JPH01262526A - Liquid crystal display element - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a liquid crystal layer part whose visual angle area or a hue characteristic, etc. are different by using the same liquid crystal material by allowing the film thickness of an oriented film of one side of a pair of oriented films to be different partially and forming areas having a prescribed twist angle, respectively in accordance with thickness of the liquid crystal layer. CONSTITUTION:In the liquid crystal display element having a pair of electrode substrates 5, 6 consisting of transparent substrates 1, 2 and transparent electrodes 3, 4 provided so as to be opposed to each other, a liquid crystal material 7 which has been enclosed between these electrode substrates 5, 6, a pair of polarizing plates 8, 9 provided on the respective outside surface sides of both the electrode substrates 5, 6, and an oriented film 11 which is formed on the respective inside surfaces of both the electrode substrates 5, 6 so that a molecular array azimuth of the liquid crystal material 7 is twisted between both the electrode substrates 5, 6, and also, has been formed by allowing the film thickness of one side to be different partially, the oriented film 11 is formed by allowing the film thickness of at least one side to be different partially, so that each different area corresponding to thickness of the liquid crystal layer is included thereby. In such a way, by varying partially the film thickness of the oriented film 11, the twist angle can be allowed to have a variation at every area A, B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Industrial Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display element, more specifically a field-effect liquid crystal display element useful for A-panels, games, pocket computers, etc. It is about et al.

(B) Prior Art In recent years, with the expansion of various uses of liquid crystal display elements, it has been desired to add various display functions to liquid crystal display elements.

For example, a display element in which a display section ([) has several regions with different viewing angles is useful for in-vehicle panels, games, and the like. Furthermore, (II) a display element having patterns with partially different drive duty ratios is useful for liquid crystal display elements for pocket computers and the like in which segment patterns and dot patterns are present. Furthermore, (III) a display element that partially forms a color display section is for H use, such as for an in-vehicle panel.

Conventionally, in response to this type of request, a method (123/1988) in which the liquid crystal display element is divided into several areas surrounded by a seal and different liquid crystals are sealed in <1) (Il) has been developed.
622 (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 622-27330) and a method of applying different drive waveforms to regions having different display characteristics (Japanese Utility Model Application No. 62-27330) have been proposed. Furthermore, in (III), a method has been proposed in which a color filter is formed on a glass substrate, a polarizing plate, etc. (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 113375/1983).

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Among the methods described in the prior art described above, in the method in which different liquid crystals are sealed in several areas surrounded by a seal, the effective display area is reduced only in the seal. In addition, the liquid crystal has to be injected several times, and it is complicated to use several liquid crystals.

Furthermore, the method of applying different drive waveforms has problems in that the drive system becomes complicated and several drivers must be used.

Furthermore, the method of forming a color pattern has the problem that it takes more time and effort to form the color filter by printing or the like.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems This invention provides a pair of electrode substrates consisting of a transparent substrate and a transparent electrode arranged opposite to each other, a liquid crystal sealed between these N-electrode substrates, and the above-mentioned a pair of polarizing plates disposed on the outer surfaces of both electrode substrates, and a pair of polarizing plates formed on the inner surfaces of each of the electrode substrates such that the molecular alignment direction of the liquid crystal material is twisted between the electrode substrates; In a liquid crystal display element having an alignment film formed with partially different film thicknesses on one side, the alignment film is formed with partially different film thicknesses on at least one side, thereby changing the thickness of the liquid crystal layer. This is a liquid crystal display element in which different regions are mixed according to the requirements.

That is, in this invention, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is varied by partially varying the thickness of the alignment film, and different display characteristic regions corresponding to the thickness of the liquid crystal layer are mixed.

The alignment film in this invention is formed by partially varying the film thickness on at least one side. For example, by forming the alignment film on one side in a stepped shape, the pitch of each liquid crystal layer can be varied. A viewing area with a corresponding thickness can be formed. In other words, does the thickness of the liquid crystal layer change according to the change in the thickness of the alignment film, even though the liquid crystal material is the same? This allows regions with different twist angles to appear.

The alignment film in this invention is, for example, a polyimide film,
It is formed by the so-called rubbing method, which involves rubbing in one direction with a cloth or the like. The thickness of the alignment film on one side can be varied by adjusting the polyimide film printing plate, controlling the number of times of printing, etc.

Examples of the transparent substrate in this invention include a glass plate and a plastic plate.

Examples of the transparent N electrode in this invention include indium oxide imitations and tin oxide films.

(E) Effect With the above structure, since the alignment film on at least one side is formed with partially different film thicknesses, it is possible to form regions each having a predetermined twist angle depending on the thickness of the liquid crystal layer. This allows different viewing angle regions to coexist using the same liquid crystal material.

(F) EXAMPLE The present invention will be described in detail below based on an actual helmet example shown in the drawings. Note that this invention is not limited by this.

In FIG. 1, a field-effect liquid crystal display element includes a pair of electrode substrates 5 and 6, which are composed of a glass substrate 1.2 and a transparent electrode 3.4 made of an indium oxide film, which are arranged to face each other. , a liquid crystal material 7 made of nematic liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy sealed between these 14-pole substrates,
A pair of polarized lights Vi 8° 9 disposed on the outer surfaces of both IT electrode substrates 5.6, and a first orientation Wi 410 and a second orientation film 11 formed by rubbing on the transparent electrodes 3 and 4, respectively. It mainly has

Furthermore, the second alignment film 11 has a thick film portion 11a and a thin film portion 1.
1b, and the alignment direction of the first alignment film 10 and that of the second alignment film 11 are orthogonal to each other.

On the other hand, correspondingly, the liquid crystal layer has a first liquid crystal layer portion 12 having a thickness corresponding to 374 pitches, and a first liquid crystal layer portion 12 having a thickness corresponding to 374 pitches.
Second liquid crystal layer portion I3 having a thickness equivalent to 4 pitches
and when no electric field is applied, it is twisted in accordance with the alignment direction. Further, the polarization axis of the polarizing plate 9.8 is arranged parallel to the alignment axis of the alignment film 11.10 in this embodiment.

Since this embodiment has the above-mentioned configuration, the first region A of 270° twist corresponding to 3/4 bibutton appears in the first liquid crystal layer portion 12, and the l A region B with a 90" twist corresponding to /4 pitch appears. This makes it possible to display a wide viewing angle in the first region A and a narrow viewing angle in the second region B.

In addition, the 270° twisted region A is a so-called super twisted nematic liquid crystal display region, and has good driving characteristics, contrast characteristics, etc., so each region A and B has different display characteristics. Moreover, since it is possible to drive at different duty ratios, it is possible to obtain display portions of the same level even when the same waveform is applied to patterns that require driving at different duty ratios.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the region A in which the dot pattern is formed in the display section 18 has a thickness that allows driving with a large duty ratio like the first liquid crystal layer section 12, and has a segment Area B where the pattern is formed is
It has a thickness suitable for driving with a small duty ratio, such as the second liquid crystal layer portion I3.

As described above, in this embodiment, by partially changing the thickness of the alignment film 11, it is possible to vary the twist angle in each region A and B.

In this example, the thickness of the alignment film 11 on one side is partially varied to form different display characteristic regions by changing the thickness of the liquid crystal layer. l
Alignment film with partially different O film thickness! The thickness of the liquid crystal layer may be set based on the film thickness change in (2).

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a pond according to the present invention in which regions with partially different color tones can be formed by changing the thickness of the alignment film.

In FIG. 3, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in a portion of the display section 19 other than the display electrode I4 is varied, and blue, green, and yellow tone regions are formed corresponding to liquid crystal layer portions 15, 16, and 17 having different thicknesses, respectively. It is possible to form a pattern with Each color tone corresponds to each liquid crystal layer portion 15.
, 16 and 17 are determined by the polarized light components extracted based on the birefringence development of the transmitted light caused by the twisted orientation of the liquid crystal molecules. At this time, by strengthening the alignment, the alignment of liquid crystals with different layer thicknesses can be stabilized, and a color tone corresponding to each phase difference can be realized.

By patterning the thickness of the alignment film in this manner, it is possible to form a liquid crystal display element having a pattern with different color tone regions.

(g) Effects of the Invention According to this invention, at least one of the pair of alignment films is formed with a partially different thickness.
It is possible to form regions each having a predetermined twist angle change depending on the thickness of the liquid crystal layer, and by using this 4Z method, it is possible to form parts of the liquid crystal layer with different viewing angles or color tone characteristics using the same liquid crystal material without using different liquid crystal materials. In addition, these different display areas can be driven with the same drive waveform and different drive duty ratios, and different color patterns can be formed corresponding to each area, which is advantageous.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of this invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a display unit in the above embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a display unit in another embodiment of this invention. be. 1.2...Glass substrate, 3.4...Transparent lighting, 5.6...Electrode substrate, 7...
・Liquid crystal material, 8.9...Polarizing plate, 10...
....First alignment film, 11...Second alignment pattern, I
la... Thick film part, JJb... Thin film part, 12.13. J5.16.37...Liquid crystal layer part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of electrode substrates consisting of a transparent substrate and a transparent electrode disposed facing each other, a liquid crystal material sealed between these electrode substrates, and a pair of electrode substrates disposed on the outer surfaces of both the electrode substrates, respectively. In a liquid crystal display element having a polarizing plate and an alignment film formed on the inner surfaces of each of the electrode substrates so as to twist the molecular alignment direction of the liquid crystal material between the electrode substrates, the alignment film is formed on at least one side. A liquid crystal display element that is formed by partially varying the thickness of the liquid crystal layer, thereby creating a mixture of regions with different display characteristics depending on the thickness of the liquid crystal layer.