US5677747A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Liquid crystal display device with compensation for viewing angle dependency and optical anisotropic element used therein
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1996-07-25
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Granted: 1997-10-14
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Expires: 2016-07-25
Abstract
Abstract In a liquid crystal display device having a driving liquid crystal cell interposed between two polarizers 1 and 4, the cell having a liquid crystal layer 3e held between two substrates 3a and 3b, the layer having a twisted molecular alignment when no voltage is applied, and the liquid crystal cell performing optical control, using the optical anisotropy of liquid crystal, there is provided with an optical anisotropic element 2 between the polarizer and the driving liquid crystal cell, the optical anisotropic element 2 comprising an optical anisotropic substance layer 2c in which the optical rotatory power slanted to the normal of the substrates 3a and 3b is greater than the optical rotatory power in the direction of the normal of the substrate. The angle of the optical axis of the optical anisotropic element 2 varies continuously or in stages in the direction of layer thickness of the optical anisotropic element as against the surface of the optical anisotropic element.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahito Ishikawa
- 👤 Atsuyuki Manabe
- 👤 Nobuko Fukuoka
- 👤 Hitoshi Hatoh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:03
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/13363; G02F1/133632; G02F1/1347; G02F1/13471; G02F2413/00; G02F2413/10; G02F2413/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A liquid crystal display device having two polarizers and a driving liquid crystal cell arranged between the two polarizers, the driving liquid crystal cell having two substrates with electrodes and a liquid crystal layer having a twisted liquid crystal molecular alignment with no applied voltage between the substrates and performing optical control using an optical rotatory power of the liquid crystal layer, wherein an optical anisotropic element is disposed between at least one of the polarizers and the driving liquid crystal cell, the optical anisotropic element having an optical rotatory power in the direction slanted to the normal of a surface of the substrates which is greater than an optical rotatory power in the direction of the normal of the substrates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A liquid crystal display device having two polarizers and a driving liquid crystal cell arranged between the two polarizers, the driving liquid crystal cell having two substrates with electrodes and a liquid crystal layer having a twisted liquid crystal molecular alignment with no applied voltage between the substrates and performing optical control using an optical rotatory power of the liquid crystal layer, wherein an optical anisotropic element is disposed between at least one of the polarizers and the driving liquid crystal cell, the optical anisotropic element having an optical rotatory power in the direction slanted to the normal of a surface of the substrates which is greater than an optical rotatory power in the direction of the normal of the substrates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein an angle of the optical axis of optical anisotropic unit in the optical anisotropic element varies continuously or in stages in the direction of layer thickness of the optical anisotropic element as against the surface of the substrates of optical anisotropic element and the optical anisotropy in the optical anisotropic unit is positive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein an angle of the optical axis of the optical anisotropic unit in the surface of the optical anisotropic element is substantially parallel to the substrate surface of the driving liquid crystal cell and angles of optical axes in the element vary in the direction of layer thickness of the optical anisotropic element, the optical axes being substantially parallel to the normal of the substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein an angle of the optical axis of the optical anisotropic unit in the surface of the optical anisotropic element is substantially normal to the substrate surface of the driving liquid crystal cell and angles of optical axes in the element vary in the direction of layer thickness of the optical anisotropic element, the optical axes being substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein the alignment of the optical anisotropic unit in the optical anisotropic element is bend state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein the alignment of the optical anisotropic unit in the optical anisotropic element is splay state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein the respective optical axes in the optical anisotropic element, as viewed from the direction of the normal to the substrate of the driving liquid crystal cell, are aligned in one direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
181 words
The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein at least one of first optical anisotropic elements and at least one of second optical anisotropic elements are arranged respectively, wherein the first optical anisotropic element has layers and optical axis at the surface of the element is substantially normal to the substrate of the driving liquid crystal cell and the optical axes in the element vary toward one direction substantially parallel to the substrate surface, where the optical axes of the optical anisotropic element are aligned in one direction as viewed from the direction of the normal of the substrate of the driving liquid crystal cell, and the second optical anisotropic element has layers and optical axis at the surface of the element is substantially parallel to the substrate surface of driving liquid crystal cell and the optical axes in the element vary toward one direction substantially normal to the substrate, where the respective optical axes in the element are aligned in one direction as viewed from the direction of the normal of the substrate of the driving liquid crystal cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein the optical axis of the optical anisotropic element as viewed from the direction of the normal of the substrate of the driving liquid crystal cell is aligned to be parallel or perpendicular the absorption axes of the polarizers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The liquid crystal display device of claim 8, wherein between the polarizers and the optical anisotropic element, a second optical anisotropic element with optical anisotropy negative to the direction of the thickness is arranged.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein the optical anisotropic element comprises polymer-liquid crystal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
190 words
A liquid crystal display device having two polarizers and a driving liquid crystal cell arranged between the polarizers, the driving liquid crystal cell having two substrates with electrodes and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the two substrates, which optically controls utilizing an optical rotatory power of the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal layer having a twisted alignment when no voltage is applied, wherein the driving liquid crystal cell has a first direction with greater optical rotatory power and a second direction with smaller optical rotatory power in the two directions symmetrically tilted from the normal of the substrate, and an optical anisotropic element is arranged between the polarizers and the driving liquid crystal cell has an optically rotatory power in tilted direction from the normal of the substrate is greater than that in the direction of the substrate, the optical anisotropic element having the first direction with smaller optical rotatory power and the second direction with greater optical rotatory power in the two directions symmetrically tilted from the normal of the substrate to compensate for the asymmetry of the optical rotatory power of the driving liquid crystal cell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
190 words
A liquid crystal display device having two polarizers and a driving liquid crystal cell arranged between the polarizers, the driving liquid crystal cell having two substrates with electrodes and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the two substrates, which optically controls utilizing an optical rotatory power of the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal layer having a twisted alignment when no voltage is applied, wherein the driving liquid crystal cell has a first direction with greater optical rotatory power and a second direction with smaller optical rotatory power in the two directions symmetrically tilted from the normal of the substrate, and an optical anisotropic element is arranged between the polarizers and the driving liquid crystal cell has an optically rotatory power in tilted direction from the normal of the substrate is greater than that in the direction of the substrate, the optical anisotropic element having the first direction with smaller optical rotatory power and the second direction with greater optical rotatory power in the two directions symmetrically tilted from the normal of the substrate to compensate for the asymmetry of the optical rotatory power of the driving liquid crystal cell.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical anisotropic element with optical anisotropic substance layers, wherein an optical rotatory power of the optical anisotropic substance layers in the direction slanted to the normal of the surface of the optical anisotropic element is greater than that in the direction of the normal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical anisotropic element with optical anisotropic substance layers, wherein an optical rotatory power of the optical anisotropic substance layers in the direction slanted to the normal of the surface of the optical anisotropic element is greater than that in the direction of the normal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The optical anisotropic element of claim 13, wherein an angle of the optical axis of the optical anisotropic element varies continuously or in stages in the direction of the layer thickness of the optical anisotropic element as against the surface of this optical anisotropic element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
The optical anisotropic element of claim 13, wherein an angle of the optical axis of the optical anisotropic element is substantially parallel to a surface of the optical anisotropic element and varies in the layer of the optical anisotropic element so that it is substantially along the normal of the other surface of the optical anisotropic element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
The optical anisotropic element of claim 13, wherein an angle of the optical axis of the optical anisotropic element varies in the layer of the optical anisotropic element, the optical axis being substantially normal to a surface of the optical anisotropic element and being substantially parallel to the other surface of the optical anisotropic element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optical anisotropic element of claim 13, wherein the respective optical axes of the optical anisotropic element are aligned in one direction when viewed from the direction of the normal of the driving liquid crystal cell.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The optical anisotropic element of claim 13, wherein the element has two directions symmetrically tilted about the normal to the surface of the optical anisotropic element, the first direction having a greater optical rotatory power and the second direction having a smaller optical rotatory power.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-10-13 | 2001-04-14 | 2001-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-13 | 2005-04-14 | 2005-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-13 | 2009-04-14 | 2009-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |