LCD Common Electrode Slits for Viewing Angle and Transmittance

Solution Overview

Problem

Liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatuses with vertical alignment modes face issues of decreased transmittance and increased response time due to textures and aperture ratio reduction caused by slits and protrusions on field generating electrodes, leading to optical defects and unstable liquid crystal molecule control near boundary areas.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a liquid crystal display apparatus with a counter substrate featuring a domain division slit and a transmittance improvement slit, which partially overlaps the pixel electrode and corresponds to the boundary area of adjacent unit pixel areas, allowing for controlled liquid crystal molecule alignment and reduced light-blocking width, thereby enhancing transmittance and aperture ratio.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If slits and protrusions are formed on field generating electrodes to increase side viewing angle, then reference side viewing angle is improved, but transmittance decreases and aperture ratio is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveside viewing angleVSAvoidtransmittance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different electrode configurations in different regions: domain division slits are formed in central regions to control liquid crystal alignment and improve viewing angle, while transmittance improvement slits are formed in boundary regions to reduce light blocking and improve transmittance. This regional differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of viewing angle and transmittance without compromising either property.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If slits and protrusions are formed on field generating electrodes to increase side viewing angle, then reference side viewing angle is improved, but aperture ratio is decreased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveside viewing angleVSAvoidaperture ratio

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different electrode configurations in different regions: domain division slits are formed in central regions to control liquid crystal alignment and improve viewing angle, while transmittance improvement slits are formed in boundary regions to reduce light blocking and improve transmittance. This regional differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of viewing angle and transmittance without compromising either property.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If width of light-blocking part is increased to cover textures near boundary area, then optical defects are reduced, but aperture ratio is decreased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical qualityVSAvoidaperture ratio

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting the light-blocking function from the pixel electrode structure itself and relocating it to a separate light-blocking part positioned in the boundary area. This allows the light-blocking part to cover textures and improve optical quality without reducing the aperture ratio of the pixel electrode, as the light-blocking function is performed outside the active pixel area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of manufacture

If conventional electrode structures are used without boundary area optimization, then manufacturing is simpler, but liquid crystal molecules near boundary areas are difficult to control causing textures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode structure simplicityVSAvoidliquid crystal molecule control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different electrode configurations in different regions: domain division slits are formed in central regions to control liquid crystal alignment and improve viewing angle, while transmittance improvement slits are formed in boundary regions to reduce light blocking and improve transmittance. This regional differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of viewing angle and transmittance without compromising either property.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local 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 effectively controls liquid crystal molecules near boundary areas, reducing textures and increasing light transmittance and aperture ratio, while decreasing the response time and improving overall display quality.

Implementation Method 1

Voltages are applied to the field generating electrodes, so that an electric field may be generated in the liquid crystal layer. Thus, an arrangement direction of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer is determined.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric field: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS8107044B2Liquid crystal display apparatus

Publication Date: 2012.01.31 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus includes a first substrate including a switching element and a pixel electrode, the pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element, and a second substrate disposed over the first substrate, the second substrate including a common electrode having a first slit and a second slit, wherein the first slit divides a unit pixel area into a plurality of domains, and the second slit partially overlaps the pixel electrode and is disposed to correspond to a boundary area of adjacent unit pixel areas.