Liquid Crystal Display Shielding Electrode Lateral Field Relaxation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid crystal display devices face challenges in relaxing lateral electric fields and improving lateral visibility due to the coupling between pixel and shielding electrodes, which affects image quality and light transmission.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a liquid crystal display device design where the pixel electrode and shielding electrode are insulated, with a common electrode overlapping both, and liquid crystal molecules are pre-tilted to specific azimuthal angles to relax lateral electric fields and enhance visibility, achieved through a method involving different voltage applications and light irradiation to align the liquid crystals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the pixel electrode and shielding electrode are coupled, then the device structure is simpler, but the lateral electric field increases and lateral visibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful lateral electric field effect by introducing a shielding electrode that is electrically insulated from the pixel electrode. This shielding electrode is specifically designed to counteract the lateral electric field generated by the pixel electrode, thereby removing the harmful effect while maintaining the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element (shielding electrode) between the pixel electrode and the liquid crystal layer. This shielding electrode acts as a mediator that generates an opposing electric field to cancel out the lateral electric field, thus protecting the liquid crystal molecules from the harmful lateral field effect.
2Ease of manufacture
If the pixel electrode and shielding electrode are coupled, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but lateral visibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the lateral visibility problem by separating the electrical connection of the shielding electrode from the pixel electrode. The shielding electrode is connected to a separate voltage source that applies a compensating voltage, thereby removing the lateral visibility issue while adding a manageable manufacturing step.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameter (voltage) applied to the shielding electrode to compensate for the lateral electric field. By independently controlling the voltage on the shielding electrode, the system can optimize lateral visibility without affecting the basic manufacturing process of the electrode structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If liquid crystal molecules are pre-tilted with small azimuthal angles, then lateral visibility improves, but the alignment control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-tilting the liquid crystal molecules during the alignment layer formation process. This pre-tilt is achieved through the rubbing direction or vertical alignment layer orientation, which sets the initial azimuthal angle before the device operates, thereby improving lateral visibility without requiring complex real-time control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the alignment parameter (azimuthal angle) of the liquid crystal molecules through the alignment layer design. By controlling the rubbing direction or vertical alignment properties, the system establishes specific azimuthal angles (0 to +45 degrees or -45 to 0 degrees) that optimize lateral visibility while using standard alignment techniques.
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 design effectively relaxes lateral electric fields and improves lateral visibility, resulting in enhanced image quality and light transmission, as demonstrated by comparative graphs showing closer alignment to reference gamma curves.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating the liquid crystal layer with light to pre-tilt the first liquid crystal molecule
Implementation Method 2
applying a first voltage to the pixel electrode and the shielding electrode, and applying a second voltage different from the first voltage to the common electrode
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate; a shielding electrode disposed on the first substrate and which extends in a first direction; a pixel electrode disposed on a same layer as the shielding electrode and insulated from the shielding electrode; a common electrode which overlaps the shielding electrode and the pixel electrode in a thickness direction of the first substrate; and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the common electrode and the pixel and shielding electrodes. The liquid crystal layer includes a first liquid crystal molecule disposed in a first region between the shielding electrode and the pixel electrode, and the first liquid crystal molecule is pre-tilted to have an azimuthal angle in a range of about zero degree to about +45 degrees or in a range of about −45 degrees to about zero degree, based on the first direction.