Display device

• US 9,835,910 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2015
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Display Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Japan Display Incorporated
• Inventors: Matsushima, Toshiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Jia
• Application Number:
  US14/817,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20160062158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• 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 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

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a display device includes first and second substrates, and liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes first and second electrodes. The second electrode includes comblike electrodes extending in parallel to a first direction and tapered toward tips thereof, and a connecting portion which connects the comblike electrodes. An initial alignment direction is parallel to the first direction or a direction orthogonal to the first direction. The comblike electrode includes a first part having sides each form a first angle with the first direction, and a second part having sides each form a second angle with the first direction, the second angle being greater than the first angle.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a first substrate including a first electrode, an insulating layer covering the first electrode, a second electrode opposed to the first electrode with the insulating layer interposed therebetween, and a first alignment film covering the second electrode;

a second substrate including a second alignment film opposed to the first alignment film; and

a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules sealed between the first alignment film and the second alignment film, wherein

the second electrode includes a plurality of comblike electrodes extending parallel to a first direction and tapered toward tips thereof, and a connecting portion which connects the comblike electrodes,

an initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is parallel to the first direction or a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction,

the comblike electrode includes a first part at the connecting portion side, a second part at the tip side, and a third part which is closer to the tip than the second part,

the first part has sides opposed to each other in the second direction each form a first angle with the first direction,

the second part has sides opposed to each other in the second direction each form a second angle with the first direction,

the third part has sides opposed to each other in the second direction each form a third angle with the first direction,

the second angle is greater than the first angle, and

the third angle is less than the second angle.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the third angle is substantially the same as the first angle.

3. The display device of claim 1, wherein a length of the first part and a length of the third part in the first direction are less than or equal to 5 μ

m.

4. The display device of claim 1, wherein the first angle is substantially zero.

5. The display device of claim 1, wherein the second angle is greater than or equal to 1.0 degrees.

6. The display device of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal molecules have positive dielectric anisotropy, and the initial alignment direction is parallel to the first direction.

7. The display device of claim 1, wherein the comblike electrodes include a plurality of first comblike electrodes extending from the connecting portion in the first direction and arranged along the second direction, and a plurality of second comblike electrodes extending from the connecting portion in the direction opposite to the first direction and arranged along the second direction.

8. The display device of claim 7, wherein the first comblike electrodes and the second comblike electrodes are symmetrical with respect to an axis parallel to the second direction.

9. The display device of claim 7, wherein the first comblike electrodes and the second comblike electrodes are arranged alternately in the second direction.

10. The display device of claim 1, wherein the first substrate is provided with a plurality of subpixels, the second electrode is provided over the plurality of subpixels and includes an aperture closed by the connecting portion, and the comblike electrodes are arranged in the aperture.