Irregular-shape body, reflection sheet and reflection-type liquid crystal display element, and production method and production device therefor

• US 6,888,678 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Japan Display Central Incorporated (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kubota, Hirofumi, Nishiyama, Seiji, Wakita, Naohide
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikder, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US10/203,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20030142247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 359/599, 359619-629, 359850-855, 359 70- 79, 349/67, 349/113
• US Class Current: 359/599
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0226 having particles on the surface
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0263 with positional variation of the diffusing properties, e.g. gradient or patterned diffuser
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0268 characterized by the fabrication or manufacturing method
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0284 used in reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605

Abstract

In a method for manufacturing a reflector having a plurality of convex portions 4 that are obtained by means of melt deformation of column-shaped bodys 15 formed of a photosensitive resin material, the photosensitive resin material has aspect ratio vs. average tilt angle characteristics in which an average tilt angle θ reaches a maximum value through an incremental change process and then converges to a certain value through a decremental process when an aspect ratio is gradually increased from a value close to zero, provided that the average tilt angle of the convex portion is an angle of elevation from the outer periphery of the bottom surface of the convex portion 4 to an apex of the convex portion and that the aspect ratio is a ratio of the height of said column-shaped body 15 with respect to the width thereof. A set value for the aspect ratio of the column-shaped body 15 that is obtained after the development step is determined to be a larger aspect ratio than a starting point from which convergence to said certain value begins. This configuration provides a reflector having good contrast characteristics and PAPER WHITE APPEARANCE, and a reflective liquid crystal display panel that uses the above-mentioned reflector.

Claims

1. A reflector comprising two or more regions having different optical characteristics from each other, characterized in that:

said two or more regions each has a plurality of small reflection cells that reflect light,

average pitches between the adjacent reflection cells in each region being different from each other.

4. The reflector am claimed in claim 1, characterized in that reflected liqhts have different diffraction angles in said two or more types of regions.

5. The reflector as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that an average pitch between said cells is different.

6. The reflector as claimed in claim 4, charactetized in that the minimum and maximum diffraction angles with respect to said two or more types of regions generally overlap with each other.

8. The reflector as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that an arrangement of said cells has recurrency.

10. The reflector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said reflection cell is formed to have a convex shape whose surface is curved.

11. A reflective liquid crystal display panel comprising a reflector according to claim 1.

12. A liquid crystal display panel comprising a reflector according to claim 1, 7, or 9.

2. A reflector characterized by comprising two or more types of regions having different polarization characteristics, the regions including a plurality of diffusive or reflective small cells that are arranged thereon.

3. A reflector characterized by comprising two or more types of regions having different reflection characteristics of a reflected light, the regions including a plurality of diffusive or reflective small cells that are arranged thereon.

7. A reflector comprising two or more regions having different optical characteristics from each other, characterized in that:

said two or more regions each has a plurality of small reflection cells that reflect light,

the arrangement of the reflection cells in one region of said two or more regions corresponds to an arrangement that is obtained by rotating the arrangement of the reflection cells in other region.

9. A reflector comprising two or more regions having different optical characteristics, characterized in that:

said region has a plurality of small reflection cells that reflect light,

the shape or the arrangement of the reflection cells in said two or more regions having different optical characteristics being different from region to region so that the individual regions have different polarization characteristics.

13. A reflector comprising two or more regions having different optical characteristics from each other, characterized in that:

said two or more regions each has a plurality of small reflection cells that diffuse light,

average pitches between the adjacent reflection cells in each region being different from each other.

14. A reflector comprising two or more regions having different optical characteristics from each other, characterized in that:

said two or more regions each has a plurality of small reflection cells that diffuse light,

the arrangement of the reflection cells in one region of said two or more regions corresponds to an arrangement that is obtained by rotating the arrangement of the reflection cells in other region.

15. A reflector comprising two or more regions having different optical characteristics, characterized in that:

said region has a plurality of small reflection cells that diffuse light,

the shape or the arrangement of the reflection cells in said two or more regions having different optical characteristics being different from region to region so that the individual regions have different polarization characteristics.