JP2000338503A - Liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make joinable a pair of substrates with a desired gap and with good accuracy without requiring high pressurizing force and to make obtainable an enough pressure resistance. SOLUTION: When a spacer body 20 consisting of first and second columnar spacers 21, 22 is formed corresponding to a black matrix 8 in a space between a pair of glass substrates 1, 2 where a liquid crystal is to be sealed, the second columnar spacers 22 are formed to have a smaller cross section than that of the first columnar spacers 21 and to be higher than first columnar spacers 21. Therefore, when the pair of glass substrates 1, 2 is pressurized with the spacer body 20 therebetween, the second columnar spacers 2 are deformed to almost same height as that of the first columnar spacers 21 so that the pair of glass substrates 1, 2 can be joined with a desired gap with good accuracy without requiring high pressing force. Since both of the first and second columnar spacers 21, 22 support the pair of glass substrates 1, 2 in the joined state, sufficient pressure resistance can be maintained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, in a liquid crystal display device, if the liquid crystal layer sealed between a pair of glass substrates has a thickness unevenness, display unevenness occurs and visibility deteriorates. Of the liquid crystal layer must be kept constant by keeping the distance between them uniform. As such a liquid crystal display element,
For example, there is a device in which bead-shaped spacers are scattered between a pair of glass substrates, and the scattered bead-shaped spacers maintain a predetermined interval between the pair of glass substrates. However, in this liquid crystal display device, it is necessary to disperse the bead-like spacers uniformly and uniformly. However, since the bead-like spacers tend to be in a cluster state and are unstable, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is disturbed and the display is defective. In addition to the above, there are problems such as easy occurrence of insufficient pressure resistance.

[0003] As a liquid crystal display element which has solved such a problem, there has been proposed a liquid crystal display element in which a columnar spacer is formed between a pair of glass substrates, and the pair of glass substrates is maintained at a predetermined distance by the columnar spacer. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example. This liquid crystal display element is of an active type for displaying a color image, and includes a pair of transparent glass substrates 1 and 2. The pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 are arranged so as to face up and down. In this case, transparent pixel electrodes 3 made of ITO or the like are arrayed and formed in the row direction and the column direction on the opposing surface (the upper surface in the figure) of the lower glass substrate 2. ,
Each TFT (thin film transistor) 4 is a pixel electrode 3
And each TF
A wiring portion 5 such as a gate line and a drain line of T4 is formed. A transparent plate 6 is provided on the lower surface of the lower glass substrate 2, and a TFT is provided on the upper surface of the transparent plate 6.
4 and a light-shielding portion 7 corresponding to the wiring portion 5 are formed.

[0004] A black matrix 8 and a color filter 9 are formed on the opposing surface (the lower surface in the figure) of the upper glass substrate 1. Black matrix 8 is
It is made of a metal such as chrome, and is provided corresponding to the pixel electrodes 3 with a predetermined line width in order to prevent malfunction of the TFT 4 and reflection by the wiring portion 5 between the pixel electrodes 3. The color filter 9 includes red, green, and blue filter units 9.
R, 9G, and 9B are alternately arranged. Each of the filter sections 9R, 9G, and 9B corresponds to the pixel electrode 3, and the boundary between the filter sections 9R, 9G, and 9B adjacent to each other is the black matrix 8. It is formed so as to be located on the line width. Note that a transparent common electrode 10 such as ITO is formed on the lower surface of the color filter 9.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 13, a columnar spacer 11 is provided between the opposing surfaces of the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 where the common electrode 10 and the pixel electrode 3 oppose each other.
And between the pixel electrodes 3. And
The pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 are joined at a predetermined distance C by a columnar spacer 11, and a liquid crystal 12 is provided between the opposing surfaces of the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 by a sealing material (not shown). It is sealed. Thus, a liquid crystal display element is configured. In such a liquid crystal display device, when the columnar spacer 11 is formed, for example, the lower glass substrate 2 of the pair of upper and lower glass substrates 1 and 2 is used.
A spacer material such as a photosensitive resin is applied to cover the pixel electrode 3, the TFT 4, and the wiring portion 5 formed on the upper surface of the
By exposing and developing this spacer material, a columnar spacer 11 is formed between the black matrix 8 and the corresponding pixel electrode 3.

[0006]

However, in such a liquid crystal display element, the columnar spacer 11 is formed by applying a spacer material on the surface of the glass substrate 2 and patterning the spacer material. The height of the columnar spacer 11 is determined by the thickness of the applied columnar film, and there is a concern that the accuracy of the height of the columnar spacer 11 may adversely affect display quality. Therefore, the columnar spacer 11
It is necessary to bond the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 by pressing the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 so that the desired interval C is obtained between the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2. However, at this time, since the upper end surface of the columnar spacer 11 is in surface contact with the opposing surface (the lower surface in FIG. 13) of the upper glass substrate 1 and the hardness of the columnar spacer 11 is also high, each columnar spacer is normally pressed under normal pressing conditions. 11 hardly deforms and the columnar spacer 1
The height accuracy (film thickness accuracy) of 1 is the distance accuracy between the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2, and the desired glass substrates 1, 2
There is a problem that the interval C between them cannot be obtained.

For example, in the case of a liquid crystal display element in which the number of pixels is 960 × 240, the pixel pitch is 115 × 345 μm, and the distance C between the glass substrates 1 and 2 is 5.5 μm, if a columnar spacer 11 is formed for each pixel, The density of the columnar spacers 11 becomes about 21.3 (pieces / mm ² ). Therefore, in order to obtain a sufficient withstand voltage with this liquid crystal display element, the cross-sectional area of the columnar spacer 11 must be about 100 μm ² (the length of one side is 10 μm
Square) or more. Here, the cross-sectional area is about 100
In [mu] m ^2, when the height was formed columnar spacers 11 of 5.5μm for each pixel, between the glass substrates 1 and 2 in consideration of the influence of the height precision of the columnar spacer 11 (about ± 0.15 [mu] m) In order to improve the spacing accuracy, it is necessary to press the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 to deform the columnar spacer 11, but the pressure at the time of pressing shows the relationship between the press sealing pressure and the density of the columnar spacer. FIG. 14A and FIG. 1 showing the relationship between the press sealing pressure and the cross-sectional area of the columnar spacer.
As shown in FIG. 4B, about 1.2 (Kgf / cm ² ) is required, and it is difficult to apply such a large amount of pressure in the actual production process.
It is difficult to get. If the density and the cross-sectional area of the columnar spacer 11 are reduced in order to reduce the pressure at the time of pressing, a sufficient withstand voltage cannot be obtained.

An object of the present invention is to enable a pair of substrates to be bonded at a desired interval with high accuracy without requiring a high pressing force, and to ensure a sufficient withstand voltage.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a spacer body composed of a plurality of columnar spacers having different heights is provided at a predetermined position between a pair of transparent substrates in which liquid crystal is sealed, and via these spacer bodies. By pressing the pair of substrates, the tall column spacers among the plurality of column spacers are deformed to join the pair of substrates. According to the present invention, when pressing a pair of substrates via the spacer body, only the tall columnar spacer is deformed, so that the pair of substrates is accurately joined at a desired interval without requiring a high pressing force. In the joined state, the deformed columnar spacer and the low columnar spacer both support a pair of substrates, so that a sufficient withstand voltage can be secured.

In this case, as in claim 2, the spacer body includes a first columnar spacer and a second columnar spacer, wherein the second columnar spacer is lower than the withstand voltage of the first columnar spacer. In addition, since the first columnar spacers are formed higher than the first columnar spacers, the second columnar spacers having a low withstand voltage can be easily brought to almost the same height as the first columnar spacers when a pair of substrates is pressed through the spacer body. It can be deformed, so that a pair of substrates can be accurately joined at a desired interval without requiring a high pressing force, and in the joined state, the first and second columnar spacers both support the pair of substrates, A sufficient pressure resistance can be ensured. In particular, since the second columnar spacer is formed to have a smaller cross-sectional area than the first columnar spacer, the first and second columnar spacers having different withstand voltages can be easily formed. be able to.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a large number of pixel electrodes and a wiring portion located between the pixel electrodes are formed on an opposing surface of one of the pair of substrates,
The first columnar spacer is formed corresponding to the vicinity of the wiring portion between the pixel electrodes, and the second columnar spacer is formed corresponding to the wiring portion, so that the first and second columnar spacers are formed. By forming a spacer material on the opposing surface of one substrate and patterning, the first and second columnar spacers can be formed at one time, and the second columnar spacers correspond to the wiring portions. Accordingly, the second columnar spacer having a low withstand voltage can be formed higher than the first columnar spacer by the thickness of the wiring portion.

Further, as set forth in claim 5, a color filter comprising a plurality of color filter portions having different film thicknesses for each color is provided on an opposing surface of one of the pair of substrates, The spacer body is a set of the columnar spacers having the same film thickness corresponding to each of the filter portions, and the filter portions having different thicknesses for each color are set as one set,
Since a plurality of columnar spacers are formed corresponding to the set of filter portions, respectively, the height of the set of columnar spacers of the spacer body from the substrate surface is set in accordance with the thickness of the filter portion of each color. Therefore, when pressing a pair of substrates through these columnar spacers, a high pressing force is required because the density of the columnar spacer having the highest height from the substrate surface is lower than the density of the entire columnar spacers. Instead, the columnar spacers can be deformed in order from the one having the highest height from the substrate surface, whereby the pair of substrates can be accurately joined at a desired interval. Therefore, sufficient pressure resistance can be secured.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those of the liquid crystal display element shown in FIG. 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a state before pressurization of the liquid crystal display element. This liquid crystal display element includes a pair of glass substrates 1 and 2
The configuration is the same as that of the conventional example except that a spacer body 20 is provided between them. That is, the spacer body 20
Is composed of a first columnar spacer 21 and a second columnar spacer 22 and is formed at a predetermined position between the pixel electrodes 3 on the lower glass substrate 2 corresponding to the black matrix 8 of the upper glass substrate 1.

The first columnar spacer 21 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in (1), the cross-sectional shape is substantially L-shaped, and the height is formed to be the same length (for example, 5.5 μm) as the desired distance C between the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2. The second columnar spacer 22 is formed at a position close to the L-shaped notch of the first columnar spacer 21, has a square cross-sectional shape, and has a height that is 0.1 mm higher than that of the first columnar spacer 21. It is formed about 3 μm higher. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3A, the second columnar spacer 22 has, for example, a length of each side of about 5 μm and a cross-sectional area of 25 μm.
It is formed to about μm ² . In addition, the first columnar spacers 21 each have a vertical and horizontal long side length of 1 in an L-shaped cross section.
At about 0 .mu.m, first, the gap of the second columnar spacers 21 and 22 for example, to 2μm or so, the cross-sectional area is about ² 51 [mu] m, larger cross sectional area than the second columnar spacers 22, and the second columnar spacer 22 It is formed with a higher breakdown voltage.

The first and second columnar spacers 21,
In the case of forming the spacer body 20 composed of the spacer 22, for example, a spacer material such as a photosensitive resin is used to cover the pixel electrode 3, the TFT 4, and the wiring portion 5 formed on the upper surface of the lower glass substrate 2. The first columnar spacer 21 is applied between the pixel electrodes 3 corresponding to the black matrix 8 by applying the same thickness (for example, 5.5 μm) as the height of the columnar spacer 21 and exposing and developing the spacer material. It is formed at a predetermined location. Thereafter, a spacer material such as a photosensitive resin is applied again with the same thickness (for example, 5.8 μm) as the height of the second columnar spacer 22, and the spacer material is exposed and developed to thereby form the second columnar spacer. 22 is formed at a position close to the first columnar spacer 21.

In such a liquid crystal display device, the first and second
When a pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 are arranged vertically facing each other via a spacer body 20 composed of the columnar spacers 21 and 22, the height of the second columnar spacer 22 is increased.
1, only the second columnar spacers 22 come into contact with the common electrode 10 of the upper glass substrate 1 as shown in FIG. In this state, a pair of glass substrates 1 and 2
In the case of bonding by pressing, as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 are arranged between a fixed plate 23a and a pressing plate 23b of a pressing device 23, and pressed at a predetermined pressure. As shown in FIG. 5, the second columnar spacer 22 is deformed and joined to substantially the same height as the first columnar spacer 21.

At this time, since the sectional area of the second columnar spacer 22 is about 25 μm ² , the pressure required for pressurization is about 0.3 (Kgf / cm ² ) as shown in FIG. The pressure is sufficiently lower than in the case of the columnar spacer 11 having a cross section of 100 μm ² . For this reason, the second columnar spacer 22 can be easily deformed even with the current press device 23, and the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 can be accurately joined to a desired interval C without requiring a high pressing force. Further, when the second columnar spacer 22 is deformed and becomes substantially the same height as the first columnar spacer 21, the first,
Since the second columnar spacers 21 and 22 both support the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2, the withstand voltage is increased, and a sufficient withstand voltage can be secured.

In the first embodiment, the first columnar spacer 21 has an L-shaped cross section. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cross section may have any shape. Is larger than the second columnar spacer 22 and the breakdown voltage of the first columnar spacer 21 is higher than that of the second columnar spacer 22. In the first embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the second columnar spacer 22 is formed smaller than that of the first columnar spacer 21, and the withstand voltage of the second columnar spacer 22 is formed lower than that of the first columnar spacer 21. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the second columnar spacer 22 may be formed of a material having a larger elastic coefficient than the first columnar spacer 21 so that the second columnar spacer 22 has a structure more easily deformable than the first columnar spacer 21. good. In this way, the first,
It is not necessary to make the cross-sectional areas of the second columnar spacers 21 and 22 different, and even if they are formed with the same cross-sectional area, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Also in this case, the same portions as those of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. This liquid crystal display element has a configuration in which a spacer body 30 is provided between a pair of glass substrates 1 and 2, and has the same configuration as the conventional example except for this. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the spacer body 30 includes a first columnar spacer 31 and a second columnar spacer 32, and is formed at a predetermined position between the pixel electrodes 3 on the lower glass substrate 2. . In this case, on the upper surface of the lower glass substrate 2 located between the pixel electrodes 3, a wiring portion 5 is formed with a thickness of about 0.3 μm, and the wiring portion 5 is covered with an insulating film 33. I have.

The first columnar spacer 31 is formed on the insulating film 33 corresponding to the vicinity (left side in FIG. 7) of the wiring section 5 between the pixel electrodes 3 of the lower glass substrate 2,
The columnar spacer 32 is formed on the pixel electrode 3 of the lower glass substrate 2.
The first columnar spacer 31 is formed on the insulating film 33 corresponding to the wiring portion 5 therebetween. For this reason, the height of the second columnar spacer 32 from the upper surface of the glass substrate 2 is higher than that of the first columnar spacer 31 by the thickness of the wiring portion 5 (about 0.3 μm). In this case, the first and second
The columnar spacers 31 and 32 are formed to have the same thickness (height from the insulating film 33) as the desired distance C between the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2, respectively. Further, the first columnar spacer 31 is formed in the shape of a prism having substantially the same cross-sectional area as in the first embodiment, and the second columnar spacer 32 is
It is formed in the shape of a prism having substantially the same sectional area as that of the first embodiment. Thus, the second columnar spacer 32 is formed to have a smaller cross-sectional area than the first columnar spacer 31 and has a lower withstand voltage than the first columnar spacer 31.

When such a spacer body 30 is formed, the pixel electrode 3 and the TFT are formed on the upper surface of the lower glass substrate 2.
4 and the wiring portion 5 are formed, an insulating film 33 is formed, and a spacer material 34 made of a photosensitive resin is applied on the insulating film 33 to a thickness of, for example, about 5.5 μm. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the insulating film 33 corresponding to the wiring portion 5 is formed.
The upper spacer material 34 corresponds to the adjacent spacer material 34.
It is formed to be raised by the thickness of the wiring portion 5 (about 0.3 μm). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10, a photomask 35 is disposed above the spacer material 34. The photomask 35 is provided with a first light transmitting portion 35 a corresponding to the first columnar spacer 31 and a second light transmitting portion 35 b corresponding to the second columnar spacer 32. And the first
The light transmitting part 35a is made to correspond to the spacer material 34 corresponding to the vicinity of the left side of the wiring part 5, and the second light transmitting part 35b is made to correspond to the spacer material 34 corresponding to the wiring part 5.

In this state, when the spacer material 34 is exposed and developed through the photomask 35, the first and second columnar spacers 31 and 32 are formed at a time as shown in FIG. At this time, the first columnar spacer 31 is located between the pixel electrodes 3 and the insulating film 33 corresponding to the vicinity of the left side of the wiring portion 5.
Since the second columnar spacer 32 is formed on the insulating film 33 corresponding to the wiring section 5, the second columnar spacer 32 is formed to be higher than the first columnar spacer 31 by the thickness of the wiring section 5. Since the first and second columnar spacers 31 and 32 are formed at one time, the manufacturing process can be simplified.

In such a liquid crystal display device, the first and second
When a pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 are arranged vertically facing each other via a spacer body 30 composed of the columnar spacers 31 and 32, the height of the second columnar spacer 32 from the upper surface of the glass substrate 2 is increased. As shown in FIG. 8, the second columnar spacer 32 is
Abuts on the color filter 9 via the common electrode (not shown). In this state, a pair of glass substrates 1
When the pressure of 2 is increased, only the second columnar spacer 32 having a small cross-sectional area and a low withstand voltage is deformed to almost the same height as the first columnar spacer 31 as in the first embodiment. Of the desired distance C between the glass substrates 1 and 2
Can be joined with high accuracy. Further, when the second columnar spacer 32 is deformed and becomes approximately the same height as the first columnar spacer 31, both the first and second columnar spacers 31, 32 support the pair of glass substrates 1, 2, so that sufficient pressure resistance is obtained. Can be secured.

In the first and second embodiments, the spacer body 20 or 30 composed of the first and second columnar spacers 21, 22 or 31, 32 is formed in correspondence with each pixel. However, the density of the spacer body may be reduced depending on the number of pixels and the pixel size as long as the first and second columnar spacers have a cross-sectional area capable of securing a sufficient withstand voltage.

[Third Embodiment] Next, FIGS.
A third embodiment of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Also in this case, the same portions as those of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. This liquid crystal display element includes a pair of glass substrates 1,
2 has a structure in which a spacer body 41 is provided corresponding to the color filter 40 of the upper glass substrate 1, and the other structure is the same as that of the conventional example.

In this case, the color filter 40 is arranged as shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the red, green, and blue filter sections 40R, 40R
G and 40B are alternately arranged, and each of these filter sections 40R, 40G and 40B corresponds to the pixel electrode 3,
Further, the boundary portions adjacent to each other of the filter portions 40R, 40G, and 40B are formed so as to be located on the line width of the black matrix 8. Also, this color filter 4
0 is formed such that the film thickness of each of the filter portions 40R, 40G, and 40B differs by about 0.1 μm for each color.
For example, the thickness of the red filter portion 40R is about 1.5 μm, which is the thickest, and the thickness of the green filter portion 40G is 1.4.
The thickness is about 2 μm, which is the next thickest, and the thickness of the blue filter section 40B is about 1.3 μm, which is the thinnest. Note that a transparent common electrode (not shown) such as ITO is formed on the lower surface of the color filter 40.

The spacer body 41 is formed of a black matrix 8
The same film thickness (for example, 5.D) is applied to each of the filter sections 40R, 40G, and 40B corresponding to.
Of the columnar spacers 42 to 44 formed with a thickness of about 5 μm).
G, 40B as one set, and one set of filter units 40R,
It comprises first to third columnar spacers 42 to 44 formed corresponding to 40G and 40B, respectively. For example, the first columnar spacer 42 is formed corresponding to the red filter portion 40R having the thickest film thickness, the height from the lower surface of the glass substrate 1 is the highest, and the second columnar spacer 4R is formed.
3 is formed corresponding to the green filter portion 40G having the next largest thickness, and the height from the lower surface of the glass substrate 1 is lower than the first columnar spacer 42 by the difference in thickness (about 0.1 μm). Further, the third columnar spacer 44 is formed corresponding to the blue filter portion 40B having the thinnest film thickness, and the height from the lower surface of the glass substrate 1 is smaller than that of the first columnar spacer 42. It is formed lower by a difference (about 0.2 μm). Further, the first and second columnar spacers 42 to
The cross-sectional area of each is about 100 μm ² and is formed in the same size.

In such a liquid crystal display device, as in the second embodiment, a spacer material having a uniform film thickness is applied to the surface of the color filter 40, and the spacer material is exposed and developed, so that the same film thickness is obtained. First to third columnar spacers 42
To 44 can be formed at one time. When the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 are pressed and joined via the spacer body 41 including the first to third columnar spacers 42 to 44, the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 are vertically opposed. When placed, of the spacer body 41,
Only the first columnar spacer 42 having the highest height from the lower surface of the upper glass substrate 1 abuts on the lower glass substrate 2.
The first columnar spacers 42 to 44 have the first density
Since the density of the columnar spacers 42 is １ ／, the first columnar spacers 42 can be easily deformed to the same height as the second columnar spacers 43. After this, the first and second
When the columnar spacers 42 and 43 are pressurized, these first,
The density of the second columnar spacers 42 and 43 is 2 /
Since it is as small as 3, the first and second columnar spacers 42 and 43 can be deformed together, whereby the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 can be accurately joined to a desired interval C without requiring a high pressing force. be able to. Further, when the first and second columnar spacers 42 and 43 are deformed to have substantially the same height as the third columnar spacer 44, the first to third columnar spacers 42 to 43 are formed.
Since both 44 support the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2, a sufficient pressure resistance can be secured.

For example, in the case of a liquid crystal display device in which the number of pixels is 960 × 240, the pixel pitch is 115 × 345 μm, and the distance C between the glass substrates 1 and 2 is 5.5 μm, the cross-sectional area of each pixel is about 100 μm ² . When the first to third columnar spacers 42 to 44 having a thickness of about 5.5 μm are formed,
The overall density of the third columnar spacers 42 to 44 is 21.3 (pieces / mm ² ). These first to third columnar spacers 42
When the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 are pressed through through 44, first, only the first columnar spacer 42 corresponding to the red filter portion 40R having the largest film thickness contacts the lower glass substrate 2. , So that the density is 1 /
3 of about 7 (pieces / mm ^2), and the pressure at which these first columnar spacer 42 is 0.1μm deformed, as shown in FIG. 12, because it is about 0.25 (Kgf / cm ^2), The first columnar spacer 42 can be easily deformed without requiring a high pressing force.

Then, the first columnar spacer 42 is deformed and the second columnar spacer 42G corresponding to the green filter portion 40G having the next thicker film thickness is formed.
At the same height as the columnar spacers 43, both the first columnar spacers 42 and the second columnar spacers 43 contact the lower glass substrate 2, so that the density is about 14 (pieces / piece) of 2/3 of the entire density. mm ² ), and the pressure at which the first and second columnar spacers 42 and 43 are deformed by 0.1 μm is
As shown in the figure, since it is about 0.5 (Kgf / cm ² ), the first and second columnar spacers 42 and 43 can be deformed at this time without requiring a high pressing force. Thus, the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 can be accurately joined at a desired distance C. In addition, the first and second
When the columnar spacers 42 and 43 are deformed to have substantially the same height as the third columnar spacers 44 of the blue filter portion 40B having the thinnest film thickness, the first to third columnar spacers 42 to 44 are both paired with the pair of glass substrates 1. , 2 and their density is about 21 (pieces / mm ² ).
As shown in the figure, the pressure at which the third columnar spacers 42 to 44 are deformed by 0.1 μm is 1.3 (Kgf / c).
m ² ), which makes it possible to secure a sufficient withstand voltage.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, a spacer composed of a plurality of columnar spacers having different heights is provided at a predetermined position between a pair of transparent substrates in which liquid crystal is sealed. When joining a pair of substrates by pressing them through the body, only the high columnar spacers are deformed, so that the pair of substrates can be joined at a desired interval accurately without the need for a high pressing force, and the joining can be performed. In this state, both the deformed columnar spacer and the columnar spacer having a low height support the pair of substrates, so that a sufficient withstand voltage can be secured.

In this case, the spacer body comprises a first columnar spacer and a second columnar spacer, and the second columnar spacer is
When the pair of substrates is pressurized via the spacer body, the second columnar spacer having a low withstand voltage is formed by the first columnar spacer being formed to be lower than the withstand voltage of the first columnar spacer and higher than the height of the first columnar spacer. It can be easily deformed to almost the same height as the columnar spacer, so that a pair of substrates can be accurately joined at a desired interval without requiring a high pressing force, and the first and second columnar spacers can be joined in the joined state. Since both support a pair of substrates, a sufficient withstand voltage can be secured.

Further, a large number of pixel electrodes and wiring portions located between the pixel electrodes are formed on the surface of one of the pair of substrates facing the one substrate, and the first columnar spacer is provided near the wiring portion between the pixel electrodes. Since the second columnar spacers are formed corresponding to the wiring portions, when forming the first and second columnar spacers, a spacer material is applied to the opposing surface of one of the substrates and patterned. Accordingly, the first and second columnar spacers can be formed at one time, and the second columnar spacer having a low withstand voltage can be formed in the wiring section by forming the second columnar spacer corresponding to the wiring section. Only the first columnar spacer can be formed higher.

Further, a color filter composed of a plurality of color filter portions having different thicknesses for each color is provided on the opposite surface of one of the pair of substrates, and the same thickness is provided for each filter portion. Of the formed columnar spacers, the spacer body includes a plurality of columnar spacers formed corresponding to the one set of filter portions having a different thickness for each color. The height of the plurality of columnar spacers from the substrate surface varies depending on the film thickness of the filter portion, and when a pair of substrates is pressed through these columnar spacers, the density of the columnar spacers having the highest height from the substrate surface is increased. Is lower than the overall density of the plurality of columnar spacers, so that the columnar spacers, which are higher in height from the substrate surface, can be sequentially deformed without requiring a high pressing force. The be accurately bonded to the desired spacing, and since a plurality of columnar spacers while bonding support together the pair of substrates, it is possible to ensure a sufficient breakdown voltage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a state before pressurization in a first embodiment of a liquid crystal display device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the spacer body of FIG. 1;

3A and 3B show the spacer body of FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 3A is a plan view thereof and FIG. 3B is a front view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the liquid crystal display element of FIG. 1 is set in a press device.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state where a liquid crystal display element is pressed by the press device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view showing the cross-sectional areas of first and second columnar spacers of the spacer body in FIG. 5 and characteristics of compression deformation.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part when a spacer body is provided between pixel electrodes of a lower glass substrate in a second embodiment of the liquid crystal display element of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part when a pair of glass substrates are vertically arranged to face each other via a spacer body of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part in a state where a spacer material is applied on the lower glass substrate of FIG. 7;

10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state where the spacer material shown in FIG. 9 is exposed through a photomask.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part when a spacer body is provided on a color filter of an upper glass substrate in a third embodiment of the liquid crystal display element of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a relationship between densities of first to third columnar spacers in FIG. 11 and compressive deformation.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display element using a conventional columnar spacer.

14 shows withstand voltage characteristics of the columnar spacer of FIG. 13,
(A) is a diagram showing the relationship between the press sealing pressure and the density of the columnar spacer, and (b) is a diagram showing the relationship between the press sealing pressure and the cross-sectional area of the columnar spacer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper glass substrate 2 Lower glass substrate 3 Pixel electrode 5 Wiring part 8 Black matrix 20, 30, 41 Spacer body 21, 31 First columnar spacer 22, 32 Second columnar spacer 23 Press device 34 Spacer material 35 Photomask Reference Signs List 40 color filter 40R, 40G, 40B filter part 42-44 first-third columnar spacer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of columnar spacers having different heights are provided at predetermined positions between a pair of transparent substrates in which liquid crystal is sealed, and the pair of substrates are pressed through the spacers. A liquid crystal display device characterized in that, of the plurality of columnar spacers, a columnar spacer having a high height is deformed to join the pair of substrates. 2. The spacer body comprises a first columnar spacer and a second columnar spacer, wherein the second columnar spacer is
Lower than the withstand voltage of the first columnar spacer;
2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the height of the columnar spacer is higher than the height of the columnar spacer. 3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein the second columnar spacer is formed to have a smaller sectional area than the first columnar spacer. 4. A plurality of pixel electrodes and a wiring portion located between the pixel electrodes are formed on an opposite surface of one of the pair of substrates, and the first columnar spacer is provided between the pixel electrodes. 4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein the second columnar spacer is formed corresponding to the wiring portion, and the second columnar spacer is formed corresponding to the wiring portion. 5. A color filter comprising a plurality of color filters having different thicknesses for respective colors is provided on a surface of one of said pair of substrates opposite to one of said substrates. And a plurality of columnar spacers formed corresponding to the set of filter portions, each of which has a different thickness for each color among the columnar spacers formed with the same film thickness. 2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, comprising: