Liquid crystal integrated circuit and method to fabricate same

Abstract

A structure includes a first substrate having a first surface and a second substrate having a second surface facing the first surface; liquid crystal material disposed between the first and second surfaces; a first upstanding electrode disposed over the first surface and extending into the liquid crystal material towards the second surface; and a first planar electrode disposed upon the first surface and electrically connected with the first upstanding electrode. The first planar electrode at least partially surrounds the first upstanding electrode. A combination of the first upstanding electrode and the first planar electrode forms at least a portion of a pixel of a liquid crystal display. Various methods to fabricate the structure are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A structure comprising:
 a first substrate having a first surface and a second substrate having a second surface facing the first surface;   liquid crystal material disposed between the first and second surfaces;   a first upstanding electrode disposed over the first surface and extending into the liquid crystal material towards the second surface; and   a first planar electrode disposed upon the first surface and electrically connected with the first upstanding electrode, the first planar electrode at least partially surrounding the first upstanding electrode, where a combination of the first upstanding electrode and the first planar electrode forms at least a portion of a pixel of a liquid crystal display.   
     
     
         2 . The structure as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second upstanding electrode disposed over the second surface and extending into the liquid crystal material towards the first surface; and   a second planar electrode disposed upon the second surface and electrically connected with the second upstanding electrode, the second planar electrode at least partially surrounding the second upstanding electrode, where a combination of the second upstanding electrode and the second planar electrode, and the first upstanding electrode and the first planar electrode, forms at least a portion of the same pixel of the liquid crystal display.   
     
     
         3 . The structure as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second upstanding electrode disposed over the first surface and extending into the liquid crystal material towards the second surface; and   a second planar electrode disposed upon the first surface and electrically connected with the second upstanding electrode, the second planar electrode at least partially surrounding the second upstanding electrode, where a combination of the second upstanding electrode and the second planar electrode, and the first upstanding electrode and the first planar electrode, forms at least a portion of the same pixel of the liquid crystal display.   
     
     
         4 . The structure of  claim 1 , where at least one sidewall of the first upstanding electrode is disposed at other than 90° to the first surface. 
     
     
         5 . The structure of  claim 1 , where the first upstanding electrode is comprised of a non-electrically conducting core that is coated with an electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         6 . The structure of  claim 5 , where the first planar electrode is formed of the electrically conductive material and is continuous with the electrically conductive material that coats the core. 
     
     
         7 . The structure of  claim 1 , where the first upstanding electrode has a three dimensional shape configured to form a multi-domain liquid crystal display electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The structure of  claim 2 , where the first upstanding electrode is electrically biased to a first potential and where the second upstanding electrode is electrically biased to a common potential. 
     
     
         9 . The structure of  claim 3 , where the first upstanding electrode is electrically biased to a first potential and where the second upstanding electrode is electrically biased to a common potential. 
     
     
         10 . The structure of  claim 1 , where the first upstanding electrode comprises at least in part a substantially linear three dimensional shape and where the first planar electrode comprises at least in part a substantially linear shape that intersects the first upstanding electrode. 
     
     
         11 . The structure of  claim 1 , where the pixel of a liquid crystal display further comprises at least one auxiliary electrode disposed on the first surface. 
     
     
         12 . The structure of  claim 1 , where the first upstanding electrode and the first planar electrode are biased to a first potential, and further comprising a second planar electrode biased to a common potential, the second electrode being disposed beneath the first surface and separated from the first upstanding electrode and the first planar electrode by a layer of dielectric material. 
     
     
         13 . The structure of  claim 1 , where the first upstanding electrode and the first planar electrode are biased to a first potential, and further comprising a second planar electrode biased to a common potential, the second electrode being disposed over the second surface and separated from the first upstanding electrode and the first planar electrode by the liquid crystal material. 
     
     
         14 . The structure of  claim 1 , where the first upstanding electrode and the first planar electrode are biased to a first potential, and further comprising a second planar electrode biased to a variable potential, the second electrode being disposed over the second surface and separated from the first upstanding electrode and the first planar electrode by the liquid crystal material. 
     
     
         15 . The structure of  claim 1 , where the first upstanding electrode is comprised throughout of an electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         16 . The structure of  claim 1 , where the first upstanding electrode has a ratio of height to width of greater than 10.