U.S. patent application number 11/479726 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-02 for liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method of liquid crystal display device.
Invention is credited to Keiichi Betsui, Shigeo Kasahara, Yoshinori Kiyota, Tetsuya Makino, Hironori Shiroto, Shinji Tadaki, Toshiaki Yoshihara.
Application Number | 20060244895 11/479726 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31980555 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060244895 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yoshihara; Toshiaki ; et
al. |
November 2, 2006 |
Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method of liquid
crystal display device
Abstract
The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a
liquid crystal display device capable of achieving uniform
alignment of monostable ferroelectric liquid crystal having
spontaneous polarization, and provides the liquid crystal display
device. The liquid crystal (monostable ferroelectric liquid crystal
having spontaneous polarization) showing a phase sequence, either
isotropic liquid phase--cholesteric phase--chiral smectic C phase,
isotropic liquid phase--chiral nematic phase--chiral smectic C
phase, or isotropic liquid phase--cholesteric phase--smectic A
phase--chiral smectic C phase, from a high temperature side to a
low temperature side, is sandwiched between two glass substrates
having transparent electrodes and alignment films whose pretilt
angle is not more than 2.degree. and rubbing directions are
parallel. In an alignment treatment which is performed to obtain a
monostable state after heating the liquid crystal, an electric
field with electric field strength of not less than 2 V/.mu.m is
applied in the vicinity of the transition temperature from a higher
temperature phase than chiral smectic C phase to the chiral smectic
C phase.
Inventors: |
Yoshihara; Toshiaki;
(Kawasaki, JP) ; Shiroto; Hironori; (Kawasaki,
JP) ; Tadaki; Shinji; (Kawasaki, JP) ; Makino;
Tetsuya; (Kawasaki, JP) ; Kiyota; Yoshinori;
(Kawasaki, JP) ; Kasahara; Shigeo; (Kawasaki,
JP) ; Betsui; Keiichi; (Kawasaki, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREER, BURNS & CRAIN
300 S WACKER DR
25TH FLOOR
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
31980555 |
Appl. No.: |
11/479726 |
Filed: |
June 30, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10629307 |
Jul 29, 2003 |
|
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|
11479726 |
Jun 30, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
349/172 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C09K 19/0225 20130101;
G02F 1/141 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
349/172 |
International
Class: |
C09K 19/02 20060101
C09K019/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 30, 2002 |
JP |
2002-255796 |
May 22, 2003 |
JP |
2003-144867 |
Claims
1. A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device
comprising two substrates each having an alignment film formed
thereon and sandwiching a liquid crystal having spontaneous
polarization; and electrodes, formed on the substrates, for
applying a voltage to the liquid crystal, the liquid crystal
showing a monostable state in which an average molecular axis of a
director of liquid crystal molecules is aligned in a single
direction when no voltage is applied, said method comprising the
steps of: rubbing each of the alignment films in the same
direction; heating the liquid crystal; and applying an electric
field generated by a DC voltage to said liquid crystal with
electric field strength of more than 5 V/.mu.m in a vicinity of a
transition temperature from a higher temperature phase than chiral
smectic C phase to the chiral smectic C phase in an alignment
treatment which is performed to obtain the monostable state after
heating, wherein the liquid crystal shows a phase sequence, either
isotropic liquid phase--cholesteric phase--chiral smectic C phase
or isotropic liquid phase--chiral nematic phase--chiral smectic C
phase, from a high temperature side to a low temperature side.
2. (canceled)
3. The manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device of
claim 1, wherein a temperature range of the vicinity of the
transition temperature includes a temperature range of
.+-.2.degree. C. from the transition temperature.
4-5. (canceled)
6. The manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device of
claim 1, wherein a pretilt angle of said alignment films is not
more than 2.degree..
7. A liquid crystal display device manufactured by the
manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device of claim 1,
comprising a back-light which is driven by a field-sequential color
scheme, wherein a data-writing scanning voltage and a data-erasure
scanning voltage are applied between the electrodes.
8-12. (canceled)
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a
liquid crystal display device and the liquid crystal display
device, and more particularly relates to a manufacturing method of
a liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal having
spontaneous polarization, and the liquid crystal display
device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] Along with the development of information-oriented society,
small electronic apparatuses and mobile electronic apparatuses have
been used. Accordingly, there is a demand for a small-size,
light-weight, low-power consuming display unit for such electronic
apparatuses, and then liquid crystal display devices that have
superior characteristics compared to other display devices are in
wide use.
[0003] The liquid crystal display devices are mainly classified
into a transmission type and a reflection type. From the viewpoint
of visibility, transmission type liquid crystal display devices
using a back-light are more widely adopted, and color liquid
crystal display devices using color filters are the mainstream.
[0004] As a color liquid crystal display device, a TN (Twisted
Nematic) type using a switching element such as a TFT (Thin Film
Transistor) is in wide use. Although a TFT-driven TN-type color
liquid crystal display device has high display quality, the liquid
crystal panel has a low transmittance of around 4%. In order to
achieve high display screen brightness, a high brightness
back-light is necessary, and therefore the consumption of power
increases. Besides, since a color display is realized using color
filters, a single pixel needs to be composed of three sub-pixels,
and therefore a high-resolution display is difficult to be achieved
and the displayed colors do not have sufficient purity. In order to
solve these problems, a color liquid crystal display device based
on a field-sequential color scheme was proposed.
[0005] Since a color liquid crystal display device based on the
field-sequential color scheme does not require sub-pixels, a
high-resolution display can be easily realized compared to
color-filter type color liquid crystal display devices. Moreover,
since this device does not use color filters, the color of light
emitted by the light source can be used as it is for display, and
the displayed colors have excellent purity. Furthermore, since the
light utilization efficiency is high, this device has the
characteristic of low power consumption. However, in order to
realize a color liquid crystal display device based on the
field-sequential color scheme, the liquid crystal must provide
high-speed response.
[0006] In order to achieve a high-speed response of color liquid
crystal display devices, the present inventor et al. are performing
research on the methods for driving liquid crystals having
spontaneous polarization by TFTs, etc. which may achieve 100 to
1000 times higher response speed compared to conventional methods.
A liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization, particularly a
ferroelectric liquid crystal, has a characteristic that the
long-axis direction of the liquid crystal molecule is changed by
the application of an electric field. Therefore, by sandwiching a
liquid crystal panel using a ferroelectric liquid crystal between
polarization plates whose polarization axes cross each other at
right angles and using birefringence caused by the change in the
long-axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules to change the
intensity of transmitted light, it is possible to provide a
display.
[0007] The driving of the liquid crystal by the TFTs can be
achieved using either a bistable type or monostable type
ferroelectric liquid crystal. In the monostable type in which the
average molecular axis of a director of liquid crystal molecules
(tilted direction of the liquid crystal molecules) of the liquid
crystal is aligned in a single direction when no voltage is
applied, it is particularly important to obtain a monostable state
showing uniform alignment of the liquid crystal.
[0008] FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are concept views showing the tilted
states of a monostable ferroelectric liquid crystal. FIG. 8A shows
a state when an electric field E applied to the liquid crystal is
equal to zero, i.e., when no voltage is applied; FIG. 8B shows a
state when the electric field E applied to the liquid crystal is
greater than zero, i.e., when a voltage of a first polarity is
applied; and FIG. 8C shows a state when the electric field E
applied to the liquid crystal is less than zero, i.e., when a
voltage of a second polarity opposite to the voltage of the first
polarity is applied. The arrow Rub indicates the rubbing direction
of an alignment film (not shown), and an average molecular axis
LCMA of a liquid crystal molecular director is aligned along the
ridgeline of a cone C having a base in the Rub direction. In FIGS.
8B and 8C, examples of the direction of the electric field E are
shown by arrows.
[0009] One end of the average molecular axis LCMA is positioned on
the cone point Cp of the cone C, and the (other end of) average
molecular axis LCMA rotates along the ridgeline of the cone C. In
other words, when no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal shows a
monostable state (first position) in which the average molecular
axis LCMA is aligned in a single direction (for example, a
direction defined by one point Ca on the outer circumference of the
base of the cone C and the cone point Cp in FIG. 8A). When a
voltage of the first polarity is applied, the liquid crystal shows
a state in which the average molecular axis LCMA is tilted at an
angle corresponding to the magnitude of the voltage of the first
polarity from the position of the monostable state to one side (for
example, a direction defined by one point Cb on the outer
circumference of the base of the cone C and the cone point Cp in
FIG. 8B: the second position). When a voltage of the second
polarity opposite to the first polarity is applied, the liquid
crystal shows either a state in which the average molecular axis
LCMA maintains the first position or a state in which it is tilted
from the position of the monostable state to the side opposite to
the one side (for example, a direction defined by one point Cc on
the outer circumference of the base of the cone C and the cone
point Cp in FIG. 8C: the third position).
[0010] With a monostable ferroelectric liquid crystal, in general,
by only introducing the liquid crystal into an empty liquid crystal
panel, it is impossible to obtain uniform alignment of the liquid
crystal in the chiral smectic C phase which is used in display. The
reason for this is that, in the chiral smectic C phase, the average
molecular axis LCMA can have two states of different directions.
Therefore, in general, a DC voltage of electric field strength of
about 1.5 V/.mu.m or so is applied in a temperature range including
the transition point from the cholesteric phase (or chiral nematic
phase) to the chiral smectic C phase to align the direction of
spontaneous polarization by the electric field and align the
direction of the average molecular axis LCMA, and thereby realizing
uniform alignment. The application of an electric field to the
liquid crystal in a cooling process from a higher temperature phase
than chiral smectic C phase to the chiral smectic C phase (in the
vicinity of the transition temperature) to obtain a monostable
state is called "alignment treatment".
[0011] As relevant prior art references, there are "AM-LCD",
Yoshihara et al., '99 Digest of Technical Papers, p 185 (1999); and
"SID", Yoshihara et al., '00 Digest of Technical Papers, p 1176
(2000).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The conventional alignment treatment suffers from a problem
that, despite the application of a DC voltage, uniform alignment of
liquid crystal can not be obtained and a high contrast ratio can
not be achieved. It is considered that this problem is caused by
other factors that dominate the alignment state of the liquid
crystal.
[0013] The present invention has been made with the aim of solving
the above problem, and it is an object of the present invention to
provide a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device
using a monostable liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization,
particularly a ferroelectric liquid crystal, and the liquid crystal
display device, which can realize uniform alignment of liquid
crystal and a high contrast ratio by specifying correlations among
the magnitude of a voltage (electric field) applied in an alignment
treatment, the treatment temperature during the application of the
voltage, the configuration of alignment films, and the phase
sequence of the liquid crystal.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device using a
monostable liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization,
particularly a ferroelectric liquid crystal, in a liquid crystal
display device utilizing an active matrix driving scheme wherein a
switching element is provided for each pixel, which can realize
uniform alignment of liquid crystal and a high contrast ratio by
applying the same voltage to the pixels (preferably all the
pixels).
[0015] A still another object of the present invention is to
provide a liquid crystal display device capable of providing
display of higher quality by driving a liquid crystal display
device capable of realizing uniform alignment of liquid crystal and
a high contrast ratio by a field-sequential color scheme.
[0016] A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device
according to the present invention is a manufacturing method of a
liquid crystal display device comprising two substrates sandwiching
a liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization; and electrodes,
formed on the substrates, for applying a voltage to the liquid
crystal, wherein the liquid crystal shows a monostable state in
which an average molecular axis of a director of liquid crystal
molecules is aligned in a single direction when no voltage is
applied, the method being characterized by applying an electric
field with electric field strength of not less than 2 V/.mu.m
(preferably not less than 3 V/.mu.m) in the vicinity of the
transition temperature from a higher temperature phase than chiral
smectic C phase to the chiral smectic C phase in an alignment
treatment which is performed to obtain the monostable state after
heating the liquid crystal.
[0017] According to the present invention, in a manufacturing
method of a liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal in
which the average molecular axis of a director of liquid crystal
molecules shows a monostable state when no voltage is applied, an
electric field of electric field strength of not less than 2
V/.mu.m is applied in the vicinity of the transition temperature to
the chiral smectic C phase in an alignment treatment performed
after heating the liquid crystal, so that it is possible to provide
a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device capable
of reducing alignment defects during the alignment treatment and
realizing a uniform alignment state and a high contrast ratio.
[0018] The manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device
according to the present invention is characterized in that the
temperature range of the vicinity of the transition temperature
includes a temperature range of .+-.2.degree. C. from the
transition temperature. In the present invention, since the
temperature range of the vicinity of the transition temperature to
the chiral smectic C phase in the alignment treatment includes a
temperature range of .+-.2.degree. C. from the transition
temperature, it is possible to provide a margin for temperature
variations of the liquid crystal in the alignment treatment,
thereby enabling more stable alignment treatment.
[0019] The manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device
according to the present invention is characterized in that the
liquid crystal shows a phase sequence, either isotropic liquid
phase--cholesteric phase (or chiral nematic phase)--chiral smectic
C phase, or isotropic liquid phase--cholesteric phase--smectic A
phase--chiral smectic C phase, from a high temperature side to a
low temperature side. Since the present invention uses a liquid
crystal having the phase sequence: isotropic liquid
phase--cholesteric phase (or chiral nematic phase)--chiral smectic
C phase, or isotropic liquid phase--cholesteric phase--smectic A
phase--chiral smectic C phase, it is possible to easily realize a
liquid crystal display device with a monostable ferroelectric
liquid crystal.
[0020] A liquid crystal display device according to the present
invention is a liquid crystal display device manufactured by the
manufacturing method of the present invention, and characterized in
that rubbing directions of the alignment films formed on the two
substrates, respectively, are equal to each other. The liquid
crystal display device of the present invention is characterized in
that a pretilt angle of the alignment films is not more than
2.degree.. According to the present invention, in the configuration
of the alignment films, since the rubbing directions are made
so-called parallel rubbing and the pretilt angle is set no more
than 2.degree., it is possible to realize uniform alignment
treatment with less alignment defects compared to anti-parallel
rubbing and provide a liquid crystal display device having a high
contrast ratio.
[0021] A liquid crystal display device according to the present
invention is a liquid crystal display device manufactured by the
manufacturing method of the present invention, and characterized by
further comprising a back-light which is driven by a
field-sequential color scheme, wherein a data-writing scanning
voltage and a data-erasure scanning voltage are applied between the
electrodes. Since the liquid crystal display device is driven by a
field-sequential color scheme, it is possible to realize a liquid
crystal display device capable of providing a color display with
high-resolution, high-speed response and high color purity.
[0022] A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device
according to the present invention is a manufacturing method of a
liquid crystal display device comprising a pixel substrate having
pixel electrodes; a common substrate with a common electrode placed
to face the pixel substrate; data lines for supplying a pixel
voltage to be applied to the pixel electrodes; switching elements
for controlling connection and disconnection between the pixel
electrodes and the data lines by ON and OFF; scanning lines for
supplying a control voltage for controlling ON and OFF of the
switching elements; and a liquid crystal with spontaneous
polarization sandwiched between the pixel substrate and the common
substrate, wherein the liquid crystal shows a monostable state in
which an average molecular axis of a director of liquid crystal
molecules is aligned in a single direction when no voltage is
applied, the method being characterized by applying the control
voltage for turning on the switching elements to the scanning lines
and applying a DC voltage to the data lines in the vicinity of the
transition temperature from a higher temperature phase than chiral
smectic C phase to the chiral smectic C phase in an alignment
treatment which is performed to obtain the monostable state after
heating the liquid crystal.
[0023] In the present invention, since a control voltage for
turning on the switching elements is applied to the scanning lines
and a DC voltage is applied to the data lines, the DC voltage can
also be applied as a pixel voltage to the pixels, and an alignment
treatment of liquid crystal can be performed in a simple and
uniform manner in a liquid crystal display device utilizing an
active matrix driving scheme. In this case, if the DC voltage is
applied to all the pixels, it is possible to perform further
efficient and uniform alignment treatment.
[0024] The manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device
according to the present invention is characterized in that
electric field strength applied to the liquid crystal by the pixel
voltage is not less than 2 V/.mu.m. In the present invention, since
an electric field of electric field strength of not less than 2
V/.mu.m is applied, it is possible to provide a manufacturing
method of a liquid crystal display device capable of reducing
alignment defects during an alignment treatment and having uniform
alignment.
[0025] In the manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display
device according to the present invention, since the control
voltage for turning on the switching elements and the DC voltage
applied to the pixels are at equal potential, it is possible to
provide a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device
capable of preventing deterioration in the characteristics of the
switching elements during the alignment treatment and realizing
stable alignment treatment and uniform alignment.
[0026] The above and further objects and features of the invention
will more fully be apparent from the following detailed description
with accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1A is graph showing a correlation between the electric
field in an alignment treatment and the black transmittance;
[0028] FIG. 1B is graph showing a correlation between the electric
field in the alignment treatment and the contrast ratio;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a photomicrograph showing the alignment state when
a low electric field was applied in the alignment treatment;
[0030] FIGS. 3A and 3B are photomicrographs showing the alignment
state when a high electric field was applied in the alignment
treatment;
[0031] FIG. 4A is a graph showing a correlation between the applied
voltage in the alignment treatment and the black transmittance in a
comparative example of the Embodiment 1;
[0032] FIG. 4B is a graph showing a correlation between the applied
voltage in the alignment treatment and the contrast ratio in the
comparative example of Embodiment 1;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a graph showing the voltage-transmittance
characteristic of a liquid crystal display device according to
Embodiment 2;
[0034] FIG. 6 is a structural view of a TFT-LCD, depicting the
pixels arranged in a matrix form;
[0035] FIG. 7 is a concept view showing a drive sequence of a
liquid crystal display device utilizing a field-sequential color
scheme;
[0036] FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are concept views showing a tilted state
of a monostable ferroelectric liquid crystal.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] The following description will explain the present invention
in detail, based on the drawings illustrating some embodiments
thereof.
Embodiment 1
[0038] After washing a glass substrate having a transparent
electrode with an electrode area of 1 cm.sup.2 formed by ITO
(Indium Tin Oxide), polyimide was applied to a glass substrate
surface on which the transparent electrode was formed, and then
baked under the conditions of 200.degree. C. for one hour to form
an about 20 nm polyimide film as an alignment film. As the types of
alignment films, polyimide films having different pretilt angles of
1.degree., 2.degree., and 6.degree. with respect to a nematic
liquid crystal were used. Next, the surface of the polyimide film
was rubbed with a rayon fabric, and then two glass substrates with
the transparent electrodes were placed to face each other so that
their rubbing directions were parallel the rubbing directions were
equal to each other: so-called parallel rubbing). A gap between the
two glass substrates when placed to face each other was maintained
by spacers made of silica having an average particle size of 1.8
.mu.m, so that an empty cell for evaluation (evaluation empty cell)
was produced. Note that the gap was about 2.0 .mu.m or so in actual
measurement.
[0039] An evaluation cell was produced by introducing into the
evaluation empty cell a liquid crystal (a monostable ferroelectric
liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization) showing the phase
sequence: isotropic liquid (Iso) phase--cholesteric (Ch) phase
(chiral nematic (N*) phase)--chiral smectic C (Sc*) phase from a
high temperature side to a low temperature side. The transition
temperature between the Iso phase and the N* phase was 108.degree.
C., the transition temperature between the N* phase and the Sc*
phase was 68.degree. C., and the magnitude of spontaneous
polarization was 3.7 nC/cm.sup.2. Note that the phase sequence of
liquid crystal can be isotropic liquid (Iso) phase--cholesteric
(Ch) phase--smectic A (S.sub.A) phase--chiral smectic C (Sc*)
phase.
[0040] In the Sc* phase, in order to obtain a uniform alignment
state (monostable state), the evaluation cell was heated to a
temperature of not less than 68.degree. C. that is the transition
temperature between the N* phase and the Sc* phase, a DC voltage
was applied in a temperature range of 70 to 66.degree. C.
(68.+-.2.degree. C.) including 68.degree. C. that is the transition
temperature between the N* phase (higher temperature phase than
chiral smectic C phase) and the Sc* phase (in the vicinity of the
transition temperature from the higher temperature phase than
chiral smectic C phase to the chiral smectic C phase) to perform an
alignment treatment, and then the evaluation cell was cooled to
room temperature (25.degree. C.). The range of the DC voltage
applied in the alignment treatment was between 3 V and 12 V. In
this case, the electric field (electric field strength) was about
1.5 to 6 V/.mu.m. Note that since the upper limit of the applied
voltage is determined by the breakdown voltage of the liquid
crystal, it is not necessary to increase the electric field to be
equal to or larger than the breakdown voltage. In ordinary liquid
crystals, a sufficiently uniform alignment state can be realized by
an electric field of about 4 to 6 V/.mu.m.
[0041] FIG. 1A is graph showing a correlation between the electric
field in the alignment treatment and the black transmittance. FIG.
1B is graph showing a correlation between the electric field in the
alignment treatment and the contrast ratio. In FIG. 1A, the
abscissa represents the electric field (V/.mu.m) in the alignment
treatment, and the ordinate represents the black transmittance (%).
In FIG. 1B, the abscissa represents the electric field (V/.mu.m) in
the alignment treatment, and the ordinate represents the contrast
ratio. In each case, the pretilt angles of 1.degree., 2.degree.,
and 6.degree. were used as parameters. First, the evaluation cell
to which the alignment treatment had been applied was sandwiched
between two polarization plates arranged in a crossed-Nicol state,
and the black transmittance (transmittance when 0 V was applied)
and the white transmittance (transmittance when 10 V was applied)
at 25.degree. C. were measured. The black transmittance obtained in
this measurement is shown in FIG. 1A, and the value obtained by
dividing the white transmittance by the black transmittance (white
transmittance/black transmittance) is shown as the contrast ratio
in FIG. 1B.
[0042] In FIG. 1A, the black transmittance decreases with an
increase in the electric field in the alignment treatment. This
shows that the larger the electric field, the higher the uniformity
of alignment. Moreover, it can be understood that the pretilt
angles of 2.degree. and 1.degree. can realize a lower black
transmittance compared to the pretilt angle of 6.degree.. Since the
black brightness becomes lower, the contrast ratio increases as
described below.
[0043] In FIG. 1B, it can be understood that, in order to realize a
contrast ratio of 100:1 which is considered a minimum contrast
ratio required for a display device, an electric field of 2 V/.mu.m
(4 V voltage) or more is necessary in the alignment treatment. It
can be understood that, in order to realize 150:1 or more which is
a more desirable contrast ratio for a display device, an electric
field of 3 V/.mu.m (6 V voltage) or more is necessary in the
alignment treatment. Further, in order to realize 200:1 which is a
still more desirable contrast ratio for a display device, an
electric field of 3.5 V/.mu.m or more is necessary in the alignment
treatment, and the pretilt angle needs to be 2.degree. or less. It
can also be understood that, with a pretilt angle of 1.degree., it
is possible to achieve a high contrast ratio no lower than 300:1.
Therefore, the pretilt angle is preferably not more than 2.degree.,
and more preferably not more than 1.degree.. Note that the lower
limit of the pretilt angle needs to be within a controllable range,
and is, for example, 0.5.degree., or 0.3.degree. or so.
[0044] FIG. 2 is a photomicrograph showing the alignment state when
a low electric field was applied in the alignment treatment. The
alignment state obtained when the pretilt angle was 1.degree. and
the electric field in the alignment treatment was decreased to 1.5
V/.mu.m is shown in a black state. This was observed as a state
obtained by sandwiching the evaluation cell between two
polarization plates arranged in a crossed-Nicol state and aligning
the transmittance axis of one of the polarization plates with the
liquid crystal molecule long-axis direction of the liquid crystal.
Black and white dots are present together, countless minute defects
are seen, and a uniform black state is not obtained. In short, it
can be understood that the alignment treatment was not sufficient
due to the low applied voltage in the alignment treatment, and a
uniform alignment state was not obtained.
[0045] FIGS. 3A and 3B are photomicrographs showing the alignment
states when a high electric field was applied in the alignment
treatment. FIG. 3A shows the state obtained when the transmittance
axis of one of the polarization plates was aligned with the liquid
crystal molecule long-axis direction, while FIG. 3B shows the state
obtained when the transmittance axis of one of the polarization
plates and the liquid crystal molecule long-axis direction were not
aligned with each other for reference. The alignment state obtained
when the pretilt angle was 1.degree. and the electric field in the
alignment treatment was increased to 5 V/.mu.m is shown in a black
state. This was observed as a state obtained by sandwiching the
evaluation cell between two polarization plates arranged in a
crossed-Nicol state and aligning the transmittance axis of one of
the polarization plates with the liquid crystal molecule long-axis
direction of the liquid crystal. Unlike FIG. 2, the uniformity of
the observed image is high and a substantially uniform black
background state is shown, and thus it is apparent that the liquid
crystal has a uniform alignment state, i.e., good alignment. Note
that white minute dots slightly seen on the scattered dots were due
to alignment defects caused by the spacers. On the other hand, FIG.
3B shows a state which was observed when the transmittance axis of
one of the polarization plates and the liquid crystal molecule
long-axis direction were not aligned so as to observe the alignment
state in a bright state. Comet-like white portions were due to the
spacers and a little clearer as an observed image compared to that
of FIG. 3A because of non-alignment of the axis directions.
Comparative Example of Embodiment 1
[0046] A comparative empty cell was produced in the same manner as
the evaluation empty cell of Embodiment 1. The differences in the
conditions were that only a pretilt angle of 1.degree. was used,
and the two glass substrates with the transparent electrodes were
placed to face each other so that their rubbing directions were
anti-parallel (the rubbing directions were oriented in mutually
opposite directions: so-called anti-parallel rubbing). In the same
manner as the evaluation cell of Embodiment 1, a comparative cell
was produced by introducing into the comparative empty cell a
liquid crystal showing the phase sequence: isotropic liquid (Iso)
phase--chiral nematic (N*) phase--chiral smectic C (Sc*) phase from
a high temperature side to a low temperature side.
[0047] FIG. 4A is a graph showing a correlation between the applied
voltage in the alignment treatment and the black transmittance in
the comparative example of the Embodiment 1. FIG. 4B is a graph
showing a correlation between the applied voltage in the alignment
treatment and the contrast ratio in the comparative example of
Embodiment 1. In FIG. 4A, the abscissa represents the electric
field (V/.mu.m) in the alignment treatment, and the ordinate
represents the black transmittance (%). In FIG. 4B, the abscissa
represents the electric field (V/.mu.m) in the alignment treatment,
and the ordinate represents the contrast ratio. First, the
evaluation cell to which the alignment treatment had been applied
was sandwiched between two polarization plates arranged in a
crossed-Nicol state, and the black transmittance (transmittance
when 0 V was applied) and the white transmittance (transmittance
when 10 V was applied) at 25.degree. C. were measured. The black
transmittance obtained in this measurement is shown in FIG. 4A, and
the value obtained by dividing the white transmittance by the black
transmittance (white transmittance/black transmittance) is shown as
the contrast ratio in FIG. 4B.
[0048] In FIGS. 4A and 4B, there is a tendency that the black
transmittance decreases a little and the contrast ratio improves a
little with an increase in the electric field in the alignment
treatment. However, changes as remarkable as those in Embodiment 1
(FIGS. 1A and 1B) are not seen. Regarding concrete numeric values,
the black transmittance was 0.04% for the electric field of 4
V/.mu.m in Embodiment 1, while the black transmittance in the
comparative example was high and a little less than 0.2%. The
contrast ratio was 250 for the electric field of 4 V/.mu.m in
Embodiment 1, while it was as low as 50 or so in the comparative
example. Such deterioration in the characteristics was due to
anti-parallel rubbing directions which caused a decrease in the
uniformity of the alignment state, alignment defects, and leakage
of light from the defects. In short, the rubbing directions of the
alignment films formed on the two substrates need to be equal to
each other.
Embodiment 2
[0049] An empty panel with an electrode pattern different from that
of Embodiment 1 was produced by the same method as in Embodiment 1.
The basic specifications of the electrode pattern were
640.times.480 pixels and the electrode area of 6.times.10.sup.-5
cm.sup.2, and the size of the panel was 3.2 inches in diagonal. A
TFT as a switching element was also formed for each pixel, and the
pretilt angle was set only at 1.degree..
[0050] An evaluation panel (liquid crystal display device) was
produced by introducing into the empty panel a liquid crystal
showing the phase sequence: isotropic liquid (Iso)
phase--cholesteric (Ch) phase--chiral smectic C (Sc*) phase from a
high temperature side to a low temperature side. The transition
temperature between the Iso phase and the Ch phase was 108.degree.
C., the transition temperature between the Ch phase and the Sc*
phase was 68.degree. C., and the magnitude of spontaneous
polarization was 3.7 nC/cm.sup.2.
[0051] In the cooling process in which the liquid crystal was
cooled to room temperature (25.degree. C.) by fixing the cooling
rate at 1.degree. C./minute after heating the liquid crystal to the
Ch phase (80.degree. C.), an alignment treatment was performed by
applying a DC voltage of 10 V (electric field of 5 V/.mu.m) in a
temperature range of 73 to 63.degree. C. (68.+-.5.degree. C.)
including 68.degree. C. that is the transition temperature between
the Ch phase and the Sc* phase. The reason why the range of
temperature in applying the alignment treatment was made wider than
that of Embodiment 1 was to eliminate the influence of temperature
variations because the area (panel size) of the evaluation panel is
larger compared to the evaluation cell. The evaluation panel of
Embodiment 2 realized a uniform alignment state exhibiting a
contrast ratio of 300:1. The evaluation panel was sandwiched
between two polarization films arranged in a crossed-Nicol state,
and the average molecular axis LCMA in the absence of applied
voltage was substantially aligned with the polarization axis of one
of the polarization films to provide a dark state.
[0052] FIG. 5 is a graph showing the voltage-transmittance
characteristic of the liquid crystal display device according to
Embodiment 2. The abscissa represents the voltage (V) applied
through the TFT, while the ordinate represents a transmitted light
intensity (in arbitrary unit) corresponding to a transmittance.
Measurement was performed so that a high transmittance (transmitted
light intensity) was obtained when a voltage of a first polarity
(positive voltage) was applied. The transmitted light intensity
indicated substantially zero with the application of a voltage of a
second polarity (negative voltage), while the transmitted light
intensity was 100 with the application of 10V voltage of the first
polarity, so that the liquid crystal display device capable of
providing a clear display was obtained.
Embodiment 3
[0053] The following description will explain the present invention
applied to a liquid crystal display device utilizing an active
matrix driving scheme (active matrix liquid crystal display device,
hereinafter referred to as TFT-LCD). Since the basic structures of
the TFT-LCD as a liquid crystal display device are the same as
those in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the major features are
mainly explained. Note that, as a liquid crystal (monostable
ferroelectric liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization), it
is possible to use a liquid crystal showing the phase sequence:
isotropic liquid (Iso) phase--cholesteric (Ch) phase (chiral
nematic (N*) phase)--chiral smectic C (Sc*) phase, or a liquid
crystal showing the phase sequence: isotropic liquid (Iso)
phase--cholesteric (Ch) phase--smectic A (S.sub.A) phase--chiral
smectic C (Sc*) phase, from a high temperature side to a low
temperature side.
[0054] FIG. 6 is a structural view of a TFT-LCD, depicting the
pixels arranged in a matrix form. The TFT-LCD of Embodiment 3 had
640.times.480 pixels, but 2.times.2 pixels arranged in a matrix
form are depicted to facilitate understanding. Pixel electrodes
P11, P12, P21 and P22 corresponding to the respective pixels are
formed on a pixel substrate (not shown). Thin film transistors
(hereinafter referred to as TFTs) 11, 12, 21 and 22 as switching
elements are connected to the pixel electrodes P11, P12, P21 and
P22, respectively. Since the pixel electrodes P11, P12, P21, P22
and the TFTs 11, 12, 21, 22 are formed on the pixel substrate, the
pixel substrate is also called a TFT substrate. A common substrate
(not shown) on which a common electrode Pc is formed is placed to
face the pixel substrate. The pixel electrodes P11, P12, P21, P22
and the common electrode Pc are formed as transparent electrodes
and arranged to face each other to apply a voltage (electric field)
to the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal is sandwiched between the
common substrate and the pixel substrate (between the common
electrode Pc and the pixel electrodes P11, P12, P21 and P22).
[0055] Scanning lines (gate lines) Ls1 and Ls2 are formed in the
row direction of the pixel substrate, and the scanning line Ls1 is
connected to the gate electrodes of the TFTs 11 and 12, while the
scanning line Ls2 is connected to the gate electrodes of the TFTs
21 and 22. The scanning line Ls1 supplies (applies) a control
voltage for controlling ON and OFF (open and close) of the TFTs 11
and 12 to the gate electrodes of the TFTs 11 and 12, and the
scanning line Ls2 supplies (applies) a control voltage for
controlling ON and OFF (open and close) of the TFTs 21 and 22 to
the gate electrodes of the TFTs 21 and 22. In short, ON and OFF of
the TFTs 11 and 12 are controlled by the scanning line Ls1, and ON
and OFF of the TFTs 21 and 22 are controlled by the scanning line
Ls2.
[0056] Data lines (source lines) Ld1 and Ld2 are formed in the
column direction of the pixel substrate, and the data line Ld1 is
connected to the source electrodes of the TFTs 11 and 21, while the
data line Ld2 is connected to the source electrodes of the TFTs 12
and 22. Therefore, the data line Ld1 can supply (apply) a pixel
voltage to the pixel electrodes P11 and P21 through the TFTs 11 and
21, and the data line Ld2 can supply (apply) a pixel voltage to the
pixel electrodes P12 and P22 through the TFTs 12 and 22. In short,
connection and disconnection between the data lines (Ld1, Ld2) and
the pixel electrodes (P11, P12, P21, P22) are controlled by ON and
OFF of the TFTs (11, 12, 21, 22), so that a pixel voltage is
applied from the data lines (Ld1, Ld2) to the pixel electrodes
(P11, P12, P21, P22) during the connection.
[0057] The TFT-LCD had a pixel pitch of 0.1 mm.times.0.1 mm,
640.times.480 pixels, and a display area of 64 mm.times.48 mm (3.2
inches in diagonal). Polyimide was applied to the common substrate
surface on which the common electrode (Pc) was formed and to the
pixel substrate surface on which the pixel electrodes (P11, P12,
P21, P22) were formed, and then baked at 200.degree. C. for 1 hour
to form about 20 nm polyimide films. A polyimide film having a
pretilt angle of 1.degree. with respect to a nematic liquid crystal
was used as an alignment film. An empty panel was produced by
rubbing the surfaces of the alignment films with a rayon fabric and
then placing two substrates, namely the common substrate and pixel
substrate, one upon another to face each other while keeping a gap
between the two substrates with spacers made of silica having an
average particle size of 1.8 .mu.m. The gap of the produced empty
panel was about 2.0 .mu.m in actual measurement.
[0058] A liquid crystal panel was produced by introducing into the
produced empty panel a liquid crystal (liquid crystal material)
showing the phase sequence: isotropic liquid (Iso)
phase--cholesteric (Ch) phase--chiral smectic C (Sc*) phase from a
high temperature side. The phase transition temperature between the
Iso phase and the Ch phase was 108.degree. C., the phase transition
temperature between the Ch phase and the Sc* phase was 68.degree.
C., and the magnitude of spontaneous polarization was 3.7
nC/cm.sup.2. In the Sc* phase, in order to obtain a uniform
alignment state (monostable state), after heating the liquid
crystal panel into which the liquid crystal had been introduced to
a temperature (for example, 80.degree. C.) showing the Ch phase
that is a higher temperature phase than the Sc* phase, it was
cooled at a cooling rate of 1.degree. C./minute.
Example 1 of Embodiment 3
[0059] In Embodiment 3, in a temperature range in which the liquid
crystal has a temperature between 73.degree. and 63.degree. (about
10 minutes at a cooling rate of 1.degree./minute, the vicinity of
the transition temperature from a higher temperature phase than
chiral smectic C phase to the chiral smectic C phase) in the
cooling process, a DC voltage of 5 V was applied to all the
scanning lines (supply of a control voltage), a DC voltage of 4 V
was applied to all the data lines (supply of a pixel voltage), and
a voltage of 0 V was applied to the common electrode (common
electrode line). Note that a pixel substrate potential equalizing
line (Lds) for connecting the scanning lines and the data lines and
a potential equalizing line between substrates (Ldsc) for
connecting the pixel substrate potential equalizing line (Lds) and
a common electrode line (Lc) are disconnected beforehand. Since the
application of voltage as an alignment treatment is performed
before installing (connecting) a driver (liquid crystal drive
circuit), it is not necessary at all to take into consideration the
influence on the driver and the characteristics of the driver.
[0060] In this voltage application state, all the switching
elements (TFTs) are in the ON state, and the pixel voltage (the
voltage supplied to the pixels through the switching elements by
the data lines) is applied to all the pixel electrodes. Moreover,
an electric field of a magnitude determined by the pixel voltage
and the gap between the substrates is applied to the liquid crystal
sandwiched between the two substrates, namely the common substrate
and the pixel substrate. Since the pixel voltage is 4 V and the
voltage of the common electrode is 0 V, 4 V is applied to the
sandwiched liquid crystal. Since the gap is 2 .mu.m, the electric
field strength applied to the liquid crystal is about 2
V/.mu.m.
[0061] The TFT-LCD was sandwiched between two polarization plates
arranged in a crossed-Nicol state, and the black transmittance
(when 0 V was applied) and the white transmittance when 10 V was
applied at 30.degree. C. were measured. As a result, a uniform
alignment state was obtained over the entire display area, but some
irregular alignment was observed in the black display. However, it
was possible to secure a black transmittance of 0.08%, a white
transmittance of 8.80%, and a contrast ratio of 110. The contrast
ratio of 110 is a sufficient value for practical use as a liquid
crystal display device. In addition, it is possible to inspect the
optical characteristics after the alignment treatment, and then
attach polarization plates only to good products and install a
driver, thereby enabling a reduction in the production cost.
[0062] The cause of the irregular alignment in Embodiment 1 can be
considered as follows. The Vg-Id characteristic (horizontal gate
voltage Vg versus vertical drain current Id characteristic) of the
TFT after the alignment treatment is shifted to a high voltage side
(the gate threshold voltage increases) compared to that before the
alignment treatment, a voltage drop occurs in the TFT, and
therefore the voltage applied across the liquid crystal (between
the pixel electrode and the common electrode) decreases and a
voltage sufficient for the alignment treatment is not applied to
the liquid crystal. It can be considered that the shift of the
Vg-Id characteristic of the TFT to the high voltage side is due to
deterioration in the characteristic of the TFT caused by the
temperature and the application of the DC voltage to the TFT in the
alignment treatment.
[0063] In short, it can be considered that since the heating
temperature in the alignment treatment is in the vicinity of the
transition temperature from the Ch phase to the Sc* phase and
higher than room temperature, and since a potential difference (1 V
that is the difference between 5 V applied to the scanning line and
4 V applied to the data line) is given between the gate electrode
(scanning line) and the source electrode (data line) at that high
temperature for a long time, electrons are trapped in the gate
insulation film of the TFT, and the shift of the gate threshold
voltage occurs.
Example 2 of Embodiment 3
[0064] In Embodiment 3, in a temperature range in which the liquid
crystal has a temperature between 73.degree. and 63.degree. (about
10 minutes at a cooling rate of 1.degree./minute, the vicinity of
the transition temperature from a higher temperature phase than
chiral smectic C phase to the chiral smectic C phase) in the
cooling process, a DC voltage of 4 V was simultaneously applied to
all the scanning lines (supply of a control voltage) and all the
data lines (supply of a pixel voltage), and a voltage of 0 V was
applied to the common electrode (common electrode line). Since all
the scanning lines and all the data lines are connected to each
other by the pixel substrate potential equalizing line (Lds), it is
possible to apply the pixel voltage of the same potential as the
control voltage to the data lines. Further, by disconnecting the
potential equalizing line between substrates (Ldsc) from the pixel
substrate potential equalizing line (Lds) and the common electrode
line (Lc), it is possible to apply 4 V to the pixel electrode side
and 0 V to the common substrate side. Since the application of
voltage as an alignment treatment is performed before installing
(connecting) a driver (liquid crystal drive circuit), it is not
necessary at all to take into consideration the influence on the
driver and the characteristics of the driver.
[0065] In this voltage application state, all the switching
elements (TFTs) are in the ON state, and the pixel voltage (the
voltage supplied to the pixels through the switching elements by
the data lines) is applied to all the pixel electrodes. Moreover,
an electric field of a magnitude determined by the pixel voltage
and the gap between the substrates is applied to the liquid crystal
sandwiched between the two substrates, namely the common substrate
and the pixel substrate. Since the pixel voltage is 4 V and the
voltage of the common electrode is 0 V, 4 V is applied to the
sandwiched liquid crystal. Since the gap is 2 .mu.m, the electric
field strength applied to the liquid crystal is about 2
V/.mu.m.
[0066] The TFT-LCD was sandwiched between two polarization plates
arranged in a crossed-Nicol state, and the black transmittance
(when 0 V was applied) and the white transmittance when 10 V was
applied at 30.degree. C. were measured. As a result, a uniform
alignment state was obtained over the entire display area, and a
black transmittance of 0.06%, a white transmittance of 8.90%, and a
contrast ratio of 148 were obtained. In particular, the contrast
ratio was significantly improved compared to the contrast ratio of
Embodiment 1. In addition, it is possible to inspect the optical
characteristics after the alignment treatment, and then attach
polarization plates only to good products and install a driver,
thereby enabling a reduction in the production cost.
Example 3 of Embodiment 3
[0067] In contrast to Example 2, the voltage application conditions
in the vicinity of the transition temperature were changed such
that all the scanning lines and all the data lines were made 0 V
simultaneously, and a voltage of 4 V was applied as a DC voltage to
the common electrode (common electrode line). In other words, in
Example 3, the potential of the control voltage and pixel voltage
was zero and lower than that of the common electrode. Note that
other conditions were the same as in Example 2. The characteristics
were measured under the same conditions as in Example 2. As a
result, a uniform alignment state was obtained over the entire
display area, and a black transmittance of 0.05%, a white
transmittance of 8.80%, and a contrast ratio of 176 were obtained.
A further higher contrast ratio was obtained compared to Example
2.
[0068] In Example 3, since the potential of the control voltage and
pixel voltage (DC voltage) was made lower than that of the common
electrode, the potential of the control voltage and pixel voltage
was lower than that of the common electrode, thereby enabling
stable alignment treatment. Moreover, by making the potential of
the control voltage and pixel voltage (DC voltage) zero, further
stable alignment treatment can be performed.
Embodiment 4
[0069] FIG. 7 is a concept view showing a drive sequence of a
liquid crystal display device utilizing a field-sequential color
scheme. A liquid crystal display device capable of being driven by
the field-sequential color scheme was produced by combining a
back-light BL capable of emitting light of red (R), green (G) and
blue (B) in a time divided manner with a liquid crystal display
panel LCP. The liquid crystal display panel LCP is the same as the
evaluation panel of Embodiment 2.
[0070] The back-light BL driven by the field-sequential color
scheme turns on R (red), G (green) and B (blue) in a time divided
manner in periods T1, T2, and T3, respectively. Sub-fields SFR, SFG
and SFB are formed to correspond to the periods T1, T2, and T3. By
displaying a red screen, a green screen, and a blue screen in the
sub-fields SFR, SFG, and SFB, respectively, and displaying a
composite screen obtained by combining the screens of the
respective colors in one field 1F (recognized as a composite screen
obtained by the residual image effect of the vision of a human
being), it is possible to provide a color display. The operation is
repeated in and after periods T4, T5, and T6 in the same manner,
thereby providing a color display. Note that each of the periods
T1, T2 and T3 is about 1/180 second or less, and one field 1F is
about 1/60 minute or less.
[0071] The applied voltage to the liquid crystal display panel LCP
(between the electrodes, i.e., between the common electrode and the
pixel electrode) was set within a range of .+-.7 V from 0, and then
data-writing scanning was performed with a positive polarity
voltage and data-erasure scanning (erasure: black writing) was
performed with a voltage having negative polarity and substantially
equal magnitude as that used in the data-writing scanning. With a
liquid crystal display device designed to apply a drive voltage by
the field-sequential color scheme, it was possible to realize a
liquid crystal display device having high quality such as a high
contrast ratio, high brightness and high color purity display. As
the light source of the back-light BL, red, green and blue
semiconductor light emitting diodes that allow easy adjustment of
brightness and switching were used. Needless to say, the present
invention is also applicable to color liquid crystal display
devices using micro-color filters instead of the field-sequential
color scheme.
[0072] As this invention may be embodied in several forms without
departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, the
present embodiments are therefore illustrative and not restrictive,
since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims
rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that
fall within metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such
metes and bounds thereof are therefore intended to be embraced by
the claims.
* * * * *