Liquid Crystal Electrode Joint Alignment for Aperture Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid crystal devices with lateral electric field mode face challenges in generating a uniform electric field at joint portions of electrodes, leading to low light transmittance and reduced pixel aperture ratio, especially in smaller pixel pitches used for liquid crystal light valves.
Innovation Solution
The liquid crystal device design includes electrodes with joint portions overlapping data or scanning lines, aligned in a line, and pixel groups offset relative to each other, allowing for a reduced region of low transmittance and increased aperture ratio by alternately arranging joint portions and optimizing electrode patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If electrodes are arranged with joint portions overlapping bus lines to increase aperture ratio, then the aperture ratio is improved, but the electric field uniformity deteriorates at joint portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the joint portions transparent or having different optical properties from the strip-shaped electrode portions. This allows the joint portions to be positioned in regions where they would otherwise cause display defects (overlapping bus lines) without compromising the overall display quality, thus resolving the contradiction between increasing aperture ratio and maintaining electric field uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the contradiction by transitioning from a two-dimensional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional layered structure. The joint portions are positioned in the thickness direction (z-axis) to overlap the bus lines, while the strip-shaped electrode portions remain in the x-y plane to generate the electric field. This dimensional separation allows both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously.
2Area of stationary object
If joint portions are positioned to overlap bus lines, then the effective display area is increased, but light transmittance at joint portions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the joint portions transparent or having different optical properties from the strip-shaped electrode portions. This allows the joint portions to be positioned in regions where they would otherwise cause display defects (overlapping bus lines) without compromising the overall display quality, thus resolving the contradiction between increasing aperture ratio and maintaining electric field uniformity.
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 enhances the pixel aperture ratio and enables bright display in liquid crystal devices, minimizing the impact of non-contributing regions and improving display quality.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode that applies an electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode to the liquid crystal layer
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal device includes a pair of substrates facing each other, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates. One of the pair of substrates includes data lines and scanning lines that intersect each other, pixels arranged in a matrix, at least one first electrode, and at least one second electrode that applies an electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode to the liquid crystal layer. Each of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a plurality of electrode portions, and a joint portion for connecting the plurality of electrodes. At least a portion of the joint portion of the first electrode and at least a portion of the joint portion of the second electrode are arranged so as to overlap at least the data lines or the scanning lines, and are aligned in a line extending along the at least the data lines or the scanning lines.