Transflective LCD Single-Cell Design for Light Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transflective LCD panels face technical challenges due to differences in thickness between transmissive and reflective cells, leading to poor rubbing and dark-state light leakage.
Innovation Solution
A single-cell transflective LCD design is achieved by dividing substrates into transmissive and reflective areas with alignment films configured at different angles, allowing liquid crystal molecules to be tilted at specific pretilt angles to achieve equivalent phase retardation, thereby simplifying manufacturing and reducing light leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two separate liquid crystal cells are assembled to build a transflective LCD panel, then both transmissive and reflective areas can be achieved, but the difference in thickness between the two cells leads to poor rubbing and dark-state light leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the transmissive and reflective cell structures into a single integrated liquid crystal cell. The array substrate is divided into transmissive pixel electrodes and reflective pixel electrodes within the same cell, eliminating the need for two separate cells. This integration ensures uniform cell thickness across both areas, enabling consistent rubbing quality and preventing dark-state light leakage while maintaining transflective display versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The array substrate is segmented into different functional areas with distinct alignment configurations. The transmissive area uses a first alignment angle for vertical alignment, while the reflective area uses a second alignment angle for tilted alignment. This segmentation allows each area to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining a unified cell structure and consistent thickness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two separate liquid crystal cells are assembled to build a transflective LCD panel, then both transmissive and reflective areas can be achieved, but the manufacturing process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate cell assemblies into a single cell structure. Instead of assembling two distinct liquid crystal cells with different thicknesses, the invention creates one unified cell where transmissive and reflective areas coexist, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining transflective functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The single liquid crystal cell is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously. The same cell structure and liquid crystal layer serve both transmissive and reflective display modes by incorporating different alignment film configurations in different areas, eliminating the need for separate specialized cells.
3Ease of operation
If rubbing alignment is used for transflective LCD, then initial alignment of liquid crystal molecules can be achieved, but difference in thickness between cells causes poor rubbing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the alignment processes for transmissive and reflective areas into a single rubbing operation. By integrating both areas into one cell with uniform thickness, the rubbing process can be applied consistently across the entire array substrate without the quality issues that arise from thickness variations in separate cells.
Solution Approach 2:
While using a unified rubbing process, the patent applies different alignment angles to different areas through localized alignment film configurations. The transmissive area receives rubbing at a first alignment angle, while the reflective area receives rubbing at a second alignment angle, allowing each area to have optimized alignment quality suitable for its specific function.
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 simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces light leakage by ensuring equivalent phase retardation in both areas, enabling a single-cell transflective LCD with improved performance.
Implementation Method 1
a first alignment film, installed on one side of the first substrate which is facing the second substrate; a second alignment film, installed on one side of the second substrate which is facing the first substrate; areas of the first alignment film and the second alignment film are configured respectively by different aligning angles
Implementation Method 2
the plurality of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer corresponding to the transmissive area and the reflective area are tilted by different pretilt angles, so that a beam of light going one-way through the liquid crystal layer corresponding to the transmissive area has the same phase retardation as making a round-trip through the liquid crystal layer corresponding to the reflective area
Data Source
AI summary
A transflective LCD device and a method of forming the same are proposed. The transflective LCD includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first alignment film, a second alignment film and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate and the second substrate are divided into a transmissive area and a reflective area, in which areas of the first alignment film and the second alignment film are configured respectively by different aligning angles. The liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer corresponding to the transmissive area and the reflective area are tilted by different pretilt angles. Therefore, light going one-way through the liquid crystal layer corresponding to the transmissive area generates the same phase retardation as making a round-trip through the liquid crystal layer corresponding to the reflective area.