Liquid crystal display device

• US 4,617,563 A
• Filed: 12/27/1983
• Issued: 10/14/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Epson Company Limited (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Fujiwara, Hitoshi, Futagawa, Yoshikiyo
• Primary Examiner(s): Curtis, Marshall M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent P.
• Application Number:
  US06/565,545
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 340/759, 340/703, 340/784, 340/765, 350/333, 350/336
• US Class Current: 345/87
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134336 Matrix

Abstract

A liquid crystal display device having a first transparent substrate, a second transparent substrate and a liquid crystal composition sandwiched between the first and second transparent substrates. The first transparent substrate has a plurality of first main electrodes and a plurality of first auxiliary electrodes extending from the first main electrodes. The second transparent substrate has a plurality of second main electrodes. The second main electrodes are positioned so that the second main electrodes have mutually confronting portions with the first main electrodes, defining main pixels therebetween, and with the first auxiliary electrodes defining auxiliary pixels therebetween. The presence of the liquid crystal composition between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate in the regions of the main pixels and auxiliary pixels allow an image display in the main pixel and auxiliary pixel regions. Second auxiliary electrodes extending from the second main electrodes define further auxiliary pixels with the first main electrodes and still further auxiliary pixels with the first auxiliary electrodes.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first transparent substrate having thereon a plurality of first main electrodes and a plurality of first auxiliary electrodes each extending from one of said first main electrodes;

a second transparent substrate positioned in spaced relationship to the first transparent substrate and having thereon a plurality of second main electrodes in facing relation to said first main electrodes and said first auxiliary electrodes, so that the second main electrodes have mutually confronting portions with the first main electrodes defining main pixels therebetween, and with the first auxiliary electrodes defining auxiliary pixels therebetween;

a liquid crystal composition maintained between said first and second transparent substrates; and

driving means for applying driving signals to the first and second main electrodes;

whereby the application of driving signals to the first and second main electrodes and the presence of the liquid crystal composition between the first substrate and the second substrate in the regions of the main pixels and the auxiliary pixels allows an image display in the main pixel and auxiliary pixel regions.

2. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first auxiliary electrodes extend from each first main electrode toward each adjacent first main electrode.

3. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each auxiliary pixel is defined by a first auxiliary electrode extending from one first main electrode toward an adjacent first main electrode and a first auxiliary electrode extending from said adjacent first main electrode toward said one first main electrode.

4. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first auxiliary electrodes defining an auxiliary pixel are each essentially rectangular in shape and positioned side by side.

5. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first main electrodes extend at essentially right angles to said second main electrodes, each said first main electrode being an elongated electrode extending in spaced relation to the other first main electrodes, each said second main electrode being an elongated electrode extending in spaced relation to the other second main electrodes.

6. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 5, further including a plurality of second auxiliary electrodes, each extending from one of said second main electrodes and carried by the second transparent substrate, the second auxiliary electrodes being positioned in spaced facing relationship to the first main electrodes and the first auxiliary electrodes so as to have mutually confronting portions with the first main electrodes defining secondary auxiliary pixels therebetween, and with the first auxiliary electrodes defining tertiary auxiliary pixels therebetween;

whereby the application of the driving signals to the first and second main electrodes and the presence of the liquid crystal composition between the first substrate and the second substrate in the regions of the main pixels and the auxiliary, secondary auxiliary and tertiary auxiliary pixels allow an image display in the main pixel and the auxiliary, secondary auxiliary and tertiary auxiliary pixel regions.

7. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second auxiliary electrodes extend from each second main electrode toward each adjacent second main electrode.

8. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the secondary and tertiary auxiliary pixels is defined by a second auxiliary electrode extending from one second main electrode toward an adjacent second main electrode and a second auxiliary electrode extending from said adjacent second main electrode toward said one second main electrode, the tertiary auxiliary pixels being further defined by a first auxiliary electrode extending from one first main electrode toward an adjacent main electrode and a first auxiliary electrode extending from said adjacent first main electrode toward said one first main electrode.

9. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the two second auxiliary electrodes defining each secondary and tertiary auxiliary pixel are essentially rectangular in shape and positioned side by side and the two first auxiliary electrodes defining a tertiary auxiliary pixel are essentially rectangular in shape and positioned side by side.

10. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, further including a plurality of second auxiliary electrodes each extending from one of said second main electrodes and carried by the second transparent substrate, the second auxiliary electrodes being positioned in spaced facing relationship to the first main electrodes and the first auxiliary electrodes so as to have mutual confronting portions with the first main electrodes, defining secondary auxiliary pixels therebetween, and with the first auxiliary electrodes defining tertiary auxiliary pixels therebetween;

whereby the application of driving signals to the first and second main electrodes and the presence of the liquid crystal composition between the first substrate and the second substrate in the regions of the main pixels and the auxiliary, secondary auxiliary and tertiary auxiliary pixels allow an image display in the main pixel and the auxiliary secondary auxiliary and tertiary auxiliary pixel regions.

11. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said second auxiliary electrodes extend from each second main electrode toward each adjacent second main electrode.

12. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein each secondary and tertiary auxiliary pixel is defined by a second auxiliary electrode extending from one second main electrode toward an adjacent second main electrode and a second auxiliary electrode extending from said adjacent second main electrode toward said one second main electrode, the tertiary auxiliary pixels being further defined by a first auxiliary electrode extending from one first main electrode toward an adjacent first main electrode and a first auxiliary electrode extending from said adjacent first main electrode toward said one first main electrode.

13. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the two second auxiliary electrodes defining each secondary and tertiary auxiliary pixel are essentially rectangular in shape and positioned side by side and the two first auxiliary electrodes defining a tertiary auxiliary pixel are essentially rectangular in shape and positioned side by side.

14. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first auxiliary electrodes each occupies an area slightly less than one half of the area between adjacent main pixels.

15. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 10, wherein each said first auxiliary electrode and each said second auxiliary electrode occupies an area slightly less than one half the area between adjacent main pixels.

16. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first auxiliary electrodes occupies an area slightly less than one half of the area between adjacent main pixels.

17. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein each said first auxiliary electrode and each said second auxiliary electrode occupies an area slightly less than one half the area between adjacent main pixels.

18. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a display is achieved by said driving means applying scanning signals to one of said first and second main electrodes, and data signals corresponding to said scanning signals to the other of said first and second main electrodes.

19. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 18, wherein an auxiliary pixel disposed between two adjacent main pixels displays an image which is an average of images displayed by said two adjacent main pixels.

20. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving means includes a driving circuit and the driving signals substantially correspond in number to the main electrodes and are applied from the driving circuit to display areas for displaying images.

21. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the number of pixels displayed is approximately n times (where n is one of 2, 3 and 4) as many as the product of the number of the first and second main electrodes.

22. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein predetermined driving signals are applied to the first and second main electrodes so that the main and auxiliary pixels cooperate with each other at the same time in displaying images.