Liquid crystal display using a moat, integral driver circuit and electrodes formed within a semiconductor substrate

Claim 2

A liquid crystal display pattern system comprising in combination: a. a relatively high resistivity semiconductor substrate having a depression formed in a first region the rein defining a moat in said first region; b. a first pattern of electrically conductive areas within said substrate, selected ones of said areas extending to the surface of said substrate within said first region; c. a substantially transparent electrode covering said moat; d. a liquid crystal composition capable of scattering light in response to an electric field substantially filling said moat and electrically contacting said selected ones of said first pattern of electrically conductive areas and said substantially transparent electrode; e. circuit means for selectively applying an electric field across said liquid crystal composition formed within a second region of said substrate; and f. a second pattern of electrically conductive areas witin said substrate selectively interconnecting said first pattern of electrically conductive areas with said circuit means.

Claim 3

A liquid crystal display system in accordance with claim 3, wherein selected regions of said substrate and said second pattern of electrically conductive areas are transparent.

Claim 4

A liquid crystal display system comprising in combination: a. a composite substrate including first and second substrates; b. said first substrate having a depression formed in a surface thereof defining a moat, and a first pattern of electrically conductive regions disposed in said moat to define first electrodes; c. said second substrate having a second pattern of electrically conductive regions therein to define second electrodes; d. said first and second substrates being secured together such that said second substrate substantially covers said moat with said first and second patterns of electrically conductive regions being positioned substantially parallel to each other in spaced apart relationship; and e. a liquid crystal composition capable of scattering light in response to an electric field substantially filling said moat and electrically contacting said first and second patterns of electrically conductive regions.

Claim 5

A liquid crystal display system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said first substrate is silicon.

Claim 6

A liquid crystal display system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said moat is etched into the (100) face of said silicon substrate.

Claim 7

A liquid crystal display system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said moat is etched into the surface of said silicon substrate by orientation dependent etching to provide accurate control of the dimensions of said moat.

Claim 8

A liquid crystal display system in accordance with claim 8 in which said first substrate is (100) oriented silicon.

Claim 9

A liquid crystal display system in accordance with claim 8 in which said first substrate is (110) oriented silicon.

Claim 10

A liquid crystal display system in accordance with claim 8 in which said first substrate is (111) oriented silicon.

Claim 11

A liquid crystal display device, comprising in combination: a. a semiconductor substrate including a pattern of first electrodes, said first electrodes being positioned in a moat etched into the surface of said substrate; b. a second electrode positioned substantially parallel to and spaced from said pattern of first electrodes; and c. a liquid crystal composition capable of scattering light in response to an electric field substantially filling said moat and being positioned between and in contact with said first and second electrodes.

Claim 12

A liquid crystal display device, comprising in combination: a. a semiconductor substrate having therein a pattern of first electrodes, a display driver circuit and a pattern of low resistivity regions, said low resistivity regions connecting said pattern of first electrodes with said driver circuit, b. a second electrode spaced from and substantially parallel to said pattern of first electrodes, and c. a liquid crystal composition capable of scattering light in response to an electric field, said liquid crystal composition being positioned between and in contact with said first and second electrodes.

Claim 13

A liquid crystal display device in accordance with claim 13 wherein said first and second electrodes are held in spaced relationship with respect to each other by a thin insulating layer, said insulating layer having at least one opening therein in which said liquid crystal composition is positioned.

Claim 14

A liquid crystal display device, comprising in combination: a. a semiconductor substrate having therein a pattern of first electrodes; b. at least a second electrode positioned substantially parallel to and spaced from said pattern of first electrodes; and c. a liquid crystal composition positioned between said first and second electrodes such that the optical characteristics of said liquid crystal can be altered by the application of an electrical potential between selected ones of said electrodes.

Claim 15

A liquid crystal display device comprising in combination: a. a semiconductor substrate having first conductive regions formed in a first surface thereof by selective doping of said substrate to define a pattern of first electrodes and second conductive regions formed in a second surface thereof, said second regions extending through said substrate to selectively contact said first regions; b. a transparent electrode positioned from and substantially parallel to said first surface of said substrate; and c. a liquid crystal composition capable of scattering light in response to an electric field, said liquid crystal composition being positioned between and in electrical contact with said pattern of first electrodes and said transparent electrode.

Claim 16

A liquid crystal display device as set forth in claim 16 including a layer of highly reflective metal disposed over said first conductive regions of said semiconductor substrate.

Claim 17

A liquid crystal display device comprising in combination: a. a semiconductor substrate including a pattern of first electrodes; b. a second electrode positioned substantially parallel to and spaced from said pattern of first electrodes; and c. a liquid crystal composition capable of scattering light in response to an electric field, said liquid crystal composition being positioned between and in contact with said first and second electrodes.

Claim 18

A liquid crystal display device in accordance with claim 18 wherein said first and second electrodes are held in spaced relationship with respect to each other by a thin insulating layer, said insulating layer having at least one opening therein in which said liquid crystal composition is positioned.

Claim 19

A liquid crystal display device comPrising: a. a high resistivity semiconductor substrate having a depression formed in one surface thereof defining a moat; b. a pattern of electrically conductive regions formed in said substrate and positioned to lie within said moat, said pattern of electrically conductive regions defining first electrodes having exposed surfaces at the bottom of said moat; c. a display driver circuit including at least one active semiconductor component formed in said one surface of said substrate and disposed outwardly with respect to said moat; d. at least one low resistivity electrically conductive region buried within said substrate and extending between said pattern of first electrodes and said active semiconductor component included in said display driver circuit to connect said pattern of first electrodes with said display driver circuit; e. a second electrode mounted on said one surface of said substrate in spaced substantially parallel relation to said pattern of first electrodes, said second electrode being transparent and covering said moat; and f. a liquid crystal composition capable of scattering light in response to an electric field substantially filling said moat and electrically contacting said pattern of first electrodes and said second electrode.

Claim 20

A liquid crystal display device comprising: a. a high resistivity semiconductor substrate having a depression formed in one surface thereof to define a moat therein; b. a pattern of electrically conductive regions formed in said substrate and positioned to lie within said moat, said pattern of electrically conductive regions defining first electrodes having exposed surfaces at the bottom of said moat; c. a display driver circuit including at least one active semiconductor component formed in the surface of said substrate opposite from that in which said moat-defining depression is formed; d. at least one electrically conductive lead disposed on said opposite surface of said substrate and having its opposite ends respectively connected to one electrode of said pattern of first electrodes and said active semiconductor component for interconnecting said pattern of first electrodes with said display driver circuit; e. a second electrode mounted on said one surface of said substrate in spaced substantially parallel relation to said pattern of first electrodes, said second electrode being transparent and covering said moat; and f. a liquid crystal composition capable of scattering light in response to an electric field substantially filling said moat and electrically contacting said pattern of first electrodes and said second electrode.

Claim 21

A liquid crystal display device comprising: a. a high resistivity semiconductor substrate; b. a first pattern of electrically conductive elongated areas of one conductivity type semiconductor material within said substrate and extending to the surface thereof in spaced parallel relationship with respect to each other; c. an insulating layer disposed on said surface of said substrate and covering said first pattern of electrically conductive elongated areas; d. said insulating layer being provided with a plurality of openings therethrough exposing portions of the electrically conductive areas of said first pattern therebelow, the openings being arranged in rows and columns; e. a plurality of regions of semiconductor material of opposite conductivity type from that of the semiconductor material forming said first pattern of electrically conductive elongated areas, said plurality of regions intersecting with said electrically conductive elongated areas of said first pattern and being respectively located in registration with the openings provided in said insulating layer to form the bottom walls thereof, said plurality of regions cooperating with said first pattern of electrically conductive elongated areas to define respective p-n junctions between each of said regions and the portion of the electrically conductivE elongated area of said first pattern intersecting therewith; f. a transparent member mounted on said insulating layer and having a second pattern of electrically conductive elongated areas arranged in spaced parallel relationship with respect to each other and opposed to said electrically conductive elongated areas of said first pattern in spaced substantially parallel relation thereto; g. said first and second patterns of electrically conductive elongated areas being orthogonally related with respect to each other; and h. a liquid crystal composition capable of scattering light in response to an electric field substantially filling each of said openings in said insulating layer and electrically contacting said plurality of regions forming the bottom walls of said openings and said second pattern of electrically conductive elongated areas.

Claim 22

A liquid crystal display device comprising: a. a high resistivity semiconductor substrate; b. a first pattern of electrically conductive elongated areas of one conductivity type semiconductor material within said substrate and extending to the surface thereof in spaced parallel relationship with respect to each other; c. an insulating layer disposed on said surface of said substrate and covering said first pattern of electrically conductive elongated areas; d. said insulating layer being provided with a plurality of openings therethrough exposing portions of the electrically conductive areas of said first pattern therebelow, the openings being arranged in rows and columns; e. respective plugs of semiconductor material received in and filling the openings in said insulating layer, said plugs being of semiconductor material of opposite conductivity type from that of the semiconductor material forming said first pattern of electrically conductive elongated areas to define respective p-n junctions between each of said plugs and the portion of the electrically conductive elongated area of said first pattern contacted thereby; f. a transparent member mounted above said substrate in spaced relation to said plugs, said transparent member having a second pattern of electrically conductive elongated areas arranged in spaced parallel relationship with respect to each other and opposed to said electrically conductive elongated areas of said first pattern in spaced substantially parallel relation thereto; g. said first and second patterns of electrically conductive elongated areas being orthogonally related with respect to each other; and h. a liquid crystal composition capable of scattering light in response to an electric field, said liquid crystal composition being positioned between and in electrical contact with said plugs and said second pattern of electrically conductive elongated areas.