Semi-Transparent Display Device With Multi-Gap Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional semi-transparent liquid crystal display devices using a comb-teeth electrode as a reflective electrode face limitations in design flexibility and suffer from lower display quality due to the adverse effect of metallic reflective members on electric flux lines.
Innovation Solution
A semi-transparent display device design featuring a pair of substrates with a medium layer, where comb-teeth electrodes are provided on at least one substrate, and a reflective member is separately placed with a multi-gap layer on the backside substrate, allowing for a thinner liquid crystal layer thickness in the reflective display section and reducing field shielding effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a comb-teeth electrode is used as a reflective electrode in a semi-transparent display device, then the device can achieve both transparent and reflective display functions, but the design flexibility is limited and the reflective member adversely affects electric flux lines reducing display quality
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel electrode is divided into multiple comb-teeth electrodes that are spatially separated. This segmentation allows the comb-teeth electrodes to generate horizontal electric fields for IPS mode operation while being positioned away from the reflective member, thereby reducing the adverse effects on electric flux lines and improving design flexibility for the reflective region
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective member is extracted and positioned separately from the comb-teeth electrodes, specifically placed in the lower layer than the multi-gap layer. This separation removes the harmful interaction between the reflective member and electric flux lines while maintaining the reflective display function, thus improving display quality without compromising the dual-mode capability
2Ease of manufacture
If the liquid crystal layer thickness is uniform across the display, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the optical path length difference between transparent and reflective display units causes display quality issues
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-gap layer is introduced to create local variations in the liquid crystal layer thickness. By providing different thicknesses in different regions (thinner in reflective display units, thicker in transparent display units), the patent achieves uniform optical path lengths across both display modes, improving display quality while maintaining reasonable manufacturing complexity through a systematic approach
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 enhances the freedom in arranging the reflective region, reduces the impact of the reflective member on electric flux lines, and improves display quality by allowing for easier design of the reflective display unit without adverse effects on the comb-teeth electrodes.
Implementation Method 1
a medium layer made up of a display medium which is sandwiched by the display-side substrate and the backside substrate, the display medium being driven and displayed by an electric field applied between comb-teeth electrodes provided on at least one of the pair of substrates
Implementation Method 2
a reflective display unit that carries out a display by reflecting externally entered light
Data Source
AI summary
A display device according to the present invention contains a transparent display unit (18) and a reflective display unit (19) in one pixel. The reflective display unit (19) is provided with an insulating layer (8) constituting a multi-gap layer, and a pixel electrode (16) and a common electrode (17) set closer to a display surface than a reflective film (7) at least through the insulating layer. The reflective film (7) is provided on the same plane as the insulating layer (8) in the lower substrate (10) and covered with the insulating layer (8), or provided in a lower layer than the insulating layer (8) in the lower substrate (10) and overlapped with the insulating layer (8).