JP2007041346A - Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stabilize a potential of a power supply in a drive circuit unit. <P>SOLUTION: Interlayer insulating films 12, 41, 42 are formed on a TFT array substrate 10, and a branched line 91y, an interlayer insulating film 43, a branched line 93y and an interlayer insulating film 44 are formed thereon, in this order. The interlayer insulating film 43 electrically insulates a drive power supply line 93, including the branched line 93y from a common potential line 91, including the branched line 91y, as well as, acts as dielectric film of a capacitance C1. Accordingly, by forming the drive power supply line 93 and the common potential line 91 on the TFT array substrate 10 and forming the interlayer insulating film 43 between these lines, a capacitance can be constituted by using the multilayer structure, as it is, formed on the TFT array substrate 10, without having to install a capacitor element that is to be a capacitance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technical field of an electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal device and an electronic apparatus such as a liquid crystal projector configured to include the electro-optical device.

  In a liquid crystal device which is an example of this type of electro-optical device, for example, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix are provided on a TFT array substrate, and these arranged planar regions serve as image display regions. . During the operation, an image signal, a scanning signal, and the like are supplied to an electronic element such as a pixel switching TFT via, for example, a data line, a scanning line, or the like. Then, matrix driving is performed by selectively supplying an image signal or the like from the electronic element to the pixel electrode. That is, image display is performed in an image display region in which a plurality of pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix. The TFT array substrate configured as described above is bonded to a counter substrate through a sealing material serving as an adhesion means, and an electro-optical material such as liquid crystal is sealed in a gap between these substrates.

  Among such regions on the TFT array substrate, in peripheral regions located around the image display region, there are drive circuit units such as a scanning line driving circuit for supplying scanning signals and a data line driving circuit for supplying image signals. In addition, a plurality of external circuit connection terminals and a plurality of lead wirings including image signal lines and power supply lines routed from these to the drive circuit unit are provided.

  Here, the drive power supplied to the semiconductor elements included in the drive circuit unit may change in potential due to wiring resistance such as a lead wiring to the drive circuit unit. More specifically, for example, in a buffer included in a shift register included in the data line driving circuit unit (X-driver circuit unit), the power supply potential fluctuates and image display is performed by a driving power supply having a stable potential. There is a problem that becomes difficult. In order to solve such problems, for example, a technique for retrofitting a capacitor or the like to a power supply line (see, for example, Patent Document 1), or a power supply for the purpose of reducing power consumption due to charge / discharge power of liquid crystal It is also conceivable to apply a technique for connecting a stabilizing capacitor between the terminal and the ground (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-142913 JP 2002-287706 A

  However, an electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal device has a larger image display area in response to a demand for a larger screen. Therefore, it is difficult to secure a space for providing a capacitor or the like in another area located around the image display area of the liquid crystal device while keeping the size of the entire liquid crystal device constant, and stabilize the power supply potential. Therefore, there is a design problem that it is difficult to provide a sufficient capacity. In addition, when a capacitance such as a capacitor is separately formed after the lead wiring is formed, the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal device is increased, and there is a problem in the manufacturing process that the manufacturing cost is increased.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems and the like. For example, the potential of the power supplied to the drive circuit during the operation thereof hardly increases the manufacturing process and changes the design of the liquid crystal device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electro-optical device and an electronic apparatus including the electro-optical device that can suppress fluctuations in image quality and display an image with high quality.

  In order to solve the above problem, an electro-optical device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed so as to face the substrate surface of the first substrate, and the first substrate. A plurality of pixel portions each having a pixel electrode, a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode, and the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded to each other; A seal portion provided in a seal region extending along the periphery of the image display region in a peripheral region on the first substrate located around the image display region; and the pixel portion provided in the peripheral region, A drive circuit portion that supplies various signals for controlling the pixel portion to the pixel portion, an extension portion that extends to overlap the seal region, and a drive power supply line that supplies a power supply potential to the drive circuit portion, Including a wiring part that overlaps the extension part. , The counter electrode potential line for supplying a predetermined potential to the counter electrode, and the extension portion and the wiring so as to electrically insulate the extension portion of the drive power supply line and the wiring portion of the counter electrode potential line. And an interlayer insulating film extending between the portions.

  According to the electro-optical device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the power supply potential is varied by the extension portion included in the drive power supply line, the wiring portion included in the counter electrode potential line, and the interlayer insulating film capacitance during the operation. The drive circuit unit that supplies various signals for driving the pixel unit to the pixel unit can be stably driven.

  Here, the counter electrode potential line supplies a common potential to a plurality of counter electrodes, and is interposed between these electrodes, for example, according to a potential difference between the pixel electrode supplied with the image signal and the counter electrode supplied with the common potential. The orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is controlled, and a high-quality image free from display defects such as flickering is displayed in the image display area according to the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules.

  Each of the drive power supply line and the counter electrode potential line is driven on the first substrate in order to enable the supply of the drive potential to the drive circuit unit which is their original purpose and the supply of the common potential to the counter electrode. The power supply line and the counter electrode potential line are formed so as to partially extend to the seal region under the constraints of the layout of each. Therefore, an extension portion extending so as to overlap the seal region along the seal region of the drive power supply line, and a wiring portion extending along the seal region so as to overlap the extension portion of the counter electrode potential line. For example, as a pair of capacitor electrodes, the drive circuit unit without separately adding a capacitor such as a capacitor to the drive power supply line by using the interlayer insulating film extending between the extension part and the wiring part as a dielectric film. It is possible to stabilize the power supply potential at. As a result, it is possible to provide a capacity in the seal region provided for bonding the first substrate and the second substrate without increasing the existing manufacturing process for manufacturing the electro-optical device, and to stabilize a high-quality image. Can be displayed. In addition, the withstand voltage characteristics of the capacitive drive power supply line can be improved without retrofitting a capacitor.

  In order to stabilize the power supply potential in the drive circuit portion, it is preferable that the capacitance value is larger. Therefore, the extension portion and the wiring portion are formed so that the areas that overlap each other as much as possible in the seal region as viewed in plan are increased in order to increase the capacitance.

  In one aspect of the electro-optical device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the seal portion is formed of a photocurable resin provided in the seal region, and each of the extension portion and the wiring portion. May have a gap for irradiating the photocurable resin with light from the first substrate side.

  According to this aspect, for example, light such as ultraviolet rays (UV light) is applied to the photocurable resin applied to the seal region from the first substrate through the gaps of the extension part and the wiring part, The first substrate and the second substrate are bonded to each other through the seal portion. As a result, for example, even when a drive power supply line and a counter electrode potential line that do not have optical transparency such as an aluminum wiring are extended to the seal region, a sufficient capacitance value is secured in the seal region, It is possible to cure the curable resin. The gap between the extending portion and the wiring portion may be any shape as long as the photocurable resin applied to the seal region can be irradiated with light from the first substrate side. For example, a plurality of rectangular shapes or circular shapes may be opened. The gaps of the extension part and the wiring part are provided in the extension part and the wiring part so as to overlap each other in plan view so that light is transmitted through these gaps.

  In another aspect of the electro-optical device according to the first aspect of the present invention, each of the extending portion and the wiring portion may have a ladder shape extending along the seal region when seen in a plan view. Good.

  According to this aspect, the extension part and the wiring part itself are compared with the case where each of the extension part and the wiring part is formed so as to have a flat plate shape that is planarly continuous or a planar shape that conforms to the flat plate shape. Has high elasticity against mechanical stress. According to such an extension part and a wiring part, the stress relaxation action works in the seal region, and, for example, the stress generated between the extension part and the wiring part formed using an aluminum material and the interlayer insulating film is reduced. In addition, it is possible to reduce physical damage such as peeling that occurs in the interface region between the extended portion, the wiring portion, and the interlayer insulating film caused by this stress. Thus, according to the electro-optical device according to this aspect, the reliability of the entire device can be improved, and a high-quality image can be displayed over a long period of time.

  In another aspect of the electro-optical device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the electro-optical device further includes a conductive portion electrically connected to the counter electrode potential line, and the conductive portion includes the counter electrode potential line and the counter electrode potential line. The counter electrode may be electrically connected.

  According to this aspect, a common potential can be supplied from the counter electrode potential line provided on the first substrate side to the counter electrode provided on the second substrate side. For example, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules interposed between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode Can be controlled. Here, the conductive portion is provided in the peripheral region of the first substrate so as to avoid, for example, the seal region, and more specifically, the drive power supply line and a plurality of external circuit connections provided in the peripheral region of the first substrate. It is provided at the corner of the first substrate so as not to limit the layout of various wirings routed from the terminal. The conductive part is electrically connected to the counter electrode indirectly through, for example, a wiring provided on the second substrate.

  In another aspect of the electro-optical device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the driving circuit unit includes a data line driving circuit unit that supplies a data signal for driving the pixel unit via a data line, and scanning. A scanning line driving circuit unit that supplies a scanning signal for driving the pixel unit via a line, and the data line driving circuit unit extends along the first side in the peripheral region. The scanning line driving circuit unit is disposed in a region extending along a second side adjacent to the first side of the first substrate in the peripheral region, and the extending portion is , Extending in the seal region so as to overlap at least one of the region extending along the second side and the region extending along the first side, and the drive power line includes the extension portion. The data line driving circuit unit and the scanning line It may be supplied to the power supply potential to at least one circuit part of the dynamic circuit.

  According to this aspect, a drive power source having a stable potential can be supplied to a circuit such as a shift register included in at least one of the data line driving circuit unit and the scanning line driving circuit unit, and high-quality image display can be performed. Is possible.

  Here, the drive power supply lines are routed from different external circuit connection terminals to a region extending along the first side and a region extending along the second side, respectively, and different drive power supplies are supplied to the data line drive circuit unit and the scan. You may supply to each of a line drive circuit part. Even when these different driving power supplies are supplied to each driving circuit unit, a capacity can be provided in the seal region, so that each of the data line driving circuit unit and the scanning line driving circuit unit can be driven stably. .

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an electro-optical device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed so as to face the substrate surface of the first substrate, and the first substrate. A plurality of pixel portions each having a pixel electrode, a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode, and the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded to each other; A seal portion provided in a seal region extending along the periphery of the image display region in a peripheral region on the first substrate located around the image display region; and the pixel portion provided in the peripheral region, A drive circuit unit that supplies various signals for driving the pixel unit to the pixel unit, and a first extension unit and a second extension unit that extend to different layers so as to overlap the seal region, A drive power supply for driving the drive circuit unit is provided. A drive power supply line to be supplied to the circuit portion, and a wiring portion that overlaps the first extension portion and the second extension portion and extends between the first extension portion and the second extension portion along the seal region A counter electrode potential line that supplies a predetermined potential to the counter electrode, and extends between the first extension portion and the wiring portion, and the first extension portion and the wiring portion A first interlayer insulating film that electrically insulates from each other, and extends between the second extension portion and the wiring portion, and electrically insulates the second extension portion from the wiring portion. And a second interlayer insulating film.

  According to the electro-optical device according to the second aspect of the present invention, similarly to the electro-optical device according to the first aspect of the present invention, a capacitor having a sufficient capacitance value can be provided in the seal region, and a separate capacitance Therefore, it is possible to display a high-quality image without greatly changing the existing manufacturing process. In particular, according to the electro-optical device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the capacitance formed by the first extending portion, the wiring portion, and the first interlayer insulating film, the second extending portion, the wiring portion, and the second Since the capacitor formed by the interlayer insulating film can be provided in the seal region, two capacitors can be provided in a limited region called the seal region. More specifically, two capacitors electrically connected in parallel with each other using the counter electrode potential line as a common capacitor electrode are provided in the seal region without increasing the manufacturing process. Therefore, according to the electro-optical device according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a large capacity in a limited fixed region called the seal region, compared with the electro-optical device according to the first aspect of the present invention. Thus, a more stable power supply potential can be supplied to each drive circuit unit.

  In one aspect of the electro-optical device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the drive power supply line includes the first interlayer insulation so as to electrically connect the first extension portion and the second extension portion. A connecting portion that penetrates the film and the second interlayer insulating film may be provided.

  According to this aspect, the first extension portion and the second extension portion extending in different layers are electrically connected to each other via the connection portion, and the first extension portion and the second extension portion are respectively connected. A power supply potential can be supplied to the driver circuit portion. Such a connection portion can be formed, for example, by filling a contact hole penetrating the first interlayer insulating film and the second interlayer insulating film with a conductive material or forming a conductive film along the side wall of the contact hole.

  In order to solve the above problems, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described electro-optical device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention.

  According to the electronic apparatus of the present invention, since the electro-optical device according to the first or second invention of the present invention described above is provided, a projection display device, a mobile phone, Various electronic devices such as an electronic notebook, a word processor, a viewfinder type or a monitor direct-view type video tape recorder, a workstation, a videophone, a POS terminal, and a touch panel can be realized. In addition, as an electronic apparatus according to the present invention, for example, an electrophoretic device such as electronic paper can be realized.

  Such an operation and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments described below.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the electro-optical device according to the first and second inventions of the present invention and the electronic apparatus including these will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a TFT active matrix driving type liquid crystal device with a built-in driving circuit, which is an example of the electro-optical device of the present invention, will be described as an example.

(First embodiment)
A liquid crystal device 1 which is an embodiment of an electro-optical device according to the first invention of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the overall configuration of the liquid crystal device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the liquid crystal device 1 viewed from the counter substrate 20 side, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line HH ′ of FIG.

  1 and 2, the liquid crystal device 1 includes a TFT array substrate 10 which is an example of the “first substrate” of the present invention, a counter substrate 20 which is an example of the “second substrate” of the present invention, a seal portion 52, data. A line driving circuit unit 101, a scanning line driving circuit unit 104, and a wiring unit 90 are provided.

  The counter substrate 20 is disposed on the TFT array substrate 10 so that the side of the counter surface facing the TFT array substrate 10 faces the substrate surface of the TFT array substrate 10. A liquid crystal layer 50 is sealed between the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20, and the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are sealed in a seal region 95 positioned around the image display region 10a. The portions 52 are bonded to each other. The seal portion 52 is made of, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin, a thermosetting resin, or the like for bonding the two substrates, and is applied on the TFT array substrate 10 in the manufacturing process and then cured by ultraviolet irradiation, heating, or the like. It is. Further, in the seal portion 52, a gap material such as glass fiber or glass beads for dispersing the distance between the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 (inter-substrate gap) to a predetermined value is dispersed. A light-shielding frame light-shielding film 53 that defines the frame area of the image display region 10a is provided on the counter substrate 20 side in parallel with the inside of the seal region 95 where the seal portion 52 is disposed. However, part or all of the frame light shielding film 53 may be provided as a built-in light shielding film on the TFT array substrate 10 side.

  The data line driving circuit unit 101 and the scanning line driving circuit unit 104, which are examples of the “driving circuit unit” of the present invention, are provided in a peripheral region located around the image display region 10 a on the TFT array substrate 10. Yes.

  The data line driving circuit 101 is electrically connected to a plurality of external circuit connection terminals 102 provided along one side of the TFT array substrate 10. The scanning line driving circuit 104 is provided along two sides adjacent to the one side so as to be covered with the frame light shielding film 53. Further, in order to electrically connect the two scanning line drive circuits 104 provided on both sides of the image display region 10a in the drawing, the image display region 10a is covered with the frame light shielding film 53 along the remaining side of the TFT array substrate 10. A plurality of wirings 105 are provided. Between the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20, a vertical conduction terminal 106 is provided for ensuring electrical conduction between the two substrates.

  In FIG. 2, on the TFT array substrate 10, a pixel electrode 9a is formed on a pixel switching TFT and various wirings, and an alignment film is formed thereon. On the other hand, in the image display region 10 a on the counter substrate 20, a counter electrode 21 that faces the plurality of pixel electrodes 9 a through the liquid crystal layer 50 is formed. In other words, a liquid crystal holding capacitor is formed between the pixel electrode 9 a and the counter electrode 21 by applying a voltage to each. On the counter electrode 21, a lattice-shaped or striped light-shielding film 23 is formed, and the alignment film covers the light-shielding film 23. The liquid crystal layer 50 is made of, for example, a liquid crystal in which one or several types of nematic liquid crystals are mixed, and takes a predetermined alignment state between the pair of alignment films.

  The data line driving circuit 101 includes a shift register, a logic circuit, and a sampling circuit as will be described in detail later. Of these, for example, the sampling circuit is a frame region covered by the frame region 53 in FIG. It may be arranged inside.

  Although not shown here, in addition to the data line driving circuit 101 and the scanning line driving circuit 104, various circuits such as a phase difference correction circuit may be formed on the TFT array substrate 10. In addition to this, an inspection circuit, an inspection pattern, or the like for inspecting the quality, defects, etc. of the liquid crystal device during manufacture or at the time of shipment may be formed. Further, for example, the TN (twisted nematic) mode, the STN (super TN) mode, and the D-STN (double- A polarizing film, a retardation film, a polarizing plate, and the like are arranged in a predetermined direction according to an operation mode such as an STN mode or a normally white mode / normally black mode.

  The wiring unit 90 includes a plurality of wirings provided on the TFT array substrate 10 for supplying various signals to the data line driving circuit unit 101, the scanning line driving circuit unit 104, and the pixel unit 70, as will be described in detail later. Contains.

  Next, the main configuration of the liquid crystal device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection configuration of the liquid crystal device 1. 4 is a plan view showing a specific configuration of various wirings in the area A1 shown in FIG. 3. Each of FIGS. 5 and 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV ′ of FIG. It is a VI 'line sectional view. In addition to FIG. 3, FIG. 1 also shows the area A1.

  In FIG. 3, a liquid crystal device 1 includes a TFT array substrate 10 made of, for example, a quartz substrate, a glass substrate, or a silicon substrate, and a counter substrate 20 (not shown here) facing each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The voltage applied to each of the pixel portions 70 including the pixel electrodes 9a partitioned and arranged in 10a is controlled to modulate the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer for each pixel. Thereby, the amount of transmitted light between the two substrates is controlled, and the image is displayed in gradation. The liquid crystal device 1 employs a TFT active matrix driving method, and a pixel display region 10a in the TFT array substrate 10 includes a plurality of pixel electrodes 9a arranged in a matrix, a plurality of scanning lines 2 arranged in an intersecting manner, and The data line 3 is formed, and the pixel portion 70 corresponding to the pixel is constructed. Although not shown here, between each pixel electrode 9a and the data line 3, a TFT or a pixel electrode whose conduction or non-conduction is controlled according to a scanning signal supplied via the scanning line 2 respectively. A storage capacitor for maintaining the voltage applied to 9a is formed. Further, a data line driving circuit unit 101, a scanning line driving circuit unit 104, and an external circuit connection terminal 102 are formed in the peripheral region of the image display region 10a.

  The data line driving circuit 101 includes a shift register 51, a logic circuit 55, and a sampling circuit 7. The shift register 51 receives a transfer signal Pi (i = 1) from each stage based on an X-side clock signal CLX (and its inverted signal CLXB) and a shift register start signal DX having a predetermined period input into the data line driving circuit 101. ,..., N) are sequentially output.

  The logic circuit 55 shapes the transfer signal Pi (i = 1,..., N) based on the enable signals ENB1 to ENB1 to ENB1-4, and finally, based on that, the sampling circuit drive signal Si (i = 1,. .., n) is output.

  The power supply lines 92 and 93 constituting an example of the “drive power supply line” of the present invention and the common potential line 91 which is an example of the “counter electrode potential line” of the present invention are connected to the wiring section 90 formed on the TFT array substrate 10. For example, a low-resistance conductive material such as aluminum or a multilayer structure made of a plurality of conductive materials. The power supply lines 92 and 93 and the common potential line 91 are electrically connected to the external circuit connection terminal 102 corresponding to each of these wirings, and supply the potential from the drive power supply to the drive circuit unit and supply to the counter electrode 21. A predetermined common potential is supplied.

  The potential supplied to the counter electrode 21 may be a constant value or a value that fluctuates in a predetermined cycle, and can be appropriately selected depending on the driving method of the electro-optical device.

  The common potential line 91 is electrically connected to an external connection terminal 102 that receives a common potential LCCOM supplied to the counter electrode 21 from an external circuit, and on the TFT array substrate 10 so as to constitute a capacitor described later. It is formed so as to partially extend to the seal region 95 under layout restrictions. More specifically, the common potential line 91 includes branch wirings 91x and 91y that constitute an example of the “wiring unit” of the present invention.

  The common potential line 91 is electrically connected to the vertical conduction terminal 106 which is an example of the “conductive portion” in the present invention.

  The vertical conduction terminal 106 extends in a direction intersecting the substrate surface of the TFT array substrate 10 and is electrically connected to the common potential line 91. The vertical conduction terminal 106 supplies a common potential from the common potential line (counter electrode potential line) 91 provided on the TFT array substrate 10 to the counter electrode 21 provided on the counter substrate 20 side, and the pixel electrode 9a and the counter electrode 21 are supplied. Controls the alignment of liquid crystal molecules interposed therebetween. The vertical conduction terminals 106 are provided in the peripheral region of the TFT array substrate 10 so as to avoid the seal region 95. More specifically, the TFT array is arranged so as not to restrict the layout of various wirings routed from the drive power supply lines 92 and 93 and the plurality of external circuit connection terminals 102 provided in the peripheral region of the TFT array substrate 10. Provided at the corner of the substrate 10. The vertical conduction terminal 106 indirectly supplies a common potential to the counter electrode 21 from the common potential line 91 through a wiring provided on the counter substrate 20.

  The branch wiring 91 x extends in a region extending along the first side of the TFT array substrate 10 in the seal region 95. The branch wiring 91 y extends in a region extending along the second side of the TFT array substrate 10 in the seal region 95. That is, the common potential line 91 extends so as to surround the image display region 10a by the branch wirings 91x and 91y, and has an area corresponding to the size of the seal region 95.

  The drive power supply lines 92 and 93 are electrically connected to an external connection terminal 102 that receives drive power supply VSSX and VSSY supplied to the data line drive circuit 101 and the scanning line drive circuit 104 from an external circuit. In addition, it is formed so as to partially extend to the seal region 95 under the constraints of the layout on the TFT array substrate 10 so as to constitute a later-described capacitor together with the branch wirings 91x and 91y.

  More specifically, the drive power supply line 93 includes a branch wiring 93 x that supplies the drive power supply VSSX to the data line drive circuit unit 101, and 93 y that supplies the drive power supply VSSY to the scanning line drive circuit unit 104. Each of the branch wirings 93x and 93y is an example of the “extending portion” in the present invention.

  An interlayer insulating film is provided between the branch wirings 93x and 93y and the branch wirings 91x and 91y so as to electrically insulate these branch wirings as will be described later. Each of the branch wirings 93x and 93y and each of the branch wirings 91x and 91y function as a pair of capacitance electrodes sandwiching an interlayer insulating film also used as a dielectric film, and constitute a capacitor together with the interlayer insulating film. The capacitance configured in this manner can obtain a very large capacitance value corresponding to this area since the branch wirings 91x, 91y, 93x, and 93y have an area corresponding to the size of the seal region 95. Is possible. In addition, it is possible to configure a capacitor by using each of the branch wiring 93x and the data line 3 as a pair of capacitor electrodes. In order to stabilize the potential of the drive power supply in the drive circuit unit, it is preferable that the capacity value of the capacitor is large. Therefore, in order to increase the capacity value of the capacitor, they overlap each other as much as possible in the seal region 95 in plan view The branch wirings 91x, 91y, 93x, and 93y can be formed to increase the area, and display performance can be improved. More specifically, for example, fluctuation of the power supply potential in the shift register 51 can be suppressed, and the transfer signal Pn having a predetermined waveform can be supplied from the shift register 51 to the logic circuit 55 arranged in the subsequent stage at a predetermined timing. Therefore, it is possible to reduce image disturbance due to the disturbance of the transfer signal Pn.

  In addition, since the seal region 95 is a region provided for forming the seal portion 52 that adheres the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 to each other, a capacitor such as a capacitor is additionally provided in the peripheral region of the image display region 10a. It is possible to stabilize the power supply potential without securing a space. Further, since the common potential line 91, the drive power supply lines 92 and 93, and the interlayer insulating film interposed between these wirings can be formed without greatly changing the existing manufacturing process for configuring the liquid crystal device 1, a separate capacitor is provided. The power supply potential can be stabilized without increasing the number of steps of retrofitting the liquid crystal device 1 to the liquid crystal device 1. In addition, with the provision of the capacitor, it is possible to improve the withstand voltage characteristics of the data line driving circuit unit 101 electrically connected to the driving power supply line 93.

  The drive power supply line 92 supplies the drive power supply VSSY to the scanning line drive circuit unit 104 and includes branch wirings 92x and 92y, which are examples of the “extension part” of the present invention. The branch wiring 92x extends so as to overlap a region extending along the first side in the seal region, and the branch wiring 92y extends so as to overlap a region extending along the second side in the seal region 95. .

  Similar to the branch wirings 93x and 93y, the branch wirings 92x and 92y can form a capacitor together with the branch wirings 91x and 91y and an interlayer insulating film interposed between the branch wirings. With such a capacitor, the fluctuation of the power supply potential in the scan line driver circuit portion 104 can be reduced, and the power supply potential can be stabilized.

  In the present embodiment, a case where a capacitor is mainly configured by the branch wiring 93 and the common potential line 91 and an interlayer insulating film interposed between these wirings will be described. However, the common potential line 91 and the data line driving circuit are described. If a capacitor is constituted by a drive power supply line that supplies drive power to at least one of the circuit portion 101 and the scanning line drive circuit portion 104 and an interlayer insulating film interposed between these wires, the data line drive circuit portion A driving power source having a stable potential can be supplied to at least one of 101 and the scanning line driving circuit portion 104, and the image quality can be improved accordingly. In particular, high-quality image display is possible by having a stable potential in a circuit such as a shift register included in the driver circuit portion. Further, the common potential line 91 and the drive power supply lines 92 and 93 are not limited to the case where they extend over the entire seal area 95 so as to surround the image display area. That is, it is only necessary that the common potential line 91 and the drive power supply lines 92 and 93 are routed on the TFT array substrate 10 so as to constitute a capacitor. For example, the region extending along the first side of the TFT array substrate 10 and the first It may extend only to at least one of the regions extending along the two sides.

  Next, a detailed arrangement state of the wirings in the region A1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the capacitor C1 is configured by the branch wiring 91y included in the common potential line 91, the branch wiring 93y included in the drive power supply line 93y, and the interlayer insulating film 43 interposed between the branch wirings. The capacitance is obtained from at least one branch wiring of the branch wirings 91x and 91y, at least one branch wiring of the branch wirings 92x and 92y included in the drive power supply line 92, and an interlayer insulating film interposed between these branch wirings. It is also possible to configure. The common potential line 91 may constitute a capacitor together with both the drive power supply lines 92 and 93 and an interlayer insulating film interposed between the drive power supply lines.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of the region A1 shown in FIGS. In FIG. 4, the seal portion 52 formed in the seal region 52 is omitted. In FIG. 4, since the branch wiring 93y and the branch wiring 91y provided on the lower layer side are formed so as to overlap each other in plan view, the capacitor C1 is provided together with the interlayer insulating film 43 interposed between these branch wirings. Constitute.

  5 and 6, interlayer insulating films 12, 41, and 42 are formed on the TFT array substrate 10, and a branch wiring 91y, an interlayer insulating film 43 branch wiring 93y, and an interlayer insulating film 44 are formed in this order. Is formed. The interlayer insulating film 43 electrically insulates between the drive power supply line 93 including the branch wiring 93y and the common potential line 91 including the branch wiring 91y, and also serves as a dielectric film of the capacitor C1. Therefore, by forming the drive power supply line 93 and the common potential line 91 on the TFT array substrate 10 and the interlayer insulating film 43 between these wirings, the capacitor element as a capacitor is not provided on the TFT array substrate 10. The capacitor C1 can be configured by using the formed multilayer structure as it is.

  In FIG. 4, the planar shape of the branch wirings 93 y and 91 y is a ladder shape extending along the seal region 95 when seen in a plan view, and when the light is irradiated from the lower side of the TFT array substrate 10, this light is converted into the TFT. Gaps 93 s and 91 s are provided so as to be transmitted to the upper side of the array substrate 10.

  According to the branch wirings 93y and 91y having such a planar shape, when the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are bonded to each other by curing the photocurable resin applied to the seal region 95, ultraviolet rays are used. Or the like is transmitted to the upper side of the TFT array substrate 10 through the gaps 93s and 91s. Therefore, even when the drive power supply line 93 and the common potential line 91 made of a conductive material such as aluminum that does not transmit light are formed, the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 can be bonded to each other when the liquid crystal device 1 is manufactured.

  In addition, each of the branch wirings 93 y and 91 y exhibits a high stress relaxation effect with respect to mechanical stress as compared with the case where a single conductive layer continuous in a plane is formed in the seal region 95. More specifically, for example, stress generated between the branch wiring 93y and the branch wiring 91y and the interlayer insulating films 42 and 43 which are the bases of these wirings can be relieved. Therefore, it is possible to reduce physical damage such as peeling that occurs at the interfaces of the drive power supply line 93, the common potential line 91, and the interlayer insulating films 42 and 43 caused by this stress. As a result, it is possible to reduce problems that occur during the manufacture of the liquid crystal device 1 and to increase the yield. In addition, the reliability of the entire apparatus can be improved, and high-quality images can be displayed over a long period of time.

  The branch wirings 93x and 91x are also formed in a ladder shape in plan view like the branch wirings 93y and 91y, and have light transmittance and stress relaxation action. Note that the planar shape of the branch wirings included in the drive power supply line 93 and the common potential line 91 is not limited to the ladder shape, and the shape of the gap and the arrangement of the gaps in the branch wiring are not limited to each branch wiring in the seal region 95. For example, a plurality of rectangular or circular gaps may be formed in the branch wiring, as long as the light transmission and the stress relaxation action are set. However, the gaps 93s and 91s are formed in each branch wiring so as to overlap each other in plan view so that light is transmitted through these gaps. As shown in FIG. 4, a wiring 96 for supplying various signals from the clock signal supply wiring 96 and the external circuit connection terminal 102 to the scanning line driving circuit unit 104 may be provided. Such wiring is formed in a region outside the seal region 95.

  As described above, according to the liquid crystal device 1, fluctuations in the potential of the driving power supply can be suppressed by the capacitor C <b> 1 electrically connected to the driving power supply line 93 and the common potential line 91, and various signals are supplied to the pixel unit 70. The data line driving circuit 101 and the scanning line driving circuit 04 to be driven can be driven stably. Thereby, the liquid crystal device 1 can reduce display defects due to fluctuations in the power supply potential, and can display a high-quality image.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a liquid crystal device 100 as an embodiment of the electro-optical device according to the second invention of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following, parts common to the liquid crystal device 1 described in the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals, and detailed description of these common parts is omitted. The liquid crystal device 100 according to this embodiment is characterized in that a plurality of capacitors each including a drive power supply line, a common potential line, and an interlayer insulating film interposed between these wirings are provided.

  The overall configuration of the liquid crystal device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of the liquid crystal device 100 as viewed from the counter substrate side, and is a plan view corresponding to FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an electrically connected state of the liquid crystal device.

  In FIG. 7, a contact hole 80, which is an example of the “connecting portion” of the present invention, is formed in the seal region 95. The contact hole 80 is provided at the corner of the seal region 95 extending so as to surround the image display region 10a. More specifically, the contact hole 80 is provided in a region A2 on the side close to the external circuit connection terminal 102 in the corner of the seal region 95 in FIGS. As will be described later, the drive power supply line 93 has a plurality of branch lines extending to different layers of the plurality of TFT array substrates 10 in a region close to the external circuit connection terminal 102.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the capacitor provided in the liquid crystal device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  9 is a plan view of the area A2 shown in FIG. 8, and FIGS. 10 to 12 are respectively a cross-sectional view taken along line XX ′, a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI ′, and a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. FIG.

  In FIG. 9, the branch wiring 93yb of the drive power supply line 93 extends along the second side of the TFT array substrate 10 in the seal region 95, and the planar shape thereof is a ladder shape. Here, the branch wiring 93yb is an example of the “first extending portion” in the present invention, and a branch wiring 93ya described later is an example of the “second extending portion” in the present invention. The branch wiring 91y extends to the seal region 95 so as to overlap the branch wirings 93yb and 93ya when seen in a plan view. As will be described later, these three branch wirings are formed in different layers on the TFT array substrate 10 and constitute a plurality of capacitors together with the interlayer insulating film.

  The branch wirings 93ya and 93yb are extended so as not to overlap the branch wiring 91y in the region from the region A2 toward the external circuit connection terminal 102. The branch wirings 93ya and 93yb are electrically connected through the contact hole 80. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the branch wirings 93a and 93yb are electrically connected through a contact hole 80 penetrating the interlayer insulating films 43 and 42 interposed between the branch wirings. The contact hole 80 can be formed by filling a hole penetrating the interlayer insulating films 42 and 43 with a conductive material or by forming a conductive film along the side wall of the hole.

  In FIG. 11, on the TFT array substrate 10, interlayer insulating films 12, 41, branch wiring 93ya, interlayer insulating film 42, branch wiring 91y, interlayer insulating film 43, branch wiring 93yb, and interlayer insulating film 44 are provided from the TFT array substrate. They are stacked in this order toward the upper side. Therefore, the interlayer insulating film 42 is extended between the branch wirings 93ya and 91y so as to electrically insulate these branch wirings. The branch wirings 93ya and 91y function as a pair of capacitor electrodes, and the capacitor C2b is configured by using the interlayer insulating film 42 as a dielectric film. Similarly, the branch wirings 93yb and 91y also function as a pair of capacitor electrodes, and the interlayer insulating film 43 is also used as a dielectric film to constitute a capacitor C2a. In this way, by forming each of the plurality of branch wirings of the drive power supply line 93 in different layers in the seal region 95, a plurality of capacitors can be formed along the thickness direction of the TFT array substrate 10, and the first embodiment. A capacity having a larger capacity value than the capacity described in the above can be formed in the seal region 95. Since the seal region 95 extends so as to surround the periphery of the image display region 10 a, a large capacity corresponding to the area of the seal region 95 is formed in a limited region called the seal region 95. In addition, if each branch wiring is widened according to the width of the seal region 95, a capacity having a larger capacitance value is formed in the seal region as the area of the branch wiring is widened.

  The capacitors C2a and C2b are electrically connected in parallel via the branch wiring 91y. In particular, since the capacitors C2a and C2b can be provided with a larger capacity in the seal region than the capacitor of the first embodiment, the power supply for the data line drive circuit unit 101 and the scan line drive circuit unit 104 to which drive power is supplied. The potential can be further stabilized.

  Further, according to the capacitors C2a and C2b, the capacitor can be configured by using the multilayer structure formed of the branch wiring and the interlayer insulating film formed on the TFT array substrate 10 as it is. A sufficient capacity can be formed without providing a capacity, and a high-quality image can be displayed. The capacity provided in the liquid crystal device 100 is not limited to two as in the present embodiment. For example, a plurality of branch wirings are formed in different layers of the seal region from the common potential line 91, and By forming a plurality of branch wirings extending from the drive power supply line 93 to different layers so as to constitute a capacitor connected in parallel with the plurality of branch wirings, the TFT array substrate 10 is formed along the thickness direction. Three or more capacitors can be formed.

  9 and 12, the branch wirings 91y, 93ya, and 93yb have gaps 91s, 93sa, and 93sb, respectively. The gaps 91 s, 93 sa, and 93 sb are formed so as to overlap each other when seen in a plan view, and when the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are bonded to each other by the photocurable resin applied to the seal region, the TFTs The light irradiated from the lower side of the array substrate 10 is transmitted upward. Therefore, the photocurable resin irradiated with light from the lower side of the TFT array substrate 10 can adhere the TFT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 to each other as the seal portion 52.

  According to the liquid crystal device 100 described above, fluctuations in the potential of the drive power supply can be suppressed by a plurality of capacitors electrically connected in parallel to the drive power supply line 93 and the common potential line 91, and various signals are supplied to the pixel unit 70. The data line driving circuit 101 and the scanning line driving circuit 104 to be driven can be stably driven. As a result, the liquid crystal device 100 can reduce display defects due to fluctuations in the power supply potential, and can display a high-quality image.

(Electronics)
Next, a case where the above-described liquid crystal device is applied to various electronic devices will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, a projector using this liquid crystal device as a light valve will be described. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a configuration example of the projector. As shown in FIG. 13, a projector 1100 includes a lamp unit 1102 made of a white light source such as a halogen lamp. The projection light emitted from the lamp unit 1102 is separated into three primary colors of RGB by four mirrors 1106 and two dichroic mirrors 1108 arranged in the light guide 1104, and serves as a light valve corresponding to each primary color. The light enters the liquid crystal panels 1110R, 1110B, and 1110G.

  The configurations of the liquid crystal panels 1110R, 1110B, and 1110G are the same as those of the liquid crystal device described above, and are driven by R, G, and B primary color signals supplied from the image signal processing circuit. The light modulated by these liquid crystal panels enters the dichroic prism 1112 from three directions. In this dichroic prism 1112, R and B light is refracted at 90 degrees, while G light travels straight. Accordingly, as a result of the synthesis of the images of the respective colors, a color image is projected onto the screen or the like via the projection lens 1114.

  Here, paying attention to the display images by the liquid crystal panels 1110R, 1110B, and 1110G, the display image by the liquid crystal panel 1110G needs to be horizontally reversed with respect to the display images by the liquid crystal panels 1110R, 1110B.

  Note that since light corresponding to the primary colors R, G, and B is incident on the liquid crystal panels 1110R, 1110B, and 1110G by the dichroic mirror 1108, it is not necessary to provide a color filter.

  Next, an example in which the liquid crystal device is applied to a mobile personal computer will be described. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the configuration of this personal computer. In FIG. 14, the computer 1200 includes a main body 1204 provided with a keyboard 1202 and a liquid crystal display unit 1206. The liquid crystal display unit 1206 is configured by adding a backlight to the back surface of the liquid crystal device 1005 described above.

  Further, an example in which the liquid crystal device is applied to a mobile phone will be described. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the configuration of this mobile phone. In FIG. 15, a cellular phone 1300 includes a reflective liquid crystal device 1005 together with a plurality of operation buttons 1302. In the reflective liquid crystal device 1005, a front light is provided on the front surface thereof as necessary.

  In addition to the electronic devices described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15, a liquid crystal television, a viewfinder type, a monitor direct-view type video tape recorder, a car navigation device, a pager, an electronic notebook, a calculator, a word processor, a work Examples include a station, a videophone, a POS terminal, a device equipped with a touch panel, and the like. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to these various electronic devices.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification. An electronic apparatus including the electro-optical device is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 is a plan view showing an overall configuration of an electro-optical device according to a first embodiment of the invention. It is sectional drawing of HH 'of FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection state of the electro-optical device according to the first embodiment. It is a top view of the branch wiring formed in area | region A1 in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV ′ of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI ′ in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an overall configuration of an electro-optical device according to a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection state of an electro-optical device according to a second embodiment. It is a top view of the branch wiring formed in area | region A2 in FIG. FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line XX ′ in FIG. 9. It is the XI-XI 'sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is the XII-XII 'sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a top view which shows the structure of the projector which is an example of the electronic device to which the electro-optical apparatus is applied. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a personal computer as an example of an electronic apparatus to which an electro-optical device is applied. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the mobile telephone which is an example of the electronic device to which the electro-optical apparatus is applied.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,100 ... Liquid crystal device, 10 ... TFT array substrate, 20 ... Counter substrate, 12, 41, 42, 43, 44 ... Interlayer insulation film, 52 ... Seal part, 91 ... Common potential line, 93... Drive power supply line, 101... Data line drive circuit unit, 104.

Claims (8)

A first substrate;
A second substrate disposed to face the substrate surface of the first substrate;
A plurality of pixel portions arranged in an image display area on the first substrate, each having a pixel electrode;
A counter electrode facing the pixel electrode;
The first substrate and the second substrate are bonded to each other, and provided in a seal region extending along the periphery of the image display region in a peripheral region on the first substrate located around the image display region. A sealed portion,
A drive circuit unit that is provided in the peripheral region and supplies various signals for controlling the pixel unit to the pixel unit;
A driving power supply line including an extending portion extending so as to overlap the seal region, and supplying a power supply potential to the driving circuit portion;
A counter electrode potential line that includes a wiring portion that overlaps the extension portion, and that supplies a predetermined potential to the counter electrode;
An interlayer insulating film extending between the extension part and the wiring part so as to electrically insulate the extension part of the drive power supply line and the wiring part of the counter electrode potential line; An electro-optical device. The seal portion is formed of a photocurable resin provided in the seal region,
2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein each of the extending portion and the wiring portion has a gap for irradiating light to the photocurable resin from the first substrate side. . 3. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein each of the extending portion and the wiring portion has a ladder shape extending along the seal region in a plan view. A conductive portion electrically connected to the counter electrode potential line;
The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive portion electrically connects the counter electrode potential line and the counter electrode. The driving circuit unit supplies a data signal for driving the pixel unit via a data line, and a scan for supplying a scanning signal for driving the pixel unit via a scanning line. Line drive circuit section,
The data line driving circuit unit is disposed in a region extending along the first side in the peripheral region,
The scanning line driving circuit unit is arranged in a region extending along a second side adjacent to the first side of the first substrate in the peripheral region,
The extending portion extends so as to overlap at least one of a region extending along the second side and a region extending along the first side of the seal region,
5. The drive power supply line supplies the power supply potential to at least one of the data line drive circuit unit and the scan line drive circuit unit through the extension part. 6. The electro-optical device according to any one of the above. A first substrate;
A second substrate disposed to face the substrate surface of the first substrate;
A plurality of pixel portions arranged in an image display area on the first substrate, each having a pixel electrode;
A counter electrode facing the pixel electrode;
The first substrate and the second substrate are bonded to each other, and provided in a seal region extending along the periphery of the image display region in a peripheral region on the first substrate located around the image display region. A sealed portion,
A drive circuit unit that is provided in the peripheral region and supplies various signals for driving the pixel unit to the pixel unit;
A drive that includes a first extension part and a second extension part that extend in different layers so as to overlap the seal region, and that supplies drive power to the drive circuit part for driving the drive circuit part A power line;
A wiring portion overlapping the first extension portion and the second extension portion and extending between the first extension portion and the second extension portion along the seal region; A counter electrode potential line for supplying a potential;
A first interlayer insulating film that extends between the first extension portion and the wiring portion and electrically insulates the first extension portion and the wiring portion;
And a second interlayer insulating film that extends between the second extending portion and the wiring portion and electrically insulates the second extending portion from the wiring portion. An electro-optical device. The drive power supply line has a connection portion that penetrates the first interlayer insulating film and the second interlayer insulating film so as to electrically connect the first extending portion and the second extending portion. The electro-optical device according to claim 6. An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to claim 1.

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