JP2002303862A - Liquid crystal display element and image display device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display element which is excellent in optical characteristics and satisfactorily connected to an external circuit and to provide an image display device using the same. SOLUTION: In the liquid crystal display element provided with a rugged layer 2, a reflection layer 3 and a connection terminal part 16, the rugged layer 2 and the reflection layer 3 are disposed so as not to be in contact with a liquid crystal layer 9 and the connection terminal part 16 is not superposed on the rugged layer 2 and the reflection layer 3 in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and an image display device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid spread of information communication devices such as mobile phones, PHSs, and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), an infrastructure that allows anyone to easily access and make calls regardless of time and place is being prepared. Since these are premised on mobile applications, lightweight, thin, and low power consumption display elements are required, and currently, liquid crystal display elements are mainly used. A liquid crystal display element performs display by changing the light transmission intensity by driving liquid crystal molecules at an effective voltage of several volts. However, since the liquid crystal is a non-light emitting substance, some other light source is required. It is necessary to supply a very large amount of power to the light source compared to the power for driving the liquid crystal.However, it is necessary to provide a reflective plate below the liquid crystal display element and use a reflective liquid crystal display element that displays using ambient light. Accordingly, a display element with extremely low power consumption and utilizing the inherent characteristics of liquid crystal can be realized. The reflection type liquid crystal display device is becoming indispensable as one of displays of a portable information terminal.

In practice, since a display element that can be used even in a dark place is required, a liquid crystal display element having auxiliary lighting means is required. Specifically, it is a reflective liquid crystal display element having a front light or a transflective liquid crystal display element having a backlight. Since it is important to secure the brightness of the display in the reflection mode, the configuration of the liquid crystal display element is designed with emphasis on the reflection type liquid crystal display element. Therefore, in the following description of the conventional example, a reflection type liquid crystal display device will be described.

As the amount of information increases, the importance of color display as a display of a portable information terminal is increasing, and some configurations for performing color display by a color filter and a birefringence effect in a reflection type liquid crystal display element have been proposed. I have.

However, since the reflection type liquid crystal display performs display using ambient light, there is a problem that the display may be dark depending on an illumination environment.
As a countermeasure, as shown in FIG. 5, some configurations have been proposed in which the shape of the reflection surface is made uneven so that the reflected light is collected in the front direction of the reflection type liquid crystal display element. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a reflection type liquid crystal display device having a conventional configuration, in which a polarizing plate 50, a birefringent film 51, a liquid crystal cell 52, an upper glass substrate 53, a transparent electrode 54, a liquid crystal layer 55, It is composed of the oxide film 56, the reflective metal film 57, the protrusion 58, and the lower glass substrate 59.

[0006]

However, in a reflective liquid crystal display device in which the reflectivity is increased by making the shape of the reflective surface uneven, the surface of the reflective electrode, which is the interface with the liquid crystal, is uneven. Therefore, there is a problem that the thickness of the liquid crystal layer becomes non-uniform in some places, and the optical characteristics are deteriorated. In addition, in the connection terminal portion with the external circuit, there is also a problem that the unevenness of the reflection surface adversely affects a good connection.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display element having excellent optical characteristics and good connection with an external circuit, and an image display device using the same, in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. I do.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned object, a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is a liquid crystal display device having an uneven layer and a reflective layer, wherein the uneven layer and the reflective layer are It is characterized by being arranged without contacting the liquid crystal layer. Thereby, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer becomes uniform, and the optical characteristics are improved.

Further, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention has a concavo-convex layer,
A liquid crystal display device comprising a reflective layer and a connection terminal portion,
The uneven layer and the reflective layer are arranged without contacting a liquid crystal layer, and the connection terminal portion, the uneven layer and the reflective layer do not overlap in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer. I do. As a result, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer becomes uniform, the optical characteristics are improved, and the connection with an external circuit can be improved.

The liquid crystal display element of the present invention has one polarizing plate and one or more birefringent films on one surface of a substrate, and further has an upper transparent electrode on the other surface of the substrate. An upper substrate having, a transparent uneven layer on one surface of the substrate, a semi-transmissive reflective layer transmitting a part of incident light and reflecting a part, a color filter, and a flattening means for flattening the uneven surface and a lower part. A liquid crystal display device having a side transparent electrode and a light-shielding layer, a lower substrate having a circularly polarizing plate on the other surface of the substrate, and a liquid crystal layer, wherein the upper transparent electrode of the upper substrate is A liquid crystal layer between the surface provided and the surface provided with the lower transparent electrode of the lower substrate, the uneven layer is provided on one surface of the lower substrate, and the transflective layer is The color filter is provided on the liquid crystal layer side of the surface having the uneven layer, and the color filter is provided on the surface of the liquid crystal layer having the transflective layer. And the flattening means is provided on the liquid crystal layer side of the surface having the color filter, and the lower transparent electrode is provided on the liquid crystal layer side of the surface having the flattening means. In the outer peripheral portion of the display unit of the liquid crystal display element, the conductive portion of the semi-transmissive reflective layer and the lower transparent electrode are suppressed from electrically contacting in the outer peripheral portion of the display unit. The light-shielding layer so as to cover a conductive portion of the transflective layer; further comprising the flattening means on the liquid crystal layer side of the light-shielding layer; and a peripheral portion outside a display portion of the liquid crystal display element. The thickness of the liquid crystal layer at the outer peripheral portion of the display portion of the liquid crystal display element is controlled so that the lower transparent electrode does not break or short-circuit the wiring portion of the lower transparent electrode due to a change in the shape in the thickness direction. Characterized in that the shape of the lower transparent electrode in the direction is changed stepwise. To.

Further, an image display device according to the present invention is provided with the liquid crystal display element and a lighting device.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) First, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a lower substrate, 2 is an uneven layer, 3 is a transflective layer, 6 is a flattening layer (flattening means), 7 is a transparent electrode, 8 is a sealant, 9 is a liquid crystal layer, and 10 is a liquid crystal layer. Upper transparent substrate (upper substrate), 11 is a liquid crystal cell, 12 is a polarizing film (polarizer), 13a is a birefringent film (1), 13b is a birefringent film (2), 14 is an external circuit, and 15 is anisotropically conductive. Reference numeral 16 denotes a connection terminal portion. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display element according to the present embodiment includes a liquid crystal cell 11 in which liquid crystal is sealed between a pair of substrates (an upper transparent substrate 10 and a lower substrate 1), and a first liquid crystal cell 11. A polarizing film 12 disposed on the side of the substrate (upper transparent substrate 10);
Birefringent films 13 a and 13 b disposed between the polarizing film 12 and the liquid crystal layer 9 of the liquid crystal cell 11;
A light reflecting means disposed on the second substrate (lower substrate 1) side of the first substrate (lower substrate 1).
In the connection terminal portion 16 between the side and the external circuit 14, the uneven layer 2
There is no configuration.

FIG. 2 is an optical configuration diagram of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment. 20 is a reference line, 21 is the orientation direction of liquid crystal molecules on the upper substrate, 22 is the orientation direction of liquid crystal molecules on the lower substrate, 23 is the slow axis direction of the birefringent film (1) near the liquid crystal cell, Reference numeral 24 denotes a slow axis direction of the birefringent film (2) on the polarizing film side, and reference numeral 25 denotes an absorption axis direction of the polarizing film. Φ _LC0 is the orientation direction 22 of the liquid crystal molecules on the lower substrate 1, φ _LC is the orientation direction 21 of the liquid crystal molecules on the upper transparent substrate 10, and φ _F1 is the birefringent film (1) 13.
a is the slow axis direction 23 and φ _F2 is the birefringent film (2) 1
The slow axis direction 24 of 3b and φ _p indicate the angle between the absorption axis direction 25 of the polarizing film 12 and the reference line 20, respectively, and the twist direction of the liquid crystal is positive. Ω _LC indicates the twist angle of the liquid crystal.

Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the reflection type liquid crystal display element according to the present embodiment will be described in accordance with a manufacturing procedure.

First, a glass substrate is used as the upper transparent substrate 10 and the lower substrate 1, and a pixel electrode is formed on the upper transparent substrate 10 as a transparent electrode 7 using indium tin oxide (ITO). In addition, a light and heat stretchable resin made of a material which expands and contracts by light irradiation and heat and which can control the shape of the concavo-convex layer is applied to the entire surface of the lower substrate 1 by spin coating, and display is performed. Ultraviolet rays were irradiated at 80 to 100 mJ / cm ² using a photomask in which the area other than the area was shielded from light. Next, development was performed for a certain period of time using an organic alkali, and then heat treatment was performed at 150 ° C. in a clean oven to cause expansion and contraction. At this time, only the display area has an average distance between projections of 15 μm.
m, a transparent uneven layer 2 having an average height difference of 0.4 μm between the highest part and the lowest part of the unevenness is formed. An aluminum film is formed thereon with a thickness of 200 ° by vapor deposition, and then irradiated with ultraviolet rays using a photoresist and a predetermined photomask. Was formed. Further, a planarizing layer 6 is formed thereon.
An acrylic resin film is applied so as to have a thickness of 3 μm, and the maximum height difference of the unevenness on the surface of the planarizing layer 6 is 0.08 μm.
m. Then, a pixel electrode was formed on the planarization layer 6 as a transparent electrode 7 using indium tin oxide (ITO). By the above processing, the uneven layer 2 and the transflective layer 3 can be eliminated in the non-display area including the connection terminal area with the external circuit. That is, the planarization layer 6 and the transparent electrode 7 are directly formed on the lower substrate 1 in the connection terminal portion 16.

After forming an alignment film on the transparent electrodes 7 formed on the upper transparent substrate 10 and the lower substrate 1, an alignment process was performed by rubbing. Then, a glass fiber was added to the peripheral portion on the upper transparent substrate 10 by 1.0% by mass.
Printing the mixed thermosetting sealing resin (sealant 8),
On the lower substrate 1, 200 resin beads having a predetermined diameter are formed.
mm ² and the upper transparent substrate 10 and the lower substrate 1
Were bonded together, and the sealing resin was cured at 150 ° C. Thereafter, a mixed liquid crystal obtained by mixing a predetermined amount of a chiral agent into an ester nematic liquid crystal having Δn = 0.14 was vacuum-injected, sealed with an ultraviolet curable resin, and then cured by irradiation with ultraviolet light.

A birefringent film (1) 13a and a birefringent film (2) 13b having predetermined retardation values are respectively formed on the upper transparent substrate 10 of the liquid crystal cell 11 formed as described above, and the slow axis is set as the birefringent film (2) 13b. Each was bonded so as to have a predetermined angle. Furthermore, a neutral gray polarizing film (“SQ-1852AP” manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) that has been subjected to anti-glare (AG) treatment as a polarizing film 12 thereon is used. We stuck together.

Here, specifically, Δn _LC · d _LC = 850 n
m, Rfilm (1) = 500 nm, Rfilm (2) = 700
nm, φ _LC0 = −35 °, φ _LC = 35 °, Ω _LC = 250
The results of measuring the optical characteristics when °, φ _F1 = 155 °, φ _F2 = 95 °, and φ _p = 35 ° are shown.

It was measured as frontal characteristics at a 1/240 duty ratio. As a result, favorable characteristics such as a contrast of 10 and a reflectivity of 30% for white display in Y value conversion were obtained. It was also confirmed that the color changed from black display to white display to achromatic color. In addition, the variation in the reflectance within the pixel is also ±
It has been confirmed that it is within 1%. As a result, an achromatic black display with a low reflectance and an achromatic white display with a high reflectance are obtained, and a liquid crystal display device with high contrast can be realized.

The retardation value Δn _LC · d _{LC of} the liquid crystal layer and the retardation value R film (i) of the birefringent film used here are the retardation values for light of λ = 550 nm.

With respect to the twist angle of the liquid crystal, in the case of simple matrix driving, the duty ratio, which is the number of selectable electrodes, is affected. As the twist angle increases, the duty ratio can be reduced, and the number of selected electrodes can be increased. The number of pixels can be increased. In the present embodiment, it has also been confirmed that by setting the twist angle of the liquid crystal within the range of 220 ° to 270 °, good display can be obtained even when driven at a duty ratio of 1/200 or less.

Further, since the planarization layer 6 and the transparent electrode 7 are formed directly on the lower substrate 1 in the external circuit 14 and the connection terminal area, the transparent electrode 7 and the anisotropic conductive adhesive are formed. 15 to improve the flatness of the interface with
The pitch of the connection terminals 16 connected to the external circuit 14 via the anisotropic conductive adhesive 15 can be reduced. That is, high definition can be realized. For comparison, when the terminal portion has the configuration of the concavo-convex layer 2, the flattening layer 6, and the transparent electrode 7 and the terminal portion pitch is 65 μm, open (disconnection) and short-circuiting between adjacent terminals occur frequently. In the case of the configuration of the lower substrate 1, the flattening layer 6, and the transparent electrode 7 as shown in FIG.

(Embodiment 2) Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The main configuration and manufacturing procedure of the liquid crystal display element according to the present embodiment are the same as the main configuration and manufacturing procedure of the liquid crystal display element according to Embodiment 1 described above, except for the presence or absence of a color filter. Therefore,
Unless otherwise described in the present embodiment,
Constituent members that are the same as in the first embodiment and have the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment have the same functions as those in the first embodiment unless otherwise described.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 4 denotes a color filter pattern, and reference numeral 5 denotes a peripheral black matrix made of an acrylic resin. The color filter includes a color filter pattern 4 and a peripheral black matrix 5. Accordingly, FIG. 3A corresponds to a case where a color filter is formed on an upper substrate, and FIG. 3B corresponds to a case where a color filter is formed on a lower substrate.

Hereinafter, the detailed structure of the liquid crystal display element according to the present embodiment will be described in accordance with the manufacturing procedure. First, the case of the configuration shown in FIG. After the peripheral black matrix 5 and the color filter pattern 4 are formed in this order on the upper transparent substrate 10, a pixel electrode is formed as the transparent electrode 7 using indium tin oxide (ITO). Next, the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 3B will be described. First, the uneven layer 2 is formed on the lower substrate 1 using a light and heat stretchable resin made of a material that expands and contracts by light irradiation and heat, and by which the shape of the uneven layer can be controlled. A semi-transmissive reflective layer 3 is formed by depositing aluminum to a thickness of 200 ° by vapor deposition, and a peripheral black matrix 5 and a color filter pattern 4 are formed thereon. Further, a flattening layer 6 is provided thereon by applying an acrylic resin so as to have a film thickness of 3 μm, and then a pixel electrode is formed of indium tin oxide (ITO) as a transparent electrode 7.

Here, as a method of forming the color filter pattern 4, a printing method of transferring a pattern formed on a printing plate onto a substrate surface via a blanket, or a method of forming a color filter layer forming resist in which a pigment is dispersed is applied on the substrate. By using a pigment dispersion method formed by photolithography, a red, green, and blue stripe array was formed.
The peripheral black matrix 5 was also formed by a printing method or a photolithographic method in the same manner as the color filter pattern. Further, the uneven layer 2, the transflective layer 3, and the flattening layer 6 were formed by the same method as in the first embodiment of the present invention.

Thereafter, the liquid crystal cell 11, the birefringent film layer 13, and the polarizing film 12 were formed by the same manufacturing procedure as that described in the first embodiment, and a reflective liquid crystal display device was manufactured. Here, the twist angle of the liquid crystal is
The angle is in the range of 220 ° to 270 °.

With such a configuration, a color display can be achieved by using a color filter. In particular, in the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 3B, the unevenness of the surface of the flattening layer is reduced by the flattening layer 6 and the color filter (the color filter pattern 4 and the peripheral black matrix 5) as compared with the case of only the flattening layer 6. The effect of reducing the difference in height and improving the uniformity of the liquid crystal layer thickness of the liquid crystal panel is obtained. Therefore, a reflective liquid crystal display device having good optical characteristics and capable of achieving uniform brightness white display and high contrast in a pixel and enabling achromatic black and white display can be obtained.

The above effectiveness was confirmed in the following examples. Specifically, Δn _LC · d _LC = 850
nm, Rfilm (1) = 500 nm, Rfilm (2) = 70
0 nm, φ _LC0 = −35 °, φ _LC = 35 °, Ω _LC = 25
The results of measuring the optical characteristics when 0 °, φ _F1 = 155 °, φ _F2 = 95 °, and φ _p = 35 ° are shown. 1/240
As a result of measurement as a front characteristic at a duty ratio, favorable characteristics such as a contrast of 12 and a reflectivity of white display in terms of Y value of 15% were obtained. In addition, since the color changes from a black display to a white display to an achromatic color, it was confirmed that 4096 colors of 16 gradations can be displayed. Variation in reflectance within pixels is also ±
It has been confirmed that it is within 1%. As a result, an achromatic black display with a low reflectance and an achromatic white display with a high reflectance are obtained, and a color liquid crystal display device with high contrast can be realized.

The retardation value Δn _LC · d _{LC of} the liquid crystal layer and the retardation value R film (i) of the birefringent film used here are retardation values for light of λ = 550 nm.

Embodiment 3 Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The main configuration and manufacturing procedure of the liquid crystal display element according to the present embodiment are the same as the main configuration and manufacturing of the reflective liquid crystal display element in which a color filter is formed on the second substrate (lower substrate 1) according to the second embodiment. Same as the procedure. Therefore, in the present embodiment, components that are not described in particular are assumed to be the same as those in the above-described second embodiment, and the components denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the second embodiment are the same as those described above unless otherwise described. It has a function similar to that of the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a part of the liquid crystal display device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, A is the display area, B is the area between the display area (the inner edge of the peripheral black matrix) and the outer edge of the uneven layer, C is the area between the outer edge of the uneven layer and the edge of the glass substrate, and α is the thickness of the uneven layer. , Β indicate the thickness of the reflective layer, and γ indicates the thickness of the peripheral black matrix.

First, the third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
Using the sectional view of the second substrate of the liquid crystal display element in
The detailed configuration of the liquid crystal display element in this embodiment will be described.

The outer edge of the peripheral black matrix 5 is between the display area A and the outer edge of the uneven layer 2 (FIG. 4).
(A region B). FIG.
In the configuration shown in FIG.
Has an outer edge formed inside the transflective layer 3. By taking such a configuration,
Connection terminal portion 16 between display area A and external circuit (region C)
In the transparent electrode 7 connecting the steps (a) and (b), the step (= α + β + γ) of the uneven layer 2, the reflective layer 3, and the peripheral black matrix 5 is changed to the step γ between the display area A and the area b, the step β between the area b and the area a,
The step can be divided into three steps of the step α between the area a and the area C, and an effect of preventing the transparent electrode 7 from opening at each step can be obtained.

In particular, the outer edge of the transflective layer 3 is positioned within the area of the peripheral black matrix 5 (display area A and area a).
), The transparent electrode 7-
The effect of preventing a short circuit between the reflective layer 3 and the transparent electrode 7 can be obtained at the same time. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a lower substrate of another liquid crystal display element of the present embodiment.

In this embodiment, the sealant 8
Is disposed in the portion (region a) where the uneven layer 2, the flattening layer 6, and the transparent electrode 7 are formed, but is not limited thereto, and the uneven layer 2, the transflective layer 3, the flattening layer 6, and the transparent electrode 7 The formed portion (region b), the portion (region c) where the uneven layer 2, the transflective layer 3, the peripheral black matrix 5, the flattening layer 6, and the transparent electrode 7 are formed, the uneven layer 2, and the peripheral black matrix 5 The same effect can be obtained by disposing in the portion (d region) where the flattening layer 6 and the transparent electrode 7 are formed.

In the first to third embodiments described above, the transflective layer 3 is described as using aluminum. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a metal reflective layer containing silver as a component may be used. Similar effects can be obtained.

In the first and second embodiments, the birefringent film has a retardation value of 500 n.
m and 700 nm were used, but the retardation value,
The optical axis angle is not limited to this, and a similar effect can be obtained even in the configuration of one or a plurality of birefringent films. Further, the optical axis angle is not limited to the polarizing film, and the same effect can be obtained in other configurations.

[0040]

As described above, the present invention can provide a liquid crystal display element having excellent optical characteristics and good connection with an external circuit, and an image display device using the same, and its industrial value is Is big.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a liquid crystal display element of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 2 is an optical configuration diagram of a liquid crystal display element in Embodiments 1 to 3.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a configuration in which a color filter is formed on an upper substrate of a liquid crystal display element according to a second embodiment.
(B) is a cross-sectional view of a configuration in which a color filter is formed on a lower substrate of the liquid crystal display element of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a lower substrate showing an arrangement of external edges of a concave-convex layer, a semi-transmissive reflective layer, and a peripheral black matrix in the liquid crystal display element according to the third embodiment;
(B) is a cross-sectional view of the lower substrate showing the arrangement of the outer edges of the uneven layer, the transflective layer, and the peripheral black matrix in the other liquid crystal display elements of the third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of a conventional reflective liquid crystal display element.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 lower substrate 2 uneven layer 3 semi-transmissive reflective layer 4 color filter pattern 5 peripheral black matrix 6 flattening layer 7 transparent electrode 8 sealant 9 liquid crystal layer 10 upper transparent substrate 11 liquid crystal cell 12 polarizing film 13a birefringent film (1) 13b Birefringent film (2) 14 External circuit 15 Anisotropic conductive adhesive 16 Connection terminal part 20 Reference line 21 Orientation direction of liquid crystal molecules on upper substrate 22 Orientation direction of liquid crystal molecules on lower substrate 23 Birefringent film ( 1) slow axis direction 24 slow axis direction of birefringent film (2) 25 absorption axis direction of polarizing film

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G09F 9/30 343 G09F 9/30 343Z 349 349D (72) Inventor Hiroshi Mizuno 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. FD04 GA03 GA07 JA03 LA02 2H092 GA41 HA04 JB51 JB58 NA15 NA16 NA19 PA08 PA09 PA13 5C094 AA03 AA08 AA31 AA42 AA43 AA48 BA43 CA24 DA13 DB02 EA04 EA05 EA06 EB02 ED03 ED11 ED13 ED14 FA01 FA02 GB01

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal display device comprising an uneven layer and a reflective layer, wherein the uneven layer and the reflective layer are arranged without being in contact with the liquid crystal layer. . 2. A liquid crystal display device comprising an uneven layer, a reflective layer and a connection terminal, wherein the uneven layer and the reflective layer are
Disposed without contacting the liquid crystal layer, and the connection terminal portion;
A liquid crystal display device wherein the uneven layer and the reflective layer do not overlap in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer. 3. An upper substrate having one polarizing plate and one or more birefringent films on one surface of the substrate, and further having an upper transparent electrode on the other surface of the substrate; On one surface, a transparent uneven layer, a semi-transmissive reflective layer that transmits part of incident light and partially reflects the incident light, a color filter, a flattening means for flattening the uneven surface, a lower transparent electrode, and a light-shielding layer. A lower substrate having a circularly polarizing plate on the other surface of the substrate, and a liquid crystal display element having a liquid crystal layer, wherein a surface of the upper substrate having an upper transparent electrode and the lower substrate A liquid crystal layer between the surface having the lower transparent electrode, the uneven layer is provided on one surface of the lower substrate, and the transflective layer is a liquid crystal on the surface having the uneven layer. The color filter is provided on the liquid crystal layer side of the surface having the transflective layer, and the color filter is provided on the flattening means. Is provided on the liquid crystal layer side of the surface having the color filter, and the lower transparent electrode is provided on the liquid crystal layer side of the surface having the flattening means. A conductive portion of the semi-transmissive reflective layer is provided at a peripheral portion outside a display portion of the liquid crystal display element so as to suppress electrical contact between the conductive portion of the transflective layer and the lower transparent electrode. The light-shielding layer so as to be covered, further comprising the flattening means on the liquid crystal layer side of the light-shielding layer, and the lower transparent electrode in a peripheral portion outside a display portion of the liquid crystal display element has a thickness direction. The shape of the lower transparent electrode in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer at the outer peripheral portion of the display portion of the liquid crystal display element so as to suppress disconnection or short circuit of the wiring portion of the lower transparent electrode due to the change in the shape of the lower transparent electrode A liquid crystal display device characterized in that the change in the shape is stepwise. 4. An image display device comprising the liquid crystal display element according to claim 1 and a lighting device.