Reflector, reflective liquid crystal display incorporating the same and

Abstract

A reflector including a substrate and a thin metal film is provided. The substrate defines a plurality of randomly arranged, curved, surface deformity portions, each having an asymmetric cross section. Typically, the surface deformity/substrate structure is formed by creating curved pieces of resist material on a substrate, and thereafter, tilting and heating the substrate. Alternatively, a photoresist process utilizing an ion, or an electron beam without heating, can be used. The metal film is coated onto the surface of the substrate and onto the curved, surface deformities located thereon, such that light incident from a given direction is reflected over a wide range, but most intensely in particular directions. Further, a liquid crystal display is provided in which the reflector just mentioned is used as a lower substrate. An upper glass substrate is provided, and a liquid crystal display medium is interposed between the reflector and the upper glass substrate. In some embodiments, the liquid crystal display medium includes a matrix of polymer walls formed either by light irradiation using a mask, or by cooling a mixture of liquid crystal material, and a polymerizable precursor to separate phases prior to light irradiation. In addition, a phase plate, a polarizer, an insulating layer, display electrodes and/or color filters may be utilized in association with the liquid crystal display. Also, the liquid crystal material, the surface of the reflector substrate, and/or the thin metallic film may be divided into areas corresponding to individual pixels.