JP2009150977A - Display element and display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal panel capable of suppressing lowering of luminance in transmission display by transmitting light in a display direction without deviating it in a specific direction from a transmission electrode in a state where aligning accuracy between an optical path conversion part and a pixel more than necessary is not required. <P>SOLUTION: In the display element, there is formed a pixel 23 equipped with a transference electrode 41 through which light is transmitted, and a reflection electrode 42 which is adjacent to the transference electrode 41 and reflects the light. The display element is provided with a non-focus system prism 20 guiding light L made incident on a back side of the reflection electrode 42 to the side of the transference electrodes 41 and 41 located on an opposite side to the reflection electrode 42 each other. Thus, the aligning accuracy between the prism 20 and the pixel 23 more than necessary is not required, and the light L made incident on the back side of each reflection electrode 42 is transmitted to the display direction from the transference electrode 41 without being deviated in the specific direction, to be effectively used on the side of the transference electrode 41. Thus, lowering of the luminance in the transmission display is suppressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display element having a pixel including a transmissive electrode portion that transmits light and a non-transmissive electrode portion that reflects light incident on a display side, and a display device including the display element.

  A display device using a liquid crystal display element as a display element has features such as light weight, thinness, and low power consumption, and thus is applied to various fields such as OA equipment, information terminals, watches, and televisions.

  In particular, a liquid crystal display element using a thin film transistor (TFT) element, that is, a liquid crystal panel is used as a display device such as a mobile phone, a television receiver, or a computer because of its responsiveness.

  In recent years, with the reduction in size and weight of portable terminals, there has been a demand for display devices with high definition and wide viewing angles.

  High definition has been dealt with by miniaturization of the TFT array structure.

  On the other hand, for wide viewing angles, display devices using an OCB method, an MVA method, an IPS method, or the like using nematic liquid crystals have been studied.

  Further, in recent years, since the frequency of use outdoors has increased, a transflective liquid crystal system capable of partially reflecting display has been put into practical use in addition to the conventional transmissive display system.

  However, since the above-described transflective liquid crystal panel has a light-shielding reflective electrode and a translucent transparent electrode, it has excellent visibility both indoors and outdoors. Since the light is blocked, there is a problem that the luminance at the time of transmissive display is lowered.

Therefore, a configuration for improving transmittance and luminance is provided by providing a microlens array having individual microlenses in the vertical and horizontal directions and guiding the light irradiated from the backlight to the reflective electrode to the transparent electrode. Known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-126732 A

  However, the above-described display element has a problem that it is necessary to form a transparent electrode so as to be paired with each microlens, and alignment accuracy between the liquid crystal panel and the microlens is required. .

  The present invention has been made in view of these points, and does not require alignment accuracy more than necessary between the optical path conversion unit and the pixel, and transmits light from each transmission electrode unit to the display direction without being biased in a specific direction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display element that can suppress a decrease in luminance during transmissive display.

  The present invention relates to a pair of substrates disposed opposite to each other, a light modulation layer interposed between the substrates, a transmissive electrode portion that transmits light, and an incident from the display surface side adjacent to the transmissive electrode portion. A plurality of pixels provided with a non-transmissive electrode portion that reflects light and does not transmit light incident from the back side, and light that is about to enter the non-transmissive electrode portion of one pixel from the back side is adjacent to the pixel. And a non-focal optical path conversion unit that guides the pixel toward the transmission electrode unit.

  Then, a non-focal optical path conversion for guiding light incident on the back side of the non-transparent electrode part of one pixel to the transmissive electrode part side of the pixel located on the opposite side of the non-transparent electrode part. Provide a part.

  According to the present invention, the alignment accuracy more than necessary between the optical path conversion unit and the pixel is not required, and the light incident on the back side of the non-transmissive electrode unit is displayed from each transmissive electrode unit in the display direction without being biased in a specific direction. It is possible to effectively utilize the light transmitted through the screen, and to suppress a decrease in luminance during transmissive display.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 11 denotes a liquid crystal display device as a display device. The liquid crystal display device 11 includes a liquid crystal panel 12 which is a liquid crystal display element as a display element, and a surface disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 12. With a backlight 13 as a light source device, used by transmitting light from the backlight 13 in dark places such as indoors, and reflecting and using light from the observation surface side in bright places such as outdoors, It is a so-called transflective type.

  The liquid crystal panel 12 is a color type liquid crystal panel, in which an array substrate 15 which is a substrate and a counter substrate 16 which is a substrate are arranged to face each other, and a liquid crystal layer 17 as a light modulation layer and a gap between the substrates 15 and 16 are arranged. A liquid crystal panel main body 19 which is a liquid crystal display element main body as a display element main body constituted by adhering a peripheral portion thereof by an adhesive layer 18 with a spacer for holding the liquid crystal constant, and on the back side of the liquid crystal panel main body 19 A plurality of prisms 20 as prismatic optical path conversion elements as optical path conversion units arranged on the side facing a certain backlight 13, and a rectangular display region 22 located in the center portion, A plurality of pixels 23 shown in FIG. 3 are arranged in a matrix.

  The array substrate 15 includes, for example, a glass substrate 25 having translucency. On the main surface of the glass substrate 25 on the liquid crystal layer 17 side (upper side in FIG. 4), as shown in FIG. The scanning lines (gate wirings) 31 and the plurality of signal lines (source wirings) 32 are arranged in a lattice pattern so as to be substantially orthogonal to each other, and the scanning lines 31 and the signal lines 32 intersect each other. A thin film transistor (TFT) 33 as a switching element is provided at a position, and an alignment film such as a vertical alignment film (not shown) for aligning liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 17 is formed so as to cover them.

  The thin film transistor 33 is a scanning line driving circuit in which a gate electrode is connected to the scanning line 31, a source electrode is connected to the signal line 32, and a pixel electrode 35 (FIG. 1 or the like) is connected to the drain electrode. Switching is controlled by applying a signal from the gate driver 36 to the gate electrode via the scanning line 31, and the pixel corresponding to the signal inputted via the signal line 32 from the source driver 37 which is a signal line driving circuit. By applying a voltage to the electrode 35 (FIG. 1), each of the pixels 23 is turned on / off independently.

  Each pixel electrode 35 includes a transparent electrode 41 that is a transmissive display portion as a transmissive electrode portion, and a reflective electrode 42 that is a reflective display portion as a non-transmissive electrode portion. The transparent electrode 41 and the reflective electrode 42 are configured to be electrically connected to each other and to be applied with the same voltage in each pixel 23.

  The transparent electrode 41 is formed in a substantially square shape by a sputtering method or the like with a transparent conductive material such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide).

  The reflective electrode 42 is formed in a substantially square shape by a sputtering method or the like with a reflective conductive material such as aluminum, and has an area substantially equal to that of the transparent electrode 41, for example.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the transparent electrode 41 and the reflective electrode 42 are adjacent to each other in the direction intersecting (orthogonal) with respect to the scanning line 31 as shown in FIGS. For this reason, each pixel electrode 35 has a longitudinal direction in a direction intersecting (orthogonal) with respect to the scanning line 31.

  On the other hand, the counter substrate 16 includes a light-transmitting glass substrate 45, and a color filter layer (not shown), a counter electrode, an alignment film (not shown), and the like are sequentially stacked on the glass substrate 45.

  The counter electrode is formed by a sputtering method or the like at a position corresponding to the pixel electrode 35 in the display region 22 by using a transparent conductive material such as ITO.

  The liquid crystal layer 17 is a light modulation layer formed of a predetermined liquid crystal material, and can use almost all modes such as a TN mode, an IPS mode, an MVA mode, and a homogeneous mode.

  On the other hand, each prism 20 is a non-focal element formed of a transparent member such as photosensitive acrylic resin, for example, at least a portion corresponding to the display region 22 on the back side of the liquid crystal panel body 19, this embodiment In this case, the liquid crystal panel main body 19 (glass substrate 25) is attached at a position corresponding to the back side of each reflective electrode. In addition, each prism 20 is formed as a continuous body that is continuous in a strip shape parallel to the scanning line 31, and is formed to be inclined in the vertical direction in the figure from the apex 20a that is separated from the liquid crystal panel body 19. The cross section has an approximately isosceles triangle shape having the inclined surfaces 20b and 20c. In other words, each prism 20 has a line-symmetric shape in the vertical direction in the figure.

Each prism 20 acts so that the interface with the air, that is, the inclined surfaces 20b and 20c bends the light according to the refractive index ratio n ₁ between the air and the material constituting the prism 20. In the present embodiment, the refractive index of the substance constituting each prism 20 is set larger than the refractive index of air.

Accordingly, each prism 20 causes the light L, which travels straight from the backlight 13 (FIG. 4) to the back side of each reflective electrode 42, and enters the refractive index with respect to the direction perpendicular to the inclined surfaces 20b and 20c. It is configured to be refracted in the upper and lower sides in FIG. 1 in a direction inclined by an angle corresponding to the ratio n ₁ and lead to the transparent electrode 41 of the same pixel 23 and the transparent electrode 41 of the adjacent pixel 23. ing.

  The backlight 13 converts light from a light source such as a lamp into planar light by a light guide plate that is a light guide, and irradiates the entire back side of the liquid crystal panel 12 with the planar light. .

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  When the liquid crystal display device 11 is used in a bright place such as outdoors (during reflective display), the thin film transistor 33 is sequentially driven by a signal from the gate driver 36 with the backlight 13 turned off, and the thin film transistor 33 turned on. A voltage corresponding to the signal from the source driver 37 generated corresponding to the image signal is applied to the pixel electrode 35 (the transparent electrode 41 and the reflective electrode 42), and the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer 17 corresponding to the applied voltage An image is displayed by changing the tilt angle of the molecule and reflecting the light incident from the outside on the display side by the reflective electrode 42 of each pixel 23.

  On the other hand, when the liquid crystal display device 11 is used in a dark place such as indoors (during transmissive display), the backlight 13 is turned on and the pixel electrode 35 (the transparent electrode 41 and the reflective electrode 42) is applied in the same manner as described above. The image is displayed by changing the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 17 according to the applied voltage and transmitting the light incident from the backlight 13 through the transparent electrode 41 of each pixel 23. The

  At this time, the light from the backlight 13 irradiates the entire back surface of the liquid crystal panel 12 in a planar shape, but the light L incident on the reflective electrode 42 when passing through the inclined surfaces 20b and 20c of each prism 20 However, by being guided to the transparent electrodes 41 positioned on the upper side and the lower side of the reflective electrode 42 in FIG. 1, the transparent electrode 41 is transmitted and emitted to the display side.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the light L incident on the back side of each reflective electrode 42 during transmissive display is converted into a plurality of different pixels 23, for example, the transparent electrode of the pixel 23 on which the light L is incident. The prism 20 that is a non-focal system optical path conversion unit that guides to the 41 side and the transparent electrode 41 side of the pixel 23 adjacent to the pixel 23 is provided.

  For example, in the conventional case of using an optical path conversion element provided with a microlens array of a focal system that refracts light incident on the back side of the reflective electrode 42 and guides it to the transparent electrode side, the focal position of each microlens is While it is necessary to match the position of the pixel 23 and high alignment accuracy is required, in the present embodiment, alignment accuracy more than necessary between each prism 20 and the pixel 23 is not required. In addition, the light L incident on the back side of each reflective electrode 42 is transmitted effectively from each transparent electrode 41 to the front in the display direction without being biased in a specific direction, and is used effectively, and easily on the transparent electrode 41 side. In the normal case, the light L that is reflected by the reflective electrode 42 and not used can be effectively used on the transparent electrode 41 side to improve the apparent transmittance, and the luminance during transmissive display. Can be suppressed.

  For this reason, at the time of transmissive display, for example, when the image displayed on the liquid crystal cell 12 is viewed from the upper side in FIG. 1 and from the lower side in FIG. If they are equal, there is almost no difference in luminance, and it is possible to prevent the visibility from being changed according to the viewing angle direction by the light from the backlight 13.

  Further, since the apparent transmittance is improved and the decrease in luminance at the time of transmissive display can be suppressed, the luminance of the backlight 13 does not need to be increased more than necessary even during transmissive display, and energy saving can be achieved.

  Moreover, in the conventional case using a microlens array, the light from the backlight 13 must also be ideal parallel light (collimated light), and obtaining such parallel light is incident from the backlight 13. However, the light L can be guided to the transparent electrode 41 while maintaining the alignment characteristics of the backlight 13 by using the non-focal prism 20 as in the present embodiment. A sufficient increase in transmittance can also be expected with the backlight 13 having a luminance peak in the front direction, that is, a Gaussian orientation characteristic, used in a typical product.

  In particular, when the liquid crystal layer 17 is in the MVA mode or the homogeneous mode using a circularly polarizing plate for the liquid crystal panel 12, the transmittance increasing effect is further increased.

  Furthermore, by forming the prism 20 as a continuous body that is continuous in parallel with the scanning line 31, it is possible to design the positioning accuracy in the direction parallel to the scanning line 31 with almost no requirement, thereby improving the productivity. To do.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the structure and effect | action similar to the said 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the second embodiment, instead of the prism 20 of the first embodiment, a prism sheet 53, which is an optical path conversion element as an optical path conversion unit, is attached to the liquid crystal panel 12 (glass substrate 25). Is.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the prism sheet 53 is formed integrally with the sheet main body 54 and a sheet main body 54 which is a transmission portion as an optical path conversion element main body formed in a sheet shape by a member having translucency. And a plurality of prism portions 55 as optical path conversion portions. The prism sheet 53 is formed by, for example, melt extrusion molding or an imprint technique using a photosensitive resin material.

  Each prism portion 55 is a non-focal optical element portion, similarly to the prism 20 of the second embodiment, is formed at a position corresponding to the back side of each reflective electrode 42, and the scanning line 31. The sheet body 54 has a substantially isosceles triangular cross section having inclined surfaces 55b and 55c formed in an inclined shape from the apex 55a up and down in the drawing with respect to the sheet main body 54, respectively.

  When the liquid crystal display device 11 is used in a bright place such as outdoors (during reflective display), the liquid crystal panel 12 operates in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the liquid crystal display device 11 is used indoors. When used in a dark place (in transmissive display), the liquid crystal panel body 19 operates in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the light from the backlight 13 is planarized over the entire back surface of the liquid crystal panel 12. Although irradiated, the light L incident on the reflective electrode 42 when passing through the inclined surfaces 55b and 55c of the prism portions 55 of the prism sheet 53 is opposite to the reflective electrode 42, that is, its reflection. By being guided to each of the transparent electrode 41 of the same pixel 23 as the electrode 42 and the transparent electrode 41 of the pixel 23 adjacent to the pixel 23, the light passes through the transparent electrodes 41 and 41 and is emitted to the display side.

  As described above, the light L is guided to the different transparent electrodes 41 on both the upper and lower sides by the respective prism portions 55 of the prism sheet 53 which is a non-focal optical element, and thus has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. Thus, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, the optical path conversion element is constituted by the prism sheet 53 in which the sheet main body 54 and the prism portion 55 are integrally formed in advance, so that the prism sheet 53 is simply attached to the liquid crystal panel main body 19 (glass substrate 25). Since each prism portion 55 is arranged at a position corresponding to each reflective electrode 42, each prism portion 55 and each pixel 23 (reflective electrode 42) are compared with the case where the individual prism portions 55 are independently aligned. ) Can be easily aligned.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the third embodiment, instead of the prism 20 and the prism sheet 53 of each of the above embodiments, an optical path conversion element as an optical path conversion unit is provided on the side facing the backlight 13 on the back side of the liquid crystal panel body 19. 61 is arranged.

  The optical path conversion element 61 is a non-focal system plate-like element formed of a light transmitting member such as photosensitive acrylic resin, quartz, glass, etc. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. A portion corresponding to at least the display region 22 on the back side of the main body 19, in this embodiment, covers the entire back side of the liquid crystal panel main body 19 and is attached to the liquid crystal panel main body 19. Further, on the main surface of the optical path conversion element 61 on the liquid crystal panel body 19 side, a notch 62 is formed at a position corresponding to the reflective electrode 42 of each pixel 23. Therefore, a space 63 in which a predetermined medium is confined is formed between each notch 62 and the back surface of the glass substrate 25 of the liquid crystal panel body 19.

  Each notch 62 is formed in an isosceles triangular cross section with the base side located on the liquid crystal panel body 19 side. In the present embodiment, each notch 62 is parallel to the scanning line 31 that intersects the longitudinal direction of the pixel electrode 35. It is formed so as to be continuous along any direction. Further, the apex 62a of each notch 62 is a position corresponding to the approximate center of the reflective electrode 42 in the vertical direction in the figure. Furthermore, the inclined surfaces 62b and 62c of each notch 62 are positions corresponding to the upper and lower ends of the reflective electrode 42 in the figure from the apex 62a.

Further, each space portion 63 is a prism in which the interface of each notch portion 62, that is, the inclined surfaces 62b and 62c bends the light according to the refractive index ratio n ₂ between a predetermined medium confined inside and the material constituting the optical path conversion element 61. It is a space to make it act as. For this reason, the medium confined in each space 63 is, for example, a material having a refractive index smaller than that of the material constituting the optical path conversion element 61, and preferably air.

Therefore, each notch 62 makes the light L incident straightly from the backlight 13 (FIG. 4) to the back side of each reflective electrode 42 and the refractive index ratio relative to the direction perpendicular to the inclined surfaces 62b and 62c. The light is refracted in a direction inclined by an angle corresponding to n ₂ and guided to the transparent electrode 41 of the same pixel 23 or the transparent electrode 41 of the pixel 23 adjacent to the pixel 23. .

For this reason, the inclination angles of the inclined surfaces 62b and 62c of each notch 62 are appropriately set according to the refractive index ratio n _{2 of the} medium confined in the space 63, the distance to the reflective electrode 42, and the like.

  When the liquid crystal display device 11 is used in a bright place such as outdoors (during reflective display), the liquid crystal panel 12 operates in the same manner as in the above embodiments, and the liquid crystal display device 11 is placed in a dark place such as a room. In the case of use in (when transmissive display), the liquid crystal panel body 19 operates in the same manner as in each of the above embodiments, and the light from the backlight 13 irradiates the entire back surface of the liquid crystal panel 12 in a planar shape. The light L incident on the reflective electrode 42 when passing through the inclined surfaces 62b and 62c of the optical path conversion element 61 is opposite to the reflective electrode 42, that is, on the same pixel 23 as the reflective electrode 42. By being guided to each of the transparent electrode 41 and the transparent electrode 41 of the pixel 23 adjacent to the pixel 23, the light passes through the transparent electrode 41 and is emitted to the display side.

  In this way, by having the same configuration as each of the above embodiments, such as guiding the light L to the transparent electrodes 41 on both the upper and lower sides by the respective notches 62 of the optical path conversion element 61 which is a non-focal optical element, The same effects as those in the above embodiments can be obtained.

  In addition, when air is confined in the space 63, it is easier to stick the optical path conversion element 61 to the liquid crystal panel body 19 (glass substrate 25) than when a fluid medium or a solid medium is confined. , Productivity is improved.

  As the optical path conversion element, it is possible to use not only a prism but also any non-focal optical element such as a diffraction grating or a reflection plate.

  Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, about the structure and effect | action similar to said each embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the fourth embodiment, the glass of the array substrate 15 facing the backlight 13 on the back side of the liquid crystal panel body 19 is used in place of the prism 20, the prism sheet 53, and the optical path conversion element 61 of each of the above embodiments. A plurality of concave groove portions 65 as optical path changing portions are formed on the back side of the substrate 25, that is, the main surface facing the backlight 13, respectively.

  The concave groove portion 65 is formed at a position corresponding to the reflective electrode 42 of each pixel 23, and as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cross-sectional polygonal shape, in the present embodiment, a plurality of vertices 65a and the vertices 65a A plurality of linear inclined surfaces 65b that are continuous with each other. Further, each concave groove portion 65 is formed so as to continue along a direction parallel to the scanning line 31 which is a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the pixel electrode 35. Note that the angles formed by the inclined surfaces 65b and 65b are set to obtuse angles larger than 90 ° and smaller than 180 ° in the present embodiment.

Accordingly, each concave groove portion 65 causes the light L, which travels straight from the backlight 13 (FIG. 4) to the back side of each reflective electrode 42, and enters the air in a direction perpendicular to each inclined surface 65b. Each of the concave groove portions 65 as a whole is refracted in a direction inclined by an angle corresponding to the refractive index ratio n ₃ with the member constituting the glass substrate 25, for example, on the transparent electrode 41 of the same pixel 23 and the pixel 23. The transparent electrodes 41 of the adjacent pixels 23 and the like are configured to be guided to the transparent electrodes 41 located on the opposite sides of the reflective electrodes 42.

Therefore, the inclination angle of the inclined surfaces 65b of each groove portion 65, and the refractive index ratio n _3, appropriately set in correspondence to such a distance to the reflection electrode 42.

  In addition, each concave groove portion 65 is, for example, coated with a negative photosensitive resist film on the back side of the glass substrate 25 of the array substrate 15, and patterned with a resist material using a light shielding portion such as each reflective electrode 42 of the array substrate 15 as a mask. Thereafter, the glass substrate 25 is formed by wet etching using this pattern as a mask.

  When the liquid crystal display device 11 is used in a bright place such as outdoors (during reflective display), the liquid crystal panel 12 operates in the same manner as in the above embodiments, and the liquid crystal display device 11 is placed in a dark place such as a room. In the case of use in (when transmissive display), the liquid crystal panel body 19 operates in the same manner as in each of the above embodiments, and the light from the backlight 13 irradiates the entire back surface of the liquid crystal panel 12 in a planar shape. The light L incident on the reflective electrode 42 when passing through the inclined surfaces 65b of the concave groove portions 65 is respectively opposite to the reflective electrode 42, that is, on the transparent electrodes 41 positioned above and below, respectively. By being guided, the light passes through each transparent electrode 41 and is emitted to the display side.

  In this way, the light L is guided by the non-focal system concave groove portion 65 provided on the glass substrate 25 to the transparent electrodes 41 positioned on the upper and lower sides opposite to the reflective electrode 42 to which the light L is to enter. By having the same configuration as that of each of the above embodiments, the same effects as those of each of the above embodiments can be achieved.

  In addition, since each concave groove 65 is directly formed on the glass substrate 25 of the liquid crystal panel 12, a separate element for guiding the light from the backlight 13 side to the transparent electrode 41 is not required, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. And the thickness can be reduced.

  Furthermore, when forming each concave groove portion 65, because the resist patterned using each reflective electrode 42 as a mask is formed as a mask, each concave groove portion 65 can be easily and reliably aligned with each reflective electrode 42, The accuracy in guiding the light L to the transparent electrodes 41 by the concave groove portions 65 is improved.

  Next, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the structure and effect | action similar to said each embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the fifth embodiment, a plurality of concave groove portions 67 as optical path changing portions are formed on the back surface of the glass substrate 25 in place of the concave groove portions 65 of the fourth embodiment.

  That is, each concave groove portion 67 is formed at a position corresponding to the reflective electrode 42 of each pixel 23, and is formed in a polygonal cross section having a plurality of randomly formed uneven portions 67a as shown in FIG. Yes. Each concave groove 67 is formed so as to be continuous along a direction parallel to the scanning line 31 which is a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the pixel electrode 35.

Accordingly, each concave groove portion 65 has a direction perpendicular to the inclined surfaces 67b and 67c of the concavo-convex portions 67a for the light L that travels straight from the backlight 13 (FIG. 4) to the back side of each reflective electrode 42. Refracted in a direction inclined by an angle corresponding to the refractive index ratio n ₃ between air and a member constituting the glass substrate 25, and adjacent to the transparent electrode 41 of the same pixel 23 or the pixel 23 The pixel 23 is configured to be guided to the transparent electrode 41 or the like.

  In addition, each concave groove 67 is formed by, for example, applying a negative photosensitive resist film on the back side of the glass substrate 25 of the array substrate 15 and patterning a resist material using the light shielding portions such as the reflective electrodes 42 of the array substrate 15 as a mask. Thereafter, the glass substrate 25 is formed by sand blasting (shot blasting) using this pattern as a mask.

  When the liquid crystal display device 11 is used in a bright place such as outdoors (during reflective display), the liquid crystal panel 12 operates in the same manner as in the above embodiments, and the liquid crystal display device 11 is placed in a dark place such as a room. In the case of use in (when transmissive display), the liquid crystal panel body 19 operates in the same manner as in each of the above embodiments, and the light from the backlight 13 irradiates the entire back surface of the liquid crystal panel 12 in a planar shape. When passing through the inclined surfaces 67b and 67c of each concave and convex portion 67a of each concave groove portion 67, the light L that is about to enter the reflective electrode 42 is guided to the transparent electrode 41, thereby passing through the transparent electrode 41. And emitted to the display side.

  As described above, the light beam L is guided to the transparent electrodes 41 on both the upper and lower sides by the non-focal system concave groove portion 67 provided on the glass substrate 25, so that the first embodiment has the same configuration as the fourth embodiment. The same effects as the fourth embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, each concave groove 67 can be formed easily at low cost by forming it by sand blasting (shot blasting).

  In addition, in the said 4th Embodiment and 5th Embodiment, the shape of each recessed groove part 65 and 67 is not limited to the said shape, For example, you may form by cutting.

  In each of the above embodiments, the non-transmissive electrode portion is not limited to the reflective electrode 42 that can reflect the light incident from the backlight 13 side, but includes a light absorbing portion that absorbs light from the backlight 13 side. Any light reflecting electrode that does not transmit light incident from the back side and reflects light incident from the display side can be selected arbitrarily.

  Further, the light modulation layer is not limited to the liquid crystal layer 17.

  Each prism 20, each prism portion 55 of each prism sheet 53, each notch 62, and each concave groove 65, 67 are arranged in parallel to the signal line 32 or any other wiring such as an auxiliary capacitance line. Even in this case, similar effects can be obtained.

  In addition, for example, when the reflective electrode 42 is formed in each pixel 23 with the transparent electrode 41 sandwiched in the same pixel 23, the light L is transmitted to each transparent electrode 41 in the same pixel 23 by each optical path conversion unit. You may make it guide.

It is explanatory sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the display element of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the principal part of a display element same as the above. It is a circuit diagram which shows a display element same as the above. It is explanatory sectional drawing which shows the display apparatus provided with the display element same as the above. It is explanatory sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the display element of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the display element of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the principal part of a display element same as the above. It is explanatory sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the display element of the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the principal part of a display element same as the above. It is explanatory sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the display element of the 5th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

11 Liquid crystal display
12 LCD panel
13 Backlight
Array substrate which is 15 substrate
16 counter substrate
17 Liquid crystal layer
20 Prism
23 pixels
31 Scanning lines that are wiring
41 Transparent electrode
42 Reflective electrode
53 Prism sheet
61 Optical path conversion element
65, 67 Concave groove

Claims (5)

A pair of substrates disposed opposite each other;
A light modulation layer interposed between these substrates,
A plurality of pixels including a transmissive electrode portion that transmits light, and a non-transmissive electrode portion that is adjacent to the transmissive electrode portion and reflects light incident from the display surface side and does not transmit light incident from the back surface side;
A non-focal optical path conversion unit that guides light that is about to enter the non-transmissive electrode unit of the pixel from the back side to the transmissive electrode unit side of the adjacent pixel. Display element to be used. The display element according to claim 1, wherein the optical path conversion unit is a prismatic optical path conversion element attached to any one of the substrates. A wiring connected to the pixel;
The display element according to claim 2, wherein the optical path conversion unit is formed continuously in parallel with a part of the wiring. The display element according to claim 1, wherein the optical path conversion unit is a recess provided on a back side of the substrate. A display element according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A display device comprising: a backlight for irradiating light from the back side to the display element.

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