Liquid crystal display device

• US 6,987,550 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Issued: 01/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Japan Display Central Incorporated (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Seiichi, Takato, Kohki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOAN C
• Application Number:
  US10/606,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20040100604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 349/74, 349/124, 349/128, 349/129
• US Class Current: 349/129
• 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 terminal device comprising:

a driving circuit;

a first liquid crystal layer displaying an image in a front direction determined by said driving circuit;

a second liquid crystal layer on said first liquid crystal layer; and

a first alignment layer and a second alignment layer, the first and second alignment layers sandwiching said second liquid crystal layer, said first and second alignment layers each including regions displaying a fixed image always viewable from an oblique angle to the terminal device and not viewable from the front direction of the terminal device, with orientations of adjacent of said regions within each of said first and second alignment layers being different.

2. A terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said fixed image comprises a visible figure.

3. A terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said fixed image comprises squares.

4. A terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said fixed image comprises a letter.

5. A terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said fixed image comprises a logo.

6. A terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said fixed image comprises a color.

7. A terminal device according to claim 1, wherein an image formed by said first liquid crystal layer is displayed at a front direction and said fixed image independent of said driving circuit is displayed at an oblique direction, and said fixed image is formed by said second liquid crystal layer.

8. A terminal device according to claim 1, wherein a first image formed by said first liquid crystal layer is displayed at a front direction and said first image is screened by said fixed image independent of said driving circuit formed by said second liquid crystal layer at an oblique direction.