The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 25, 2014
Filed:
Sep. 26, 2008
Benjamin John Broughton, Oxford, GB;
Nathan James Smith, Oxford, GB;
Allan Evans, Oxford, GB;
Paul Antony Gass, Oxford, GB;
Benjamin John Broughton, Oxford, GB;
Nathan James Smith, Oxford, GB;
Allan Evans, Oxford, GB;
Paul Antony Gass, Oxford, GB;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A liquid crystal device comprises an active matrix substrate () and a counter-substrate () provided with homeotropic alignment surfaces (). A layer of nematic liquid crystal material is provided between the alignment surfaces () so as to form a vertically aligned nematic device. The substrates () carry a pixel electrode arrangement and a counter-electrode arrangement which define a plurality of pixel regions. Each of least some of these regions has a pixel electrode (), which may be split into two halves, and a counter-electrode () which are arranged to apply an electric field for controlling the liquid crystal director () out-of-plane tilt angle. A further electrode (), for example in the form of a plurality of parallel fingers, cooperates with at least one of the other electrodes () to apply a second electric field for controlling the director in-plane azimuth angle. Such a device may be used, for example, as a switchable public/private display.