EP0613037A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A liquid crystal display apparatus,a method for producing the same,and a substrate
Assignee: Sharp Corp
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Filing: 1994-01-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A liquid crystal display apparatus having a pair of substrates with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween is disclosed. Also, a method for producing the same and a substrate are disclosed. In the liquid crystal display apparatus, an aligning film is formed on at least one of the pair of substrates, the surface of the aligning film is made rough, e.g. by making an underlying layer rough, for controlling pretilt angles of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer which are in contact with the surface of the aligning film, and the degrees of roughness are different among a plurality of prescribed regions. In another embodiment, the properties of the aligning film are locally set by irradiating the film with light for controlling the pretilt angles. In still another embodiment, only a portion of the electrode is covered with an aligning film, the other portion having no aligning film.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigeaki Mizushima
- 👤 Kazuyuki Aburazaki
- 👤 Noriko Watanabe
- 👤 Mitsuaki Hirata
- 👤 Hiroko Iwagoe
- 👤 Tomoko 211 Raport Higashi-Funabashi Okamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:29
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1337; G02F1/13378; G02F1/133788; G02F1/133753; G02F1/133757; G02F1/133761
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus having a pair of substrates with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, wherein an aligning film is formed on at least one of the pair of substrates, the surface of the aligning film is made rough for controlling pretilt angles of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer which are in contact with the surface of the aligning film, and the degrees of roughness are different among a plurality of prescribed regions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pretilt angle is set to be small in a region of the surface of the aligning film with a higher degree of roughness, and the pretilt angle is set to be large in a region of the surface of the aligning film with a lower degree of roughness.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein among the plurality of regions with different degrees of roughness, at least two or more regions respectively have different viewing angle characteristics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an underlying film is formed between the aligning film and the substrate on which the aligning film is formed, the surface of the underlying film which is in contact with the aligning film is made rough, and the degrees of roughness are different among a plurality of prescribed regions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pretilt angle is set to be small in a region of the surface of the aligning film with a higher degree of roughness, and the pretilt angle is set to be large in a region of the surface of the aligning film with a lower degree of roughness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein among the plurality of regions with different degrees of roughness, at least two or more regions respectively have different viewing angle characteristics.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the aligning film formed to cover the underlying film has different thicknesses in various portions.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus having a pair of substrates with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween and having picture elements disposed in a matrix, the method comprising the steps of: forming a film to be an aligning film for controlling the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer, on at least one of the pair of substrates; and irradiating the film with light to control the pretilt angles of liquid crystal molecules, and providing an aligning property to the film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein desired regions of the film are selectively irradiated with the light, the pretilt angles are set to be different between an irradiated region and a non-irradiated region, and the aligning property is provided by rubbing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the irradiated region or the non-irradiated region corresponds to each of the picture elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the irradiated region is formed by light irradiation with different light intensities between picture elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein both the irradiated region and the non-irradiated region exist in one picture element by the light irradiation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the light intensity for the irradiated region in one picture element is made different in the light irradiation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of: forming films to be aligning films on both of the pair of substrates; and irradiating at least one of the films by which the pretilt angle is controlled.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a mask or light converging means is used for selectively irradiating the film with light.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the film is made of an organic polymer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 16, wherein for the organic polymer film, a material containing polyimide, polyamide, polystyrene, polyamideimide, epoxyacrylate, spiranacrylate, or polyurethane as a main component.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein one of an inorganic oxide film, an inorganic nitride film, an inorganic fluoride film, and a metal film is formed as the film.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein ultraviolet rays, visible rays, or infrared rays, or laser beams having a wavelength corresponding to the rays is used for the light.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the light is ultraviolet rays or laser beams having a wavelength corresponding to the rays.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus having a pair of substrates with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween and having picture elements disposed in a matrix, the method comprising the steps of: forming a film to be an aligning film for controlling the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer, on at least one of the pair of substrates; performing a first surface treatment for providing an aligning direction of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer to the film; and performing a second surface treatment to make a part of the film rough for determining the pretilt angle of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the second surface treatment is selectively performed by regarding one picture element as a unit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the second surface treatment is performed to differentiate the degrees of roughness between picture elements.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the second surface treatment is selectively performed for a plurality of portions in one picture element.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the second surface treatment is performed to differentiate the degrees of roughness between the plurality of portions in one picture element.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the second surface treatment is performed to bring the surface of the film into contact with a solution containing one of an acid or alkali as a main component.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the second surface treatment is performed to bring the surface of the film into contact with one of a reaction gas or a gas in plasma phase.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus having a pair of substrates with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween and having picture elements disposed in a matrix, the method comprising the steps of: forming an underlying film on at least one of the pair of substrates; making the surface of the underlying film rough; forming a film to be an aligning film for controlling the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer to cover the underlying film, and transferring the roughness to the film to provide the roughness for determining the pretilt angle of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer to the film; and applying the aligning direction of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer to the film.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
99 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the step of making the underlying film rough includes: a first step of making the surface of the underlying film rough; a step of selectively forming a resist pattern on a region of the underlying film which is made rough; a second step of making the surface of the underlying film in a region which is not covered with the resist pattern in the region which is made rough in the first step; and a step of removing the resist pattern on the underlying film.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the step of making the underlying film rough includes: a first step of making the surface of the underlying film rough; and a step of selectively forming an insulating film on a region of the underlying film which is made rough, to cause the surface of the insulating film to be rough.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the step of making the underlying film rough includes: a step of forming the underlying film of different materials for respective prescribed regions on the substrate; and a step of making the surfaces of the regions rough differently from each other.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the step of making the underlying film rough is selectively performed for respective picture elements.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the degrees of roughness are made different for respective picture elements.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the step of making the underlying film rough is selectively performed for a plurality of portions in one picture element.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the degrees of roughness are made different for respective plurality of portions in one picture element.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the film is made of an organic polymer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for producing a liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 36, wherein for the organic polymer film, a material containing polyimide, polyamide, polystyrene, polyamideimide, epoxyacrylate, spiranacrylate, or polyurethane as a main component.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
44 words
A substrate which faces another substrate with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, wherein a transparent electrode is formed on its surface, an aligning film is formed on a portion of the transparent electrode, and the other portion has no aligning film formed thereon.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
78 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus having a pair of substrates which face each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, each of the substrates having a transparent electrode and an aligning film formed on a surface thereof which faces the liquid crystal layer, wherein the transparent electrode is formed on the surface of the substrate, the aligning film is formed on a portion of the transparent electrode, and the other portion has no aligning film formed thereon.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
37 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the surface of the portion of the transparent electrode having no aligning film thereon and the surface of the aligning film are subjected to different aligning treatments.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
44 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the surface of the aligning film is subjected to a rubbing treatment, and the surface of the portion of the transparent electrode having no aligning film thereon is not subjected to the rubbing treatment.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
76 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 39, wherein one of each portion of the transparent electrode having the aligning film thereon and each portion having no aligning film is provided in a corresponding manner to one picture element, or wherein one of each portion having the aligning film and each portion having no aligning film is provided in a corresponding manner to one of two or more divisions obtained by dividing one picture element.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
37 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the substrates opposes each other so that the portion having the aligning film on one substrate faces the portion having no aligning film on the other substrate.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
28 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the aligning film is an organic polymer film made of polyimide, polyamide, polystyrene, polyamideimide, epoxyacrylate, spiranacrylate, or polyurethane.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
74 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein liquid crystal layer regions which are in contact with respective aligning film regions with different degrees of roughness include different aligning directions, the liquid crystal layer regions with different aligning directions exist in each picture element, and wherein the boundary between one of the liquid crystal layer regions and the adjacent liquid crystal layer region is set continuously over two or more picture elements.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
88 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein liquid crystal layer regions which are in contact with respective aligning film regions with different degrees of roughness include different aligning directions, the liquid crystal layer regions with different aligning directions exist in each picture element, and wherein the boundary between one of the liquid crystal layer regions and the adjacent liquid crystal layer region is set to be parallel with the aligning direction of liquid crystals which are in contact with one of the pair of substrates.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
66 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 46, wherein signal lines are disposed in the vicinity of the respective picture elements, the signal lines are connected to the picture elements via nonlinear elements, and the positions of the nonlinear elements and the aligning directions in the regions with different aligning directions are determined to set the boundary to be most distant from the nonlinear elements.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
72 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein liquid crystal layer regions which are in contact with respective aligning film regions with different degrees of roughness include different aligning directions, the liquid crystal layer regions with different aligning directions exist in each picture element, and wherein the boundary between one of the liquid crystal layer regions and the adjacent liquid crystal layer region is covered with a light blocking film.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
79 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein liquid crystal layer regions which are in contact with the portion having the aligning film and the portion having no aligning film include different aligning directions, respectively, the liquid crystal layer regions with different aligning directions exist in each picture element, and wherein the boundary between one of the liquid crystal layer regions and the adjacent liquid crystal layer region is set continuously over two or more picture elements.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
93 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein liquid crystal layer regions which are in contact with the portion having the aligning film and the portion having no aligning film include different aligning directions, respectively, the liquid crystal layer regions with different aligning directions exist in each picture element, and wherein the boundary between one of the liquid crystal layer regions and the adjacent liquid crystal layer region is set to be parallel with the aligning direction of liquid crystals which are in contact with one of the pair of substrates.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
65 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 50, wherein signal lines are disposed in the vicinity of the respective picture elements, the signal lines are connected to the picture elements via nonlinear elements, and the positions of the nonlinear elements and the aligning directions in the regions with different aligning directions are determined to set the boundary to be farthest from the nonlinear elements.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
77 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein liquid crystal layer regions which are in contact with the portion having the aligning film and the portion having no aligning film include different aligning directions, respectively, the liquid crystal layer regions with different aligning directions exist in each picture element, and wherein the boundary between one of the liquid crystal layer regions and the adjacent liquid crystal layer region is covered with a light blocking film.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
23 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 45, 46, 49 or 50, wherein the boundary is covered with a light blocking film.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
45 words
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 48, 52 or 53, wherein a nonlinear element is connected to each of the picture elements, and the light blocking film is made of the same material as that for a non-transparent layer constituting the nonlinear element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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