates and a first polarizing plate are formed sequentially on one of the transparent substrates, while a reflector, a third phase difference plate, and a second polarizing plate are formed sequentially on the other of the transparent substrates. The reflector is a metal reflection film on a base material with concave portions formed thereon. The metal reflection film includes a plurality of concave surfaces corresponding to the concave portions that face the transparent substrate. The thickness of the metal reflection film is within the range of 5 to 50 nm.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal cell that includes first and second transparent substrates having inner surface sides that face each other with a liquid crystal layer therebetween, a first transparent electrode and a first orientation film disposed in that order on the inner surface side of the first transparent substrate, and a second transparent electrode and a second orientation film disposed in that order on the inner surface side of the second transparent substrate;

first and second phase difference plates and a first polarizing plate formed sequentially on an outer surface side of the second transparent substrate;

a reflector attached to an outer surface side of the first transparent substrate with an adhesive layer therebetween, the reflector including a metal reflection film formed on a base material, the base material having a plurality of concave portions formed on a surface thereof and the metal reflection film having a plurality of concave surfaces corresponding to the concave portions, the metal reflection film having a thickness of about 5 to 50 nm and attached to the liquid crystal cell such that the metal reflection film is more proximate to the first transparent substrate than the base material; and

a third phase difference plate and a second polarizing plate formed sequentially on the outer surface side of the first transparent substrate, the third phase difference plate and second polarizing plate disposed more distal to the liquid crystal cell than the reflector.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein:

the liquid crystal layer has a helical structure twisted about 240 degrees to 250 degrees in a thickness direction, and a retardation (Δ

nd_LC) of the liquid crystal cell is about 600 nm to 800 nm;

when an orientation direction a of the second orientation film and an orientation direction b of the first orientation film are viewed from an incident side of light, a normal direction X between the orientation directions a and b passes at an angle of half an interior angle formed by a cross-point O of the orientation directions a and b and the orientation directions a and b;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF1) of the first phase difference plate adjacent to the second transparent substrate is about 100 nm to 200 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF1), which a lagging phase axis β

of the first phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 60 degrees to 100 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF2) of the second phase difference plate adjacent to the first polarizing plate is about 300 nm to 500 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF2), which a lagging phase axis γ

of the second phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 90 degrees to 140 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF3) of the third phase difference plate adjacent to the first transparent substrate is about 132.5 nm to 142.5 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF3), which a lagging phase axis δ

of the third phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 80 degrees to 110 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

an angle (φ

_pol1), which an absorption axis a of the first polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 20 degrees to 70 degrees or about 110 degrees to 160 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light; and

an angle (φ

_pol2), which an absorption axis ε

of the second polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 23 degrees to 43 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein:

the liquid crystal layer has a helical structure twisted about 240 degrees in a thickness direction, and a retardation (Δ

nd_LC) of the liquid crystal cell is about 700 nm;

when an orientation direction a of the second orientation film and an orientation direction b of the first orientation film are viewed from a incident side of light, a normal direction X between the orientation directions a and b passes at an angle of half an interior angle formed by a cross-point O of the orientation directions a and b and the orientation directions a and b;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF1) of the first phase difference plate adjacent to the second transparent substrate is about 170 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF1), which a lagging phase axis β

of the first phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is 80 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF2) of the second phase difference plate adjacent to the first polarizing plate is about 425 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF2), which a lagging phase axis γ

of the second phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 113 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF3) of the third phase difference plate adjacent to the first transparent substrate is about 137.5 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF3), which a lagging phase axis δ

of the third phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 90 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

an angle (φ

_pol1), which an absorption axis α

of the first polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 42 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light; and

an angle (φ

_pol2), which an absorption axis ε

of the second polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 33 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein:

the liquid crystal layer has a helical structure twisted about 240 degrees to 250 degrees in a thickness direction, and a retardation (Δ

nd_LC) of the liquid crystal cell is about 600 nm to 800 nm;

when an orientation direction a of the second orientation film and an orientation direction b of the first orientation film are viewed from an incident side of light, a normal direction X between the orientation directions a and b passes at an angle of half an interior angle formed by a cross-point O of the orientation directions a and b and the orientation directions a and b;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF1) of the first phase difference plate adjacent to the second transparent substrate is about 100 nm to 200 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF1), which a lagging phase axis β

of the first phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 60 degrees to 100 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_Rp2) of the second phase difference plate adjacent to the first polarizing plate is about 300 nm to 500 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF2), which a lagging phase axis γ

of the second phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 90 degrees to 140 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the tight;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF3) of the third phase difference plate adjacent to the first transparent substrate is about 120 nm to 130 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF3), which a lagging phase axis δ

of the third phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 48 degrees to 68 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

an angle (φ

_pol1), which an absorption axis a of the first polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 20 degrees to 70 degrees or about 110 degrees to 160 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light; and

an angle (φ

_pol2), which an absorption axis ε

of the second polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 3 degrees to 23 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein:

the liquid crystal layer has a helical structure twisted about 240 degrees in a thickness direction, and a retardation (Δ

nd_LC) of the liquid crystal cell is about 700 nm;

when an orientation direction a of the second orientation film and an orientation direction b of the first orientation film are viewed from the incident side of light, a normal direction X between the orientation directions a and b passes at an angle of half an interior angle formed by a cross-point O of the orientation directions a and b and the orientation directions a and b;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF1) of the first phase difference plate adjacent to the second transparent substrate is about 170 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF1), which a lagging phase axis β

of the first phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 80 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF2) of the second phase difference plate adjacent to the first polarizing plate is about 425 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF2), which a lagging phase axis γ

of the second phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 113 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF3) of the third phase difference plate adjacent to the first transparent substrate is about 125 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF3), which a lagging phase axis δ

of the third phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 58 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

an angle (φ

_pol1), which an absorption axis a of the first polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 42 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light; and

an angle (φ

_pol2), which an absorption axis ε

of the second polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 13 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light.

6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a N_z coefficient represented by Formula (1) of the first phase difference plate is about −

0.5 to 2.0, and a N_z coefficient represented by Formula (1) of the second phase difference plate is about −

0.5 to 2.0;

7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6, wherein the N_z coefficient represented by the Formula (1) of the first phase difference plate is about 0.5, and the N_z coefficient represented by the Formula (1) of the second phase difference plate is about 0.3.

8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of concave surfaces of the metal reflection film are formed continuously, and each concave surface is a part of a sphere.

9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 8, wherein depths of the plurality of concave portions are about 0.1 μ

m to 3 μ

m, angles of inclination of the concave portion inner surfaces are about −

30 degrees to +30 degrees, and pitches between adjacent concave portions are about 5 μ

m to 50 μ

m.

10. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of concave portions include;

a first longitudinal section and a second longitudinal section, each of the first and second longitudinal sections intersecting a deepest point of the concave portion;

a shape of an inner surface of the first longitudinal section comprises a first curve from a first peripheral portion of the concave portion to the deepest point and a second curve from the deepest point to a second peripheral portion of the concave portion extending from the first curve, and an average value of absolute values of angles of inclination of the first curve with respect to the base material surface is larger than an average value of absolute values of angles of inclination of the second curve with respect to the base material surface;

the second longitudinal section is orthogonal to the first longitudinal section, and a shape of an inner surface of the second longitudinal section comprises a shallow type curve and deep type curves on both sides of the shallow type curve and having radii of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the shallow type curve.

11. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of concave portions are formed such that each of the first longitudinal sections and the second longitudinal sections is in the same direction and each of the first curves is orientated unidirectionally, and the reflector is disposed such that the first curves in respective concave portions are located above the second curves when viewed by an observer.

12. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein the angles of inclination of the first curve and the second curve are about zero with respect to the base material surface at a position where the first and second curves are in contact with each other.

13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein depths of the plurality of concave portions are about 0.1 μ

m to 3 μ

m and are randomly formed.

14. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of concave portions are disposed randomly adjacently to each other.

15. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein reflectance of the reflector reaches a peak at an angle of specular reflection with respect to the metal reflection film surface, an integral of the reflectance within a range of reflection angle smaller than the angle of the specular reflection and an integral of the reflectance within a range of the reflection angle larger than the angle of the specular reflection are different, and the range of the reflection angle of the reflector in which the integral of the reflectance is large is above the angle of the specular reflection with respect to the metal reflection film surface when viewed by the observer.

16. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, further comprising a color filter disposed between the first transparent substrate and the first transparent electrode.

17. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, further comprising a backlight disposed on the outer surface side of the first transparent substrate more distal to the first transparent substrate than the reflector.

18. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal cell that includes first and second transparent substrates having inner surface sides that face each other with a liquid crystal layer therebetween, a first transparent electrode and a first orientation film disposed in that order on the inner surface side of the first transparent substrate, and a second transparent electrode and a second orientation film disposed in that order on the inner surface side of the second transparent substrate;

first and second phase difference plates and a first polarizing plate formed sequentially on an outer surface side of the second transparent substrate; and

a reflector attached to an outer surface side of the first transparent substrate with an adhesive layer therebetween, the first and second phase difference plates and first polarizing plate being the only phase difference and polarizing plates disposed between the reflector and a surface of the liquid crystal display device most proximate to an observer, the reflector including a metal reflection film formed on a base material, the base material having a plurality of concave portions formed on a surface thereof and the metal reflection film having a plurality of concave surfaces corresponding to the concave portions, the metal reflection film having a thickness of about 5 to 50 nm and attached to the liquid crystal cell such that the metal reflection film is more proximate to the first transparent substrate than the base material,

wherein the plurality of concave surfaces of the metal reflection film are formed continuously, each concave surface is a part of a sphere, depths of the plurality of concave portions are about 0.1 μ

m to 3 μ

m, angles of inclination of the concave portion inner surfaces are about −

30 decrees to +30 degrees, and pitches between adjacent concave portions are about 5 μ

m to 50 μ

m.

19. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 18, further comprising a third phase difference plate and a second polarizing plate formed sequentially on the outer surface side of the first transparent substrate, the third phase difference plate and second polarizing plate disposed more distal to the liquid crystal cell than the reflector.

20. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 19 wherein:

the liquid crystal layer has a helical structure twisted about 240 degrees to 250 degrees in a thickness direction, and a retardation (Δ

nd_LC) of the liquid crystal cell is about 600 nm to 800 nm;

when an orientation direction a of the second orientation film and an orientation direction b of the first orientation film are viewed from an incident side of light, a normal direction X between the orientation directions a and b passes at an angle of half an interior angle formed by a cross-point O of the orientation directions a and b and the orientation directions a and b;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF1) of the first phase difference plate adjacent to the second transparent substrate is about 100 nm to 200 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF1), which a lagging phase axis β

of the first phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 60 degrees to 100 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF2) of the second phase difference plate adjacent to the first polarizing plate is about 300 nm to 500 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF2), which a lagging phase axis γ

of the second phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 90 degrees to 140 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF3) of the third phase difference plate adjacent to the first transparent substrate is about 132.5 nm to 142.5 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF3), which a lagging phase axis δ

of the third phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 80 degrees to 110 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

an angle (φ

_pol1), which an absorption axis a of the first polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 20 degrees to 70 degrees or about 110 degrees to 160 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light; and

an angle (φ

_pol2), which an absorption axis ε

of the second polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 23 degrees to 43 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light.

21. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 19, wherein:

the liquid crystal layer has a helical structure twisted about 240 degrees in a thickness direction, and a retardation (Δ

nd_LC) of the liquid crystal cell is about 700 nm;

when an orientation direction a of the second orientation film and an orientation direction b of the first orientation film are viewed from a incident side of light, a normal direction X between the orientation directions a and b passes at an angle of half an interior angle formed by a cross-point O of the orientation directions a and b and the orientation directions a and b;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF1) of the first phase difference plate adjacent to the second transparent substrate is about 170 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF1), which a lagging phase axis β

of the first phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 80 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF2) of the second phase difference plate adjacent to the first polarizing plate is about 425 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF2), which a lagging phase axis γ

of the second phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 113 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF3) of the third phase difference plate adjacent to the first transparent substrate is about 137.5 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF3), which a lagging phase axis δ

of the third phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 90 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

an angle (φ

_pol1), which an absorption axis a of the first polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 42 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light; and

an angle (φ

_pol2), which an absorption axis ε

of the second polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 33 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light.

22. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 19, wherein:

the liquid crystal layer has a helical structure twisted about 240 degrees to 250 degrees in a thickness direction, and a retardation (Δ

nd_LC) of the liquid crystal cell is about 600 nm to 800 nm;

when an orientation direction a of the second orientation film and an orientation direction b of the first orientation film are viewed from an incident side of light, a normal direction X between the orientation directions a and b passes at an angle of half an interior angle formed by a cross-point O of the orientation directions a and b and the orientation directions a and b;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF1) of the first phase difference plate adjacent to the second transparent substrate is about 100 nm to 200 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF1), which a lagging phase axis β

of the first phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 60 degrees to 100 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF2) of the second phase difference plate adjacent to the first polarizing plate is about 300 nm to 500 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF2), which a lagging phase axis y of the second phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 90 degrees to 140 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF3) of the third phase difference plate adjacent to the first transparent substrate is about 120 nm to 130 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF3), which a lagging phase axis δ

of the third phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 48 degrees to 68 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

an angle (φ

_pol1), which an absorption axis α

of the first polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 20 degrees to 70 degrees or about 110 degrees to 160 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light; and

an angle (φ

_pol2), which an absorption axis ε

of the second polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 3 degrees to 23 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light.

23. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 19, wherein:

the liquid crystal layer has a helical structure twisted about 240 degrees in a thickness direction, and a retardation (Δ

nd_LC) of the liquid crystal cell is about 700 nm;

when an orientation direction a of the second orientation film and an orientation direction b of the first orientation film are viewed from the incident side of light, a normal direction X between the orientation directions a and b passes at an angle of half an interior angle formed by a cross-point O of the orientation directions a and b and the orientation directions a and b;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF1) of the first phase difference plate adjacent to the second transparent substrate is about 170 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF1), which a lagging phase axis ±

3 of the first phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 80 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF2) of the second phase difference plate adjacent to the first polarizing plate is about 425 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF2), which a lagging phase axis γ

of the second phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 113 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF3) of the third phase difference plate adjacent to the first transparent substrate is about 125 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF3), which a lagging phase axis δ

of the third phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 58 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

an angle (φ

_pol1), which an absorption axis α

of the first polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 42 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light; and

an angle (φ

_pol2), which an absorption axis ε

of the second polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 13 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light.

24. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 18, wherein a N_z coefficient represented by Formula (1) of the first phase difference plate is about −

0.5 to 2.0, and a N_z coefficient represented by Formula (1) of the second phase difference plate is about −

0.5 to 2.0;

25. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 24, wherein the N_z coefficient represented by the Formula (1) of the first phase difference plate is about 0.5, and the N_z coefficient represented by the Formula (1) of the second phase difference plate is about 0.3.

26. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 18, wherein:

the plurality of concave portions include a first longitudinal section and a second longitudinal section, each of the first and second longitudinal sections intersecting a deepest point of the concave portion;

an inner surface of the first longitudinal section comprises a first curve from a first peripheral portion of the concave portion to the deepest point and a second curve from the deepest point to a second peripheral portion of the concave portion, and an average value of absolute values of angles of inclination of the first curve with respect to the base material surface is larger than an average value of absolute values of angles of inclination of the second curve with respect to the base material surface;

the second longitudinal section is orthogonal to the first longitudinal section, and an inner surface of the second longitudinal section comprises a shallow curve and deep curves on both sides of the shallow curve and having radii of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the shallow curve.

27. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 26, wherein the plurality of concave portions are formed such that each of the first longitudinal sections and the second longitudinal sections is in the same direction and each of the first curves is orientated unidirectionally, and the reflector is disposed such that the first curves in respective concave portions are located above the second curves when viewed by the observer.

28. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 26, wherein the angles of inclination of the first curve and the second curve are about zero with respect to the base material surface at a position where the first and second curves are in contact with each other.

29. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 26, wherein depths of the plurality of concave portions are about 0.1 μ

m to 3 μ

m and are randomly formed.

30. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 26, wherein the plurality of concave portions are disposed randomly and adjacently to each other.

31. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 26, wherein reflectance of the reflector reaches a peak at an angle of specular reflection with respect to the metal reflection film surface, an integral of the reflectance within a range of reflection angle smaller than the angle of the specular reflection and an integral of the reflectance within a range of the reflection angle larger than the angle of the specular reflection are different, and the range of the reflection angle of the reflector in which the integral of the reflectance is large is above the angle of the specular reflection with respect to the metal reflection film surface when viewed by the observer.

32. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 18, further comprising a color filter disposed between the first transparent substrate and the first transparent electrode.

33. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 18, further comprising a backlight disposed on the outer surface side of the first transparent substrate more distal to the first transparent substrate than the reflector.

34. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal cell that includes first and second transparent substrates having inner surface sides that face each other with a liquid crystal layer therebetween, a first transparent electrode and a first orientation film disposed in that order on the inner surface side of the first transparent substrate, and a second transparent electrode and a second orientation film disposed in that order on the inner surface side of the second transparent substrate;

first and second phase difference plates and a first polarizing plate formed sequentially on an outer surface side of the second transparent substrate; and

a reflector attached to an outer surface side of the first transparent substrate with an adhesive layer therebetween, the first and second phase difference plates and first polarizing plate being the only phase difference and polarizing plates disposed between the reflector and a surface of the liquid crystal display device most proximate to an observer, the reflector including a metal reflection film formed on a base material, the base material having a plurality of concave portions formed on a surface thereof and the metal reflection film having a plurality of concave surfaces corresponding to the concave portions, the metal reflection film having a thickness of about 5 to 50 nm and attached to the liquid crystal cell such that the metal reflection film is more proximate to the first transparent substrate than the base material,

wherein;

the plurality of concave portions include a first longitudinal section and a second longitudinal section, each of the first and second longitudinal sections intersecting a deepest point of the concave portion;

an inner surface of the first longitudinal section comprises a first curve from a first peripheral portion of the concave portion to the deepest point and a second curve from the deepest point to a second peripheral portion of the concave portion, and an average value of absolute values of angles of inclination of the first curve with respect to the base material surface is larger than an average value of absolute values of angles of inclination of the second curve with respect to the base material surface;

the second longitudinal section is orthogonal to the first longitudinal section, and an inner surface of the second longitudinal section comprises a shallow curve and deep curves on both sides of the shallow curve and having radii of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the shallow curve.

35. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 34, further comprising a third phase difference plate and a second polarizing plate formed sequentially on the outer surface side of the first transparent substrate, the third phase difference plate and second polarizing plate disposed more distal to the liquid crystal cell than the reflector.

36. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 35, wherein:

the liquid crystal layer has a helical structure twisted about 240 degrees to 250 degrees in a thickness direction, and a retardation (Δ

nd_LC) of the liquid crystal cell is about 600 nm to 800 nm;

when an orientation direction a of the second orientation film and an orientation direction b of the first orientation film are viewed from an incident side of light, a normal direction X between the orientation directions a and b passes at an angle of half an interior angle formed by a cross-point O of the orientation directions a and b and the orientation directions a and b;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF1) of the first phase difference plate adjacent to the second transparent substrate is about 100 nm to 200 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF1), which a lagging phase axis β

of the first phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 60 degrees to 100 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF2) of the second phase difference plate adjacent to the first polarizing plate is about 300 nm to 500 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF2), which a lagging phase axis γ

of the second phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 90 degrees to 140 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF3) of the third phase difference plate adjacent to the first transparent substrate is about 132.5 nm to 142.5 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF3), which a lagging phase axis δ

of the third phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 80 degrees to 110 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

an angle (φ

_pol1), which an absorption axis a of the first polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 20 degrees to 70 degrees or about 110 degrees to 160 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light; and

an angle (φ

_pol2), which an absorption axis ε

of the second polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 23 degrees to 43 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light.

37. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 35 wherein:

the liquid crystal layer has a helical structure twisted about 240 degrees in a thickness direction, and a retardation (Δ

nd_LC) of the liquid crystal cell is about 700 nm;

when an orientation direction a of the second orientation film and an orientation direction b of the first orientation film are viewed from a incident side of light, a normal direction X between the orientation directions a and b passes at an angle of half an interior angle formed by a cross-point O of the orientation directions a and b and the orientation directions a and b;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF1) of the first phase difference plate adjacent to the second transparent substrate is about 170 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF1), which a lagging phase axis β

of the first phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 80 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF2) of the second phase difference plate adjacent to the first polarizing plate is about 425 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF2), which a lagging phase axis δ

of the second phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 113 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF3) of the third phase difference plate adjacent to the first transparent substrate is about 137.5 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF3), which a lagging phase axis δ

of the third phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 90 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

an angle (φ

_pol1), which an absorption axis α

of the first polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 42 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light; and

an angle (φ

_pol2), which an absorption axis ε

of the second polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 33 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light.

38. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 35, wherein:

the liquid crystal layer has a helical structure twisted about 240 degrees to 250 degrees in a thickness direction, and a retardation (Δ

nd_LC) of the liquid crystal cell is about 600 nm to 800 nm;

when an orientation direction a of the second orientation film and an orientation direction b of the first orientation film are viewed from an incident side of light, a normal direction X between the orientation directions a and b passes at an angle of half an interior angle formed by a cross-point O of the orientation directions a and b and the orientation directions a and b;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF1) of the first phase difference plate adjacent to the second transparent substrate is about 100 nm to 200 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF1), which a lagging phase axis β

of the first phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 60 degrees to 100 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF2) of the second phase difference plate adjacent to the first polarizing plate is about 300 nm to 500 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF2), which a lagging phase axis γ

of the second phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 90 degrees to 140 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF3) of the third phase difference plate adjacent to the first transparent substrate is about 120 nm to 130 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF3), which a lagging phase axis δ

of the third phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 48 degrees to 68 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

an angle (φ

_pol1), which an absorption axis a of the first polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 20 degrees to 70 degrees or about 110 degrees to 160 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light; and

an angle (φ

_pol2), which an absorption axis ε

of the second polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 3 degrees to 23 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light.

39. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 35, wherein:

the liquid crystal layer has a helical structure twisted about 240 degrees in a thickness direction, and a retardation (Δ

nd_LC) of the liquid crystal cell is about 700 nm;

when an orientation direction a of the second orientation film and an orientation direction b of the first orientation film are viewed from the incident side of light, a normal direction X between the orientation directions a and b passes at an angle of half an interior angle formed by a cross-point O of the orientation directions a and b and the orientation directions a and b;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF1) of the first phase difference plate adjacent to the second transparent substrate is about 170 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF1), which a lagging phase axis β

of the first phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 80 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF2) of the second phase difference plate adjacent to the first polarizing plate is about 425 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF2), which a lagging phase axis γ

of the second phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 113 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

a retardation (Δ

nd_RF3) of the third phase difference plate adjacent to the first transparent substrate is about 125 nm, and an angle (φ

_RF3), which a lagging phase axis δ

of the third phase difference plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 58 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light;

an angle (φ

_pol1), which an absorption axis α

of the first polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 42 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light; and

an angle (φ

_pol2), which an absorption axis ε

of the second polarizing plate forms with respect to the normal direction X, is about 13 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the incident side of the light.

40. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 34, wherein a N_z coefficient represented by Formula (1) of the first phase difference plate is about −

0.5 to 2.0, and a N_z coefficient represented by Formula (1) of the second phase difference plate is about −

0.5 to 2.0;

42. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 34, wherein the plurality of concave surfaces of the metal reflection film are formed continuously, and each concave surface is a part of a sphere.

43. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 42, wherein depths of the plurality of concave portions are about 0.1 μ

m to 3 μ

m, angles of inclination of the concave portion inner surfaces are about −

30 degrees to +30 degrees, and pitches between adjacent concave portions are about 5 μ

m to 50 μ

m.

44. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 34, wherein the plurality of concave portions are formed such that each of the first longitudinal sections and the second longitudinal sections is in the same direction and each of the first curves is orientated unidirectionally, and the reflector is disposed such that the first curves in respective concave portions are located above the second curves when viewed by the observer.

45. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 36, wherein the angles of inclination of the first curve and the second curve are about zero with respect to the base material surface at a position where the first and second curves are in contact with each other.

46. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 34, wherein depths of the plurality of concave portions are about 0.1 μ

m to 3 μ

m and are randomly formed.

47. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 34, wherein the plurality of concave portions are disposed randomly and adjacently to each other.

48. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 34, wherein reflectance of the reflector reaches a peak at an angle of specular reflection with respect to the metal reflection film surface, an integral of the reflectance within a range of reflection angle smaller than the angle of the specular reflection and an integral of the reflectance within a range of the reflection angle larger than the angle of the specular reflection are different, and the range of the reflection angle of the reflector in which the integral of the reflectance is large is above the angle of the specular reflection with respect to the metal reflection film surface when viewed by the observer.

49. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 34, further comprising a color filter disposed between the first transparent substrate and the first transparent electrode.

50. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 34, further comprising a backlight disposed on the outer surface side of the first transparent substrate more distal to the first transparent substrate than the reflector.

41. The liquid crystal display device according to claim wherein the N_z coefficient represented by the Formula (1) of the first phase difference plate is about 0.5, and the N_z coefficient represented by the Formula (1) of the second phase difference plate is about 0.3.