JP2000147499A - Reflection type liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain an image display with high contrast by arranging a film whose refractive index is nearly equal to that of the member for the surface of a reflection type liquid crystal panel which is adhered with adhesive agent whose refractive index is nearly equal to the member for the surface of the reflection type liquid crystal panel on the surface of the reflection type liquid crystal panel, installing a light reflecting means on the film and reflecting illuminating light toward the reflection type liquid crystal panel. SOLUTION: A phase plate 70, a light diffusion layer 80, a polarization plate 90, an adhesive layer 12 and a light guide film 11 are successively provided on the surface of the upper transparent substrate 22. Plural prism parts 11a for reflecting the illuminating light to the rear side of the light guide film 11 are installed on the surface of the light guide film 11. By changing the shape of a groove in accordance with a distance from an illumination lamp 13, the uniform illumination is accomplished by the prism part 11a. The light guide film 11 is adhered to the polarization plate 90 with the adhesive layer 12 whose refractive index is nearly equal to those of the conductive film 11 and the polarization plate 90, then, multiple reflection is not caused, then, the image display with high contrast can be attained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reflection type liquid crystal display device provided with a lighting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Reflective liquid crystal display devices have the advantage of low power consumption and are widely used as displays for portable information terminals. However, since it is a reflection type using ambient light, there is a problem that it is difficult to see a display in a dark place.

In order to solve this problem, a conventional reflection type liquid crystal display device is provided with a backlight, and is configured by using a transflective type reflection plate. It is used as a transmission type liquid crystal display device, and a backlight is turned on in a dark place to be used as a transmission type liquid crystal display device. However, since the transflective type reflection plate has a low reflectance and a low transmittance, the light use efficiency is low both when used in the reflection type and when used in the transmission type.

Further, in this system, a liquid crystal display mode which can be used in a transmission type or a reflection type must be used.
However, in the reflection type color liquid crystal display device reported recently, for example, S. Fujiwara, et al., Proc. IDW'97,
As described in pp. 879 (1997), a reflection plate that does not transmit light is provided inside a liquid crystal panel, and it is impossible to use it as a transmission type and illuminate it with a backlight.

[0005] As means for solving such problems, a front light system has been proposed. The front light system is described in C.-Y. Tai, Proc. SID 95, pp. 375 (199
As described in 5), this is an illumination method in which light is incident from the side surface of a light guide plate provided with a fine prism on the surface.

When this front light system is adopted, a configuration of a reflection type liquid crystal display device as shown in FIG. 3 can be proposed.

A lower substrate 2 having a reflective film 30, a color filter 41, a planarizing film 42, and a lower transparent electrode 51 formed on the surface.
1 and the upper transparent substrate 22 having the upper transparent electrode 52 formed on the back surface, facing each other with a seal 61 interposed therebetween, sealing a TN liquid crystal 60 therebetween, and forming a phase plate 70 on the surface of the upper transparent substrate 22. The illumination device for illuminating the reflection type liquid crystal panel which forms the color reflection type liquid crystal panel by forming the light diffusion layer 80 and the polarizing plate 90 has a large number of prism portions 11a formed on the surface thereof. The light guide plate 17 includes a light guide plate 17 disposed so as to face the entire surface, and a light source lamp device including an illumination lamp 13 and a reflection film 14 installed on side end surfaces of the light guide plate 17.

[0008] Of the illuminating light incident on the light guide plate 17 from the side end surface, the light on the light path 201 illuminating the prism portion 11a on the surface of the light guide plate 17 is directed toward the back surface of the light guide plate 17 on the light guide plate surface. Total internal reflection occurs in a substantially vertical direction. This reflected light (optical path 202) is emitted from the back surface of the light guide plate 17,
It illuminates the reflective liquid crystal panel installed below it.

The light reflected by the reflective liquid crystal panel (optical path 20)
3) re-enters the light guide plate 17 from the back surface and reaches the front surface. If the ratio of the prism portion 11a to the flat portion 11b on the surface of the light guide plate 17 is reduced, most of the light that reaches the surface is emitted without hitting the prism portion 11a. According to such a front light system, a reflective liquid crystal display device can be used even in a dark place.

On the other hand, in a bright place, the light is turned off before use. The environment light (optical path 101) from the environment light source 16 passes through the light guide plate 17 and irradiates the reflective liquid crystal panel, and the reflected light reflected by the reflective liquid crystal panel passes through the light guide plate 17 and exits ( Optical path 102). At this time, as described above, since the ratio of the prism portion 11a to the flat portion 11b on the surface of the light guide plate 17 is very small, the influence of the prism portion 11a is small, and the normal reflection of the configuration without the light guide plate 17 is provided. It functions with the same performance as a liquid crystal display device.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-158033 discloses a reflection type liquid crystal display device which utilizes a transparent substrate on the upper side of a liquid crystal display element and introduces illumination light so that the light is totally reflected from a side end face to a liquid crystal side. Although disclosed, an image cannot be displayed in a liquid crystal display device that does not have a polarizing plate on the reflection plate side.

[0012]

As described above, in the reflection type liquid crystal display device employing the front light system, the gap 18 exists between the back surface of the light guide plate 17 and the reflection type liquid crystal panel. There is a problem in that the contrast of a displayed image is reduced due to multiple reflection caused by interface reflection caused by a difference in refractive index at the interface.

That is, a part of the incident light emitted from the environment light source 16 along the optical path 101 repeats multiple reflections between the air gaps 18 and exits along the optical paths 104 and 104 '. In addition, a part of the light 102 reflected by the reflection film 30 similarly emits in the direction of the optical paths 104 and 104 ′ after repeating multiple reflections in the air gap 18. The outgoing light along the optical paths 104 and 104 'is mixed with the outgoing light along the normal optical path 102 by the multiple reflection.

The same multiple reflection is performed by the incident light (light path 202) from the illumination lamp 13 and the reflected light (light path 2).
03), and the contrast is reduced because the multiple reflected light along the optical paths 204 and 204 'is mixed with the emitted light along the normal optical path 203. That is, the light guide plate 1
Of the illumination light incident on the prism portion 11a on the surface of the light guide plate 17 from the illumination light (optical path 20
1) is totally reflected and is emitted from the back surface of the light guide plate 17 and enters the reflection type liquid crystal panel (optical path 202). At this time, a part of the light is reflected by the back surface of the light guide plate 17 and the reflection type liquid crystal panel. The light is multiply reflected between the surfaces and emitted from the surface of the light guide plate 17 (optical paths 204 and 204 ').

Also, part of the light reflected by the reflector of the reflective liquid crystal panel after being incident on the reflective liquid crystal panel is similarly multiply reflected between the back surface of the light guide plate and the surface of the reflective liquid crystal panel. You.

Since these multiple reflected lights are observed mixedly with the image display light by the reflection type liquid crystal panel, the contrast of the displayed image is reduced.

The cause of these multiple reflections is that a gap 18 exists between the light guide plate 17 and the liquid crystal panel.
It is also conceivable to fill the gap 18 with an adhesive or the like to make it disappear. However, since the light guide plate 17 for efficiently guiding the illumination light from the illumination lamp 13 to the entire surface of the reflection type liquid crystal panel becomes thick about 2 mm and lacks flexibility, the light guide plate 17 is a hard member. It is difficult to adhere uniformly so that no air bubbles remain.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a reflection type liquid crystal display device provided with an illumination device capable of displaying a high-contrast image.

[0019]

According to the present invention, illumination light is incident from a side end face of a reflection type liquid crystal panel, and the surface of the reflection type liquid crystal panel has a refractive index substantially equal to that of a member on the surface of the reflection type liquid crystal panel. Light is reflected toward the reflective liquid crystal panel by light reflecting means provided on a film having a refractive index substantially equal to a member on the surface of the reflective liquid crystal panel adhered with the same adhesive.

Since the reflective liquid crystal panel and the film are bonded with an adhesive having substantially the same refractive index, the light incident from the side end face of the reflective liquid crystal panel is reflected at the interface between the reflective liquid crystal panel surface and the film. The light is transmitted through the inside of the film without being reflected, and is irradiated on the light reflecting means on the film surface. The light applied to the light reflecting means is reflected, changes the optical path in a direction substantially perpendicular to the reflective liquid crystal panel surface, and enters the reflective liquid crystal panel.

The light reflected by the reflection plate of the reflection type liquid crystal panel enters the film again. However, since the ratio of the light reflection means to the flat portion on the film surface is very small, the light hardly hits the light reflection means. The light exits from the surface of the film as it is.

Since the optical path of the light reflected by the light reflecting means is substantially equal to the optical path of the ambient light incident on the reflection type liquid crystal panel, even in the display using the ambient light (reflection mode),
Good display is possible even when the light is turned on (front light mode).

Since the film and the reflective liquid crystal panel are adhered to each other with an adhesive having substantially the same refractive index, there is almost no reflection on the back surface of the film and on the surface of the reflective liquid crystal panel. No reduction in image contrast occurs.

Further, the light guide plate is formed in a thin film shape so that it can be easily adhered to the reflection type liquid crystal panel. However, the illumination light is much thicker than this film.
Since the light is incident from the side end surface of the liquid crystal panel having the same thickness as the light guide plate used in the above-described conventional technology, high efficiency can be obtained.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a reflective liquid crystal display device employing a front light system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a vertical perspective view, and FIG. 2 is a vertical side view.

On the lower substrate 21, a reflection film 30, a color filter 41, a flattening film 42, and a lower transparent electrode 51 are formed.
Are sequentially provided.

An upper transparent electrode 5 is provided on the upper transparent substrate 22.
2 is formed, and a TN liquid crystal 60 is sealed in a region surrounded by a seal 61 between the opposing lower transparent electrode 51 and upper transparent electrode 52. In FIG. 1, a lower substrate 21 and an upper transparent substrate 22 are shown.
The seal 61 is shown on the two sides between
It is provided on the side to prevent the TN liquid crystal 60 from leaking.

A phase plate 70 is provided on the surface of the upper transparent substrate 22.
, A light diffusion layer 80, a polarizing plate 90, an adhesive layer 12, and a light guide film 11 are sequentially provided.

In the illumination lamp device, the illumination lamp 13 is installed along the end face of the upper transparent substrate 22 so that the illumination light enters from the side end face of the upper transparent substrate 22. In order for the light generated by the illumination lamp 13 to efficiently enter the upper transparent substrate 22, a reflection film (reflector) 14 is provided around the illumination lamp 13. The end of the upper transparent substrate 22 on which the illumination light is incident is formed on a protruding end 22a that protrudes outward from the end of the lower substrate 21.
The illumination lamp 1 is disposed along the protruding end 22a.
The reflective film 14 that covers the third transparent film 3 is attached so that both end portions are in close contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the protruding end portion 22 a of the upper transparent substrate 22 to prevent light leakage.

The absorption axis of the polarizing plate 90, the retardation and the optical axis of the phase plate 70, the twist angle and the retardation of the TN liquid crystal are determined by the lower transparent electrode 51 and the upper transparent electrode 52.
Are selected such that an achromatic bright display is obtained when an on-state voltage is applied during the period, and an achromatic dark display state is obtained when an off-state voltage is applied. As a result, the color filter 41 is formed similarly to the conventional color liquid crystal display device.
Enables color display by combining with.

The light diffusing layer 80 is provided so as to provide an appropriate diffusivity to the light reflected specularly by the reflecting plate 30 and to realize a good bright display. If the light diffusion layer 80 is omitted,
It becomes a mirror in the bright display state, and good display cannot be realized. The light diffusion layer 80 is made of a member that has little backscattering.

When the illumination light incident from the side end surface of the upper transparent substrate 22 is applied to the front surface of the light guide film 11, the illumination light is reflected toward the back surface of the light guide film 11. Are provided.
The prism portion 11a is constituted by a plurality of grooves formed in parallel with the side end surface of the upper transparent substrate 22 on which the illumination light from the illumination lamp 13 is incident, and a portion that functions as a prism as the distance from the illumination lamp 13 increases. Is designed to have a large area. If the shapes of all the grooves are the same, the intensity of the illumination light applied to the prism portion 11a increases as the intensity approaches the illumination lamp 13, resulting in uneven illumination. Therefore, in this embodiment, as described above, uniform illumination is realized by changing the shape of the groove in accordance with the distance from the illumination lamp 13.

The operation of the reflection type liquid crystal display device according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

When used in a bright place, the display is made by the illumination from the environmental light source 16 without turning on the illumination lamp 13. Environmental light source 1 such as indoor ceiling light or outdoor sun
The ambient light from 6 is incident along the optical path 101. The incident environmental light is transmitted through the light guide film 11, the adhesive layer 12, the polarizing plate 90, the light diffusion layer 80, the phase plate 70, the upper transparent substrate 22,
An upper transparent electrode 52, a TN liquid crystal 60, a lower transparent electrode 51,
The light passes through the planarization layer 42 and the color filter 41 in this order, enters the reflector 30, and is reflected there.

The light reflected by the reflection plate 30 travels along the optical path 102 and, conversely, the color filter 41, the flattening layer 42, the lower transparent electrode 51, the TN liquid crystal 60, the upper transparent electrode 52, the upper transparent substrate 22, Phase plate 70, light diffusion layer 80, polarizing plate 9
0, and the light passes through the adhesive layer 12 in this order and exits from the surface of the light guide film 11. The user observes this light as a display image.

Since the ratio of the prism portion 11a on the surface of the light guide film 11 is much smaller than that of the flat portion 11b, most of the light along the optical paths 103 and 102 is almost flat.
Since the light is transmitted through b, the light is hardly affected by refraction or reflection by the prism portion 11a. Here, strictly speaking, when the light passes through the light diffusion layer 80, the light path changes due to scattering. However, the change in the light path hardly affects the operation of this embodiment configured so as not to lower the contrast. For simplicity, the description will be made on the assumption that the optical path does not change.

On the other hand, in a dark place, the illumination lamp 13 is turned on and used. Illumination light emitted from the illumination lamp 13 enters from the side end surface of the protruding end portion 22 a of the upper transparent substrate 22, and a part thereof is, for example, along the optical path 201, the phase plate 70, the light diffusion layer 80, and the polarizing plate 90. , Adhesive layer 12, light guide film 1
The light is transmitted in the order of 1, and is irradiated on the prism portion 11a on the surface of the light guide film 11. The illumination light in the optical path 201 is reflected by the prism portion 11a and passes through the optical path to the optical path 2.
02, the adhesive layer 12, the polarizing plate 90, the light diffusion layer 80,
Phase plate 70, upper transparent substrate 22, upper transparent electrode 52, T
The N liquid crystal 60, the lower transparent electrode 51, the planarizing layer 42, and the color filter 41 are transmitted in this order, enter the reflector 30, and are reflected there. The optical path 202 is the optical path 101 of the ambient light.
Therefore, by observing the reflected light along the optical path 203, a display equivalent to the display using the environmental light source 16, that is, the display in the reflection mode is realized.

When the illumination light in the optical path 201 passes through the polarizing plate 90, a part thereof is absorbed and becomes linearly polarized light. This illumination light is reflected by the prism portion 11a and passes through the optical path to the optical path 20.
If the polarization state does not change when transmitting through the adhesive layer 12, the linearly polarized light is transmitted through the polarizing plate 90 without being absorbed because it is parallel to the transmission axis of the polarizing plate 90. However, if the polarization state changes, part of the illumination light in the optical path 202 is also absorbed by the polarizing plate 90, and the intensity of the illumination light used for display decreases. In this embodiment, an optically isotropic member (a polymer film having no birefringence) is used for the light guide film 11 so as not to change the polarization state.

The illumination light reflected by the prism part 11a is polarized in the direction of the groove of the prism part 11a, so that the transmission axis of the polarizing plate 90 and the direction of the groove of the prism part 11a are used in parallel. , The efficiency can be maximized.

In this embodiment, since the light guide film 11 and the polarizing plate 90 are adhered by the adhesive layer 12 having a refractive index substantially equal to that of the light guide film 11 and the polarizing plate 90, multiple reflection as in the conventional apparatus is performed. Does not occur, so that a high-contrast image display can be realized. Moreover, in this embodiment, the incidence of illumination light from the illumination lamp 13 is
Since the light guide film 11 is formed from the side end surface of the upper transparent substrate 22 having a thickness of 1 mm, the light guide film 11 has a thickness of 200 μm in consideration of workability when the light guide film 11 is attached to the polarizing plate 90 with the adhesive 12.
Since the thickness is m to enhance flexibility, it is possible to easily and uniformly adhere without leaving bubbles.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a reflection type liquid crystal display device of a front light system capable of realizing an image display with good contrast both when the illumination lamp 13 is lit and when it is not lit. Can be provided.

In this embodiment, a cold cathode tube used for a backlight of a normal liquid crystal display device is used as the illumination lamp 13. The reflection film 14 used was a film in which a silver thin film was formed on the surface of the film. The light guide film 11 was produced by transferring a prism shape formed by a mold to a film.

The twist angle of the TN liquid crystal 60 was 75 °, a material having a refractive index anisotropy of 0.8 was selected as the liquid crystal material, and the thickness was 3 μm.

The absorption axis of the polarizing plate 90 was parallel to the alignment direction of the TN liquid crystal 60 on the upper transparent substrate side.

The phase plate 70 was set so that the optical axis was at an angle of 45 ° with the absorption axis of the polarizing plate 90, and the retardation was 135 nm for a wavelength of 550 nm.

As described above, by selecting the TN liquid crystal 60, the polarizing plate 90, and the phase plate 70, an achromatic bright display and a dark display can be realized. A type color display can be realized.

As the color filter 41, a color filter having a lighter color than that used in an ordinary color liquid crystal display device with a backlight is used. Specifically, a color filter having a transmittance of 70% was used. The flattening film 42 was used to flatten the unevenness of the surface of the color filter and to make the thickness of the TN liquid crystal uniform.

As the light diffusion layer 80, a material in which polymer beads are dispersed in an adhesive is used.

As the lower substrate 21 and the upper transparent substrate 22, a glass plate having a thickness of 1 mm was used.

The reflection film 30 was formed by forming an aluminum film on the surface of the lower substrate 21.

When an STN liquid crystal having a twist angle of about 200 ° to 300 ° is used instead of the TN liquid crystal 60,
High-definition display is possible. Further, even if a TN liquid crystal is used, a high-definition display can be performed by using a TFT as in the second embodiment described below.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. On the lower substrate 21, a TFT is provided for each pixel.
53 and a lower diffuse reflection electrode 54 are formed,
Controls the potential of the lower diffuse reflection electrode 54.

An upper transparent electrode 5 is provided on the upper transparent substrate 22.
2 is formed, and a guest host (GH) liquid crystal 62 is sealed in a region surrounded by a seal 61 between the opposing lower diffuse reflection electrode 54 and upper transparent electrode 52. The guest-host liquid crystal 62 is a liquid crystal to which a trace amount of dichroic dye is added. The guest-host liquid crystal 62 becomes transparent when a voltage is applied between the upper transparent electrode 52 and the lower diffuse reflection electrode 54, and absorbs light when no voltage is applied. To work.

The surface of the upper transparent substrate 22 has an adhesive layer 12
The light guide film 11 is adhered and installed. The illumination lamp 13 is installed so that the illumination light is incident from the side end surface of the upper transparent substrate 22, and the reflection film 14 is installed surrounding the illumination lamp 13 so that the light is efficiently incident on the upper transparent substrate 22. I do.

The lower diffuse reflection electrode 54 functions not to provide specular reflection but to impart appropriate diffusivity to the reflected light, so that good bright display can be realized.

In this embodiment, a cold-cathode tube used for a backlight of a normal liquid crystal display device is used as the illumination lamp 13. The reflection film 14 used was a film in which a silver thin film was formed on the surface of the film. Light guide film 11
Was manufactured by transferring a prism shape formed in a mold to a film.

The GH liquid crystal 62 was obtained by adding a small amount of a dichroic dye and a chiral agent to a nematic liquid crystal. By using a black dichroic dye, an achromatic bright display and a dark display can be realized, and by combining with the color filter 41 as in the first embodiment, a good reflection type color display can be realized. Display can be realized.

As the color filter 41, a color filter having a lighter color than that used in an ordinary color liquid crystal display device with a backlight is used. Specifically, a color filter having a transmittance of 70% was used.

As the lower substrate 21 and the upper transparent substrate 22, a glass plate having a thickness of 1 mm was used.

The TFT 53 was formed on the lower substrate 21 using amorphous silicon.

The lower diffuse reflection electrode 54 was manufactured by forming an aluminum film on a resist having an uneven shape. The electrode of the TFT 53 and the lower diffuse reflection electrode 54 were connected via a through hole provided in the resist.

As in this embodiment, even when combined with a GH liquid crystal or a diffuse reflector, the same operation as in the first embodiment realizes an image display with good contrast both when lit and when not lit. be able to.

Although the GH liquid crystal is used in this embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by using the TN liquid crystal as in the first embodiment.

[0064]

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily realize a reflection type liquid crystal display device having an illumination device capable of displaying a high contrast image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical perspective view of a reflective liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view of the reflective liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a reflection type liquid crystal display device employing a front light system.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a reflective liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Light guide film, 11a ... Prism part, 11b ... Flat part, 12 ... Adhesive layer, 13 ... Lamp, 14 ... Reflective film, 16 ... Environmental light source, 21 ... Lower substrate, 22 ... Upper transparent substrate, 22a ... Projection End, 41 ... Color filter, 42
... flattening film, 51 ... lower transparent electrode, 52 ... upper transparent electrode, 53 ... TFT, 54 ... lower diffuse reflection electrode, 60 ... T
N liquid crystal, 61 seal, 62 GH liquid crystal, 70 phase plate, 80 light diffusion layer, 90 polarizing plate, 101 incident light path of ambient light, 102 reflected optical path of ambient light, 104 multiplex of ambient light Reflection light path, 201: Front light guide light path, 202: Front light incidence light path, 203: Front light reflection light path, 204: Front light multiple reflection light path.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kazuyuki Funabata 7-1-1, Omika-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Within Hitachi Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Shuji Yano 1-chome Shimohozumi, Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture 1-2 1-2 Nitto Denko Corporation (72) Inventor Seiji Umemoto 1-2-1, Shimohozumi, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka Prefecture Nitto Denko Corporation (72) Inventor Ikuo Hiyama 7-1-1 Omikacho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture No. 1 F term in Hitachi Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. (Reference) 2H091 FA16Z FA21X FA42X FD06 LA30 2H092 GA19 HA05 NA01 PA08 PA11 PA12

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A lower substrate having a transparent electrode and a reflector, a transparent upper substrate having a transparent electrode opposed to the transparent electrode, and a lower substrate and a lower substrate provided between the lower substrate and the upper substrate. And a liquid crystal interposed therebetween, and enters from the surface of the upper substrate opposite to the surface in contact with the liquid crystal, is reflected by the reflector provided on the lower substrate, and again comes into contact with the liquid crystal of the upper substrate. In a reflective liquid crystal display device including a reflective liquid crystal panel configured to display with light emitted from the opposite surface and an illumination device for illuminating the reflective liquid crystal panel, the illumination device includes the reflective liquid crystal. It is arranged on the end face side of the panel,
An illumination lamp device for irradiating illumination light from an end of the reflective liquid crystal panel; and an adhesive having a refractive index substantially equal to that of a member on the surface of the reflective liquid crystal panel attached to the surface of the reflective liquid crystal panel. A film having a refractive index substantially equal to that of a member on the surface of the reflection type liquid crystal panel is provided. A reflection type liquid crystal display device comprising a light reflection means for reflecting illumination light emitted to the surface of the liquid crystal panel toward the reflection type liquid crystal panel. 2. A reflection type liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said lower substrate includes an electrode for reflecting light. 3. The illuminating device according to claim 1, wherein the end of the reflective liquid crystal panel has an end of the upper substrate projecting outside an end of the lower substrate.
In the illumination lamp device, a light source is arranged along an end of the upper substrate, and a reflector that covers the light source is provided so as to be in close contact with upper and lower surfaces of the protruding end of the upper substrate. Characteristic reflection type liquid crystal display device. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one birefringent film having birefringence is provided on a surface of said upper substrate opposite to a surface in contact with said liquid crystal. A reflective liquid crystal display device, wherein a polarizing plate is provided on a surface of the refractive film opposite to a surface in contact with the upper substrate. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the light reflected by said light reflecting means reaches said polarizing plate, the light becomes linearly polarized light substantially parallel to the transmission axis of said polarizing plate. Reflective liquid crystal display. 6. A reflection type liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein said birefringent film is made of an optically isotropic member. 7. The reflection type liquid crystal display device according to claim 6, wherein said light reflecting means is a prism, and a transmission axis of said polarizing plate is parallel to a longitudinal direction of said prism. 8. A reflection type liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal is added with a dichroic dye.