Liquid crystal display devices and electronic apparatus

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and an electronic device, and particularly in a semi-transmissive reflective liquid crystal display device provided with both a reflective type and a transmissive type structure, a bright and high-contrast display is provided. Regarding the technology that made it possible to obtain.

[0002] A reflective liquid crystal display device has low power consumption because it does not have a light source such as a backlight, and has been widely used in various portable electronic devices and the like. However, since the reflective liquid crystal display device displays using external light such as natural light or illumination light, there is a problem that it is difficult to visually recognize the display in a dark place. Therefore, a semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device has been proposed in which external light is used in a bright place like a normal reflective liquid crystal display device, and the display can be visually recognized by an internal light source in a dark place. This semi-transmissive reflective liquid crystal display device employs a display system that has both a reflective type and a transmissive type, and is consumed by switching to either a reflective mode or a transmissive mode display method according to the ambient brightness. It is possible to display clearly even when the surroundings are dark while reducing the power consumption.

[0003] Such a semi-transmissive reflective liquid crystal display device includes a structure in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between a translucent upper substrate and a lower substrate, and is used for transmitting light through a metal film such as aluminum, for example. A liquid crystal display device has been proposed in which a reflective film having the slits formed therein is provided on the inner surface of the lower substrate, and the reflective film functions as a transflective reflective film. In this case, in the reflection mode, the external light incident from the upper substrate side is reflected by the reflective film arranged on the inner surface of the lower substrate after passing through the liquid crystal layer, passes through the liquid crystal layer again, and is displayed from the upper substrate side to the outside. Can be done. On the other hand, in the transmission mode, the light from the backlight incident from the lower substrate side can be displayed to the outside from the upper substrate side after passing through the liquid crystal layer through the slit formed in the reflective film. Therefore, the region where the slits of the reflective film are formed is the transmission display region, and the region where the slits of the reflective film are not formed is the reflection display region.

[0004] In the semi-transmissive reflective liquid crystal display device having the above configuration, for example, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is d, the refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal is Δn, and the integrated values thereof are shown. Assuming that the liquid crystal retardation is Δnd, the liquid crystal retardation Δnd of the part to be reflected is indicated by 2 × Δnd because the incident light passes through the liquid crystal layer twice and then reaches the observer, but the transmitted light is displayed. The retardation Δnd of the liquid crystal in the portion is 1 × Δnd because the light from the backlight passes through the liquid crystal layer only once.

[0005] While the structure has a structure in which the retardation value is different between the portion that performs the reflection display and the portion that performs the transmission display, the same drive is used in each display mode when the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer is controlled. An electric field is applied to the liquid crystal by a voltage to control the orientation. In other words, the liquid crystal in a different display form, in other words, the liquid crystal in a transmissive display region and a reflective display region with different retardation is oriented at the same drive voltage. However, it may not be possible to obtain a high-contrast display, and it may be difficult to obtain a bright display.

[0006] Therefore, a technique has been proposed in which an acrylic resin is formed on the upper side of the lower substrate only in the reflection display region to make the liquid crystal layer thickness smaller than that in the transmission display region to make the retardation uniform. In this case, in order to improve the brightness of the reflection display, unevenness is formed on the acrylic resin and a reflective electrode is formed on the unevenness, so that the incident light is reflected while being scattered. For example, it is necessary to perform photolithography a plurality of times, which may be very troublesome.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and as a semi-transmissive reflective liquid crystal display device, in a transmission mode, a bright and high-contrast display state can be obtained by effectively utilizing transmitted light. It is provided with a liquid crystal display device having a configuration capable of easily obtaining a display state that can be obtained and that can obtain a bright and high-contrast display state by effectively using external light in the reflection mode, and the liquid crystal display device. The purpose is to provide electronic devices.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention is a liquid crystal display device in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between a pair of substrates, and the liquid crystal layer. Consists of regions having at least two different liquid crystal layer thicknesses, and the individual regions having different liquid crystal layer thicknesses include either a reflective display unit or a transmissive display unit, and in the reflective display unit of these two display units. , A reflective layer capable of reflecting light and a translucent scattering layer capable of scattering light are formed, and based on the formation of the translucent scattering layer, a reflection display unit is formed. Is characterized in that the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the above is smaller than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display unit.

[0009] In this case, since the light-transmitting scattering layer is arranged between the pair of substrates in the reflection display unit, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflection display unit is set to be larger than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmission display unit based on the thickness thereof. In addition to functioning as a means for thinning the reflective liquid crystal layer to be thinned, it also functions as an incident light scattering means for scattering incident light and the like. Therefore, by forming the translucent scattering layer, it is possible to make the retardation uniform in the reflective display unit and the transmissive display unit, and it is possible to obtain a bright and high-contrast display in both the reflective display and the transmissive display, and the reflective layer has irregularities. It is possible to scatter the incident light in the reflection display unit without providing the above, and it is possible to easily obtain a bright reflection display. Of the pair of substrates, the side on which the external light is incident can be the upper substrate, and the side on which the light from the backlight applied to the transmitted display is incident can be the lower substrate.

[0010] It is assumed that the reflection display unit includes a reflection layer, a translucent scattering layer, a lower electrode, a liquid crystal layer, and an upper electrode in this order from the lower substrate side. Can be done. Here, as the lower electrode and the upper electrode, for example, a transparent electrode such as ITO (Indium-Tin-Oxide) can be exemplified. In the case of such a configuration, the external light incident from the upper substrate (display side substrate or outer substrate) reaches the reflection layer through at least the upper electrode, the liquid crystal layer, the lower electrode, and the translucent scattering layer, and this reflection Since the light is reflected by the layer and then emitted to the outside through the same process, it can be used for display after being scattered at least twice, so that the reflected display can be displayed with brighter and higher contrast.

[0011] On the other hand, the reflection display unit includes at least a reflection layer, a lower electrode, a liquid crystal layer, an upper electrode, and a translucent scattering layer from the lower substrate side in this order. can do. In this case as well, the external light incident from the upper substrate reaches the reflective layer through at least the translucent scattering layer, the upper electrode, the liquid crystal layer, and the lower electrode, is reflected by the reflective layer, and then undergoes the same process to the outside. Since it is emitted to the light, it can be displayed after being scattered at least twice, and it is possible to perform a brighter and higher-contrast display in the reflection display. Further, in this case, the external light incident from the outside reaches the reflective layer via the upper electrode, the liquid crystal layer, and the lower electrode after being scattered by the translucent scattering layer, and is reflected by the reflective layer and then reversed. Since the light is emitted to the outside through the process of (1), the scattered light is emitted to the outside while spreading, and the viewing angle in the reflection display can be further widened.

[0012] It is assumed that the lower electrode, the liquid crystal layer, and the upper electrode are laminated in this order from the lower substrate (backlight side substrate or inner substrate) side to the transmissive display unit. it can. As described above, since the transmissive display unit is not provided with the translucent scattering layer as a means for thinning the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal layer is relatively thicker than the reflection display unit provided with the translucent scattering layer. It is possible to secure the liquid crystal layer thickness for the round trip for the reflection display in the transmission display. Therefore, it is possible to secure the same degree of retardation in the transparent display and the reflective display. It is preferable that the distance between the upper substrate and the lower substrate is substantially the same, preferably the same in the reflection display unit and the transmission display unit. In this case, the reflection display unit and the transmission display unit are formed by forming the translucent scattering layer. It becomes possible to surely give a difference in the thickness of the liquid crystal layer.

[0013] Next, in the reflection display unit, a color filter is provided between the reflection layer and the liquid crystal layer, and in the transmission display unit, a color filter is provided between the lower substrate and the liquid crystal layer. be able to. This makes it possible to perform color display in both the reflection display and the transmission display. It is also possible to provide a color filter between the upper substrate and the liquid crystal layer in the reflection display unit and provide a color filter between the upper substrate and the liquid crystal layer in the transmission display unit.

[0014] Here, it is assumed that the spectral characteristics of the color filter are different between the reflection display unit and the transmission display unit, and the color purity of the color filter in the transmission display unit is relatively higher than that of the reflection display unit. can do. In the transmitted display, the transmitted light is sent to the display after passing through the color filter once, and in the reflected display, the external light passes through the color filter once when it is incident and once when it is reflected. By making the color purity of the color filter relatively higher than that of the reflection display unit in the unit, it is possible to make the shades of color the same in the transmission display and the reflection display.

[0015] Next, the translucent scattering layer can be configured in such a manner that a filler having a refractive index different from that of the polymer substrate is dispersed in the polymer substrate. In this case, when the incident external light is scattered and reflected and displayed by forming irregularities on the reflective layer as in the conventional case, the reflected display may be bright and dark and the scattered light may be glaring. By using a translucent scattering layer having such a configuration, it is possible to perform a reflection display with smooth scattered light with little brightness. Here, for example, an acrylic resin can be used as the polymer substrate, and glass beads (silicon oxide particles) that are phase-separated from the polymer substrate and have different refractive indexes, titanium oxide particles, and a resin can be used as the filler. Powder particles and the like can be used. The thickness of the translucent scattering layer can be, for example, about 1 to 5 μm, and in that case, the filler can be, for example, about 0.5 to 2 μm.

[0016] Further, it is possible that the surface of the lower substrate on the liquid crystal layer side (upper substrate side) is formed with irregularities. That is, it is possible to form a reflective layer on the upper layer of the lower substrate on which the unevenness is formed. In this case, the external light is reflected with scattering by the unevenness formed on the lower substrate, and further, the translucent scattering layer. Since it is scattered by the light, it is possible to perform a brighter and higher-contrast reflection display.

Next, the electronic device of the present invention is characterized by including a liquid crystal display device having the above configuration. According to this configuration, it is possible to provide an electronic device capable of switching between a transparent display and a reflective display, and capable of bright and high-contrast display in both the transparent display and the reflective display.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment in which the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is applied to an active matrix type liquid crystal display device, and the liquid crystal display device A of the first embodiment is shown in the figure. The basic structure is such that the liquid crystal layer 3 is sandwiched between the substrates 1 and 2 made of transparent glass or the like which are vertically opposed to each other as shown in the cross-sectional structure shown in 1. Although omitted in the drawings, a sealing material is actually interposed on the peripheral edge side of the substrates 1 and 2, and the liquid crystal layer 3 is formed by surrounding the liquid crystal layer 3 with the substrates 1 and 2 and the sealing material. It is sandwiched between the substrates 1 and 2 in a sealed state. Further, a backlight 4 provided with a light source, a light guide plate, and the like is provided on the lower side of the lower substrate 2.

[0019] The retardation plate 12 and the polarizing plate 13 are arranged on the upper surface side (observer side) of the upper substrate 1, and the retardation plate 14 and the polarizing plate 15 are also arranged on the lower surface side of the lower substrate 2. And are arranged. The polarizing plates 13 and 15 transmit only unidirectional linearly polarized light to the external light incident from the upper surface side (observer side) and the light of the backlight 4 incident from the lower surface side, and the retardation plates 12 and 14 transmit. , Converts linearly polarized light transmitted through polarizing plates 13 and 15 into circularly polarized light (including elliptically polarized light). Therefore, the polarizing plates 13, 15 and the retardation plates 12, 14 function as circularly polarized light incident means. In the present embodiment, the side provided with the backlight 4 is the lower side, and the side on which the external light is incident is the upper side, and the substrate 1 may be referred to as the upper substrate 1 and the substrate 2 may be referred to as the lower substrate 2. ..

On the other hand, a transparent electrode 5 made of ITO (Indium-Tin-Oxide) or the like is formed on the liquid crystal layer 3 side of the upper substrate 1 via a color filter 10, and further on the liquid crystal layer 3 side of the transparent electrode 5. The alignment film 11 is formed so as to cover the transparent electrode 5. Further, on the liquid crystal layer 3 side of the lower substrate 2, a plurality of reflective layers 16 having a rectangular shape in a plan view form openings 16a at predetermined intervals, and mutually in the left-right direction of the paper surface and the vertical direction of the paper surface in FIG. It is formed so as to correspond to a display area at a distance. The reflective layer 16 is formed of a light-reflecting metal material such as Al in a rectangular frame shape in a plan view, and the alignment film 11 is a polymer material film such as polyimide that has been subjected to a predetermined rubbing treatment. I am using it.

[0021] On the upper layer side of the reflective layer 16, a plurality of translucent scattering layers (convex portions) 22b capable of transmitting incident light while being scattered are formed in a protruding form, and the translucent scattering layer 22b is formed. The upper surface of the reflective layer 16 is covered with the light-transmitting layer 16, and a recess 22a is formed between the light-transmitting scattering layers 22b. A transparent electrode 6 is formed on the surface of the translucent scattering layer 22b on the liquid crystal layer 3 side and the bottom of the recess 22a (that is, the surface on which the recess 22a of the lower substrate 2 is formed), and is placed on the transparent electrode 6. The alignment film 7 is formed so as to cover the electrodes. For the transparent electrode 6, for example, ITO (Indium-Tin-Oxide) or the like can be used, and for the alignment film 7, for example, a polymer material film such as polyimide that has been subjected to a predetermined rubbing treatment can be used. ..

[0022] In the present embodiment, the region used for display in the liquid crystal layer 3 includes the reflection display unit R and the transmission display unit T, and these display units are formed with different liquid crystal layer thicknesses. Specifically, the translucent scattering layer 22b is formed in the reflective display unit R , the recess 22a is formed in the transmissive display unit T, and the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display unit R is based on the formation of the translucent scattering layer 22b. The thickness of 3 is smaller than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 3 in the transmissive display unit T. That is, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflection display unit R is reduced based on the thickness of the translucent scattering layer 22b, and the translucent scattering layer 22b is used as a liquid crystal layer thinning means for thinning the liquid crystal layer of the reflection display unit. It is functioning.

As shown in FIG. 3, the translucent scattering layer 22b uses a polymer material (resin material) as a substrate 23, and the substrate 23 is filled with a filler 24 having a refractive index different from that of the substrate 23. It is composed. Specifically, the translucent scattering layer 22b has a thickness of about 1 to 5 μm, and the average particle size of the filler is about 0.5 to 2 μm. As the polymer material, for example, acrylic resin or the like can be applied, and as the filling material, for example, glass filler (silicon oxide particles) or the like can be applied, but in addition, titanium oxide particles or titanium oxide particles or the like can be applied as the filler. It is also possible to use a polymer material having a refractive index different from that of the polymer material as the substrate, and which is phase-separated from the substrate polymer material. Based on the configuration in which the substrate 23 is filled with the filler 24 in this way, the translucent scattering layer 22b functions as an incident light scattering means for scattering incident light.

Next, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the electrode 6 of the liquid crystal display device A shown in FIG. 1, and in the liquid crystal display device A, the display area is a collection of a large number of pixels g as shown in FIG. Each pixel g is partitioned by a substantially square-shaped portion in which three vertically long electrodes 6 are gathered when the electrode 6 is viewed in a plan view. Since the liquid crystal display device A of the present embodiment has a structure premised on color display, specifically, one pixel g having a substantially square shape in a plan view, which is partitioned by the three electrodes 6 shown in FIG. It is divided into three dots g1, g2 and g3. A rectangular recess 22a is formed in each of the central portions of the electrodes 6 corresponding to these dots g1 to g3, and an electrode 6 is also formed on the bottom side of these recesses 22a.

[0025] Here, the electrode 6 is provided at a position corresponding to the recess 22a, specifically, a transmission display electrode 6b provided at a position from the bottom to the side wall of the recess 22a, and a translucent scattering layer 22b (FIG. 1). The position corresponding to (see) can be functionally divided into the reflection display electrode 6a provided on the upper surface of the translucent scattering layer 22b, which contributes to the transmission display and the reflection display, respectively. ing. Further, the transmission display electrode 6a is located in the opening 16a shown in FIG. 1, and the reflection display electrode 6b is located on the upper layer side of the reflection layer 16 having the opening 16a with the translucent scattering layer 22b sandwiched between them. ing.

[0026] The size of the opening 16a formed in the reflective layer 16 is such that the vertical width and the horizontal width of each dot are about a fraction of the size of any one of the dots g1, g2, and g3. It is formed to the size of. Further, a thin film transistor 17 as a switching element for driving the electrode 6 is formed in the corner portion around each dot, and a gate wiring 18 and a source wiring 19 for supplying power to the thin film transistor 17 are further wired. .. In the present embodiment, the thin film transistor 17 is provided as the switching element, but it goes without saying that a two-terminal linear element or a switching element having another structure may be appropriately provided as the switching element.

[0027] Further, each colored portion of the color filter 10 (see FIG. 1) is arranged so as to correspond to the plane positions of the dots g1, g2, and g3. The color filter 10 has colored portions 10A, 10B, and 10C colored in any of "R (red), G (green), B (blue)" and a light-shielding layer (black) arranged at the boundary portion of these colored portions. Matrix) It is composed of 10a. In the structure of the color filter 10 shown in FIG. 1, the colored portions are repeatedly arranged in the order of the colored layers 10A (red), 10B (green), and 10C (blue), but the arrangement order of these colored portions is an example. It may be any arrangement such as a random arrangement, a mosaic arrangement, or an arrangement in another order.

Next, the operation and effect of the semi-transmissive reflective liquid crystal display device A having the structures shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. In the liquid crystal display device A, when performing a reflection display, the light incident from the outside of the device is used, and the incident light is transmitted from the outside of the substrate 1 through the color filter 10, the electrode 5, and the alignment film 11. Lead to layer 3 side.

[0029] Here, in the reflection display unit R, after the incident light is passed through the liquid crystal layer 3, it is passed through the alignment film 7, the electrode 6, and the translucent scattering layer 22b, and is reflected by the reflection layer 16. Then, the reflected light is passed through the translucent scattering layer 22b, the electrode 6, the alignment film 7, and the liquid crystal layer 3 again, and then the alignment film 11, the electrode 5, the color filter 10, the substrate 1, and the retardation plate 12 are further passed. The light is returned to the outside of the device via the polarizing plate 13 to reach the observer and perform a reflective color display. On the other hand, in the transmissive display unit T, the incident light is passed through the liquid crystal layer 3, then through the alignment film 7 and the electrode 6, and further through the opening 16a of the reflection layer 16. Then, the light that has passed through the opening 16a is absorbed by the polarizing plate 13 after passing through the lower substrate 2 and the retardation plate 12. In such a reflective color display, the light and dark display is performed by changing the transmittance of light passing through the liquid crystal layer 3 by controlling the orientation of the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer 3 by the electrodes 5 and 6. ..

[0030] Further, in the case of performing transmission display, the light emitted from the backlight 4 is incident through the polarizing plate 15, the retardation plate 14, and the substrate 2. In this case, in the transmission display unit T, the light incident from the substrate 2 is taken into the electrode 6, the alignment film 7, the liquid crystal layer 3, the alignment film 11, the electrode 5, the color filter 10, the substrate 1, the retardation plate 12, and the polarizing plate 13. It is possible to perform transparent color display by transmitting in the order of. On the other hand, in the reflection display unit R, the light incident from the substrate 2 is reflected by the reflection layer 15, and the reflected light is absorbed by the polarizing plate 15 after passing through the retardation plate 14. Even in such a transmissive color display, by controlling the orientation of the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer 3 by the electrodes 5 and 6, it is possible to display light and dark by changing the transmittance of light passing through the liquid crystal layer 3.

[0031] In these display forms, the incident light passes through the liquid crystal layer 3 twice in the reflective display form, but the light emitted from the backlight 4 passes through the liquid crystal layer 3 only once with respect to the transmitted light. do not do. Considering the retardation of the liquid crystal layer 3, when the same voltage is applied from the electrodes 5 and 6 to control the orientation in the reflection type display form and the transmissive type display form, the transmittance of the liquid crystal due to the difference in the retardation of the liquid crystal. Makes a difference in the state of. However, in the structure of the present embodiment, since the translucent scattering layer 22b is provided in the reflection display unit R, which is the region where the reflection display is performed, that is, the region provided with the reflection layer 16 shown in FIG. The thickness of the liquid crystal layer 3 of the transmissive display unit T, which is the transmissive display region for performing transmissive display, that is, the region corresponding to the opening 16a shown in FIG. 1, is larger than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 3, and the reflective display unit R And the state of the transmittance or the reflectance for each voltage as the liquid crystal layer 3 in the transmission display unit T can be made uniform. Therefore, by forming the translucent scattering layer 22b, it is possible to make the retardation uniform in the reflection display unit R and the transmission display unit T, and it becomes possible to obtain a bright and high-contrast display in both the reflection display and the transmission display. ..

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the translucent scattering layer 22b has a structure in which the translucent polymer substrate 23 is filled with a filler 24 having a refractive index different from that of the substrate 23. Since it has a function of scattering incident light, it is possible to easily perform a bright display in a reflected display. Therefore, the liquid crystal display device A of the present embodiment is a semi-transmissive reflection type liquid crystal display device, and is a reflection display based on the scattering function and the liquid crystal layer thinning function of the translucent scattering layer 22b provided in the reflection display unit R. It is possible to perform bright and high-contrast display in both the transparent display and the transparent display.

[Second Embodiment] Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will not be described unless otherwise specified, assuming that they have the same configurations. In the liquid crystal display device B of the second embodiment, the upper surface of the lower substrate (backlight side substrate) 2 on the liquid crystal layer side is an uneven surface. This uneven surface has a surface roughness in the range of 0.5 to 0.8 μm, and irregularities are randomly formed. A reflection layer 16 is formed on the uneven surface, and a diffuse reflection surface 16e having random irregularities is formed on the reflection layer 16 on the uneven surface.

[0034] The unevenness formation on the substrate 2 is formed by, for example, applying a resist on a glass substrate to be the substrate 2 and then performing an etching treatment using hydrofluoric acid, and then performing a photolithography step of peeling the resist after the etching treatment. can do. Even in such a liquid crystal display device B, it is possible to take a display form using a transmission display and a reflection display as in the liquid crystal display device A of the first embodiment. As for the effect in that case, since the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is changed in the transmission display unit T and the reflection display unit R in the same manner as in the case of the first embodiment, the same effect can be obtained. Further, in the second embodiment, since the diffuse reflection surface 16e having random irregularities is formed on the reflection layer 16, in the case of the reflection display form, in addition to the diffusion by the translucent scattering layer 22b, the diffuse reflection surface At 16e, the incident light can be reflected in various directions, and a reflection display with a wider viewing angle can be obtained.

[Third Embodiment] Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will not be described unless otherwise specified, assuming that they have the same configurations. In the liquid crystal display device C of the third embodiment, the reflective layer 16 is formed on the inner surface of the lower substrate 2 on the liquid crystal layer 3 side, and is on the upper layer side of the reflective layer 16 and on the reflective layer 16. The color filter 10 is formed so as to fill the opening 16a. The above-mentioned translucent scattering layer 22b, electrode 6, alignment film 7, and liquid crystal layer 3 are formed on the reflection display portion R on the upper layer of the color filter 10, and the electrode 6, alignment film 7, and liquid crystal layer 3 are transmitted and displayed. It is formed in part T.

[0036] Even in such a liquid crystal display device C, a display form using a transmission display and a reflection display can be adopted as in the liquid crystal display device A of the first embodiment. As an effect in that case, the translucent scattering layer 22b is formed on the reflection display unit R, and the thickness of the liquid crystal layer on the transmission display unit T and the reflection display unit R is the same as in the case of the first embodiment. Since it is changed, the same effect can be obtained.

[Fourth Embodiment] Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will not be described unless otherwise specified, assuming that they have the same configurations. In the liquid crystal display device D of the fourth embodiment, a color filter 10 composed of R (red) G (green) B (blue) is formed on the inner surface of the upper substrate 1, and further, the liquid crystal layer 3 of the color filter 10 is formed. A translucent scattering layer 22b is formed on the side. That is, a translucent scattering layer 22b, an electrode 5, and an alignment film 11 are formed between the color filter 10 provided on the inner surface of the upper substrate 1 on the liquid crystal layer side and the liquid crystal layer 3.

[0038] Even in such a liquid crystal display device D, similarly to the liquid crystal display device A of the first embodiment, the translucent scattering layer 22b is formed on the reflection display unit R, and the liquid crystal layer of the transmission display unit T is formed. Since the thickness of 3 is made larger than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 3 of the reflection display unit R, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, in the liquid crystal display device D of the fourth embodiment, the external light incident from the outside is scattered by the translucent scattering layer 22b, and then the electrode 5, the alignment film 11, the liquid crystal layer 3, the alignment film 7, Since it reaches the reflective layer 16 via the electrode 6, is reflected by the reflective layer 16, and then is emitted to the outside through the reverse process, the light after being scattered by the translucent scattering layer 22b spreads to the outside. It is possible to further widen the viewing angle in the reflection display.

[Fifth Embodiment] Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. Note that the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will not be described unless otherwise specified, assuming that they have the same configurations. 7 and 8 show a fifth embodiment in which the transflective liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is applied to a simple matrix type liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device E of the fifth embodiment has a basic structure in which a liquid crystal layer 3 is sandwiched between substrates 1 and 2 made of transparent glass or the like which are vertically opposed to each other as shown in the cross-sectional structure shown in FIG. This point is the same as in each of the above embodiments, and in FIG. 7, a backlight 4 is provided on the lower side of the lower substrate 2.

[0040] In the liquid crystal display device E shown in FIG. 7, a strip-shaped transparent electrode 50 in a plan view extends on the liquid crystal layer 3 side of the substrate 1 in the vertical direction of the paper surface of FIG. 7 and in the left-right direction of the paper surface of FIG. It is formed so as to correspond to a display area so as to be separated from each other. On the other hand, on the liquid crystal layer 3 side of the substrate 2, a plurality of strip-shaped electrodes 60 in a plan view extend in the left-right direction of the paper surface of FIG. 7 and are separated from each other in the vertical direction of the paper surface of FIG. It is formed so as to correspond, and the upper and lower electrodes 50 and 60 are arranged so as to intersect 90 ° in a plan view.

[0041] In the liquid crystal display device E, the display area is composed of a large number of pixels g, and each pixel g intersects the electrodes 50 and 60 when the electrodes 50 and 60 are viewed in a plan view as shown in FIG. It is partitioned by the part that has been removed. Since the liquid crystal display device E of the present embodiment has a structure premised on color display, one pixel g having a substantially square shape in a plan view specifically divided by a chain line shown in FIG. 8 has three electrodes. It is partitioned at the intersection of 50 and one electrode 60, and one pixel g is divided into dots g1, g2, and g3 partitioned by one electrode 50 and one electrode 60. A rectangular recess 22a is individually formed in the central portion of the electrodes 60 corresponding to these dots g1 to g3, and the position corresponding to the recess 22a is provided with the transmission display electrode 60b as in the first embodiment. The position corresponding to the convex translucent scattering layer 22b surrounding the transparent display unit T and the concave portion 22a is the reflection display unit R provided with the reflection display electrode 60a. In the case of a structure corresponding to black-and-white display, the color filter 10 may be omitted by using the electrodes 50 and 60 as strip-shaped electrodes having the same width, instead of assuming color display as in the present embodiment.

[0042] Even in such a liquid crystal display device E, a display form using a transmission display and a reflection display can be adopted as in the liquid crystal display device A of the first embodiment. As an effect in that case, the translucent scattering layer 22b is formed on the reflection display unit R, and the thickness of the liquid crystal layer on the transmission display unit T and the reflection display unit R is the same as in the case of the first embodiment. Since it is changed, the same effect can be obtained.

[Modifications Common to Each Embodiment] Next, in the liquid crystal display devices A to E of the first to fifth embodiments as described above, the color filter 10 is transmitted with the reflection display unit R. The spectral characteristics can be different from those of the display unit T. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the color purity of the color filter 10 is reflected in the transmissive display unit T (transmissive CF specification shown in FIG. 9) by the reflective display unit R (reflective CF specification shown in FIG. 10). ) Can be relatively higher. For example, in the case of transmission display, the transmitted light is sent to the display after passing through the color filter 10 once, while in the case of reflection display, the external light passes through the color filter once when it is incident and when it is reflected. Since the light passes twice in total, the color purity of the color filter 10 in the transmission display unit T is made relatively higher than that in the reflection display unit R as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, so that the color can be changed between the transmission display and the reflection display. It is possible to make the shades the same.

[Electronic Equipment] An example of an electronic device including the liquid crystal display device of the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing an example of a mobile phone. In FIG. 11A, reference numeral 500 indicates a mobile phone main body, and reference numeral 501 indicates a liquid crystal display unit using the above liquid crystal display devices A to E.

[0045] FIG. 11B is a perspective view showing an example of a portable information processing device such as a word processor or a personal computer. In FIG. 11B, reference numeral 600 indicates an information processing device, reference numeral 601 indicates an input unit such as a keyboard, reference numeral 603 indicates an information processing device main body, and reference numeral 602 indicates a liquid crystal display unit using the above liquid crystal display devices A to E. ing.

[0046] FIG. 11 (c) is a perspective view showing an example of a wristwatch-type electronic device. In FIG. 11C, reference numeral 700 indicates a watch body, and reference numeral 701 indicates a liquid crystal display unit using the above liquid crystal display devices A to E.

As described above, since the electronic device shown in FIG. 11 includes a liquid crystal display unit using the liquid crystal display devices A to E of the above-described embodiment, it has a bright and high-contrast display unit under various environments. An electronic device can be realized.

[Effect of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, since the light-transmitting scattering layer is provided in the reflection display unit R, the retardation in the reflection display unit and the transmission display unit is made uniform. It is possible to obtain a bright and high-contrast display for both the reflection display and the transmission display, and it is possible to effectively scatter light during the reflection display, so that a bright reflection display can be easily obtained. It becomes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a partial cross-sectional structure of a liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a partially enlarged plan view showing an enlarged reflection layer of the liquid crystal display device of FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a configuration of a translucent scattering layer of the liquid crystal display device of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a partial cross-sectional structure of a liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a partial cross-sectional structure of a liquid crystal display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a partial cross-sectional structure of a liquid crystal display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a partial cross-sectional structure of a liquid crystal display device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a partially enlarged plan view showing an enlarged reflection layer of the liquid crystal display device of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the spectral characteristics of a color filter used for transmission display.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the spectral characteristics of a color filter used for reflection display.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing some examples of the electronic device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols] A to E Liquid crystal display device 1 Upper substrate 2 Lower substrate 3 Liquid crystal layer 16 Reflective layer 22a Recess 22b Translucent scattering layer R Reflective display unit T Transparent display unit