Liquid crystal display device with a partial reflector and a polarizer on the partial reflector and an electronic apparatus

• US 7,023,509 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Iijima, Chiyoaki, Hirata, Yoshitomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Schechter, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, GEORGE Y
• Application Number:
  US10/385,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20040027510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 349/113
• US Class Current: 349/113
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13356 characterised by the placement of the optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/09 transflective

Abstract

A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal panel including a liquid crystal layer 4-sandwiched between opposed upper and lower substrates, and upper and lower polarizing layers provided at the top and bottom of the liquid crystal layer-4, a reflective layer formed on the inner surface of the lower substrate and having through holes for transmitting light, a lower polarizing plate provided on the reflective layer, the lower polarizing layer having apertures which are continued from the through holes of the reflective layer and which are formed at substantially the same planar portions as the through holes. Therefore, the present invention provides a transflective liquid crystal display device capable of a light display even in a transmissive mode, and a manufacturing method therefor.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a liquid crystal panel including a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between opposed first and second substrates, a first polarizing layers disposed to the first substrate side of the liquid crystal layer, and a second polarizing layer disposed to the second substrate side of the liquid crystal layer;

a polarizing plate provided on an outer surface of the second substrate; and

a reflective layer partially formed over an inner surface of the second substrate, the second polarizing layer being formed only over the reflective layer within a display region.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, the reflective layer and the second polarizing layer being formed in substantially the same planar shape.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, further comprising a light diffusing device provided above the reflective layer or on the reflective layer.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, further comprising a light transmitting resin layer provided in a region where the reflective layer and second polarizing layer are not provided.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, further comprising a protective layer formed to cover the reflective layer, the second polarizing layer being formed on the protective layer at substantially the same planar position as the reflective layer.

6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, the second polarizing layer including a water-soluble dichroic dye.

7. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1.

8. A liquid crystal display device, having a reflective region and transmissive region comprising:

a liquid crystal panel including a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between opposed first and second substrates, a first polarizing layer disposed to the first substrate side of the liquid crystal layer, and a second polarizing layer disposed to the second substrate side of the liquid crystal layer;

a polarizing plate provided on an outer surface of the second substrate; and

a reflective layer partially formed on an inner surface of the second substrate, the second polarizing layer being formed over the reflective region and being formed over other regions than transmissive region within a display region.