Liquid Crystal Device Insulating Layer Thickness Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid crystal devices face challenges in maintaining uniform liquid crystal layer thickness between reflective and transmissive display regions, leading to non-uniform alignment films and degraded display quality due to insulating layer thickness variations.
Innovation Solution
A liquid crystal device design where the insulating layer is formed with different thicknesses between reflective and transmissive display regions, allowing for uniform alignment film coating and suitable liquid crystal layer thickness adjustment, ensuring high-quality reflective and transmissive displays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the insulating layer is formed with large film thickness for reflective display region, then the liquid crystal layer thickness can be reduced in reflective region, but the insulating layer gets in the way when coating alignment film, making it difficult to uniformly coat the alignment film material among transmissive display regions
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating layer is segmented into different thickness regions: a first thickness region in the reflective display region and a second thickness region (smaller than the first) in the transmissive display regions. This segmentation allows the insulating layer to serve different functions in different areas, resolving the contradiction between achieving proper liquid crystal layer thickness in reflective regions and enabling uniform alignment film coating in transmissive regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating layer is designed with local quality variations, having different film thicknesses in different regions. The first thickness is provided where reflective display is needed, while the second (smaller) thickness is provided where transmissive display occurs. This local differentiation allows each region to have the insulating layer thickness optimized for its specific function.
2Ease of manufacture
If the insulating layer film thickness is reduced among transmissive display regions, then the alignment film can be uniformly coated, but the liquid crystal layer thickness becomes too large for the reflective display region, preventing vivid display
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating layer is divided into thickness zones where the first thickness region provides adequate insulation for reflective display region while the second thickness region (smaller than first) allows uniform alignment film coating in transmissive display regions. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing different thicknesses in different functional zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating layer exhibits local quality differentiation with larger thickness in reflective regions and smaller thickness in transmissive regions. This local adaptation ensures that each region has the insulating layer thickness optimized for its specific display mode requirements.
3Manufacturing precision
If the insulating layer is provided between adjacent transmissive display regions with large film thickness, then the liquid crystal layer thickness can be controlled, but the insulating layer obstructs the coating process, leading to non-uniform alignment film thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating layer is segmented such that between adjacent transmissive display regions, it has the first thickness to control liquid crystal layer thickness, while in the transmissive display regions themselves, it has the second (smaller) thickness. This segmentation allows the coating process to proceed uniformly while maintaining proper liquid crystal layer thickness control.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating layer is designed with local quality variations where the thickness is optimized for the specific region's function. In transmissive display regions, the smaller second thickness facilitates easy alignment film coating, while in reflective display regions, the larger first thickness provides proper liquid crystal layer thickness control.
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
The solution enables vivid and high-quality reflective and transmissive displays by adjusting the liquid crystal layer thickness using the insulating layer, ensuring uniform alignment film formation and preventing display quality degradation.
Implementation Method 1
an insulating layer that is formed between one of the pair of substrates and the liquid crystal layer such that a thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region is smaller than a thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region
Implementation Method 2
a reflective display region having a light-reflective film reflecting light
Implementation Method 3
a transmissive display region transmitting light, in which light from an illumination device serving as a backlight passes through
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal device includes a pair of substrates that face each other, a liquid crystal layer that is interposed between the pair of substrates, electrodes that are formed on opposing surfaces of the pair of substrates so as form a plurality of subpixel regions, in each of which a reflective display region having a light-reflective film reflecting light and a transmissive display region transmitting light are provided, and an insulating layer that is formed between one of the pair of substrates and the liquid crystal layer such that a thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region is smaller than a thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region. The insulating layer is formed to have a first film thickness in the reflective display region, and is provided between the transmissive display region of a predetermined subpixel region and the transmissive display region of a subpixel region adjacent to the predetermined subpixel region. A portion of the insulating layer is formed to have a film thickness smaller than the first film thickness between the transmissive display region of the predetermined subpixel region and the transmissive display region of the subpixel region adjacent to the predetermined subpixel region.