Liquid crystal devices having reduced electrode-gap visibility
AssigneeRealD Inc.
InventorsDouglas J. McKnight, Michael G. Robinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Liquid crystal devices may include electrode segments that are spaced apart and have a gap therebetween. A bridge layer may be disposed in the gap and configured to have a resistance that is operable provide a substantially equipotential region proximate to the gap portion while still allowing the electrode segments to be substantially isolated electrically. The disclosed liquid crystal devices may have reduced visual artifacts and may be configured to be a liquid crystal display, a polarization control panel, or a switch having liquid crystal cells.
Claims20
A liquid crystal device, comprising:
- first and second substrate layers;
- a first electrode layer disposed on the first substrate layer, the first electrode layer comprising a gap portion defined between first and second electrode segments, wherein the first and second electrode segments have a first sheet resistance;
- a bridge layer disposed at least in the gap portion, wherein the bridge layer has a second sheet resistance that is greater than the first sheet resistance;
- a second electrode layer disposed on the second substrate layer;
- and
- a liquid crystal layer between the bridge layer and the second electrode layer.
A liquid crystal device, comprising:
- first and second conductive layers, wherein the first conductive layer comprises first and second portions operable to be driven to different electrical potentials;
- a bridge layer disposed at least in a gap portion between the first and second portions, wherein the bridge layer is operable to provide a substantially equipotential region proximate to the gap portion;
- and
- a liquid crystal layer between the first and second conductive layers.
A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device, the method comprising:
- providing first and second substrates;
- coating the first substrate with a first electrode layer;
- patterning the first electrode layer to form first and second electrode segments having a gap portion therebetween, wherein the first and second electrode segments have a first sheet resistance;
- disposing a bridge layer at least in the gap portion, wherein the bridge layer has a second sheet resistance that is greater than the first sheet resistance;
- coating the second substrate with a second electrode layer;
- and
- bonding the first and second substrates with a liquid crystal layer disposed between the bridge layer and the second electrode layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.