What is claimed is:
1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:
a TFT substrate including a plurality of scan signal electrodes and a plurality of video signal electrodes, both electrodes crossing each other to partition a pixel area into a plurality of pixels, a thin film transistor formed in each of said plurality of pixels, a pixel electrode connected to said thin film transistor and a control signal electrode formed between said plurality of pixels so as to correspond to each of said plurality of pixels;
a counter substrate including a common electrode for supplying a reference voltage to said plurality of pixels; and
a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between said TFT substrate and said counter substrate and constructed such that liquid crystal molecules of said liquid crystal layer are aligned parallel to each other at interfaces between said liquid crystal molecules and both of said TFT substrate and said counter substrate.
2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said control signal electrode is disposed farther from said liquid crystal layer than said video signal electrode and said pixel electrode.
3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said control signal electrode is disposed nearer said liquid crystal layer than said video signal electrode and disposed farther from said liquid crystal layer than said pixel electrode.
4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said control signal electrode is disposed nearer said liquid crystal layer than said pixel electrode and said video signal electrode.
5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said pixel electrode and said control signal electrode have an overlap region formed by making said pixel electrode and said control signal electrode geometrically and peripherally overlap each other to shield light incident on said overlap region from a side of said TFT substrate opposite said counter substrate.
6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal molecules at an interface between said TFT substrate and said liquid crystal layer are aligned in a wiring direction of said the scan signal electrode.
7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal molecules at an interface between said TFT substrate and said liquid crystal layer are aligned in a direction inclined at 45 degrees relative to each side of said pixel electrode.
8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a color filter layer is formed nearer said liquid crystal layer than said scan signal electrode, said video signal electrode and said thin film transistor, and farther from said liquid crystal layer than said pixel electrode.
9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 further comprising alignment films formed on respective uppermost surfaces of said TFT substrate and said counter substrate as uppermost layers, said uppermost surfaces facing each other, wherein said alignment films are formed such that resin films to be aligned by a light irradiation are applied on said uppermost surfaces of said TFT substrate and said counter substrate as uppermost layers, said uppermost surfaces facing each other, and then, said resin films are irradiated by linearly polarized ultraviolet light so that said liquid crystal molecules are aligned in one of directions parallel to and perpendicular to a polarized direction of said ultraviolet light at interfaces between said liquid crystal molecules and both of said alignment films by controlling said polarized direction of said ultraviolet light.
10. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a gap between said TFT substrate and said counter substrate is kept substantially constant by sandwiching a gap support member between said TFT substrate and said counter substrate, both substrates being disposed facing each other, in a region located outside said pixel area.
11. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein in the event no electric field is applied between said pixel electrode and said common electrode, said liquid crystal molecules are in a splay alignment state, and in the event an electric field larger than an electric field needed to make said liquid crystal layer operate at an initial electric field application stage is applied between said pixel electrode and said common electrode to quickly make a transition from said liquid crystal molecules in a splay alignment state to the same in a bend alignment state.
12. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein during an operative electric field being applied between said pixel electrode and said common electrode to make said liquid crystal layer operate, an electric field larger than said operative electric field for making said liquid crystal layer operate is continuously applied between said control signal electrode and said common electrode to make said liquid crystal molecules stay in a bend alignment state.
13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein at the time of a power source initially being turned-on to apply an electric field between said pixel electrode and said common electrode, a predetermined voltage is applied to said pixel electrode and said control signal electrode, and a voltage having a polarity opposite that of said predetermined voltage is applied to a certain pixel electrode and a certain control signal electrode, both certain electrodes located adjacent to said pixel electrode and said control signal electrode.
14. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein during an operative electric field being applied between said pixel electrode and said common electrode to make said liquid crystal layer operate, a polarity a video signal has with respect to said common electrode and a polarity a control signal has with respect to said common electrode always coincide with each other.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A shaft coupling comprising:
first and second hubs, each having respective first and second faces;
first and second pluralities of jaws extending from the respective first and second faces, the jaws on the first face in parallel alignment with the jaws on the second face, the aligned jaws forming gaps between adjacent pairs of aligned jaws;
a split, flexible belt having first and second opposed edges and an inside and an outside surface;
a plurality of spaced projections on the inside surface of the belt, each of the projections occupying one of the gaps;
a first groove on the outside surface of the belt extending from the first opposed edge of the belt to the second opposed edge;
a retaining ring adapted for mounting around the belt, the retaining ring having interior and exterior surfaces and first and second opposed ring edges;
a locating pin protruding from the interior surface of the ring and adjacent to the first ring edge, the locating pin received in the first groove as the retaining ring is slid over the belt from the first opposed edge of the belt to the second opposed edge of the belt and rotated out of engagement with the groove to a position on the second opposed edge of the belt wherein the locating pin is positioned on the second edge of the belt
to secure the retaining ring around the belt.
2. The shaft coupling of claim 1 wherein the first groove extends substantially perpendicular from the first edge of the belt to the second opposed edge of the belt.
3. The shaft coupling of claim 1 and further comprising a second groove on the outside surface of the belt extending from the first edge of the belt to the second opposed edge.
4. The shaft coupling of claim 3 and further comprising a second locating pin protruding from the interior surface of the ring and adjacent to the first ring edge, the second locating pin received in the second groove as the retaining ring is slid over the belt from the first edge of the belt to the second opposed edge of the belt and rotated out of engagement with the second groove until the second locating pin is positioned on the second edge of the belt.
5. The shaft coupling of claim 3 and further comprising a third groove on the outside surface of the belt extending from the first edge of the belt to the second opposed edge.
6. The shaft coupling of claim 5 and further comprising a third locating pin protruding from the interior surface of the ring and adjacent to the first ring edge, the third locating pin received in the third groove as the retaining ring is slid over the belt from the first edge of the belt to the second opposed edge of the belt and rotated out of engagement with the third groove until the third locating pin is positioned on the second edge of the belt.
7. The shaft coupling of claim 1 and further comprising at least one additional locating pin protruding from the interior surface of the ring and adjacent to the second opposite ring edge, the additional locating pin positioned against the first edge of the belt after the retaining ring is slid over the belt until the locating pin exits the first groove and is positioned on the second edge of the belt, whereby the belt is secured between the locating pin and the additional locating pin when the retaining ring is mounted around the belt.
8. The shaft coupling of claim 1 and further comprising a raised portion on the second opposed edge of the belt adjacent to the first groove, the locating pin pushed over the raised portion by rotating the retaining ring with respect to the belt after the retaining ring is mounted on the belt and the locating pin exits the first groove and is positioned on the second edge of the belt.
9. The shaft coupling of claim 8 and further comprising a second raised portion on the second opposed edge of the belt adjacent to the first groove, and opposite the first groove where the raised portion is located, the locating pin pushed over either the raised portion or the second raised portion by rotating the retaining ring with respect to the belt after the retaining ring is mounted on the belt and the locating pin exits the first groove and is positioned on the second opposed edge of the belt.
10. The shaft coupling of claim 3 and further comprising a raised portion and second raised portion on the second opposed edge of the belt adjacent to the second groove.
11. The shaft coupling of claim 9 and further comprising a raised portion and second raised portion on the first opposed edge of the belt adjacent to the first groove.
12. The shaft coupling of claim 10 and further comprising a raised portion and second raised portion on the first opposed edge of the belt adjacent to the second groove.
13. The shaft coupling of claim 1 and further comprising a ramped portion along the second opposed edge of the belt, the locating pin engaging the ramped portion on the second opposed edge of the belt with increased frictional engagement when the retaining ring is mounted around the belt and rotated with respect to the belt.
14. The shaft coupling of claim 13 and further comprising a recess portion on the ramped portion to receive and retain the locating pin when the retaining ring is mounted around the belt and rotated with respect to the belt.
15. A shaft coupling comprising:
first and second hubs, each having respective first and second faces;
first and second pluralities of jaws extending from the respective first and second faces, the jaws on the first face in parallel alignment with the jaws on the second face, the aligned jaws forming gaps between adjacent pairs of aligned jaws;
a split, flexible belt having opposed first and second edges, an inside and an outside surface and a width,
a plurality of spaced projections on the inside surface, each of the projections occupying one of the gaps,
a first groove on the outside surface of the belt extending from the first edge of the belt to the second edge,
a retaining ring mounted around the belt, the ring having interior and exterior surfaces and first and second opposed ring edges, the ring formed around a central axis;
a first locating pin on the ring adjacent to the first ring edge, the first locating pin protruding radially toward the central axis,
a second locating pin on the ring adjacent to the second ring edge, the second locating pin protruding radially toward the central axis;
the first locating pin received in the first groove as the retaining ring is slid over the belt from the first edge of the belt to the second opposed edge of the belt until the first locating pin exits the groove and is rotated out of engagement with the groove to a position on the second edge of the belt to secure the belt between the locating pins.
16. The coupling of claim 15 wherein the first and second locating pins are mounted on the ring at a distance slightly greater than the width of the belt whereby the belt is held securely between the locating pins.
17. The coupling of claim 15 and further comprising:
a second groove on the outside surface of the belt extending from the first edge of the belt to the second edge;
a third locating pin on the ring adjacent to the first ring edge protruding radially toward the central axis;
a fourth locating pin on the ring adjacent to the second ring edge, the fourth
locating pin protruding radially toward the central axis;
the first and third locating pins received in the first and second grooves respectively as the retaining ring is slid over the belt from the first edge of the belt to the second opposed edge of the belt until the first and third locating pins exit the first and second grooves and are rotated out of engagement with the grooves to a position on the second edge of the belt to secure the belt between the first and second locating pins and third and fourth locating pins.
18. The coupling of claim 17 and further comprising:
a third groove on the outside surface of the belt extending from the first edge of the belt to the second edge;
a fifth locating pin on the ring adjacent to the first ring edge protruding radially toward the central axis;
a sixth locating pin on the ring adjacent to the second ring edge, the sixth locating pin protruding radially toward the central axis;
the first, third and fifth locating pins received in the first, second and third grooves respectively as the retaining ring is slid over the belt from the first edge of the belt to the second opposed edge of the belt until the first, third and fifth locating pins exit the first, second and third grooves respectively and are rotated out of engagement with the grooves to a position on the second edge of the belt to secure
the belt between the first and second locating pins and third and fourth locating pins and fifth and sixth locating pins.
19. The shaft coupling of claim 15 and further comprising a raised portion on the second opposed edge of the belt adjacent to the first groove, the first locating pin pushed over the raised portion by rotating the retaining ring with respect to the belt after the retaining ring is mounted on the belt and the first locating pin exits the first groove at the second edge of the belt.
20. The shaft coupling of claim 19 and further comprising a second raised portion on the second opposed edge of the belt adjacent to the first groove, and opposite the first groove where the raised portion is located, the first locating pin pushed over either the raised portion or the second raised portion by rotating the retaining ring with respect to the belt after the retaining ring is mounted on the belt and the first locating pin exits the first groove and is positioned on the second opposed edge of the belt.
21. The shaft coupling of claim 17 and further comprising a raised portion and second raised portion on the second opposed edge of the belt adjacent to the second groove.
22. The shaft coupling of claim 17 and further comprising a raised portion and second raised portion on the first opposed edge of the belt adjacent to the second groove.
23. The shaft coupling of claim 15 and further comprising a raised portion and second raised portion on the first opposed edge of the belt adjacent to the first groove.
24. The shaft coupling of claim 15 and further comprising a ramped portion along the second opposed edge of the belt, the first locating pin engaging the ramped portion on the second opposed edge of the belt with increased frictional engagement when the retaining ring is mounted around the belt and rotated with respect to the belt.
25. A shaft coupling comprising:
first and second hubs, each having respective first and second faces;
first and second pluralities of jaws extending from the respective first and second faces, the jaws on the first face in parallel alignment with the jaws on the second face, the aligned jaws forming gaps between adjacent pairs of aligned jaws;
a plurality of cushions occupying the gaps between the adjacent pairs of jaws, the cushions having a first edge and a second edge;
a retaining ring adapted for mounting around the cushions, the retaining ring having interior and exterior surfaces and first and second opposed ring edges;
a locating pin protruding from the interior surface of the ring and adjacent to the first ring edge, the locating pin engaging the second edge of the cushion after the retaining ring is slid from the first edge of the cushion to the second edge of the cushion and rotated so that the locating pin is positioned on the second edge of the cushion to secure the retaining ring around the cushions.
26. The shaft coupling of claim 25 and further comprising at least one additional locating pin protruding from the interior surface of the ring and adjacent to the second opposite ring edge, the additional locating pin positioned against the first edge of the cushion after the retaining ring is slid over the cushion and the locating pin is positioned on the second edge of the cushion, whereby the cushion is secured between the locating pin and the additional locating pin when the retaining ring is mounted around the cushions.
27. The shaft coupling of claim 25 and further comprising a ramped portion along the second edge of the cushion, the locating pin engaging the ramped portion on the second edge of the cushion with increased frictional engagement when the retaining ring is mounted around the cushions and rotated with respect to the cushions.
28. The shaft coupling of claim 27 and further comprising a recess portion on the ramped portion to receive and retain the locating pin when the retaining ring is mounted around the cushions and rotated with respect to the cushions.
29. The shaft coupling of claim 27 and further comprising a second ramped portion along the first edge of the cushion, the additional locating pin engaging the second ramped portion on the first edge of the cushion with increased frictional engagement when the retaining ring is mounted around the cushions and rotated with respect to the cushions.
30. The shaft coupling of claim 29 and further comprising a recess portion on the second ramped portion to receive and retain the additional locating pin when the retaining ring is mounted around the cushions and rotated with respect to the cushions.