JP2007139854A - Liquid crystal device and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal device capable of improving the yield upon the manufacture by preventing breakage and displacement of a sealing material, and to provide electronic equipment provided with the liquid crystal device. <P>SOLUTION: In the liquid crystal device 100, a pair of substrates 40, 42 oppositely arranged are stuck to each other via the sealing materials 10 and a liquid crystal 48 of negative dielectric anisotropy is enclosed in a space surrounded by the sealing material 10 between the pair of substrates 40, 42. First vertically alignment films 52, 62 are disposed inside the respective sealing materials 10 between the pair of substrates 40, 42, and second vertically alignment films 54, 64 are disposed outside the sealing materials 10 on at least one side substrate between the pair of substrates 40, 42. Groove parts 10a with no vertically alignment films are disposed between the second vertically alignment films 54, 64 and the first vertically alignment films 52, 62, and the sealing materials 10 are disposed on the positions corresponding to at least the groove parts 10a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

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

In recent years, liquid crystal devices have been widely used as display devices for various electronic devices such as mobile phones and portable information terminal devices. Among liquid crystal devices, a liquid crystal device (VA mode) using a vertical alignment type liquid crystal as a liquid crystal layer is widely known as having a wide viewing angle characteristic.
In such a vertical alignment type liquid crystal device, a pair of substrates each having an electrode are bonded to each other via a sealing material while maintaining a certain gap, so-called cell gap, so that the electrode surfaces face each other. Liquid crystal is sealed inside. An alignment regulating means such as protrusions and slits is provided on the liquid crystal layer side of the display area, and a vertical alignment type film made of polyimide or the like is used as the alignment film. Thereby, the alignment of the liquid crystal can be controlled by tilting the liquid crystal vertically aligned in the initial state in a predetermined direction in accordance with the voltage application.

Here, the sealing material provided between the pair of substrates is disposed so as to overlap the alignment film formed on the liquid crystal side of the pair of substrates. This sealing material is formed in a frame shape on the peripheral edge of the substrate by a printing method or a dispenser method.
For example, in the liquid crystal device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the alignment film on one substrate is provided to extend to the scribe line at the glass edge of the other substrate. A sealing material is formed on the alignment film, and the sealing material is cured by pressurization and heating, and is bonded to the other substrate. As a result, even during the break or in subsequent steps, even if conductive foreign substances exceeding the pitch dimension of the electrode pattern enter the gap between the seal outer periphery of one substrate and the scribe line that is the glass end of the other substrate. A liquid crystal display panel can be obtained stably without causing a lateral leakage defect in the substrate.
Further, in the liquid crystal device disclosed in Patent Document 2, on one substrate side, a color filter layer is formed in the display area, and a dummy color filter layer is formed in the non-display area. A planarization film, a pattern electrode, and an alignment film are laminated so as to cover these layers. The sealing material is formed on the alignment film on which the dummy color filter layer is formed and in the region where the dummy color filter layer is not formed. Thereby, regardless of the thickness of the color filter layer, the central portion and the peripheral portion of the panel have the same gap, and a uniform and high quality color liquid crystal display panel can be stably obtained.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-60834 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-60835

However, in a liquid crystal device using a liquid crystal having a negative anisotropic dielectric constant, when a sealing material is printed on the vertical alignment film as shown in the above-mentioned patent document, the characteristics of the alignment film, for example, contact angle, etc. There were the following problems.
(1) Since the contact angle between the vertical alignment film and the sealing material is large, after the sealing material is formed on the vertical alignment film by printing, the sealing material is cured by heating while pressing the substrate. So-called seal breakage has occurred. As a result, there is a problem in that the liquid crystal leaks from the disconnection portion of the sealing material when the pair of substrates is bonded, and the liquid crystal device cannot be manufactured.
(2) Since a material having water repellency such as polyimide is used for the vertical alignment film, when the sealing material is arranged on the vertical alignment film, a so-called seal shift occurs that causes the sealing material to deviate from the design position. It was. Thereby, since the formation position of a break line and a sealing material overlaps, there existed a problem that glass could not be cut | disconnected by a sealing material at the time of a glass break.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal device and an electronic apparatus that are intended to improve the yield during manufacturing by preventing the sealing material from being cut off or being displaced. is there.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a pair of substrates arranged opposite to each other are bonded together via a sealing material, and a dielectric constant is anisotropic in a space surrounded by the sealing material between the pair of substrates. A liquid crystal device in which a liquid crystal having negative properties is sealed, wherein a first vertical alignment film is provided inside each of the sealing materials of the pair of substrates, and the at least one substrate of the pair of substrates A second vertical alignment film is provided outside the sealing material, and a groove portion where no vertical alignment film is provided is provided between the second vertical alignment film and the first vertical alignment film. The sealing material is arranged at a position corresponding to the groove.
In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, it is also preferable that the first vertical alignment film and the second vertical alignment film are formed of polyimide or polyamic acid.

In this configuration, a region where the substrate surface on which the alignment film is not formed is exposed is provided in the groove between the first vertical alignment film and the second vertical alignment film. Since the sealing material is provided at a position corresponding to the groove portion, the contact angle between the sealing material and the substrate surface is smaller than that of the alignment film, and so-called seal breakage is prevented. As a result, liquid crystal leakage due to seal breakage is prevented, and the yield in manufacturing the liquid crystal device can be improved.
Further, according to this configuration, since the first and second vertical alignment films formed on the inner side and the outer side of the sealing material are made of polyimide or polyamic acid, the vertical alignment type film and the sealing material (formed on the vertical alignment film) are formed. The contact angle with the sealing material is increased. Therefore, even if the sealing material is disposed on the outer second vertical alignment film, the sealing material is repelled by the alignment film, and the sealing material is accommodated in the groove. This prevents so-called seal displacement in which the seal material is displaced from the position where the second vertical alignment film is provided. Therefore, since the sealing material formation position does not overlap with the break line, it is possible to scribe and break the second vertical alignment film instead of the sealing material. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in adhesive force due to grinding of the sealing material, and to improve the yield when manufacturing the liquid crystal device.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, it is also preferable that the groove is provided in a frame shape along the edge of the substrate, and the sealing material is disposed corresponding to the frame-shaped groove.

  According to this configuration, since the groove portion is provided in a frame shape along the end portion, a frame-shaped sealing material can be formed between the pair of substrates without being in contact with the vertical alignment film.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, it is also preferable that the sealing material is provided in contact with an end portion of the region where the first vertical alignment film is formed.

  In the present invention, the sealing material is formed to be regulated by the groove between the first vertical alignment film and the second vertical alignment film. Therefore, since the sealing material is provided in contact with the end portion of the first vertical alignment film, the width in the inner direction of the sealing material is regulated. Thereby, the display area provided in the inner direction of the sealing material can be secured up to the inner peripheral side surface of the sealing material, and the display area can be enlarged.

  In the liquid crystal device according to the aspect of the invention, it is also preferable that the sealing material is provided so as to be spaced apart from an end portion of the region where the first vertical alignment film is formed and a gap portion.

  For example, after the sealing material is disposed in the groove between the first vertical alignment film and the second vertical alignment film, the sealing material is used to ensure the cell gap between the substrates, the moisture permeability of the sealing material, or the conductivity between the substrates. It may be necessary to adjust the thickness of the seal and the width of the seal material. On the other hand, in the present invention, since the gap is provided between the first vertical alignment film and the sealing material, the sealing material is arranged to adjust the cell gap between the substrates after the sealing material is arranged in the groove. Even if the sealing material spreads in the width direction of the sealing material by pressurizing or the like, the gap portion becomes a margin. Therefore, the cell gap and the like can be adjusted without violating the current design rules.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, it is also preferable that the second vertical alignment film is provided so as to extend from the outside of the sealing material to the peripheral edge portions of the pair of substrates.

  In general, the scribe and break lines are provided on the outer peripheral edge of the sealing material that does not overlap the sealing material of the pair of substrates. Therefore, according to this configuration, since the second vertical alignment film is provided on the peripheral edge portions of the pair of substrates, the scribe line and the second vertical alignment film overlap each other in a plane. Thereby, not the sealing material but the second vertical alignment film can be surely scribed and broken, and a decrease in adhesive force due to grinding of the sealing material can be prevented.

An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described liquid crystal device.
According to this configuration, since the liquid crystal device with improved yield is provided, an electronic device with improved manufacturing efficiency can be provided.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In each drawing used for the following description, the scale of each member is appropriately changed to make each member a recognizable size.

First, the active matrix liquid crystal device of this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an active matrix type liquid crystal device 100 in which an element substrate 40 (first substrate) and a counter substrate 42 (second substrate) sandwiching liquid crystal are bonded, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of the liquid crystal device 100 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an equivalent circuit diagram of the liquid crystal device 100 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the liquid crystal device 100, an element substrate 40 and a counter substrate 42 disposed so as to face the element substrate 40 are bonded to each other with a sealing material 10 interposed therebetween. The element substrate 40 and the counter substrate 42 are made of a transparent material such as glass or plastic.

  The element substrate 40 has a region B that protrudes from the counter substrate 42. In the overhang region B, drive drivers 66 and 68 for driving the switching elements are mounted via an anisotropic conductive film (hereinafter referred to as “ACF”). The driving drivers 66 and 68 are connected to the wiring lines 26 extending from the scanning lines 3a and the data lines 6a in the display area A. A connection terminal 50 for a flexible substrate is formed on the input side of the drive drivers 66 and 68.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of pixels 60 arranged in a matrix are formed in the inner display region A surrounded by the sealing material 10 of the liquid crystal device 100. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the pixel electrode 9 is formed in each pixel 60. Further, on the side of the pixel electrode 9, a TFT 30 that is a pixel switching element that controls conduction to the pixel electrode 9 is formed. A data line 6 a is electrically connected to the source of the TFT 30. Image signals S1, S2,..., Sn are supplied to each data line 6a. The image signals S1, S2,..., Sn may be supplied to each data line 6a in this order, or may be supplied for each group to a plurality of adjacent data lines 6a.

  The scanning line 3 a is electrically connected to the gate of the TFT 30. Scan signals G1, G2,..., Gm are supplied to the scanning line 3a in pulses at a predetermined timing. Note that the scanning signals G1, G2,..., Gm are applied to each scanning line 3a in this order in the order of lines. Further, the pixel electrode 9 is electrically connected to the drain of the TFT 30. Then, when the TFT 30 as a switching element is turned on for a certain period by the scanning signals G1, G2,..., Gm supplied from the scanning line 3a, the image signals S1, S2,. Is written to the liquid crystal of each pixel at a predetermined timing.

  The predetermined level image signals S1, S2,..., Sn written in the liquid crystal are held for a certain period by a liquid crystal capacitance formed between the pixel electrode 9 and a counter electrode described later. In order to prevent the retained image signals S1, S2,..., Sn from leaking, a storage capacitor 70 is formed between the pixel electrode 9 and the capacitor line 3b, and is connected in parallel with the liquid crystal capacitor. . Thus, when a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal, the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules changes depending on the voltage level. As a result, the light incident on the liquid crystal is modulated to enable gradation display.

Next, a cross-sectional structure of the liquid crystal device 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
An insulating layer (not shown) is formed on the opposite substrate 42 side of the element substrate 40. On the insulating layer formed on the element substrate 40, the pixel electrode 34 is formed for each region surrounded by the scanning lines 3a and the data lines 6a. A TFT 30 is electrically connected to each pixel electrode 34.

  On the element substrate 40 side facing the counter substrate 42, the color filter 46, the overcoat layer 16, the counter electrode 24, and the alignment film 20 are stacked in this order from the substrate 42 side. Further, the color filter 46 includes a light shielding layer 32 and colored layers 12R, 12G, and 12B.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the light shielding layer 32 is formed in a matrix so as to partition each of the colored layers 12R, 12G, and 12B. The light shielding layer 32 is made of, for example, a black photosensitive resin film. By using such a material, the transmission of light between the colored layers 12R, 12G, and 12B can be blocked, the contrast can be improved, and the leakage current of the TFT 30 can be prevented.

  The colored layer 12 has different colors, and is composed of a red colored layer 12R, a green colored layer 12G, and a blue colored layer 12B. The colored layers 12R, 12G, and 12B are arranged in stripes on the counter substrate 42 corresponding to the respective pixels 60. As a material for these colored layers 12R, 12G, and 12B, for example, an organic resin such as an acrylic resin or an epoxy resin, or a material in which a pigment or a dye is dispersed in a diethylene glycol butyl ether derivative is used.

  An overcoat layer 16 is formed on the colored layers 12R, 12G, and 12B so as to cover the colored layers 12R, 12G, and 12B. The overcoat layer 16 flattens the unevenness caused by the colored layers 12R, 12G, and 12B. As a material for the overcoat layer 16, for example, a transparent resin such as an acrylic resin or an epoxy resin is preferably used. On the overcoat layer 16, a counter electrode 24 made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO (Indium Thin Oxide) is formed in a solid shape.

Next, the vertical alignment film of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
First, the configuration of the alignment film on the element substrate 40 side will be described.
FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing the sealing material 10 and the vertical alignment films 52 and 54 formed on the element substrate 40 side. In the liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment, an inner area surrounded by the sealing material 10 is referred to as a display area A, and an area outside the sealing material 10 excluding the protruding area B is referred to as a non-display area C. .

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a first vertical alignment film 52 (shaded portion in FIG. 4) is formed on the entire surface of the pixel electrode 34 on the inner side (display area A) of the sealing material 10 to be described later. The first vertical alignment film 52 functions as an alignment film for aligning liquid crystal molecules perpendicularly to the film surface, and the alignment film 52 surface is not subjected to alignment treatment such as rubbing. As a material of the first vertical alignment film 52, a resin material such as polyimide or polyamic acid which is a precursor of polyimide, or an inorganic material is used. Here, the side surface 52a (end portion) of the first vertical alignment film 52 is formed in contact with the inner peripheral side surface 10b of the sealing material 10, as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, on the element substrate 40 outside the sealing material 10 (non-display area C), as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the second vertical alignment film 54 (see FIG. 2) is formed in a frame shape along the outer periphery of the sealing material 10. 4 hatched portions) are formed. The second vertical alignment film 54 is formed by the same process and the same material as the first vertical alignment film 52, and functions as a vertical alignment film like the first vertical alignment film 52. As a material of the second vertical alignment film 54, polyimide or the like is preferably used. Here, the inner peripheral side surface 54a of the second vertical alignment film 54 is formed in contact with the outer peripheral side surface 10c of the sealing material 10, as shown in FIG. Further, the outer end 54b of the second vertical alignment film 54 is formed up to the periphery of the element substrate 40 so as to overlap the scribe and break lines L when the plurality of liquid crystal devices are individually broken. ing.

  Similarly, on the counter substrate 42 side, a first vertical alignment film 62 is formed on the color filter inside (display area A) of the sealing material 10. On the other hand, a second vertical alignment film 64 is formed in a frame shape along the outer periphery of the sealing material 10 on the counter substrate 42 outside the sealing material 10 (non-display area C). Other configurations and the like are the same as those of the vertical alignment films 52 and 54 on the element substrate 40 side, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the gap between the first vertical alignment film 52 and the second vertical alignment film 54 has a predetermined width formed in a frame shape (frame shape) as shown in FIGS. A groove portion 10a having the following is formed. The width W1 of the groove portion 10a is formed in accordance with the width of the sealing material 10 to be formed. In this embodiment, the width W1 is set in accordance with the width of the sealing material 10 after the sealing material 10 is pressurized and heated to be cured. Has been. In the present embodiment, the width W1 of the groove portion 10a has a width of 400 μm to 1000 μm. The groove 10a is a region where the substrate surface on which the alignment film is not formed is exposed, and the contact angle between the substrate surface and the formed sealing material 10 is vertical alignment films 52 and 54 and the sealing material 10. The contact angle between the two is lower. The groove portion 10a on the element substrate 40 side and the groove portion 10a on the counter substrate 42 side are provided at positions where they overlap in a plane when the pair of substrates 40 and 42 are bonded together, and the sealing material 10 faces the surfaces of the substrates 40 and 42. It is provided perpendicular to.

  In the groove 10a formed in each of the element substrate 40 and the counter substrate 42, the sealing material 10 is provided so as not to planarly overlap the first vertical alignment film 52 (62) and the second vertical alignment film 54 (64). Is formed. As a result, the sealing material 10 is formed in a frame shape as shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, a sealing structure of a so-called sealing-less (ODF, One Drop Fill) system in which a liquid crystal injection port for injecting liquid crystal is not formed. Yes.

Next, the pixel configuration of the liquid crystal device 100 will be described.
FIG. 5A is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of a pixel, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB ′ of the pixel illustrated in FIG. 5A and 5B, the substantially rod-shaped ellipsoid denoted by reference numeral 51 conceptually indicates vertically aligned liquid crystal molecules.

  A plurality of pixels 60 are provided in the display area A of the liquid crystal device 100, and each pixel 60 is composed of dot areas D1 to D3 surrounded by scanning lines 3a and data lines 6a as shown in FIG. Has been. Each dot area is provided with a color filter (22R, 22G, 22B) of one of the three primary colors.

A pixel electrode 34 is formed in each of the dot regions D1 to D3. The pixel electrode 34 formed in each dot region is divided into a plurality (three in this embodiment) of sub-pixels (island portions) 29a and 29b by the slit 19, and each sub-pixel is connected at the center. (Connecting part). The subpixel 29a is made of a light-reflective metal film such as Al (aluminum) or Ag (silver) or a laminated film of these metal films and a transparent conductive film such as ITO (indium tin oxide). The subpixel 29a functions as a reflective electrode, and a region where the subpixel 29a is formed becomes a reflective display region R. The surface of the reflective electrode is provided with a concavo-convex shape, and reflected light is scattered by the concavo-convex so that a display with good visibility can be obtained.
On the other hand, the subpixel 29b is made of a transparent conductive film such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), and a region where the subpixel 29b is formed becomes a transmissive display region T.

  That is, the liquid crystal device 100 according to the present embodiment is a transflective liquid crystal device including a reflective display region R that performs reflective display and a transmissive display region T that performs transmissive display in one dot region. In FIG. 5, the boundary between the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T is indicated by a one-dot chain line. In addition, the connection part which connects a subpixel and a subpixel consists of transparent conductive films, such as ITO, and this connection part also contributes to a transmissive display.

  In addition, a dielectric protrusion 21 serving as an alignment regulating means for regulating the alignment of the liquid crystal is disposed at the center of each of the subpixels 29a and 29b. The corners of the subpixels 29a and 29b are chamfered, and the subpixels 29a and 29b have a substantially octagonal shape or a substantially circular shape in plan view.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, a TFT 30 is formed in a region where the scanning line 3a and the data line 6a intersect. The TFT 30 includes a semiconductor layer 33, a gate electrode 31 provided on the lower layer side (element substrate 40 side) of the semiconductor layer 33, a source electrode 37 provided on the upper layer side of the semiconductor layer 33, and a drain electrode portion 39. It is prepared for.

  Next, looking at the cross-sectional structure shown in FIG. 5B, the liquid crystal device 100 includes an element substrate 40 and a counter substrate 42 disposed to face the element substrate 40, and the initial alignment state is vertical between the substrates 40 and 42. A liquid crystal layer 48 made of a liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy exhibiting orientation (refractive index anisotropy Δn is 0.1, for example) is sandwiched. A backlight (not shown) having a light source, a reflector, a light guide plate, and the like is installed as illumination means outside the liquid crystal cell corresponding to the outer surface side of the element substrate 40.

  The element substrate 40 is made of a translucent material such as quartz or glass, and an amorphous silicon TFT 30 having a bottom gate structure is formed on the inner surface side (liquid crystal layer side) of the element substrate 40. Specifically, the gate electrode 31 is formed on the element substrate 40, and the gate insulating film 41 is formed to cover the gate electrode 31. A semiconductor layer 33 made of amorphous silicon is formed on the gate insulating film 41 at a position facing the gate electrode 31, and a source region, a channel region, and a drain region are provided on the semiconductor layer 33 from the left side in the drawing. A data line 6a (source electrode 37) is formed on the source region of the semiconductor layer 33 via an insulating film, and a relay electrode 76 (drain electrode 39) is formed on the drain region of the semiconductor layer 33 via an insulating film. Is formed. An interlayer insulating film 43 is formed on the gate insulating film 41 including the TFT 30, and a pixel electrode 34 is formed on the interlayer insulating film 43. The relay electrode 76 is electrically connected to the pixel electrode 34 or the reflective film 14 through a contact hole 78 formed in the interlayer insulating film 43.

  The pixel electrode 34 (subpixel 49c) located in the transmissive display region T is formed of a transparent conductive film such as ITO. On the other hand, the pixel electrode (subpixel 49b) located in the reflective display region R is composed of a transparent conductive film 34 made of ITO or the like and a reflective film 14 made of Al or the like laminated on the transparent conductive film 34. The surface of the transparent conductive film 34 is formed in an uneven shape, and the uneven shape is reflected in the reflective film 14. A first vertical alignment film 52 such as polyimide is formed so as to cover the pixel electrode 34 and the interlayer insulating film 43.

  The counter substrate 42 is made of a translucent material such as quartz or glass, and the color filter 22 is provided on the inner surface side of the counter substrate 42 across the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T.

  A liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer 72 made of an organic material film such as acrylic resin is selectively formed on the inner surface side of the color filter 22 corresponding to the reflective display region R. Thereby, the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 48 is different between the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T, and the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 48 in the reflective display region R is about half of the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 48 in the transmissive display region T. ing. The liquid crystal device 100 according to the present embodiment realizes a multi-gap structure by using the liquid crystal layer thickness adjustment layer 72.

Further, a counter electrode 24 is formed on the inner surface side of the counter substrate 42 so as to cover the surfaces of the color filter 22 and the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer 72. The counter electrode 24 is a transparent conductive film made of flat solid ITO or the like, and a dielectric protrusion 21 protruding from the liquid crystal layer 48 is provided at a position facing the pixel electrode 34 on the counter electrode 24. Although the cross-sectional shape of the dielectric protrusion 21 is shown as a substantially triangular shape, it is actually formed in a gentle curved surface shape. In the transmissive display area T, one dielectric protrusion 21 is formed at a position facing the center of each of the two subpixels 29b and 29b, and the reflective display area R includes One dielectric protrusion 21 is formed at a position facing the center of the subpixel 29a. The dielectric protrusions 21 in the reflective display region R are disposed in a region in the recess formed in the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer 72. These dielectric protrusions 21 are made of a dielectric material such as resin and can be formed by photolithography using a mask.
Further, a second vertical alignment film 54 such as polyimide is formed so as to cover the counter electrode 24 and the dielectric protrusion 21 so that the initial alignment of the liquid crystal molecules 51 is aligned perpendicular to the substrate surface.

In the present embodiment, a groove 10a for forming the sealing material 10 is provided in the gap between the first vertical alignment film 52 (62) and the second vertical alignment film 54 (64). The groove 10a is a region where the substrate surface on which the alignment film is not formed is exposed. In this embodiment, since the sealing material 10 is provided in the groove portion 10a that does not overlap with the vertical alignment type alignment film, the contact angle between the sealing material 10 and the substrate surface is smaller than that formed on the alignment film, So-called seal breakage is prevented. As a result, liquid crystal leakage due to seal breakage is prevented, and the yield at the time of manufacturing the liquid crystal device 100 can be improved.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, the first and second vertical alignment films 54 (64) formed on the inner side and the outer side of the sealing material 10 are made of polyimide or polyamic acid. The contact angle with the sealing material formed on the film increases. Therefore, even if the sealing material 10 is disposed on the outer second vertical alignment film 54 (64), the sealing material 10 is repelled by the second vertical alignment film 54 (64), and the sealing material 10 is formed in the groove 10a. Be contained. Thereby, a so-called seal shift in which the sealing material 10 is shifted from the position where the second vertical alignment film 54 (64) is provided to the outside is prevented. Therefore, the second vertical alignment film 54 (64), not the sealing material 10, can be scribed and broken because the position where the sealing material 10 is formed does not overlap with the break line. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in adhesive force due to grinding of the sealing material 10 and to improve the yield when manufacturing the liquid crystal device 100.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the sealing material 10 is formed by being regulated by the groove 10a between the first vertical alignment film 52 (62) and the second vertical alignment film 54 (64). Therefore, when the side surface 52a (62a) of the first vertical alignment film 52 (62) is in contact with the inner peripheral side surface 10b of the sealing material 10, the width in the inner direction of the sealing material 10 is restricted. Thereby, the display area A provided in the inner side direction of the sealing material 10 can be secured up to the inner peripheral side surface 10b of the sealing material 10, and the display area A can be enlarged.

  In general, the scribe and break lines are provided on the outer peripheral edge of the sealing material 10 that does not overlap the sealing material 10 of the element substrate 40 and the counter substrate 42. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the second vertical alignment film 54 (64) is provided on the peripheral edge portion of the pair of substrates, the scribe line and the second vertical alignment film 54 (64) overlap in a plane. Become. Accordingly, not the sealing material 10 but the second vertical alignment film 54 (64) can be surely scribed and broken, and a decrease in adhesive force due to grinding of the sealing material 10 can be prevented.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the above embodiment, the side surface of the first vertical alignment film formed on the inner side of the sealing material is formed in contact with the inner peripheral side surface of the sealing material. On the other hand, this embodiment differs from the above embodiment in that a gap is provided between the side surface of the first vertical alignment film and the inner peripheral side surface of the sealing material. Since the basic configuration of the liquid crystal device is the same as that of the first embodiment, common constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 6, a first vertical alignment film 52 is formed on the entire surface of the pixel electrode 34 inside the sealing material 10. Here, a gap 90 is provided between the end side surface 52 a (end) of the first vertical alignment film 52 and the inner peripheral side surface 10 b of the sealing material 10.
On the other hand, on the element substrate 40 outside the sealing material 10, a second vertical alignment film 54 is formed in a frame shape along the outer periphery of the sealing material 10. The inner peripheral side surface 54 a of the second vertical alignment film 54 is formed so as to contact the outer peripheral side surface 10 c of the sealing material 10.
Since the configuration of the vertical alignment film 62 (64) on the counter substrate 42 side is the same as that of the vertical alignment film 52 (54) on the element substrate 40 side, the description thereof is omitted.

  For example, after the sealing material 10 is disposed in the groove 10a between the first vertical alignment film 52 (62) and the second vertical alignment film 54 (64), the cell gap between the substrates 40 and 42, the moisture permeability of the sealing material 10, Alternatively, it may be necessary to adjust the seal thickness of the sealing material 10 and the width of the sealing material 10 in order to ensure the conductivity between the substrates 40 and 42. In contrast, in the present embodiment, since the gap 90 is provided between the first vertical alignment film 52 (62) and the sealing material 10, the substrates 40 and 42 are disposed after the sealing material 10 is disposed in the groove 10a. Even if the sealing material 10 is pressurized to adjust the cell gap between them and the sealing material 10 expands in the width direction of the sealing material 10, the gap 90 becomes a margin. Therefore, the cell gap and the like can be adjusted without violating the current design rules.

(Third embodiment)
Next, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the above embodiment, a sealing-less type without a liquid crystal injection port is used as the sealing material of the liquid crystal device. On the other hand, the liquid crystal device of this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a liquid crystal injection port for injecting liquid crystal is provided in the sealing material. Since the basic configuration of the liquid crystal device is the same as that of the first embodiment, common constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically showing the sealing material 10 and the vertical alignment films 52 and 54 on the element substrate 40 side.
As shown in FIG. 7, a first vertical alignment film 52 is formed on the entire surface of the display area A inside the sealing material 10. On the other hand, in the non-display area B outside the sealing material 10, a second vertical alignment film 54 is formed in a frame shape along the outer periphery of the sealing material 10.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the sealing material 10 is formed in a frame shape between the first vertical alignment film 52 and the second vertical alignment film 54 at the periphery of the element substrate 40. A liquid crystal injection port 28 for injecting liquid crystal between the pair of substrates 40 and 42 is provided in a part of the sealing material 10 (substantially central portion of the upper side of the element substrate 40). Protruding portions 28 a and 28 b that protrude toward the outside of the frame of the sealing material 10 are provided at both ends of the sealing material 10 of the liquid crystal inlet 28. The protrusions 28a and 28b are formed on the second vertical alignment film 54 formed outside the sealing material 10, and the second vertical alignment film 54 has a closed structure without an opening.

  According to the present embodiment, even when the liquid crystal injection port 28 is formed in the sealing material 10, it is possible to prevent the sealing material 10 from being broken or misaligned as in the first embodiment.

<Electronic equipment>
Next, an example of the electronic device of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a mobile phone (electronic device) including the liquid crystal device 100 described above. As shown in FIG. 8, the mobile phone 600 includes a first body 106 a and a second body 106 b that can be folded around a hinge 122. The first body 106a is provided with a liquid crystal device 601 (100), a plurality of operation buttons 127, an earpiece 124, and an antenna 126. The second body 106b is provided with a mouthpiece 128. According to this embodiment, since the liquid crystal device that improves the yield is provided, an electronic apparatus can be provided efficiently.

  In addition, the liquid crystal device 100 of the present embodiment can be applied to various electronic devices other than the mobile phone. For example, LCD projectors, multimedia-compatible personal computers (PCs) and engineering workstations (EWS), pagers, word processors, televisions, viewfinder type or monitor direct view type video tape recorders, electronic notebooks, electronic desk calculators, car navigation systems The present invention can be applied to electronic devices such as a device, a POS terminal, and a device provided with a touch panel.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the example mentioned above, Of course, a various change can be added in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. Moreover, you may combine each example mentioned above in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.
For example, in the above embodiment, the second vertical alignment film is formed on the element substrate and the counter substrate. On the other hand, it is also possible to form the second vertical alignment film on either the element substrate or the counter substrate. In this case, a seal shift can be prevented by drawing a sealing material on the substrate side on which the second vertical alignment film is formed.

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the liquid crystal device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ′ of the liquid crystal device illustrated in FIG. 1. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an equivalent circuit of the liquid crystal device. FIG. It is a top view which shows the formation position of the vertical alignment film by the side of an element substrate similarly. (A) is a top view which shows the structure of a pixel, (b) is sectional drawing along the B-B 'line of the pixel shown to (a). It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the liquid crystal device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the formation position of the vertical alignment film by the side of the element substrate which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of a mobile telephone.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Sealing material 24 ... Counter electrode 40 ... Element substrate 42 ... Counter substrate 48 ... Liquid crystal layer (liquid crystal) 52, 62 ... First vertical alignment film 54, 64 ... Second vertical alignment film 90 ... Gap, 100 ... Liquid crystal device

Claims (7)

A liquid crystal device in which a pair of substrates arranged opposite to each other is bonded through a sealing material, and a liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy is sealed in a space surrounded by the sealing material between the pair of substrates,
A first vertical alignment film is provided inside the sealing material of each of the pair of substrates, and a second vertical alignment film is provided outside the sealing material of at least one of the pair of substrates. A groove portion not provided with a vertical alignment film is provided between the second vertical alignment film and the first vertical alignment film, and the sealing material is disposed at least at a position corresponding to the groove portion. A liquid crystal device characterized by that.   2. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the groove portion is provided in a frame shape along an end portion of the substrate, and the sealing material is disposed corresponding to the frame-shaped groove portion. .   The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the first vertical alignment film and the second vertical alignment film are formed of polyimide or polyamic acid.   4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material is provided in contact with an end portion of a region where the first vertical alignment film is formed. 5.   4. The seal material according to claim 1, wherein the seal material is provided to be spaced apart from an end portion of the region where the first vertical alignment film is formed. The liquid crystal device according to 1.   6. The liquid crystal according to claim 1, wherein the second vertical alignment film is provided so as to extend from an outer side of the sealing material to a peripheral edge portion of the pair of substrates. apparatus.   An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal device according to claim 1.

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