JP2006251599A - Liquid crystal device and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal device whose contrast can be improved, and electronic equipment. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid crystal device has a liquid crystal layer and a plurality of colored layers corresponding to a plurality of dots in unit pixels between a 1st substrate and a 2nd substrate, and is characterized in that one of the plurality of dots is different in liquid crystal layer thickness from other dots. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device and an electronic apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, liquid crystal devices capable of full color display are known as display devices used for mobile phones and the like. In such a liquid crystal device, the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer is different for each of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) dots constituting the unit pixel, and the transmission amount of each color of RGB is controlled. Thus, an image is displayed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Further, in such a liquid crystal device, a normally white mode in which white display is performed when no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer, or a normally black mode in which black display is performed while no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer. It has been known.
JP-A-8-262444 JP-A-11-218606

However, the present inventor has found that it is difficult to perform black display with high contrast in a normally black mode liquid crystal device.
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a liquid crystal device and an electronic apparatus that can improve contrast.

The present inventor found that the transmittance characteristics of the liquid crystal layer in the B dots and the transmittance characteristics in the other dots are not uniform among the RGB dots in a minute voltage range from the voltage non-application state to the voltage application state. Focused on that. Further, since the transmittance of all the dots of BGB is not uniform, even if black display is attempted, light leakage occurs slightly from the B dots, and as a result, it is not possible to reliably perform black display with RGB aligned. And found a problem that the contrast is lowered. Further, the present inventor has also found that the transmittance of RGB is not uniform after passing through the polarizing plate because the ease of light transmission through the polarizing plate varies depending on the wavelength.
Therefore, the present inventor has come up with the present invention having the following means based on the above.

  That is, the liquid crystal device of the present invention is a liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal layer and a plurality of colored layers respectively corresponding to a plurality of dots in a unit pixel between a first substrate and a second substrate. Of the plurality of colored layers, one colored layer is a blue colored layer in which transmitted light is blue, and a liquid crystal layer thickness of a dot corresponding to the blue colored layer corresponds to the other colored layer It is characterized by being thinner than the liquid crystal layer thickness of the dots.

Here, the relationship between the liquid crystal layer thickness and the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer will be described. When the liquid crystal layer thickness is large, the driving voltage per unit thickness film of the liquid crystal layer is small. Further, when the liquid crystal layer thickness is small, the drive voltage increases per unit thick film of the liquid crystal layer.
In order to simplify the description, a dot corresponding to the blue colored layer is described as a blue dot, a dot corresponding to the red colored layer is a red dot, and a dot corresponding to the green colored layer is a green dot.

According to the present invention, among the plurality of dots, the liquid crystal layer thickness at the blue dot is thinner than the liquid crystal layer thickness at the other dots, so the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer at the blue dot can be applied to the liquid crystal layer at the other dot. It can be made larger than the applied voltage. Thereby, the transmittance characteristics of the blue dots can be made different from the transmittance characteristics of the other dots, and the transmittance characteristics of the blue dots can be adjusted. Therefore, the transmittance characteristics of each dot can be made uniform by adjusting the liquid crystal layer thickness of the blue dot as desired. Therefore, it is possible to improve the contrast by arranging the transmittance characteristics.
In particular, when the liquid crystal device of the present invention is in a normally black mode in which a black display is displayed when the applied voltage of the liquid crystal layer is not applied, it is possible to suppress the light from passing through the blue dots and to ensure the black display. It is possible to improve the contrast.

In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the other colored layer is a red colored layer in which the transmitted light indicates red, and a green colored layer in which the transmitted light indicates green, and corresponds to the green colored layer. The liquid crystal layer thickness of the dots is characterized by being thinner than the liquid crystal layer thickness of the dots corresponding to the red colored layer.
In this way, the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer of blue dots can be made higher than other dots (red colored layer and green dots).
Further, comparing the red dot and the green dot, the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer of the green dot can be made higher than that of the red dot.
Thereby, the transmittance characteristics can be made uniform in each of the plurality of colored layers, that is, in each of the dots of red, green, and blue. In particular, in a normally black mode liquid crystal device, it is possible to reliably perform black display with uniform transmittance characteristics of red, green, and blue, thereby realizing an improvement in contrast.

In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the other colored layer is a red colored layer in which the transmitted light indicates red, and a green colored layer in which the transmitted light indicates green, and corresponds to the green colored layer. The liquid crystal layer thickness of the dot is equal to the liquid crystal layer thickness of the dot corresponding to the red colored layer.
In this way, the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer of blue dots can be made higher than other dots (red colored layer and green dots).
Further, the red dots and the green dots can be compared to make the applied voltages to the liquid crystal layers of the red dots and the green dots equal.
Thereby, the transmittance characteristics can be made uniform in each of the plurality of colored layers, that is, in each of the dots of red, green, and blue. In particular, in a normally black mode liquid crystal device, it is possible to reliably perform black display with uniform transmittance characteristics of red, green, and blue, thereby realizing an improvement in contrast.

In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the thickness of the blue colored layer is larger than the thickness of the other colored layers.
Here, it is preferable that the liquid crystal device of the present invention has a configuration in which the film thickness difference between the plurality of colored layers is directly attributable to the liquid crystal layer thickness difference. For example, an alignment film or an electrode formed between the colored layer and the liquid crystal layer is preferably provided with a thickness that does not flatten the surface of the colored layer. Therefore, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer can be reduced in the portion where the thickness of the colored layer is large, and the thickness of the liquid crystal layer can be increased in the portion where the thickness of the colored layer is small.
And in this invention, since the film thickness of the blue colored layer is thicker than the film thickness of the other colored layers, the liquid crystal layer thickness of the blue dots can be made smaller than the other dots. The voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer of blue dots can be made larger than that of dots. Therefore, not only the same effect as described above can be obtained, but also the thickness of the liquid crystal layer of the blue dots can be set only by changing the thickness of the blue colored layer.

In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the area of at least one of the plurality of colored layers is different from the area of the other colored layers.
In this way, even when the thickness of the colored layer is increased or decreased as described above, the area of at least one colored layer is different from the area of other colored layers. The hue of the colored layer can be adjusted by the size of the area.

In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the color density of at least one of the plurality of colored layers is different from the color density of the other colored layers.
In this way, even when the thickness of the colored layer is increased or decreased as described above, the color density of at least one colored layer is different from the color density of the other colored layers. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the color tone of the colored layer with the magnitude of the color density.

In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, a liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer that varies the liquid crystal layer thickness of each of the plurality of dots is provided on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate. It is characterized by being provided.
Here, the inside means the side where the liquid crystal layer is disposed. In other words, it means the side of the facing surface where the first substrate and the second substrate face each other.
In this way, the liquid crystal layer thickness adjustment layer can adjust the liquid crystal layer thickness corresponding to each of the plurality of dots, and the same effect as described above can be obtained. That is, the transmittance characteristics of each dot can be made uniform. As a result, the problem caused by the difference in transmittance characteristics can be solved. In particular, in a normally black mode liquid crystal device, black display can be reliably performed and an improvement in contrast can be realized.

  Here, as a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer, a multi-tone having a plurality of portions having different light transmission amounts after forming a photosensitive resin film on the entire surface of at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate. There is a method of performing exposure processing collectively using a mask. Thereby, a part with a large exposure amount or a part with a small exposure amount can be formed, and a photosensitive resin film having a different film thickness according to the difference in the exposure amount can be formed. Accordingly, a liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer having a different film thickness can be formed in each of the plurality of dots. In such a method, it is not necessary to perform film formation, exposure, and development on each of the plurality of dots, so that the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer can be easily formed.

As another manufacturing method, after forming a photosensitive resin film on the entire surface of at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate, the same number of exposure processes as the number of dots are exposed to a plurality of dots. There is a method of applying it in different amounts. That is, after the photosensitive resin film is formed on the entire surface at once, the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer having a different film thickness can be formed in each of the plurality of dots by simply performing the same number of exposure processes as the number of dots. . Even in such a method, it is not necessary to perform film formation, exposure, and development on each of the plurality of dots, so that the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer can be easily formed.
In the method for forming the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer, a negative type or a positive type is used as the photosensitive resin film.

In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, when the transmittance of the liquid crystal layer of the dots corresponding to the blue colored layer is TB and the transmittance of the liquid crystal layer of the dots corresponding to the red colored layer is TR, the liquid crystal layer This is characterized in that the relationship TB <3TR is established at a voltage lower than the threshold voltage at which the liquid crystal molecules rise.
Here, the threshold voltage means a voltage (off voltage) at the time of black display, and the threshold voltage is set in a range of 0 to 0.2V.
The above effect can be reliably obtained by satisfying the relationship of TB <3TR at a voltage lower than the threshold voltage.

Moreover, the electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device including a display unit, and the display unit includes the liquid crystal device described above.
In this way, it is possible to realize an electronic device including a display unit capable of high contrast black display.

(First Embodiment of Liquid Crystal Device)
Hereinafter, a liquid crystal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a view showing a display area of the liquid crystal device, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB ′ in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state cut | disconnected.
The liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment is a passive-matrix transmissive color liquid crystal device, which is a normally black mode liquid crystal device that displays black when the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer is OFF (non-application). is there.
In each drawing, the thicknesses and dimensional ratios of the components are appropriately changed in order to make the drawings easy to see.

  In the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a lower substrate (first substrate) 2 and an upper substrate (second substrate) 3 having a rectangular shape in plan view are arranged to face each other with a sealant 4 interposed therebetween. . A part of the sealing material 4 is opened on one side (upper side in FIG. 1) of each of the substrates 2 and 3 to form a liquid crystal injection port 5 and is surrounded by both the lower substrates 2 and 3 and the sealing material 4. Liquid crystal is sealed in the space, and the liquid crystal inlet 5 is sealed with a sealing material 6. In the present embodiment, the outer dimension of the lower substrate 2 is larger than that of the upper substrate 3, and the edges of the upper substrate 3 and the lower substrate 2 are aligned on one side (the upper side in FIG. 1). These three sides (the lower side, the right side, and the left side in FIG. 1) are arranged so that the peripheral edge of the lower substrate 2 protrudes. A driving semiconductor element 7 for driving the electrodes of both the upper substrate 3 and the lower substrate 2 is mounted on an end portion on the lower side of the lower substrate 2. Reference numeral 8 denotes a light shielding layer (peripheral parting) for shielding light around the display area.

In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of segment electrodes 10 extending in the vertical direction in the figure are formed in a stripe pattern on the lower substrate 2. On the other hand, on the upper substrate 3, a plurality of common electrodes 11 extending in the horizontal direction in the figure so as to be orthogonal to the segment electrodes 10 are formed in a stripe shape. In order to perform color display, the colored layers of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) of the color filter are arranged corresponding to the direction of each segment electrode 10 (vertical stripes / RGB each in a stripe shape) One pixel (unit pixel) on the screen is composed of three dots (a plurality of dots) of R, G, and B arranged in the same direction in the vertical direction.
The “dot” in the present embodiment refers to each region where the segment electrode 10 and the common electrode 11 overlap each other in plan view. The “display region” is a region where a large number of pixels inside the light shielding layer 8 are arranged in a matrix and actually contributes to display.

Looking at the cross-sectional structure, as shown in FIG. 2, the segment electrode 10 and the alignment film 20 are formed on the lower substrate 2. On the upper substrate 3, the color filters 13 (13 r, 13 r, 13g, 13b), the black stripe 33, the overcoat film 21, the common electrode 11, and the alignment film 22 are formed. A liquid crystal layer 23 is disposed between the lower substrate 2 and the upper substrate 3.
Next, each part in the lower substrate 2 and the upper substrate 3 will be described in detail.

The lower substrate 2 is made of a transparent material such as glass or plastic.
The segment electrode 10 is made of indium tin oxide (hereinafter abbreviated as ITO), and is formed on the lower substrate 2 in a stripe shape in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface (a direction penetrating the paper surface). ing.
The alignment film 20 is made of a resin material such as polyimide formed on the segment electrode 10, and the surface side of the alignment film 20 is subjected to a rubbing process or a vertical alignment process according to the mode of liquid crystal molecules. It has been subjected. For example, when the liquid crystal molecules are TN mode or STN, the alignment film 27 is rubbed, and when the liquid crystal molecules are VA mode having negative dielectric anisotropy, they are vertical. An orientation treatment is performed. In the case where the alignment film 27 is a vertical alignment film, an inorganic film may be employed in addition to the polyimide film.

On the other hand, the upper substrate 3 is made of a transparent material such as glass or plastic.
The color filter 13 includes a red colored layer 13r in which the transmitted light is red, a green colored layer 13g in which the transmitted light is green, and a blue colored layer 13b in which the transmitted light is blue. It is prepared for above.
The film thickness tr of the red colored layer 13r, the film thickness tg of the green colored layer 13g, and the film thickness tb of the blue colored layer 13b are adjusted and set. These film thickness relationships are set so as to satisfy tb>tg> tr, and specific values are tb = 0.8 μm, tg = 0.75 μm, and tr = 0.7 μm.

The areas of the red colored layer 13r, the green colored layer 13g, and the blue colored layer 13b, or the area of at least one of the three colored layers are set differently.
By making the areas different in this way, even when the thickness of the colored layer is increased or decreased, the size of the area can be adjusted and the color of the colored layer can be adjusted.

In addition, the color of each of the red colored layer 13r, the green colored layer 13g, and the blue colored layer 13b is not limited to different areas of the red colored layer 13r, the green colored layer 13g, and the blue colored layer 13b as described above. The density or the color density of at least one of the three colored layers may be set differently.
By varying the color density in this way, it is possible to adjust the color density and adjust the hue of the colored layer even when the thickness of the colored layer is increased or decreased. Become.

The black stripe 33 is made of resin black or a metal such as chrome having a relatively low reflectance, and partitions (boundaries) between the R, G, and B colored layers 13r, 13g, and 13b. Is provided.
The overcoat film 21 is provided on the color filter 13 and protects the surfaces of the colored layers 13r, 13g, and 13b. Here, the overcoat film 21 is formed, for example, by a wet film formation method such as a spin coat method, and is not flattened. Therefore, the overcoat film 21 does not fill the step caused by the difference in film thickness between the colored layers 13r, 13g, and 13b, but forms a step so that the step between the colored layers 13r, 13g, and 13b is transferred. To do.
Accordingly, the overcoat film 21 formed on the color filter 13 is formed following the shape of the color filter 13, and thus is in a state of protruding from the liquid crystal layer 23 at the B dots.

The common electrode 11 is made of indium tin oxide (hereinafter abbreviated as ITO) and is formed in a stripe shape in the left-right direction on the upper substrate 3. The common electrode 11 is formed following the shape of the overcoat film 21, and is thus in a state of protruding from the liquid crystal layer 23 at the B dot.
In addition, the alignment film 22 is made of a resin material such as polyimide formed on the segment electrode 10, and a rubbing process or a vertical alignment process corresponding to the mode of the liquid crystal molecules is performed on the surface side of the alignment film 22. It has been subjected. For example, when the liquid crystal molecules are TN mode or STN, the alignment film 27 is rubbed, and when the liquid crystal molecules are VA mode having negative dielectric anisotropy, they are vertical. An orientation treatment is performed. In the case where the alignment film 27 is a vertical alignment film, an inorganic film may be employed in addition to the polyimide film.

A liquid crystal layer 23 is sandwiched between the lower substrate 2 and the upper substrate 3.
In this embodiment, STN (Super Twisted Nematic) liquid crystal containing polymer-dispersed liquid crystal is adopted, but not limited to the STN liquid crystal, TN (Twisted Nematic) mode, VA (Vertical Alignment) mode, etc. The liquid crystal layer may be used. Further, the actual twist angle of the STN liquid crystal in this embodiment is 240 to 250 °.

As described above, in the upper substrate 3, the colored layers 13r, 13g, and 13b are formed to have different thicknesses, and the overcoat film 21 flattens the thickness difference of the colored layers. Therefore, the layers of the liquid crystal layer 23 in the dots having the colored layers 13r, 13g, and 13b, that is, the R dots (red dots), G dots (green dots), and B dots (blue dots), respectively. Thicknesses (liquid crystal layer thicknesses) Lr, Lg, and Lb are formed to be different.
Since the relationship between the thicknesses of the colored layers is tb>tg> tr as described above, the relationship between the layer thicknesses of the liquid crystal layer 23 is Lb <Lg <Lr. As specific values, Lb = 5.75 μm, Lg = 5.7 μm, and Lr = 5.85 μm.
Accordingly, the layer thickness Lb of the liquid crystal layer 23 in the B dots is set different from that of other dots, and the layer thickness Lb is set to be the smallest.

  As described above, since the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 is different for each of the R dot, G dot, and B dot, the liquid crystal layer 23 for driving each of the R dot, G dot, and B dot is driven. It becomes possible to vary the voltage. Specifically, the drive voltage per unit thickness film of the liquid crystal layer 23 can be reduced by increasing the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23. Further, by reducing the thickness of the liquid crystal layer, it becomes possible to increase the drive voltage per unit thickness film of the liquid crystal layer 23.

  Further, the retardation plate 18 and the polarizing plate 19 are provided on the outer surface side of the lower substrate 2 (the side different from the surface sandwiching the liquid crystal layer 23), and the retardation plate 16 and the polarizing plate 17 are also provided on the outer surface side of the upper substrate 3. It is formed so that circularly polarized light can be incident on the substrate inner surface side (liquid crystal layer 23 side), and these retardation plate 18 and polarizing plate 19, retardation plate 16 and polarizing plate 17 are respectively circular polarizing plates. Is configured. The polarizing plate 17 (19) is configured to transmit only linearly polarized light having a polarization axis in a predetermined direction, and a λ / 4 retardation plate is employed as the retardation plate 16 (18). As such a circularly polarizing plate, it is possible to use a polarizing plate, a combination of a λ / 2 retardation plate and a λ / 4 retardation plate (broadband circularly polarizing plate), in this case, The black display can be made more achromatic. Further, it is possible to use a structure in which a polarizing plate, a λ / 2 retardation plate, a λ / 4 retardation plate, and a c plate (a retardation plate having an optical axis in the film thickness direction) are combined. Visualization can be achieved. A backlight unit 15 including a light source and a light guide plate is provided outside the polarizing plate 19 formed on the lower substrate 2.

Next, the transmittance characteristics of the liquid crystal device 1 having the above configuration will be described, and differences from the conventional liquid crystal device will be described in detail.
3A and 3B are diagrams showing transmittance characteristics of a conventional liquid crystal device. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing transmittance characteristics in a voltage region from a voltage non-application state to a voltage application state, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the transmittance | permeability characteristic which expanded Fig.3 (a).
4 is a diagram illustrating the transmittance characteristics of the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating the transmittance characteristics in the voltage region from the voltage non-application state to the voltage application state. (B) is the figure which shows the transmittance | permeability characteristic which expanded Fig.4 (a).
3 and 4, the horizontal axis indicates the voltage (V) applied to the liquid crystal layer, and the vertical axis indicates the transmittance of light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer. RGB indicates the transmittance of each of R dots, G dots, and B dots.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 4A, the transmittance of the conventional liquid crystal device and the liquid crystal device of this embodiment increases from around 1.8V. Further, as the voltage increases, the transmittance of the B dots gradually decreases with the peak at 2.0 V or near the peak. Further, the transmittance of R dots and G dots gradually decreases with the peak at 2.1 V or the vicinity thereof. As can be seen from FIGS. 3A and 4A, it can be said that the conventional liquid crystal device and the liquid crystal device of this embodiment have the same transmittance characteristics.

  However, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the transmittance characteristics of the conventional liquid crystal device are enlarged, the transmittance of R dots and G dots gradually increases around 1.75V to 1.80V. However, the transmittance of B dots is decreasing. As described above, in the conventional liquid crystal device, the transmittance characteristics of the RGB dots are not uniform in the voltage range from the voltage non-application state to the voltage application state. If the transmittance characteristics are not uniform as described above, light leakage from the B dots slightly occurs, and as a result, it is not possible to reliably perform black display in which RGB are aligned, and the contrast is lowered.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the transmittance characteristic of the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment is enlarged, the transmittance of R dots, G dots, and B dots is around 1.75V to 1.80V. All of them are increasing gradually. The transmittance is uniform in this way, as shown in the above configuration, the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 in the B dot is set thinner than the other dots, and is applied to the liquid crystal layer 23 of the B dot. This is because the voltage to be generated is intentionally made larger than other dots.
Therefore, by aligning the transmittance of R dots, G dots, and B dots, it is possible to prevent light leakage compared to the conventional case, and as a result, it is possible to reliably perform black display with RGB aligned, High contrast can be realized.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the threshold voltage (voltage at the time of black display) is set in the range of 0 to 0.2V. In a voltage range lower than the threshold voltage, the relationship between the transmittance TB of the B dot liquid crystal layer and the transmittance TR of the R dot liquid crystal layer is TB <3TR.

As described above, the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment varies the layer thickness of the B dot liquid crystal layer 23 among the RGB dots and the liquid crystal layer thickness of other dots, and further, the B dot liquid crystal layer. 23 has a configuration in which the layer thickness is the thinnest. Thereby, the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer 23 of B dots can be made different from the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer 23 of other dots. In particular, the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer of B dots can be increased, and the transmittance characteristics of B dots can be adjusted. Then, by varying the liquid crystal layer thickness as desired in each of the plurality of dots, the transmittance characteristics of each dot can be made uniform. As a result, black display can be performed reliably and an improvement in contrast can be realized.
Further, since the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 is set by changing the thicknesses of the colored layers 13r, 13g, and 13b, the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 can be easily set.
The layer thickness of the R dot liquid crystal layer 23 is larger than the layer thickness of the G dot liquid crystal layer 23. Thereby, the transmittance characteristics of the R dot and the G dot can be made different and adjusted.
In addition, since the relationship TB <3TR is established between the transmittance TB of the B dot liquid crystal layer and the transmittance TR of the R dot liquid crystal layer, it is possible to reliably align the transmittance characteristics of each dot. it can.

In the present embodiment, the thicknesses of the colored layers 13r, 13g, and 13b are tb = 0.8 μm, tg = 0.75 μm, and tr = 0.7 μm, whereby the liquid crystal in each of the RGB dots is obtained. The layer thicknesses Lr, Lg, and Lb of the layer 23 are Lb = 5.75 μm, Lg = 5.8 μm, and Lr = 5.85 μm.
Without being limited to these numerical values, the thicknesses of the colored layers 13r, 13g, and 13b and the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 in each of the RGB dots are set as appropriate.
For example, when the thicknesses of the colored layers 13r, 13g, and 13b are tb = 0.9 μm, tg = 0.8 μm, and tr = 0.7 μm, the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 in each dot of RGB is Lb = 5.8 μm, Lg = 5.8 μm, and Lr = 5.9 μm.
When the thicknesses of the colored layers 13r, 13g, and 13b are tb = 1.3 μm, tg = 1.2 μm, and tr = 1.1 μm, the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 in each dot of RGB is Lb = 5.7 μm, Lg = 5.8 μm, and Lr = 5.9 μm.

(Second Embodiment of Liquid Crystal Device)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the present embodiment, only the configuration different from the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 5 is a view showing a display area of the liquid crystal device, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB ′ of FIG. 1 (a cross-sectional view showing a state cut in the horizontal direction).
In each drawing, the thicknesses and dimensional ratios of the components are appropriately changed in order to make the drawings easy to see.

As shown in FIG. 5, the color filter 13 formed on the upper substrate 3 includes a red colored layer 13r in which the transmitted light indicates red, a green colored layer 13g in which the transmitted light indicates green, and the transmitted light in blue. The blue coloring layer 13b which shows this is provided on the upper board | substrate 3. FIG.
Further, the film thickness tr of the red colored layer 13r, the film thickness tg of the green colored layer 13g, and the film thickness tb of the blue colored layer 13b are adjusted and set. These film thickness relationships are set so as to satisfy tg = tr, tb> tg, tb> tr.
Since the thickness of the colored layer is set in this way, the relationship of the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 in each of the R dots, G dots, and B dots is Lg = Lr, Lb <tg, Lb <tr. It is formed to become. Accordingly, the layer thickness Lb of the liquid crystal layer 23 in the B dots is set to be the smallest.

The transmittance characteristics of the liquid crystal device configured as described above are the same as those in FIG. Therefore, compared with a conventional liquid crystal device, light leakage can be prevented, and as a result, black display with RGB colors can be reliably performed, and high contrast can be realized.
As described above, the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 in R dots and G dots is equal. Even in such a configuration, the transmittance of R dots, G dots, and B dots is uniform, so that light leakage can be prevented as compared with the conventional case, and as a result, black display in which RGB is aligned is reliably performed. And high contrast can be realized.

(Third embodiment of liquid crystal device)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the present embodiment, only the configuration different from the first embodiment will be described.
6 is a view showing a display area of the liquid crystal device, and is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view showing a state cut in the horizontal direction) along the line BB ′ of FIG.
In each drawing, the thicknesses and dimensional ratios of the components are appropriately changed in order to make the drawings easy to see.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the upper substrate 3, the color filters 13 (13r, 13g, 13b) are all formed with the same film thickness. Furthermore, the overcoat film 21 for the B dots is thicker than the overcoat film 21 for the other dots. That is, in this embodiment, the overcoat film 21 functions as a liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer. Further, the common electrode 11 formed on the overcoat film 21 is formed following the shape of the overcoat film 21, and thus is in a state of protruding to the liquid crystal layer 23 at the B dots.

  As a method for forming such an overcoat film 21, a multi-tone mask having a plurality of portions having different light transmission amounts is formed after a photosensitive resin film to be the overcoat film 21 is formed on the entire surface of the upper substrate 3. There is a method of performing exposure processing in a lump. Thereby, a part with a large exposure amount or a part with a small exposure amount can be formed, and the overcoat film 21 having a different film thickness according to the difference in the exposure amount can be formed. Therefore, the overcoat film 21 having a different film thickness can be formed in each of the RGB dots or in at least one of the RGB dots. In such a method, it is not necessary to perform film formation, exposure, and development on each of the RGB dots, so that the overcoat film 21 can be easily formed.

As another manufacturing method, after forming a photosensitive resin film to be the overcoat film 21 on the entire surface of the upper substrate 3, the same number of exposure processes as the number of dots are applied to the RGB dots. Can be applied. That is, after the photosensitive resin film is formed on the entire surface at once, the overcoat film 21 having a different film thickness can be formed in each of the RGB dots only by performing exposure processing three times. Even in such a method, it is not necessary to perform film formation, exposure, and development on each of the RGB dots, so that the overcoat film 21 can be easily formed.
In the above-described method for forming the overcoat film 21, a negative type or a positive type is used as the photosensitive resin film.

  Since such an overcoat film 21 is formed so as to protrude from the liquid crystal layer 23 of B dots, the relationship of the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 in each of R dots, G dots, and B dots is Lg = Lr, Lb <tg, Lb <tr. Accordingly, the layer thickness Lb of the liquid crystal layer 23 in the B dots is set to be the smallest.

The transmittance characteristics of the liquid crystal device configured as described above are the same as those in FIG. Therefore, compared with a conventional liquid crystal device, light leakage can be prevented, and as a result, black display with RGB colors can be reliably performed, and high contrast can be realized.
As described above, the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 in R dots and G dots is equal. Even in such a configuration, the transmittance of R dots, G dots, and B dots is uniform, so that light leakage can be prevented as compared with the conventional case, and as a result, black display in which RGB is aligned is reliably performed. And high contrast can be realized.

(Fourth Embodiment of Liquid Crystal Device)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the present embodiment, only the configuration different from the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display area of the liquid crystal device, and is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view showing a state cut in the horizontal direction) along the line BB ′ of FIG. 1.
In each drawing, the thicknesses and dimensional ratios of the components are appropriately changed in order to make the drawings easy to see.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the upper substrate 3, the color filters 13 (13r, 13g, 13b) are all formed with the same film thickness. Furthermore, the overcoat film 21 covering the color filter 13 has a flat surface formed so as to follow the surface of the color filter 13 (13r, 13g, 13b).

On the other hand, in the lower substrate 2, the base resin layer 24, the segment electrode 10, and the alignment film 20 are formed.
Here, the base insulating layer 24 in the B dots is thicker than the base insulating layer 24 in the other dots. That is, in this embodiment, the base insulating layer 24 functions as a liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer. Furthermore, the segment electrode 10 formed on the base insulating layer 24 is formed following the shape of the base insulating layer 24, and thus is in a state of protruding to the liquid crystal layer 23 at the B dots.
As a method for forming such a base insulating layer 24, a method similar to the method for forming the overcoat film 21 is employed, and this method is performed on the lower substrate 2. Therefore, the base insulating layer 24 can be easily formed by a simple process.
In the above method for forming the base insulating layer 24, a negative type or a positive type is used as the photosensitive resin film.

  Since the base insulating layer 24 is formed so as to protrude from the B dot liquid crystal layer 23, the relationship between the layer thicknesses of the liquid crystal layer 23 in each of the R dots, the G dots, and the B dots is as follows. Lg = Lr, Lb <tg, Lb <tr. Accordingly, the layer thickness Lb of the liquid crystal layer 23 in the B dots is set to be the smallest.

The transmittance characteristics of the liquid crystal device configured as described above are the same as those in FIG. Therefore, compared with a conventional liquid crystal device, light leakage can be prevented, and as a result, black display with RGB colors can be reliably performed, and high contrast can be realized.
As described above, the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 in R dots and G dots is equal. Even in such a configuration, the transmittance of R dots, G dots, and B dots is uniform, so that light leakage can be prevented as compared with the conventional case, and as a result, black display in which RGB is aligned is reliably performed. And high contrast can be realized.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a reflective liquid crystal device.
Moreover, you may employ | adopt the structure which performs both adjustment of the liquid crystal layer thickness by a liquid crystal layer thickness adjustment layer, and adjustment of the liquid crystal layer thickness by varying the film thickness of a colored layer.

  In this embodiment, the normally black mode liquid crystal device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this mode, and can also be applied to a normally white mode liquid crystal device. In the normally white mode liquid crystal device, by changing the thickness of the liquid crystal layer as described above, RGB color adjustment can be performed and brighter display can be realized.

(Electronics)
Next, specific examples of the electronic apparatus provided with the liquid crystal device according to the embodiment of the invention will be described.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a mobile phone. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 1000 denotes a mobile phone body, and reference numeral 1001 denotes a display unit using the liquid crystal device. When the liquid crystal device of the above-described embodiment is used for the display unit of such an electronic device such as a mobile phone, an electronic device that achieves a good black display and has a liquid crystal display unit with high contrast.

1 is a plan view of a liquid crystal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram taken along line B-B ′ of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment of the invention. The figure for demonstrating the transmittance | permeability characteristic of the conventional liquid crystal device. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining transmittance characteristics of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment of the invention. The cross-sectional block diagram which follows the B-B 'line | wire of the liquid crystal device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The cross-sectional block diagram which follows the B-B 'line | wire of the liquid crystal device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram taken along line B-B ′ of a liquid crystal device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an electronic apparatus of the invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid crystal device, 2 Lower board | substrate (1st board | substrate) 3, Upper board | substrate (2nd board | substrate) 13,13r, 13g, 13b Colored layer, 13b Blue colored layer, 13r Red colored layer, 13g Green colored layer, 21 Overcoat Film (liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer), 24 base resin layer (liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer), 23 liquid crystal layer, 1001 display unit (liquid crystal device), 1000 electronic device, Lr, Lg, Lb liquid crystal layer thickness, tr, tg, tb Colored layer thickness

Claims (10)

A liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal layer and a plurality of colored layers respectively corresponding to a plurality of dots in a unit pixel between a first substrate and a second substrate,
Among the plurality of colored layers, one colored layer is a blue colored layer in which transmitted light shows blue,
The liquid crystal layer thickness of the dots corresponding to the blue colored layer is thinner than the liquid crystal layer thickness of the dots corresponding to the other colored layers;
A liquid crystal device characterized by the above. The other colored layers are a red colored layer in which the transmitted light shows red, and a green colored layer in which the transmitted light shows green,
The liquid crystal layer thickness of the dots corresponding to the green colored layer is thinner than the liquid crystal layer thickness of the dots corresponding to the red colored layer;
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1. The other colored layers are a red colored layer in which the transmitted light shows red, and a green colored layer in which the transmitted light shows green,
The liquid crystal layer thickness of the dots corresponding to the green coloring layer is equal to the liquid crystal layer thickness of the dots corresponding to the red coloring layer,
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1. The film thickness of the blue colored layer is thicker than the film thickness of the other colored layer,
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal device is a liquid crystal device. Among the plurality of colored layers, the area of at least one colored layer is different from the area of other colored layers;
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal device is a liquid crystal device. Among the plurality of colored layers, the color density of at least one colored layer is different from the color density of the other colored layers;
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal device is a liquid crystal device. In at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate,
Inside, a liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer that varies the liquid crystal layer thickness in each of the plurality of dots is provided,
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal device is a liquid crystal device. The liquid crystal layer is in a normally black mode showing a black display when a voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer is not applied;
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal device is a liquid crystal device. The transmittance of the liquid crystal layer of the dot corresponding to the blue colored layer is TB,
When the transmittance of the liquid crystal layer of dots corresponding to the red colored layer is TR,
At a voltage lower than the threshold voltage at which the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer rise,
TB <3TR
That the relationship of
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal device is a liquid crystal device. An electronic device including a display unit,
The display unit includes the liquid crystal device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
Electronic equipment characterized by

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