US20060077323A1 - Liquid crystal display and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Liquid crystal display and electronic apparatus Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20060077323A1
US20060077323A1 US10/960,139 US96013904A US2006077323A1 US 20060077323 A1 US20060077323 A1 US 20060077323A1 US 96013904 A US96013904 A US 96013904A US 2006077323 A1 US2006077323 A1 US 2006077323A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
liquid crystal
panel
protrusions
predetermined edge
crystal display
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/960,139
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Hayato Kurasawa
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Seiko Epson Corp
Original Assignee
Seiko Epson Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Seiko Epson Corp filed Critical Seiko Epson Corp
Assigned to SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION reassignment SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KURASAWA, HAYATO
Priority to US11/335,462 priority Critical patent/US7573555B2/en
Publication of US20060077323A1 publication Critical patent/US20060077323A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
    • G02F1/1337—Surface-induced orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, e.g. by alignment layers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
    • G02F1/1337—Surface-induced orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, e.g. by alignment layers
    • G02F1/133707—Structures for producing distorted electric fields, e.g. bumps, protrusions, recesses, slits in pixel electrodes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
    • G02F1/1341—Filling or closing of cells

Definitions

  • aspects of the invention can relate to a liquid crystal display and an electronic apparatus. More specifically, the invention can relate to a liquid crystal display including vertically aligned liquid crystal and providing an image with a high contrast and a wide viewing angle.
  • transreflective liquid crystal displays having a reflective mode and a transmissive mode.
  • One of such transreflective liquid crystal displays includes a liquid crystal layer interposed between an upper substrate and a lower substrate.
  • a metal reflective film which, for example, is composed of aluminum, having a window for transmitting light.
  • the reflective film functions as a transreflective plate.
  • the reflective mode external light entering from the upper substrate passes through the liquid crystal layer, and is reflected at the inner surface of the lower surface. Then, the reflected light passes through the liquid crystal layer again and is emitted from the upper substrate to contribute to the display.
  • the transmissive mode In the transmissive mode, light entering from a backlight to the lower substrate passes through the liquid crystal layer via the window on the reflective film. Then, the light is emitted from the upper substrate to the outside to contribute to the display.
  • the region where the window is formed is a transmissive display region and the region excluding the window is a reflective display region.
  • the tilting direction of the liquid crystal molecules must be controlled, as described above, by distorting the electric field in a pixel as a result of forming electrodes on parts of an opening in a pixel or forming dielectric projections on parts of the electrodes.
  • the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is not sufficiently controlled, the liquid crystal molecules will be tilted randomly while maintaining a predetermined domain size on a plane. Under such conditions, some parts of the display region will have different optical characteristics, and, as a result, these regions will be defective in that they will appear grainy and uneven.
  • an alignment controlling device for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules such as dielectric protrusions must be formed in the display region of the panel at a predetermined density.
  • dielectric protrusions are formed as alignment controlling device and the proportion of the area of the panel covered by the protrusions become greater, the protrusions get in the way and the time required for injecting the liquid crystal is increased.
  • the increase in the time required for injecting the liquid crystal becomes long.
  • An aspect of the invention can provide a liquid crystal display and an electronic apparatus including this liquid crystal display, wherein the liquid crystal display is capable of reducing the operation time of the manufacturing process by decreasing the delay in the time required for injecting the liquid crystal due to the projections formed on the panel for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal.
  • an exemplary liquid crystal display can include a panel including a pair of opposing substrates and a liquid crystal layer supplied through a liquid crystal inlet provided on a predetermined edge of the panel and sealed inside the panel.
  • Protrusions for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal can be disposed unidirectionally over the entire panel and the longitudinal axis of the protrusions are not parallel with the predetermined edge of the panel.
  • the liquid crystal flows radially from the inlet immediately after it is supplied. Then, after some time, when the liquid crystal reaches both ends of the predetermined edge on which the inlet is provided, the liquid crystal begins to flow orthogonally to the predetermined edge. In other words, the liquid crystal flows radially only in the beginning and then the entire liquid crystal flows linearly in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined edge. Therefore, by not disposing the longitudinal axis of the protrusions in a direction that interrupts the flow of the liquid crystal (i.e., a direction parallel to the predetermined edge), as the above-mentioned structure of the present invention, the liquid crystal can be supplied smoothly.
  • a panel having a plurality of first projections aligned substantially in parallel to the predetermined edge and a plurality of second projections aligned substantially orthogonally to the first projections.
  • the flow resistance of the liquid crystal is affected by the density of the projections formed in the midst of the flow.
  • the liquid crystal flows easily in a direction in which the projections are formed in low density and does no flow easily in a direction in which the projections are formed in high density.
  • the liquid crystal can be injected smoothly.
  • the structure described above is for a case in which the projections have longitudinal axes. Even when the projections do not have longitudinal axes (for example when the liquid crystal molecules have an isotropic shape such as a cone, a regular pyramid, or a hemisphere), the flow resistance of the supplied liquid crystal can be reduced as long as the density of the projections is set based on the flow direction of the liquid crystal. Therefore, to achieve the above-mentioned object, the structure described below may be applied.
  • the exemplary liquid crystal display according to the invention can include a panel including a pair of opposing substrates and a liquid crystal layer supplied through an liquid crystal inlet provided on a predetermined edge of the panel and sealed inside the panel.
  • Protrusions for controlling the alignment of liquid crystal in the panel can be disposed substantially in parallel with and substantially orthogonally to the predetermined edge of the panel, and the density of the protrusions disposed in a first axial direction substantially in parallel with the predetermined edge of the panel (i.e., the proportion of the area occupied by the protrusions within a predetermined area when viewed along the first axial direction) projected onto the first axis is smaller than the density of the plurality of the protrusions disposed in a second axial direction substantially orthogonal to the predetermined edge of the panel projected on the second axis.
  • the liquid crystal display includes a panel including a pair of opposing substrates and a liquid crystal layer supplied through an inlet provided on a predetermined edge of the panel and sealed inside the panel, wherein a plurality of protrusions for controlling the alignment of liquid crystal is disposed substantially in parallel with and substantially orthogonally to the predetermined edge of the panel, and the intervals between the protrusions disposed substantially in parallel with the predetermined edge of the panel is wider than the intervals between the protrusions disposed substantially orthogonal to the predetermined edge of the panel.
  • the protrusions are disposed sparsely on the surface parallel with the predetermined edge of the panel on which the liquid crystal flows.
  • the liquid crystal can be injected smoothly, and the turnaround time of the manufacturing process can be shortened.
  • the exemplary liquid crystal display according to the invention may use either a TN mode or a vertically aligned liquid crystal.
  • a liquid crystal display uses a vertically aligned liquid crystal (i.e., a liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy whose initial alignment direction is vertical) in the liquid crystal layer, the viscosity of the liquid crystal is high, and a long time is required to supply the liquid crystal. For this reason, the advantage of the invention becomes even more effective.
  • the liquid crystal display has a multi-gap structure (or, in other words, when the panel includes dot regions having transmissive display regions and reflective display regions, which include a liquid-crystal -layer thickness-adjustment layer for making the liquid crystal layer thickness of the reflective display region smaller than the liquid crystal layer thickness of the transmissive display region), the cell thickness of the reflective display region becomes small. Consequently, more time is required for supplying the liquid crystal, and, thus, the advantage of the present invention becomes more effective.
  • An exemplary electronic apparatus can include the above-described liquid crystal display. In this way, an electronic apparatus including a display having high display quality can be provided at a low cost.
  • FIG. 1 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a liquid crystal display according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the structure of dots of the liquid crystal display according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view and a schematic cross-sectional view of the main component of the liquid crystal display according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the relationship between the positions of a liquid crystal inlet and protrusions of the liquid crystal display according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view and a schematic cross-sectional view of the main component of a liquid crystal display according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates the relationship between the positions of an inlet and protrusions of the liquid crystal display according to the second exemplary embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 7 illustrates another relationship between the positions of an inlet and protrusions of the liquid crystal display according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an electronic apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGS. 1 to 4 A first exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described by referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 .
  • the size of layers and components are modified to a size that is recognizable in the drawing.
  • a liquid crystal display is an active matrix liquid crystal display using a thin film diode (TFD) as a switching element and, in particular, is a transreflective liquid crystal display enabling reflective display and transmissive display.
  • TFD thin film diode
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an equivalent circuit of a liquid crystal display 100 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.
  • the liquid crystal display 100 can include a scanning signal driving circuit 110 and a data signal driving circuit 120 .
  • the liquid crystal display 100 has signal lines or, in other words, a plurality of scanning lines 13 and a plurality of data lines 9 intersecting with the scanning lines 13 .
  • the scanning lines 13 are driven by the scanning signal driving circuit 110 and the data lines 9 are driven by the data signal driving circuit 120 .
  • TFD elements 40 and liquid crystal display elements 160 (a liquid crystal layer) are serially connected between the scanning lines 13 and the data lines 9 .
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an equivalent circuit of a liquid crystal display 100 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.
  • the liquid crystal display 100 can include a scanning signal driving circuit 110 and a data signal driving circuit 120 .
  • the liquid crystal display 100 has signal lines or, in other words, a plurality of scanning lines 13 and a plurality of data lines 9 intersecting with the scanning lines
  • the TFD elements 40 are connected to the scanning lines 13 and the liquid crystal display elements 160 are connected to the data lines 9 . Instead, however, the TFD elements 40 may be connected to the data lines 9 and the liquid crystal display elements 160 may be connected to the scanning lines 13 .
  • each region formed on each of the pixel electrodes 31 makes up a dot region.
  • the dot regions arranged in a matrix each include one of the TFD elements 40 . In this way, each dot region is capable of displaying a dot.
  • the TFD elements 40 are switching elements for connecting the scanning lines 13 and the pixel electrodes 31 .
  • Each of the TFD elements 40 has an MIM structure including a first conductive film mainly composed of Ta, an insulating film formed on the surface of the first conductive film and mainly composed of Ta 2 O 3 , and a second conductive film formed on the surface of the insulating film and mainly composed of Cr.
  • the first conductive film of each of the TFD elements 40 is connected to one of the scanning lines 13 and the second conductive film is connected to one of the pixel electrodes 31 .
  • FIG. 3 ( a ) is a schematic plan view of the liquid crystal display 100 and, in particular, the pixel electrodes 31 .
  • FIG. 3 ( b ) is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along Line A-A′ of FIG. 3 ( a ).
  • the liquid crystal display 100 according to this embodiment has dot regions including the pixel electrodes 31 on the inner side of regions defined by the data lines 9 and the scanning lines 13 , as illustrated in FIG. 2 . As illustrated in FIG. 3 ( a ), each of the dot regions includes one colored layer corresponding to one of the three primary colors.
  • Three dot regions (D 1 , D 2 , and D 3 ) form a pixel including a blue layer 22 B, a green layer 22 G, and a red layer 22 R.
  • a rectangular sealing material (not depicted in the drawing) is interposed between a pair of opposing substrates 10 and 25 . Between these substrates 10 and 25 , a liquid crystal initially aligned vertically or, in other words, a liquid crystal layer 50 formed of a liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric anisotropy is interposed.
  • the panel according to this exemplary embodiment of the invention is prepared with the opposing substrates 10 and 25 sandwiching the sealing material.
  • the liquid crystal layer 50 is sealed inside an area surrounded by the substrates 10 and 25 and the sealing material.
  • the lower substrate (opposing substrate) 10 is prepared by disposing a reflective film 20 composed of a metal film having a high reflectivity, such as an aluminum or silver film, on an insulating film 24 , which is further disposed on a part of the surface of a substrate body 10 A composed of a translucent material, such as quartz or glass.
  • a color filter 22 (the red layer 22 R in the case of FIG. 3 ( b )) is disposed over the entire lower substrate 10 to cover both the regions with and without the reflective film 20 .
  • the region with the reflective film 20 is a reflective display region R and the region without the reflective film 20 or, in other words, an opening 21 in the reflective film 20 is a transmissive display region T.
  • the liquid crystal display 100 according to this embodiment is a vertical alignment liquid crystal display including a vertical-alignment-type liquid crystal layer 50 and is also a transreflective liquid crystal display 100 capable of reflective display and transmissive display.
  • the insulating film 24 formed on the substrate body 10 A has bumps 24 a on its surface.
  • the surface of the reflective film 20 disposed over the insulating film 24 also has bumps on its surface. Since reflected light is dispersed by these bumps, reflection of external images can be prevented and the displayed image can have a wide viewing angle.
  • the insulating film 24 having such bumps 24 a may be prepared by, for example, patterning a resin resist and applying another layer on this resin resist. Moreover, the bumps 24 a may be adjusted by heat processing the patterned resin resist.
  • the color filter 22 is disposed over both the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T.
  • the rim of each colored layer making up the color filter 22 is outlined with a black matrix BM composed of elemental chrome.
  • the black matrix BM defines the borders of each of the dot regions D 1 , D 2 , and D 3 (refer to FIG. 3 ( a )).
  • an insulating film 26 is disposed on the substrate 10 at the region corresponding to the reflective display region R. More specifically, at the reflective display region R, the insulating film 26 is selectively disposed above the reflective film 20 . Since this insulating film 26 is disposed, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 differs in the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T.
  • the insulating film 26 is, for example, composed of an organic film, such as an acrylic resin, having a thickness of about 0.5 to 2.5 ⁇ m and includes an inclined plane near the border of the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T so that the thickness continuously changes.
  • the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the transmissive display region T without the insulating film 26 is about 1 to 5 ⁇ m.
  • the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the reflective display region R is about half the thickness in the transmissive display region T without the insulating film 26 .
  • the insulating film 26 functions as a liquid-crystal-layer thickness-adjustment layer (liquid-crystal-layer thickness-controlling layer) for changing the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T.
  • the common electrode 9 composed of indium tin oxide (hereinafter referred to as ITO) is provided on the insulating film 26 and the color filter 22 . Moreover, protrusions 28 are formed on the common electrode 9 in the region corresponding to the transmissive display region T.
  • ITO indium tin oxide
  • the protrusions 28 function as liquid crystal alignment controlling means for controlling the tilting direction of the liquid crystal molecules and, for example, protrude from the color filter 22 into the liquid crystal layer 50 by a predetermined height (e.g., about 0.05 to 1.5 ⁇ m).
  • the protrusions 28 are long in the Y-axis direction.
  • the two side surfaces of each of the protrusions 28 extending in the longitudinal direction (in FIG. 3 ( a ) these are parallel to the Y axis) are inclined at a predetermined angle (or curved slightly) with respect to the main surface of the substrate. In this way, the tilting direction of the liquid crystal molecules when a voltage is applied is controlled so that the molecules tilt in opposite direction on each side of the Y axis.
  • a multi-domain arrangement becomes possible in each dot.
  • the common electrode 9 is formed as stripes extending in the vertical direction of the page.
  • the common electrode 9 is disposed on each dot region aligned in the vertical direction of the page.
  • the common electrode 9 has openings 29 for controlling the liquid crystal alignment in the reflective display region R. By forming such openings 29 , an oblique electric field is generated between the common electrode 9 and the pixel electrodes 31 in the region where the opening is formed.
  • the tilting direction of the initially vertically aligned liquid crystal molecules is controlled in accordance with the oblique electric field. Accordingly, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules can be controlled in both the transmissive display region T and the reflective display region R. In particular, in the reflective display region R, the horizontal electric field becomes large since the cell thickness is small compared to the transmissive display region T.
  • the openings 29 formed on the common electrode 9 and notches 32 (described below) in the pixel electrodes 31 are formed so that they do not overlap with each other when viewed from above. Consequently, the tilting direction of the liquid crystal molecules LC between the openings 29 and the notches 32 can be controlled.
  • the reflective film 20 and the common electrode 9 according to this exemplary embodiment are formed separately.
  • a reflective film composed of a metal film may be used as a part of the common electrode in the reflective display region R.
  • an alignment film 27 composed of polyimide is disposed on the common electrode 9 and the protrusions 28 .
  • the alignment film 27 functions as a vertical alignment film for vertically aligning the liquid crystal molecules relative to the surface of the film. Alignment processing, such as rubbing, is not carried out on the alignment film 27 .
  • the upper substrate (elemental substrate) 25 is made up by disposing a matrix of the pixel electrodes 31 composed of a transparent conductive film, such as ITO, on the substrate body 25 A composed of a transmissive material such as glass or quartz (i.e., on the surface of the substrate body 25 A facing the liquid crystal layer). Then, an alignment film 33 composed of polyimide processed to have a vertical alignment similar to the lower substrate 10 is disposed over the pixel electrodes 31 .
  • One pixel electrode 31 is disposed for each of the dots D 1 , D 2 , and D 3 .
  • a voltage is applied individually to each of the pixel electrodes 31 by a TFD disposed on each of the dots.
  • Each of the pixel electrodes 31 according to this embodiment includes a plurality (two in FIG. 3 ) of islands 31 a and 31 b and a connecting region 39 for electrically connecting neighboring islands.
  • the islands 31 a and 31 b each make up a subdot; each dot can be divided into a plurality of subdots.
  • the shape of each subdot (islands 31 a and 31 b ) in FIG. 3 is a regular octagon.
  • the shape is not limited to this and may be, for example, a circle or any type of polygon.
  • there are notches 32 (the regions between the islands 31 a and 31 b excluding the connecting regions 39 ) formed by cutting off parts of the electrodes.
  • the electrode openings 29 and the protrusions 28 on the substrate body 10 A of the lower substrate 10 are formed substantially in the center of the islands 31 a and 31 b , respectively, when viewed from the top.
  • a wave plate 18 and a polarizing plate 19 are disposed on the outer surface of the lower substrate 10 (the surface opposite to the surface facing the liquid crystal layer 50 ). Also, on the outer surface of the upper substrate 25 , a wave plate 16 and a polarizing plate 17 are disposed. In this way, circularly polarized light is incident on the inner surface of the substrate (the surface facing the liquid crystal layer 50 ).
  • the wave plate 18 and the polarizing plate 19 , and wave plate 16 and polarizing plate 17 form circular polarizing plates.
  • the polarizing plate 17 ( 19 ) only transmits linearly polarized light having a polarization axis in a predetermined direction.
  • the wave plate 16 ( 18 ) is a ⁇ /4 wave plate.
  • a combination of a polarizing plate, a ⁇ /2 wave plate, and a ⁇ /4 wave plate i.e., a high-frequency circularly-polarizing plate
  • a combination of a polarizing plate, a ⁇ /2 wave plate, a ⁇ /4 wave plate, and a c plate may be used to improve the viewing angle.
  • a backlight 15 is disposed as a light source for transmissive display.
  • the liquid crystal layer 50 is prepared by vacuum-injecting liquid crystal through a liquid crystal inlet formed on one of the sides (a predetermined edge of the panel) of the sealing material.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the positioning of the protrusions 28 and the edge having the liquid crystal inlet.
  • H indicates the liquid crystal inlet
  • 100 A indicates the panel edge having the liquid crystal inlet H
  • 100 B indicates both ends of the panel edge
  • 40 indicates a sealant.
  • the sealing material is not depicted in FIG. 4 since it is disposed along the edge of the substrate 25 (or substrate 10 ).
  • the longitudinal axes of the protrusions 28 are arranged in an optimal direction relative to the flow direction of the liquid crystal to shorten the time required for the liquid crystal injection process. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4 ( a ), the longitudinal axes of the protrusions 28 are arranged so that they are not parallel to the direction in which the predetermined edge 100 A panel having the liquid crystal inlet H extends (the X-axis direction).
  • the liquid crystal is injected radially from the inlet H immediately after the injection is started, but, when the liquid crystal reaches the ends 100 B and 100 B of the panel edge 100 A having the inlet H after some time, the liquid crystal begins to flow in a direction orthogonal to the edge 100 A (in the Y-axis direction).
  • the liquid crystal flows radially only at the beginning of injection and, then, starts to flow in the Y-axis direction over the entire panel. Consequently, the liquid crystal can be injected smoothly by disposing the protrusions 28 so that their longitudinal axes are not arranged in a direction that completely blocks the flow of the liquid crystal (i.e., the X-axis direction in parallel with the panel edge 100 A), as in FIG. 4 ( b ).
  • the longitudinal axes of the protrusions 28 are arranged orthogonally (along the Y-axis direction) to the direction in which the edge 100 A extends.
  • the longitudinal axes do not necessarily have to be exactly orthogonal to the edge 100 A; even when the longitudinal axes are somewhat tilted the flow resistance can be sufficiently reduced.
  • the time required for injecting liquid crystal into panels having the structure illustrated in FIG. 4 ( a ) and FIG. 4 ( b ) was measured under the same conditions: the injection time for the panel of FIG. 4 ( b ) was 90 minutes whereas the injection time for the panel of FIG. 4 ( a ) according to this embodiment was only 40 minutes.
  • the liquid crystal injection time can be shorted by at least half.
  • the liquid crystal display 100 can have the following advantages.
  • the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the reflective display region R can be reduced to substantially half of the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the transmissive display region T by disposing the insulating film 26 at the reflective display region R. Therefore, the retardation contributing to reflective display and transmissive display becomes substantially equal and the contrast of the display is improved.
  • the tilting direction of the liquid crystal molecules can be controlled when a voltage is applied because of the effect of an oblique electric field due to the inclined surface of the protrusions 28 , the openings 29 , and the notches 32 .
  • a voltage is applied because of the effect of an oblique electric field due to the inclined surface of the protrusions 28 , the openings 29 , and the notches 32 .
  • the longitudinal axes of the protrusions 28 which are means for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal, are arranged along the flow direction of the injected liquid crystal. Therefore, the flow resistance of the liquid crystal can be reduced, thus shortening the time required to inject the liquid crystal.
  • the liquid crystal layer 50 according to this exemplary embodiment includes a vertically aligned liquid crystal having a high viscosity and has a multi-gap structure, causing a relatively long liquid crystal injection time. The injection time, however, can be shortened by the above-mentioned structure. In this way, the turnaround time of the manufacturing process can be greatly reduced.
  • FIGS. 5 to 7 A second exemplary embodiment according to the invention will be described by referring to FIGS. 5 to 7 .
  • FIG. 5 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display according to this exemplary embodiment and is equivalent to the schematic view of FIG. 3 illustrating the first exemplary embodiment of the invention. Parts and components according to this embodiment that are the same as those in the first embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals.
  • a liquid crystal display 200 according to this exemplary embodiment is a transmissive liquid crystal display not having a reflective display region.
  • the liquid crystal display 200 according to this embodiment has dot regions including pixel electrodes 31 inside of regions defined by data lines 9 and scanning lines 13 , as illustrated in FIG. 5 ( a ).
  • Each of the dot regions includes one colored layer corresponding to one of the three primary colors.
  • Three dot regions (D 1 , D 2 , and D 3 ) form a pixel including a blue layer 22 B, a green layer 22 G, and a red layer 22 R.
  • a rectangular sealing material (not depicted in the drawing) is interposed between a pair of opposing substrates 10 and 25 . Between these substrates 10 and 25 , a liquid crystal initially aligned vertically or, in other words, a liquid crystal layer 50 formed of a liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric anisotropy is interposed.
  • the panel according to this embodiment of the present invention is prepared with the opposing substrates 10 and 25 sandwiching the sealing material.
  • the liquid crystal layer 50 is sealed inside an area surrounded by the substrates 10 and 25 and the sealing material.
  • a lower substrate (opposing substrate) 10 can include a common electrode 9 composed of ITO disposed on the surface of a substrate body 10 A composed of a transparent material such as quartz or glass. Protrusions 28 are formed on the surface of the common electrode 9 .
  • the protrusions 28 function as a liquid crystal alignment controlling device for controlling the tilting direction of the liquid crystal molecules.
  • the protrusions 28 for example, protrude from the common electrode 9 into the liquid crystal layer 50 by a predetermined height (e.g., about 0.05 to 1.5 ⁇ m).
  • the protrusions 28 have a surface inclined at a predetermined angle (or curved slightly) with respect to the surface of the substrate. In this way, the tilt of liquid crystal molecules is controlled along the inclined surface.
  • the cross-sectional view of the protrusions 28 is preferably substantially symmetrical.
  • the shape of the protrusions 28 may preferably be a cone, an elliptical cone, a poly-pyramid, a truncated cone, a truncated elliptical cone, a truncated poly-pyramid, or a hemisphere.
  • the liquid crystal molecules will tilt in all directions when a voltage is applied, and, thus, a multi-directional multi-domain arrangement becomes possible.
  • the common electrode 9 is formed of stripes extending in the vertical direction of the page of the drawing.
  • the common electrode 9 is disposed on each dot region aligned in the vertical direction of the page of the drawing.
  • an alignment film 27 composed of polyimide is disposed on the common electrode 9 and the protrusions 28 .
  • the alignment film 27 functions as a vertical alignment film for vertically aligning the liquid crystal molecules relative to the surface of the film. Alignment processing, such as rubbing, has not been carried out on the alignment film 27 .
  • the upper substrate 25 is made up by disposing a color filter 22 (a red colored layer 22 R in FIG. 5 ( b )) on the surface of a substrate body 25 A composed of a transparent material such as glass or quartz.
  • a matrix of pixel electrodes 31 composed of a transparent conductive film such as ITO is disposed.
  • an alignment film 33 composed of polyimide processed to have a vertical alignment similar to the lower substrate 10 is disposed over the pixel electrodes 31 .
  • each of the pixel electrodes 31 is disposed for each of the dots D 1 , D 2 , and D 3 .
  • a voltage is applied individually to each of the pixel electrodes 31 by a TFD disposed on each of the dots.
  • Each of the pixel electrodes 31 include a plurality (four in FIG. 5 ) of islands 31 a , 31 b , 31 c , and 31 d and a connecting region 39 for electrically connecting neighboring islands.
  • the islands 31 a , 31 b , 31 c , and 31 d each make up a subdot; each dot can be divided into a plurality of subdots.
  • each subdot (islands 31 a , 31 b , 31 c , and 31 d ) in FIG. 5 is a regular octagon.
  • the shape is not limited to this and may be, for example, a circle or any type of polygon.
  • Between the islands 31 a , 31 b , 31 c , and 31 d of each of the pixel electrodes 31 there are notches 32 (the region between the islands 31 a , 31 b , 31 c , and 31 d excluding the connecting region 39 ) formed by cutting off parts of the electrode.
  • the protrusions 28 are formed substantially in the center of the subdots (or the islands 31 a , 31 b , 31 c , and 31 d ) when viewed from the top.
  • a wave plate 18 and a polarizing plate 19 are disposed on the outer surface of the lower substrate 10 (the surface opposite to the surface facing the liquid crystal layer 50 ). Also, on the outer surface of the upper substrate 25 , a wave plate 16 and a polarizing plate 17 are disposed. In this way, circularly polarized light is incident on the inner surface of the substrate (the surface facing the liquid crystal layer 50 ).
  • the wave plate 18 and the polarizing plate 19 , and wave plate 16 and polarizing plate 17 form circular polarizing plates.
  • the polarizing plate 17 ( 19 ) only transmits linearly polarized light having a polarization axis in a predetermined direction.
  • the wave plate 16 ( 18 ) is a ⁇ /4 wave plate.
  • a combination of a polarizing plate, a ⁇ /2 wave plate, and a ⁇ /4 wave plate i.e., a high-frequency circularly-polarizing plate
  • a combination of a polarizing plate, a ⁇ /2 wave plate, a ⁇ /4 wave plate, and a c plate may be used to improve the viewing angle.
  • a backlight 15 is disposed as a light source for transmissive display.
  • the liquid crystal layer 50 is prepared by vacuum-injecting liquid crystal through a liquid crystal inlet formed on one of the sides (a predetermined edge of the panel) of the sealing material.
  • the longitudinal axes of the protrusions 28 are arranged in an optimal direction relative to the flow direction of the liquid crystal to shorten the time required for liquid crystal injection process.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the positioning of the protrusions 28 and the edge having the liquid crystal inlet.
  • H indicates the liquid crystal inlet
  • 100 A indicates the panel edge having the liquid crystal inlet H
  • 100 B indicates both ends of the panel edge
  • 40 indicates a sealant.
  • the sealing material is not depicted in FIG. 6 since it is disposed along the edge of the substrate 25 (or substrate 10 ).
  • the protrusions 28 are not oblong. Therefore, in this embodiment, to reduce the flow resistance of the liquid crystal during injection, the density of the disposed protrusions 28 is varied according to the alignment direction. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG.
  • the density of the protrusions 28 aligned in parallel with the panel edge 100 A having the liquid crystal inlet H (or, aligned along the X-axis direction) projected onto the X axis is smaller than the density of the protrusions 28 aligned orthogonally to the panel edge 100 A (or, aligned along the Y-axis direction) projected onto the Y axis. Since the protrusions 28 according to this embodiment have an isotropic shape, such as a cone, the above-mentioned structure can be rephrased as follows.
  • intervals of the protrusions 28 in parallel with the panel edge 100 A having the liquid crystal inlet H are wider than the intervals of the protrusions 28 orthogonal to panel edge 100 A having the liquid crystal inlet H (or, the protrusions 28 aligned along the Y-axis direction).
  • the flow resistance of the liquid crystal is affected by the density of the protrusions 28 , disposed in the path of the flow of the liquid crystal.
  • the liquid crystal for example, easily flows in a direction having a lower density of protrusions 28 but flows less easily in a direction having a higher density of protrusions 28 .
  • the protrusions 28 do not necessarily have to be exactly in parallel with or orthogonal to the edge 100 A having the liquid crystal inlet; even when the protrusions 28 are somewhat tilted the flow resistance can be sufficiently reduced.
  • the time required for injecting liquid crystal into panels having the structure illustrated in FIG. 6 ( b ) having the protrusions 28 aligned in a pattern opposite to the protrusions 28 in FIG. 6 ( a ) was measured under the same conditions: the injection time for the panel of FIG. 6 ( b ) was 45 minutes whereas the injection time for the panel of FIG. 6 ( a ) according to this embodiment was only 30 minutes.
  • the liquid crystal injection time can be shorted by about 2 ⁇ 3.
  • the number of protrusions 28 aligned in parallel with the panel edge 100 A is smaller the number of protrusions 28 aligned orthogonally to the panel edge 100 A (in FIG. 6 ( a ) the ratio is 3:5). It should be understood that the number of the disposed protrusions 28 is not limited to this ratio. For example, the number of protrusions 28 aligned in either direction may be equal, as illustrated in FIG. 7 .
  • FIGS. 7 ( a ) and 7 ( b ) are both examples of a case wherein the number of protrusions 28 aligned in the X direction and the number of protrusions 28 aligned in the Y direction are equal.
  • FIG. 7 ( a ) similar to this embodiment, illustrates a case in which the density of the protrusions 28 aligned in the X direction is less than the density of the protrusions 28 aligned in the Y direction.
  • FIG. 7 ( b ) illustrates a case in which the density of the protrusions 28 aligned in the X direction is greater than the density of the protrusions 28 aligned in the Y direction.
  • the liquid crystal injection time was 40 minutes whereas the injection time for FIG. 7 ( a ) was 30 minutes.
  • the injection time becomes long by increasing the number of protrusions 28 aligned in the X direction (as illustrated in FIG. 7 ( b ))
  • the injection time can be shortened by arranging the protrusions 28 with the above-mentioned density (i.e., arranging the protrusions 28 so that the density of the protrusions 28 aligned in the X direction is less than the density of the protrusions 28 aligned in the Y direction).
  • the alignment of the liquid crystal is controlled by the protrusions 28 , which are alignment controlling means, residual images accompanying the generation of a disclination or grainy, uneven spots observed from an oblique angle do not appear easily and high quality display becomes possible.
  • the density of the disposed protrusions 28 is optimized based on the flow direction of the injected liquid crystal, the time required for the liquid crystal injection process, and the turnaround time for the entire manufacturing process can be shortened.
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cellular phone according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
  • the cellular phone body is indicated by the reference numeral 1000
  • the display including the above-mentioned liquid crystal display is indicated by the reference number 1001 .
  • the liquid crystal display according to the above-mentioned embodiments is used for the display of an electronic apparatus such as a cellular phone, an electronic apparatus including a bright display having a high contrast and a wide viewing angle can be provided.
  • the liquid crystal display 1001 can be supplied at low cost because the turn-around time of the manufacturing process can be shortened, the cost of the entire electronic apparatus can be lowered.
  • the longitudinal axes of the protrusions 28 were optimized relative to the flow direction of the liquid crystal.
  • the density of the protrusions 28 may also be optimized in the same manner as in the second embodiment.
  • the intervals of the protrusions 28 aligned in parallel with the panel edge 100 A having the liquid crystal inlet H (in the X-axis direction) may be wider than the intervals between the protrusions 28 aligned orthogonally to the panel edge 100 A (in the Y-axis direction). In this way, the liquid crystal injection time can be shortened even more.
  • the liquid crystal display according to the above-mentioned exemplary embodiment of the invention is an active matrix liquid crystal display having a TDF as a switching element.
  • the liquid crystal display according to the invention may be an active matrix liquid crystal display having a TFT as a switching element or a passive matrix liquid crystal display.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Nonlinear Science (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • Liquid Crystal (AREA)
US10/960,139 2003-10-10 2004-10-08 Liquid crystal display and electronic apparatus Abandoned US20060077323A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/335,462 US7573555B2 (en) 2003-10-10 2006-01-20 Liquid crystal display and electronic apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2003352676A JP3873962B2 (ja) 2003-10-10 2003-10-10 液晶表示装置および電子機器
JP2003-352676 2003-10-10

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/335,462 Division US7573555B2 (en) 2003-10-10 2006-01-20 Liquid crystal display and electronic apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20060077323A1 true US20060077323A1 (en) 2006-04-13

Family

ID=34543538

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/960,139 Abandoned US20060077323A1 (en) 2003-10-10 2004-10-08 Liquid crystal display and electronic apparatus
US11/335,462 Expired - Fee Related US7573555B2 (en) 2003-10-10 2006-01-20 Liquid crystal display and electronic apparatus

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/335,462 Expired - Fee Related US7573555B2 (en) 2003-10-10 2006-01-20 Liquid crystal display and electronic apparatus

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (2) US20060077323A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JP3873962B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
KR (1) KR100664813B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CN (1) CN100378523C (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
TW (1) TW200530679A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070024778A1 (en) * 2005-07-28 2007-02-01 Sanyo Epson Imaging Devices Corp. Semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device
US20070132927A1 (en) * 2005-12-12 2007-06-14 Sanyo Epson Imaging Devices Corporation Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus
US20070177080A1 (en) * 2006-02-01 2007-08-02 Sanyo Epson Imaging Devices Corp. Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus
EP2083314A1 (en) * 2008-01-24 2009-07-29 TPO Displays Corp. Liquid crystal display device

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070040969A1 (en) * 2005-08-18 2007-02-22 Norihiro Yoshida Liquid crystal display device
JP4618188B2 (ja) * 2006-04-18 2011-01-26 セイコーエプソン株式会社 液晶表示装置および電子機器
US8233648B2 (en) * 2008-08-06 2012-07-31 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Ad-hoc adaptive wireless mobile sound system

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6115098A (en) * 1997-12-25 2000-09-05 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha LCD having an LC layer with spacers arranged so that LC molecules are in axial symmetry upon application of voltage
US6266121B1 (en) * 1996-11-28 2001-07-24 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid crystal display element and method of manufacturing same
US20030043326A1 (en) * 2001-06-29 2003-03-06 Fujitsu Limited Substrate for liquid crystal display, liquid crystal display having the same and method of manufacturing the same
US6661488B1 (en) * 1997-06-12 2003-12-09 Fujitsu Limited Vertically-alligned (VA) liquid crystal display device
US6753939B2 (en) * 2001-05-28 2004-06-22 Sony Corporation LCD device with vertically oriented liquid crystal section under no voltage condition
US6788375B2 (en) * 2001-04-11 2004-09-07 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid crystal display device

Family Cites Families (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH06308498A (ja) 1993-04-22 1994-11-04 Canon Inc 強誘電性液晶素子
JPH10161135A (ja) * 1996-11-28 1998-06-19 Sharp Corp 液晶表示素子およびその製造方法
US6281952B1 (en) 1997-12-26 2001-08-28 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid crystal display
JPH11352494A (ja) * 1998-06-10 1999-12-24 Hitachi Ltd 液晶表示装置
JP3441383B2 (ja) * 1998-10-19 2003-09-02 シャープ株式会社 液晶表示装置及びその製造方法
JP4162313B2 (ja) * 1998-12-28 2008-10-08 シャープ株式会社 液晶表示装置
KR100777700B1 (ko) 2001-06-12 2007-11-21 삼성전자주식회사 액정 표시 장치 및 그 제조 방법
JP4368096B2 (ja) * 2001-10-02 2009-11-18 シャープ株式会社 液晶表示装置
JP4043816B2 (ja) 2002-03-20 2008-02-06 シャープ株式会社 液晶表示装置
JP2003322858A (ja) 2002-05-08 2003-11-14 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd 液晶表示装置
US7433005B2 (en) * 2003-03-31 2008-10-07 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid crystal display device having electrode units each provided with a solid part and an extending part and method of manufacturing the same
US7253872B2 (en) * 2003-09-29 2007-08-07 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid crystal display apparatus comprising wall portions formed in a plurality of openings or cut-out portions of an electrode
KR100680103B1 (ko) * 2004-02-02 2007-02-28 샤프 가부시키가이샤 액정 표시 장치

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6266121B1 (en) * 1996-11-28 2001-07-24 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid crystal display element and method of manufacturing same
US6661488B1 (en) * 1997-06-12 2003-12-09 Fujitsu Limited Vertically-alligned (VA) liquid crystal display device
US6115098A (en) * 1997-12-25 2000-09-05 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha LCD having an LC layer with spacers arranged so that LC molecules are in axial symmetry upon application of voltage
US6788375B2 (en) * 2001-04-11 2004-09-07 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid crystal display device
US6753939B2 (en) * 2001-05-28 2004-06-22 Sony Corporation LCD device with vertically oriented liquid crystal section under no voltage condition
US20030043326A1 (en) * 2001-06-29 2003-03-06 Fujitsu Limited Substrate for liquid crystal display, liquid crystal display having the same and method of manufacturing the same

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070024778A1 (en) * 2005-07-28 2007-02-01 Sanyo Epson Imaging Devices Corp. Semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device
US20070132927A1 (en) * 2005-12-12 2007-06-14 Sanyo Epson Imaging Devices Corporation Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus
US7903216B2 (en) 2005-12-12 2011-03-08 Sony Corporation Liquid crystal device having a stripe-shaped dielectric protrusion in the transmissive display area and a circular dielectric protrusion in the reflective display area
US20070177080A1 (en) * 2006-02-01 2007-08-02 Sanyo Epson Imaging Devices Corp. Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus
US7995169B2 (en) * 2006-02-01 2011-08-09 Sony Corporation Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus
EP2083314A1 (en) * 2008-01-24 2009-07-29 TPO Displays Corp. Liquid crystal display device
US20090190080A1 (en) * 2008-01-24 2009-07-30 Nathalie Magali Danielle Dessaud Liquid crystal display device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP3873962B2 (ja) 2007-01-31
TW200530679A (en) 2005-09-16
US7573555B2 (en) 2009-08-11
CN100378523C (zh) 2008-04-02
KR100664813B1 (ko) 2007-01-04
KR20050035107A (ko) 2005-04-15
JP2005115275A (ja) 2005-04-28
CN1605901A (zh) 2005-04-13
US20060114382A1 (en) 2006-06-01
TWI316627B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 2009-11-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7471363B2 (en) Vertical alignment model LCD with larger dielectric protrusions in transmissive region than in reflection region
US7403246B2 (en) Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus
US7460199B2 (en) Liquid crystal display device, method of manufacturing liquid crystal display device, and electronic apparatus
US7259816B2 (en) Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus
KR100715756B1 (ko) 액정 표시 장치
KR100637968B1 (ko) 액정 표시 장치, 액정 표시 장치의 제조 방법 및 전자 기기
US7573555B2 (en) Liquid crystal display and electronic apparatus
US20050088597A1 (en) Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus
US20060007384A1 (en) Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus
JP5332548B2 (ja) カラーフィルタ及びそれを備えた液晶表示装置
JP4407234B2 (ja) 液晶表示装置および電子機器
JP4618188B2 (ja) 液晶表示装置および電子機器
JP2005055708A (ja) 液晶表示装置および電子機器

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KURASAWA, HAYATO;REEL/FRAME:015627/0201

Effective date: 20041216

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION