JP2003043488A - Liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display device which makes it possible to an optimum display state by reducing the influence of electric fields from the edges of pixel electrodes and the adjacent pixels on liquid crystal molecules. SOLUTION: A first substrate 1 having a pixel electrode 4 and a second substrate 8 having a transparent electrode 11 are arranged to face each other and a liquid crystal 14 negative in dielectric constant anisotropy is held between the two substrates 1 and 8. Slits 6 are formed at the pixel electrode 4 and projections 12 corresponding to the silts 6 are formed at the second substrate 8. The substrates 1 and 8 are covered with vertical alignment layers 7 and 12. When the electric fields are impressed to the liquid crystal layer 14, the liquid crystal molecules 14 incline in the direction regulated by the projections 12 and the slits 6. The silts 6 are disposed in approximately parallel to the extension direction where the projections 12 exist and the segments of the contours of the slits 6 facing the projections 12 are formed in a direction deviated by a correction angle with respect to the extension direction of the silts 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wide viewing angle liquid crystal display device having a plurality of domains in one pixel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, liquid crystal display devices are characterized by being thin, lightweight and consuming low power, and are widely used in everything from portable terminals to large televisions. A TN type liquid crystal display device is often used as the liquid crystal display device, and high performance and quality are maintained as the display device.

However, the TN type liquid crystal display device and the like have a problem that the viewing angle dependency is large. Therefore, a VA (vertically aligned) type liquid crystal display device having a wider viewing angle than the TN type has been proposed. In the case of a VA type liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy is sealed between a pair of glass substrates, a pixel electrode is arranged on one glass substrate, and a common electrode is arranged on the other glass substrate. A vertical alignment film is laminated on both glass substrates, and a pair of polarizing plates are arranged outside the both glass substrates so that their transmission axis directions are orthogonal to each other. When no electric field is generated between the electrodes, the liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned by being regulated by the vertical alignment film, and the linearly polarized transmitted light that has passed through one polarizing plate passes through the liquid crystal layer as it is and the other polarizing plate Blocked. Also, when an electric field is generated between both electrodes, the liquid crystal molecules between the glass substrates are tilted in the direction perpendicular to the electric field and are aligned horizontally, so the linearly polarized light transmitted through one of the polarizing plates passes through the liquid crystal layer. When this occurs, the light is birefringent and becomes elliptically polarized light that passes through the other polarizing plate.

In order to further improve the viewing angle of this VA type liquid crystal display device, MVA (Multi-domain vertica) in which a plurality of domains are formed in one pixel by providing protrusions or grooves in the pixel
llyaligned) method has been proposed. This is described in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2947350.

FIG. 11 shows a pixel configuration of this conventional MVA type liquid crystal display device. The pixel electrode 100, the scanning line 101, the signal line 102, and the TFT 103 are formed on one of the pair of glass substrates arranged in parallel and opposite to each other.
A color filter, a common electrode, and a protrusion 105 are formed on the other glass substrate. The color filter and the common electrode are not shown. A plurality of scanning lines 101 and signal lines 102 are arranged in a matrix on a glass substrate, and T is formed at the intersections.
In the FT 103, the pixel electrodes 100 are arranged in regions surrounded by the scanning lines 101 and the signal lines 102, respectively. TFT1
The gate electrode of 03 is connected to the scanning line 101, the source electrode is connected to the signal line 102, and the drain electrode is connected to the pixel electrode 100. Reference numeral 104 denotes a slit formed in the pixel electrode 100, and the plurality of protrusions 105 are formed in a zigzag shape when viewed from the normal line direction of the glass substrate.
Are located between the plurality of protrusions 105 and are adjacent to each other.
It is formed substantially parallel to 05. Liquid crystal molecules have projections 105
Also, it inclines in the direction of 90 ° with respect to the slit 104 and in the opposite direction with the projection 105 and the slit 104 as boundaries.
A pair of polarizing plates of crossed Nicols are arranged outside the pair of glass substrates, and the angle between the transmission axis of the polarizing plate and the direction of the protrusion 105 is set to 45 °. When viewed, the angle formed by the tilted liquid crystal molecules and the transmission axis of the polarizing plate is set to 45 °. When the angle between the tilted liquid crystal molecules and the transmission axis of the polarizing plate is 45 °, the transmitted light can be most efficiently obtained from the polarizing plate.

[0006]

However, the conventional M
In the VA type liquid crystal display device, the optimum display state cannot be obtained because the actual tilted state of the liquid crystal molecules is not an ideal state. FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing a tilted state of liquid crystal molecules in a conventional pixel structure. The dotted line in the pixel electrode 100 indicates the boundary of the tilted state of the liquid crystal molecule, and the liquid crystal molecule is tilted in substantially the same direction in the region surrounded by the dotted line and the protrusion 105 or the slit 104. The arrow in each region indicates the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecule, and the angle added near the arrow indicates the tilted liquid crystal molecule and the protrusion 105, the slit 104, or the pixel electrode 10 when viewed from the normal direction of the glass substrate.
The angle formed by the edge portion of 0 is shown. The direction of the arrow is
When the liquid crystal molecules near the glass substrate having the protrusions 105 are inclined, one of the ends of the liquid crystal molecules facing away from the glass substrate is directed.

The liquid crystal molecules regulated by the slits 104 and the protrusions 105 are not about 90 ° with respect to the slits 104 and the protrusions 105 in the central portion of the pixel electrode 100 but about 95 °.
Tilt in the direction of °. Further, in the peripheral portion of the pixel electrode 100, 80 ° or 100 ° with respect to the slit 104 or the protrusion 105.
Inclining in a direction further away from 90 °, etc., and the inclined state also varies depending on the place. In order to use the transmitted light most efficiently, it is ideal that the liquid crystal molecules are tilted in the direction of 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis of the polarizing plate. 90 °
This corresponds to the case of tilting in the direction of. Region A in FIG. 12 is a portion in which the liquid crystal molecules are tilted by about 5 ° from the ideal tilt direction, and region B is a portion by about 10 ° from the ideal tilt direction, and region C. Is a portion deviated from the ideal inclination direction by about 45 °. Pixel electrode 10
There are many areas A in the central part of 0, and the slit 105 and the projection 1
When the area 05 is orthogonal to each other or the peripheral area of the pixel electrode 100, the proportion of the areas B and C increases.

As described above, the conventional slit 104 and projection 1
In the shape of 05, most of the liquid crystal molecules of the pixel electrode 100 are tilted in a direction deviated from the ideal tilt direction, so that transmitted light cannot be efficiently used. Further, when there are a plurality of regions in the pixel electrode 100, such as regions A, B, and C, which have different degrees of deviation with respect to the ideal inclination direction, the transmittance in each region is different, resulting in display unevenness.

As a result of studying the cause of deviation of the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules, the pixel electrodes 100 adjacent to each other in the central portion of the pixel electrode 100 (a region tilted by about 95 ° with respect to the projection 105 and the slit 104) are investigated. Is slightly affected by the electric field generated at
It is thought that it will shift by about °. In addition, the pixel electrode 1
At the peripheral portion of 00, since the liquid crystal molecules are inclined in the 90 ° direction with respect to the edge portion of the pixel electrode 100,
The edge portion of the pixel electrode 100, the slit 104, and the protrusion 10
The arrangement of 5 causes the tilted states of liquid crystal molecules located in the vicinity thereof to be mixed, and in addition, the tilted state is largely deviated from the ideal tilted state.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device capable of obtaining an optimum display state.

[0011]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a first substrate in which pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix, a slit formed in the pixel electrodes, and a second substrate in which a transparent electrode is formed. And a strip-shaped protrusion formed on the second substrate, an alignment film laminated on both substrates and subjected to a vertical alignment treatment, and a liquid crystal layer having a negative dielectric anisotropy sandwiched between both substrates. In a liquid crystal display device in which liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned when an electric field is not applied to the liquid crystal layer, and when the electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal molecules are tilted in a direction regulated by the slits and protrusions, the slits are The protrusion is provided substantially parallel to the extending direction, and a portion of the contour of the slit facing the protrusion is formed in a direction offset by the correction angle with respect to the extending direction of the slit. To do.

Further, according to the present invention, a slit is provided substantially parallel to the extending direction of the protrusion, and a portion of the contour of the protrusion facing the slit is displaced by a correction angle from the extending direction of the protrusion. It is characterized by being formed. The correction angle of the slits and protrusions may be set to about 3 ° to about 15 °.

Further, according to the present invention, a pair of polarizing plates are provided outside both substrates, and the polarizing plates are arranged so that the transmission axes of both polarizing plates are orthogonal to each other. It is characterized by forming about 45 °. Further, it is characterized in that the extending direction of the protrusion and the transmission axis of either one of the polarizing plates form about 45 °.

With these configurations, even when the liquid crystal molecules are affected by the electric field from the adjacent pixel, the liquid crystal molecules are tilted in the direction of about 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis as a result. The transmitted light passing through can be efficiently used.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the edge portion of the pixel electrode is provided with a mitigating means for mitigating the influence of the electric field applied to the liquid crystal molecules from the edge portion. As a relaxation means, a sawtooth portion is formed at the edge of the pixel electrode,
Alternatively, a plurality of pinholes are formed in the edge portion of the pixel electrode, or a second slit is formed in the edge portion of the pixel electrode. Further, the invention is characterized in that auxiliary protrusions arranged along the edge portion of the pixel electrode are provided on the second substrate.

With these configurations, the influence of the electric field from the adjacent pixel and the influence on the liquid crystal molecules at the edge portion of the pixel electrode can be reduced, and the actual tilted state of the liquid crystal molecules within the pixel and the ideal tilt. The difference with the state (45 ° to the transmission axis) becomes uniform, and display unevenness can be reduced.

In the present invention, the protrusions are made of a positive material,
The height is about 1.5 μm or more. Further, the distance between the first substrate and the second substrate is set to about 3.5 μm or less. With these configurations, a liquid crystal display device having a wide viewing angle and high transmittance can be realized.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment, which is an embodiment of the present invention, will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a plan view of a pixel portion according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA 'in FIG.

Reference numeral 1 is a transparent first substrate such as a glass substrate, on which scanning lines 2 and signal lines 3 are arranged in a matrix. A region surrounded by the scanning line 2 and the signal line 3 corresponds to one pixel, the pixel electrode 4 is arranged in this region, and a switching element connected to the pixel electrode 4 is provided at the intersection of the scanning line 2 and the signal line 3. A TFT 5 is formed. Part of the pixel electrode 4 overlaps the adjacent scanning line 2 with an insulating film interposed, and this part functions as a storage capacitor. A plurality of slits 6 described later are formed in the pixel electrode 4. Reference numeral 7 is an alignment film that covers the pixel electrodes 4, and has been subjected to vertical alignment processing.

Reference numeral 8 is a transparent second substrate such as a glass substrate. A black matrix 9 is formed on the second substrate 8 so as to divide each pixel, and a color filter 10 is laminated corresponding to each pixel. There is. In the color filter 10, one of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) is arranged corresponding to each pixel.
A transparent electrode 11 made of, for example, ITO is laminated on the color filter 10, projections 12 having a predetermined pattern are formed on the transparent electrode 11, and the transparent electrode 11 and the projections 12 are formed by an alignment film 13 which has been subjected to vertical alignment processing. Covering.

A liquid crystal layer 14 having a negative dielectric anisotropy is interposed between the substrates 1 and 8. The pixel electrode 4 and the transparent electrode 11
When no electric field is generated between the liquid crystal molecules 14,
The pixel electrode 4 and the transparent electrode 1 are vertically arrayed by being regulated by 13
When an electric field is generated during 1, the liquid crystal molecules 14 tilt in the horizontal direction. At this time, the liquid crystal molecules 14 are regulated by the slits 6 and the protrusions 12 and inclined in a predetermined direction, so that a plurality of domains can be formed in one pixel. Note that FIG. 2 schematically shows a state in which an electric field is generated between the pixel electrode 4 and the transparent electrode 11.

A first polarizing plate 15 is provided on the outer side of the first substrate 1.
The second polarizing plate 16 is arranged outside the second substrate 8, and the first polarizing plate 15 and the second polarizing plate 16 are set so that their transmission axes are orthogonal to each other. The orientations of the polarizing plates 15 and 16 are set by the relationship between their transmission axes and the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 14 when tilted. Regarding the relationship between the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 15 and 16 and the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules 14. Will be described later, so here, for convenience, the transmission axis of the first polarizing plate 15 coincides with the extending direction of the scanning line 2 and the transmission axis of the second polarizing plate 16 coincides with the extending direction of the signal line 3. Set.

When no electric field is generated between the pixel electrode 4 and the transparent electrode 11, the liquid crystal molecules 14 are vertically aligned.
The linearly polarized transmitted light passing through the first polarizing plate 15 is the liquid crystal layer 1.
4 is passed as it is as linearly polarized light and is blocked by the second polarizing plate 16, resulting in black display. When a predetermined voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 4 and an electric field is generated between the pixel electrode 4 and the transparent electrode 11, the liquid crystal molecules 14 tilt in the horizontal direction. The transmitted light becomes elliptically polarized light in the liquid crystal layer 14, passes through the second polarizing plate 16, and becomes white display.

When the cell gap (distance between the alignment films 7 and 13 on both substrates 1 and 8) is narrowed, light leakage during black display is reduced, the contrast is improved and the viewing angle is widened. As a result of the experiment, when the cell gap is 3.5 μm or less, a viewing angle of about 56 ° or more could be obtained. When the cell gap is narrowed, the transmittance in white display decreases,
In the present invention, the cell gap can be narrowed because the transmittance is improved by devising the shapes of the slits 6 and the projections 12 described later, and in particular, the thickness of each electrode or alignment film, the height of the projections,
The cell gap is approximately 3.0 when other conditions are taken into consideration.
An optimum liquid crystal display device can be obtained by setting the thickness in the range from μm to 3.5 μm.

Next, the shapes of the slit 6 and the protrusion 12 of the first embodiment will be described. The slit 6 is formed by removing a part of the pixel electrode 4 by a photolithography method or the like, and the protrusion 12 is formed by a resist pattern made of acrylic resin or the like in a predetermined pattern by the photolithography method. As a result of experiments, it was found that the higher the protrusions 12, the higher the transmittance, and when the height of the protrusions is 1.5 μm or more, a high transmittance can be obtained. In particular, when the height of the protrusion is set to 1.6 μm, the transmittance is improved by about 10% as compared with the protrusion having a height of 1.3 μm (transmittance (projection is 1.6 μm) / transmittance (projection is 1.3 μm) ≧ 1.10), and considering the cell gap and the like, the height of the protrusion is about 1.6 μm
When it is set to about 1.7 μm, the optimum transmittance as a display device can be obtained. Further, the transmittance is improved when the projections 12 are made of a positive material rather than a negative material. This is because the surface of the projection 12 is smoother in the positive material and the regulation force in the tilt direction with respect to the liquid crystal molecules 14 is further improved. According to the experiment, the projection 12 of the positive material is better than the projection 12 of the negative material. The transmittance was improved by about 10% or more ((transmittance (positive protrusion) / transmittance (negative protrusion) ≧ 1.1
0).

The protrusion 12 is formed in a zigzag shape over a plurality of pixels, and its straight line portion extends in a direction of 45 ° with respect to the signal line 3 when viewed from the normal direction of the second substrate 8. There is. In a substantially central portion of one pixel, a protrusion 12a extending from one adjacent pixel bends 90 ° and extends to the adjacent pixel again, and a protrusion 12b extends from the other adjacent pixel.
Are arranged in parallel with the straight portions of the projections 12a bent at right angles, and are located near the corners of the pixels. At the intersection of the protrusion 12 and the pixel electrode 4, an auxiliary protrusion 17a is formed that branches from the protrusion 12 and extends along the edge portion of the pixel electrode 4,
The influence of the electric field from the edge portion of the pixel electrode 4 or the adjacent pixel on the liquid crystal molecules 14 is reduced.

The slits 6 are formed so as to be positioned in the middle of the plurality of protrusions 12, and in this embodiment, three slits 6 are formed in each pixel electrode 4. Protrusion 12a
Slits 6a are formed between the protrusions 12b and the protrusions 12b,
The slit 6 is provided between the protrusion 12a and the edge portion of the pixel electrode 4.
b is formed. The slit 6a has a center line (see FIG.
The alternate long and short dash line) is parallel to the adjacent protrusion 12 and is oriented at 45 ° with respect to the signal line 3. This slit 6a
The center line of the arrow corresponds to the extending direction of the slit 6a. The portion of the contour of the slit 6a facing the protrusion 12 is
The slits 6a deviate from the center line of the slit 6a by about 5 ° from both ends, and the width of the slit 6a becomes wider toward the central portion. Similarly for the slit 6b,
The extending direction is parallel to the adjacent projections 12a, and the contour of the slit 6b extends from the end parallel to the signal line 3 by about 5 ° with respect to the extending direction. Here again, the slit 6b is formed so as to widen as it goes to the central portion of the pixel electrode 4. The slit 6b
Since the extending direction of the protrusion 12a adjacent to is bent at a right angle in the pixel, the extending direction of the slit 6b is also bent.

Reference numeral 17b denotes an auxiliary protrusion provided along the edge portion of the pixel electrode 4 adjacent to the slit 6b, and like the auxiliary protrusion 17a, the liquid crystal molecule 14 due to the electric field from the edge portion of the pixel electrode 4 or an adjacent pixel. The impact on In particular, the portion surrounded by the slit 6b and the edge portion of the pixel electrode 4 is narrow, and is easily affected by the slit 6b and the edge portion. Therefore, the auxiliary protrusion 17a effectively acts to reduce display unevenness due to this area.

When an electric field is generated between the pixel electrode 4 and the transparent electrode 11 and the liquid crystal molecules 14 are inclined in the horizontal direction,
Even if the liquid crystal molecules 14 are tilted in the direction of 95 ° with respect to the slit 6 under the influence of the electric field from the adjacent pixel, the contour of the slit 6 is extended in the extending direction (direction of 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis). Since the liquid crystal molecules 14 are not parallel to each other and are slightly shifted, the liquid crystal molecules 14 are inclined to the direction of about 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis, and the transmitted light passing through the liquid crystal layer can be efficiently used. Further, the auxiliary protrusions 17a and 17b can reduce the influence on the liquid crystal molecules 14 at the edge portion of the pixel electrode 4, and the tilted state of the actual liquid crystal molecules 14 in the pixel and the ideal tilted state (with respect to the transmission axis). 4
The difference from the 5 ° direction) becomes uniform, and display unevenness can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the contour portion of the slit 6 is arranged in the extending direction of the slit 6 (45 ° direction with respect to the transmission axis).
However, the correction angle may be set to about 3 ° to about 15 °. In particular, as can be seen from the analysis result of FIG. 12, the deviation of the liquid crystal molecules 14 in the tilt direction is about 5 °
Since there are many about 10 °, this correction angle is about 5 ° to about 10 °
When set to, the effect is improved. Further, for example, different correction angles may be used for the single slit 6, or correction angles may be used for the plurality of slits 6 existing in the single pixel electrode 4, depending on the arrangement location. It is also possible to select the correction angle of the slit 6 accordingly. Further, since the slit 6 portion does not regulate the inclination direction of the liquid crystal molecules 14, if the correction angle of the slit 6 is increased or the width of the slit 6 is widened to enlarge the slit portion, that portion causes display unevenness. I will end up. Therefore, it is desirable to set the size of the slit 6 to a size that does not cause display unevenness.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the form of protrusions and slits, but is otherwise the same in configuration, and the same reference numerals are used for the same configurations and the description thereof is omitted. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the positional relationship between the pixel electrodes and the protrusions of the second embodiment, in which the slits 19 are formed in the pixel electrodes 18 and the protrusions 21 are formed on the second substrate 8.

In the second embodiment, the portion of the contour of the slit which faces the protrusion is parallel to the extending direction of the slit,
A portion of the contour of the protrusion facing the slit is formed with a shift of about 5 ° with respect to the extending direction of the protrusion.

Although FIG. 3 shows only one pixel,
Similar to the first embodiment, the protrusion is formed in a zigzag shape over a plurality of pixels, and the extending direction of the substantially linear portion is 45 ° with respect to the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 15 and 16.
In a substantially central portion of one pixel, a protrusion 20a extending from one adjacent pixel bends 90 ° and extends to the adjacent pixel again, and a protrusion 20b extending from the other adjacent pixel is parallel to the protrusion 20a bent at a right angle. It is arranged and located near the corner of the pixel. The contour of the protrusion 20 is formed with a shift of about 5 ° with respect to the extending direction, and the width thereof becomes narrower from the edge portion side of the pixel electrode toward the central portion. That is, in the case of the protrusion 20a, the width of the protrusion 20a becomes gradually narrower than that of the portion bent at a right angle from the edge portion of the pixel electrode,
On the contrary, the width of the pixel electrode 18 gradually widens from the vicinity of the central portion to the portion bent at a right angle. Further, although the protrusion 20b crosses two edge portions of the pixel electrode 18, the width of the protrusion 20b gradually decreases from one edge portion to the other edge portion, and the protrusion on the pixel electrode 18 is reversed from the middle. The width of 20b is gradually widened. The shape of the projection 20 is designed so that the tilted state of the liquid crystal molecules in the conventional projection shape is analyzed and the liquid crystal molecules are actually tilted in the direction of 45 ° with respect to the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 15 and 16.

At the intersection of the protrusion 20 and the pixel electrode 18, an auxiliary protrusion 21a is formed which branches from the protrusion 20 and extends along the edge of the pixel electrode 18, and is formed at the edge of the pixel electrode 18 near the slit 19b. Auxiliary protrusion 21b along
Is formed. The auxiliary protrusions 21a and 21b reduce the influence of the electric field from the edge portion of the pixel electrode 18 or the adjacent pixels on the liquid crystal molecules 14.

Slits 19a are formed between the protrusions 20a and 20b, respectively, and a slit 19b is formed between the protrusions 20a and the edge portion of the pixel electrode 18. The slit 20a exists in the same direction as the extending direction of the adjacent protrusions 20 and is oriented at 45 ° with respect to the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 15 and 16. A portion of the contour of the slit 19a facing the protrusion 20 is in the same direction as the extending direction and has a substantially parallelogram shape. Similarly, with respect to the slit 19b, the extending direction thereof is parallel to the adjacent protrusion 20a, and the contour of the slit 19b is also parallel to the extending direction at the portion facing the protrusion.

When an electric field is generated between the pixel electrode 4 and the transparent electrode 11 and the liquid crystal molecules 14 are inclined in the horizontal direction,
Even if the liquid crystal molecules 14 are tilted in the direction of 95 ° with respect to the protrusion 20 due to the influence of the electric field from the adjacent pixel, the protrusion 2
The contour of 0 is the extending direction (45 ° to the transmission axis)
Since the liquid crystal molecules 14 are not parallel to each other and are slightly shifted, the liquid crystal molecules 14 are inclined to the direction of about 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis, and the transmitted light passing through the liquid crystal layer can be efficiently used. Further, the auxiliary protrusions 21a and 21b can reduce the influence on the liquid crystal molecules 14 at the edge portion of the pixel electrode 18, and the actual tilted state of the liquid crystal molecules 14 in the pixel and the ideal tilted state (with respect to the transmission axis). 4
The difference with the direction (5 ° direction) becomes uniform, and display unevenness can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the contour portion of the protrusion 20 is displaced by about 5 ° with respect to the extending direction of the protrusion 20 (direction of 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis), but this correction angle is about 3 ° to about 15 °.
May be set to °. In particular, as can be seen from the analysis result of FIG. 12, the deviation of the liquid crystal molecules 14 in the tilt direction is about 5 ° to about 1 °.
Since there are many 0 °, the effect is further improved by setting the correction angle to about 5 ° to about 10 °. Further, for example, different correction angles may be used for the single protrusion 20 or the single pixel electrode 18 may be used.
It is also possible to select the correction angle of the protrusion 20 according to the tendency of the deviation in the tilt direction, for example, by using the correction angle according to the arrangement location of the plurality of protrusions 20 existing inside. In addition, since the inclination direction of the liquid crystal molecules 14 is regulated also in the portion of the protrusion 20, in the case of the protrusion, the influence on the display unevenness is small even if the width of the protrusion is increased as compared with the case of the slit. According to the experiment
When the widths of the slits and the protrusions are set to be substantially the same, the transmittance is about 1 when the contour of the protrusion is tilted as in the second embodiment rather than when the contour of the slit is tilted as in the first embodiment.
It was improved by about 2% ((transmittance (second embodiment) / transmittance (first embodiment) ≈1.12).

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment employs the projections of the first embodiment, the slits and the second embodiment, and the other structures are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing the positional relationship between the pixel electrodes and the protrusions of the third embodiment. The slits 23 are formed in the pixel electrodes 22 and the protrusions 24 are formed on the second substrate 8.

The protrusion 24 of the third embodiment has the same form as the protrusion 21 of the second embodiment, is formed in a zigzag shape over a plurality of pixels, and the extending direction of the substantially straight portion is the polarizing plate 15. , 16 with respect to the transmission axes of 45 °. The protrusion 24a is bent at a right angle in the center of the pixel electrode, and the protrusion 24b is arranged in parallel with the protrusion 24a.
Located in the corner of. A portion of the contour of the protrusion 24 facing the slit 23 is about 5 in the extending direction of the protrusion 24.
The protrusions 24 are formed so as to be offset from each other, and the widths of the protrusions 24 are gradually narrowed from the edge portion to the central portion of the pixel electrode 22.

Reference numeral 25a is branched from the projection 24 and is separated from the pixel electrode 2
25b which is an auxiliary protrusion extending along the edge portion of 2
Is an auxiliary protrusion formed along the edge portion of the pixel electrode 18 adjacent to the slit 23b. This auxiliary protrusion 25
The influences of the electric field from the edge portion of the pixel electrode 22 and the adjacent pixels on the liquid crystal molecules 14 are reduced by a and 25b.

The slit 23 of the third embodiment has the same form as the slit 6 of the first embodiment, is formed so as to be located in the middle of each of the plurality of protrusions 24, and is disposed between the protrusions 24a and 24b. The slit 23a and the projection 24a
A slit 23b is provided between the edge portion of the pixel electrode 22 and the edge portion of the pixel electrode 22. Each slit 23 is formed such that its extending direction is parallel to the extending direction of the adjacent protrusion 24,
The portion of the contour of the above which is opposed to the protrusion 24 is formed with a shift of approximately 5 ° with respect to the extending direction thereof.

When the liquid crystal molecules 14 are tilted in the horizontal direction, even if the liquid crystal molecules 14 are tilted, for example, in the direction of 95 ° with respect to the projections 24 and the slits 23 under the influence of the electric field from the adjacent pixel, the result is as follows. In addition, the liquid crystal molecules 14 are tilted in the direction of about 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis, and the transmitted light passing through the liquid crystal layer can be efficiently used. Further, the auxiliary protrusions 25a and 25b can reduce the influence on the liquid crystal molecules 14 at the edge portion of the pixel electrode 22, and the actual tilted state and the ideal tilted state (relative to the transmission axis) of the liquid crystal molecules 14 in the pixel can be reduced. 45 °) and the unevenness in display can be reduced.

The correction angle of the contour portion of the slit 23 or the projection 24 may be set to about 3 ° to about 15 °, and the effect is further improved especially when the correction angle is set to about 5 ° to about 10 °. In addition, display unevenness can be reduced by adjusting the widths of the slits 23 and the protrusions 24. According to the experiment, when the widths of the slits and the protrusions are set to be substantially the same, the transmittance of the third embodiment is improved by about 9% as compared with the first embodiment ((transmittance (third embodiment)). / Transmittance (first embodiment) ≈
1.09).

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the form of the pixel electrode including the slits, but the other configurations are the same, and the same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. Figure 5
FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically showing the positional relationship between the pixel electrode and the protrusion of the fourth embodiment, in which the slit 27 is formed in the pixel electrode 26 and the protrusion 28 is formed on the second substrate 8.

The protrusion 28 is formed in a zigzag shape over a plurality of pixels, and its straight line portion is 45 with respect to the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 15 and 16 when viewed from the normal direction of the second substrate 8.
It extends in the direction of °. In a substantially central portion of one pixel, a protrusion 28a extending from one adjacent pixel bends 90 ° and extends to the adjacent pixel again, and a protrusion 28b extending from the other adjacent pixel forms a straight line portion of the protrusion 28a bent at a right angle. It is arranged in parallel with and is located near the corner of the pixel.

At the intersection of the protrusion 28 and the pixel electrode 26, an auxiliary protrusion 29a is formed branching from the protrusion 28 and extending along the edge portion of the pixel electrode 26, and at the edge portion of the pixel electrode 26 adjacent to the slit 27b. Auxiliary protrusion 29b along
Is formed. The auxiliary protrusions 29a and 29b reduce the influence of the electric field from the edge portion of the pixel electrode 26 or the adjacent pixels on the liquid crystal molecules 14.

Slits 27a are formed between the protrusions 28a and 28b, respectively, and a slit 27b is formed between the protrusions 28a and the edge portion of the pixel electrode 26. The slit 27a exists in the same direction as the extending direction of the adjacent protrusions 28, and is in the direction of 45 ° with respect to the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 15 and 16. A portion of the contour of the slit facing the protrusion 28 is in the same direction as the extending direction, and has a substantially parallelogram shape. Similarly, with respect to the slit 27b, the extending direction thereof is parallel to the adjacent protrusion 28a,
The contour of the slit 27b is also parallel to the extending direction at a portion facing the protrusion 28.

In this embodiment, the peripheral edge portion of the pixel electrode 26 is formed in a sawtooth shape, and the influence of the edge portion of the pixel electrode 26 on the liquid crystal molecules 14 is offset by each other to reduce the influence. Further, the influence of the electric field from the adjacent pixel can be reduced at this peripheral portion, and the influence on the liquid crystal molecules 14 in the pixel electrode 26 is reduced. It is effective to provide the sawtooth portion in a portion where the influence of the electric field from the adjacent pixel or the edge portion of the pixel electrode 26 is large, and the edge portion located between the protrusion 28 and the slit 27 and the longitudinal direction of the pixel electrode 26 are effective. It is good to provide it at the edge part of.

When the liquid crystal molecules 14 are inclined in the horizontal direction, the influence of the electric field from the adjacent pixel or the edge portion of the pixel electrode 26 on the liquid crystal molecules 14 is reduced at the sawtooth peripheral portion of the pixel electrode 26, The liquid crystal molecules 14 in the electrode 26 are inclined in the direction of about 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis, and the transmitted light passing through the liquid crystal layer can be efficiently used. Further, the auxiliary protrusions 29a and 29b can further reduce the influence on the liquid crystal molecules 14 at the edge portion of the pixel electrode 26, and the actual tilted state of the liquid crystal molecules 14 in the pixel and the ideal tilted state (with respect to the transmission axis). 45 °) and the unevenness in display can be reduced.

The shape of the peripheral portion is not limited to the saw-tooth shape as long as the influences of the peripheral portion of the pixel electrode can be offset from each other. For example, the peripheral portion may have a wavy shape in which small arcs are repeated. According to the experiment, when the widths of the slits and the protrusions are set to be substantially the same, the transmittance of the fourth embodiment is improved by about 8% as compared with the first embodiment ((transmittance (fourth embodiment) / Transmittance (first embodiment) ≈1.08).

Next, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the form of the pixel electrode including the slits, but the other configurations are the same, and the same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. Figure 6
FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing the positional relationship between the pixel electrode and the protrusion of the fifth embodiment, in which a slit 31 is formed in the pixel electrode 30 and a protrusion 32 is formed on the second substrate 8.

The protrusion 32 is formed in a zigzag shape over a plurality of pixels, and its linear portion is 45 with respect to the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 15 and 16 when viewed from the normal direction of the second substrate 8.
It extends in the direction of °. In a substantially central portion of one pixel, a protrusion 32a extending from one adjacent pixel bends 90 ° and extends to the adjacent pixel again, and a protrusion 32b extending from the other adjacent pixel forms a straight portion of the protrusion 32a bent at a right angle. It is arranged in parallel with and is located near the corner of the pixel.

At the intersection of the protrusion 32 and the pixel electrode 30, an auxiliary protrusion 33a is formed which branches from the protrusion 32 and extends along the edge of the pixel electrode 30, and the auxiliary protrusion 33a is formed at the edge of the pixel electrode 30 adjacent to the slit 31b. Along the auxiliary protrusion 33b
Is formed. The auxiliary protrusions 33a and 33b reduce the influence of the electric field from the edge portion of the pixel electrode 30 or the adjacent pixels on the liquid crystal molecules 14.

A slit 31a is formed between the protrusion 32a and the protrusion 32b, and a slit 31b is formed between the protrusion 32a and the edge portion of the pixel electrode 30. The slit 31a exists in the same direction as the extending direction of the adjacent protrusions 32, and is in the direction of 45 ° with respect to the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 15 and 16. A portion of the contour of the slit facing the protrusion 32 is in the same direction as the extending direction, and has a substantially parallelogram shape. Similarly, with respect to the slit 31b, the extending direction thereof is parallel to the adjacent protrusion 32a,
The contour of the slit 31b is also parallel to the extending direction at the portion facing the protrusion 32.

In this embodiment, the pinhole 34 is formed in the peripheral portion of the pixel electrode 30 to reduce the influence of the edge portion of the pixel electrode 30 on the liquid crystal molecules 14. Pinhole 3
The reference numeral 4 is a substantially square shape, and two slits 31 and two protrusions 32 are formed along the periphery of the pixel electrode 30.
The pinhole 34 is formed at the same time when the slit 31 is formed in the pixel electrode 30, and is formed by removing a part of the pixel electrode 30 by a photolithography method or the like similarly to the slit 31. In the pinhole 34 portion, the direction of the electric field is disturbed, and the influences of the edge portion of the pixel electrode 30 are offset and alleviated.

Then, when the liquid crystal molecules 14 are inclined in the horizontal direction, the influence of the electric field from the adjacent pixel or the edge portion of the pixel electrode 30 on the liquid crystal molecules 14 is reduced by the pinholes 34 of the pixel electrode 30. The liquid crystal molecules 14 therein are tilted in the direction of about 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis, and the transmitted light passing through the liquid crystal layer can be efficiently used. Further, the auxiliary protrusions 33a and 33b can further reduce the influence on the liquid crystal molecules 14 at the edge portion of the pixel electrode 30, and the actual tilted state of the liquid crystal molecules 14 in the pixel and the ideal tilted state (with respect to the transmission axis). 45 °) and the unevenness in display can be reduced.

The shape of the pinhole 34 is not limited to a substantially square shape as long as the influences of the peripheral portions of the pixel electrodes can be offset from each other, and the shape and the number can be changed appropriately. According to the experiment, when the widths of the slits and the protrusions are set to be substantially the same, the transmittance of the fifth embodiment is improved by about 7% as compared with the first embodiment ((transmittance (fifth embodiment)). / Transmittance (first embodiment) ≈1.07).

Next, a sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the form of slits and protrusions, but is the same in other configurations, and the same reference numerals are used for the same configurations and the description thereof is omitted. FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically showing the positional relationship between the pixel electrodes and the protrusions of the sixth embodiment, in which the slit 36 is formed in the pixel electrode 35 and the protrusion 37 is formed on the second substrate 8.

The protrusion 37 is formed in a zigzag shape over a plurality of pixels, and its linear portion is 45 with respect to the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 15 and 16 when viewed from the normal direction of the second substrate 8.
It extends in the direction of °. In a substantially central portion of one pixel, a protrusion 37a extending from one adjacent pixel bends 90 ° and extends to the adjacent pixel again, and a protrusion 37b extending from the other adjacent pixel forms a straight portion of the protrusion 37a bent at a right angle. It is arranged in parallel with and is located near the corner of the pixel.
A second protrusion 39 is narrower than the protrusion 37 and extends in the same direction as the adjacent protrusion 37. The second protrusion 39 is arranged near the edge of the pixel electrode 35.

At the intersection of the protrusion 37 and the pixel electrode 35, an auxiliary protrusion 38a is formed branching from the protrusion 37 and extending along the edge portion of the pixel electrode 35, and at the edge portion of the pixel electrode 35 adjacent to the slit 36b. Auxiliary protrusion 38b along
Is formed. The auxiliary protrusions 38a and 38b reduce the influence of the electric field from the edge portion of the pixel electrode 35 or the adjacent pixels on the liquid crystal molecules 14.

Slits 36a are formed between the protrusions 37a and 37b, and a slit 36b is formed between the protrusions 37a and the edge portion of the pixel electrode 35. The slit 36a exists in the same direction as the extending direction of the adjacent protrusions 37, and is in the direction of 45 ° with respect to the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 15 and 16. A portion of the contour of the slit facing the protrusion 37 is in the same direction as the extending direction and has a substantially parallelogram shape. Similarly, with respect to the slit 36b, the extending direction thereof is parallel to the adjacent protrusion 37a,
The contour of the slit 36b is also parallel to the extending direction at the portion facing the protrusion 37. A second slit 40 is narrower than the slit 36 and is formed from the edge portion to the central portion of the pixel electrode 35, and is arranged in parallel with the adjacent second protrusion 39. Second protrusion 39 and second slit 4
0s are provided in a pair and are formed between the protrusion 37 and the slit 36 and between the protrusion 37 and the corner of the pixel electrode 35.
The second slit 40 is provided so as to be located between 7 and the second protrusion 39. Second protrusion 39 and second slit 40
Is arranged near the edge of the pixel electrode 35, and the pixel electrode 3
The influence of the edge portion 5 on the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules 14 is reduced. Therefore, the second protrusion 39 and the second slit 40 do not extend to the central portion of the pixel electrode 35.

When the liquid crystal molecules 14 are inclined in the horizontal direction, the influence of the electric field from the adjacent pixel and the edge portion of the pixel electrode 35 on the liquid crystal molecules 14 is reduced by the second projections 39 and the second slits 40, and the pixel The liquid crystal molecules 14 in the electrode 35 are tilted in the direction of about 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis, and the transmitted light passing through the liquid crystal layer can be efficiently used. Further, the auxiliary protrusions 38a and 38b can further reduce the influence on the liquid crystal molecules 14 at the edge portion of the pixel electrode 35, and the actual tilted state of the liquid crystal molecules 14 in the pixel and the ideal tilted state (with respect to the transmission axis). 45 °) and the unevenness in display can be reduced.

The size and shape of the second protrusions and the second slits, and the locations where they are formed can be appropriately changed as long as they can cancel out the influences of the peripheral portions of the pixel electrodes. For example, the second protrusions and the second slits can be changed. They may have different sizes. According to the experiments, when the widths of the slits and the protrusions are set to be substantially the same, the transmittance of the sixth embodiment is improved by about 7% as compared with the first embodiment ((transmittance (sixth embodiment)). / Transmittance (first embodiment) ≈1.07).

Next, a seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the form of slits and protrusions, but is the same in other configurations, and the same reference numerals are used for the same configurations and the description thereof is omitted. FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically showing the positional relationship between the pixel electrodes and the protrusions of the seventh embodiment, in which the slits 42 are formed in the pixel electrodes 41 and the protrusions 43 are formed on the second substrate 8.

The protrusion 43 is formed in a zigzag shape over a plurality of pixels, and its linear portion is 45 with respect to the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 15 and 16 when viewed from the normal direction of the second substrate 8.
It extends in the direction of °. In a substantially central portion of one pixel, a protrusion 43a extending from one adjacent pixel bends 90 ° and extends to the adjacent pixel again, and a protrusion 43b extending from the other adjacent pixel forms a straight portion of the protrusion 43a bent at a right angle. It is arranged in parallel with and is located near the corner of the pixel.
The second protrusion 44 is narrower than the protrusion 43 and extends in the same direction as the adjacent protrusion 43. The second protrusion 44 is arranged near the edge portion of the pixel electrode 41.

Slits 42a are formed between the protrusions 43a and 43b, respectively, and a slit 42b is formed between the protrusions 43a and the edge portion of the pixel electrode 41. The slit 42a exists in the same direction as the extending direction of the adjacent protrusions 43, and is in the direction of 45 ° with respect to the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 15 and 16. A portion of the contour of the slit that faces the protrusion 43 is in the same direction as the extending direction, and has a substantially parallelogram shape. Similarly, with respect to the slit 42b, the extending direction thereof is parallel to the adjacent protrusion 43a,
The contour of the slit 42b is also parallel to the extending direction at the portion facing the protrusion 43.

The width 45 is narrower than that of the slit 42 and is the second portion formed from the edge portion to the central portion of the pixel electrode 41.
It is a slit and is arranged in parallel to the adjacent second protrusion 44. The second protrusion 44 and the second slit 45 are provided in a pair, and are formed between the protrusion 44 and the slit 45 and between the protrusion 43 and the corner of the pixel electrode 41, and between the protrusion 43 and the second protrusion 44. The second slit 45 is provided so as to be located. One of the adjacent second protrusions 44 and the second slits 45 extends toward the center of the pixel electrode 41, and the second protrusions 44 and the second slits 45 are arranged along the peripheral edge of the pixel electrode 41. Have been replaced. The second protrusion 4
The shapes of the end portions of 4 and the second slit 45 are not parallel to the edge portion of the pixel electrode 41, but are perpendicular to their respective extending directions. Second protrusion 44 and second slit 4
5 is arranged near the edge portion of the pixel electrode 41, and reduces the influence of the edge portion of the pixel electrode 41 on the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules 14. Therefore, the second protrusion 44 and the second slit 45 do not extend to the central portion of the pixel electrode 41.

When the liquid crystal molecules 14 are tilted in the horizontal direction, the influence of the electric field from the adjacent pixel and the edge portion of the pixel electrode 41 on the liquid crystal molecules 14 is reduced by the second protrusions 44 and the second slits 45. The liquid crystal molecules 14 in the electrode 41 are inclined in the direction of about 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis, and the transmitted light passing through the liquid crystal layer can be efficiently used.

The size and shape of the second protrusion and the second slit, and the formation location can be changed as appropriate as long as they can cancel out the influence of the peripheral portion of the pixel electrode. For example, the second protrusion and the second slit can be changed. The size may be the same, or the end shapes of the second protrusion and the second slit may be parallel to the edge part of the pixel electrode.

Next, an eighth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment adopts the form of the slits and protrusions of the third embodiment and the second protrusion and second slit of the sixth embodiment, and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same configurations. The same reference numerals are used for those and description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing the positional relationship between the pixel electrodes and the protrusions according to the eighth embodiment. The pixel electrode 46 is provided with the slit 47 and the second slit 51, and the second substrate 8 is provided with the protrusion 48 and the protrusion 48. Two protrusions 50 are formed.

The protrusion 48 is formed in a zigzag shape over a plurality of pixels, and the extending direction of the substantially straight line portion is the polarizing plate 1.
The direction is 45 ° with respect to the transmission axes of 5 and 16. The protrusion 48a is bent at a right angle in the central portion of the pixel electrode 46, and the protrusion 48b is arranged in parallel with the protrusion 48a and is located at the corner of the pixel electrode 46. The slit 4 of the contour of the protrusion 48
The portion facing 7 is about 5 ° with respect to the extending direction of the protrusion 48.
The protrusions 48 are formed so as to be offset from each other, and the width of each protrusion 48 is gradually narrowed from the edge portion to the central portion of the pixel electrode 46.

Reference numeral 49a is branched from the projection 48 and is divided into the pixel electrode 4
49b is an auxiliary protrusion extending along the edge portion of 6
Is an auxiliary protrusion formed along the edge of the pixel electrode 46 adjacent to the slit 47b. This auxiliary protrusion 49
The influences of the electric field from the edge portion of the pixel electrode 46 and the adjacent pixel on the liquid crystal molecules 14 are reduced by a and 49b.

The slit 47 is formed so as to be located in the middle of each of the plurality of protrusions 48.
Slits 47a are provided between the respective portions b, and a slit 47b is provided between the projection 48a and the edge portion of the pixel electrode 46. Each slit 47 is formed such that its extending direction is parallel to the extending direction of the adjacent protrusion 48, and a portion of the contour of the slit 47 facing the protrusion 48 is formed with a deviation of about 5 ° with respect to the extending direction. ing.

Reference numeral 50 is a second projection having a width narrower than that of the projection 48 and extending in the same direction as the adjacent projection 48. Reference numeral 51 is narrower than the slit 47 and arranged in parallel with the second projection 50 adjacent thereto. It is the formed second slit. The second protrusion 50 and the second slit 51 are provided in a pair and are formed near the edge portion of the pixel electrode 46 and between the protrusion 48 and the slit 47 and between the protrusion 48 and the corner portion of the pixel electrode 46. .

When the liquid crystal molecules 14 are inclined in the horizontal direction, the influence of the electric field from the adjacent pixel or the edge portion of the pixel electrode 46 on the liquid crystal molecules 14 can be reduced by the second protrusions 50 and the second slits 51. Further, for example, the liquid crystal molecules 14 are affected by the electric field due to them, and thus the projections 48 and the slits 47 are formed.
Even if the liquid crystal molecules 14 are tilted in a direction other than 90 °, the liquid crystal molecules 14 are tilted in the direction of about 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis, and the transmitted light passing through the liquid crystal layer is efficiently used. be able to. Further, the auxiliary protrusions 49a and 49b can reduce the influence on the liquid crystal molecules 14 at the edge portion of the pixel electrode 46, and the actual tilted state and the ideal tilted state (relative to the transmission axis) of the liquid crystal molecules 14 in the pixel can be reduced. The difference from the (45 ° direction) becomes uniform, and display unevenness can be reduced.

The correction angle of the contours of the slits 47 and the protrusions 48 may be set to about 3 ° to about 15 °, and particularly the effect is improved by setting the correction angle to about 5 ° to about 10 °. In addition, display unevenness can be reduced by adjusting the widths of the slits 47 and the protrusions 48.

Next, a ninth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the form of slits and protrusions, but is the same in other configurations, and the same reference numerals are used for the same configurations and the description thereof is omitted. FIG. 10 shows the ninth
It is a top view which shows typically the positional relationship of the pixel electrode of an Example, and a protrusion, the slit 53 is formed in the pixel electrode 52, and 2nd.
The protrusion 54 is formed on the substrate 8.

The protrusion 54 is formed in a zigzag shape over a plurality of pixels, and its linear portion is 45 with respect to the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 15 and 16 when viewed from the normal direction of the second substrate 8.
It extends in the direction of °. In a substantially central portion of one pixel, a protrusion 54a extending from one adjacent pixel bends 90 ° and extends to the adjacent pixel again, and a protrusion 54b extending from the other adjacent pixel forms a straight line portion of the protrusion 54a bent at a right angle. It is arranged in parallel with and is located near the corner of the pixel.
Reference numeral 55 denotes an auxiliary protrusion that branches from the protrusion 54 and extends along the peripheral edge of the pixel electrode 52, and reduces the influence of the electric field from the edge portion of the pixel electrode 52 or an adjacent pixel on the liquid crystal molecules 14. .

Slits 53a are formed between the protrusions 54a and 54b, respectively, and a slit 53b is formed between the protrusions 54a and the edge portion of the pixel electrode 52. The slit 53a exists in the same direction as the extending direction of the adjacent projection 54, and is in the direction of 45 ° with respect to the transmission axes of the polarizing plates 15 and 16. A portion of the contour of the slit which faces the protrusion 54 is in the same direction as the extending direction and has a substantially parallelogram shape. Similarly, with respect to the slit 53b, the extending direction thereof is parallel to the adjacent protrusion 54a,
The contour of the slit 53b is also parallel to the extending direction at the portion facing the protrusion 54.

When the liquid crystal molecules 14 are inclined in the horizontal direction, the influence of the electric field from the adjacent pixel or the edge portion of the pixel electrode 52 on the liquid crystal molecules 14 is reduced by the auxiliary protrusions 55, and the liquid crystal molecules in the pixel electrodes 52 are reduced. 14 is inclined in the direction of about 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis, and the transmitted light passing through the liquid crystal layer can be efficiently used. Further, the difference between the actual tilted state of the liquid crystal molecules 14 in the pixel and the ideal tilted state (45 ° with respect to the transmission axis) becomes uniform, and display unevenness can be reduced.

If the influence of the peripheral portion of the pixel electrode 52 is reduced, the auxiliary protrusion 55 may not be formed on the entire peripheral portion of the pixel electrode 52, and the influence of the edge portion of the pixel electrode 52 is greatest. You may form only in a place.

[0082]

According to the present invention, in a liquid crystal display device provided with a projection or a slit for regulating the tilt direction of liquid crystal molecules, a portion of the contour of the slit facing the projection is corrected by a correction angle with respect to the extending direction of the slit. By forming it in a direction shifted by an amount, or by forming a portion of the contour of the protrusion facing the slit by a correction angle with respect to the extending direction of the protrusion, liquid crystal molecules from adjacent pixels are formed. Even when the projections or slits are tilted in a direction other than 90 ° due to the influence of the electric field, the liquid crystal molecules can be tilted in a direction of about 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis of the deflection plate.
The transmitted light passing through the liquid crystal layer can be efficiently used.

Further, a mitigating means for mitigating the influence of the electric field from the edge portion to the liquid crystal molecules is provided at the edge portion of the pixel electrode, and as the mitigating means, a sawtooth portion is formed at the edge portion of the pixel electrode, or Since a plurality of pinholes are formed in the edge portion of the electrode or a second slit is formed in the edge portion of the pixel electrode, influence of an electric field from an adjacent pixel or influence on liquid crystal molecules at the edge portion of the pixel electrode is prevented. Can be reduced and the actual tilted state of liquid crystal molecules in the pixel and ideal tilted state (45 ° direction with respect to the transmission axis)
The difference between and becomes uniform, and display unevenness can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between pixel electrodes and protrusions of a liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between pixel electrodes and protrusions of the liquid crystal device of the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between pixel electrodes and protrusions of the liquid crystal device of the third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between pixel electrodes and protrusions of the liquid crystal device of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the positional relationship between pixel electrodes and protrusions of the liquid crystal device of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between pixel electrodes and protrusions of the liquid crystal device of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the positional relationship between pixel electrodes and protrusions of the liquid crystal device of the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between pixel electrodes and protrusions of the liquid crystal device of the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between pixel electrodes and protrusions of the liquid crystal device of the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a positional relationship between pixel electrodes and protrusions of a conventional liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a tilted state of liquid crystal molecules in a conventional liquid crystal display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 First substrate 4, 18, 22, 26, 30, 35, 41, 46, 52
Pixel electrodes 6, 19, 23, 27, 31, 36, 42, 47, 53
Slit 8 Second substrate 11 Transparent electrodes 12, 20, 24, 28, 32, 37, 43, 48, 5
4 Protrusions 14 Liquid crystal molecules 21, 25, 29, 33, 38, 49, 55 Auxiliary protrusions 39, 44, 50 Second protrusions 40, 45, 51 Second slits

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yoshitaka Mori             3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture Tottori             Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinichiro Tanaka             3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture Tottori             Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 2H090 HA15 HA16 HD14 LA01 MA01                       MA07 MA10 MA15 MB11 MB14                 2H092 GA13 PA02

Claims (28)

[Claims] 1. A first substrate on which pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix, a second substrate on which a transparent electrode is formed, and strip-shaped protrusions formed on either the first substrate or the second substrate. Slits formed on the other one of the first substrate and the second substrate and corresponding to the protrusions, a vertical alignment processing alignment film laminated on the both substrates, and the both substrates And a liquid crystal layer having a negative dielectric anisotropy sandwiched therebetween, the liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned when an electric field is not applied to the liquid crystal layer, and the slit and the liquid crystal layer when an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer. In a liquid crystal display device in which liquid crystal molecules are inclined and arranged in a direction regulated by a protrusion, the slit is provided substantially parallel to an extending direction in which the protrusion is present, and a portion of the contour of the slit facing the protrusion. Is the slit A liquid crystal display device, wherein the liquid crystal display device is formed in a direction shifted by a correction angle with respect to the extending direction of the liquid crystal display device. 2. A first substrate on which pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix, a second substrate on which transparent electrodes are formed, and strip-shaped protrusions formed on either the first substrate or the second substrate. Slits formed on the other one of the first substrate and the second substrate and corresponding to the protrusions, a vertical alignment processing alignment film laminated on the both substrates, and the both substrates And a liquid crystal layer having a negative dielectric anisotropy sandwiched therebetween, the liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned when an electric field is not applied to the liquid crystal layer, and the slit and the liquid crystal layer when an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer. In a liquid crystal display device in which liquid crystal molecules are inclined and arranged in a direction regulated by a protrusion, the slit is provided substantially parallel to an extending direction in which the protrusion is present, and a portion of the contour of the protrusion facing the slit. Is how the protrusion extends A liquid crystal display device, characterized in that the liquid crystal display device is formed in a direction shifted by a correction angle from the direction. 3. A first substrate on which pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix, a second substrate on which a transparent electrode is formed, and strip-shaped protrusions formed on either the first substrate or the second substrate. Slits formed on the other one of the first substrate and the second substrate and corresponding to the protrusions, a vertical alignment processing alignment film laminated on the both substrates, and the both substrates And a liquid crystal layer having a negative dielectric anisotropy sandwiched therebetween, the liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned when an electric field is not applied to the liquid crystal layer, and the slit and the liquid crystal layer when an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer. In a liquid crystal display device in which liquid crystal molecules are inclined and arranged in a direction regulated by a protrusion, the slit is provided substantially parallel to an extending direction in which the protrusion is present, and a portion of the contour of the slit facing the protrusion. Is the extension of the slit It is formed in a direction displaced by a first correction angle with respect to the existing direction, and a portion of the contour of the protrusion facing the slit is displaced by a second correction angle with respect to the extending direction of the protrusion. A liquid crystal display device, which is formed in a vertical direction. 4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein the first correction angle and the second correction angle are the same. 5. A first substrate on which pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix, a second substrate on which a transparent electrode is formed, and strip-shaped protrusions formed on either the first substrate or the second substrate. Slits formed on the other one of the first substrate and the second substrate and corresponding to the protrusions, a vertical alignment processing alignment film laminated on the both substrates, and the both substrates And a liquid crystal layer having a negative dielectric anisotropy sandwiched therebetween, the liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned when an electric field is not applied to the liquid crystal layer, and the slit and the liquid crystal layer when an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer. In a liquid crystal display device in which liquid crystal molecules are arranged so as to be inclined in a direction regulated by a protrusion, a relaxation means is provided at an edge portion of the pixel electrode to reduce an influence of an electric field applied from the edge portion to the liquid crystal molecule. LCD table featuring Indicating device. 6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein a serrated portion is formed at an edge portion of the pixel electrode as the relaxing means. 7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6, wherein an edge portion in the longitudinal direction of the pixel electrode has a sawtooth shape. 8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of pinholes are formed in the edge portion of the pixel electrode as the relaxing means. 9. The second slit is formed at the edge portion of the pixel electrode as the relaxing means.
The described liquid crystal display device. 10. A second protrusion is formed on the second substrate so as to correspond to the second slit, and the second protrusions are adjacent to each other when viewed from a direction normal to the second substrate. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 9, wherein the liquid crystal display device is substantially parallel to the second slit and is located near an edge portion of the pixel electrode. 11. The liquid crystal display according to claim 5, wherein the relaxation means is arranged between the protrusion and the slit when viewed from a direction normal to the second substrate. apparatus. 12. The slit is provided substantially parallel to an extending direction in which the protrusion is present, and a portion of the contour of the slit facing the protrusion is displaced from the extending direction of the slit by a correction angle. 12. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein the liquid crystal display device is formed in a different direction. 13. The slit is provided substantially parallel to an extending direction in which the protrusion is present, and a portion of the contour of the protrusion facing the slit is displaced by a correction angle from the extending direction of the protrusion. 13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein the liquid crystal display device is formed in a different direction. 14. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the slit is formed in the pixel electrode, and the protrusion is formed on the second substrate. 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the correction angle is set to about 3 ° to about 15 °.
The described liquid crystal display device. 16. The slit according to claim 1, wherein the slit is formed so that its width is narrower in the vicinity of the edge of the pixel electrode than in the vicinity of the central portion of the pixel electrode. Liquid crystal display device. 17. The projection according to claim 1, wherein the projection is formed such that its width is wider near the edge of the pixel electrode than near the center of the pixel electrode. Liquid crystal display device. 18. A first polarizing plate arranged outside the first substrate, and a second polarizing plate arranged outside the second substrate, wherein the transmission axes of both polarizing plates are orthogonal to each other. 18. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein, in the arranged liquid crystal display device, a transmission axis of one of the polarizing plates and an extending direction of the slit form about 45 °. 19. A first polarizing plate arranged outside the first substrate and a second polarizing plate arranged outside the second substrate, wherein the transmission axes of both polarizing plates are orthogonal to each other. 19. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein, in the arranged liquid crystal display device, a transmission axis of either one of the polarizing plates and an extending direction of the protrusion form about 45 °. 20. A first substrate on which pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix, a slit formed on the pixel electrode, a second substrate on which a transparent electrode is formed, and a second substrate formed on the second substrate corresponding to the slits. A strip-shaped projection formed on the both substrates, an alignment film laminated on the both substrates and subjected to a vertical alignment treatment, a liquid crystal layer having a negative dielectric anisotropy sandwiched between the both substrates, and an outer surface of the first substrate. A first polarizing plate arranged and a second polarizing plate arranged outside the second substrate and having a transmission axis orthogonal to the transmission axis of the first polarizing plate are provided, and an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer. In the liquid crystal display device in which the liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned when not applied, and when the electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal molecules are arranged so as to be inclined in a direction regulated by the slits and the protrusions. Which part is facing the protrusion A liquid crystal display device, characterized in that it is formed in a direction shifted by a correction angle from a direction of 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis of one of the polarizing plates. 21. A first substrate having pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix, a slit formed in the pixel electrode, a second substrate having a transparent electrode, and a second substrate corresponding to the slits. A strip-shaped projection formed on the both substrates, an alignment film laminated on the both substrates and subjected to a vertical alignment treatment, a liquid crystal layer having a negative dielectric anisotropy sandwiched between the both substrates, and an outer surface of the first substrate. A first polarizing plate arranged and a second polarizing plate arranged outside the second substrate and having a transmission axis orthogonal to the transmission axis of the first polarizing plate are provided, and an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer. In the liquid crystal display device in which the liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned when not applied, and when the electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal molecules are arranged so as to be inclined in a direction regulated by the slits and the protrusions. Which part is facing the slit A liquid crystal display device, characterized in that it is formed in a direction shifted by a correction angle from a direction of 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis of one of the polarizing plates. 22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the correction angle is set to about 3 ° to about 15 °.
1. The liquid crystal display device according to 1. 23. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed in a zigzag shape over a plurality of pixels. 24. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary protrusion provided on the second substrate along an edge portion of the pixel electrode. 25. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 24, wherein the auxiliary protrusions are arranged along ⅔ or more of a longitudinal edge portion of the pixel electrode. 26. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the height of the protrusion is about 1.5 μm or more. 27. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is made of a positive material. 28. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the first substrate and the second substrate is set to about 3.5 μm or less.