JP2007094257A - Liquid crystal apparatus, electronic device and manufacturing method of liquid crystal apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal apparatus wherein reduction in display quality caused by thickness unevenness of an alignment layer can be suppressed and reduction in display quality caused by an alignment defect of a liquid crystal can be also suppressed. <P>SOLUTION: An insulating film 115 provided with recessed parts in transmission display regions is provided on an inner surface of at least one substrate of a pair of substrates of the liquid crystal apparatus 100 and the liquid crystal in the transmission display regions is formed to be thicker than the liquid crystal in a reflection display region by the recessed parts. First recessed grooves 115g1 extended in a first direction and connecting adjacent transmission display regions in the first direction in a region except the boundary of adjacent sub pixels in a second direction crossing the first direction and the second recessed grooves 115g2 extended in the second direction along the boundary of the adjacent sub pixels in the first direction are formed in the insulating film. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device, an electronic apparatus, and a manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device, and more particularly to a configuration of a liquid crystal device including a transmissive display region and a reflective display region for each subpixel.

  In general, a liquid crystal device has a cell structure in which liquid crystal is sealed between a pair of substrates, and an alignment film that regulates an initial alignment state of liquid crystals is formed on the inner surface of the substrate. As a method for forming the alignment film, for example, an uncured resin (alignment material) such as polyimide is applied to the inner surface of the substrate by a spin coating method, a printing method, or the like, and then dried or baked.

  On the other hand, as a display format of the liquid crystal device, a transmissive liquid crystal device that displays with transmitted light by transmitting illumination light such as a backlight, and a reflective liquid crystal device that displays with reflected light by reflecting external light or the like However, in particular, portable electronic devices often include a transflective liquid crystal device that enables both transmissive display and reflective display. In this transflective liquid crystal device, sub-pixels having both a transmissive display area capable of transmissive display using a backlight and a reflective display area capable of reflective display using external light are arranged in an effective drive area. It is a thing.

  In the transflective liquid crystal device described above, the transmitted light constituting the transmissive display passes through the liquid crystal layer only once, whereas the reflected light constituting the reflective display passes through the liquid crystal layer twice, The degree of retardation of the liquid crystal layer with respect to the display light (retardation) differs greatly between transmissive display and reflective display. For this reason, in order to reduce the difference in light modulation between the transmissive display and the reflective display, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region is usually made smaller than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region.

  Specifically, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is controlled by partially forming a transparent insulating film on the inner surface of the substrate. That is, by forming a transparent insulating film in the reflective display area of the pixel and not forming a transparent insulating film in the transmissive display area, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates can be changed between the reflective display area and the transmissive display area. It is different.

However, in the transflective liquid crystal device described above, the transparent insulating film is partially formed on the substrate. Therefore, when the uncured alignment resin is applied on the substrate, the transparent insulating film non-forming region is formed. There is a problem that the alignment resin accumulates in the (transmission display region), which causes unevenness in the thickness of the alignment film and lowers the display quality. Thus, it has been proposed to increase the fluidity of the alignment resin and reduce the thickness unevenness of the alignment film by configuring the concave transmissive display region to be continuous between adjacent pixels (for example, the following patents). Reference 1).
JP 2004-325822 A JP 2004-354507 A

  However, in the liquid crystal device described above, although the concave transmissive display area is continuous between pixels, the fluidity of the alignment resin is improved, but the thickness unevenness of the alignment film in the transmissive display area is not sufficiently eliminated. There is. For example, when a transparent insulating film is formed in a pattern in which the reflective display area is also continuous between pixels, a continuous reflective display area is interposed between the continuous transmissive display areas. The alignment resin flowing from the region varies in the continuous direction of the transmissive display region. In particular, the thickness of the alignment film may be uneven at the periphery of the transmissive display region close to the reflective display region, and the display quality may deteriorate. In addition, when the alignment resin is applied by a printing method, the display quality may be inevitably deteriorated depending on the relationship between the printing direction and the continuous direction of the transmissive display area.

  Further, in the above-described liquid crystal device, a structure has been proposed in which concave grooves are formed in both the row direction and the column direction in which a plurality of subpixels are arranged so that the transmissive display areas of adjacent subpixels are continuous. By forming the concave groove in the pixel, the alignment defect of the liquid crystal molecules due to the concave groove occurs, and there is a problem that the display quality deteriorates due to light leakage or the like.

  Therefore, the present invention solves the above-described problems, and the problem is that the thickness of the alignment film is suppressed by suppressing the fluidity inhibition of the alignment resin due to the uneven structure on the inner surface of the substrate formed by the insulating film. An object of the present invention is to realize a liquid crystal device capable of suppressing a deterioration in display quality due to unevenness and also suppressing a decrease in display quality due to poor alignment of liquid crystals.

  In view of such circumstances, the liquid crystal device of the present invention includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal disposed between the pair of substrates, and includes a plurality of sub-pixels, and each of the plurality of sub-pixels is transmissive. In the liquid crystal device in which the display region and the reflective display region are formed, an insulating film having a recess in the transmissive display region is provided on the inner surface of at least one of the pair of substrates, and the recess The liquid crystal in the transmissive display region is formed thicker than the liquid crystal in the reflective display region, and the insulating film extends in a first direction and is adjacent to a second direction that intersects the first direction. A first concave groove that connects the transmissive display regions adjacent to each other in the first direction in a region other than the boundary between the sub-pixels, and the boundary between the sub-pixels adjacent to the first direction. Second groove extending in the second direction Wherein the is provided.

  According to this invention, the first groove and the second groove are formed so as to extend in the intersecting direction, and the flowability of the alignment material can be improved in two directions by these grooves. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deterioration in display quality due to uneven orientation. In addition, since the first concave groove is provided in a region other than the boundary between adjacent sub-pixels, the adjacent transmissive display regions can be easily connected regardless of the shape and position of the transmissive display region. The fluidity of the material can be further improved.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the formation region of the first groove is a light shielding region. As described above, the region where the first groove is formed is used as a light-shielding region, and the second groove is provided along the boundary between adjacent sub-pixels. Deterioration of display quality such as light leakage due to alignment failure can be suppressed.

  In the present invention, one of the colored layers of the plurality of colors is arranged for each of the sub-pixels, and is arranged so as to form a predetermined arrangement pattern as a whole, and the second groove is the colored layer of the plurality of colors. Are formed along a boundary between the sub-pixels in which the colored layer having the lowest visibility is arranged, or a boundary between the sub-pixels in which the two colored layers having the lowest visibility are arranged. It is preferable that the plurality of colored layers are not formed along the boundary of the sub-pixel where the colored layer having the highest visibility is disposed. According to this, the second concave groove is a boundary between the sub-pixels where the colored layer having the lowest visibility is arranged, or between the sub-pixels where the two colored layers having the lowest visibility are arranged. However, since it is not formed at the boundary of the colored layer having the highest visibility, it is possible to suppress deterioration in display quality due to the second groove.

  In the present invention, in the sub-pixel, the transmissive display area is preferably configured in a window shape surrounded by the reflective display area. According to this, when the transmissive display area is configured in a window shape surrounded by the reflective display area, the first concave groove provided in the area other than the boundary of the sub-pixel is used as described above. As a result, it is possible to reliably connect the transmissive display regions while minimizing the formation area of the concave grooves, so that the fluidity of the alignment material and the suppression of poor alignment of the liquid crystal are balanced at a high level. Can be made.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the second groove formation region is a light shielding region. Although the region along the boundary between the sub-pixels where the second groove is formed is originally a region that is generally used as a light-shielding region by some method, the entire region where the second groove is formed is shielded from light. By doing so, it is possible to further reduce the deterioration of display quality due to the alignment failure of the liquid crystal.

  It is preferable that the light shielding region is configured to extend along the first concave groove and the second concave groove. According to this, by configuring the light shielding region so as to extend along the first concave groove and the second concave groove, it is possible to efficiently shield the region where the alignment defect due to these concave grooves is caused. Therefore, a decrease in display brightness can be suppressed while ensuring display quality.

  In the present invention, any one of the plurality of colored layers is arranged for each of the sub-pixels, arranged in a predetermined arrangement pattern as a whole, and a plurality of the plurality of colored layers are arranged. It is preferable that the sub pixel constitutes a pixel, and the second concave groove is provided at each boundary of the sub pixel in the pixel. According to this, by providing each one of the boundaries of the plurality of sub-pixels in the pixel, it is possible to ensure the fluidity of the alignment material while suppressing the alignment failure of the liquid crystal due to the second concave groove. .

  Another liquid crystal device according to the present invention includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal disposed between the pair of substrates, and includes a plurality of subpixels, and each of the plurality of subpixels includes a transmissive display region and a reflective layer. In the liquid crystal device in which the display region is formed, an insulating film forming an uneven surface is provided on the inner surface of at least one of the pair of substrates, and the uneven surface forms the insulating film in the transmissive display region. A liquid crystal is formed thicker than the liquid crystal in the reflective display area, and the insulating film extends in a first direction and borders between the sub-pixels adjacent to the second direction intersecting the first direction. And a second recess provided in the transmissive display area and connected between the sub-pixels adjacent to each other in the second direction via the first recess. A groove is provided, and the formation region of the first groove is a light shielding region. And wherein the are.

  According to this invention, the first groove and the second groove are formed so as to extend in the intersecting direction, and the flowability of the alignment material can be improved in two directions by these grooves. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deterioration in display quality due to uneven orientation. In addition, since the second concave groove is provided in the transmissive display area, it becomes easy to connect adjacent transmissive display areas regardless of the shape and position of the transmissive display area. It can be improved. Furthermore, the region where the first groove is formed is a light-shielding region, and is provided along the boundary between adjacent subpixels. The second groove is connected to the second groove via the first groove. By being connected between the sub-pixels adjacent to each other in the direction, it is possible to suppress deterioration in display quality such as light leakage due to liquid crystal alignment failure due to these concave grooves.

  In this case, by configuring so that the second concave groove is formed only in the transmissive display region, it is possible to further reduce the influence on the display due to poor alignment of the liquid crystal.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the light shielding region is configured to extend along the first concave groove. According to this, since the formation area of the first concave groove can be efficiently shielded by the light shielding area, it is possible to suppress a decrease in display brightness while ensuring display quality.

  In this invention, it is preferable that the said light shielding area | region is comprised by the light-shielding part which consists of a light absorptive material. According to this, by blocking the formation area of the groove with the light-absorbing material, the bad influence on the display caused by the alignment failure of the liquid crystal in the formation area of the groove is caused by either the transmissive display or the reflection display. Can also be reduced.

  In the present invention, a spacer that regulates a distance between the pair of substrates is a boundary between the sub-pixels where the colored layer having the lowest visibility is disposed, or two colored layers having the lowest visibility, respectively. It is preferable that they are arranged at the boundary between the two types of arranged sub-pixels. Since the spacer is provided in the region having low visibility, the influence on the display quality due to the alignment failure of the liquid crystal caused by the spacer can be reduced, so that the deterioration of the display quality as a whole can be suppressed.

  Next, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes any one of the liquid crystal devices described above. The electronic device of the present invention is not particularly limited, but it is effective to be configured as a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone, a portable information terminal, and an electronic watch.

  Next, a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device according to the present invention includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal disposed between the pair of substrates, wherein a plurality of subpixels are provided, and each of the plurality of subpixels is transmitted. In the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device in which a display area and a reflective display area are formed, the transmissive display area includes a recess on the inner surface of at least one of the pair of substrates, and the first direction is A first groove extending and connecting the transmissive display regions adjacent to each other in the first direction in a region other than the boundary between the sub-pixels adjacent to the second direction intersecting with the first direction; Providing an insulating film constituting a concavo-convex surface provided with a light-blocking region and a second concave groove extending in the second direction along a boundary between the sub-pixels adjacent in the first direction; To form an alignment film on the inner surface of the one substrate The liquid crystal in the transmissive display region is applied to the reflective display region by the step of applying the alignment material in a mode of flowing in the first concave groove and the second concave groove, and the uneven surface formed by the insulating film. A step of arranging the liquid crystal so as to be thicker than the liquid crystal.

  Another method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device according to the present invention includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal disposed between the pair of substrates, wherein a plurality of subpixels are provided, and each of the plurality of subpixels is provided. In the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device in which a transmissive display region and a reflective display region are formed, the first direction extends on the inner surface of at least one of the pair of substrates and extends in the first direction. A first concave groove extending along a boundary between the sub-pixels adjacent to each other in the second direction intersecting with the light-shielding region, provided in the transmissive display region, and adjacent to the second direction. A step of providing an insulating film constituting a concave / convex surface provided with a second concave groove connected between the sub-pixels via the first concave groove, and an alignment film is formed on the inner surface of the one substrate An alignment material for flowing in the first groove and the second groove Applying in a mode, and disposing the liquid crystal so that the liquid crystal in the transmissive display area is formed thicker than the liquid crystal in the reflective display area by the uneven surface formed by the insulating film. It is characterized by comprising.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a liquid crystal device 100 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the liquid crystal device 100, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the liquid crystal device 100.

  In the liquid crystal device 100, transparent substrates 110 and 120 are bonded together with a sealing material 130, and a liquid crystal 132 is disposed between the substrates 110 and 120. The sealing material 130 is formed so as to surround the driving area A, and the opening 130 a for injecting the liquid crystal 132 is closed by the sealing material 131.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the substrate 110 has a reflective layer 112 made of a metal or other reflective material such as Al or Ag, a color filter 113, an insulating film 115, ITO on the inner surface of a base 111 such as glass or plastic. An electrode 116 made of a transparent conductor such as (indium tin oxide) and an alignment film 117 made of polyimide resin or the like are laminated.

  On the other hand, the substrate 120 has a wiring 122 and an element 123 connected to the inner surface of a base material 121 such as glass or plastic (two-terminal nonlinear element such as TFD in the illustrated example, but three terminals such as TFT). A non-linear element may be used), an insulating layer 124, an electrode 125 made of a transparent conductor, and an alignment film 126 made of polyimide resin or the like.

  In addition, the substrate 120 has a substrate overhanging portion 120T that protrudes outward from the outer shape of the substrate 110, and an integrated circuit (for example, a semiconductor bare chip) 135 that includes a liquid crystal driving circuit or the like is mounted on the substrate overhanging portion 120T. ing. The integrated circuit 135 is conductively connected to the wiring 122 and the wiring 118 that is conductively connected to the electrode 116 and is drawn out on the substrate extension 120T. Further, an input terminal 136 that is conductively connected to the integrated circuit 135 is provided at the end of the substrate overhanging portion 120T, and this input terminal 136 is a wiring board (for example, a flexible board) mounted on the end of the substrate overhanging portion 1120T. The wiring board 137 is conductively connected to the wiring.

  Further, a spacer 133 made of insulating resin or the like is interposed between the substrates 110 and 120, and this spacer 133 regulates the distance between the two substrates. The spacer 133 is preferably formed in a state of being fixed to either one of the substrates. Furthermore, retardation plates 140 and 150 and polarizing plates 141 and 151 are disposed on the outer surfaces of the substrates 110 and 120 by a method such as sticking.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, sub-pixels G are formed in the drive region A, and the sub-pixels G are arranged in a matrix form vertically and horizontally (in the row direction and the column direction). Further, in the sub-pixel G, a region where the reflective layer 112 is formed is configured as a reflective display region Gr, and a region where the reflective layer 112 is not formed, that is, in this embodiment, a window-like shape is formed in the sub-pixel G. A region in which the opening 112a of the reflective layer 112 formed in is provided as a transmissive display region Gt.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the surface of the insulating film 115 is configured to be uneven, and the concave portion 115a is formed in the transmissive display region Gt, whereby the concave portion 110a is formed on the inner surface of the substrate 110. The liquid crystal 132 has a thickness a in the reflective display region Gr due to the recess 110a, whereas the liquid crystal 132 has a thickness b larger than the thickness a in the transmissive display region Gt.

  In the illustrated example, the insulating film 115 is made of a transparent material, and the recess 115b does not completely reach the base surface, but the base surface (for example, the color filter 113) is exposed at the inner bottom of the recess 115b. You may comprise. In this case, the insulating film 115 may not be a transparent resin. Alternatively, a transparent protective film 114 indicated by a dotted line in the figure may be formed on the color filter 113 so that the surface of the transparent protective film 114 is exposed at the inner bottom of the recess 115b.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing the inner surface structure of the substrate 110 of the present embodiment in a state where the electrode 116 and the alignment film 117 are omitted. In the present embodiment, a recess 115 b is provided in the insulating film 115 for each subpixel G, and the recess 115 b is configured in a window shape in the subpixel G. That is, in the sub-pixel G, the transmissive display area Gt is configured in a window shape (island shape) surrounded by the reflective display area Gr. The recess 115b and the transmissive display region Gt are configured in a rectangular shape in plan view, and this planar shape has a shape extended in the same direction (vertical direction in the drawing) as the rectangular planar shape of the sub-pixel G.

  The sub-pixels G are arranged in both the row direction (left-right direction in the figure) and the column direction (up-down direction in the figure), and a plurality of sub-pixels G arranged in the column direction are provided with colored layers of the same color, A plurality of colored layers 113R, 113G, and 113B are repeatedly arranged in order on the plurality of sub-pixels G arranged in the direction. In the illustrated example, the colored layer 113R is red, 113G is green, and 113B is blue. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a complementary color filter element is used instead of the primary color filter element. You may arrange | position and may arrange the colored layers of four or more colors. In the case of the illustrated example, a plurality of (three) sub-pixels G adjacent to each other in the row direction and having colored layers of different colors constitute one pixel P.

  In the present embodiment, the insulating film 115 is provided with a concave groove 115g1 extending linearly in the row direction and a concave groove 115g2 extending linearly in the column direction. Here, the concave groove 115g1 connects the concave portions 115b adjacent in the row direction. The concave groove 115g1 has a certain width in the column direction, and the width is configured to be smaller than the width of the concave portion 115b in the column direction. Further, the concave groove 115g1 is connected to the central portion of the width of the concave portion 115b in the column direction. On the other hand, the concave groove 115g2 is configured to extend along the boundary between the sub-pixels G adjacent in the column direction. The concave groove 115g2 has a certain width in the row direction.

  5A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line 4a-4a in FIG. 4, FIG. 5B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line 4b-4b in FIG. 4, and FIG. ) Is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line 4c-4c of FIG. In FIG. 5, a transparent protective film 114 is formed on the color filter 113, and an insulating film 115 is formed on the transparent protective film 114 in the reflective display area Gr, not in the transmissive display area Gt. The example which has the structure currently formed is shown.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, light shielding portions 113X and 113Y are provided in regions that overlap the grooves 115g1 and 115g2 in plan view. The light shielding portions 113X and 113Y are provided in the same layer as the colored layers 113R, 113G, and 113B as part of the color filter 113 in the illustrated example. The light shielding portions 113X and 113Y are preferably made of a light shielding material made of a light absorbing material such as black resin. For example, the light shielding portions 113X and 113Y have a laminated structure in which adjacent colored layers 113R, 113G, and 113B overlap (overlap). May be.

  In general, the area where the concave grooves 115g1 and 115g2 are formed can be a part of the transmissive display area Gt or a part of the reflective display area Gr, but is shielded by the light shielding portions 113X and 113Y. By using the light shielding region, in particular, by configuring the light shielding portions 113X and 113Y with a light-absorbing material, it is possible to reduce both the influence on the transmissive display and the reflective display due to liquid crystal alignment failure caused by the concave grooves.

  In the case of the illustrated example, the light shielding portion 113X overlaps with the concave groove 115g1 and forms a strip-shaped light shielding region extending linearly in the row direction. However, it is not formed in the transmissive display area Gt (area overlapping the recess 115b). The light shielding portion 113Y overlaps the concave groove 115g2 and forms a strip-shaped light shielding region extending linearly in the column direction.

  In the present embodiment, the dimension of the sub-pixel G is 30-60 μm, preferably 38-50 μm in the row direction, and 100-150 μm, preferably 110-130 μm in the column direction. In this case, the width of the concave grooves 115g1 and 115g2 is preferably within a range of 10 to 19 μm, and particularly preferably within a range of 12 to 16 μm. Below this range, it becomes difficult to ensure the fluidity of the alignment material, causing unevenness in the thickness of the alignment film 117 in the transmissive display region Gt, thereby causing unevenness in luminance between the sub-pixels G. On the other hand, if the above range is exceeded, the area where the alignment failure of the liquid crystal occurs is increased, so that the display quality (especially contrast) deteriorates or the light shielding range is widened and the display becomes dark.

  Further, the width of the light shielding portions 113X and 113Y is larger than the width of the corresponding concave grooves 115g1 and 115g2 by a patterning error or more (for example, about 5 μm). Regardless of this, it is preferable that the light-shielding portions 113X and 113Y are always arranged in the light-shielded region.

  By providing the light shielding portions 113X and 113Y, the aperture ratio of at least one of the transmissive display and the reflective display is lowered. It is preferable to make it as small as possible. In particular, among the borders in the row direction where the colored layers of different colors are in contact, the borders where the concave grooves 115g2 are not formed do not form a light shielding region using a light absorbing material such as black resin, and adjacent different colors. It is preferable that only a low transmittance region is formed by overlapping the colored layers.

  In the present embodiment, the concave grooves 115g1 extending in the row direction are provided in all the rows of the sub-pixels G, but one concave groove 115g2 extending in the column direction is adjacent to each pixel P (adjacent in the row direction). Only one of a plurality of boundaries between the sub-pixels G). However, two or more concave grooves 115g2 may be formed for each pixel P, or the concave grooves 115g2 may be formed at the boundaries of the sub-pixels G adjacent to each other in the row direction.

  In the present embodiment, among the colored layers of a plurality of colors, at the boundary between the sub-pixel G in which the colored layer 113B having the lowest visibility is arranged and the sub-pixel G in which the colored layer 113R having the next lowest visibility is arranged. The groove 115g2 is formed along the groove. Further, no groove is formed at the boundary of the sub-pixel G where the colored layer 113G having the highest visibility is arranged. In this way, since the display quality deterioration (decrease in contrast and brightness) due to the formation of the concave groove 115g2 becomes the least visible, deterioration in display quality can be suppressed. In this case, it is preferable that the formation positions of the concave grooves 115g1 and 115g2 in each pixel P coincide with each other. In this way, since the concave grooves are formed with a period that matches the formation period of the pixels P, it is possible to reduce unevenness in alignment and brightness between the pixels P.

  In the present embodiment, the spacer 133 is a boundary where the concave groove 115g2 is not formed, and is formed at a boundary position of the sub-pixel G where the colored layer 113B having the lowest visibility is arranged. That is, it is arranged on the boundary between the sub-pixel where the colored layer 113B is arranged and the sub-pixel where the colored layer 113G is arranged. This is also to reduce the influence on the display quality due to the alignment failure of the liquid crystal by the spacer 133.

  On the surface of the substrate 110, an alignment material such as an uncured polyimide resin is applied by a spin coating method, a roll coating method, a printing method, or the like, and this is baked or dried to form an alignment film 117. The alignment film 117 can be formed basically by the same method as the alignment film 126, but the inner surface of the substrate 110 to which the alignment material is applied is different from the inner surface of the substrate 120, and the recess 115 b is formed in the insulating film 115. Since it is provided with an uneven surface by being provided, it is usually difficult to uniformly apply the alignment material without unevenness.

  However, according to this embodiment, by providing the concave grooves 115g1 and 115g2 extending in two directions intersecting with each other, the fluidity in the two directions of the alignment material at the time of application can be improved. Thickness unevenness can be reduced. In particular, the uneven thickness of the alignment material in the transmissive display area Gt is usually a problem, but since the concave groove 115g1 is connected to the transmissive display area Gt and the concave groove 115g2 is connected to the concave groove 115g1, the transmissive display area The thickness unevenness in Gt can be almost eliminated.

  In the present embodiment, the region where the concave groove 115g1 is formed is shielded by the light shielding portion 113X, and the concave groove 115g2 is formed along the boundary between the sub-pixels and is shielded by the light shielding portion 113Y. The influence on the display due to the alignment failure of the liquid crystal due to the grooves can be minimized. In particular, since the concave groove 115g2 is formed only at one of the boundaries between the plurality of sub-pixels in the pixel P, the liquid crystal alignment defect itself due to the concave groove 115g2 can be reduced.

  Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Here, FIG. 6 is an inner surface view of the substrate 110 of this embodiment, and FIGS. 7A to 7C are cross sections taken along lines 7a-7a, 7b-7b, and 7c-7c in FIG. 6, respectively. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view. In the present embodiment, the basic configuration is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In this embodiment, the spacer 133 is disposed on the boundary between the sub-pixels G on which the colored layer 113B having the lowest visibility is disposed. In this way, the influence on the display due to the alignment failure of the liquid crystal by the spacer 133 can be further reduced.

  Next, still another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. Here, FIG. 8 is an internal view of the substrate 110 of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 9A to 9C are cross sections taken along lines 9a-9a, 9b-9b, and 9c-9c of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view. In the present embodiment, the basic configuration is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the concave groove 115g2 is always formed for each sub-pixel G, and the concave groove 115g2 is always connected to all the concave grooves 115g1 between the transmissive display regions Gt (or the concave portions 115b). This is different from the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, since the concave groove 115g2 is formed for each sub-pixel G, it is possible to reduce luminance unevenness between the sub-pixels G. For example, color reproducibility can be improved.

  Next, still another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. Here, FIG. 10 is an internal view of the substrate 110 of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 11A to 11C are cross sections taken along lines 11a-11a, 11b-11b, and 11c-11c of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view. In the present embodiment, the basic configuration is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the concave groove 115g is formed along the boundary between the sub-pixels adjacent in the column direction, and extends in the row direction. Further, a light shielding portion 113X is provided in the formation region of the concave groove 115g, and the light shielding region is configured over the entire length of the concave groove 115g.

  On the other hand, the concave groove 115c is provided corresponding to the transmissive display area Gt. Unlike the concave portion 115b of the previous embodiment, the concave groove 115c is configured to have a shape that opens on both sides in the column direction corresponding to the shape of the transmissive display region Gt, that is, a shape that penetrates the sub-pixel G in the column direction. Has been. Accordingly, the concave groove 115c has a structure that is continuous in the column direction via the concave groove 115g (a structure that connects the transmissive display regions Gt in the column direction).

  In the present embodiment, the transmissive display region Gt (or the concave groove 115c) is structured to be continuous in the column direction via the concave groove 115g, and the concave groove 115g extends in the row direction. Since the region Gt is connected in two directions, the fluidity of the alignment material can be improved. Further, only the concave groove 115g is formed along the boundary between the sub-pixels, and there is no other concave groove in the region other than the transmissive display region Gt. It can be limited.

  In each of the above embodiments, the light shielding portions 113X and 113Y are provided on the substrate 110 on which the concave grooves 115g1, 115g2, and 115g are formed, but may be formed on the other substrate 120. The insulating film 115 having the concave grooves 115g1, 115g2, and 115g is formed on the substrate 110 on which the color filter 113 is provided, but may be provided on the other substrate 120 (element substrate or array substrate). Good. Further, the reflective layer 112 may also be provided on the substrate 120 instead of the substrate 110.

  Finally, with reference to FIG. 12, an example of an electronic apparatus equipped with the liquid crystal device 100 will be described. FIG. 12 shows a mobile phone which is an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention. A cellular phone 300 shown here includes an operation unit 301 including a plurality of operation buttons 301a and 301b and a mouthpiece, and a display unit 302 including a display screen 302a and a mouthpiece. The liquid crystal device 100 is incorporated inside. The display image formed by the liquid crystal device 100 can be viewed on the display screen 302a of the display unit 302. In this case, a display control circuit for controlling the liquid crystal device 100 is provided in the mobile phone 300. This display control circuit is configured to send a video signal and other input data and a predetermined control signal to the liquid crystal device 100 to determine its operation mode.

  It should be noted that the liquid crystal device and the electronic apparatus of the present invention are not limited to the illustrated examples described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention can be applied to any drive system and any display mode liquid crystal device as long as the liquid crystal device has an alignment film formed by applying an alignment material.

1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a liquid crystal device according to an embodiment. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a liquid crystal device according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view of the liquid crystal device according to the embodiment. The schematic plan view of the board | substrate 110 of 1st Embodiment. Schematic sectional views (a) to (c) of the substrate 110 according to the first embodiment. The schematic plan view of the board | substrate 110 of 2nd Embodiment. Schematic sectional views (a) to (c) of the substrate 110 of the second embodiment. The schematic plan view of the board | substrate 110 of 3rd Embodiment. Schematic sectional views (a) to (c) of the substrate 110 according to the third embodiment. The schematic plan view of the board | substrate 110 of 4th Embodiment. Schematic sectional views (a) to (c) of the substrate 110 of the fourth embodiment. The schematic perspective view which shows the example of an electronic device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Liquid crystal device, 110, 120 ... Board | substrate, 112 ... Reflective layer, 112a ... Opening part, 113 ... Color filter, 114 ... Transparent protective film, 15 ... Insulating film, 115b ... Recessed part, 115c, 115g1, 115g2, 115g ... Recessed Groove, 116 ... electrode, 117 ... alignment film, 122 ... wiring, 123 ... element, 124 ... insulating layer, 125 ... electrode, 126 ... alignment film, A ... drive region, P ... pixel, G ... subpixel, Gt ... transmission Display area, Gr ... reflective display area

Claims (13)

A liquid crystal comprising a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal disposed between the pair of substrates, wherein a plurality of subpixels are provided, and a transmissive display area and a reflective display area are formed in each of the plurality of subpixels. In the device
An insulating film having a recess in the transmissive display region is provided on the inner surface of at least one of the pair of substrates, and the liquid crystal in the transmissive display region is more than the liquid crystal in the reflective display region by the recess. Is also thick,
The transmissive display adjacent to the first direction in the region other than the boundary of the sub-pixel extending in the first direction and adjacent to the second direction intersecting the first direction is provided on the insulating film. A first groove connecting the regions and a second groove extending in the second direction along a boundary between the sub-pixels adjacent to each other in the first direction; A characteristic liquid crystal device.   The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein a formation region of the first groove is a light shielding region.   One of the colored layers of the plurality of colors is arranged for each of the sub-pixels and arranged in a predetermined arrangement pattern as a whole, and the second concave groove is the most of the colored layers of the plurality of colors. The plurality of colors formed along the boundary between the sub-pixels in which the colored layer having low visibility is arranged, or the boundary between the sub-pixels in which the two colored layers having the lowest visibility are arranged 3. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal device is not formed along a boundary of the sub-pixel in which the colored layer having the highest visibility among the colored layers is arranged.   4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein in the sub-pixel, the transmissive display area is configured in a window shape surrounded by the reflective display area. 5.   5. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein all the formation regions of the second concave grooves are light shielding regions.   One of the plurality of colored layers is arranged for each of the sub-pixels, arranged in a predetermined arrangement pattern as a whole, and a plurality of the sub-pixels each having the plurality of colored layers are arranged. 6. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal device includes a pixel, and the second concave groove is provided at each boundary of the sub-pixels in the pixel. . A liquid crystal comprising a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal disposed between the pair of substrates, wherein a plurality of subpixels are provided, and a transmissive display area and a reflective display area are formed in each of the plurality of subpixels. In the device
An insulating film constituting an uneven surface is provided on an inner surface of at least one of the pair of substrates, and the liquid crystal in the transmissive display region is thicker than the liquid crystal in the reflective display region due to the uneven surface. Formed,
The insulating film extends in a first direction and extends along a boundary between the sub-pixels adjacent to a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the transmission film A second groove provided in the display area and connected via the first groove between the sub-pixels adjacent to each other in the second direction;
2. A liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein a region where the first groove is formed is a light shielding region.   The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding region is configured to extend along the first concave groove.   The liquid crystal device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the light shielding region includes a light shielding portion made of a light absorbing material.   A spacer that regulates the distance between the pair of substrates is a boundary between the sub-pixels where the colored layer having the lowest visibility is arranged, or two colored layers having the lowest visibility are arranged. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal device is disposed at a boundary between the seed subpixels.   An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal device according to claim 1. A liquid crystal comprising a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal disposed between the pair of substrates, wherein a plurality of subpixels are provided, and a transmissive display area and a reflective display area are formed in each of the plurality of subpixels. In the device manufacturing method,
On the inner surface of at least one of the pair of substrates, the transmissive display region includes a recess, extends in the first direction, and is adjacent to the second direction intersecting the first direction. In a region other than the boundary between the sub-pixels, a first concave groove that connects the transmissive display regions adjacent in the first direction, and the boundary along the boundary between the sub-pixels adjacent in the first direction. A step of providing an insulating film constituting a concavo-convex surface provided with a second concave groove extending in the direction of 2 in a light shielding region;
Applying an alignment material for forming an alignment film on the inner surface of the one substrate in a manner of flowing in the first groove and the second groove;
Disposing the liquid crystal so that the liquid crystal in the transmissive display area is formed thicker than the liquid crystal in the reflective display area by the uneven surface formed by the insulating film;
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device, comprising: A liquid crystal comprising a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal disposed between the pair of substrates, wherein a plurality of subpixels are provided, and a transmissive display area and a reflective display area are formed in each of the plurality of subpixels. In the device manufacturing method,
The inner surface of at least one of the pair of substrates extends in a first direction and extends along a boundary between the sub-pixels adjacent to the second direction intersecting the first direction. A second concave groove provided in the light-shielding area and connected to the sub-pixels adjacent to each other in the second direction via the first concave groove. Providing an insulating film constituting an uneven surface provided with a groove;
Applying an alignment material for forming an alignment film on the inner surface of the one substrate in a manner of flowing in the first groove and the second groove;
Disposing the liquid crystal so that the liquid crystal in the transmissive display area is formed thicker than the liquid crystal in the reflective display area by the uneven surface formed by the insulating film;
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device, comprising:

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