Display device and electronic equipment having the same comprising a region for reflecting a polarized light and a region for absorbing the polarized light

A display device comprising:

• a display unit for forming a predetermined display mode;
• and
• a display switching unit overlapping with the display unit at least in one portion,
• wherein the display switching unit includes first polarization component selecting means, polarized-light transmitting axis changing means, and second polarization component selecting means sequentially disposed from the display unit toward an observation side,
• the first polarization component selecting means transmits a first polarization component and reflects a second polarization component having a polarization axis intersecting with a polarization axis of the first polarization component,
• the polarized-light transmitting axis changing means is switchable between a state of transmitting light after changing the first polarization component into the second polarization component and a state of transmitting light without substantially changing the polarization axis of the incident light,
• the second polarization component selecting means transmits one of the first polarization component and the second polarization component and absorbs or reflects the other polarization component,
• the display unit emits the first polarization component for forming the display mode,
• the display unit includes an illuminating device disposed on the side of the display switching unit, and a reflective display device disposed on the opposite side of the illuminating device and away from the display switching unit,
• the illuminating device emits light toward the reflective display device and transmits light incident from the reflective display device,
• the polarized-light transmitting axis changing means includes a TN-type liquid crystal layer and a voltage application means for applying a predetermined electric field to the TN-type liquid crystal layer in a thickness direction,
• the TN-type liquid crystal layer has And within a range of 0.7 μm to 1.7 μm, and
• the display switching unit is provided with a region including the first polarization component selecting means, and a region including a third polarization component selecting means for transmitting the first polarization component and for absorbing the second polarization component instead of the first polarization component selecting means.