JP2003279962A - Liquid crystal display device and electronic appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a configuration capable of performing high quality display even when the alignment of liquid crystal molecules is disturbed in the boundary area of a transmission display area and a reflection display area and the boundary area of an adjacent pixel area and capable of being easily manufactured at a low cost in the liquid crystal display device of a multi-gap type. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid crystal display device is provided with a first substrate 10, a second substrate 20 and a liquid crystal layer 5, an optical reflection layer 4 stipulating the reflection display area 31 and the transmission display area 32 is formed in the pixel area 3 and a layer thickness adjusting layer 6 in which an area equivalent to the transmission display area 32 is turned to an opening 40 is formed on the upper layer side. In the layer thickness adjusting layer 6, a color filter lamination part 8 is two-dimensionally or three- dimensionally overlapped at the boundary part of the reflection display area 31 and the transmission display area 32. Also, the color filter lamination part 8 is two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally overlapped in the boundary area of the adjacent pixel area as well. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly to a transflective liquid crystal display device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a multi-gap type liquid crystal display device in which the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is changed to an appropriate value between the transmissive display area and the reflective display area within one pixel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among various liquid crystal display devices, one capable of displaying an image in both a transmissive mode and a reflective mode is called a semi-transmissive / reflective liquid crystal display device and is used in every scene.

9 (A), 9 (B), 10 (C),
(D) is a cross-sectional view of a conventional liquid crystal display device, a plan view schematically showing one of a plurality of pixel regions formed in a matrix in the liquid crystal display device, respectively, and AA 'thereof.
It is a sectional view and a BB 'sectional view.

In this semi-transmissive / reflective liquid crystal display device, as shown in FIGS. 9 (A), 9 (B), 10 (C), and 10 (D), a transparent film having a first transparent electrode 11 is formed. The first substrate 10, the transparent second substrate 20 on which the second transparent electrode 21 is formed on the surface side facing the first electrode 11, and the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20. And a liquid crystal layer 5 of TN (twisted nematic) mode held between them. Further, on the first substrate 10, a light reflection layer 4 constituting a reflection display area 31 is formed in the pixel area 3 where the first transparent electrode 11 and the second transparent electrode 21 face each other. The remaining area where 4 is not formed is the transparent display area 3
It is 2. The reflective display area 3 is provided above the light reflective layer 4.
1 and the transmissive display region 32, a reflective display color filter 81 and a transmissive display color filter 82 are formed, and the transparent electrode 1 is provided through the overcoat layer 12.
1. An alignment film 13 is formed. In addition, the second substrate 20
A transparent electrode 21 and an alignment film 22 are also formed on the upper side of the substrate. Polarizing plates 41 and 42 are arranged on the outer surfaces of the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20, respectively.
A backlight device 7 is arranged to face the first side.

In the liquid crystal display device having such a structure, of the light emitted from the backlight device 7, the light incident on the transmissive display region 32 is from the first substrate 10 side as indicated by the arrow L1. The light enters the liquid crystal layer 5, is optically modulated by the liquid crystal layer 5, and then is emitted as transmission display light from the second substrate 20 side to display an image (transmission mode).

Of the external light incident from the second substrate 20 side, the light incident on the reflective display area 31 is indicated by the arrow L2.
As shown by, the light reaches the light reflection layer 4 through the liquid crystal layer 5, is reflected by the light reflection layer 4, and again passes through the liquid crystal layer 5 to the second
The image is displayed by being emitted as reflection display light from the substrate 20 side (reflection mode).

When such a light modulation is performed, when the twist angle of the liquid crystal is set to be small, the change in the polarization state is caused by the product of the refractive index difference Δn and the layer thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 5 (retardation Δn · d). ), The display with good visibility can be performed by optimizing this value. However, in the semi-transmissive / reflective liquid crystal display device, the transmissive display light passes through the liquid crystal layer 5 only once and is emitted, whereas the reflective display light passes through the liquid crystal layer 5 twice. Therefore, in both the transmitted display light and the reflected display light,
It is difficult to optimize the retardation Δn · d. Therefore, when the layer thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 5 is set so that the display in the reflective mode has good visibility, the display in the transmissive mode is sacrificed. On the contrary, when the layer thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 5 is set so that the display in the transmissive mode has good visibility, the display in the reflective mode is sacrificed.

Therefore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-242226 discloses a structure in which the layer thickness d of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display area 31 is made smaller than the layer thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 5 in the transmissive display area 32. Such a structure is called a multi-gap type, and for example, as shown in FIG. 11, a region corresponding to the transmissive display region 32 is provided on the lower layer side of the first transparent electrode 11 and the upper layer side of the light reflection layer 4. Can be realized by the layer thickness adjusting layer 6 having openings. That is, in the transmissive display region 32, the layer thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 5 is larger than the reflective display region 31 by the film thickness of the layer thickness adjusting layer 6,
It is possible to optimize the retardation Δn · d for both the transmissive display light and the reflective display light. Here, in order to adjust the layer thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 5 with the layer thickness adjusting layer 6,
It is necessary to form the layer thickness adjusting layer 6 thickly, and a photosensitive resin or the like is used for forming such a thick layer.

[0009]

However, when the layer thickness adjusting layer 6 is formed of the photosensitive resin layer, a photolithography technique is used, which is caused by exposure accuracy at that time or side etching at the time of development. Then, the layer thickness adjusting layer 6
Becomes an obliquely upward slope 60 at the boundary between the reflective display area 31 and the transmissive display area 32. As a result, in the boundary portion between the reflective display area 31 and the transmissive display area 32,
As a result of the layer thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 5 changing continuously, the retardation Δn · d also changes continuously. In addition, the liquid crystal molecules included in the liquid crystal layer 5 are
Although the initial alignment state is defined by the alignment films 13 and 22 formed on the outermost surface of the substrate 20 of FIG.
Since the alignment regulating force of the alignment film 13 acts obliquely, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is disturbed in this portion. Even if the surface is not inclined, the step and the step are vertical, and the alignment of liquid crystal molecules may be disturbed at the boundary.

For this reason, in the conventional liquid crystal display device, when the display is designed in normally black, for example, the entire surface should be displayed in black without applying an electric field.
Light leaks at a portion corresponding to 0, and a display defect such as a decrease in contrast occurs.

Further, even in the boundary area between adjacent pixel areas,
The orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is disturbed due to the difference in the polarity of the transparent electrode, and light leaks. In the conventional liquid crystal display device, a light-shielding film is provided in this portion with a metal, a resin, or the like, but the number of steps is increased by the provision of the light-shielding film, which leads to an increase in cost.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a multi-gap type liquid crystal display device in which the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer is changed to an appropriate value between the transmissive display region and the reflective display region within one pixel region. , And electronic equipment using the same, even if the retardation is inappropriate at the boundary between the transmissive display area and the reflective display area, or the alignment of liquid crystal molecules is disturbed, high-quality display is achieved. Even if the liquid crystal molecules are disturbed in the boundary area between adjacent pixel areas, the light-shielding film need not be formed of metal, resin, etc., and the cost is lower and the quality is higher. It is to provide a structure capable of displaying.

[0013]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, a first substrate on which a first transparent electrode is formed, and a second substrate on the side facing the first transparent electrode are provided. A liquid crystal display device comprising: a second substrate having a transparent electrode formed thereon; and a liquid crystal layer held between the first substrate and the second substrate, the liquid crystal display device comprising: In the pixel area where the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode face each other, a reflective display area is formed, and a light reflective layer in which the remaining area of the pixel area is a transmissive display area; A layer thickness adjusting layer that makes the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer smaller than the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region, and the first transparent electrode are provided in this order from the lower layer side to the upper layer side, and the reflection layer A color filter for reflective display is formed in the display area, A color filter for transmissive display is formed in the region, and the color filter for transmissive display and the color for transmissive display are provided in a boundary region between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region and a boundary region between adjacent pixel regions. The filter and the filter are partly laminated.

In the present invention, the reflective display color filter and the transmissive display color filter are laminated in the boundary region between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region and in the boundary region between the adjacent pixel regions. For example, R of the transmission color filter
(Red), G (green), B (blue), and B (blue) of the reflection color filter are laminated. Therefore, when the thickness of the layer thickness adjusting layer continuously changes in the boundary region between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region, and the retardation Δn · d continuously changes in this portion, or Even when the alignment of liquid crystal molecules is disturbed, light is absorbed by the laminated color filters, and this part functions as a light-shielding film. It can prevent leakage. Further, even if the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is disturbed in the boundary region between the adjacent pixel regions due to the difference in the polarities of the transparent electrodes, it is possible to prevent the leakage of the reflected display light and the transmitted display light from this region. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of problems such as light leakage during black display, and
A liquid crystal display device having high display quality and low cost can be provided because a step of forming a light-shielding film of metal, resin, or the like, which is provided to prevent light leakage from a boundary region between adjacent pixel regions can be omitted. it can.

In the above structure, the transmissive display color filter and the reflective display color filter are different color filters having different characteristics in the transmissive display region and the reflective display region. For example, the transmissive display color filter may be more colored than the reflective display color filter.

In this case, the transmitted display light that passes through the color filter only once is colored in the same manner as the reflected display light that passes through the color filter twice, so that the difference in light and shade of the color between the transmissive display and the reflective display. And a high quality color display can be obtained.

In the present invention, the reflective display color filter and the transmissive display color filter may be formed on either the first substrate side or the second substrate side. In the present invention, in the layer thickness adjusting layer, the boundary area between the reflective display area and the transmissive display area is an inclined surface.

In the present invention, the laminated portion of the color filter for reflective display and the color filter for transmissive display is planar or three-dimensional with the slope of the layer thickness adjusting layer, the boundary region of the adjacent pixel regions. It is preferable that they are formed so as to at least partially overlap. As used herein, "the laminated portion of the reflective display color filter and the transmissive display color filter is at least partially three-dimensionally overlapped with the slope of the layer thickness adjusting layer and the boundary region of the adjacent pixel regions". A laminated portion of the reflective display color filter and the transmissive display color filter, which is provided on the second substrate side, is formed on the inclined surface of the layer thickness adjusting layer on the first substrate side and in the adjacent pixel region. It means that it is formed corresponding to the boundary area.

In the present invention, the transmissive display area is arranged, for example, in the center of the pixel area. The “central portion in the pixel area” here means a case where the edge of the transmissive display area does not overlap the edge of the pixel area.

In the present invention, the pixel area may be formed as a rectangular area, and the transmissive display area may have a rectangular shape in which at least one side overlaps a side of the pixel area.

The wider the formation area of the laminated portion of the color filter for reflective display and the color filter for transmissive display is, the darker the display is because the amount of light contributing to display is reduced. When overlapped, the total length of the boundary area between the transmissive display area and the reflective display area can be shortened by that amount, so that the reduction in the amount of light contributing to display can be minimized. Further, since a laminated portion of the reflective display color filter and the transmissive display color filter is formed in the boundary area between the adjacent pixel areas, among the surroundings of the transmissive display area,
Since these portions do not contribute to the display as a matter of course, even if the retardation or the alignment of the liquid crystal is disturbed in this portion, the display quality is not deteriorated.

As such a configuration, for example, the transmissive display region is arranged at a position where one side overlaps with the side of the pixel region, and is arranged at a position where two sides overlap with the side of the pixel region. Or the configuration in which three sides overlap the sides of the pixel region.

The liquid crystal display device to which the present invention is applied can be used as a display device for electronic devices such as mobile phones and mobile computers.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure used in the following description,
In order to make each layer and each member recognizable in the drawing, the scale is different for each layer and each member.

[First Embodiment] FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2C, and 2D are cross-sectional views of a liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, and are formed in a matrix on the liquid crystal display device. FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing a plurality of pixel regions that are extracted and schematically showing the same, an AA ′ cross-sectional view, and a BB ′ cross-sectional view. Note that the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment has a basic configuration common to that of FIG. 11, and therefore parts having common functions are designated by the same reference numerals.

The pixel regions shown in FIGS. 1B, 2C, and 2D are TFDs (Thin Film Diodes) and thin film diodes (elements) for pixel switching in the active matrix liquid crystal display device. A common part is extracted and shown when any of TFTs (Thin Film Transistor) is used. The liquid crystal display device shown here is an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide, Indium T
a transparent first substrate 10 such as quartz or glass on which a first transparent electrode 11 made of an in oxide film or the like is formed;
A transparent second substrate 20, such as quartz or glass, having a second transparent electrode 21 also formed of an ITO film or the like on the side facing the electrode 11 of the first substrate 10, the second substrate 20 and the second substrate 20. And a liquid crystal layer 5 made of TN-mode liquid crystal held between the first transparent electrode 11 and the second transparent electrode 21. The region where the first transparent electrode 11 and the second transparent electrode 21 face each other directly contributes to the display. It is 3.

The first transparent electrode 11 is formed on the first substrate 10.
The rectangular light reflection layer 4 forming the reflection display region 31 is formed of an aluminum film or a silver alloy film in the rectangular pixel region 3 where the second transparent electrode 21 and the second transparent electrode 21 face each other.
A rectangular opening 40 is formed in the center of the. Therefore, in the pixel region 3, the region in which the light reflection layer 4 is formed is the reflection display region 31, but the region corresponding to the opening 40 is island-shaped in which the light reflection layer 4 is not formed, and , A rectangular transparent display area 32.

Polarizing plates 41 and 42 are disposed on the outer surfaces of the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20, respectively, and the backlight device 7 is disposed opposite to the polarizing plate 41 side.

In the liquid crystal display device thus constructed, of the light emitted from the backlight device 7, the light incident on the transmissive display area 32 is as shown by the arrow L1.
The light is incident on the liquid crystal layer 5 from the first substrate 10 side, where it is light-modulated and then emitted as transmission display light from the second substrate 20 side to display an image (transmission mode).

Of the external light incident from the second substrate 20 side, the light incident on the reflective display area 31 is indicated by the arrow L2.
As shown by, the light reaches the reflection layer 4 through the liquid crystal layer 5, is reflected by the reflection layer 4, and is emitted again as reflection display light from the second substrate 20 side through the liquid crystal layer 5 to display an image. Display (reflection mode).

Here, on the first substrate 10, a reflective display color filter 81 and a transmissive display color filter 82 are provided in each of the reflective display area 31 and the transmissive display area 32.
Is formed, color display is possible. As the transmissive display color filter 82, a filter having a higher degree of coloring than the reflective display color filter 81, such as a large amount of pigment, is used.

In such a semi-transmissive / reflective liquid crystal display device, the transmissive display light passes through the liquid crystal layer 5 only once and is emitted, whereas the reflective display light passes through the liquid crystal layer 5 twice.
It will pass once. Therefore, in the first substrate 10, the lower layer side of the first transparent electrode 11 and the light reflection layer 4
On the upper layer side, a layer thickness adjusting layer 6 made of a photosensitive resin layer such as acryl having an opening 40 in a region corresponding to the transmissive display region 32 is formed. Therefore, in the transmissive display area 32, as compared with the reflective display area 31, the layer thickness adjusting layer 6
Since the layer thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 5 is large by the film thickness of, the retardation Δn · d can be optimized for both the transmitted display light and the reflected display light.

When the layer thickness adjusting layer 6 is formed, a photolithography technique is used. The exposure accuracy at that time is
Alternatively, due to side etching or the like at the time of development, in the layer thickness adjusting layer 6, the boundary portion between the reflective display region 31 and the transmissive display region 32 is a slanted surface 60 that is obliquely upward. Therefore, at the boundary with the transmissive display region 32, the layer thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 5 changes continuously, resulting in retardation Δn ·
d also changes continuously. The initial alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules included in the liquid crystal layer 5 is defined by the alignment films 13 and 22 formed on the outermost layers of the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20, but the slope 60 has Since the alignment regulating force of the alignment film 13 acts obliquely, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is disturbed in this portion.

In addition, at the boundary between adjacent pixel areas,
The orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is disturbed due to the difference in the polarities of the transparent electrodes.

Since the boundary region in such an unstable state causes deterioration of display quality, in the present embodiment, the boundary region between the reflective display region 31 and the transmissive display region 32 is adjacent to the boundary region. A color filter laminated portion 8 including a reflective display color filter 81 and a transmissive display color filter 82 formed on the first substrate 10 is formed so as to overlap the entire boundary region of the pixel region. For example, in the color filter laminated portion 8, R (red), G (green), B (blue) of the transmissive display color filter and B (blue) of the reflective display color filter are laminated. That is, in this embodiment, the reflective display area 31 and the transmissive display area 32 are included.
The entire inner peripheral edge of the light reflection layer 4 for partitioning the
The color filter laminated portion 8 is formed in a rectangular frame shape along the periphery of the.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the color filter laminated portion 8 is formed so as to overlap the boundary area between the reflective display area 31 and the transmissive display area 32 and the boundary area between the adjacent pixel areas. . Therefore, even if the thickness of the layer thickness adjusting layer 6 changes continuously in the boundary region between the reflective display region 31 and the transmissive display region 32, and the retardation Δn · d changes continuously in this portion, Further, even if the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is disturbed, it is possible to prevent the leakage of the reflected display light and the transmitted display light from such a region. Further, even if the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is disturbed in the boundary region between the adjacent pixel regions due to the difference in the polarities of the transparent electrodes, it is possible to prevent the leakage of the reflected display light and the transmitted display light from this region. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of problems such as light leakage during black display, and thus it is possible to perform display with high contrast and high quality.

Conventionally, a light-shielding film made of metal, resin, or the like is provided to prevent light leakage from the boundary region between adjacent pixel regions, but in the present embodiment, it is necessary to form a light-shielding film made of metal, resin, or the like. Since the step of forming the light shielding film can be omitted,
A lower cost liquid crystal display device can be provided.

Further, since the transmissive display color filter 82 having a higher degree of coloring than the reflective display color filter 81 is used, the transmissive display light may pass through the color filter only once. Since the same color as the reflected display light that passes through the color filter twice is obtained, high quality color display can be performed.

In this embodiment, the color filter R of the transmissive display color filter in the color filter stacking portion 8 is used.
Since four layers of (red), G (green), B (blue), and B (blue) of the reflective display color filter are laminated, sufficient light shielding performance can be obtained. The number and types are not limited to this.

When manufacturing the liquid crystal display device having such a structure, the first substrate 10 is formed as follows.

First, after the first substrate 10 made of quartz or glass is prepared, a reflective metal film such as aluminum or silver alloy is formed on the entire surface of the first substrate 10, and then this metal is formed by using a photolithography technique. The film is patterned to form the light reflecting layer 4.

Next, the reflective display color filter 81 and the transmissive display color filter 82 are formed in predetermined regions by using a flexographic printing method, a photolithography technique, or an inkjet method. At this time, it is set in advance so that the color filter laminated portion 8 is formed with a mask or the like.

Next, a photosensitive resin is applied to the entire surface of the first substrate 10 by the spin coating method, and then exposed and developed to form the layer thickness adjusting layer 6.

Next, after forming a transparent conductive film such as an ITO film on the entire surface of the first substrate 10, the transparent conductive film is patterned by using the photolithography technique to form the first transparent electrode 11. To do.

Next, using a spin coating method, a polyimide resin is applied to the entire surface of the first substrate 10 and baked, and then an alignment treatment such as a rubbing treatment is performed to form an alignment film 13.

The first substrate 10 thus formed is separately attached to the formed second substrate 20 with a predetermined gap, and then liquid crystal is injected between the substrates. Form layer 5.

In this liquid crystal display device, non-linear elements for pixel switching such as TFDs and TFTs may be formed on the first substrate 10 side, so that each layer has a process of forming TFDs or TFTs. You may form using a part of.

[Second Embodiment] FIGS. 3A and 3B,
13C is a plan view schematically showing a plurality of pixel regions formed in a matrix in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment by arbitrarily extracting them, an AA ′ sectional view thereof, and BB, respectively. ′ It is a cross-sectional view. Since the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, parts having common functions are designated by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted. Since the manufacturing method is the same as that of the first embodiment,
The description is omitted. Note that a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment is almost the same as that of Embodiment 1;
Please refer to (A).

Similarly to the first embodiment, the pixel regions shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C include TFDs and TFTs as non-linear elements for pixel switching in the active matrix liquid crystal display device. Whatever is used, the common part is extracted and shown. The liquid crystal display device shown here is also a transparent first electrode in which the first transparent electrode 11 is formed.
Between the first substrate 10 and the transparent second substrate 20 having the second transparent electrode 21 formed on the surface side facing the first electrode 11, and between the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20. TN held
A liquid crystal layer 5 made of liquid crystal of a mode is provided, and a region where the first transparent electrode 11 and the second transparent electrode 21 face each other is a pixel region 3 that directly contributes to display.

The first transparent electrode 11 is formed on the first substrate 10.
The light reflection layer 4 forming the reflection display area 31 is formed of an aluminum film or a silver alloy film in the rectangular pixel area 3 where the second transparent electrode 21 and the second transparent electrode 21 face each other, and corresponds to one side of the light reflection layer 4. A rectangular opening 40 is formed in the portion.
Therefore, in the pixel area 3, the area where the light reflection layer 4 is formed is the reflection display area 31, but the opening 4
The area corresponding to 0 is a rectangular transmissive display area 32 in which the light reflection layer 4 is not formed. Here, one side of the transmissive display area 32 overlaps one side of the pixel area 3.

The first substrate 10 and the second substrate 2
Polarizing plates 41 and 42 are disposed on the outer surface of each of 0,
The backlight device 7 is arranged to face the polarizing plate 41. In addition, the reflective display area 3 is formed on the first substrate 10.
Since the reflective display color filter 81 and the transmissive display color filter 82 are formed in each of 1 and the transmissive display area 32, color display is possible.

Also in the present embodiment, in the first substrate 10, a region corresponding to the transmissive display region 32 is formed in the opening 4 on the lower layer side of the first transparent electrode 11 and the upper layer side of the light reflecting layer 4.
A layer thickness adjusting layer 6 made of a photosensitive resin layer having a thickness of 0 is formed. Therefore, in the transmissive display region 32, the layer thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 5 is larger than the reflective display region 31 by the film thickness of the layer thickness adjusting layer 6, so that both the transmissive display light and the reflective display light are exposed. Retardation Δn · d is optimized.

Here, in the layer thickness adjusting layer 6, the boundary portion between the reflective display area 31 and the transmissive display area 32 is a slant surface 60 which is obliquely upward. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the color filter laminated portion 8 is formed on the first substrate 10 along the boundary region between the reflective display region 31 and the transmissive display region 32 and around the pixel region 3. That is, the color filter laminate portion 8 is formed in a U-shape in the plane in the boundary area between the reflective display area 31 and the transmissive display area 32.

As described above, in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the color filter laminated portion is overlapped with the boundary area between the reflective display area 31 and the transmissive display area 32 and the boundary area of the adjacent pixel area. Since 8 is formed, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of problems such as light leakage in the boundary area between the reflective display area 31 and the transmissive display area 32 and the boundary area between adjacent pixel areas during black display. The same effect as that of the first embodiment is achieved.

Further, with respect to the color filter laminated portion 8, since the amount of light contributing to the display decreases as the formation area of the color filter laminated portion 8 becomes wider, the display tends to be darker. In the boundary area between the reflective display area 31 and the transmissive display area 32, a planar U-shape is formed, and the color filter laminated portion 8 is not formed in a portion corresponding to one side of the transmissive display area 32. Therefore, the total length of the color filter laminated portion 8 is short, and accordingly, the decrease in the amount of light contributing to display can be suppressed to the minimum.
Here, since the color filter laminated portion 8 is also formed in the boundary area between the adjacent pixel areas, the transmissive display area 32 is formed.
Since the part of the periphery covered with these color filter laminated parts 8 does not contribute to the display as a matter of course, even if the retardation or the alignment of the liquid crystal is disturbed in this part, the display quality is not deteriorated. Absent. Further, a configuration in which two sides of the transparent display region overlap the sides of the pixel region and a configuration in which three sides of the transparent display region overlap the sides of the pixel region may be adopted.

[Third Embodiment] FIGS. 4A and 5
(B), (C), and (D) are respectively a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment and one of a plurality of pixel regions formed in a matrix in the liquid crystal device of this embodiment. It is the top view which it extracts and shows typically, its AA 'sectional drawing, and BB' sectional drawing. Since the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, parts having common functions are designated by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted. The manufacturing method is also the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

Similarly to the first and second embodiments, the pixel regions shown in FIGS. 5B, 5C, and 5D also have TFDs and TFDs as non-linear elements for pixel switching in the active matrix liquid crystal display device. A common portion is extracted and shown when any of the TFTs is used. The liquid crystal display device shown here is also a transparent first substrate 10 on which the first transparent electrode 11 is formed, and a transparent first substrate 10 on which the second transparent electrode 21 is formed on the surface side facing the first electrode 11. Second substrate 20
And a liquid crystal layer 5 made of TN mode liquid crystal held between the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20,
A region where the first transparent electrode 11 and the second transparent electrode 21 face each other is a pixel region 3 that directly contributes to display.

The first transparent electrode 11 is formed on the first substrate 10.
The rectangular light reflection layer 4 forming the reflection display region 31 is formed of an aluminum film or a silver alloy film in the rectangular pixel region 3 where the second transparent electrode 21 and the second transparent electrode 21 face each other.
A rectangular opening 40 is formed in the center of the. Therefore, in the pixel region 3, the region in which the light reflection layer 4 is formed is the reflection display region 31, but the region corresponding to the opening 40 is island-shaped in which the light reflection layer 4 is not formed, and , A rectangular transparent display area 32.

The first substrate 10 and the second substrate 2
Polarizing plates 41 and 42 are disposed on the outer surface of each of 0,
The backlight device 7 is arranged to face the polarizing plate 41.

In the present embodiment, a reflective display color filter 81 and a transmissive display color filter 82 are formed in each of the regions on the second substrate 20 facing the reflective display region 31 and the transmissive display region 32. Therefore, color display is possible.

Also in the present embodiment, in the first substrate 10, a region corresponding to the transmissive display region 32 is formed on the lower layer side of the first transparent electrode 11 and on the upper layer side of the light reflecting layer 4 with the opening 4.
A layer thickness adjusting layer 6 made of a photosensitive resin layer having a thickness of 0 is formed. Therefore, in the transmissive display region 32, the layer thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 5 is larger than the reflective display region 31 by the film thickness of the layer thickness adjusting layer 6, so that both the transmissive display light and the reflective display light are exposed. Retardation Δn · d is optimized.

Here, the layer thickness adjusting layer 6 is provided in the reflective display region 3
At the boundary between 1 and the transmissive display area 32, there is an obliquely upward slope 60. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the color filter laminate portion 8 is formed so as to overlap the boundary region between the reflective display region 31 and the transmissive display region 32 and the entire region on the second substrate 20 facing the periphery of the pixel region 3. Has been formed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the color filter is laminated on the entire boundary area between the reflective display area 31 and the transmissive display area 32 and the boundary area between the adjacent pixel areas on the second substrate 20. Since the portion 8 is formed, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of problems such as light leakage in the boundary area between the reflective display area 31 and the transmissive display area 32 and the boundary area between adjacent pixel areas during black display. The same effects as those of the first and second embodiments are obtained.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described first to third embodiments, the active matrix type liquid crystal display device using the TFD or the TFT as a switching element has been exemplified, but the present invention can also be applied to a passive matrix type liquid crystal device. Further, in the first to third embodiments, as a result of forming the color filter laminated portion so as to overlap all the boundary areas of the pixel area adjacent to the boundary area between the reflective display area and the transmissive display area, light leakage and the like can be more reliably performed. However, even if it is provided in at least a part of the boundary area, a corresponding effect can be obtained.

[Application of Liquid Crystal Display Device to Electronic Equipment] The liquid crystal display device configured as described above can be used as a display portion of various electronic equipments, one example of which is shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a mobile phone. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1000 indicates a mobile phone main body, and reference numeral 1001 indicates a liquid crystal display unit using the above liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a wrist watch type electronic device. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1100 indicates a watch body, and reference numeral 1101 indicates a liquid crystal display unit using the above liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a portable information processing device such as a word processor and a personal computer. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 1200 is an information processing apparatus, reference numeral 1202 is an input unit such as a keyboard, reference numeral 1204 is an information processing apparatus main body, and reference numeral 1206 is a liquid crystal display unit using the above liquid crystal display device.

Since the electronic equipment shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 is equipped with the liquid crystal display unit using the liquid crystal display device of the above-mentioned embodiment, the electronic equipment equipped with the liquid crystal display unit excellent in visibility in any usage environment. Equipment can be realized.

[0070]

As described above, in the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, the transmissive display color filter and the reflective display are provided so as to overlap the boundary region between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region and the boundary region between adjacent pixel regions. Display color filters are stacked. Therefore, when the thickness of the layer thickness adjusting layer continuously changes in the boundary region between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region, and the retardation Δn · d continuously changes in this portion, or Even when the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is disturbed, it is possible to prevent the leakage of the reflected display light and the transmitted display light from such a region. Further, even when the alignment of liquid crystal molecules is disturbed due to the difference in the polarities of the transparent electrodes of the adjacent pixels in the boundary area between the adjacent pixel areas, the leakage of the reflected display light and the transmitted display light from such areas is prevented. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of problems such as light leakage during black display, and thus it is possible to perform display with high contrast and high quality. In addition, conventionally, a metal provided to prevent light leakage from a boundary region between adjacent pixel regions,
Since it is not necessary to provide a light-shielding film of resin or the like, the number of steps can be reduced and a liquid crystal display device can be provided at lower cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a plurality of pixel regions formed in a matrix in the liquid crystal display device are arbitrarily extracted and schematically shown, respectively. It is a top view.

2 (C) and (D) are an AA ′ sectional view and a BB ′ sectional view of the plan view of FIG. 1 (B), respectively.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are plan views each schematically showing a plurality of pixel regions formed in a matrix in the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment. It is the AA 'sectional view and the BB' sectional view.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment.

5B, 5C, and 5D are plan views schematically showing one of a plurality of pixel regions formed in a matrix in the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment. It is a figure, the AA 'sectional view, and BB' sectional view.

FIG. 6 is an example of an electronic device using the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention as a display device.

FIG. 7 is another example of an electronic device using the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention as a display device.

FIG. 8 is still another example of an electronic device using the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention as a display device.

9A and 9B are respectively a cross-sectional view of a conventional liquid crystal display device and a plan view schematically showing one of a plurality of pixel regions formed in a matrix in the liquid crystal display device. Is.

10 (C) and (D) are respectively an AA ′ sectional view and a BB ′ sectional view of the plan view of FIG. 9 (B).

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional multi-gap type liquid crystal display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 pixel area 4 Light reflection layer 5 Liquid crystal layer 6 layer thickness adjustment layer 7 Backlight device 8 Color filter stack 10 First substrate 11 First transparent electrode 20 Second substrate 21 Second transparent electrode 31 reflective display area 32 transparent display area 40 Opening of light reflection layer 41, 42 Polarizing plate 60 Slope of thickness adjustment layer 81 Color filter for reflective display 82 Color filter for transmissive display

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2H089 HA07 HA08 JA07 QA05 QA12                       TA02 TA12 TA17                 2H091 FA02Y FA14Y FB08 FD04                       FD05 FD21 GA03 JA03 LA03                       LA12

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A first substrate on which a first transparent electrode is formed, a second substrate on which a second transparent electrode is formed on a surface side facing the first transparent electrode, and the first substrate. And a liquid crystal layer held between the second substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode are provided on the first substrate. The reflective display area is formed in the opposing pixel area, and the light reflective layer having the remaining area of the pixel area as the transmissive display area, and the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display area is the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display area. And a first transparent electrode in this order from the side of the first substrate, a reflective display color filter is formed in the reflective display region, A color filter for transmissive display is formed in the transmissive display area, and At least a part of a boundary region between the display region and the transmissive display region, and at least a part of a boundary region between adjacent pixel regions, the reflective display color filter and the transmissive display color filter are partially laminated. A liquid crystal display device characterized in that 2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the transmissive display color filter has a higher degree of coloring than the reflective display color filter. 3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective display color filter and the transmissive display color filter are formed on the first substrate side. 4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective display color filter and the transmissive display color filter are formed on the second substrate side. 5. The layer thickness adjusting layer is provided between the reflective display area and the transmissive display area, and a boundary area extending between the reflective display area and the transmissive display area is an inclined surface. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display device is a liquid crystal display device. 6. A laminated portion of the color filter for reflective display and the color filter for transmissive display is formed so as to at least partially overlap with the inclined surface of the layer thickness adjusting layer in a planar or three-dimensional manner. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein 7. The laminated portion of the color filter for reflective display and the color filter for transmissive display is formed so as to at least partially overlap with a boundary region of the adjacent pixel regions in a planar or three-dimensional manner. 7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6, wherein. 8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 7, wherein the transmissive display area is arranged in a central portion of the pixel area. 9. The pixel region is formed as a rectangular region, and the transmissive display region has a rectangular shape in which at least one side overlaps a side of the pixel region. Liquid crystal display device. 10. An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1. Description: