JP2019120930A - Alignment substrate with electrode and liquid crystal display element - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a liquid crystal display element having both a region showing a high low-drive voltage property and a region showing high display responsiveness when a voltage is in an OFF state in a single liquid crystal display element.SOLUTION: The liquid crystal display element includes an alignment substrate having both a region having a weak anchoring ability and a region having a strong anchoring ability.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display element and an alignment substrate with an electrode used for the liquid crystal display element.

  Since liquid crystal display elements have characteristics such as thinness, lightness, and low power consumption, their application is being expanded to a wide range of display elements of mobile phones, computers, and televisions. Various display modes such as TN (Twisted Nematic), IPS (In-Plane Switching), FLC (Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal), etc. have been proposed as display principles of liquid crystal display elements, but most of them are liquid crystal molecules depending on the alignment substrate. The orientation direction needs to be regulated in advance.

  As a method of regulating the alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules, after forming an alignment film formed using a solution containing a polyimide or a polyimide precursor on a substrate, a roller wound with a cloth such as rayon or cotton is rotated at A method in which the surface of the alignment film is rubbed in one direction by rotating while keeping the distance between the roller and the substrate constant (rubbing method) or a method of generating anisotropy in molecular orientation of polyimide by irradiating linearly polarized ultraviolet light (Photo alignment method) etc. are adopted. By these alignment processes, liquid crystal molecules are strongly bound to the surface of the alignment film-attached substrate, and are aligned in a certain direction. Hereinafter, the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules are bound to the surface of the alignment film-attached substrate and aligned is referred to as “alignment easy axis”.

  In recent years, as an improvement measure for improving the low drive voltage property of a liquid crystal display element, a liquid crystal display element having a strong anchoring film on one side of the substrate and a weak anchoring film on the other side (see, for example, Patent Document 1) Proposed. In the present specification, a film that regulates the alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules, such as the alignment film described above, is referred to as “strong anchoring film”, and the ability to regulate is referred to as “strong anchoring ability”. Similarly, a film having weak alignment control force (anchoring) on the surface of the substrate and capable of changing the direction of liquid crystal molecules by an electric field or the like in the vicinity of the film is referred to as a "weak anchoring film". The ability to change the orientation of liquid crystal molecules is referred to as "weak anchoring ability". That is, the "strong anchoring membrane" is a "membrane having a strong anchoring ability". "Weak anchoring membrane" is a "membrane having weak anchoring ability". In addition, a material capable of forming a film having strong anchoring ability is referred to as “material for forming a strong anchoring film”, and a material capable of forming a film having weak anchoring ability is referred to as a “material for forming weak anchoring film”. write.

  In addition, a layer having both a region having weak anchoring ability and a region having strong anchoring ability is referred to as “both anchoring layers”. In addition, although the "alignment film" for liquid crystal display elements usually represents the above-mentioned strong anchoring film, in this specification, both anchoring layers also assume one form of an "alignment film".

  The example of Patent Document 1 describes a liquid crystal display device including a weak anchoring film in which a polymer brush is formed on the substrate surface on one side and a strong anchoring film which is a polyimide film on which the other is rubbed. . The weak anchoring film is weak in the alignment control power of liquid crystal molecules, so a liquid crystal display element provided with a weak anchoring film on one side and a strong anchoring film on the other side is a liquid crystal display element provided with a strong anchoring film on both sides In comparison, there is an advantage that the low drive voltage property is high, but at the same time there is a disadvantage that the display response at the time of voltage OFF is low.

  In the liquid crystal display element used for the information terminal, the area that emphasizes the display responsiveness at voltage OFF such as reproducing a moving image, and the display responsiveness at voltage OFF such as displaying time are not so important, but they are used There are areas where time is long and power saving is important.

  A liquid crystal display element provided with a strong anchoring film on both sides is effective for high display response when the voltage is off, and a strong anchoring film on one side and the other for excellent power saving. A liquid crystal display element provided with a weak anchoring film is effective.

  In general, in a single liquid crystal display element, when there are two types of regions that emphasize display responsiveness at the time of voltage OFF and power saving, priority is given to display responsiveness at the time of voltage OFF. A liquid crystal display element provided with a strong anchoring film is used. Therefore, although the merit of the low drive voltage property improvement of the liquid crystal display element by having a weak anchoring film was known, the display responsiveness fall at the time of voltage OFF becomes a barrier, and the existence of the field which emphasizes the characteristic In such a liquid crystal display element, a weak anchoring film can not be used.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-010030

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display element in which both a region having a high low drive voltage property and a region having a high display response at the time of voltage OFF exist in a single liquid crystal display element and the liquid crystal display element An object of the present invention is to provide an alignment substrate with electrodes used.

  As a result of intensive investigations to solve the above problems, the present inventor found that the electrode and the electrode provided with both anchoring layers having both an area having weak anchoring ability and an area having strong anchoring ability on the substrate. An oriented substrate in which the electrodes can generate an electric field parallel to the substrate and which has weak anchoring ability in the area of both anchoring layers on the electrode area generating an electric field parallel to the substrate It has been found that the above object can be achieved by a liquid crystal display device provided with an alignment substrate with an electrode provided with pixels whose area ratio is 40 to 100%, and the present invention has been completed.

The present invention includes the following configurations.
[1] An electroded alignment substrate comprising, on a substrate, both anchoring layers having at least an electrode, and both an area having weak anchoring ability and an area having strong anchoring ability;
The electrode is capable of generating an electric field parallel to the substrate;
The electrode is provided with a pixel in which the ratio of the area of the region having the weak anchoring ability to the area of both anchoring layers on the electrode region generating an electric field parallel to the substrate is 40 to 100%. Alignment substrate.

[2] The image display device according to [1], further comprising a pixel in which the ratio of the area of the weakly anchoring area to the area of the both anchoring layers on the electrode area is 0 to 20%. Electroded alignment substrate.

[3] The pixel in which the ratio of the area of the region having weak anchoring ability to the area of both anchoring layers on the electrode region generating an electric field parallel to the substrate is 40 to 100% The electrode-equipped alignment substrate according to item [1], wherein the ratio of the area of the weakly anchoring area to the area of both the anchoring layers on the non-electrode area other than the area is 0 to 20%. .

[4] A liquid crystal display device comprising the alignment substrate with electrode according to any one of [1] to [3], and a second alignment substrate opposed to the alignment substrate with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween;
The liquid crystal display element in which said 2nd orientation board | substrate was equipped with the strong anchoring film | membrane.

  The electroded alignment substrate according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention has both a region having weak anchoring ability and a region having strong anchoring ability. Therefore, a liquid crystal display element having both a region excellent in low driving voltage property and a region excellent in display response at the time of voltage OFF can be manufactured. In particular, it is useful as a liquid crystal display element in which one of the two strong anchoring films of the liquid crystal display element in the IPS display mode is replaced with both anchoring layers.

It is a top view which shows the example of a pixel, an electrode area | region, and a non-electrode area. It is a top view which shows the area | region pattern example of the orientation board | substrate with an electrode of this invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a specific example of the shape of the region pattern in accordance with the shape of the electrodes in the region pattern example of the alignment substrate with electrodes of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of a liquid crystal display element 10 of the present invention, a backlight unit 11 for display, a polarizing plate 12A, and a polarizing plate 12B. In both cases where both anchoring layers 13 are the region 13A having weak anchoring ability and the region 13B having strong anchoring ability, both cases are represented as shown in FIG. In the first embodiment, a liquid crystal using a liquid crystal compound Lp having a positive dielectric anisotropy and applying an electric field E, and in the case where both anchoring layers 13 are the region 13A having weak anchoring ability It is sectional drawing which shows distribution of the orientation direction of a molecule | numerator. In the first embodiment, a liquid crystal using a liquid crystal compound Lp having a positive dielectric anisotropy and applying an electric field E, and in the case where both anchoring layers 13 are the region 13B having strong anchoring ability It is sectional drawing which shows distribution of the orientation direction of a molecule | numerator. In the first embodiment, a plane showing the relationship between the wiring direction of the electrode lines and the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the weak anchoring film in the state where no electric field is applied using the liquid crystal compound Lp with positive dielectric anisotropy. FIG. In both cases where both anchoring layers 13 are the region 13A having weak anchoring ability and the region 13B having strong anchoring ability, both cases are represented as shown in FIG. In the first embodiment, an electrode using a liquid crystal compound Lp having a positive dielectric anisotropy and in the state where an electric field E is applied and in which both anchoring layers 13 are regions 13A having weak anchoring ability It is a top view which shows the relationship of the wiring direction of a line, and the orientation of a liquid crystal molecule. In the first embodiment, an electrode using a liquid crystal compound Lp with positive dielectric anisotropy and in the state where an electric field E is applied, and in the case where both anchoring layers 13 are regions 13B having strong anchoring ability, It is a top view which shows the relationship of the wiring direction of a line, and the orientation of a liquid crystal molecule. It is a top view which shows the relationship of arrangement | positioning of Cr comb-tooth electrode for IPS cells of an Example, and arrangement | positioning of both anchoring layers of a two-section pattern. Two pixels 18 are formed on one alignment substrate with electrodes. The comb-tooth electrodes are arranged at regular intervals along the direction X in a plane parallel to the substrate. It is a top view which shows the relationship between arrangement | positioning of Cr comb-tooth electrode for IPS cells of an Example, and arrangement | positioning of both anchoring layers of a 1st stripe pattern. Two pixels 18 are formed on one alignment substrate with electrodes. The comb-tooth electrodes are arranged at regular intervals along the direction X in a plane parallel to the substrate. It is a top view which shows the relationship between arrangement | positioning of Cr comb-tooth electrode for IPS cells of an Example, and arrangement | positioning of both anchoring layers of a 2nd stripe pattern. Two pixels 18 are formed on one alignment substrate with electrodes. The comb-tooth electrodes are arranged at regular intervals along the direction X in a plane parallel to the substrate.

<1. Alignment Substrate with Electrode of the Present Invention>
The electroded alignment substrate of the present invention is characterized by comprising on the substrate at least an electrode and both anchoring layers having both a region having weak anchoring ability and a region having strong anchoring ability. is there.

<1-1. Configuration of Alignment Substrate with Electrode>
The configuration of the substrate, the electrode, and both anchoring layers in the alignment substrate with electrodes is a configuration in which the electrode and both anchoring layers are laminated in this order on the substrate.

  The electrodes are divided into pixels. In the present specification, for example, in the case of display of three primary colors of R (red), G (green) and B (blue), each color is combined into “1 pixel”, R, G, B “3 pixels” It shall be written as Furthermore, the region of the alignment substrate with electrodes corresponding to the pixel displayed by the liquid crystal display element is also referred to as "pixel".

  It is preferable that the electrode is configured of a plurality of comb-like electrodes per pixel. A region capable of generating an electric field parallel to the substrate formed on and between the comb electrodes and the comb electrodes is referred to as "electrode region", and a region other than the electrode region is referred to as "non-electrode region". . That is, the pixel in the electroded alignment substrate of the present invention has both an electrode region and a non-electrode region.

  Examples of the pixel, the electrode area, and the non-electrode area are shown in FIG. The pixel electrodes in FIG. 1 are partially omitted.

  Examples of electrodes used for the alignment substrate with electrodes of the present invention include metal electrodes such as Cr used in the examples; and ITO (Indium tin oxide), IZO (indium zinc oxide), AZO (aluminum doped zinc oxide), Transparent electrodes such as GZO (gallium doped zinc oxide) and ATO (antimony tin oxide). A metal electrode can form an electrode cheaper than a transparent electrode. By using a transparent electrode, the light transmittance of the liquid crystal display element can be improved as compared to the case of using a metal electrode.

<1-2. Ratio of area of area having weak anchoring ability to area of both anchoring layers>
In the alignment substrate with an electrode according to the present invention, the ratio of the area of the region having the weak anchoring ability to the area of the two anchoring layers on the electrode region (hereinafter referred to as “weak anchoring area ratio”) is 40 to 100. With pixels that are%.

  In the electrode region, the region with a large weak anchoring area ratio has high low driving voltage property of the region of the corresponding liquid crystal display element, and the region with a small weak anchoring area ratio has a high display response when the voltage is OFF.

  Therefore, in a single liquid crystal display element, an alignment substrate with an electrode is used which has both a pixel with a large area of weak anchoring area on the electrode area and a pixel with a small area of weak anchoring area on the electrode area. It is possible to manufacture a liquid crystal display element in which both a region having a high low drive voltage and a region having a high display response when the voltage is off exist.

  In order to manufacture a liquid crystal display element having a region with a high low driving voltage property, it is preferable to include a pixel in which the weak anchoring area ratio on the electrode region is 40 to 100%, and the display response at the time of voltage OFF In order to produce a high area | region, it is preferable to provide the pixel whose weak anchoring area ratio on an electrode area is 0 to 20%. A preferred example of a liquid crystal display element having both a region with high low driving voltage and a region with high display response when the voltage is off is a pixel in which the percentage of weak anchoring area on the electrode region is 80 to 100%. And the liquid crystal display element provided with both pixels of a pixel whose weak anchoring area ratio on an electrode area is 0 to 20%.

  Furthermore, by reducing the weak anchoring area ratio of the non-electrode area in the peripheral part of the pixel where the weak anchoring area ratio is large on the electrode area, the balance between the low drive voltage property and the display response at the voltage OFF is good. It is possible to manufacture a liquid crystal display element having a narrow area.

  Preferably, the percentage of weak anchoring area on the electrode region is 60 to 100%, and the percentage of weak anchoring area on the non-electrode region is 0 to 20%.

<1-3. Area pattern of alignment substrate with electrodes>
In the pattern of the region of both anchoring layers of the alignment substrate with electrodes of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "region pattern"), the region having weak anchoring ability and the region having strong anchoring ability are one-dimensional or two-dimensional It is desirable to be regularly organized. The regularity of the area pattern makes it excellent in productivity and reproducibility in area pattern production.

  Examples of the shape of the area pattern are a two-section shape (2a), a stripe shape (2b), a lattice shape (2c), and a water dot shape (2d). Examples of these are shown in FIG. Regions (2α) and (2β) in FIG. 2 are a region having weak anchoring ability and a region having strong anchoring ability, or a region having strong anchoring ability and a region having weak anchoring ability, respectively.

  As a specific example of the shape of the area pattern according to the electrode shape, both a pixel having a weak anchoring area ratio of 100% on the electrode area and a pixel having a weak anchoring area ratio on the electrode area of 0% An example (3a) of a two-section shape having pixels, and an example of a stripe shape having pixels in which the weak anchoring area ratio on the electrode area is 80% and the weak anchoring area ratio in the non-electrode area is 0% (3b) and (3c) are shown in FIG. Regions (3α) and (3β) in FIG. 3 are a region having weak anchoring ability and a region having strong anchoring ability, respectively.

<2. Method of Producing Alignment Substrate with Electrode>
In the preparation of the alignment substrate with electrode of the present invention, both anchoring layers are formed on a substrate provided with at least an electrode (hereinafter referred to as “substrate with electrode”).

An example of a method for producing an alignment substrate with electrodes is
After forming a solid film with weak anchoring ability on a substrate with an electrode, the recoating property of the solid film is partially changed using ultraviolet pattern irradiation etc., and strong anchoring ability is achieved in the area of good recoatability. A method of producing an alignment substrate with electrodes by forming a patterned body (hereinafter referred to as “production method A”);
After forming a pattern having weak anchoring ability on a substrate with an electrode using a printing method such as gravure offset printing and flexo printing, a pattern having strong anchoring ability is formed in a region having no weak anchoring ability A method of producing an alignment substrate with electrodes by conducting the following (hereinafter referred to as “production method B”);
After forming a solid film having weak anchoring ability on a substrate with electrode, a photoresist is used, and a pattern body having weak anchoring ability is formed through an etching process, and a region having no weak anchoring ability Method of producing an alignment substrate with electrodes by forming a pattern body having strong anchoring ability on the
Forming a pattern having strong anchoring ability in a region having no weak anchoring ability after using a photosensitive material on a substrate with an electrode and forming a pattern having weak anchoring ability in a photolithography method A method for producing an alignment substrate with electrodes (hereinafter referred to as “production method C”);
And, after forming a solid film having strong anchoring ability on a substrate with electrode, it is a method of producing an alignment substrate with electrode by forming a pattern body having weak anchoring ability by the ink jet method.

  In any of the methods, the alignment treatment step is performed on the pattern body having strong anchoring ability or the solid film having strong anchoring ability so that liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the region having strong anchoring ability are in a certain direction. It becomes to be oriented.

  "Recoatability" in the present specification is the property of the film to the application of the coating solution on the film, and the film can not form a coating when the film repels the coating solution. The state of the film on which the coating liquid spreads on the film is high and the coating film can be formed is expressed as "good recoatability". In the above-mentioned preparation method A, the recoating property is improved by irradiating the ultraviolet light onto the solid film having poor recoating property.

  Among the examples of the method for producing the alignment substrate with electrodes, in consideration of the productivity at the time of producing the area pattern, the producing method A and the producing method B which do not use the developing step are preferable. The preparation method A and the preparation method C which use an exposure step are preferable. In addition, in the below-mentioned Example, three preparation methods, the preparation method A, the preparation method B, and the preparation method C, are used.

<2-1. Method to develop weak anchoring ability>
An example of a method of developing weak anchoring ability is a method of reducing the interaction of the formed film surface with the liquid crystal material by using a low surface free energy material such as a fluorine-containing material (for example, JP-A-6-202086, Method of using low surface free energy materials), and a temperature that forms a polymer brush, is higher than the Tg (glass transition temperature) of the coexisting portion of the polymer brush and the liquid crystal material, and can freely change the shape of the coexisting portion The method of reducing the interaction with the liquid crystal material of a coexistence part by heating to (For example, Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2014-215421, and the following "polymer brush formation methods" description). In the embodiment described later, a method of using a low surface free energy material is used.

  A specific example of the low surface free energy material application method is to prepare a material for forming a weak anchoring film containing a polyfunctional carboxyl compound, a polyfunctional epoxy compound, and a polymerizable surfactant, and apply the material on a substrate And a method of forming a film having weak anchoring ability by baking, and a weak anchor containing a polyfunctional carboxyl compound, a polyfunctional epoxy compound, a polymerizable surfactant, a polyfunctional acrylate compound, and a photopolymerization initiator A material for forming a ring film is prepared, the material is coated on a substrate, exposed to light, and baked to form a film having a weak anchoring ability. In the case of using a material for forming a weak anchoring film containing a polyfunctional acrylate compound and a photopolymerization initiator, the material is coated on a substrate, exposed to a pattern, developed, and baked to obtain weak anchoring. It is possible to form a functional pattern.

  A specific example of the method of forming a polymer brush is a method of forming a film having weak anchoring ability by immersing a substrate in a solution containing a radically polymerizable monomer and causing living radical polymerization on the surface of the substrate to form a polymer brush. is there.

  In the case of producing an alignment substrate with an electrode by the above-mentioned preparation method A, preparation method B, or preparation method C among the examples of the methods for expressing weak anchoring ability, a pattern body having strong anchoring ability is formed Preferred is the use of low surface free energy materials which are easy to do.

2-2. Method to develop strong anchoring ability>
The strong anchoring ability can be expressed by a known method of forming an alignment film for a liquid crystal display element. Examples of a method of forming an alignment film for a liquid crystal display element are the rubbing method and the photoalignment method described above. Among these two methods, a photoalignment method which can suppress a decrease in the weak anchoring ability of the region having weak anchoring ability of the alignment substrate of the present invention during the alignment treatment step is preferable.

  Examples of the photoalignment method include a method using a photoisomerization-type material (for example, JP-A-2005-275364), a method using a photodimerization-type material (for example, JP-A-10-251646), and a photolysis type The method of using the material of (For example, Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 9-297313). In order to maintain weak anchoring ability of the region having weak anchoring ability, a method using a photoisomerization type material having high sensitivity at an exposure wavelength of 300 nm or more and a light dimerization type material among these light alignment methods The method of using a photoisomerization type material having high sensitivity at an exposure wavelength of 350 nm or more is particularly preferable. In the following examples, a method of using a photoisomerization type material is used.

<3. Liquid Crystal Display Device Using Alignment Substrate with Electrode of the Present Invention>
The liquid crystal compounds include a positive type in which the dielectric anisotropy is positive and a negative type in which the dielectric anisotropy is negative. In the positive type liquid crystal compound, dielectric properties are large in the long axis direction of liquid crystal molecules and small in the direction orthogonal to the long axis direction. In a negative liquid crystal compound, dielectric properties are small in the long axis direction of liquid crystal molecules and large in the direction orthogonal to the long axis direction. In the following description of the liquid crystal display element, an example using a positive liquid crystal compound will be described.

  In the liquid crystal display element, the above-mentioned strong anchoring film, the above-mentioned weak anchoring film, and the above-mentioned both anchoring layers are present as an alignment film for controlling the alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules. In the liquid crystal display element of the present invention, one of two alignment films facing each other is a strong anchoring film, and the other is both anchoring layers.

  The electroded alignment substrate of the present invention can be used as a substrate having both of the above-mentioned anchoring layers.

<3-1. First embodiment>
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the first embodiment of the liquid crystal display element 10 of the present invention, the backlight unit 11 for display, the polarizing plate 12A, and the polarizing plate 12B. FIG. 5 is a region 13A in which both anchoring layers 13 have weak anchoring ability in the state where an electric field E is applied using the liquid crystal compound Lp having positive dielectric anisotropy in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows distribution of the orientation direction of a liquid crystal molecule in a case. FIG. 6 is a region 13B in which both anchoring layers 13 have strong anchoring ability in a state where an electric field E is applied using the liquid crystal compound Lp having positive dielectric anisotropy in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows distribution of the orientation direction of a liquid crystal molecule in a case. FIG. 7 shows the wiring directions of the electrode lines and the alignment directions of liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of both anchoring layers in the state where no electric field is applied, using the liquid crystal compound Lp having positive dielectric anisotropy in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows a relation. FIG. 8 is a region 13A in which both anchoring layers 13 have weak anchoring ability in a state where an electric field E is applied using the liquid crystal compound Lp having positive dielectric anisotropy in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship of the wiring direction of an electrode wire, and the orientation of a liquid crystal molecule in a case. FIG. 9 is a region 13B in which both anchoring layers 13 have strong anchoring ability in a state where an electric field E is applied using the liquid crystal compound Lp having positive dielectric anisotropy in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship of the wiring direction of an electrode wire, and the orientation of a liquid crystal molecule in a case.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention is disposed opposite to the first substrate (LCP-1) on which both anchoring layers 13 are formed and the both anchoring layers with an interval. It is disposed between the second substrate (LCP-2) on which the strong anchoring film 14 is formed, the two anchoring layers and the strong anchoring film, and transmits or blocks the light by driving liquid crystal molecules. A liquid crystal layer (LCP-3), and a drive electrode layer (LCP-4) for applying an electric field in a direction along the first substrate (LCP-1) and the second substrate (LCP-2) to the liquid crystal molecules ing.

  The first substrate (LCP-1) and the second substrate (LCP-2) are each made of a substrate such as glass and are arranged in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval.

  The polarizing plates 12A and 12B are disposed in cross nicol. For example, the polarization direction of the polarizing plate 12A is the direction Y, and the polarization direction of the polarizing plate 12B is the direction X.

  The drive electrode layer (LCP-4) is provided on one of the first substrate (LCP-1) and the second substrate (LCP-2). As shown in FIG. 4, in the first embodiment, the drive electrode layer (LCP-4) is provided on the first substrate (LCP-1). The drive electrode layer (LCP-4) is formed by arranging a plurality of electrode lines 15A along the surface of the first substrate (LCP-1). In FIG. 4, each electrode line 15A is formed in a straight line so that the wiring direction extends in the direction Y within a plane parallel to the surface of the first substrate (LCP-1). In the drive electrode layer (LCP-4), such electrode lines 15A are arranged at regular intervals along the direction X in a plane parallel to the surface of the first substrate (LCP-1).

  EXAMPLES The present invention will now be described in more detail by way of examples, which should not be construed as limiting the invention.

Example 1 Liquid Crystal Display Device Comprising an Alignment Substrate with Two Section Pattern Electrodes>
[Preparation of material for forming weak anchoring film (W1)]
In a 1,000 mL four-necked flask equipped with a thermometer, a stirrer, a raw material charging port, and a nitrogen gas inlet, 604.80 g of dehydrated and purified propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (hereinafter referred to as PGMEA) as a polymerization solvent 34.47 g of 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride which is a carboxylic acid dianhydride, SMA 1000 (trade name, Kawa Crude Oil Co., Ltd.) which is a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer .11 g, 50.17 g of benzyl alcohol which is a monohydric alcohol, and 10.45 g of 1,4-butanediol which is a polyhydroxy compound are charged, and the mixture is stirred at 130 ° C. for 3 hours under a stream of dry nitrogen. Thereafter, the solution after reaction is cooled to 25 ° C., and 10.80 g of diamine 3,3′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone and 25.20 g of PGMEA are added and stirred at 20 to 30 ° C. for 2 hours, and then 115 ° C. The mixture was stirred for 1 hour, and cooled to 30 ° C. or less to obtain a polyesteramide acid solution (PEA-1) having a pale yellow transparent solid content concentration of 30% by weight. The weight average molecular weight of the solid content measured by GPC was 10,000.

  The weight average molecular weight in the present specification is a value in terms of polystyrene calculated by the GPC method (column temperature: 35 ° C., flow rate: 1 mL / min). Standard polystyrene includes polystyrene having a molecular weight of 645 to 132,900 (for example, polystyrene calibration kit PL2010-0102 from Agilent Technologies, Inc.), and PLgel MIXED-D (trade name, Agilent Technologies, Inc.) for columns. It can be used and measured using tetrahydrofuran as the mobile phase. In addition, the weight average molecular weight of the commercial item in this specification is a catalog published value.

  The material for forming a weak anchoring film (W1) was prepared by charging the following weight. As a polyfunctional carboxyl compound, 1.00 g of a polyesteramide acid solution (PEA-1) having a solid content concentration of 30% by weight, and as a polyfunctional epoxy compound, abbreviated as Techmore VG 3101 L (trade name, Printech Co., Ltd., hereinafter "VG 3 101 L" 0.30 g, Megafac RS-72-K (trade name, DIC Corporation, hereinafter abbreviated as “RS-72-K”) 0.20 g as a polymerizable surfactant, and 24.90 g of PGMEA as a solvent.

[Preparation of a material for forming a strong anchoring film (S1)]
In a 200 mL four-necked flask equipped with a thermometer, a stirrer, a raw material charging inlet, and a nitrogen gas inlet, 1.4184 g of 4,4'-diaminoazobenzene, 1,4-bis (4-aminophenyl) butane, 0.1. 5736 g, 0.1281 g of 1,4-bis (4-aminophenyl) piperazine, and 44.0 g of dehydrated N-methylpyrrolidone (hereinafter abbreviated as "NMP") were charged, and dissolved by stirring under a stream of dry nitrogen. Next, 3.8799 g of 1,8-bis (3,4-dicarboxylic acid) octane dianhydride and 20.0 g of dehydrated NMP were charged, and stirring was continued at room temperature for 24 hours to obtain a reaction solution. To the reaction solution was added 20.0 g of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether to obtain a polyamic acid solution having a solid concentration of 6% by weight. This polyamic acid solution is referred to as (PA1). The weight average molecular weight of the polyamic acid contained in (PA1) was 10,000.

  In a 200 mL four-necked flask equipped with a thermometer, a stirrer, a raw material charging inlet, and a nitrogen gas inlet, 1.9123 g of 1,4-bis (4-aminophenyl) piperazine, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether 0. 8561 g, 0.3082 g of 1,4-phenylenediamine, and 44.0 g of dehydrated NMP were added, and dissolved by stirring under a stream of dry nitrogen. The mixture was charged with 1.8354 g of 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride, 1.0880 g of pyromellitic dianhydride, and 20.0 g of dehydrated NMP, and stirring was continued at room temperature for 24 hours. To the reaction solution was added 30.0 g of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether to obtain a polyamic acid solution having a polymer solid concentration of 6% by weight. This polyamic acid solution is referred to as (PA2). The weight average molecular weight of the polyamic acid contained in (PA2) was 50,000.

A polyamic acid solution (PA1), a polyamic acid solution (PA2), and NMP were charged at the following weight, mixed and dissolved to prepare a material (S1) for forming a strong anchoring film having a polymer solid concentration of 4% by weight.

9.00 g of polyamic acid solution (PA1) with a solid concentration of 6% by weight
Polyamide acid solution (PA2) with a solid concentration of 6% by weight 21.00 g
NMP 15.00g

[Production of Alignment Substrate 1a with Electrode for Producing Liquid Crystal Display Element]
The alignment substrate 1a with electrodes for producing a liquid crystal display element was produced as follows by using the above-mentioned production method A.

  The material for forming a weak anchoring film (W1) is spin coated at 2,000 rpm for 10 seconds on a substrate with Cr comb electrode for IPS cell, prebaked on a hot plate at 100 ° C. for 2 minutes, and then 230 By post-baking in an oven at 30 ° C. for 30 minutes, a film-coated substrate having a film thickness of about 40 nm and having weak anchoring ability was obtained.

Exposure apparatus PHOTO SURFACE PROCESSOR PL2003N-12 equipped with a low pressure mercury lamp EUV 200 WS-60 (trade name, Sen Special Light Source Co., Ltd.) for irradiating the obtained film-coated substrate with ultraviolet light including light of wavelength 185 nm and light of wavelength 254 nm. Pattern exposure was carried out using a trade name, Sen Special Light Source Co., Ltd.) and a two-zone pattern photomask, to obtain a substrate with a pattern exposure film having different recoatability in the exposed area and the unexposed area. The exposure dose was measured with a UV integrated actinometer UIT-150 (trade name, Ushio Electric Co., Ltd.) and a light receiver UVD-S254 (trade name, Ushio Electric Co., Ltd.) and was 10 J / cm ^{2 in} light conversion at a wavelength of 254 nm. .

  The above-mentioned strong anchoring film forming material (S1) is spin-coated at 3,000 rpm for 10 seconds on a substrate with a pattern exposure film having different recoatability in the obtained exposed area and unexposed area, and a hot plate at 70 ° C. By prebaking on the above for 80 seconds, a coating film of a material for forming a strong anchoring film was formed on the exposed region of the substrate with a patterned exposure film.

Next, using a multilight ML-501C / B (trade name, Ushio Inc.) equipped with an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp and a polarizing plate, linearly polarized ultraviolet light was irradiated from the vertical direction to the coated substrate. The exposure dose was measured with a UV integrated actinometer UIT-150 (trade name, Ushio Inc.) and a light receiver UVD-S365 (trade name, Ushio Inc.), and it was ² J / cm ^{2 in} light conversion at a wavelength of 365 nm. . The polarization direction of the linearly polarized ultraviolet light was perpendicular to the wiring direction of the Cr comb electrode. In this direction, the alignment easy axis of the region having strong anchoring ability in both anchoring layers of the alignment substrate 1a with electrodes for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element manufactured is parallel to the wiring direction of the Cr comb electrode. It becomes.

  Furthermore, post-baking was carried out in an oven at 230 ° C. for 20 minutes to obtain an alignment substrate with electrodes (hereinafter, referred to as “alignment substrate with electrodes for manufacturing liquid crystal display element”) having both anchoring layers of a two-section pattern. The relationship between the arrangement of Cr comb electrodes for IPS cell and the arrangement of both anchoring layers in the two-section pattern, and two light transmittance measurement points (T1) and (T2) are shown in FIG. The pattern shown in FIG. 10 corresponds to (3a) in FIG.

  Among the patterns described in FIG. 10, the weak anchoring area ratio at the pixel having the light transmittance measurement point (T1) is 0% in both the electrode region and the non-electrode region, and the light transmittance measurement point (T2) The weak anchoring area ratio in one pixel is 100% in both the electrode area and the non-electrode area.

[Production of Alignment Substrate 2 for Producing Liquid Crystal Display Element]
The strong anchoring film forming material (S1) was spin-coated at 2,000 rpm for 10 seconds on a glass substrate, and prebaked on a 70 ° C. hot plate for 80 seconds to obtain a coated substrate. Then, using a multilight ML-501C / B (trade name, Ushio Inc.) equipped with an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp and a polarizing plate, linearly polarized ultraviolet light was irradiated from the vertical direction to the coated substrate. The exposure dose was measured with a UV integrated actinometer UIT-150 (trade name, Ushio Inc.) and a light receiver UVD-S365 (trade name, Ushio Inc.), and it was ² J / cm ^{2 in} light conversion at a wavelength of 365 nm. . Further, the substrate was post-baked in an oven at 230 ° C. for 20 minutes to obtain a substrate with a strongly anchoring film having a film thickness of about 100 nm. Hereinafter, the obtained substrate with a strong anchoring film is referred to as “alignment substrate 2 for producing a liquid crystal display element”.

[Preparation of Positive Liquid Crystal Composition (LC-1)]
The positive type liquid crystal composition (LC-1) was prepared by mixing and dissolving the compounds of the following general formulas (2-1) to (2-9) in the weight ratio described.

[Production of Liquid Crystal Display Element 1a1]
The two substrates of the alignment substrate 1a with electrodes for producing a liquid crystal display element and the alignment substrate 2 for producing a liquid crystal display element are facing each other with both anchoring layers and the strong anchoring film side, respectively. The wiring direction of the Cr comb electrode of the substrate 1 a and the easy alignment axis of the strong anchoring film of the alignment substrate 2 for producing a liquid crystal display element were arranged in parallel. By arranging in this way, of both anchoring layers of the alignment substrate 1a with electrodes for producing a liquid crystal display element, the easy alignment axis of the region having strong anchoring ability and the strong anchoring of the alignment substrate 2 for producing a liquid crystal display element The easy orientation axis of the film is parallel. Further, an air gap for injecting a positive liquid crystal composition (LC-1) was formed between the two anchoring layers and the strong anchoring film, and they were bonded to each other to prepare an empty cell having a cell thickness of 4 μm. The positive type liquid crystal composition (LC-1) was vacuum-injected into the produced empty cell, and annealing treatment was performed at 120 ° C. for 5 minutes to produce a liquid crystal display element 1a1. When the liquid crystal display element is made to correspond to FIG. 4, the wiring direction of the electrode lines 15A and the alignment easy axis of the strong anchoring film 14 are the direction Y.

[Evaluation of low drive voltage property]
The voltage (hereinafter, referred to as "Vmax") which is the maximum light transmittance at the light transmittance measurement points (T1) and (T2) of the manufactured liquid crystal display element 1a1 was measured. An Otsuka Electronics LCD 5100 luminance meter equipped with a halogen lamp was used for measurement. At the time of measurement, the liquid crystal display element 1a1 is sandwiched between two polarizing plates disposed in cross nicol, and the angle formed by the wiring direction of the comb electrodes of the liquid crystal display element 1a1 with respect to the polarization direction of the polarizer is when no voltage is applied. Is the angle at which the light transmittance of the The applied voltage is a rectangular wave (60 Hz). The case where Vmax was less than 8.0 V was evaluated as the low drive voltage characteristic "high", and the case of 8.0 V or more as "low". The measurement results and the evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

[Evaluation of display responsiveness at voltage OFF]
The fall time τf (fall time) at the light transmittance measurement points (T1) and (T2) of the manufactured liquid crystal display element 1a1 was measured. For measurement, an LCD 5100 luminance meter manufactured by Otsuka Electronics Co., Ltd. equipped with a halogen lamp as a light source was used. At the time of measurement, the liquid crystal display element 1a1 is sandwiched between two polarizing plates disposed in cross nicol, and the polarization direction of the polarizer and the angle formed by the wiring method of the Cr comb electrode of the liquid crystal display element 1a1 are no voltage application. The angle at which the light transmittance at the time is minimum. The applied voltage is a rectangular wave (60 Hz, Vmax described above). Here, τf is the time until the light transmittance changes from 90% to 10% when the light transmittance at the maximum transmittance voltage is 100% and the transmittance at no application is 0%. When the fall time τf was less than 23.5 ms, the display response “high” when the voltage was off was evaluated as “high”, and the case with 23.5 ms or more was evaluated as “low”. The measurement results and the evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

<Example 2: Liquid Crystal Display Device Having First Alignment Substrate with Striped Pattern Electrode>
A liquid crystal display element 1a2 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the two-section pattern photomask was changed to a first stripe pattern photomask capable of forming a pattern as shown in FIG. The pattern shown in FIG. 11 corresponds to (3b) in FIG.

  The weak anchoring area ratio in the electrode area of the pattern shown in FIG. 11 is (7.0 mm / 9.8 mm) = 71%, and the weak anchoring area ratio in the non-electrode area is 0%.

  The measurement of Vmax, the measurement of fall time τf, the evaluation of low drive voltage property, and the evaluation of display responsiveness at the time of voltage OFF were performed at the measurement point (T3) of the obtained liquid crystal display element 1a2. In the evaluation, the same evaluation method as that of the liquid crystal display element 1a1 was used. The respective measurement results and evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

<Example 3: Liquid Crystal Display Device Having Alignment Substrate with Second Stripe Pattern Electrode>
A liquid crystal display element 1a3 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the photomask of the two-partition pattern was changed to a photomask of the second stripe pattern capable of forming a pattern as shown in FIG. The pattern shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to (3c) in FIG.

  The weak anchoring area ratio in the electrode area of the pattern shown in FIG. 12 is [(9.8 mm−5.0 mm) /9.8 mm] = 49%, and the weak anchoring area ratio in the non-electrode area is [(2 X 3.5 mm + 5.0 mm-9.8 mm) / (23.8 mm-9.8 mm)] = 16%.

  The measurement of Vmax, the measurement of fall time τf, the evaluation of low drive voltage property, and the evaluation of display responsiveness at the time of voltage OFF were performed at the measurement point (T4) of the obtained liquid crystal display element 1a3. In the evaluation, the same evaluation method as that of the liquid crystal display element 1a1 was used. The respective measurement results and evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

Example 4 Liquid Crystal Display Device Produced Using Production Method B
[Preparation of material for forming weak anchoring film (W2)]
The material for forming a weak anchoring film (W2) was prepared by charging it at the following weight. As a polyfunctional carboxyl compound, 1.00 g of a polyesteramide acid solution (PEA-1) having a solid concentration of 30% by weight, 0.30 g of VG3101L as a polyfunctional epoxy compound, and RS-72-K0. 20 g, and 12.03 g of PGMEA and 12.87 g of diethylene glycol monobutyl ether as solvent.

[Production of Alignment Substrate 1b with Electrode for Producing Liquid Crystal Display Element]
The above weak anchoring film forming material (W2) was pattern printed on a Cr comb electrode-attached substrate for IPS cell by the gravure offset method so as to form a two-section pattern as shown in FIG. The substrate with a pattern-coated electrode was obtained by prebaking on a plate for 2 minutes. Next, it was post-baked in an oven at 230 ° C. for 30 minutes to obtain a substrate with a patterned body having a weak anchoring ability and a film thickness of about 40 nm.

  The material for forming a strong anchoring film (S1) is spin-coated at 3,000 rpm for 10 seconds on the patterned substrate with an electrode having a weak anchoring ability obtained, and the resultant is for 80 seconds on a 70 ° C. hot plate. By pre-baking, a coating film of the material for forming a strong anchoring film (S1) was formed on the area where no pattern body is formed in the substrate with a pattern body having weak anchoring ability.

Next, linearly polarized ultraviolet light was irradiated from the vertical direction to the coated substrate using Multilight ML-501C / B (trade name, Ushio Inc.) equipped with an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp. The amount of exposure was ² J / cm ^{2 as} measured with a UV integrated actinometer UIT-150 (trade name, Ushio Electric Co., Ltd.) and a light receiver UVD-S365 (trade name, Ushio Electric Co., Ltd.). The polarization direction of the linearly polarized ultraviolet light was perpendicular to the wiring direction of the Cr comb electrode. In this direction, the alignment easy axis of the region having strong anchoring ability in both anchoring layers of the alignment substrate 1b with electrodes for producing a liquid crystal display element manufactured is parallel to the wiring direction of the Cr comb electrode. It becomes.

  Further, post-baking was performed in an oven at 230 ° C. for 20 minutes to obtain an alignment substrate 1b with electrodes for producing a liquid crystal display element.

[Production of Liquid Crystal Display Element 1b1]
A liquid crystal display element 1b1 was produced using the same production method as the liquid crystal display element 1a1 except that the alignment substrate 1a with electrodes for liquid crystal display element production was changed to the alignment substrate 1b with electrodes for liquid crystal display element production.

  At the measurement points (T1) and (T2) of the obtained liquid crystal display element 1b1, measurement of Vmax, measurement of fall time τf, evaluation of low drive voltage property, and evaluation of display response at the time of voltage OFF were performed. . The same measurement method and evaluation method as those of the liquid crystal display element 1a1 were used for measurement and evaluation. The respective measurement results and evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

Example 5 Liquid Crystal Display Device Produced Using Production Method C
[Preparation of material for forming weak anchoring film (W3)]
The material for forming a weak anchoring film (W3) was prepared with the following weight. As a polyfunctional carboxyl compound, 1.00 g of a polyesteramide acid solution (PEA-1) having a solid concentration of 30% by weight, 0.30 g of VG3101L as a polyfunctional epoxy compound, and RS-72-K0. 30 g, 0.30 g of Alonics M-402 (trade name, Toagosei Co., Ltd.) as a multifunctional acrylate compound, 0.08 g of Adeka ARKules NCI-930 (trade name, ADEKA) as a photopolymerization initiator, and As a solvent, 24.36 g of PGMEA.

[Production of Alignment Substrate 1c with Electrode for Producing Liquid Crystal Display Element]
The above-mentioned weak anchoring film forming material (W3) is spin-coated at 1,000 rpm for 10 seconds on a substrate with Cr comb electrode for IPS cell, and pre-baked for 2 minutes on a hot plate at 100 ° C. An electroded substrate was obtained. Next, a photomask such as shown in FIG. 10 is used to form a two-section pattern as shown in FIG. 10 using a proximity exposure machine TME-150PRC (trade name, Topcon Co., Ltd.) equipped with an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp in the air. The pattern was exposed through the The exposure amount was measured with an integrated actinometer UIT-102 (trade name, Ushio Inc.) and a light receiver UVD-365PD (trade name, Ushio Inc.), and was 100 mJ / cm ^{2 in} light conversion at a wavelength of 365 nm. Subsequently, the film is developed with an aqueous 2.38% TMAH solution at 25 ° C. for 10 seconds, rinsed with running ultrapure water for 60 seconds in running water, and post-baked in an oven at 230 ° C. for 30 minutes. A substrate with an electrode with a pattern body having a weak anchoring ability with a film thickness of about 50 nm of the unexposed area (hereinafter, “alignment substrate with electrode for producing liquid crystal display element”) was obtained.

  The above-mentioned strong anchoring material (S1) is spin-coated at 3,000 rpm for 10 seconds on the patterned substrate with an electrode having weak anchoring ability obtained, and prebaked on a 70 ° C. hot plate for 80 seconds. By doing this, a coating film of the material for forming a strong anchoring film (S1) was formed on the unexposed area of the substrate with a patterned body having weak anchoring ability.

Next, using a multilight ML-501C / B (trade name, Ushio Inc.) equipped with an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp and a polarizing plate, linearly polarized ultraviolet light was irradiated from the vertical direction to the coated substrate. The exposure dose was measured with a UV integrated actinometer UIT-150 (trade name, Ushio Inc.) and a light receiver UVD-S365 (trade name, Ushio Inc.), and it was ² J / cm ^{2 in} light conversion at a wavelength of 365 nm. .

  Further, post-baking was performed in an oven at 230 ° C. for 20 minutes to obtain an alignment substrate 1c with an electrode for producing a liquid crystal display element.

[Production of Liquid Crystal Display Element 1c1]
A liquid crystal display element 1c1 was produced using the same production method except that the alignment substrate 1a with electrodes for producing a liquid crystal display element was changed to the alignment substrate 1c with electrodes for producing a liquid crystal display element.

  At the measurement points (T1) and (T2) of the obtained liquid crystal display element 1c1, measurement of Vmax, measurement of fall time τf, evaluation of low drive voltage property, and evaluation of display response at the time of voltage OFF were performed. . The same measurement method and evaluation method as those of the liquid crystal display element 1a1 were used for measurement and evaluation. The respective measurement results and evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

  As is clear from Examples 1, 4 and 5, the liquid crystal display device provided with the alignment substrate with electrode of the present invention is a single liquid crystal display device, a display response when a region with high low driving voltage and a voltage OFF. It can be seen that there are both areas of high sex area.

  As a result of the light transmittance measurement point (T3) of Example 2, as a result of the light transmittance measurement point (T4) of Example 3 and a result of the light transmittance measurement point (T2) of Example 1, In the liquid crystal display device including the alignment substrate with electrodes of the present invention, when the ratio of weak anchoring area on the electrode region is large and the ratio of weak anchoring area on the non-electrode region is small, weak anchoring on the electrode region As compared with the case where the area ratio is large and the weak anchoring area ratio on the non-electrode area is also large, Vmax does not increase so much, and it can be seen that display responsiveness at the time of voltage OFF is improved.

  The liquid crystal display device including the alignment substrate with electrodes of the present invention can produce a single liquid crystal display device in which both a region with high low drive voltage and a region with high display response when the voltage is off exist. Furthermore, by controlling the pattern of those areas, it is possible to adjust the display responsiveness at the time of voltage OFF of the area having weak anchoring ability.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Liquid crystal display element 11 Backlight unit 12A, 12B Polarizer LCP-1 1st board | substrate LCP-2 2nd board | substrate LCP-3 Liquid crystal layer LCP-4 Driving electrode layer 13 Double anchoring layer 13A Weak anchoring of double anchoring layer Area 13B having a function of strong anchoring area 14 of both anchoring layers 14 having a strong anchoring film 15A electrode line 16 pixel electrode 17 common electrode 18 pixel 19 electrode area 20 non-electrode area Lp liquid crystal compound X, Y first substrate and Coordinate axis assumed on a plane parallel to the second substrate

Claims (4)

An electroded alignment substrate comprising, on a substrate, both anchoring layers having at least electrodes and both regions with weak anchoring ability and regions with strong anchoring ability;
The electrode is capable of generating an electric field parallel to the substrate;
The electrode is provided with a pixel in which the ratio of the area of the region having the weak anchoring ability to the area of both anchoring layers on the electrode region generating an electric field parallel to the substrate is 40 to 100%. Alignment substrate.   The electroded alignment according to claim 1, further comprising a pixel in which the ratio of the area of the region having the weak anchoring ability to the area of the both anchoring layers on the electrode region is 0 to 20%. substrate.   In a pixel having an area of 40% to 100% of the area having weak anchoring ability on the area of both anchoring layers on the electrode area generating an electric field parallel to the substrate, in a pixel other than the electrode area The electrode-oriented alignment substrate according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the area of the weakly anchoring region to the area of both the anchoring layers on the non-electrode region is 0 to 20%. A liquid crystal display device comprising: the alignment substrate with electrodes according to any one of claims 1 to 3; and a second alignment substrate opposed to the alignment substrate with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween;
The liquid crystal display element in which said 2nd orientation board | substrate was equipped with the strong anchoring film | membrane.

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