Monolithic optical compensation device for improved viewing angle in liquid crystal displays

Abstract

A monolithic O-plate optical compensator device, in accordance with the invention, comprises a plurality of thin-film compensation layers which are deposited on a single substrate. As used herein, the term “monolithic” is meant to imply that the O-plate and other thin-film compensator layers are formed by depositing (e.g., via solvent casting or vacuum deposition) one layer on top of another layer; with or without the use of surface modification treatments such as adhesion layers, alignment layers, and the like.

1. A monolithic compensator for a liquid crystal display comprising:
 (a) a first deposited thin-film positively birefringent O- plate  compensator layer having a first surface;  
 (b) a second thin-film compensator layer deposited onto said first surface of said first compensator layer, wherein each of said first and  said second deposited thin-film compensator layers are  layer is selected from the group consisting of (i) a positively birefringent O-plate compensator layer, (ii) a positively birefringent A-plate compensator layer, (iii) a negatively birefringent A-plate compensator layer and (iv) a negatively birefringent C-plate compensator layer.  
 
     
     
       2. The monolithic compensator of  claim 1 , wherein one or more thin-film layers of material are deposited between said first deposited thin-film compensator layer and said second deposited thin-film compensator layer. 
     
     
       3. The monolithic compensator of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said one or more thin-film layers is a deposited thin-film compensator layer. 
     
     
       4. A liquid crystal display comprising:
 (a) a polarizer layer;  
 (b) an analyzer layer;  
 (c) a liquid crystal cell having a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate forming respective walls of said liquid crystal cell, said liquid crystal cell disposed between said polarizer layer and said analyzer layer; and  
 (d) a monolithic compensator in accordance with a specified one of claims  1 ,  2 , or  3  disposed between said polarizer layer and said analyzer layer.  
 
     
     
       5. A compensator element for a liquid crystal display comprising:
 (a) an optically transparent substrate; and  
 (b) a monolithic compensator in accordance with a specified one of claims  1 ,  2 , and  3 , operatively coupled to a optically transparent substrate.  
 
     
     
       6. The compensator element of  claim 5 , wherein said optically transparent substrate is an optical polarizer. 
     
     
       7. The compensator element of  claim 5 , wherein said optically transparent substrate is one surface of a liquid crystal cell.