Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus

• US 7,626,663 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kimura, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): Pak; Sung H
• Application Number:
  US11/581,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20070085955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 349/129
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133371 Cells with varying thickness of the liquid crystal layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133707 Structures for producing distorted electric fields, e.g. bumps, protrusions, recesses, slits in pixel electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/09 transflective

Abstract

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal layer disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate, a pixel electrode in a reflection region and a transmission region over the first substrate, a film for adjusting a cell gap in the reflection region over the first substrate, and an opposite electrode in the reflection region and the transmission region over the second substrate. The pixel electrode in the reflection region is provided over the film and reflects light. The pixel electrode in the transmission region transmits light. The pixel electrode in the reflection region and the transmission region includes a slit. The slit is overlapped with at least a part of a step portion which is provided by the film between the reflection region and the transmission region.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal layer disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;

a pixel electrode in a reflection region and a transmission region over the first substrate;

a film for adjusting a cell gap in the reflection region over the first substrate;

an opposite electrode in the reflection region and the transmission region under the second substrate; and

a projection in the reflection region and the transmission region disposed between the opposite electrode and the second substrate,

wherein;

the pixel electrode in the reflection region is provided over the film and reflects light,

the pixel electrode in the transmission region transmits light,

the pixel electrode in the reflection region and the transmission region includes a slit,

the slit is overlapped with at least a part of a step portion which is provided between the reflection region and the transmission region by the film, and

the opposite electrode has an uneven surface.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display performs a display of vertical alignment mode.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the pixel electrode in the reflection region has an uneven surface.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a distance between a boundary portion of the film and the pixel electrode in the reflection region is larger than a distance between the boundary portion of the film and the pixel electrode in the transmission region.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a width of the slit of the pixel electrode in the reflection region is larger than that of the slit of the pixel electrode in the transmission region.

6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a width of the slit of the pixel electrode in a boundary portion between the reflection region and the transmission region is larger than that of the slit of the pixel electrode in the reflection region.

7. An electronic apparatus using the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1.

8. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal layer disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;

a pixel electrode in a reflection region and a transmission region over the first substrate;

a film for adjusting a cell gap in the reflection region over the first substrate; and

an opposite electrode in the reflection region and the transmission region under the second substrate;

a projection in the reflection region and the transmission region disposed between the opposite electrode and the second substrate,

wherein;

the pixel electrode in the reflection region is provided over the film and reflects light,

the pixel electrode in the transmission region transmits light,

the pixel electrode in the reflection region and the transmission region includes a slit,

the slit is overlapped with at least a part of a step portion which is provided between the reflection region and the transmission region by the film,

the opposite electrode has an uneven surface, and

a width of the projection in the reflection region is larger than that of the projection in the transmission region.

9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 8, wherein the liquid crystal display performs a display of vertical alignment mode.

10. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 8, wherein the pixel electrode in the reflection region has an uneven surface.

11. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 8, wherein a distance between a boundary portion of the film and the pixel electrode in the reflection region is larger than a distance between the boundary portion of the film and the pixel electrode in the transmission region.

12. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 8, wherein a width of the slit of the pixel electrode in the reflection region is larger than that of the slit of the pixel electrode in the transmission region.

13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 8, wherein a width of the slit of the pixel electrode in a boundary portion between the reflection region and the transmission region is larger than that of the slit of the pixel electrode in the reflection region.

14. An electronic apparatus using the liquid crystal display device according to claim 8.

15. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal layer disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;

a pixel electrode in a reflection region and a transmission region over the first substrate;

a film for adjusting a cell gap in the reflection region over the first substrate;

an opposite electrode in the reflection region and the transmission region under the second substrate;

a conductive film in the reflection region below the film; and

a projection in the reflection region and the transmission region disposed between the opposite electrode and the second substrate,

wherein;

the pixel electrode in the reflection region is provided over the film and transmits light,

the pixel electrode in the transmission region transmits light,

the pixel electrode in the reflection region and the transmission region includes a slit,

the slit is overlapped with at least a part of a step portion which is provided between the reflection region and the transmission region by the film,

the conductive film reflects light, and

the opposite electrode has an uneven surface.

16. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 15, wherein the liquid crystal display performs a display of vertical alignment mode.

17. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 15, wherein the pixel electrode in the reflection region has an uneven surface.

18. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 15, wherein a distance between a boundary portion of the film and the pixel electrode in the reflection region is larger than a distance between the boundary portion of the film and the pixel electrode in the transmission region.

19. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 15, wherein a width of the slit of the pixel electrode in the reflection region is larger than that of the slit of the pixel electrode in the transmission region.

20. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 15, wherein a width of the slit of the pixel electrode in a boundary portion between the reflection region and the transmission region is larger than that of the slit of the pixel electrode in the reflection region.

21. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 15, wherein the conductive film has an uneven surface.

22. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 15, wherein the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the conductive film.

23. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 15, wherein a distance between a boundary portion of the film and the conductive film is larger than a distance between the boundary portion of the film and the pixel electrode in the reflection region.

24. An electronic apparatus using the liquid crystal display device according to claim 15.

25. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal layer disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;

a pixel electrode in a reflection region and a transmission region over the first substrate;

a film for adjusting a cell gap in the reflection region over the first substrate;

an opposite electrode in the reflection region and the transmission region under the second substrate;

a conductive film in the reflection region below the film; and

a projection in the reflection region and the transmission region disposed between the opposite electrode and the second substrate,

wherein;

the pixel electrode in the reflection region is provided over the film and transmits light,

the pixel electrode in the transmission region transmits light,

the pixel electrode in the reflection region and the transmission region includes a slit,

the slit is overlapped with at least a part of a step portion which is provided between the reflection region and the transmission region by the film,

the conductive film reflects light, and

the opposite electrode has an uneven surface,

a width of the projection in the reflection region is larger than that of the projection in the transmission region.

26. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein the liquid crystal display performs a display of vertical alignment mode.

27. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein the pixel electrode in the reflection region has an uneven surface.

28. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein a distance between a boundary portion of the film and the pixel electrode in the reflection region is larger than a distance between the boundary portion of the film and the pixel electrode in the transmission region.

29. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein a width of the slit of the pixel electrode in the reflection region is larger than that of the slit of the pixel electrode in the transmission region.

30. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein a width of the slit of the pixel electrode in a boundary portion between the reflection region and the transmission region is larger than that of the slit of the pixel electrode in the reflection region.

31. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein the conductive film has an uneven surface.

32. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the conductive film.

33. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein a distance between a boundary portion of the film and the conductive film is larger than a distance between the boundary portion of the film and the pixel electrode in the reflection region.

34. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein a thickness of the projection is smaller than that of the film.

35. An electronic apparatus using the liquid crystal display device according to claim 25.