Liquid Crystal Panel Angular Alignment for Narrow Viewing Mode
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid crystal panels struggle to achieve a small light-shielding angle in the narrow viewing angle mode while maintaining wide viewing angle capabilities, as previous technologies either compromise on productivity or reliability in achieving this goal.
Innovation Solution
A liquid crystal panel design featuring a first polarizing plate with a specific absorption axis, a liquid crystal layer with controlled tilt angles and retardation, and a second polarizing plate, allowing for asymmetric viewing angle control between wide and narrow modes without increasing cell thickness or birefringence, thereby ensuring small light-shielding angles and maintaining productivity and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the cell thickness or birefringence is increased to achieve a small light-shielding angle in narrow viewing angle mode, then the light-shielding angle is reduced, but the productivity and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the angular relationship parameter between the liquid crystal director and the polarizing plate absorption axis. Specifically, it sets the angle to 45 degrees in the twisted nematic mode, which optimizes the light-shielding angle without requiring increases in cell thickness or birefringence. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by achieving small light-shielding angles through angular configuration rather than dimensional scaling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure combining twisted nematic liquid crystal material with polarizing plates at specific angular orientations. This composite configuration creates synergistic effects where the liquid crystal's optical anisotropy works together with the polarizing plates' absorption characteristics to achieve superior light-shielding performance without compromising reliability or requiring extreme parameter values.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the liquid crystal panel is designed for narrow viewing angle mode with small light-shielding angle, then privacy protection is enhanced, but the wide viewing angle capability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic system that can switch between different viewing angle modes. By applying voltage to change the liquid crystal director orientation from the 45-degree twisted configuration to a different alignment state, the panel dynamically adjusts its optical properties. This enables transition between narrow viewing angle mode (enhanced privacy protection) and wide viewing angle mode (public mode), resolving the contradiction through electrical controllability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the liquid crystal panel to perform multiple functions: it can operate in both narrow viewing angle mode for privacy protection and wide viewing angle mode for public viewing. The same basic structure with optimized angular parameters serves dual purposes, allowing the device to adapt to different usage scenarios without requiring separate specialized designs.
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 effectively reduces the light-shielding angle in the narrow viewing angle mode while maintaining a wide viewing angle range, enhancing privacy protection without compromising on productivity or reliability.
Implementation Method 1
voltage is applied to a liquid crystal composition sealed between paired substrates such that the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal composition is changed according to the applied voltage
Implementation Method 2
a polarizing plate that transmits only light components parallel to the polarization axis of the linearly polarized light incident on the liquid crystal layer, among the light components emitted from the liquid crystal layer
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a liquid crystal panel capable of achieving a small light-shielding angle in a narrow viewing angle mode and a display device including the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel sequentially includes: a first polarizing plate with a first absorption axis; a first substrate including a first electrode; a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules; and a second substrate including a second electrode, wherein in a plan view, a director of the liquid crystal molecules with no voltage applied and the first absorption axis form an angle α of not smaller than 5° and not greater than 20° or not smaller than 65° and not greater than 80°.