JP2009098323A - Transflective type liquid crystal display panel, manufacturing method of transflective type liquid crystal display panel and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transflective type liquid crystal display panel wherein density of a color filter layer in a transmission area and density of the color filter layer in a reflection area can be made different from each other without increasing manufacturing steps. <P>SOLUTION: In the transflective type liquid crystal display panel 10 having an array substrate AR and a color filter substrate CR disposed opposite to each other via a liquid crystal layer 30 and having the transmission area TA and the reflection area RA having a reflection plate R in one pixel, the array substrate is provided with a lower electrode 14 and an upper electrode 21 disposed opposite to each other via an insulating layer for every pixel area on a first transparent substrate 11, the color filter substrate CF is provided with a light shielding layer 26 on a second transparent substrate 25, color filter layers 27R, 27G and 27B of a plurality of colors disposed for every pixel area and a retardation plate 29 formed in the reflection area and the retardation plate 29 is formed between the color filter layers 27R, 27G and 27B and the second transparent substrate 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a transflective liquid crystal display panel driven in a so-called lateral electric field mode, a method of manufacturing a transflective liquid crystal display panel, and an electronic apparatus. Specifically, a transflective liquid crystal display panel capable of forming a color filter layer having an optimum layer thickness in the transmissive region and the reflective region without increasing the number of manufacturing processes, a method for manufacturing the transflective liquid crystal display panel, and an electronic device It relates to equipment.

As a liquid crystal display panel, a transflective liquid crystal display panel having both transmissive and reflective properties has been developed. This transflective liquid crystal display panel has a transmissive region having a pixel electrode and a reflective region having both a pixel electrode and a reflector in one pixel region. In a dark place, the backlight is turned on and an image is displayed using the transmissive area, and in a bright place, the image is displayed using outside light in the reflective area without turning on the backlight. .

By the way, in the conventional liquid crystal display panel, many of them are so-called longitudinal electric field modes (for example, TN (Twisted Nematic) type or VA (V
ertical alignment) type, but a so-called lateral field mode (for example, FFS (Fringe Field Switching) type or IPS) in which electrodes are provided only on one of a pair of substrates.
(In-Plane Switching) type) is also known (see Patent Documents 1 and 2 below). This lateral electric field mode, for example, an FFS type liquid crystal display panel has a feature that a wide display angle, high contrast, and a high aperture allow bright display.

Further, the transflective liquid crystal display panel as described above exists also in the liquid crystal display panel in the horizontal electric field mode (see Patent Document 3 below). Therefore, a liquid crystal display device disclosed in Patent Document 3 below will be described as a known transflective liquid crystal display panel.

8A is an enlarged plan view of one pixel of the liquid crystal display device disclosed in Patent Document 3 below, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIIIB-VIIIB in FIG. 8A.
The liquid crystal display device mainly includes a first substrate 101, a liquid crystal layer 100, and a second substrate 102, and the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102 sandwich the liquid crystal layer 100. First substrate 1
01 has a color filter 106, a planarizing layer 107, a third alignment film 105, a built-in phase plate 108, and a first alignment film 103 on the side close to the liquid crystal layer 100. The second substrate 102 is
A thin film transistor is provided on the side close to the liquid crystal layer 100, and the thin film transistor is a scanning wiring 1.
11, a signal wiring 112, and a pixel electrode 118, and a common wiring 113 and a common electrode 119 are also provided. The thin film transistor has an inverted staggered structure, and its channel portion is formed of an amorphous silicon layer 115. The scanning wiring 111 and the signal wiring 112 intersect each other, and the thin film transistor is roughly located at the intersection. The common wiring 113 is distributed in parallel with the scanning wiring 111, and a common electrode 119 is connected through a through hole. The pixel electrode 118 and the thin film transistor are coupled through a through hole. Pixel electrode 118
There is a second alignment film 104 on the top, which defines the alignment direction in the vicinity of the liquid crystal layer 100.

Further, the built-in phase plate 108 of this liquid crystal display device is disposed immediately below the first alignment film 103 that aligns the liquid crystal layer 100, thereby eliminating the difference in retardation between the reflective region and the transmissive region. The layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective region is adjusted.
JP 2002-14363 A JP 2002-244158 A JP 2005-338256 A (paragraphs [0026] to [0028], FIGS. 1 and 2)

According to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 3, the built-in phase plate 108 is formed only in the reflective region inside the liquid crystal display device, and further formed directly below the first alignment film 103. The retardation in between can be adjusted suitably.

By the way, in such a transflective liquid crystal display panel, the display method is different between the reflective region and the transmissive region, so that the color filter layer formed on the color filter substrate can also be changed between the reflective region and the transmissive region. Has been done. That is, in the transmissive area, light from the light source provided on the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel passes through the color filter layer once to display an image, but in the reflective area, it passes through the color filter layer and irradiates the reflective area. The external light thus reflected is reflected by the reflecting plate, passes through the color filter layer again, and displays an image. For this reason, a color filter layer having a lower density is generally used for the color filter layer in the reflection region compared to the color filter layer in the transmission region. In the liquid crystal display device of Patent Document 3 described above, when the color filter layer is formed with different concentrations for each region, the above-described method is used.

In this way, when trying to change the density of the color filter layer between the transmission region and the reflection region,
Conventionally, the color filter layer in the reflective region is formed thinner than the color filter layer in the transmissive region, an opening is formed in a part of the color filter layer in the reflective region, or a color filter layer having a different density is provided for each region. Or is exposed to light.

However, if the density of the color filter layer is changed by such a method, the density of each color filter layer must be strictly controlled, and this increases the number of manufacturing processes, resulting in high costs. End up.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is a transflective type in which the density of the color filter layer can be made different between the transmissive region and the reflective region without increasing the number of manufacturing steps. A liquid crystal display panel, a method of manufacturing the transflective liquid crystal display panel, and an electronic device including the transflective liquid crystal display panel.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention of a transflective liquid crystal display panel according to a first aspect of the present application includes an array substrate and a color filter substrate arranged to face each other via a liquid crystal layer, and within one pixel. In a transflective liquid crystal display panel of a lateral electric field method having a transmissive region and a reflective region having a reflector,
The array substrate includes a lower electrode and an upper electrode disposed to face each other through an insulating layer on each first pixel region on the first transparent substrate,
The color filter substrate includes a light shielding layer formed in a matrix on a second transparent substrate, a plurality of color filter layers arranged for each pixel region, a phase difference plate formed in the reflection region, With
The retardation film is formed between the color filter layer and the second transparent substrate.

According to the first aspect, since the color filter layer is formed in a state where the retardation plate formed in the reflective region is formed in the lower layer of the color filter layer, the color filter layer formed in the reflective region is the transmissive region. The color filter layer is formed thinner than the color filter layer. Therefore, the color filter layer formed in the reflective region has a lighter color density than the color filter layer formed in the transmissive region. As a result, the display using the reflection region does not become darker than the display using the transmission region without adding a separate manufacturing process.

In the first aspect, the reflecting plate is disposed on the first transparent substrate side of the lower electrode of the array substrate or on the second transparent substrate side of the retardation plate of the color filter substrate. Preferably.

According to the preferred aspect, when the reflector is provided on the array substrate side, the display screen is displayed on the color filter substrate side, and when provided on the color filter substrate side, the display screen is displayed on the array substrate side. Will be displayed. Therefore, since the surface on which the display screen is displayed can be changed simply by changing the formation position of the reflector, it can be appropriately changed according to the application.

In the first aspect, it is preferable that a top coat layer for adjusting a cell gap is formed in the reflective region of the color filter substrate.

According to the preferable aspect, it is possible to change the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive region and the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective region by forming the top coat layer for adjusting the cell gap.
Therefore, for example, the retardation of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive region can be adjusted to ½ wavelength, and the retardation of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective region can be adjusted to ¼ wavelength.

In the first aspect, the layer thickness of the retardation plate is preferably 50% or more of the layer thickness of the color filter layer formed in the transmission region.

According to the preferable aspect, the color density of the color filter layer in the reflective area can be set to half the color density of the color filter layer in the transmissive area by setting the layer thickness of the retardation plate to 50% or more. It becomes. Therefore, the display using the reflection area and the display using the transmission area can be displayed with substantially the same color reproducibility. The layer thickness of the retardation plate is 100%
If this is done, the color filter layer will hardly be formed in the reflective area.
The thickness is set to be at least smaller than the thickness of the color filter layer in the transmission region.

In the first aspect, it is preferable that at least one color filter layer of the plurality of color filter layers has an opening in a part of the reflection region.

According to the preferable aspect, for example, when forming three color filter layers of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), the color with the lowest visibility, that is, the color filter layer in the reflective region. When the layer thickness of the retardation plate is set in accordance with the B (blue) color filter layer where the layer thickness is the largest, the other color filter layers of two colors R (red) and G (green) The layer thickness of the color filter layer in the reflective region becomes relatively thick. Therefore, if an opening is formed in order to adjust the color density of the color filter layer that has become slightly thicker, the reflective region has the same color as when display is performed using the transmissive region in all the color filter layers. It is possible to perform display using.

In the first aspect, the retardation plate is formed of a liquid crystal polymer, and the liquid crystal polymer of the retardation plate is aligned between the retardation plate and the second transparent substrate. It is preferable that an alignment film for retardation plate is formed.

According to the preferable aspect, by forming the retardation plate from a liquid crystal polymer, it is possible to obtain sufficient refractive index anisotropy even with a layer thickness thinner than that of the color filter layer.

Invention of the manufacturing method of the transflective liquid crystal display panel which concerns on the 2nd aspect of this application is the following (1)-
The manufacturing method of the color filter substrate shown in (5) is included.
(1) forming a light shielding layer in a matrix on a transparent substrate;
(2) a step of forming a retardation plate having a predetermined thickness in a reflection region in each pixel divided by the light shielding layer;
(3) A step of forming a color filter layer of a plurality of colors on each of the pixels so that the layer thickness of the transmissive region and the layer thickness of the reflective region are leveled by the retardation plate formed in the reflective region. ,
(4) forming a protective layer so as to cover the color filter layer;
(5) A step of forming an alignment film so as to cover the protective layer.

According to the second aspect, since the color filter layer is formed after the retardation plate is formed in the reflection region, the thickness of the color filter layer in the reflection region is reduced by the level difference formed by the retardation plate. The color filter layer is formed by leveling. Therefore, the color filter layer formed in the reflective region has a lighter color density than the color filter layer formed in the transmissive region. As a result, the display using the reflection region does not become darker than the display using the transmission region without adding a separate manufacturing process.

Moreover, in the said 2nd aspect, when the process shown to the following (6) is performed after the process of said (1), it is preferable.
(6) The process of forming a reflecting plate in the said reflection area | region in each pixel divided by the said light shielding layer.

According to the preferable aspect, it is possible to obtain a transflective liquid crystal display panel in which a display screen is displayed on the outer surface side of the array substrate by forming the reflection plate in the reflection region of the color filter substrate.

In the second aspect, it is preferable to perform the following step (7) after the step (4).
(7) A step of forming a cell gap adjusting topcoat layer in the reflective region.

According to the preferable aspect, it is possible to change the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive region and the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective region by forming the top coat layer for adjusting the cell gap.
Therefore, for example, the retardation of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive region can be adjusted to ½ wavelength, and the retardation of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective region can be adjusted to ¼ wavelength.

In the second aspect, the layer thickness of the retardation plate formed in the step (2) is formed in the transmission region of the color filter layer formed in the step (3). It is preferable that it is 50% or more of the layer thickness of the portion.

According to the preferable aspect, the color density of the color filter layer in the reflective area can be set to half the color density of the color filter layer in the transmissive area by setting the layer thickness of the retardation plate to 50% or more. It becomes. Therefore, the display using the reflection area and the display using the transmission area can be displayed with substantially the same color reproducibility. The layer thickness of the retardation plate is 100%
If this is done, the color filter layer will hardly be formed in the reflective area.
The thickness is set to be at least smaller than the thickness of the color filter layer in the transmission region.

In the second aspect, an opening is formed in a portion formed in the reflective region of the color filter layer of at least one color among the color filter layers of the plurality of colors formed in the step (3). Preferably it is formed.

According to the preferable aspect, for example, when forming three color filter layers of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), the color with the lowest visibility, that is, the color filter layer in the reflective region. When the layer thickness of the retardation plate is set in accordance with the B (blue) color filter layer where the layer thickness is the largest, the other color filter layers of two colors R (red) and G (green) The layer thickness of the color filter layer in the reflective region becomes relatively thick. Therefore, if an opening is formed in order to adjust the color density of the color filter layer that has become slightly thicker, the reflective region has the same color as when display is performed using the transmissive region in all the color filter layers. It is possible to perform display using.

In the second aspect, the retardation plate formed in the step (2) is formed of a liquid crystal polymer, and the following (8) is shown immediately before the step (2). It is preferable to carry out the process.
(8) A step of forming a retardation film alignment film in the reflection region.

According to the preferable aspect, by forming the retardation plate from a liquid crystal polymer, it is possible to obtain sufficient refractive index anisotropy even with a layer thickness thinner than that of the color filter layer.

An invention of an electronic apparatus according to a third aspect of the present application is characterized by including the above-described transflective liquid crystal display panel.

According to the third aspect, there is provided an electronic apparatus equipped with a display panel capable of displaying with substantially the same color reproducibility when displaying using a transmissive region and when displaying using a reflective region. It becomes possible.

Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below is an FFS transflective liquid crystal display panel as a transflective liquid crystal display panel, a method of manufacturing a transflective liquid crystal display panel, and an electronic apparatus for embodying the technical idea of the present invention. The present invention is not intended to limit the present invention to this FFS-type transflective liquid crystal display panel, and other embodiments included in the scope of claims, such as other horizontal The present invention is equally applicable to a transflective liquid crystal display panel in a directional electric field mode (for example, IPS type).

FIG. 1 is a plan view of three pixels shown through the color filter substrate of the FFS transflective liquid crystal display panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining the manufacturing process of the color filter substrate. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a transflective liquid crystal display panel as a modification of the present invention. 7A is a diagram showing a personal computer equipped with the FFS transflective liquid crystal display panel of the present invention, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a mobile phone equipped with the FFS transflective liquid crystal display panel of the present invention. is there. The cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 6 shows a cross section corresponding to the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. Moreover, in each drawing used for the description in this specification, in order to make each layer and each member large enough to be recognized on the drawing,
Each layer and each member are displayed at different scales, and are not necessarily displayed in proportion to actual dimensions.

The configuration of the FFS transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The FFS transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 according to the first embodiment includes an array substrate AR on which electrodes and the like are formed, a color filter substrate CF on which a color filter layer and the like are formed, and the array substrate AR and the color filter. And a liquid crystal layer 30 formed between the substrate CF.

First, the array substrate AR is formed on the surface of a transparent substrate (first transparent substrate) 11 made of a glass substrate or the like so that a plurality of scanning lines 12 made of, for example, Mo / Al two-layer wiring are parallel to each other. Yes. A common wiring 13 made of the same material as the scanning line 12 is formed along the scanning line 12.

Next, a reflector R made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy is formed in a region corresponding to a reflective region RA described later. The reflecting plate R has an uneven surface, but is simplified and flat in FIG. In each region (pixel region) surrounded by the scanning line 12 and the common wiring 13, for example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or IZO (Indium Z).
The lower electrode 14 made of a transparent conductive material such as inc oxide) is formed. This lower electrode 14
Is superimposed on the common wiring 13 and the reflector R and is electrically connected to the common wiring 13, but is not connected to the scanning line 12 or the gate electrode G, and acts as a common electrode.

A gate insulating film 15 made of a transparent insulating material such as silicon nitride or silicon oxide is coated over the entire surface of the transparent substrate 11 on which the scanning lines 12, the common wirings 13, the reflector R, and the lower electrode 14 are formed. ing. Further, a semiconductor layer 16 made of, for example, an amorphous silicon (hereinafter referred to as “a-Si”) layer is formed in the TFT formation region on the surface of the gate insulating film 15. The region of the scanning line 12 at the position where the semiconductor layer 16 is formed forms the gate electrode G of the TFT.

Further, on the surface of the gate insulating film 15, a signal line 17 and a drain electrode D including a source electrode S made of a conductive layer having a three-layer structure of, for example, Mo / Al / Mo are formed. Both the source electrode S portion and the drain electrode D portion of the signal line 17 partially overlap the surface of the semiconductor layer 16. Further, the entire surface of the substrate is covered with a protective insulating film (also referred to as a passivation film) 18 made of a transparent insulating material such as silicon nitride or silicon oxide, and the protective insulating film 18 at a position corresponding to the drain electrode D is covered with the protective insulating film 18. A contact hole 19 is formed.

Then, a transparent conductive material having a plurality of slits 20 on the protective insulating film 18 in the pixel region surrounded by the scanning lines 12 and the signal lines 17 so that the pattern shown in FIG.
An upper electrode 21 made of IZO is formed. The upper electrode 21 is electrically connected to the drain electrode D through the contact hole 19. For this reason, the upper electrode 21 functions as a pixel electrode. Further, an alignment film AL1 is formed over the entire surface of the substrate, and the surface of the alignment film AL1 is rubbed using a rubbing roller or the like.

The upper electrode 21 having the slits 20 preferably has an open end 20a at one end on the signal line 17 side of the slit 20 and a closed end 20b so that the upper electrode 21 has a comb-like shape in plan view for each pixel region. It has become. Thereby, the opening degree on the open end 20a side is improved, and brighter display can be performed. In the first embodiment, one end of the slit 20 is shown as the open end 20a. However, the both ends may be closed.

Next, the configuration of the color filter substrate CF of the transflective liquid crystal display panel of this embodiment and the manufacturing method thereof will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic cross-sectional views showing one pixel region in an enlarged manner, and a B (blue) color filter layer 2 is shown.
This is a representative pixel region where 7B is formed.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the color filter substrate CF is first formed by depositing metal chromium having a predetermined thickness on the surface of a transparent substrate (second transparent substrate) 25 made of a glass substrate or the like using a sputtering method. When this film formation is performed, as shown in FIG. 4B, patterning is performed in a matrix shape so as to cover the positions corresponding to the scanning lines 12, the signal lines 17 and the TFTs of the array substrate AR by a known photolithography method. A layer (black matrix) 26 is formed.

4C, a retardation film alignment film AL3 made of polyimide or the like having a predetermined thickness is applied on the transparent substrate 25 on which the light shielding layer 26 is formed. Then, as shown in FIG. 4D, the surface of the retardation film alignment film AL3 is rubbed using a rubbing roller RO. Further, as shown in FIG. 4E, a phase difference plate 29 made of liquid crystal polymer is formed in a portion of the phase difference plate alignment film AL3 located in the reflection region RA. This forming method is the same as a known method. The retardation of the retardation plate 29 thus formed is set to be equal to or more than that of the liquid crystal layer 30, for example, ½ wavelength. In addition, the layer thickness of the retardation film 29 is set to be 50% or more with respect to the layer thicknesses of color filter layers 27R, 27G, and 27B described later formed in the transmission region TA.

In the present embodiment, the retardation film 29 is formed of a liquid crystal polymer, and the alignment film AL3 for the retardation film is formed. However, another organic polymer is used instead of the liquid crystal polymer. When the retardation plate is used, it is not necessary to form the retardation film alignment film AL3. However, it is preferable to use a liquid crystal polymer because a high refractive index anisotropy can be obtained while the layer thickness of the retardation film 29 is kept smaller than that of the liquid crystal layer 30.

When the retardation film 29 is formed by the above-described process, as shown in FIG. 4F, a color filter layer of a plurality of colors, for example, a color filter composed of three colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). Layer 27
R, 27G, and 27B (see FIG. 3) are formed. In this embodiment, the color filter layers 27R, 27G, and 27B are formed in a stripe arrangement. These color filter layers 27R, 27G, and 27B are formed of a known colored resin, and the formation method is based on a known exposure apparatus. However, since the phase difference plate 29 is formed only in the reflection region RA, for example, when the colored resin is uniformly applied using spin coating or the like, the layer thickness of the colored resin automatically applied to the reflection region RA is as follows. It becomes thinner than what is applied to the transmission area TA. Therefore, by adjusting the thickness of each of the color filter layers 27R, 27G, and 27B to be formed later by adjusting the layer thickness when forming the phase difference plate 29 and when applying the colored resin, the transmission region TA and the reflection region RA are formed. The layer thickness can be varied as appropriate.

More specifically, by adjusting the thickness of the retardation plate 29 and the thickness of the colored resin, the color having the lowest visibility among the color filter layers 27R, 27G, and 27B of the plurality of colors (in this embodiment, B (blue)) of the color filter layer 27B, the layer thickness L1 of the transmission region TA and the layer thickness L of the reflection region RA.
Preferably, the difference from 2 is set to a desired value. This is because it is difficult to change the layer thickness of the phase difference plate 29 and the color filter layers 27R, 27G, and 27B for each pixel, and therefore, the pixel region where the B (blue) color filter layer 27B is formed is used as a reference. is there. Also, due to this, the color filter layers 27R, 2R of other colors, that is, R (red) and G (green)
When a region where the color filter layers 27R and 27B are not formed, that is, openings (not shown) are formed in a part of the reflection region RA of the pixel where 7G is formed, all of the color filter layers 27R, 27G, and 27B are formed. Color density leveling is possible. By the way, R (red) and G
When the above-described openings are formed in the (green) color filter layers 27R and 27G, it is possible to easily form the color filter layers 27R and 27G only by changing the mask pattern used for exposure formation. It is.

As described above, in the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 of this embodiment, the color filter layer 27B formed in the transmissive area TA and the reflective area RA of the pixel area where the B (blue) color filter layer 27B is formed. The layer thicknesses L1 and L2 can be easily controlled by adjusting the layer thickness of the phase difference plate 29. Therefore, the color filter layers 27R and 27R are separated by a separate process as in the prior art.
The color filter layer formed in the transmission area TA and the reflection area R are changed in thickness of G and 27B.
It is not necessary to make the color filter layer formed on A different. The opening is R (
It is only necessary to form the color filter layers 27R and 27G for red and G (green), and the area of the opening can be smaller than the conventional one because the phase difference plate 29 is formed. It is possible to minimize light leakage that occurs in the light source.

When the color filter layers 27R, 27G, and 27B are formed by the above-described steps, next, as shown in FIG. 5A, the color filter layers 27R, 27G, and 27B are protected, and the transparent surface for flattening the surface is provided. A planarizing layer (protective layer) 28 made of resin is formed. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, a cell coat adjusting topcoat layer 32 made of a transparent resin is formed on the surface of the planarizing layer 28 located in the reflective region RA. Due to the topcoat layer 32, the inter-substrate distance L3 of the transmissive area TA and the inter-substrate distance L4 of the reflective area RA have a relationship represented by the following formula (1). By setting the relationship as shown in the following formula (1), when the retardation of the liquid crystal layer 30 in the transmission region TA is ½ wavelength, the retardation of the liquid crystal layer 30 in the reflection region RA is ¼ wavelength. Since the distance of light passing through the liquid crystal layer 30 is uniform, display with optimum display quality can be performed.
L4 = (1/2) L3 (1)

Finally, as shown in FIGS. 5D and 5E, an alignment film AL2 made of polyimide or the like for aligning the liquid crystals in the liquid crystal layer 30 is applied, and the surface is rubbed with a rubbing roller RO. The color filter substrate CF is completed through the above steps.

Then, the color filter layers 27R, 27G, and 27B of the color filter substrate CF assembled through the above-described steps as in the case of the upper electrode 21 of the array substrate AR having the above-described configuration are arranged with a sealing material (not shown) so as to face each other. Then, the array substrate AR and the color filter substrate CF are opposed to each other, and liquid crystal is sealed in a region surrounded by both the substrates and the sealing material to form the liquid crystal layer 30, so that the FFS type transflective liquid crystal of Example 1 is formed. The display panel 10 is obtained. A polarizing plate 31 is provided on the surfaces of the two substrates located outside the transparent substrates 11 and 25.

In the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 of the first embodiment, a light source (not shown) is installed on the outer surface of the array substrate AR, and a display screen is displayed on the outer surface of the color filter substrate CF. However, in a horizontal electric field mode liquid crystal display panel such as the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10, a light source is installed on the outer surface of the color filter substrate CF, and the array substrate A
It is also possible to project a display screen on the outer surface of R. Therefore, hereinafter, as a modification of the first embodiment, a configuration of a transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 ′ that displays a display screen on the outer surface of the array substrate AR will be briefly described with reference to FIG. . The transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 ′ of this modification has the same configuration as that of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 of the first embodiment except for a part of the configuration. Only the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 ′ according to the present modification includes a reflection plate R formed in the reflection region RA of the array substrate AR in the first embodiment, and the color filter substrate CF. The only difference is the point formed in the reflection area RA. Specifically, the reflecting plate R of this modification is formed between the transparent substrate 25 and the retardation film alignment film AL3. When the reflection plate R is formed on the color filter substrate CF side in this way, the light incident on the reflection region RA passes through the phase difference plate 29 twice, so that the retardation of the phase difference plate 29 is also reduced. It is preferable to change them together.

As described above, the reflective plate R is formed on the color filter substrate CF side, and the light source is disposed on the outer surface of the color filter substrate CF, so that the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 ′ of the present modified example has the array substrate AR. A display screen is projected on the outside.

In the present embodiment and the modification, the common wiring 13 is formed along the scanning line 12,
The contact hole 19 formed on the common wiring 13 to connect the lower electrode 14 and the common wiring 13 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, since the reflector R is formed of a conductive member, the common wiring 13 is provided below the reflector R, and the common wiring 13 and the reflector R If the reflector R and the lower electrode 14 are electrically connected via a contact hole or the like, the area of the transmissive area TA is increased, so that a brighter display can be performed. It becomes like this.

Further, in the present embodiment and the modification, the description has been given of the case where metal chromium is used as the light shielding layer 26. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, resin black having low reflectivity may be used. Further, the top coat layer 32 is not necessarily provided and can be omitted as appropriate.

As described above, the FFS type transflective liquid crystal display panels 10 and 10 are used as the embodiments and modifications of the present invention.
'Explained. Such an FFS transflective liquid crystal display panel of the present invention can be used for electronic devices such as personal computers, mobile phones, and portable information terminals. 7A shows an example in which the FFS type transflective liquid crystal display panel 41 is used in the personal computer 40, and FIG. 7B shows an example in which the FFS type transflective liquid crystal display panel 46 is also used in the mobile phone 45. . However, basic configurations of the personal computer 40 and the mobile phone 45 are well known to those skilled in the art, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

It is a top view for 3 pixels which sees through and shows the color filter substrate of the FFS type transflective liquid crystal display panel concerning Example 1 of the present invention. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the II-II line | wire of FIG. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the III-III line of FIG. It is a figure explaining the manufacturing process of a color filter substrate. It is a figure explaining the manufacturing process of a color filter substrate. It is sectional drawing of the transflective liquid crystal display panel as a modification of this invention. 7A is a diagram showing a personal computer equipped with the FFS transflective liquid crystal display panel of the present invention, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a mobile phone equipped with the FFS transflective liquid crystal display panel of the present invention. is there. 8A is an enlarged plan view of one pixel of a conventional liquid crystal display device, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIIIB-VIIIB in FIG. 8A.

Explanation of symbols

10, 10 ': Transflective liquid crystal display panel 11, 25: Transparent substrate 12: Scanning line 13:
Common wiring 14: Lower electrode 15: Gate insulating film 16: Semiconductor layer 17: Signal line 18
: Protective insulating film 19: Contact hole 20: Slit 20a: Open end 20b: Closed end 21: Upper electrode 26: Light shielding layer 27R, 27G, 27B: Color filter layer 28
: Flattened layer 29: Phase difference plate 30: Liquid crystal layer 31: Polarizing plate 32: Top coat layer A
R: Array substrate CF: Color filter substrate R: Reflector G: Gate electrode S: Source electrode D: Drain electrode TA: Transmission region RA: Reflection region AL1, AL2: Alignment film
AL3: retardation film for retardation film

Claims (13)

In a transflective liquid crystal display panel of a lateral electric field type having an array substrate and a color filter substrate arranged to face each other via a liquid crystal layer, and having a transmission region and a reflection region having a reflection plate in one pixel,
The array substrate includes a lower electrode and an upper electrode disposed to face each other through an insulating layer on each first pixel region on the first transparent substrate,
The color filter substrate includes a light shielding layer formed in a matrix on a second transparent substrate, a plurality of color filter layers arranged for each pixel region, a phase difference plate formed in the reflection region, With
The transflective liquid crystal display panel, wherein the retardation plate is formed between the color filter layer and the second transparent substrate. The reflection plate is disposed on the first transparent substrate side of the lower electrode of the array substrate or on the second transparent substrate side of the retardation plate of the color filter substrate. Item 2. A transflective liquid crystal display panel according to item 1. The transflective liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein a top coat layer for adjusting a cell gap is formed in the reflective region of the color filter substrate. The thickness of the retardation plate is 50 times the thickness of the color filter layer formed in the transmission region.
The transflective liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein the transflective liquid crystal display panel is at least%. 2. The transflective liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein an opening is formed in a part of the reflective region in at least one color filter layer of the plurality of color filter layers. . The retardation plate is formed of a liquid crystal polymer, and an alignment film for the retardation plate for aligning the liquid crystal polymer of the retardation plate is formed between the retardation plate and the second transparent substrate. The transflective liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein the transflective liquid crystal display panel is provided. The manufacturing method of the transflective liquid crystal display panel characterized by including the manufacturing process of the color filter substrate shown to the following (1)-(5).
(1) forming a light shielding layer in a matrix on a transparent substrate;
(2) a step of forming a retardation plate having a predetermined thickness in a reflection region in each pixel divided by the light shielding layer;
(3) A step of forming a color filter layer of a plurality of colors on each of the pixels so that the layer thickness of the transmissive region and the layer thickness of the reflective region are leveled by the retardation plate formed in the reflective region. ,
(4) forming a protective layer so as to cover the color filter layer;
(5) A step of forming an alignment film so as to cover the protective layer. 8. The method for manufacturing a transflective liquid crystal display panel according to claim 7, wherein the step shown in the following (6) is performed after the step (1).
(6) The process of forming a reflecting plate in the said reflection area | region in each pixel divided by the said light shielding layer. 8. The method for manufacturing a transflective liquid crystal display panel according to claim 7, wherein the step shown in the following (7) is performed after the step (4).
(7) A step of forming a cell gap adjusting topcoat layer in the reflective region. The layer thickness of the retardation plate formed in the step (2) is 50% or more of the layer thickness of the portion formed in the transmission region of the color filter layer formed in the step (3). 8. The method for producing a transflective liquid crystal display panel according to claim 7, wherein the transflective liquid crystal display panel is provided. Of the plurality of color filter layers formed in the step (3), an opening is formed in a portion formed in the reflection region of at least one color filter layer. A method for producing a transflective liquid crystal display panel according to claim 7. The retardation plate formed in the step (2) is formed of a liquid crystal polymer, and the following step (8) is performed immediately before the step (2). Item 8. A method for producing a transflective liquid crystal display panel according to Item 7.
(8) A step of forming a retardation film alignment film in the reflection region. An electronic apparatus comprising the transflective liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1.

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