Electro-optical Device Asymmetric Pixel Electrode Shift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electro-optical devices with heteromorphic-shaped openings experience reduced display quality due to horizontal electric fields, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
The electro-optical device features a pixel electrode configuration where the center is shifted toward the pre-tilt orientation along the second direction, with wider first light-shielding portions in the second direction, and a gap between pixel electrodes in the second direction is greater than in the first direction, minimizing the impact of horizontal electric fields on display quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If openings are formed into a heteromorphic shape (rectangle) to secure wiring regions and wider openings, then the aperture ratio and wiring space are improved, but display quality deteriorates due to horizontal electric fields causing orientation failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by making the opening heteromorphic (rectangular with different side lengths) and shifting the pixel electrode center from the opening center. Specifically, the opening has a longer side in the first direction and a shorter side in the second direction, and the pixel electrode is positioned such that its center does not coincide with the opening center. This asymmetric configuration reduces the impact of horizontal electric fields on display quality while maintaining adequate aperture ratio and wiring space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating different gap widths between the pixel electrode and light-shielding portions in different directions. The gap in the first direction (longer side direction) is made larger than the gap in the second direction (shorter side direction). This localized differentiation optimizes the electric field distribution specifically in regions where orientation failures are most likely to occur, thereby improving display quality without sacrificing overall aperture ratio.
2Productivity
If pixel pitch is narrowed to achieve finer pixels and smaller substrates, then device size and pixel density are improved, but openings must be heteromorphic which exacerbates horizontal electric field effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by configuring rectangular openings with different side lengths and shifting pixel electrode centers. This asymmetric design allows for optimized space utilization in narrow pixel pitch configurations, enabling finer pixels and smaller substrates while mitigating the horizontal electric field effects that would otherwise be exacerbated by heteromorphic shapes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating gap widths in different directions around the pixel electrode. In narrow pixel pitch designs where space is constrained, this local optimization ensures that the critical gaps in the longer side direction are sufficiently large to reduce horizontal electric field impacts, thereby maintaining display quality despite higher pixel density requirements.
3Reliability
If pixel electrodes are shifted to face pre-tilt orientation, then orientation failures in openings are reduced, but asymmetric configuration increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by shifting pixel electrode centers relative to opening centers and configuring rectangular openings with different side lengths. This asymmetric configuration is specifically designed to reduce orientation failures caused by horizontal electric fields. While it does increase configuration complexity, the patent demonstrates that this complexity is justified by the significant improvement in orientation accuracy and display quality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces the occurrence of orientation failures and maintains display quality by securing wider regions for pixel electrodes in the pre-tilt orientation, thereby minimizing the reduction in display quality caused by horizontal electric fields.
Implementation Method 1
liquid crystal molecules are pre-tilted by the first oriented film and the second oriented film, to allow an end on the second substrate in a long axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules to incline in an orientation intersecting with the first direction and the second direction
Implementation Method 2
how horizontal electric fields generated by pixel electrodes adjacent to each other would lower display quality
Data Source
AI summary
In a transmissive-type electro-optical device, a plurality of pixel electrodes each overlap with each of a plurality of openings surrounded by a plurality of first light-shielding portions extending in a first direction and a plurality of second light-shielding portions extending in a second direction. A width of the first light-shielding portion is greater than a width of the second light-shielding portion. In the opening, a size thereof in the second direction is smaller than a size thereof in the first direction. A center of each of the pixel electrodes is shifted toward the pre-tilt orientation along the second direction from a center of each of the openings.