Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of a transverse electric field type has characteristics in the following respects. A liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between two substrates. Two polarizing plates are provided on a side of the two substrates opposite to the liquid crystal layer such that the light transmission axes thereof are orthogonal to each other. A first electrode and a second electrode are formed on one of the two substrates. The liquid crystal is driven by an electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode. The polarizing plate, formed on one of the two substrates, is formed of a protective film, a polarizer, and two negative biaxial films. The two negative biaxial films include first and second negative biaxial films. The first negative biaxial film and the second negative biaxial film are entirely overlapped, and are disposed on a side of one or the other substrate.

Abstract: A method for driving an electro-optic device includes a first and second electrode and a pair of substrates sandwiching an electro-optic layer driven by the first electrode. The method involves shifting one of two potentials input to at least one of the electrodes such that a potential difference between the first and second electrode where the potential input to the first electrode is higher than the potential input to the second electrode is larger than a potential difference between the first and second electrode where the potential input to the first electrode is lower than the potential input to the second electrode, when a gray-scale level where potential input to the first electrode is higher than potential input to the second electrode is equivalent to the gray-scale level where potential input to the first electrode is lower than potential input to the second electrode.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of a transverse electric field type has characteristics in the following respects. A liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between two substrates. Two polarizing plates are provided on a side of the two substrates opposite to the liquid crystal layer such that the light transmission axes thereof are orthogonal to each other. A first electrode and a second electrode are formed on one of the two substrates. The liquid crystal is driven by an electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode. The polarizing plate, formed on one of the two substrates, is formed of a protective film, a polarizer, and two negative biaxial films. The two negative biaxial films include first and second negative biaxial films. The first negative biaxial film and the second negative biaxial film are entirely overlapped, and are disposed on a side of one or the other substrate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal apparatus includes: a liquid crystal panel having a pair of substrates; a liquid crystal layer arranged between the pair of substrates and driven by an electric field having a component parallel to the substrates; a first polarizing plate and a second polarizing plate arranged with the liquid crystal panel interposed therebetween; and a retardation film arranged between the first polarizing plate and the liquid crystal panel or between the second polarizing plate and the liquid crystal panel, in which the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate each include a polarizer and translucent protection films which interpose the polarizer, an in-plane phase difference Re1 of the protection film satisfies 0 nm?Re1?5 nm, a thickness direction phase difference Rth of the protection film satisfies 0 nm?Rth?20 nm, an in-plane phase difference Re2 of the retardation film satisfies 200 nm?Re2?300 nm, an Nz value of the retardation film satisfies 0.4<Nz?0.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a pair of substrates opposed to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. In the liquid crystal display panel, a plurality of pixel areas are formed in one of the pair of substrates and each of the pixel areas is provided with an upper electrode having a plurality of slit-shaped openings, a lower electrode formed in the substrate through the upper electrode and an insulation layer, and an alignment film formed close to the liquid crystal layer. A longitudinal direction of the plurality of slit-shaped openings and a rubbing direction of the alignment film form a predetermined angle therebetween. In addition, in the lower electrode, areas where the lower electrode does not exist are formed in portions in which ends of the slit-shaped openings of the upper electrode overlap with the lower electrode in plan view.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display device including a first substrate in which a first electrode and a second electrode are provided, the second electrode having a plurality of line-shaped portions that generate an electric field between the first electrode, a second substrate opposing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, the liquid crystal layer being partitioned into a plurality of display pixels each of which is driven by the electric field, a polarization film arranged outside the second substrate, and an optical member film arranged outside the polarization film. The optical member film has a front phase difference whose retardation value is in the range of 120 to 160 nm, and an angle of an optical axis of the optical member film with respect to an extending direction of the plurality of line-shaped portions of the second electrode is in the range of 30 to 40 degrees or 50 to 60 degrees.

Abstract: As means for providing wide viewing angle of a liquid crystal display device by changing the angle made by the alignment direction and the strip-shaped portions, a phase difference applied in the liquid crystal layer can be matched for every sub pixel area displaying each color. According to the aspect of the invention, by changing the angle made by the alignment direction of the alignment layer and the strip-shaped electrodes for every sub pixel area, the phase difference applied in the liquid crystal layer can be matched for wavelength region of displayed color in sub pixel area. Accordingly, the voltage applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode when luminance becomes the maximum in each sub pixel area becomes equal and white display in which color is reduced can be performed.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display device including a first substrate in which a first electrode and a second electrode are provided, the second electrode having a plurality of line-shaped portions that generate an electric field between the first electrode, a second substrate opposing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, the liquid crystal layer being partitioned into a plurality of display pixels each of which is driven by the electric field, a polarization film arranged outside the second substrate, and an optical member film arranged outside the polarization film. The optical member film has a front phase difference whose retardation value is in the range of 120 to 160 nm, and an angle of an optical axis of the optical member film with respect to an extending direction of the plurality of line-shaped portions of the second electrode is in the range of 30 to 40 degrees or 50 to 60 degrees.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal cell having a nematic liquid crystal layer, upper and lower retardation plates sandwiching the liquid crystal cell, an upper polarizer above the upper retardation plate, and a lower polarizer below the lower retardation plate. The nematic liquid crystal layer is arranged at the upper and lower substrates with the twist angle set in a range of 0° to 70° which is subjected to a rubbing process at a predetermined angle relative to a reference direction. The lower retardation plate has a first lower retardation plate of a discotic liquid crystal film with hybrid alignment, and a second lower retardation plate of a polymer film having a three-dimensional refractive index anisotropy. The three-dimensional refractive index of the second lower retardation plate is set in a range of ?0.7 to 0.7.

Abstract: A liquid crystal apparatus includes: a liquid crystal panel having a pair of substrates; a liquid crystal layer arranged between the pair of substrates and driven by an electric field having a component parallel to the substrates; a first polarizing plate and a second polarizing plate arranged with the liquid crystal panel interposed therebetween; and a retardation film arranged between the first polarizing plate and the liquid crystal panel or between the second polarizing plate and the liquid crystal panel, in which the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate each include a polarizer and translucent protection films which interpose the polarizer, an in-plane phase difference Re1 of the protection film satisfies 0 nm?Re1?5 nm, a thickness direction phase difference Rth of the protection film satisfies 0 nm?Rth?20 nm, an in-plane phase difference Re2 of the retardation film satisfies 200 nm?Re2?300 nm, an Nz value of the retardation film satisfies 0.4<Nz?0.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a pair of substrates opposed to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. In the liquid crystal display panel, a plurality of pixel areas are formed in one of the pair of substrates and each of the pixel areas is provided with an upper electrode having a plurality of slit-shaped openings, a lower electrode formed in the substrate through the upper electrode and an insulation layer, and an alignment film formed close to the liquid crystal layer. A longitudinal direction of the plurality of slit-shaped openings and a rubbing direction of the alignment film form a predetermined angle therebetween. In addition, in the lower electrode, areas where the lower electrode does not exist are formed in portions in which ends of the slit-shaped openings of the upper electrode overlap with the lower electrode in plan view.

Abstract: A method for diving an electro-optic device including a pair of substrates sandwiching an electro-optic layer, and first and second electrodes disposed on one of the pair of substrates, the first electrode being used to drive the electro-optic layer, the second electrode being disposed closer to the electro-optic layer than the first electrode.

Abstract: As means for providing wide viewing angle of a liquid crystal display devices by changing the angle made by the alignment direction and the strip-shaped portions, a phase difference applied in the liquid crystal layer can be matched for every sub pixel area displaying each color. According to the aspect of the invention, by changing the angle made by the alignment direction of the alignment layer and the strip-shaped electrodes for every sub pixel area, the phase difference applied in the liquid crystal layer can be matched for wavelength region of displayed color in sub pixel area. Accordingly, the voltage applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode when luminance becomes the maximum in each sub pixel area becomes equal and white display in which color is reduced can be performed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates, a display pixel that has four R, G, B, and non-colored subpixels, and a liquid crystal layer that is interposed between the pair of substrates and in which cell thicknesses in the subpixels vary. The retardation values of the R, G, and B subpixels are set in the ranges of 360 nm?R?700 nm, 340 nm?G?600 nm, and 340 nm?B?500 nm, respectively, and the non-colored subpixel has a cell thickness at which the display pixel becomes predetermined white balance.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal cell having a nematic liquid crystal layer, upper and lower retardation plates sandwiching the liquid crystal cell, an upper polarizer above the upper retardation plate, and a lower polarizer below the lower retardation plate. The nematic liquid crystal layer is arranged at the upper and lower substrates with the twist angle set in a range of 0° to 70° which is subjected to a rubbing process at a predetermined angle relative to a reference direction. The lower retardation plate has a first lower retardation plate of a discotic liquid crystal film with hybrid alignment, and a second lower retardation plate of a polymer film having a three-dimensional refractive index anisotropy. The three-dimensional refractive index of the second lower retardation plate is set in a range of ?0.7 to 0.7.

Abstract: Deviation in phase difference of the light passing each of the red, green, and blue dots, i.e., 2&pgr;*(&agr;*dR*&Dgr;nR+ReR)/&lgr;R, 2&pgr;*(&agr;*dG*&Dgr;nG+ReG)/&lgr;G, and 2&pgr;*(&agr;*dB*&Dgr;nB+ReB)/&lgr;B, are matched when thickness of a liquid crystal layer 7 at red, green, and blue dots are dR, dG, and dB; wavelength of a visible light passing each dot is &lgr;R, &lgr;R, and &lgr;B; refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer 7 in the visible light wavelengths &lgr;R, &lgr;R, and &lgr;B is &Dgr;nR, &Dgr;n G, and &Dgr;nB; and retardations of a retardation plate are ReR, ReG, and ReB. This enables the achievement of a reflective color LCD with high achromatic color during white display and high contrast display.

Abstract: A reflection type liquid crystal display device having a wide viewing angle, and capable of assuring a light utilization factor at or above a certain value for bright display even when conditions of an external light are varied is provided. The reflection type liquid crystal display device comprises (a) a liquid crystal cell comprising an upper substrate, a lower substrate and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates, (b) a polarizing film provided in a side of the upper substrate in the liquid crystal cell, (c) light reflecting means provided in a side of the lower substrate in the liquid crystal cell; and (d) an optical member provided between the polarizing film and the liquid crystal cell, and having a retardation axis when it is viewed in the normal direction. An angle between an absorption axis of the polarizing film and the retardation axis of the optical member is within a range of about 88° to about 92° or about −2° to about +2° .

Abstract: A reflection type liquid crystal display device having a wide viewing angle, and capable of assuring a light utilization factor at or above a certain value for bright display even when conditions of an external light are varied is provided. The reflection type liquid crystal display device comprises (a) a liquid crystal cell comprising an upper substrate, a lower substrate and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates,(b) a polarizing film provided in a side of the upper substrate in the liquid crystal cell, (c) light reflecting means provided in a side of the lower substrate in the liquid crystal cell; and (d) an optical member provided between the polarizing film and the liquid crystal cell, and having a retardation axis when it is viewed in the normal direction. An angle between an absorption axis of the polarizing film and the retardation axis of the optical member is within a range of about 88° to about 92° or about −2° to about +2°.

Abstract: In a reflective liquid crystal display device with a single polarizing film and two retardation films located in between the polarizing film and liquid crystal cell, the angle of twist of nematic liquid crystal is 45°˜90°, the product of the birefringence of the liquid crystal and the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is 0.20 &mgr;m˜0.30 &mgr;m, the retardation value of the retardation film on the polarizing film side is 0.13 &mgr;m˜0.18 &mgr;m, the retardation value of the retardation film on the liquid crystal cell side is 0.13 &mgr;m˜0.18 &mgr;m, and the Z coefficient of each of two retardation films is 0.3˜1.0.

Abstract: The reflective liquid crystal display device uses only one polarizing film but achieves display of bright white and achromatic color with high contrast. The twisting angle of a nematic liquid crystal is set to 45° to 90°, and the retardation value of a liquid crystal layer is set to &Dgr;nLC·dLC=0.20 &mgr;m to 0.30 &mgr;m. Two retardation films are configured with a structural component having small chromatic dispersion in refractive index anisotropy and a z coefficient from 03 to 1.0. Retardation values of these two retardation films are set to RF1=0.23 &mgr;m to 0.28 &mgr;m, and RF2=0.13 &mgr;m to 0.18 &mgr;m. When the angle of an absorption axis direction of the polarizing film is denoted by &phgr;P, and the angles of retardation axes directions of the two retardation films are denoted by &phgr;F1 and &phgr;F2, a set of Formulae &phgr;P=75°-195°, &phgr;P-&phgr;F1=95°-115°, and &phgr;P-&phgr;F2=155°-175° are satisfied.