# US 10,871,679 B2 · Liquid crystal display panel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,679 B2 - Document ID: US10871679B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/760,825 - Filed: 2016-09-12 - Published: 2020-07-30 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-17 - Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Fumikazu Shimoshikiryoh; Takehisa Yoshida - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871679B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/1337: Surface-induced orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, e.g. by alignment layers - G02F 1/1362: Active matrix addressed cells {(G02F1/134336, G02F1/134363 take precedence)} - G02F 1/1343: Electrodes {(reflective electrodes G02F1/133553)} - G02F 1/13624: {having more than one switching element per pixel} - G02F 1/1368: in which the switching element is a three-electrode device {(G02F1/136277 takes precedence)} - G02F 1/133746: {for high pretilt angles, i.e. higher than 15 degrees} - G02F 1/134345: {Subdivided pixels, e.g. for grey scale or redundancy} - G02F 2201/123: pixel - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS ## Abstract A liquid crystal display panel includes in the following order: a first substrate including pixel electrodes; a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules; and a second substrate including a counter electrode, the liquid crystal display panel including pixels each including at least four alignment regions of a first alignment region, a second alignment region, a third alignment region, and a fourth alignment region, the four alignment regions providing different tilt azimuths to the liquid crystal molecules, the first alignment region, the second alignment region, the third alignment region, and the fourth alignment region being arranged in the given order in a longitudinal direction of each pixel, the first alignment region and the second alignment region providing tilt azimuths approximately 180° different from each other to the liquid crystal molecules or the third alignment region and the fourth alignment region providing tilt azimuths approximately 180° different from each other to the liquid crystal molecules. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid crystal display panel comprising in the following order: a first substrate including pixel electrodes; a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules; and a second substrate including a counter electrode, the liquid crystal display panel including pixels each consisting of four alignment regions of a first alignment region, a second alignment region, a third alignment region, and a fourth alignment region, the four alignment regions providing different tilt azimuths to the liquid crystal molecules, the first alignment region, the second alignment region, the third alignment region, and the fourth alignment region being arranged in the given order in a longitudinal direction of each pixel, the first alignment region and the second alignment region providing tilt azimuths approximately 180° different from each other to the liquid crystal molecules or the third alignment region and the fourth alignment region providing tilt azimuths approximately 180° different from each other to the liquid crystal molecules, the pixel electrodes including a first pixel electrode configured to apply voltage to the first alignment region and the second alignment region and a second pixel electrode configured to apply voltage to the third alignment region and the fourth alignment region, the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode each including slits extending parallel to the respective tilt azimuths of the liquid crystal molecules in the respective alignment regions, the slits in the first pixel electrode including at least a slit surrounded by the first pixel electrode, and the slits in the second pixel electrode include at least a slit surrounded by the second pixel electrode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein with the azimuth in a transverse direction of each pixel being defined as 0°, the first alignment region, the second alignment region, the third alignment region, and the fourth alignment region are each an alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 45°, an alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 135°, an alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 225°, or an alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 315°. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 2, wherein each pixel has a first alignment division pattern in which the first alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 225°, the second alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 45°, the third alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 315°, and the fourth alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 135° are arranged in the given order, or a second alignment division pattern in which the first alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 315°, the second alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 135°, the third alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 225°, and the fourth alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 45° are arranged in the given order. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are aligned substantially perpendicular to the first substrate and the second substrate and at a tilt in the respective tilt azimuth directions with no voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer and are to be more tilted in the tilt azimuth direction upon application of voltage to the liquid crystal layer, and the liquid crystal molecules are at a twist angle of 45° or smaller in each of the four alignment regions in a plan view of the liquid crystal display panel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode being configured to apply different voltages to the liquid crystal layer, at a grayscale value k in the range of 0 to n, where n is an integer of 2 or greater, k is 0|V2(k)| resulting from application of positive voltage to the first pixel electrode and a first negative pixel with |V1(k)|>IV2(k)| resulting from application of negative voltage to the first pixel electrode, in a row or column direction, and a second positive pixel with IV1(k)I1V2(k)| is arranged next to a pixel with 1V1(k)|>1V2(k)| in the column direction and next to a pixel with 1V1(k)|<1V2(k)| in the row direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 8, wherein the pixels in the row direction and the column direction consecutively have the first alignment division pattern. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 8, wherein the pixels in the row direction and the column direction consecutively have the second alignment division pattern. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 8, wherein the pixels in the row direction consecutively have the first alignment division pattern or the second alignment division pattern, and every multiple pixels in the column direction alternately have the first alignment division pattern and the second alignment division pattern. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode being configured to apply different voltages to the liquid crystal layer, at a grayscale value k in the range of 0 to n, where n is an integer of 2 or greater, k is 01V2(k)| are arranged consecutively in the row direction and the column direction or the pixels with 1V1(k)|<|V2(k)1 are arranged consecutively in the row direction and the column direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 12, wherein the pixels in the row direction consecutively have the first alignment division pattern or the second alignment division pattern, and the pixels in the column direction alternately have the first alignment division pattern and the second alignment division pattern. ### Claim 14 A liquid crystal display panel comprising in the following order: a first substrate including pixel electrodes; a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules; and a second substrate including a counter electrode, the liquid crystal display panel including pixels each including at least four alignment regions of a first alignment region, a second alignment region, a third alignment region, and a fourth alignment region, the four alignment regions providing different tilt azimuths to the liquid crystal molecules, the first alignment region, the second alignment region, the third alignment region, and the fourth alignment region being arranged in the given order in a longitudinal direction of each pixel, the first alignment region and the second alignment region providing tilt azimuths approximately 180° different from each other to the liquid crystal molecules or the third alignment region and the fourth alignment region providing tilt azimuths approximately 180° different from each other to the liquid crystal molecules, the pixel electrodes including a first pixel electrode configured to apply voltage to the first alignment region and the second alignment region and a second pixel electrode configured to apply voltage to the third alignment region and the fourth alignment region, the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode being configured to apply different voltages to the liquid crystal layer, and the liquid crystal display panel including pixels with |V1(k)|>|V2(k)| and pixels with |V1(k)|<|V2(k)| in display at a grayscale value k in the range of 0 to n, where n is an integer of 2 or greater, k is 0|V2(k)| being arranged next to a pixel with |V1(k)|>IV2(k)| in a column direction and next to a pixel with 1V1(k)|<1V2(k)| in a row direction, the pixels in the row direction consecutively having a first alignment division pattern or a second alignment division pattern, and every multiple pixels in the column direction alternately having the first alignment division pattern and the second alignment division pattern. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 14, wherein with the azimuth in a transverse direction of each pixel being defined as 0°, the first alignment region, the second alignment region, the third alignment region, and the fourth alignment region are each an alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 45°, an alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 135°, an alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 225°, or an alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 315°. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 15, wherein each pixel has the first alignment division pattern in which the first alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 225°, the second alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 45°, the third alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 315°, and the fourth alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 135° are arranged in the given order, or the second alignment division pattern in which the first alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 315°, the second alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 135°, the third alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 225°, and the fourth alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 45° are arranged in the given order. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 14, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are aligned substantially perpendicular to the first substrate and the second substrate and at a tilt in the respective tilt azimuth directions with no voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer and are to be more tilted in the tilt azimuth direction upon application of voltage to the liquid crystal layer, and the liquid crystal molecules are at a twist angle of 45° or smaller in each of the four alignment regions in a plan view of the liquid crystal display panel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 14, wherein the liquid crystal display panel includes a first positive pixel with |V1(k)|>|V2(k)| resulting from application of positive voltage to the first pixel electrode and a first negative pixel with |V1(k)|>IV2(k)| resulting from application of negative voltage to the first pixel electrode, in a row or column direction, and a second positive pixel with |V1(k)|<|V2(k)| resulting from application of positive voltage to the second pixel electrode and a second negative pixel with |V1(k)|<|V2(k)| resulting from application of negative voltage to the second pixel electrode, in the row or column direction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 14, wherein the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode each include slits extending parallel to the respective tilt azimuths of the liquid crystal molecules in the respective alignment regions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 14, wherein the pixels are arranged next to each other, and the liquid crystal display panel is driven by applying voltage of the same polarity to the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode and making adjacent pixels have different polarities from each other. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 14, wherein the pixels are arranged next to each other and constitute pixel groups of N rows×M columns where N is an integer of 1 or greater and M is an integer of 1 or greater, and the liquid crystal display panel is driven by applying voltage of the same polarity to the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode and making adjacent pixel groups have different polarities from each other. ### Claim 22 A liquid crystal display panel comprising in the following order: a first substrate including pixel electrodes; a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules; and a second substrate including a counter electrode, the liquid crystal display panel including pixels each including at least four alignment regions of a first alignment region, a second alignment region, a third alignment region, and a fourth alignment region, the four alignment regions providing different tilt azimuths to the liquid crystal molecules, the first alignment region, the second alignment region, the third alignment region, and the fourth alignment region being arranged in the given order in a longitudinal direction of each pixel, the first alignment region and the second alignment region providing tilt azimuths approximately 180° different from each other to the liquid crystal molecules or the third alignment region and the fourth alignment region providing tilt azimuths approximately 180° different from each other to the liquid crystal molecules, the pixel electrodes including a first pixel electrode configured to apply voltage to the first alignment region and the second alignment region and a second pixel electrode configured to apply voltage to the third alignment region and the fourth alignment region, the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode being configured to apply different voltages to the liquid crystal layer, and the liquid crystal display panel including pixels with |V1(k)|>|V2(k)| and pixels with |V1(k)||V2(k)| being arranged consecutively in a row direction and a column direction or the pixels with |V1(k)|<|V2(k)| are arranged consecutively in the row direction and the column direction, the pixels in the row direction consecutively having a first alignment division pattern or a second alignment division pattern, and the pixels in the column direction alternately having the first alignment division pattern and the second alignment division pattern. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 22, wherein with the azimuth in a transverse direction of each pixel being defined as 0°, the first alignment region, the second alignment region, the third alignment region, and the fourth alignment region are each an alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 45°, an alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 135°, an alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 225°, or an alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 315°. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 23, wherein each pixel has the first alignment division pattern in which the first alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 225°, the second alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 45°, the third alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 315°, and the fourth alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 135° are arranged in the given order, or the second alignment division pattern in which the first alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 315°, the second alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 135°, the third alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 225°, and the fourth alignment region providing a tilt azimuth of approximately 45° are arranged in the given order. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 22, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are aligned substantially perpendicular to the first substrate and the second substrate and at a tilt in the respective tilt azimuth directions with no voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer and are to be more tilted in the tilt azimuth direction upon application of voltage to the liquid crystal layer, and the liquid crystal molecules are at a twist angle of 45° or smaller in each of the four alignment regions in a plan view of the liquid crystal display panel. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 22, wherein the liquid crystal display panel includes a first positive pixel with |V1 (k)|>|V2(k)| resulting from application of positive voltage to the first pixel electrode and a first negative pixel with |V1(k)|>|V2(k)| resulting from application of negative voltage to the first pixel electrode, in the row or column direction, and a second positive pixel with IV1(k)|