Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to provide a light guide of a variety of forms having a uniform distribution of brightness in the plane and a planer light source device for a liquid crystal display device which uses such light guide. The light guide comprises a first surface which is a surface to which a natural polarization light is incident and a second surface other than the first surface which is an exit surface of a specific polarization light into which, said natural polarization light is modulated, wherein; said light guide has an interface of two materials of different indices of refraction oriented at an angle of &thgr;B+/−&agr; degrees relative to the primary propagation direction of said incident light, said &thgr;B being an angle satisfying Brewster's condition, more than two orientations of said interface exist in a single light guide, and the difference between the indices of refraction of the two materials of different indices of refraction is between 0.001 and 1.0.

Abstract: A display device capable of obtaining a bright display is provided. A polarizer is arranged above an TN liquid crystal, a light-scattering layer, a polarized light separator, a coloring layer, and a reflecting plate are arranged under the TN liquid crystal. The polarized light separator transmits a linearly polarized light component of a second direction of light being incident from the upper side, reflects a linearly polarized light component of a third direction perpendicular to the second direction, and can upwardly emit linearly polarized light of the second direction in response to light being incident from the lower side. In a voltage non-applied portion, light reflected by the polarized light separator becomes white emission light. In a voltage applied portion, light transmitted through the polarized light separator is colored by the coloring layer to be color emission light.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reflective flat-panel color display device (1) having a diffusing display panel (3). The display panel (3) comprises a diffusing liquid crystalline material (5) present between a first and a second substrate (7, 9). A color filter pattern (15) which corresponds to the pixel pattern of the display panel (3) is present between the liquid crystalline material (5) and the second substrate (9). A diffusing reflector is present at the side of the color filter pattern (15) remote from the liquid crystalline material (5). In another embodiment, a reflector (17), which has a diffusing or non-diffusing effect, is present outside the display panel (3) and a forward diffuser (33) is arranged between this reflector (17) and the display panel (3).

Abstract: Disclosed are super broadband circularly polarizing film materials and novel methods of fabricating and using the same. The circularly polarizing materials are made from polymerizable CLC film material having a cholesteric order, in which a liquid crystal material, such as a nematic liquid crystal material, is distributed in a non-linear fashion across the thickness of the film in a plurality of liquid crystal-rich and liquid crystal-depleted sites in the CLC polymer. The pitch of the helices of the CLC molecules in the polyermized CLC material varies in a non-linear (e.g. exponential) manner along the depth dimension (i.e. transverse to the surface) thereof. The resulting circularly polarizing materials have reflection and transmission characteristics over bands of operation approaching 2000 nm. Depending on the final spiral structure of the polymeriable CLC materials utilized, the CLC circularly polarizing materials reflect either left-handed or right-handed circularly polarized light.

Abstract: A manufacturing tool and method for enhancing the speed with which display panels can be filled with the requisite liquid crystal is described. In essence, the panel walls are expanded by compression of opposite edges to provide a wider channel for the liquid to flow resulting in a substantial increase in the mass transfer of the liquid crystal per unit time thereby enhancing the panel throughput rate.

Abstract: A method of modifying the polarization state of light exiting a Liquid Crystal Display that is effected without altering the optical image of the display comprises reducing the select voltage to the LCD cell to less than the saturation select voltage. In one embodiment of an apparatus incorporating features of the present invention, a color LCD display is constructed using two or more LCD cells that are aligned to produce an optimum image through the display optics. One or more of the LCD cells are then driven to the dark state at a select voltage that is less than the saturation select voltage for that cell. By operating the LCD cell at less than the saturation select voltage, the polarization state of the light exiting a dark selected pixel compensates for the misalignment between the saturation voltage polarization axis of the display and the system polarization axis of the optics. Accordingly, the selected pixel appears darker than would the same pixel driven at the saturation voltage.

Abstract: A reflection type liquid crystal display device, having a first substrate having an array of a plurality of light reflecting pixel electrodes, a second substrate having an array of a plurality of microlenses, and liquid crystals sandwiched between the first and second substrates for modulating incident light entering between the first and second substrates and reflected by the pixel electrodes to form an optical display, wherein each of the light reflecting pixel electrodes includes a high reflectivity region formed near at a focal point upon which light incident upon a microlens is focussed, the high reflectivity region reflecting the incident light, and a low reflectivity region formed surrounding the high reflectivity region, the low reflectivity region limiting a reflection of incident light components of stray light to be caused by aberration among light passed through the microlens.

Abstract: An LCD is adapted to be manufactured using a significantly reduced number of masks and masking processes. In order to form a gate of the LCD, aluminum and one of molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten and antimony are sequentially deposited and patterned using a single mask. Cutting a shorting bar for preventing static electricity is performed while a passivation layer is patterned and rinsed. Accordingly, an LCD produced by this method includes a first metal layer, which includes a first contact hole and is disposed on a substrate, a second metal layer which covers the first metal layer and includes a second contact hole which is smaller than the first contact hole, an insulating layer, which covers the second metal layer and includes a third contact hole larger than the second contact hole, and a pad, which includes a conductive layer contacting the second metal layer through the third contact hole on the insulating layer.

Abstract: A flat panel display including a light modulating layer having two surfaces and formed of pierceable material; first vertical and second horizontal conductive traces formed respectively on the surfaces of the light modulating layer; and conductive piercing pins connected to the first and second conductive traces.

Abstract: A microlens array is provided on a light-outgoing side of a monochromic LCD element having a plurality of pixels each corresponding to any one of the three colors R, G, and B. Microlenses of the microlens array respectively correspond to pixel groups each of which is composed of three pixels corresponding to the three colors R, G, and B, respectively. Light fluxes having passed through the microlens array are converged at an entrance pupil position of a projection lens by a field lens and form pixel enlarged images corresponding to the colors R, G, and B. At the entrance pupil position, there is provided a color filter having color regions which respectively correspond to the colors to which the pixel enlarged images correspond. With this arrangement, it is possible to make a diverging angle smaller, at which light passing through the LCD element and the microlens array and being converged on the projection lens by the field lens is diverged.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for filling up a hole formed with a liquid crystal display cell for introducing liquid crystal into the liquid crystal display cell therethrough, including (a) a cell holder for holding a liquid crystal display cell therewith, (b) a cell positioner for driving the cell holder in such a manner that a hole formed with the liquid crystal display cell for introducing liquid crystal into the liquid crystal display cell therethrough, is upwardly directed, (c) a resin applicator for applying a resin to the hole for filling up the hole with the resin, the resin being to be cured when ultraviolet ray is radiated thereto, (d) a location detector for detecting a location in the hole where the resin reaches, and (e) a ultraviolet ray radiator for radiating ultraviolet ray to the resin when the location detector detects that the resin reaches a predetermined location.

Abstract: The invention discloses a liquid crystal display including in succession a first polarizer, a first glass layer, a liquid crystal, a second glass layer, a second polarizer, a purely reflective reflector, a light source and a reflector film surrounding the edge of the second glass layer while preserving at least one opening for letting light pass that is emitted by the source through the glass layer. Such an arrangement provides a liquid crystal display, which has an efficient and uniform irradiance without the aid of a light guide which renders the display lighter and flatter than the conventional displays.

Abstract: A color filter substrate and a liquid crystal display device having high opening ratio and capable of preventing unsatisfactory display as far as possible are provided.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display including (a) a first substrate, (b) a second substrate spaced away from and facing the first substrate, (c) a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates, (d) a first electrode formed on the first substrate at a surface facing the liquid crystal layer, (e) a second electrode formed on the first substrate at a surface facing the liquid crystal layer, and cooperating with the first electrode to form a pixel, the first and second electrodes generating an electric field therebetween to thereby implement in-plane switching, and (f) an interlayer insulating film formed at least below the second electrode, but not formed at least below the first electrode, a dielectric layer formed between at least a part of an upper surface of the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer being designed to have a capacitance per a unit area, almost equal to a capacitance per a unit area of a dielectric layer formed between at least a part of an upper surface

Abstract: A twisted liquid crystal device includes a liquid crystal layer and first and second alignment layers disposed in opposite sides of the liquid crystal layer. The first and second alignment layers have respective alignment directions which are mutually inclined. A first linear polarizer is disposed on the opposite side of the first alignment layer to the liquid crystal layer. Electrodes apply a variable voltage across the liquid crystal layer which has a twisted liquid crystal structure. The liquid crystal layer is arranged for operation in surface switching mode with first and second regions of the liquid crystal layer adjacent the alignment layers being mutually optically de-coupled so as to define, within the liquid crystal layer when in use, a pair of separate, active optical retarders having mutually inclined optic axes.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel in accordance with the present invention has a structure of connected substrate composed of a single unit electrode substrate and a plurality of small substrates combined with the single unit electrode substrate via a sealant. A connected portion of the plurality of small substrates is filled with an adhesive, and the adhesive is also applied on an entire surface of the plurality of small substrates, that is, on a surface of the electrode substrates having a connected structure. A flexible coating layer covering the plurality of small substrates is attached via the adhesive. The coating layer may be attached via the adhesive to a single multi-panel composed of a plurality of divided liquid crystal panels connected to one another on the sides where the plurality of divided liquid crystal panels constitute a pair of electrode substrates sandwitching a liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: The present invention enables efficient microfabrication of a fully integrated liquid crystal display device. Initially, a sacrificial layer is formed on a substrate that has conductive pads connected thereto. The sacrificial layer is patterned, and portions of the sacrificial layer are removed to expose portions of the underlying layer supporting the sacrificial layer. Then, a permeable layer is formed on the sacrificial layer, thereby filling in the space vacated by the removed potions of the sacrificial layer. The structure is heated and the material of the sacrificial layer is allowed to dissolve into and dissipate through the permeable layer in order to leave a cavity. Once the sacrificial layer is removed, the permeable layer is supported by the portion of the permeable layer filling in the space vacated by the removed portions of the sacrificial layer.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal-based display device comprising a light source, a reflective spatial light modulator, a light output, a beam splitter, and a shutter. The beam splitter is located and aligned relative to the light source, the light output, and the spatial light modulator such that light generated by the light source is reflected or transmitted towards the spatial light modulator, and then light reflected by the spatial light modulator is reflected or transmitted towards the light output. The shutter has both and OPEN and a CLOSED state, and may include ferroelectric liquid crystal material. The shutter may be located and aligned relative to the lights source and the beam splitter such that when OPEN it transmits the light generated by the light source towards the beam splitter, and when CLOSED it prevents transmission of the light generated by the light source towards the beam splitter.

Abstract: Applying layers of dielectric material to a reflective conductive surface of an integrated circuit, increases the reflectance of the surface. The layers of dielectric material alternate between high and low indices of refraction. To enable incident light waves to undergo a uniform phase change as the waves pass between the dielectric materials, the thickness of each of the layers of dielectric material is established such that each of the layers of dielectric material have a substantially equal optical thickness. As a result, when he dielectric layers reflect incident light waves, the reflected light waves constructively interfere to increase the reflectance of the surface of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A display device includes a reflective polarizer beneath a liquid-crystal display panel, and a light diffusing plate and a lighting apparatus disposed beneath the reflective polarizer. In a reflective display mode, the display device presents a specular display resulting from a light ray reflected by the reflective polarizer and a diffusion display resulting from a diffused light. In a transmissive display mode, the display device presents a dark display and a diffusion display caused by the light diffusing plate.