JP2005148135A - Liquid crystal device, and electronic appliance equipped with the liquid crystal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent display quality from lowering by suppressing light leakage around a spacer without modifying a manufacturing process or a spacer particle. <P>SOLUTION: A reflection layer is formed on the lower side substrate and a transmissive part with an opening width less than three times of a diameter of the spacer, that is, less than a diameter of a light leakage region is formed in the reflection layer. Next, a black light shielding layer BM is formed on the reflection layer and subsequently a coloring layer is formed on the transmissive part and on the reflection layer of the lower substrate. Next, a protective layer composed of an acrylic resin etc. is formed on the black light shielding layer BM and on the coloring layer. Next, a transparent electrode etc. is formed on the protective layer. Thereby, a color filter substrate is manufactured. Next, the spacers are sprayed on the color filter substrate. Next, the upper side substrate to be opposite to the color filter substrate is stuck thereto via a sealant. Thus, a liquid crystal display device is manufactured. In the liquid crystal display device, as a portion of the light leakage region of each spacer is light shielded with the reflection layer in a transmissive display mode, a bright spot caused by the light leakage of the spacer is displayed through the transmissive part in small size. Consequently the display quality is prevented from lowering. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a transflective liquid crystal device that prevents deterioration in image quality due to light leakage around a spacer, and an electronic apparatus including the liquid crystal device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a transflective liquid crystal display device that makes it possible to visually recognize both a reflective display using external light and a transmissive display using illumination light such as a backlight is known. A transflective liquid crystal display device is configured, for example, by providing a reflective layer having an opening on a substrate constituting the liquid crystal display device, and providing a light source such as a backlight on the back side of the reflective surface of the reflective layer. The According to this configuration, external light incident from the reflective surface side of the reflective layer passes through the liquid crystal layer, is reflected by the reflective layer, passes through the liquid crystal layer again, and is emitted to the outside. Thereby, reflective display is performed. On the other hand, the illumination light emitted from the light source passes through the liquid crystal layer through the opening and is emitted to the outside. Thereby, transmissive display is performed. Thus, the transflective liquid crystal display device enables high-quality display regardless of whether the surrounding is bright or dark, while reducing power consumption.

  However, particularly in a liquid crystal display device of a type in which a substrate is supported by spacers randomly arranged between the substrates, liquid crystal alignment is disturbed around the spacers, and appropriate optical compensation is not performed in that portion. This is particularly visible as light leakage around the spacer during transmissive display, and this causes a reduction in the contrast of the display image, and consequently a reduction in display quality.

  That is, the liquid crystal display device holds a spacer between a pair of substrates in order to make the liquid crystal layer thickness (cell thickness) uniform, and this spacer is randomly arranged on one substrate by a spacer spraying device or the like. Is done. For this reason, a spacer is also disposed on the opening of the reflective layer. The opening defines a transmissive display area and is usually formed larger than the area of the spacer.

  Therefore, in the case of the transmissive display, the illumination light emitted from the light source passes through the opening and is also applied to the spacer portion arranged on the opening. The alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer is uniformly controlled by the alignment film, but due to the presence of the spacer, alignment disturbance occurs around the spacer, so light leakage due to alignment disturbance occurs around the spacer. Display quality deteriorates.

  In particular, when black display is performed during transmissive display, such a light leakage causes the spacer portion to be displayed like a small bright spot, resulting in a problem that display quality is deteriorated.

In order to solve such problems, for example, a liquid crystal display device is proposed in which a coating film is formed on the spacer particles to suppress the alignment disorder of the liquid crystal around the spacer and to prevent color irregularities in the display image. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). According to Patent Document 1, a ZrO ₂ coating layer is formed on the surface of core particles to produce spacer particles, and the spacer particles are applied to a liquid crystal display device, thereby suppressing alignment disorder of the liquid crystal around the spacer particles. The display image does not cause uneven color.

  In addition, there has been proposed a liquid crystal display device in which display quality and display performance are improved by disposing a spacer only in a region between pixels so as to eliminate the problem of light leakage around the spacer (for example, Patent Documents). 2).

  However, in the liquid crystal display device as described above, it is necessary to use a spacer having a special film for controlling the orientation or to control the arrangement of the spacer, which causes an increase in cost and a decrease in production efficiency. There is.

JP 2002-90754 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-216048

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to suppress the light leakage around the spacer and prevent the deterioration of display quality without changing the manufacturing process or the spacer particles. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal device of a type and an electronic apparatus including the liquid crystal device.

  In one aspect of the present invention, a liquid crystal device in which liquid crystal is sandwiched between a pair of substrates that are opposed to each other via a spacer includes a pixel including a reflective portion and a transmissive portion, and the transmissive portion includes the spacer. It is provided with a portion that is narrower than the width of the light leakage region caused by the above.

  The above liquid crystal device has a reflective portion and a transmissive portion in each pixel region, for example, in a sub-pixel. The transmission part includes a portion that is narrower than the width of the light leakage region caused by the spacer. The width of the light escape region can be three times the diameter of the spacer.

  Therefore, according to this liquid crystal device, in the transmissive display, a part of the light leakage area (light leakage area, the same applies hereinafter) generated around the spacer is shielded by the reflection part, and the remaining light leakage area part is blocked. It is displayed as a fine bright spot through the transmission part. That is, in this case, since it is possible to suppress the entire light leakage area from being displayed through the transmission part, it is possible to reduce the bright spot due to the light leakage of the spacer. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent display quality from being deteriorated.

  If the width of a part of the transmissive part is narrowed, the brightness of the display image at the transmissive display will be reduced by that amount. However, by forming a plurality of transmissive parts in the sub-pixel, the entire transmissive display area is reduced. If the areas are made equal, the brightness of the display image at the time of transmissive display will not be insufficient.

  Furthermore, if the transmissive portion has a portion narrower than the diameter of the spacer, the bright spot due to light leakage of each spacer can be further reduced, and the display quality can be further prevented from being deteriorated.

  In one mode of the above liquid crystal device, a liquid crystal device in which liquid crystal is sandwiched between a pair of substrates that are opposed to each other with a spacer includes pixels including a reflective portion and a transmissive portion, The pixel has a plurality of line segments, and each line segment has a width narrower than the width of the light leakage region caused by the spacer.

  According to this aspect, the transmissive portion has a plurality of line segments in each pixel region, for example, in the sub-pixel, and the width of each line segment has a portion narrower than the width of the light leakage region caused by the spacer. it can. As a result, in the transmissive display, a part of the light leakage area generated around the spacer is shielded by the reflecting part, and the remaining part of the light leakage area is larger than the width of the light leakage area caused by the spacer in the transmissive part. It is displayed as a small bright spot through a narrow part. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent display quality from being deteriorated.

  In another mode of the above liquid crystal device, a liquid crystal device in which liquid crystal is sandwiched between a pair of substrates that are opposed to each other with a spacer includes pixels including a reflective portion and a transmissive portion, and is attributed to the spacer. The light escape region to be spread may span the width of the transmission part.

  As a result, in the transmissive display, a part of the light leakage area generated around the spacer is shielded by the reflection part or the like, and the remaining part of the light leakage area is displayed as a minute bright spot through the transmission part. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent display quality from being deteriorated.

  Note that an electronic device including the above liquid crystal device can be formed.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the present invention is applied to a liquid crystal display device.

  In the present embodiment, the light leakage around the spacer is suppressed and the display quality is prevented from deteriorating without changing the manufacturing process or the spacer.

[First embodiment]
In the first embodiment, by setting the width of the transmissive portion formed for each sub-pixel to an appropriate value, light leakage that occurs around the spacer is suppressed and deterioration of display quality is prevented.

  First, the configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the liquid crystal display device 100, and FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view schematically showing the planar structure of the liquid crystal display device 100 shown in FIG. The liquid crystal display device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a so-called passive matrix driving method.

  In FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display device 100 includes an upper substrate 1 made of a material such as glass or plastic and a lower substrate 2 made of the same material as that of the upper substrate 1, bonded together with a sealing material 3. A liquid crystal layer 4 is formed by enclosing liquid crystal therein.

  On the inner surface of the lower substrate 2, a reflective layer 5 having a predetermined thickness is formed for each of the subpixels (subpixels) SG of three colors of RGB. A plurality of rectangular transmissive portions 50 (hereinafter also referred to as “transmissive display areas”) are formed in each reflective layer 5. The width D1 of the transmission part 50 is smaller than a value obtained by triple the diameter of the spacer 7 described later. Each reflective layer 5 can be formed of a thin film such as aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or a silver alloy. The transmissive part 50 is formed so as to have an area of a predetermined ratio on the basis of the total area of the sub-pixel SG for each sub-pixel SG arranged in a matrix in the vertical and horizontal directions on the inner surface of the lower substrate 2.

  A black light-shielding layer BM is formed between the sub-pixels SG on the reflective layer 5 in order to shield non-lighting regions existing between the sub-pixels. The black light shielding layer BM can be made of a black resin material, for example, a black pigment dispersed in a resin. In the present invention, instead of this, an overlapping light shielding layer (not shown) formed by overlapping R, G, and B colored layers may be used.

  In addition, on the reflective layer 5 and the transmissive portion 50, colored layers 6R, 6G, and 6B made of any of the three colors R, G, and B are formed for each subpixel SG. A color filter is constituted by the colored layers 6R, 6G, and 6B. A pixel G indicates a region for one color pixel composed of R, G, and B sub-pixels SG. In the following description, when referring to a colored layer regardless of color, it is simply referred to as “colored layer 6”, and when referring to a colored layer by distinguishing colors, it is referred to as “colored layer 6R” or the like. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, the thickness of the colored layers 6R, 6G, and 6B formed on the transmissive portion 50 is larger than the thickness of the colored layers 6R, 6G, and 6B formed on the reflective layer 5. It is formed thick. Thus, the colored layer 6 is designed to exhibit a desired hue and brightness in the reflective display mode and the transmissive display mode, respectively.

  A protective layer 8 made of a transparent resin or the like is formed on the colored layer 6 and the black light shielding layer BM. The protective layer 8 has a function of protecting the colored layer 6 from corrosion and contamination due to chemicals used during the manufacturing process of the color filter substrate 101 and the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the present embodiment.

  A transparent electrode 9 such as striped ITO (Indium-Tin Oxide) is formed on the surface of the protective layer 8, and a direction intersecting with the striped transparent electrode 9 is formed on the inner surface of the upper substrate 1 that faces the protective layer 8. In addition, a striped transparent electrode 10 is also formed.

  An alignment film 17 is formed on the transparent electrode 9 on the lower substrate 2 and the protective layer 8. An alignment film 16 is formed on the transparent electrode 10 on the upper substrate 1.

  Between the alignment film 16 and the alignment film 17, particulate spacers 7 are randomly arranged in order to keep the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 4 uniform. As a material of the spacer 7, a material mainly composed of silica, resin, or the like is preferable. The diameter D2 of the spacer 7 is usually about 6 μm and is determined according to the required cell thickness in design.

  In the present embodiment, a portion constituted by the lower substrate 2, the reflective layer 5, the colored layer 6, the protective layer 8, the transparent electrode 9, and the alignment film 17 is called a color filter substrate 101.

  On the outer surface of the lower substrate 2, a phase difference plate (¼ wavelength plate) 11 and a polarizing plate 12 are arranged. On the outer surface of the upper substrate 1, a phase difference plate 13 and a polarizing plate 14 are arranged. Has been. A backlight 15 using a cold cathode fluorescent tube, a white LED or the like is disposed below the polarizing plate 12.

  When reflective display is performed in the liquid crystal display device 100 of the present embodiment, external light that has entered the liquid crystal display device 100 travels along a path R shown in FIG. That is, the external light incident on the liquid crystal display device 100 is reflected by the reflective display region, that is, the reflective layer 5 and reaches the observer. In this case, the external light passes through the region where the colored layer 6 is formed, is reflected by the reflective layer 5 below the colored layer 6, and passes through the colored layer 6 again to have a predetermined hue. And brightness. Thus, a desired color display image is visually recognized by the observer.

  On the other hand, when transmissive display is performed, the illumination light emitted from the backlight 15 travels along the path T shown in FIG. 1 and passes through the transmissive display region, that is, the colored layer 6 on the transmissive portion 50. To the observer. In this case, the illumination light has a predetermined hue and brightness by passing through the colored layer 6. Thus, a desired color display image is visually recognized by the observer.

  Next, the relationship between the width of the transmissive part 50 and the magnitude of light leakage generated around the spacer 7 in the transmissive display mode will be examined. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, description will be made assuming a state in which the transmission part 50 and the spacer 7 are viewed from above.

  In a transflective liquid crystal display device having a spacer, light leaks around the spacer due to the disorder of the alignment state of the liquid crystal around the spacer during transmissive display. As a result, the contrast of the display image and the like are lowered, resulting in a phenomenon that the display quality is lowered.

  A region of light leakage generated around the spacer (hereinafter referred to as “light leakage region”) generally has a diameter of about three times the diameter of the spacer, as schematically shown in FIGS. It becomes a circular area.

  Therefore, when the transmissive display area is formed larger than the light leakage area as in a conventional transflective liquid crystal display device, light leakage of transmitted light occurs in the light leakage area during the transmissive display mode. Are observed as small “bright spots”. For this reason, there is a problem that the contrast is lowered and the display quality is lowered particularly during black display.

  In order to suppress such a phenomenon, in the present invention, the width of the transmissive portion is made smaller than the diameter of the light leakage region without changing the size of the transmissive display region as a whole. That is, the transmissive display area is configured by a plurality of transmissive portions having a narrow width without changing the overall size of the transmissive display area. Therefore, the amount of light passing through the transmissive display area from the light source does not change, and the brightness of the display image during transmissive display is not reduced. Moreover, since the width of each transmission part is made smaller than the diameter of the light leakage region, a part of the light leakage region overlaps the reflective layer. For this reason, in the transmissive display, a part of the overlapping light leakage area is shielded, and only the remaining light leakage area located in the transmissive display area is observed as a minute bright spot. Thereby, the luminescent spot by the light leakage of each spacer displayed through a transmissive display area at the time of transmissive display can be reduced.

Specifically, the width D1 of the transmissive portion 50 in the transmissive display area is as follows.
(Width of transmission part 50: D1) <(Diameter of light leakage region 7a: D3)
= (Diameter of spacer 7: D2) × 3
It is prescribed.

  Thereby, in the liquid crystal display device 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a part of the light leakage area 7 a overlaps the reflective layer 5, and the remaining light leakage area 7 a is located at the position of the transmission part 50. Has been placed. For this reason, in the liquid crystal display device 100 of the present embodiment, when transmissive display is performed, a bright spot due to light leakage of each spacer displayed through the transmissive portion 50 can be displayed small. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent display quality from being deteriorated.

  If the width D1 of the transmissive part 50 is made smaller than the diameter D2 of the spacer 7, the bright spot due to light leakage of each spacer 7 displayed through the transmissive part 50 can be further reduced, and the display quality can be further improved. A decrease can be prevented. Note that the brightness of the display image in the transmissive display is not reduced because a plurality of the transmissive portions 50 are formed in the sub-pixel SG by the area where the width of the transmissive portion 50 is narrowed.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of transmission parts 50 are formed in the subpixel SG along the long side direction of the rectangular subpixel SG. Not limited to this, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B which are enlarged plan views of the sub-pixel SG, the transmissive portion 50 is provided in the sub-pixel SG along the short-side direction or the oblique direction of the sub-pixel. A plurality of may be formed. Even in such a form, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the width D1 of the transmission part 50 does not change, so that a part of the light leakage region 7a is always shielded by the reflection layer 5. In addition, since the plurality of transmissive portions 50 are formed in the sub-pixel SG by the area where the width of the transmissive portion 50 is narrowed, the brightness of the display image in the transmissive display is not insufficient.

  Therefore, according to this aspect, the brightness of the display image does not decrease during the transmissive display, and the display quality can be prevented from being deteriorated due to light leakage around the spacer. In the present embodiment, if the width D1 of the transmission part 50 is smaller than the diameter D3 of the light leakage region 7a of the spacer 7, the shape, position, quantity, etc. of the transmission part 50 can be variously modified.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the above-described liquid crystal display device 100 will be described. First, a method for manufacturing the color filter substrate 101 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the layer structure in each step.

  First, the reflective layer 5 and the transmission part 50 are formed in the reflective layer 5 on the lower substrate 2 constituting the color filter substrate 101 (process P1). Specifically, a metal such as aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or a silver alloy is formed into a thin film by a vapor deposition method, a sputtering method, or the like, and is patterned to form the transmission portion 50.

  At this time, the width D1 of the transmission part 50 is formed to be smaller than a value obtained by triple the diameter D2 of the spacer 7 applied to the present invention. Note that the width D1 of the transmission part 50 may be smaller than the diameter D2 of the spacer 7 as necessary. However, in this case, since the width D1 of the transmissive portion 50 is further narrowed, the brightness of the display image is insufficient in the transmissive display by the amount of the narrowed area. Therefore, in this case, if a plurality of transmission parts 50 are formed in the reflection layer 5 for each subpixel SG by the narrowed area, the insufficient brightness of the display image can be solved. Thus, the reflective layer 5 having the transmission part 50 having the width D1 is formed on the lower substrate 2.

  Next, the black light-shielding layer BM is formed on the reflective layer 5 (process P2), and then the colored layers 6R, 6G, and 6B are formed on the transmissive portion 50 of the lower substrate 2 and on the reflective layer 5 ( Step P3). Specifically, a colored photosensitive resin (photosensitive resist) formed by dispersing pigments or dyes exhibiting a predetermined hue is applied, and patterning is performed by a photolithography method or the like, whereby the reflective layer 5 is coated. The black light-shielding layer BM is formed in a predetermined area, and the colored layers 6R, 6G, and 6B are formed in predetermined areas on the transmissive portion 50 and the reflective layer 5. The thicknesses of the colored layers 6R, 6G, and 6B formed on the transmission part 50 and the thicknesses of the colored layers 6R, 6G, and 6B formed on the reflective layer 5 are determined in advance as described above. .

  Next, the protective layer 8 made of an acrylic resin or the like is formed on the black light shielding layer BM and the colored layer 6 (process P4). Next, the transparent electrode 9 is formed by depositing a transparent conductor on the protective layer 8 by sputtering and patterning by photolithography (process P5). Thereafter, an alignment film 17 made of polyimide resin or the like is formed on part of the region on the protective layer 8 and on the transparent electrode 9, and a rubbing treatment or the like is performed (step P6). The color filter substrate 101 of the present invention is manufactured through the above steps.

Next, a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device 100 shown in FIG. 1 using the color filter side substrate 101 thus obtained will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device 100.

First, the color filter substrate 101 is manufactured by the above method (step S1), and the particulate spacers 7 are sprayed on the color filter substrate 101 by the spacer spraying device (step S2).
Note that, as described above, the alignment film and the rubbing process have already been performed on the transparent electrode 9 which is a component of the color filter substrate 101. On the other hand, the upper substrate 1 facing the color filter substrate 101 is manufactured (step S3), the transparent electrode 10 is formed by the same method as described above (step S4), and the alignment film 16 is further formed on the transparent electrode 10 to be rubbed. Processing is performed (step S5). In the above description, the spacers 7 are dispersed on the color filter substrate 101. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the spacers 7 may be dispersed on the upper substrate 1.

  Then, the color filter substrate 101 and the upper substrate 1 are bonded together through the sealing material 3 to constitute a panel structure (step S6). The color filter substrate 101 and the upper substrate 1 are arranged so as to have a substantially prescribed substrate interval by the spacers 7 distributed between the substrates.

  Thereafter, liquid crystal is injected from the opening of the sealing material 3, and the opening of the sealing material 3 is sealed with a sealing material such as an ultraviolet curable resin (step S7). After the main panel structure is completed in this way, the retardation plates 11 and 13 and the polarizing plates 12 and 14 are attached to the outer surface of the panel structure as needed by a method such as sticking (step S8), as shown in FIG. The liquid crystal display device 100 is manufactured.

  In the present invention, instead of the configuration of the passive matrix liquid crystal display device 100 as described above, a so-called pixel electrode is provided on one substrate, and a counter electrode (common electrode) is provided on the other substrate, whereby an active matrix is provided. An active matrix liquid crystal display device that can be driven may be configured.

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to an active matrix liquid crystal display device 200 using a TFD element. In the liquid crystal display device 200 shown in FIG. 6, the upper substrate 1 in the liquid crystal display device 100 shown in FIG. 1 is configured as an element substrate. As shown in the enlarged view of the region 212 of the upper substrate 1, the TFD elements 210 and the pixel electrodes 211 are alternately formed on the upper substrate 1. An R (red) colored layer 6R is formed in a region of the lower substrate 2 corresponding to the pixel electrode 211 in the region 212, and a black light-shielding layer BM is formed in a region corresponding to the TFD element 210 in the region 212. . Also in the region 213 and the region 214 of the upper substrate 1, the TFD elements 210 and the pixel electrodes 211 are alternately formed on the upper substrate 1 in the same manner as described above. A G (green) colored layer 6G is formed in a region of the lower substrate 2 corresponding to the pixel electrode 211 in the region 213, and a black light shielding layer BM is formed in a region corresponding to the TFD element 210 in the region 213. Further, the B (blue) colored layer 6B is formed in the region of the lower substrate 2 corresponding to the pixel electrode 211 in the region 214, and the black light shielding layer BM is formed in the region corresponding to the TFD element 210 in the region 214. .

  FIG. 7 shows an example in which the present embodiment is applied to an active matrix type liquid crystal display device 300 using TFT elements. In the liquid crystal display device 300 shown in FIG. 7, the upper substrate 1 in the liquid crystal display device 100 shown in FIG. 1 is configured as an element substrate. As shown in the enlarged view of the region 312 of the upper substrate 1, the TFT elements 310 and the pixel electrodes 311 are alternately formed on the upper substrate 1. An R (red) colored layer 6R is formed in the region of the lower substrate 2 corresponding to the pixel electrode 311 in the region 312, and a black light shielding layer BM is formed in the region corresponding to the TFT element 310 in the region 312. . Also in the region 313 and the region 314 of the upper substrate 1, the TFT elements 310 and the pixel electrodes 311 are alternately formed on the upper substrate 1 as described above. A G (green) colored layer 6G is formed in a region of the lower substrate 2 corresponding to the pixel electrode 311 in the region 313, and a black light shielding layer BM is formed in a region corresponding to the TFT element 310 in the region 313. Further, a B (blue) colored layer 6B is formed in the region of the lower substrate 2 corresponding to the pixel electrode 311 in the region 314, and a black light-shielding layer BM is formed in the region corresponding to the TFT element 310 in the region 314. .

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment is formed on the peripheral edge of the opening of the black light shielding film BM formed on the inner surface of the upper substrate and the inner surface of the lower substrate in a state where the upper substrate and the lower substrate are adhered. By setting the distance from the outer peripheral edge of the reflective layer to a predetermined length, light leakage around the spacer is suppressed and display quality is prevented from deteriorating. In addition, in this embodiment, the part similar to 1st Embodiment is abbreviate | omitted or simplified and demonstrated. Moreover, the same member as 1st Embodiment attaches | subjects and demonstrates the same code | symbol in principle.

  First, the configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view schematically showing the liquid crystal display device 400, and FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view schematically showing the planar structure of the liquid crystal display device 400 shown in FIG. The liquid crystal display device shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is a so-called passive matrix driving method.

  In this liquid crystal display device 400, an upper substrate 1 made of a material such as glass or plastic and a lower substrate 2 made of the same material as the upper substrate 1 are bonded to each other through a sealing material 3 in FIG. A liquid crystal layer 4 is formed by enclosing liquid crystal therein.

  On the inner surface of the lower substrate 2, a reflective layer 25 having a predetermined thickness is formed for each subpixel SG. Each reflective layer 25 is formed by depositing a metal such as aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or a silver alloy into a thin film, and also functions as an electrode of the sub-pixel SG. On each reflective layer 25, a striped transparent electrode 20 is formed. A protective layer 24 is formed on a predetermined region on the lower substrate 2 and on the transparent electrode 20. The protective layer 24 has a function of protecting the transparent electrode 20 and the like from corrosion and contamination due to chemicals and the like used during the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device 400 according to the present embodiment. An alignment film 30 is formed on the protective layer 24.

  On the inner surface of the upper substrate 1, colored layers 26R, 26G, and 26B having a predetermined thickness are formed for each sub-pixel SG. A color filter is constituted by the colored layers 26R, 26G, and 26B. A pixel G indicates a region for one color pixel composed of R, G, and B sub-pixels SG. In the following description, when referring to a colored layer regardless of color, it is simply referred to as “colored layer 26”, and when referring to a colored layer by distinguishing colors, it is referred to as “colored layer 26R” or the like.

  On the inner surface of the upper substrate 1 and between the sub-pixels SG, a black light-shielding layer BM is formed to shield the non-lighting area existing between the sub-pixels.

  A protective layer 22 made of a transparent resin or the like is formed on the colored layer 26 and the black light shielding layer BM. The protective layer 22 has a function of protecting the colored layer 26 from corrosion and contamination by chemicals used during the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the present embodiment.

  On the surface of the protective layer 22, stripe-like transparent electrodes 21 are also formed in a direction intersecting with the stripe-like transparent electrodes 20 formed on the inner surface of the opposing lower substrate 2. An alignment film 23 is formed on the transparent electrode 21.

  In order to keep the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 4 uniform between the alignment film 23 and the alignment film 30, particulate spacers 7 are randomly arranged as in the first embodiment.

  In a state where the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 are bonded to each other with the sealant 3 between the peripheral edge 27 of the opening of the black light shielding film BM and the outer peripheral edge 25a of the reflective layer 25 adjacent to the peripheral edge 27. Constitutes the transmission part 51. The width D4 of the transmission part 51 is formed to be smaller than a value obtained by triple the diameter D2 of the spacer 7, that is, the diameter D3 of the light leakage region 7a.

  In the present embodiment, a portion constituted by the upper substrate 1, the colored layer 26, the protective layer 22, the transparent electrode 21, and the alignment film 23 is referred to as a color filter substrate 401.

  On the outer surface of the lower substrate 2, a phase difference plate (¼ wavelength plate) 11 and a polarizing plate 12 are arranged. On the outer surface of the upper substrate 1, a phase difference plate 13 and a polarizing plate 14 are arranged. Has been. A backlight 15 using a cold cathode fluorescent tube, a white LED or the like is disposed below the polarizing plate 12.

  When the reflective display is performed in the liquid crystal display device 400 of the present embodiment, the external light that has entered the liquid crystal display device 400 travels along the path R shown in FIG. That is, the external light incident on the liquid crystal display device 400 is reflected by the reflective display region, that is, the reflective layer 25, and reaches the observer. In this case, the external light passes through the region where the colored layer 26 is formed, is reflected by the reflective layer 25 on the lower side of the transparent electrode 20, and passes through the transparent electrode 20 and the colored layer 26 again. Presents a predetermined hue and brightness. Thus, a desired color display image is visually recognized by the observer.

  On the other hand, when transmissive display is performed, the illumination light emitted from the backlight 15 travels along the path T shown in FIG. 8, passes through the transmissive part 51 and the colored layer 26, and reaches the observer. In this case, the illumination light has a predetermined hue and brightness by passing through the colored layer 26. Thus, a desired color display image is visually recognized by the observer.

  In the liquid crystal display device 400 of the present embodiment, the width D4 of the transmission part 51 is formed smaller than the diameter D3 of the light leakage region 7a. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9, a part of the light leakage region 7 a overlaps with the reflective layer 25 or the black light shielding film BM, and the remaining light leakage region 7 a is at the position of the transmission part 51. For this reason, when transmissive display is performed in the liquid crystal display device 400 of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce a bright spot due to light leakage of each spacer that passes through the transmissive portion 51. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent display quality from being deteriorated. If the width D4 of the transmission part 51 is made smaller than the diameter D2 of the spacer 7, the bright spots due to light leakage of the spacers 7 can be further reduced through the transmission part 51.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the transmissive portion is not formed in the reflective layer 25 for each subpixel SG unit, but is an enlarged plan view of the subpixel SG. As shown in FIG. 10A, in order to improve the brightness of the display image during transmissive display, an opening width D5 smaller than the diameter D3 of the light leakage region 7a of the spacer 7 is provided in the reflective layer 25. A transmissive portion 53 having the above may be formed. The opening width D5 of the transmission part 53 may be formed smaller than the diameter D2 of the spacer 7. At this time, a plurality of transmission parts 53 may be formed in the reflective layer 25 in order to obtain a display image having a desired brightness. As in the first embodiment, if the width D5 of the transmissive display region 53 is smaller than the diameter D3 of the light leakage region 7a of the spacer 7, the shape, position, quantity, and the like of the transmissive portion 53 formed in the reflective layer 25 are various. Can be modified.
10B shows a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device 400 when the reflective layer 25 in which the transmissive portion 53 shown in FIG. 10A is formed is applied to the liquid crystal display device 400. FIG. Yes.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the above-described liquid crystal display device 400 will be described. First, a method for manufacturing the color filter substrate 401 and the lower substrate 2 facing the color filter substrate 401 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 are cross-sectional views showing the layer structure in each step.

  First, the black light shielding film BM is formed on the upper substrate 1 constituting the color filter substrate 401 (process P11), and then the colored layers 26R, 26G, and 26B are formed in predetermined regions on the upper substrate 1 (process). P12). Specifically, a colored photosensitive resin (photosensitive resist) in which a pigment or dye exhibiting a predetermined hue is dispersed is applied, and patterning is performed by a photolithography method or the like. Thus, a black light shielding film BM having a predetermined size opening is formed in a predetermined region on the upper substrate 1. Further, the colored layers 26R, 26G, and 26B are formed on the upper substrate 1 and in the openings of the black light shielding film BM.

  Next, the protective layer 22 made of an acrylic resin or the like is formed on the black light shielding layer BM and the colored layer 26 (process P13). Next, the transparent electrode 21 is formed by depositing a transparent conductor on the protective layer 22 by sputtering and patterning by photolithography (process P14). Thereafter, an alignment film 23 made of polyimide resin or the like is formed on the transparent electrode 21, and a rubbing process is performed (process P15). The color filter substrate 401 is manufactured through the above steps.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the lower substrate 2 facing the color filter substrate 401 manufactured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, a plurality of rectangular reflective layers 25 are formed on the lower substrate 2 (process P21). Specifically, a metal such as aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or a silver alloy is formed into a thin film by vapor deposition or sputtering, and patterned to form a plurality of rectangular reflective layers 25. At this time, the patterning region of the reflective layer 25, in other words, the region of the reflective layer 25 to be formed is formed on the color filter substrate 401 when the color filter substrate 401 and the lower substrate 2 are bonded together. The distance between the peripheral edge 27 of the opening of the black light-shielding film BM and the outer peripheral edge 25a of the reflective layer 25 adjacent to the peripheral edge 27 is determined to be smaller than three times the diameter D2 of the spacer 7.

  Next, a transparent conductor is deposited on the predetermined region on the lower substrate 2 and the reflective layer 25 by a sputtering method so as to cover the reflective layer 25, and patterned by a photolithography method, whereby the transparent electrode 20 is formed. Form (process P22).

  Next, a protective layer 24 made of an acrylic resin or the like is formed on the transparent electrode 20 (process P23), and then an alignment film 30 made of a polyimide resin or the like is formed on the protective film 24 and subjected to a rubbing process or the like (process) P24). Through the above steps, the lower substrate 2 facing the color filter substrate 401 is manufactured.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device 400 shown in FIG. 8 using the color filter side substrate 401 thus obtained and the lower substrate 2 facing the color filter substrate 401 will be described with reference to FIG. To do. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device 400.

  First, the color filter substrate 401 is manufactured by the above method (step S11). Further, the lower substrate 2 facing the color filter substrate 401 is manufactured by the above method (step S12), and the particulate spacers 7 are sprayed on the lower substrate 2 by the spacer spraying device (step S13). ). In the above description, the spacers 7 are dispersed on the lower substrate 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the spacers 7 may be dispersed on the color filter substrate 401.

  Then, the color filter substrate 101 and the lower substrate 2 are bonded together through the sealing material 3 to constitute a panel structure (step S14). The color filter substrate 401 and the lower substrate 2 are complementarily arranged so as to have a substantially prescribed substrate interval by the spacers 7 distributed between the substrates.

  Thereafter, liquid crystal is injected from the opening of the sealing material 3, and the opening of the sealing material 3 is sealed with a sealing material such as an ultraviolet curable resin (step S15). After the main panel structure is completed in this way, the retardation plates 11 and 13 and the polarizing plates 12 and 14 are attached to the outer surface of the panel structure as necessary by a method such as sticking (step S16), as shown in FIG. The liquid crystal display device 400 is manufactured.

  In the present invention, instead of the configuration of the passive matrix liquid crystal display device 400 as described above, a so-called pixel electrode is provided on one substrate and a counter electrode (common electrode) is provided on the other substrate. An active matrix liquid crystal display device that can be driven may be configured.

  FIG. 14 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to an active matrix liquid crystal display device 500 using a TFD element. In the liquid crystal display device 500 shown in FIG. 14, the lower substrate 2 in the liquid crystal display device 400 shown in FIG. 8 is configured as an element substrate. As shown in the enlarged view of the region 612 of the lower substrate 2, TFD elements 610 and pixel electrodes 611 are alternately formed on the lower substrate 2. In the region of the upper substrate 1 corresponding to the pixel electrode 611 in the region 612, an R (red) colored layer 26R is formed, and in the region corresponding to the TFD element 610 in the region 612, the black light shielding layer BM is formed. Also in the regions 613 and 614 of the lower substrate 2, the TFD elements 610 and the pixel electrodes 611 are alternately formed on the lower substrate 2 as described above. A G (green) colored layer 26G is formed in the region of the upper substrate 1 corresponding to the pixel electrode 611 in the region 613, and a black light shielding layer BM is formed in a region corresponding to the TFD element 610 in the region 613. Further, a B (blue) colored layer 26B is formed in the region of the upper substrate 1 corresponding to the pixel electrode 611 in the region 614, and a black light shielding layer BM is formed in a region corresponding to the TFD element 610 in the region 614.

  FIG. 15 shows an example in which this embodiment is applied to an active matrix type liquid crystal display device 600 using TFT elements. In the liquid crystal display device 600 shown in FIG. 15, the lower substrate 2 in the liquid crystal display device 400 shown in FIG. 8 is configured as an element substrate. As shown in the enlarged view of the region 712 of the lower substrate 2, TFT elements 710 and pixel electrodes 711 are alternately formed on the lower substrate 2. In the region of the upper substrate 1 corresponding to the pixel electrode 711 in the region 712, an R (red) colored layer 26R is formed, and in the region corresponding to the TFT element 710 in the region 712, the black light shielding layer BM is formed. Also in the regions 713 and 714 of the lower substrate 2, the TFT elements 710 and the pixel electrodes 711 are alternately formed on the lower substrate 2 in the same manner as described above. A G (green) colored layer 26G is formed in a region of the upper substrate 1 corresponding to the pixel electrode 711 in the region 713, and a black light-shielding layer BM is formed in a region corresponding to the TFT element 710 in the region 713. Further, a B (blue) colored layer 26B is formed in the region of the upper substrate 1 corresponding to the pixel electrode 711 in the region 714, and a black light shielding layer BM is formed in a region corresponding to the TFT element 710 in the region 714.

[Electronics]
Next, an embodiment in which the liquid crystal display devices 100 to 600 according to the present invention are used as a display device of an electronic device will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of the present embodiment. The electronic apparatus shown here includes the liquid crystal display devices 100 to 600 and a control unit 410 that controls the liquid crystal display devices 100 to 600. Here, the liquid crystal display devices 100 to 600 are conceptually divided into a panel structure 403 and a drive circuit 402 formed of a semiconductor IC or the like. Further, the control means 410 includes a display information output source 411, a display information processing circuit 412, a power supply circuit 413, and a timing generator 414.

  The display information output source 411 includes a memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory), a storage unit such as a magnetic recording disk or an optical recording disk, and a tuning circuit that tunes and outputs a digital image signal. The display information is supplied to the display information processing circuit 412 in the form of an image signal of a predetermined format based on various clock signals generated by the timing generator 414.

  The display information processing circuit 412 includes various well-known circuits such as a serial-parallel conversion circuit, an amplification / inversion circuit, a rotation circuit, a gamma correction circuit, and a clamp circuit, and executes processing of input display information to obtain image information. Are supplied to the drive circuit 402 together with the clock signal CLK. The driving circuit 402 includes a scanning line driving circuit, a data line driving circuit, and an inspection circuit. The power supply circuit 413 supplies a predetermined voltage to each of the above-described components.

  Next, specific examples of electronic devices to which the liquid crystal display devices 100 to 600 according to the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, an example in which the liquid crystal display devices 100 to 600 according to the present invention are applied to a display unit of a portable personal computer (so-called notebook personal computer) will be described. FIG. 17A is a perspective view showing the configuration of this personal computer. As shown in the figure, the personal computer 710 includes a main body 712 having a keyboard 711 and a display 713 to which the liquid crystal display panel according to the present invention is applied.

  Next, an example in which the liquid crystal display devices 100 to 600 according to the present invention are applied to a display unit of a mobile phone will be described. FIG. 17B is a perspective view showing the configuration of this mobile phone. As shown in the figure, the cellular phone 720 includes a plurality of operation buttons 721, a reception port 722, a transmission port 723, and a display unit 724 to which the liquid crystal display devices 100 to 600 according to the present invention are applied.

  Electronic devices to which the liquid crystal display devices 100 to 600 according to the present invention can be applied include a liquid crystal television, a personal computer shown in FIG. 17A and a mobile phone shown in FIG. A viewfinder type / monitor direct-view type video tape recorder, a car navigation device, a pager, an electronic notebook, a calculator, a word processor, a workstation, a video phone, a POS terminal, a digital still camera, and the like.

[Modification]
In the above embodiment, spherical spacers are applied to the liquid crystal display devices 100 to 600, but the present invention is not limited to this, and spacers having various shapes can be applied to the liquid crystal display devices 100 to 600.

  The liquid crystal display devices 100 to 300 according to the first embodiment have a plurality of transmission portions 50 having a width D1 smaller than the value obtained by triple the diameter D2 of the spacer 7 in the reflection layer 5 for each subpixel SG. . Further, the liquid crystal display devices 400 to 600 according to the second embodiment have the transmission part 51 having the width D4 smaller than the value obtained by triple the diameter D2 of the spacer 7 for each sub-pixel SG. In addition, the liquid crystal display devices 400 to 600 may include one or a plurality of transmission portions 53 having a width D5 smaller than the diameter D3 of the light leakage region 7a of the spacer 7 in the reflection layer 25 for each subpixel SG. It is possible.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the liquid crystal display devices 100 to 600 of the first and second embodiments described above, the transmissive part 50, the transmissive part 51, and the transmissive part 53 are each narrower than the light leakage region 7a of the spacer 7. It may have a portion and may have a portion wider than the light leakage region 7a. Instead of this, each of the transmissive part 50, the transmissive part 51, and the transmissive part 53 has a portion narrower than the diameter D2 of the spacer 7 and a portion wider than the light leakage region 7a. Also good. As a result, at least in a portion narrower than the light leakage region, it is possible to reduce a bright spot due to light leakage and to prevent deterioration of display quality.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the liquid crystal display device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a plan view of a color filter substrate according to a first embodiment. It is a top view which shows the other aspect of the permeation | transmission part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the manufacturing process of the color filter substrate which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 1 shows a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment. An example of application to the liquid crystal display device of the first embodiment using a TFD element will be described. An example of application to the liquid crystal display device of the first embodiment using a TFT element will be described. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the liquid crystal display device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The top view of the color filter board | substrate which concerns on 2nd Embodiment is shown. It is a top view which shows the other aspect of the permeation | transmission part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the manufacturing process of the color filter substrate which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the manufacturing process of the opposing board | substrate which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 7 shows a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment. An application example of the second embodiment using a TFD element to the liquid crystal display device will be described. An application example to the liquid crystal display device of the second embodiment using a TFT element will be described. It is a circuit block diagram of the electronic device to which the liquid crystal display device of the present invention is applied. It is an example of the electronic device to which the liquid crystal display device of the present invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper substrate, 2 Lower substrate, 3 Sealing material, 4 Liquid crystal layer, 5, 25 Reflective layer, 6, 26 Colored layer, 7 Spacer, 8, 22, 24 Protective layer, 9, 10, 20, 21 Transparent electrode, 16, 17, 23, 30 Alignment film, 101, 401 Color filter substrate, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 Liquid crystal display device

Claims (6)

In a liquid crystal device in which liquid crystal is sandwiched between a pair of substrates that are arranged to face each other via a spacer,
A pixel including a reflective portion and a transmissive portion;
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission portion includes a portion that is narrower than a width of a light leakage region caused by the spacer. In a liquid crystal device in which liquid crystal is sandwiched between a pair of substrates that are arranged to face each other via a spacer,
A pixel including a reflective portion and a transmissive portion;
The transmissive portion has a plurality of line segments in the pixel,
The width of each said line segment is provided with the part narrower than the width | variety of the light extraction area | region resulting from the said spacer, The liquid crystal device characterized by the above-mentioned.   The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein a width of the light leakage region is three times a diameter of the spacer.   The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the transmissive portion has a portion that is narrower than a diameter of the spacer. In a liquid crystal device in which liquid crystal is sandwiched between a pair of substrates that are arranged to face each other via a spacer,
A pixel including a reflective portion and a transmissive portion;
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein a light leakage region caused by the spacer extends across the width of the transmission part. An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal device according to claim 1.

Images