JPH11109321A - Liquid crystal device and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a liquid crystal device having a structure enhancing brightness and contrast and reducing/mitigating visual angle dependency of an optical characteristic when a liquid crystal layer dispersing a liquid crystal and a high polymer is provided. SOLUTION: A first wiring layer 11 and a second wiring layer 12 supplying prescribed potential into a pixel area A are formed on an inner surface of a glass substrate 10. Plural stripe like first electrodes 13 are prolonged from the first wiring layer 11, and plural stripe like second electrodes 14 are prolonged from the second wiring layer 12. The glass substrate 10 is confronted with another glass substrate, and toe liquid crystal layer 30 dispersed with liquid crystal molecules and high polymer particles is housed between them.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device having a liquid crystal layer in which liquid crystal and a polymer are dispersed and mixed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, a liquid crystal device having a liquid crystal layer formed by dispersing and mixing a liquid crystal and a polymer has been proposed. This type of liquid crystal device has a cell structure in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between two glass substrates provided with electrodes, and the difference in light refractive index between the liquid crystal and the polymer particles with respect to light incident on the cell structure. Is changed depending on the level of the applied voltage, and light is scattered or transmitted to perform display.

As an example of the above liquid crystal device, a schematic cell structure of a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal device will be described. This cell structure has a structure in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between two glass substrates. A transparent electrode made of ITO (indium tin oxide) or the like is formed on the inner surface of one glass substrate, and Al or C is formed on the inner surface of the other glass substrate.
A reflection electrode also serving as a reflection layer made of r or the like is formed. An alignment film made of a transparent resin is formed on these transparent electrodes and reflective electrodes, and rubbing is performed in a predetermined direction.

The gap between the glass substrates is usually about several μm, and a predetermined liquid crystal having refractive index anisotropy and dielectric anisotropy and a polymer precursor (monomer) having photopolymerizability are provided in the gap. , Prepolymer, etc.) are injected. When the cell structure of the liquid crystal thus formed is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, the polymer precursor in the solution undergoes photopolymerization and precipitates in a state where the polymer particles are dispersed in the liquid crystal.
Thus, a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer is formed.

The liquid crystal molecules and the polymer particles in the liquid crystal layer are aligned in substantially the same direction along the direction of the rubbing treatment performed on the alignment film when no electric field is applied. At this time, when a voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold is applied between the transparent electrode and the reflective electrode, the liquid crystal molecules having dielectric anisotropy are oriented in the direction of the electric field and change their posture. As a result, since the refractive index of the liquid crystal molecules having the refractive index anisotropy seen from the outside changes,
The difference in the photorefractive index between the liquid crystal molecules and the polymer particles also changes in a state where no electric field is applied, in which the liquid crystal molecules are oriented in substantially the same direction as the polymer particles.

In the above liquid crystal layer, for example, if the difference in the refractive index between the liquid crystal molecules and the polymer particles in the state where no electric field is applied is almost 0, the liquid crystal layer becomes almost transparent, so that the light incident on the cell Is transmitted through the liquid crystal layer, reflected by the reflective electrode, and emitted again as it is. Conversely, when the electric field is applied, the refractive index of the liquid crystal molecules changes, causing a difference between the refractive index of the polymer particles and the liquid crystal layer. Is done. Of course, it is also possible to make the liquid crystal layer in a scattering state when no electric field is applied and to make the liquid crystal layer in a transmission state when an electric field is applied.

[0007]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional polymer-dispersed liquid crystal device, a light transmitting state and a light scattering state are realized by utilizing a difference in refractive index between the liquid crystal and the polymer. Therefore, in order to increase the contrast, it is necessary to improve the light transmittance in the transmission state and the efficiency of light scattering in the scattering state. However, since there is a limit depending on the material in the refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal that contributes to light scattering, it is generally difficult to increase the scattering efficiency and increase the contrast in this type of liquid crystal device.

In a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal device,
Since the liquid crystal molecules and the polymer particles are oriented in a predetermined direction, there is also a problem that the azimuth dependence and the viewing angle dependence differ in contrast and other optical characteristics depending on the sight direction and the incident angle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal device having a liquid crystal layer in which a liquid crystal and a polymer are dispersed, in which the brightness and the contrast can be increased, and It is an object of the present invention to realize a liquid crystal device having a novel structure capable of reducing or relaxing the viewing angle dependence of characteristics.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above problems, the present invention is directed to a liquid crystal device in which a liquid crystal layer formed by dispersing and mixing a liquid crystal and a polymer is sandwiched between a pair of substrates. A first electrode and a second electrode are formed on the one substrate, and an electric field is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode to control a liquid crystal alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer. It is characterized by becoming.

According to this means, the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged on one side of the liquid crystal layer at an interval, and the first electrode and the second electrode
Since the liquid crystal can be oriented in the direction of the electric field connecting the electrodes, the cell structure of the liquid crystal can be easily configured, and light scattering can be efficiently caused by a different liquid crystal and polymer orientation method than before. In addition, depending on the electrode structure, the viewing angle dependency can be improved.

Here, it is preferable that the polymer is oriented in a direction crossing a plane along the liquid crystal layer.

According to this means, since the polymer is oriented in the direction crossing the plane along the liquid crystal layer, the scattering intensity in the light scattering state can be particularly improved, and the brightness can be increased. In this case, it is particularly desirable to align both the polymer and the liquid crystal in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane along the liquid crystal layer in a state where no electric field is applied, in order to enhance the contrast.

In a state where no electric field is applied, the liquid crystal is substantially included in a plane along the liquid crystal layer and intersects with an electric field application direction connecting the first electrode and the second electrode. Preferably, they are oriented in the same direction.

According to this means, the liquid crystal is always oriented in a direction substantially included in a plane along the liquid crystal layer regardless of whether or not an electric field is applied. It can be further reduced and mitigated.

Further, it is preferable that the first electrode and the second electrode are provided on both sides of the liquid crystal layer, respectively.

According to this means, it is possible to apply an electric field in a direction substantially along the liquid crystal layer from both sides of the liquid crystal layer. Therefore, the liquid crystal layer is made thicker without increasing the driving voltage, and the brightness in the light scattering state is improved. Can be improved.

It is preferable that the first electrode and the second electrode are each formed in a comb-like shape, and are arranged to face each other in such a positional relationship that the comb-like portions mesh with each other.

According to this means, the distance between the electrodes can be shortened and the electric field can be uniformly applied since there is no waste in the operation of the electrodes, so that the driving voltage can be suppressed to be low. And uniform optical characteristics can be obtained.

Further, it is preferable that at least two portions having different opposing directions in a plane along the liquid crystal layer are formed in the opposing structure of the first electrode and the second electrode.

According to this means, by providing the first electrode and the second electrode with at least two portions having different facing directions, it is possible to form regions having different electric field directions formed between the two electrodes. As a result, regions having different alignment directions of the liquid crystal are formed in the liquid crystal layer, so that the viewing angle dependence of the optical characteristics of the liquid crystal layer can be reduced and alleviated.

Further, it is also possible to form a switching element such as a thin film transistor or a non-linear element on one of the substrates to control the arrangement state of the liquid crystal for each pixel.

[0023]

Next, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an inner surface structure of one glass substrate 10 of a first embodiment of a liquid crystal device according to the present invention. 2 and 3 are schematic sectional views of the liquid crystal cell of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, a liquid crystal layer 30 is sealed inside a liquid crystal cell having glass substrates 10 and 20 made of non-alkali glass or the like.
, Liquid crystal molecules 31 and polymer particles 32 are dispersedly arranged. The liquid crystal layer 30 formed in the present embodiment is a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer in which a polymer is dispersed in liquid crystal. Although the liquid crystal layer 30 is omitted in the drawing as one region, it goes without saying that the liquid crystal layer 30 is sandwiched between a pair of substrates with a sealant.

The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer is formed by polymerizing a polymer precursor from a solution in which a liquid crystal and a polymer precursor are mixed, and by phase-separating the liquid crystal and the polymer. preferable. On the other hand, as the liquid crystal, nematic liquid crystals having dielectric anisotropy and refractive index anisotropy, and other various liquid crystals can be used. As the liquid crystal, for example, a nematic liquid crystal to which a chiral component is added may have a twist angle in the liquid crystal layer. Twist angle is 90-18
In the range of 0 degrees, anisotropy occurs in the optical characteristics, but 270
Anisotropy of optical characteristics can be reduced by giving a twist angle of degrees or more.

As the polymer precursor, various polymer precursors (monomer, prepolymer, etc.) which can be controlled in polymerization can be used. In particular, a side chain having a benzene skeleton or a biphenyl skeleton is added. As long as it is a thermoplastic polymer, a thermosetting polymer or a photocurable polymer, it can be widely used. For example,
Methacrylates or acrylates of biphenylmethanol or derivatives of these compounds can be used, and methacrylates or acrylates of naphthol or derivatives of these compounds can be used. Further, a mixture of the ester and a methacrylate derivative or acrylate derivative of biphenol may be used as the polymer precursor.

In the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer, it is preferable that liquid crystal molecules and polymer particles are oriented in substantially the same direction in an initial state (in a state where no electric field is applied). In this case, it is desirable that the liquid crystal molecules and the polymer precursor in the solution are aligned in the same direction, and phase separation is performed while maintaining the alignment state during polymerization of the polymer precursor. By doing so, the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer can be reliably controlled, so that the optical characteristics of the liquid crystal layer can be improved.

Further, as the polymer, even a polymer produced by cooling and curing using a thermoplastic polymer precursor can be used, or a polymer can be heated or irradiated with light using a thermosetting or photocurable polymer precursor. The polymerization may be carried out. However, in order to facilitate control in the manufacturing process and to prevent the influence on other materials, it is most preferable to use a photocurable polymer precursor and to phase separate the polymer particles by photopolymerization. It is effective. Particularly, polymerization by ultraviolet irradiation is the most practical method.

The ratio of the liquid crystal contained in the liquid crystal layer is 5% of the whole.
0 to 97 wt% is optimal. If the liquid crystal content is less than this, it is difficult to respond to an electric field, and if it is more than this, the contrast is reduced.

In this embodiment, a first potential for supplying a predetermined potential to each pixel region A is provided on the inner surface of the glass substrate 10 described above.
A wiring layer 11 and a second wiring layer 12 are formed. First
From the wiring layer 11, a plurality of transparent first electrodes 13 made of a plurality of striped ITO or the like extend, and from the second wiring layer 12, a plurality of striped transparent second electrodes 14
Is stretched. Here, the first wiring layer 11 and the first
The electrode 13 constitutes a first electrode, and the second wiring layer 12 and the second electrode 14 constitute a second electrode.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first electrode and the second electrode are each formed in a comb shape, and are engaged with each other.
They are arranged between the other electrodes. As shown in FIG. 2, on the inner surface of the glass substrate 10, the first wiring layer 1
SE-7511L or SE1211 so as to cover the first and second wiring layers 12 and the first and second electrodes 13 and 14.
(Nissan Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., product number) or the like, and sintering or drying the alignment film 1
5 are formed.

On the other hand, a similar alignment film 25 is also formed on the inner surface of the glass substrate 20. As a vertical alignment agent, LP-
Various vertical alignment agents such as 8T (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicon Co., product number) and DMOAP or stearic acid capable of vertically aligning liquid crystals can be used.

Note that on the inner surfaces of these glass substrates 10 and 20, a transistor element such as a MOS transistor element and a thin film transistor element, a MIM element, and a thin film transistor connected to the first wiring layer 11 and the second wiring layer 12 are formed. A diode element such as a diode element and other various active elements may be formed.

The glass substrate 10 and the glass substrate 20 are adhered to each other at a predetermined interval by a sealing material, and the above-described solution is injected into a liquid crystal sealing region surrounded by the sealing material and sealed. In the present embodiment, by irradiating the liquid crystal cell thus formed with ultraviolet rays, the polymer particles are polymerized and cured to cause phase separation from the liquid crystal, and the liquid crystal molecules 31 and the polymer particles 32 are dispersed mutually. The arranged liquid crystal layer 30 is formed. In the liquid crystal layer 30 thus formed, as shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal molecules 31 and the polymer particles 32 are both aligned in a direction substantially perpendicular to the alignment films 15 and 25.

When the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment is in a state where no electric field is applied, as shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal molecules 31 and the polymer particles 32 are almost vertically aligned, and Is set so that the refractive index of the liquid crystal molecules 31 and the refractive index of the polymer particles 32 for light in the viewing direction perpendicular to the liquid crystal layer 30 are substantially equal, so that the liquid crystal layer 30 is substantially transparent.

Next, in the liquid crystal device of the above embodiment,
When a voltage higher than a threshold is applied to the liquid crystal layer 30 between the first electrode 13 and the second electrode 14, as shown in FIG.
The liquid crystal molecules 31 in 0 are aligned in the direction of the electric field, and fall in the horizontal direction along the liquid crystal layer 30. As a result, in the liquid crystal layer 30, a difference occurs between the refractive index of the liquid crystal molecules 31 for light in the viewing direction and the refractive index of the polymer particles 32 for light in the same direction. Are scattered and become cloudy.

Therefore, when no electric field is applied, the pixels of the liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment become almost transparent, and when the electric field is applied, they become white due to light scattering. In this case, in the conventional polymer-dispersed liquid crystal device, the liquid crystal molecules 31 and the polymer particles 32 are oriented in a substantially horizontal direction when no electric field is applied, and only the liquid crystal molecules 31 are almost vertically in an electric field applied state. Orientation. In the present embodiment, the liquid crystal molecules 31 and the polymer particles 32 are oriented substantially vertically in a state where no electric field is applied, and only the liquid crystal molecules 31 are oriented substantially horizontally in a state where an electric field is applied. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the scattering intensity at the time of light scattering can be increased as compared with the related art, and the brightness of the liquid crystal device as a whole can be increased. As a result, display contrast can be improved. This is presumably because the polymer particles are almost vertically oriented even in the scattering state.

The liquid crystal cell of the above embodiment can be used for both a transmission type cell and a reflection type cell. When a reflection type cell is configured, a reflection layer made of a metal film or the like may be formed on the inner surface or the outer surface of the glass substrate 10. Further, in the present embodiment, the manufacturing method and structure as a monochrome type liquid crystal device have been described. However, in the case of a reflective type, a color filter is provided in any place above the reflective layer in the drawing, so that a transmissive type is provided. In such a case, it is also possible to provide a color filter at an arbitrary place to make each color. In this case, the color filter is preferably provided on the inner surface of the glass substrate 20.

In this embodiment, since the wiring layers and electrodes need only be provided on the inner surface of the glass substrate 10, the cell structure can be simplified and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment has a structure in which a liquid crystal layer 30 is sandwiched between glass substrates 10 and 20, as in the first embodiment. The structures of the wiring layers and the electrodes on the inner surface of the glass substrate 10 are completely the same, and therefore the description thereof is omitted. In the present embodiment, an alignment film formed by applying a resin such as polyimide or polyvinyl alcohol on the inner surfaces of the glass substrates 10 and 20 and firing the resin is formed. These alignment films are subjected to a rubbing treatment of rubbing the surface in a predetermined direction by a rubbing roller. In the liquid crystal layer 30 formed between the glass substrates on which the alignment film is formed, in a state where no electric field is applied, as shown in FIG.
The liquid crystal molecules 31 and the polymer particles 32 are oriented in a direction (rubbing direction) along the extending direction of the liquid crystal molecules. In this state, since both the liquid crystal molecules 31 and the polymer particles 32 are oriented in substantially the same horizontal direction, the refractive indices of both are substantially equal, and the liquid crystal layer 30 is in a transparent state.

In this embodiment, when power is supplied through the first wiring layer 11 and the second wiring layer 12, a predetermined voltage is applied between the first electrode 13 and the second electrode 14, and this voltage is applied. The liquid crystal molecules 31 are aligned along the direction. In this state, since the liquid crystal molecules 31 rotate substantially 90 degrees in a horizontal plane, a difference in refractive index occurs between the liquid crystal molecules 31 and the polymer particles 32,
The liquid crystal layer 30 enters a scattering state and becomes cloudy.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, both the liquid crystal molecules 31 and the polymer particles 32 are substantially horizontally aligned in the light scattering state, so that the azimuth of the optical characteristic (the liquid crystal layer is Angle that represents the azimuth of the line of sight when viewed from a perspective)
Both the dependence and the viewing angle (the angle of the line of sight with respect to the normal of the surface of the liquid crystal layer, or the angle of incidence with respect to the liquid crystal layer) (that is, the viewing angle dependence) are higher than those of the conventional polymer dispersion type liquid crystal device Therefore, more uniform visibility can be obtained.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the first electrode 13 and the second electrode 14 are formed on the inner surface of the glass substrate 10, and the first electrode 23 and the second electrode 24 are also formed on the inner surface of the glass substrate 20. . The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the opposing glass substrate 1
Since the electrodes are provided on the inner surfaces of the liquid crystal layer 0 and 20, respectively, in the region near the inner surface of the glass substrate 10 in the liquid crystal layer 30, the liquid crystal molecules 31 are mainly generated by the electric field formed by the first electrode 13 and the second electrode 14. The liquid crystal molecules 31 are mainly aligned in the region near the inner surface of the glass substrate 20 by the electric field formed by the first electrode 23 and the second electrode 24. In addition, the first electrodes 13 and 23 are substantially opposed to each other, and the second electrodes 14 and 24 are substantially opposed to each other. When the electric field is applied, each of the opposed electrodes has substantially the same potential, so that the electrodes are opposed to each other. Since the direction of the electric field is nearly horizontal to the substrate surface even at a substantially middle position in the thickness direction in the region, the first effect is obtained by forming electrodes on both the glass substrates 10 and 20 as a synergistic effect.
The orientation ratio of the liquid crystal molecules 31 in the horizontal direction can be increased as compared with the case of the embodiment.

In this embodiment, not only the above-mentioned electrodes are formed on the inner surface of the glass substrate 20 but also the distance (cell gap) between the glass substrates 10 and 20 is increased. This is because, since the electrodes are formed on both substrates, the alignment effect of the liquid crystal molecules exerted by the electric field can be increased, so that the liquid crystal molecules can be efficiently horizontally aligned even if the cell gap is increased. The display can be brightened in the scattering state due to the increased cell gap.

When the electrodes are provided on both substrates, the liquid crystal molecules 31 can be sufficiently aligned horizontally even if the cell gap is about twice that of the first embodiment. However, at an intermediate position in the thickness direction in the liquid crystal layer 30, the liquid crystal molecules 31 are horizontally aligned by the alignment of the surrounding liquid crystal molecules 31, so that a sufficient contrast can be maintained.

Usually, in a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal cell, the drive voltage must be increased as the cell gap increases. However, in the present embodiment, by providing electrodes on both substrates, the liquid crystal is formed along both substrates. Since the liquid crystal at the intermediate position in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer can be oriented by the surrounding liquid crystal orientation,
The display characteristics can be improved by increasing the cell gap without significantly increasing the driving voltage.

(Other Embodiments) Finally, modifications of the planar patterns of the first electrode and the second electrode in the pixel in each of the above embodiments will be described. Each of the modifications described below can be adopted in any of the first to third embodiments.

7 includes a first electrode 43 extending from the first wiring layer 41 and a second electrode 44 extending from the second wiring layer 42 in the pixel area A. Here, the first electrode 43 and the second electrode 44 are connected to the first wiring layer 41.
And a base-side electrode portion 43a extending from the second wiring layer 42,
44a, and distal electrode portions 43b, 44b that bend and extend from the distal ends of the base electrode portions 43a, 44a. The base electrode portions 43a, 44a and the distal electrode portions 43b, 44b , The stretching directions are different.

The base-side electrode portion 43a of the first electrode 43 is
The front-side electrode portion 43b of the first electrode 43 faces almost in parallel with the base-side electrode portion 44a of the second electrode 44. As a result,
In the state where an electric field is applied, the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules 31 in a region between the base-side electrode portion 43a and the tip-side electrode portion 44b, and the liquid crystal molecules 31 in a region between the tip-side electrode portion 43b and the base-side electrode portion 44a. Is different depending on the difference in the facing direction between the electrodes, so that the azimuth angle dependency and the viewing angle dependency of the liquid crystal device can be reduced and alleviated.

FIG. 8 shows that the first electrode 53 connected to the first wiring layer 51 and the second
Region A where second electrode 54 connected to wiring layer 52 is formed
1 and a region A2 where a first electrode 57 connected to the first wiring layer 55 and a second electrode 58 connected to the second wiring layer 56 are formed. Here, the first electrode 5 in the region A1
The extending directions of the third and second electrodes 54 and the extending directions of the first electrode 57 and the second electrode 58 in the area A2 are substantially orthogonal to each other. For this reason, since the facing direction between the electrodes in the region A1 and the facing direction between the electrodes in the region A2 are substantially orthogonal to each other, two sets of electrode structures extending in different directions are formed in one pixel region A. It will be.

In this modification, the liquid crystal molecules 3 in the region A1
Naturally, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules 31 in the region A2 is substantially orthogonal to the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules 31. Therefore, the optical characteristics of the region A1 and the optical characteristics of the region A2 are different from each other. Therefore, the azimuth angle dependency and the viewing angle dependency of the entire liquid crystal device can be reduced and alleviated.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a thin film transistor or a non-linear element such as MIM may be formed as a switching element on one electrode, and the light transmission state may be controlled by the switching element for each pixel.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an application example of the present invention. FIG. 9 shows electronic devices using the liquid crystal panel of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view showing a mobile phone. 1000 denotes a mobile phone body, of which 100
Reference numeral 1 denotes a liquid crystal device (liquid crystal panel) of the present invention. In this embodiment, a transmissive liquid crystal panel or a reflective liquid crystal panel can be used. However, it is preferable to use a reflective liquid crystal panel in consideration of a portable type.

FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a wristwatch-type electronic device. 1100 is a perspective view showing the watch main body. 11
Reference numeral 01 denotes a liquid crystal display unit of the liquid crystal device of the present invention. Since this liquid crystal panel has higher definition pixels than a conventional clock display unit, it can also display television images, and can realize a wristwatch type television. In this embodiment, the liquid crystal device can be either a transmission type or a reflection type. Since it is a portable type, it is desirable to use a reflection type liquid crystal device when the display unit is only a liquid crystal device. With the configuration in which the liquid crystal device of the present invention is stacked and arranged on the dial of a normal timepiece, the display of the electronic device can be performed by the display of the dial and the display of the transmissive liquid crystal device. When a display device such as a timepiece and the liquid crystal device of the present invention are stacked as described above, it is necessary to form a reflective member or the like on the display device.

Next, FIG. 9C is a diagram showing a portable information processing device such as a word processor or a personal computer. 1200 denotes an information processing device, 1202 denotes an input unit such as a keyboard,
Reference numeral 1206 denotes a display unit using the liquid crystal device of the present invention.
Indicates an information processing apparatus main body. Also in this configuration, transmission type and reflection type liquid crystal devices can be used as appropriate. If you use a reflective liquid crystal panel without a light source lamp,
Battery life can be extended.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged on one side of the liquid crystal layer at an interval, and the direction of the electric field connecting the first electrode and the second electrode. Since the liquid crystal can be aligned at a time, the cell structure of the liquid crystal can be simply configured, and light scattering can be efficiently generated by a different liquid crystal and polymer alignment method than before, depending on the electrode structure. The viewing angle dependency can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an inner surface structure of one glass substrate constituting a liquid crystal cell of a liquid crystal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state where no electric field is applied according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing an electric field application state of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a liquid crystal composite layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode of a liquid crystal device according to a second embodiment of the present invention when no electric field is applied.
It is a schematic plan view which shows an electrode.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a liquid crystal composite layer and first and second electrodes in a state where an electric field is applied according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a liquid crystal device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a modification of the plane pattern of the first electrode and the second electrode.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another modification of the plane pattern of the first electrode and the second electrode.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an application example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 20 Glass substrate 11, 41, 51, 55 First wiring layer 12, 42, 52, 56 Second wiring layer 13, 43, 53, 57 First electrode 14, 44, 54, 58 Second electrode 15, 25 Alignment film 30 Liquid crystal layer 31 Liquid crystal molecules 32 Polymer particles 43a, 44a Base electrode section 43b, 44b Tip electrode section A Pixel area A1, A2 area

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal layer formed by dispersing and mixing a liquid crystal and a polymer between a pair of substrates, wherein a first electrode and a second electrode are formed on the one substrate, A liquid crystal device characterized in that an electric field is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode to control the alignment direction of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer. 2. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the polymer is oriented in a direction intersecting a plane along the liquid crystal layer. 3. The electric field application direction according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal is substantially included in a plane along the liquid crystal layer in a state where no electric field is applied, and is an electric field application direction connecting the first electrode and the second electrode. A liquid crystal device, wherein the liquid crystal device is oriented in a direction intersecting with the liquid crystal. 4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are provided on both sides of the liquid crystal layer, respectively. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are each formed in a comb shape, and the comb-shaped portions are opposed to each other in a positional relationship such that they mesh with each other. Characteristic liquid crystal device. 6. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein a switching element is formed on the one substrate. 7. The opposing structure of the first electrode and the second electrode according to claim 1, wherein at least two portions having different opposing directions in a plane along the liquid crystal layer are formed. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device, comprising: