Liquid crystal device board, liquid crystal device, and electronic apparatus

• US 7,623,206 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Limited (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Takizawa, Keiji, Tsuyuki, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Caley; Michael H
• Application Number:
  US11/745,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20070206138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 349/113, 349/114, 349/106
• US Class Current: 349/114
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133371 Cells with varying thickness of the liquid crystal layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors

Abstract

A first substrate 211 has reflective layer 212 formed thereon, and the reflective layer 212 has one aperture 212a formed therein at each pixel. The reflective layer 212 has coloring layers 214 formed thereon, and the coloring layers 214 have an overcoat layer 215 formed thereon. The overcoat layer 215 has apertures 215a directly above the corresponding apertures 212a. Liquid crystal 232 lies in surface depressions 210a formed so as to correspond to the apertures 215a of the overcoat layer 215 and is thick above the apertures 212a of the reflective layer 212.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate opposing the first substrate;

a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates;

a plurality of pixels;

a reflective layer disposed between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, the reflective layer being located at a portion of each pixel so that the portion of each pixel is a reflection region of the pixel and another portion of each pixel other than the portion is a transmissive region of the pixel;

a coloring layer disposed between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer, the coloring layer having an edge;

a substantially-transmissive protection layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the coloring layer, the protection layer covering at least a portion of the coloring layer, the protection layer including apertures that overlap the transmissive region of each pixel and cause the liquid crystal layer to be thicker in the transmissive region than in the reflection region; and

a light-shielding film overlapping the edge of the coloring layer.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, the plurality of pixels including two adjacent pixels, the light-shielding film overlapping the edge of the coloring layer at a position between the adjacent pixels.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, the coloring layer riding over an edge of the light-shielding film and onto a surface of the light-shielding film.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, the coloring layer contacting an end edge of light-shielding film.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, further comprising another coloring layer, the light-shielding film being disposed between the coloring layer and the other coloring layer.

6. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein a surface of the liquid crystal layer adjacent the first substrate is entirely planar.

7. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate opposing the first substrate;

a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates;

two adjacent pixels;

a reflective layer disposed between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, the reflective layer being located at a portion of each pixel so that the portion of each pixel is a reflection region of the pixel and another portion of each pixel other than the portion is a transmissive region of the pixel;

a coloring layer disposed between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer;

a substantially-transmissive protection layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the coloring layer, the protection layer covering at least a portion of the coloring layer, the protection layer including apertures that overlap the transmissive region of each pixel and cause the liquid crystal layer to be thicker in the transmissive region than in the reflection region; and

a light-shielding film disposed between the adjacent pixels.

8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 7, further comprising another coloring layer, the light-shielding film being disposed between the coloring layer and the other coloring layer.

9. The liquid crystal display device of claim 7, wherein a surface of the liquid crystal layer adjacent the first substrate is entirely planar.

10. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate opposing the first substrate;

a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates;

a plurality of pixels;

a coloring layer disposed between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer;

a substantially-transmissive protection layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the coloring layer, the protection layer covering at least a portion of the coloring layer, the protection layer including apertures that overlap the transmissive region of each pixel;

a reflective layer disposed between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, the reflective layer being located at a portion of each pixel so that the portion of each pixel is a reflection region of the pixel and another portion of each pixel other than the portion is a transmissive region of the pixel; and

a transparent electrode formed directly on the reflective layer

wherein the apertures that overlap the transmissive region of each pixel cause the liquid crystal layer to be thicker in the transmissive region than in the reflective region.

11. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, further comprising a light-shielding film formed between adjacent pixels of the plurality of pixels.

12. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 11, the light-shielding film overlapping an edge of the coloring layer.

13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 11, the light-shielding film overlapping the edge of the coloring layer at a position between the adjacent pixels.

14. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 11, the coloring layer riding over an edge of the light-shielding film and onto a surface of the light-shielding film.

15. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 11, the coloring layer contacting an end edge of light-shielding film.

16. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 11, further comprising another coloring layer, the light-shielding film being disposed between the coloring layer and the other coloring layer.

17. liquid crystal display device of claim 10, wherein a surface of the liquid crystal layer adjacent the first substrate is entirely planar.