JP2011191530A - Liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display device nearly free from occurrence of distortion of a substrate of a liquid crystal panel in the vicinity of a boundary between adjacent display regions without increasing the number of manufacturing steps of a columnar spacer and capable of obtaining desired optical characteristics, in the liquid crystal display device wherein a plurality of display regions having liquid crystal layer thicknesses different from each other are independently disposed. <P>SOLUTION: A counter substrate 20 has a black matrix 22, a color filter 23 and an insulating film 24 and a columnar spacer 7 adjusting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 9. The size of an insulating film 24a of a first display region in plan view is smaller than the size of an insulating film 24b of a second display region, and a color filter 23a and the insulating film 24a are formed to be layered, in a region Sa where the columnar spacer 7a of the first display region 50a is formed. In a region Sb where the columnar spacer 7b of the second display region 50b is formed, an insulating film 24b is formed but a color filter 23b has a film thickness thinner than the color filter of the first display region 50a or is not formed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device. In particular, the present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device in which a plurality of display regions having different liquid crystal layer thicknesses are independently arranged.

  In recent years, a new display device having a thin and flat display panel using liquid crystal, electroluminescence, charged fine particles and the like has come to be used in many cases instead of the conventional cathode ray tube. A liquid crystal display device, which is representative of these new display devices, is not only thin and lightweight, but also has a feature that it can be driven at a low voltage with low power consumption. The main part of the liquid crystal display device is a liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal is sealed between two substrates. One substrate is an array substrate having a display area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix, and the other substrate is a counter substrate on which a black matrix (light-shielding film), a color filter, a counter electrode, and the like are formed. is there.

  In particular, a thin film transistor (TFT) type liquid crystal display device is provided with a TFT as a switching element in each pixel on the array substrate, and each pixel can hold a voltage for driving the liquid crystal independently. High-quality display with little talk is possible. Each pixel is provided with a scanning wiring (gate wiring) for controlling ON / OFF of the TFT and a signal wiring (source wiring) for inputting image data intersecting the scanning wiring. Usually, each pixel corresponds to a region surrounded by scanning wiring and signal wiring.

  In recent years, a liquid crystal display device in which a transmissive display region and a reflective display region are independently arranged is disclosed as a liquid crystal display device used for a mobile phone, an information terminal device, and the like.

  In general, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer of the liquid crystal display device is controlled by a spacer between the array substrate and the counter substrate. Conventionally, spherical resin spacers having a predetermined diameter are randomly distributed on a substrate. In recent years, columnar spacers that can be disposed at predetermined positions by applying a resin film for spacers having a predetermined thickness on a substrate and patterning are mainly used.

  Usually, the liquid crystal layer thickness of the transmissive display area is different from that of the reflective display area, and the liquid crystal layer thickness of the reflective display area is about half of the liquid crystal layer thickness of the transmissive display area. This is because in the transmissive display area, light passes only once through the liquid crystal layer, but in the reflective display area, light travels back and forth through the liquid crystal layer, so that the optical path lengths passing through the liquid crystal layer are substantially the same. is there.

  In order to make the liquid crystal layer thickness of the reflective display region about half of the liquid crystal layer thickness of the transmissive display region, an insulating film that adjusts the liquid crystal layer thickness generally made of a transparent resin having a film thickness of about half of the liquid crystal layer thickness Is formed in the reflective region.

  The liquid crystal layer thickness is often controlled by a columnar spacer formed on the counter substrate, but the columnar spacer may be formed on the array substrate. An insulating film for adjusting the liquid crystal layer thickness may also be formed on the array substrate.

  In the transflective liquid crystal display device, each pixel constituting the transflective display area has a transmissive display area and a reflective display area having different liquid crystal layer thicknesses. Usually, since the size of the pixel is as small as 1 mm square or less, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transflective display region can be kept constant by forming columnar spacers in either the transmissive display region or the reflective display region.

  However, in a liquid crystal display device in which a plurality of display areas having different liquid crystal layer thicknesses are independently arranged, each display area is composed of a large number of pixels, so the area is large, and in order to keep the liquid crystal layer thickness constant. It is necessary to provide columnar spacers in each display area. Therefore, it is necessary to form columnar spacers having different heights (film thicknesses), and there is a problem that the number of manufacturing steps for the columnar spacers increases.

  In Prior Art Document 1 (FIG. 8), an insulating film for adjusting the liquid crystal layer thickness corresponding to about half of the liquid crystal layer thickness of the transmissive display region is provided over substantially the entire reflective display region. A device has been disclosed in which the insulating film is formed in an island shape in the region to be formed, and the liquid crystal layer thicknesses are different in the transmissive display region and the reflective display region in a single columnar spacer manufacturing process.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-128154 (particularly FIG. 8)

  However, when the columnar spacer is formed on the same substrate on the insulating film for adjusting the liquid crystal layer thickness, in plan view, the height of the columnar spacer on the insulating film having a large area formed in substantially the entire reflective display region; It was found that the heights of the columnar spacers on the insulating film having a small area separated into island shapes in the transmissive display region are different.

  This is because, in general, when a resin film is applied and formed on an uneven substrate, the surface of the resin film does not become completely flat, and the viscosity of the resin film, the application conditions, the unevenness of the underlying uneven shape, the area It is because it is influenced by the size of

  For this reason, when the liquid crystal panel is assembled by bonding the array substrate and the counter substrate, the height from the substrate surface on which the columnar spacer is formed to the tip of the columnar spacer in the vicinity of the boundary between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region. Due to the difference, the substrate of the liquid crystal panel is distorted, and there is a problem that display quality such as display unevenness is deteriorated in the vicinity of the boundary between adjacent display regions. Further, since the height of the columnar spacers in the reflective display area or the transmissive display area is different from the designed height, there is a problem that desired optical characteristics cannot be obtained. In particular, this problem is more likely to occur as the substrate thickness of the liquid crystal panel is reduced.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and in particular, in a liquid crystal display device in which a plurality of display regions having different liquid crystal layer thicknesses are independently arranged, a columnar shape is formed on the same substrate. In the case where the spacer is formed by laminating on the insulating film for adjusting the liquid crystal layer thickness, the distortion of the substrate of the liquid crystal panel is reduced near the boundary of the adjacent display region without increasing the number of manufacturing steps of the columnar spacer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display device that is less likely to generate and has desired optical characteristics.

  The present invention provides a counter substrate in which a first display region and a second display region having different liquid crystal layer thicknesses are independently arranged, and a black matrix, a color filter, and an insulating film for adjusting the liquid crystal layer thickness are formed. In the above, the size of the insulating film in the first display region in plan view is smaller than the size of the insulating film in the second display region, and the region in which the first columnar spacer in the first display region is formed is The pattern made of the same layer as the color filter and the insulating film is laminated, and the insulating film is formed in the region where the second columnar spacer of the second display region is formed, but the color filter is The first columnar spacer and the second columnar spacer have substantially the same height from the substrate surface of the counter substrate, which is thinner than the first display region or is not formed. Is.

  According to the present invention, in a liquid crystal display device in which a plurality of display areas having different liquid crystal layer thicknesses are independently arranged, a reduction in display quality such as display unevenness that occurs near the boundary between adjacent display areas can be suppressed and desired Optical characteristics can be obtained.

1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows schematic structure of 1 pixel of each display area in the XX line position of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process for forming columnar spacers on the counter substrate of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional liquid crystal display device corresponding to FIG. 2 of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment as a comparative example. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of one pixel in each display region at the position of line XX in FIG. 1 of the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process which forms a columnar spacer in the opposing board | substrate of FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of one pixel in each display region at the position of line XX in FIG. 1 of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 3. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process which forms a columnar spacer in the opposing board | substrate of FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of one pixel in each display region at the position of line XX in FIG. 1 of the liquid crystal display device according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of one pixel in each display region at the position of line XX in FIG. 1 of the liquid crystal display device according to the fifth embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the drawings for describing the following embodiments, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts, and therefore, repeated description will be omitted as appropriate.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
First, the configuration of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention will be briefly described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of one pixel in each display region at the XX line position in FIG.

  In FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display device 100 has display regions 50a and 50b having two different liquid crystal layer thicknesses arranged independently in parallel. The display areas 50a and 50b are each configured by arranging a plurality of pixels 30a and 30b in a matrix. On the array substrate 10, scanning wirings, signal wirings, TFTs, pixel electrodes and the like (not shown) constituting the pixels 30a and 30b are formed. On the counter substrate 20, a black matrix, a color filter, a counter electrode, and the like (not shown) are formed. The array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are disposed to face each other, and are bonded together with a column spacer (not shown) to form a liquid crystal panel that is a main part of the liquid crystal display device 100. A liquid crystal layer (not shown) is sealed in the gap between the array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20.

  The array substrate 10 is provided with a drive circuit and a plurality of terminals (not shown) for connection to the drive circuit outside the display areas 50a and 50b. The liquid crystal display device 100 is completed by attaching a deflection plate or a phase plate (not shown) to both sides of the liquid crystal panel, and attaching a backlight, an external circuit, a casing, or the like (not shown).

  In the following description, as a general rule, members with an English letter a attached to a member code are members in the display area 50a, and members with an English letter b attached to a member code are members in the display area 50b. Indicates. In addition, when it is not necessary to distinguish the regions by adding alphabetic characters a and b to the member codes, the member symbols are omitted from the alphabetic characters a and b as appropriate, and simplified with one symbol. .

  In the first embodiment, the display area 50a corresponding to the first display area is a transmissive display area. A display area 50b corresponding to the second display area is a reflective display area. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a schematic configuration of one pixel 30a, 30b in the display area 50a, 50b.

  In the counter substrate 20, a black matrix 22, a color filter 23, an insulating film 24 for adjusting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 9 made of a transparent resin, and a counter electrode 25 are formed on a substrate 21. Furthermore, columnar spacers 7 are formed on the counter substrate 20. The columnar spacers 7a of the pixels 30a constituting the display area 50a are formed in the area Sa and have a film thickness ta. The columnar spacer 7b of the pixel 30b constituting the display region 50b is formed in the region Sb and has a film thickness tb. Here, the color filter 23b is not formed in the region Sb.

  In the array substrate 10, scanning wiring, signal wiring, TFT, and the like are not shown, and only the substrate 1, the insulating films 2a and 2b, and the pixel electrodes 3a and 3b are shown. The pixel electrode 3a is a transmissive electrode made of a transparent conductive film such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), and is formed on the insulating film 2a. The pixel electrode 3b is a reflective electrode made of a highly reflective metal film such as Al, Ag, or Pt. The pixel electrode 3b is formed on the insulating film 2b having irregularities and has light scattering properties.

  An alignment film (not shown) for controlling the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules is applied and formed on the interface between the array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 and the liquid crystal layers 9a and 9b.

  The columnar spacers 7a and 7b have different thicknesses ta and tb so that the distance between the array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 is substantially the same in the display region 50a and the display region 50b, but from the substrate 21 to the columnar spacers 7a and 7b. The height to the surface is substantially the same. As a result, the substrates 1 and 21 near the boundary region P between the display region 50a and the display region 50b are almost free from distortion.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sizes of the display areas 50a and 50b may not be the same, and there may be a configuration in which there is a non-display area between the display areas 50a and 50b. Further, since the display areas 50a and 50b are arranged independently, the size of the pixels 30a and 30b need not be the same. In Embodiment 1, the pixel 30b has a smaller configuration than the pixel 30a.

  FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a manufacturing process for forming the columnar spacer 7 on the counter substrate 20 of FIG.

  In the process of FIG. 3A, a black matrix 22 made of a metal film such as Cr, Ni, Ti or its oxide film is sputtered or deposited on a substrate 21 made of a transparent insulator such as glass or plastic. Form and pattern. The openings of the black matrices 22a and 22b serve as effective display areas that transmit and reflect light, respectively. In the first embodiment, the black matrix 22 is formed of a metal film having a film thickness (step difference) h1 of about 100 nm, but a black resin film is also possible.

  In the step of FIG. 3B, a color filter 23 having a film thickness of about 1 to 2 μm is applied and formed by spin rotation or inkjet or the like and patterned. The color filter 23 generally uses three types of three primary colors of red, green, and blue. Here, any one color of one pixel 30 is shown. The three primary colors may be other than red, green, and blue, and a color filter 23 having four or more primary colors may be used.

  There is a film thickness h1 of the black matrix 22 below the color filter 23, but there is only a slight step compared to the film thickness h2 of the color filter 23. Since the thick resin film has a feature of relaxing the uneven step, the surface of the color filter 23 after the color filter 23 is formed by coating is substantially flat.

  In the patterning of the color filter 23, the color filter 23a in the display area 50a is formed almost entirely in the area Sa where the columnar spacer 7a is formed on the black matrix 22a. On the other hand, in the display area 50b, the color filter 23b is not formed in the area Sb where the columnar spacer 7b is formed on the black matrix 22b. For this reason, a step h3 substantially the same as the film thickness h2 of the color filter 23b is generated in the region Sb.

  In the step of FIG. 3C, an insulating material 124 for adjusting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 9 made of a transparent resin is applied and formed. The film thickness of the insulating material 124 is about 1.5 to 3 μm, which is about half of the thickness 3 to 6 μm of the liquid crystal layer 9 a in the transmissive display region 50 a. At this time, the surface of the insulating material 124 is not completely flat, and some unevenness is present due to the step h3 of the region Sb where the lower color filter 23 is not formed. Here, a step h5 exists in the insulating material 124b in the region Sb. However, h3> h5 as compared with the step h3 of the color filter 23, and the step is reduced by applying and forming the insulating material 124.

  In the step of FIG. 3D, the insulating material 124 is patterned. In the display region 50b, the insulating film 24b is formed almost entirely. On the other hand, since the display area 50a is a transmissive display area, basically, the insulating film 24a for adjusting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 9 is not necessary, but in the area Sa where the columnar spacer 7a is formed on the black matrix 22a. An insulating film 24a having a small area is formed.

  3E, a counter electrode 25 made of a transparent conductive film such as ITO is formed on substantially the entire substrate 21 by sputtering, vapor deposition, or the like. Thereby, the counter substrate 20 is formed. In the horizontal electric field type liquid crystal display device 100, since the counter electrode 25 is formed on the array substrate 10, this step may not be performed.

  3F, the resin material 107 for forming the columnar spacers 7 is applied and formed. A resin material 107 having a thickness substantially equal to that of the insulating film 24b and having a thickness of about 1.5 to 3 μm is applied and formed. In the region Sa of the display region 50a, a step h6 exists on the surface of the resin material 107a. On the other hand, a level difference h7 exists on the surface of the resin material 107b also in the area Sb of the display area 50b. However, the step h7 is h5> h7 which is smaller than the step h5.

  In the display area 50a, the surface of the resin material 107a becomes a convex portion of the step h6 in the area Sa. In the display region 50b, the surface of the resin material 107b becomes a concave portion of the step h7 in the region Sb. As a result, the height from the substrate 21 to the surfaces of the resin materials 107a and 107b is substantially the same in the regions Sa and Sb.

  In the step of FIG. 3G, the resin material 107 is patterned to form columnar spacers 7a and 7b. The film thicknesses ta and tb of the columnar spacers 7a and 7b are tb> ta, respectively, but the height of the columnar spacers 7a and 7b from the substrate 21 is substantially the same height h. it can.

  As a result, the columnar spacers 7a and 7b formed on the counter substrate 20 side have substantially the same height h from the substrate 21, so that even when bonded to the array substrate 10, the distortion of the substrates 1 and 21 of the liquid crystal panel is suppressed. can do. In addition, it is possible to suppress deterioration in display quality such as display unevenness that occurs in the vicinity of the boundary region P between the adjacent display regions 50a and 50b, and obtain desired optical characteristics.

  The step h3 of the color filter 23b in the region Sb is relaxed by applying and forming the insulating material 124 for adjusting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 9 and the resin material 107 for forming the columnar spacer 7, and finally the columnar spacer 7a, 7b has substantially the same height h from the substrate 21, but the thickness of the insulating material 124 for adjusting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 9 or the thickness of the resin material 107 for forming the columnar spacer 7 is not changed. The degree of relaxation of the step h3 can be controlled by the viscosity and application conditions (for example, the spin rotation speed).

(Comparative example)
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional liquid crystal display device corresponding to FIG. 2 of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment as a comparative example.

  In the conventional liquid crystal display device 100, as shown in FIG. 4, the color filter 23b is also formed in the region Sb where the columnar spacer 7b of the display region 50b is formed. Since the size of the insulating film 24a in the first display region 50a in plan view is smaller than the size of the 24b insulating film in the second display region 50b, the insulating film 24a is formed on the insulating films 24a and 24b in the display regions 50a and 50b. Since the columnar spacers 7a and 7b have different film thicknesses ta and tb, and the columnar spacer 7b in the display region 50b has a larger film thickness tb, the height of the columnar spacer 7 from the substrate 21 is set to the display region 50b. Was bigger.

  As a result, in the substrates 1 and 21 of the liquid crystal panel bonded to the counter substrate 20 and the array substrate 10, distortion occurs in the vicinity of the boundary region P between the display regions 50 a and 50 b, and display quality such as display unevenness is deteriorated and desired. Problems such as inability to obtain the optical characteristics of the above have occurred. FIG. 4 shows a state where distortion occurs on the substrate 1 side in the vicinity of the boundary region P between the display regions 50a and 50b.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of one pixel in each display region at the position of line XX in FIG. 1 of the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, the color filter 23b is not formed in the region Sb where the columnar spacer 7b of the display region 50b is formed, so that the height of the columnar spacer 7b from the substrate 21 is reduced, and the columnar spacer 7a of the region Sa. The height was approximately the same. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, as in the conventional case, instead of forming the color filter 23b in the region Sb of the display region 50b, the color filter 23 is formed in the region Sa in which the columnar spacer 7a of the display region 50a is formed. The height of the columnar spacer 7a from the substrate 21 is increased by laminating the color filters 23c of other colors.

  In general, the color filter 23 includes pixels 30 of three primary colors, red, green, and blue, which are repeatedly arranged. Each pixel 30 has one color, but as shown in FIG. 5, the color filter 23c of another color is stacked on the region Sa to increase the height of the region Sa.

  FIG. 6 is a view showing a manufacturing process for forming columnar spacers on the counter substrate of FIG.

  In the step of FIG. 6A, black matrices 22a and 22b are formed and patterned. This is the same as the process of FIG. 3A of the first embodiment.

  In the step of FIG. 6B, the color filter 23 is formed and patterned. Although this corresponds to the step of FIG. 3B of the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, the color filter 23b is also formed in the region Sb where the columnar spacer 7b is formed in the display region 50b.

  In the step of FIG. 6C, in the display area 50a, the color filter 23c of another color is stacked in addition to the color filter 23a in the area Sa where the columnar spacer 7a is formed. That is, the height of the region Sa is larger than that of other regions.

  In the step of FIG. 6D, an insulating material 124 for adjusting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 9 made of a transparent resin is applied and formed. This is the same as the step of FIG. 3C of the first embodiment. At this time, the surface of the insulating material 124 is not completely flat, and the region Sa is slightly convex. However, the step is reduced by applying and forming the insulating material 124.

  In the step of FIG. 6E, the insulating material 124 is patterned to form insulating films 24a and 24b. This is the same as the step of FIG. 3D of the first embodiment.

  In the step of FIG. 6F, the counter electrode 25 made of a transparent conductive film such as ITO is formed on substantially the entire substrate 21 by sputtering, vapor deposition, or the like. This is the same as the step of FIG. 3E of the first embodiment.

  6G, the resin material 107 for forming the columnar spacers 7 is applied and formed. This is the same as the step of FIG. 3F of the first embodiment. By applying and forming the resin material 107 for forming the columnar spacer 7, the height of the resin material 107a in the region Sa of the display region 50a and the height of the resin material 107b in the region Sb of the display region 50b become substantially the same.

  In the step of FIG. 6H, the resin material 107 is patterned to form columnar spacers 7a and 7b. This is the same as FIG. 3G of the first embodiment. Although the film thicknesses ta and tb of the columnar spacers 7a and 7b are different, the height from the substrate 21 to the surface of the columnar spacers 7a and 7b can be set to substantially the same height h.

  As a result, the column spacers 7a and 7b formed on the counter substrate 20 have substantially the same height h from the substrate 21 to the surface of the column spacers 7a and 7b. The distortion of the substrates 1 and 21 of the panel can be suppressed.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of one pixel in each display region at the position of line XX in FIG. 1 of the liquid crystal display device according to the third embodiment.

  In the third embodiment, the color filter 23b is also formed in the region Sb where the columnar spacers 7b of the display region 50b are formed as in the conventional case. Instead, the thickness of the insulating material 124 for adjusting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 9 made of a transparent resin is set so that, in the region Sb, halftone mask exposure (using a mask having a semi-transmissive film), gray tone mask exposure (exposure machine) The intermediate exposure film thickness is set to an intermediate film thickness by an exposure method such as multiple exposure (using a plurality of different masks) or the like.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process for forming columnar spacers on the counter substrate of FIG.

  In the step of FIG. 8A, black matrices 22a and 22b are formed and patterned. This is the same as the process of FIG. 3A of the first embodiment.

  In the step of FIG. 8B, the color filter 23 is formed and patterned. Although it corresponds to the step of FIG. 3B of the first embodiment, in the third embodiment, the color filter 23b is also formed in the region Sb where the columnar spacer 7b is formed in the display region 50b.

  In the step of FIG. 8C, an insulating material 124 for adjusting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 9 made of a transparent resin is applied and formed. This is the same as the step of FIG. 3C of the first embodiment. At this time, the surface of the insulating material 124 is substantially flat.

  In the step of FIG. 8D, the insulating material 124 is patterned. This corresponds to the step of FIG. 3D of the first embodiment. In the region Sb, the film thickness of the insulating material 124 is set to an intermediate film thickness as an intermediate exposure amount by an exposure method such as halftone mask exposure, graytone mask exposure, or multiple exposure. As a result, the height of the region 124 of the insulating material 124 from the substrate 21 is smaller than that of the region Sa.

  8E, the counter electrode 25 made of a transparent conductive film such as ITO is formed on substantially the entire counter substrate 20 by sputtering, vapor deposition, or the like. This is the same as the step of FIG. 3E of the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 8F, the resin material 107 for forming the columnar spacers 7 is applied and formed. This is the same as the step of FIG. 3F of the first embodiment. By applying and forming the resin material 107 for forming the columnar spacer 7, the height of the resin material 107a in the region Sa of the display region 50a and the resin material 107b in the region Sb of the display region 50b from the substrate 21 are substantially the same. .

  In FIG. 8G, the resin material 107 is patterned to form columnar spacers 7a and 7b. Although the film thicknesses ta and tb of the columnar spacers 7a and 7b are different, the height from the substrate 21 can be set to substantially the same height h.

  As a result, the height of the columnar spacers 7a and 7b formed on the counter substrate 20 from the substrate 21 is substantially the same height h. Therefore, even when bonded to the array substrate 10, the substrate 1 of the liquid crystal panel, 21 distortion can be suppressed.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of one pixel in each display region at the position of line XX in FIG. 1 of the liquid crystal display device according to the fourth embodiment.

  In the first to third embodiments, the heights of the columnar spacers 7a and 7b formed on the counter substrate 20 from the substrate 21 are substantially the same. In the fourth embodiment, there is a difference in height between the columnar spacers 7 a and 7 b from the substrate 21, but a member corresponding to the difference in height is designated as a region Sa in which the columnar spacer 7 a is formed in the array substrate 10. It forms in the area | region corresponding to.

  In FIG. 9, the height adjustment film 8 is formed in a region on the array substrate 10 corresponding to the region Sa where the columnar spacers 7a are formed. The height adjusting film 8 is made of the same layer as the pixel electrode 3b which is a reflective electrode.

  As described above, the array substrate 10 and the counter substrate can be formed by forming the height adjusting film 8 in the region on the array substrate 10 corresponding to the region Sa where the columnar spacers 7a are formed even if it is equivalent to the conventional configuration of FIG. Since the array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are configured to have substantially the same interval when the substrates 20 are bonded together, distortion of the substrates 1 and 21 of the liquid crystal panel can be suppressed.

  In the fourth embodiment, the height adjustment film 8 is configured from the same layer as the pixel electrode 3b that is a reflective electrode. However, the scanning wiring, signal wiring, semiconductor film, insulating film 2, or transmission that forms the array substrate 10 is used. Members constituting the pixel electrode 3a, which is an electrode, and the like can be laminated to form the height adjusting film 8.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of one pixel in each display region at the position of line XX in FIG. 1 of the liquid crystal display device according to the fifth embodiment.

  In the fifth embodiment, the halftone mask exposure, graytone mask exposure, multiple exposure, and other exposure methods used in the third embodiment are applied to the patterning process of the color filter 23. In the patterning process of the color filter 23, the color filter 23b is formed in the region Sb with an intermediate film thickness. Since the color filter 23b in the region Sb is not completely removed as in the first embodiment, the height of the columnar spacer 7b from the substrate 21 can be adjusted more easily by setting the color filter 23b to an intermediate film thickness. Can do.

  As a result, the height of the columnar spacers 7a and 7b formed on the counter substrate 20 from the substrate 21 is substantially the same. Therefore, even when bonded to the array substrate 10, the substrates 1 and 21 of the liquid crystal panel. Can be suppressed.

  In addition, in Embodiment 2, the color filter 23c of another color is additionally formed in the formation process of the color filter 23. However, in the additional formation process of the color filter 23c, halftone mask exposure, gray tone mask exposure, multiple exposure, and the like. By adjusting the color filter 23c in the region Sa to an intermediate film thickness by this exposure method, the height of the columnar spacer 7a from the substrate 21 can be easily adjusted.

  A combination of the above-described methods of the first to fifth embodiments may be employed.

  In the first to fifth embodiments described above, the case where the transmissive display area and the reflective display area are provided has been described. However, the transmissive display area, the reflective display area, and the display areas having different liquid crystal layer thicknesses may be used. That's fine.

  In the above first to fifth embodiments, the case where the display areas having two different liquid crystal layer thicknesses are shown, but the display areas having three or more different liquid crystal layer thicknesses may be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Substrate 2 Insulating film 3 Pixel electrode 7 Columnar spacer 8 Height adjusting film 9 Liquid crystal layer 10 Array substrate 20 Counter substrate 21 Substrate 22 Black matrix 23 Color filter 24 Insulating film 15 Counter electrode 30 Pixel 50 Display region 100 Liquid crystal display device

Claims (7)

The first display area and the second display area having different liquid crystal layer thicknesses are independently arranged,
On a counter substrate having a black matrix, a color filter, and an insulating film for adjusting the liquid crystal layer thickness,
The size of the insulating film in the first display region in plan view is smaller than the size of the insulating film in the second display region,
The region where the first columnar spacer of the first display region is formed is formed by laminating the color filter and the insulating film,
The region where the second columnar spacer is formed in the second display region is formed with the insulating film, but is the color filter thinner than the color filter in the first display region? Or not formed,
The liquid crystal display device, wherein the first columnar spacer and the second columnar spacer have substantially the same height from the substrate surface of the counter substrate. The first display area and the second display area having different liquid crystal layer thicknesses are independently arranged,
On a counter substrate having a black matrix, a color filter, and an insulating film for adjusting the liquid crystal layer thickness,
The size of the insulating film in the first display region in plan view is smaller than the size of the insulating film in the second display region,
The region in which the first columnar spacer of the first display region is formed is formed by laminating the color filters of a plurality of colors and further laminating the insulating film,
The region where the second columnar spacer is formed in the second display region is formed by laminating the color filter and the insulating film,
The liquid crystal display device, wherein the first columnar spacer and the second columnar spacer have substantially the same height from the substrate surface of the counter substrate. The first display area and the second display area having different liquid crystal layer thicknesses are independently arranged,
On a counter substrate having a black matrix, a color filter, and an insulating film for adjusting the liquid crystal layer thickness,
The size of the insulating film in the first display region in plan view is smaller than the size of the insulating film in the second display region,
The color filter and the insulating film are stacked in a region where the first columnar spacer is formed in the first display region and a region where the second columnar spacer is formed in the second display region. Has been
The film thickness of the insulating film in the region where the second columnar spacer is formed is smaller than the film thickness of the insulating film in the other region of the second display region,
The liquid crystal display device, wherein the first columnar spacer and the second columnar spacer have substantially the same height from the substrate surface of the counter substrate. The first display area and the second display area having different liquid crystal layer thicknesses are independently arranged,
On a counter substrate having a black matrix, a color filter, and an insulating film for adjusting the liquid crystal layer thickness,
The size of the insulating film in the first display region in plan view is smaller than the size of the insulating film in the second display region,
The insulating film is formed in a region in which the first columnar spacer is formed in the first display region and a region in which the second columnar spacer is formed in the second display region,
The first columnar spacer is smaller in height from the substrate surface than the second columnar spacer,
In an array substrate having a member that is disposed to face the counter substrate and that constitutes a scanning wiring, a signal wiring, an insulating film, a semiconductor film, and a pixel electrode,
A height adjusting film made of the member constituting the array substrate is disposed in a region where the first columnar spacers are opposed to each other,
The liquid crystal display device, wherein a distance from the substrate surface between the counter substrate and the array substrate is substantially the same in the first display region and the second display region.   The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the height adjusting film is a member constituting the pixel electrode of the second display region.   The first display area and the second display area are a combination of a transmissive display area, a transflective display area, and a reflective display area, according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Liquid crystal display device.   The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first display area and the second display area have different pixel sizes.

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