Abstract: The invention relates to a backlight unit for liquid crystal displays, etc.; and its object is to provide a backlight unit not involving the problem that the emitted light leaks out of the optical waveguide, even when the space around the cold-cathode tubes in the light source unit for it is filled with a liquid of which the refractive index is nearly the same as that of the glass material that forms the outer wall of the cold-cathode tubes. The backlight unit comprises a housing 6 which houses cold-cathode tubes 2, 4 therein and of which the inner surface is coated with a light reflector 10; a transparent liquid filled in the housing 6; and an optical waveguide 1 made of a transparent substance and having a light-emitting surface S.

Abstract: There is provided a patterning method which makes it possible to form a desired preferable pattern having no reduction in the pattern thickness in a boundary portion where a group of patterns are joined using a plurality of exposure masks. There is provided a patterning method for forming a group of patterns in which first patterns to serve as basic units are repetitively arranged using a plurality of exposure masks. When a third region sandwiched by a first region exposed with a first exposure mask and a second region exposed with a second exposure mask is exposed with the first and second exposure masks in a complementary manner, repetitive unit patterns for exposing the third region are different from the first patterns.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate sandwiching a liquid crystal layer therebetween, a first polarizer disposed adjacent to the first substrate at a side opposite to a side of the first polarizer facing the liquid crystal layer, with a first gap between the first polarizer and the first substrate, a second polarizer disposed adjacent to the second substrate at a side opposite to a side of the second polarizer facing the liquid crystal layer, with a second gap between the second polarizer and the second substrate, wherein at least one of the first and second gaps includes therein a first retardation film having a positive optical anisotropy and a second retardation film having a negative optical anisotropy, such that the first retardation film is disposed closer to the liquid crystal layer with respect to the second retardation film.

Abstract: A liquid crystal is arranged between a pair of substrates. One substrate has a plurality of stripe electrodes extending parallel to each other, and the other substrate has a transparent electrode covering substantially the whole surface of the other substrate. An oblique electric field is formed between the stripe electrodes and the transparent electrode, so that the liquid crystal molecules are aligned along the oblique electric field. In addition, a dielectric layer is arranged between the transparent electrode and the alignment layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates in a spaced relationship with one another. A pair of alignment films are provided, one alignment film being formed on each substrate such that the alignment films face one another. A liquid crystal layer, including plural liquid crystals, is inserted between the pair of alignment films, wherein the alignment films impart a given pre-tilt angle to the liquid crystals. The alignment films are composed of a material containing at least two types of polymers having a prescribed initial alignment and different alignment variation rates in response to ultra-violet ray irradiation. The pre-tilt angle being adjusted, without rubbing the alignment films, through ultraviolet exposure of the alignment films.

Abstract: In a vertically aligned liquid crystal display device for controlling liquid crystal molecules alignment in voltage application by providing linear structures or linear slits consisting of a plurality of constituent units to at least one of a pair of substrates having an electrode thereon, there is provided alignment controlling means for forming an alignment singular point s=−1 of liquid crystal molecules at an intersecting point between the structures on the pixel electrode or the slits in the electrode and an edge of a pixel electrode on one of the substrates.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has: a first substrate having an insulating surface; a display unit disposed in a central area of the first substrate and including a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix shape, a plurality of scan lines for activating pixels disposed in a row direction, and a plurality of signal lines each for transferring video data to an activated pixel among pixels disposed in a column direction; a scan line driver circuit formed in a first row direction side area of a peripheral area of the first substrate outside of the display unit, the scan line driver circuit generating a signal for driving the scan lines; a signal line driver circuit formed in a first column direction side area of the peripheral area of the first substrate, the signal line driver circuit generating a signal for driving the signal lines; and a repair circuit formed in a partial area of the peripheral area of the first substrate, the repair circuit having substantially a same structure as a portion of the scan line

Abstract: In the fabrication of a CMOS-TFT, non-selectively doping (for both of p- and n-type TFTS) and selectively doping (only for the n-type TFT) with p-type impurities (B: boron) are successively performed at very low concentrations to control the threshold voltages (Vthp and Vthn). More specifically, the Id-Vg characteristics of the p- and n-type TFTs are initially negatively shifted. In this state, non-selectively doping is performed positively to shift the p- and n-type TFTs first to adjust the Vthp to a specified value. Selectively doping is then performed positively to shift only the n-type TFT to adjust the Vthn to a specified value. The threshold voltages of the p- and n-type TFTs constructing the CMOS-TFT can be independently and efficiently (with minimum photolithography) controlled with high accuracy.

Abstract: An active matrix type liquid crystal display capable of displaying an image of high quality and brightness.

Abstract: A plurality of first bus lines extending in a row direction are formed in a first wiring layer above the principal surface of a substrate, and a plurality of second bus lines extending in a column direction are formed in a second wiring layer. Each of the second bus lines crosses each of the first bus lines. In the second wiring layer, a second bundling line extending in the row direction is formed connecting the second bus lines, and in the first wiring layer, a first auxiliary bundling line is disposed along the second bundling line. An interlayer connection member electrically connects the first auxiliary bundling line and second bundling line or second bus lines. Each of the first bus lines is cut near the connection portion to the first bundling line. Each of the second bus lines is cut near the connection portion to the second bundling line.

Abstract: A repairable integrated thin film transistor matrix substrate includes an insulated substrate, and a plurality of parallel gate bus lines and a plurality of accumulated capacitance bus lines formed on the insulated substrate. Each of the accumulated capacitance bus lines extend parallel to and between a pair of the gate bus lines, and has a plurality of auxiliary capacitance electrodes which extend from it. A first insulated film is provided on the gate and accumulated capacitance bus lines and the auxiliary capacitance electrodes. A plurality of operating films are formed on the first insulated film, and on each of the operating films, a corresponding thin film transistors are provided. At least two of the thin film transistors are electrically connected to each of the gate bus lines. Also included is a plurality of parallel drain bus lines which are provided substantially perpendicular to the gate and the accumulated capacitance bus lines on the first insulated film.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a light source, a light conducting plate having an incident surface receiving light emitted from the light source, a back surface and a light-emitting surface, and a reflection member having a first portion facing the back surface, and a second portion located on a side opposite to a side of the light conducting plate on which the light source is located. The second portion is spaced apart from the light conducting plate so that light emitted from the light conducting plate is oriented toward an emission surface of the lighting device.

Abstract: Before cutting a gang-printed substrate having a multiplicity of liquid crystal display panel regions provided thereon into individual liquid crystal display panels, a voltage is applied to all of the multiplicity of liquid crystal display panel regions to inspect display defects, polymerize a monomer in the liquid crystal component, and control alignment of the liquid crystal, which allows the time required for a voltage applying step to be reduced and allows a reduction in the manufacturing cost. A dispenser injection process is used to allow a liquid crystal to be injected between mother boards that have not been cut into individual display panels, and a voltage is applied after the pair of glass substrates are combined and before they are cut into individual display panels to perform a test on display defects (dynamic operating test), pretilt control, and an aligning process.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal-display device which displays an image on display matrix by supplying video signals to pixel cells of the display matrix includes a data driver supplying the video signals to the display matrix and including N digital drivers, N×k common-signal lines, and N×k×n switch blocks, wherein every k lines of the N×k common-signal lines are connected to a corresponding one of the N digital drivers, and every n blocks of the N×k×n switch blocks are connected to a corresponding one of the N×k common-signal lines, each of the common-signal lines being comprised of m lines and each of the switch blocks includes m selection switches, which couples the common-signal lines to the pixel cells of the display matrix.

Abstract: A MOS capacitor used in an active matrix liquid crystal display is manufactured by a process comprising the steps of forming capacitor electrodes with a dielectric layer between them in a semiconductor layer, forming a p+ diffused region and an n+ diffused region adjacent to the capacitor electrodes in the semiconductor layer, and making a complementary connection between the regions.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method of driving a liquid crystal display in which optimum pre-writing can be performed on a first line during a vertical blanking line based on a data enable signal from a system. In a method of driving a liquid crystal display for controlling timing for outputting grayscale data to a predetermined pixel based on a data enable signal Enab, a period of the data enable signal is measured as a horizontal period (steps S2 through S5); a virtual enable signal is generated during a vertical blanking period based on the horizontal period (steps S6 through S8); the sum of the data enable signal and virtual enable signal is held as a vertical period (step S10); and pre-writing of a predetermined grayscale data is performed at least in a pixel at a display starting line at a point in time that precedes the vertical period by an amount which is an integral multiple of the horizontal period (steps S11 through S15).

Abstract: A method of repairing a disconnected wiring, which has a step of connecting a main wiring in which disconnection is caused and a spare wiring which is formed on or under the main wiring via an interlayer insulating film in their intersecting region of the main and spare wirings, comprising the steps of opening a hole by irradiating a laser beam of a first output intensity from a laser to the intersecting region of the main wiring and the spare wiring, and connecting the spare wiring and the main wiring by melting a part of the spare wiring and the main wiring by irradiating a laser beam of a second output intensity, which is different from the first output intensity, toward the hole.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thin film transistor device formed on an insulating substrate of a liquid crystal display device and others, a method of manufacturing the same, and a liquid crystal display device. In structure, there are provided the steps of forming a negative photoresist film on a first insulating film for covering a first island-like semiconductor film, forming a resist mask that has an opening portion in an inner region with respect to a periphery of the first island-like semiconductor film by exposing/developing the negative photoresist film from a back surface side of a transparent substrate, etching the first insulating film in the opening portion of the resist mask, forming a second insulating film for covering the first insulating film and a conductive film thereon, and forming a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode by patterning the conductive film.

Abstract: Dissipation of heat generated by a luminescent source, such as a fluorescent lamp, of a backlight apparatus and an LCD therewith is enhanced by providing a proximity section in a holder, making the hottest part the closest to the holder for efficient heat conduction.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates in a spaced relationship with one another. A pair of alignment films are provided, one alignment film being formed on each substrate such that the alignment films face one another. A liquid crystal layer, including plural liquid crystals, is inserted between the pair of alignment films, wherein the alignment films impart a given pre-tilt angle to the liquid crystals. The alignment films are composed of a material containing at least two types of polymers having a prescribed initial alignment and different alignment variation rates in response to ultra-violet ray irradiation. The pre-tilt angle being adjusted, without rubbing the alignment films, through ultraviolet exposure of the alignment films.