1. An in-plane switching liquid crystal display device, comprising:
first and second substrates;
a gate line and a data line defining a pixel region on the first substrate;
a common line parallel to and spaced apart from the gate tine in a middle section of the pixel region;
a thin film transistor adjacent to a crossing portion of the gate and data lines, the thin film transistor having gate, source, and drain electrodes;
a first insulating layer on the gate line and common line;
a transparent common electrode on the first substrate and having a plurality of extended portions perpendicular to the common line;
a plurality of transparent pixel electrodes on the first substrate and having a plurality of extended portions perpendicular to the common line;
extended portions extending from the common line between a boundary of the pixel region and an outermost extended portion of the common electrode, wherein the extended portions extending from the common line are on a layer different from the common electrode;
a first storage electrode on the first insulating layer over the common line;
a second storage electrode on the first insulating layer over the gate line, wherein the first and second storage electrodes are connected to the drain electrode by extended lines on a layer different than the pixel electrodes;
and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates, wherein the plurality of extended portions of the pixel electrodes have an alternating pattern with the plurality of extended portions of the common electrode.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the common electrode is connected to the common line.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the gate and data lines have the same material.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the common and pixel electrodes include one of indium-tin-oxide or indium-zinc-oxide.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the common electrode has a substantially zigzag shape.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the pixel electrode has a substantially zigzag shape.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the pixel region is divided by the common line.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the second storage electrode is connected to the pixel electrode.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the second storage electrode is connected to the drain electrode.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the extended portions are substantially perpendicular to the common line.
11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a transverse common electrode over the common line.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the transverse common electrode contacts the common line through at least one contact hole.
13. The device of claim 11, wherein the first storage electrode is between the common line and the transverse common electrode.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A device, comprising:
a first substrate;
a first array of elongated, generally parallel to each other, conductors disposed along a length of a first major surface of the first substrate;
a second array of elongated, generally parallel to each other, conductors disposed along a width of a second major surface of the first substrate so as to be capacitively coupled and at a first angle to conductors in the first array; and
a plurality of first varactors containing an elongated axes and coupling the conductors.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first angle is 90 degrees.
3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply circuit capable of supplying a plurality of voltages to conductors in the first array and the second array.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first varactors are disposed on the first major surface of the first substrate and coupling neighboring ones of the conductors in the first array.
5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of second varactors containing an elongated axes and disposed on the second major surface of the first substrate and coupling neighboring ones of the conductors in the second array, wherein the elongated axes of the first varactors are at a second angle to the elongated axes of the second varactors.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the elongated axes of the first varactors are disposed orthogonally to the elongated axes of the second varactors.
7. The device of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of vias coupling the plurality of first varactors to the conductors in the second array.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first varactors are disposed on the second major surface of the first substrate and coupling neighboring one of the conductors in the second array.
9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of vias coupling the plurality of first varactors to the conductors in the first array.
10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of first vias;
a plurality of second vias; and
a second substrate comprising a major surface;
wherein the plurality of the first varactors are disposed on the major surface of the second substrate and the plurality of the first varactors are coupled to the conductors in the first array by the plurality of first vias and the plurality of the first varactors are coupled to the conductors in the second array through the plurality of second vias.
11. The device of Clam 1, wherein a first distance between the conductors in the first array is between 115 of a wavelength and \xbd of the wavelength and a second distance between the conductors in the second array is between 115 of a wavelength and \xbd of the wavelength.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first distance is 1 cm and the second distance is 1 cm.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein an opaque state is achieved by forward-biasing the plurality of first varactors.
14. The device of claim 5, wherein an opaque state is achieved by forward-biasing the plurality of first varactors and the plurality of second varactors.
15. The device of claim 7, wherein an opaque state is achieved by forward-biasing the plurality of first varactors.
16. The device of claim 1, is a tunable selective surface.
17. The device of claim 1, is a tunable frequency selective surface for covering an antenna.
18. A device, comprising:
a first substrate;
a first array of elongated, generally parallel to each other, conductors disposed along a length of a first major surface of the first substrate;
a second array of elongated, generally parallel to each other, conductors disposed along a width of the first major surface of the first substrate and coupled to the first array of conductors at a first angle;
a third array of elongated, generally parallel to each other conductors disposed along a width of a second major surface of the first substrate at a second angle to conductors in the first array;
a fourth array of elongated, generally parallel to each other, conductors disposed along a length of the second major surface of the first substrate and coupled to the second array of conductors at a third angle;
a plurality of first vias; and
a plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors containing an elongated axes and coupling the conductors.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein the first angle is 90 degrees.
20. The device of claim 18, wherein the second angle is 90 degrees.
21. The device of claim 18, wherein the third angle is 90 degrees.
22. The device of claim 18, further comprising
a power supply circuit capable of supplying a first voltage to conductors disposed on the first major surface; and
a second voltage to conductors disposed on the second major surface.
23. The device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors are disposed on the first major surface and coupling neighboring ones of the conductors in the first array.
24. The device of claim 23, further comprising
a plurality of second oppositely oriented in series varactors containing an elongated axes and disposed on the second major surface and coupling neighboring ones of the conductors in the third array, wherein the elongated axes of the first oppositely oriented in series varactors are at a fourth angle to the elongated axes of the second oppositely oriented in series varactors; and
a plurality of second vias coupling the first surface to the second surface;
wherein the plurality of first vias couple the second array of conductors to the plurality of second oppositely oriented in series varactors and the plurality of first vias couple the fourth array of conductors to the plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors.
25. The device of claim 24, wherein the elongated axes of the plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors are disposed orthogonally to the elongated axes of the plurality of second oppositely oriented in series varactors.
26. The device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of first vias couple the conductors on the second major surface to the first major surface and the plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors couple the conductors on the first major surface to the plurality of first vias.
27. The device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of first vias couple the conductors on the first major surface to the second major surface and the plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors couple the conductors on the second major surface to the plurality of first vias.
28. The device of claim 18, further comprising:
a plurality of second vias; and
a second substrate comprising a major surface;
wherein the plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors are disposed on the major surface of the second substrate and the plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors are coupled to conductors on the first major surface through the plurality of first vias and the plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors are coupled to conductors on the second major surface though the plurality of second vias.
29. The device of Clam 18, wherein a first distance between the conductors in the first array is between 215 of a wavelength and 1 wavelength and a second distance between the conductors in the third array is between 215 of a wavelength and 1 wavelength.
30. The device of claim 29, wherein the first distance is 1 cm and the second distance is 1 cm.
31. The device of claim 18, wherein an opaque state is achieved by forward-biasing the plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors.
32. The device of claim 24, wherein an opaque state is achieved by forward-biasing the plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors and the plurality of second oppositely oriented in series varactors.
33. The device of claim 26, wherein an opaque state is achieved by forward-biasing the plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors.
34. The device of claim 27, wherein an opaque state is achieved by forward-biasing the plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors.
35. The device of claim 28, wherein an opaque state is achieved by forward-biasing the plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors.
36. The device of claim 18, is a tunable frequency selective surface.
37. The device of claim 18, is a tunable frequency selective surface for covering an antenna.
38. A method of achieving an opaque state in at least a region of a tunable frequency selective surface, the method comprising:
applying a plurality of voltages to conductors disposed on a first major surface and on a second major surface of the tunable frequency selective surface so as to cause a plurality of varactors coupling the conductors to be forward-biased and to cause the at least a region of the tunable frequency selective surface to be in the opaque state.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein applying the plurality of voltages comprises:
applying a first voltage to alternating conductors disposed along a length of the first major surface and alternating conductors disposed along a width of the second major surface;
applying a second voltage to remaining conductors disposed along the length of the first major surface so as to cause the plurality of varactors coupling the conductors on the first major surface to be forward-biased; and
applying the second voltage to remaining conductors disposed along the width of the second major surface so as to cause the plurality of varactors coupling the conductors on the second major surface to be forward-biased.
40. A method of tuning at least a region of a tunable frequency selective surface, the method comprising:
applying a plurality of voltages to conductors disposed on a first major surface and on a second major surface of the tunable frequency selective surface so as to cause a plurality of varactors coupling the conductors to be reverse biased and to cause the at least a region of the tunable frequency selective surface to be tuned to a frequency.
41. The method of claim 40, wherein applying the plurality of voltages comprises:
applying a first voltage to alternating conductors disposed along a length of the first major surface and alternating conductors disposed along a width of the second major surface;
applying a second voltage to remaining conductors disposed along the length of the first major surface so as to cause the plurality of varactors coupling the conductors on the first major surface to be reverse biased and tuned to a resonance frequency; and
applying the second voltage to remaining conductors disposed along the width of the second major surface so as to cause the plurality of varactors coupling the conductors on the second major surface to be reverse biased and tuned to the resonance frequency.
42. The method of tuning each region of a tunable frequency selective surface to a different resonance frequency, the method comprising:
partitioning a tunable frequency selective surface into a plurality of regions, wherein each region of the tunable frequency selective surface contains a first major surface and a second major surface;
determining which of the regions of the tunable frequency selective surface are to be tuned to which resonance frequency;
providing the first major surface of each of the regions with a distinct first voltage;
applying the distinct first voltage to alternating conductors in each one of the regions, wherein the alternating conductors are disposed along a length of the first major surface;
providing the first major surface of each of the regions with a distinct second voltage;
applying the distinct second voltage to remaining conductors in each one of the regions, so as to cause varactors in each of the regions to be reverse biased and tuned to a resonance frequency determined for that region, wherein the remaining conductors are disposed along the length of the first major surface;
providing the second major surface of each of the regions with a distinct third voltage;
applying the distinct third voltage to alternating conductors in each one of the regions, wherein the alternating conductors are disposed along a width of the second major surface;
providing the second major surface of each of the regions with a distinct fourth voltage;
applying the distinct fourth voltage to remaining conductors in each one of the regions, so as to cause varactors in each of the regions to be reverse biased and tuned to a resonance frequency determined for that region, wherein the remaining conductors are disposed along the width of the second major surface.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein the conductors disposed on the first surface are capacitively coupled to conductors disposed on the second surface.
44. The method of claim 42, wherein the first major surface and the second major surface of each of the regions are provided with the distinct first voltage that is equal to the distinct third voltage and the distinct second voltage that is equal to the distinct fourth voltage.
45. The method of claim 38, wherein applying the plurality of voltages comprises:
applying a first voltage to conductors disposed on the first major surface;
applying a second voltage to conductors disposed on the second major surface so as to cause a plurality of oppositely oriented in series varactors to be forward-biased;
wherein the plurality of oppositely oriented in series varactors couple the conductors on the first major surface to conductors on the second major surface.
46. The method of claim 40, wherein applying the plurality of voltages comprises:
applying a first voltage to conductors disposed on the first major surface;
applying a second voltage to conductors disposed on the second major surface so as to cause the plurality of oppositely oriented in series varactors to be reverse biased;
wherein the plurality of oppositely oriented in series varactors couple the conductors on the first major surface to conductors on the second major surface.
47. The method of claim 38, wherein applying the plurality of voltages comprises:
applying a first voltage to conductors disposed on the first major surface so as to cause a plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors coupling the conductors on the first major surface to be forward-biased;
applying a second voltage to conductors disposed on the second major surface so as to cause a plurality of second oppositely oriented in series varactors coupling the conductors on the second major surface to be forward-biased;
wherein the conductors on the first major surface are coupled to the plurality of second oppositely oriented in series varactors and the conductors on the second major surface are coupled to the plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors.
48. The method of claim 40, wherein applying the plurality of voltages comprises:
applying a first voltage to conductors disposed on the first major surface so as to cause a plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors coupling the conductors on the first major surface to be reverse biased;
applying a second voltage to conductors disposed on the second major surface so as to cause a plurality of second oppositely oriented in series varactors coupling the conductors on the second major surface to be reverse biased;
wherein the conductors on the first major surface are coupled to the plurality of second oppositely oriented in series varactors and the conductors on the second major surface are coupled to the plurality of first oppositely oriented in series varactors.
49. The method of tuning each region of a tunable frequency selective surface to a different resonance frequency or an opaque state, the method comprising:
partitioning a tunable frequency selective surface into a plurality of regions, wherein each region of the tunable frequency selective surface contains a first major surface and a second major surface;
determining which of the regions of the tunable frequency selective surface are to be tuned to a resonance frequency;
determining which of the regions of the tunable frequency selective surface are to be tuned to the opaque state;
providing the first major surface of each of the regions with a distinct first voltage;
applying the distinct first voltage to alternating conductors in each one of the regions, wherein the alternating conductors are disposed along a length of the first major surface;
providing the first major surface of each of the regions with a distinct second voltage;
applying the distinct second voltage to remaining conductors in each one of the regions, so as to cause varactors in each of the regions to be reverse biased and tuned to a resonance frequency or the opaque state as determined for that region, wherein the remaining conductors are disposed along the length of the first major surface;
providing the second major surface of each of the regions with a distinct third voltage;
applying the distinct third voltage to alternating conductors in each one of the regions, wherein the alternating conductors are disposed along a width of the second major surface;
providing the second major surface of each of the regions with a distinct fourth voltage;
applying the distinct fourth voltage to remaining conductors in each one of the regions, so as to cause varactors in each of the regions to be reverse biased and tuned to a resonance frequency or the opaque state as determined for that region, wherein the remaining conductors are disposed along the width of the second major surface.