US5353140A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid crystal display
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co Ltd
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Filing: 1992-11-30
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Granted: 1994-10-04
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Expires: 2012-11-30
Abstract
Abstract A liquid crystal display of the chiral smectic type is caused to have grey scales, by applying a voltage of an intermediate level to the liquid crystal. Within each picture element of the display, there are a number of domains of the liquid crystal layer, some being transparent while the other being opaque rendering grey tone to the picture element.
Inventors
- 👤 Shunpei Yamazaki
- 👤 Takashi Inujima
- 👤 Toshimitsu Konuma
- 👤 Toshiji Hamatani
- 👤 Akira Mase
- 👤 Mitsunori Sakama
- 👤 Minoru Miyazaki
- 👤 Kaoru Koyanagi
- 👤 Toshiharu Yamaguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:51
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/137; G02F1/139; G02F1/141; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1343; G02F1/13439; G02F1/133371; G02F2203/00; G02F2203/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A liquid crystal device comprising: a first substrate having a first electrode arrangement and a plurality of semiconductor devices; a second substrate opposed to said first substrate and having a second electrode arrangement; a rubbed orientation control layer provided on said second substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between said first and second substrates, wherein said first substrate has an unrubbed surface contiguous to said liquid crystal layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A liquid crystal device comprising: a first substrate having a first electrode arrangement and a plurality of semiconductor devices; a second substrate opposed to said first substrate and having a second electrode arrangement; a rubbed orientation control layer provided on said second substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between said first and second substrates, wherein said first substrate has an unrubbed surface contiguous to said liquid crystal layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said orientation control layer comprises an organic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said first substrate is provided with an unrubbed orientation control layer contiguous to said liquid crystal layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said second substrate is further provided with a color filter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
127 words
A liquid crystal display comprising: a substrate having a first transparent pattern formed thereon, thereby forming a first inner surface; a smectic liquid crystal layer contiguous to said first inner surface; a second electrode pattern forming a second inner surface contiguous to an opposite side of said smectic liquid crystal layer with respect to said first inner surface; and a plurality of pixels defined by said first and second electrode patterns in said liquid crystal layer, wherein one of said first and second inner surfaces contiguous to said liquid crystal layer is an unrubbed, uneven surface and the other of said first and second inner surfaces is a rubbed, oriented surface, and each said pixel comprises a plurality of regions having various thickness dispersed in the pixel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
127 words
A liquid crystal display comprising: a substrate having a first transparent pattern formed thereon, thereby forming a first inner surface; a smectic liquid crystal layer contiguous to said first inner surface; a second electrode pattern forming a second inner surface contiguous to an opposite side of said smectic liquid crystal layer with respect to said first inner surface; and a plurality of pixels defined by said first and second electrode patterns in said liquid crystal layer, wherein one of said first and second inner surfaces contiguous to said liquid crystal layer is an unrubbed, uneven surface and the other of said first and second inner surfaces is a rubbed, oriented surface, and each said pixel comprises a plurality of regions having various thickness dispersed in the pixel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The display of claim 5 wherein said second electrode is formed on a substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The display of claim 6 wherein said uneven surface provided on one of the substrates is formed by growing polycrystalline layer on said one of the substrates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The display of claim 5 wherein the unevenness of the surface is on the order or more which is hardly discriminated by the naked eye.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The display of claim 5 further comprising color filters provided for the display.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The display of claim 5 further comprising means for defining a plurality of picture elements on the liquid crystal layer, each picture element containing a plurality of the domains.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A display of claim 10 wherein at least part of the electrode pattern is fabricated as a polycrystalline layer providing said uneven surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The display of claim 5 wherein said rubbed, oriented surface comprises a rubbed, oriented film provided at said other of the first and second inner surfaces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The display of claim 12 wherein said rubbed, oriented film is provided at least at said first transparent electrode pattern and said unrubbed, uneven surface is provided at least at said second electrode pattern.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The display of claim 5 wherein said rubbed, oriented surface is provided at least at said first transparent electrode pattern and said unrubbed, uneven surface is provided at least at said second electrode pattern.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
81 words
A liquid crystal display comprising: a substrate having a first transparent pattern formed thereon, thereby forming a first inner surface; a smectic liquid crystal layer contiguous to said first inner surface; a second electrode pattern forming a second inner surface contiguous to an opposite side of said smectic liquid crystal layer with respect to said first inner surface; and a means for defining a plurality of picture elements on the liquid crystal layer, each picture element containing a plurality of domains.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
A liquid crystal display comprising: a substrate having a first transparent pattern formed thereon, thereby forming a first inner surface; a smectic liquid crystal layer contiguous to said first inner surface; a second electrode pattern forming a second inner surface contiguous to an opposite side of said smectic liquid crystal layer with respect to said first inner surface; and a means for defining a plurality of picture elements on the liquid crystal layer, each picture element containing a plurality of domains.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-03 | 1998-04-04 | 1998-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-03 | 2002-04-04 | 2002-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-03 | 2006-04-04 | 2006-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |