Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a pair of substrates for which a homeotropic alignment treatment is performed; a liquid crystal layer provided between the substrates; and a transverse electric field generating electrode capable of being driven in a matrix driving manner which is provided on at least one of the pair of substrates and is connected to external control means. A liquid crystal material contained in the liquid crystal layer is a liquid crystal material which, as a whole liquid crystal layer, generates spontaneous polarization by a piezoelectric effect.

Abstract: A first electrode 1 comprises an anode oxide electrode 5, a lower electrode 2 and signal electrodes, wherein the signal (electrodes are connected to each other by the anode oxide electrode when the anodic oxidation treatment is performed, while a second electrode comprises an upper electrode on a nonlinear resistor layer, a display electrode connected to the upper electrode, and a connecting electrode covering a part of the anode oxide electrode, wherein the lower electrode, the nonlinear resistor layer and the upper electrode constitute the nonlinear resistor, and wherein a part of the anode oxide electrode is separated at the side thereof which is also a side of the connecting electrode comprising the second electrode, thereby forming independent signal electrodes.

Abstract: A defect compensation method for a liquid crystal display apparatus, where a laser beam is irradiated on an alignment film for aligning an orientation of liquid crystal molecules while monitoring the light transmission rate before the arrangement of polarizing plates until a target light transmittance is reached. As a result, the (molecular orientation) function of the alignment film is lowered to prevent the defective pixel from standing out. The method includes measuring the transmittance of the defective pixel, irradiating with a laser beam, measuring the transmittance of the defective pixel again, calculating an optimum irradiation condition based on the results of the after-irradiation measurement and repeating the irradiation and measurement of transmittance until the desired transmittance is obtained.

Abstract: In a polarizing beam converter, a uniaxial anisotropic transparent medium is inserted and supported between isotropic transparent media; and an optical axis of said uniaxial anisotropic transparent medium is arranged almost perpendicular to an incident light beam or an incident face of the incident light beam at an interface between the isotropic transparent medium and the uniaxial anisotropic transparent medium. A half wavelength plate is placed with an inclined angle of 45.degree. relative to a polarization axis for either of a reflected light component or a transmitted light component at the interface. The retractive index of the isotropic medium, n.sub.p, and a refraction index n.sub.e greater than n.sub.0, of the uniaxial anisotropic transparent medium are substantially equal to one another. Further, at the interface of the isotropic medium and the uniaxial anisotropic transparent medium, an incident angle satisfying sin(.theta.).gtoreq.n.sub.0 /n.sub.p for satisfying a total reflection angle.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel includes a substrate and a plurality of gate lines and data lines on the substrate, the gate lines extending along a first direction, the data lines extending along a second direction transverse to the first direction, the data lines and the gate lines crossing in an active region. A discharge bus is disposed on the substrate, extending around the active region, crossing the data lines and the gate lines. A plurality of resistive elements are disposed on the substrate, a respective one of which connects a respective one of the plurality of gate lines and data lines to the discharge bus. Preferably, a respective one of the resistive elements provides a resistance between the discharge bus and the data line or gate line connected thereto no greater than 1 Mohms. The plurality of resistive elements may include a plurality of resistive regions on a gate insulation layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises shield means for shielding an electric field generated from a data line. For example, a common electrode is used as the shielding means in an IPS (In-Plane Switching) rode in which an electric field is applied in a direction respecting parallel to the substrates. Specifically, the common electrode is provided closer to the liquid crystal layer than the data line so that the common electrode covers the data line. As a result, the leak electric field from the data line is shielded by the common electrode. Therefore, the leak electric field does not adversely influence a liquid crystal layer. Consequently, the light shield area for the data line is unnecessary. This increases the aperture ratio.

Abstract: A liquid crystal mode includes a layer of a liquid crystal material disposed between homeotropic alignment layers having a parallel alignment direction, the liquid crystal material including a negative dielectric anisotropic material. The liquid crystal material having a first state characterized by a vertical alignment of molecules which is substantially perpendicular to the alignment layers, and a second state which is characterized by the orientation of the molecules of the liquid crystal material which is oriented responsive to an electric field such that the molecules above a mid-plane of the liquid crystal material have a tilt in a first direction and the molecules below the mid-plane have a tilt opposite the first direction while the molecules adjacent the alignment layers and at the mid-plane remain substantially perpendicular to the alignment layers. The mid-plane is substantially parallel to the alignment layers.

Abstract: A back light unit includes a lightguide (#204), a lamp (#202) fastened to one side of the lightguide, a U-shaped argentum reflector (#240) which encompasses the lamp, a reflecting sheet (#203) beneath the lightguide and a frame (#210) positioned under the reflecting sheet. The U-shaped argentum reflector and the reflecting sheet, as separate elements, are attached to form a continuous plane parallel to and along the length of the lightguide without resulting in a step arrangement at the connection. Additionally, the U-shaped reflector and the reflecting sheet are manufactured as separate elements each composed of the same or different materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides for touch input functionality in a liquid crystal display having a plurality of cells each comprising a first substrate having a common electrode integrated thereon, a second substrate having a pixel electrode integrated thereon, and liquid crystal material disposed between the common electrode and pixel electrode. A first conductive layer (signal layer) and second conductive layer (guard plane layer) are integrated onto the first substrate and disposed between the first substrate and the common electrode. Contact position of a touch input device with the first substrate is determined by applying a first signal to the signal layer. A second signal is applied to the guard plane layer to thereby lower capacitive coupling between the signal layer and the common electrode. Response to the first signal is measured to determine contact position of the touch input device.

Abstract: Source lines 11 of a liquid crystal panel 10 and output lines 21 for source lines of a TCP 24, an opposite-voltage use line 12 of the liquid crystal panel 10 and an opposite-voltage use line 22 of the TCP 24, connection lines 13 of the liquid crystal panel 10 and second input lines 25 of the TCP 24, and connection lines 13 adjacent to the foregoing connection lines 13 with the source lines 11 interposed therebetween and output lines 26 for liquid-crystal driver ICs of adjacent TCPs 24, are aligned with each other and electrically connected to each other by means of anisotropic conductive film or the like, respectively. Next, the opposite-voltage use line 22 of the TCP 24 and connection lines 34 of the circuit board 30, as well as a first input line 23 of the TCP 24 and connection lines 33 of the circuit board 30 are aligned with each other and electrically connected to each other by means of anisotropic conductive film or solder or the like.

Abstract: The periphery of a color filter element formed on a transparent glass substrate and the periphery of a pixel electrode formed on the color filter element are made to overlap with gate lines and drain lines. Black matrices are formed between adjacent color filter elements, on neighboring color filter elements, and on pixel electrodes. In this case, the opening of the black matrix slightly encroaches upon the gate lines and the drain lines. As a result, the area surrounded by the gate lines and the drain lines minus the area for forming a thin film transistor therein is made wide. Accordingly, the opening factor of a liquid crystal display device is made large.

Abstract: A retaining structure of an LCD panel on a mounting frame is provided, which is able to absorb an applied shock while retaining the panel detachably. This structure includes a mounting frame (#2) for mounting an LCD panel (#1) thereon. The frame has a mounting surface (2b) and supporting members (#2a) provided at respective corners of the mounting surface. The frame further has a pair of retaining members (#4a) formed at a pair of opposing ends of the frame, respectively. The pair of retaining members are able to elastically deformed by an applied external force. An LCD panel is engaged with the pair of retaining members in such a way that the pair of retaining members are elastically deformed by the LCD panel, thereby retaining the LCD panel by an elastic force generated by the pair of retaining members. The retained LCD panel is apart from the supporting members of the mounting frame by recesses (#2c) formed in the mounting frame.

Abstract: On the first substrate that serves as an active-element-side substrate, pixel electrodes are formed with a flattening film interpolated in between. On the second substrate that serves as an opposing-side substrate, light-shielding films are formed into an island pattern which allows the light-shielding films to shield the respective active elements on the first-substrate side from light, and gap-controlling sections are formed into the same island pattern as the light-shielding films by exposing positive-working photosensitive resin layer that has been applied onto the entire surface of the second substrate from the back-surface side of the second substrate by using the light-shielding films as a photomask. The flattening film makes it possible to suppress the occurrence of disclination in the liquid crystal molecules. Therefore, the light-shielding films can be formed as the island pattern that only shield the active elements from light, and consequently it is possible to improve the aperture rate.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescence device is placed as a back light of a liquid crystal display panel. The organic electroluminescence device is constituted by a front electrode (#112) having transparency to visible light, a rear electrode (#113) having reflection to visible light and an organic electroluminescence layer (#114) for emitting light as a predetermined voltage is applied between the front and rear electrodes. A scatter control member (#120), located between the liquid crystal panel and the organic electroluminescence panel, passes incident light within a predetermined range without scattering and passes light outside the predetermined range with scattering. Preferably, the scatter control member is constituted by a plurality of lightguiding portions (#121) having transparency to visible light and a plurality of reflection films (#122) having a reflection property to visible light.

Abstract: An active matrix device comprising a two signal lines (V.sub.D and V.sub.G) formed over a substrate. The first signal line is connected to the gate (G1) of a first thin film transistor (Tr1) with a crystalline silicon channel. The second signal line is connected to the drain (D1) of the first thin film transistor. The source (S1) of the first thin film transistor is connected to the gate (G2) of a second thin film transistor (Tr2) with a crystalline silicon channel. A voltage supply line (V.sub.LC) is connected to a drain (D2) of the second thin film transistor and a pixel electrode is connected to the source (S2) of the second thin film transistor. A driving circuit formed for driving the thin film transistors comprises a third film transistor (Tr3) with a crystalline silicon channel. Preferably, the channel width of the second thin film transistor is greater than the channel width of the first thin film transistor.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device utilizing a substrate (#110) divided into display (#120) and non-display areas (#130). Within the display area of the substrate, a first layer is formed preferably including at least a switching element (#131) and output electrode (#180b). A second layer (#155) is formed on the first layer, preferably containing a material with an Si bonding structure, to act as a protection layer and to cover the display and non-display areas of the substrate. A photoresist (#160) is coated over the second layer, exposed to an ultraviolet light using a mask having a pattern for forming a contact hole (#137) at the display area of the substrate and an etching end point detection part (#500) at non-display area of the substrate, and developed. An enchant is injected an to react with portions of the protection layer, that are exposed through the pattern, to remove these exposed portions of the protection layer and resulting in the generation of a reproducible gas.

Abstract: A composition for use in a liquid crystal optical element, such as a liquid crystal display or laser shutter device, comprised of a liquid crystal material and a solidified polymer material. The liquid crystal is such that its refractive index is changed depending on states of applying a voltage. In one state, the refractive index of the liquid crystal substantially coincides with the refractive index of the solidified matrix to thereby pass light. While in the other state, the refractive index of the liquid crystal does not coincide with the refractive index of the solidified matrix to thereby cause the scattering of light. Specifically, the liquid crystal material used in the composition has a refractive index anisotropy (.DELTA.n) is greater than 0.18 and the dielectric anisotropy (.DELTA..epsilon.) satisfies the relation of 5<.DELTA..epsilon.<11.6.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display having repair lines and methods of repairing defect in the same. The liquid crystal display comprises a plurality of gate lines in horizontal direction, a plurality of data lines perpendicular thereto, and a plurality of repair lines repeatedly formed corresponding to a fixed number of data lines. The repair line comprises an upper portion crossing top of the data lines, a lower portion crossing bottom of the data lines, and a middle portion which is parallel to the data line connecting the upper and the lower portions. A repair line is formed repeatedly for each data-line block which consists of data lines in any multiples of three. Under the above wiring structure, a disconnected data line is repaired by shorting the crossing points of the data line and the repair line corresponding to the data-line block of the disconnected data line.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display element comprising a light transmissive substrate (#34), insulating films (#52) formed on the substrate and transparent electrodes (#5) arranged to form predetermined patterns on the insulating films. Conductive lines (#51) are conductively in contact with the transparent electrodes, and each conductive line includes a first layer (#51a) made of indium tin oxide which is adhesive to the substrates. The conductive lines are arranged between the insulating films to form a plane surface with the insulating films.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is made with plastic substrates (#1) and has an isotropic, non-birefringent polynorbornene alignment layer (#4) formed over an electrode pattern (#2). This isotropic, non-birefringent polynorbornene alignment layer also functions as a moisture barrier to prevent degradation of the liquid crystal fluid. No additional moisture barrier layers are needed.