Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising: a display panel including a pair of substrates having thereon scanning electrodes and data electrodes so as to form an electrode matrix, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between the scanning electrodes and data electrodes to form a plurality of smectic layers each comprising a plurality of liquid crystal molecules; said scanning electrodes and data electrodes being driven to define an effective display region and a frame-like fixed or semi-fixed pattern display region disposed outside the effective display region and extending along at least one side of the display panel, said smectic layers of the chiral smectic liquid crystal being aligned to extend in a direction which is non-parallel with the extension of the frame-like fixed or semi-fixed pattern display region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising: a display panel including a pair of substrates having thereon scanning electrodes and data electrodes so as to form an electrode matrix, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between the scanning electrodes and data electrodes to form a plurality of smectic layers each comprising a plurality of liquid crystal molecules; said scanning electrodes and data electrodes being driven to define an effective display region and a frame-like fixed or semi-fixed pattern display region disposed outside the effective display region and extending along at least one side of the display panel, said smectic layers of the chiral smectic liquid crystal being aligned to extend in a direction which is non-parallel with the extension of the frame-like fixed or semi-fixed pattern display region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said smectic layers are aligned to extend in a direction at an angle a of at least 3 degrees with respect to the extension of the frame-like fixed or semi-fixed pattern display region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the angle a is set within the range of 5 degrees to 50 degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal molecules within the smectic layers form a pre-tilt angle in the vicinity of the substrates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein a scanning electrode driven to form the fixed or semi-fixed pattern display region is supplied with a scanning signal which is identical in waveform to a scanning selection signal applied to the scanning electrodes for defining the effective display region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein a data electrode driven to form the fixed or semi-fixed pattern display region is continually supplied with a display signal providing one display state of the associated pixels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said substrates have been treated by rubbing for aligning the chiral smectic liquid crystal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said substrates have been treated by oblique vapor deposition for aligning the chiral smectic liquid crystal.