Liquid crystal display having high transmittance and high aperture ratio

Claim 2

A liquid crystal display comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate, said first substrate being disposed opposite said second substrate and being disposed a first distance apart, each of said substrates having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the substrates, said liquid crystal layer including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules; a first electrode formed on the inner surface of the first substrate, said first electrode having a first width; and a second electrode formed on the inner surface of the first substrate, said second electrode having a second width, and spaced apart from said first electrode by a second distance, said first electrode and said second electrode being capable of aligning the liquid crystal molecules using an electric field produced between said first electrode and said second electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are made of a transparent conductor, and the first distance is greater in length than the second distance.

Claim 3

The liquid crystal display in claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrodes each has a width to such a degree that the liquid crystal molecules overlying the surfaces of the electrodes are substantially oriented by the electric field.

Claim 4

The liquid crystal display in claim 1 , wherein the second distance is approximately in a range of 0.1 μm to 5.0 μm.

Claim 5

The liquid crystal display in claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the second width to the first width is approximately in a range of 0.25 to 4.0.

Claim 6

The liquid crystal display in claim 1 , wherein the first and second widths each is approximately in a range of 1 μm to 8 μm.

Claim 7

The liquid crystal display in claim 5 , wherein the liquid crystal molecules are arranged such that in an absence of the electric field, their longer axes are parallel to the surfaces of the first and second substrates, while in the presence of the electric field, optical axis of an incident light is parallel or normal to the electric field direction.

Claim 8

The liquid crystal display in claim 5 , further comprising a first alignment layer formed over the inner surface of the first substrate and a second alignment layer formed over the inner surface of the second substrate, the first alignment layer having a first rubbing axis which differs by a first selected angle from the electric field direction and arranging the liquid crystal molecules to a direction of the first rubbing axis in the presence of the electric field, and the second alignment layer having a second rubbing axis which differs by a second selected angle from the electric field direction and arranging the liquid crystal molecules to a direction of the second rubbing axis in the presence of the electric field.

Claim 9

The liquid crystal display in claim 7 , wherein the liquid crystal molecules have a pretilt angle, the pretilt angle being approximately in a range of 0 degree to 10 degrees.

Claim 10

The liquid crystal display in claim 8 , wherein the first rubbing axis differs by 180 degrees from the second rubbing axis.

Claim 11

The liquid crystal display in claim 9 , further comprising a polarizer disposed on the outer surface of the first substrate and an analyzer disposed on the outer surface of the second substrate, the polarizer having a polarizing axis in a given direction, the polarizing axis being optically related with the liquid crystal layer, the analyzer having an absorbing axis in a given direction, the absorbing axis being optically related with the polarizer.

Claim 12

The liquid crystal display in claim 10 , wherein an angle between the polarizing axis of the polarizer and the first rubbing axis of the first alignment layer is approximately in a range of 0 degree to 90 degrees, and an angle between the absorbing axis of the analyzer and the polarizing axis of the polarizer is approximately 90 degrees.

Claim 13

The liquid crystal display in claim 11 , wherein when an angle between the first rubbing axis and the electric field direction is approximately in a range of 0 degree to 45 degrees, dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer is negative, while when an angle between the first rubbing axis and the electric field direction is approximately in a range of 45 degrees to 90 degrees, dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystal is positive.

Claim 14

The liquid crystal display in claim 12 , wherein the liquid crystal layer is a nematic liquid crystal, and a product of the anisotropy of refractive index of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer and the first distance is approximately in a range of 0.2 μm to 0.6 μm.

Claim 15

The liquid crystal display in claim 5 , wherein the liquid crystal layer is a nematic liquid crystal, and a product of the anisotropy of the refractive index of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer and the first distance is approximately in a range of 0.2 μm to 0.6 μm.

Claim 16

The liquid crystal display in claim 5 , wherein the first electrode is a counter electrode to which a common signal is applied and the second electrode is a pixel electrode to which a display signal is applied.

Claim 17

The liquid crystal display in claim 1 , wherein the transparent conductor is ITO.

Claim 18

A liquid crystal display comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate, said first substrate being disposed opposite said second substrate and being disposed a first distance apart, each of said substrates having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the substrates, said liquid crystal layer including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules; a first electrode formed on the inner surface of the first substrate, the first electrode comprising a plurality of strips, each of the strips having a first width, and spaced apart by a second distance from another strip adjacent thereto; a second electrode formed on the inner surface of the first substrate, the second electrode comprising a plurality of strips, each of the strips being disposed between the strips of the first electrode, having a second width, and being spaced apart by a third distance from another strip adjacent thereto, each of the strips of the second electrode being separated from each of the strips of the first electrode adjacent thereto with a fourth distance; and an insulating layer for insulating the first electrode and the second electrode each other, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode each is made of a transparent conductor, wherein the first distance is greater in length than the fourth distance, and the second width is smaller than the second distance, and the first width is smaller than the third distance; and wherein the strips of the first and second electrodes each has a width to such a degree that the liquid crystal molecules overlying the strips of the first electrode and the strips of the second electrode are substantially aligned in the presence of the electric field produced between the strips of the first electrode and the strips of the second electrode.

Claim 19

A liquid crystal display comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate, said first substrate being disposed opposite said second substrate and being disposed a first distance apart, each of said substrates having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the substrates, said liquid crystal layer including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules; a first electrode formed on the inner surface of the first substrate, the first electrode comprising a plurality of strips, each of the strips having a first width, and spaced apart by a second distance from another strip adjacent thereto; a second electrode formed on the inner surface of the first substrate, the second electrode comprising a plurality of strips, each of the strips being disposed between the strips of the first electrode, having a second width, and being spaced apart by a third distance from another strip adjacent thereto, each of the strips of the second electrode being separated from each of the strips of the first electrode adjacent thereto with a fourth distance; and an insulating layer for insulating the first electrode and the second electrode each other, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode each is made of a transparent conductor, wherein the first distance is greater in length than the fourth distance, and the second width is smaller than the second distance, and the first width is smaller than the third distance; and wherein the strips of the first and second electrodes each has a width to such a degree that the liquid crystal molecules overlying the strips of the first electrode and the strips of the second electrode are substantially aligned in the presence of the electric field produced between the strips of the first electrode and the strips of the second electrode.

Claim 20

The liquid crystal display in claim 17 , wherein said transparent conductor is ITO.

Claim 21

The liquid crystal display in claim 18 , wherein said fourth distance is approximately in a range of 0.1 μm to 5 μm.

Claim 22

The liquid crystal display in claim 19 , wherein a ratio of the second width to the first width is approximately in a range of 0.2 to 4.0.

Claim 23

The liquid crystal display in claim 20 , wherein the first width and the second width each is approximately in a range of 1 μm to 8 μm.

Claim 24

The liquid crystal display in claim 21 , wherein the first electrode further comprises a first body connecting one sided ends of the strips of said first electrode to each other.

Claim 25

The liquid crystal display in claim 22 , wherein the second electrode further comprises a first connecting, said first connecting portion connecting one sided ends of the strips of said first electrode to each other, and said first connecting portion being overlapped with the first body.

Claim 26

The liquid crystal display in claim 23 , wherein said first electrode further comprises a second body for connecting the other sided ends of the strips to each other, and said second electrode further comprises a second connecting portion, and being overlapped with said second body.

Claim 27

The liquid crystal display in claim 22 , wherein the first electrode further comprises a second connecting portion parallel to the first body of the first electrode, for connecting the other sided ends of the strips.

Claim 28

The liquid crystal display in claim 23 , further comprising a first alignment layer formed on the inner surface of the first substrate and a second alignment layer formed on the inner surface of the second substrate, the first alignment layer having a first rubbing axis which differs by a first selected angle from the electric field direction, and arranging the liquid crystal molecules to a direction of the first rubbing axis in the presence of the electric field, and the second alignment layer having a second rubbing axis which differs by a second selected angle from the electric field direction, and arranging the liquid crystal molecules to a direction of the second rubbing axis in the presence of the electric field.

Claim 29

The liquid crystal display in claim 26 , wherein the liquid crystal molecules have a pretilt angle, the pretilt angle being approximately in a range of 0 degree to 10 degrees.

Claim 30

The liquid crystal display in claim 27 , wherein the first rubbing axis of the first alignment layer differs by about 180 degrees from the second rubbing axis of the second alignment layer.

Claim 31

The liquid crystal display in claim 28 , further comprising a polarizer disposed on the outer surface of the first substrate and an analyzer disposed on the outer surface of the second substrate, the polarizer having a polarizing axis in a given direction, the polarizing axis being optically related with the liquid crystal layer, the analyzer having an absorbing axis in a given direction, the absorbing axis being optically related with the polarizer.

Claim 32

The liquid crystal display in claim 29 , wherein an angle between the polarizing axis of the polarizer and the first rubbing axis of the first alignment layer is approximately 0 degree or 90 degrees, and an angle between the absorbing axis of the analyzer and the polarizing axis of the polarizer is approximately 90 degrees.

Claim 33

The liquid crystal display in claim 30 , wherein when an angle between the first rubbing axis and the electric field direction is approximately in a range of 0 degree to 45 degrees, dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer is negative, while when an angle between the first rubbing axis and the electric field direction is approximately in a range of 45 degrees to 90 degrees, dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystal is positive.

Claim 34

The liquid crystal display in claim 31 , wherein the liquid crystal layer is a nematic liquid crystal, and a product of the anisotropy of the refractive index of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer and the first distance is approximately in a range of 0.2 μm to 0.6 μm.

Claim 35

The liquid crystal display in claim 17 , wherein the second width is the same as the second distance, and the first width is the same as the third distance.

Claim 36

The liquid crystal display in claim 33 , wherein a ratio of the second width to the first width is approximately in a range of 0.2 to 4.

Claim 37

The liquid crystal display in claim 34 , wherein the first and second widths each is approximately in a range of 1 μm to 8 μm.

Claim 38

The liquid crystal display in claim 35 , wherein said first electrode further comprises a first body for connecting the other sided ends of the strips to each other.

Claim 39

The liquid crystal display in claim 36 , wherein said second electrode further comprises a first connecting portion, and being overlapped with said first body.

Claim 40

The liquid crystal display in claim 37 , wherein said first electrode further comprises a second body, and said second electrode further comprises a second connecting portion parallel to said second body, for connecting the other sided ends of the strips thereof.

Claim 41

The liquid crystal display in claim 36 , wherein said second electrode further comprises a second connecting portion for connecting the other sided ends of the strips thereof.

Claim 42

The liquid crystal display in claim 37 , further comprising a first alignment layer formed on the inner surface of the first substrate and a second alignment layer formed on the inner surface of the second substrate, the first alignment layer having a first rubbing axis which differs by a first selected angle from the electric field direction, and arranging the liquid crystal molecules to a direction of the first rubbing axis in the presence of the electric field, and the second alignment layer having a second rubbing axis which differs by a second selected angle from the electric field direction, and arranging the liquid crystal molecules to a direction of the second rubbing axis in the presence of the electric field.

Claim 43

The liquid crystal display in claim 40 , wherein the liquid crystal molecules have a pretilt angle, the pretilt angle being approximately in a range of 0 degree to 10 degrees.

Claim 44

The liquid crystal display in claim 41 , wherein the first rubbing axis of the first alignment layer differs by about 180 degrees from the second rubbing axis of the second alignment layer.

Claim 45

The liquid crystal display in claim 42 , further comprising a polarizer disposed on the outer surface of the first substrate and an analyzer disposed on the outer surface of the second substrate, the polarizer having a polarizing axis in a given direction, the polarizing axis being optically related with the liquid crystal layer, the analyzer having an absorbing axis in a given direction, the absorbing axis being optically related with the polarizer.

Claim 46

The liquid crystal display in claim 43 , wherein an angle between the polarizing axis of the polarizer and the first rubbing axis of the first alignment layer is approximately 0 degree or 90 degrees, and an angle between the absorbing axis of the analyzer and the polarizing axis of the polarizer is approximately 90 degrees.

Claim 47

The liquid crystal display in claim 44 , wherein when an angle between the first rubbing axis and the electric field direction is approximately in a range of 0 degree to 45 degrees, dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer is negative, while when an angle between the first rubbing axis and the electric field direction is approximately in a range of 45 degrees to 90 degrees, dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystal is positive.

Claim 48

The liquid crystal display in claim 45 , wherein the liquid crystal layer is a nematic liquid crystal, and a product of the anisotropy of the refractive index of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer and the first distance is approximately in a range of 0.2 μm to 0.6 μm.

Claim 49

The liquid crystal display in claim 17 , wherein the second width is greater than the second distance, and the first width is greater than the third distance.

Claim 50

The liquid crystal display in claim 16 , wherein the gate bus lines, data bus lines, and common signal lines are formed of one element metal or alloy of at least two elements selected from the group being comprised of Al, Mo, Ti, W, Ta, and Cr.

Claim 51

The liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 16 , wherein a product of the anisotropy of the refractive index of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer and the first distance is approximately in a range of 0.2 μm to 0.6 μm.