JP2008209481A - Liquid crystal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal device which can prevent the liquid component from entering the display area of an inorganic alignment film. <P>SOLUTION: This liquid crystal device has a first area regulated on a first panel, a second area regulated to surround the first area on the first panel, a third area regulated on a second panel and facing the first area, a fourth area regulated on the second panel to surround the third area, an inorganic alignment film formed at least at an area in the first area and the second area, a liquid crystal layer arranged between the inorganic alignment film in the first area and the inorganic alignment film in the third area, a first level difference formed between the first area and the second area to dispose the first area closer to the second panel than the second area, and a second level difference formed between the third area and the fourth area to dispose the third area closer to the tirst panel than the fourth area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device.

The liquid crystal device includes an alignment film that aligns liquid crystal molecules. In many cases, an alignment film that is obtained by rubbing a polymer film made of an organic material such as polyimide is used. Recently, for the purpose of improving heat resistance and light resistance, it has been proposed to use an alignment film made of an inorganic material such as silicon nitride, that is, an inorganic alignment film. The following patent document discloses an example of a technique related to a liquid crystal device including an inorganic alignment film.
JP-A-8-22009 JP-A-11-160711 JP 2000-47211 A JP 2003-167255 A

  The inorganic alignment film is a porous body, and liquid components (water) are likely to permeate. When a liquid component permeates into the inorganic alignment film, the performance of the inorganic alignment film and thus the performance of the liquid crystal device deteriorates. For this reason, various techniques have been devised to prevent the liquid component from entering the inorganic alignment film. For example, it is conceivable to cover the entire surface of the inorganic alignment film with a material having liquid repellency (water repellency). However, in this case, a liquid-repellent material is also disposed in the display area of the liquid crystal device, which may change (deteriorate) the alignment characteristics of the inorganic alignment film, and thus the display characteristics of the liquid crystal device. In addition, the liquid crystal device includes two substrates that sandwich a liquid crystal layer, and peripheral regions of the two substrates are connected to each other through a sealing material or the like. In this case, the liquid component may enter from the peripheral area of the substrate and reach the display area.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal device capable of suppressing the liquid component from entering the inorganic alignment film, particularly the liquid component from entering the display region of the inorganic alignment film. To do.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following configuration.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, the first region defined on the first substrate, the second region defined on the first substrate so as to surround the first region, the second region defined on the second substrate, A third region opposed to one region; a fourth region defined on the second substrate so as to surround the third region; and an inorganic orientation formed in at least a part of the first region and the second region. A liquid crystal layer disposed between the inorganic alignment film in the first region and the inorganic alignment film in the third region, and an inorganic alignment film formed in at least a part of the third region and the fourth region A first step formed between the first region and the second region such that the first region is located closer to the second substrate than the second region; and The third region and the fourth region are arranged such that the region is located closer to the first substrate than the fourth region. A second step formed between the band and an LCD device provided with is provided.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, by providing the first step and the second step, the liquid component enters the first region from the second region and the liquid component enters the third region from the fourth region. Can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deterioration in performance due to the liquid component of at least the inorganic alignment film in the first region and the inorganic alignment film in the third region.

  The said structure WHEREIN: The inorganic alignment film of the said 1st area | region and the inorganic alignment film of the said 2nd area | region are parted by the said 1st level | step difference, and the inorganic alignment film of the said 3rd area | region and the said 4th by the said 2nd level | step difference. A configuration in which the inorganic alignment film in the region is divided can be employed. According to this, it can suppress that the liquid component which osmose | permeated the inorganic alignment film of the 2nd area | region penetrates into the 1st area | region via an inorganic alignment film. Similarly, the liquid component that has permeated the inorganic alignment film in the fourth region can be prevented from entering the third region through the inorganic alignment film.

  In the above configuration, the first substrate includes an active matrix substrate and a first predetermined film formed in a central region of one surface of the active matrix substrate, and the second substrate includes a counter substrate and a counter substrate. A second predetermined film formed in a central region of one surface, the first region includes a surface of the first predetermined film, and the third region includes a surface of the second predetermined film. Can be adopted. According to this, the first step and the second step can be smoothly formed by forming the first predetermined film and the second predetermined film.

  The said structure WHEREIN: The angle which the surface and side surface of the said 1st predetermined film | membrane form is an acute angle, and the structure which the angle which the surface and said side surface of the said 2nd predetermined film | membrane forms is an acute angle is employable. According to this, the penetration of the liquid component from the second region to the first region and the penetration of the liquid component from the fourth region to the third region can be effectively suppressed.

  In the above configuration, the first region and the third region may include a display region, and the second region and the fourth region may include a non-display region. According to this, the penetration of the liquid component into the display area is suppressed, and the deterioration of the display performance of the liquid crystal device can be suppressed.

  Here, the display region (pixel region) is provided with a pixel electrode, and the display region (pixel region) is predetermined by movement of liquid crystal molecules based on an electric field (voltage) applied between the pixel electrode of the first substrate and the common electrode of the second substrate. It includes an area where an image can be displayed and / or an area corresponding to the area. The non-display area includes an area outside the display area and includes an area where no pixel electrode is disposed.

  The said structure WHEREIN: The structure which has the liquid-repellent part formed in the said 2nd area | region and the said 4th area | region, and the sealing material which connects the said 2nd area | region and the said 4th area | region is employable. According to this, the liquid repellent part can suppress the liquid component from entering the first region and the third region from the second region and the fourth region.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A ′ of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of FIG.

  1, 2, and 3, the liquid crystal device S includes a first substrate 1, a second substrate 2, and a liquid crystal layer 3 disposed between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. ing.

  The first substrate 1 includes a TFT array substrate (active matrix substrate) 1A having a first surface 1S, and a first predetermined film 4 formed in a central region of the first surface 1S of the TFT array substrate 1A. The second substrate 2 includes a counter substrate (color filter substrate) 2A having a second surface 2S and a second predetermined film 5 formed in a central region of the second surface 2S of the counter substrate 2A. The first and second predetermined films 4 and 5 are formed of SiO or the like.

  The first substrate 1 includes a display region (pixel region, central region) 6 and a non-display region (peripheral region) 7 between the display region 6 and the edge of the first substrate 1. The display area 6 includes the surface of the first predetermined film 4. A pixel electrode 8, a thin film transistor (TFT) 9, a storage capacitor, and the like are disposed in a portion corresponding to the display area 6 in the TFT array substrate 1A. A coat film 14 is disposed so as to cover the pixel electrode 8, the TFT 9, and the like.

  The second substrate 2 includes a display region (pixel region, central region) 10 and a non-display region (peripheral region) 11 between the display region 10 and the edge of the second substrate 2. The display area 10 includes the surface of the second predetermined film 5. A common electrode (counter electrode) 12, a light shielding film (black matrix) 13, a color filter, and the like are disposed in a portion of the counter substrate 2 </ b> A corresponding to the display region 10.

  The display area 6 defined on the first substrate 1 is an area where the pixel electrode 8 is formed, and the display area 10 defined on the second substrate 2 so as to correspond to the display area 6 corresponds to the pixel electrode 8. This is a region where the common electrode 12 is formed. The display areas 6 and 10 have a predetermined image by movement of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 3 based on an electric field (voltage) applied between the pixel electrode 8 of the first substrate 1 and the common electrode 12 of the second substrate 2. Is a displayable area. The non-display areas 7 and 11 include areas between the display areas 6 and 10 and the edges of the first and second substrates 1 and 2 and are areas where the electrodes 8 and 12 are not arranged. The non-display area 7 defined on the first substrate 1 is disposed so as to surround the display area 6 defined on the first substrate 1, and the non-display area 11 defined on the second substrate 2 is the second display area 6. The display area 10 defined on the substrate 2 is disposed so as to surround the display area 10. The first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are arranged in a predetermined positional relationship such that the display region 6 and the non-display region 7, the display region 10 and the non-display region 11 are opposed to each other.

  In addition, the liquid crystal device S includes a sealing material 15 that bonds the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 together. The sealing material 15 is disposed so as to connect the non-display area 7 of the first substrate 1 and the non-display area 11 of the second substrate 2. The area inside the sealing material 15 includes display areas 6 and 10, and the liquid crystal layer 3 is disposed between the display area 6 and the display area 10. A liquid crystal injection port 15A is formed in a part of the sealing material 15, and the liquid crystal injection port 15A is closed by a lid member 15B. As described above, the first substrate 1, the second substrate 2, the sealing material 15, and the lid member 15 </ b> B form a sealed space for arranging the liquid crystal layer 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the non-display area 7, the area outside the sealing material 15 with respect to the display area 6 is a mounting terminal electrically connected to the data line driving circuit 16 and an external device. 17, a plurality of scanning line driving circuits 18, and a plurality of wirings 19 for connecting the scanning line driving circuits 18 to each other are arranged. The scanning line driving circuit 18 is disposed on both sides of the display area 6.

  In addition, the liquid crystal device D includes an inorganic alignment film 20 formed on at least part of the display area 6 and the non-display area 7 of the first substrate 1, and at least one of the display area 10 and the non-display area 11 of the second substrate 2. And an inorganic alignment film 21 formed on the portion.

The inorganic alignment films 20 and 21 are made of an inorganic material such as SiO ₂ , SiO, or MgF ₂ . The inorganic alignment films 20 and 21 are porous bodies of an inorganic material and have a plurality of holes. The inorganic alignment films 20 and 21 are arranged in contact with the liquid crystal layer 3. The liquid crystal layer 3 is disposed at least between the inorganic alignment film 20 in the display region 6 and the inorganic alignment film 21 in the display region 10.

  The liquid crystal device S of the present embodiment includes a first step 23 formed between the display region 6 and the non-display region 7 and a second step formed between the display region 10 and the non-display region 11. 24.

  As described above, the display area 6 includes the surface of the first predetermined film 4 and is disposed at a position closer to the second substrate 2 than the non-display area 7. The first step 23 is formed between the display area 6 and the non-display area 7 so that the display area 6 is disposed closer to the second substrate 2 than the non-display area 7.

  The display area 10 includes the surface of the second predetermined film 5 and is disposed at a position closer to the first substrate 1 than the non-display area 11. The second step 24 is formed between the display area 10 and the non-display area 11 so that the display area 10 is disposed closer to the first substrate 1 than the non-display area 11.

  Then, the inorganic alignment film 20 in the display region 6 and the inorganic alignment film 20 in the non-display region 7 are divided by the first step 23, and the inorganic alignment film 21 in the display region 10 and the non-display region 11 are divided by the second step 24. The inorganic alignment film 21 is divided.

  In the present embodiment, the sealing material 15 and the inorganic alignment film 20 in the non-display area 7 are connected via the liquid repellent portion 25, and the sealing material 15 and the inorganic alignment film 21 in the non-display area 11 are connected to each other. Are connected through the liquid repellent part 26. That is, the liquid crystal device S of the present embodiment includes the liquid repellent portions 25 and 26 formed in the non-display area 7 and the non-display area 11, and the sealing material 15 that connects the non-display area 7 and the non-display area 11. Have. The liquid repellent portions 25 and 26 are formed of, for example, a silane coupling material, a long-chain alcohol, a material containing fluorine, or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the thickness of the inorganic alignment films 20 and 21 is about 40 nm. Each of the first and second predetermined films 4 and 5 has a thickness of about 60 nm.

  Next, an example of a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal device S having the above-described configuration will be described.

  After the TFT array substrate 1A is formed, the first predetermined film 4 is formed on the first surface 1S of the TFT array substrate 1A. The first predetermined film 4 is formed, for example, by forming a SiO film on the first surface 1S of the TFT array substrate 1A and then shaping it by a photolithography technique. Similarly, the second predetermined film 5 is formed, for example, by forming a SiO film on the second surface 2S of the counter substrate 2A and then shaping it by a photolithography technique. Thereby, each of the first step 23 and the second step 24 is formed.

  Next, a process of forming the inorganic alignment film 20 on the first substrate 1 is performed. The inorganic alignment film 20 is formed by an oblique vapor deposition method as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-17339. The inorganic alignment film 20 is formed in each of the display area 6 and the non-display area 7 of the first substrate 1. Similarly, the process for forming the inorganic alignment film 21 is also performed on the second substrate 2 based on the oblique deposition method. The inorganic alignment film 20 is formed to be divided at the first step 23, and the inorganic alignment film 21 is formed to be divided at the second step 24.

  After the inorganic alignment film 20 is formed, a functional liquid (ink) for forming the liquid repellent portion 25 is supplied onto the inorganic alignment film 20 in the non-display area 7 by, for example, a dispense method or an inkjet method.

  At this time, the ink supplied onto the inorganic alignment film 20 in the non-display area 7 may travel through the porous inorganic alignment film 20 and enter the display area 6. That is, there is a possibility that the ink in the non-display area 7 may enter the display area 6 due to capillary action. In the present embodiment, since the first step 23 is formed and the inorganic alignment film 20 is divided by the first step 23, the ink (liquid component) is prevented from entering the display region 6. Yes.

  That is, as in the comparative example shown in FIG. 5, when there is no step, the ink supplied to form the liquid repellent portion 25J on the inorganic alignment film 20J in the non-display region 7J is a porous alignment film. There is a possibility of entering the display area 6J due to capillary action occurring at 20J. In the present embodiment, ink intrusion can be suppressed by the first step 23.

  Similarly, a functional liquid (ink) for forming the liquid repellent portion 26 is supplied on the inorganic alignment film 21 in the non-display area 11. Even in this case, the second step 24 prevents the ink from entering the display area 10.

  Then, after the ink is supplied, an annealing process (heating process) is performed, and the liquid repellent parts 25 and 26 are formed. Thereafter, the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are connected via the sealing material 15. Then, liquid crystal is injected through the liquid crystal injection port 15A to form the liquid crystal layer 3, whereby the liquid layer device S is manufactured.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing the first step 23 and the second step 24, the liquid component enters the display region 6 from the non-display region 7 and the display region 11 displays from the non-display region 11. Intrusion of the liquid component into 10 can be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress degradation of performance due to the liquid components of at least the inorganic alignment film 20 in the display region 6 and the inorganic alignment film 21 in the display region 10.

  In order to sufficiently suppress the penetration of the liquid component, it is desirable that the thickness of the first and second predetermined films 4 and 5 is twice or more that of the inorganic alignment films 20 and 21.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the angle formed between the surface and the side surface of the first predetermined film 4 is an acute angle, and the angle formed between the surface and the side surface of the second predetermined film 5 is set to an acute angle. Intrusion of the liquid component into 6, 10 can be more effectively suppressed.

It is a top view which shows an example of the liquid crystal device which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 2. It is sectional drawing which shows another example of the liquid crystal device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows a comparative example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... 1st board | substrate, 1A ... TFT array board | substrate, 2 ... 2nd board | substrate, 2A ... Opposite board | substrate, 3 ... Liquid crystal layer, 4 ... 1st predetermined film, 5 ... 2nd predetermined film, 6 ... Display area (1st area | region) , 7 ... Non-display area (second area), 10 ... Display area (third area), 11 ... Non-display area (fourth area), 15 ... Sealing material, 20 ... Inorganic alignment film, 21 ... Inorganic alignment film , 23 ... first step, 24 ... second step, 25 ... liquid repellent part, 26 ... liquid repellent part, S ... liquid crystal device

Claims (6)

A first region defined on the first substrate; a second region defined on the first substrate so as to surround the first region;
A third region defined by the second substrate and facing the first region; a fourth region defined by the second substrate so as to surround the third region;
An inorganic alignment film formed on at least a part of the first region and the second region;
An inorganic alignment film formed on at least a part of the third region and the fourth region;
A liquid crystal layer disposed between the inorganic alignment film in the first region and the inorganic alignment film in the third region;
A first step formed between the first region and the second region such that the first region is located closer to the second substrate than the second region;
A liquid crystal device comprising: a second step formed between the third region and the fourth region such that the third region is disposed closer to the first substrate than the fourth region. . Due to the first step, the inorganic alignment film in the first region and the inorganic alignment film in the second region are separated,
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic alignment film in the third region and the inorganic alignment film in the fourth region are separated by the second step. The first substrate includes an active matrix substrate and a first predetermined film formed in a central region of one surface of the active matrix substrate;
The second substrate includes a counter substrate and a second predetermined film formed in a central region of one surface of the counter substrate,
The first region includes a surface of the first predetermined film,
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the third region includes a surface of the second predetermined film. The angle formed between the surface and the side surface of the first predetermined film is an acute angle,
The liquid crystal device according to claim 3, wherein an angle formed between a surface and a side surface of the second predetermined film is an acute angle. The first area and the third area include a display area,
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the second region and the fourth region include a non-display region. A liquid repellent portion formed in the second region and the fourth region;
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, further comprising a sealing material that connects the second region and the fourth region.

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