JP2006154189A - Liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display device in which display unevenness is reduced. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid crystal display device has a color filter 22, and a bump correcting layer 27 disposed on the outside of the color filter 22 and arranged on an effective visual field region visually recognized from the outside formed on a substrate 10, and is equipped with: a sealing material 33 to seal a liquid crystal layer interposed between the substrate 10 and a counter substrate 20; spherical spacers 31 disposed inside the effective visual field region and controlling a gap between the substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20; and a columnar spacer 32 arranged between the effective visual field region and the sealing material 33. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display device having a color filter.

  As an image display device for personal computers and other various monitors, or a display screen of a mobile phone or a display screen of a car navigation system, there has been a remarkable spread of liquid crystal display devices. Various types of liquid crystal display devices are known, and transmissive liquid crystal display devices, reflective liquid crystal display devices, transflective liquid crystal display devices, and the like are known. Further, in a liquid crystal display device, color display using a color filter is employed. This liquid crystal display device usually has a color filter substrate including three color filters of R (Red: Red), G (Green: Green), and B (Blue: Blue) for each pixel.

  The transmissive liquid crystal display device displays an image using transmitted light from the back side. The transmissive liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight unit disposed on the back surface thereof. The liquid crystal display panel displays an image by controlling the transmitted light. The liquid crystal display panel can control the amount of transmitted light by enclosing a liquid crystal between two glass substrates and controlling an electric field applied to the liquid crystal. One of the two glass substrates is a color filter substrate. Liquid crystal display panels are known in modes such as TN (Twisted Nematic) and STN (Super Twisted Nematic). The backlight unit typically includes a light source and a plurality of optical members in order to effectively emit light from the light source to the liquid crystal display panel.

  As a display device having both the characteristics of a transmissive liquid crystal display device and a reflective liquid crystal display device, a transflective liquid crystal display device is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A transflective liquid crystal display device includes a transmissive region and a reflective region in one pixel. A reflective film provided on the pixel corresponds to the reflective region. A color filter layer other than the reflection region in the pixel corresponds to the transmission region. A color filter layer is also provided on the front side of the reflective film. The reflective film and the color filter layer are formed on the back side of the liquid crystal layer. In bright places, by using the external light reflected by the reflective film, it is possible to realize easy-to-see display and power consumption reduction. On the other hand, in a dark place, an image with excellent quality can be displayed by using light from a backlight unit that passes through the color filter layer and enters the liquid crystal layer.

  By the way, in the liquid crystal display device, it is necessary to keep the cell gap constant in order to prevent the occurrence of display unevenness. That is, if the distance between the two glass substrates is not constant, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is partially different, and display unevenness occurs. For this reason, the spacer which regulates the space | interval is used between two glass substrates. Liquid crystal is injected between the substrates whose distance is regulated by the spacer. This spacer is generally spherical. The spherical spacers are uniformly distributed in the substrate surface by a distribution device. Furthermore, in order to make the cell gap constant, there is a liquid crystal display device in which columnar protrusions are formed in addition to a spherical spacer (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  Liquid crystal is injected between the substrates whose spacing is regulated by the spacer. The liquid crystal is sealed with a sealing material provided in a frame shape around the glass substrate. The shape of the sealing pattern for forming this sealing material will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the shape of the seal pattern. A frame-shaped seal pattern 37 is formed on the substrate 10. As shown in FIG. 3, when the effective visual field region viewed from the outside is used, the seal pattern 37 is formed outside the effective visual field region. The seal pattern 37 is formed of a thermosetting resin or a photocurable resin. The seal pattern 37 can be formed by a screen printing method or a dispenser method. The seal pattern 37 is provided with a liquid crystal injection port 34 for injecting liquid crystal between the substrates. That is, an opening serving as the liquid crystal injection port 34 is provided in a part of the frame-shaped sealing material 33. In a state where the substrate 10 provided with the seal pattern 37 and the counter substrate (not shown) are arranged to face each other, the resin constituting the seal pattern 37 is cured. Thereby, the substrate 10 and the counter substrate are bonded together. Liquid crystal is injected from the liquid crystal injection port 34 between the substrates. Then, a resin is applied to the liquid crystal injection port 34 by a sealing device. Thereby, the liquid crystal is sealed between the substrates.

JP 2001-281648 A JP 2001-83526 A

  In a conventional liquid crystal display device having such a configuration, the cell gap may not be constant. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a color filter substrate of a conventional liquid crystal display device. Here, a transflective liquid crystal display device will be described as an example.

  In FIG. 4, 10 is a substrate, 21 is a reflection film, 22 is a color filter, 23 is a BM (black mask), 24 is a planarization layer, 25 is an electrode, 26 is an alignment film, and 27 is a step correction layer. A color filter 22 is provided on the substrate 10. The color filter 22 is patterned in a matrix, for example. Each of the color filters 22 corresponds to a pixel. As shown in FIG. 4, the entire area where the pixels, that is, the color filters 22 are provided becomes the display area. A desired image is displayed in the display area where the pixels are formed. For example, the color filter 22 includes three colors of R, G, and B.

  A reflective film 21 is provided on a part of the pixel. The reflective film 21 reflects light incident from the viewing side. Since the reflective film 21 is thinner than the color filter 22, the color filter 22 is also formed on the reflective film 21. Of the pixel, a portion where the reflective film is provided becomes a reflective region. on the other hand. Of the pixel, the reflective film 21 is not provided, and the portion where the color filter 22 is provided is a transmission region. A BM 23 is provided between the color filters 22. BM23 is a light shielding film made of resin or chromium. The BM 23 is provided to prevent light leakage from between pixels. The BM 23 is further formed up to the end of the substrate 10. That is, the BM 23 is also formed outside the display area.

  In order to protect and planarize the color filter 22, a planarization layer 24 is formed so as to cover the color filter 22. The planarizing layer 24 is provided up to the end of the substrate 10. Therefore, the planarization layer 24 is also provided on the BM 23 outside the display area. An electrode 25 is formed on the planarization layer 24. For example, the electrode 25 is formed of a transparent conductive film. By applying a voltage to the electrode 25, the liquid crystal layer is driven. An alignment film 26 is provided on the electrode 25. A step correction layer 27 is provided outside the display area. The step correction layer 27 will be described later.

  Although not shown in FIG. 4, spacers for holding the cell gap are scattered on the alignment film 26. A sealing material is provided on the outer periphery of the substrate 10. With this sealing material, the substrate 10 and the counter substrate facing the substrate 10 are bonded together.

  Here, the liquid crystal display device is generally provided with a frame whose central portion is a window portion, and a portion corresponding to the window portion of the frame is visually recognized. Therefore, a part of the area outside the display area of the liquid crystal display panel is also visually recognized from the outside. That is, a part of the area surrounding the display area on the substrate 10 is visually recognized from the outside. As shown in FIG. 4, the entire area visually recognized from the outside is set as an effective visual field area. This effective visual field area coincides with the effective visual field area shown in FIG. Therefore, the effective visual field area is a slightly larger area than the display area. An area obtained by combining the display area and the frame-like area outside the display area is an effective visual field area. The area excluding the display area from the effective visual field area has a frame shape. Although this frame-shaped area is a non-display area, it is an area that is visible from the outside.

  A BM 23 is disposed outside the display area of the effective visual field area. This BM 23 can prevent light leakage. Therefore, the frame-shaped area outside the display area of the effective visual field area is visually recognized as black. Here, a step correction layer 27 for correcting a step generated by the reflective film 21 is provided in an area outside the display area of the effective visual field area. That is, the reflective film 21 is not provided in the frame-shaped region outside the display region in the effective visual field region. On the other hand, a reflective film 21 is provided in the display area. Therefore, the surface height of the display region is higher than the surface height of the frame-like region depending on the presence or absence of the reflective film 21. In order to correct a step caused by the difference in surface height, a step correction layer 27 is provided in the frame-like region in the effective visual field region. This step correction layer 27 can reduce changes in the cell gap in the vicinity of the display area. That is, by providing the step correction layer 27, display unevenness in the vicinity of the display area can be reduced.

  However, the surface height outside the step correction layer 27, that is, outside the effective visual field region is lower than the effective visual field region. That is, a step a occurs between the outside and inside of the effective visual field area. When such a level difference occurs, the spacer that keeps the cell gap constant outside the effective visual field region and the two substrates are not in contact with each other. That is, an interval is generated between the spacer and one substrate. Therefore, it becomes impossible to regulate the substrate interval outside the effective visual field region. Accordingly, when a force is applied to the liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal display panel is warped. Due to this warpage, the cell gap is not constant and display unevenness occurs. This display unevenness may occur not only in the transflective liquid crystal display device but also in the transmissive and reflective liquid crystal display devices.

As described above, the conventional liquid crystal display device has a problem that display unevenness occurs.
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a liquid crystal display device capable of reducing display unevenness.

  A liquid crystal display device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal layer in a space surrounded by a first substrate, a second substrate, and a sealing material formed around both substrates, On the first substrate, a color filter provided corresponding to a pixel in the display area and a step correction layer provided outside the display area and provided in an effective visual field area visible from the outside are formed. A spherical spacer which is provided in the effective visual field region and regulates a distance between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a columnar spacer which is provided between the effective visual field region and the sealing material. It is. Thereby, display unevenness can be reduced.

  In the liquid crystal display device according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the above-described liquid crystal display device, a reflective film is formed on at least a part of the pixels, and the reflective film and the step correction layer are formed of the same material. It is what. Thereby, a manufacturing process can be simplified.

  The liquid crystal display device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the above-described liquid crystal display device, wherein the sealing material and the columnar spacer are formed of the same material. Thereby, a manufacturing process can be simplified.

  A liquid crystal display device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the above-described liquid crystal display device, wherein the sealing material and the columnar spacer are formed by printing. Thereby, a manufacturing process can be simplified.

  The liquid crystal display device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the above-described liquid crystal display device, wherein the columnar spacers are formed to be scattered. Thereby, the liquid crystal can be injected uniformly.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the liquid crystal display device which can reduce display nonuniformity can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments to which the present invention can be applied will be described. The following description explains the embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

  A configuration of a liquid crystal display panel used in the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an end portion of a liquid crystal panel. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a liquid crystal display panel of a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention. Here, a transflective liquid crystal display device will be described as an example.

  In FIG. 1, 10 is a substrate, 20 is a counter substrate, 21 is a reflection film, 22 is a color filter, 23 is a BM (black mask), 24 is a planarization layer, 25 is an electrode, 26 is an alignment film, and 27 is a step correction layer. , 31 is a spherical spacer, 32 is a columnar spacer, and 33 is a sealing material.

  The substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are, for example, transparent glass substrates. The substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are disposed to face each other. Liquid crystal is sealed in a space surrounded by the substrate 10, the counter substrate 20, and the sealing material 33 formed around the both substrates. The liquid crystal display panel can use a mode such as TN (Twisted Nematic) or STN (Super Twisted Nematic). A backlight unit (not shown), which is a planar light source device, is provided on the back side of the substrate 10. The light from the backlight unit passes through the liquid crystal layer and is emitted to the counter substrate 20 side. The backlight unit typically includes a light source and a plurality of optical members in order to effectively emit light from the light source to the liquid crystal display panel.

  A color filter 22 is provided on the substrate 10. That is, the substrate 10 is a color filter substrate on which the color filter 22 is formed. The color filter 22 is patterned in a matrix. Each of the color filters 22 corresponds to a pixel. As shown in FIG. 1, the entire area where the pixels, that is, the color filters 22 are provided becomes the display area. A desired image is displayed in the display area where the pixels are formed. The color filter 22 includes, for example, three colors of R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue).

  A BM 23 is provided between the color filters 22. BM23 is a light shielding film made of resin or chromium. The BM 23 is provided to prevent light leakage from between pixels. The BM 23 is further formed up to the end of the substrate 10. That is, the BM 23 is also formed outside the display area in order to prevent light leakage around the display area.

  A reflective film 21 is provided on a part of the pixel. The reflective film 21 reflects light incident from the viewing side. Since the reflective film 21 is thinner than the color filter 22, the color filter 22 is also formed on the reflective film 21. Of the pixel, a portion where the reflective film is provided becomes a reflective region. In the reflection area, light incident from the outside is reflected. on the other hand. Of the pixel, the reflective film 21 is not provided, and the portion where the color filter 22 is provided is a transmission region. In the transmissive region, light from the backlight unit is transmitted. With such a configuration, a pixel of a transflective liquid crystal display device is formed. The reflective film 21 can be formed of, for example, a metal thin film having a thickness of 0.1 to 0.3 μm.

  In order to protect and planarize the color filter 22, a planarization layer 24 is formed so as to cover the color filter 22. The planarizing layer 24 is provided up to the end of the substrate 10. Therefore, the planarization layer 24 is also provided on the BM 23 outside the display area.

  An electrode 25 is formed on the planarization layer 24. For example, the electrode 25 is formed of a transparent conductive film. By applying a voltage to the electrode 25, the liquid crystal layer is driven. For example, in a passive matrix liquid crystal display device, the electrodes 25 are formed in a stripe shape. The counter substrate 20 is provided with electrodes (not shown) orthogonal to the electrodes 25. The electrode of the counter substrate 20 is also formed of a transparent conductive film. One of the electrodes of the substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 is a signal electrode, and the other is a scanning electrode. A voltage is applied between the electrode 25 of the substrate 10 and the electrode of the counter substrate 20. As a result, an electric field applied to the liquid crystal is generated. By controlling this electric field, the amount of light transmitted through the liquid crystal display panel can be controlled. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the passive matrix type liquid crystal display device, and can be used for an active matrix type or segment type liquid crystal display device. In addition, an alignment film 26 that aligns liquid crystal in a predetermined direction is formed on the electrode 25 and the electrode of the counter substrate 20.

  A sealing material 33 is provided around the substrate 10. The sealing material 33 is provided in a frame shape so as to surround the entire end portion of the substrate 10. The substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are bonded together by the sealing material 33. The sealing material 33 seals the liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20. In FIG. 1, the sealing material 33 is formed on the planarizing layer 24, but may be formed directly on the substrate 10.

  A step correction layer 27 is provided outside the display area. The step correction layer 27 will be described later.

  Here, in the liquid crystal display device, generally, an area outside the display area is visually recognized from the outside. That is, a part of the area surrounding the display area on the substrate 10 is visually recognized from the outside. As shown in FIG. 1, the entire area visually recognized from the outside is set as an effective visual field area. Therefore, the effective visual field area is a slightly larger area than the display area. That is, the effective visual field region is a region obtained by combining the display region and the frame-like region outside the display region. The area excluding the display area from the effective visual field area has a frame shape. Although this frame-shaped area is a non-display area, it is an area that is visible from the outside.

  A BM 23 is disposed outside the display area of the effective visual field area. This BM 23 can prevent light leakage. Therefore, the frame-shaped area outside the display area of the effective visual field area is visually recognized as black. Here, a step correction layer 27 for correcting a step generated by the reflective film 21 is provided in an area outside the display area of the effective visual field area. That is, the reflective film 21 is not provided in the frame-shaped region of the effective visual field region. On the other hand, a reflective film 21 is provided in the display area. Therefore, the surface height of the display region is higher than the surface height of the frame-like region depending on the presence or absence of the reflective film 21. In order to correct a step caused by the difference in surface height, a step correction layer 27 is provided in the frame-like region in the effective visual field region. The step correction layer 27 is patterned in a frame shape so as to surround the display area. The step correction layer 27 can be formed by the same process as the reflective film 21. In this case, the step correction layer 27 is formed of the same material as the reflective film 21. Thereby, a manufacturing process can be simplified and productivity can be improved. In this case, the step correction layer 27 is formed with a film thickness of 0.1 to 0.3 μm, which is the same as the reflective film 21. This step correction layer 27 can reduce changes in the cell gap in the vicinity of the display area. That is, by providing the step correction layer 27, display unevenness in the vicinity of the display area can be reduced.

  Here, steps due to the presence or absence of the step correction layer 27 occur between the inside and outside of the effective visual field region. In the present invention, spherical spacers 31 and columnar spacers 32 having different heights are provided in order to reduce display unevenness due to the steps. The spherical spacer 31 is disposed in the effective visual field area, and the columnar spacer 32 is disposed outside the effective visual field area. The columnar spacers 32 are provided so as to be scattered outside the effective visual field region and inside the sealing material 33. Here, the height of the spherical spacer 31 is lower than the height of the columnar spacer 32 in order to reduce the change in cell gap caused by the presence or absence of the step correction layer 27. That is, there is a difference in the surface height of the substrate 10 between the inside and outside of the effective visual field region depending on the presence or absence of the step correction layer 27. The difference in height between the columnar spacer 32 and the spherical spacer 31 coincides with the difference in the surface height of the substrate 10 inside and outside the effective visual field region. Therefore, the difference in height between the columnar spacer 32 and the spherical spacer corresponds to the difference between the surface height outside the effective visual field region and the surface height of the display region. In addition, the surface height of the outside of the effective visual field area and the display area is an average value of the surface height in each area. For example, the difference in height between the columnar spacer 32 and the spherical spacer 1 can be matched with the film thickness of the step correction layer 27. The columnar spacer 32 is formed higher than the spherical spacer 31 by this difference. Thereby, the columnar spacers 32 are in contact with the surfaces of the substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 even outside the effective visual field region. Furthermore, the spherical spacer 31 is in contact with the surfaces of the substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 even in the effective visual field region. Therefore, the spacers are in contact with the surfaces of the substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 over the entire surface of the liquid crystal display panel 1. Therefore, the substrate interval can be regulated not only inside but also outside the effective visual field region. Thereby, the curvature of the liquid crystal display panel 1 can be prevented, and display unevenness can be reduced.

  Next, the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display panel 1 will be described. First, the reflective film 21 and the step correction layer 27 are formed on the substrate 10. Specifically, a metal thin film such as Al is formed by vapor deposition or sputtering. Then, the metal thin film is patterned by photolithography to form the reflective film and the step correction layer 27. The reflective film 21 and the step correction layer 27 can be formed with a thickness of 0.2 μm, for example.

  Next, the BM 23 is formed on the step correction layer 27. The BM 23 is formed of, for example, a resin in which metallic chromium, carbon, or titanium is dispersed in a photoresist. When metallic chromium is used, the BM 23 is patterned by photolithography as shown in FIG. When the resin BM is used, the BM 23 is patterned as shown in FIG. 1 by performing application, exposure and development.

  Subsequently, the color filter 22 is formed by applying, exposing and developing a photosensitive coloring material by a pigment dispersion method or the like. For each of the R, G, and B photosensitive coloring materials, coating, exposure, and development are repeated to form a three-color color filter 22. Here, first, a colored layer having the same thickness as that of the reflective film 21 and the step correction layer 27, that is, a 0.2 μm colored layer is formed. Thereby, a color filter is formed in a region where the reflective film 21 of the pixel is not formed. Then, a colored layer having a thickness of 0.8 μm is provided on the reflective film 21 and the color filter having the same thickness as the reflective film by the same method. Thereby, the color filter 22 having the shape shown in FIG. 1 can be formed.

  Thereafter, a planarizing layer 24 is formed on the BM 23 and the color filter 22. The planarization layer 24 can be formed of a resin.

  An electrode 25 is formed on the planarizing layer 24. First, a transparent conductive film such as ITO is formed by sputtering or vapor deposition. Then, the transparent conductive film is patterned by photolithography. Thereby, the electrode 25 is formed as shown in FIG. An alignment film 26 is provided on the electrode 25 and a rubbing process is performed.

  Note that an electrode is formed on the counter substrate 20 in the same manner as described above. Furthermore, an alignment film 26 is also provided on the electrode of the counter substrate 20. In the TN mode and the STN mode, rubbing is performed so that the alignment directions of the alignment films of the substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 intersect at an angle of 90 ° to 240 °.

  Then, a resin for forming a seal pattern to be the sealing material 33 is disposed on the substrate 10. The sealing material 33 is formed by a printing method, for example. Specifically, the sealing material 33 can be formed by a screen printing method. At this time, a pattern to be the columnar spacer 32 can be printed simultaneously with the printing of the pattern of the sealing material 33. That is, the resin pattern is formed on the substrate 10 using a plate having a pattern included in the seal pattern of the frame-shaped sealing material 33 and the spacer pattern of the columnar spacer 32. Specifically, a plate is placed on the substrate 10, and the resin is scraped off from above using a squeegee. Thereby, a resin pattern corresponding to the pattern of the plate is formed. Therefore, the seal pattern and the spacer pattern of the columnar spacer 32 are formed on the substrate. This resin pattern is as shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a view showing the shapes of the seal pattern and the spacer pattern, and is a view of the substrate 10 as viewed from above.

  By screen printing, a seal pattern 37 to be a seal material 33 and a spacer pattern 38 to be a columnar spacer 32 as shown in FIG. 2 are formed. The seal pattern 37 is formed in a frame shape. Further, the seal pattern 37 is provided with an opening that becomes the liquid crystal injection port 34. That is, the seal pattern 37 is arranged in a frame shape except for the liquid crystal injection port 34. The spacer pattern 38 is formed outside the effective visual field area and inside the seal pattern 37. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of spacer patterns 38 are formed in a region outside the effective visual field region and inside the seal pattern 37. The spacer patterns 38 are preferably formed at equal intervals. Thereby, a cell gap can be made uniform. Each spacer pattern 38 is formed to have a circular cross section. The spacer pattern 38 is formed so as not to contact the seal pattern 37. That is, the spacer pattern 38 is disposed away from the seal pattern 37. Further, the spacer pattern 38 is formed so as not to contact the adjacent spacer pattern. That is, the spacer patterns 38 are spaced apart from each other. It is preferable not to form the spacer pattern 38 at the liquid crystal injection port 34.

  Here, in order to form the seal pattern 37 and the spacer pattern 38, a thermosetting resin or a photocurable resin is used. For example, an epoxy resin can be used. As described above, since the seal pattern 37 and the spacer pattern 38 are formed by the same printing process, the seal pattern 37 and the spacer pattern 38 are made of the same material. The seal pattern 37 is disposed outside the frame-shaped step correction layer 27. That is, the region where the step correction layer 27 is provided is separated from the region where the seal pattern 37 is formed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, the frame-shaped step correction layer 27 is not disposed below the seal material 33. Therefore, peeling of the sealing material 33 can be prevented. That is, since the step correction layer 27 is formed in a frame shape, if the step correction layer 27 is under the sealing material 33, the step correction layer 27 is formed under the entire sealing material 33. In this case, peeling of the sealing material 33 is likely to occur. Therefore, it is preferable to form the sealing material 33 outside the frame-shaped step correction layer 27.

  Spherical spacers 31 are dispersed on the substrate 10 on which the seal pattern 37 and the spacer pattern 38 are formed. The spherical spacers 31 are sprayed from above the substrate 10 using the spray nozzle of the spacer spraying device. At this time, a mask may be used so that the spherical spacers 31 are not scattered outside the effective visual field region.

  Then, the board | substrate 10 and the opposing board | substrate 20 are made to oppose, and the sealing material 33 is hardened. Thereby, the board | substrate 10 and the opposing board | substrate 20 are bonded together. At this time, the resin to be the seal pattern 37 is cured while pressing the substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20. Accordingly, the seal pattern 37 and the spacer pattern 38 are in contact with both substrates. Then, the distance between the substrates is regulated by the spherical spacer 31. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the seal pattern 37 and the spacer pattern 38 are pressed until the substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are in contact with the spherical spacer 31. The seal pattern 37 and the spacer pattern 38 are cured while being pressed. The spherical spacer 31 and the columnar spacer 32 are in contact with the surfaces of the substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20. Therefore, the substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are supported by the spherical spacer 31 and the columnar spacer 32. Thereby, display unevenness can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to increase the width of the sealing material 33, the sealing pattern 37 and the spacer pattern 38 can be pressed appropriately. Thereby, the cell gap is determined by the diameter of the spherical spacer 31. Therefore, the cell gap can be easily controlled.

  Then, liquid crystal is injected from a liquid crystal injection port 34 provided in the sealing material 33. Here, since the spacer patterns 38 are provided so as to be scattered, the columnar spacers 32 are also scattered outside the effective visual field region and inside the sealing material 33. Therefore, the liquid crystal can be injected from the liquid crystal injection port 34 without any trouble. That is, the liquid crystal reaches the effective viewing area through the interspersed columnar spacers. The liquid crystal reaches the entire area surrounded by the sealing material 33. Thereby, the liquid crystal can be injected uniformly.

  Thereafter, the liquid crystal inlet 34 is sealed using a sealing device, thereby completing the liquid crystal display panel. By using such a manufacturing method, a liquid crystal display device with reduced display unevenness can be manufactured by a simple method. The number of liquid crystal injection holes 34 is not limited to one, and two or more liquid crystal injection holes 34 may be provided. Further, the seal pattern 37 and the spacer pattern 38 are not limited to the shapes shown in FIG. The seal pattern 37 and the spacer pattern 38 may be formed using separate plates. In this case, the seal pattern 37 and the spacer pattern 38 can be made of different materials.

  In the above description, the transflective liquid crystal display device has been described. However, the present invention can be used for the transflective and transmissive liquid crystal display devices. In the liquid crystal display device, the reflective film can be used as the step correction layer. Thereby, a manufacturing process can be simplified. It is also possible to form the step correction layer 27 by the same process as the color filter.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the edge part of the liquid crystal display panel used for the liquid crystal display device concerning this invention. In the liquid crystal display device concerning this invention, it is a figure which shows the shape of a seal pattern and a spacer pattern. It is a figure which shows the seal pattern of the conventional liquid crystal display device. It is a figure which shows the structure of the edge part of the color filter substrate of the liquid crystal display panel used for the conventional liquid crystal display device.

Explanation of symbols

1. Liquid crystal display panel 10 Substrate 20 Counter substrate 21 Reflecting film 22 Color filter 23 BM
24 planarization layer,
25 Electrode 26 Alignment film 27 Step correction layer 31 Spherical spacer 32 Columnar spacer,
33 Sealant 34 Liquid Crystal Injection Port 37 Seal Pattern 38 Spacer Pattern

Claims (5)

A liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal layer in a space surrounded by a first substrate, a second substrate, and a sealing material formed around both substrates,
On the first substrate,
A color filter provided corresponding to the pixels in the display area;
A step correction layer disposed outside the display region and provided in an effective visual field region visually recognized from outside;
A spherical spacer which is provided in the effective visual field region and regulates an interval between the first substrate and the second substrate;
A liquid crystal display device comprising a columnar spacer provided between the effective visual field region and the sealing material. A reflective film is formed on at least a part of the pixel,
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective film and the step correction layer are formed of the same material.   3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material and the columnar spacer are formed of the same material.   The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein the sealing material and the columnar spacer are formed by printing.   The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the columnar spacers are formed to be scattered.

Images