# US 9,519,176 B2 · Display panel and display device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,519,176 B2 - Document ID: US9519176B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/411,376 - Filed: 2013-06-14 - Published: 2015-07-09 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-27 - Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Eiji Satoh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519176B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/169: based on orientable non-spherical particles having a common optical characteristic, e.g. suspended particles of reflective metal flakes - G02F 1/1335: Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors - G02F 1/1337: Surface-induced orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, e.g. by alignment layers - G02F 1/172: {based on a suspension of orientable dipolar particles, e.g. suspended particles displays} - G02F 1/133565: {inside the LC elements, i.e. between the cell substrates} - 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 Cohesion of shape anisotropy members is prevented A display panel (2) in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes: substrates (10) and (20) which are provided so as to face each other; and an optical modulation layer (30) including a plurality of shape anisotropy members (32) each of which includes (i) a core that is an electric conductor and (ii) a covering layer that is a dielectric and that covers an entire periphery of the core. The display panel (2) changes an area of each image of the plurality of shape anisotropy members (32) which image is projected on the substrates (10) and (20), by changing a voltage to be applied to the optical modulation layer (30). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A display panel comprising: a first substrate facing a second substrate, wherein each of the first substrate and the second substrate includes at least one electrode; and an optical modulation layer configured to control a transmittance with respect to light that enters the optical modulation layer, wherein the optical modulation layer is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a plurality of shape anisotropy members, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of shape anisotropy members is provided in the optical modulation layer; and each of the plurality of shape anisotropy members includes (i) an electrically conductive core and (ii) a dielectric layer that covers an entire periphery of the core, and wherein an area of each image of the plurality of shape anisotropy members is configured to change which image is projected on the first substrate and the second substrate based on a level or a frequency of a voltage to be applied to the optical modulation layer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The display panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the optical modulation layer includes a medium in which the plurality of shape anisotropy members are dispersed; and a difference in refractive index between the medium and the covering layer is not more than 0.3. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The display panel as set forth in claim 2, wherein the difference in refractive index between the medium and the covering layer is not more than 0.2. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The display panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein the covering layer has a thickness of not less than 0.002 μm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The display panel as set forth in claim 4, wherein the covering layer has a thickness of not less than 0.04 μm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The display panel as set forth in claim 4, wherein the covering layer has a thickness of not less than 0.1 μm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The display panel as set forth in claim 4, wherein, assuming that “n” represents a/the refractive index of the covering layer, the covering layer has a thickness of less than 0.19/n[μm]. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The display panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein, assuming that “n” represents a/the refractive index of the covering layer, the covering layer has a thickness of more than 0.39/n[μm]. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The display panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least part of the covering layer is made of silicon dioxide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The display panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein the core is made of metal and has a reflectivity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The display panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein: each of the plurality of shape anisotropy members has an electrostatic property; and in a case where the voltage applied to the optical modulation layer is a direct voltage or a voltage having a low frequency of not more than a first threshold, the optical modulation layer blocks light, whereas, in a case where the voltage applied to the optical modulation layer is a voltage having a high frequency of not less than second threshold, the optical modulation layer transmits light. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A display panel as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an electric field application direction changing circuit configured to change a direction of an electric field applied to the optical modulation layer, the first substrate includes an allover electrode as said at least one electrode, the second substrate includes, as said at least one electrode, an allover electrode and at least one comb-shaped electrode being provided, via an insulating layer, on the allover electrode of the second substrate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The display panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the optical modulation layer contains a liquid crystal material comprising liquid crystal molecules; each surface of the first substrate and the second substrate that faces the optical modulation layer is subjected to alignment treatment; and the alignment treatment is carried out so that, while no voltage is being applied to the optical modulation layer, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned so as to be twisted from the first substrate toward the second substrate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A display device comprising a display panel recited in claim 1. ### Claim 15 A display panel comprising: a first substrate facing a second substrate; and an optical modulation layer configured to control a transmittance with respect to light that enters the optical modulation layer, wherein the optical modulation layer is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein: the optical modulation layer contains a polar solvent and a non-polar solvent; the first substrate has a hydrophilic property and is in contact with the polar solvent; the second substrate has a hydrophobic property and is in contact with the non-polar solvent; a plurality of shape anisotropy members, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of shape anisotropy members is provided in the optical modulation layer; each of the plurality of shape anisotropy members includes (i) an electrically conductive core and (ii) a dielectric layer that covers an entire periphery of the core, and each of the plurality of shape anisotropy members has a hydrophilic property or a hydrophobic property; and wherein an area of the each image of the plurality of shape anisotropy members is configured to change which image is projected on the first substrate and the second substrate based on a level or a frequency of a voltage to be applied to the optical modulation layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The display panel as set forth in claim 15, wherein: the optical modulation layer includes a medium in which the plurality of shape anisotropy members are dispersed; and a difference in refractive index between the medium and the covering layer is not more than 0.3. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The display panel as set forth in claim 15, wherein the covering layer has a thickness of not less than 0.002 μm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The display panel as set forth in claim 15, wherein at least part of the covering layer is made of silicon dioxide. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The display panel as set forth in claim 15, wherein the core is made of metal and has a reflectivity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) A display device comprising a display panel recited in claim 15.