JP2007163722A - Liquid crystal device, its manufacturing method, optical retardation plate and electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal device having a plurality of retardation layers which are highly accurately patterned and have characteristics different from one another and achieving high functionality and high image quality. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid crystal device 200 has a configuration wherein a liquid crystal layer 50 is interposed between an element substrate (a first substrate) 10 and a counter substrate (a second substrate) 20 disposed opposite to each other and an alignment layer formed by layering a first alignment layer 161 and a second alignment layer 162 patterned on the first alignment layer 161 and having alignment regulation force in a direction different from that of the first alignment layer 161 is provided to the liquid crystal layer 50 side of the counter substrate 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device, a manufacturing method thereof, a retardation plate, and an electronic apparatus.

A liquid crystal device used as a display device of an electronic device such as a mobile phone is required to have higher performance as the electronic device has higher speed and higher functionality. For example, an increase in viewing angle and an increase in image quality are required, and in order to satisfy these requirements, improvement of a retardation layer that performs polarization control in a liquid crystal device has been studied. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a retardation layer having a different phase difference is formed for each color pixel so that appropriate optical compensation can be performed for each color light.
JP 2002-122866 A

  However, in the liquid crystal device described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to repeat the patterning of the retardation layer three times in order to form a different retardation layer for each color type of the pixel, which complicates the manufacturing process. And cost increase is inevitable. In addition, it is difficult to pattern a retardation layer having a thickness of about several μm with high accuracy, and there is a possibility that it may not be possible to cope with higher pixel definition.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and includes a plurality of retardation layers with different characteristics that are patterned with high accuracy, thereby realizing high performance and high image quality. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof. Another object of the present invention is to provide a retardation plate provided with a plurality of retardation layers having different characteristics that are patterned on a substrate with high accuracy.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the liquid crystal device of the present invention has a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate that are arranged to face each other, and the liquid crystal layer of at least one of the substrates is On the side, there is provided an alignment film formed by laminating a first alignment film and a second alignment film that is patterned on the first alignment film and has an alignment regulating force in a direction different from that of the first alignment film. It is characterized by being.
Thus, by providing the alignment film formed by patterning the second alignment film on the first alignment film, different alignment regulating forces are applied to the liquid crystal layer, for example, in the plane area of the pixel, Alternatively, a liquid crystal device that exhibits different liquid crystal alignments among pixels can be easily configured. Conventionally, when liquid crystal regions having different alignment states are formed in one pixel, it has been realized by performing a mask rubbing process on the alignment film. However, in the mask rubbing, liquid crystal alignment disorder occurs at the boundary of the liquid crystal region. There was a problem that the rubbing cloth was easily deteriorated. On the other hand, in the present invention, since the second alignment film is patterned, the alignment film can be formed with high precision, and the alignment disorder of the liquid crystal at the alignment film boundary hardly occurs. Thereby, it is possible to realize a liquid crystal device that achieves high functionality and high image quality.

In the liquid crystal device according to the aspect of the invention, the first alignment film is a vertical alignment film that aligns the liquid crystal in a substantially vertical direction of the film surface, and the second alignment film is a horizontal alignment film that aligns the liquid crystal in a substantially horizontal direction of the film surface. It can be set as the structure which is. Alternatively, the first alignment film is a horizontal alignment film that aligns liquid crystal in a substantially horizontal direction of the film surface, and the second alignment film is a vertical alignment film that aligns liquid crystal in a substantially vertical direction of the film surface. You can also.
As the first alignment film and the second alignment film, either a horizontal alignment film or a vertical alignment film can be used.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, an electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer is formed on at least one of the substrates on which the alignment film is formed, and the alignment film is formed on the electrode. be able to. According to this configuration, a liquid crystal device having a liquid crystal region whose alignment is controlled by the alignment regulating force of the first alignment film and the second alignment film can be easily configured.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, a transmissive display region and a reflective display region are partitioned in one pixel of the liquid crystal device, and the first alignment film, which is the horizontal alignment film, is disposed corresponding to the transmissive display region. On the other hand, the second alignment film, which is the vertical alignment film, may be arranged corresponding to the reflective display region. With such a configuration, liquid crystal regions having different operation modes can be easily formed between the transmissive display region and the reflective display region.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region is an OCB mode liquid crystal layer that exhibits bend alignment during operation, the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region exhibits vertical alignment on the second alignment film side, The liquid crystal layer of the R-OCB mode exhibiting horizontal alignment on the substrate side can also be used. With such a configuration, an OCB mode transflective liquid crystal device can be easily configured. In particular, the OCB mode liquid crystal layer exhibits splay alignment without applying a voltage, and it is necessary to perform an alignment transition operation to bend alignment by applying voltage in the initial stage of operation. In this configuration, the reflective display region is close to bend alignment. Since the hybrid alignment liquid crystal region having the liquid crystal molecular alignment is formed, the initial alignment transition can be performed smoothly.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the liquid crystal layer may include a liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy. That is, the liquid crystal device of the present invention can be a wide viewing angle liquid crystal device including a vertical alignment mode liquid crystal layer.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, a first electrode and a second electrode for generating an electric field to be applied to the liquid crystal layer are provided between the first electrode and the second substrate. It can also be configured. According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal device that performs display by driving the liquid crystal by an electric field approximately in the substrate surface direction.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, a liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer is formed corresponding to the reflective display region, and the liquid crystal layer thickness adjustment layer is formed so that the liquid crystal layer thickness of the reflective display region is smaller than the liquid crystal layer thickness of the transmissive display region. You can also. That is, the liquid crystal device of the present invention may be a transflective liquid crystal device having a so-called multigap structure.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, an optically anisotropic layer made of molecules whose orientation is controlled by the alignment film may be formed on the alignment film. By setting it as such a structure, a liquid crystalline polymer can be aligned with a separate alignment control force by the board | substrate inner surface.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, it is preferable that the optically anisotropic layer includes a liquid crystalline polymer material. With such a configuration, desired optical anisotropic characteristics can be easily obtained by controlling the alignment of the liquid crystalline polymer by the alignment regulating force of the alignment film.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, a transmissive display region and a reflective display region are partitioned in one pixel of the liquid crystal device, and the first alignment film is disposed corresponding to the transmissive display region. The second alignment film may be arranged corresponding to the reflective display area. With this configuration, it becomes possible to control the phase difference of light passing through the liquid crystal panel in each of the transmissive display area and the reflective display area, and a high contrast display can be obtained in both the transmissive display and the reflective display. The transflective liquid crystal device can be obtained.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, either the first alignment film or the second alignment film can be selectively disposed in one pixel of the liquid crystal device. With such a configuration, a different optical anisotropic layer can be formed for each pixel, and thus optical compensation can be easily performed only for a specific pixel, for example.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, two or more different color material layers are provided corresponding to each pixel of the liquid crystal device, and the first alignment film and the second alignment film are formed of the color material layer. It can also be set as the structure arrange | positioned corresponding to a color kind. With such a configuration, for example, an optical compensation function can be selectively given only to a pixel provided with a color material layer of a specific color type.

  A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device according to the present invention is a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate that are arranged to face each other, and the method is provided on at least one of the substrates. Forming a first alignment film, applying a photosensitive alignment film forming material on the first alignment film to form a coating film, and exposing and developing the coating film. It has the process of pattern-forming a 2nd alignment film on a 1st alignment film, and the process of performing an alignment process on the surface of the said 2nd alignment film, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. According to this manufacturing method, after forming the first alignment film on the substrate, the second alignment film is patterned using a photolithography technique, so that the first alignment film and the second alignment film can be formed with extremely high accuracy. A planar pattern can be formed. Therefore, it is possible to easily cope with the case where the first alignment film and the second alignment film are formed in the same pixel. In addition, in the boundary region between the first alignment film and the second alignment film formed with high accuracy, the alignment regulation force is not disturbed or decreased, so that the contrast and aperture ratio are reduced due to the occurrence of disclination. A liquid crystal device with high image quality that can be effectively prevented can be manufactured.

  A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device according to the present invention is a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate that are arranged to face each other, and the method is provided on at least one of the substrates. Forming a first alignment film; applying an alignment treatment to the surface of the first alignment film; and applying a photosensitive alignment film forming material on the first alignment film to form a coating film. And a step of patterning a second alignment film on the first alignment film by exposing and developing the coating film. With such a manufacturing method, the alignment treatment of the first alignment film and the alignment treatment of the second alignment film can be made very different from each other, and the alignment films having different aspects of the alignment regulating force can be formed on the substrate with high accuracy. Can be formed.

  In the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device according to the present invention, after forming an alignment film formed by laminating the first alignment film and the second alignment film, an optical anisotropic layer forming material containing a liquid crystalline polymer on the alignment film And the liquid crystalline polymer can be aligned by different alignment regulating forces of the first alignment film and the second alignment film.

The retardation plate of the present invention is a retardation plate formed by forming an optically anisotropic layer on a substrate, wherein a first alignment film and a pattern are formed on the first alignment film on the substrate. An alignment film formed by laminating a first alignment film and a second alignment film having an alignment regulating force in a direction different from the first alignment film is provided. From the molecules whose alignment state is regulated by the alignment film on the alignment film An optically anisotropic layer is formed. By setting it as such a structure, the phase difference plate which has optical anisotropy which changes with parts can be manufactured easily. In particular, according to the present invention, since the first alignment film and the second alignment film can be patterned with extremely high accuracy, the structure of the optically anisotropic layer formed on the alignment film is also controlled with high accuracy. Therefore, the retardation plate is excellent in optical characteristics and can be manufactured at low cost.
In the retardation plate of the present invention, the second alignment film may be formed on the first alignment film in a stripe shape in plan view.

  An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes the liquid crystal device according to the present invention described above. With such a structure, an electronic device including a high-function and high-quality display portion can be provided.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, in each drawing referred to below, the size ratio of each part is appropriately changed and displayed in order to make the drawing easy to see.
In the present specification, the liquid crystal layer side of each component of the liquid crystal device is referred to as an inner side, and the opposite side is referred to as an outer side. In addition, a display element constituting a minimum unit of image display is referred to as “sub-pixel”, and a set of a plurality of sub-pixels including each color filter is referred to as “pixel”. Further, a display region that uses light incident from the display surface side of the liquid crystal device within a sub-pixel formation region is referred to as a “reflective display region”, and the back side of the liquid crystal device (the side opposite to the display surface). A display area that uses light incident from is referred to as a “transmissive display area”.

(First embodiment)
First, a retardation plate and a manufacturing method thereof according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the retardation plate 150 according to the present invention includes a translucent substrate main body 150A such as glass or plastic, a planar solid first alignment film 151 formed on the substrate main body 150A, A second alignment film 152 having a substantially stripe shape in plan view, which is laminated on the first alignment film 151, and a retardation layer 155 formed so as to cover the first alignment film 151 and the second alignment film 152. Has been. In the present embodiment, the first alignment film 151 on the lower layer side is a vertical alignment film that aligns the liquid crystal in a direction substantially perpendicular to the film surface, and the second alignment film 152 on the upper layer side has the liquid crystal with respect to the film surface. It is a horizontal alignment film that is aligned in a substantially horizontal direction.
In order to protect the retardation layer 155, a protective layer made of an acrylic resin or the like may be further formed on the surface of the retardation layer 155.

  The retardation layer 155 is made of, for example, a liquid crystalline polymer, and as shown in FIG. 1, the alignment regulation of the first alignment film 151 and the second alignment film 152 arranged in a stripe pattern on the substrate body 150A. A phase difference layer having a phase difference that varies depending on the region is formed by the force. That is, in the first alignment region 155a disposed in the region where the first alignment film 151 that is a vertical alignment film is exposed, the alignment direction 156a of the liquid crystalline polymer constituting the retardation layer is the normal line of the substrate body 150A. In the second alignment region 155b which is parallel to the direction and is disposed in the region where the second alignment film 152 which is a horizontal alignment film is exposed, the alignment direction 156b of the liquid crystalline polymer constituting the retardation layer is the second This is an in-plane direction along the rubbing direction of the alignment film 152.

  The retardation plate 150 of the present embodiment having the above configuration hardly gives a retardation to transmitted light in the first alignment region 155a formed by vertically aligning the liquid crystalline polymer. On the other hand, in the second alignment region 155b in which the liquid crystalline polymer is horizontally aligned, a desired phase difference can be imparted according to the polarization state of the transmitted light. The retardation plate 150 of the present embodiment can be suitably used as a substrate constituting a liquid crystal device or as a retardation plate of a liquid crystal device capable of 3D display or two-screen display.

FIG. 2 is a schematic process diagram for explaining a method of manufacturing the retardation film 150 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2A, in order to manufacture the retardation film 150, a substrate body 150A made of glass, plastic, or the like is prepared, and the first alignment film 151, the second alignment film 152, and the like are formed on one side thereof. Are stacked. In the case of this embodiment, a liquid material (vertical alignment film forming material such as polyimide) for forming the first alignment film 151 is applied to the surface of the substrate body 150A by a spin coating method or the like, and the coating film is heated and fired. The first alignment film 151 is formed by curing. Thereafter, a liquid material (horizontal alignment film forming material such as photosensitive polyimide) for forming the second alignment film 152 is applied on the first alignment film 151 to form a coating film, and the coating film is exposed, By developing and baking, a second alignment film 152 patterned in a stripe shape in plan view as shown in FIG. 2B is obtained. The patterning method for forming the second alignment film 152 is not limited to the method using the photosensitive material described above.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2C, the surface of the first alignment film 151 and the second alignment film 152 on the substrate main body 150A is subjected to a rubbing process in the direction indicated by the arrow 156b, and the horizontal alignment film is used. An alignment regulating force in the direction of the arrow 156b (XY plane direction) is applied to a certain second alignment film 152. In this rubbing process, the first alignment film 151 that is a vertical alignment film and the second alignment film 152 that is a horizontal alignment film are collectively rubbed. The vertical alignment film is rubbed under the same conditions as the horizontal alignment film. However, there is almost no effect, and the alignment direction by the vertical alignment film does not change.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2D, a retardation layer forming material containing a polymerizable liquid crystalline polymer is applied onto the substrate body 150A so as to cover the first alignment film 151 and the second alignment film 152. . Then, the liquid crystalline polymer contained in the forming material is aligned in a predetermined direction by the alignment regulating force of the first alignment film 151 and the second alignment film 152. Then, by performing exposure and baking treatment on the coating film of the retardation layer forming material, the liquid crystalline polymer is aligned (vertically aligned) in the direction of the arrow 156a in the formation region of the first alignment film 151 as illustrated. The first alignment region 155a is formed, and the second alignment region 155b in which the liquid crystalline polymer is aligned in the direction of the arrow 156b (horizontal alignment) is formed in the formation region of the second alignment film 152. Through the above steps, the phase difference plate 150 having different optical characteristics can be manufactured in the same substrate shown in FIG.

  The retardation layer 155 can be formed by a method in which a liquid crystalline polymer solution is applied by spin coating (for example, at a rotation speed of 700 rpm for 30 seconds). The liquid crystalline polymer used here is, for example, an 8% solution of PLC-7023 (trade name, manufactured by Asahi Denka Kogyo Co., Ltd.), the solvent is a mixed solution of cyclohexanone and methyl ethyl ketone, the isotropic transition temperature is 170 ° C., refractive The rate anisotropy Δn is 0.21. The formed liquid crystalline polymer layer is pre-baked at 80 ° C. for 1 minute, further heated at 180 ° C. for 30 minutes, which is higher than the isotropic transition temperature (170 ° C.) of the liquid crystalline polymer, and then gradually cooled. The liquid crystalline polymer can be aligned by the alignment film.

Alternatively, the retardation layer 155 is formed by applying a solution of UV curable liquid crystal UCL-008-K1 (trade name, manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.), which is a liquid crystalline monomer, to a spin coating method (for example, at a rotational speed of 700 rpm for 30 seconds ). The liquid crystalline monomer solution used here is, for example, diluted to 25% in a mixed solvent of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and γ-butyrolactone, has an isotropic transition temperature of 69 ° C., and a refractive index anisotropy Δn of 0. 20. The liquid crystalline monomer coated on the alignment film can be oriented by drying at 60 ° C. for 5 minutes, heating at 90 ° C. for 5 minutes at or above the isotropic transition temperature (69 ° C.), and then gradually cooling. . Then, the retardation layer 155 made of a liquid crystalline monomer polymer can be formed by photopolymerizing the liquid crystalline monomer by performing an exposure process (for example, an exposure intensity of 3000 mJ / cm ² ).

In addition, when forming a protective layer on the retardation layer 155, for example, an acrylic photosensitive resin NN-525 (trade name, manufactured by JSR Corporation) is applied by a spin coating method (for example, at a rotation speed of 700 rpm for 30 seconds). To do. Then, after pre-baking the protective layer at 80 ° C. for 3 minutes, the protective layer can be formed by performing exposure treatment at an exposure intensity of about 2000 mJ / cm ² . Note that the protective layer is not necessarily formed using a photosensitive resin, but the protective layer can be selectively formed by using the photosensitive resin, which is convenient.

  As described above, in the retardation plate 150 of the present embodiment, the retardation layer forming material containing the liquid crystalline polymer is applied on the alignment film in which the regions having different alignment regulating directions are partitioned on the substrate body 150A. Since the retardation layer 155 having different optical characteristics depending on the part is formed, a retardation layer having stable characteristics can be formed in a simple process compared to the method of patterning a retardation layer made of a liquid crystalline polymer. can do. In addition, there is an advantage that a step difference does not occur on the substrate surface as in the case of selectively forming a retardation layer having a thickness of about several μm, and application to a liquid crystal device or the like is facilitated.

In the field of liquid crystal devices, so-called multi-rubbing technology is known that enables the viewing angle to be improved and the display quality in the reflection mode and the transmission mode to be compatible by dividing the alignment direction of the liquid crystal within the substrate surface. Yes. In the conventional multi-rubbing method, a mask material such as a resist is patterned on the alignment film formed on the substrate, and a mask rubbing method using the mask material is generally used. However, there is a problem that the alignment disorder of the liquid crystal becomes large at the boundary between regions having different rubbing directions, and that the rubbing cloth is easily deteriorated. In addition, there is also known a method of patterning an alignment film on a substrate and providing a difference in alignment regulation force depending on the presence or absence of the alignment film. However, since alignment control in a region where no alignment film is provided cannot be performed, However, when the alignment regulating force is generated, there is a problem that the liquid crystal exhibits an unintended alignment state.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, by using a method of patterning the second alignment film 152 on the first alignment film 151 formed in a flat solid shape on the substrate body 150A, regions having different alignment directions are formed on the substrate surface. Since it is formed, the deterioration of the rubbing cloth as in the mask rubbing method and the occurrence of the alignment disorder at the alignment division boundary can be effectively suppressed. In addition, since the liquid crystal is appropriately aligned in the entire region of the retardation layer 155, an unnecessary phase difference is also generated in the first alignment region (vertical alignment region) 155a that hardly causes a phase difference with respect to transmitted light. Is effectively prevented, and the retardation film has excellent optical characteristics.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the phase difference plate 150 is manufactured by the process of patterning the horizontal alignment film on the vertical alignment film and then performing the rubbing process has been described. However, as the phase difference plate according to the present invention, A configuration in which a vertical alignment film is patterned on the horizontal alignment film may be employed, and in this case also, a retardation plate having equivalent optical characteristics can be obtained. In this way, when the horizontal alignment film is arranged on the lower layer side, in addition to the manufacturing method in which the horizontal alignment film and the vertical alignment film are laminated on the substrate body 150A, and the vertical alignment film is patterned, the rubbing process is performed. It is also possible to adopt a manufacturing method in which a horizontal alignment film is formed in a flat solid form on 150A, then the horizontal alignment film is subjected to rubbing treatment, and then the vertical alignment film is patterned. Since the object of rubbing treatment is a horizontal alignment film, it is better to perform the rubbing treatment before forming the vertical alignment film than to perform the rubbing treatment after patterning the vertical alignment film. This is advantageous in terms of yield.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a liquid crystal device 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the liquid crystal device 200. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a planar configuration of an arbitrary pixel of the liquid crystal device 200. 5 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram taken along the line AA ′ in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram along the line BB ′ in FIG. 4.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid crystal device 200 is an active matrix liquid crystal device including a thin film diode (hereinafter referred to as “TFD”) element 13 as a switching element. As shown in FIG. 5, the element substrate 10 disposed on the viewer side, the counter substrate 20 disposed on the light source side, the liquid crystal layer 50 sandwiched between the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20, and the counter substrate 20. The reflection layer 27 that is provided on the side and reflects the light incident from the element substrate 10 side, and the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the reflection display region corresponding to the formation region of the reflection layer 27 are set to the display region outside the reflection layer 27 ( This is a transflective liquid crystal device having a liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer 24 for reducing the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the transmissive display region.

  FIG. 3 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a liquid crystal device using a TFD element. In the liquid crystal device 200, a plurality of data lines 9 driven by the first driving circuit 101 and a plurality of scanning lines 8 driven by the second signal driving circuit 104 are arranged in a grid pattern. A TFD element 13 and a liquid crystal display element (liquid crystal layer) 50 are arranged corresponding to the intersection of the scanning line 8 and the data line 9. Each TFD element 13 and each liquid crystal layer 50 are connected in series between each scanning line 8 and each data line 9. The TFD element 13 and the liquid crystal display element 50 can be replaced with each other.

  The planar structure of the pixel shown in FIG. 4 shows a configuration in which the liquid crystal device 200 is observed from the element substrate 10 side. In the liquid crystal device 200 of the present embodiment, sub-pixels are formed corresponding to the formation regions of the pixel electrodes 15 having a rectangular shape in plan view arranged in a matrix. In each sub-pixel, one of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color filters 22R, 22G, and 22B formed in a strip shape extending in the Y-axis direction is arranged. Three sub-pixels each having a color filter for each of G and B constitute one pixel.

  A TFD element 13 is electrically connected to the pixel electrode 15 provided in each subpixel, and the scanning line 8 electrically connected to the TFD element 13 extends in the Y-axis direction along the long side edge of the subpixel. It extends to. In addition, a reflective layer 29 is formed at a position overlapping with a part of the pixel electrode 15 in a plane, and the formation region of the reflective layer 29 constitutes a reflective display region R in the sub-pixel. The formation region of the pixel electrode 15 outside the reflective layer 29 constitutes the transmissive display region T in the subpixel.

A strip-shaped common electrode 25 is formed across a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in the X-axis direction in the figure, and is disposed in parallel with the common electrode 25 and extends across the plurality of sub-pixels. A second alignment film 162 is formed. In the present embodiment, the first alignment film 161 is a horizontal alignment film that aligns the liquid crystal substantially horizontally on the film surface, and the second alignment film 162 is a vertical alignment film that aligns the liquid crystal perpendicular to the film surface. In each subpixel, the first alignment film 161 is disposed in the transmissive display region T, and the second alignment film 162 is disposed in the reflective display region R.
In FIG. 4, the first alignment film 161 and the second alignment film 162 are both shown as strips extending in the X-axis direction, but actually, the alignment film 151 shown in FIG. , 152, the first alignment film 161 is formed in a flat solid shape on the substrate, and the band-shaped second alignment film 162 is formed on the first alignment film 161.

5 and 6, the liquid crystal layer 50 is sandwiched between the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20, and a light source, a reflector, a light guide, and the like are disposed outside the counter substrate 20. A backlight (illuminating means) 60 having a light plate or the like is installed.
The element substrate 10 includes a substrate body 11 made of a translucent material such as glass, plastic, or quartz. A TFD element 13 electrically connected to the scanning line 8 is formed on the inner side (lower side in the figure) of the substrate body 11, and an interlayer made of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, resin material, etc. is covered therewith. An insulating film 12 is formed. A pixel electrode 15 made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO (indium tin oxide) is formed on the interlayer insulating film 12, and a part of the pixel electrode 15 is in a contact hole 12 a penetrating the interlayer insulating film 12. The pixel electrode 15 and the TFD element 13 are electrically connected by being partially embedded. An alignment film 19 made of polyimide or the like is formed so as to cover the pixel electrode 15. The alignment film 19 is a horizontal alignment film that aligns liquid crystal in a substantially horizontal direction with respect to the film surface.

  The TFD element 13 includes an island-shaped first conductive film 30 made of tantalum or the like, an element insulating film 30a made of a tantalum oxide film or the like formed on the surface of the first conductive film 30, and a first element via the element insulating film 30a. This is an MIM (Metal-Insulator-Metal) element including a first conductive film 30 and second conductive films 31 and 32 made of chromium or the like. The second conductive film 31 is formed by branching the scanning line 8 as shown in FIG. The TFD element 13 is a TFD element having a back-to-back structure in which elements are formed at positions where the second conductive films 31 and 32 face the first conductive film 30.

  On the other hand, the counter substrate 20 includes a substrate body 21 made of a translucent material such as glass, plastic, or quartz. Inside the substrate body 21 (upper side in the drawing), a resin film 27a having unevenness formed on the surface is partially formed. The resin film 27a is covered with a light-reflective material such as aluminum or silver so as to cover the surface of the resin film 27a. A reflective layer 27 made of a metal material is formed. The reflection layer 27 is a scattering reflection layer that has irregularities following the irregularities on the surface of the resin film 27a and that can scatter and reflect light incident from the liquid crystal layer 50 side.

  On the substrate body 21 including the surface of the reflective layer 27, the CF layer 22 including a plurality of color filters 22B, 22G, and 22R that transmit different color lights is formed. As shown in FIG. 6, a black matrix 22BM is formed in the CF layer 22 at a position facing the scanning line 8 on the element substrate 10 side. The CF layer 22 may be formed on the element substrate 10 side.

  The color filters 22R, 22G, and 22B are preferably divided into two types of regions having different chromaticities within the sub-pixel region. As a specific example, a first color material region is provided corresponding to the planar region of the transmissive display region T, and a second color material region is provided corresponding to the planar region of the reflective display region R. A configuration in which the chromaticity of the first color material region is larger than the chromaticity of the second color material region can be employed. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which provides a non-colored area | region in a part of reflective display area | region R. FIG. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the chromaticity of the display light from being different between the transmissive display region T in which the display light is transmitted only once through the color filter and the reflective display region R in which the display light is transmitted twice. The display quality can be improved by aligning the appearance of the reflective display and the transmissive display.

A planarizing film 23 made of a resin material or the like is formed so as to cover the CF layer 22, and a liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer 24 made of a resin material or the like is partially formed on the planarizing film 23. A common electrode 25 is formed so as to straddle the planarizing film 23 and the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer 24. The common electrode 25 functions as the data line described above, and extends in a direction intersecting the scanning line 8 of the element substrate 10. A first alignment film 161 (horizontal alignment film) made of polyimide or the like is formed so as to cover the common electrode 25, and among the regions on the first alignment film 161, the region on the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer 24 is made of polyimide or the like. A second alignment film 162 (vertical alignment film) is formed.
Note that the common electrode 25 of the counter substrate 20 may function as a scanning line, and the scanning line 8 of the element substrate 10 may function as a data line.

  The alignment film 19 of the element substrate 10 and the first alignment film 161 of the counter substrate 20 are subjected to a para-rubbing process so that the alignment of liquid crystal molecules is vertically symmetric with respect to the center of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the thickness direction. Has been. Then, the peripheral portions of the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 shown in FIG. 5 are bonded together by a sealing material (not shown), and the liquid crystal layer 50 is sealed inside the sealing material. In this embodiment, a horizontal alignment film is formed for the transmissive display region T and the liquid crystal layer 50 operates in the OCB mode, and for the reflective display region R, the liquid crystal layer 50 sandwiched between the horizontal alignment film and the vertical alignment film is provided. It operates in the R-OCB mode.

  A multi-gap structure is formed by the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer 24 provided on the surface of the CF layer 22 corresponding to the formation region of the reflective layer 27. In the transflective liquid crystal device, light incident on the reflective display region R is transmitted through the liquid crystal layer 50 twice, but light incident on the transmissive display region T is transmitted only once through the liquid crystal layer 50. When the layer thickness of 50 is the same in the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T, the retardation of the liquid crystal layer 50 is different between the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T, and the light transmittance is different. As a result, a uniform image display cannot be obtained. Therefore, by providing the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer 24, the layer thickness (for example, about 2 μm) of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the reflective display region R is reduced to about half of the layer thickness (for example, about 4 μm) of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the transmissive display region T. The retardation of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T can be set to be substantially the same. Thereby, a uniform image display can be obtained in the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T.

  In addition, due to the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer 24, an inclined portion 17 is formed in the boundary region between the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T, and the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 is continuous in the inclined portion 17. Is changing. In general, in the inclined portion 17, the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules is likely to be disturbed, and the display quality is likely to deteriorate. In the liquid crystal device 200 of the present embodiment, the inclined portion 17 is arranged in the transmissive display region T so as to place importance on the reflective display, thereby ensuring the quality of the reflective display.

  As a constituent material of the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer 24, it is desirable to employ a material having electrical insulation and photosensitivity such as acrylic resin. By adopting the photosensitive material, patterning using photolithography is possible, and the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer 24 can be formed with high accuracy. The liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer 24 may be provided on the element substrate 10 or may be provided on both the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20.

  As indicated by reference numeral 51 in FIG. 5, the liquid crystal layer 50 of the liquid crystal device 200 exhibits a bend alignment in which the liquid crystal molecules 51 are aligned in a bowed shape during operation in the transmissive display region T. The region exhibiting the bend alignment is in a splay alignment state in which the liquid crystal molecules 51 are opened in a splay shape when the electric field acting on the liquid crystal layer 50 is equal to or less than a predetermined value. By modulating the transmittance with the degree of bending of the bend orientation, high-speed response of display operation can be realized.

  On the other hand, in the reflective display region R, the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules 51 between the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate is a hybrid alignment (Hybrid-Aligned Nematic; HAN) in which the alignment state changes continuously from the horizontal alignment to the vertical alignment. . Thereby, the liquid crystal layer 50 in the reflective display region R operates in the R-OCB mode. Since the alignment state of the R-OCB mode corresponds to the upper half of the bend alignment in the OCB mode, high-speed response of display operation can be realized by modulating the transmittance according to the degree of bending of the bend alignment. . Moreover, unlike the OCB mode, the display operation can be started without going through the initial transition operation.

  Polarizers 36 and 37 are provided outside the pair of substrates 10 and 20, respectively. These polarizing plates 36 and 37 transmit only linearly polarized light that vibrates in a specific direction. The transmission axis of the polarizing plate 36 and the transmission axis of the polarizing plate 37 are arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to each other, and arranged so as to intersect the rubbing direction of the alignment films 19 and 29 at about 45 ° in plan view. Yes.

  In addition, you may arrange | position a phase difference plate inside the polarizing plate 36 and the polarizing plate 37 as needed. If a λ / 4 plate having a phase difference of approximately ¼ wavelength with respect to the wavelength of visible light is used as such a retardation plate, a circularly polarizing plate can be formed together with the polarizing plates 36 and 37. If a λ / 2 plate and a λ / 4 plate are used in combination, a broadband circularly polarizing plate can be configured.

  Furthermore, you may arrange | position an optical compensation film inside the polarizing plate 36 and / or the polarizing plate 37 as needed. By disposing the optical compensation film, it is possible to compensate for the phase difference of the liquid crystal layer when the liquid crystal device is viewed from the front or from the perspective, and it is possible to reduce light leakage and increase contrast. As the optical compensation film, it is possible to use a negative uniaxial medium (for example, WV film manufactured by Fuji Photo Film) formed by hybrid alignment of discotic liquid crystal molecules having negative refractive index anisotropy. It is also possible to use a positive uniaxial medium (for example, NH film manufactured by Nippon Petroleum) formed by hybrid alignment of nematic liquid crystal molecules having a positive refractive index anisotropy. Further, a negative uniaxial medium and a positive uniaxial medium can be used in combination. In addition, a biaxial medium in which the refractive index in each direction satisfies nx> ny> nz, a negative C plate, or the like may be used.

  In the liquid crystal device 200 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the alignment state in the sub-pixel is adopted by adopting the same laminated structure as the alignment film according to the first embodiment as the alignment film inside the counter substrate 20. Different liquid crystal regions are formed. Thus, by forming a liquid crystal region having a hybrid alignment similar to the bend alignment in the reflective display region R, the initial alignment transition from the splay alignment to the bend alignment in the transmissive display region T can be performed smoothly. In addition, the liquid crystal alignment in the sub-pixel can be made uniform to improve the display uniformity. In order to realize such a configuration, it is necessary to accurately form an alignment film in a narrow sub-pixel region, but the conventional mask rubbing method has insufficient alignment control at the boundary between regions having different rubbing directions. Therefore, a large disclination occurred in the boundary area, which caused a problem of deterioration of the rubbing cloth due to a decrease in contrast or display luminance, and a step difference of the mask. The alignment film forming process according to the present invention was adopted. As a result, good alignment controllability is obtained even in the boundary region, and the load on the rubbing cloth is reduced, so that a high-quality liquid crystal device can be manufactured with a high yield.

  In order to manufacture the liquid crystal device 200, the alignment film forming process shown in FIG. 2 is applied particularly in the manufacturing process of the counter substrate 20. That is, after the reflective layer 27, the CF layer 22, the planarizing film 23, and the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer 24 are sequentially formed on the substrate body 21, the first alignment film 161, which is a horizontal alignment film, is formed using, for example, polyimide. A flat solid shape is formed on 21. Thereafter, for example, photosensitive polyimide is applied on the first alignment film 161, and this coating film is exposed and developed to selectively form the second alignment film 162, which is a vertical alignment film, in the formation region of the reflective layer 27. Form. Thereafter, the first alignment film 161 and the second alignment film 162 are collectively subjected to a rubbing process, thereby applying an alignment regulating force in a predetermined plane direction to the first alignment film 161 that is a horizontal alignment film. The counter substrate 20 thus manufactured is bonded to the separately manufactured element substrate 10 via a sealing material, whereby the liquid crystal device 200 is obtained.

  In the manufacturing method described above, rubbing is performed after the first alignment film 161 and the second alignment film 162 are formed. However, in the configuration of the alignment film of this embodiment in which the horizontal alignment film is disposed on the lower layer side. The second alignment film 162 may be formed by applying a photosensitive polyimide on the first alignment film 161 after the rubbing process is performed on the first alignment film 161 formed on the substrate body 21 in a flat solid shape. Good. With such a manufacturing method, the rubbing process is performed in a state where there is no boundary step between the first alignment film 161 and the second alignment film 162, so that rubbing is performed at the boundary between the first alignment film 161 and the second alignment film 162. Defects are less likely to occur.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid crystal device 200 including the liquid crystal layer 50 that operates in the OCB mode in the transmissive display region T and operates in the R-OCB mode in the reflective display region R has been described. However, the technical scope of the present invention is as follows. It is not limited to such a configuration. That is, the operation mode of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region T is not limited to the OCB mode, and may be a TN (Twisted Nematic) mode, an ECB (Electrically Controlled Birefringence) mode, or the like.

  Also, for example, a first alignment film made of a horizontal alignment film is formed over the entire area of the sub-pixel to form a liquid crystal layer that operates in the OCB mode, and a second alignment film made of a vertical alignment film is selectively formed outside the display region. It can also be configured. In this case, a liquid crystal region in which liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned is formed outside the display region. Since such vertically aligned liquid crystal molecules are in an alignment state similar to the liquid crystal molecules arranged in the central portion in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer in the bend alignment, display is performed at the initial alignment transition in the OCB mode liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal molecules vertically aligned outside the region trigger the initial alignment transition, and the alignment transition from the splay alignment to the bend alignment is performed smoothly and rapidly, and evenly over the entire subpixel. In addition, the technology for forming alignment films having different properties inside and outside the display area of the sub-pixel as described above is also applied to VAN (Vertical Aligned Nematic) mode, TN (Twisted Nematic) mode, and ECB (Electrically Controlled Birefringence) mode liquid crystal devices. Of course, it can be applied.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a liquid crystal device 300 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a plan configuration diagram of one pixel in the liquid crystal device 300. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram taken along the line DD ′ of FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram taken along the line EE ′ of FIG.
The liquid crystal device 300 according to the present embodiment employs a method called an FFS (Fringe Field Switching) method among methods for displaying an image by applying an electric field substantially in the direction of the substrate surface to the liquid crystal to control alignment. Device. In addition, a color liquid crystal device having a color filter on a substrate, one pixel is composed of three sub-pixels that output light of each color of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a pixel electrode 89 and a TFT 80 for switching control of the pixel electrode 89 are formed in each of the plurality of sub-pixel regions formed in a matrix constituting the image display region of the liquid crystal device 300. The data line 6a extending in the horizontal direction in the figure is electrically connected to the source of the TFT 80. From the data line 6a, image signals S1, S2,..., Sn are supplied to each pixel. The image signals S1 to Sn may be supplied line-sequentially in this order, or may be supplied for each group to a plurality of adjacent data lines 6a. A scanning line 3a extending in the vertical direction in the figure is electrically connected to the gate of the TFT 80, and the scanning line 3a sequentially applies scanning signals G1, G2,..., Gm supplied in a pulse manner at a predetermined timing. Thus, it is supplied to the gate of the TFT 80. The pixel electrode 89 is electrically connected to the drain of the TFT 80. Then, the TFT 80 as a switching element is turned on for a certain period by the input of the scanning signals G1, G2,..., Gm, so that the image signals S1, S2,. The pixel electrode 89 is written with timing.

  Image signals S1, S2,..., Sn written to the liquid crystal via the pixel electrode 89 are held for a certain period between the pixel electrode 89 and the common electrode opposed via the liquid crystal. Here, in order to prevent the held image signal from leaking, a storage capacitor 70 is provided in parallel with the liquid crystal capacitor formed between the pixel electrode 89 and the common electrode. The storage capacitor 70 is interposed between the drain of the TFT 80 and the capacitor line 3b.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the liquid crystal device 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. The liquid crystal device 300 includes a configuration in which a liquid crystal layer 50 is sandwiched between an element substrate (first substrate) 10 and a counter substrate (second substrate) 20 as shown in FIG. The substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are sealed between the substrates 10 and 20 by a seal material (not shown) provided along an edge of a region where the substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 face each other. Polarizing plates 36 and 37 are provided on the outer surface side of the element substrate 10 and the outer surface side of the counter substrate 20, respectively. In addition to the polarizing plate 37, a retardation plate and other optical elements can be provided on the outer surface side of the counter substrate 20. A backlight (illuminating device) 60 is disposed on the back side (illustrated lower surface side) of the element substrate 10.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the planar region of each subpixel in the liquid crystal device 300, a pixel electrode (first electrode) 89 that is substantially ladder-shaped in a plan view and that is long in the Y-axis direction, and the pixel electrode 89 in plan view. A common electrode (second electrode) 99 having a substantially flat surface disposed in an overlapping manner is provided. A columnar spacer 90 is erected at the upper left corner of the sub-pixel region to hold the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 at a predetermined interval.
The pixel electrode 89 includes a plurality (15 in the drawing) of strip-shaped electrodes 89c extending in the approximate X-axis direction, and a frame body portion 89a having a substantially rectangular frame shape in plan view connected to both ends of the strip-shaped electrodes 89c. The plurality of strip electrodes 89c are arranged in the Y-axis direction at equal intervals in parallel with each other.

  The common electrode 99 has a flat solid shape within the pixel region shown in FIG. 8, and a strip-shaped reflective layer 79 extending in the X-axis direction is formed at a position partially overlapping with the common electrode 99 in the sub-pixel. Has been. In the liquid crystal device 300 according to the present embodiment, a region where the formation region of the reflective layer 79 and the planar region including the pixel electrode 89 overlap is incident from the outside of the counter substrate 20 in one sub-pixel region shown in FIG. Thus, a reflective display region R for performing display by reflecting and modulating light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer 50 is formed. In addition, a region where the reflective layer 79 is not formed and the region where the common electrode 99 is formed and the region including the pixel electrode 89 overlaps modulates light that is incident from the backlight 60 and passes through the liquid crystal layer 50. Thus, a transmissive display area T is displayed.

  In the present embodiment, the common electrode 99 is a conductive film made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO (indium tin oxide), and the reflective layer 79 is a reflective layer made of a light reflective metal film such as aluminum or silver. is there. The reflection layer 79 has a strip shape extending in the X-axis direction in the entire image display area in which a large number of sub-pixels are arranged in a matrix in plan view, and the formation area of the reflection layer 79 is not formed in the Y-axis direction. The area is arranged alternately.

  In the sub-pixel region shown in FIG. 8, a data line 6a extending in the X-axis direction, a scanning line 3a extending in the Y-axis direction, and a capacitor line 3b extending adjacent to the scanning line 3a and parallel to the scanning line 3a are formed. Has been. A TFT 80 is provided in the vicinity of the intersection between the data line 6a and the scanning line 3a. The TFT 80 includes a semiconductor layer 85 made of amorphous silicon partially formed in a planar region of the scanning line 3a, a source electrode 6b formed partially overlapping the semiconductor layer 85, and a drain electrode 82. ing. The scanning line 3a functions as a gate electrode of the TFT 80 at a position overlapping the semiconductor layer 85 in a plan view.

The source electrode 6b of the TFT 80 is formed in a substantially inverted L shape in plan view extending from the data line 6a and extending to the semiconductor layer 85, and the drain electrode 82 is substantially rectangular in plan view at the end extending to the −Y side. The capacitor electrode 81 is electrically connected. A pixel electrode 89 is disposed on the capacitor electrode 81 so as to extend from the center portion side of the sub-pixel, and a pixel contact hole 95 is provided at a position where they overlap in a plane. The capacitor electrode 81 and the pixel electrode 89 are electrically connected through the pixel contact hole 95.
The capacitor electrode 81 is disposed in the plane region of the capacitor line 3b, and a storage capacitor 70 is formed with the capacitor electrode 81 and the capacitor line 3b facing each other in the thickness direction.

  In the cross-sectional structure shown in FIG. 9, the liquid crystal layer 50 is sandwiched between the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 that are arranged to face each other. The element substrate 10 has a translucent substrate body 10A such as glass, quartz, or plastic as a base, and scanning lines 3a and capacitance lines 3b are formed on the inner surface side (the liquid crystal layer 50 side) of the substrate body 10A. A gate insulating film 71 made of a transparent insulating film such as silicon oxide is formed so as to cover the scanning lines 3a and the capacitor lines 3b.

  An amorphous silicon semiconductor layer 85 is formed on the gate insulating film 71, and a source electrode 6 b and a drain electrode 82 are provided so as to partially run over the semiconductor layer 85. A capacitor electrode 81 is integrally formed on the drain electrode 82 on the pixel contact hole 95 side. The semiconductor layer 85 is opposed to the scanning line 3a through the gate insulating film 71, and the scanning line 3a constitutes the gate electrode of the TFT 80 in the facing region. The capacitor electrode 81 is opposed to the capacitor line 3b through the gate insulating film 71, and a storage capacitor 70 having the gate insulating film 71 as a dielectric film is provided in a region where the capacitor electrode 81 and the capacitor line 3b are opposed to each other. Is formed.

  A first interlayer insulating film 72 made of silicon oxide or the like is formed so as to cover the semiconductor layer 85, the source electrode 6 b, the drain electrode 82, and the capacitor electrode 81. A scattering imparting layer 79a made of a resin material such as acrylic resin is partially formed on the first interlayer insulating film 72, and the surface of the scattering imparting layer 79a on which the uneven shape is formed is made of aluminum or the like. A reflective layer 79 made of a metal film having light reflectivity is formed. A planar solid common electrode 99 made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO is formed in a region on the first interlayer insulating film 72 including the surface of the reflective layer 79. In this manner, the common electrode 99 is formed so as to cover the reflective layer 79, so that the reflective layer 79 can be protected from an etching solution or the like, and the pixel electrode 89 faces only the common electrode 99. Therefore, the electric field generated between the pixel electrode 89 and the common electrode 99 can be made uniform within the sub-pixel.

  A second interlayer insulating film 73 made of silicon oxide or the like is formed so as to cover the common electrode 99, and a pixel electrode 89 made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO is patterned on the second interlayer insulating film 73. A pixel contact hole 95 that penetrates the first interlayer insulating film 72 and the second interlayer insulating film 73 and reaches the capacitor electrode 38 is formed, and a part of the pixel electrode 89 is embedded in the pixel contact hole 95. The pixel electrode 89 and the capacitor electrode 81 are electrically connected. The common electrode 99 is also provided with an opening corresponding to the region where the pixel contact hole 95 is formed, so that the common electrode 99 and the pixel electrode 89 are not in contact with each other. In the region on the second interlayer insulating film 73 covering the pixel electrode 89, a first alignment film 171 of a vertical alignment film made of polyimide or the like is formed.

  On the first alignment film 171, a second alignment film 172 of a horizontal alignment film made of polyimide or the like is partially formed. As shown in FIG. 8, the second alignment film 172 is formed in a band shape in a region overlapping with the reflective layer 79 in a plane. A retardation layer 180 is formed so as to cover the first alignment film 171 and the second alignment film 172. The retardation layer 180 is an optically anisotropic layer formed by aligning a liquid crystalline polymer, and has different optical anisotropy depending on the site. Accordingly, in the liquid crystal device 300 of this embodiment, like the retardation plate 150 of the previous first embodiment, an alignment film having different alignment regulating force is formed on the substrate, and the difference in alignment regulating force of the alignment film is determined. Utilizing the structure, the optical anisotropy of the retardation layer is varied depending on the site.

In the case of this embodiment, in the first alignment region 181 located on the first alignment film 171, the liquid crystalline polymer is aligned perpendicular to the film surface by the alignment regulating force of the first alignment film 171 that is a vertical alignment film. In the second alignment region 182 located on the second alignment film 172, the liquid crystalline polymer is aligned substantially horizontally on the film surface by the alignment regulating force of the second alignment film 172 that is a horizontal alignment film. Due to the difference in the alignment state of the liquid crystalline polymer, the retardation layer 180 hardly gives a retardation to the transmitted light in the first alignment region 181 disposed corresponding to the transmissive display region T. On the other hand, the second alignment region 182 disposed in the reflective display region R functions as an optically anisotropic layer that imparts a predetermined phase difference (¼ wavelength of transmitted light) to the transmitted light. Yes.
An alignment film 19 made of polyimide or the like is formed so as to cover the retardation layer 180.

  On the other hand, the CF layer 22 and the alignment film 28 are laminated on the inner surface side (liquid crystal layer 50 side) of the substrate body 20A that is the base of the counter substrate 20. The CF layer 22 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and the alignment film 28 is a horizontal alignment film that aligns liquid crystal molecules in a substantially horizontal direction of the film surface. The alignment films 19 and 28 disposed with the liquid crystal layer 50 interposed therebetween are rubbed in the same direction in a plan view, and have a function of horizontally aligning liquid crystal molecules between the alignment films 19 and 28. Note that the rubbing direction of the alignment films 19 and 28 is the X-axis direction in FIG. 8, and forms an angle of about 10 ° to 30 ° with respect to the extending direction of the strip electrode 89c.

  The liquid crystal device 300 is an FFS-type liquid crystal device, and applies an image signal (voltage) to the pixel electrode 89 via the TFT 80, thereby causing an electric field (diagonal) in the substrate surface direction between the pixel electrode 89 and the common electrode 99. An electric field is generated, the liquid crystal is driven by the electric field, and image display is performed by changing the transmittance / reflectance for each sub-pixel. The common electrode 99 only needs to be held at a constant voltage so as to generate a potential difference within a predetermined range with the pixel electrode 89 during the operation of the liquid crystal device 300, but a pulse signal synchronized with the scanning pulse input to the scanning line 3a. May be entered.

In the liquid crystal device 300 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the first alignment film 171 and the second alignment film 172 are formed on the pixel electrode 89, and the difference in alignment regulating force between these alignment films is utilized. The optical anisotropy of the phase difference layer 180 varies depending on the part. As a result, a transflective display with a wide viewing angle and a high contrast is realized in the FFS mode liquid crystal device, which has conventionally been difficult to adopt a transflective configuration using circularly polarized light.
In the FFS mode and IPS (In-Plane Switching) mode lateral electric field mode liquid crystal devices, the front phase difference hardly changes due to the electric field response, so that the phase difference of the liquid crystal layer is conventionally different between the transmissive display and the reflective display. Therefore, it has been studied to selectively provide a retardation layer in the reflective display region. However, in this method, it is necessary to directly pattern a retardation layer having a thickness of about several μm, and there is a problem that it is difficult to accurately form a retardation layer in a narrow subpixel. There is a problem that a step is generated between the formation region and the non-formation region, and the threshold voltage differs between the two regions.
On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the second alignment film 172 having a thickness of about 50 nm is patterned, the second alignment film 172 can be patterned with high accuracy. The contrast of the alignment regulating force with the two alignment film 172 can be increased. In addition, since the retardation layer 180 is formed so as to cover the very thin alignment films 171 and 172, the retardation layer 180 eliminates the step between the alignment films 171 and 172 and flattens the substrate surface. The thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 can be made uniform. This is particularly effective in the lateral electric field mode liquid crystal device 300 in which the threshold voltage varies depending on the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50.

In addition, in order to realize a transflective configuration in a lateral electric field mode liquid crystal device, a configuration in which a retardation layer is formed in a flat solid shape on the inner surface of the substrate and a retardation plate is provided on the outer surface of the substrate is also known. . In such a configuration, in order for the retardation layer provided on the inner surface side to function only in the reflective display region, the retardation of the retardation layer in the transmissive display region is canceled by the retardation plate provided on the outer surface side. . However, in such a configuration, there are two retardation plates that do not substantially function in the transmissive display region, and there is a problem that the viewing angle characteristics are deteriorated due to the arrangement of the retardation plates in the transmissive display.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in the first alignment region 181 corresponding to the transmissive display region T, the retardation layer 180 hardly imparts a retardation to the transmitted light, so that a retardation plate on the outer surface of the substrate is unnecessary. Therefore, the viewing angle characteristic is not deteriorated by the arrangement of the retardation plate. Further, since the retardation plate is unnecessary, it is advantageous in terms of manufacturing cost and thickness reduction of the liquid crystal device.

  In the above embodiment, the FFS transflective liquid crystal device has been described as an example. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the liquid crystal layer 50 has a TN mode or an ECB mode. Even in the OCB mode and VA mode, a transflective liquid crystal device can be formed in the same manner, and a wide viewing angle and high contrast display can be realized in any liquid crystal device.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the first alignment region 181 and the second alignment region 182 are formed corresponding to the transmissive display region T and the reflective display region R partitioning the sub-pixels has been described. A liquid crystal device in which the first alignment region and the second alignment region are formed so as to correspond to the respective sub-pixels can also be configured. Specifically, in the color liquid crystal device, three color filters are provided corresponding to each sub-pixel, but the first alignment region and the second alignment region are selectively provided corresponding to the color type of the color filter. By doing so, it is possible to selectively set the optical compensation condition for the sub-pixels of a specific color type, and it is possible to obtain effects such as improvement in viewing angle characteristics and prevention of color change at intermediate gradations.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a liquid crystal device that can suitably use the retardation plate according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 18. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid crystal device 400 including the retardation plate according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which the display surface of the liquid crystal device 400 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is being observed together with an observer. FIG. 13 is a partial plan view of a polarization control liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state in which the display surface of the liquid crystal device 400 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is being observed together with an observer. FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment shown in FIG.

  First, the configuration of the liquid crystal device 400 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, the liquid crystal device 400 irradiates light to the display panel 402 for displaying an image, polarizing plates 403 and 404 disposed so as to sandwich the display panel 402, and the display panel 402. A backlight (illumination device) 405 and a polarizing plate 406 disposed on the viewers 410 and 420 side of the backlight 405. Further, the polarizing plates 403 and 404 arranged so as to sandwich the display panel 402 are arranged so that their polarization axes are orthogonal to each other. The polarizing plate 406 is configured to transmit light having the first polarization axis among the light irradiated from the backlight 405, and the polarizing plate 404 transmits the first polarized light that passes through the polarizing plate 406. It has a function of transmitting light having an axis and absorbing light having a second polarization axis substantially orthogonal to the first polarization axis. On the other hand, the polarizing plate 403 transmits light having the second polarization axis and absorbs light having the first polarization axis.

A polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 is disposed on the viewer 410 and 420 side of the polarizing plate 406. The polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 includes a polarization control region 407a for transmitting light having the first polarization axis irradiated from the backlight 405 through the polarizing plate 406, and the light having the first polarization axis. A polarization control region 407b for changing to light having a second polarization axis that is substantially orthogonal to the polarization axis.
As shown in FIG. 11, the polarization control regions 407 a and 407 b of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 are band-like regions extending in the Y-axis direction, and are alternately arranged in the X-axis direction on the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407. The Y-axis direction is a direction substantially orthogonal to a line segment connecting the left eye 410a (420a) and the right eye 410b (420b) of the observer 410 (420) (that is, a vertical direction when the panel is viewed from the front). It is.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the polarization control regions 407a and 407b are configured by a plurality of (for example, four) unit regions 407c of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407, and each of the unit regions 407c has an electrode 407d. Is provided. In the two-screen display described later, a voltage is applied to the four electrodes 407d corresponding to the four unit regions 407c constituting the polarization control region 407a, and the four unit regions 407c constituting the polarization control region 407b are applied. Control is performed so that no voltage is applied to the corresponding four electrodes 407d. In the liquid crystal device of this embodiment, the widths of the polarization control regions 407a and 407b can be arbitrarily changed by controlling the presence or absence of voltage application to the electrode 407d provided in the unit region 407c. For example, when displaying a stereoscopic image and a planar image, which will be described later, the polarization control areas 407a and 407b are each constituted by two unit areas 407c, and 2 corresponding to the two unit areas 407c constituting the polarization control area 407a. By applying a voltage to the two electrodes 407d and not applying a voltage to the two electrodes 407d corresponding to the two unit regions 407c constituting the polarization control region 407b, the polarization control regions 407a and 407b , Each can be made to be two unit areas 407c wide. Thereby, by controlling the presence or absence of application of the electrode 407d of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407, it is possible to easily switch to the two-screen display mode, the stereoscopic image display mode, and the planar image display mode. Thus, the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 functions as a polarization axis control unit in the liquid crystal device 400.

  A lenticular lens 408 is disposed on the viewers 410 and 420 side of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407. The lenticular lens 408 is formed with a plurality of substantially semi-cylindrical lens portions 408a arranged in the X-axis direction so as to extend in the Y-axis direction in FIG. The lenticular lens 408 including a plurality of lens portions 408a has a function of causing the light separated to have different polarization axes by the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 to travel in the direction of the observers 410 and 420 as shown in FIG. is doing.

A retardation film 409 is disposed between the lenticular lens 408 and the polarizing plate 404 attached to the display panel 402. The retardation film 409 has the same configuration as the retardation film 150 according to the first embodiment described above, and a transmission region that transmits light having a first polarization axis that transmits the polarizing plate 406. 409a and a polarization region 409b that converts light having the first polarization axis into light having the second polarization axis. Compared to the retardation plate 150 according to the first embodiment, the transmission region 409 a corresponds to the first alignment region 155 a in the retardation layer 155, and the polarization region 409 b corresponds to the second alignment region 155 b in the retardation layer 155. . That is, the transmission region 409a is a retardation layer obtained by vertically aligning a liquid crystalline polymer by a vertical alignment film patterned on the substrate body, and the polarizing region 409b is a horizontal layer patterned with the vertical alignment film. It is a retardation layer obtained by horizontally aligning a liquid crystalline polymer in a predetermined direction by an alignment film.
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 15, the transmission region 409a and the polarization region 409b are band-like regions extending in the X-axis direction on the phase difference plate 409, and are alternately arranged in the Y-axis direction.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the display panel 402 includes pixel columns 402a and 402b.
The pixel columns 402a and 402b are strips extending in the X-axis direction on the display panel 402, and are alternately arranged in the Y-axis direction. The pixel columns 402a and 402b of the display panel 402 are provided corresponding to the transmission region 409a and the polarization region 409b extending in the X-axis direction of the phase difference plate 409. Further, the polarizing plate 406, the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407, the lenticular lens 408, the retardation film 409, and the polarizing plate 404 are disposed between the display panel 402 and the backlight 405 as shown in FIGS. Yes.

  The liquid crystal device 400 of the present embodiment having the above configuration is operated by switching the two-screen display mode, the stereoscopic image display mode, and the planar image display mode by changing the operation state of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407. It is a liquid crystal device that can. Hereinafter, a characteristic two-screen display mode and stereoscopic image display mode in the liquid crystal device 400 of the present embodiment will be described.

[Dual screen display mode]
First, the operation of the liquid crystal device 400 in the two-screen display mode will be described. FIG. 16 is a diagram for describing a region of the display panel that is viewed by an observer in the two-screen display mode of the liquid crystal device 400 illustrated in FIG. 11.

  First, the configuration of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 and the display panel 402 for providing different images to the observers 410 and 420 located at different observation positions will be described with reference to FIGS. In the two-screen display mode, the liquid crystal device 400 according to the present embodiment includes a pair of polarization control regions 407 a and 407 b of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407, as shown in FIG. 12, for each lens unit 408 a of the lenticular lens 408. It corresponds one by one. That is, in the two-screen display mode, four electrodes 407d (four unit areas 407c) adjacent to each other are assigned to the polarization control areas 407a and 407b of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407, and the polarization control areas 407a and 407b are assigned to the polarization control areas 407a and 407b. Each corresponds to one lens portion 408a. As shown in FIG. 15, an image L2 (for example, a television image) for viewing by the viewer 410 is displayed on the pixel column 402a of the display panel 402, and the viewer 420 is displayed on the pixel column 402b. An image R2 (for example, an image for car navigation) for viewing is displayed.

In the above configuration, light emitted from the backlight 405 is converted into light having the first polarization axis by the polarizing plate 406 disposed on the viewers 410 and 420 side of the backlight 405, and the polarization control liquid crystal panel. 407 is incident. The light having the first polarization axis passes through the polarization control regions 407a and 407b of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407. At this time, the light incident on the polarization control region 407a of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 has a polarization axis. While transmitting without change, the light incident on the polarization control region 407b of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 is converted into light having the second polarization axis by rotating the polarization axis substantially by 90 ° and emitted. The That is, in the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407, light having the first polarization axis and light having the second polarization axis are emitted from the respective band-shaped regions corresponding to the polarization control region 407a and the polarization control region 407b. The
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 12, the light emitted from the polarization control region 407 a with the first polarization axis is condensed by the lenticular lens 408 so as to travel toward the observer 410. Further, the light emitted from the polarization control region 407b in a state having the second polarization axis substantially orthogonal to the first polarization axis is condensed by the lenticular lens 408 so as to travel toward the observer 420. Is done.

As shown in FIG. 15, the light 411 traveling toward the observer 410 in the state having the first polarization axis is incident on the phase difference plate 409 having the transmission region 409a and the polarization region 409b. Of the light 411 having the first polarization axis, the light incident on the transmission region 409a of the phase difference plate 409 is transmitted while maintaining the polarization state as it is without changing the polarization axis. On the other hand, the light that has entered the polarization region 409b has its polarization axis rotated substantially by 90 °, is converted into light having the second polarization axis, and is emitted.
After that, the light 411 emitted from the transmission region 409a of the retardation film 409 toward the observer 410 in a state having the first polarization axis is a polarizing plate disposed between the display panel 402 and the retardation film 409. The light then enters and passes through 404, and enters the pixel column 402 a of the display panel 402.
In contrast, the light 411 emitted from the polarization region 409b of the phase difference plate 409 toward the observer 410 in a state having the second polarization axis substantially orthogonal to the first polarization axis is displayed on the display panel 402. Is incident on and absorbed by the polarizing plate 404 disposed between the phase difference plate 409 and the phase difference plate 409. For this reason, since the light passing through the pixel column 402b of the display panel 402 on which the image R2 for viewing by the observer 420 is displayed does not reach the viewer 410, the viewer 410 receives the pixel column of the display panel 402. The image R2 for viewing by the observer 420 displayed in 402b cannot be seen. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 16, the viewer 410 visually recognizes only the image L <b> 2 that is displayed on the pixel column 402 a of the display panel 402 for viewing by the viewer 410.

In addition, the light 412 traveling toward the observer 420 with the second polarization axis is incident on a retardation plate 409 having a transmission region 409a and a polarization region 409b as shown in FIG. Of the light 412 having the second polarization axis, the light incident on the transmission region 409a of the phase difference plate 409 is transmitted while maintaining the polarization state as it is without changing the polarization axis. On the other hand, the light that has entered the polarization region 409b has its polarization axis rotated substantially by 90 °, is converted into light having the first polarization axis, and is emitted.
Thereafter, the light 412 emitted from the transmission region 409a of the phase difference plate 409 toward the observer 420 in a state having the second polarization axis substantially orthogonal to the first polarization axis is compared with the display panel 402. The light is incident on the polarizing plate 404 disposed between the plate 409 and absorbed. For this reason, the light passing through the pixel column 402 a of the display panel 402 on which the image L <b> 2 for the viewer 410 to view is not transmitted to the observer 420. The image L2 for the observer 410 displayed on 402a to see cannot be seen. On the other hand, the light 412 emitted from the polarization region 409b of the phase difference plate 409 and having the first polarization axis toward the observer 420 is disposed between the display panel 402 and the phase difference plate 409. Is incident on the polarizing plate 404, passes therethrough, and enters the pixel column 402 b of the display panel 402. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 16, the observer 420 visually recognizes only the image R <b> 2 that the observer 420 displays on the pixel column 402 b of the display panel 402.

(3D image display mode)
Next, a stereoscopic image display method in the liquid crystal device 400 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the liquid crystal device 400 in the stereoscopic image display mode is observed from the display surface side. FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the operation principle of the stereoscopic image display mode in the liquid crystal device 400 shown in FIG. FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a region of the display panel that an observer observes in the stereoscopic image display mode of the liquid crystal device 400 shown in FIG.

  First, the configuration of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 and the display panel 402 for providing a stereoscopic image to the observers 410 and 420 located at different observation positions will be described. As shown in FIG. 17, two sets of polarization control regions 407a and 407b of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 are provided corresponding to the lens portions 408a of the lenticular lens 408, respectively. That is, at the time of displaying a stereoscopic image, as described above, the polarization control region 407a of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 is controlled by changing the presence or absence of voltage application for each of the two electrodes 407d of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407. And 407b are each constituted by two unit regions 407c (see FIG. 13), and the mode is switched from the two-screen display mode to the stereoscopic image display mode. As shown in FIG. 18, the pixel column 402a of the display panel 402 displays a left-eye image L3 that is incident on the left eyes 410a and 420a of the viewers 410 and 420, and the pixel column 402b has a viewer. A right-eye image R3 for entering the right eyes 410b and 420b of 410 and 420 is displayed.

  In the above configuration, the light emitted from the backlight 405 is transmitted only by the polarizing plate 406 disposed on the viewers 410 and 420 side of the backlight 405, and the light having the first polarization axis is transmitted. Proceed toward panel 407. Then, the light having the first polarization axis passes through the polarization control regions 407 a and 407 b of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407. At this time, the light incident on the polarization control region 407a of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 is transmitted without changing the polarization axis, while the light incident on the polarization control region 407b of the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 has a polarization axis. The light is emitted after being changed by substantially 90 ° (with the second polarization axis). Thereafter, the light emitted from the polarization control region 407a with the first polarization axis is condensed by the lenticular lens 408 so as to travel toward the left eyes 410a and 420a of the viewers 410 and 420. The light emitted from the polarization control region 407b with the second polarization axis substantially orthogonal to the first polarization axis is directed toward the right eyes 410b and 420b of the viewers 410 and 420 by the lenticular lens 408. It is condensed so as to progress.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the light 421 traveling toward the left eyes 410a and 420a of the viewers 410 and 420 in the state having the first polarization axis has a phase difference having a transmission region 409a and a polarization region 409b. Incident on the plate 409. The light 421 having the first polarization axis is transmitted through the transmission region 409a and the polarization region 409b of the phase difference plate 409. At this time, the light transmitted through the transmission region 409a of the retardation film 409 is transmitted without changing the polarization axis, and the light incident on the polarization region 409b is changed by 90 ° in the polarization axis ( (With a second polarization axis). Thereafter, the light emitted from the transmission region 409a of the phase difference plate 409 and having the first polarization axis toward the left eyes 410a and 420a of the viewers 410 and 420 is between the display panel 402 and the phase difference plate 409. In addition to being incident on the polarizing plate 404 arranged in the above, the light passes through the polarizing plate 404 as it is and enters the pixel column 402 a of the display panel 402. On the other hand, it is emitted from the polarization region 409b of the phase difference plate 409 with a second polarization axis substantially orthogonal to the first polarization axis, and heads toward the left eyes 410a and 420a of the viewers 410 and 420. The light is incident on the polarizing plate 404 disposed between the display panel 402 and the retardation plate 409 and absorbed. For this reason, the light passing through the pixel column 402b of the display panel 402 on which the right-eye image R3 is displayed does not reach the left eyes 410a and 420a of the viewers 410 and 420. 420a cannot see the right-eye image R3 displayed on the pixel column 402b of the display panel 402. As a result, the left eye image L3 displayed on the pixel column 402a of the display panel 402 is incident on the left eyes 410a and 420a of the viewers 410 and 420 as shown in FIG.

  In addition, the light 422 traveling toward the right eyes 410b and 420b of the observers 410 and 420 with the second polarization axis has a phase difference having a transmission region 409a and a polarization region 409b as shown in FIG. Incident on the plate 409. Then, the light 422 having the second polarization axis is transmitted through the transmission region 409a and the polarization region 409b of the phase difference plate 409. At this time, the light transmitted through the transmission region 409a of the phase difference plate 409 is transmitted without changing the polarization axis, and the light incident on the polarization region 409b is substantially changed by 90 ° in the polarization axis. The light is emitted in a state having a first polarization axis. Thereafter, the light emitted from the transmission region 409a of the phase difference plate 409 and having the second polarization axis toward the right eyes 410b and 420b of the viewers 410 and 420 is between the display panel 402 and the phase difference plate 409. Is incident on and absorbed by the polarizing plate 404. For this reason, the light passing through the pixel column 402a of the display panel 402 on which the left-eye image L3 is displayed does not reach the right eyes 410b and 420b of the viewers 410 and 420. 420b cannot see the left-eye image L3 displayed on the pixel column 402a of the display panel 402. On the other hand, the light emitted from the polarization region 409b of the phase difference plate 409 and having the first polarization axis toward the right eyes 410b and 420b of the viewers 410 and 420 is displayed on the display panel 402 and the phase difference plate 409. Is incident on the polarizing plate 404 disposed between the two, and passes through the polarizing plate 404 as it is and enters the pixel column 402 b of the display panel 402. As a result, the right eye image R3 displayed on the pixel column 402b of the display panel 402 is incident on the right eyes 410b and 420b of the viewers 410 and 420 as shown in FIG. As described above, when the left eye image L3 and the right eye image R3 having binocular parallax are incident on the left eye and the right eye of the viewers 410 and 420, respectively, the viewers 410 and 420 view a stereoscopic image. It becomes possible.

  As described above in detail, in the liquid crystal device 400, light having the first polarization axis is emitted from the backlight 405 through the polarizing plate 406 between the backlight 405 and the display panel 402. And a polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 for separating light having a second polarization axis substantially orthogonal to the first polarization axis, and the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 so as to have different polarization axes. By providing a lenticular lens 408 that travels light in a predetermined direction, and a phase difference plate 409 and a polarizing plate 404 that filter the light having each polarization axis to enter a specific position of the display panel 402, Different images or stereoscopic images can be provided to the observers 410 and 420 having different observation positions.

  In the liquid crystal device 400 of the present embodiment, the retardation plate according to the present invention is used for the retardation plate 409. Therefore, the transmission region 409a and the polarization region 409b of the retardation plate 409 are formed with high accuracy, and the transmission region 409a. In this case, an unnecessary phase difference is not generated, and a uniform phase difference is generated in the polarization region 409b. In addition, even at the boundary between the regions 409a and 409b, alignment disorder of the liquid crystalline polymer constituting the retardation layer is difficult to occur. Therefore, according to the liquid crystal device 400 according to the present embodiment, since the retardation plate 409 is provided, the liquid crystal device 400 can sufficiently cope with the high-definition display panel 402 and can provide high-definition display for each observer. Can be provided.

  Further, in the liquid crystal device 400, the polarization control liquid crystal panel 407 has a polarization control region 407a that transmits light having the first polarization axis, and light having the first polarization axis substantially orthogonal to the first polarization axis. And a polarization control region 407b that converts light having the second polarization axis into a band extending in the Y-axis direction of FIG. 11 and arranged alternately in the X-axis direction. Then, the width of each of the polarization control regions 407a and 407b can be controlled by controlling the driving of the plurality of electrodes 407d to control the arrival region of the light emitted from the backlight 405. Thereby, the two-screen display mode, the stereoscopic image display mode, and the planar image display mode can be switched very easily only by changing the driving state of the electrode 407d.

(Electronics)
FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing an example of an electronic apparatus according to the invention. A cellular phone 1300 illustrated in FIG. 20 includes the liquid crystal device of the present invention as a small-sized display portion 1301 and includes a plurality of operation buttons 1302, an earpiece 1303, and a mouthpiece 1304. In the electronic device of this embodiment, a high-quality display can be obtained by the display unit including the liquid crystal device according to the present invention.

  The liquid crystal device of each of the above embodiments is not limited to the mobile phone, but is an electronic book, a personal computer, a digital still camera, a liquid crystal television, a viewfinder type or a monitor direct view type video tape recorder, a car navigation device, a pager, and an electronic notebook. , Calculators, word processors, workstations, videophones, POS terminals, devices equipped with touch panels, etc., can be suitably used as image display means, and any electronic device can display bright and high-contrast images. Yes.

  The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes various modifications made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. That is, the specific materials and configurations described in the embodiments are merely examples, and can be changed as appropriate.

FIG. 3 is a perspective configuration diagram of a retardation plate according to the first embodiment. The schematic process drawing which shows a manufacturing method same as the above. The equivalent circuit diagram of the liquid crystal device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan configuration diagram of one pixel. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram taken along line A-A ′ of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram taken along line B-B ′ of FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a liquid crystal device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan configuration diagram of one pixel. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram taken along line D-D ′ in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram taken along line E-E ′ of FIG. 8. The disassembled perspective view of the liquid crystal device which concerns on 4th Embodiment. The figure which shows the state which is observing a display surface similarly. FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the polarization control liquid crystal panel. The figure which shows the state which is observing a display surface similarly. The operation | movement explanatory drawing of the same 2 screen display mode. The operation | movement explanatory drawing of the same 2 screen display mode. The figure which shows the observation state in stereoscopic image display mode similarly. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of the stereoscopic image display mode. The operation explanatory view of the stereoscopic image display mode. FIG. 11 is a perspective configuration diagram illustrating an example of an electronic device.

Explanation of symbols

  100, 200, 300, 400 Liquid crystal device, 10 Element substrate (first substrate), 20 Counter substrate (second substrate), 50 Liquid crystal layer, 15 Pixel electrode, 25 Common electrode, 22R, 22G, 22B Color filter (Color material) Layer), 89 pixel electrode (first electrode), 99 common electrode (second electrode), 151, 161, 171 first alignment film, 152, 162, 172 second alignment film, 155 retardation layer (optical anisotropy) Layer), 155a first alignment region, 155b second alignment region, 180 retardation layer (optical anisotropic layer), R reflective display region, T transmissive display region.

Claims (20)

A liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite to each other;
A first alignment film and a second alignment film patterned on the first alignment film and having an alignment regulating force in a direction different from that of the first alignment film are stacked on the liquid crystal layer side of at least one of the substrates. A liquid crystal device, characterized in that an alignment film is provided.   The first alignment film is a vertical alignment film that aligns liquid crystal in a substantially vertical direction of the film surface, and the second alignment film is a horizontal alignment film that aligns liquid crystal in a substantially horizontal direction of the film surface. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1.   The first alignment film is a horizontal alignment film that aligns liquid crystal in a substantially horizontal direction of the film surface, and the second alignment film is a vertical alignment film that aligns liquid crystal in a substantially vertical direction of the film surface. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1.   The electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer is formed on at least one of the substrates on which the alignment film is formed, and the alignment film is formed on the electrode. The liquid crystal device according to any one of the above. A transmissive display area and a reflective display area are partitioned in one pixel of the liquid crystal device,
The first alignment film, which is the horizontal alignment film, is disposed corresponding to the transmissive display area, and the second alignment film, which is the vertical alignment film, is disposed corresponding to the reflective display area. The liquid crystal device according to claim 4.   The liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display area is an OCB mode liquid crystal layer that exhibits bend alignment during operation. The liquid crystal layer in the reflective display area exhibits vertical alignment on the second alignment film side and horizontal alignment on the other substrate side. The liquid crystal device according to claim 5, wherein the liquid crystal device is an R-OCB mode liquid crystal layer exhibiting the following.   The liquid crystal device according to claim 5, wherein the liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy.   The first electrode or the second substrate is provided with a first electrode and a second electrode for generating an electric field to be applied to the liquid crystal layer between the first electrode and the first electrode. 5. The liquid crystal device according to 5.   8. A liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer is formed corresponding to the reflective display region, wherein a liquid crystal layer thickness adjustment layer is formed to make a liquid crystal layer thickness of the reflective display region smaller than a liquid crystal layer thickness of the transmissive display region. The liquid crystal device according to any one of the above.   4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein an optically anisotropic layer made of molecules whose orientation is controlled by the alignment film is formed on the alignment film. 5.   The liquid crystal device according to claim 10, wherein the optically anisotropic layer includes a liquid crystalline polymer material. A transmissive display area and a reflective display area are partitioned in one pixel of the liquid crystal device,
The first alignment film is disposed corresponding to the transmissive display area, and the second alignment film is disposed corresponding to the reflective display area. 2. A liquid crystal device according to item 1.   12. The liquid crystal device according to claim 10, wherein one of the first alignment film and the second alignment film is selectively disposed in one pixel of the liquid crystal device. Two or more different color material layers are provided corresponding to each pixel of the liquid crystal device,
The liquid crystal device according to claim 13, wherein the first alignment film and the second alignment film are arranged corresponding to a color type of the color material layer. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device, wherein a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate that are arranged to face each other,
Forming a first alignment film on at least one of the substrates;
Applying a photosensitive alignment film forming material on the first alignment film to form a coating film;
Patterning a second alignment film on the first alignment film by exposing and developing the coating film; and
Applying an alignment treatment to the surface of the second alignment film;
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device, comprising: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device, wherein a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate that are arranged to face each other,
Forming a first alignment film on at least one of the substrates;
Applying an alignment treatment to the surface of the first alignment film;
Applying a photosensitive alignment film forming material on the first alignment film to form a coating film;
Patterning a second alignment film on the first alignment film by exposing and developing the coating film; and
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device, comprising: After forming an alignment film formed by laminating the first alignment film and the second alignment film,
An optically anisotropic layer-forming material containing a liquid crystalline polymer is applied on the alignment film, and the liquid crystalline polymer is aligned by different alignment regulating forces in the first alignment film and the second alignment film. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device according to claim 15, wherein the liquid crystal device is manufactured. A retardation plate formed by forming an optically anisotropic layer on a substrate,
An alignment film is provided on the substrate by laminating a first alignment film and a second alignment film that is patterned on the first alignment film and has an alignment regulating force in a direction different from that of the first alignment film. And
An optically anisotropic layer made of molecules whose alignment state is regulated by the alignment film is formed on the alignment film.   The retardation plate according to claim 18, wherein the second alignment film is formed on the first alignment film in a stripe shape in plan view.   An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal device according to claim 1.

Images