Transflective LCD with Segmented LC Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transflective LCD apparatuses are sensitive to cell gap variations and temperature changes, leading to deteriorated viewing angles and reduced image contrast, especially in small-sized displays.
Innovation Solution
An image display system with a first polarizer, a liquid crystal layer, and a second substrate, where LC cells are aligned with their optical axes parallel to the polarizer's absorbing axis, and driven in normally white and black modes in light transmitting and reflecting zones respectively, to minimize the impact of substrate variations on image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the LCD apparatus uses a transflective type with IPS or FFS alignment method to increase viewing angle, then the transmission rate increases and color shift decreases, but the apparatus becomes more sensitive to cell gap variation and temperature change, leading to deteriorated viewing angle and reduced image contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the LCD apparatus into distinct transmissive and reflective regions within the same display area. The transmissive region uses a first liquid crystal layer with vertical alignment for high transmission, while the reflective region uses a second liquid crystal layer with in-plane switching for high reflectance. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized independently, reducing the overall sensitivity to cell gap variations while maintaining both high transmission and reflection performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the display are assigned different optical modes and liquid crystal alignment methods according to their functional requirements. The transmissive region employs vertical alignment for maximum light transmission, while the reflective region employs in-plane switching for maximum external light reflection. This local optimization ensures that each area performs its intended function with minimal sensitivity to manufacturing variations.
2Illumination intensity
If the LCD apparatus uses a transflective type with IPS or FFS alignment method to increase viewing angle, then the transmission rate increases and color shift decreases, but the image contrast is seriously lowered when slight alternate variation of the substrate occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into transmissive and reflective regions with different liquid crystal configurations. The transmissive region uses vertical alignment which is less sensitive to substrate variations, while the reflective region uses in-plane switching with optimized electrode patterns. This segmentation isolates the impact of substrate variations to specific regions, preventing overall image contrast deterioration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs different driving modes for transmissive and reflective regions, allowing dynamic adaptation to viewing conditions. The transmissive region operates with vertical alignment that provides stable contrast, while the reflective region uses in-plane switching that can be dynamically controlled to maintain contrast despite substrate variations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the LCD apparatus uses a transflective type with IPS or FFS alignment method to increase viewing angle, then the viewing angle increases, but the apparatus becomes more sensitive to temperature variation
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into transmissive and reflective regions with different liquid crystal alignment methods. The transmissive region uses vertical alignment which has better temperature stability, while the reflective region uses in-plane switching with compensated electrode designs. This segmentation allows the system to maintain wide viewing angles while reducing overall temperature sensitivity through the combined performance of both regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure with two different liquid crystal layers having different alignment characteristics. The first layer with vertical alignment provides temperature stability, while the second layer with in-plane switching provides wide viewing angle. The combination of these two layers creates a composite system that achieves both wide viewing angle and reduced temperature sensitivity.
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 stabilizes image quality by reducing the influence of cell gap variations and temperature changes, maintaining high transmission rates and low color shift while enhancing viewing angles.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid crystal (LC) layer interposed between the two substrates. Pixel electrodes and common electrodes are simultaneously disposed on the bottom substrate so that a transversal electric field is generated in the LC layer to control the liquid crystals to rotate.
Implementation Method 2
Pixel electrodes and common electrodes are simultaneously disposed on the bottom substrate so that a transversal electric field is generated in the LC layer to control the liquid crystals to rotate.
Implementation Method 3
The second substrate has a plurality of light transmitting zones and a plurality of light reflecting zones, and a plurality of reflectors is disposed in the light reflecting zones.
Implementation Method 4
The first polarizer is disposed on the first substrate. The LC layer has a plurality of LC cells, each of which has an optical axis parallel to an absorbing axis of the first polarizer.
Data Source
AI summary
An image display system includes a first polarizer, a first substrate, a liquid crystal (LC) layer and a second substrate. The first polarizer is disposed on the first substrate. The LC layer has a plurality of LC cells each having an optical axis parallel to an absorbing axis of the first polarizer. The second substrate has a plurality of light transmitting zones and a plurality of light reflecting zones. A plurality of reflectors is disposed within the light reflecting zone. The LC cells are horizontally disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The LC cells corresponding to the light reflecting zones are driven in a normally white mode, while the LC cells corresponding to the light transmitting zones are driven in a normally black mode.