EP0549283A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Domain divided liquid crystal display device
Assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
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Filing: 1992-12-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A liquid crystal display device comprising different liquid crystal aligning domains (A,B) in each of a plurality of unit regions for improving a characteristic of a viewing angle. In at least one of the liquid crystal aligning domains, molecules of the liquid crystal near the first alignment layer are aligned in a first pretilt direction and at a first pretilt angle (α) and molecules of the liquid crystal near the second alignment layer are aligned in a second pretilt direction generally opposite the first pretilt direction and at a second pretilt angle (β). The first pretilt angle (α) is larger than the second pretilt angle (β) so that molecules of the liquid crystal located intermediately between the first and second plates rise in accordance with the first pretilt angle when voltage is applied. This feature can be widely used in combination with a suitably selected arrangement of the other liquid crystal aligning domain for reducing rubbing steps and photolithography steps.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshio c/o FUJITSU LIMITED Koike
- 👤 Kenji C/O Fujitsu Limited Okamoto
- 👤 Seiji c/o FUJITSU LIMITED Tanuma
- 👤 Tsuyoshi c/o FUJITSU LIMITED Kamada
- 👤 Yoshiro c/o FUJITSU LIMITED Katayama
- 👤 Makoto c/o FUJITSU LIMITED Morishige
- 👤 Hidefumi c/o Fujitsu Limited Yoshida
- 👤 Kazutaka c/o Fujitsu Limited Hanaoka
- 👤 Syun c/o FUJITSU LIMITED Tsuyuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:51
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1337; G02F1/133753; G02F1/137; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133509; G02F1/133512; G02F1/139; G02F1/1396; G02F1/133776; G02F1/13787
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A liquid crystal display device comprising: first and second opposed plates having facing inner surfaces; a first electrode means and a first alignment layer means arranged on the inner surface of the first plate; a second electrode means and a second alignment layer means arranged on the inner surface of the second plate; a liquid crystal inserted between the first and second plates and having a twisting nature between the first and second plates; the first and second alignment layer means forming in pairs a plurality of minute unit regions each of which is subdivided into first and second different liquid crystal aligning domains; and the first and second alignment layer means being arranged and treated so that, in at least the first liquid crystal aligning domain, molecules of the liquid crystal near the first alignment layer means are aligned along a first line with a first pretilt direction and a first pretilt angle and molecules of the liquid crystal near the second alignment layer means are aligned along a second line perpendicular to the first line with a second pretilt direction and a second pretilt angle, the second pretilt direction being generally opposite to the first pretilt direction and the first pretilt angle being larger than the second pretilt angle whereby molecules of the liquid crystal located intermediately between the first and second plates rise in accordance with the first pretilt angle when the voltage is applied between the first and second electrode means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
21 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second alignment layer means are treated by rubbing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal comprises a twisted nematic type liquid crystal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the difference between the first and second pretilt angle is larger than two degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
135 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first alignment layer means is arranged and treated so that molecules of the liquid crystal near the first alignment layer means in said first liquid crystal aligning domain are aligned along the first line with the first pretilt direction and the first pretilt angle and molecules of the liquid crystal near said first alignment layer means in the second liquid crystal aligning domain are aligned along the first line with the second pretilt direction and the first pretilt angle; and wherein the second alignment layer means is arranged and treated so that molecules of the liquid crystal near the second alignment layer means in both the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains are aligned along the second line with the second pretilt direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein the second alignment layer means is arranged and treated so that molecules of the liquid crystal near the second alignment layer means in both the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains are aligned substantially at the second pretilt angle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
172 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first alignment layer means is arranged and treated so that molecules of the liquid crystal near the first alignment layer means in the first liquid crystal aligning domain are aligned along the first line with the first pretilt direction and the first pretilt angle and molecules of the liquid crystal near the first alignment layer means in the second liquid crystal aligning domain are aligned along the first line with the first pretilt direction and the second pretilt angle; and wherein the second alignment layer means is arranged and treated so that molecules of the liquid crystal near the second alignment layer means in the first liquid crystal aligning domain are aligned along the second line with the second pretilt direction and the second pretilt angle and molecules of the liquid crystal near the second alignment layer means in the second liquid crystal aligning domain are aligned along the second line with the second pretilt direction and the first pretilt angle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first alignment layer means is arranged and treated so that molecules of the liquid crystal near the first alignment layer means in the first liquid crystal aligning domain are aligned along the first line with the first pretilt direction and the first pretilt angle and molecules of the liquid crystal near the first alignment layer means in the second liquid crystal aligning domain are aligned along the first line with the first pretilt direction and a third pretilt angle, the third pretilt angle being smaller than the second pretilt angle; and wherein the second alignment layer means is arranged and treated so that molecules of the liquid crystal near the second alignment layer means both in the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains are aligned along the second line with the second pretilt direction and the second pretilt angle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
135 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first alignment layer means is arranged and treated so that molecules of the liquid crystal near the first alignment layer means in the first liquid crystal aligning domain are aligned along the first line with the first pretilt direction and the first pretilf angle and molecules of the liquid crystal near the first alignment layer means in the second liquid crystal aligning domain are aligned along the first line with the second pretilt direction; and wherein the second alignment layer means is arranged and treated so that molecules of the liquid crystal near the second alignment layer means both in the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains are aligned along the second line with the second pretilt direction and the second pretilf angle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second alignment layer means comprises a first alignment layer laminated on the associated plate and a second alignment layer laminated on the first alignment layer and having openings corresponding with one of the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein the laminated first and second alignment layers are simultaneously treated by rubbing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, the second alignment layer is treated by rubbing, then the first alignment layer is treated by rubbing after the second alignment layer is masked and the openings are formed on the second alignment layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein the first alignment layer comprises an inorganic material and the second alignment layer comprises an organic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein the first and second alignment layers comprise organic materials having different liquid crystal aligning characteristics.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second alignment layer means comprises one of the first and second electrode means, which is treated by rubbing, and the other alignment layer means comprises an alignment layer laminated on the other electrode means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second alignment layer means comprises an alignment layer laminated on the respective electrode means and having openings corresponding with one of the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second alignment layer means comprises an alignment layer and a lower structure to which the alignment layer is laminated with an adhesive force; the extent of adhesion of the alignment layer to the lower structure being varied for the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains for changing the pretilt angles thereat.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 17, wherein the lower structure comprises an adhesion improving agent by which the extent of adhesion is varied.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 17, wherein the lower structure is subjected to a surface treatment by which the extent of adhesion is varied.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second electrode means comprises a common electrode and the other electrode means comprises a plurality of pixel electrodes, bus lines, and active transistors connected between the pixel electrodes and the bus lines, respectively.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 20, wherein the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains are subdivided by a boundary line extending on the substantial center line of each of the pixel electrodes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 20, wherein the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains are subdivided by a boundary line extending on the bus line, and the first and second alignment layer means are arranged and treated so that molecules of the liquid crystal near the first alignment layer means in the first liquid crystal aligning domain rise toward the bus line.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 20, wherein the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains are formed in an elongated strip-like shape so that molecules of the liquid crystal located intermediately between the first and second plates in the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains extend parallel to the elongated strip-like shape.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 23, wherein the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains are subdivided by a boundary line extending parallel to the bus lines.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 20, wherein the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains are subdivided by a boundary line, and a shading layer is arranged along the boundary line.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein said device further comprises a storage capacitance electrode in an overlapping relationship with the pixel electrode, the storage capacitance electrode constituting the shading layer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein at least a part of the bus lines are arranged so as to constitute the shading layer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein one of the first and second plates has bus lines arranged in a matrix, and the other plate has the shading layer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein the shading layer comprises a black matrix.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
55 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein one of the first and second plates has first shading layers extending parallel to each other at a predetermined pitch, and the other plate has second shading layers extending parallel to each other at a predetermined pitch and shifted from the respective first shading layers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
54 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains are subdivided by a third liquid crystal aligning domain in which molecules of the liquid crystal align in a different manner from molecules of the liquid crystal in the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 31, wherein molecules of the liquid crystal in the third liquid crystal aligning domain rise to a greater extent than those in the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
77 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second aligning layer means has a portion projecting toward or depressing from the liquid crystal along a boundary between the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains, and the other of the first and second aligning layer means has a portion correspondingly depressed from or projecting toward the liquid crystal along the boundary between the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
62 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 33, wherein said device further comprises a storage capacitance electrode in an overlapping relationship with the pixel electrode; the storage capacitance electrode being arranged at the boundary between the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains thereby causing said portion of the first and second aligning layer means to project toward the liquid crystal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
46 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 33, wherein said device further comprises a color filter having discontinuously arranged color portions; the discontinuity of the color filter causing said portion of the first and second aligning layer means to be depressed from the liquid crystal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
54 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 20, wherein the unit region having the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains therein has an area of one pixel with two electrodes, and each of the electrodes is connected to different active elements arranged at symmetrical positions regarding the center of the unit region.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 20, wherein, in the unit ragion, each of the electrodes is subdivided into two sub-electrodes spaced a predetermined gap therebetween so that lines of electric force appear obliquely to the sub-electrodes.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
57 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 20, wherein, in the unit region, each of the electrodes has another electrode, having a smaller area than that of the electrode and overlapping on the electrode via an insulating layer so that lines of electric force appear obliquely to the electrodes which are generally pixel or common electrodes.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains is subdivided into two or more sub-domains having different threshold voltages.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
56 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 39, wherein one of the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains has substantially the same area as that of the other liquid crystal aligning domain, and one of the sub-domains has an area different from that of the other sub-domain in the same liquid crystal aligning domain.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 40, wherein one of the sub-domains which has a smaller area than that of the other sub-domain and a higher threshold voltage than that of the other sub-domain.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
88 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the minute unit regions includes third and fourth different liquid crystal aligning domains in addition to the first and second different liquid crystal aligning domains; the liquid crystal of the first and second different liquid crystal aligning domains has a twisting nature in one of the left-turning and right-turning direction and the liquid crystal of the third and fourth different liquid crystal aligning domains has a twisting nature in the remaining of left-turning and right-turning direction.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
191 words
A liquid crystal display device comprising: first and second opposed plates having facing inner surfaces; a first electrode means and a first alignment layer means arranged on the inner surface of the first plate; a second electrode means and a second alignment layer means arranged on the inner surface of the second plate; a liquid crystal inserted between the first and second plates and having a twisting nature between the first and second plates; the first and second alignment layer means forming in pairs a plurality of minute unit regions each of which is subdivided into first and second different liquid crystal aligning domains such that molecules of the liquid crystal located intermediately between the first and second plates in the first liquid crystal aligning domains are aligned in a first pretilt direction and molecules of the liquid crystal located intermediately between the first and second plates in the second liquid crystal aligning domains are aligned in a second pretilt direction opposite the first pretilt direction; and the first and second liquid crystal aligning domains being subdivided by a boundary line, and a shading layer being arranged along the boundary line.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
34 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 43, wherein said device further comprises a storage capacitance electrode in an overlapping relationship with the pixel electrode, the storage capacitance electrode constituting the shading layer.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 43, wherein at least some of the bus lines are arranged so as to constitute the shading layer.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
32 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 43, wherein one of the first and second plates has bus lines arranged in a matrix, and the other plate has the shading layer.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
17 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 43, wherein the shading layer comprises a black matrix.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
55 words
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 43, wherein one of the first and second plates has first shading layers extending parallel to each other at a predetermined pitch, and the other plate has second shading layers extending parallel to each other at a predetermined pitch and shifted from the respective first shading layers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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