Abstract: A thin flat-panel display device having reduced picture-frame size (a width of non-displaying peripheral area) is provided without degrading the brightness. The flat-panel display device 1 comprises a display panel including a display cell, driving circuits connected to the display cell, and control circuit boards connected to the driving circuits, and a surface illuminant unit including a tubular light source disposed on one edge surface of a light guide plate. One of other edge surfaces adjacent to said one edge surface of the light guide plate, is inwardly inclined to form an acute angle &thgr; relative to the light emitting surface of the light guide plate. In a vacancy created by the inclination of said other one of other edge surfaces, at least a part of the driving circuits or at least a part of the control circuit is disposed.

Abstract: In an active matrix display device, a circuit including at least five thin film transistors (TFTs) which are provided with an approximately M-shaped semiconductor region for a single pixel electrode and gate lines and a capacitances line which cross the M-shaped semiconductor region, is used as a switching element. Each of the TFT have offset regions and lightly doped drain (LDD) regions. Then, by supplying a selection signal to the gate lines, the TFTs are operated, thereby writing data to the pixel, while a suitable voltage is supplied to the capacitance line, a channel is formed thereunder and it becomes a capacitor. Thus the amount of discharge from the pixel electrode is reduced by the capacitor.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes at least one polarizer located interior or internally of substrates-of the display. In certain embodiments, the polarizer may be spin-coated onto the interior of one of the substrates, preferably the passive substrate of the display. Such a polarizer may also be located interior of color filters on the copassive substrate. Thus, light being transmitted through the display proceeds through the front polarizer prior to being de-polarized by the color filters. The result is improved contrast ratios in the display due to the minimization of the de-polarizing of color filters. In certain embodiments, the internal polarizer(s) may be photo-patternable by way of ultraviolet photo-imaging.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image display device including an LCD, a polarization switching liquid crystal cell, a birefringent plate, and an eyepiece. The LCD displays an image using a plurality of arrayed pixel locations. The polarization switching liquid crystal cell has a plurality of electrodes incorporated therein and switches the direction of polarization in which light emitted from the LCD is polarized. The birefringent plate varies the optical path of light emitted from the polarization switching liquid crystal cell depending on the direction of polarization. The eyepiece magnifies light representing an image displayed on the LCD. The LCD and polarization switching liquid crystal cell are positioned so that the distance L1 from the eyeballs to the virtual image plane of the LCD and the distance L2 from the eyeballs to the virtual image plane of the polarization switching liquid crystal cell will have the relationship of 1/L2−1/L1≧0.4 D or L2≦200 mm.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display unit has wider viewing angles and a brighter display. In this display unit, an alignment film is not required to be processed for alignment of a liquid crystal, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process. A first substrate and a second substrate are disposed such that they face each other. A liquid crystal having a negative anisotropy of dielectric constant is provided between the substrates. A common electrode and an alignment film which has a pretilt angle of 90°±1° and which is not rubbed are sequentially disposed on the surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate. A plurality of pixel electrodes are provided on the surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate so as to cover a display area of the liquid crystal. A conductive light-shielding member is disposed on the second substrate and positioned around each of the pixel electrodes in a non-display area of the liquid crystal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal light modulating element comprising a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal modulating layer interposed between the substrates. The liquid crystal modulating layer mainly comprises (1) a liquid crystal material for light modulation, (2) a plurality of spacers for maintaining a gap between the substrates, and (3) a plurality of resin structural nodules for supporting and adhering said pair of substrates. The resin structural nodules are arranged within a light modulating region based on a predetermined principle or a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel has a pair of substrates disposed almost parallel to each other. On each of the substrates, an electrode and an alignment film are formed. A liquid crystal layer having a negative dielectric anisotropy is sandwiched by the substrates. In the absence of voltage applied across the electrodes, the molecules of the liquid crystal layer align almost perpendicular to the substrates. In this liquid crystal layer, a dichroic dye, preferably a blue dichroic dye, is added to absorb the yellow component of an incident light. Instead of adding the dye into the liquid crystal layer, a color compensation layer containing the dye is formed on or adjacent to at least one of the substrates. The yellow component of an incident light to the liquid crystal panel is absorbed by the color compensation layer. As a result, the liquid crystal panel and the liquid crystal display using the panel do not show yellow coloring when the panel is observed from oblique directions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of preparing a multilayer cholesteric film comprising two or more layers of polymerized cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material with planar orientation, with the cholesteric helix axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane of the layer, wherein during preparation of the single layers the migration of unpolymerized material between adjacent layers is minimized, to a multilayer cholesteric film obtainable by such a process, and to the use of the process and a multilayer cholesteric film thereby prepared in optical elements such as polarizers, compensators, alignment layers, color filters or holographic elements, in cosmetics and liquid crystal pigments, for decorative and security applications.

Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal display device having a structure in which light reflection on lines can be suppressed and reduction in contrast of the liquid crystal display device can be prevented without providing a shielding film on a color filter of an opposite substrate portion. In the liquid crystal display device according to the invention, a shielding film is not provided in a color filter provided on a substrate on the opposite substrate portion side. A signal line is formed of a transparent conductive material such as ITO, amorphous ITO or the like. Consequently, light incident from the surface of the liquid crystal display device passes through the back face of the liquid crystal display device without causing surface reflection even if the light hits upon the signal line in an interval between pixel electrodes. Consequently, it is possible to prevent reduction in contrast caused by the light reflected on the signal line.

Abstract: Disclosed is a color liquid crystal display in which a shielding member is disposed between a sealing member and a display zone to prevent the liquid crystal layer from being contaminated with liquid crystal-contaminants from the sealing member wherein the shielding member is formed of a material which does not adversely affect the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device using a light source having a bright line in a visible region as a light source. On the inner surface of a transparent substrate such as a glass substrate constituting a liquid crystal display device, a laminate structure constituted by a transparent electrode, an alignment layer, and one or more transparent intermediate layers having a refractive index smaller than that of the transparent electrode layer and larger than that of the liquid crystal layer or the transparent substrate is formed. The thicknesses or the like of the layers are determined such that, at the bright line wavelengths of the light source, the sum of reflectances generated on the layer interfaces of the laminate structure is set to be not more than 0.5%.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a plurality of pixel electrodes and a plurality of liquid crystal layers stacked alternately. A shield electrode is disposed below the lowest pixel electrode. Potential differences are applied to liquid crystal layers other than the uppermost liquid crystal layer by supplying potentials to the respective pixel electrodes. Thereafter, the pixel electrodes other than the uppermost pixel electrode are rendered in a floating state, and a prescribed potential difference is applied to the uppermost liquid crystal layer by supplying a proper potential to the uppermost pixel electrode. A potential corresponding to the potential that is supplied to the uppermost pixel electrode is applied to the shield electrode.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display is composed of an array substrate on which TFTs are arranged as active switching elements in a matrix form and covered with an orientation film. On the facing surface of the opposing substrate as a color filter, a light shielding film, color layers of red, green, and blue are arranged. The area excluding the area covered by the light shielding layer is turned into a display pixel area, and the surfaces of the opposing substrate are covered with an orientation film. The cell gap g at the display pixel area is larger than spacers in the cell, and cell gaps of color layers, which are compressed, overlapping the light shielding layer are smaller than spacers. The liquid crystal molecules are not subjected to the anomalous orientation and the light leakage is avoided. An after-image characteristic can be eliminated by regulating the projection of the color layers.

Abstract: A color filter layer for a multicolor, liquid crystal display device which contains a plurality of color filters formed electrochemically on delineated stripes of transparent electrodes which are formed substantially parallel to each other on a transparent insulating substrate. The color filters are electrically conductive. A transparent resin material leveling layer fills gaps between the color filters.

Abstract: A transportable image display system having direct and projection viewing modes of operation. The image display system comprises a spatial light modulation structure for spatially modulating the intensity of light produced from a light source, and light diffusing panel of electro-optical construction having a light scattering state in which light being transmitted therethrough is scattered in a diffusive manner, and a light transmission state in which light being transmitted therethrough is transmitted without substantial scattering. In the illustrative embodiments, the spatial light modulation structure can be an electrically-addressable LCD panel, or slide-film structures to be viewed. During the direct viewing mode, light produced from the light source is scattered by the light diffusing panel and spatial intensity modulated by the spatial light modulation structure to form a first image for direct viewing.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display having a TFT functioning as a switching element and a passivation layer covering the TFTs and a pixel electrode connected to an output electrode of the TFT on the passivation layer, the method including the steps of coating a photo resist on the passivation layer so that the photo resist has a thickness of more than about 1.2 times of the passivation layer, patterning the photo resist to have a predetermined shape, etching the passivation layer according to the patterned photo resist, removing the remaining photo resist and treating the surface of the passivation layer to be a SiO2 thin layer on the passivation layer using O2 gas, forming a pixel electrode on the passivation layer by depositing and patterning an ITO layer.

Abstract: A transparent touch panel comprises a pair of transparent conductive substrates and a retardation film. A transparent conductive film is formed on at least one surface of each of these substrates and these substrates are arranged such that the transparent conductive films are allowed to face each other. By depressing the substrate, these substrates are brought into mutual contact to perform the position detection. The retardation film is made of an amorphous plastic material, meets the relationship nz>ny and has a retardation (nx−ny)×d falling within a range of between 90 nm and 200 nm, wherein d represents the thickness of the film, nx the maximum refractive index within the plane of the retardation film, ny the refractive index in a direction perpendicular to nx, and nz the refractive index in the thickness direction of the retardation film.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a contact hole for connecting electroconductive films having a stepped profile with the top having a size greater than the bottom, the top size of the contact hole being defined in a self-aligning manner by another film disposed between said electroconductive films.

Abstract: An active matrix is furnished with an insulating substrate; a plurality of scanning lines and signal lines provided on the insulating substrate in a matrix pattern; pixel electrodes provided in areas enclosed by the scanning lines and signal lines, respectively; switching elements electrically connected to the scanning lines, signal lines, and pixel electrodes, respectively; a resistance control element for electrically connecting two lines selected arbitrary from the scanning lines and signal lines while controlling its own resistance value in response to a voltage applied thereto. According to the above arrangement, it has become possible to increase a margin of the active matrix substrate for the static electricity and improve the production yield without increasing the number of the producing steps.

Abstract: For suppressing a brightness irregularity and contrast deterioration in a displaying screen of a liquid crystal display device which comprises a pair of substrates at least one of which is transparent, at least two kinds of color filters being formed on one of the pair of substrates, a black matrix being provided between the color filters, a group of electrodes being formed on either one of the pair of substrates, a layer of liquid crystal compounds sealed between the pair of substrates, due to noise electrical field appearing therein or unevenness of a cell gap between the pair of substrates, the present invention provides a columnar spacer having smaller resistivity than that of the liquid crystal compounds in a part of an area on the one of the pair of substrates which is hidden by the black matrix.