LCD device including a reflection film having a convex-concave surface

• US 8,139,184 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2010
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd.
• Inventors: Naka, Kenichirou, Sakamoto, Michiaki, Nagai, Hiroshi, Mori, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): ROJAS, OMAR R
• Application Number:
  US12/725,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20100173556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 430/20, 349/187
• US Class Current: 349/113
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133371 Cells with varying thickness of the liquid crystal layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133504 Diffusing, scattering, diffracting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133606
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134363 for applying an electric field parallel to the substrate, i.e. in-plane switching [IPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134372 for fringe field switching [FFS] where the common electrode is not patterned
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136236 using a grey or half tone lithographic process
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/122 having a particular pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/69 Arrangements or methods for testing or calibrating a device
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 1/00 Originals for photomechanical production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g., masks, photo-masks, reticles; Mask blanks or pellicles therefor; Containers specially adapted therefor; Preparation thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 1/50 Mask blanks not covered by G03F1/20 - G03F1/34; Preparation thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/0007 Filters, e.g. additive colour filters; Components for display devices

Abstract

An LCD device includes a reflective area in each pixel. A reflection film having a convex-concave surface is provided in the reflective area, film in cross section configuration is formed. Each pixel includes a pixel electrode and a common electrode for applying a lateral electric field on a LC layer. The inclination angle of the reflection film has an inclination angle distribution, wherein the angle component in an area corresponding to the electrodes has a lower angle distribution than the angle components in an area corresponding to a gap between adjacent two of the electrodes.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device operating in a lateral-electric-field drive mode, said method comprising:

coating photosensitive resin on a substrate;

exposing said photosensitive resin by using a photomask including a reflection area for reflecting incident light in at least a part of a pixel;

a reflection film provided in said reflection area and having a convex-concave surface; and

a plurality of electrodes for driving liquid crystal (LC) molecules in a lateral direction, wherein said photomask has no convex-concave pattern in an area overlapping said electrodes;

developing said exposed photosensitive resin;

burning said developed photosensitive resin to form a convex-concave overcoat film; and

forming a reflection film on said convex-concave overcoat film.

2. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device operating in a lateral-electric-field drive mode, said method comprising:

coating photosensitive resin on a substrate;

exposing said photosensitive resin to light by using a photomask including a reflection area for reflecting incident light in at least a part of a pixel;

a reflection film provided in said reflection area and having a convex-concave surface; and

a plurality of electrodes for driving liquid crystal (LC) molecules in a lateral direction, wherein said photomask includes a light shield pattern added in an area overlapping said electrodes;

developing said exposed photosensitive resin;

burning said developed photosensitive resin to form a convex-concave overcoat film; and

forming a reflection film on said convex-concave overcoat film.

3. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device operating in a lateral-electric-field drive mode, said method comprising:

coating photosensitive resin on a substrate;

exposing said photosensitive resin by using a photomask including a reflection area for reflecting incident light in at least a part of a pixel;

a reflection film provided in said reflection area and having a convex-concave surface; and

a plurality of electrodes for driving liquid crystal (LC) molecules in a lateral direction, wherein said photomask includes a gray-tone pattern or a half-tone pattern in an area overlapping said electrodes;

developing said exposed photosensitive resin;

burning said developed photosensitive resin to form a convex-concave overcoat film; and

forming a reflection film on said convex-concave overcoat film.