Liquid crystal display device

Claim 2

A monochromic display device for modulating in intensity an incident light passing therethrough, which comprises: (A) a liquid crystal panel including, (a) first and second transparent substrates spaced apart substantially in parallel from each other to form a gap therebetween, (b) a liquid crystal body filling the gap between said substrates, and (c) orientation means urging the molecules of said liquid crystal body to orient in a first direction in the vicinity of the inner face of said first substrate and in a second direction in the vicinity of the inner face of the second substrate, the first direction being substantially perpendicular to said second direction; (B) a pair of first and second polarizer films one overlying said first substrate and the other underlying of said second substrate; and

Claim 3

(C) a pair of phase-shift films each having two vibrational directions consisting of a direction of axis (X') which travel with the larger one of two different refractive indices and direction (Z') which travels with the smaller one of the two different refractive indices, said phase-shift films being so disposed between one of said first and second substrates and one of said polarizer films facing said one of the first and second substrates that said phase-shift films function to invert an incident linearly polarized light into an elliptically polarized light and then to invert the elliptically polarized light into a linearly polarized light.

Claim 4

(C) a pair of phase-shift films each having two vibrational directions consisting of a direction of axis (X') which travel with the larger one of two different refractive indices and direction (Z') which travels with the smaller one of the two different refractive indices, said phase-shift films being so disposed between one of said first and second substrates and one of said polarizer films facing said one of the first and second substrates that said phase-shift films function to invert an incident linearly polarized light into an elliptically polarized light and then to invert the elliptically polarized light into a linearly polarized light.

Claim 5

A display device as set forth in claim 1, in which said polarizer films have respective optical absorption axes which are substantially parallel with each other across said substrates.

Claim 6

A display device as set forth in claim 2, in which each of said phase-shift films has an optical axis of elasticity in a direction angled at approximately 45 degrees to each of said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means.

Claim 7

A display device as set forth in claim 2, in which the optical absorption axes of said polarizer films are substantially parallel with one of said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means.

Claim 8

A display device as set forth in claim 4, in which one of said phase-shift films intervenes between said first substrate and said first polarizer film and the other phase-shift film intervenes between said second substrate and said second polarizer film.

Claim 9

A display device as set forth in claim 4, in which said phase-shift films consist of first and second phase-shift films, the first phase-shift film intervening between said first substrate and said first polarizer film and being attached to the outer face of said first substrate and said second phase-shift film having its inner face attached to the outer face of said first phase-shift film and its outer face attached to said first polarizer film.

Claim 10

A display device as set forth in claim 4, in which said phase-shift films consists of first and second phase-shift films, the first phase-shift film intervening between said second substrate and said second polarizer film and being attached to the outer face of said second substrate, and the other phase-shift film having its inner face attached to the outer face of said one phase-shift film and its outer face attached to said second polarizer film.

Claim 11

A display device as set forth in claim 4, in which each of said phase-shift films has an optical axis of elasticity in a direction angled at approximately 45 degrees to each of said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means.

Claim 12

A monochromic display device for modulating in intensity an incident light passing therethrough, which comprises: (A) a liquid crystal panel including, (a) first and second transparent substrates spaced apart substantially in parallel from each other to form a gap therebetween. (b) a liquid crystal body filling the gap between said substrates, and (c) orientation means urging the molecules of said liquid crystal body to orient in a first direction in the vicinity of the inner face of said first substrate and in a second direction i the vicinity of the inner face of the second substrate, the first direction being substantially perpendicular to said second direction; (B) a pair of first and second polarizer films one overlying said first substrate and the other underlying said second substrate, said polarizer films having respective optical absorption axes which are substantially parallel with each other across said substrates, the optical absorption axes of said polarizer films are substantially parallel with one on said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means; and (C) a pair of phase-shift films each having two vibrational directions consisting of a direction of axis (X') which travel with the larger one of two different refractive indices and a direction (Z') which travels with the smaller one of the two different refractive indices, one of said phase-shift films being disposed between said first substrate and said first polarizer film and the other phase-shift film being disposed between said second substrate and said second polarizer film that said phase-shift films function to invert an incident linearly polarized light into an elliptically polarized light and then to invert the elliptically polarized light into a linearly polarized light, in which said first phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction angled at 35 degrees to 45 degrees to said first direction in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means and said second phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction angled at -10 degrees to 0 degrees to said second direction in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means.

Claim 13

A monochromic display device for modulating in intensity an incident light passing therethrough, which comprises: (A) a liquid crystal panel including, (a) first and second transparent substrates spaced apart substantially in parallel from each other to form a gap therebetween. (b) a liquid crystal body filling the gap between said substrates, and (c) orientation means urging the molecules of said liquid crystal body to orient in a first direction in the vicinity of the inner face of said first substrate and in a second direction i the vicinity of the inner face of the second substrate, the first direction being substantially perpendicular to said second direction; (B) a pair of first and second polarizer films one overlying said first substrate and the other underlying said second substrate, said polarizer films having respective optical absorption axes which are substantially parallel with each other across said substrates, the optical absorption axes of said polarizer films are substantially parallel with one on said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means; and (C) a pair of phase-shift films each having two vibrational directions consisting of a direction of axis (X') which travel with the larger one of two different refractive indices and a direction (Z') which travels with the smaller one of the two different refractive indices, one of said phase-shift films being disposed between said first substrate and said first polarizer film and the other phase-shift film being disposed between said second substrate and said second polarizer film that said phase-shift films function to invert an incident linearly polarized light into an elliptically polarized light and then to invert the elliptically polarized light into a linearly polarized light, in which said first phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction angled at 35 degrees to 45 degrees to said first direction in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means and said second phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction angled at -10 degrees to 0 degrees to said second direction in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means.

Claim 14

A monochromic display device for modulating in intensity an incident light passing therethrough, which comprises: (A) a liquid crystal panel including, (a) first and second transparent substrates spaced apart substantially in parallel from each other to form a gap therebetween, (b) a liquid crystal body filling the gap between said substrates, and (c) orientation means urging the molecules of said liquid crystal body to orient in a first direction in the vicinity of the inner face of said first substrate and in a second direction in the vicinity of the inner face of the second substrate, the first direction being substantially perpendicular to said second direction; (b) a pair of first and second polarizer films one overlying said first substrate and the other underlying said second substrate, said polarizer films having respective optical absorption axes which are substantially parallel with each other across said substrates, the optical absorption axes of said polarizer films are substantially parallel with one on said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means; and (C) a pair of phase-shift films each having two vibrational directions consisting of a direction of axis (X') which travel with the larger one of two different refractive indices and a direction (Z') which travels with the smaller one of the two different refractive indices, one of said phase-shift films being disposed between said first substrate and said first polarizer film and the other phase-shift film being disposed between said second substrate and said second polarizer film that said phase-shift films function to invert an incident linearly polarized light into an elliptically polarized light and then to invert the elliptically polarized light into a linearly polarized light, in which said first phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction angled at 45 degrees to said first direction in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means and said second phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction substantially parallel with said second direction in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means.

Claim 15

A monochromic display device for modulating in intensity an incident light passing therethrough, which comprises: (A) a liquid crystal panel including, (a) first and second transparent substrates spaced apart substantially in parallel from each other to form a gap therebetween, (b) a liquid crystal body filling the gap between said substrates, and (c) orientation means urging the molecules of said liquid crystal body to orient in a first direction in the vicinity of the inner face of said first substrate and in a second direction in the vicinity of the inner face of the second substrate, the first direction being substantially perpendicular to said second direction; (b) a pair of first and second polarizer films one overlying said first substrate and the other underlying said second substrate, said polarizer films having respective optical absorption axes which are substantially parallel with each other across said substrates, the optical absorption axes of said polarizer films are substantially parallel with one on said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means; and (C) a pair of phase-shift films each having two vibrational directions consisting of a direction of axis (X') which travel with the larger one of two different refractive indices and a direction (Z') which travels with the smaller one of the two different refractive indices, one of said phase-shift films being disposed between said first substrate and said first polarizer film and the other phase-shift film being disposed between said second substrate and said second polarizer film that said phase-shift films function to invert an incident linearly polarized light into an elliptically polarized light and then to invert the elliptically polarized light into a linearly polarized light, in which said first phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction angled at 45 degrees to said first direction in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means and said second phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction substantially parallel with said second direction in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means.

Claim 16

A monochromic display device for modulating in intensity an incident light passing therethrough, which comprises: (A) a liquid crystal panel including, (a) first and second transparent substrates spaced apart substantially in parallel from each other to form a gap therebetween, (b) a liquid crystal body filling the gap between said substrates, and (c) orientation means urging the molecules of said liquid crystal body to orient in a first direction in the vicinity of the inner face of said first substrate and in a second direction in the vicinity of the inner face of the second substrate, the first direction being substantially perpendicular to said second direction; (B) a pair of first and second polarizer films one overlying said first substrate and the other underlying said second substrate, said polarizer films having respective optical absorption axes which are substantially parallel with each other across said substrates, the optical absorption axes of said polarizer films are substantially parallel with one on said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means; and (C) a pair of phase-shift films each having two vibrational directions consisting of a direction of axis (X,) which travel with the larger one of two different refractive indices and a direction (Z') which travels with the smaller one of the two different refractive indices, one of said phase-shift films being disposed between said first substrate and said first polarizer film and being attached to the outer face of said first substrate and the other phase-shift film having its inner face attached to the outer face of said first phase-shift film and its outer face attached to said first polarizer film that said phase-shift films function to invert an incident linearly polarized light into an elliptically polarized light and then to invert the elliptically polarized light into a linearly polarized light, in which said first phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction angled at approximately 45 degrees to each of said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means and said second phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction substantially perpendicular to one of said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means.

Claim 17

A monochromic display device for modulating in intensity an incident light passing therethrough, which comprises: (A) a liquid crystal panel including, (a) first and second transparent substrates spaced apart substantially in parallel from each other to form a gap therebetween, (b) a liquid crystal body filling the gap between said substrates, and (c) orientation means urging the molecules of said liquid crystal body to orient in a first direction in the vicinity of the inner face of said first substrate and in a second direction in the vicinity of the inner face of the second substrate, the first direction being substantially perpendicular to said second direction; (B) a pair of first and second polarizer films one overlying said first substrate and the other underlying said second substrate, said polarizer films having respective optical absorption axes which are substantially parallel with each other across said substrates, the optical absorption axes of said polarizer films are substantially parallel with one on said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means; and (C) a pair of phase-shift films each having two vibrational directions consisting of a direction of axis (X,) which travel with the larger one of two different refractive indices and a direction (Z') which travels with the smaller one of the two different refractive indices, one of said phase-shift films being disposed between said first substrate and said first polarizer film and being attached to the outer face of said first substrate and the other phase-shift film having its inner face attached to the outer face of said first phase-shift film and its outer face attached to said first polarizer film that said phase-shift films function to invert an incident linearly polarized light into an elliptically polarized light and then to invert the elliptically polarized light into a linearly polarized light, in which said first phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction angled at approximately 45 degrees to each of said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means and said second phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction substantially perpendicular to one of said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means.

Claim 18

A display device as set forth in claim 4, in which said second phase-shift film has an optical axis of elasticity in a direction substantially perpendicular to said second direction in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means.

Claim 19

A display device as set forth in claim 11, in which said second phase-shift film has an optical axis of elasticity in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction in which the liquid crystal molecules in said graph are oriented by said orientation means.

Claim 20

A monochromic display device for modulating in intensity an incident light passing therethrough, which comprises: (A) a liquid crystal panel including, (a) first and second transparent substrates spaced apart substantially in parallel from each other to form a gap therebetween, (b) a liquid crystal body filling the gap between said substrate; and (c) orientation means urging the molecules of said liquid crystal body to orient in a first direction in the vicinity of the inner face of said first substrate and in a second direction in the vicinity of the inner face of the second substrate, the first direction being substantially perpendicular to said second direction; (B) a pair of first and second polarizer films one overlying said first substrate and the other underlying said second substrate, said polarizer films having respective optical absorption axes which are substantially parallel with each other across said substrates, the optical absorption axes of said polarizer films are substantially parallel with one on said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said graph are oriented by said orientation means; and (C) a pair of phase-shift films each having two vibrational directions consisting of a direction of axis (X') which travel with the larger one of two different refractive indices and a direction (Z') which travels with the smaller one of the two different refractive indices, one of said phase-shift films being disposed between said second substrate and said second polarizer film and being attached to the outer face of said second substrate, and the other phase-shift film having its inner face attached to the outer face of said one phase-shift film and its outer face attached to said second polarizer film that said phase-shift films function to invert an incident linearly polarized light into an elliptically polarized light and then to invert the elliptically polarized light into a linearly polarized light, in which said first phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction angled at approximately 45 degrees to each of said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means and said second phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction substantially perpendicular to one of said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means.

Claim 21

A monochromic display device for modulating in intensity an incident light passing therethrough, which comprises: (A) a liquid crystal panel including, (a) first and second transparent substrates spaced apart substantially in parallel from each other to form a gap therebetween, (b) a liquid crystal body filling the gap between said substrate; and (c) orientation means urging the molecules of said liquid crystal body to orient in a first direction in the vicinity of the inner face of said first substrate and in a second direction in the vicinity of the inner face of the second substrate, the first direction being substantially perpendicular to said second direction; (B) a pair of first and second polarizer films one overlying said first substrate and the other underlying said second substrate, said polarizer films having respective optical absorption axes which are substantially parallel with each other across said substrates, the optical absorption axes of said polarizer films are substantially parallel with one on said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said graph are oriented by said orientation means; and (C) a pair of phase-shift films each having two vibrational directions consisting of a direction of axis (X') which travel with the larger one of two different refractive indices and a direction (Z') which travels with the smaller one of the two different refractive indices, one of said phase-shift films being disposed between said second substrate and said second polarizer film and being attached to the outer face of said second substrate, and the other phase-shift film having its inner face attached to the outer face of said one phase-shift film and its outer face attached to said second polarizer film that said phase-shift films function to invert an incident linearly polarized light into an elliptically polarized light and then to invert the elliptically polarized light into a linearly polarized light, in which said first phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction angled at approximately 45 degrees to each of said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means and said second phase-shift film has an optical elasticity axis in a direction substantially perpendicular to one of said first and second directions in which the liquid crystal molecules in said gap are oriented by said orientation means.