Aligning Liquid Crystal With Means Other Than Alignment Layer Patents (Class 349/191)
  • Publication number: 20100053526
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) panel includes a display substrate, an opposite substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The display substrate includes a pixel electrode and a first cured layer. The first cured layer has various pretilt angles. The opposite substrate includes a common electrode and a second cured layer. The second cured layer has various pretilt angles. The liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules pretilted at the various pretilt angles by the first and second cured layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Myeong-Ha KYE, Jae-Jin LYU, Ji-Won SOHN
  • Publication number: 20100053527
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is provided. The method comprises the following steps. Firstly, an upper substrate and a lower substrate are provided. Next, a liquid crystal material is interposed between the upper and lower substrates. The liquid crystal material comprises at least one liquid crystal molecule and at least two photosensitive monomers, and the absorption peak of at least one photosensitive monomer is larger than 300 nm. Then, a voltage is applied between the upper substrate and the lower substrate, and a ultra-violet with a first wavelength is used for irradiation so as to allow most photosensitive monomers to be polymerized as polymer. Lastly, a ultra-violet with a second wavelength is used for irradiation, wherein the second wavelength is larger than the first wavelength so as to allow residual photosensitive monomers to be polymerized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chung-Ching Hsieh, Chia-Hsuan Pai, Cheng-Wei Huang, Te-Sheng Chen, Norio Sugiura
  • Patent number: 7667816
    Abstract: A liquid crystal drop fill device by which liquid crystal panels of different sizes is easily obtained from a mother glass, and a method for drop filling liquid crystal by using the device is provided in order to increase utilization efficiency of the mother glass. The device 1 includes a stage 3 arranged to support a substrate 2, liquid crystal dispensers 4 and 5 arranged to drop fill liquid crystal on the substrate 2, a first moving unit 6 arranged to support the dispensers 4 and 5 movably in a Y-direction relative to the stage 3, and second moving units 7 and 8 arranged to support the dispensers 4 and 5 movably in an X-direction relative to the first moving unit 6, wherein the device 1 further includes a third moving unit 9 arranged to support the dispenser 5 to be further movable in the Y-direction relative to the second moving unit 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabuhsiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Hirato
  • Publication number: 20100033662
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display including a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a first field generating electrode disposed on the first substrate; a second field generating electrode disposed on the second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the liquid crystal layer including a liquid crystal and an alignment assistant, wherein the alignment assistant includes a mesogen and two or more photo-polymerizable groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Hyup LEE, Jae-Jin LYU
  • Publication number: 20100020284
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of aligning reactive mesogens (RM) on a substrate subjected to particle beam treatment, to RM's oriented by said method, especially in form of thin layers, to oriented polymers and polymer films obtained from such oriented RM's and RM layers, and to the use of the RM's, layers, polymers and films in optical, electronic and electrooptical applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Owain Llyr Parri, Alison Linda May, Julian Vaughan-Spickers, Karl Skjonnemand, Oleg Yaroshchuck
  • Publication number: 20100020280
    Abstract: A method of aligning liquid crystals in a cell includes the steps of optimizing the concentration of the liquid crystal in a carrier medium, transforming the liquid crystal into its isotropic phase; heating the cell to a temperature which is slightly lower than the temperature of the liquid crystal, filling the cell with the liquid crystal, rapidly cooling the filled cell to transform the liquid crystal into the nematic phase and rewarming the cell to a temperature approximately at the phase line separating the nematic phase from the mixed nematic nematic-isotropic phase. An improved alignment surface for forming the cell comprises an uncoated, rubbed surface to drive uniform alignment of the liquid crystals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: Pathogen Dection Systems, Inc. d/b/a Pathogen Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery C. Hill
  • Publication number: 20100007844
    Abstract: A variable focus liquid crystal lens includes a nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture having a spatially inhomogenous polymer network structure, and an electrode for applying a substantially uniform voltage to the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture. The lens is created within a cell by applying a substantially uniform electric field to the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture within the cell, while simultaneously irradiating the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture using a laser beam having a shaped intensity distribution, so as to induce formation of a spatially inhomogenous polymer network structure within the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE LAVAL
    Inventors: Tigran GALSTIAN, Vladimir PRESNIAKOV, Karen ASATRYAN, Amir TORK
  • Publication number: 20090325453
    Abstract: A method for alignment treatment of a substrate for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes the steps of: forming an alignment film including a plurality of molecules with curable parts on a substrate; applying an electrical field on the substrate to rotate the curable parts; and curing the curable parts such that the curable parts are cured along a first direction. A manufacturing method of the LCD device is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: CHI MEI OPTOELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Han Lang LEE, Shu Hao HSU, Cheng-Hsu CHUANG
  • Patent number: 7633590
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image display device that is free from disconnection in a connection structure between given substrates even when operated in a hot and humid environment. An image display device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention has a TFT substrate and an FPC. The TFT substrate has a plurality of first terminals capable of application of potential. The FPC has second terminals that are connected respectively with the first terminals through an anisotropic conductive film and that are thicker than the first terminals. The second terminals include a high-potential terminal, a low-potential terminal, and a dummy terminal. The high-potential terminal is supplied with a relatively high potential that contributes to the display operation. The low-potential terminal is supplied with a relatively low potential that contributes to the display operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Hitoshi Morishita, Shigeaki Noumi
  • Publication number: 20090290118
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device comprises a first substrate having a grooved surface profile; an alignment film layer of inorganic material formed on the grooved surface and having the grooved surface profile, the alignment film of inorganic material being aligned in response to an ion beam incident to the grooved surface in a direction parallel to a groove direction; a second substrate aligned opposite the first substrate for forming a plurality of LCD cells having liquid crystal (LC) material deposited therein, wherein LC molecules align parallel to the grooves for enhanced LCD performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minhua Lu, Kei-Hsiung Yang
  • Publication number: 20090231260
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal device and method thereof. Subsequent to applying a first electrical voltage on a liquid crystal to induce a reorientation of the liquid crystal, a second electrical voltage with proper polarity is applied on the liquid crystal to assist the relaxation of the reorientation that was induced by the first electrical voltage. The “switch-off” phase of the liquid crystal can therefore be accelerated or temporally shortened, and the device can exhibit better performance such as fast response to on/off signals. The invention can be widely used LCD, LC shutter, LC lens, spatial light modulator, telecommunication device, tunable filter, beam steering device, and electrically driven LC device, among others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Sergij V. Shiyanovskii, Mingxia Gu, Oleg D. Lavrentovich
  • Publication number: 20090213320
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display includes providing a first display panel, providing a second display panel, disposing liquid crystals and an alignment additive between the first display panel and the second display panel, applying a gradually increasing pre-tilting voltage to the first display panel and the second display panel, and hardening the alignment additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Ho Son, Jae-Jin Lyu, Seung-Beom Park
  • Publication number: 20090195746
    Abstract: A liquid crystal aligning device (10) includes a UV light source (11), a plurality of liquid crystal cells (13), a mask (12), and a drive circuit (14) is described. The mask (12) is positioned between the liquid crystal cells, containing a mixture of a UV polyimide solution and liquid crystal molecules (131), and the UV light source. The drive circuit applies a voltage to the liquid crystal cells. The liquid crystal cells include a reflective area (13a) and a transmissive area (13b), and after exposing the liquid crystal cells to the UV light source and the voltage from the drive circuit, a pretilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules in the reflective area is larger than that in the transmissive area. Further, an alignment method for liquid crystal cells is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: CHI MEI COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Kuei-Lin Chu
  • Patent number: 7557895
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device includes preparing a pair of substrates that have a structure P1 having a height Hp1 and a structure P2 having a height Hp2, the heights Hp1 and Hp2 satisfying a relationship of 0.3 (?m) ?Hp1?Hp2?1.0 (?m); controlling a dropping amount V of liquid crystal so that a cell gap G1 that is determined by the dropping amount V of liquid crystal, the height Hp1 and the height Hp2 satisfying a relationship of Hp2<G1<Hp1; dropping the controlled dropping amount V of liquid crystal on one of the pair of substrates; and attaching the pair of substrates in a vacuum followed by returning to an atmospheric pressure to fill in the liquid crystal between the pair of substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Sawasaki, Yoji Taniguchi, Takashi Takagi
  • Patent number: 7553392
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which liquid crystal is sealed between substrates using a one drop fill method. Dropping of liquid crystal is controlled so that the dropping quantity of the liquid crystal is reduced in an area including the vicinity of a seal material on a side with a relatively narrow cell gap width while the dropping quantity of the liquid crystal is increased in an area including the vicinity of the seal material on a side with a relatively broad cell gap width. Alternatively, dropping of the liquid crystal is controlled so that the number of times the liquid crystal is dropped is reduced in the area including the vicinity of the seal material on one side while the number of times the liquid crystal is dropped is increased in the area including the vicinity of the seal material on another side without changing the dropping quantity of one drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Makimoto, Satoshi Murata, Hiroyuki Sugimura, Tetsuya Kida, Hidehiko Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20090147211
    Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal optical device showing a low haze value in the transparent state, further an excellent stability in the transparent-scattering characteristics and productivity, and to provide a production process thereof. The liquid crystal optical device in the embodiment 1 of the present invention is a liquid crystal optical device 1 comprising a pair of insulating substrates 11 and 21, of which at least one is transparent, electrodes 12 and 22 formed on respective inner faces of the substrates, and a composite 50 comprising nematic liquid crystal and a cured material, interposed between the inner faces of the substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Satoshi NIIYAMA, Remi KAWAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20090115947
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel including a color filter on array (COA) substrate, an opposite substrate, and a liquid crystal layer is provided. The opposite substrate has a common electrode, a plurality of main spacers, a plurality of spacer stages disposed on the common electrode and protruding toward the COA substrate, and a plurality of sub-spacers disposed on the common electrode. The main spacers are disposed on the spacer stages to maintain a cell gap between the COA substrate and the opposite substrate. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the COA substrate and the opposite substrate. The above-mentioned LCD panel is an LCD panel with hybrid spacers having the main spacers and the sub-spacers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yen-Heng Huang, Chung-Kai Chen, Shu-Chin Lee
  • Patent number: 7528926
    Abstract: An apparatus for printing spacers on a substrate of an LCD includes a spacer supply roller having a plurality of recesses formed in its exterior surface. A plurality of uniform volumes of an ink containing the spacers is loaded into the recesses and then transferred from the supply roller onto a transfer belt that is arranged to move tangentially with respect to the supply roller by means of a transfer roller and an auxiliary roller. The LCD substrate is then moved tangentially with respect to the moving transfer belt such that the ink volumes on the transfer belt are transferred onto the substrate at selected locations thereon. The continuously rotating components of the apparatus enable it to accommodate LCD panels of any size without the need for large spacer supply substrates and transfer rollers and prevent the inadvertent deposition of multiple layers of spacers on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byoung-Hun Sung, Bong-Sung Seo, Baek-Kyun Jeon, Jeong-Uk Heo
  • Publication number: 20090079929
    Abstract: Alignments of liquid crystal are obtained. A transparent magnetic thin film provides a homeotropic alignment of liquid crystal molecules. Or, a homeotropic or homogeneous alignment having an adjustable pretilt angle is further obtained through rubbing the transparent magnetic thin film. The present invention has a simple procedure with a low cost. The present invention is used in equipment with a plasma source while providing high transmittance, hardness and insulation. And the transparent magnetic thin film has potential uses in the applications of non-contact multi-domain alignment without extra procedure for alignment treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Ru-Pin Chao, Hsin-Ying Wu
  • Patent number: 7499131
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention has a first structure (protrusion) which is provided on a first substrate and which causes liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the first structure to align with a first direction when a voltage is applied, and a second structure (protrusion) which is provided at a position on the second substrate where the second structure is opposed to the first structure and which causes liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the second structure to align with a second direction when the voltage is applied. Here, the second direction is different from the first direction. The shapes or sizes of the first and second structures are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Sasabayashi
  • Publication number: 20090040453
    Abstract: Methods for treating aligning substrates produces uniform alignment of liquid crystals in at least two modes. The method is based on the treatment of liquid crystal aligning substrates with a collimated or partially collimated plasma beam. In one embodiment, the method comprises a step of bombarding an aligning substrate with at least one plasma beam from a plasma beam source at a designated incident angle to align the atomic/molecular structure or the surface profile of the aligning substrate in at least one aligned direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Kent State University
    Inventors: Liang-Chy Chien, Andriy Dobrovolskyy, Oleg Yaroshchuk, Oleg Lavrentovich
  • Patent number: 7471380
    Abstract: A rubbing angle measuring equipment of the invention includes an light source unit, a measuring optical system, an imaging means, and an image evaluation means in which the measuring optical system is adapted such that a light from the light source unit passes by way of an illumination optical system and a polarizer to a rubbed measuring object and further passes by way of an analyzer and a focusing optical system to the imaging means, and the surface of the measuring object is focused to the imaging means, and in which image signals obtained by the imaging means are transmitted to the image evaluation means where signals having an intense periodicity in the image are detected, to measure the rubbing angle of the measuring object in a nondestructive manner, within a short period and at a high accuracy of 0.1° or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Kishioka
  • Patent number: 7468777
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing an elliptically polarizing plate including the steps of: forming a first birefringent layer on a surface of a transparent protective film; laminating a polarizer on a surface of the transparent protective film; forming a second birefringent layer on a surface of the first birefringent layer; and forming a third birefringent layer on a surface of the second birefringent layer. The first birefringent layer is arranged on the opposite side against the polarizer with respect to the transparent protective film. The step of forming the first birefringent layer includes the steps of: applying a liquid crystal material onto a substrate subjected to an alignment treatment; treating the applied liquid crystal material, so as to form the first birefringent layer on the substrate; and transferring the first birefringent layer onto a surface of the transparent protective film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Ikuo Kawamoto, Seiji Umemoto, Takashi Kamijou, Hideyuki Yonezawa, Kazuya Hada
  • Patent number: 7420647
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a liquid crystal display device, in which a pretilt angle and a tilt direction upon application of a voltage of liquid crystal molecules are controlled by using a polymer and is to provide a method for producing a liquid crystal display device that provides good display characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Nakahata
  • Patent number: 7405788
    Abstract: A method that uses at least one hydrogen ion beam for alignment of liquid crystal molecules is proposed in the present invention. The method of the present invention is proposed to resolve the problems of physical destruction and surface deterioration of the alignment films caused by the conventional method using argon ions beams. The method of the present invention directly uses at least one hydrogen ion beam to impact the alignment film. Hence, the physical destruction of the alignment film is reduced. In addition, via the reaction between hydrogen ions and the alignment films, the quality of the alignment film is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignees: Taiwan TFT LCD Association, Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd., Au Optronics Corp., Quanta Display Inc., Hannstar Display Corp., Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp., Industrial Technology Research Institute, Toppoly Optoelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Bang-Hao Wu, Ching-Wen Hsiao, Yu-Ming Chen, Hsin-Chun Chiang, Chung-Wen Wu
  • Patent number: 7405793
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic device, based on discotic liquid crystalline material, to methods of production of such a device, and to uses thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Silvia Rosselli, Gabriele Nelles, Akio Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20080151145
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display element which improve aperture ratio of a panel while maintaining good response characteristics against voltage in VA mode using liquid crystal having negative dielectric constant anisotropy. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display element includes steps of: sealing, between a couple of substrates facing each other with electrodes formed thereon, a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules having a negative dielectric constant anisotropy and a curing material; applying a magnetic field to the liquid crystal layer sealed between the couple of substrates, in a direction to form a predetermined angle with respect to a line normal to the substrates; and curing the curing material after applying the magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Kumazawa, Tsuyoshi Kamada
  • Patent number: 7391490
    Abstract: The invention relates to liquid crystal displays used in television receivers and display sections of electronic apparatus and, more particularly, to a liquid crystal display in which a polymeric material included in a liquid crystal material is polymerized to impart a pre-tilt angle to the liquid crystal material. The invention provides a liquid crystal display in which gradation/luminance characteristics in an oblique direction are improved and in which reduction in luminance is suppressed. The liquid crystal display includes a TFT substrate and an opposite substrate provided opposite to each other and a liquid crystal composition including a liquid crystal material and a polymer sealed between the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Kazuya Ueda, Hideaki Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20080129948
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparation of a liquid crystal film having uniaxial alignment, comprising steps of: elevating temperature of a substrate coated with a nanostructure formed of liquid crystal molecules to a value sufficient to alter the nanostructure into a liquid phase; and decreasing the temperature to another value sufficient to again alter the liquid phase into a liquid crystal phase in the presence of a magnetic field to horizontally align the nanostructure of liquid crystal molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Sung-Min Choi, Hyo-Sik Kim
  • Publication number: 20080123046
    Abstract: An optical alignment method which develops a pretilt angle by batch plane exposure without tilting a substrate. This optical alignment method provides liquid crystal aligning capability to the surface of a polymer film by exposing the surface of the polymer film through a slit exposure mask while the surface of the polymer film and the slit exposure mask are moved relative to each other substantially at a fixed rate. Alternatively, liquid crystal aligning capability is provided to the surface of the polymer film by exposing the surface of the polymer film through an optical exposure pattern while the optical exposure pattern having a plurality of lines with a certain width at certain intervals is formed on the surface of the polymer film continuously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicants: JSR CORPORATION, NATL. INST. OF ADV. INDUSTRIAL SCI. & TECH.
    Inventors: Masayuki Kimura, Hiroshi Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20080079877
    Abstract: The invention provides: an optical element that includes a birefringence functional layer constituted of a polymerizable liquid crystal material, in which the birefringence functional layer is formed directly or indirectly on a substrate, and in a post-process carried out thereafter, alignment and characteristics of the birefringence functional layer are not disturbed, with the result that a high quality birefringence control function can be exerted; a liquid crystal display device provided with the optical element; a method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer that is not disturbed in the alignment and physical properties by the post-process; and a method of producing the optical element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Nakatsugawa
  • Publication number: 20080049184
    Abstract: Cartesian polarizers utilizing liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) are provided for use as laser protection filters in optical pick-up units. The LCPs are photo-aligned and cross-linked into a polymer host to provide a durable filter. According to one embodiment, the LCP molecules exhibit a cholesteric phase and are coupled to one or more quarter-wave retarders. According to another embodiment, the LCP molecules are used to form a multi-layer stack using the GBO effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: JDS Uniphase Corporation, State of Incoporation: Delaware
    Inventors: Kim Leong Tan, Karen Denise Hendrix
  • Patent number: 7330220
    Abstract: An MVA liquid crystal display which is high in brightness and has preferable characteristics is provided. Further, the MVA liquid crystal display with a preferable display quality as well as a larger margin in fabrication and a higher yield is provided. A first substrate having a first electrode, a second substrate having a second electrode corresponding to a display pixel, the liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy sealed between the first and the second substrates, and a structure which is provided at least the second substrate to control an alignment of the liquid crystal are provided. Also included is a storage capacitor wiring arranged under the structure on a side of the second substrate via an insulation film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tanaka, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Shougo Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20080030672
    Abstract: A liquid crystal (LC) alignment system includes an alignment film having a single or plurality of liquid crystal molecules aligned by a plurality of plasma generating devices, such that the liquid crystal molecules are aligned at a stable pretilt angle. Compared with the prior art, the present invention is suitable for modifying the alignment film surface by adjusting directions and angles of the liquid crystal molecules, and can attain the effect of alignment stability with a pretilt angle in a single process, thus overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chin-Yang Lee, Huang-Chin Tang, Ying-Fang Chang, Chen-Der Tsai, Wen-Tzong Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20080030673
    Abstract: A method for fabricating liquid crystal (LC) alignment includes the steps of processing an alignment film having a plurality of liquid crystal molecules with a single or plurality of plasma generating devices, such that the liquid crystal molecules are aligned at a high pretilt angle. Compared with the prior art, the present invention is suitable for modifying the alignment film surface adjustablely in directions and angles, and can attain the effect of alignment stability with a high pretilt angle in a single process, thus overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chin-Yang Lee, Huang-Chin Tang, Kei-Hsiung Yang, Chih-Wei Chen, Chi-Hung Liu, Yu-Jung Shih
  • Patent number: 7304712
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device that is used in display portions of electronics devices and a manufacturing method thereof, and intends to provide a liquid crystal display device that can obtain excellent display quality and a manufacturing method thereof. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device includes preparing a pair of substrates that have a structure P1 having a height Hp1 and a structure P2 having a height Hp2, the heights Hp1 and Hp2 satisfying a relationship of 0.3 (?m)?Hp1?Hp2?1.0 (?m); controlling a dropping amount V of liquid crystal so that a cell gap G1 that is determined by the dropping amount V of liquid crystal, the height Hp1 and the height Hp2 satisfy a relationship of Hp2<G1<Hp1; dropping the controlled dropping amount V of liquid crystal on one of the pair of substrates; and attaching the pair of substrates in a vacuum followed by returning to an atmospheric pressure to fill in the liquid crystal between the pair of substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Sawasaki, Yoji Taniguchi, Takashi Takagi
  • Patent number: 7259825
    Abstract: An MVA liquid crystal display which is high in brightness and has preferable characteristics is provided. Further, the MVA liquid crystal display with a preferable display quality as well as a larger margin in fabrication and a higher yield is provided. A first substrate having a first electrode, a second substrate having a second electrode corresponding to a display pixel, the liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy sealed between the first and the second substrates, and a structure which is provided on each of the first and the second substrate to control an alignment of the liquid crystal are provided. The structure in the first substrate has a linear protrusion structure and provides at least two auxiliary protrusion structures opposing to each end portion facing to the second electrode extending from a protrusion structure provided and the width between the two auxiliary protrusions and the opposing second electrode is more than 6 ?m respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Sumi
  • Patent number: 7259818
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises a nematic liquid crystal, voltage means for applying a voltage across said liquid crystal, and two substrates (42, 30) each provided with an alignment layer (32, 33), wherein: said liquid crystal is sandwiched between said two substrates (42, 30); said nematic liquid crystal can be placed in at least one operating state and at least one non-operating state, and at least one of said alignment layers (32, 33) is provided with a plurality of surface protrusions (40) formed from an anisotropic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michael John Towler, Elizabeth Jane Acosta
  • Patent number: 7255147
    Abstract: A bonding device for fabricating a liquid crystal display includes a vacuum chamber, an upper stage and a lower stage within the vacuum chamber, a stage moving system moving at least one of the upper and lower stages, a plurality of first observation holes formed through regions of the upper stage, a plurality of second observation holes formed through an upper portion of the vacuum chamber, each aligned to one of the plurality of first observation holes, and a plurality of alignment cameras, each camera aligned with the each of the first and second observation holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Seok Lee, Sang Ho Park
  • Patent number: 7253871
    Abstract: An efficient technique for producing deterministically polarized single photons uses liquid-crystal hosts of either monomeric or oligomeric/polymeric form to preferentially align the single emitters for maximum excitation efficiency. Deterministic molecular alignment also provides deterministically polarized output photons; using planar-aligned cholesteric liquid crystal hosts as 1-D photonic-band-gap microcavities tunable to the emitter fluorescence band to increase source efficiency, using liquid crystal technology to prevent emitter bleaching. Emitters comprise soluble dyes, inorganic nanocrystals or trivalent rare-earth chelates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: University of Rochester
    Inventors: Svetlana G. Lukishova, Robert W. Boyd, Carlos R. Stroud
  • Patent number: 7253872
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a first substrate; a second substrate provided so as to face the first substrate; a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; a plurality of pixel areas each including a first electrode provided on the first substrate, a second electrode provided on the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a wall structure regularly arranged on a surface of the first electrode closer to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer, when being provided with at least a prescribed voltage, forms at least one liquid crystal domain exhibiting a radially inclined orientation in an area substantially surrounded by the wall structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kume, Nobukazu Nagae, Kazuhiko Tamai, Noriaki Onishi, Takaaki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7239366
    Abstract: A slit pattern, which is an orientation control element extending in an oblique direction relative to an edge of a pixel electrode on a surface of a TFT substrate, is formed in the pixel electrode to extend in a substantially parallel direction to an extending direction of a bank-shaped pattern. Furthermore, as an orientation control element, fine slit patterns (concave portions in the pixel electrode) are formed locally in a part near the edge of the pixel electrode except in the pixel electrode to extend in an oblique direction relative to an extending direction of the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Arihiro Takeda, Shingo Kataoka, Tsuyoshi Kamada, Kazuya Ueda
  • Patent number: 7218303
    Abstract: A method of aligning a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) material capable of facilitating the restoration of an initial alignment of FLC material as a result of mounting of driving circuits includes simultaneously applying a first voltage to a Vcom terminal formed on a source printed circuit board and applying a second voltage to a GND terminal also formed on the source printed circuit board while the first voltage is also applied to a Vcom terminal formed on a gate printed circuit board and while the second voltage is also applied to a GND terminal formed on the gate printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hong Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 7215397
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer placed between the pair of substrates and an alignment film placed on the side of at least one of the pair of substrates facing the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer has a first region in which the pretilt direction of liquid crystal molecules of which the alignment is regulated with alignment regulating force of a surface of the alignment film is a first direction and a second region in which the pretilt direction is a second direction different from the first direction. Display is performed using bend alignment of the first region of the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iichiro Inoue, Tatsuo Uchida
  • Patent number: 7199856
    Abstract: An MVA liquid crystal display which is high in brightness and has preferable characteristics is provided. Further, the MVA liquid crystal display with a preferable display quality as well as a larger margin in fabrication and a higher yield is provided. A first substrate having a first electrode, a second substrate having a second electrode corresponding to a display pixel, the liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy sealed between the first and the second substrates, and a structure which is provided on each of the first and the second substrate to control an alignment of the liquid crystal are provided. The structure in the first substrate has a linear protrusion structure and provides at least two auxiliary protrusion structures opposing to each end portion facing to the second electrode extending from a protrusion structure provided and the width between the two auxiliary protrusions and the opposing second electrode is more than 6 ?m respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Inoue, Yoji Taniguchi, Takahiro Sasaki, Kenji Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7180569
    Abstract: A slit pattern, which is an orientation control element extending in an oblique direction relative to an edge of a pixel electrode on a surface of a TFT substrate, is formed in the pixel electrode to extend in a substantially parallel direction to an extending direction of a bank-shaped pattern. Furthermore, as an orientation control element, fine slit patterns (concave portions in the pixel electrode) are formed locally in a part near the edge of the pixel electrode except in the pixel electrode to extend in an oblique direction relative to an extending direction of the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7161652
    Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device capable of achieving uniform alignment of monostable ferroelectric liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization, and provides the liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal (monostable ferroelectric liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization) showing a phase sequence, either isotropic liquid phase-cholesteric phase-chiral smectic C phase, isotropic liquid phase-chiral nematic phase-chiral smectic C phase, or isotropic liquid phase-cholesteric phase-smectic A phase-chiral smectic C phase, from a high temperature side to a low temperature side, is sandwiched between two glass substrates having transparent electrodes and alignment films whose pretilt angle is not more than 2° and rubbing directions are parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Toshiaki Yoshihara, Hironori Shiroto, Shinji Tadaki, Tetsuya Makino, Yoshinori Kiyota, Shigeo Kasahara, Keiichi Betsui
  • Patent number: 7145619
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a substrate for a liquid crystal display, a liquid crystal display having the same, and a method of manufacturing the same which make it possible to provide a display having high luminance and preferable display characteristics to be used in display sections of information apparatuses and the like. Each pixel is defined by gate bus lines extending in the horizontal direction and drain bus lines extending in the vertical direction. TFTs are formed in the vicinity of intersections between the bus lines, and resin overlap sections for shielding the TFTs from light are formed above the same. No black matrix is formed on a common electrode substrate which is provided in a face-to-face relationship with a TFT substrate, and the bus lines and the resin overlap sections formed on the TFT substrate function as a black matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Sawasaki, Naoto Kondo, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Takashi Takagi, Tomonori Tanose, Tomoshige Oda, Akira Komorita, Katsunori Misaki, Shiro Hirota
  • Patent number: 7145624
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of this invention includes a plurality of picture element regions each defined by a first electrode provided on a face of a first substrate facing a liquid crystal layer and a second electrode provided on a second substrate so as to oppose the first electrode via the liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween. In each of the picture element regions, the first electrode has a plurality of openings and a solid portion, the liquid crystal layer is in a vertical orientation state when no voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, and when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, a plurality of liquid crystal domains each in a radially-inclined orientation state are respectively formed in the plurality of openings and the solid portion by inclined electrode fields generated at respective edge portions of the openings of the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masumi Kubo, Akihiro Yamamoto, Takashi Ochi, Tetsuhiro Yamaguchi, Naoshi Yamada, Katsuhiko Morishita, Kiyoshi Ogishima, Kazuhiro Maekawa
  • Patent number: 7136140
    Abstract: An MVA liquid crystal display which is high in brightness and has preferable characteristics is provided. Further, the MVA liquid crystal display with a preferable display quality as well as a larger margin in fabrication and a higher yield is provided. A first substrate having a first electrode, a second substrate having a second electrode corresponding to a display pixel, the liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy sealed between the first and the second substrates, and a structure which is provided on each of the first and the second substrate to control an alignment of the liquid crystal are provided. The structure in the first substrate has a linear protrusion structure and provides at least two auxiliary protrusion structures opposing to each end portion facing to the second electrode extending from a protrusion structure provided and the width between the two auxiliary protrusions and the opposing second electrode is more than 6 ?m respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Inoue, Yoji Taniguchi, Yoshinori Tanaka, Takahiro Sasaki, Kenji Okamoto, Minoru Otani, Manabu Sawasaki, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Shougo Hayashi, Kazuhiko Sumi, Tomonori Tanose