Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9529238-B2
Application number	US-201414226272-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2014
Priority date	Mar 29, 2013
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

According to an aspect, a liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate and a second substrate that face each other; a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a first electrode and a second electrode provided between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer. The first electrode includes: at least an electrode base portion that extends in a first direction; and a plurality of comb-shaped portions that protrude from the electrode base portion at a fixed distance away from each other, and extend in a second direction different from the first direction. Each comb-shaped portion has a coupling portion layered on or under the electrode base portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:
a first substrate and a second substrate that face each other;
a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; and
a first electrode and a second electrode provided between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, wherein the first electrode is one of a common electrode or a pixel electrode, wherein the second electrode is the pixel electrode when the first electrode is the common electrode, wherein the second electrode is the common electrode when the first electrode is the pixel electrode, and
wherein the first electrode includes:
at least an electrode base portion that extends in a first direction; and
a plurality of comb-shaped portions that protrude from the electrode base portion at a fixed distance away from each other, and extend in a second direction different from the first direction,
each comb-shaped portion has a coupling portion layered on or under the electrode base portion, and
electrical resistance of the electrode base portion is lower than electrical resistance of the comb-shaped portions.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged in a position where a horizontal electric field for driving the liquid crystal layer is generated.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2 , wherein the first electrode is layered over the second electrode via an insulating layer.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein
when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode,
in the liquid crystal layer, liquid crystal molecules in an area near one of long sides of the comb-shaped portions that face each other in a width direction of a slit between adjacent comb-shaped portions and liquid crystal molecules in an area near the other one of the long sides of the comb-shaped portions that face each other rotate in opposite directions to each other.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first orientation film provided between the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer; and
a second orientation film provided between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer, wherein
the first orientation film is subjected to an orientation process in a first orientation direction that is a parallel direction to the second direction,
the second orientation film is subjected to an orientation process in a second orientation direction that is antiparallel to the first orientation direction, and
when a voltage is not applied between the first electrode and the second electrode,
long axes of liquid crystal molecules are aligned and oriented in the first orientation direction.

6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 5 , wherein
when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode,
long-axis directions of the liquid crystal molecules are oriented so that the liquid crystal molecules rise toward a direction perpendicular to the first substrate while rotating clockwise in an area near one of long sides of the comb-shaped portions that face each other in a width direction of a slit and rotating counterclockwise in an area near the other one in an in-plane direction of the first substrate.

7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode base portion is formed of a translucent conductive material.

8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode base portion is formed of a metal material.

9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the comb-shaped portions are formed of a translucent conductive material.

10. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode base portion is provided under the coupling portion.

11. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10 ,
wherein a comb start width is a width of the each comb-shaped portion at a protrusion start position in the first direction,
wherein a base width is a width of the electrode base portion in the second direction, and
wherein the comb start width is wider than the base width.

12. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode base portion is formed of a metal material, and the comb-shaped portions are formed of a translucent conductive material.

13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the each comb-shaped portion has
a comb start width that is a width in the first direction at a protrusion start position of the each comb-shaped portion, and
a comb tip width that is a width in the first direction at a tip of the each comb-shaped portion, and
wherein the comb start width is wider than the comb tip width.

14. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 13 ,
wherein a comb protrusion length is a length from the protrusion start position to the tip of the each comb-shaped portion,
wherein the comb protrusion length of the each comb-shaped portion on an upstream side in a rubbing direction is a first comb protrusion length,
wherein the comb protrusion length of the each comb-shaped portion on a downstream side in the rubbing direction is a second comb protrusion length, and
wherein the first comb protrusion length is shorter than the second comb protrusion length.

15. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a comb start width is a width of the each comb-shaped portion at a protrusion start position in the first direction,
wherein a base width is a width of the electrode base portion in the second direction, and
wherein the comb start width is wider than the base width.

16. An electronic apparatus comprising:
a liquid crystal display device; and
a control device that supplies an input signal to the liquid crystal display device the liquid crystal display device comprising:
a first substrate and a second substrate that face each other;
a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; and
a first electrode and a second electrode provided between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, wherein the first electrode is one of a common electrode or a pixel electrode, wherein the second electrode is the pixel electrode when the first electrode is the common electrode, wherein the second electrode is the common electrode when the first electrode is the pixel electrode, and
wherein the first electrode includes:
at least an electrode base portion that extends in a first direction; and
a plurality of comb-shaped portions that protrude from the electrode base portion at a fixed distance away from each other, and extend in a second direction different from the first direction,

each comb-shaped portion has a coupling portion layered on or under the electrode base portion, and
electrical resistance of the electrode base portion is lower than electrical resistance of the comb-shaped portions.

Assignees

• Japan Display Inc

Inventors

• Tamaki Masaya
• Matsushima Toshiharu

Classifications

• G02F2201/124

  interdigital · CPC title

• G02F1/134336

  Matrix · CPC title

• G02F1/13439

  characterised by their electrical, optical, physical properties; materials therefor; method of making · CPC title

• G02F2201/121

  common or background · CPC title

• G02F1/136286

  Wiring, e.g. gate line, drain line · CPC title