Liquid crystal display having a modified electrode array

• US 8,233,125 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2011
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yuh, Jin-Tae, Na, Byoung-Sun, Kim, Dong-Gyu, Chang, Jong-Woong, Shim, Jung-Uk, Song, Jang-Kun, Lee, Hyun-Sik, Lee, Kye-Hun
• Primary Examiner(s): DUDEK, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US13/191,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20110279758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 349/141
• US Class Current: 349/141
• 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 1/134381 Hybrid switching mode, i.e. for applying an electric field with components parallel and orthogonal to the substrates

Abstract

A liquid crystal display having electrodes on a single substrate. A transparent planar electrode elongated in the transverse direction is formed on the inner surface of a substrate, and an insulating film is deposited thereon. A plurality of linear electrodes, which are elongated in the longitudinal direction and either transparent or opaque, are formed on the insulating film. Potential difference between the planar and the linear electrodes generated by applying voltages to the electrodes yields an electric field. The electric field is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal central line of the linear electrodes, and has parabolic or semi-elliptical lines of force having a center on a boundary line between the planar and the linear electrodes. The line of force on the planar and the linear electrodes and on the boundary line between the planar and the linear electrodes has the vertical and the horizontal components, and the liquid crystal molecules are re-arranged to have a twist angle and a tilt angle. The polarization of the incident light varies due to the rearrangement of the liquid crystal molecules.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display (LCD) display comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate;

a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates and comprising a plurality of liquid crystal molecules;

a planar electrode disposed on the first substrate; and

at least two linear type electrodes disposed on the first substrate and overlapping with the planar electrode in a pixel region;

wherein the planar electrode forms a continuous plane between the linear type electrodes and long axes of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are aligned in a direction substantially parallel to the substrates when an electric field is not applied.

2. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, further comprising:

an aligning film disposed on the first substrate and rubbed to align the liquid crystal molecules.

3. The liquid crystal display of claim 2, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises nematic liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy.

4. The liquid crystal display of claim 3, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are aligned substantially parallel to the linear type electrodes when an electric field is not applied.

5. The liquid crystal display of claim 4, further comprising:

a polarizing plate or a polarizer disposed on a surface of the first substrate;

wherein a polarizing direction of the polarizing plate or the polarizer is substantially parallel to the aligned direction of the liquid crystal molecules.

6. The liquid crystal display of claim 5, wherein a rubbing direction of the aligning film is substantially parallel to the polarizing direction.

7. The liquid crystal display of claim 3, further comprising:

a polarizing plate or a polarizer disposed on a surface of the first substrate;

wherein a polarizing direction of the polarizing plate or the polarizer is substantially parallel to the aligned direction of the liquid crystal molecules.

8. The liquid crystal display of claim 7, wherein a rubbing direction of the aligning film is substantially parallel to the polarizing direction of the polarizing plate or the polarizer.

9. The liquid crystal display of claim 8, wherein the rubbing direction is parallel to the linear type electrodes.

10. The liquid crystal display of claim 3, wherein a rubbing direction of the aligning film is substantially parallel to the polarizing direction of the polarizing plate or the polarizer.

11. The liquid crystal display of claim 10, further comprising:

a polarizing plate or a polarizer disposed on a surface of the first substrate;

wherein a polarizing direction of the polarizing plate or the polarizer is substantially parallel to the aligned direction of the liquid crystal molecules.

12. The liquid crystal display of claim 11, wherein the rubbing direction is parallel to the linear type electrodes.

13. The liquid crystal display of claim 2, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a nematic liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy.

14. The liquid crystal display of claim 13, further comprising:

a polarizing plate or a polarizer disposed on a surface of the first substrate;

wherein a polarizing direction of the polarizing plate or the polarizer is substantially parallel to the aligned direction of the liquid crystal molecules.

15. The liquid crystal display of claim 14, wherein a rubbing direction of the aligning film is substantially parallel to the polarizing direction of the polarizing plate or the polarizer.

16. The liquid crystal display of claim 15, wherein the rubbing direction is perpendicular to the linear type electrodes.

17. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, further comprising:

an aligning film disposed on the first substrate and exposed to the ultra-violet light to align the liquid crystal molecules.

85. The liquid crystal display of claim 17, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a nematic liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy.

86. The liquid crystal display of claim 85, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are aligned substantially parallel to the linear type electrodes when an electric field is not applied.

87. The liquid crystal display of claim 86, further comprising:

a polarizing plate or a polarizer disposed on a surface of the first substrate;

wherein a polarizing direction of the polarizing plate or the polarizer is substantially parallel to the aligned direction of the liquid crystal molecule.

88. The liquid crystal display of claim 87, wherein an alignment direction of the aligning film exposed to the ultra-violet light is substantially parallel to the polarizing direction.

89. The liquid crystal display of claim 85, further comprising:

a polarizing plate or a polarizer disposed on a surface of the first substrate;

wherein a polarizing direction of the polarizing plate or the polarizer is substantially parallel to the aligned direction of the liquid crystal molecule.

90. The liquid crystal display of claim 89, wherein an alignment direction of the aligning film exposed to the ultra-violet light is substantially parallel to the polarizing direction of the polarizing plate or the polarizer.

91. The liquid crystal display of claim 90, wherein the alignment direction is parallel to the linear type electrodes.

92. The liquid crystal display of claim 85, wherein an alignment direction of the aligning film exposed to the ultra-violet light is substantially parallel to the polarizing direction of the polarizing plate or the polarizer.

93. The liquid crystal display of claim 92, further comprising:

a polarizing plate or a polarizer disposed on a surface of the first substrate;

wherein a polarizing direction of the polarizing plate or the polarizer is substantially parallel to the aligned direction of the liquid crystal molecule.

94. The liquid crystal display of claim 93, wherein the alignment direction is parallel to the linear type electrodes.

95. The liquid crystal display of claim 17, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a nematic liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy.

96. The liquid crystal display of claim 95, further comprising:

a polarizing plate or a polarizer disposed on a surface of the first substrate;

wherein a polarizing direction of the polarizing plate or the polarizer is substantially parallel to the aligned direction of the liquid crystal molecule.

97. The liquid crystal display of claim 96, wherein an alignment direction of the aligning film exposed to the ultra-violet light is substantially parallel to the polarizing direction of the polarizing plate or the polarizer.

98. The liquid crystal display of claim 97, wherein the alignment direction is perpendicular to the linear type electrodes.

18. A liquid crystal display (LCD) display comprising:

a first substrate comprising a gate line and a data line;

a second substrate;

a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates and comprising a plurality of liquid crystal molecules;

a planar electrode disposed on the first substrate; and

at least two linear type electrodes disposed on the first substrate and overlapping with the planar electrode in a pixel region;

wherein the planar electrode forms a continuous plane between the linear type electrodes and the linear type electrodes are formed on the planar electrode.

19. The liquid crystal display of claim 18, further comprising:

a connecting portion connected to the two linear type electrodes.

20. The liquid crystal display of claim 19, wherein the connecting portion includes a linear portion.

21. The liquid crystal display of claim 20, wherein the linear portion is parallel to the gate line.

22. The liquid crystal display of claim 21, wherein the connecting portion comprises an extending portion overlapping with the data line.

23. The liquid crystal display of claim 19, wherein the connecting portion comprises an extending portion overlapping with the data line.

24. The liquid crystal display of claim 19, wherein a thickness of the connecting line is from 50 to 100 nm.

25. The liquid crystal display of claim 18, further comprising a thin film transistor comprising a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on the first substrate;

wherein the thin film transistor is connected to one of the planar electrode and the two linear type electrodes.

26. The liquid crystal display of claim 25, wherein one of the planar electrode and the two linear type electrodes is directly contacted with the drain electrode.

27. The liquid crystal display of claim 18, wherein a thickness of the data line is from 100 to 200 nm.

28. The liquid crystal display of claim 18, wherein the planar electrode overlaps with a portion of the data line.

29. The liquid crystal display of claim 28, further comprising:

a common voltage line disposed on the first substrate;

wherein the planar electrode overlaps with a portion of the common voltage line.

30. The liquid crystal display of claim 29, wherein the linear type electrodes overlap with a portion of the common voltage line.

31. The liquid crystal display of claim 29, wherein the planar electrode directly contacts with a portion of the common voltage line.

32. The liquid crystal display of claim 18, further comprising:

a common voltage line disposed on the first substrate;

wherein the planar electrode overlaps with a portion of the common voltage line.

33. The liquid crystal display of claim 32, wherein the linear type electrodes overlap with a portion of the common voltage line.

34. The liquid crystal display of claim 32, wherein the planar electrode directly contacts with a portion of the common voltage line.

35. The liquid crystal display of claim 18, further comprising:

a common voltage line disposed on the first substrate;

wherein the linear type electrodes overlap with a portion of the common voltage line.

36. The liquid crystal display of claim 35, wherein the planar electrode overlaps with a portion of the common voltage line.

37. The liquid crystal display of claim 36, wherein the planar electrode directly contacts with a portion of the common voltage line.

38. The liquid crystal display of claim 18, further comprising a passivation layer disposed between the at least one of the linear type electrodes and the data line;

wherein the passivation layer has a cutout.

84. The liquid crystal display of claim 19, wherein a distance between the at least two linear type electrodes and the planar electrode is smaller than a cell gap between the first substrate and the second substrate.

39. A liquid crystal display (LCD) display comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate;

a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates and comprising a plurality of liquid crystal molecules;

a pixel electrode disposed on the first substrate;

a common electrode disposed on the first substrate; and

a voltage line directly connected with the common electrode on or under the common electrode;

wherein one of the pixel electrode and the common electrode is a linear type electrode and the other of the pixel electrode and the common electrode is a planar electrode overlapping with the linear type electrode.

40. The liquid crystal display of claim 39, wherein the voltage line comprises the same material as a gate line.

41. The liquid crystal display of claim 40, wherein the same material is at least one of Al, Al alloy, Cr, Cr alloy, Mo, Mo alloy and compounds thereof.

42. The liquid crystal display of claim 39, wherein the voltage line comprises at least one material of Al, Al alloy, Cr, Cr alloy, Mo, Mo alloy and compounds thereof.

43. The liquid crystal display of claim 39, wherein the voltage line overlaps at least a part of the linear type electrode.

44. The liquid crystal display of claim 43, wherein the linear type electrode is parallel to a data line.

45. The liquid crystal display of claim 39, wherein the voltage line comprises an extended part parallel to a gate line.

46. The liquid crystal display of claim 45, wherein the planar electrode is the common electrode.

47. The liquid crystal display of claim 46, wherein the common electrode overlaps at least a part of the extended part of the voltage line.

48. The liquid crystal display of claim 39, wherein the planar electrode is the common electrode.

49. The liquid crystal display of claim 48, wherein the common electrode overlaps at least a part of an extended part of the voltage line.

50. The liquid crystal display of claim 39, wherein the common electrode overlaps at least a part of an extended part of the voltage line.

51. The liquid crystal display of claim 50, wherein the voltage line overlaps at least a part of the linear type electrode.

52. The liquid crystal display of claim 51, wherein the linear type electrode is parallel to a data line.

53. The liquid crystal display of claim 39, wherein the voltage line overlaps at least a part of a data line.

54. The liquid crystal display of claim 53, wherein the overlapping part of the voltage line and the data line overlaps at least a part of the common electrode.

55. The liquid crystal display of claim 54, wherein the common electrode is the planar electrode.

56. The liquid crystal display of claim 55, wherein the linear type electrode overlaps with the planar electrode and the planar electrode forms a continuous plane between at least two linear type electrodes.

57. The liquid crystal display of claim 53, wherein the overlapping part of the voltage line and the data line is disposed on or under a semiconductor layer.

58. The liquid crystal display of claim 39, wherein the linear type electrode is parallel to a data line.

59. The liquid crystal display of claim 39, wherein the linear type electrode overlaps with the planar electrode and the planar electrode forms a continuous plane between at least two linear type electrodes.

60. A liquid crystal display including a plurality of pixel regions, the liquid crystal display comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate;

a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates and comprising a plurality of liquid crystal molecules;

a planar electrode disposed on the first substrate;

at least two linear electrodes disposed on the first substrate and overlapping with the planar electrode in the pixel region; and

a voltage line directly connected with the planar electrode on or under the planar electrode.

61. The liquid crystal display of claim 60, wherein one of the linear type electrodes and the planar electrode is a common electrode, and the other is a pixel electrode connected to a thin film transistor.

62. The liquid crystal display of claim 60, wherein the voltage line comprises the same material as a gate line.

63. The liquid crystal display of claim 60, wherein the voltage line comprises a metal.

64. The liquid crystal display of claim 63, wherein the metal comprises at least one of Al, Al alloy, Cr, Cr alloy, Mo, Mo alloy and compounds thereof.

65. The liquid crystal display of claim 60, wherein the voltage line overlaps at least a part of a data line.

66. The liquid crystal display of claim 65, wherein the overlapping part of the voltage line and the data line overlaps at least a part of the planar electrode.

67. The liquid crystal display of claim 66, the voltage line transmits a common voltage.

68. The liquid crystal display of claim 67, wherein the at least two linear type electrodes overlap with the planar electrode and the planar electrode forms a continuous plane between the linear type electrodes.

69. The liquid crystal display of claim 68, wherein the overlapping part of the voltage line and the data line is disposed on or under a semiconductor layer.

70. The liquid crystal display of claim 60, wherein the planar electrode overlaps with a portion of a data line.

71. The liquid crystal display of claim 70, wherein the overlapping part of the planar electrode and the data line overlaps at least a part of the voltage line.

72. The liquid crystal display of claim 60, further comprising a passivation layer disposed between at least one of the linear type electrodes and a data line;

wherein the passivation layer has a cutout.

73. The liquid crystal display of claim 60, wherein the linear type electrodes are formed on the planar electrode.

74. The liquid crystal display of claim 73, wherein the at least two linear type electrodes overlap with the planar electrode and the planar electrode forms a continuous plane between the linear type electrodes.

75. The liquid crystal display of claim 74, the voltage line transmits a common voltage.

76. The liquid crystal display of claim 75, wherein the voltage line overlaps at least a part of a data line.

77. The liquid crystal display of claim 76, wherein the overlapping part of the voltage line and the data line overlaps at least a part of the planar electrode.

78. The liquid crystal display of claim 60, further comprising:

a connecting portion connected to the two linear type electrode.

79. The liquid crystal display of claim 78, wherein the connecting portion includes a linear portion.

80. The liquid crystal display of claim 79, wherein the linear portion is parallel to a gate line.

81. The liquid crystal display of claim 80, wherein the voltage line transmits a common voltage.

82. The liquid crystal display of claim 81, wherein the voltage line overlaps at least a part of a data line.

83. The liquid crystal display of claim 60, further comprising:

a transparent electrode disposed on the second substrate and corresponding to the at least two linear type electrodes and the planar electrode.