Transflective Liquid Crystal Panel Single Cell Gap Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior transflective liquid crystal panels face challenges with process complexity, increased cost, and image quality due to the need for a double cell gap design to match phase differences between transmissive and reflective areas, which complicates driving voltages and alignment of liquid crystal molecules.
Innovation Solution
A transflective liquid crystal panel using a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer with a polymer network, where the polymer network is composed of precursors containing fluoride and hydrocarbon, allowing for a single cell gap design that adjusts transmittance and reflectance based on voltage differences, simplifying the process and improving image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a double cell gap design is used to match phase differences between reflective and transmissive areas, then the driving voltage mismatch is improved, but the process complexity and manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cell gap parameter from a double cell gap design to a single cell gap design. By adjusting the cell gap to a specific range (3.0-5.0 μm) and optimizing the liquid crystal material parameters (Δε, Δn), the patent achieves matching of phase differences between reflective and transmissive areas without requiring complex double cell gap structure, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the liquid crystal material serve multiple functions simultaneously. The same liquid crystal material in the single cell gap structure performs both reflective and transmissive display functions. By optimizing the liquid crystal material parameters (Δε≥3.0, Δn≥0.15) and cell gap, the patent enables one material system to achieve both display modes with matched driving characteristics, eliminating the need for separate cell gap structures
2Reliability
If a double cell gap design is used to match phase differences, then the driving voltage mismatch is improved, but the manufacturing cost and process time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the cell gap parameter to a single value range (3.0-5.0 μm) that simultaneously satisfies both reflective and transmissive display requirements. This parameter optimization eliminates the need for additional dielectric layers and complex assembly processes, reducing manufacturing steps and improving productivity while maintaining driving voltage matching
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary dielectric layer (layer 22 in FIG. 1) from the reflective area structure. By removing this additional layer and its associated fabrication steps, the patent simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces process time, and lowers manufacturing cost while still achieving the required phase difference matching through optimized liquid crystal material parameters
3Device complexity
If a single cell gap design is used, then the process complexity is reduced, but the liquid crystal molecule alignment at the border area deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the cell gap parameter to a specific range (3.0-5.0 μm) that prevents liquid crystal molecule alignment issues at the border area. This optimized parameter range, combined with specific liquid crystal material properties (Δε≥3.0, Δn≥0.15), ensures proper molecular orientation and display quality while maintaining the simplicity of the single cell gap structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different alignment conditions to different areas of the display. By optimizing the liquid crystal material parameters and cell gap, the patent ensures that the liquid crystal molecules achieve proper alignment quality at the border between reflective and transmissive areas, while the rest of the display area maintains its standard alignment characteristics
4Reliability
If different controlling electric circuits are used for reflective and transmissive areas, then the phase difference mismatch is resolved, but the array substrate arrangement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the liquid crystal material and cell gap structure serve multiple functions simultaneously. The same liquid crystal material layer and cell gap structure perform both reflective and transmissive display functions with matched phase differences. By optimizing the liquid crystal material parameters (Δε≥3.0, Δn≥0.15) and cell gap (3.0-5.0 μm), the patent eliminates the need for different controlling electric circuits, simplifying the array substrate design while maintaining phase difference matching
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 enables simultaneous transmissive and reflective modes with improved image quality, reduced process complexity, and increased yield by using a polymer network that affects the pretilt angle and transition time of liquid crystal molecules, while maintaining compatibility with existing liquid crystal molecules and driving voltages.
Implementation Method 1
a polymer network which affects a pretilt angle and a transition time of the liquid crystal molecules
Implementation Method 2
liquid crystal molecules have both transmissive and reflective functions by using a polymer network
Implementation Method 3
When a voltage difference between the first and the second substrates is not equal to 0V, the liquid crystal molecules reflect and/or are pervious to the incident light
Implementation Method 4
the liquid crystal molecules reflect and/or are pervious to the incident light
Implementation Method 5
When a voltage difference between the first and the second substrates is not equal to 0V, the liquid crystal molecules reflect and/or are pervious to the incident light, and when the voltage difference is equal to 0V, the liquid crystal molecules do not reflect and/or are pervious to the incident light
Data Source
AI summary
A transflective liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first polarizer disposed on the first substrate, a second polarizer disposed on the second substrate having a transmission axis perpendicular to that of the first polarizer and a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates. The polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules and at least one polymer network. When a voltage difference between the substrates is equal to 0V, the liquid crystal molecules do not reflect incident light beams and are not pervious to incident light beams. When the voltage difference between the substrates is not equal to 0V, the crystal molecules reflect incident light beams and are pervious to incident light beams.