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Liquid crystal display device viewable from both surfaces and portable apparatus using sameLiquid crystal display device viewable from both surfaces and portable apparatus using same description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060012736, Liquid crystal display device viewable from both surfaces and portable apparatus using same. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a both surface display type liquid crystal display device and a portable apparatus having a both surface display function. BACKGROUND ART [0002] As disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. H10-90678 and Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2001-290445, a liquid crystal display device in which two liquid crystal display elements are disposed back to back with their display surfaces facing the opposite directions from each other, and a surface light source for emitting a light toward both the liquid crystal display elements is disposed between them, is known as a both surface display type liquid crystal display device to be used in a portable apparatus such as a portable phone, which has a display function on both surfaces of its case. [0003] However, using two liquid crystal display elements as described above costs high, and both surface display with the use of one liquid crystal display element is desired. [0004] As a liquid crystal display device for both surface display using one liquid crystal display element, there is proposed a liquid crystal display device in which the screen area of a liquid crystal display element is divided into a first screen portion and a second screen portion so that an image to be viewed from the front is displayed by the first screen portion and an image to be viewed from the back is displayed by the second screen portion, as disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2000-193946 and Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2001-305525. [0005] However, in a both surface display type liquid crystal display device having the screen area of its liquid crystal display element divided into a first and a second screen portions, the entire display area of the liquid crystal display element has a size corresponding to the size of the display screen for the front plus the size of the display screen for the back which are arranged side by side. Therefore, the occupation area of this liquid crystal display device is much larger than that of a display screen for either front or back display. Accordingly, this liquid crystal display device can not be used in a portable apparatus such as a portable phone, in which the mount space for a liquid crystal display device is limited. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION [0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display device which is capable of both surface display using one liquid crystal display element, capable of reducing its occupation area, and capable of displaying an image to be viewed from one surface and an image to be viewed from the other surface in a display manner using a light from a surface light source and in a display manner using an external light existing in the external environment. [0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display device which is capable of being miniaturized as a portable apparatus having a both surface display function, capable of displaying images to be viewed from the respective surfaces in a sufficiently large screen size, and capable of displaying images to be viewed form the respective surfaces in a display manner using a light from a surface light source of the liquid crystal display device and in a display manner using an external light. [0008] To achieve the above objects, a liquid crystal display device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: [0009] a first substrate (3) and a second substrate (4) which are arranged so as to oppose to each other; [0010] at least one first electrode (6) which is formed on one of opposing internal surfaces of the first substrate (3) and the second substrate (4); [0011] a plurality of second electrodes (7) which are formed on the other of the opposing internal surfaces of the first substrate (3) and the second substrate (4), and which form a plurality of pixels (80) arranged in a matrix in an area opposing to the first electrode (6) on the one internal surface; [0012] a liquid crystal layer (5) which is sealed in a predetermined gap between the first substrate (3) and the second substrate (4); [0013] a pair of polarizing plates (16, 17) which are arranged so as to sandwich the first substrate (3) and the second substrate (4); and [0014] reflection/permeation means which is provided between the liquid crystal layer (5) and one of the pair of polarizing plates (16, 17), and which reflects a part of a light coming to each of the plurality of pixels (80) and lets the other of the light permeate the reflection/permeation means; and [0015] a surface light source (25) which is arranged so as to oppose to the other of the pair of polarizing plates (16, 17), and which emits a light toward the opposing other polarizing plate (16), and lets lights coming to the surface light source (25) from a side of the opposing other polarizing plate (16) and from a side opposing to this side permeate the surface light source (25). [0016] This liquid crystal display device displays an image to be viewed from the front by letting a light from the surface light source arranged at the front of the liquid crystal display element come to the liquid crystal display element, reflecting a part of the light coming to each of the plurality of pixels from the front of the liquid crystal display element by the reflection/permeation means, and emitting the reflected light toward the front of the surface light source, and displays an image to be viewed from the back by letting the other part of the light permeate the reflection/permeation means and emitting this light toward the back of the liquid crystal display element. [0017] Since this liquid crystal display device displays an image to be viewed from the front by reflecting a part of a light coming to each of the plurality of pixels from the front of the liquid crystal display element, and displays an image to be viewed from the back by letting the other part of the light permeate, this liquid crystal display device can display both of an image to be viewed from the front and an image to be viewed from the back by using the entire display area of the liquid crystal display element. Accordingly, the display area of the liquid crystal display element needs only to have a size corresponding to the display screen for either front display or back display. [0018] Accordingly, with this liquid crystal display device, it is possible to perform both surface display with the use of only one liquid crystal display element, and to make the occupation area of the liquid crystal display device smaller. [0019] Further, in this liquid crystal display device, the surface light source which emits a light toward the liquid crystal display element and lets lights coming from its front and its back permeate therethrough is arranged at the front of the liquid crystal display element. Because of this, this liquid crystal display device can let an external light (a light in the external environment) coming from the front of the surface light source permeate the surface light source and then come to the liquid crystal display element, can emit a part of this light that is reflected by the reflection/permeation means toward the front of the surface light source, and can emit the other part of the light that permeates the reflection/permeation means toward the back of the liquid crystal display element, and at the same time, can let an external light coming from the back of the liquid crystal display element permeate the reflection/permeation means, a liquid crystal cell, and the surface light source so as to be emitted toward the front. Accordingly, this liquid crystal display device can display an image to be viewed from the front by reflection display using a light from the surface light source, by reflection display using an external light coming from the front of the surface light source, and by permeation display using an external light coming from the back of the liquid crystal display element, and can display an image to be viewed from the back by permeation display using a light from the surface light source and by permeation display using an external light coming from the front of the surface light source. [0020] As described above, according to this liquid crystal display device of the present invention, both surface display can be achieved with the use of one liquid crystal display element, the occupation area can be reduced, and both of an image to be viewed from one surface (front surface) and an image to be viewed from the other surface (back surface) can be displayed in a display manner using a light from the surface light source and in a display manner using an external light which is a light in the external environment. [0021] In this liquid crystal display device of the present invention, it is preferred that the reflection/permeation means is constituted by a half-transparent and half-reflection film (10) which reflects and allows permeation of, an incident light with a predetermined reflection ratio and a predetermined permeation ratio. Continue reading about Liquid crystal display device viewable from both surfaces and portable apparatus using same... 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