JP2008009195A - Liquid crystal display element and projection type liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display element capable of reducing an interaction between a reverse tilt domain generated in a pixel and a reverse tilt formed in a pixel corresponding to an adjacent pixel electrode, improving an image quality defect due to a lateral electric field and obtaining a higher image quality and to provide a projection type liquid crystal display device. <P>SOLUTION: In the liquid crystal display element having two substrates opposed to each other, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the two substrates, a plurality of pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3 and A4 disposed on facing surfaces of the respective substrates so as to form matrix-shaped pixels, alignment layers formed on the two substrates for aligning a liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer in a prescribed direction and a spacer SP formed between pixel electrodes which are adjacently disposed between the two substrates, at least one of the plurality of pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3 and A4 has a chamfered shape so that an end part facing the spacer SP forms one side of a polygon. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display element and a projection type liquid crystal display device using the liquid crystal display element.

  In a projection display device such as a liquid crystal projector, light emitted from a light source is separated into red, green, and blue, and each color light is modulated by three light valves composed of liquid crystal display elements (hereinafter referred to as LCD). The modulated color light fluxes are synthesized again and enlarged and projected onto the projection surface.

As a light valve mounted on a liquid crystal projector or the like, an active matrix driving type LCD driven by a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as TFT) is generally used.
Most active matrix LCDs use nematic liquid crystals, and the main display system is an optical rotation mode LCD.
The nematic liquid crystal used in the optical rotation mode LCD is a twisted nematic (TN type) liquid crystal having a molecular arrangement twisted by 90 degrees, and in principle displays black and white, and exhibits a high contrast ratio and good gradation display.

In order to perform display on an active matrix LCD uniformly, it is important to uniformly align liquid crystal molecules on the entire surface of the substrate and to control the gap between the substrates.
In the substrate on which the alignment film is formed and the two electrodes are formed, the alignment films of each substrate are arranged so as to face each other, and in the seal region located around the pixel display region where an image is actually displayed, Bonded with the material.
As a spacer for controlling the substrate gap, a columnar spacer formed by direct patterning on a substrate is used instead of plastic beads in recent years.
An empty cell is manufactured through these steps. Thereafter, liquid crystal is sealed in the empty cell to manufacture a liquid crystal cell.
Note that the above-described liquid crystal is composed of several types of single liquid crystal materials and is also called a liquid crystal composition. A polarizing plate is attached to the manufactured liquid crystal cell to manufacture a liquid crystal display element.

  Incidentally, when a voltage is applied to the pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix, a line driving method or a field inversion driving method as shown in FIG. 1 is used to improve display quality.

In general, line inversion driving that inverts an applied voltage for each line is often used. The line inversion drive has many advantages such as flicker is hardly visible and vertical crosstalk due to coupling does not occur. On the other hand, since the applied voltage is inverted between adjacent pixels, as shown in FIG. There has been a problem that a domain occurs in each pixel.
The reverse tilt domain is a phenomenon in which the pretilt direction defined originally is reversed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the reverse tilt domain, a disclination line is generated at the boundary with the normal region, so that light is lost and the contrast is greatly reduced.
In order to solve these problems, measures have been taken such as providing a light-shielding portion at the occurrence position to hide it, but the aperture ratio is reduced. Further, in the liquid crystal design, it is generally considered effective to increase the pretilt. However, since the production variation increases, there arises a problem that the yield decreases.

Therefore, it is considered that driving without polarity inversion is effective in adjacent pixels, and in recent years, field inversion driving in which an applied voltage is inverted every field has been proposed.
This driving method has been considered to be one of the solutions because a horizontal electric field is not generated in principle.
Japanese Patent No. 2934875 JP 2003-337553 A JP-A-4-361232 JP 2004-177848 A

In the field inversion driving, the horizontal electric field is not generated on the raster screen having the same voltage on the entire screen, so that the alignment disorder such as the reverse tilt domain does not occur at all.
However, when a display with a large luminance difference such as white and black is performed on adjacent pixels, it is very difficult to avoid the influence of the alignment disturbance due to the horizontal electric field in the pixel electrodes of these adjacent pixels. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, it is known from the calculation results that a reverse tilt domain exists between pixels having an electric field difference.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the case of a line pattern in which monochrome display is performed for each line, it is greatly affected. In the normally white mode, when an electric field is applied to the white line, a locally non-uniform portion is generated. This phenomenon is more noticeable when there is a spacer between the pixel electrodes.

We consider the phenomenon of this problem in simulation. FIG. 5 shows a simulation result assuming a TN mode (Twisted Nematic) liquid crystal panel in feed inversion driving.
The simulation uses 2D BENCH in LCD MASTER, manufactured by Shintech Co., Ltd., and the pixels are arranged in parallel, and the physical properties of liquid crystals (ne, no, elastic constants K11, K22, K33, rotational viscosity coefficient, dielectric constant), The pretilt angle, twist angle, anchoring, polarizer angle, and analyzer angle are set and AC driving is performed. In the calculation, liquid crystal molecular alignment simulation and Gibbs energy measurement are performed. Gibbs energy is expressed by the following equation.

[Equation 1]
F_Total = F_ele + F_ela
F_ele = -1/2 ・ ε0 ・ εa ・ (E ・ n) ²
F_ela = 1/2 K11 (▽ · n) 2 + 1/2 K22 {n · (▽ × n) + q0} ² + 1/2 K33 {n × (▽ × n) ² }

  Here, F_ele represents electrical energy, and F_ela represents elastic energy.

(1) in FIG. 5 assumes a liquid crystal panel condition in a monochrome line. Here, the black voltage is 12.5V, the white voltage is 7.5V, and the opposite side is 7.5V. In this case, in the liquid crystal molecule alignment, a region where a partial reverse tilt occurs is observed.
(2) in FIG. 5 shows the result when a voltage is applied to the white line and the white voltage is 10V. In this case, in the liquid crystal molecular alignment, although a reverse tilt has occurred, no significant change is observed. However, the energy distribution of Gibbs was found to be very high locally.
(3) in FIG. 5 shows the result when the black voltage is set to 12.5 V in a state in which it is all black. In this case, the liquid crystal molecular alignment and Gibbs energy were also uniform.

The energy measurement results of (2) in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 will be described.
Of the Gibbs energy, the elastic energy term indicates a discontinuous orientation state when the value is high, and the electric energy term indicates a state where the electric field is not controlled.
Therefore, it can be said that the higher the energy value of Gibbs, the weaker the electric field control of the liquid crystal molecules and the more stressed alignment state.
The measurement point A is a place where reverse tilt is generated from liquid crystal molecule simulation, and does not show a uniform alignment state. Therefore, the elastic energy is high. Further, since it is also affected by the horizontal electric field of the adjacent pixels, the electric energy is also increased. Therefore, Gibbs energy is high.
At the measurement point B, the liquid crystal alignment state is uniform and the elastic energy is low. However, since it is affected by the lateral electric field of the adjacent pixel, the electrical energy becomes high in the same way as the measurement point A. Gibbs energy is more stable than measurement point A due to its low elastic energy.
In addition, the measurement point C is the center of the pixel and the center of the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal alignment state and the electric field are uniform, the elastic energy and the electric energy are low, and it can be said that the energy is very stable.

From these results, it is inferred that this problem is due to destabilization of Gibbs energy due to the liquid crystal molecules being arranged in a reverse tilt state due to the influence of the transverse electric field between adjacent pixel electrodes having different potentials.
Further, when a spacer is arranged between the pixels, the alignment disorder is particularly remarkable. This is because it is difficult to control the orientation of the spacer periphery.

  Therefore, various proposals have been made on the shape of the pixel electrode in order to solve the problem of the influence of the lateral electric field between adjacent pixel electrodes (for example, Patent Documents 2, 3, and 4).

However, in Patent Documents 2 and 3, for example, the cell gap control is not discussed at all, despite the influence of the lateral electric field and the high aperture ratio effect.
That is, as described above, narrowing the gap is very effective in preventing the lateral electric field by increasing the aperture, and cell gap control is considered necessary to realize the narrowing of the gap. No discussion is made in Patent Documents 2 and 3 at all.

On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-260260, a design is made so as not to form a substantial pixel region by avoiding an electrode around the spacer because of poor alignment controllability around the spacer. As described above, the orientation around the spacer is disturbed.
However, in a high-definition, narrow-pitch device, the positional relationship between the pixel electrode and the spacer is particularly important. Simply avoiding the electrode around the spacer (described in the example of Patent Document 4 in particular) With such a simple pixel electrode design, it is not easy to obtain a device with high characteristics.

  The present invention can reduce the interaction between the reverse tilt domain generated in the pixel and the reverse tilt formed in the pixel corresponding to the adjacent pixel electrode, can improve the image quality defect due to the transverse electric field, and achieve higher quality image quality. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display element and a projection type liquid crystal display device that can be obtained.

  A liquid crystal display element according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided on two opposing surfaces of each substrate so as to form two substrates facing each other, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the two substrates, and a matrix pixel. A plurality of pixel electrodes, an alignment film formed on the two substrates for aligning liquid crystals in the liquid crystal layer in a predetermined direction, and the pixels disposed adjacent to each other between the two substrates. Spacers formed between the electrodes, and at least one of the plurality of pixel electrodes has a shape in which an end facing the spacer is cut out so as to form one side of a polygon.

  Preferably, the liquid crystal display element is an active matrix liquid crystal display element that performs frame inversion driving in which a voltage applied to each pixel electrode is inverted with the same polarity for each frame.

  Preferably, the pixel electrode is notched within a range in which the reverse tilt domain locally decreases, spreads between the pixel electrodes as a whole, and Gibbs energy can be reduced.

  Preferably, the pixel electrode interval occupies the first region S1 when the first region of Gibbs energy is S1, the second region of Gibbs energy is S2, and S1 / S2 is an index. The ratio is selected based on an index value that is small and stable.

  Preferably, the spacer is disposed at a predetermined position in a region surrounded by the ends of four pixel electrodes that are two-dimensionally adjacent.

Preferably, the spacer is arranged at the center of the region that is equidistant from the ends of the four pixel electrodes.
Preferably, the spacer is arranged between the four adjacent pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, and A4, and the four pixel electrodes are A1 and A2 on the front stage side and A3 on the own stage side with respect to the alignment direction. , A4, the shortest distances a1, a2, a3, a4 from the spacer ends to the pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, A4 satisfy the relationship a1 = a2 = a3 = a4.

Preferably, the four adjacent pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, and A4 are defined such that the front side is defined as A1 and A2 and the self side is defined as A3 and A4 with respect to the alignment direction. It is arranged from the pixel electrode on the side.
Preferably, the shortest distances a1, a2, a3, a4 from the edge of the spacer to the pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, A4 are:
The relationship of a1 ≦ a2 <a3 ≦ a4 or a3 ≧ a4> a1 ≧ a2 is satisfied.

  Preferably, a control piece is formed so as to extend to the spacer side at a notch side portion of at least one pixel electrode of the four pixel electrodes adjacent in two dimensions.

  Preferably, a control piece is formed on a notched side portion of at least one of the two pixel electrodes A1 and A2 on the preceding stage side so as to extend to the arrangement position side of the spacer.

  Preferably, the spacer is disposed from a notch side portion of at least one of the two pixel electrodes A1 and A2 on the preceding stage side, and the other pixel on the preceding stage side on the side orthogonal to the oblique alignment direction. A control piece is formed to extend to the spacer side at the notched side of at least one pixel electrode of the electrode and one pixel electrode on the self-stage side.

  Preferably, the relationship of the notch area of the pixel electrode on the preceding stage <the notch of the pixel electrode on the own stage side is satisfied.

  A projection-type liquid crystal display device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a light source, at least one liquid crystal display element, a condensing optical system for guiding light emitted from the light source to the liquid crystal display element, and the liquid crystal display element. And a projection optical system for enlarging and projecting the light modulated by the liquid crystal display element, the liquid crystal display element, two substrates facing each other, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the two substrates, and a matrix-like A plurality of pixel electrodes disposed on opposite surfaces of each substrate to form pixels; an alignment film formed on the two substrates for aligning liquid crystals in the liquid crystal layer in a predetermined direction; A spacer formed between adjacent pixel electrodes between two substrates, and at least one of the plurality of pixel electrodes has an end facing the spacer having one side of a polygon. The liquid has a shape cut out as if Display device is an active matrix type liquid crystal display device which performs frame inversion driving of inverting the voltage applied to each pixel electrode in each frame in the same polarity.

According to the present invention, by devising the shape of the pixel electrode, the interaction between the reverse tilt domain generated in the pixel and the reverse tilt domain formed in the pixel corresponding to the adjacent pixel electrode can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to improve the image quality defect caused by the horizontal electric field generated by the field inversion driving. In addition, higher quality image quality can be obtained by controlling the alignment disturbance in the periphery of the spacer.
By applying the present invention, a high-quality liquid crystal display element can be realized.
In addition, in a projection type LCD such as a projector, it is possible to increase the aperture ratio by reducing the panel size or expanding the effective pixel area, and it is possible to realize high productivity and high yield by cell gap control. Since materials such as inorganic materials can be applied without degrading the image quality, the life can be extended.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In this embodiment, after explaining the characteristic configuration and function of the active matrix liquid crystal display element, the schematic configuration and function of the projection type liquid crystal display device, which is a suitable electronic apparatus to which the liquid crystal display element is applied, will be described. To do.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the active matrix liquid crystal display element according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the liquid crystal display element 10 according to the present embodiment includes a TFT array substrate 11 and a transparent counter substrate 12 disposed to face the TFT array substrate 11.
For example, the TFT array substrate 11 is formed of a quartz substrate in the case of a transmission type, and a substrate of silicon material in the case of a reflection type. The counter substrate 12 is formed of, for example, a glass substrate or a quartz substrate. In the case of a transmission type, the TFT array substrate 11 is provided with a pixel electrode 13.
The pixel electrode 13 is formed of a transparent conductive thin film such as an ITO film (indium tin oxide film). In the case of the reflection type, for example, a reflection electrode made of a metal material is used as the pixel electrode 13. As the metal material, aluminum having a high reflectance in the visible range is generally used. More specifically, an aluminum metal film added with several wt% of copper or silicon is generally used. In addition, for example, platinum, silver, gold, tungsten, titanium, or the like can be used. The counter substrate 12 is provided with the above-described entire ITO film 14 on the front surface.
An alignment film (not shown) for aligning liquid crystals in a predetermined direction is formed on the TFT array substrate 11 and the counter substrate 12, and a pair of layers bonded together with a sealing material 15 so that the alignment films face each other with a predetermined gap. A vertically aligned liquid crystal layer 16 is sandwiched (encapsulated) between the substrates.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement example of the active matrix type liquid crystal display element according to the present embodiment on the array substrate (liquid crystal panel unit).

As shown in FIG. 8, the liquid crystal display element 10A includes a pixel display area 21 in which pixels are arranged in an array, a horizontal transfer circuit 22, vertical transfer circuits 23-1 and 23-2, a precharge circuit 24, and a level converter. The circuit 25 is formed.
In the pixel display area 21, a plurality of data lines 26 and a plurality of scanning lines (gate wirings) 27 are wired in a grid pattern. One end of each data line 26 is connected to the horizontal transfer circuit 22, and the other end is precharged. Connected to the circuit 24, the end of each scanning line 27 is connected to the vertical transfer circuits 23-1, 23-2.

A plurality of pixels PX that are formed in a matrix that forms the pixel display region 21 of the liquid crystal display element 10A are provided with a pixel switching transistor 28 that controls switching, a liquid crystal 29, and an auxiliary capacitor (storage capacitor) 30.
A data line 26 to which a pixel signal is supplied is electrically connected to the source of the transistor 28 and supplies a pixel signal to be written. In addition, the scanning line 27 is electrically connected to the gate of the transistor 28, and the scanning signal is applied to the scanning line 27 in a pulse manner at a predetermined timing.
The pixel electrode 13 is electrically connected to the drain of the transistor 28. By turning on the transistor 28, which is a switching element, for a certain period, the pixel signal supplied from the data line 26 is transmitted at a predetermined timing. Write pixel signal.

A pixel signal of a predetermined level written to the liquid crystal 29 via the pixel electrode 13 is held for a certain period with the counter electrode formed on the counter substrate 12. The liquid crystal 29 modulates light and enables gradation display by changing the orientation and order of the molecular assembly according to the applied voltage level.
In the case of normally white display, incident light can pass through the liquid crystal portion according to the applied voltage, and light having a contrast corresponding to the pixel signal is emitted from the liquid crystal display element as a whole.
Here, in order to prevent the held pixel signal from leaking, an auxiliary capacitor (storage capacitor) 30 is added in parallel with the liquid crystal capacitor formed between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode. Thereby, the retention characteristics are further improved, and a liquid crystal display element with a high contrast ratio can be realized.
In addition, in order to form such a storage capacitor (storage capacitor) 30, a resistance common wiring 31 is provided.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a specific configuration example of the active matrix liquid crystal display element according to the present embodiment.
A manufacturing method of the active matrix type liquid crystal display element according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

First, a high melting point metal (WSi in this embodiment) is formed as the first light shielding film 32 on the TFT array substrate 11 made of quartz.
Thereafter, SiO ₂ is laminated as the first interlayer film 33, a polycrystalline Si film (p-Si) 34 is formed by CVD, and a pattern is formed by etching.
Thereafter, a gate insulating film 35 is formed, a polycrystalline Si film (p-Si) is formed as the gate electrode 36, and a pattern is formed by etching.
Thereafter, SiO ₂ is laminated as the second interlayer film 37, and the first contact 38 is formed as the source and drain electrodes.
A metal material (Al in the present embodiment) is formed as the first wiring film 39 by film formation such as sputtering, and patterning is performed by etching.
Thereafter, SiO ₂ is laminated as the third interlayer film 40 and the second contact 41 is formed, and then a metal film (Ti in this embodiment) is formed as the second light shielding film 42.
SiO ₂ is laminated as the fourth interlayer film 43, the third contact 44 is formed, and ITO is formed as the transparent electrode 45.
Next, a transparent resist layer to be the columnar spacer 46 is formed.
After a photoresist is applied to a predetermined thickness on the substrate, an exposure process by ultraviolet irradiation is performed using a photomask, followed by development and baking to form columnar spacers 46. The columnar spacer 46 is disposed at a desired position between adjacent pixel electrodes.
Next, the fabricated TFT array substrate 11 and counter substrate 12 are washed.
Next, an alignment film is formed on each substrate.
Next, rubbing is performed so as to obtain a predetermined orientation, a seal pattern is formed except for the injection port, and a liquid crystal composition is injected.

As described below, the liquid crystal display elements 10 and 10A according to the present embodiment formed in this way can be applied to the pixel electrode adjacent to the reverse tilt domain generated in the pixel by devising the shape of the pixel electrode. The interaction with the reverse tilt domain formed in the corresponding pixel is reduced. Thereby, the liquid crystal display elements 10 and 10A improve the image quality defect caused by the horizontal electric field generated by the field inversion driving. Further, the liquid crystal display elements 10 and 10A realize high-quality image quality by controlling the alignment disorder around the spacer.
Below, the pixel electrode shape of the liquid crystal display elements 10 and 10A of this embodiment and the arrangement position of the spacer will be described.

As a design parameter, lateral electric field control is important, and it is very important to reduce the interval between ITO electrodes as pixel electrodes, optimize the ITO shape, and control the orientation of the peripheral portion of the spacer.
Therefore, the liquid crystal display elements 10 and 10A of the present embodiment employ the following configuration.

  Basically, in a liquid crystal display element having a spacer 46 formed between adjacent pixel electrodes, the end shape of the pixel electrode is a shape that is cut out so that one side of the polygon is formed from a quadrangle. is there.

It is effective to reduce the interaction between the reverse tilt domain generated in the pixel and the reverse tilt domain formed in the pixel corresponding to the adjacent pixel electrode.
Specifically, the adjacent reverse tilt domains may be physically separated by widening the interval between the adjacent reverse tilt domains beyond the shortest electrode interval. However, in order to realize miniaturization, high definition, high brightness, and a high aperture device, the space between the pixel electrodes must be narrowed.
By cutting out the end shape of the pixel electrode, the reverse tilt domain is locally reduced, and the same effect as widening the space between the pixel electrodes can be expected. In particular, in terms of Gibbs energy, the value may be designed to decrease. As for the relationship between the pixel electrodes and the Gibbs energy, the wider the gap between the pixel electrodes, the more the Gibbs energy can be reduced.

Here, the relationship between the pixel electrodes and the Gibbs energy will be described.
As shown in FIG. 10, the region where the Gibbs energy G is larger than 0 is the first region S1 (G> 0), and the region where the Gibbs energy G is smaller than 0 is the energy of the second region S2 (G <0). Is an index (Y) according to the following equation.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams showing the dependence of Gibbs energy on the pixel electrode (ITO) interval.
In FIG. 11A, the horizontal axis indicates coordinates, and the vertical axis indicates Gibbs energy. In FIG. 11B, the horizontal axis indicates the ITO interval, and the vertical axis indicates the index (Y).
In FIG. 11 (A), the curve indicated by X is the characteristic when the ITO interval is 1.0 μm, the curve indicated by Y is the characteristic when the ITO interval is 1.5 μm, and the curve indicated by Z is the ITO interval. The characteristic in the case of 2.0 μm is shown.
When the characteristics shown in FIG. 11A are converted into indices, the result shown in FIG. 11B is obtained.
As can be seen from this index (Y), the index increases as the ITO interval decreases. In other words, the ratio occupied by the first region S1 increases.
From FIG. 11B, when the ITO interval is larger than 2.0 μm, the proportion of the first region S1 is small, and the energy of Gibbs can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, four pixel electrodes that are adjacent to each other at a predetermined interval in a two-dimensional manner so that the proportion of the first region S1 is small and the energy of Gibbs can be reduced. The opposed end portions of A1, A2, A3, and A4 are cut out, and the spacer SP (the spacer 46 in FIG. 9) is disposed between the four pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, and A4.

The ends of the pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, and A4 indicate, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, all or part of the four corners of each pixel electrode in which the two-dimensionally arranged shape forms a quadrangle, These four corners are cut out so that the apex part forming about 90 degrees is the apex of a triangle or more polygons, and the notch part is all or part of the base of the triangle.
The pixel electrode A1 is cut out so that the vertexes of the four corners C11, C12, C13, and C14 are the vertices of the triangle, and the cutout portion is the base of the triangle.
The pixel electrode A2 is cut out so that the apexes of the four corners C21, C22, C23, and C24 are the apexes of the triangle, and the notch is the base of the triangle.
The pixel electrode A3 is cut out so that the apexes of the four corners C31, C32, C33, and C34 are the apexes of the triangle, and the notch is the base of the triangle.
The pixel electrode A4 is cut out so that the apexes of the four corners C41, C42, C43, and C44 are apexes of the triangle, and the notch is the base of the triangle.
Thus, the pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, A4 with the four corners cut out are formed in an octagon, and the cut out side portion has a shape cut out to form one side of the octagon (polygon). Have.

In the example of FIG. 12, this notched shape is notched symmetrically so as to be an isosceles triangle, for example.
Accordingly, in the example of FIG. 12, the cutout side portion A11 of the pixel electrode A1 and the cutout side portion A41 of the pixel electrode A4 are formed to be substantially parallel. Similarly, the cutout side portion A21 of the pixel electrode A2 and the cutout side portion A31 of the pixel electrode A3 are formed to be substantially parallel.
The spacer SP is formed in a columnar shape, for example, and is arranged at a predetermined position between four adjacent pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, A4.
In the example of FIG. 12, four pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, and A4 are defined as pixel electrodes A1 and A2 on the front stage side and pixel electrodes A3 and A4 on the own stage side with respect to the alignment direction indicated by the arrow ARW, The shortest distance a from the end (side surface) of the spacer SP to the cutout sides A11, A21, A31, A41 of the pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, A4 is a1 = a2 = a3 = a4. Yes.
In other words, in the example of FIG. 12, when the spacer SP is substantially equidistant from the notch sides A11, A21, A31, A41 of the pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, A4, It is arrange | positioned in the approximate center part between A2, A3, and A4.
In FIG. 12, the spacer SP is formed on each of the pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, A4 on the center (center) portion CTR of the arrangement interval D between the previous stage side pixel electrodes A1, A2 and the own stage side pixel electrodes A3, A4. It arrange | positions in the position (center part) which becomes a substantially equal space | interval from notch edge part A11, A21, A31, A41.

  As in the example of FIG. 12, by notching the end shapes of the pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, and A4, the expression of the reverse tilt domain is locally reduced and the space between the pixel electrodes is expanded as a whole. The same effect can be expected. Therefore, the energy of Gibbs can be reduced.

  In the case of a narrow-pitch high-definition device, as described above, the alignment disturbance due to the reverse tilt domain due to the transverse electric field is in a very severe direction. As a countermeasure, it is effective to reduce the cell gap and increase the vertical electric field. However, since it is difficult to control the narrowing of the gap, it is very effective to arrange a space SP.

Further, as a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the spacer SP is disposed on the front side of the center portion CTR.
In this case, the shortest distance a from the end of the spacer SP to the cutout sides A11, A21, A31, A41 of the pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, A4 is a1 ≦ a2 <a3 ≦ a4 or a3 ≧ a4>. It is characterized by a1 ≧ a2.

  When the orientation control is performed, the spacer SP has a large step, and the downstream portion in the orientation direction becomes a shadow, and a region where the orientation control is not performed is generated. For example, when the alignment control is performed by rubbing or the like, a high-quality display can be realized by arranging the spacers so that a portion that is downstream (shadow) of rubbing does not cover the pixel portion. In particular, since the pixel electrodes A3 and A4 side become the downstream portion of the rubbing, as shown in FIG. 14, the spacer SP is disposed near the front stage side pixel electrodes A1 and A2.

Further, as a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, at least two corners of the pixel electrode cut out at the four corners are notched areas of the pixel electrodes A1 and A2 on the front stage <the pixel electrodes A3 on the own stage side. It is formed so as to have a notch relationship of A4.
In other words, the apex portion where the four corners of the pixel electrodes A1 and A2 on the front stage side are about 90 degrees becomes a vertex of a polygon that is a triangle or more, and the notch becomes a part of the base of the triangle. It is cut out.
In other words, flanges (control pieces) A12 and A22 as alignment control units by an electric field are formed on the cutout side portions A11 and A21 of the pixel electrodes A1 and A2 on the front stage side so as to extend to the side surface side of the spacer SP. ing. Note that the alignment control function can be obtained even when only one of the collars (control pieces) A12 and A22 is provided as an alignment control unit using an electric field.

It is difficult to control the liquid crystal molecules at the periphery of the spacer SP by an alignment method such as rubbing. In particular, the downstream portion (shadow) in the alignment direction described above is much more disturbing, but the alignment perturbation occurs anywhere in the periphery of the spacer SP.
In particular, the spacer SP formed near the pixel electrodes A1 and A2 controls the periphery of the spacer region as much as possible with an electric field, which is arranged in a severe place where even a slight alignment disturbance appears in the display. As a result, alignment control by an electric field is possible in the spacer peripheral portion in the vicinity of the pixel electrodes A1 and A2.

Furthermore, as another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, when the alignment direction is performed obliquely from the pixel electrode A2 side toward the self-stage side pixel electrode A3 (for example, in the case of an oblique 45 alignment), the spacer SP Are arranged in front of the front stage side pixel electrode A2, and the collar parts (control pieces) A12, A42 are formed on the cutout side parts A11, A14 of the front stage side pixel electrode A1 and the self stage side pixel electrode A4 or without being cut out. A configuration that leaves a vertex is employed.
In this case, the spacer SP formed from the pixel electrode A2 controls the periphery of the spacer region as much as possible with an electric field, which is arranged in a severe place where even a slight alignment disturbance appears in the display. As a result, alignment control by an electric field is possible in the spacer peripheral portion in the vicinity of the pixel electrodes A1 and A4.

The liquid crystal display elements 10 and 10A according to the present embodiment having a plurality of pixel electrodes having a characteristic cutout shape as described above and spacers arranged between them are publicly used in, for example, a transmissive liquid crystal panel. is there.
In particular, when rubbing is used for alignment control, alignment control around the spacer is very difficult due to the presence of steps. The present invention is very effective for the alignment control method using rubbing.
In addition, the liquid crystal material used for the liquid crystal layer is characterized in that the refractive index anisotropy at room temperature is 0.10 or more and the cell gap is 4 μm or less.
The pixel pitch of the liquid crystal display element is 20 μm or less, and an inorganic alignment film can be used as the alignment film.

In particular, the liquid crystal projector is a narrow-pitch, high-definition device, and further enlarges and projects, so image quality abnormality is easily noticeable. The orientation disturbance due to the reverse tilt domain due to the lateral electric field is in a very severe direction. As a countermeasure, it is also effective to narrow the gap, that is, to thin the cell gap, to strengthen the vertical electric field between the TFT array substrate and the counter substrate, and to prevent the influence of the horizontal electric field. For narrowing the gap, it is very effective for gap control to create a selective spacer especially in the light shielding portion. In order to obtain the maximum transmittance characteristic, it is necessary to increase the refractive index anisotropy Δn of the liquid crystal when the above-described measures are taken to reduce the cell gap.
For example, when a TN alignment cell is placed under crossed Nicols (transmittance when the voltage is OFF in TN alignment), it is as follows.

[Equation 3]
T = 1- [sin2 ((1 + u2) 1/2 x π / 2)] / (1 + u2)
u = 2Δnd / λ

・ If (1 + u2) 1/2 = 2n, the maximum value is reached.
・ Maximum when Δnd = (4n2 −1) 1/2 × (λ / 2).
So you get the following relationship

[Equation 4]
1stΔnd = √3 × (λ / 2)

From the above formula, the maximum transmittance design for green light (550 nm) is Δnd = 0.48 μm. For example, when the cell gap is 4 μm or less, Δn = 0.12 or more is required.
In recent years, inorganic alignment films that are resistant to light, which are advantageous for projectors, and have a long life expectancy have been studied. Inorganic alignment film materials often have a smaller alignment regulating force than ordinary organic materials such as polyimide, and are more susceptible to electric field forces. Therefore, the effectiveness of the present invention can be exhibited.

  Examples of the present invention are shown below.

<Example 1> Change in pixel electrode shape and formation of spacers As shown in FIGS. 17 to 21, a normal ITO pattern was patterned by etching.
Next, a transparent resist layer to be the columnar spacer SP (46) was formed.
After applying PMER (manufactured by Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd.) to a thickness of 3 μm as a photoresist on the substrate by a spin coating method, it is exposed to ultraviolet rays using a photomask, then developed and baked. As a result, columnar spacers SP having a diameter of about 1.5 μm were formed. The arrangement positions of the spacers SP and the ITO shape are as shown in FIG.
Next, the fabricated TFT array substrate 11 and counter substrate 12 are washed.
Next, the TFT array substrate 11 and the counter substrate 12 are cleaned.
Next, an alignment film was formed on each of the substrates 11 and 12. An organic material made of polyimide was used for the alignment film. The film was applied by spin coating so that the film thickness was 50 nm.
Pre-baking was performed on a hot plate, and then post-baking was performed. Next, rubbing was performed to form a seal pattern except for the injection port, and a liquid crystal composition was injected. The liquid crystal composition used had a refractive index anisotropy Δn at room temperature of 0.16 so that the transmittance of green light was theoretically maximized at a gap of 3 μm.

FIG. 17 shows a comparative example in which the pixel electrode remains a square. FIG. 18 is a configuration example 1 and corresponds to the configuration of FIG. FIG. 19 is a configuration example 2 and corresponds to the configuration of FIG. FIG. 20 is a configuration example 3 and corresponds to the configuration of FIG. FIG. 21 shows a configuration example 4 corresponding to the configuration of FIG.
In each example, the pixel interval D is a minimum of about 1.5 μm. Further, the interval between the notched side portions of the opposing pixel electrodes A1 and A4 and A2 and A3 in FIGS. 18 to 21 is about 3.0 μm, and in the comparative example, it is about 2.0 μm.
Image quality evaluation was performed with respect to the produced liquid crystal display element. In the evaluation, in field inversion driving, a change in image quality was observed by producing a black and white line pattern and applying a voltage to the white area.
Further, the energy of Gibbs was also measured with respect to the portion A in FIG.
The measurement results are shown in Table 1.

By applying this example, it was possible to obtain a liquid crystal panel with higher quality and higher image quality than the comparative example.
In addition, the energy of Gibbs was about 10 J / m 3 in the comparative example, but in the configurations 1 to 4 according to this example, the energy was drastically reduced to about 3 to 5 J / m 3 and 1/3 to 1/2 or less. It was found that the liquid crystal molecular alignment is very stable.
In particular, it has been found that the configuration example 3 and the configuration example 4 do not leave a bright spot derived from the spacer, and can obtain a high-quality image.

<Example 2> Change in shape of pixel electrode and inorganic material In the alignment film formation described above, an inorganic alignment film was used instead of an organic material.
Typically, silicon or the like formed by vapor deposition can be mentioned, but it is considered that almost all substances that can be formed by vapor deposition can be used as a simple substance or a mixture or compound of group IV elements such as germanium.
In addition, a material having a siloxy acid skeleton formed by printing, spin coating, or an ink jet method may be used.
An alignment film was formed on each substrate. Each substrate was introduced into a vapor deposition apparatus, and each was formed by obliquely vapor-depositing SiO ₂ as an alignment film. The film thickness was applied to a thickness of about 50 nm.
Next, a seal pattern formed except for the injection port was formed. The liquid crystal material used for the liquid crystal layer is a vertical liquid crystal material having a negative Δε, the refractive index anisotropy Δn at room temperature is set to 0.07 or more, and the cell gap d, which is the thickness of the liquid crystal layer, is set to 4 μm or less. The
Image quality evaluation was performed with respect to the produced liquid crystal display element. In the evaluation, in field inversion driving, a change in image quality was observed by producing a black and white line pattern and applying a voltage to the white area.
In particular, the alignment disorder in the peripheral part of the spacer was severe, but by adopting the pixel electrode which is an embodiment of the present invention, a high-quality and high-quality liquid crystal panel could be obtained.

  Next, as an example of an electronic apparatus using the above liquid crystal display element, a configuration of a projection display device will be described with reference to the schematic configuration diagram of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 22, the projection type liquid crystal display device (liquid crystal projector) 300 is configured by sequentially arranging a light source 301, a transmission type liquid crystal display element 302, and a projection optical system 303 along the optical axis C. Yes.
The light emitted from the lamp 304 constituting the light source 301 is collected by the reflector 305 so that the component radiated rearward is incident on the condenser lens 306. The condenser lens 306 further concentrates the light and guides it to the liquid crystal display element 302 via the incident-side polarizing plate 307.
The guided light is converted into an image by the liquid crystal display element 302 having the function of a shutter or a light valve and the emission by the air polarizing plate 308. The displayed image is enlarged and projected on the screen 310 via the projection optical system 303.
A filter 314 is inserted between the light source 301 and the condenser lens 306, and removes light having an unnecessary wavelength, such as infrared light and ultraviolet light, contained in the light source.

Next, as an example of an electronic apparatus using the liquid crystal display element, a configuration of a projection display device will be described with reference to FIG.
A projection type display device 500 shown in FIG. 23 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical system of a projection type liquid crystal device in which three liquid crystal display elements described above are prepared and used as RGB liquid crystal display elements 562R, 562G, and 562B, respectively. .

The projection display device 500 uses a light source device 520 and a uniform illumination optical system 523 as an optical system.
A color separation optical system 524 as color separation means for separating the light beam W emitted from the uniform illumination optical system 523 into red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and each color light beam R, G, B. Three light valves 525R, 525G, and 525B that are modulation means for modulating, a color composition prism 510 that is a color composition means for recombining the modulated color light flux, and the synthesized light flux on the surface of the projection surface 600 And a projection lens unit 506 which is a projection means for enlarging and projecting. Further, a light guide system 527 for guiding the blue light beam B to the corresponding light valve 525B is provided.

  The uniform illumination optical system 523 includes two lens plates 521 and 522 and a reflection mirror 531, and the two lens plates 521 and 522 are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other with the reflection mirror 531 interposed therebetween. The two lens plates 521 and 522 of the uniform illumination optical system 523 are each provided with a plurality of rectangular lenses arranged in a matrix.

The light beam emitted from the light source device 520 is divided into a plurality of partial light beams by the rectangular lens of the first lens plate 521. These partial light beams are overlapped in the vicinity of the three light valves 525R, 525G, and 525B by the rectangular lens of the second lens plate 522.
Therefore, by using the uniform illumination optical system 523, even when the light source device 520 has a non-uniform illuminance distribution within the cross section of the emitted light beam, the three light valves 525R, 525G, and 525B can be uniformly illuminated. It can be illuminated.
Each color separation optical system 524 includes a blue-green reflecting dichroic mirror 541, a green reflecting dichroic mirror 542, and a reflecting mirror 543.
First, in the blue-green reflecting dichroic mirror 541, the blue light beam B and the green light beam G included in the light beam W are reflected at right angles and travel toward the green reflecting dichroic mirror 542. The red light beam R passes through the blue-green reflecting dichroic mirror 541, is reflected at a right angle by the rear reflecting mirror 543, and is emitted from the emission unit 544 of the red light beam R to the prism unit 510 side.

Next, in the green reflection dichroic mirror 542, only the green light beam G out of the blue light beam B and the green light beam G reflected by the blue-green reflection dichroic mirror 541 is reflected at right angles, and the green light beam G is emitted from the emitting portion 545. Injected to the side of the synthesis optical system. The blue light beam B that has passed through the green reflecting dichroic mirror 542 is emitted from the emitting portion 546 of the blue light beam B to the light guide system 527 side.
Here, the distances from the emission part of the light beam W of the uniform illumination optical system 523 to the emission parts 544, 545, and 546 of each color light beam in the color separation optical system 524 are set to be substantially equal. A condensing lens 551 and a condensing lens 552 are arranged on the exit side of the emission part 544 for the red light beam R and the emission part 545 for the green light beam G of the color separation optical system 524, respectively. Therefore, the red light beam R and the green light beam G emitted from each emitting unit are incident on the condensing lens 551 and the condensing lens 552 and are collimated.

The collimated red light beam R and green light beam G enter the light valve 525R and the light valve 525G, respectively, and are modulated, and image information corresponding to each color light is added.
That is, these liquid crystal display elements are subjected to switching control in accordance with image information by a driving unit (not shown), thereby modulating each color light passing therethrough. On the other hand, the blue light beam B is guided to the corresponding light valve 525B via the light guide system 527, where it is similarly modulated according to the image information.

  The light valves 525R, 525G, and 525B in this example are liquid crystal light valves that further include incident-side polarizing plates 561R, 561G, and 561B and liquid crystal display elements 562R, 562G, and 562B disposed therebetween. .

The light guide system 527 includes a condensing lens 554 disposed on the emission side of the blue light beam B and the emission unit 546, an incident-side reflection mirror 571, an emission-side reflection mirror 572, and an intermediate lens disposed between these reflection mirrors. 573 and a condensing lens 553 arranged on the front side of the light valve 525B.
The blue light beam emitted from the condenser lens 546 is guided to the liquid crystal display element 562B through the light guide system 527 and modulated. The optical path length of each color light beam, that is, the distance from the emitting portion of the light beam W to each of the liquid crystal display elements 562R, 562G, 562B, the blue light beam B is the longest, and therefore the light amount loss of the blue light beam is the largest.

  However, the light loss can be suppressed by interposing the light guide system 527. The color light beams R, G, and B modulated through the light valves 525R, 525G, and 525B are incident on the color combining prism 510 and combined there. The light combined by the color combining prism 510 is enlarged and projected onto the surface of the projection surface 600 at a predetermined position via the projection lens unit 506.

  Note that the above-described effects can be expected even when the present invention is applied to any of the optical rotation mode, birefringence mode, and other liquid crystal display elements such as a simple matrix method, a TFT active matrix method, and a TFD active matrix method.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, by devising the shape of the pixel electrode, the reverse tilt domain generated in the pixel and the reverse tilt domain formed in the pixel corresponding to the adjacent pixel electrode can be compared with each other. The effect can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to improve the image quality defect caused by the horizontal electric field generated by the field inversion driving. In addition, it is possible to obtain higher quality image quality by controlling the alignment disturbance in the peripheral portion of the spacer.

  By applying the present invention, a high-quality liquid crystal display element can be realized. In addition, in a projection type LCD such as a projector, it is possible to increase the aperture ratio by reducing the panel size or expanding the effective pixel area, and it is possible to realize high productivity and high yield by cell gap control. Since materials such as inorganic materials can be applied without degrading the image quality, the life can be extended.

It is a figure for demonstrating a line inversion drive system and a field inversion drive system. It is a figure for demonstrating the generation | occurrence | production mechanism of a reverse tilt domain. It is a figure which shows typically the liquid crystal molecule arrangement | sequence when carrying out the black-and-white display in 1 field inversion drive. It is a figure which shows typically the generation | occurrence | production state of orientation disorder. It is a figure which shows the liquid crystal molecular orientation simulation, and the energy distribution of Gibbs. It is a figure which shows the measurement result of the energy in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the active matrix type liquid crystal display element which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning in the array substrate (liquid crystal panel part) of the active matrix type liquid crystal display element which concerns on this embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the specific structural example of the active matrix type liquid crystal display element which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the parameter | index example of the pixel electrode space | interval selected from the relationship between the energy between pixel electrodes and Gibbs. It is a figure which shows the pixel electrode (ITO) space | interval dependence of the energy of Gibbs. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of the shape of a pixel electrode, and the arrangement position of a spacer. It is a figure for demonstrating the notch form example of a pixel electrode. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of the shape of a pixel electrode, and the arrangement position of a spacer. It is a figure which shows the 3rd example of the shape of a pixel electrode, and the arrangement position of a spacer. It is a figure which shows the 4th example of the shape of a pixel electrode, and the arrangement position of a spacer. It is a figure for demonstrating Example 1, Comprising: It is a figure which shows a comparative example. It is a figure for demonstrating Example 1, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the 1st structural example. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the first embodiment and is a diagram illustrating a second configuration example. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the first embodiment and is a diagram illustrating a third configuration example. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the first embodiment and is a diagram illustrating a fourth configuration example. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the projection type liquid crystal display device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows a more specific example of the 3 plate type | mold projection-type liquid crystal display device which concerns on this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Liquid crystal display element, 11 ... TFT array substrate, 12 ... Counter substrate, 13 ... Pixel electrode, 14 ... Counter electrode, 15 ... Sealing material, 16 ... Liquid crystal layer , 46 ... Spacer, 100 ... Liquid crystal light valve, 200 ... Effective display section, 300, 500 ... Projection type liquid crystal display device, 301, 520 ... Light source, 525R, 525G, 525B ... Light valves, 303, 506... Projection optical system, A1 to A4... Pixel electrodes, A12 to A42.

Claims (19)

Two substrates facing each other;
A liquid crystal layer disposed between the two substrates;
A plurality of pixel electrodes disposed on opposing surfaces of each substrate to form matrix-like pixels;
An alignment film formed on the two substrates to align the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer in a predetermined direction;
A spacer formed between the pixel electrodes disposed adjacent to each other between the two substrates,
At least one of the plurality of pixel electrodes has a shape in which an end facing the spacer is notched so as to form one side of a polygon. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display element is an active matrix liquid crystal display element that performs frame inversion driving in which a voltage applied to each pixel electrode is inverted with the same polarity for each frame. 2. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 1, wherein the pixel electrode is notched within a range in which the expression of a reverse tilt domain locally decreases, spreads between the pixel electrodes as a whole, and Gibbs energy can be reduced. The pixel electrode interval is small and stable when the first region of Gibbs energy is S1, the second region of Gibbs energy is S2, and S1 / S2 is an index. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display element is selected based on an index value. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is disposed at a predetermined position in a region surrounded by ends of four pixel electrodes adjacent two-dimensionally. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 5, wherein the spacer is disposed at a central portion of the region that is equidistant from the end portions of the four pixel electrodes. The spacer is disposed between the four adjacent pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, A4,
When the four pixel electrodes are defined as A1, A2 on the front stage side and A3, A4 on the self stage side with respect to the alignment direction,
The shortest distances a1, a2, a3, a4 from the edge of the spacer to the pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, A4 are:
The liquid crystal display element according to claim 6, wherein a relationship of a1 = a2 = a3 = a4 is satisfied. When the four adjacent pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, A4 are defined as A1, A2 on the front stage side and A3, A4 on the own stage side with respect to the alignment direction,
The liquid crystal display element according to claim 5, wherein the spacer is disposed closer to the pixel electrode on the preceding stage side. The shortest distances a1, a2, a3, a4 from the edge of the spacer to the pixel electrodes A1, A2, A3, A4 are:
The liquid crystal display element according to claim 8, wherein a1 ≦ a2 <a3 ≦ a4 or a3 ≧ a4> a1 ≧ a2 is satisfied. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 5, wherein a control piece is formed on a notched side portion of at least one pixel electrode of the four pixel electrodes adjacent in two dimensions so as to extend toward the spacer. 9. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 8, wherein a control piece is formed on a notched side portion of at least one of the two pixel electrodes A <b> 1 and A <b> 2 on the preceding stage side so as to extend to the arrangement position side of the spacer. The spacer is disposed from a notch side portion of at least one of the two pixel electrodes A1 and A2 on the preceding stage side,
A control piece is formed so as to extend to the spacer side at the notched side portion of at least one pixel electrode of the other pixel electrode on the previous stage side on the side orthogonal to the oblique alignment direction and one pixel electrode on the own stage side. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 8. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 8, wherein the notch area of the pixel electrode on the front stage side <the notch area of the pixel electrode on the self stage side is satisfied. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal panel provided with the pixel electrode is a transmissive liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 1, wherein the alignment control of the liquid crystal display element is performed by rubbing. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal material used for the liquid crystal layer has a refractive index anisotropy at room temperature of 0.10 or more and a cell gap of 4 μm or less. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 1, wherein a pixel pitch of the liquid crystal display element is 20 μm or less. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 1, wherein an inorganic alignment film is used for the alignment film. A light source;
At least one liquid crystal display element;
A condensing optical system for guiding the light emitted from the light source to the liquid crystal display element;
A projection optical system for enlarging and projecting light modulated by the liquid crystal display element,
The liquid crystal display element is
Two substrates facing each other;
A liquid crystal layer disposed between the two substrates;
A plurality of pixel electrodes disposed on opposing surfaces of each substrate to form matrix-like pixels;
An alignment film formed on the two substrates to align the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer in a predetermined direction;
A spacer formed between the pixel electrodes disposed adjacent to each other between the two substrates,
At least one of the plurality of pixel electrodes has a shape notched so that an end facing the spacer forms one side of a polygon,
The liquid crystal display element is an active matrix liquid crystal display element that performs frame inversion driving for inverting the voltage applied to each pixel electrode with the same polarity for each frame.

Images