JP2002023191A - Active matrix type liquid crystal display element - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce an active matrix type liquid crystal display element in size. SOLUTION: An active matrix substrate 1 and a counter substrate 2 are stuck to each other via a sealant 3 of an almost rectangular frame shape. The sealant 3 is arranged at the position where electrostatic protection elements 12, 13 and a short-circuit line 11 are overlapped. Therefore, the liquid crystal display element can be reduced in size compared with the case in which the sealant 3 is positioned outside the electrostatic protection elements 12, 13 and a short-circuit line 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an active matrix type liquid crystal display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An active matrix type liquid crystal display device is provided with a countermeasure against static electricity in order to prevent a thin film transistor (switching device) from being electrostatically damaged even if it comes into contact with a human body or another object charged with static electricity. There is something.

FIG. 5 shows an equivalent circuit transparent plan view of a part of such a conventional active matrix type liquid crystal display device. In this liquid crystal display element, an active matrix substrate 1 and a counter substrate 2 are bonded together via a substantially rectangular frame-shaped sealing material 3, and a liquid crystal (not shown) is provided between the two substrates 1 and 2 inside the sealing material 3. It consists of a sealed one. In this case, the right side and the lower side of the active matrix substrate 1 protrude from the counter substrate 2. Hereinafter, these protrusions are referred to as a right side protrusion 1a and a lower side protrusion 1b. Further, the sealing material 3 is arranged outside the display area 4 indicated by a dashed line.

The display area 4 on the active matrix substrate 1 includes a plurality of pixel electrodes 5 and these pixel electrodes 5.
Are connected in a matrix. A plurality of scanning lines 7 for supplying a scanning signal to the thin film transistor 6 are provided in the display region 4 on the active matrix substrate 1 and outside thereof so as to extend in the row direction. A plurality of data lines 8 for supplying signals are provided extending in the column direction.

In this case, the right end of the scanning line 7 extends to the inside of the semiconductor chip mounting area 9 indicated by a dotted line on the right side projection 1a of the active matrix substrate 1. The left end of the scanning line 7 is the active matrix substrate 1
Is extended to the left edge. The lower end of the data line 8 extends to the inside of the semiconductor chip mounting area 10 indicated by a dotted line on the lower side protrusion 1b of the active matrix substrate 1. The upper end of the data line 8 extends to the upper edge of the active matrix substrate 1.

Further, a ring-shaped short-circuit line 11 is provided outside the display area 4 on the active matrix substrate 1 and inside the area where the sealing material 3 is arranged. A plurality of electrostatic protection elements 12 are connected to the short-circuit line 11 and each scan line 7 on the right side of the left side and the left side of the right side of the short-circuit line 11 outside the display area 4 on the active matrix substrate 1. It is provided. In addition, a plurality of electrostatic protection elements 13 are connected to the short-circuit line 11 and the data lines 8 on the lower side of the upper side of the short-circuit line 11 and on the upper side of the lower side of the short-circuit line 11 outside the display area 4 on the active matrix substrate 1. They are connected and provided.

Next, a brief description will be given of measures against static electricity in this active matrix type liquid crystal display device. For example, when static electricity is externally charged on the upper end face or the left end face of the active matrix substrate 1, the electrostatic protection element 1
2 and 13 are conducted, and the short-circuit line 11, all the scanning lines 7 and all the data lines 8 have the same potential, thereby preventing the thin film transistor 6 from being electrostatically damaged.

Next, a specific structure of a part (the thin film transistor 6 and the electrostatic protection elements 12, 13) of the active matrix type liquid crystal display element will be described with reference to FIG. The thin film transistor 6 includes a gate electrode 21 provided on the upper surface of the active matrix substrate 1, a gate insulating film 22 provided on the upper surface, and a gate insulating film 2
2, a semiconductor thin film 23 made of intrinsic amorphous silicon, a blocking layer 24 provided at the center of the upper surface of the semiconductor thin film 23, and both upper surfaces of the blocking layer 24 and upper surfaces of the semiconductor thin films 23 on both sides thereof. Contact layers 25 and 26 made of n-type amorphous silicon, and a source electrode 27 and a drain electrode 28 provided on the upper surfaces of the contact layers 25 and 26. In this case, the source electrode 27 is
2 is connected to the pixel electrode 5 provided on the upper surface.

The electrostatic protection elements 12 and 13 include a semiconductor thin film 31 made of intrinsic amorphous silicon provided on the upper surface of the gate insulating film 22, a blocking layer 32 provided at the center of the upper surface of the semiconductor thin film 31, and a blocking layer. 32
Contact layers 33 and 34 made of n-type amorphous silicon provided on both sides of the upper surface of the semiconductor thin film 31 and on both sides thereof, and one connection electrode 35 and the other connection electrode provided on the upper surfaces of the contact layers 33 and 34 36. In this case, one connection electrode 35 is connected to the short-circuit line 11 and the other connection electrode 36 is connected to the scanning line 7 or the data line 8.

Next, another specific structure of the active matrix type liquid crystal display device will be described with reference to FIG. An alignment film 41 is provided on the active matrix substrate 1 so as to cover the pixel electrode 5, the data line 8, the electrostatic protection elements 12, 13 and the like inside the region where the sealing material 3 is arranged. On the lower surface of the counter substrate 2, a black mask 42, a color filter (not shown), a counter electrode 43, and an alignment film 44 are provided. Then, both substrates 1 and 2
Granular spacer 45 made of an inorganic material such as silica glass
Are bonded together via a sealing material 3 in which is mixed, and a liquid crystal 46 is sealed between them. In this case, both substrates 1,
A granular spacer 47 made of an organic material such as a resin is interposed between the second alignment films 41 and 44.

Here, the reason why the materials of the spacers 45 and 47 are different will be described. When the material of the spacer 47 interposed between the alignment films 41 and 44 is an inorganic material such as silica glass, the spacer 47 does not elastically deform. Therefore, when it is disposed on the thin film transistor 6 or the electrostatic protection elements 12 and 13, an external force is applied. The thin film transistor 6, the electrostatic protection elements 12, 1
3 may be crushed and destroyed. Therefore, the spacer 47 is formed of an elastically deformable organic material such as a resin. On the other hand, the spacers 45 mixed in the sealing material 3 form the thin film transistors 6 and the electrostatic protection element 1.
Since it is not arranged on the second and the 13th, it is formed of an inorganic material such as silica glass which does not elastically deform in order to further control the gap.

[0012]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional active matrix type liquid crystal display element, the electrostatic protection elements 12 and 1 are disposed between the display area 4 and the sealing material 3 arrangement area.
3 and the short-circuit line 11, the display area 4
There is a problem that the distance between the liquid crystal display element and the sealing material 3 arrangement region becomes large, and the size of the liquid crystal display element becomes large. An object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a liquid crystal display device.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of pixel electrodes and switching elements respectively connected to these pixel electrodes are provided in a matrix in a display area, and a plurality of switching elements are provided outside the display area. An active matrix substrate provided with a plurality of electrostatic protection elements connected to the switching elements, and a counter substrate provided with a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode are bonded together via a frame-shaped sealing material, In the active matrix type liquid crystal display element in which liquid crystal is sealed therebetween, the sealing material is provided at a position overlapping at least a part of the electrostatic protection element. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the sealing material is provided at a position overlapping all of the electrostatic protection elements. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the sealing material is provided at a position overlapping with a ring-shaped short-circuit line connected to all of the electrostatic protection elements. . According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a built-in switching element control circuit is connected to the switching element outside the display area of the active matrix substrate. Wherein the sealing material is provided at a position overlapping at least a part of the switching element control circuit section. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the display area, a plurality of pixel electrodes and switching elements respectively connected to the pixel electrodes are provided in a matrix, and a built-in switching element control circuit section is provided outside the display area. An active matrix substrate provided by being connected to the switching element, and a counter substrate provided with a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode are bonded via a frame-shaped sealing material,
In the active matrix type liquid crystal display element in which liquid crystal is sealed therebetween, the sealing material is provided at a position overlapping at least a part of the switching element control circuit. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth or fifth aspect, the sealing material is provided at a position overlapping with all of the switching element control circuit portions. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a sealing material in which no spacer is mixed is used. Claim 8
According to the invention described in Item 7, in the invention described in Item 7, a columnar or trapezoidal spacer is interposed between the two substrates inside the sealing material. According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the eighth aspect, the spacer is formed of an organic material such as a resin.
According to the first aspect of the invention, the size of the liquid crystal display element can be reduced because the sealing material is provided at a position overlapping at least a part of the electrostatic protection element. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the size of the liquid crystal display element can be reduced because the sealing material is provided at a position overlapping at least a part of the built-in switching element control circuit section.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a transmission plan view of a part of an active matrix type liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention in the form of an equivalent circuit. In this figure, for convenience of explanation, the same names as those in FIG. In this liquid crystal display element, an active matrix substrate 1 and a counter substrate 2 are bonded together via a substantially rectangular frame-shaped sealing material 3, and a liquid crystal (not shown) is provided between the two substrates 1 and 2 inside the sealing material 3. It consists of a sealed one. In this case, the right side and the lower side of the active matrix substrate 1 protrude from the counter substrate 2. Hereinafter, these protrusions are referred to as a right side protrusion 1a and a lower side protrusion 1b. Further, the sealing material 3 is arranged outside the display area 4 indicated by a dashed line.

The display area 4 on the active matrix substrate 1 has a plurality of pixel electrodes 5 and these pixel electrodes 5.
Are connected in a matrix. A plurality of scanning lines 7 for supplying a scanning signal to the thin film transistor 6 are provided in the display region 4 on the active matrix substrate 1 and outside thereof so as to extend in the row direction. A plurality of data lines 8 for supplying signals are provided extending in the column direction.

In this case, the right end of the scanning line 7 extends to the inside of the semiconductor chip mounting area 9 indicated by a dotted line on the right side protrusion 1a of the active matrix substrate 1. The left end of the scanning line 7 is the active matrix substrate 1
Is extended to the left edge. The lower end of the data line 8 extends to the inside of the semiconductor chip mounting area 10 indicated by a dotted line on the lower side protrusion 1b of the active matrix substrate 1. The upper end of the data line 8 extends to the upper edge of the active matrix substrate 1.

Further, a ring-shaped short-circuit line 11 is provided on the active matrix substrate 1 in a region where the seal material 3 is disposed.
Is provided. A plurality of electrostatic protection elements 12 are connected to the short-circuit line 11 and each scanning line 7 on the right side of the left side and the left side of the right side of the short-circuit line 11 in the seal material 3 arrangement region on the active matrix substrate 1. It is provided. A plurality of electrostatic protection elements 13 are connected to the short-circuit line 11 and each data line 8 on the lower side and the upper side of the upper side of the short-circuit line 11 in the sealing material 3 arrangement region on the active matrix substrate 1, respectively. They are connected and provided.

Next, a specific structure of a part of the active matrix type liquid crystal display device will be described with reference to FIG. In this figure also, for convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in FIG. In the active matrix substrate 1, the black mask 42
A columnar or trapezoidal spacer 47 made of an organic material such as a resin is provided on, for example, the data line 8 in a region corresponding to. The spacer 47 is formed by using a photolithography technique, and has a planar shape such as a circle, a polygon, or a string in a region other than a region corresponding to the thin film transistor 6, such as on the data line 8. It is formed. An alignment film 41 is provided on the active matrix substrate 1 inside the region where the sealant 3 is disposed so as to cover the pixel electrodes 5, the data lines 8, the spacers 47, and the like. A black mask 4 is provided on the lower surface of the opposite substrate 2.
2. A color filter (not shown), a counter electrode 43, and an alignment film 44 are provided.

The substrates 1 and 2 are bonded together via a sealing material 3 in which no spacer is mixed, and a liquid crystal 46 is sealed between them. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, the sealing material 3 (including the liquid crystal injection port 3 a thereof) is provided at a position overlapping all of the electrostatic protection elements 12 and 13 and the short-circuit line 11. I have. The upper surface of the alignment film 41 on the spacer 47 is in contact with the lower surface of the alignment film 44 of the counter substrate 2.

As described above, in this liquid crystal display element, since the sealing material 3 is provided at a position overlapping with all of the electrostatic protection elements 12 and 13 and the short-circuit line 11, the area where the sealing material 3 is arranged and the display area 4 are not provided. The interval can be made as small as possible, and the size of the liquid crystal display element can be reduced. In this case, since the spacer made of an inorganic material such as silica glass which does not elastically deform is not mixed in the sealing material 3, the electrostatic protection elements 12 and 13 are crushed and broken even when an external force is applied. There is no such thing.

On the other hand, the spacer 47 interposed between the two substrates 1 and 2 is formed of an organic material such as an elastically deformable resin, but has a columnar or trapezoidal shape. Difficult to elastically deform. For this reason, even if the spacer made of an inorganic material such as silica glass that does not elastically deform is not mixed in the sealing material 3, the gap can be more reliably controlled.

The sealing material 3 is provided on at least one of the four sides in FIG.
You may make it provide in the position which overlaps with 2 and 13 and the short circuit line 11. FIG. Even in this case, the size of the liquid crystal display element can be reduced as compared with the conventional case shown in FIG.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a part of an active matrix type liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention as an equivalent circuit, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a part thereof. It is a thing. In these drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate. In this liquid crystal display element, only the lower side of the active matrix substrate 1 protrudes from the counter substrate 2, and external connection terminals (not shown) are provided on the upper surface of the lower side protruding portion 1b. A scanning signal control circuit section 51 and a data signal control circuit section as built-in circuit sections for controlling the thin film transistor 6 are provided on the right side and the lower side in the region of the active matrix substrate 1 facing the counter substrate 2. 52 are provided.

Then, the sealing material 3 in which the spacer is not mixed (including the liquid crystal injection port 3a).
Is an electrostatic protection element 1 provided on the left side in FIG.
2. The electrostatic protection element 13 provided on the upper side, the scanning signal control circuit 51 provided on the right side, the data signal control circuit 52 provided on the lower side, and the short-circuit line 11 I have. Although not shown, similar to the case shown in FIG. 2, in a region corresponding to the black mask 42, for example, on the data line 8, a prism, a column, or a wall made of an organic material such as resin is formed. A spacer is provided.

As described above, in this liquid crystal display element, since the sealing member 3 is provided at a position overlapping the built-in scanning signal control circuit section 51 and the data signal control circuit section 52, the built-in scanning signal control circuit section is provided. 51 and the data signal control circuit 52 are provided outside the sealing material 3,
The size of the liquid crystal display device can be reduced.

The sealing material 3 may be provided at a position overlapping the electrostatic protection element 12 provided on the right side and the electrostatic protection element 13 provided on the lower side in FIG. Further, the sealing material 3 is provided with a scanning signal control circuit unit 51.
And the data signal control circuit section 52.

In each of the above embodiments, the short-circuit line 1
Although the case where the electrostatic protection elements 12 and 13 are provided inside 1 has been described, the invention is not limited thereto, and the electrostatic protection elements 12 and 13 may be provided outside the short-circuit line 11. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the capacitive type as shown in FIG. 6 is used as the electrostatic protection elements 12 and 13 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. You may. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the thin film transistor is used as the switching element has been described.
An element, a MOS transistor, a diode, a varistor, or the like may be used.

[0028]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the size of the liquid crystal display element is reduced because the sealing material is provided at a position overlapping at least a part of the electrostatic protection element. be able to. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the size of the liquid crystal display element can be reduced because the sealing material is provided at a position overlapping at least a part of the built-in switching element control circuit section.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an equivalent circuit transparent plan view of a part of an active matrix liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the active matrix type liquid crystal display device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an equivalent circuit transparent plan view of a part of an active matrix type liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a part of the active matrix type liquid crystal display element shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an equivalent circuit transmission plan view of a part of a conventional active matrix type liquid crystal display element.

6 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the active matrix type liquid crystal display device shown in FIG.

7 is a sectional view of another part of the active matrix type liquid crystal display element shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Active matrix substrate 2 Counter substrate 3 Sealing material 4 Display area 5 Pixel electrode 6 Thin film transistor 7 Scan line 8 Data line 11 Short circuit line 12, 13 Electrostatic protection element 51 Scan signal control circuit part 52 Data signal control circuit part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H089 LA09 LA13 MA01X MA04X NA14 NA24 PA06 QA04 QA11 TA02 TA09 2H092 GA33 GA34 GA44 JA24 JB79 NA14 NA25 PA03 PA04 5C094 AA15 AA31 BA03 BA43 CA19 EA04 EA07 EB05 5G435 AA16 A12 CC

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of pixel electrodes and switching elements respectively connected to these pixel electrodes are provided in a display area in a matrix, and a plurality of electrostatic protection elements are respectively connected to the switching elements outside the display area. An active matrix type liquid crystal display element in which an active matrix substrate provided and a counter substrate provided with a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode are bonded via a frame-shaped sealing material, and a liquid crystal is sealed therebetween. 3. The active matrix liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material is provided at a position overlapping at least a part of the electrostatic protection element. 2. The active matrix type liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material is provided at a position overlapping all of the electrostatic protection elements. 3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material is provided at a position overlapping a ring-shaped short-circuit line connected to all of the electrostatic protection elements. Active matrix liquid crystal display device. 4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein a built-in switching element control circuit is provided outside the display area of the active matrix substrate so as to be connected to the switching element. An active matrix type liquid crystal display element, wherein a sealing material is provided at a position overlapping at least a part of the switching element control circuit section. 5. A display area in which a plurality of pixel electrodes and switching elements respectively connected to the pixel electrodes are provided in a matrix, and a built-in switching element control circuit portion outside the display area is provided in the switching element. An active matrix type liquid crystal display in which a connected active matrix substrate and a counter substrate provided with a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode are bonded via a frame-shaped sealing material, and a liquid crystal is sealed therebetween. An active matrix liquid crystal display element, wherein the sealing material is provided at a position overlapping at least a part of the switching element control circuit section. 6. The active matrix type liquid crystal display element according to claim 4, wherein the sealing material is provided at a position overlapping with all of the switching element control circuit sections. 7. The active matrix type liquid crystal display element according to claim 1, wherein no spacer is mixed in the sealing material. 8. The active matrix type liquid crystal display device according to claim 7, wherein a columnar or trapezoidal spacer is interposed between the two substrates inside the sealing material. 9. The active matrix liquid crystal display device according to claim 8, wherein the spacer is made of an organic material such as a resin.