Back to results
US 6,606,138 B2Granted
Liquid crystal layer including a dichroic dye
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorTomio Sonehara
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reflecting film is formed on one substrate, and ¼ wavelength layer is arranged on this reflecting film. A liquid crystal layer comprises liquid crystal molecule, a polymer and dichroic dye, the polymer particles being dispersed in liquid crystal molecules. Using this configuration, a liquid crystal apparatus free from parallax is available. Because the dichroic dye is mixed in the liquid crystal layer, a light entering the liquid crystal layer upon non-application of voltage is absorbed by the dichroic dye, thus giving a light absorbing state. Upon application of voltage, there is available a light scattering state.
Claims24
A liquid crystal apparatus comprising:
- a liquid crystal layer including a liquid crystal molecule with a first refractive index, a polymer with a second refractive index and a dichroic dye, said liquid crystal layer being held between a pair of substrates;
- and
- a reflecting layer with a mirror surface formed over one of said substrates on an inboard side having the liquid crystal layer formed thereon;
- a ¼ wavelength layer formed over the reflective layer, the ¼ wavelength layer converting an incident light reflected at the reflecting layer to a light having a predetermined polarization component, wherein said first and second refractive indexes are substantially the same upon voltage non-application and are different upon voltage application;
- an electrode formed over the ¼ wavelength layer;
- wherein, upon voltage non-application:
- said liquid crystal molecule, said dichroic dye and said polymer are arranged in a same direction different from a direction of the electric field to be applied;
- said liquid crystal layer not scattering the incident light or the light having the predetermined polarization component;
- and
- said dichroic dye absorbing the incident light and the light having the predetermined polarization component;
- and
- wherein, upon voltage application:
- only said liquid crystal molecule and said dichroic dye are selectively arranged in the electric field direction;
- said liquid crystal layer scattering said incident light and said light having the predetermined polarization component.
11 more elements
A liquid crystal apparatus comprising:
- a liquid crystal layer including a liquid crystal molecule with a first refractive index, a polymer with a second refractive index and a dichroic dye, said liquid crystal layer being held between a pair of substrates;
- and
- a reflecting layer with a mirror surface formed over one of said substrates on an inboard side having the liquid crystal layer formed thereon;
- a ¼ wavelength layer formed over the reflecting layer, the ¼ wavelength layer converting an incident light reflected at the reflecting layer to a light having a predetermined polarization component;
- an electrode formed over said ¼ wavelength layer, wherein said first and second refractive indexes are substantially the same upon voltage non-application and are different upon voltage application;
- wherein, upon voltage non-application:
- said liquid crystal molecule, said dichroic dye and said polymer are arranged in a same direction different from a direction of the electric field to be applied;
- said liquid crystal layer not scattering the incident light or the light having the predetermined polarization component;
- and
- said dichroic dye absorbing the incident light and the light having the predetermined polarization component;
- and
- wherein, upon voltage application:
- only said liquid crystal molecule and said dichroic dye are selectively arranged in the electric field direction;
- said liquid crystal layer scattering said incident light and said light having the predetermined polarization component.
11 more elements
A liquid crystal apparatus comprising:
- a liquid crystal layer including a liquid crystal molecule, a polymer and a dichroic dye, said liquid crystal layer being held between a pair of substrates;
- an electrode having a mirror surface formed over one of said substrates on an inboard side having the liquid crystal layer formed thereon;
- and
- a retardation film formed over said electrode, wherein said liquid crystal layer does not cause scattering upon voltage non-application, and causes scattering upon voltage application,
- wherein upon voltage non-application said liquid crystal molecule, said dichroic dye and said polymer are arranged in a same direction different from a direction of the electric field to be applied;
- and
- wherein upon voltage application only said liquid crystal molecule and said dichroic are selectively arranged in the electric field direction.
4 more elements
A liquid crystal apparatus comprising:
- a light incident side substrate having a pixel electrode formed in a matrix shape and a switching element connected to said pixel electrode;
- an opposite substrate having a reflecting layer with a mirror surface formed on an inboard side having the liquid crystal layer formed thereon;
- a ¼ wavelength layer formed over the reflecting layer, the ¼ wavelength layer converting an incident light reflected at the reflecting layer to a light having a predetermined polarization component;
- an electrode formed over the ¼ wavelength layer;
- a liquid crystal layer disposed between said substrates;
- and
- said liquid crystal layer comprising a liquid crystal molecule with a first refractive index, a polymer with a second refractive index, and a dichroic dye, wherein said first and second refractive indexes are substantially the same upon voltage non-application and are different upon voltage application;
- wherein, upon voltage non-application:
- said liquid crystal molecule, said dichroic dye and said polymer are arranged in a same direction different from a direction of the electric field to be applied;
- said liquid crystal layer not scattering the incident light or the light having the predetermined polarization component;
- and
- said dichroic dye absorbing the incident light and the light having the predetermined polarization component;
- and
- wherein, upon voltage application:
- only said liquid crystal molecule and said dichroic dye are selectively arranged in the electric field direction;
- said liquid crystal layer scattering said incident light and said light having the predetermined polarization component.
13 more elements
An electronic device including a light valve comprising:
- a light incident side substrate having a pixel electrode formed in a matrix shape and a switching element connected to said pixel electrode;
- an opposite substrate having a reflecting layer with a mirror surface formed on an inboard side having the liquid crystal layer formed thereon;
- a ¼ wavelength layer formed over the reflecting layer, the ¼ wavelength layer converting an incident light reflected at the reflecting layer to a light having a predetermined polarization component;
- an electrode formed over the ¼ wavelength layer;
- a liquid crystal layer disposed between said substrates;
- and
- said liquid crystal layer comprising a liquid crystal molecule with a first refractive index, a polymer with a second refractive index, and a dichroic dye, wherein said first and second refractive indexes are substantially the same upon voltage non-application and are different upon voltage application;
- wherein, upon voltage non-application:
- said liquid crystal molecule, said dichroic dye and said polymer are arranged in a same direction different from a direction of the electric field to be applied;
- said liquid crystal layer not scattering the incident light or the light having the predetermined polarization component;
- and
- said dichroic dye absorbing the incident light and the light having the predetermined polarization component;
- and
- wherein, upon voltage application:
- only said liquid crystal molecule and said dichroic dye are selectively arranged in the electric field direction;
- said liquid crystal layer scattering said incident light and said light having the predetermined polarization component.
13 more elements
An electronic device including a display unit comprising:
- a light incident side substrate having a pixel electrode formed in a matrix shape and a switching element connected to said pixel electrode;
- an opposite substrate having a reflecting layer with a mirror surface formed on an inboard side having the liquid crystal layer formed thereon;
- a ¼ wavelength layer formed over the reflecting layer, the ¼ wavelength layer converting an incident light reflected at the reflecting layer to a light having a predetermined polarization component;
- an electrode formed over the ¼ wavelength layer;
- a liquid crystal layer disposed between said substrates;
- and
- said liquid crystal layer comprising a liquid crystal molecule with a first refractive index, a polymer with a second refractive index, and a dichroic dye, wherein said first and second refractive indexes are substantially the same upon voltage non-application and are different upon voltage application;
- wherein, upon voltage non-application:
- said liquid crystal molecule, said dichroic dye and said polymer are arranged in a same direction different from a direction of the electric field to be applied;
- said liquid crystal layer not scattering the incident light or the light having the predetermined polarization component;
- and
- said dichroic dye absorbing the incident light and the light having the predetermined polarization component;
- and
- wherein, upon voltage application:
- only said liquid crystal molecule and said dichroic dye are selectively arranged in the electric field direction;
- said liquid crystal layer scattering said incident light and said light having the predetermined polarization component.
13 more elements
A liquid crystal apparatus comprising:
- a first substrate having a first and second side;
- a second substrate having a first and second side;
- a reflecting layer with a mirror surface disposed over said second side of said first substrate;
- a ¼ wavelength layer formed over said reflecting layer, the ¼ wavelength layer converting an incident light reflected at the reflecting layer to a light having a predetermined polarization component;
- and
- a liquid crystal layer disposed between said electrode and said first side of said second substrate, said liquid crystal layer including a liquid crystal molecule with a first orientation, a polymer with a second orientation and a dichroic dye, wherein said first and second orientations are substantially the same upon voltage non-application and are different upon voltage application;
- wherein, upon voltage non-application:
- said liquid crystal molecule, said dichroic dye and said polymer are arranged in a same direction different from a direction of the electric field to be applied;
- said liquid crystal layer not scattering the incident light or the light having the predetermined polarization component;
- and
- said dichroic dye absorbing the incident light and the light having the predetermined polarization component;
- and
- wherein, upon voltage application:
- only said liquid crystal molecule and said dichroic dye are selectively arranged in the electric field direction;
- said liquid crystal layer scattering said incident light and said light having the predetermined polarization component.
12 more elements
A liquid crystal apparatus comprising:
- a first substrate having a first and second side;
- a second substrate having a first and second side;
- a reflecting layer with a mirror surface disposed over said second side of said first substrate;
- a ¼ wavelength layer disposed over said reflecting layer;
- a picture element electrode formed into a matrix shape and disposed over said ¼ wavelength layer;
- a switching element connected to said picture element electrode;
- a striped shaped electrode disposed over said second side of said second substrate in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of data lines of said switching element;
- and
- a liquid crystal layer disposed between said switching element and said striped shaped electrode, said liquid crystal layer including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules with a first orientation, a plurality of polymers with a second orientation and a dichroic dye, wherein said first and second orientations are substantially the same upon voltage non-application and are different upon voltage application;
- wherein, upon voltage non-application:
- said liquid crystal molecule, said dichroic dye and said polymer are arranged in a same direction different from a direction of the electric field to be applied;
- said liquid crystal layer not scattering the incident light or the light having the predetermined polarization component;
- and
- said dichroic dye absorbing the incident light and the light having the predetermined polarization component;
- and
- wherein, upon voltage application:
- only said liquid crystal molecule and said dichroic dye are selectively arranged in the electric field direction;
- said liquid crystal layer scattering said incident light and said light having the predetermined polarization component.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.