# US 9,753,338 B2 · Fringe field switching liquid crystal display device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,753,338 B2 - Document ID: US9753338B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/310,480 - Filed: 2015-05-08 - Published: 2017-03-30 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-13 - Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Mitsuhiro Murata; Hidefumi Yoshida; Yosuke Iwata; Satoshi Matsumura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9753338B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/134363: {for applying an electric field parallel to the substrate, i.e. in-plane switching [IPS]} - G02F 1/133345: {Insulating layers (G02F1/1335, G02F1/1337, G02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence)} - G02F 1/133528: {Polarisers} - G02F 1/1337: Surface-induced orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, e.g. by alignment layers - G02F 1/133707: {Structures for producing distorted electric fields, e.g. bumps, protrusions, recesses, slits in pixel electrodes} - G02F 1/137: characterised by the electro-optical or magneto-optical effect, e.g. field-induced phase transition, orientation effect, guest-host interaction or dynamic scattering - G02F 1/133531: {characterised by the arrangement of polariser or analyser axes} - G02F 1/134372: {for fringe field switching [FFS] where the common electrode is not patterned} - G02F 1/134381: {Hybrid switching mode, i.e. for applying an electric field with components parallel and orthogonal to the substrates} - G02F 1/13712: {the liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy} - G02F 2203/64: Normally black display, i.e. the off state being black - 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 first substrate (10) of a liquid crystal display device (100) includes: an alignment film defining an initial alignment azimuthal direction (D), which is an alignment azimuthal direction of liquid crystal molecules (31) when no electric field is applied through a liquid crystal layer (30); a first electrode (11) and a second electrode (12) capable of producing a fringe electric field (FE) that aligns the liquid crystal molecules in an azimuthal direction that is different from the initial alignment azimuthal direction; and a third electrode (13) and a fourth electrode (14) capable of producing a lateral electric field that aligns the liquid crystal molecules in the initial alignment azimuthal direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid crystal display device having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix pattern, the liquid crystal display device comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate provided so as to oppose each other; and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, the first substrate comprising: an alignment film provided so as to be in contact with the liquid crystal layer, the alignment film defining an initial alignment azimuthal direction, which is an alignment azimuthal direction of liquid crystal molecules when no electric field is applied through the liquid crystal layer; a first electrode and a second electrode capable of producing a fringe electric field that aligns the liquid crystal molecules in an azimuthal direction that is different from the initial alignment azimuthal direction; and a third electrode and a fourth electrode capable of producing a lateral electric field that aligns the liquid crystal molecules in the initial alignment azimuthal direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal molecules have a negative dielectric anisotropy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein the third electrode and the fourth electrode each extend generally parallel to the initial alignment azimuthal direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein directions in which the third electrode and the fourth electrode extend and the initial alignment azimuthal direction are generally parallel to a longitudinal direction of the pixels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein directions in which the third electrode and the fourth electrode extend and the initial alignment azimuthal direction are generally parallel to a width direction of the pixels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode has at least one slit and is provided on the second electrode with at least one insulating layer therebetween. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6, wherein: the at least one insulating layer includes a first insulating layer covering the second electrode and a second insulating layer provided on the first insulating layer; and the third electrode and the fourth electrode are provided between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6, wherein the third electrode and the fourth electrode are provided in the same layer as the first electrode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the second substrate includes a fifth electrode and a sixth electrode capable of producing a lateral electric field that aligns the liquid crystal molecules in the initial alignment azimuthal direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein: display is produced in a normally black mode; the fringe electric field is produced by the first electrode and the second electrode when displaying white; and the lateral electric field is produced by the third electrode and the fourth electrode when displaying black. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, further comprising: a pair of polarizers opposing each other with at least the liquid crystal layer therebetween, wherein: the pair of polarizers are placed in a crossed Nicols arrangement; and a transmission axis of one of the pair of polarizers is generally parallel to the initial alignment azimuthal direction, and a transmission axis of the other polarizer is generally perpendicular to the initial alignment azimuthal direction.