US4728176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ferroelectric liquid crystal device with metallic auxiliary electrodes provided adjacent to the transparent electrodes
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1986-10-14
•
Granted: 1988-03-01
•
Expires: 2006-10-14
Abstract
Abstract A liquid crystal device having a cell structure including two base plates each provided with transparent electrodes and a the ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the base plates. Adjacent to the transparent electrodes, auxiliary electrodes ordinarily composed of a metal are disposed so as to lower the resistance of the transparent electrodes. Insulating films are also disposed alternately with the auxiliary electrodes so as to provide a flat surface, whereby generally flat surfaces contacting the ferroelectric liquid crystal are formed to provide a uniform monodomain free of alignment defects. Thus, proper driving characteristics of ferroelectric liquid crystal device are provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Akira Tsuboyama
- 👤 Hiroyuki Kitayama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:57
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1343; G02F1/134309; G02F1/134336
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
In a ferroelectric liquid crystal device having a cell structure comprising two base plates each provided with transparent electrodes, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the base plates; the improvement wherein an auxiliary layer is provided adjacent to the transparent electrode; said auxiliary layer comprising insulating films and auxiliary electrodes disposed alternately; said auxiliary electrodes being respectively connected to the transparent electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
In a ferroelectric liquid crystal device having a cell structure comprising two base plates each provided with transparent electrodes, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the base plates; the improvement wherein an auxiliary layer is provided adjacent to the transparent electrode; said auxiliary layer comprising insulating films and auxiliary electrodes disposed alternately; said auxiliary electrodes being respectively connected to the transparent electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary layer comprising the alternately disposed insulating films and auxiliary electrodes provides a flat surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein said ferroelectric liquid crystal is in a chiral smectic phase.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein said ferroelectric liquid crystal is a liquid crystal showing at least two stable states in the absence of an electric field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary electrodes comprise a metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A liquid crystal device according to claim 5, wherein said auxiliary electrodes comprise aluminum, chromium, or silver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein said insulating films comprise an inorganic substance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A liquid crystal device according to claim 7, wherein said insulating films comprise SiO 2 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary layer comprising the alternately disposed insulating films and auxiliary electrodes has been formed through the lifting-off method.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said two base plates is provided with an alignment control film.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A liquid crystal device according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said two base plates is a spacer base plate provided with an alignment control film and spacers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A liquid crystal device according to claim 11, wherein said spacers are disposed between the transparent electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said two base plates further comprises a uniformly extending insulating film coating the transparent electrodes and the auxiliary layer disposed adjacent to the transparent electrodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein said transparent electrodes are formed in stripes each having a width l 4 , and said auxiliary electrodes are disposed along and in contact with the transparent electrodes also in the form of stripes each having a width l 2 satisfying the relationship of: l.sub.4 /100<l.sub.2 <l.sub.4 /10.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A liquid crystal device according to claim 12, wherein said spacers extend to cover the auxiliary electrodes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-01 | 1991-08-31 | 1992-03-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-01 | 1995-08-31 | 1996-03-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-01 | 1999-08-31 | 2000-03-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |