JP2008241802A - Electrooptical device and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrooptical device which is made easy to manufacture by simplifying the constitution of a switching element, and attains display with a wide viewing angle and a high contrast in spite of the easy manufacture and further reduce lateral crosstalk. <P>SOLUTION: A liquid crystal device 1 has a scan line 2 which is provided on a substrate 21 supporting a liquid crystal layer to transmit a scan signal, the switching element 5 electrically connected to the scan line 2, an island-shaped pixel electrode 25 electrically connected to the switching element 5, a dielectric film 26 covering the pixel electrode 25 and switching element 5, and a common electrode 28 extended in a direction crossing the scan line 2 to face the pixel electrode 25 in plan view. The switching element 5 is a TFD element formed by laminating a first conductive film, an insulating film, and a second conductive film, where the common electrode 28 has a plurality of electrode linear portions 28, arranged across a slit 37, in a region opposed to the pixel electrode 25, and is a data line transmitting a data signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an FFS (Fringe Field Switching) mode electro-optical device that is a lateral electric field type liquid crystal operation mode. The present invention also relates to an electronic apparatus using the electro-optical device.

  At present, electro-optical devices such as liquid crystal devices and organic EL devices are widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants). In this electro-optical device, the first electrode and the second electrode are provided on one substrate so as to face each other with a dielectric film interposed therebetween, and a plurality of electrode linear portions arranged in parallel with a gap therebetween. An FFS mode electro-optical device is known in which the second electrode is formed and the first electrode is formed by a planar electrode (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, in a conventional active matrix type electro-optical device, a TFD (Thin Film Diode) which is a two-terminal switching element as a switching element for individually driving a plurality of pixels on (white display) / off (black display). : Thin film diode) An electro-optical device using an element is known (for example, see Patent Document 2).

JP 2001-83540 A (pages 4-5, FIG. 3) JP 2003-29289 A (page 5, FIG. 1)

  Since the operation mode of the electro-optical device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is the FFS mode, compared with a vertical electric field type operation mode represented by a TN (Twisted Nematic) mode, High contrast display characteristics can be realized. However, since the electro-optical device disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses a TFT element which is a three-terminal switching element as a switching element for controlling the voltage applied to the pixel, the element formed on the substrate There is a problem that the configuration is complicated, the manufacturing process is complicated, and the cost is high. Further, the electro-optical device disclosed in Patent Document 2 is an electro-optical device in accordance with a longitudinal electric field type operation mode, and therefore has a problem that the viewing angle is narrower and contrast is lower than that of an FFS mode electro-optical device. was there.

  Conventionally, there is a problem of crosstalk in the electro-optical device. Crosstalk means that when a signal voltage for display is applied to a pair of electrodes corresponding to a pixel in order to operate one of a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, a voltage is applied to other non-selected pixels. This is a phenomenon that is in a semi-selected state due to the addition of. As this crosstalk, vertical crosstalk and horizontal crosstalk are conventionally known.

  Lateral crosstalk occurs on the display screen even though the same gray scale is indicated by the signal voltage in the scanning line where the pixel level in the display screen is concentrated on a specific gradation and the scanning line that does not. This is a phenomenon in which the display level is different. This phenomenon is caused when the gradation level of the pixels included in one scanning line is concentrated on a specific gradation during the display of one scanning line on the display screen, the potentials of the signal electrode lines change all at once. One cause is considered to be that the potential change propagates to each pixel through the scanning line.

  In addition, vertical crosstalk is crosstalk that occurs due to the influence of parasitic capacitance generated between the pixel electrode and the adjacent signal line that is not connected to the pixel electrode. For example, when a color such as cyan, magenta, or yellow that is complementary to each color of red, blue, and green is displayed in a rectangular shape with a gray color as the background color, a rectangular color This is a phenomenon in which an area positioned in the vertical direction of the display area is displayed brighter than the background color that should be displayed and is displayed in a slightly colored manner. Conventionally, various proposals have been made regarding the driving method of a display device in order to prevent the occurrence of crosstalk, but there has been a problem that the driving method becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is an electro-optical device that can simplify the configuration of the switching element to facilitate manufacture, and nevertheless realize a display with a wide viewing angle and high contrast. An object is to provide an apparatus and an electronic device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electro-optical device and an electronic apparatus that can effectively reduce lateral crosstalk while having a simple configuration.

  An electro-optical device according to the present invention includes a scanning line that is provided on a substrate that supports an electro-optical material and transmits a scanning signal, a switching element that is provided on the substrate and is conductively connected to the scanning line, An island-shaped first electrode provided on the substrate and conductively connected to the switching element; a dielectric film provided on the substrate covering the first electrode and the switching element; and the dielectric film And a second electrode extending in a direction intersecting the scanning line and opposed to the first electrode in plan view, the switching element comprising: a first conductive film; A two-terminal switching element having an insulating film provided on one conductive film and a second conductive film provided on the insulating film, wherein the second electrodes are arranged in parallel with a gap. The electrode linear portion faces the first electrode. Has to pass, the second electrode is characterized in that it is a data line for transmitting data signals.

  The electro-optical material is a material whose optical state changes when an electrical input condition changes, and is, for example, a liquid crystal, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence), an inorganic EL, or the like. When a liquid crystal is used as the electro-optical device, the liquid crystal can be a nematic liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy. If this liquid crystal is used, the rubbing conditions for realizing the FFS mode and the polarization axis conditions can be easily set in an appropriate relationship.

  The electro-optical device according to the present invention can realize a lateral electric field mode operation mode such as an FFS mode using a two-terminal switching element represented by a TFD element as a switching element. Conventional lateral electric field mode electro-optical devices using a three-terminal switching element typified by a TFT element as a switching element have been conventionally known. However, an electro-optical device using a three-terminal switching element has a complicated configuration. There are many man-hours required for the production, and an increase in cost is inevitable. In contrast, the electro-optical device of the present invention using a two-terminal switching element can be easily manufactured at low cost with a small number of man-hours.

  As described above, although the electro-optical device of the present invention can be easily manufactured at low cost, the operation mode is a mode in which the optical properties of the electro-optical material are controlled by an electric field parallel to the substrate, a so-called lateral electric field. Therefore, display with a wide viewing angle and high contrast can be realized as compared with the vertical electric field mode represented by the TN mode.

  According to a conventionally known configuration, a data line made of a metal material is conductively connected to the first electrode through a switching element, and a light-transmitting metal oxide (for example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide)) The second electrode is formed in the form of a strip facing the first electrode as a scanning line orthogonal to the data line, and the lead wire is conductively connected to the second electrode. As described above, in the conventional electro-optical device, the scanning line and the lead wiring connected to the scanning line are formed of a metal oxide such as ITO, so that the wiring resistance of the scanning line is high. It was.

  When individually driving a plurality of pixels constituting an image display area, a combined voltage (pulse voltage) of a scanning signal and a data signal is applied to each pixel, and the orientation of liquid crystal molecules in the pixel is controlled. The A liquid crystal capacitor is interposed between the scanning line for transmitting the scanning signal and the data line for transmitting the data signal, and the scanning line and the lead wiring connected to the scanning line have a high resistance value. The pulse voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer fluctuates according to the combined amount of the liquid crystal capacitance and the resistance value of the scanning line. In particular, the gradation level of the pixels included in one scanning line is concentrated on a specific gradation value. Then, the fluctuation becomes large. As described above, the applied voltage varies among a plurality of scanning lines due to the wiring resistance of the scanning lines, and as a result, the same gradation is indicated by the scanning signal and the data signal. Lateral crosstalk occurs in which the display level differs between scanning lines. This lateral crosstalk becomes larger as the wiring resistance of the scanning line is higher. Conventionally, since the scanning line and the lead-out wiring connected to the scanning line are formed of a metal oxide having a high resistance value, it is easy for horizontal crosstalk to occur.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, a line connected to the first electrode via the switching element is a scanning line, and a second electrode arranged to face the first electrode is a data line. A line connected to the switching element can be formed not by a metal oxide such as ITO but by a metal such as Cr (chromium) or Al (aluminum). Since this type of metal has a lower wiring resistance than a metal oxide, if the scanning line is made of metal, the wiring resistance of the scanning line can be lowered. If the wiring resistance of the scanning line can be lowered in this way, the occurrence of lateral crosstalk can be reduced, and a high-quality display with no variation in gradation can be obtained.

  Next, in the electro-optical device according to the aspect of the invention, it is preferable that each part or all of the electrode linear portions of the second electrode overlap the first electrode in a plan view. With this configuration, an FFS mode operation mode can be realized. The FFS mode requires that the electrode linear portion of the second electrode overlaps the first electrode in plan view. In this case, when the first electrode is formed in a planar shape over substantially the entire surface of the sub-pixel, all of the individual electrode linear portions of the second electrode overlap the first electrode in plan view. On the other hand, the first electrode can be formed not by a planar electrode but by a gap and an electrode linear portion in the same manner as the second electrode. As described above, when both the first electrode and the second electrode have the gap and the electrode linear part, not all of the individual electrode linear parts of the second electrode but a part of the first electrode in plan view. May overlap. Also in this case, the FFS mode can be realized. According to the electro-optical device of the present invention driven based on the FFS mode, a high contrast display with a wide viewing angle can be realized.

Next, the electro-optical device according to the invention further includes an alignment film provided on the substrate, the alignment film is rubbed, and the rubbing direction and the extending direction of the electrode linear portion Where α is the angle between
5 ° ≦ α ≦ 20 °
It is desirable that According to this configuration, it is possible to stabilize the change in the orientation of liquid crystal molecules when an on-voltage is applied in the FFS mode, and to reduce the threshold voltage at which the orientation change occurs. Thereby, the display based on FFS mode can be performed stably.

  Next, in the electro-optical device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the scanning line is formed of a conductive metal. The conductive metal can be, for example, one or a combination selected from chromium, chromium alloy, aluminum, and aluminum alloy. The scanning line is preferably formed of the same material as the first conductive film or the second conductive film of the switching element.

  In a conventional active matrix type electro-optical device using a two-terminal switching element such as a TFD element, the scanning line is formed in a strip shape from a metal oxide such as ITO. This scanning line is often conductively connected to the lead wiring. In many cases, the routing wiring is also formed of a metal oxide. Since the scanning line and the lead wiring are made of metal oxide, the conventional scanning line has a high wiring resistance. For this reason, in the conventional electro-optical device, there is a possibility that the horizontal crosstalk occurs, the display gradation is disturbed, and the image quality is deteriorated.

  In this regard, if the scanning line is formed of a conductive metal as described above, the occurrence of lateral crosstalk can be reduced and high pixel quality can be maintained. Further, according to the above aspect of the invention, since the two-terminal switching element and the scanning line can be formed in the same layer on the substrate, the scanning line can be formed of the same metal material as the constituent elements of the switching element. In this way, material cost and manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Next, in the electro-optical device according to the invention, a plurality of the first electrodes are provided on the substrate, the first electrodes are provided in a line in a direction orthogonal to each other, and the second electrode is It is desirable that the strip-shaped electrode overlaps the plurality of island-shaped electrodes arranged in one direction in plan view. With this configuration, the gap and the electrode linear portion for realizing the FFS mode can be accurately formed in the second electrode.

  Next, in order to realize the FFS mode in the electro-optical device of the present invention, it is necessary to form the second electrode by a plurality of gaps and a plurality of electrode linear portions in order to form a fringe field. In the case where the second electrode is formed as a strip electrode, in forming the gap and the electrode linear part in the second electrode, the gap and the electrode linear part are formed for each sub-pixel, A configuration in which gaps and electrode linear portions are continuously formed over a plurality of subpixels is conceivable.

  In the case of the configuration in which the gap between the second electrodes and the electrode linear portion are formed for each subpixel, the area of the second electrode can be secured large, so that the wiring resistance can be kept low. On the other hand, when the gap and the electrode linear portion of the second electrode are continuously formed across a plurality of subpixels, the patterning of the gap and the electrode linear portion can be facilitated.

  Next, in the electro-optical device according to the aspect of the invention, the plurality of island-shaped sub-pixels are arranged in a line in a direction orthogonal to each other to form a display area, and the second area is in the display area. Preferably, the electrode is formed of a light-transmitting metal oxide, and the second electrode outside the display region is formed to include a conductive metal. According to this configuration, the resistance value of the second electrode can be lowered without impairing the translucency of the second electrode in the display area.

  Next, in the electro-optical device according to the invention, a wiring, a so-called lead wiring, can be conductively connected to the scanning line. Thereby, the formation position of the scanning line on the substrate can be freely set. This wiring is preferably provided separately in the side regions on both sides of the display region in plan view. In this way, a large number of wirings can be efficiently formed in a narrow area on the substrate. In addition, the wiring can be collectively provided in a side region on one side of the display region in a plan view. Even with this configuration, a large number of wirings can be efficiently formed in a narrow region on the substrate. Note that the wiring is preferably formed using the same material as the scanning line or including the same material. In this way, material costs and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

Next, an electro-optical device according to the present invention includes a first substrate and a second substrate that face each other with an electro-optical material layer interposed therebetween, a scanning line provided on the first substrate, and the first substrate. A switching element provided on the scanning line and conductively connected to the scanning line; an island-shaped first electrode provided on the first substrate and conductively connected to the switching element; the first electrode and the switching element; A dielectric film provided on the first substrate, a second electrode provided on the dielectric film and facing the first electrode, and a first electrode provided on the first substrate An alignment film and a first polarizing layer; and a second alignment film and a second polarizing layer provided on the second substrate, wherein the switching element is formed on the first conductive film and the first conductive film. An insulating film provided and a second conductive film provided on the insulating film The second electrode has a plurality of electrode linear portions arranged in parallel with a gap in a region facing the first electrode, and the first alignment film is rubbed. When the angle between the rubbing direction and the extending direction of the electrode linear portion is α,
5 ° ≦ α ≦ 20 °
The extending direction of the polarization transmission axis of the first polarizing layer is parallel to the rubbing direction applied to the first alignment film, and the rubbing direction applied to the second alignment film is the first direction. It is antiparallel to the rubbing direction on the substrate side, and the extending direction of the polarization transmission axis of the second polarizing layer is orthogonal to the extending direction of the polarization transmission axis of the first polarizing layer.
With this configuration, the FFS mode can be accurately realized. Specifically, an electric field can be formed in the direction parallel to the substrate, the liquid crystal molecules can be aligned in a homogeneous orientation, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules can be controlled in a plane parallel to the substrate, and a high contrast display can be realized.

  Next, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes the electro-optical device having the above-described configuration. According to the electro-optical device according to the present invention, the FFS mode operation mode can be realized by using the two-terminal switching element. Therefore, the electro-optical device can be manufactured easily and at a low cost, and also has a wide viewing angle and a high viewing angle. Contrast display can be realized. Therefore, even in the electronic apparatus according to the present invention using the electro-optical device, high-quality display can be easily realized at low cost. Further, according to the electro-optical device according to the present invention, since uniform gradation display without horizontal crosstalk is performed between scanning lines and high-quality display is obtained, in an electronic apparatus using this electro-optical device In addition, a high-quality display can be obtained.

(First embodiment of electro-optical device)
Hereinafter, an electro-optical device according to the invention will be described based on embodiments. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Further, in the following description, the drawings will be referred to as necessary. In this drawing, in order to show the important components of the structure composed of a plurality of components in an easy-to-understand manner, May be indicated by dimensions.

  FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view of a liquid crystal device which is an embodiment of an electro-optical device according to the invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the row direction X of the liquid crystal device according to the Zb-Zb line of FIG. FIG. 3 shows an electrical equivalent circuit of the liquid crystal device of this embodiment. In these drawings, the row direction X and the column direction Y are directions orthogonal to each other. The row direction X is a scanning line extending direction and a short direction of the sub-pixels. The column direction Y is the direction in which the data lines extend and is the longitudinal direction of the subpixels.

  Sub-pixels, scanning lines, and data lines will be described later, but will be briefly described as follows. The sub-pixel is an area constituting a control unit for white display and black display in the dot matrix display. The scanning line is a signal line that supplies a scanning signal for selecting a scanning line to a sub-pixel. The data line is a signal line that supplies a data signal that is data specific to the subpixel, such as gradation data, to the subpixel.

  In FIG. 3, the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment is configured as an active matrix type liquid crystal device using a TFD element as a switching element. The liquid crystal device 1 includes a plurality of scanning lines 2 extending in the row direction X and a plurality of data lines 3 extending in the column direction Y. Sub-pixels P are formed at the intersections between the scanning lines 2 and the data lines 3. The sub-pixel P is a region serving as a control unit for white display and black display in the liquid crystal device 1. A plurality of sub-pixels P exist along each of the scanning lines 2 and the data lines 3, and are arranged in a matrix (a so-called matrix) in the plane. A display region V is formed by the plurality of sub-pixels P, and images such as letters, numbers, figures, etc. are displayed in the display region V.

  In each subpixel P, a liquid crystal layer 4 and a TFD element 5 that is a two-terminal switching element are connected in series. The liquid crystal layer 4 is formed of liquid crystal that is electrically interposed between a pixel electrode and a common electrode, which will be described later. When color display is performed by associating each sub-pixel P with one of the colored films of blue (B), green (G), and red (R), the sub-pixels P of three colors are gathered together. Two display pixels are formed. On the other hand, when monochrome display is performed with black and white or other two colors, one of the sub-pixels P forms one display pixel.

  In FIG. 3, the liquid crystal layer 4 is connected to the scanning line 2 side and the TFD element 5 is connected to the data line 3 side. However, the connection relationship may be reversed. Each scanning line 2 is connected to a scanning line driving circuit 6. Each data line 3 is connected to a data line driving circuit 7. The scanning line driving circuit 6 and the data line driving circuit 7 operate according to the timing signal from the timing signal generation circuit 8. A data conversion circuit 9 is connected to the data line driving circuit 7.

  The scanning line driving circuit 6 applies a scanning potential Va to the scanning line 2. The scanning potential Va includes a selection voltage for selecting a scanning line and a holding voltage for holding a selected state. The selection voltage is applied to each scanning line 2 every predetermined line selection period, whereby each scanning line 2 is sequentially selected. The holding voltage is applied to each scanning line 2 for a predetermined period after the line selection period. A period during which all the scanning lines 2 are selected is a field period. The data line driving circuit 7 applies a signal potential Vb to the data line 3. The signal potential Vb is a signal that indicates the gradation of each sub-pixel P, and is, for example, pulse width modulated in accordance with the gradation value. More specifically, the higher the gradation to be given to the sub-pixel (the darker the normally white mode), the larger the proportion occupied by the ON section.

  The data conversion circuit 9 stores the color image signals R, G, B inputted from the outside in, for example, a line buffer, and further converts them into data signals Dr, Dg, Db suitable for the data line driving circuit 7, and then the data lines This is supplied to the drive circuit 7. For example, the tone values of each color of the color image signals R, G, B are divided into values in the range of “0” to “15”, and each tone value has a predetermined pulse width in the data signals Dr, Dg, Db. It is converted as a pulse signal.

  Next, the mechanical configuration of the liquid crystal device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 2, the liquid crystal device 1 includes a liquid crystal panel 12 and an illumination device 13. The side indicated by the arrow A is the observation side, and the illumination device 13 is disposed on the opposite side to the observation side and acts as a backlight. The liquid crystal panel 12 includes an element substrate 14 and a color filter substrate 15 facing each other. These substrates are bonded together by an annular or frame-like sealing material 17 as viewed from the direction of arrow A (sometimes referred to as a substrate normal direction). In the present embodiment, the color filter substrate 15 is disposed on the observation side, and the element substrate 14 is disposed on the back side.

  A cell gap which is a predetermined gap (for example, about 5 μm) is formed between the element substrate 14 and the color filter substrate 15, and liquid crystal is sealed in the cell gap to form the liquid crystal layer 4. The liquid crystal layer 4 is formed of a nematic liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy. The liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy has a property of rotating so that the major axis direction of liquid crystal molecules is parallel to the electric field direction when an electric field is applied.

  The element substrate 14 includes a first substrate 21 formed of a light-transmitting material such as quartz glass or plastic. The first substrate 21 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the column direction Y as shown in FIG. The first substrate 21 may be square. In FIG. 2, a first polarizing plate 22 is provided outside the first substrate 21. A retardation film for modulating the polarization state of transmitted light may be provided between the first polarizing plate 22 and the first substrate 21 as necessary.

  Inside the first substrate 21 (on the liquid crystal layer side), a TFD element 5 that is a two-terminal switching element and an island-like pixel electrode 25 as a first electrode that is conductively connected to the TFD element 5 are provided. ing. The TFD element 5 is formed as a so-called back-to-back structure (described later in detail) in which two TFD elements are connected in series with opposite polarities. The pixel electrode 25 is made of a light-transmitting metal oxide such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide), and is formed by, for example, a photoetching process. Yes. A plurality of pixel electrodes 25 are formed. As shown in FIG. 1, each pixel electrode 25 has a rectangular island shape that is long in the column direction Y when viewed from the substrate normal direction, and the plurality of pixel electrodes 25 are in the row direction X and the column direction Y. Are arranged in a row (in a so-called dot matrix).

  A scanning line 2 is formed between the pixel electrodes 25 arranged in a row in the column direction Y. The scanning line 2 is made of Cr (chromium) or a Cr alloy, and is formed by, for example, a photoetching process. The scanning line 2 is desirably formed at the same time in the step of forming the constituent elements of the TFD element 5 with a metal material. A plurality of scanning lines 2 are formed, each of which is a thin line extending in the row direction X, and a plurality of the scanning lines 2 are formed in parallel in the column direction Y at predetermined intervals. Each of the plurality of TFD elements 5 is conductively connected to the scanning line 2. The plurality of scanning lines 2 are formed so as to alternately protrude one by one in the horizontal direction in the drawing.

In FIG. 2, a dielectric film 26 is provided so as to cover the TFD element 5 and the pixel electrode 25. As shown in FIG. 1, the dielectric film 26 also covers the scanning line 2. The dielectric film 26 is formed of a nitride film such as SiNx (silicon nitride) or SiO ₂ (silicon oxide), an oxide film, or other organic transparent resin. The nitride film and the oxide film are inorganic films. As shown in FIG. 1, the dielectric film 26 is formed in a rectangular shape covering all the pixel electrodes 25 by photoetching.

  In FIG. 2, a plurality of common lines 27 as wirings are provided in lateral regions on both the left and right sides of the first substrate 21. These common lines 27 are so-called lead wirings. These common lines 27 are formed by laminating the ITO wiring as the second layer on the Cr or Cr alloy wiring as the first layer. The first layer of the common line 27 is formed of the same material as the scanning line 2 by photolithography processing continuously from the scanning line 2. In some cases, the scanning line 2 and the common line 27 may be formed separately. These common lines 27 are formed in a linear shape extending in different lengths in the column direction Y as shown in FIG. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the common line 27 is a line that is part of the scanning line 2 extending from the scanning line driving circuit 6.

  In FIG. 2, a common electrode 28 as a second electrode is formed on the dielectric film 26 so as to extend in the column direction Y (the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2). The common electrode 28 is made of a light-transmitting metal oxide such as ITO or IZO, and is formed by, for example, a photoetching process. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of common electrodes 28 are formed, each having a strip shape extending in the column direction Y, and a plurality of the common electrodes 28 are formed in parallel to each other at intervals along the row direction X. Each common electrode 28 is a common electrode provided across a plurality of sub-pixels in the column direction Y. The common electrode 28 functions as the data line 3 in FIG.

  A plurality of pixel electrodes 25 that are individually formed in an island shape are arranged in the row direction X and the column direction Y, and are arranged in a so-called dot matrix shape. On the other hand, the strip-shaped common electrode 28 extending in the column direction Y overlaps the plurality of pixel electrodes 25 arranged in the column direction Y in plan view. The dot-shaped, that is, island-shaped regions in which the pixel electrode 25 and the common electrode 28 overlap in a plan view are arranged in a matrix in a dot matrix like the plurality of pixel electrodes 25. These individual island regions constitute sub-pixels P that are control units for driving the liquid crystal. A display region V is constituted by a plurality of sub-pixels P arranged in a dot matrix.

  In order to realize the FFS mode, the common electrode 28 includes a plurality of slits 37 as gaps and a plurality of electrode linear portions 38 formed between the slits 37 corresponding to the individual subpixels P. Is formed. Details of the slit 37 and the electrode linear portion 38 will be described later.

  For example, when color display is performed using three colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), each of the three colors is assigned to each sub-pixel P, and R , G, and B constitute one display pixel, and the display pixels are gathered in a dot matrix to form a display region V. When color display is performed with four colors by adding another color (for example, blue-green) to the three colors of R, G, and B, one display pixel is configured by the four sub-pixels P. Further, in the case of performing display with two colors of black and white or any other two colors, each sub pixel P becomes one display pixel as it is.

  In FIG. 2, a first alignment film 29 is provided on the first substrate 21 so as to cover the common electrode 28, the common line 27, and the dielectric film 26. In FIG. 1, the first alignment film 29 is not shown. The first alignment film 29 is made of, for example, polyimide, and is formed in a predetermined shape by, for example, a printing method or a transfer method. The first alignment film 29 is subjected to a rubbing process for aligning the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 4 in a desired direction.

  Next, the color filter substrate 15 facing the element substrate 14 has a second substrate 32 formed of a light-transmitting material such as quartz glass or plastic. The second substrate 32 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the column direction Y as shown by a chain line in FIG. The second substrate 32 may be square. The length of the second substrate 32 along the column direction Y is shorter than that of the first substrate 21, and the first substrate 21 protrudes outside the second substrate 32 at one end portion. A driving IC 31 is mounted on the projecting portion of the first substrate 21 by a COG (Chip On Glass) technique using an ACF (Anisotropic Conductive Film).

  The scanning line driving circuit 6, the data line driving circuit 7, the timing generation circuit 8, and the data conversion circuit 9 shown in FIG. 3 are built in the driving IC 31. That is, the common electrode 28 and the common line 27 provided on the first substrate 21 are electrically connected to the output terminal of the driving IC 31. The driving IC 31 supplies a data signal to the common electrode 28 and supplies a scanning signal to the common line 27. The scanning signal supplied to the common line 27 is transmitted to each pixel electrode 25 through the scanning line 2 and the TFD element 5. When the potential difference between the pixel electrode 25 and the common electrode exceeds the threshold voltage of the TFD element 5 which is a non-linear element, the TFD element 5 is turned on and an electric field is generated between both electrodes.

  Note that the three edges of the first substrate 21 and the second substrate 32 other than the overhanging portions are shown in FIG. 1 in a state where they are shifted from each other for easy understanding of the structure. The three side edges are substantially coincident and overlap in a plan view.

  In FIG. 2, a second polarizing plate 33 is provided outside the second substrate 32. If necessary, a retardation film for viewing angle compensation or other purposes may be provided between the second polarizing plate 33 and the second substrate 32. On the inner side (liquid crystal layer side) of the second substrate 32, a colored film 34 constituting a color filter is provided, and a light shielding film 35 is provided around them. The symbols R, G, and B given in parentheses to the colored film 34 indicate that these colored films have characteristics of transmitting each color of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). Yes. The light shielding film 35 prevents light leakage from between adjacent sub-pixels P. In this embodiment, a stripe arrangement is adopted as an arrangement form of the colored films, different colors of R, G, and B are alternately arranged along the row direction X, and the same colors of R, G, and B are arranged in the column direction Y. It is out. However, the color arrangement form of the colored film 34 may be any other arrangement, for example, a mosaic arrangement or a delta arrangement.

  The colored film 34 is made of, for example, a resin material obtained by mixing a pigment or a dye with a photosensitive resin, and is formed in a predetermined array pattern by, for example, photolithography. The light shielding film 35 is formed by overlapping two or three colors of a light shielding resin material, a light shielding metal material, or a colored film 34 having different colors.

  An overcoat layer 39 is provided on the coloring film 34 and the light shielding film 35. The overcoat layer 39 is used for flattening the layer of the colored film 34 and protecting the liquid crystal layer 4. The overcoat layer 39 is formed, for example, by printing an inorganic film such as an acrylic organic resin film or a silicon oxide film. A second alignment film 40 is provided on the overcoat layer 39. The second alignment film 40 is made of polyimide, for example, and is formed in a predetermined shape by, for example, a printing method or a transfer method. The second alignment film 40 is subjected to a rubbing process for aligning the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 4 in a desired direction.

  The direction of rubbing performed on the first alignment film 29 on the element substrate 14 and the direction of rubbing performed on the second alignment film 40 on the color filter substrate 15 are in an antiparallel relationship. The liquid crystal layer 4 is aligned in a homogeneous alignment by these alignment films having alignment by rubbing. As is well known, the homogeneous alignment is a substantially parallel alignment with a pretilt with respect to the substrate.

  Next, the configuration of one subpixel P and its periphery will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4A shows a planar structure at a stage before the dielectric film 26 is formed on the first substrate 21 in the element substrate 14 of FIG. FIG. 4B shows a planar structure at the stage where the strip-shaped common electrode 28 is formed on the first substrate 21.

  In FIG. 4A, TFD elements 5 are provided at the corners of the individual sub-pixels P. As shown in FIG. 5A, the TFD element 5 is formed in a so-called back-to-back structure in which two TFD elements 5a and 5b are connected in series. Of course, the TFD element 5 can also be formed by one TFD element instead of a back-to-back structure. Each of the TFD elements 5a and 5b includes a first conductive film 42 formed on the first substrate 21, as shown in FIG. 5B, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Zd-Zd in FIG. And an insulating film 43 formed on the first conductive film 42 and second conductive films 44 a and 44 b formed on the insulating film 43.

  The first conductive film 42 is made of, for example, Ta (tantalum) or a Ta alloy, and is formed in an island shape by, for example, a photoetching process. The insulating film 43 is formed as TaOx (tantalum oxide) by, for example, anodizing. The second conductive films 44a and 44b are formed at the same time when the first layer of the scanning line 2 and the wiring 27 is formed by, for example, Cr by photoetching. The first TFD element 5a and the second TFD element 5b are electrically reverse diode elements, and by connecting them in series, a stable voltage-current characteristic can be obtained. A second conductive film 44a that is an input terminal of the first TFD element 5a extends integrally from the scanning line 2. The second conductive film 44b, which is the output terminal of the second TFD element 5b, is conductively connected to the pixel electrode 25. The pixel electrode 25 is formed in a planar shape within the region of the sub-pixel P.

In FIG. 4B, a strip-shaped common electrode 28 extending in the column direction Y formed so as to overlap the pixel electrode 25 includes a plurality of slits 37 as gaps corresponding to the individual subpixels P, and these And a plurality of electrode linear portions 38 formed between the slits 37. The plurality of slits 37 and the plurality of electrode linear portions 38 are formed in parallel to each other. An angle β formed by the extending direction of the slit 37 (and hence the extending direction of the electrode linear portion 38) and the short direction (row direction X) of the sub-pixel P is
5 ° ≦ β ≦ 20 °
The angle is set within the range.

  FIG. 6 shows a cross section of a part of the electrode structure according to the Ze line in FIG. In FIG. 6, since the pixel electrode 25 is formed as a planar electrode, the entire width of the electrode linear portion 38 of the common electrode 28 overlaps the pixel electrode 25 in plan view. Capacitance is formed in the dielectric film 26 where the electrode linear portion 38 and the pixel electrode 25 overlap in plan view. When a voltage equal to or higher than the threshold voltage is applied between the pixel electrode 25 and the common electrode 28, the TFD element 5 is turned on, and an electric field is generated between the pixel electrode 25 and the electrode linear portion 38 of the common electrode 28. E is formed. When the electric field E is generated, the liquid crystal molecules 4a of the positive dielectric anisotropy forming the liquid crystal layer 4 are swung in the plane of the substrate so that the major axis of the liquid crystal molecules 4a is parallel to the direction of the electric field, and the orientation changes. Due to the rotational movement of the liquid crystal molecules 4a, the polarized light passing through the liquid crystal layer 4 is modulated. Since the alignment control of the liquid crystal molecules 4a in the present embodiment is performed in the substrate plane as described above, a display with a wider viewing angle and higher contrast is performed compared to the alignment control in the substrate vertical direction such as the TN mode. be able to.

  In addition to the FFS mode, an IPS (In-Plain Switching) mode is known as the transverse electric field mode. In the case of the IPS mode, in FIG. 6, the pixel electrode 25 is not a planar electrode but is formed as a linear electrode or a frame electrode similar to the common electrode 28. Then, the electrode linear portion 38 of the common electrode 28 does not overlap the pixel electrode 25 in plan view, and the electrode linear portion 38 of the common electrode 28 and the linear electrode portion or the frame electrode portion of the pixel electrode 25 are interposed between them. The structure is such that a large interval is formed in plan view. Due to this configuration, in the case of the IPS mode, a horizontal electric field can be generated between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, but an electric field having a sufficient strength cannot be formed in a region immediately above the common electrode. . On the other hand, in the FFS mode, since the electrode linear portion 38 of the common electrode 28 overlaps the pixel electrode 25 in plan view, an electric field having a sufficient strength is formed also in the region immediately above the electrode linear portion 38. This area can be fully utilized as a display area. For this reason, according to the FFS mode of the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain a wider viewing angle, a higher contrast, and a higher transmittance as compared with the case of the IPS mode.

  Next, the optical axis relationship between the first polarizing plate 22 and the first alignment film 29 on the element substrate 21 of FIG. 2 and the second polarizing plate 33 and the second alignment film 40 on the color filter substrate 15 is shown in FIG. This will be explained based on. In FIG. 7A, an arrow indicated by reference symbol R1 indicates the direction of rubbing performed on the first alignment film 29 (see FIG. 2) on the element substrate 14 side. The rubbing direction R1 is set in parallel to the short direction (row direction X) of the sub-pixel P.

The angle α formed between the extending direction of the slit 37 formed in the common electrode 28 on the element substrate 14 (and hence the extending direction of the electrode linear portion 38) and the rubbing direction R1 is
5 ° ≦ α ≦ 20 °
Is set to an arbitrary angle within the range of. In FIG. 4B, the angle β formed between the extending direction of the slit 37 and the short direction (row direction X) of the sub-pixel P is
5 ° ≦ β ≦ 20 °
As described above, the angle β formed by the slit 37 with respect to the short direction (row direction X) of the sub-pixel P is equal to the angle α formed by the rubbing direction R1 with respect to the slit 37. For example, the rubbing direction R1 is the same direction as the short direction of the sub-pixel P. If α ≠ β, the rubbing direction R1 is shifted from the short direction of the sub-pixel P.

  If the angle α formed by the rubbing direction R1 with respect to the slit 37 is set to 5 ° ≦ α ≦ 20 °, the alignment change of the liquid crystal molecules when the on-voltage is applied in the FFS mode can be stabilized. The generated threshold voltage can be reduced. Therefore, the operation according to the FFS mode can be stably performed.

  FIG. 8 schematically shows the relationship between the transmission axis of the polarizing plate and the rubbing direction. As shown in FIG. 8, the rubbing direction performed on the second alignment film 40 (see FIG. 2) on the color filter substrate 15 facing the element substrate 14 is the element substrate 14 side as indicated by reference numeral R2. It is antiparallel to the rubbing direction R1. The polarization transmission axis 222 of the first polarizing plate 22 on the element substrate 14 side is parallel to the rubbing direction R1 on the element substrate 14 side, and the polarization transmission axis 233 of the second polarizing plate 33 on the color filter substrate 15 side is the element substrate. It is orthogonal to the polarization transmission axis 222 on the 14th side. By setting the optical axis relationship as described above, switching between white display and black display in the FFS mode can be realized stably.

  FIG. 7A shows a black display state in which an off voltage is applied between the pixel electrode 25 and the common electrode 28. When this off voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 4a are in an initial alignment state in which the major axis is parallel to the rubbing direction R1. When a predetermined ON voltage is applied between the pixel electrode 25 and the common electrode 28 and a white display state is obtained, the extending direction of the slit 37 (therefore, the extending direction of the electrode linear portion 38 in FIG. 7B). An electric field parallel to the substrate, that is, a so-called transverse electric field is generated in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. In the present embodiment, since the electrode linear portion 38 of the common electrode 28 and the pixel electrode 25 are in a positional relationship overlapping in plan view, the boundary portion between the slit 37 and the electrode linear portion 38 is relative to the substrate. Thus, a vertical electric field (a so-called lateral oblique electric field, a parabolic electric field or the like) is generated. Such a region where an electric field in the direction perpendicular to the substrate is generated is called a so-called fringe field. The orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 4a of the liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy changes by rotating in a plane parallel to the substrate so that the major axis thereof is in the same direction as the electric field direction.

  According to the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment described above, the planar light supplied from the illumination device 13 to the liquid crystal panel 12 in FIG. 2 is supplied to the liquid crystal layer 4 while being polarized by the first polarizing plate 22. The Then, the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer 4 in FIG. 2 is controlled for each sub-pixel P by the scanning signal and the data signal from the driving IC 31 in FIG. Control is performed for each pixel P, and light from the illumination device 13 that passes through the liquid crystal layer 4 is modulated for each sub-pixel P. The light thus modulated is supplied to the second polarizing plate 33, and an image is displayed in the display region V of FIG. 1 by the polarized light that has passed through the polarizing plate without being absorbed by the second polarizing plate 33. In this way, transmissive display is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment is a lateral electric field type liquid crystal device having a configuration in which both the pixel electrode 25 and the common electrode 28 are provided on the element substrate 14 which is one substrate. The alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is controlled in a plane parallel to the substrate. Therefore, according to the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment, display with a wide viewing angle and high contrast can be realized as compared with a vertical electric field type liquid crystal device typified by a TN type.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment is an FFS mode liquid crystal having a structure in which the electrode linear portion 38 of the common electrode 28 overlaps the pixel electrode 25 in plan view. Since it is a device, a sufficient electric field can be formed also in the region immediately above the electrode linear portion 38. For this reason, compared with the IPS mode in which a sufficient electric field cannot be formed in the region immediately above the electrode linear portion 38, the liquid crystal device of this embodiment has a wider viewing angle and a higher transmittance. realizable.

  According to the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, an FFS mode operation mode can be realized using the TFD element 5 as a switching element. Conventionally, a liquid crystal device using a three-terminal switching element typified by a TFT element as a switching element is known. However, a liquid crystal device using a three-terminal switching element has a complicated configuration, and requires a lot of man-hours for manufacturing the liquid crystal device. Cost is inevitable. On the other hand, the liquid crystal device 1 of this embodiment using a TFD element as a switching element can be easily manufactured at a low cost with a small number of man-hours.

  As described above, although the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment can be easily manufactured at low cost, the operation mode is the FFS mode (that is, the alignment of liquid crystal molecules is controlled by an electric field parallel to the substrate, that is, a so-called lateral electric field). Mode), display with a wider viewing angle and higher contrast can be realized as compared to the vertical electric field mode represented by the TN mode.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, slits 37 and electrode linear portions 38 are formed in a common electrode 28 that is a strip electrode, and the pixel electrodes 25 facing the slits 37 and the electrode linear portions 38. In cooperation with, an electric field parallel to the substrate and an oblique electric field formed in the fringe field region are formed. In the present embodiment, the slit 37 and the electrode linear portion 38 are formed for each region corresponding to each pixel electrode 25 (accordingly, a region corresponding to each sub-pixel P). However, instead of this configuration, the slit 37 and the electrode linear portion 38 can be formed continuously over a plurality of subpixels P. In this embodiment, the slit 37 is formed as a slit that is long in the short direction (row direction X) of the sub-pixel P. However, the slit 37 may be formed as a slit that is long in the column direction Y. In this case, the rubbing direction is also a direction along the column direction Y. Thus, when a long slit is formed in the common electrode 28 along the column direction Y, one slit can be formed over a plurality of subpixels P.

  When the slit 37 and the electrode linear portion 38 are formed for each sub-pixel P, a large area of the common electrode 28 can be secured, so that the wiring resistance of the common electrode 28 can be kept low. On the other hand, when the slit 37 and the electrode linear portion 38 are formed continuously over the plurality of subpixels P, the patterning of the slit 37 and the electrode linear portion 38 can be facilitated.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the common line 27, which is a lead wiring that transmits a scanning signal to the scanning line 2, is divided into side regions on both sides of the display region V on the surface of the first substrate 21. Is provided. With this wiring configuration, the plurality of island-like pixel electrodes 25, the plurality of strip-like common electrodes 28, the plurality of scanning lines 2, and the plurality of common lines 27 can be efficiently arranged in a narrow region on the first substrate 21. .

  In the present embodiment, nematic liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy is used as the liquid crystal forming the liquid crystal layer 4 of FIG. Instead of the nematic liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy, nematic liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy may be used. Regardless of which liquid crystal is used, appropriate initial alignment of liquid crystal molecules for the FFS mode can be obtained by appropriately selecting the rubbing direction. In general, the proper rubbing direction differs by 90 ° between the two.

  Next, consider horizontal crosstalk. FIG. 9A schematically shows the liquid crystal device 1. Reference numeral 2 indicates a scanning line, reference numeral 27 indicates a common line, reference numeral 3 indicates a data line, and reference numeral 28 indicates a strip-shaped common electrode that functions as a data line. FIG. 9B shows an equivalent circuit of one scanning line 2. The liquid crystal layer existing between the scanning line 2 and the data line 3 acts as a capacitance C between both electrodes. That is, in terms of one scanning line, the capacitance C corresponding to the number of pixels of one line is connected in parallel between the scanning line 2 and the data line 3. The resistance R of the scanning line 2 and the common line 27 is connected in series to these capacitors.

  When display is performed, a scanning signal is supplied to the scanning line 2 and a data signal is supplied to the data line 3. Each sub-pixel is driven by a combined voltage pulse formed by combining a scanning signal and a data signal. The drive pulse waveform at this time generally includes a fluctuation waveform component determined by the combined amount of the resistor R and the capacitor C. This fluctuation waveform component changes according to the gradation value of the composite voltage applied to a plurality of sub-pixels on one scanning line. For example, in FIG. 10A, consider a case where a gray signal of the same gradation is given to the area A and the area C in the display area of the liquid crystal device 1 and a white signal is given to the area B.

  In this case, specific gray gradation values are concentrated on the scanning line M in the region A. The scanning line N passing through the region B and the region C is given a specific gray tone value and white tone value signal. At this time, the fluctuation waveform component included in the combined voltage pulse applied to each sub-pixel has different values for the scanning line M and the scanning line N. As a result, even if a composite voltage having the same gradation value is applied to the region A and the region C, a phenomenon occurs in which the obtained gradation display level is different. This phenomenon is lateral crosstalk. For example, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), different gradation display, for example, areas as shown in FIG. C may be a darker gradation display. The degree of such horizontal crosstalk becomes more prominent as the resistance value R of the scanning line increases.

  In the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the scanning line 2 and the common line 27 connected to the scanning line 2 are formed of Cr, which is a conductive metal material, or an alloy thereof. For this reason, the resistance value of the scanning line 2 is very small compared to the case where it is formed of a metal oxide such as ITO. That is, in this embodiment, the resistance value R in FIG. 9B is very small. For this reason, even if the above-described lateral crosstalk occurs, the level is suppressed to a very small level, and there is no practical problem.

(Second embodiment of electro-optical device)
Next, a second embodiment of the electro-optical device according to the invention will be described. FIG. 11 is a plan view seen from the observation side of the liquid crystal device which is the second embodiment of the electro-optical device according to the invention. In FIG. 11, the same constituent elements as those of the liquid crystal device 1 shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the liquid crystal device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of wirings that are conductively connected to each of the scanning lines 2 connected to the pixel electrode 25 on the first substrate 21 that is a component of the element substrate 14. The common line 27 was divided into two in the side regions on both sides of the display region V. Then, the scanning lines 2 are patterned so as to alternately protrude one by one in the left-right direction, and the tip of the common line 27 is connected to the protruding portion.

  This embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the plurality of common lines 27 are divided into two in the side regions on both sides of the display region V. The following points are different. That is, a plurality of scanning lines 2 arranged in parallel with each other along the column direction Y are separated from a group (hereinafter referred to as a first group) in a region far from the substrate overhanging portion on which the driving IC 31 is mounted, and the substrate overhang. One of the display regions V is divided into two groups (hereinafter, referred to as a second group) of those located in the region close to the part, and a plurality of common lines 27 connected to the scanning lines 2 of the first group are displayed on one side of the display region V (see FIG. A plurality of common lines 27 connected to the second group of scanning lines 2 are collectively formed on the other side of the display region V (right side in the drawing).

  According to this embodiment, the pattern of the scanning line 2 and the common line 27 is simplified, and the pattern design is facilitated. Also in this embodiment, the switching element is formed by the TFD element 5 that is a two-terminal switching element, and the FFS mode is adopted as the liquid crystal operation mode. Therefore, the liquid crystal device 41 of the present embodiment can realize a wide viewing angle and high contrast display although it can be easily manufactured at low cost.

(Third embodiment of electro-optical device)
Next, a third embodiment of the electro-optical device according to the invention will be described. FIG. 12 is a plan view seen from the observation side of the liquid crystal device which is the third embodiment of the electro-optical device according to the invention. In FIG. 12, the same components as those of the liquid crystal device 1 shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the liquid crystal device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of commons as wirings connected to the scanning lines 2 connected to the pixel electrodes 25 on the first substrate 21 that is a component of the element substrate 14. The line 27 was divided into two in the side regions on both sides of the display region V. The scanning lines 2 are patterned into a shape that alternately protrudes in the left-right direction, and the tip of the common line 17 is connected to the protruding portion.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the plurality of scanning lines 2 are formed in a state of projecting in a stepped manner with different lengths to one outer region (left side in the drawing) with respect to the display region V. is doing. A plurality of common lines 27 as wirings connected to each scanning line 2 are collectively formed in a side region on one side (left side in the drawing) of the display region V. Each common line 27 has a different length depending on the position of the corresponding scanning line 2.

  According to this embodiment, the pattern of the scanning line 2 and the common line 27 is simplified, and the pattern design is facilitated. Also in this embodiment, the switching element is formed by the TFD element 5 that is a two-terminal switching element, and the FFS mode is adopted as the liquid crystal operation mode. Therefore, the liquid crystal device 51 of the present embodiment can realize a wide viewing angle and high contrast display although it can be easily manufactured at low cost.

(First Embodiment of Electronic Device)
Next, an embodiment of an electronic device according to the present 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 includes a liquid crystal device 101 as an electro-optical device and a control circuit 102 that controls the liquid crystal device 101. 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 is configured using, for example, the liquid crystal device 1 shown in FIG. According to the liquid crystal device 1, an FFS mode operation mode can be realized by using the TFD element 5 as a switching element. If a TFD element is used as the switching element, the liquid crystal device 1 can be easily manufactured at a low cost with a small number of man-hours. Nevertheless, since the liquid crystal device 1 is an FFS mode liquid crystal device, it is possible to realize display with a wide viewing angle and high contrast that is suitable as a display device for electronic devices.

(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 unit 112 is provided with a display device 113 and a receiver 114. 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 is configured using, for example, the liquid crystal device 1 shown in FIG. According to the liquid crystal device 1, an FFS mode operation mode can be realized by using the TFD element 5 as a switching element. If a TFD element is used as the switching element, the liquid crystal device 1 can be easily manufactured at a low cost with a small number of man-hours. Nevertheless, since the liquid crystal device 1 is an FFS mode liquid crystal device, it is possible to realize display with a wide viewing angle and high contrast that is suitable as a display device for electronic devices.

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, The present invention can be applied to various electronic devices such as a POS terminal, a digital still camera, and an electronic book.

1 is a plan sectional view showing a liquid crystal device which is an embodiment of an electro-optical device according to the invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the row direction X of the liquid crystal device according to the Zb-Zb line of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the electrical equivalent circuit of the liquid crystal device of FIG. 2A and 2B are plan views of a sub-pixel of the liquid crystal device of FIG. 1 and its vicinity, in which FIG. 1A shows a state before forming a common electrode, and FIG. 2B shows a state after forming the common electrode. It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of a TFD element, (a) is a top view, (b) is sectional drawing. It is sectional drawing of the part of electrode structure according to Ze line in FIG.4 (b). It is a top view which shows the orientation state of a liquid crystal molecule, (a) shows the initial orientation state at the time of off voltage application, (b) has shown the state at the time of on voltage application. It is a figure which shows typically the optical axis relationship of a rubbing direction and a polarization transmission axis. It is a figure which shows the equivalent circuit regarding a scanning line and a data line. It is a figure which shows an example of a horizontal crosstalk typically. FIG. 6 is a plan sectional view showing a liquid crystal device which is another embodiment of the electro-optical device according to the invention. FIG. 6 is a plan sectional view showing a liquid crystal device which is still another embodiment of the electro-optical device according to the invention. It is a circuit 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 (electro-optical device), 2. scanning lines; Data line, 4. Liquid crystal layer,
4a. Liquid crystal molecules; TFD element, 5a, 5b. TFD element,
12 Liquid crystal panel, 13. Lighting device, 14. Element substrate,
15. Color filter substrate, 17. 21. sealing material A first substrate,
22. First polarizing plate, 25. Pixel electrode (first electrode), 26. Dielectric film,
27. Common line (wiring), 28. Common electrode (second electrode), 29. A first alignment film,
31. Driving IC, 32. Second substrate, 33. Second polarizing plate, 34. Colored film,
35. Light shielding film, 37. Slit (gap), 38. Electrode linear part,
39. Overcoat layer, 40. Second alignment film, 41. Liquid crystal device (electro-optical device)
42. First conductive film, 43. Insulating films, 44a, 44b. A second conductive film,
51. 101. liquid crystal device (electro-optical device) Liquid crystal device, 110. Mobile phones 222, 233. Polarization transmission axis, C.I. Capacity, E.E. Electric field, M, N. Scan lines,
P. Sub-pixels R1, R2,. Rubbing direction, V. Indicated Area

Claims (18)

A scanning line provided on a substrate supporting an electro-optic material and transmitting a scanning signal;
A switching element provided on the substrate and conductively connected to the scanning line;
An island-shaped first electrode provided on the substrate and conductively connected to the switching element;
A dielectric film provided on the substrate to cover the first electrode and the switching element;
A second electrode provided on the dielectric film, extending in a direction crossing the scanning line, and facing the first electrode in plan view;
The switching element is a two-terminal switching element having a first conductive film, an insulating film provided on the first conductive film, and a second conductive film provided on the insulating film,
The second electrode has a plurality of electrode linear portions arranged in parallel with a gap in a region facing the first electrode,
The electro-optical device, wherein the second electrode is a data line for transmitting a data signal.   2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein each part or all of the electrode linear portions of the second electrode overlaps the first electrode in a plan view.   3. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is a planar electrode having no gap and no opening. 4. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, further comprising an alignment film provided on the substrate, wherein the alignment film is rubbed, the rubbing direction and the rubbing direction When the angle formed by the extending direction of the electrode linear portion is α,
5 ° ≦ α ≦ 20 °
An electro-optical device characterized by the above.   5. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the scanning line is formed of a conductive metal. 6.   3. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the scanning line is formed of the same material as the first conductive film or the second conductive film of the switching element.   7. The electro-optical device according to claim 5, wherein the scanning line is formed of one or a combination selected from chromium, a chromium alloy, aluminum, and an aluminum alloy. apparatus. The electro-optical device according to claim 1,
A plurality of the first electrodes are provided on the substrate, and the first electrodes are provided in a row in a direction perpendicular to each other,
The electro-optical device, wherein the second electrode is a strip electrode that overlaps the plurality of island electrodes arranged in one direction in a plan view.   9. The electro-optical device according to claim 8, wherein the gap and the electrode linear portion of the second electrode are a plurality of island shapes formed by overlapping the first electrode and the second electrode in a plan view. An electro-optical device formed for each sub-pixel.   9. The electro-optical device according to claim 8, wherein the gap and the electrode linear portion of the second electrode are a plurality of island shapes formed by overlapping the first electrode and the second electrode in a plan view. The electro-optical device is formed continuously over the sub-pixels. The electro-optical device according to claim 9 or 10,
The plurality of island-shaped sub-pixels are arranged in a row in a direction orthogonal to each other to form a display area,
The second electrode in the display region is formed of a light-transmitting metal oxide,
The electro-optical device, wherein the second electrode outside the display region includes a conductive metal. The electro-optical device according to claim 11.
A wiring provided on the substrate and conductively connected to the scanning line;
The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the wiring is provided separately in a side region on both sides of the display region in a plan view. The electro-optical device according to claim 11.
A wiring provided on the substrate and conductively connected to the scanning line;
The electro-optical device, wherein the wirings are collectively provided in a side region on one side of the display region in a plan view.   14. The electro-optical device according to claim 12, wherein the wiring is formed of the same material as or including the same material as the scanning line. A first substrate and a second substrate facing each other with a layer of electro-optic material interposed therebetween;
A scanning line provided on the first substrate;
A switching element provided on the first substrate and conductively connected to the scanning line;
An island-shaped first electrode provided on the first substrate and conductively connected to the switching element;
A dielectric film provided on the first substrate so as to cover the first electrode and the switching element;
A second electrode provided on the dielectric film and facing the first electrode;
A first alignment layer and a first polarizing layer provided on the first substrate;
A second alignment film and a second polarizing layer provided on the second substrate,
The switching element is a two-terminal switching element having a first conductive film, an insulating film provided on the first conductive film, and a second conductive film provided on the insulating film,
The second electrode has a plurality of electrode linear portions arranged in parallel with a gap in a region facing the first electrode,
The first alignment film is rubbed, and when the angle formed between the rubbing direction and the extending direction of the electrode linear portion is α,
5 ° ≦ α ≦ 20 °
And
The direction of extension of the polarization transmission axis of the first polarizing layer is parallel to the direction of rubbing applied to the first alignment film,
The rubbing direction applied to the second alignment layer is antiparallel to the rubbing direction on the first substrate side,
An electro-optical device, wherein an extension direction of a polarization transmission axis of the second polarization layer is orthogonal to an extension direction of a polarization transmission axis of the first polarization layer.   16. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optical material is a nematic liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy. A scanning line that is provided on a substrate supporting the liquid crystal layer and transmits a scanning signal;
A switching element provided on the substrate and conductively connected to the scanning line;
An island-shaped first electrode provided on the substrate and conductively connected to the switching element;
A dielectric film provided on the substrate to cover the first electrode and the switching element;
A band-shaped second electrode provided on the dielectric film, extending in a direction intersecting with the scanning line, and having a translucency facing the first electrode in plan view;
A wiring provided in a region outside the second electrode, extending substantially parallel to the second electrode, and electrically connected to the scanning line;
The switching element is a two-terminal switching element having a first conductive film, an insulating film provided on the first conductive film, and a second conductive film provided on the insulating film,
The second electrode has a plurality of electrode linear portions arranged in parallel with a gap in a region facing the first electrode,
The second electrode is a data line for transmitting a data signal;
The scanning line and the wiring are formed of a conductive metal,
The electro-optical device, wherein the second electrode is formed of a light-transmitting metal oxide.   An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to claim 1.

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