There is disclosed herein a liquid crystal on silicon spatial light modulator, “LCoS SLM”, device arranged for in-plane switching. The LCoS SLM device comprises: a silicon backplane (1501); a transparent substrate (1581); a liquid crystal layer (1571); an electrode structure (1505, 1507) and a reflective component (1561, 1551). The liquid crystal layer (1571) is interposed between the silicon backplane (1501) and the transparent substrate (1581). The electrode structure (1505, 1507) is formed on the silicon backplane (1501) for generating an electric field in the liquid crystal layer (1571). The electric field is substantially parallel to the silicon backplane (1501). The reflective component (1551, 1561) is opposing the transparent substrate (1581).

The liquid crystal display panel sequentially includes: a first polarizing plate; a first substrate; a first alignment film; a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules; a second alignment film; a second substrate; and a second polarizing plate. The liquid crystal display panel is a normally black liquid crystal display panel capable of shifting into a transparent display state. The first alignment film and the second alignment film have been subjected to alignment treatment such that a first domain and a second domain in which alignment vectors are different from each other are arranged side by side in a column direction. In a plan view, a liquid crystal alignment axis of the first domain and a liquid crystal alignment axis of the second domain obliquely intersect a polarization axis of the first polarizing plate and a polarization axis of the second polarizing plate and are parallel to each other.

A pixel drive circuit and a display panel are provided. According to the pixel drive circuit, a first data line and a first sharing line form a first sub pixel area, a second data line and a second sharing line form a second sub pixel area, and a third data line and a third sharing line form a third sub pixel area. The first sub pixel area, the second sub pixel area and the third sub pixel area share one scan line. The first sharing line of the first sub pixel area is connected in series with the third sharing line of the third sub pixel area.

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel sequentially including: a first substrate provided with a pixel electrode for each pixel; a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules; and a second substrate provided with a counter electrode, the liquid crystal display panel including pixels each including at least four alignment regions with different inclination azimuths of the liquid crystal molecules, with no voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal molecules aligning substantially vertically to the first substrate and the second substrate with inclinations along the inclination azimuths, the liquid crystal molecules having a twist angle of substantially 0° in each alignment region, at least one of the four alignment regions including a first region where the liquid crystal molecules have a relatively small average tilt angle and a second region where the liquid crystal molecules have a relatively large average tilt angle.

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel sequentially including: a first substrate provided with a pixel electrode for each pixel; a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules; and a second substrate provided with a counter electrode, the liquid crystal display panel including pixels each including at least four alignment regions with different inclination azimuths of the liquid crystal molecules, with no voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal molecules aligning substantially vertically to the first substrate and the second substrate with inclinations along the inclination azimuths, the liquid crystal molecules having a twist angle of substantially 0° in each alignment region, at least one of the four alignment regions including a first region where the liquid crystal molecules have a relatively small average tilt angle and a second region where the liquid crystal molecules have a relatively large average tilt angle.

A display device comprising a spatial light modulator having a display polariser arranged on one side of the spatial light modulator is provided with an additional polariser arranged on the same side as the display polariser and polar control retarders between the additional polariser and the display polariser. The polar control retarders include a liquid crystal retarder having two surface alignment layers disposed adjacent to a layer of liquid crystal material on opposite sides. The surface alignment layers provide alignment in the adjacent liquid crystal material with an in-plane component, wherein the angle of said in-plane component changes monotonically along a predetermined axis across the display device, providing reduction of luminance in directions that are offset from a viewing axis, increasing uniformity in the reduction of luminance in directions that are offset from a viewing axis.

This liquid crystal display device has a plurality of pixels. Each pixel in the plurality of pixels includes first to fourth alignment regions; these first to fourth alignment regions are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the pixels, and the difference between any two alignment orientations in the first to fourth alignment regions is approximately equal to an integer multiple of 90 degrees. Of the pre-tilt angles defined by a first alignment film and a second alignment film in each of the first to fourth alignment regions, one pre-tilt angle is less than 90 degrees and the other pre-tilt angle is substantially 90 degrees. The optical alignment film is formed using a polymer having an optical alignment group in the side chain, and the content of the optical alignment group in the side chain of the polymer is less than 1.1 mmol/g.

An optical element is provided. The optical element includes an optical film including a birefringent material having a chirality. Optically anisotropic molecules of the birefringent material disposed adjacent a first surface of the optical film are configured with a first pretilt angle in a range of greater than 10° and less than 80°, or in a range of greater than −80° and less than −10°. Optically anisotropic molecules of the birefringent material disposed adjacent a second surface of the optical film opposing the first surface are configured with a second pretilt angle in the range of greater than 10° and less than 80°, or in the range of greater than −80° and less than −10°.

A pixel drive circuit and a display panel are provided. According to the pixel drive circuit, a first data line and a first sharing line form a first sub pixel area, a second data line and a second sharing line form a second sub pixel area, and a third data line and a third sharing line form a third sub pixel area. The first sub pixel area, the second sub pixel area and the third sub pixel area share one scan line. The first sharing line of the first sub pixel area is connected in series with the third sharing line of the third sub pixel area.

To further reduce time necessary to eliminate the problem caused by static electricity. The liquid crystal display apparatus includes a plurality of unit display regions and the plurality of unit display regions are arranged along a first direction spaced from one another. At least one of a plurality of first electrodes has a plurality of electrode parts corresponding to each of the plurality of unit display regions and are mutually separated and arranged apart from one another in the first direction, a plurality of first lead wirings where each first lead wiring extends in the direction different from the first direction and extends outside an inner area, and a first crossover wiring disposed outside the inner area and mutually connects the plurality of first lead wirings.