Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing a substrate for use in an LCD device

• US 7,538,851 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Original Assignee: Innolux Display Corporation (InnoLux Corporation)
• Inventors: Chen, Yung-Chang, Pang, Jia-Pang
• Primary Examiner(s): QI, ZHI QIANG
• Application Number:
  US11/305,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20060132674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 349/158, 349/61, 349/64
• US Class Current: 349/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133302 Rigid substrates, e.g. inorganic substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133504 Diffusing, scattering, diffracting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133606
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133507 Films for enhancing the luminance
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1368 in which the switching element is a three-electrode device G02F1/136277 takes precedence

Abstract

A liquid crystal display device (50) includes a first substrate (513), a second substrate (515) opposite to the first substrate having a prism structure (53) at an outer surface thereof, a liquid crystal layer having liquid crystal molecules interposed between the first and second substrates, and a backlight module opposite to the prism structure. The prism structure provides substantially the same function and performance as a prism sheet of a typical liquid crystal display. Thus the prism sheet can be omitted from the liquid crystal display device. The number of optical elements is reduced, and the liquid crystal display device has a lower cost and less weight.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate opposite to the first substrate, the second substrate comprising a prism structure at an outer surface thereof;

a liquid crystal layer having liquid crystal molecules interposed between the first and second substrates; and

a backlight module disposed adjacent to the prism structure.

2. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prism structure comprises a plurality of prisms which define V-shaped grooves therebetween.

3. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the prisms defines a bottom angle, and the bottom angle is in a range of 75°

to 110°

.

4. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a thin film transistor array disposed on an inner surface of the second substrate.

5. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the back light module includes a reflection sheet, a light guide plate, and a diffusion sheet positioned in that sequence.

6. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a first polarizer and a second polarizer respectively provided at outer sides of the first and second substrates.

7. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an upper retardation film disposed between the first polarizer and the first substrate, and a lower retardation film disposed between the second polarizer and the second substrate.

8. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of each prism is curved.

9. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate opposite to the first substrate;

a liquid crystal layer having liquid crystal molecules interposed between the first and second substrates; and

a light guide plate disposed by an outer side of said second substrate;

wherein no discrete prism sheet is positioned between the said light guide plate and said second substrate;

wherein said second substrate includes a prism structure thereof to replace said discrete prism sheet.

10. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said prism structure is formed on an outer face of said second substrate.