Liquid crystal cells – elements and systems – Particular structure – Having significant detail of cell structure only
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-10
2004-10-05
Kim, Robert H. (Department: 2871)
Liquid crystal cells, elements and systems
Particular structure
Having significant detail of cell structure only
C349S158000, C349S160000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06801278
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a liquid crystal display apparatus having a flexible substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display apparatus that consumes minimal power has been used currently as a display unit for portable electronic apparatuses such as portable information terminals or cellular phones. In particular, reflection type liquid crystal apparatuses are used for most products as a backlight is not necessary, resulting in minimal power consumption and increased battery life.
Meanwhile, a liquid crystal display apparatus that employs a resin film substrate instead of a conventional glass substrate has been developed to answer the ever-increasing need for further miniaturization and weight decrease of the electronic apparatus.
One example of a reflection type liquid crystal display apparatus having a film substrate as described hereinabove will be described briefly with reference to FIG.
3
.
FIG. 3
is a diagram showing a partial cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display apparatus having a conventional configuration. In
FIG. 3
, the liquid crystal display apparatus
100
comprises a first film substrate
110
and a second film substrate
120
, which face each other, and a liquid crystal layer
130
that is sealed between the two film substrates
110
and
120
.
A laminated structure of an electrode layer
115
consisting of transparent conductive film such as ITO (indium-tin oxide) operates liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer
130
and an orientation film
116
controls the orientation of liquid crystal molecules are formed on the liquid crystal layer side of the first film substrate
110
. Another laminated structure of an electrode layer
125
and orientation film
126
are formed on the liquid crystal layer side of the second film substrate
120
. Furthermore, a reflection plate
128
is provided on the opposite side of the second film substrate
120
(the outer face side of the second film substrate
120
).
Furthermore, a reflector
140
having one surface on which a reflection film
141
of aluminum is formed on the outer face side of the first film substrate
110
. An adhesive
142
is formed between the reflection film
141
and the substrate
110
.
The liquid crystal display apparatus
100
having the above-mentioned configuration has been used as a reflection type liquid crystal display apparatus in which solar energy or other external illumination is used as the light source. Light incident from the outside of the second substrate
120
is reflected on the reflection film
141
and used for displaying.
Furthermore, because a film substrate that is thinner than a conventional glass substrate is used as the substrate, it is possible to make an electronic apparatus having the above-mentioned liquid crystal display apparatus thin, and parallax is suppressed to bring about a high quality display.
However, according to the configuration of the liquid crystal display apparatus
100
, because the exterior type reflector
140
reflects the incident light, the light incident from the second substrate
120
side to the liquid crystal display apparatus
100
passes through the two substrates
110
and
120
and a reflection plate
128
inevitably before the light reaches the reflection film
141
of the reflector
140
. As the result, the light transmission loss is large, and the brightness of the display is insufficient.
Furthermore, because the liquid crystal display apparatus
100
comprising the above-mentioned film substrate is a component used as the display unit of, for example, a cellular phone and low cost is required, it is very important to simplify the configuration and manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display apparatus so that the cost is reduced.
The present invention has been accomplished to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display apparatus having a flexible substrate that is capable of displaying high quality images with high brightness.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display apparatus having a simplified configuration that reduces manufacturing costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above-mentioned object, a liquid crystal display apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a pair of substrates disposed to face each other with interposition of a liquid crystal layer, at least one of the substrates is a flexible substrate, and a plurality of concave faces each having a spherical inner surface and formed continuously on the surface of at least one substrate facing the liquid crystal layer.
According to the configuration in accordance with the present invention, because the concave faces are formed continuously on one surface of a flexible substrate, the configuration of the liquid crystal display is simplified to bring about the reduced manufacturing cost.
Next, the liquid crystal display apparatus according to a second aspect has a metal reflection film formed on the substrate surface.
According to the above-mentioned configuration, the reflection type liquid crystal display apparatus of the present invention has a built-in reflection plate for reflecting the light between the pair of substrates. Because the metal reflection film is shaped as described hereinabove, the reflection efficiency of the metal reflection film is improved to bring about a bright display.
Next, the liquid crystal display apparatus according to a third aspect has a depth of the concave faces ranging from 0.1 &mgr;m to 3 &mgr;m, an inclination distribution of the inner surface of the concave faces ranging from −30 degrees to +30 degrees, and a pitch between adjacent concave faces ranging from 5 &mgr;m to 50 &mgr;m.
According to the configuration as described hereinabove, because the reflection efficiency of the metal reflection film is optimized, the light incident from the outside is reflected efficiently, and a bright reflection display is realized.
Next, the liquid crystal display apparatus according to a fourth aspect has a metal reflection film having a film thickness ranging from 80 Å to 300 Å.
According to the configuration as described hereinabove, because the film thickness of the metal reflection film is made very thin, a bright transmission display is realized and the metal reflection film reflects light efficiently even when a light source for transmission display is used that is external to the substrate to fabricate a semi-transmission/reflection type liquid crystal display apparatus. In other words, a semi-transmission/reflection type liquid crystal display apparatus that gives a bright and easily visible display for both transmission display and reflection display is realized.
Next, the liquid crystal display apparatus according to a fifth aspect has a metal reflection film with a film thickness ranging from 80 Å to 100 Å.
According to the configuration as described hereinabove, a semi-transmission/reflection type liquid crystal display apparatus that gives a bright reflection display and an extraordinarily bright transmission display is realized.
Next, the liquid crystal display apparatus according to a sixth aspect has a color filter formed directly on the metal reflection film.
According to the configuration as described hereinabove, because the color filter is formed on the surface on which light incident from the outside is reflected, the parallax and color deviation is minimized and the high quality display is realized.
Next, the liquid crystal display apparatus according to a seventh aspect has a colored substrate with the surface on which the concave faces are formed.
According to the configuration as described hereinabove, the color of the colored substrate may be used as the display color in the case that a reflection type liquid crystal display apparatus is fabricated. In other words, a display having the color purity higher than that of the display obtaine
Kano Mitsuru
Tanada Tetsushi
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Kim Robert H.
Schechter Andrew
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