JP2008216723A - Liquid crystal device and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent alignment failure in liquid crystal molecules at the boundary between a reflective display region and a transmissive display region by aligning the alignment states of opposing substrates in order in a transflective liquid crystal device. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid crystal device has a liquid crystal layer 14 disposed between a first substrate 15 and a second substrate 17, a light reflection film 36 provided on the liquid crystal layer side of the substrate 15, and a plurality of sub-pixels P arranged within the planes of the substrates 15, 17. The sub-pixel P has a reflective display region R where the light reflection film 36 is positioned and a transmissive display region T where no light reflection film 36 is positioned. The layer thickness d<SB>0</SB>of the liquid crystal layer 14 in the region R is smaller than the layer thickness d<SB>1</SB>of the liquid crystal layer 14 in the region T; the height H<SB>1R</SB>from the substrate 15 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the region R is smaller than the height H<SB>1T</SB>from the substrate 15 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the region T, and the height H<SB>2R</SB>from the substrate 17 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the region R is larger than the height H<SB>2T</SB>from the substrate 17 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the region T. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device capable of selectively performing both reflective display and transmissive display. The present invention also relates to an electronic device configured using the liquid crystal device.

Currently, liquid crystal devices are widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), car navigation systems, and the like. For example, a liquid crystal device is used as a display unit for displaying various types of information regarding electronic devices as images. As this liquid crystal device, a transflective type having both a reflective type and a transmissive type is known. The transmission type is a display form in which display is performed by light that has passed through the liquid crystal layer once. The reflection type is a display form in which display is performed by light that has been transmitted through the liquid crystal layer once, then reflected by the light reflection film, and transmitted through the liquid crystal layer again. The transflective type is a display form in which one of the transmissive display and the reflective display is selectively performed. This transflective liquid crystal device includes a reflective display area and a transmissive display area in one sub-pixel, and by switching to either the reflective mode or the transmissive mode according to the surrounding brightness, A clear display can be performed even when the surroundings are dark while reducing power consumption (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-338256 (pages 6 to 7, FIG. 2)

In such a transflective liquid crystal device, since the optimum retardation value is different between the reflective display area and the transmissive display area, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is made different between the reflective display area and the transmissive display area. Yes. In the liquid crystal device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a step is formed by providing a layer thickness adjusting film on the liquid crystal layer side in the reflective display region of one substrate, and an overcoat layer is provided on the other substrate side. The substrate surface is formed flat. Thus, the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region is made thinner than the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region.

A step surface is formed on the edge of the layer thickness adjusting film provided on one substrate, that is, the layer thickness adjusting film at the boundary between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region. The surface of the other substrate facing the step surface is substantially flat. Therefore, in the vicinity of the step surface, there is a difference in the state of rubbing treatment for the alignment film between the one substrate and the other substrate, and a difference may occur in the alignment state on the alignment film. Due to this difference in alignment state, there is a possibility that alignment failure may occur near the step surface.

Liquid crystal devices include so-called vertical electric field type liquid crystal devices and horizontal electric field type liquid crystal devices. As represented by a TN (Twisted Nematic) type liquid crystal device, a vertical electric field type liquid crystal device is provided with electrodes on each of a pair of substrates facing each other across a liquid crystal layer, and a voltage is applied to these electrodes. Thus, a vertical electric field, that is, a so-called vertical electric field is generated with respect to those substrates, and the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer is controlled by the vertical electric field, thereby modulating the light passing through the liquid crystal layer.

On the other hand, in a horizontal electric field type liquid crystal device, a common electrode and a pixel electrode are provided on one of a pair of substrates opposed to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, and a voltage is applied to these electrodes to the substrates. On the other hand, an electric field in a parallel direction or an oblique direction, that is, a so-called lateral electric field is generated, and the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer is controlled by the lateral electric field, thereby modulating light passing through the liquid crystal layer.

Among the horizontal electric field type and vertical electric field type liquid crystal devices described above, in particular, in the horizontal electric field type liquid crystal device, the rubbing direction on one substrate side and the rubbing direction on the other substrate are antiparallel (antiparallel). Therefore, there is a high possibility that the difference in the orientation state affects the display.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and in a liquid crystal device that is a transflective type and an electronic apparatus using the same, reflection is achieved by aligning the alignment states of substrates facing each other. An object of the present invention is to prevent alignment failure of liquid crystal molecules at the boundary between the display area and the transmissive display area, and to prevent a decrease in display contrast.

The liquid crystal device according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal layer provided between a first substrate and a second substrate, and the first substrate.
A light reflection film provided on the liquid crystal layer side of the substrate, and a plurality of subpixels arranged in a plane of the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the subpixels are formed by the light reflection film. A reflective display region that performs display using reflected light; and a transmissive display region that performs display using light that is transmitted through a region where the light reflecting film is not provided, and the liquid crystal in the reflective display region. The thickness of the layer is thinner than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region, and the height from the first substrate to the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region is from the first substrate to the liquid crystal in the transmissive display region. The height from the second substrate to the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region is lower than the height from the second substrate to the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region. .

This liquid crystal device is a so-called transflective liquid crystal device. This transflective liquid crystal device has a transmissive display area and a reflective display area in a sub-pixel. In the reflective display region, a light reflective film is provided, and so-called reflective display is performed using light reflected by the light reflective film. On the other hand, in the transmissive display region, so-called transmissive display is performed using light that is transmitted from one substrate to the other substrate without providing a light reflection film. In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, transmissive display and reflective display can be selectively performed using either the reflective display region or the transmissive display region.

In addition, the liquid crystal device has a so-called multi-gap structure in which the liquid crystal layer thickness in the reflective display region is thinner than the liquid crystal layer thickness in the transmissive display region. This adjustment of the liquid crystal layer thickness
For example, it can be performed by providing a liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film on the first substrate or the second substrate. Thus, by varying the liquid crystal layer thickness, the retardation value of the liquid crystal layer is optimized between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region.

In the above liquid crystal device, the plurality of elements provided on the first substrate or the plurality of elements provided on the second substrate include elements necessary for configuring the liquid crystal device, such as electrodes and insulating films. A light reflection film, an alignment film, and the like are conceivable. For example, by selectively forming or selectively removing these elements, the height from the substrate to the liquid crystal layer can be made different between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region.

In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the height from the first substrate to the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region is lower than the height from the first substrate to the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region. A step is formed at the boundary. On the other hand, since the height from the second substrate to the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region is higher than the height from the second substrate to the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region,
A step is formed at the boundary between the reflective display area and the transmissive display area. In this way, if a step is provided on both the surface on the liquid crystal layer side on the first substrate and the surface on the liquid crystal layer side on the second substrate, the alignment of the liquid crystal is changed between that on the first substrate and that on the first substrate. It can be aligned on two substrates. In particular, they can be aligned at the boundary between the reflective display area and the transmissive display area. As a result, it is possible to prevent display contrast from being lowered due to poor alignment of the liquid crystal.

Next, in the liquid crystal device according to the present invention, a first step surface formed on a boundary between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region on the surface of the first substrate on the liquid crystal layer side, and the first substrate It is desirable that the second step surfaces formed on the surface of the two substrates on the liquid crystal layer side and at the boundary between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region overlap each other in plan view. In this way, the alignment state on the first substrate and the alignment state on the second substrate that are opposed to each other are more determined at the portion where the first step surface and the second step surface overlap, that is, at the boundary between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region. It can be surely aligned. As a result, it is possible to prevent display contrast from being lowered due to poor alignment of the liquid crystal.

The first step surface can be provided by partially forming an insulating film provided between the first substrate and the light reflecting film. Specifically, a step can be formed at the end of the thin film portion of the insulating film, and the step portion can form the first step surface. The surface of the insulating layer on the side of the light reflecting film is provided with unevenness that gives the surface of the light reflecting film a plurality of unevenness, and the step formed in the insulating film is a region where the unevenness of the insulating film is formed. It can be arranged at the end of the. The unevenness has a function of scattering light reflected by the light reflecting film 36. If the step is arranged at the end of the region where the unevenness is formed, the step of the insulating film can be easily formed when the unevenness is formed by patterning.

Further, the second step surface can be provided, for example, by forming a liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film in the reflective display region between the second substrate and the second alignment film. Specifically, a step can be formed at the end of the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film, and the step portion can form a second step surface. The thin film portion of these insulating films and the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film can be formed by patterning using, for example, photolithography.

The step formed in the insulating film and the step in the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film can be inclined surfaces whose thickness continuously changes in the thickness direction from the first substrate and the second substrate. This inclined surface is inevitably formed on the inclined surface when the insulating film or the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film is patterned. In this case, according to the inclined surface of the insulating film or the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film, the first step surface and the second step surface are also formed on the inclined surface.

Next, in the liquid crystal device according to the present invention, a first alignment film is provided on a surface of the first substrate that is in contact with the liquid crystal layer, and the first alignment film is formed from the side facing the first step surface. A second alignment film is provided on a surface of the second substrate that is rubbed in a direction toward the step surface and is in contact with the liquid crystal layer of the second substrate, and the second alignment film is formed from the side facing the second step surface. It is desirable to be rubbed in the direction toward the step surface.

The rubbing is generally performed using a cylindrical roller around which a rubbing cloth is wound. Specifically, it is performed by rubbing the rubbing cloth wound around the roller surface against the surface of the alignment film by moving the roller in a predetermined direction within the surface of the alignment film while rotating the roller. By this rubbing, the liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal layer are aligned. In addition, by rubbing the alignment film, the liquid crystal molecules may be aligned in a state inclined by a predetermined angle from the surface of the alignment film in a state where an electric field is not applied (that is, in an initial alignment state). This alignment state is a so-called pretilt state.

According to the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the first alignment film is rubbed in the direction from the side facing the first step surface toward the first step surface, and the second alignment film is from the side facing the second step surface. Since the rubbing is performed in the direction toward the second step surface, strong rubbing strength can be imparted to both the first step surface and the second step surface, the alignment force can be increased, and alignment unevenness can be prevented. As a result, alignment failure is prevented at the positions of the first step surface and the second step surface, that is, the boundary between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region, and high contrast can be secured. Contrary to the present invention, when rubbing is performed from the peak portion to the valley portion of the step surface, the rubbing strength applied to the step surface is weakened, which may cause a display defect. On the other hand, according to the present invention, since a strong rubbing strength can be imparted to the stepped surface, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a display defect due to a rubbing defect.

Next, in the liquid crystal device in which rubbing is performed in a direction toward the step surface, it is desirable that the rubbing direction with respect to the first alignment film and the rubbing direction with respect to the second alignment film have an antiparallel relationship. . In the aspect of the present invention, the first step surface and the second step surface face each other. That is, the direction toward the step surface is a direction in which the first substrate and the second substrate are opposed to each other. If the rubbing direction with respect to the first alignment film and the rubbing direction with respect to the second alignment film are antiparallel to the liquid crystal device having this configuration, the first alignment film and the second alignment film, particularly the first step surface, The alignment state can be made uniform with the second step surface. As a result, it is possible to prevent display contrast from deteriorating due to poor alignment of the liquid crystal.

Next, in the liquid crystal device according to the present invention, a first electrode and a second electrode for generating an electric field between the first electrode are provided on the liquid crystal layer side of the first substrate, The second electrode preferably includes a plurality of electrode linear portions arranged in parallel with a gap. In the liquid crystal device according to the present invention, the rubbing direction is 5 ° to 2 ° with respect to the extending direction of the gap between the second electrodes.
It is desirable to tilt by 0 °.

The liquid crystal device having this configuration is a so-called lateral electric field type in which liquid crystal is driven by applying an electric field formed in a direction substantially parallel to the substrate surface to the liquid crystal layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. It is a liquid crystal device. As an operation mode of such a horizontal electric field type liquid crystal device, for example, IPS (In-Pla
ne Switching) mode and FFS (Fringe Field Switching) mode are known. IP
The S mode has a configuration in which the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged at positions where they do not overlap in plan view. On the other hand, the FFS mode has a configuration in which the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged at a position where they overlap in a plan view. This FFS mode can generate an electric field in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer in addition to a lateral electric field parallel to the substrate. In addition, an electrical storage capacitor can be formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. With these functions, a liquid crystal device with a wide viewing angle, high contrast, and low voltage can be configured as compared with the IPS mode. Note that the aspect of the present invention is configured using a liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy as the liquid crystal.

The configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the present invention can be suitably used for a lateral electric field mode liquid crystal device. In this way, the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules at the boundary between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region is changed to the first state.
Since it is possible to reliably align the substrate and the second substrate, it is possible to more reliably prevent the display contrast from being lowered.

Next, in the liquid crystal device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film is formed including a retardation film, and retardation (Δnd) of the retardation film is a half wavelength. In the present invention, the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film is provided on the second substrate corresponding to the reflective display region. The liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film is used to realize different optimum retardation values in the reflective display area and the transmissive display area.

Next, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes the liquid crystal device having the above-described configuration. In the liquid crystal device according to the present invention, the height from the first substrate to the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region is set lower than the height from the first substrate to the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region, and from the second substrate in the reflective display region. By making the height to the liquid crystal layer higher than the height from the second substrate to the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region, the liquid crystal layer side surface of the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer side surface of the second substrate side Steps are provided on both. Thereby, since the alignment of the liquid crystal can be made uniform on the first substrate and the second substrate at the stepped portion, it is possible to prevent the display contrast from being lowered due to the alignment failure of the liquid crystal. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the display contrast from being lowered even in an electronic apparatus configured using the liquid crystal device.

(First Embodiment of Liquid Crystal Device)
Hereinafter, as an example of a liquid crystal device, an embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking as an example a case where the present invention is applied to an active matrix liquid crystal device capable of transflective color display. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a liquid crystal device using a channel-etched type single-gate polysilicon TFT element as a switching element. In the liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment, an FFS (Fringe Field Switching) mode is adopted as an operation mode. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Also,
In the drawings used in the following description, the dimensions of a plurality of constituent elements may be shown in proportions different from actual ones in order to easily show the characteristic portions.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a liquid crystal device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the liquid crystal device 1 includes a liquid crystal panel 2 and a lighting device 3. Regarding the liquid crystal device 1, the side on which the arrow A is drawn is the observation side, and the illumination device 3 is disposed on the opposite side to the observation side with respect to the liquid crystal panel 2 and functions as a backlight. The illumination device 3 is an LED (Light Emitting D) as a light source.
iode: a light emitting diode) 4 and a light guide 5 formed of a translucent resin. L
The light emitted from the ED 4 is taken into the light guide 5 from the light incident surface 5a of the light guide 5, and is supplied to the liquid crystal panel 2 as planar light from the light output surface 5b. The lighting device 3 may not be a point light source such as the LED 4 but may be a line light source such as a cold cathode tube.

The liquid crystal panel 2 includes a substrate 8 and a substrate 9 that are bonded to each other by a rectangular or square and annular (that is, frame-shaped) sealing material 7 when viewed from the direction of the arrow A. The substrate 8 is an element substrate on which switching elements are formed. The substrate 9 is a color filter substrate on which a color filter is formed. In this embodiment, the color filter substrate 9 is disposed on the observation side, and the element substrate 8 is disposed on the back as viewed from the observation side. The sealing material 7 is formed of, for example, a thermosetting or ultraviolet curable resin, such as an epoxy resin, and is formed in a desired annular shape by, for example, screen printing.

A plurality of parallel scanning lines 11 are provided extending in the row direction X (the short direction of sub-pixels to be described later) in the region surrounded by the sealing material 7 inside the liquid crystal panel 2. In addition, a plurality of parallel signal lines 12 in the direction crossing the scanning line 11 (row direction X) are connected in the column direction Y (
It extends in the longitudinal direction of the sub-pixel. A plurality of dot-shaped (that is, island-shaped) regions surrounded by the plurality of scanning lines 11 and the plurality of signal lines 12 are arranged in a matrix (so-called matrix shape) when viewed from the normal direction (arrow A direction) of the substrate 8. It is out. A subpixel P is provided in each of these regions. These sub-pixels P are arranged in a matrix so that the display area V
Is formed. In FIG. 1, the sub-pixel P is schematically shown in an enlarged manner than the actual one. Further, the display is observed on the outermost surface of the liquid crystal panel 2, and the display region V is a region formed in the plane. The row direction X and the column direction Y are directions that become the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, respectively, when the observer views the image display on the liquid crystal panel 2.

The sub-pixel P is a region serving as a switching unit for bright display (white display) and dark display (black display), and a plurality of sub-pixels P are gathered to form one pixel serving as a display unit. For example,
Sub-pixels P are formed corresponding to each of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), and R, G
, B 3 colors corresponding to each of the three sub-pixels P are gathered to form one pixel. R,
There may be a case where four sub-pixels P obtained by adding one color (for example, blue-green) to the three colors G and B gather to form one pixel. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that one pixel is formed by R, G, and B subpixels.

The element substrate 8 has a projecting portion that projects to the outside of the color filter substrate 9, and the driving IC 13 uses COF (Chip On Glass) using an ACF (Anisotropic Conductive Film) on the projecting portion. ) Implemented by technology. The driving IC 13 receives a control signal from an external control circuit, supplies a scanning signal to the scanning line 11, and supplies a data signal to the signal line 12. The driving IC 13 is not limited to being connected to the liquid crystal panel 2 by the COG technique, but can be connected to the liquid crystal panel 2 via an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) substrate.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the planar structure in the vicinity of one pixel on the element substrate 8 in FIG. 1 is viewed from the substrate normal direction on the liquid crystal layer side. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the planar structure in the vicinity of one pixel of the color filter substrate 9 shown in FIG. 1 is viewed from the substrate normal direction on the observation side (that is, the side opposite to the liquid crystal layer). That is, FIG. 3 shows a state in which the color filter substrate 9 is viewed from the same side as FIG. 4 is shown in FIG.
2 shows a cross-sectional structure along the row direction Y of one sub-pixel P according to the Z _D -Z _D line in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional structure along the row direction X of one sub-pixel P according to the Z _E -Z _E line in FIG.

In FIG. 1, a gap having a predetermined thickness, that is, a so-called cell gap is formed between the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9. The thickness of the cell gap is determined by the gap material included in the seal material 7 and the spacer 1 placed on the surface of the element substrate 8 or the color filter substrate 9.
0 (see FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, the spacer 10 is formed in a columnar shape, for example, on the substrate 8 or the substrate 9 by photolithography. The spacers may be formed by dispersing spherical members on the substrate 8 or the substrate 9. The cell gap formed in this way is indicated by the symbol G in FIG. Liquid crystal is injected into the cell gap G to form a liquid crystal layer 14.

In this embodiment, a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy (Δε> 0) as a liquid crystal (
A so-called positive liquid crystal is used. Reference numeral 19 schematically shows liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal. In this embodiment, the initial alignment of the liquid crystal molecules 19 is set to homogeneous alignment by rubbing, that is, parallel alignment with respect to the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9. The term “parallel alignment” as used herein includes the case where the liquid crystal molecules have a predetermined pretilt angle with respect to the substrate. The liquid crystal layer thickness is 5 μm.

The element substrate 8 has a first light-transmitting substrate 15 as a rectangular or square first substrate when viewed from the direction of arrow A. The first translucent substrate 15 is made of translucent glass, translucent plastic, or the like, for example. A first polarizing plate 16 is attached to the outer surface of the first light transmissive substrate 15. On the other hand, the color filter substrate 9 has a second translucent substrate 17 as a rectangular or square second substrate when viewed from the normal direction of the substrate. The second translucent substrate 17 is formed of, for example, translucent glass, translucent plastic, or the like. Second translucent substrate 1
A second polarizing plate 18 is attached to the outer surface of 7.

The gate line 20 and the common line 2 are formed on the inner surface (that is, the liquid crystal side surface) of the first translucent substrate 15.
1 is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of gate lines 20 are formed extending in the row direction X in parallel with each other. A plurality of common lines 21 are formed extending in the row direction X in parallel with the gate lines 20. The gate line 20 functions as the scanning line 11 in FIG.

In FIG. 4, a gate insulating film 23, which is a planar resin film covering the gate line 20 and the common line 21, is formed, and a source line 24 is formed on the gate insulating film 23 so as to extend in the column direction Y. Yes. The source line 24 functions as the signal line 12 in FIG. In FIG. 2, the gate line 20
A rectangular region surrounded by the source line 24 is a region of the sub-pixel P. In this embodiment, color display is performed by three colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), and the sub-pixel P is a unit pixel corresponding to each color, and is arranged in the row direction. A group of three subpixels P corresponding to three colors constitutes one pixel Px which is a display unit.
Reference numerals (R), (G), and (B) denote a red sub-pixel P (R) and a green sub-pixel P (G), respectively.
), Blue sub-pixels P (B) are arranged in a line in the column direction.

In the vicinity of the intersection of the gate line 20 and the source line 24, a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) element 25 which is an active element functioning as a switching element is provided. The TFT element 25 is formed as a channel etch type polysilicon TFT having a bottom gate structure and a single gate structure. In FIG. 4, the TFT element 25 includes a gate electrode 20 a which is a part of the gate line 20, a gate insulating film 23, a semiconductor film 26 formed using polysilicon, a source electrode 27, and a drain electrode 28. And have. The source electrode 27 and the drain electrode 28 are electrode terminals of the TFT element 25 which is a switching element. The source electrode 27 is branched from the source line 24 as shown in FIG. Although the TFT element 25 of this embodiment has a bottom gate structure, it can also be a top gate structure.

In FIG. 4, a passivation film (protective film) 29 which is a planar resin film for covering the TFT element 25 and the source line 24 is provided on the gate insulating film 23. An overlayer 30 that is a resin film is provided on the passivation film 29, a light reflection film 36 is provided thereon, and a common electrode 22 as a first electrode is provided thereon. Common line 21
The gate insulating film 23, the passivation film 29, and the overlayer 30 in the upper region of
A through hole 33a is formed so as to pass through the common electrode 2 via the through hole 33a.
2 and the common line 21 are conductively connected.

A capacitive insulating film 34 is provided on the common electrode 22, and a pixel electrode 31 as a second electrode is provided thereon. The capacitive insulating film 34 is an insulating film interposed between the common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 31. An alignment film 32 is provided over the entire surface of the element substrate 8 on the pixel electrode 31 and the capacitor insulating film 34. The surface of the alignment film 32 is subjected to an alignment process such as rubbing. In FIG. 2, the alignment film 32 is not shown. In FIG. 4, a through hole 33 b penetrating the passivation film 29, the overlayer 30 and the capacitor insulating film 34 is formed in the upper region of the drain electrode 28 of the TFT element 25, and the pixel electrode 31 and the drain electrode are formed through the through hole 33 b. 28 is conductively connected.

In this embodiment, the source line 24 in FIG. 2 is a signal line, the source electrode 27 of the TFT element 25 extends from the signal line, and the drain electrode 28 of the TFT element 25 is connected to the pixel electrode 3.
1 is connected. Alternatively, the electrode connected to the signal line 24 may be the drain electrode 28, and the electrode connected to the pixel electrode 31 may be the source electrode 29.

As shown in FIG. 4, the overlayer 30 is formed so that the thickness of the portion where the light reflecting film 36 is provided is thinner than the other portions. Such a thin portion can be formed, for example, by patterning the surface of the overlayer 30 by photolithography.
A step surface 30a is formed at the boundary between the thick part and the thin part. The step surface 30a is formed as an inclined surface when patterning is performed by photolithography. Hereinafter, the step surface 30a may be referred to as an inclined surface.

In addition, a concavo-convex pattern 37 composed of a plurality of concave portions or convex portions is formed on the surface of the thin portion of the overlayer 30. For example, the uneven pattern 37 is formed by patterning the surface of the overlayer 30 by photolithography. This patterning can be performed simultaneously with the patterning when the film thickness of the overlayer 30 is reduced.

The light reflecting film 36 is formed by, for example, photoetching Cr (chromium), Al (aluminum), or the like. The light reflecting film 36 is formed on the concavo-convex pattern 37 formed on the overlayer 30. Thereby, an uneven pattern is also formed on the surface of the light reflecting film 36. In this way, by forming the uneven pattern 37 on the surface of the light reflecting film 36, the light reflected by the light reflecting film 36 can be scattered.

The common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 31 are formed by subjecting a light-transmitting metal oxide such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) to a photo-etching process. Gate insulating film 23, passivation film 29, overlayer 30, capacitive insulating film 3
4 is formed of, for example, acrylic resin, SiN (silicon nitride), SiO ₂ (silicon oxide), or the like. The alignment film 32 is made of, for example, polyimide. A first step surface 38 a is formed on the surface of the alignment film 32 on the liquid crystal layer side in accordance with the step surface 30 a of the overlayer 30. In the present embodiment, the thin portion of the overlayer 30 is formed in a strip shape extending in the row direction X and is provided continuously over a plurality of subpixels P. The thin portion of the overlayer 30 can be partially provided in a region corresponding to the light reflecting film 36 of the element substrate 8.

In the present embodiment, the region corresponding to the light reflecting film 36 is the reflective display region R, and the region where the common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 31 overlap in a plan view other than the reflective display region R is the transmissive display region T.
It is. In FIG. 4, the external light L ₀ incident from the normal direction of the substrate is reflected by the light reflecting film 36 in the reflective display region R. On the other hand, the light L _{1 in} FIG. 4 emitted from the illumination device 3 in FIG. ₁ is transmitted through the transmissive display region T.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pixel electrode 31 is formed in a rectangular planar shape corresponding to the sub-pixel P, and has slits 35 serving as a plurality of gaps therein. The slit 35 is a groove-like opening that penetrates the pixel electrode 31, and the capacitor insulating film 34 that is the lower layer of the pixel electrode 31 can be seen through the slit 35. The plurality of slits 35 extend in parallel to the short direction (row direction X) of the sub-pixels P, and are provided at intervals from each other along the longitudinal direction (column direction Y). Between these slits 35, strip-shaped electrode linear portions 31a are formed. In addition, the slit 35 and the electrode linear part 31a which are shown in drawing of this specification are drawn typically, and those actual numbers may differ from what is illustrated.

In the present embodiment, both short sides of the slit 35 are closed, but one of both short sides of the slit 35 can be open. In the open state, each of the plurality of electrode linear portions 31a is in a cantilever state, and is generally comb-shaped. Further, both short sides of the slit 35 can be opened. As described above, in the present embodiment, the sub-pixel P
The common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 3 which are a pair of electrodes on the element substrate 8 which is one substrate in FIG.
1 is provided, and by applying a predetermined voltage between the two electrodes, an electric field substantially parallel to the surface of the element substrate 8, that is, a so-called lateral electric field is formed, and the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer 14 is formed by the lateral electric field. The orientation of the molecules 19 is controlled in a plane substantially parallel to the substrate 8.

In FIG. 4, a colored film 41 constituting a color filter is formed on the inner surface (that is, the liquid crystal side surface) of the second light transmissive substrate 17, and a light shielding film 42 is formed around the colored film 41. Each colored film 41 is formed in a rectangular or square dot shape (that is, an island shape) corresponding to the sub-pixel P as shown in FIG. 3 when viewed from the normal direction of the substrate 17. A plurality of the colored films 41 are arranged in a matrix in the row direction X and the column direction Y. The light shielding film 42 is formed in a lattice shape surrounding the colored films 41.

Each of the colored films 41 is set to an optical characteristic that allows one of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) to pass therethrough. The colored films 41 of R, G, and B are arranged in a stripe arrangement. Yes. In this specification, the reference numerals (R), (G), and (B) attached to the reference numeral 41 indicate that the colors of the colored films are red, green, and blue, respectively. The stripe arrangement is R, G in the column direction Y
, B in the same color, and R, G, B in the row direction X are alternately arranged one by one in order. The colored film 41 of each color is replaced with other arrangements, for example, a mosaic arrangement and a delta arrangement, instead of the stripe arrangement.
Can also be arranged. The optical characteristics of the colored film 41 are not limited to the three colors of R, G, and B, but may be three colors of C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow), or
Other four colors or more can also be used. The light shielding film 42 is formed of a resin having a light shielding property, for example, a black resin containing carbon or the like. The light shielding film 42 can also be formed as a resin film by overlapping two or three colors of colored films 41 of different colors. The light shielding film 42 can also be formed of a metal film such as Cr (chromium).

The R, G, and B colored regions are visible light regions (380 to 7) whose hue changes according to the wavelength.
80 nm), a region composed of a colored region of a red hue, a colored region of a green hue, and a colored region of a blue hue. For example, “B” is a colored region having a wavelength peak of 415 to 500 nm, “G” is a colored region in a wavelength peak of 485 to 535 nm, and “R” is a colored region of 600 nm or more. Of course, since the present invention does not limit the colored region, any other wavelength region can be selected as necessary.

4 and 5, an overcoat layer 43 is formed on the colored film 41 and the light shielding film 42, a liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film is formed thereon, and an alignment film 44 is formed thereon. The overcoat layer 43 is a layer that covers the colored film 41 and the light shielding film 42 and is provided in a planar shape (solid shape). The colored film 41 is formed, for example, by mixing a pigment or a dye with a photosensitive resin material. The overcoat layer 43 is made of, for example, an acrylic resin. This overcoat layer 43 functions as a protective film that prevents the constituent material of the color filter from being mixed into the liquid crystal and a flattening film that flattens the surface of the color filter. The alignment film 44 is formed of polyimide, and the surface thereof is rubbed, that is, subjected to an alignment process.

In the present embodiment, the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film 45 is formed as a retardation film. The retardation film is formed so that, for example, a liquid crystal polymer is uniformly formed with a thickness of 2 to 3 μm, and then a portion corresponding to the reflective display region R is left by a patterning method based on a photolithography method. Both ends of the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film 45 are stepped surfaces 45a, and the stepped surfaces 45a are formed as inclined surfaces in the patterning process based on the photolithography method. Hereinafter, the step surface 45a may be referred to as an inclined surface. The step surface 45a extends from the surface of the overcoat layer 43 in a strip shape in the row direction X (in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface) at an angle of 90 ° or less. That is, the step surface 45
a is an inclined surface on which the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film 45 continuously changes. This step 4
Due to 5a, a second step surface 38b is formed on the surface of the color filter substrate 9 on the liquid crystal layer side, that is, on the surface of the alignment film 44.

As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film 45 is provided on the overcoat layer 43 at a position facing the light reflecting film 36 on the element substrate 8. The liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film 45 is
As shown in FIG. 3, it is formed in a strip shape extending in the row direction X, and is provided continuously over a plurality of subpixels P. The liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film 45 may be provided in an island shape in a region corresponding to the light reflecting film 36 of the element substrate 8. The retardation (Δnd) of the layer thickness adjusting film (retardation film) 45 is set to a half wavelength. In FIG. 2, the step surface 45a and the light reflecting film 3 are shown.
6 is depicted with a slight deviation from the end side, but in actuality, the stepped surface 45a and the end side of the light reflecting film 36 substantially overlap each other.

The liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film is generally a film for forming a so-called multi-gap structure in which a liquid crystal layer has a different thickness in a reflective display region and a transmissive display region in a transflective liquid crystal device. This multi-gap structure is used to realize different optimum retardation values in the reflective display area and the transmissive display area by adjusting the liquid crystal layer thickness using the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film.

Specifically, in FIG. 4, the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film 45 is provided corresponding to the reflective display region R and is not provided in the region corresponding to the transmissive display region T. For this reason, the layer thickness d ₀ of the liquid crystal layer 14 in the reflective display region R is thinner than the layer thickness d ₁ of the liquid crystal layer 14 in the transmissive display region T. By thus adjusting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 14, and the case of the reflective display light L ₀ in the reflective display area R passes through the liquid crystal layer 14 twice, the light L ₁ is in the transmissive display region T Optimum retardation (Δnd) for each case of transmissive display that passes through the liquid crystal layer 14 only once.
Can be. However, “Δn” indicates the refractive index anisotropy, and “d” indicates the liquid crystal layer thickness.

In the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment, the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film 45 provided in the region corresponding to the reflective display region R is formed using a retardation film. At this time, retardation of the retardation film 45
(Δnd) is set to ½ wavelength, and retardation (Δnd) of the liquid crystal layer in the reflection region R is set to ¼ wavelength. Thus, in the reflective display region R, the retardation (Δnd) of the reflective display region R can be set to a quarter wavelength of a broadband that is optimal for reflective display by the retardation film 46 and the liquid crystal layer.

The retardation film 45 and the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film 45 are not shared and can be provided separately. For example, the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film 45 can be provided on the surface of the color filter substrate 9 on the liquid crystal side, and the retardation film 45 can be provided on the outer surface of the color filter substrate 9. The retardation film 45 provided outside the color filter substrate 9 may be formed by adhering a film-like retardation film, instead of being formed by patterning according to a photolithography method.

Next, rubbing applied to the alignment films 32 and 44 will be described. Rubbing is generally
This is performed by rubbing the surface of the alignment film with a rubbing cloth (for example, a flocking cloth) wound around a rotating cylindrical roller. Specifically, rubbing is performed in a predetermined direction by moving a roller around which the rubbing cloth is wound in a predetermined direction along the alignment film surface while rotating the roller while being in contact with the surface of the alignment film. Liquid crystal molecules are aligned in the rubbing direction.

FIG. 8A shows the relationship of the shaft arrangement. Reference numeral 135 indicates the extending direction of the slit (gap) 35 of the pixel electrode 31 in FIG. 2 (and hence the extending direction of the electrode linear portion 31a). Symbol R
Reference numeral 1 denotes a rubbing direction on the element substrate 8 side in FIG. Reference numeral R2 indicates the rubbing direction on the color filter substrate 9 side in FIG. Reference numeral 138 indicates the extending direction of the first step surface 38a in FIG. Reference numeral 138 also indicates the extending direction of the second step surface 38b in FIG. Reference numeral 116 indicates the direction of the transmission axis of the first polarizing plate 16 on the backlight side in FIG. Reference numeral 118 indicates the direction of the transmission axis of the second polarizing plate 18 on the observation side in FIG.

The relationship of the axial arrangement will be described with reference to FIG. 8A. The slit 35 of the pixel electrode 31 in FIG.
Extends in the short direction of the sub-pixel P (the horizontal direction in FIG. 2) (direction 135 in FIG. 8A).
An angle β in the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate 8 side with respect to the slit 35 is defined as β = 5 ° (direction R1 in FIG. 8A). The rubbing direction R2 on the color filter substrate 9 side in FIG.
It is antiparallel to the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate 8 side (FIG. 8A).
Direction R2). The step surface 38a in FIG. 2 and 38b in FIG. 3 extend in the row direction X (see FIG.
138)), the slit 35 of the pixel electrode 31 of FIG. 2 (that is, the electrode linear portion 31a).
) In the direction parallel to the extending direction. Therefore, the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate side in FIG.
And the first step surface 38a and the rubbing direction R2 on the color filter substrate side of FIG.
The angle α formed with 8b is α = 5 °.

In FIG. 4, the transmission axes of the first polarizing plate 16 on the element substrate 8 side (backlight side) and the second polarizing plate 18 on the color filter substrate 9 side (observation side) are perpendicular to each other (FIG. 8A). , And the transmission axis (118) of the second polarizing plate 18 on the observation side is perpendicular to the rubbing directions R1 and R2, and the transmission axis (116) of the first polarizing plate 16 on the backlight side is It is parallel to the rubbing directions R1, R2.

When transmissive display is performed in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, planar light emitted from the light emitting surface 5b of the light guide 5 of the illumination device 3 in FIG. 1 is supplied into the transmissive display region T in FIG. Is done. The supplied light L ₁ is linearly polarized by the first polarizing plate 16 and enters the liquid crystal layer 14. When the off-voltage is applied, the vibration direction of the polarized light is parallel to the liquid crystal alignment direction (reference numeral 116 in FIG. 8A).
The phase difference is not given by the liquid crystal layer 14. This linearly polarized light is absorbed by the second polarizing plate 18 and is not emitted to the outside. Thereby, dark display with low transmittance can be realized. When an on-voltage is applied, the phase of the polarized light incident on the liquid crystal layer 14 is modulated by the liquid crystal layer 14, passes through the second polarizing plate 18, and is emitted to the outside for a bright display. In this embodiment, since the orientation of liquid crystal molecules is controlled in the plane parallel to the substrate when an on-voltage is applied, bright display with a wide viewing angle is realized as compared with the case of vertical electric field control in which the orientation is controlled in the vertical direction. The transmissive display region T has a retardation film 4.
Since 5 does not exist, an excessive phase difference does not occur in the viewing angle direction, and dark display with a wide viewing angle can be realized.

On the other hand, when reflective display is performed, the light L ₀ is supplied from the outside to the color filter substrate 9. This light is converted into linearly polarized light by the second polarizing plate 18, passes through the liquid crystal layer 14, is reflected by the light reflecting film 36, and then passes through the second polarizing plate 18 again toward the viewer side. This optical path is different from that in the transmissive display described above, and the phase difference of light is different between the reflective display area and the transmissive display area. In this state, the display state may not be uniform when the same voltage is applied to the reflective display area and the transmissive display area. For example, the dark display and the bright display may be reversed.

In this regard, in the present embodiment, the retardation (Δnd) of the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film 45 that is a retardation film corresponding to the reflective display region R is set to a half wavelength, and the retardation of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective region R ( Δnd) is set to a quarter wavelength. Thus, in the reflective display region R, the retardation (Δnd) of the reflective display region R can be set to a quarter wavelength of a wide band optimum for reflective display by the retardation film 45 and the liquid crystal layer. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the retardation film 45 is used.
Is provided only in the reflective display region R and not in the transmissive display region T, and thus the viewing angle characteristics of dark display in the transmissive display region T are not deteriorated.

In the reflective display region R, when the off-voltage is applied, the second polarizing plate 18, the retardation film 45, and the liquid crystal layer 1
The light that has passed through 4 becomes circularly polarized light and enters the light reflecting film 36. The second polarizing plate 18 again after reflection
The polarized light incident on is absorbed by the second polarizing plate 18 and is not emitted to the outside. Thereby, dark display with low transmittance can be realized. When an on-voltage is applied, the phase of the polarized light incident on the liquid crystal layer 14 is modulated by the liquid crystal layer 14, passes through the second polarizing plate 18, and is emitted to the outside for a bright display.

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of the vicinity of the boundary between the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T in FIG. In the following description, a plurality of elements provided on the first translucent substrate 15, that is, the overlayer 30, the light reflection film 36, the pixel electrode 31, the alignment film 32, and the like are collectively referred to as a first substrate element 8a. . In addition, a plurality of elements provided on the second translucent substrate 17, that is, the colored film 41, the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film 45, the alignment film 44, and the like are collectively referred to as a second substrate element 9a.

In FIG. 6, the height from the first translucent substrate 15 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the reflective display region R (that is, from the liquid crystal layer 14 of the first substrate element 8a provided on the first translucent substrate 15). Height) H _1R is the height H from the first translucent substrate 15 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the transmissive display region T.
_It is lower than _1T (H _1R <H _1T ). Accordingly, the first step surface 38a is formed at the boundary between the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T. The first step surface 38a is formed as an inclined surface whose surface faces the reflective display region R side. The first step surface 38a is formed as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, it extends in the direction parallel to the short direction X of the sub-pixel P (see 13 in FIG. 8A).
(See 8 directions).

On the other hand, the height from the second translucent substrate 17 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the reflective display region R (that is, the height from the second substrate element 9a on the second translucent substrate 17 to the liquid crystal layer 14) H _2R. Is higher than the height H _2T from the second translucent substrate 17 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the transmissive display region T (H _2R > H _2T ). Accordingly, the second step surface 38b is formed at the boundary between the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T. The second step surface 38b is formed as an inclined surface whose surface faces the transmissive display region T side. As shown in FIG. 3, the second step surface 38b extends in a direction parallel to the short direction X of the sub-pixel P (see the direction 138 in FIG. 8A).

Both the first step surface 38 a and the second step surface 38 b extend in the direction parallel to the short direction X of the sub-pixel P at the boundary between the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T. Therefore, the first step surface 3
8a and the second step surface 38b overlap each other in plan view. In the present embodiment, the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate 8 side and the rubbing direction R2 on the color filter substrate 9 side are antiparallel (
Anti-parallel). In FIG. 6, the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate 8 side is the direction from the front side to the back side of the paper, and the rubbing direction R2 on the color filter substrate 9 side is the direction from the back side to the front side of the paper surface.

By the way, a conventional liquid crystal device of a transflective type and having a multi-gap structure generally has a stepped surface formed on the liquid crystal layer side surface of one substrate by the edge of the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film. The liquid crystal layer side surface of the other substrate is substantially flat. Since the alignment state differs between when the step surface is rubbed and when the flat surface is rubbed, there is a difference in the state of the rubbing treatment on the alignment film between one substrate and the other substrate in the vicinity of the step surface. May occur and a difference may occur in the alignment state on the alignment film. Due to this difference in alignment state, there is a possibility that alignment failure may occur near the step surface. In particular, in a horizontal electric field type liquid crystal device, the rubbing direction on one substrate side and the rubbing direction on the other substrate are antiparallel (anti-parallel).
There is a high possibility that the difference in the orientation state affects the display.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the height H _1R from the first translucent substrate 15 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the reflective display region R is set to the first translucent substrate 15 in the transmissive display region T. from the fact that lower than the height H _1T to the liquid crystal layer 14, to form a first stepped surface 38a at the boundary between the transmissive display region T and the reflective display region R. Further, the height H _2R from the second translucent substrate 17 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the reflective display region R is set to the second translucent substrate 17 in the transmissive display region T.
By the higher than the height H _2T to the liquid crystal layer 14, to form a second stepped surface 38b at the boundary between the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T. As described above, if step surfaces are provided on both the liquid crystal layer side surface of the element substrate 8 and the liquid crystal layer side surface of the color filter substrate 9 facing the element substrate 8, the alignment state of the liquid crystal is changed between that on the element substrate 8 and the color. They can be aligned on the filter substrate 9.

In the present embodiment, the first step surface 38a and the second step surface 38b overlap each other in plan view and face each other with the liquid crystal layer 14 in between. Since the rubbing direction of the alignment film 32 and the rubbing direction of the alignment film 44 are antiparallel, both the alignment film 32 and the alignment film 44 are rubbed in the same state when viewed from the liquid crystal layer 14 side. By doing so, the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9 facing each other are rubbed under the same conditions, so that the alignment state can be made uniform between the substrate 8 and the substrate 9.

As described above, by aligning the alignment states of the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9 facing each other, it is possible to prevent display contrast from being lowered due to poor alignment of liquid crystals.

(Second Embodiment of Liquid Crystal Device)
FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the liquid crystal device according to the present invention. The overall configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The cross-sectional structure along the column direction Y of Z _D -Z _D line one sub-pixel P in accordance with in FIG. 7 is the same as the sectional structure shown in FIG. 4 in the first embodiment. Further, the cross-sectional structure along the row direction X of one sub-pixel according to the Z _E -Z _E line in FIG. 7 is the same as the cross-sectional structure shown in FIG. 5 in the first embodiment.

The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is that the slit shape of the pixel electrode on the element substrate 8 and the rubbing direction are modified. In this embodiment, the same members as those in FIG. 2 and FIG.

In the present embodiment, the configuration of the color filter substrate 9 is the same as that shown in FIG. 3 except for the rubbing direction. The rubbing direction R2 is the element substrate 8 for convenience of explanation.
FIG. 7 shows a direction parallel to the rubbing direction R1 on the side. In FIG. 7, the pixel electrode 51
The slit 55 (that is, the electrode linear portion 51a) as a gap provided therein is inclined with respect to the short direction (row direction) X of the sub-pixel P and extends linearly.

FIG. 8B shows the axial arrangement relationship of the optical axes in the liquid crystal device of this embodiment. Reference numeral 155 indicates the extending direction of the slit (gap) 55 (that is, the electrode linear portion 51a) of the pixel electrode 51 of FIG. Reference numeral R1 indicates the rubbing direction on the element substrate 8 side in FIG.
Reference numeral R2 indicates the rubbing direction on the color filter substrate 9 side in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the slit 55 of the pixel electrode 51 in FIG. 7 extends at an angle of 5 ° with respect to the short direction of the sub-pixel P (the left-right direction in FIG. 7) (FIG. 8 ( direction b) 155). An angle β in the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate 8 side with respect to the slit 55 is defined as β = 5 ° (direction R1 in FIG. 8B). The rubbing direction R2 on the color filter substrate 9 side in FIG. 3 is antiparallel to the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate 8 side (direction R2 in FIG. 8B), and the first step surface 38a and The direction is parallel to the second step surface 38b (1 in FIG. 8B).
38 directions). The step surfaces 38a and 38b extend in the short direction X of the sub-pixel P and extend in a direction inclined by 5 ° with respect to the extending direction of the slit 55 (that is, the electrode linear portion 51a) of the pixel electrode 51 in FIG. Exist. Therefore, the rubbing direction R1 and the first step surface 38a on the element substrate side in FIG.
3 and the rubbing direction R2 on the color filter substrate side and the second step surface 38b are parallel (α =
0 °).

In FIG. 4, the transmission axes of the first polarizing plate 16 on the element substrate 8 side (backlight side) and the second polarizing plate 18 on the color filter substrate 9 side (observation side) are perpendicular to each other (FIG. 8B). , And the transmission axis (118) of the second polarizing plate 18 on the observation side is perpendicular to the rubbing directions R1 and R2, and the transmission axis (116) of the first polarizing plate 16 on the backlight side is It is parallel to the rubbing directions R1, R2.

Also in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the first translucent substrate 1 in the reflective display region R.
5 to the liquid crystal layer 14 (that is, the height from the liquid crystal layer 14 of the first substrate element 8a on the first light transmissive substrate 15) H _1R to the first light transmissive substrate 15 in the transmissive display region T. From liquid crystal layer 1
By the lower than the height H _1T to 4, to form a first stepped surface 38a at the boundary between the transmissive display region T and the reflective display region R. Further, the height from the second light transmitting substrate 17 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the reflective display region R (that is, the height to the liquid crystal layer 14 of the second substrate element 9a on the second light transmitting substrate 17) H _{2R. Is} made higher than the height H _2T from the second translucent substrate 17 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the transmissive display region T, thereby forming a second step surface 38b at the boundary between the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T. did. As described above, if step surfaces are provided on both the liquid crystal layer side surface of the element substrate 8 and the liquid crystal layer side surface of the color filter substrate 9 facing the element substrate 8, the alignment state of the liquid crystal is changed between that on the element substrate 8 and the color. They can be aligned on the filter substrate 9.

In the present embodiment, the first step surface 38a and the second step surface 38b overlap each other in plan view and face each other with the liquid crystal layer 14 in between. By doing so, the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9 facing each other are rubbed under the same conditions, so that the alignment state can be made uniform between the substrate 8 and the substrate 9.

(Third embodiment of liquid crystal device)
FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the liquid crystal device according to the present invention. The overall configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The cross-sectional structure along the column direction Y of Z _D -Z _D line 1 in accordance with the sub-pixel P in FIG. 9 is the same as the sectional structure shown in FIG. 4 in the first embodiment. Further, the cross-sectional structure along the row direction X of one sub-pixel according to the Z _E -Z _E line in FIG. 9 is the same as the cross-sectional structure shown in FIG. 5 in the first embodiment. The configuration of the color filter substrate 9 is the same as that shown in FIG. 3 except for the rubbing direction. Note that the rubbing direction R2 is shown in FIG. 9 in a direction opposite to the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate 8 side for convenience of explanation.

This embodiment is different from the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in that the slit extending direction is different by changing the slit shape and rubbing direction of the pixel electrode on the element substrate 8. The two domains are provided in the pixel electrode. Hereinafter, the liquid crystal device of this embodiment will be described in detail.

In FIG. 9, a slit 65a (that is, the electrode linear portion 61a) is formed in the upper region in the pixel electrode 61 so as to extend in the downward-left direction. In the lower region of the pixel electrode 61, a slit 65b (that is, the electrode linear portion 61b) is formed to extend in the right downward direction.

FIG. 12A shows the axial arrangement relationship of the optical axes in the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment. Reference numeral 165a indicates the extending direction of the slit (gap) 65a (that is, the electrode linear portion 61a) in the upper region of the pixel electrode 61 in FIG. Reference numeral 165b denotes a pixel electrode 61 in FIG.
The extending direction of the slit (gap) 65b (that is, the electrode linear portion 61b) in the lower region of FIG. Reference numeral R1 indicates the rubbing direction on the element substrate 8 side in FIG. Reference numeral R2 indicates the rubbing direction on the color filter substrate 9 side in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 12A, the upper slit 65a and the lower slit 65b of the pixel electrode 61 in FIG. 9 extend at an angle of 5 ° with respect to the short direction (left-right direction in the figure) of the sub-pixel P. (Directions 165a and 165b in FIG. 12A). Thus, the two slits 65a and 65b
The orientation directions of the liquid crystal molecules 19 in the sub-pixel P when the electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer (that is, the directions in which the liquid crystal molecules 19 move in the plane) are changed in two different directions. Can be divided. Due to the difference in the orientation direction, the azimuth angle dependence of the viewing angle characteristics in the two domains in the sub-pixel P is offset, and the viewing angle characteristics can be improved.

In FIG. 12A, the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate 8 side with respect to the upper slit 65a.
Is defined as βa = 5 °. On the other hand, the angle βb in the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate 8 side with respect to the lower slit 65b is defined as βb = 5 ° (direction R1 in FIG. 12A). The rubbing direction R2 on the color filter substrate 9 side in FIG. 3 is antiparallel to the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate 8 side (direction R2 in FIG. 12A), and the first step surface 38a and The direction is parallel to the second step surface 38b (see direction 138 in FIG. 12A).
. The step surfaces 38a and 38b extend in the short direction X of the sub-pixel P, and extend in a direction inclined by 5 ° with respect to the extending direction of the upper slit 65a and the lower slit 65b of the pixel electrode 61 in FIG. Yes. Therefore, the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate side in FIG. 9 and the first step surface 38a and the rubbing direction R2 on the color filter substrate side in FIG. 3 and the second step surface 38b are parallel (α = 0 °).

In FIG. 4, the transmission axes of the first polarizing plate 16 on the element substrate 8 side (backlight side) and the second polarizing plate 18 on the color filter substrate 9 side (observation side) are perpendicular to each other (FIG. 12A). , And the transmission axis (118) of the second polarizing plate 18 on the observation side is perpendicular to the rubbing directions R1 and R2, and the transmission axis (116) of the first polarizing plate 16 on the backlight side is It is parallel to the rubbing directions R1, R2.

Also in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the first translucent substrate 1 in the reflective display region R.
5 to the liquid crystal layer 14 (that is, the height from the liquid crystal layer 14 of the first substrate element 8a on the first light transmissive substrate 15) H _1R to the first light transmissive substrate 15 in the transmissive display region T. From liquid crystal layer 1
By the lower than the height H _1T to 4, to form a first stepped surface 38a at the boundary between the transmissive display region T and the reflective display region R. Further, the height from the second light transmitting substrate 17 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the reflective display region R (that is, the height to the liquid crystal layer 14 of the second substrate element 9a on the second light transmitting substrate 17) H _{2R. Is} made higher than the height H _2T from the second translucent substrate 17 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the transmissive display region T, thereby forming a second step surface 38b at the boundary between the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T. did. As described above, if step surfaces are provided on both the liquid crystal layer side surface of the element substrate 8 and the liquid crystal layer side surface of the color filter substrate 9 facing the element substrate 8, the alignment state of the liquid crystal is changed between that on the element substrate 8 and the color. They can be aligned on the filter substrate 9.

In the present embodiment, the first step surface 38a and the second step surface 38b overlap each other in plan view and face each other with the liquid crystal layer 14 in between. By doing so, the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9 facing each other are rubbed under the same conditions, so that the alignment state can be made uniform between the substrate 8 and the substrate 9.

(Fourth Embodiment of Liquid Crystal Device)
FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of a liquid crystal device according to the present invention. The overall configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is that the slit shape of the pixel electrode on the element substrate 8 and the rubbing direction are modified. In this embodiment, the same members as those in FIG. 2 and FIG.

In the present embodiment, the configuration of the color filter substrate 9 is the same as that shown in FIG. 3 except for the rubbing direction. The rubbing direction R2 is the element substrate 8 for convenience of explanation.
FIG. 10 shows a direction opposite to the rubbing direction R1 on the side. FIG. 11 shows Z _N − of FIG.
Z _N section, i.e., shows a cross section of a boundary portion between the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T. In FIG. 10, a slit 75 (that is, electrode linear portion 71 a) as a gap provided in the pixel electrode 71 extends in a straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction (column direction) Y of the sub-pixel P. . In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 11, a cross section on the electrode linear portion 71a of the pixel electrode 71 is shown, and the slit 75 is not shown.

FIG. 12B shows an axial arrangement relationship of the optical axes in the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment. Reference numeral 175 denotes a slit (gap) 75 (that is, the electrode linear portion 71a) of the pixel electrode 71 of FIG.
) Indicates the extending direction. Symbol R1 indicates the rubbing direction on the element substrate 8 side in FIG. Reference numeral R2 indicates the rubbing direction on the color filter substrate 9 side in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 12B, the slit 75 of the pixel electrode 71 in FIG. 10 extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the sub-pixel P (vertical direction in FIG. 10) (FIG. 12B). Direction 175
). An angle β in the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate 8 side with respect to the slit 75 is defined as β = 5 ° (direction R1 in FIG. 12B). The rubbing direction R on the color filter substrate 9 side in FIG.
2 is antiparallel to the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate 8 side (see FIG. 1).
2 (b) direction R2), which is a direction inclined by 85 ° with respect to the first step surface 38a and the second step surface 38b (see direction 138 in FIG. 12B). In FIG. 11, the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate 8 side is a direction from the right side to the left side as indicated by an arrow R1. On the other hand, the rubbing direction R2 on the color filter substrate 9 side is the direction from the left side to the right side as indicated by the arrow R2.

The step surfaces 38a and 38b extend in the short direction X of the sub-pixel P and extend in a direction inclined by 90 ° with respect to the extending direction of the slit 75 (that is, the electrode linear portion 71a) of the pixel electrode 71 in FIG. Exist. Therefore, the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate side in FIG. 10 and the first step surface 38a and FIG.
The angle α formed by the rubbing direction R2 on the color filter substrate side and the second step surface 38b is α = 8.
5 °.

In FIG. 4, the transmission axes of the first polarizing plate 16 on the element substrate 8 side (backlight side) and the second polarizing plate 18 on the color filter substrate 9 side (observation side) are perpendicular to each other (FIG. 8B). , And the transmission axis (118) of the second polarizing plate 18 on the observation side is perpendicular to the rubbing directions R1 and R2, and the transmission axis (116) of the first polarizing plate 16 on the backlight side is It is parallel to the rubbing directions R1, R2.

Also in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the height from the first light transmitting substrate 15 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the reflective display region R (that is, the first substrate element 8a on the first light transmitting substrate 15). by the lower than the height H _1T of the height) H _1R to the liquid crystal layer 14 from the first light-transmissive substrate 15 in the transmissive display region T to the liquid crystal layer 14 of the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T A first step surface 38a is formed at the boundary between the first step surface 38a and the second step surface 38a. Further, the second translucent substrate 17 in the reflective display region R.
From the second light-transmissive substrate 17 in the height (i.e., height to the liquid crystal layer 14 of the second board element 9a on the second light-transmitting substrate 17) H _2R transmissive display area T to the liquid crystal layer 14 from Liquid crystal layer 14
By making the height higher than the height _H2T , the second step surface 38b was formed at the boundary between the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T. As described above, if step surfaces are provided on both the liquid crystal layer side surface of the element substrate 8 and the liquid crystal layer side surface of the color filter substrate 9 facing the element substrate 8, the alignment state of the liquid crystal is changed between that on the element substrate 8 and the color. They can be aligned on the filter substrate 9.

In the present embodiment, the first step surface 38a and the second step surface 38b overlap each other in plan view and face each other with the liquid crystal layer 14 in between. By doing so, the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9 facing each other are rubbed under the same conditions, so that the alignment state can be made uniform between the substrate 8 and the substrate 9.

Further, in the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The alignment film 44 is rubbed in a direction from the position facing a to the first step surface 38a (that is, in the direction of arrow R1 in FIG. 11), and the alignment film 44 is moved from the position facing the second step surface 38b to the second step surface 38b.
Is rubbed in the direction toward (ie, the direction of arrow R2 in FIG. 11). This way, the first
A strong rubbing force can be applied to the stepped surface 38a and the second stepped surface 38b, and occurrence of poor alignment of liquid crystal molecules can be reliably prevented.

(Other embodiments)
The liquid crystal device according to the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims.
For example, although the TFT element is used as the switching element in the above embodiment, a three-terminal switching element other than the TFT element can also be used. Also, TFD (Thin Film Di
A two-terminal switching element such as ode (thin film diode) can also be used.
In the above embodiment, the FFS mode having an electrode structure in which the electrode linear portion of the pixel electrode and the common electrode overlap each other in plan view is illustrated. However, in the present invention, the IPS mode, that is, the electrode linear portions of the pixel electrode and the electrode linear portions of the common electrode do not overlap in plan view, and a space is provided between the electrode linear portions in the substrate parallel direction. The present invention can also be applied to a display mode having an electrode structure.

In each of the above embodiments, a liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy, that is, a so-called positive liquid crystal is used as the liquid crystal. Instead, a liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy, that is, a so-called negative liquid crystal is used. It can also be used. When this negative liquid crystal is used, the rubbing direction changes by 90 ° compared to the case where the positive liquid crystal is used.

In each of the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to a horizontal electric field type liquid crystal device such as an FFS mode or an IPS mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is applied to a vertical electric field type liquid crystal device using TN liquid crystal. The invention can also be applied.

(First Embodiment of Electronic Device)
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the invention will be described. In addition, this embodiment shows an example of this invention and this invention is not limited to this embodiment. FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the invention. The electronic apparatus shown here is a liquid crystal device 101.
And a control circuit 102 for controlling the same. The liquid crystal device 101 includes a liquid crystal panel 103 and a drive circuit 104. The control circuit 102 includes a display information output source 105, a display information processing circuit 106, a power supply circuit 107, and a timing generator 108.

The display information output source 105 includes a memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a storage unit such as various disks, a tuning circuit that tunes and outputs a digital image signal, and various clock signals generated by the timing generator 108. The display information processing circuit 106 is supplied with display information such as a predetermined format image signal.

The display information processing circuit 106 includes a number of well-known circuits such as an amplification / inversion circuit, a rotation circuit, a gamma correction circuit, a clamp circuit, and the like, executes processing of input display information, and converts an image signal into a clock signal CLK. At the same time, it is supplied to the drive circuit 104. Here, the drive circuit 104 is a generic term for an inspection circuit and the like together with a scanning line drive circuit and a data line drive circuit. The power supply circuit 107 supplies a predetermined power supply voltage to each of the above components.

The liquid crystal device 101 can be configured using, for example, the liquid crystal device 1 shown in FIG. According to the liquid crystal device 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the height H _1R from the first translucent substrate 15 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the reflective display region R is set to the first translucent substrate 15 in the transmissive display region T. lower than the height H _1T to the liquid crystal layer 14 from the liquid crystal layer 1 from the second light-transmissive substrate 17 in the reflective display area R
By making the height H _2R up to 4 higher than the height H _2T from the second translucent substrate 17 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the transmissive display region T, the surface of the element substrate 8 on the liquid crystal layer side and the color filter substrate 9
Step surfaces 38a and 38b are provided on both the liquid crystal layer side surface. As a result, the alignment of the liquid crystal can be made uniform on the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9 at the stepped surfaces 38a and 38b, so that the display contrast is reduced due to the poor alignment of the liquid crystal. Can be prevented. Therefore, even in the electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment configured using the liquid crystal device 1, it is possible to prevent display contrast from being lowered and to perform high-quality image display.

(Second Embodiment of Electronic Device)
FIG. 14 shows a mobile phone which is another embodiment of the electronic apparatus according to the invention. A cellular phone 110 shown here includes a main body 111 and a display body 112 that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body 111. The display body 112 includes a display device 113 and a receiver 114.
Is provided. Various displays relating to telephone communication are displayed on the display screen 115 of the display device 113. A control unit for controlling the operation of the display device 113 is stored inside the main body unit 111 or the display body unit 112 as a part of the control unit that controls the entire mobile phone or separately from the control unit. The The main body 111 is provided with an operation button 116 and a transmitter 117.

The display device 113 can be configured using, for example, the liquid crystal device 1 shown in FIG. According to the liquid crystal device 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the height H _1R from the first translucent substrate 15 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the reflective display region R is set to the first translucent substrate 15 in the transmissive display region T. lower than the height H _1T to the liquid crystal layer 14 from the liquid crystal layer 1 from the second light-transmissive substrate 17 in the reflective display area R
By making the height H _2R up to 4 higher than the height H _2T from the second translucent substrate 17 to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the transmissive display region T, the surface of the element substrate 8 on the liquid crystal layer side and the color filter substrate 9
Step surfaces 38a and 38b are provided on both the liquid crystal layer side surface. As a result, the alignment of the liquid crystal can be made uniform on the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9 at the stepped surfaces 38a and 38b, so that the display contrast is reduced due to the poor alignment of the liquid crystal. Can be prevented. Therefore, even in the electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment configured using the liquid crystal device 1, it is possible to prevent display contrast from being lowered and to perform high-quality image display.

(Other embodiments)
The electronic device of the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims. For example, the present invention is not limited to a mobile phone, but a personal computer, a liquid crystal television, a viewfinder type or a monitor direct-view type video tape recorder, a car navigation device, a pager, an electronic notebook, a calculator, a word processor, a workstation, a videophone device, PO
The present invention can be applied to various electronic devices such as an S terminal, a digital still camera, and an electronic book.

1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a liquid crystal device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the vicinity of one pixel on one substrate constituting the liquid crystal device of FIG. 1. It is a top view which shows the 1 pixel vicinity on the other board | substrate which comprises the liquid crystal device of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the column direction in the sub-pixel according to the Z _D -Z _D line in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the row direction in the sub-pixel according to the Z _E -Z _E line of FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a boundary between a reflective display area and a transmissive display area in FIG. 4. It is a figure which shows the principal part of other embodiment of the liquid crystal device which concerns on this invention, Comprising: It is a top view which shows especially 1 pixel vicinity on one board | substrate. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an axial arrangement relationship of optical axes in a liquid crystal device, where (a) illustrates an axial arrangement relationship in FIG. 2, and (b) illustrates an axial arrangement relationship in FIG. It is a figure which shows the principal part of other embodiment of the liquid crystal device which concerns on this invention, Comprising: It is a top view which shows especially 1 pixel vicinity on one board | substrate. It is a figure which shows the principal part of other embodiment of the liquid crystal device which concerns on this invention, Comprising: It is a top view which shows especially 1 pixel vicinity on one board | substrate. Is a sectional view taken along _Z N -Z _N line in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an axial arrangement relationship of optical axes in a liquid crystal device, where (a) illustrates an axial arrangement relationship in FIG. 9, and (b) illustrates an axial arrangement relationship in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the electronic device which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the mobile telephone which is other Embodiment of the electronic device which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1. 1. liquid crystal device 2. Liquid crystal panel 3. lighting device; LED, 5. Light guide,
5a. Light incident surface, 5b. 6. light exit surface; Seal material, 8. Element substrate,
8a. 8. first substrate element; A color filter substrate, 9a. A second substrate element,
10. Spacer, 11. 11. scanning line; 12. signal line; Driving IC,
14 Liquid crystal layer, 15. First translucent substrate (first substrate), 16. First polarizing plate,
17. Second light-transmitting substrate (second substrate), 18. Second polarizing plate, 19. Liquid crystal molecules,
20. Gate line, 21. Common line, 22. Common electrode (first electrode),
23. Gate insulating film, 24. Source line, 25. TFT element, 26. Semiconductor film,
27. Source electrode, 28. Drain electrode, 29. Passivation film,
30. Overlayer, 30a. Step surface,
31, 51, 61, 71. Pixel electrode (second electrode),
31a, 61a, 61b, 71a. Electrode linear part, 32. A first alignment film,
33a, 33b. Through hole, 34. Capacitive insulating film,
35, 55, 65a, 65b. Slit (gap), 36. Light reflecting film,
37. Uneven shape pattern, 38a. First step surface, 38b. Second step surface,
41. Colored film, 42. Light shielding film, 43. Overcoat layer, 44. A second alignment film,
45, 85. Layer thickness adjusting film (retardation film), 45a, 85a. Step surface,
101. Liquid crystal device, 102. Control circuit, 103. Liquid crystal panel, 104. Drive circuit,
110. Mobile phones (electronic devices), D0. Electrode spacing, G. Cell gap,
H _1R . The height of the first substrate element in the reflective display area;
H _1T . The height of the first substrate element in the transmissive display area;
H _2R . The height of the second substrate element in the reflective display area,
H _2T . The height of the second substrate element in the transmissive display area; Sub-pixel,
R1, R2. Rubbing direction, X. Row direction (short direction of sub-pixel),
Y. Column direction (longitudinal direction of sub-pixel); Indicated Area

Claims (12)

A liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate;
A light reflecting film provided on the liquid crystal layer side of the first substrate;
A plurality of sub-pixels arranged in a plane of the first substrate and the second substrate,
The sub-pixel includes a reflective display region that performs display using light reflected by the light reflective film, and a transmissive display region that performs display using light transmitted through a region where the light reflective film is not provided. Have
The layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region is smaller than the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region,
The height from the first substrate to the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region is lower than the height from the first substrate to the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region,
A liquid crystal device, wherein a height from the second substrate to the liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region is higher than a height from the second substrate to the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display region. 2. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein a first step surface formed on a boundary between the reflective display area and the transmissive display area on the liquid crystal layer side surface of the first substrate, and the second substrate. A second step surface formed on the surface of the liquid crystal layer at the boundary between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region overlaps each other in a plan view. The liquid crystal device according to claim 2.
A first alignment film is provided on a surface of the first substrate that is in contact with the liquid crystal layer, and the first alignment film is rubbed in a direction from the side facing the first step surface to the first step surface,
A second alignment film is provided on a surface of the second substrate in contact with the liquid crystal layer, and the second alignment film is rubbed in a direction from the side facing the second step surface toward the second step surface. A liquid crystal device characterized by the above. 4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 3, wherein the rubbing direction with respect to the first alignment film and the rubbing direction with respect to the second alignment film are in an antiparallel relationship. 5. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein an electric field is generated between the first electrode and the first electrode on the liquid crystal layer side of the first substrate. 6. 2. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode includes a plurality of electrode linear portions arranged in parallel with a gap. 6. The liquid crystal device according to claim 5, wherein the rubbing direction is inclined by 5 to 20 degrees with respect to the extending direction of the gap between the second electrodes. 4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 3, wherein a liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film is provided in the reflective display region between the second substrate and the second alignment film, and the second step surface has the liquid crystal layer thickness. A liquid crystal device formed by a step formed on an end side of an adjustment film. The liquid crystal device according to claim 7, wherein the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting film includes a retardation film,
The retardation of the retardation film (Δnd) is a half wavelength, and the liquid crystal device. 9. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein an insulating film is provided between the first substrate and the light reflecting film, and the first step surface is formed on the insulating film. A liquid crystal device characterized by being formed by a step. 10. The liquid crystal device according to claim 9, wherein the surface of the insulating film on the light reflecting film side is provided with unevenness that gives the surface of the light reflecting film a plurality of unevenness, and the step is formed on the insulating film. A liquid crystal device, wherein the liquid crystal device is disposed at an end portion of a region where unevenness is formed. 11. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the first step surface and the second step surface have a thickness in a thickness direction from the first substrate and the second substrate. A liquid crystal device characterized in that is an inclined surface that continuously changes. An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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