JP2009069331A - Transflective liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a VA mode transflective liquid crystal display device which is equipped with a pixel electrode having a slit formed on a boundary between a reflective section and a transmissive section, which is bright due to excellent reflection efficiency of the reflective section, and which has high strength against pressure application on the surface. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid crystal display device 10A is equipped with an array substrate AR on which the reflective section 19 and the transmissive section 20 are formed for each pixel electrode region surrounded by scanning lines 12 and signal lines 13 arranged in a matrix, the pixel electrode 16a of the reflective section 19 and the pixel electrode 16b of the transmissive section 20 being connected to each other via a pixel electrode 16c of a connecting section 25, and a reflection plate 22 with protrusions and recessions formed on the surface being arranged under the pixel electrode 16a of the reflective section 19; and is equipped with a color filter substrate CF, and further is characterized in that a columnar spacer 40 is formed on the signal line 13 located between the pixel electrode 16a of the reflective section 19 and the pixel electrode 16b of the transmissive section 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a VA (Vertically Aligned) type transflective liquid crystal display device and electronic equipment. More specifically, the present invention includes a VA-type transflective liquid crystal having a pixel electrode in which a slit is formed at the boundary between the reflective portion and the transmissive portion, the reflective portion has a good reflection efficiency, is bright, and has a strong surface pressing strength. The present invention relates to a display device and an electronic device.

As a liquid crystal display device used in a portable device typified by a recent cellular phone or the like, a transflective liquid crystal display device having both transmissive and reflective properties is often used. This transflective liquid crystal display device has a transmissive portion having a transparent electrode and a reflective portion having a reflective layer in each pixel. In a dark place, the backlight is turned on and an image is displayed using the transmissive part of each pixel. In a bright place, the external light is used in the reflective part of each pixel without turning on the backlight. The image is displayed. Therefore, a display device using a transflective liquid crystal display device has an advantage that power consumption can be greatly reduced because it is not necessary to always turn on the backlight.

On the other hand, in the liquid crystal display device, a spacer is necessary in order to keep the distance between each pixel electrode and the counter electrode, that is, the thickness (cell gap) of the liquid crystal layer constant. If a columnar spacer made of photoresist is used as this spacer, it can be formed integrally on one substrate side, and the height can be made constant and the display area can be avoided, so that the display image quality is good. It has the advantage of becoming.

Also, a transflective liquid crystal display device is known in which columnar spacers are provided to keep the cell gap constant. For example, Patent Document 1 below shows an example in which a columnar spacer is formed in a reflecting portion because the columnar spacer has a small optical effect even if it is partially visible. Further, Patent Document 2 below shows an example in which columnar spacers are formed at intersections of scanning lines and signal lines, and Patent Document 3 below shows an example in which columnar spacers are formed on signal lines between reflecting portions. Reference 4 shows examples in which columnar spacers are formed in the contact hole portion of the reflection portion. In addition, one such columnar spacer is generally provided for each sub-pixel (see Patent Document 2 below).
1) (see Patent Document 5 below) for every 2 sub-pixels, or 1 (see Patent Document 1 below) for every 1 pixel (3 sub-pixels).
JP 2007-003779 A JP 2004-226612 A JP 2007-066512 A JP 2003-084290 A JP 2003-140157 A

In the transflective liquid crystal display device in which such columnar spacers are formed, for example, a spacer receiving portion serving as a base for receiving the columnar spacers is formed on the surface on the array substrate side. This spacer receiving portion is formed slightly larger than the size of the tip of the columnar spacer in consideration of the amount of overlap during manufacture of the liquid crystal display device, and the surface is flat to obtain a uniform cell gap. Has been. However, when the spacer receiving portion is provided in the reflecting portion as in the transflective liquid crystal display device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the area of the reflecting portion is reduced by the area of the spacer receiving portion, and the reflectance is reduced. Has a problem of lowering. In addition, the area of the reflection part as used in this specification means the area of the part in which the reflecting plate exists and the unevenness | corrugation is formed in the surface of this reflecting plate. That is, if the surface of the reflector is not uneven, the reflected light is not diffusely reflected light but becomes specularly reflected light, which is visually perceived as a decrease in reflectance. Therefore, in this invention, the part in which the unevenness | corrugation is not formed in the surface of such a reflecting plate is excluded as an area of a reflection part.

On the other hand, many columnar spacers are formed in a columnar shape, and the diameter thereof is 10 μm or more (see paragraph [0005] of Patent Document 1) in consideration of problems of strength and peeling. Moreover,
The area of the spacer receiving portion that receives the columnar spacer is larger than the area of the cross-section of the columnar spacer in consideration of an overlay error at the time of manufacturing the liquid crystal display device. Further, in recent medium-sized or small-sized liquid crystal display devices, with the progress of high definition, the area of an area effective for displaying individual pixels is reduced, and the width of scanning lines and signal lines is about 5 μm or less. It is thin.

Therefore, as in the transflective liquid crystal display device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the columnar spacer is formed in the reflection portion, the reflection efficiency of the reflection portion is reduced, so that the high-definition medium-size or It is difficult to adopt as a configuration of a small transflective liquid crystal display device. Further, as in the transflective liquid crystal display device disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, even when the most part of the spacer receiving portion that receives the columnar spacer is provided at the intersection of the scanning line and the signal line, Since the width is wider than the scanning line or the signal line, there is a problem that the area of the reflection portion is reduced and the reflection efficiency is lowered. In addition, according to the transflective liquid crystal display device disclosed in Patent Document 2, all the sub-pixels including the sub-pixels not provided with columnar spacers are provided with flat spacer receiving portions. Even if the reflector exists, the reflectance of the portion is low. In particular, since the green sub-pixel portion has the highest human visibility, the deterioration in display quality due to the decrease in reflection efficiency is significant.

Further, like the transflective liquid crystal display device disclosed in Patent Document 3 above, the spacer receiving portion for receiving the columnar spacer is placed on the light shielding film of the color filter substrate disposed at a position facing the signal line between the reflecting portions. In this case, since the width of the reflection receiving portion is wider than that of the signal line, the spacer receiving portion that does not fit on the signal line protrudes from the reflection portions on both sides of the signal line. Therefore, the above Patent Document 3
In the transflective liquid crystal display device disclosed in 1), problems similar to those of the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2 occur. Further, since the transflective liquid crystal display device disclosed in Patent Document 4 also uses the contact hole formed in the reflection portion as a spacer receiving portion, the size of the contact hole opening is set to a columnar spacer. It is necessary to make it larger than the size of the cross section. For this reason, the size of the contact hole opening must be larger than that of the conventional example, but the contact hole part is not involved in the image display of the reflection part, so the area of the reflection part is reduced and the reflection efficiency is reduced. Decreases. Further, when a misalignment or the like occurs, the photo spacer cannot be fitted into the contact hole, so that the cell gap becomes non-uniform and there is a concern that a cell gap defect may occur.

In addition, there is an increasing demand for increasing the surface pressing strength by end users of recent liquid crystal display devices, but in order to increase the surface pressing strength of the liquid crystal display device, it is necessary to increase the number of columnar spacers. Then, in the transflective liquid crystal display device having the columnar spacer arrangement as in the conventional example, when the number of the columnar spacers is increased, the area of the reflection portion is decreased and the reflection efficiency is decreased.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and more particularly, to a VA type transflective liquid crystal display device in which a slit is formed in a pixel electrode between a reflective portion and a transmissive portion. An object of the present invention is to provide a transflective liquid crystal display device and an electronic device that can be applied and have a good reflection efficiency of a reflection portion, are bright, and have a strong surface pressing strength.

In order to achieve the above object, a transflective liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a reflective portion and a transmissive portion for each pixel region surrounded by scanning lines and signal lines arranged in a matrix. An array in which a pixel electrode of a reflective portion and a pixel electrode of the transmissive portion are connected by a pixel electrode of a connecting portion, and a reflector having an uneven surface is provided below the pixel electrode of the reflective portion A transflective liquid crystal display device comprising: a substrate; and a color filter substrate on which a light-shielding film that covers between adjacent pixel electrodes of the transmissive portion in plan view is formed, the pixel electrode of the reflective portion being transmissive to the pixel electrode A columnar spacer is formed on the light-shielding film of the color filter substrate at a position facing the signal line located between the pixel electrode and the pixel electrode.

According to the transflective liquid crystal display device of the present invention, since the pixel electrode of the reflection part and the pixel electrode of the transmission part are connected by the pixel electrode of the connection part, the pixel electrode of the reflection part and the pixel electrode of the transmission part are During this time, it does not function as a transmission part or a reflection part. Therefore, if a columnar spacer is formed on the light-shielding film of the color filter substrate at a position opposite to the signal line located in a portion that does not function as a transmission part or a reflection part, even if this columnar spacer protrudes from the signal line. However, it is possible to eliminate covering at least the pixel electrode of the reflective portion. For this reason, a transflective liquid crystal display device in which the reflection efficiency of the reflection portion does not decrease and the display of the reflection portion is bright is obtained. Further, it is possible to simultaneously suppress light leakage caused by an unnecessary electric field due to parasitic capacitance generated at the intersection of the signal line and the auxiliary capacitance line.

In addition, since there is a part that does not function as a transmission part or a reflection part as described above for each pixel area, even if a columnar spacer is formed for each pixel area, the reflection efficiency of the reflection part Thus, a transflective liquid crystal display device having a small surface degradation and high surface pressing strength can be obtained.

In the transflective liquid crystal display device of the present invention, it is preferable that a cross section of the columnar spacer is circular, elliptical, polygonal, or polygonal with rounded corners.

According to the transflective liquid crystal display device of this aspect, the area of the spacer receiving portion can be increased without affecting the reflection efficiency of the reflecting portion. Even if the cross-sectional shape of the columnar spacer is a polygonal shape or a polygonal shape with rounded corners, it can be not only a circular shape but also a circular or elliptical shape. In particular, when the cross-sectional shape of the columnar spacer is a circular shape or an elliptical shape, bending stress with respect to a force applied from four directions becomes stronger than that of a polygonal shape with a polygonal cross section or rounded corners. Therefore, according to the transflective liquid crystal display device of this aspect, even if a stress is partially applied to the surface of the transflective liquid crystal display device from the outside, the variation in cell gap is reduced, so that the display image quality is deteriorated. Less.

In the transflective liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the pixel electrode of the reflective portion and the pixel electrode of the transmissive portion are both cut off at opposite corners.

According to the transflective liquid crystal display device of this aspect, the electric field in the pixel electrode is easily applied uniformly by cutting off the corner portions of the pixel electrode of the reflection portion and the pixel electrode of the transmission portion facing each other. Since the disorder of molecular orientation is reduced, a transflective liquid crystal display device with good display image quality can be obtained. Further, since the edge portion of the pixel electrode from which the transmissive portion is cut off functions as a liquid crystal molecule alignment regulating means, a transflective liquid crystal display device having a wide viewing angle can be obtained.

In the transflective liquid crystal display device of the present invention, it is preferable that at least one columnar spacer is formed per pixel.

Although the resistance to surface pressing increases in proportion to the number of columnar spacers, the presence of the columnar spacers also increases the adverse effect on the alignment of liquid crystal molecules around the columnar spacers. However,
According to the transflective liquid crystal display device of the present invention, since the columnar spacer is formed at a position that is neither a transmissive part nor a reflective part, the adverse effect on the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules around the columnar spacer is much higher than that of the conventional example. Small. Accordingly, as in the transflective liquid crystal display device of the present invention, when at least one columnar spacer is formed in one pixel, a transflective liquid crystal display device in which the surface pressing strength and the display image quality are balanced can be obtained.

In the transflective liquid crystal display device of the present invention, the color filter substrate is formed with a light-shielding film covering between adjacent pixel electrodes of the transmissive portion in plan view, and the columnar spacer is seen in plan view. It is preferable that the light-shielding film is formed at the end of the light-shielding film that covers the adjacent pixel electrodes of the transmissive part.

Originally, since a signal line exists below the pixel electrodes adjacent to each other in the transmissive part, light does not leak from between the pixel electrodes adjacent to each other in the transmissive part. However, the pixel electrode in the transmissive part may not partially overlap the surface of the signal line due to mask displacement or the like. For this reason, such a light leakage can be suppressed by covering the pixel electrodes adjacent to each other in the plan view with a light shielding film. In addition, since the columnar spacer is disposed at the end of the light-shielding film, the columnar spacer becomes difficult to visually recognize from the outside, and a transflective liquid crystal display device with good contrast and good display quality can be obtained.

In the transflective liquid crystal display device of the present invention, a light-shielding film is formed on the color filter substrate to cover a space between the pixel electrode of the transmissive part and the pixel electrode of the reflective part. A light-shielding film covering between adjacent pixel electrodes is integrated with a light-shielding film covering between the pixel electrode of the transmissive part and the pixel electrode of the reflective part, and the pixel electrode of the transmissive part and the pixel electrode of the reflective part It is preferable that the light shielding film covering the gap between the transparent electrode and the pixel electrode of the reflective part is formed in an island shape at the end of the light shielding film.

Originally, a vertical alignment film is formed between the pixel electrode of the transmissive part and the pixel electrode of the reflective part, and an auxiliary capacitance line is disposed below the pixel electrode of the reflective part. There is no light leakage. However, it is easy to have a parasitic capacitance at the intersection of the signal line and the auxiliary capacitance line, and light leakage is likely to occur due to an unnecessary electric field. Further, there is a possibility that leakage light from the auxiliary capacitance line side leaks from the signal line due to mask displacement or the like, but the light shielding film that covers the pixel electrodes adjacent to each other in the plan view is arranged as a pixel electrode and a reflection portion in the transmission portion By forming an island-shaped light shielding film at the intersection of the signal line and the auxiliary capacitance line that does not contribute to the reflection part and the transmission part, the light shielding film is formed integrally with the pixel electrode. Light leakage can be suppressed. In addition, even if the width of the columnar spacer is larger than the width of the signal line, the position corresponding to the columnar spacer and the adjacent pixel electrodes of the transmission part can be shielded at the same time. A transflective liquid crystal display device with good quality can be obtained.

In the transflective liquid crystal display device of the present invention, it is preferable that alignment regulating means for liquid crystal molecules is formed at a position corresponding to at least the transmission part of the color filter substrate.

With such a configuration, it is possible to regulate the alignment so that the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is divided into a plurality of different directions in each pixel region also on the color filter substrate side. Therefore, a transflective liquid crystal display device of MVA (Multi-domain Vertically Aligned) system that can achieve a wider viewing angle can be obtained. In addition, you may form this orientation control means not only in a transmission part but in a reflection part. In addition, this orientation control means can consist of the protrusion formed in the surface of the common electrode, or the slit formed in the common electrode.

Furthermore, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes any one of the above-described transflective liquid crystal display devices.

According to the electronic apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to obtain an electronic apparatus including a VA-type transflective liquid crystal display device that has a good reflection portion n reflection efficiency, is bright, and has strong surface pressing strength.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples and drawings. In addition, although the Example shown below shows the transflective liquid crystal display device for actualizing the technical idea of this invention, it does not intend limiting this invention to what was described here. The present invention can be equally applied to various modifications without departing from the technical idea shown in the claims.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the three sub-pixel portions of the VA-type transflective liquid crystal display device of Example 1 through a color filter layer. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 and including the light shielding film of the color filter substrate. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a region IV portion surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 5A and 5B show the first embodiment.
It is an enlarged view corresponding to FIG. 4 of the 1st and 2nd modification of this. 6A and 6B are enlarged views corresponding to FIG. 4 of the third and fourth modifications of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 including the light shielding film of the color filter substrate in the case of the third and fourth modifications. FIG.
These are the enlarged views corresponding to FIG. 4 of the 5th and 6th modification of Example 1. FIG. FIG. 9 shows M in Example 2.
FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view illustrating three sub-pixel portions of a VA type transflective liquid crystal display device as seen through a color filter layer. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a personal computer equipped with the transflective liquid crystal display device of the present invention, and FIG. 11B is a diagram showing a mobile phone equipped with the transflective liquid crystal display device of the present invention.

First, a VA transflective liquid crystal display device 10A according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The VA-type transflective liquid crystal display device 10A includes an array substrate AR and a color filter substrate CF that are arranged to face each other. The array substrate AR is provided in parallel with the scanning lines 12 between the scanning lines 12 and the signal lines 13 formed in a matrix on the surface of the transparent substrate 11 made of a glass substrate or the like. A storage capacitor line 14 is provided. In each region surrounded by the scanning line 12 and the signal line 13, a thin film transistor (TFT) including a source electrode S, a gate electrode G, a drain electrode D, and a semiconductor layer 15, and a pixel Electrode 16 is formed. Here, a region surrounded by each scanning line 12 and signal line 13 corresponds to one sub-pixel.

The scanning lines 12, the gate electrodes G, the auxiliary capacitance lines 14, and the exposed surfaces of the transparent substrate 11 are covered with a first insulating film (also referred to as a gate insulating film) 17. On the surface of the first insulating film 17, for example, an amorphous silicon (a-Si) layer and a semiconductor layer 15 composed of an n ⁺ a-Si layer serving as an ohmic contact layer formed on the surface, a source electrode S and A drain electrode D is formed, and a signal line 13 connected to the source electrode S is also formed. Further, the entire surface of the TFT and signal line 13 and the exposed surface of the first insulating film 17 are covered with a second insulating film 18 (also called a protective insulating film or a passivation film). The drain electrode D extends from the surface of the first insulating film 17 to the upper portion of the auxiliary capacitance line 14, and an auxiliary capacitance is formed between the drain electrode D and the auxiliary capacitance line 14.

Further, the surface of the second insulating film 18 is made of an organic insulating film such as a photoresist, in which a fine uneven portion is formed on the surface of the reflecting portion 19 and the surface of the transmitting portion 20 is flat. An interlayer film (also referred to as a planarizing film) 21 is formed. And the reflection part 19
In FIG. 2, the surface of the interlayer film 21 has a reflecting plate 2 made of aluminum, aluminum alloy or the like.
2 is formed, and a contact hole 23 is formed in the second insulating film 18 and the interlayer film 21 located on the storage capacitor line 14.

ITO (In) is formed on the surface of the reflecting plate 22 of the reflecting portion 19 and the surface of the interlayer film 21 of the transmitting portion 20.
A pixel electrode 16 made of a transparent conductive material such as dium tin oxide (Idium) or indium zinc oxide (IZO) is formed. Further, the pixel electrode 16 is electrically connected to the drain electrode D through a contact hole 23 formed in the reflecting portion 19. In FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the uneven portion of the reflecting portion 19 is omitted.

Further, in the transflective liquid crystal display device 10A according to the first embodiment, the slit portion 24 where the transparent conductive material does not exist is provided in the boundary region between the reflective portion 19 and the transmissive portion 20 of the pixel electrode 16. Accordingly, the pixel electrode 16 substantially includes the pixel electrode 16a of the reflection portion 19 and the transmission portion 20.
The pixel electrode 16b of the reflection part 19 and the pixel electrode 16b of the transmission part 20 are electrically connected via the pixel electrode 16c of the connection part 25. In the VA-type transflective liquid crystal display device 10A according to the first embodiment, the pixel electrode 16c of the connecting portion 25 is located approximately in the middle between the adjacent signal lines 13. The width of the pixel electrode 16c of the connecting portion 25 is such that the pixel electrode 16a of the reflective portion 19 and the pixel electrode 1 of the transmissive portion 20 in the direction in which the scanning line 12 extends.
It is much narrower than the width of 6b. The reason for adopting such a configuration is to restrict the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules at the edge portions of the pixel electrode 16a of the reflection portion 19 and the pixel electrode 16b of the transmission portion 20 so that the viewing angle is widened. .

On the reflection part 19 side, the auxiliary capacitance line 14 is arranged below the position where the reflection plate 22 of the interlayer film 21 exists. Further, the reflection plate 22 and the pixel electrode 16a of the reflection portion are provided so as to partially overlap the scanning line 12 and the signal line 13 so as not to contact the reflection plate and the pixel electrode of the adjacent pixel in plan view. In addition, the reflector 22 and the pixel electrode 16a of the reflector 19 are provided in substantially the same shape so as to overlap each other. Further, the pixel electrode 16b on the transmissive portion 20 side is along the signal line 13 so as not to contact the pixel electrode and the reflection plate of the adjacent pixel in plan view and not to overlap the signal line 13 substantially. Provided, and also
The scanning line 12 is formed so as to slightly overlap.

Further, in the transflective liquid crystal display device 10A of the first embodiment, the area of the pixel electrode 16b of the transmissive part 20 is larger than that of the pixel electrode 16a of the reflective part 19. As described above, the reason why the area of the pixel electrode 16b of the transmissive portion 20 is increased is because, for example, a transflective liquid crystal display device for a mobile phone has high definition and many image displays. This is because there are many opportunities for use as a transmissive liquid crystal display device. A vertical alignment film (not shown) is stacked on the surface of the array substrate AR so as to cover the entire display area, including the surface of the pixel electrode 16.

Note that, in the pixel electrode 16b of the transmissive portion 20 in Example 1, the corner portion of the reflective portion 19 that faces the pixel electrode 16a is cut off. The reason for adopting such a configuration is to make the viewing angle wide by making the alignment regulating direction of the liquid crystal molecules as isotropic as possible.

Further, on the display region of the transparent substrate 26 made of a glass substrate or the like of the color filter substrate CF, as shown in FIG. 2, the light shielding film is formed in a matrix at positions corresponding to the scanning lines 12 and the signal lines 13 of the array substrate. 30 is formed. Among them, the light-shielding film 30 ₁ is formed so as to cover the inter-pixel electrodes 16b of the adjacent pixel of the transmissive portion 20 in plan view. Then, the columnar spacers 40 are formed on the island-shaped light shielding film 30 ₂ in the position corresponding to the slit portion 24 of the array substrate AR.

One columnar spacer 40 may be formed in at least one pixel from the viewpoint of improving the surface pressing strength. However, in the transflective liquid crystal display device 10A of the first embodiment, the columnar spacer 40 is formed on the island-shaped light-shielding film 30 ₂ on the color filter substrate facing the position nor and transmitting unit 20 instead of the reflective portion 19 Therefore, the columnar spacer 40 hardly affects the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules. Therefore, the transflective liquid crystal display device 10 of Example 1 is used.
In A, if necessary, the columnar spacer 40 can be formed for every sub-pixel.

Originally, since the signal line 13 exists below the pixel electrode 16b of the adjacent pixel of the transmissive part 20, light does not leak from between the pixel electrode 16b of the adjacent pixel of the transmissive part 20. However, the pixel electrode 16b of the transmissive portion 20 may not partially overlap the surface of the signal line 13 due to mask displacement or the like, and leakage light from the auxiliary capacitance line 14 may leak from the signal line 13. is there. Therefore, by forming the light shielding film 30 ₁ covering the inter-pixel electrodes 16b of the adjacent pixel of the transmissive portion 20 in plan view in an island-like light-shielding film 30 ₂ integrally covering the slits 24 parts, like this Light leakage can be suppressed.

Further, in the vicinity of the intersection between the signal line 13 and the auxiliary capacitance line 14, an unnecessary electric field is generated due to the parasitic capacitance, and light leakage occurs locally. In order to suppress this light leakage, each signal line 13
In addition, a method of reducing the parasitic capacitance by thinning the wiring at the intersection of the auxiliary capacitance line 14 has been considered, but this causes secondary defects such as disconnection. Originally, the boundary portion between the reflection portion 19 and the transmission portion 20 does not contribute to reflection or transmission, and thus is a dead space. Therefore by forming an island-shaped light-shielding film 30 ₂ in the intersection between the scanning line 13 and the auxiliary ridge 14, adjacent transmissive portion 20
By so integrating the island-shaped light-shielding film 30 ₂ to the end of the light-shielding film of being disposed between the pixel electrode 16b is formed by, be greater than the signal line 13 width is the width of the columnar spacer 40,
The position corresponding to the columnar spacer 40 and the area between the pixel electrodes 16b of the adjacent transmission portions 20 can be shielded simultaneously. In addition, the light shielding film 30 covering the slit portion 24
_{Since the} columnar spacer 40 is disposed on the column ₂ , it is difficult to visually recognize the columnar spacer 40 from the outside.

In this embodiment, the island-shaped light-shielding film 30 ₂ facing the array substrate AR side of the outermost surface of the position, for the alignment film on the interlayer film 21 is planarized is deposited, planarized There is no need for a photo spacer receiving portion (not shown) for achieving the above. However, in order to achieve the original planarization, a photo spacer receiving portion is simultaneously formed of the same material as the interlayer film 21 on the array substrate AR side. At this time, the photospacer receiving portion can be formed without increasing the number of steps. For example, a photo spacer receiving portion may be formed in a place where flattening cannot be achieved by adopting a structure different from the present embodiment.

In the liquid crystal display device 10A of Example 1, the light shielding film at the position corresponding to the signal line 13 between the pixel electrodes 16a of the reflection unit 19 is omitted in order to improve the reflectance of the reflection unit 19. This is because the reflection plate 22 is partially placed on the signal line 13 of the reflection portion 19 in a plan view in the scanning line 13.
This is because there is little risk of light leakage from this portion.

On the transparent substrate 26 of the color filter substrate CF and the light shielding film 30 formed in a matrix, for example, red (R), green (G), blue (B) formed corresponding to each pixel. A striped color filter layer 27 made of any one of them is provided. Further, the top coat layer 2 having a predetermined thickness is formed on a part of the color filter layer 27 of the reflection portion 19.
8 is provided. The top coat layer 28 is provided over the entire reflection portion 19, and the thickness thereof is set so that the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 32 in the reflection portion 19, the so-called cell gap is half of the cell gap of the transmission portion 20. Yes. The surface of the topcoat layer 28 and the exposed surface of the color filter layer 27 are covered with a common electrode 29 made of ITO or IZO, and a vertical alignment film (not shown) is formed on the surface of the common electrode 29. Is formed.

Then, the array substrate AR and the color filter substrate CF are opposed to each other, and a sealing material is provided around both substrates to bond both substrates, and a liquid crystal composed of liquid crystal molecules having negative dielectric anisotropy between the substrates. By providing the layer 32, the VA-type transflective liquid crystal display device 10A of Example 1 is formed. The array substrate AR of the transflective liquid crystal display device 10A
A backlight device having a well-known light source, a light guide plate, a diffusion sheet, and the like (not shown) is disposed below.

In the VA-type transflective liquid crystal display device 10A, light does not pass through the liquid crystal layer 32 as long as the liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned with no electric field applied to the liquid crystal molecules.
Accordingly, since the vertical alignment film is also provided in the slit portion 24 provided in the pixel electrode 16, no light is transmitted through the slit portion 24.
In the transflective liquid crystal display device 10A of the type, by reducing the overlapping area of the auxiliary capacitance line 14 and the signal line 13, it is possible to suppress the generation of parasitic capacitance and prevent power consumption. The auxiliary capacitor line 14 is formed so that the line width overlaps with the scanning line 13 only. In order to increase the auxiliary capacity, the auxiliary capacity line 14 is further extended from the lower part of the reflector 22 to the slit part 24 side on the transmission part 20 side.

In the VA-type transflective liquid crystal display device 10A according to the first embodiment, the transmissive portion 20
The example in which the pixel electrode 16b on the side is provided along the signal line 13 so as not to substantially overlap with the signal line 13 is shown. However, it is technically difficult to accurately provide the pixel electrode 16b of the transmissive part 20 along the signal line 13, so that a slight gap is generated between the pixel electrode 16b of the transmissive part 20 and the signal line 13. On the contrary, the pixel electrode 16b of the transmissive part 20 is slightly changed.
And the signal line 13 may overlap each other. Even if a slight gap is formed between the pixel electrode 16b of the transmission part 20 and the signal line 13, since the vertical alignment film is provided in the gap, light leaks from the gap. There is no.

In the transflective liquid crystal display device 10A of the first embodiment, the example in which the cross-sectional shape of the columnar spacer 40 is the shape of the slit portion 24 and the corner portions of the triangle are cut off is shown. However, the columnar spacer 40 is not limited to this, and a triangular shape as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B or a triangular shape with rounded corners can be used as the first and second modified examples. Also, a polygonal shape with four or more corners or a polygonal shape with rounded corners (not shown) can be used.

Further, in order to increase the surface pressing strength of the liquid crystal display device, the cross-sectional shape of the columnar spacer 40 is a circular shape or an elliptical shape as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B as a third modified example and a fourth modified example. It is preferable. In the case of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10A ′ according to the modification of the first embodiment in which the columnar spacer 40 having such a circular or elliptical cross section is employed, FIG. 1 showing the light shielding film 30 of the color filter substrate CF. The schematic plan view corresponding to is as shown in FIG.

In addition, when forming the columnar spacer 40, the columnar spacer 40 is connected to the pixel electrode 1 of the reflection portion 19.
Even if it is arranged so as to overlap the corners of 6a and the reflecting plate 22, the film pressure of the pixel electrodes 16a and 16b does not greatly affect the cell gap. However, in the transflective liquid crystal display device 10A according to the first embodiment and the transflective liquid crystal display device 10A ′ according to this modification, the cross-sectional shape of the columnar spacer 40 is circular or elliptical because the width of the slit portion 24 is narrow. If the one having a large cross-sectional area is used, it may overlap with the pixel electrode 16a of the reflecting portion 19 in some cases. In this case, the surface pressing strength is improved, but alignment defects of liquid crystal molecules tend to appear remarkably.

In such a case, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8C as the fifth modification and the sixth modification,
By cutting off the pixel electrode 16a of the reflection unit 19 and the corners of the reflection plate 22 in advance,
As the columnar spacer 40, a circular or elliptical cross-sectional shape having a large cross-sectional area can be used, and a regular polygonal shape or a regular polygonal shape (not shown) with rounded corners can be used. It becomes like this. By adopting such a configuration, the alignment defect at the overlapping portion between the columnar spacer 40 and the pixel electrode of the reflection portion is reduced, and the electric field is generated by cutting the corner portion of the pixel electrode 16a into a polygonal shape. It becomes uniform and the liquid crystal alignment is easily improved. Therefore, a transflective liquid crystal display device with good display image quality can be obtained. Further, since the edge portion of the pixel electrode from which the transmissive portion is cut off functions as a liquid crystal molecule alignment regulating means, a transflective liquid crystal display device having a wide viewing angle can be obtained. 5 to 8, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

As the transflective liquid crystal display device 10A of the first embodiment, an example in which the alignment regulating means is not formed on the color filter substrate CF is shown. However, the present invention is an MVA type in which the alignment regulating means is formed on the color filter substrate CF. The present invention can also be applied to a transflective liquid crystal display device. An MVA transflective liquid crystal display device 1 according to the second embodiment in which alignment regulating means is formed on the color filter substrate CF.
7B will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, but the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the transflective liquid crystal display device 10A of Embodiment 1 and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the transflective liquid crystal display device 10B according to the second embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the columnar spacer, the shape of the spacer receiving portion, the formation position of the columnar spacer, and the like are the same as those in the transflective liquid crystal display device 10A according to the first embodiment. It is the same.

The transflective liquid crystal display device 10B of the second embodiment is a transflective liquid crystal display device 10A of the first embodiment.
The configuration is different from the part of the surface of the common electrode 29,
(1) that the bottom surface at a position opposite to the contact hole 23 of the reflective portion 19 is provided with circular protrusions 31 _1, and,
(2) that the bottom long cross-shaped projection 31 ₂ is provided at a position facing the pixel electrode 16b of the transmitting portion 20,
It is.

Then, these common electrodes 29, the projections 31 ₁ and 31 ₂ of the surface vertical alignment film (both not shown) are laminated. Thus, a transflective liquid crystal display device 10B of the VA mode in the second embodiment, the transmission unit 20, the projection 31 ₁ and 31 ₂ which are separately formed in a region of the reflecting section 19, transmission section 20, the reflective portion In each of the 19 regions, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is regulated also on the color filter substrate CF side. Therefore, according to the transflective liquid crystal display device 10B of the second embodiment, a bright display MVA transflective liquid crystal display device 10B with a wide viewing angle can be obtained.

In Example 2, the reason for providing the protrusion 31 ₁ for controlling the alignment of liquid crystal molecules at a position opposite to the contact hole 23 of the reflection portion is as follows. The liquid crystal molecules in the contact hole 23 are tilted even when no electric field is applied, and there is a difference from the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules around the contact hole 23. In addition, the contact hole 23 is a TF disposed in the reflecting portion 19.
A certain size is required in order to ensure electrical continuity between the drain electrode D of T and the pixel electrode 16a of the reflection portion 19. For this reason, the display image quality deteriorates because the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is disturbed in the contact hole 23 portion of the reflection portion 19. However, if an alignment regulating means for regulating the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is provided at a position facing the contact hole 23 of the color filter substrate CF, the alignment regulating means forcibly regulates the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules. A reduction in display image quality of the unit 19 can be suppressed.

In the above-described MVA transflective liquid crystal display device 10B according to the _second embodiment, an example is shown in which a protrusion 312 having a long cross-shaped bottom in plan view is provided as an orientation regulating member provided on the transmission portion 20 of the color filter substrate CF. However, it is possible to use various known shapes such as a short cross shape, a bar shape, a circular shape, and an oval shape in a plan view. Further, as the orientation regulating member, not only the protrusion but also the common electrode 29 is used.
It can also be set as an orientation description member by forming a slit. The orientation regulating means may be formed only at a position corresponding to the transmission part 20 of the color filter substrate CF.

The example of the transflective liquid crystal display device has been described as the first and second embodiments of the present invention. Such a transflective liquid crystal display device of the present invention can be used for electronic devices such as personal computers, mobile phones, and portable information terminals. 9A shows an example in which the transflective liquid crystal display device 71 is used in the personal computer 70, and FIG. 9B shows an example in which the transflective liquid crystal display device 76 is similarly used in the mobile phone 75. However, these personal computers 7
Since the basic configurations of 0 and the cellular phone 75 are well known to those skilled in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view illustrating three sub-pixel portions of the VA-type transflective liquid crystal display device of Example 1 as seen through a color filter layer. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 and including a light shielding film of a color filter substrate. It is sectional drawing along the III-III line of FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a region IV portion surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 1. 5A and 5B are enlarged views corresponding to FIG. 4 of the first and second modifications of the first embodiment. 6A and 6B are enlarged views corresponding to FIG. 4 of the third and fourth modifications of the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 and including a light-shielding film of a color filter substrate in the case of third and fourth modifications. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view corresponding to FIG. 4 of the fifth and sixth modifications of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating a 3-sub-pixel portion of the MVA-type transflective liquid crystal display device of Example 2 as seen through a color filter layer. It is sectional drawing along the XX line of FIG. FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a personal computer equipped with the transflective liquid crystal display device of the present invention, and FIG. 11B is a diagram showing a mobile phone equipped with the transflective liquid crystal display device of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

10A, 10A ', 10B: Transflective liquid crystal display device 11: Transparent substrate 12: Scanning line 1
3: signal line 14: auxiliary capacitance line 15: semiconductor layer 16: pixel electrode 16a: pixel electrode of reflection part 16b: pixel electrode of transmission part 16c: pixel electrode of connection part 17: first insulating film
18: Second insulating film 19: Reflecting portion 20: Transmitting portion 21: Interlayer film 22: Reflecting plate 23
: Contact hole 24: Slit part 25: Connection part 26: Transparent substrate 27: Color filter layer 28: Topcoat layer 29: Common electrode 30, 30 ₁ : Light shielding film 30 ₂ :
Island-shaped light shielding films 31 ₁ , 31 ₂ : protrusions 32: liquid crystal layer 40: columnar spacers A
R: Array substrate CF: Color filter substrate

Claims (8)

A reflective portion and a transmissive portion are formed for each pixel region surrounded by the scanning lines and the signal lines arranged in a matrix, and the pixel electrode of the reflective portion and the pixel electrode of the transmissive portion are pixels of the connection portion. An array substrate that is connected by an electrode, and is provided with a reflective plate having irregularities formed on the surface under the pixel electrode of the reflective portion;
A color filter substrate on which a light-shielding film covering between adjacent pixel electrodes of the transmission part is formed in a plan view;
A transflective liquid crystal display device comprising:
A transflective type, characterized in that a columnar spacer is formed on a light shielding film of the color filter substrate at a position opposite to the signal line located between the pixel electrode of the reflective portion and the pixel electrode of the transmissive portion. Liquid crystal display device. 2. The transflective liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a cross section of the columnar spacer has a circular shape, an elliptical shape, a polygonal shape, or a polygonal shape with rounded corners. 2. The transflective liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the pixel electrode of the reflection portion and the pixel electrode of the transmission portion are both cut off at opposite corners. 4. The transflective liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein one columnar spacer is formed at least per pixel. The color filter substrate is formed with a light shielding film that covers between adjacent pixel electrodes of the transmissive portion in plan view, and the columnar spacer covers between pixel electrodes of the transmissive portion adjacent in the plan view. The transflective liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the transflective liquid crystal display device is formed at an end portion of the light shielding film. The color filter substrate is formed with a light shielding film covering between the pixel electrode of the transmissive portion and the pixel electrode of the reflective portion, and the light shielding film covering between adjacent pixel electrodes of the transmissive portion is the transmissive portion. A light shielding film covering between the pixel electrode of the reflection part and the pixel electrode of the reflection part, and the light shielding film covering between the pixel electrode of the transmission part and the pixel electrode of the reflection part 6. The transflective liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein the transflective liquid crystal display device is formed in an island shape at an end portion of a light shielding film covering a space between the pixel electrode and the pixel electrode of the reflection portion. The transflective liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an alignment regulating means for liquid crystal molecules is formed at a position corresponding to at least the transmission part of the color filter substrate. An electronic apparatus comprising the transflective liquid crystal display device according to claim 1.

Images