Formed By Particular Technique Patents (Class 349/92)
-
Patent number: 7528895Abstract: A method for manufacturing a substrate of a TFT LCD device is disclosed with following steps: providing a transparent substrate having a thin film transistors area and a storing capacitor area; forming an aluminum metal layer and a metal protecting layer on the substrate; patterning a first pattern on the aluminum metal layer of the TFT area, and a second pattern on the metal protecting layer of the storing capacitor area through a halftone mask; forming an aluminum nitride layer on the patterned metal protecting layer; removing the aluminum nitride layer form a rugged surface; forming patterned gates, patterned sources, and patterned drains over the patterned metal protecting layer of the TFT area, and forming a second metal layer over the rugged surface of the aluminum layer on the storing capacitor area, wherein the second metal layer is electrically connected with the drains; and forming patterned pixel electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2006Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: Quanta Display Inc.Inventors: Chien-Hung Chen, Li-Kai Chen
-
Patent number: 7465208Abstract: A dispersion liquid including micro-capsules containing a cholesteric liquid crystal as a core material dispersed into a binder resin solution is applied to and dried on a substrate formed an electrode thereon to form a display layer. Then, a light shielding layer is formed and an adhesive layer is formed thereon. On the other hand, a photoconductive layer is formed on another substrate formed another electrode thereon. The substrate formed each layer thereon and the another substrate are bonded to form a display element. The light shielding layer 14 improves roughness on a surface of the display layer and the adhesive layer filled up the roughness. Even if the bubbles occur on a back face of the light shielding layer, the bubbles does not affect the display quality. Because the bubbles are unseen.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2003Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Hiji, Shigeru Yamamoto
-
Patent number: 7408601Abstract: Inhomogeneous concentrated polymer network with approximately 90° twisted nematic liquid crystal (TN-LC) is used for fabricating lens and prisms. For forming a positive lens, the approximately 90° TN-LC polymer network concentration can gradually decrease from the center to the side edges. For forming a negative lens, the approximately 90° TN-LC polymer network concentration can gradually increase from the center to the side edges. The lens can be created by ultra violet (UV) light exposure to patterned photo masks. The lens can be tuned by applying voltage above the threshold voltage to the polymer network. The inhomogeneous 90° TN-LC polymer network can also be used in Fresnel lens and prisms. Applications of the invention can be used for micro lens, array, optical communication, micro-optics, adaptive optics and beam steering.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2005Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Research Foundation of the University of Central Florida, Inc.Inventors: Yuhua Huang, Hongwen Ren, Xinyu Zhu, Shin-Tson Wu
-
Publication number: 20080170182Abstract: There is described a process for the production of LCDs, in particular PDLCDs, preferably in a roll-to-roll process, wherein in a first process step a first contact layer (12) and a first electrode layer (14) spaced therefrom is applied to a base carrier (10). A first and a second delimitation layer (18, 20) is then applied to the base carrier (10). Thereafter a functional layer (26) comprising a PDLCD mixture provided in a porous support matrix is applied between the first and second delimitation layers (18 and 20). A protective layer (28) is then applied to the functional layer (26) between the first and second delimitation layers (18 and 20) and finally there is applied to the protective layer (28) a second electrode layer (30) which is contacted with the first contact layer (12).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2007Publication date: July 17, 2008Inventors: Ulrich Schindler, Steffen Weiss
-
Patent number: 7400368Abstract: Liquid crystal displays and fabrication methods thereof. The liquid crystal display comprises a first substrate with an active matrix of a plurality of pixels. A second substrate is provided opposing the first substrate. A liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. Each pixel comprises a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer corresponding to a first liquid crystal region and a non-polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer corresponding to a second liquid crystal region.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2005Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: Au Optronics Corp.Inventors: Yi-Ju Chen, Chia-Yu Lee, Chieh-Ting Chen, Po-Lun Chen
-
Patent number: 7375778Abstract: An array panel for a liquid crystal display device includes a substrate, a gate line and a gate electrode on the substrate, wherein the gate line is connected to the gate electrode, a gate insulating layer on the gate line and the gate electrode, an active layer on the gate insulating layer, an ohmic contact layer on the active layer, a data line, a source electrode, and a drain electrode on the ohmic contact layer, wherein the data line, the source electrode, and the drain electrode are formed of molybdenum, a passivation layer on the data line, the source and drain electrodes, and a pixel electrode on the passivation layer, wherein the ohmic contact layer has the same shape as the data line, the source, and drain electrodes, and the active layer has the same shape as the data line, and the source electrode, and the drain electrode except for a channel area between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and the channel area has a “U” shape.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2005Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yong Wan Kim, Dong-Jin Park
-
Patent number: 7327434Abstract: Using inhomogeneous sized liquid crystal (LC) droplets for lens and prisms. For forming a positive lens, the LC droplet size can gradually increase from the center to the side edges. For forming a negative lens, the LC droplet size can gradually decrease from the center to the side edges. The lens can be created by Ultra Violet light exposure to patterns. The lens can be tuned by applying voltage to the droplets. The inhomogeneous droplets can also be used in Fresnel lens and prisms. Applications of the invention can be used for eyeglasses, arrays, camera type zoom lenses and beam steering applications.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2006Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Hongwen Ren, Shin-Tson Wu
-
Publication number: 20080020007Abstract: The present invention describes a film structure which comprises a plurality of microcups and the microcups are filled with a liquid composition and top-sealed with a sealing layer which is hardened in situ. The liquid composition may be a display fluid or a pharmaceutical composition. The present invention is directed to a liquid crystal display, a display device and a transdermal delivery system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Inventor: HongMei Zang
-
Patent number: 7307686Abstract: A method for manufacturing a panel for a liquid crystal display is presented. The method includes forming at least one model mark according to a classified model on a panel of the mother glass having at least one liquid crystal cell area, forming at least one sealant on the panels as a unit with the liquid crystal cell area, forming at least one short point on the panel as a unit with the liquid crystal cell area, and forming a liquid crystal layer in the region enclosed by the sealant of the liquid crystal cell area.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2005Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yang-Gyu Jang
-
Patent number: 7304780Abstract: The present invention relates to a backplane design for display panels and processes for their manufacture. The invention provides cost-effective ways to manufacture a display panel because the manufacture does not involve the use of a patterned ITO substrate, flexible printed circuit board or rigid circuit board. In addition, a roll-to-roll process can be employed to manufacture the display panel.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2005Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Assignee: SiPix Imaging, Inc.Inventors: John Hanan Liu, Gary Y. M. Kang, Yi-Shung Chaug
-
Patent number: 7176998Abstract: A display device comprising a liquid-crystal cell element (20) placed between two polarizers (23, 28) comprising at least one optical structure for compensating for the variations in birefringence of said liquid crystal according to the viewing angle. The optical compensation structure comprises at least one oblique-axis film (25, 26) of polymerized liquid-crystal type suitable for at least partly compensating for the undesirable effects of the natural birefringence of the liquid crystal, combined with a volume hologram (24, 27) of small retardation suitable for improving the compensatability of said film.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2001Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: ThalesInventors: Cécile Joubert, Bertrand Morbieu, Laurent Bignolles
-
Patent number: 7175780Abstract: The process described herein offers the optimizing of performance parameters of holograms, such as reducing scattering effects in a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element. In the process, an interfacial tension agent is added to a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material has at least one acrylic acid monomer, at least one type of liquid crystal material, a photoinitiator dye, and a co-initiator. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material is subjected to a polymerization. The interfacial tension agent reduces the size of liquid crystal droplets formed within the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element during polymerization.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2006Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: Science Applications International CorporationInventors: Richard L. Sutherland, Lalgudi V. Natarajan, Robert T. Pogue, Christina K. Shepherd, Donna M. Brandelik
-
Patent number: 7136119Abstract: A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device, including forming a common electrode on one substrate; forming gate and data bus lines, a thin-film transistor, a pixel electrode, and a Cs bus line on another substrate. Forming a CF resin/light blocking pattern; forming a liquid crystal layer including photosensitive material; forming an electrical capacitance using the common and pixel electrodes; electrically connecting adjacent data bus lines at both ends; and radiating light into the liquid crystal while applying AC between the common and pixel electrodes by applying a transistor ON voltage to the gate bus line and AC between the common electrode and the data bus line. Instead of electrically connecting adjacent data bus lines at both ends, the method may include connecting at least one data bus line with at least one repair line and applying AC between the common electrode and the data bus and repair lines.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2004Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyasu Inoue, Kenichi Nagaoka, Yuji Nakahata, Yoji Taniguchi
-
Patent number: 7102706Abstract: Disclosed is a method for aligning polymer network liquid crystal. In the method, alignment of liquid crystal in a bulk state is controlled by means of an orientation power of polymer material itself which is formed by irradiating linearly polarized ultraviolet rays to monomer material having an orientation power, thereby achieving a transparent state at an initial state without an orientation layer. That is, Linearly polarized ultraviolet rays are irradiated to ultraviolet-hardening type monomers having an orientation power. Alignment of liquid crystal of a bulk state is controlled while the monomers are changed to polymers, thereby achieving an initial transparent state. The molecules of the liquid crystal are placed in disorder by a vertical electric field and the horizontal orientation power of a polymer chain.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2004Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: Boe Hydis Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mi Sook Kim, Sung Hun Song, Seung Hee Lee
-
Patent number: 7079203Abstract: Inhomogeneous concentrated polymer network with approximately 90° twisted nematic liquid crystal (TN-LC) is used for fabricating lens and prisms. For forming a positive lens, the approximately 90° TN-LC polymer network concentration can gradually decrease from the center to the side edges. For forming a negative lens, the approximately 90° TN-LC polymer network concentration can gradually increase from the center to the side edges. The lens can be created by ultra violet (UV) light exposure to patterned photo masks. The lens can be tuned by applying voltage above the threshold voltage to the polymer network. The inhomogeneous 90° TN-LC polymer network can also be used in Fresnel lens and prisms. Applications of the invention can be used for micro lens, array, optical communication, micro-optics, adaptive optics and beam steering.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2004Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: Research Foundation of the University of Central Florida, Inc.Inventors: Yuhua Huang, Hongwen Ren, Xinyu Zhu, Shin-Tson Wu
-
Patent number: 7009665Abstract: Electro-optical glazing structures having total-scattering and total-transparent modes of operation which are electrically-switchable for use in dynamically controlling electromagnetic radiation flow in diverse applications.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2003Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Inventors: Le Li, Jian-Feng Li, Sadeg M. Faris
-
Patent number: 6982019Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for manufacturing a plurality of multi-layered cells, particularly liquid crystal display cells, or electrochemical photovoltaic cells, or a combination of such cells, each cell including at least two superposed sealed cavities each delimited by a sealing frame and filled with a liquid, this method comprising the step of collectively manufacturing a batch of cells including at least three plates common to all the display cells and connected to each other by patterns of sealing material connecting said plates to each other and forming the sealing frames which delimit the cavities of said cells, this method being characterised in that filling holes are pierced through the plates such that each of the cavities of a cell is fed by a different filling hole, each of the filling holes being in communication with at least two cells and feeding the cavities of the same level, i.e.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2003Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: Asulab S.A.Inventors: Gilles Rey-Mermet, Rolf Klappert, Nicolas Blanckaert
-
Patent number: 6942906Abstract: A resin sheet containing dispersed particles which is thin and lightweight, and has excellent mechanical strength and light-diffusing properties. The resin sheets may be used in liquid crystal displays. A resin sheet having a hard coat layer, an epoxy resin layer containing 100 parts by weight of the resin to 200 parts by weight of a diffuser having a refractive index different from that of the epoxy resin and having an average particle diameter from 0.2 to 100 ?m, and a thin metal layer as a reflecting layer, wherein the diffuser localizes so as to have a concentration distribution in the direction of the thickness of the epoxy resin layer. A resin sheet having dispersed particles which is obtained by superposing a reflecting layer, an inorganic gas barrier layer, or a color filter layer thereon. A process for producing the resin sheet having a color filter layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2003Date of Patent: September 13, 2005Assignee: Nitto Denko CorporationInventors: Yoshimasa Sakata, Toshiyuki Umehara, Kiichi Shimodaira, Kazutaka Hara, Yoshihiro Kitamura, Katsuhiro Nakano
-
Patent number: 6936313Abstract: A resin sheet containing dispersed particles which is thin, lightweight, and has excellent mechanical strength and light-diffusing properties. The resin sheets may be used in liquid crystal displays. A resin sheet having a hard coat layer, an epoxy resin layer containing 100 parts by weight of the resin to 200 parts by weight of a diffuser having a refractive index different from that of the epoxy resin and having an average particle diameter from 0.2 to 100 ?m, and a thin metal layer as a reflecting layer, wherein the diffuser localizes so as to have a concentration distribution in the direction of the thickness of the epoxy resin layer. A resin sheet having dispersed particles which is obtained by superposing a reflecting layer, an inorganic gas barrier layer, or a color filter layer thereon. A process for producing the resin sheet having a color filter layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2002Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Nitto Denko CorporationInventors: Yoshimasa Sakata, Toshiyuki Umehara, Kiichi Shimodaira, Kazutaka Hara, Yoshihiro Kitamura, Katsuhiro Nakano
-
Patent number: 6903787Abstract: The invention relates to a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device in which an alignment direction of a liquid crystal molecule at the time of driving is regulated by using a polymer, and has an object to provide a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device in which excellent display characteristics can be obtained. A liquid crystal layer containing a polymerizable component capable of being polymerized by light is sealed between two substrates arranged to be opposite to each other, the polymerizable component is polymerized by irradiation of light under a predetermined light irradiation condition while a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer under a predetermined voltage application condition, and when a pre-tilt angle of a liquid crystal molecule and/or an alignment direction at a time of driving is regulated, at least one of the voltage application condition and the light irradiation condition is changed for each region.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2003Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Fujitsu Display Technologies CorporationInventors: Katsuhiko Kishida, Yohei Nakanishi
-
Patent number: 6900876Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a display comprising the steps of (a) providing a substrate; (b) forming a plurality of first conductors over the substrate; (c) depositing a layer of cholesteric liquid-crystal material, in the form of droplets of liquid crystal in a liquid carrier, over a preselected area of each of said first conductors so that a preselected portion of each of said first conductors is uncoated; (d) drying the liquid carrier to form a layer of polymer-dispersed cholesteric-liquid-crystal domains in a continuous matrix; and (e) forming a plurality of second conductors, electrically isolated from the first conductors, over the layer of polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal domains so that an electric field between the second conductors and the uncoated portions of the first conductors is capable of changing the optical state of the polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid-crystal material.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2003Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Stanley W. Stephenson, Xiang-Dong Mi
-
Patent number: 6853412Abstract: A transaction card having machine readable information and a visible display comprising: a card body; machine readable information on the card body; and a flexible display affixed to the card body for displaying information related to the machine readable information, the display including a pressure-insensitive polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid crystal material having a first planar reflective state and a second transparent focal conic state, which is responsive to an applied voltage to display information wherein said information persists when the voltage is removed, and an array of conductors connected to the display for applying selected voltages from an external display driver to the display to change the state of the display.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2002Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Stanley W. Stephenson
-
Patent number: 6816227Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal display with gray scales is disclosed which includes a substrate, a patterned first conductor disposed over the substrate, and a layer including a cholesteric liquid crystal material dispersed over the first patterned conductor. The display further includes a patterned second conductor disposed over the lay including cholesteric liquid crystal, and control means for applying voltages across particular portions of the patterned first and second conductors to cause electric fields to portions of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer to directly change its reflectance into a plurality of reflectance. The gray scale of the display can be obtained by a single pulse voltage independent of the initial state of the said display.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2001Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Xiang-Dong Mi, Stanley W. Stephenson
-
Publication number: 20040207777Abstract: An electro-optical device comprising a display drive system with the display timing related to the unit time t for writing-in a picture element and to the time F for writing-in one picture is disclosed. In the device, a gradated display corresponding to the ratio of the division can be obtained by time-sharing the signal during a write-in of time t without changing the time F.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaaki Hiroki, Akira Mase
-
Patent number: 6795138Abstract: This invention relates to liquid crystal (LC) displays comprising cells of well-defined shape, size and aspect ratio which cells are filled with a liquid crystal composition preferably containing dichroic dye(s), and novel processes for their manufacture.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2001Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: SiPix Imaging, Inc.Inventors: Rong-Chang Liang, Scott C-J Tseng, Xuan Phan, Ying-Syi Li, Weijin Li
-
Patent number: 6788360Abstract: A stacked liquid cell, such as a stacked liquid crystal cell, comprises a stack of liquid layers and substrate layers between which the liquid layers are dispersed. The stack comprises a liquid and polymeric substrate layers made from a stratified-phase-separated composite. Being part of a stratified-phase-separated composite, in particular one manufactured in accordance with a single-substrate method, the polymeric layer may have a relative small thickness compared a conventional substrate layer which results in a stacked liquid cell having a reduced thickness or, more particular, a stacked liquid cell having a reduced thickness between subjacent liquid layers giving a reduction in parallax effects. A method of manufacturing a liquid cell involves stratifying, on a substrate, a layer of stratified-phase-separable composition into a liquid layer and a polymeric layer to form a stratified-phase-separated composite, the polymeric layer serving as one of the substrate of the liquid cell.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2002Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Roel Penterman, Dirk Jan Broer
-
Publication number: 20040095525Abstract: To provide a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device capable of preventing nozzle clogging and a variation in spacers, and obtaining a liquid crystal display device with high display quality. The method includes an aggregation heating step of heating a substrate to evaporate droplets to the extent that spacers discharged to the substrate aggregate in a predetermined range, and a complete evaporation heating step of further heating the substrate subjected to the aggregation heating step to completely evaporate the droplets. In the aggregation heating step, the substrate is heated to a temperature of 30 to 60° C., and a drying time of 30 seconds is secured for the solvent.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Emiko Onizuka, Yoichi Momose, Yoshitomo Hirata, Takehito Washizawa, Masahiro Kosuge
-
Patent number: 6707517Abstract: A display sheet having polymer dispersed liquid crystals, includes a substrate and a state changing layer disposed over the substrate and defining first and second surfaces, such state changing layer having the polymer dispersed liquid crystals having first and second optical states, which can change state. The display sheet further includes first and second conductors disposed respectively over first and second surfaces of the state changing layer so that when a field is applied between the first and second conductors, the liquid crystals change state; and a nonconductive, field spreading layer having a transparent electrically conductive polymer dispersed sub-micron particles disposed between the state changing layer and the first conductor to provide a change of state in the state changing layer in the areas between both conductors in response to a field applied between the first and second conductors which changes the state of the liquid crystals.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2001Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Stanley W. Stephenson
-
Patent number: 6671008Abstract: Electro-optical glazing structures having total-scattering and total-transparent modes of operation which are electrically-switchable for use in dynamically controlling electromagnetic radiation flow in diverse applications.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2000Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Reveo, Inc.Inventors: Le Li, Jian-Feng Li, Sadeg M. Faris
-
Patent number: 6657686Abstract: A liquid crystal display cell, and a fabricating method thereof, that incorporates a light-cured monomer in a ferroelectric liquid crystal. By injecting the light-cured monomer/ferroelectric liquid crystal between substrate while in a nematic phase or isotropic phase, by performing DC voltage treatments as the liquid crystal temperature decreases, and by performing a light irradiation treatment, a stable, aligned ferroelectric liquid crystal cell is produced. Such a ferroelectric liquid crystal cell can reduce flicker and can be realigned after a physical shock.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2001Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.Inventor: Su Seok Choi
-
Patent number: 6639637Abstract: A display sheet having polymer dispersed liquid crystals, includes a substrate and a state changing layer disposed over the substrate and defining first and second surfaces, such state changing layer having the polymer dispersed liquid crystals having first and second optical states, which can change state. The display sheet further includes first and second conductors disposed respectively over first and second surfaces of the state changing layer so that when a field is applied between the first and second conductors, the liquid crystals change state; and a nonconductive, field spreading layer having polymer dispersed sub-micron particles disposed between the state changing layer and the first conductor to provide a change of state in the state changing layer outside of areas between both conductors in response to a field applied between the first and second conductors which changes the state of the liquid crystals.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2001Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Stanley W. Stephenson
-
Patent number: 6630969Abstract: The purpose is to provide a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display panel wherein both a high contrast and a low driving voltage are obtained and scattering performance is superior. The polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display panel comprises a pair of substrates 10, 11, a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal layer 12 comprising a liquid crystal 18 and a liquid crystalline polymer 17, a driving electrode 7 and an opposite electrode 8. The driving electrode 7 and the opposite electrode 8 are formed on the lower substrate 11, and an electric field is applied approximately in parallel with the above-mentioned lower substrate 11. Under no application of voltage, the above-mentioned liquid crystal 18 and the polymer 17 adjacent to the liquid crystal, which composes an interface, are aligned in approximately the same direction on a plane parallel with the substrates according to an alignment treatment of the substrates, and thereby a transparent state is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2002Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hirofumi Kubota, Tsuyoshi Uemura, Kenji Nakao, Seiji Nishiyama
-
Patent number: 6618104Abstract: An optical device and a display apparatus of the present invention are constructed so as to improve display characteristics of output light intensity, display contrast, and reduction of scattered light due to external light, and also to provide a large-screen. The optical device has a first stacked body and a plurality of second stacked bodies. The first stacked body includes a light guide, a fist electrode, and an optical control layer. The second stacked body includes a plurality of second electrodes, the reflection film and a substrate. A plurality of third electrodes are provided through the substrate. Each of the third electrode has a first end part connecting to the second electrode and a second end part exposed to the other side of the substrate. A further light absorption film may be disposed between the reflection film and the second electrode.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1999Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone CorporationInventors: Munekazu Date, Shiro Suyama, Kinya Kato, Kazutake Uehira
-
Patent number: 6562175Abstract: A method of controlling an ultraviolet (UV) glue size for liquid crystal display (LCD) devices includes using a frame seal or a patterned device layer as a size-controlling material. At first, a pixel electrode matrix structure is formed on a substrate. A frame seal material is then provided along the periphery of the pixel electrode matrix structure and a size-controlling material is provided. The size-controlling material is harder than the UV glue. The size-controlling material is formed with a predetermined shape around a predetermined place in which a UV glue is formed using the predetermined place as the center of the size-controlling material. The predetermined shape of the size-controlling material includes a U-shape, an arch-shape, a line-shape or a L-shape. Next, the UV glue is formed in the predetermined place, which is preferably the corners of the pixel electrode matrix structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2000Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Chi Mei Optoelectronics CorporationInventors: Chih-Chan Lin, Ting-Chiang Hsieh
-
Patent number: 6556262Abstract: A light-modulating electrically responsive sheet including a substrate and electrically conductive layer formed over the substrate. The sheet further includes a light-modulating layer disposed over the electrically conductive layer and including at least one dispersible light-modulating material and coalescence limiting material into which the dispersible light-modulating material(s) is provided so that such dispersible light-modulating material coalesces to form a limited coalesced material having a set of domains each having a set of domains that exhibit different electrically responsive optical states.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2000Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Stanley W. Stephenson, John W. Boettcher, David J. Giacherio
-
Patent number: 6552762Abstract: A light-modulating, electrically responsive privacy screen includes a transparent substrate and an electrically conductive layer formed over the substrate. The privacy screen further includes a light-modulating layer disposed over the electrically conductive layer and including at least one dispersible light-modulating material and coalescence limiting material into which the dispersible light-modulating material(s) is provided so that such dispersible light-modulating material coalesces to form a set domains having at least two optical states, the first optical state being present in the absence of an electrical field and the second being caused by the application of an electrical field and wherein one of the optical states cause the light-modulating layer to be transparent and the other optical state causes the light-modulating layer to restrict a user viewing through the privacy screen and thereby provide an appropriate level of privacy.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2000Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Stanley W. Stephenson, John W. Boettcher, David J. Giacherio
-
Patent number: 6551667Abstract: A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element having liquid crystal droplets dispersed and held in a continuous matrix phase including polymer compound or a three dimensional network form of matrix including polymer compound dispersed between a pair of substrates, each having an inside electrode. The liquid crystal droplets are in all areas but for an area in the vicinity of the interfaces between the substrates. The liquid crystal droplets are ellipsoid of revolution forms of substantially the same size.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2002Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Inventors: Hirofumi Kubota, Shinya Kosako, Kenji Nakao, Noriko Naito, Tsuyoshi Uemura, Masao Yamamoto
-
Patent number: 6538775Abstract: A multicolored reflection liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates having a reflective holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) film disposed therebetween. The H-PDLC film contains at least two different reflection gratings capable of reflecting two different wavelengths of light. A multicolored reflection H-PDLC is obtained by simultaneously illuminating a plurality of regions of a film comprised of a mixture of a liquid crystal and a photo-polymerizable monomer with a plurality of holographic light patterns capable of providing liquid crystal layers of different spacings so as to obtain different reflection gratings in each of the regions. A mask is placed between each of the laser light beams and the film to form a pattern of light and dark regions on the film. Each mask is positioned such that at least one light region of a first beam pair coincides with at least one dark region of a second beam pair within the film.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 1999Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Reveo, Inc.Inventors: Christopher C. Bowley, Adam K. Fontecchio, Jaujeng Lin, Gregory P. Crawford, Sadeg M. Faris, Le Li
-
Patent number: 6525719Abstract: In an active matrix liquid crystal display device, the driver of a gate signal line is provided with a low-supply-voltage drive section and a high-supply-voltage drive section. A level shifter circuit in the high-supply-voltage drive section is made up of two CMOS circuits, to which a supply voltage Vdd2 (high-voltage power supply) is applied. Also, to two n-channel TFTs Tr3 and Tr7 in the level shifter circuit is applied a bias voltage Vdd1 (low-voltage power supply) which is a supply voltage different from the above supply voltage. This structure can prevent a high load from being exerted on only one n-channel TFT, thereby being capable of making the withstand voltage high.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2001Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Yutaka Shionoiri
-
Publication number: 20020109807Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device is disclosed. The method comprises filling the space between two facing substrates with a mixture of pre-polymer and liquid crystal material, applying an external source of energy to initiate a polymerization, wherein as the polymerization proceeds a phase separation of the polymer and liquid crystal is generally also proceeding, after initiation of polymerization and before completion thereof, adjusting a parameter that affects one or both of the rates of polymerization and phase separation, so as to produce a variation in the polymerized structure, wherein the variation is a result of the rates of polymerization and phase separation being adjusted during the course of polymerization.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2001Publication date: August 15, 2002Inventor: Gary A. Freeman
-
Patent number: 6400430Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the invention comprises a transparent substrate 2 a transparent electrode 6 formed on the inner surface of the transparent substrate 2, an alignment layer 7 formed over the transparent electrode 6, a composite 5 formed over the alignment layer 7, and a transparent electrode 8 on the upper surface of the composite 5. The composite 5 comprises a transparent polymer 4 and a liquid crystal droplet 3. The liquid crystal droplet 3 is configured in a substantially hemispherical shape such that a bottom surface of the droplet is in contact with the alignment layer and the remaining surface excluding the bottom surface bulges towards an upper surface of the composite 5. The polymer 4 constitutes the other surface of the composite 5 such that the polymer 4 covers the hemispherical liquid crystal droplets 3. Thus, the invention achieves a liquid crystal display device in which one of the pair of substrates is eliminated and thereby the weight of the device is significantly reduced.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1999Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Nakao, Seiji Nishiyama, Hirofumi Kubota, Tsuyoshi Uemura, Masao Yamamoto
-
Patent number: 6368680Abstract: A method of making a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element including a phase separation step. The method calls for placing a liquid crystal polymer precursor compatible solution having a liquid crystal and a polymer precursor between a pair of substrates, each having an inside electrode, and irradiating a substrate surface with ultraviolet. The radiation causes a phase separation of the liquid crystal and the polymer precursor as well as polymerization and curing of the precursor. The method forms a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal having liquid crystal droplets dispersed and held in a continuous matrix phase or a three-dimensional network matrix.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2000Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hirofumi Kubota, Shinya Kosako, Kenji Nakao, Noriko Naito, Tsuyoshi Uemura, Masao Yamamoto
-
Patent number: 6365239Abstract: A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element having a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal sandwiched between a pair of substrates, each having an inside electrode, is disclosed. The liquid crystal has liquid crystal droplets dispersed and held in either a polymer compound-containing continuous phase matrix or a three dimensional network of such a matrix. In one embodiment, the capacitance hysteresis, defined as Chys=(C2−C1)/Cmax, does not exceed 1.5%. C1 is the capacitance for an applied voltage that is in the process of rising a voltage-capacitance characteristic; C2 is the capacitance of an applied voltage in the process of dropping; and C2 is the capacitance of a maximum applied voltage. In another embodiment, the Chys value does not exceed 0.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2000Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hirofumi Kubota, Shinya Kosako, Kenji Nakao, Noriko Naito, Tsuyoshi Uemura, Masao Yamamoto
-
Patent number: 6355314Abstract: A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element is disclosed. The element has a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal sandwiched between a pair of substrates, each having an inside electrode. Liquid crystal droplets are dispersed either in a polymer matrix continuous phase or in a three-dimensional matrix-containing polymer. When no voltage is applied to the electrodes, the liquid crystal molecules in the droplets present a bipolar-form orientation pattern having at least two poles in the vicinity of the interfaces between the liquid crystal droplets and the polymer. When a clear point transition temperature of the liquid crystal is Tni, the pattern of bipolar-form orientation is maintained at least when the element is operating at a temperature in the range of 5° C. to (Tni−5)° C.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2000Date of Patent: March 12, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hirofumi Kubota, Shinya Kosako, Kenji Nakao, Noriko Naito, Tsuyoshi Uemura, Masao Yamamoto
-
Patent number: 6355315Abstract: A method of forming a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element having a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal sandwiched between a pair of substrates, each having an inside electrode, is disclosed. The droplets either are dispersed and held in a continuous matrix phase of the polymer or held in a three dimensional network of a matrix containing the polymer. In the method, the value of (V90×R/d is at least 0.7 where V90 is that voltage required for transmittance of a voltage-transmittance characteristic of the display element to be 90% when the element is at 30° C., d is the interval between the substrate pair, and R is the average particle size of the liquid crystal droplets.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2000Date of Patent: March 12, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hirofumi Kubota, Shinya Kosako, Kenji Nakao, Noriko Naito, Tsuyoshi Uemura, Masao Yamamoto
-
Patent number: 6341000Abstract: A liquid-crystal panel comprises a pair of transparent glass substrates each being provided with an electrode. Between the glass substrates are disposed spacers for defining a space and a mixture of droplets of a liquid crystal having a mean diameter of 3.0 &mgr;m or less and of a photo-curing polymer. The edge portions of the glass substrates are sealed with a seal polymer. In curing the photo-curing polymer during the process of manufacturing the liquid-crystal panel, the dose of an ultraviolet ray is set to 500 mJ/cm2 or more so as to reduce the diameters of the droplets of the liquid crystal, thereby preventing light leakage in the state without a voltage applied and improving the contrast. If the spacers are colored, the effect of preventing light leakage is increased.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1998Date of Patent: January 22, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuo Inoue, Tsuyoshi Uemura
-
Patent number: 6333770Abstract: A liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate and on which pixel electrodes are formed in a matrix pattern, a second substrate on which a counter electrode is formed, an ultraviolet reducing layer formed on one of the first and second substrate corresponding to the matrix pattern of the pixel electrodes, and a polymer dispersion liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates. The liquid crystal layer is cured by irradiating ultraviolet light from the side on which the ultraviolet reducing layer is formed. The polymer dispersion liquid crystal layer is arranged between the counter electrode and each pixel electrode has an average liquid crystal drop diameter which is larger than that arranged in other areas.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1999Date of Patent: December 25, 2001Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideki Omae, Hiroshi Takahara, Shinya Sannohe
-
Patent number: 6323970Abstract: A method of producing a switchable hologram generally comprises providing a substrate comprised of a liquid crystal material and having two generally opposed surfaces and recording a plurality of holographic fringes composed of liquid crystal droplets in the substrate with one or more of the plurality of holographic fringes positioned such that a surface of the fringes is angled relative to one of the substrate surfaces. The substrate is subjected to an electrical field during recording of the holographic fringes. The electrical field varies across the surface of the substrate so that the liquid crystal droplets are all oriented generally in a common direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2000Date of Patent: November 27, 2001Assignee: Digilents, Inc.Inventor: Milan M. Popovich
-
Patent number: 6320563Abstract: A dual frequency cholesteric display includes a pair of opposed substrates, wherein one of the substrates has a first plurality of electrodes facing a second plurality of electrodes on the other substrate. A dual frequency bistable cholesteric liquid crystal material is disposed between the substrates, wherein the material and the intersection of the first and second plurality of electrodes forms a plurality of pixels. By selectively applying high and low frequency voltages to the plurality of pixels, the high frequency voltage causes the material to exhibit one texture and the low frequency voltage causes the material to exhibit another texture. By adjusting a voltage amplitude value for each high and low frequency causes each pixel to exhibit a desired reflectance.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1999Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Assignee: Kent State UniversityInventors: Deng-Ke Yang, Ming Xu
-
Patent number: 6312546Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a ferroelectric liquid crystal device, the following steps are applied in order to effect spacing apart of two substrates and by spacers. The spacers are applied to a surface of a transfer member, and the transfer member is then pressed onto a receiving surface of one of the substrates. The transfer member is then removed so as to transfer the spacers from the transfer member to the receiving surface at the required positions. Finally the other substrate is pressed onto the spacers on the receiving surface so as to form an assembly of the two substrates spaced apart by the spacers. Such a sequence of steps enables the spacers to be placed in the required positions in a particularly straightforward manner, whilst minimising the number of fabrication steps used in the process.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, The secretary of State of Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: Robert William Bannister, Ryan Michael Heath