US 11,809,038 B2
Method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device and liquid crystal display device
Michel Sagardoyburu, Neuchâtel (CH); and Simon Springer, Berne (CH)
Assigned to The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd, Marin (CH)
Filed by The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd, Marin (CH)
Filed on Sep. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/487,458.
Claims priority of application No. 20216148 (EP), filed on Dec. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0197085 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. G02F 1/1335 (2006.01); G02F 1/13357 (2006.01); G02F 1/1343 (2006.01); G04G 9/12 (2006.01); G02F 1/1333 (2006.01)
CPC G02F 1/133555 (2013.01) [G02F 1/1343 (2013.01); G02F 1/133374 (2021.01); G02F 1/133536 (2013.01); G02F 1/133608 (2013.01); G04G 9/12 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for manufacturing a reflective or transflective liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal cell whose liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a planar or vertical manner, said liquid crystal cell being formed of a transparent front substrate located on a side of an observer, and a rear substrate, also transparent, which extends under the front substrate, parallel to and at a distance from the latter, the two front and rear substrates being joined together with a sealing frame which delimits a sealed enclosure, wherein a liquid crystal composition is confined, the front and rear substrates are coated on opposite faces thereof with electrically conductive transparent electrodes and counter-electrodes, optical properties of the liquid crystal composition are changed by applying an electric field at a crossing point between an electrode and a corresponding counter-electrode, the liquid crystal display device is provided with a reflective polarising film arranged to absorb a first component of a light which has entered the liquid crystal cell through the front substrate and to reflect a second component of the light polarised in a direction orthogonal to that of the first component, and said reflective polarising film comprises an absorbent polariser combined with an at least partially reflective reflector disposed under the absorbent polariser, the method comprising:
bringing the reflector into relief including concave and convex shapes to impart a decorative and/or functional shape thereto visible to the observer through the front substrate of the liquid crystal cell,
after bringing the reflector into relief, fastening said reflector under the absorbent polariser which is itself fastened against a lower face of the rear substrate, and
providing the light from the front substrate through the liquid crystal cell and the reflective polarising film.