JP3334715B1 - Liquid crystal display - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display device capable of surely changing the alignment state of liquid crystal from an alignment state in a non-display state to an alignment state in a display state. SOLUTION: A pair of substrates facing each other and an alignment state in a display state and an alignment state in a non-display state are different between the pair of substrates, and the alignment state in the non-display state is changed before displaying an image. A liquid crystal layer that needs to be initialized to a display state alignment state, a storage capacitor electrode 9 provided on one of the pair of substrates, and the storage capacitor electrode 9 overlap with the storage capacitor electrode 9 via an insulator. A pixel electrode 6 which is formed and disposed between the storage capacitor electrode 9 and the liquid crystal layer, and has an opening 6a in a region overlapping the storage capacitor electrode 9; And a drive unit for performing the initialization by generating a potential difference between the pixel electrode 6 and the pixel electrode 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to an OCB mode.
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display element in an irefringence mode).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a large amount of image information has been distributed along with the development of multimedia technology. As a means for displaying such image information, a liquid crystal display device is rapidly spreading. This is because a liquid crystal display device having a high contrast and a wide viewing angle has been developed and put into practical use with the development of liquid crystal technology. At present, the display performance of liquid crystal display devices is CR
It has reached a level comparable to the T display.

However, in the current liquid crystal display device,
Since the response speed of the liquid crystal is not sufficient, there is a problem that it is not suitable for displaying moving images. That is, the current NTSC
(National Television System Committee) Although the liquid crystal needs to respond within one frame period (16.7 msec) in the system, the current liquid crystal display device has a problem in that the multi-gradation display is performed when the multi-gradation display is performed. It takes 100 msec or more for the response in, and a phenomenon that an image flows in displaying a moving image occurs. In particular, since the response between gray scales in a region where the drive voltage is low becomes extremely slow, good moving image display cannot be realized.

Therefore, many attempts have been made to increase the response speed of a liquid crystal display device. Various liquid crystal display methods of high-speed response are summarized by Wu et al. (CS Wu and ST Wu, SPIE, 1665, 250 (199
2)), however, there are currently only a few systems that can expect the response characteristics required for displaying moving images.

At present, a liquid crystal display device having an OCB mode liquid crystal display device, a ferroelectric liquid crystal display device, or an antiferroelectric liquid crystal display device is expected as a display device having a high-speed response suitable for displaying moving images. ing.

[0006] Among them, ferroelectric liquid crystal display devices and antiferroelectric liquid crystal display devices having a layer structure are practically used because of their low impact resistance, a narrow operating temperature range, and large temperature dependence of characteristics. There are many issues in a meaningful sense. Therefore, in reality, an OCB mode liquid crystal display device using a nematic liquid crystal has attracted attention as a liquid crystal display device suitable for displaying moving images.

This OCB mode liquid crystal display element has a
Three years JPBos showed its speed. Then, since it was shown that the display was able to achieve both a wide viewing angle and high-speed response by providing a retardation plate, research and development was activated.

FIG. 36 is a sectional view schematically showing the structure of a conventional OCB mode liquid crystal display device. As shown in FIG. 36, this OCB mode liquid crystal display element has a first glass substrate 81 on which a transparent counter electrode 82 is formed on its lower surface, and a transparent pixel electrode 87 formed on its upper surface. And a second glass substrate 88. A first alignment film 83 is formed on the lower surface of the counter electrode 82, and a second alignment film 86 is formed on the upper surface of the pixel electrode 87. Liquid crystal molecules fill the gaps between these alignment films 83 and 86. Thus, a liquid crystal layer 84 is formed. These alignment films 83,
86 is subjected to an alignment treatment to align liquid crystal molecules in parallel and in the same direction. The liquid crystal layer 84
Is held by the spacer 85.

A first polarizing plate 91 is provided on the upper surface of the first glass substrate 81, and a second polarizing plate 92 is provided on the lower surface of the second glass substrate 88, respectively. Reference numerals 91 and 92 are arranged in crossed Nicols (that is, their optical axes are orthogonal to each other). Furthermore, this first
A first retardation plate 89 is provided between the first polarizing plate 91 and the first glass substrate 81, and a second retardation plate 90 is provided between the second polarizing plate 92 and the second glass substrate 88. Are provided respectively. As these retardation plates 89 and 90, negative retardation plates in which the main shafts are arranged in a hybrid manner are used.

[0010] The OCB mode liquid crystal display device thus configured is characterized in that the orientation of the liquid crystal is changed from the splay orientation 84a to the bend orientation 84b by applying a voltage, and an image is displayed based on the bend orientation.
Such an OCB mode liquid crystal display element has a TN (Twiste
Since the response speed of the liquid crystal is remarkably improved as compared with a dNematic) mode liquid crystal display element or the like, a liquid crystal display device suitable for displaying moving images can be realized. Also, the phase difference plate 8
By providing 9, 90, it is also possible to realize a wide viewing angle.

As described above, the OCB mode liquid crystal display element displays an image when the liquid crystal is in a bend alignment state. Therefore, an initialization process for executing a transition from the initial splay alignment to the bend alignment (hereinafter, referred to as a splay-bend transition) is indispensable.

FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining an initialization process for performing a splay-bend transition in a conventional liquid crystal display device, and FIG. 37 (a) is a diagram showing a change in a rate at which the splay-bend transition is performed. (B) and (c) are diagrams showing waveforms of voltages applied to the liquid crystal display element during the initialization process.

In FIG. 37 (a), the vertical axis indicates the ratio of the transition from the initial splay alignment to the bend alignment in the liquid crystal layer provided in the liquid crystal display element. FIG.
In (b) and (c), the vertical axis indicates the potential difference between the source line and the counter electrode, and the potential difference between the gate line and the source line, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 37B, in the initialization process, a predetermined voltage is intermittently applied to each of the source line and the counter electrode so that the potential difference between the source line and the counter electrode becomes 10 V or more. Is applied. FIG. 37 (c)
As shown in the above, a predetermined voltage is applied to each of the gate line and the source line so that the potential difference between the gate line and the source line becomes 10 V or more throughout the initialization processing. As a result, as shown in FIG. 37A, the ratio of the transition to the bend orientation increases stepwise, and the splay-to-bend transition is completed when the initialization process ends.

By observing the state of the spray-bend transition, it can be seen that a bend-oriented nucleus is generated from a specific location, and the nucleus grows to perform the transition. Hereinafter, this nucleus is referred to as a transition nucleus.

In order to generate such transition nuclei, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-20284 discloses a liquid crystal display panel in which a convex portion or a concave portion made of a conductive material is formed at a predetermined position on the array substrate side. I have. With such a configuration, the electric field intensity applied to the liquid crystal layer on the convex portion or the concave portion becomes larger than the surroundings, so that generation of transition nuclei is promoted,
As a result, the spray-bend transition is performed smoothly.

[0017]

However, in the case of the above-described conventional liquid crystal display device, the splay-bend transition may not be performed reliably because the electric field intensity is not sufficient. In this case, there is a problem that a region in a splay alignment state locally remains, which becomes a bright spot and is observed like a point defect.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device capable of reliably performing a splay-bend transition.

[0019]

A pair of substrates facing each other,
The alignment state in the display state and the alignment state in the non-display state are different between the pair of substrates, and it is necessary to initialize the alignment state in the non-display state to the alignment state in the display state before displaying an image. A liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal layer, comprising: a first electrode provided on one of a pair of substrates; and a second electrode provided between the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer.
And a driving unit for performing initialization by generating a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein opposing ends of two adjacent second electrodes are connected to each other via an insulator. and overlap first electrode respectively, are formed notches comprising a uneven continuously formed on opposite ends of the two second electrodes adjacent to each other, respectively, the notches first through an insulator It overlaps with one electrode.

It is preferable that a plurality of notches are formed.

The liquid crystal display device according to a second aspect of the present invention that solve the above problems, a pair of opposing substrates, is disposed between a pair of substrates, the orientation in the non-display state and the alignment state in the display state A liquid crystal layer having a liquid crystal layer that is different from the state and needs to be initialized from a non-display state alignment state to a display state alignment state before displaying an image, and the liquid crystal display device includes one of a pair of substrates. The first on one side
Further comprising: an electrode; a second electrode disposed between the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer; and driving means for performing initialization by generating a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode. Opposing ends of two adjacent second electrodes overlap with the first electrode via an insulator, respectively, and opposing ends of two adjacent second electrodes project so as to overlap with the first electrode, A notch formed of a continuously formed unevenness is provided in a region of the protruding portion overlapping the first electrode.

The protruding portion is preferably formed in a comb shape.

The liquid crystal display device according to a third aspect of the present invention that solve the above problems, a pair of opposing substrates, is disposed between a pair of substrates, the orientation in the non-display state and the alignment state in the display state A liquid crystal layer having a liquid crystal layer that is different from the state and needs to be initialized from a non-display state alignment state to a display state alignment state before displaying an image, and the liquid crystal display device includes one of a pair of substrates. The first on one side
Further comprising: an electrode; a second electrode disposed between the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer; and driving means for performing initialization by generating a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode. Opposite ends of two adjacent second electrodes overlap with the first electrode via an insulator, and one of the ends has a protrusion in a region overlapping with the first electrode, and the like. One has a depression corresponding to the protrusion in a region overlapping with the first electrode.

When performing the initialization, it is preferable to reverse the polarity of the voltage applied to each of the two adjacent second electrodes.

The distance between the projection and the depression is 4 μm or more and 8 μm.
m or less.

Preferably, a plurality of projections are provided.

Preferably, the projection is formed in a saw blade shape.

A counter electrode is provided on the other substrate different from the substrate provided with the first electrode, and the drive means performs initialization by causing a potential difference between the counter electrode and the second electrode. Is preferred.

It is preferable that the driving means applies a voltage having the same potential to the first electrode and the counter electrode at the time of initialization.

One of the pair of substrates is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix, the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of source lines arranged so as to intersect each other, and the pixel electrodes. A plurality of switching elements for switching conduction / non-conduction between a pixel electrode and a source line in accordance with a drive signal supplied through a gate line, and the other of the pair of substrates is an array substrate. A counter substrate having a counter electrode facing the substrate is preferable.

It is preferable that a storage capacitor electrode overlap with the pixel electrode, the first electrode be a storage capacitor electrode, and the second electrode be a pixel electrode.

Preferably, the first electrode is a gate line, and the second electrode is a pixel electrode.

The insulator is preferably a color filter.

The insulator is preferably a flattening layer.

It is preferable that an intermediate portion is formed between the main body and the end of the second electrode, the intermediate portion having a width smaller than the width of the main body and the end.

The first electrode is formed from a conductive light-shielding film,
Preferably, the second electrode is a counter electrode.

The potential difference is preferably 15 V or more and 32 V or less. ,

It is preferable to apply voltages of different polarities to adjacent pixel electrodes.

It is preferable that the alignment state in the non-display state is splay alignment and the alignment state in the display state is bend alignment.

[0040]

[0041]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1 of the present invention
Is an example of a liquid crystal display device in which a spray-bend transition can be reliably performed by providing an opening in a pixel electrode formed on the inner surface of an array substrate.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the drawings, for convenience, the X direction is the upward direction of the liquid crystal display element.

As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display element 100 provided in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment has a liquid crystal cell 101 described later. And this liquid crystal cell 10
On the upper surface of the optical element 1, a retardation film (hereinafter simply referred to as a negative retardation film) 104a made of an optical medium having a negative refractive index anisotropy in which the main axes are hybridly arranged, a negative uniaxial retardation film 105a, The uniaxial retardation film 106 and the polarizing plate 107a are sequentially laminated. On the lower surface of the liquid crystal cell 101, a negative retardation film 1 is provided.
04b, negative uniaxial retardation film 105b, polarizing plate 1
07b are sequentially stacked. Since the biaxial retardation film has the same role as the combined role of the negative uniaxial retardation film and the positive uniaxial retardation film,
A negative retardation film 104 on each side of the liquid crystal cell,
A biaxial retardation film (not shown) and a polarizing plate may be sequentially laminated.

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing the structure of the liquid crystal cell 101 described above. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along an arrow, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a liquid crystal layer portion in the sectional view. Note that, in FIG. 2, components provided above the pixel electrode are omitted for convenience.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the liquid crystal cell 10
1 includes two substrates, that is, a color filter substrate 102 having a color filter and an array substrate 103 as described later. The color filter substrate 102 and the array substrate 103 are opposed to each other via a spacer (not shown).
The liquid crystal layer 4 is arranged in a gap formed between the liquid crystal layer 2 and the array substrate 103. Liquid crystal molecules 20 are injected into the liquid crystal layer 4 as described later with reference to FIG. The liquid crystal molecule 20 is a cyano-based liquid crystal material having a refractive index anisotropy Δn of 0.2 or more in order to increase Gibbs energy described later.

The color filter substrate 102 has a structure in which a color filter layer 21, a transparent electrode (counter electrode) 2, and an alignment film 3 are sequentially laminated on the lower surface of the glass substrate 1. The color filter layer 21 includes a red color filter 21R, a green color filter 21G, and a blue color filter 21B. Further, a black matrix 22 which is a light-shielding film is formed at the boundary between the color filters of these colors.

On the other hand, the array substrate 103 is a glass substrate 1
The wiring layer 17 is formed on the upper surface of the glass substrate 10. The wiring layer 17 includes a gate line 12 and a source line 11 arranged so as to cross each other.
And a storage capacitor electrode 9 and an insulator for preventing conduction between these electrodes. More specifically, the storage capacitor electrodes 9 are formed in parallel with the gate lines 12 so as to be arranged at predetermined positions between the gate lines 12. These gate lines 12 and storage capacitor electrodes 9
Are formed in the same layer, and that layer is located at the bottom. The insulating layer 8 is formed so as to cover the gate line 12 and the storage capacitor electrode 9. The source line 11 is formed on the upper surface of the insulating layer 8, and the insulating layer 7 is formed so as to cover the source line 11.

The pixel electrode 6 is formed on the upper surface of the wiring layer 17 so as to be located in a pixel area defined by the gate line 12 and the source line 11. As described above, since the storage capacitor electrode 9 is disposed between the gate lines 12, the pixel electrode 6 has a region overlapping the storage capacitor electrode 9 via the insulating layers 7, 8. A rectangular opening 6a is formed in the area.

The alignment film 5 is formed so as to cover the pixel electrode 6 and the wiring layer 17. The alignment film 5 and the alignment film 3 provided on the color filter substrate 102 are subjected to a known alignment process such as a rubbing process for aligning the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 4 in parallel and in the same direction. . In this case, the direction of the alignment process is the source line 11.
To the direction parallel to.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) which is a semiconductor switching element, and reference numeral 14 denotes a drain electrode for connecting the TFT 13 and the pixel electrode 6.

The liquid crystal display device 100 thus configured
In the initial state, the liquid crystal molecules 20 have a splay alignment as shown in FIG. The liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment has a liquid crystal display element 100 as described later.
By applying a predetermined voltage to the liquid crystal molecules 20, the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules 20 is changed from the above-described splay alignment to a bend alignment as shown in FIG. Then, an image is displayed in this bend orientation state. That is, the liquid crystal display element 100 is an OCB mode display element. In addition,
In the following, the liquid crystal display element 1 is used for the splay-bend transition.
The voltage applied to 00 will be referred to as the transition voltage.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 2 and 3
The liquid crystal display element 100 is a well-known TFT (Thin Film Transistor) type display element, in which the gate lines 12 and the source lines 11 are arranged in a matrix as described above. Then, the gate line 12 and the source line 11 of the liquid crystal display element 100 are driven by the gate driver 502 and the source driver 503, respectively.
03 is controlled by a control circuit 501.

A backlight 500 is provided below the liquid crystal display element 100. This backlight 5
Reference numeral 00 denotes a cold cathode tube or the like that emits white light.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the control circuit 501 controls the gate driver 50 according to the video signal 504 input from the outside.
2. Output a control signal to the source driver 503. As a result, the gate driver 502 applies a scanning signal voltage to the gate line 12 to sequentially turn on the TFTs 13 of each pixel, while the source driver 503 controls the video signal corresponding to the video signal 504 through the source line 11 in accordance with the timing. A voltage is sequentially applied to the pixel electrode 6 of each pixel. As a result, the liquid crystal molecules are modulated and the backlight 5
The transmittance of the light emitted from 00 changes. as a result,
An image corresponding to the video signal 504 appears in the eyes of the observer.

Next, the details of the spray-bend transition in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the applied voltage and the Gibbs energy. Here, Gibbs energy refers to the sum of electric energy and elastic energy.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 31 indicates the applied voltage-Gibbs energy characteristic when the liquid crystal molecules are in a bend alignment state, and reference numerals 32 and 33 indicate when the liquid crystal molecules are in a twist alignment state and a splay alignment state. Applied voltage −
Gibbs energy characteristics are shown respectively.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the applied voltage is the critical voltage V
When it is lower than cr, the Gibbs energy is lower in the spray orientation than in the bend orientation. Here, a lower Gibbs energy means a higher negative energy, which indicates a more stable state. Therefore, in this case, the splay alignment is more stable than the bend alignment.

On the other hand, when the applied voltage is higher than the critical voltage Vcr, this relationship is reversed, and the Gibbs energy is lower in the bend orientation than in the splay orientation. That is, the bend alignment is more stable than the splay alignment.

Therefore, when a relatively high voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules easily transition to a more stable bend alignment. Therefore, when there is a portion where the electric field intensity locally increases, the liquid crystal molecules around the portion transition to bend alignment, and this transition spreads to other liquid crystal molecules. That is, the spray-bend transition occurs with the liquid crystal molecules arranged around such a portion where the electric field intensity locally increases as transition nuclei.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, the liquid crystal molecules arranged around the opening 6a formed in the pixel electrode 6 become transition nuclei. Hereinafter, this point will be described.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, an electric field simulation was performed to examine the electric field distribution near the opening 6a of the pixel electrode 6. Specifically, a voltage of +7 V is applied to the pixel electrode 6 and a voltage of −25 V is applied to the storage capacitor electrode 9.
And the change in electric field strength was observed.
Here, the shape of the opening 6a is 4 μm in width,
It was a rectangle having a length of 8 μm.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the results of the above-described electric field simulation. FIG. 7 is an equipotential diagram of a cross section of an arbitrary pixel provided in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a distribution diagram of the Gibbs energy in the plane of the pixel. FIG. 8 shows that the darker the color, the higher the negative energy (the lower the Gibbs energy).

As shown in FIG. 7, equipotential lines are dense near the opening 6a. Thereby, this opening 6a
It can be seen that the electric field intensity locally increases around the area of, that is, the electric field concentration occurs. This is because, as described above, the opening 6a is provided in a region where the pixel electrode 6 overlaps the storage capacitor electrode 9, and different voltages are applied to the pixel electrode 6 and the storage capacitor electrode 9. is there. FIG. 8 shows that the negative energy is high around the opening 6a. Thereby, this opening 6
It was confirmed that the splay-bend transition was likely to occur around "a". That is, it was found that the liquid crystal molecules arranged around the opening 6a became transition nuclei.

As described above, in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, each pixel electrode 6 has an opening 6a. Therefore, a transition nucleus exists for each pixel. Therefore, it is possible to reliably perform the splay-bend transition without leaving any pixels in the splay alignment.

Next, the waveform of the transition voltage in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment and the method of applying the transition voltage will be described.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a transition voltage waveform in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. In the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, each pixel electrode 6Aa, via the odd-numbered source lines 11A, 11C.
6Cc... And the pixel electrodes 6B via the even-numbered source lines 11B, 11D.
b, 6Dd,..., and the polarity of the AC rectangular wave voltage is reversed.

In this case, first, the gate lines 12 in the first row
a of the pixel electrodes 6Aa, 6Ab, 6Ac... of the first row by applying a voltage of +15 V
T13Aa, 13Ab, 13Ac ... are turned on. When these TFTs 13Aa, 13Ab, 13Ac... Are turned on, as shown in FIG.
A voltage of +7 V is applied to 1C. Therefore, the TFTs 13Aa, 13Ac are connected to the source lines 11A, 11C.
Are applied to the pixel electrodes 6Aa, 6Ac, respectively. On the other hand, TFTs 13Aa, 1
When the 3Abs, 13Ac... Are turned on, a voltage of −7 V is applied to the source lines 11B, 11D. Therefore, from the source lines 11B, 11D,.
b, 13Ad... -7V is applied to the pixel electrode 6A.
b, 6Ad... respectively.

Next,-is again applied to the gate line 12a in the first row.
By applying a voltage of 15V, the TFTs 13Aa, Ab,... Of the pixel electrodes 6Aa, 6Ab, 6Ac.
Ac ... is turned off. At the same time, a voltage of +15 V is applied to the gate line 12b in the second row, so that the TFTs 13B of the pixel electrodes 6Ba, 6Bb, 6Bc,.
a, 13Bb, 13Bc ... are turned on. TFT13B
When a, 13Bb, 13Bc... are turned on, a voltage of −7 V is applied to the source lines 11A, 11C. Therefore, the source lines 11A, 11A
-7V from C ... through TFTs 13Ba, 13Bc ...
Are applied to the pixel electrodes 6Ba, 6Bc,. On the other hand, TFTs 13Ba, 13Bb, 13Bc
Are turned on, the source lines 11B, 11D,.
Is applied with a voltage of + 7V. Therefore, source line 1
Are applied to the pixel electrodes 6Bb, 6Bd... Via the TFTs 13Bb, 13Bd.

+15 for all gate lines 12 sequentially
When an AC rectangular wave voltage is applied from the source line 11 to each pixel electrode 6 as described above by applying a voltage of V, pixel electrodes 6Aa, 6Ca, 6
Ac, 6Cc... And even-numbered-row / even-numbered-column pixel electrodes 6
A positive voltage is applied to Bb, 6Db, 6Bd, 6Dd,. On the other hand, the pixel electrodes 6B of the even-numbered rows and the odd-numbered columns
a, 6Da, 6Bc, 6Dc... and odd-numbered row / even-numbered pixel electrodes 6Ab, 6Cb, 6Ad, 6Cd.
A negative voltage is applied.

Then, the odd-numbered pixel electrodes 6Aa,
6Ca.. And the even-numbered pixel electrodes 6Ba, 6Da,... As well as the odd-numbered column pixel electrodes 6Aa, 6Ba, 6
.., And even-numbered pixel electrodes 6Ab, 6Bb,
Electric fields are also generated between 6Cb, 6Db,.
This is shown in FIG.

When the dot inversion method in which the voltage polarity is inverted for each dot as described above is adopted, as shown in FIG. 11, a horizontal electric field (a direction parallel to the substrate) is applied to each pixel (hereinafter, referred to as a horizontal electric field). ) Is generated, and the directions of the horizontal electric field are two directions: arrow 110 (the length direction of the source line 11) and arrow 120 (the length direction of the gate line 12).
Therefore, two types of twist alignment regions, counterclockwise and counterclockwise, are formed. Elastic strain energy is increased at a place where these twisted regions are in contact, and as a result, negative energy is increased. As a result, the spray-bend transition is performed more smoothly.

Further, while the voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 6 as described above, as shown in FIG.
A voltage of 5 V is applied for one second.

By applying such a transition voltage, the potential difference in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal display element 100 increases. As described above, since the pixel electrode 6 has the opening 6a in a region overlapping with the storage capacitor electrode 9 via an insulator, when the potential difference in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal display element increases, Strong electric field concentration occurs around the opening 6a. As a result, the spray-bend transition can be reliably performed with the liquid crystal molecules arranged around the opening 6a of each pixel electrode 6 as transition nuclei.

The counter electrode 2 and the storage capacitor electrode 9 may be structurally short-circuited. Further, it is not always necessary to sequentially apply the gate line 12 line by line, and the gate-on potential may be continuously applied during the initialization process.

As described above, since voltages of −25 V and ± 7 V are applied to the counter electrode 2 and the pixel electrode 6, respectively, a maximum of 32 V is applied between the counter electrode 2 and the pixel electrode 6. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this value, and it is sufficient that the value is sufficient to generate a transition nucleus. Specifically, it is about 10 V or more and about 35 V or less, preferably about 15 V or more and about 32 V or less.

A transition voltage having a waveform as shown in FIG. 10 may be used. That is, unlike the case shown in FIG. 9, by keeping the source line 11 at a potential of 0 V, no voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 6, and a voltage of −25 V is applied to the counter electrode 2 and the storage capacitor electrode 9. It may be applied for a second. Even in this case, the spray-bend transition can be reliably performed as in the case of using the transition voltage having the waveform shown in FIG.

When a voltage is applied between the liquid crystal layer 4, that is, between the pixel electrode 6 and the counter electrode 2 before applying the above-described transition voltage, the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules becomes asymmetric. Splay alignment state is formed,
The spray-bend transition may not be performed smoothly. Therefore, it is desirable not to apply a voltage between the pixel electrode 6 and the counter electrode 2 immediately before applying the transition voltage. As a result, no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 4 and the molecular arrangement of the liquid crystal can be maintained in a symmetric splay alignment state, so that the liquid crystal layer 4 can be more smoothly transitioned to the bend alignment state.

Instead of the dot inversion method described above, the transfer voltage may be applied by a line inversion method in which the voltage polarity is inverted for each line as shown in FIG. In this case, the generated transverse electric field is in only one direction (arrow 110), but the action of the transverse electric field promotes the spray-bend transition.

Incidentally, as described above, in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, the opening 6 of the pixel electrode 6 is formed.
Although the shape of “a” is a rectangle, the shape is not limited to this and may be a shape as shown below.

FIGS. 13 to 16 are plan views showing other examples of the shape of the opening 6a of the pixel electrode 6. FIG. The opening 6a of the pixel electrode 6 shown in FIG. 13 is composed of two straight portions, and the straight portions are arranged so that the source lines 11 extend in directions intersecting each other. The ends of these straight portions intersect each other to form an inverted V-shape. With such a shape, it is possible to generate a horizontal electric field in two directions, so that two types of twist alignment regions, counterclockwise and counterclockwise, are formed. As a result, the elastic strain energy increases at the place where these twisted regions are in contact, and the negative energy increases. As described above, by locally increasing the negative energy, the liquid crystal molecules disposed around the opening 6a become transition nuclei, so that the spray-bend transition is performed smoothly.

It should be noted that not the inverted V-shape but the V
For example, the inverted V-shape may be rotated in 90-degree units, such as a letter shape. Even in that case, two types of twist alignment regions can be similarly formed.

The opening 6 of the pixel electrode 6 shown in FIG.
“a” is formed by connecting two inverted V-shaped characters. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, it has an inverted W shape. Also in this case, two types of twist alignment regions can be formed as in the case of the inverted V-shape.

Needless to say, instead of the inverted W shape, the inverted W shape may be rotated in units of 90 degrees. Further, the shape may be such that three or more inverted V-shapes are continuous.

The opening 6 of the pixel electrode 6 shown in FIG.
Although a is composed of two straight lines as in the case shown in FIG. 13, it has an X-shape because its central portions are arranged to intersect. In this case, the inverted V
As in the case of the character shape, two types of twist alignment regions can be formed.

The opening 6a of the pixel electrode 6 shown in FIG. 16 has a diamond shape. In addition to this rhombus, other polygons such as a triangle and a parallelogram may be used. Also in this case, two types of twist alignment regions can be formed as in the case of the inverted V-shape.

As described above, the opening 6a of the pixel electrode 6 can have various shapes, and the size of the width is not uniquely determined. However, in order to generate stronger electric field concentration, it is desirable that the width is relatively small. Specifically, it is desirable to have a portion having a width of 4 μm or less.

(Embodiment 2) Embodiment 2 of the present invention
Is an example of a liquid crystal display device provided with a planarizing layer 18.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment, the source line 1 is provided between each pixel electrode 6.
1, a part of the first insulating layer 7 forms a projection between the pixel electrodes 6 corresponding to the thickness of the source line 11. Therefore, the distance between each pixel electrode 6 must be equal to or greater than the width of the convex portion, and as a result, there is a problem that the aperture ratio is reduced. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the flattening layer 18 as described below is provided.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 17, a flattening layer 18 made of a resin material such as an acrylic resist is formed so as to cover the surface of the first insulating layer 7, and the pixel electrode 6 is formed on the flattening layer 18. I have.

The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

By providing the flattening layer 18 in this manner, the distance between the pixel electrodes 6 can be reduced. As a result, a higher aperture ratio can be achieved,
It is possible to realize a sufficiently bright display with low power consumption.

The flattening layer 18 is formed on the pixel electrode 6.
It also functions as an insulator between the capacitor and the storage capacitor electrode 9. That is, the flattening layer 18 has not only a normal use for flattening a layer having irregularities but also a use as an insulator between the pixel electrode 6 and the storage capacitor electrode 9.

(Embodiment 3) Embodiment 3 of the present invention
Is an example of a liquid crystal display device in which a color filter layer is formed on the array substrate side.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 18, the color filter 21 of each color
A color filter layer 21 composed of R, 21G, 21B and a black matrix 22 formed between the color filters is formed on the insulating layer 7 provided on the array substrate 103 side.

The other components are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

With such a configuration, the color filter layer 21 functions as an insulator between the pixel electrode 6 and the storage capacitor electrode 9. That is, the color filter layer 21 has not only a normal use as a filter for performing color display but also a use as an insulator between the pixel electrode 6 and the storage capacitor electrode 9.

(Embodiment 4) Embodiment 4 of the present invention
Are formed by providing openings in pixel electrodes and source lines formed on the inner surface of the array substrate, respectively.
This is an example of a liquid crystal display device that can reliably perform bend transition.

FIG. 19 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 19, part of both ends of the pixel electrode 6 protrudes toward the gate line 12 so as to overlap the gate line 12. Then, a rectangular opening 6a is formed in a region overlapping the gate line 12 in the protruding portion.
Are provided respectively. In addition to the openings 6a, the pixel electrode 6 has a rectangular opening 6a in a region overlapping with the storage capacitor electrode 9, as in the first embodiment. Note that the pixel electrode 6, the gate line 12, and the storage capacitor electrode 9 overlap with each other via the insulating layer as in the first embodiment.

The source line 11 overlaps with the gate line 12 via the insulating layer, and a rectangular opening 11a is provided in the overlapping area.

The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment configured as described above, when the transition voltage described in the first embodiment is applied, the potential difference in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal display element increases. As described above, since the pixel electrode 6 has the openings 6a in the regions overlapping the gate line 12 and the storage capacitor electrode 9 via the insulator, the potential difference in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal display element is thus reduced. When it becomes large, strong electric field concentration occurs around each opening 6a. As a result, the liquid crystal molecules arranged around the openings 6a serve as transition nuclei, and the splay-bend transition is performed smoothly.

Similarly, when a transition voltage is applied to the source line 11 and the gate line 12, the potential difference in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal display element increases. As described above, since the source line 11 has the opening 11a in a region overlapping with the gate line 12 via the insulator, when the potential difference in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal display element increases, the opening Electric field concentration occurs around 11a. As a result, the liquid crystal molecules arranged around the openings 11a serve as transition nuclei, and the splay-bend transition is performed smoothly.

The opening 6a and the opening 11
The width of a is set to 4 μm or less as in the first embodiment. Thereby, a stronger concentrated electric field can be generated. Further, it goes without saying that the opening 6a and the opening 11a do not have to be rectangular, and may have shapes as shown in FIGS.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the pixel electrode 6
Have a plurality of openings 6a, and the source line 11 also has an opening 11a. Since the liquid crystal molecules arranged around these openings 6a and 11a serve as transition nuclei, the number of transition nuclei is larger than that in the first embodiment. Therefore, the spray-bend transition can be performed more reliably than in the case of the first embodiment.

(Embodiment 5) Embodiment 5 of the present invention
Is an example of a liquid crystal display device in which a splay-bend transition can be reliably performed by providing a notch in a pixel electrode formed on the inner surface of an array substrate.

FIG. 20 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 20, as in the case of the fourth embodiment, a part of both ends of the pixel electrode 6 protrudes toward the gate line 12 so as to overlap the gate line 12. Then, a plurality of notches 6b are provided in a region where the protruding portion overlaps with the gate line 12. Therefore, the protruding portion is formed in a comb shape. The width of these notches 6b is 4 μm or less.

The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

With this configuration, when the transition voltage described in the first embodiment is applied, the potential difference in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal display element increases. As described above, since the pixel electrode 6 has the notch 6b in a region overlapping with the gate line 12 via the insulator,
As described above, when the potential difference in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal display element increases, electric field concentration occurs around each notch 6b. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules arranged around these notches 6b serve as transition nuclei, so that the spray-bend transition can be smoothly performed.

In this embodiment, the pixel electrode 6 is
An opening is not provided in a region overlapping with the storage capacitor electrode 9, but it goes without saying that such an opening may be provided. Further, similarly to the case of the fourth embodiment,
An opening may be provided in a region where the source line 11 and the gate line 12 overlap.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of cutouts 6b are formed at the end of the pixel electrode 6, but the number of cutouts may be one.

(Embodiment 6) Embodiment 6 of the present invention
Is an example of a liquid crystal display device in which a splay-bend transition can be reliably performed by providing a cutout portion in each of a storage capacitor electrode and a gate line formed on the inner surface of an array substrate.

FIG. 21 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along the line XXII-XXII in FIG. In FIG. 22, for convenience, components provided above the storage capacitor electrode are omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the liquid crystal cell 101 has a color filter substrate 102 and an array substrate 1 which are arranged to face each other via a spacer (not shown).
03. The color filter substrate 10
The configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, so the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

The array substrate 103 has the glass substrate 10. The pixel electrode 6 is formed on the upper surface of the glass substrate 10, and an insulating layer 19 is formed so as to cover the pixel electrode 6.

On the upper surface of the insulating layer 19, a wiring layer 25 is formed. The wiring layer 25 includes a gate line 12 and a source line 11 arranged so as to cross each other.
And a storage capacitor electrode 9 and an insulator for preventing conduction between these electrodes. More specifically, the source line 11 is formed on the insulating layer 19, and the insulating layer 7 is formed so as to cover the source line 11. Further, a gate line 12 and a storage capacitor electrode 9 are formed on the insulating layer 7, and an alignment film 5 is formed so as to cover the gate line 12 and the storage capacitor electrode 9.

As in the first embodiment, the storage capacitor electrodes 9 are arranged between the gate lines 12. In addition, the pixel electrode 6 is arranged in a pixel area defined by the gate line 12 and the source line 11. Therefore, the storage capacitor electrode 9
Has an area overlapping the pixel electrode 6 via the insulating layers 7 and 19. A plurality of notches 9b are formed in the area.

A part of both ends of the pixel electrode 6 protrudes toward the gate line 12 so as to overlap with the gate line 12. The gate line 12 is provided with a plurality of cutouts 12b in a region overlapping with the protruding portion of the pixel electrode 6 described above.

The width of each of the notches 9b and 12b is set to 4 μm or less as in the case of the first embodiment.

The other components are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment configured as described above, when the transition voltage described in the first embodiment is applied, the potential difference in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal display element increases. As described above, the storage capacitor electrode 9 has the notch 9b in a region overlapping the pixel electrode 6 via the insulator, and the gate line 12 has the notch 12b in the region overlapping the same. Therefore, when the potential difference in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal display element becomes large, a strong electric field concentration occurs around the notches 9b and 12b. As a result, the spray-bend transition is reliably performed, and a favorable image display without point defects can be realized.

In the present embodiment, the notch is provided only in the region where the gate line 12 and the storage capacitor electrode 9 overlap the pixel electrode 6, but the same notch is provided in the region where the source line 11 overlaps. A unit may be provided. Also,
An opening may be provided instead of the notch.

(Embodiment 7) Embodiments 1 to 6 have a configuration in which an opening or notch is provided in an electrode formed on the inner surface of an array substrate. On the other hand, the fifth embodiment of the present invention provides a liquid crystal display device in which a spray-bend transition can be reliably performed by providing an opening in an auxiliary electrode formed on the inner surface of a counter substrate (color filter substrate). This is an example.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a main structure of a liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 23, the liquid crystal cell 101
The color filter substrate 102 and the array substrate 103 are provided to face each other via a spacer (not shown). Note that the configuration of the array substrate 103 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

On the lower surface of the counter electrode 2 formed on the inner surface of the color filter substrate 102, an auxiliary electrode 51 is formed via an insulating layer 52. The auxiliary electrode 51 has substantially the same shape as the pixel electrode 6 formed on the inner surface of the array substrate 103. Similarly to the pixel electrode 6, each pixel divided by the gate line and the source line 11 is formed. It is arranged so that it may be located in the area of. In addition, these auxiliary electrodes 51
The orientation film 3 is formed so as to cover the insulating layer 52.

As described above, the auxiliary electrode 51 has substantially the same shape as the pixel electrode 6, and has a width of 4 μm near the center thereof.
A rectangular opening 51a of not more than m is formed. Since the entire surface of the auxiliary electrode 51 overlaps the counter electrode 2, the opening 51 a is formed in a region overlapping the counter electrode 2 as a matter of course. The shape of the opening 51a is not limited to a rectangle, but may be a shape as shown in FIGS. 12 to 15 in the first embodiment.
As described in the above.

Note that the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, so that the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment configured as described above, when the transition voltage described in the first embodiment is applied, the potential difference in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal display element increases. As described above, since the auxiliary electrode 51 has the opening 51a in a region overlapping with the counter electrode 2 via an insulator, the potential difference in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal display element is increased, and When a voltage different from that applied to the counter electrode 2 is applied to 51, a strong electric field concentration occurs around each opening 51a.
As a result, the liquid crystal molecules disposed around the openings 51a serve as transition nuclei, and the splay-bend transition is smoothly performed.

As described above, in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, since each auxiliary electrode 51 is provided for each pixel, a transition nucleus exists for each pixel. Therefore, no pixels remain in the splay alignment,
Good image display can be realized.

By generating transition nuclei on the counter substrate (color filter substrate) side in this manner, more transition nuclei are present than in a case where transition nuclei are generated only on the array substrate side. Become. Therefore, spray
The certainty of the bend transition is further increased.

Embodiment 8 Embodiment 8 of the present invention
Is an example of a liquid crystal display device in which a splay-bend transition can be reliably performed by providing a projection at a portion where an array substrate and a counter substrate are opposed to each other.

FIG. 24 shows a semiconductor switching element (T) of a liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment.
It is sectional drawing which shows the main structure of FT) part typically.
As shown in FIG. 24, the liquid crystal cell 101
Color filter substrate 1 that is arranged to face through
02 and an array substrate 103 having a TFT 13 as a semiconductor switching element.

The array substrate 103 has the glass substrate 10. A gate line 1 is provided on the upper surface of the glass substrate 10.
2 is formed, and the insulating layer 6 is formed so as to cover the gate line 12.
5 are formed. Further, TF is provided on the upper surface of the insulating layer 65.
T13 and the pixel electrode 6 are formed.

The TFT 13 is provided corresponding to the position of the gate line 12 and is made of amorphous silicon (a
An N ⁺ a-Si layer 63 for electrically connecting the active semiconductor layer 64 to the source electrode 111 and the drain electrode 14 is formed on the active semiconductor layer 64 made of -Si). Here, the source electrode 111 is an electrode connected to a source line and supplied with a signal voltage from the source line. The TFT 13 is protected by a protection film 62.

On the other hand, the color filter substrate 102 is formed by sequentially laminating a glass substrate 1, a color filter layer 21, a transparent electrode (counter electrode) 2, and an alignment film 3. The color filter layer 21 is composed of color filters of red, green, and blue, and a black matrix provided at a boundary between the color filters.

At a position facing the TFT 13 on the lower surface of the above-described counter electrode 2, a convex portion 66 protruding toward the array substrate 103 is formed. In addition, this convex portion 66
Is formed in an appropriate size using, for example, an epoxy-based photosensitive resin. The thickness of the cell gap 4b at the position where the protrusion 66 and the TFT 13 are formed is the same as the thickness of the cell gap 4a at the position where these are not formed.
It becomes smaller than the thickness.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention configured as described above, when the transition voltage described in the first embodiment is applied, a concentrated electric field is generated around the cell gap 4b. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules arranged around the cell gap 4b serve as transition nuclei, and the spray-bend transition is reliably performed. Therefore, a high quality liquid crystal display device having no point defects can be realized.

In the present embodiment, a narrower cell gap space is formed by using the convex portions 66 provided on the color filter substrate 102 and the TFTs 13 provided on the array substrate 103. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. It is not done. That is, for example, by providing a projection different from the TFT 13 on the array substrate 103 and providing the same projection on the color filter substrate 102 at a position opposed to the projection, a narrower cell gap space is formed. There may be.

(Embodiment 9) Embodiment 9 of the present invention
Is an example of a liquid crystal display device in which a splay-bend transition can be reliably performed by providing a cutout portion at each of opposing ends of adjacent pixel electrodes formed on the inner surface of an array substrate.

FIG. 25 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a main configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. In the following, for convenience, one pixel electrode 6A of the pixel electrodes 6 and the pixel electrode 6B adjacent to the pixel electrode 6A in the length direction of the source line 11 will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 25, one end of the pixel electrode 6A is arranged so as to overlap the gate line 12, and a plurality of protrusions 6 projecting in the length direction of the source line 11 are provided at one end thereof.
c is formed. The end of the pixel electrode 6B facing the end where the protrusion 6c is provided is connected to the gate line 1
2 and project toward the gate line 12 so as to overlap with the gate electrode 2. Then, a recess 6 d corresponding to the plurality of protrusions 6 c is provided in a region of the protruding portion overlapping the gate line 12.
Are formed.

Note that the pixel electrode 6 and the gate line 12 overlap with each other via the insulating layer as in the first embodiment.

The other components are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore, are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment configured as described above, when the transition voltage described in the first embodiment is applied, the potential difference in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal display element increases. As described above, the protrusion 6
c and the depression 6 d corresponding to the projection 6 c are formed in the gate line 12.
Are provided so as to overlap with each other.
A concentrated electric field is generated around the protrusion 6c and the corresponding depression 6d. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules arranged around the projection 6c and the depression 6d become transition nuclei, and the spray-bend transition is reliably performed. Therefore, a high quality liquid crystal display device having no point defects can be realized.

In the ninth embodiment, if the polarities of the voltages applied to two adjacent pixel electrodes 6A and 6B are reversed (that is, a positive voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 6A). In this case, if a voltage having a negative polarity is applied to the pixel electrode 6B), an arrow between two adjacent pixel electrodes 6A and 6B is formed as shown by arrows 110 and 120. As indicated by reference numerals 110 and 120, a horizontal electric field is generated in two directions in plan view. As described with reference to FIG. 11, in this manner, the elastic strain energy of the liquid crystal molecules between two adjacent pixel electrodes 6A and 6B increases, and as a result, the negative energy increases. As a result, the spray-bend transition is performed more smoothly.

As described above, the protrusion 6c and the recess 6
An electric field concentration is generated in the vicinity between the points d. In order to further increase the electric field concentration, the shorter the distance 6e between the projection 6c and the depression 6d, the better. However, if the distance 6e is too short, there is a possibility that a short circuit may occur between the pixel electrodes 6, and therefore, there is actually a certain restriction. Specifically, the distance 6e between the projection 6c and the depression 6d
Is preferably about 4 μm or more and 8 μm or less.

A flattening layer may be provided as in the case of the second embodiment, and a color filter layer may be provided on the array substrate side as in the case of the third embodiment.

(Embodiment 10) Embodiment 1 of the present invention
0 is different from the ninth embodiment in that the intermediate portion is provided between the main body and the end portion of the pixel electrode so that the spray
This is an example of a liquid crystal display device that can reliably perform bend transition.

FIG. 26 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a main configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. In the following, for convenience, one pixel electrode 6A of the pixel electrodes 6 and the pixel electrode 6B adjacent to the pixel electrode 6A in the length direction of the source line 11 will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 25, one end of the pixel electrode 6A is disposed so as to overlap the storage capacitor electrode 9, and a plurality of protrusions 6c projecting in the length direction of the source line 11 are formed at one end thereof. Have been. In addition, an end of the pixel electrode 6 </ b> B facing the end where the protrusion 6 c is provided protrudes toward the storage capacitor electrode 9 so as to overlap the storage capacitor electrode 9. A depression 6d corresponding to the plurality of protrusions 6c is formed in a region of the protruding portion overlapping the storage capacitor electrode 9.

Note that the pixel electrode 6 and the storage capacitor electrode 9 are
As in the case of the first embodiment, they overlap via the insulating layer.

The pixel electrode 6 includes a main body and an end of the pixel electrode, and an intermediate portion 601 provided between the main body and the end. The width 6f of the intermediate portion 601 is smaller than the width of the main body and the end of the pixel electrode 6, and
Specifically, the thickness was 10 μm.

Since the other configuration is the same as that of the ninth embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

By the way, the storage capacitance formed between the projection 6c formed at the end of each pixel electrode 6 and the depression 6d is:
It changes depending on the width and length of the above-described intermediate portion 601.
Therefore, by adjusting the width and length of the intermediate portion 601 according to the amount of storage capacitance formed in each pixel,
It is possible to balance the storage capacitance generated between the protrusion 6c and the depression 6d with the storage capacitance generated by other components.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment configured as described above, when the transition voltage described in the first embodiment is applied, the protrusion 6c is formed in the same manner as in the ninth embodiment. And a depression 6d corresponding to the projection 6c
A concentrated electric field is generated in the vicinity between the two. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules arranged around the projection 6c and the depression 6d become transition nuclei, and the spray-bend transition is reliably performed. Therefore, a high quality liquid crystal display device having no point defects can be realized.

(Embodiment 11) Embodiment 1 of the present invention
Reference numeral 1 is an example of a liquid crystal display device that can reliably perform a spray-bend transition by providing an opening in a counter electrode formed on the inner surface of a counter substrate.

FIG. 27 is a plan view schematically showing a main structure of a liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXVIII-X in FIG.
It is XVIII arrow sectional drawing. In FIG. 27, only the positional relationship between the black matrix 22 and the counter electrode 2 is shown, and other configurations are omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the liquid crystal cell 101 has a color filter substrate 102 and an array substrate 1 which are arranged to face each other via a spacer (not shown).
03. Note that the configuration of the array substrate 103 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

The color filter substrate 102 is a glass substrate 1
have. On the lower surface of the glass substrate 1, a color filter layer 21 is formed. Specifically, a red color filter 21R, a green color filter 21G, and a blue color filter 21B are formed, and a conductive black matrix 23 is formed on each color filter boundary.

On the lower surface of the color filter layer 21, a counter electrode 2 and an alignment film 3 are formed by lamination. Here, the opposing electrodes 2 are divided for each pixel column so that a voltage can be applied to each pixel column, and the opposing electrodes 2 are arranged so as to overlap with the conductive black matrix 23. ing. Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience, a description will be given using one of the opposing electrodes 2A of the opposing electrodes 2 and the opposing electrode 2B adjacent to the opposing electrode 2A in the length direction of a gate line (not shown).

A part of the counter electrode 2A protrudes toward the counter electrode 2B for each pixel. The protruding portions have the same shape as the end of the pixel electrode 6 in the tenth embodiment. That is, the protruding portion has a plurality of protrusions 2c protruding in the length direction of the gate line. The electrode 2B is provided for each pixel so as to face the protruding portion provided with the protrusion 2c.
Some of them protrude toward the counter electrode 2A, respectively. And these projection parts have the depression 2d corresponding to the said protrusion 2c. Further, these protruding portions and the main bodies of the counter electrodes 2A and 2B are connected at an intermediate portion 201, respectively.

In the present embodiment, the color filter layer 21 functions as an insulator between the counter electrode 2 and the black matrix 23.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the transition voltage described in the first embodiment is applied, and the black matrix 2 is applied.
When a transition voltage different from that of the opposing electrode 2 is applied to 3, a concentrated electric field is generated around the protrusion 2 c and the periphery between the protrusion 2 c and the corresponding depression 2 d. Therefore, this projection 2c
The liquid crystal molecules arranged in the periphery between the pits 2d and the depressions 2d serve as transition nuclei, and the spray-bend transition is reliably performed. Therefore, a high quality liquid crystal display device having no point defects can be realized.

Further, by generating the transition nuclei on the counter substrate (color filter substrate) side as described above, more transition nuclei exist than in the case where the transition nuclei are generated only on the array substrate side. Become. Therefore, spray
The certainty of the bend transition is further increased.

(Embodiment 12) Embodiment 1 of the present invention
2 is an example of a liquid crystal display device in which the shape of the end of the pixel electrode is different from that in the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a main configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 28, in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, similarly to the tenth embodiment, the pixel electrode 6 includes the main body, the end portion, and the intermediate portion between the main body and the end portion. The width of the intermediate portion 601 is smaller than the widths of the main body and the end portion. In the following, for convenience, one pixel electrode 6A of the pixel electrodes 6 and the pixel electrode 6A and the source line 11
The description will be made using the pixel electrode 6B adjacent in the length direction.

The pixel electrode 6A is disposed so that one end thereof overlaps the storage capacitor electrode 9, and the source line 11
A plurality of protrusions 6c protruding in the length direction are formed. These projections 6c are formed in the shape of a saw blade, and are arranged such that the direction in which the long side 6g and the short side 6h of the projection 6c extend is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the length direction of the gate line 12. I have.

The end of the pixel electrode 6B opposite to the end on which the projection 6c is provided protrudes toward the storage capacitor electrode 9 so as to overlap the storage capacitor electrode 9. A depression 6d corresponding to the plurality of protrusions 6c is formed in a region of the protruding portion overlapping the storage capacitor electrode 9.

It should be noted that the pixel electrode 6 and the storage capacitor electrode 9
As in the case of the first embodiment, they overlap via the insulating layer.

Since the other structure is the same as that of the ninth embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

When the direction in which the long side 6g or the short side 6h of the protrusion 6c formed at the end of the pixel electrode 6A extends is the same as the direction of the alignment treatment performed on the alignment film,
The strongest electric field is generated in the liquid crystal layer. Therefore, it is desirable that the direction in which the long side 6g or the short side 6h extends is matched with the direction of the alignment treatment performed on the alignment film. As a result, a stronger electric field concentration can be generated, and as a result, the spray-bend transition can be performed more reliably.

In some cases, good image display can be realized as a whole by changing the viewing angle characteristics depending on the position of the display screen. In such a case, the viewing angle characteristic is often made different by changing the direction of the alignment process depending on the position of the display screen. Therefore, in such a case, for example, the protrusion 6c depends on the pixel.
By changing the direction in which the long side 6g or the short side 6h extends, it is possible to cope with a change in the direction of the alignment treatment.

(Embodiment 13) Embodiment 1 of the present invention
3 is an example of a liquid crystal display device in which the shape of the end of the pixel electrode is different from that of the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a main configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 30, also in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, as in the case of the eighth embodiment, the pixel electrode 6 has a main body, an end portion, and an intermediate portion between the main body and the end portion. The width of the middle portion 601 is smaller than the width of the main body and the end portion. Hereinafter, for convenience, one pixel electrode 6A of the pixel electrodes 6 and the pixel electrode 6A adjacent to the pixel electrode 6A in the length direction of the source line 11 will be described.

The pixel electrodes 6 A protrude toward the storage capacitor electrode 9, and are arranged such that the protruding portions overlap the storage capacitor electrode 9. Then, in one of the two end portions, a region overlapping with the storage capacitor electrode 9 is provided.
A plurality of protrusions 60 protruding in the length direction of the storage capacitor electrode 9
a is formed.

The end of the pixel electrode 6B opposite to the end on which the projection 60a is provided projects toward the storage capacitor electrode 9 so as to overlap the storage capacitor electrode 9.
The depression 60 corresponding to the plurality of protrusions 60a is provided in a region of the protruding portion overlapping the storage capacitor electrode 9.
b is formed.

Note that the pixel electrode 6 and the storage capacitor electrode 9 are
As in the case of the first embodiment, they overlap via the insulating layer.

Since the other structure is the same as that of the ninth embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment configured as described above, when the transition voltage described in the first embodiment is applied, the protrusion 60a is formed in the same manner as in the ninth embodiment. A concentrated electric field is generated around the protrusion 60a and the corresponding depression 60b. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules arranged around the area between the projections 60a and the depressions 60b serve as transition nuclei, and the spray-bend transition is reliably performed. Therefore, a high quality liquid crystal display device having no point defects can be realized.

(Embodiment 14) Embodiment 1 of the present invention
Reference numeral 4 is an example of a liquid crystal display device which is a field sequential color system and can surely perform a splay-bend transition.

FIG. 31 is a sectional view schematically showing the structure of the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 31, the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment includes a liquid crystal display element 100 and a backlight 70 disposed below the liquid crystal display element 100. Here, the liquid crystal display element 100 is the display element described in any of Embodiments 1 to 13.

The backlight 70 includes a light guide plate 72 made of a transparent rectangular synthetic resin plate, a light source 71 disposed near one end face 72a of the light guide plate 72 and facing the end face 72a, and a light guide plate. A reflecting plate 73 disposed below 72;
And a diffusion sheet 74 provided on the upper surface of the light guide plate 72.

The above-mentioned light source 71 is an LED array in which LEDs emitting the three primary colors of red, green and blue are sequentially and repeatedly arranged.

The backlight 70 constructed as described above
In this case, light emitted from the light source 71 enters the light guide plate 72 from the end face 72a. The incident light is multiple-scattered inside the light guide plate 72 and emitted from the entire upper surface thereof. At this time, the light leaking below the light guide plate 72 and entering the reflector 73 is reflected by the reflector 73 and returned into the light guide 72.
Then, the light emitted from the light guide plate 72 is diffused by the diffusion sheet 74, and the diffused light enters the liquid crystal display element 100. Thereby, the entire liquid crystal display element 100 is red,
Green or blue light is uniformly emitted.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the LE 70, which is the light source of the backlight 70, is used.
A control circuit (not shown) outputs a control signal to the backlight 70 so that D emits light in order of red, green, and blue in a predetermined cycle. Similarly, in order to perform display in synchronization with the light emission, the control circuit similarly sends a control signal to a gate driver (not shown) and a source driver (not shown) according to an image signal input from the outside. Output. As a result, the gate driver applies the scanning signal voltage to the gate line to sequentially turn on the TFT of each pixel, while the source driver sequentially applies the image signal voltage to the pixel electrode of each pixel through the source line at the timing. I do. As a result, the liquid crystal molecules are modulated, the transmittance of light emitted from the backlight 70 changes, and an image corresponding to the image signal appears in the eyes of a person who observes the liquid crystal display device.

As described above, the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment is a device of a so-called field sequential color system. In the case of a liquid crystal display device of the field sequential color system, display is performed by dividing one frame period into a plurality of sub-frame periods. Therefore, if the response speed of the liquid crystal display element is low, good image display cannot be obtained. In this regard, in the case of the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment,
Since the OCB type liquid crystal display element 100 capable of high-speed response is provided, it is possible to realize a good image display by a field sequential color system.

Further, the liquid crystal display elements shown in the first to thirteenth embodiments can surely perform the splay-bend transition as described above. Therefore, in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, favorable image display can be obtained without point defects.

(Embodiment 15) Embodiment 1 of the present invention
Reference numeral 5 is an example of a liquid crystal display device in which a source electrode is provided so as to overlap with a gate line so that a spray-bend transition can be reliably performed. Note that the configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the configuration of a pixel described later with reference to FIG.

FIG. 32 is a plan view schematically showing an example of the configuration of a pixel provided in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 32, a source electrode 1 connected to a source line 11 and supplied with a signal voltage from the source line 11 is provided.
11 are provided. The source electrode 111 extends in parallel with the length direction of the gate line 12, and is provided so as to overlap the gate line 12 via an insulator (not shown). The signal voltage supplied to the source electrode 111 is supplied to the pixel electrode 6 via the drain electrode. Note that a liquid crystal layer (not shown) is provided above the source line 11.
Is arranged. Therefore, the source electrode 111
It is provided so as to be sandwiched between the gate line 12 and the liquid crystal layer.

The above-mentioned source electrode 111 is connected to the gate line 1
A bent portion is provided in a region overlapping with No. 2. In the thus configured liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, when a transition voltage described later is applied, the source electrode 1
A concentrated electric field is generated in the vicinity between the bent portion of the pixel 11 and the pixel electrode 6. Therefore, liquid crystal molecules arranged around the bent portion and the pixel electrode 6 become transition nuclei, and the spray-bend transition is reliably performed.

Next, the waveform of the transition voltage and the method of applying the transition voltage in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a transition voltage waveform in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. In the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 33, a gate-on potential of +15 V is applied to each gate line 12a, 12b, 12c. Also, a voltage of +25 V is applied to the counter electrode 2 for one second. In the meantime, an AC rectangular wave voltage having a voltage value of ± 7 V, a frequency of 30 Hz (field frequency) and a duty ratio of 50% is applied to the source line 11. More specifically, similarly to the case of the first embodiment, the odd-numbered source lines 11A and 11
, And the polarity of the AC rectangular wave voltage input to each of the pixel electrodes 6Aa, 6Cc,.
Are applied to the source lines 11 so that the polarities of the AC rectangular wave voltages input to the pixel electrodes 6Bb, 6Dd,.

When a transition voltage is applied in this manner,
Spray evenly on a relatively large liquid crystal display
Bend transition could be performed. This is presumably because the voltage applied to the liquid crystal was an alternating current, causing an unstable “disturbance” state, resulting in increased uniformity. Although the field frequency is 30 Hz here, the invention is not limited to this. According to the study by the present inventors, it was desired that the frequency be 1 kHz or less.

A transition voltage having a waveform as shown in FIG. 34 may be used. That is, unlike the case shown in FIG. 33, by keeping the source line 11 at a potential of 0 V, a voltage of -25 V is applied to the counter electrode 2 for 1 second without applying a voltage to the pixel electrode 6. You may. Since the potential of the source line 11 is kept at 0 V and does not fluctuate in this manner, the operation can be easily performed without depending on the source driver. Even in this case, the spray-bend transition can be reliably performed as in the case of using the transition voltage having the waveform shown in FIG. However, the non-uniformity of the splay-bend transition was slightly observed in the plane, and the voltage required to generate the splay-bend transition was higher by about 2 to 3 V than in the case of FIG.

Here, the present inventors have determined that the polarity of the potential applied to the counter electrode 2 is different from the polarity of the gate-on potential (for example, −25 is applied to the counter electrode 2).
V and a gate-on potential of +15 V are applied to the gate line 12), respectively. This is because a stronger transverse electric field is generated when the polarity is the same than when the polarity is different,
It is considered that the occurrence of the spray-bend transition was promoted.

A transition voltage having a waveform as shown in FIG. 35 may be used. That is, in the same manner as in the case described above with reference to FIG.
+ C, which is a gate-on potential, is sequentially applied to 2c ...
A voltage of −25 V is applied to the counter electrode 2 for one second. In the meantime, the voltage value is ± 7 V and the frequency is 30 Hz.
(Field frequency), a voltage of an AC rectangular wave having a duty ratio of 50% is applied to the source line 11. In this case, since the gate line 12 is driven in the same manner as in the case of normal image display, a gate driver included in a general liquid crystal display device (for example, a TN type liquid crystal display device) can be used, and the cost can be reduced. Configuration.

In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, it is desirable not to apply a voltage between the pixel electrode 6 and the counter electrode 2 immediately before applying the transition voltage. .

In the above description, a liquid crystal display device having an OCB mode liquid crystal display element is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this. It can be used for a liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal display element which is different from the alignment state in the state and needs to be initialized from the non-display state alignment state to the display state alignment state before displaying an image. .

As described above, the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention can obtain good image display without point defects.
These liquid crystal display devices can be applied to various products. That is, it can be applied to, for example, a liquid crystal television, a liquid crystal monitor, a liquid crystal display of a portable telephone, or the like.

[0201]

As described in detail above, according to the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, since the transition nucleus can be generated by generating the electric field concentration, the spray-bend transition can be reliably performed. It is possible to obtain good image display without point defects.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in a liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically illustrating an example of a main configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a liquid crystal layer portion in the cross-sectional view shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between applied voltage and Gibbs energy.

FIG. 7 is an equipotential diagram of a cross section of a pixel included in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a distribution diagram of Gibbs energy in a plane of a pixel included in the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a waveform of a transition voltage in the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the waveform of the transition voltage in the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a dot inversion method.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a line inversion method;

FIG. 13 is a plan view schematically showing another example of the main configuration of the liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a plan view schematically showing another example of the main configuration of the liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a plan view schematically showing another example of the main configuration of the liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a plan view schematically showing another example of the main configuration of the liquid crystal display element included in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a main configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a main configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a main configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

22 is a sectional view taken along the line XXII-XXII in FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a sectional view schematically showing an example of a main configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in a liquid crystal display device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 shows a semiconductor switching element (TF) of a liquid crystal display element included in a liquid crystal display device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.
T) A cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an example of a main configuration of a portion.

FIG. 25 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a main configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a main configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 10 of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a main configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 11 of the present invention.

28 is a sectional view taken along the line XXVIII-XXVIII in FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a main configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 12 of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a main configuration of a liquid crystal display element included in a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 13 of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 14 of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a plan view schematically showing an example of the configuration of a pixel included in a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 15 of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of a transition voltage waveform in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 15 of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing another example of the waveform of the transition voltage in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 15 of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing another example of the waveform of the transition voltage in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 15 of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a conventional OCB mode liquid crystal display element.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating an initialization process for performing a splay-bend transition in a conventional liquid crystal display device.
(A) is a diagram showing a change in the rate at which the splay-bend transition is performed. (B) and (c) are diagrams showing waveforms of voltages applied to the liquid crystal display element during the initialization process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 glass substrate 2 counter electrode 2 c protrusion 2 d recess 3 alignment film 4 liquid crystal layer 4 a, 4 b cell gap 5 alignment film 6 pixel electrode 6 a opening 6 b cutout 6 c protrusion 6 d recess 7, 8 insulating layer 9 storage capacitor electrode 10 glass substrate DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Source line 11a Opening 12 Gate line 13 TFT 14 Drain electrode 17 Wiring layer 18 Flattening layer 19 Insulating layer 20 Liquid crystal molecule 21 Color filter layer 22, 23 Black matrix 25 Wiring layer 51 Auxiliary electrode 51a Opening 52 Insulating layer 60a Projection 60b Depression 61 Spacer 62 Protective film 63 a-Si layer 64 Active semiconductor layer 65 Insulating layer 66 Convex part 70 Backlight 71 Light source 72 Light guide plate 73 Reflector 74 Diffusion sheet 100 Liquid crystal display element 101 Liquid crystal cell 102 Color filter substrate 103 Array substrate 104a, 04b retardation film 105a, 104b negative uniaxial retardation film 106 positive uniaxial retardation film 107a, 107b polarizer 201 intermediate portion 500 backlight 501 control circuit 502 gate driver 503 source driver 504 video signal 601 middle section

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page Application for accelerated examination (72) Inventor Masanori Kimura 1006 Odakadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Yoshiki Tanaka 1006 Odakadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Matsushita Matsushita Yoshiyuki Fujioka, Examiner in Denki Sangyo Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2001-183666 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02F 1/13 G02F 1/1343

Claims (21)

(57) [Claims] An orientation state in a display state and an orientation state in a non-display state are different between a pair of substrates facing each other and the pair of substrates. What is claimed is: 1. A liquid crystal display device comprising: a liquid crystal layer that needs to be initialized to a display state of alignment; a first electrode provided on one of the pair of substrates; and the first electrode and the liquid crystal. A second electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a drive unit for performing the initialization by generating a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode. Opposite ends of the second electrode overlap with the first electrode via an insulator, respectively .
In addition, notches formed of continuously formed irregularities are formed at opposite ends of the two second electrodes adjacent to each other, and the notches are formed on the first electrode via the insulator. A liquid crystal display device that overlaps the electrodes. 2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the notches are formed. 3. A pair of substrates facing each other, and an orientation state in a display state and an orientation state in a non-display state are different between the pair of substrates. What is claimed is: 1. A liquid crystal display device comprising: a liquid crystal layer that needs to be initialized to a display state of alignment; a first electrode provided on one of the pair of substrates; A second electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a drive unit for performing the initialization by generating a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode. Opposite ends of the second electrode overlap with the first electrode via an insulator, respectively .
Ri, wherein and opposite ends of adjacent two of said second electrode protrudes so as to overlap with the first electrode to each other, is in the region overlapping with the first electrode of the projecting portion is continuously formed A notch made of unevenness is provided,
Liquid crystal display. 4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein the protruding portion is formed in a comb shape. 5. An opposing pair of substrates, disposed between the pair of substrates, wherein an orientation state in a display state and an orientation state in a non-display state are different, and the orientation state in the non-display state is changed before displaying an image. What is claimed is: 1. A liquid crystal display device comprising: a liquid crystal layer that needs to be initialized to a display state of alignment; a first electrode provided on one of the pair of substrates; and the first electrode and the liquid crystal. A second electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a drive unit for performing the initialization by generating a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode. Opposite ends of the second electrode overlap with the first electrode via an insulator, respectively .
Ri, one of said end portions has a projection in the region overlapping with the first electrode, the other of, have a recess corresponding to the projection in the region overlapping with the first electrode Liquid crystal display device. 6. When performing the initialization, the adjacent two
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein the polarities of voltages applied to the two second electrodes are reversed. 7. The distance between the projection and the depression is 4 μm.
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein the thickness is not less than m and not more than 8 µm. 8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of said projections are provided. 9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein the projection is formed in a saw blade shape. 10. A counter electrode is provided on another substrate different from the substrate on which the first electrode is provided, and the driving means causes a potential difference between the counter electrode and the second electrode. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the initialization is performed by performing the initialization. Wherein said driving means, during the initialization applies a voltage having the same potential to said counter electrode and said first electrode, according to claim 1, claim 3 or claim 5, Liquid crystal display device. 12. One of the pair of substrates includes a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix, a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of source lines arranged to cross each other, and a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix. An array substrate having a plurality of switching elements provided correspondingly and switching between conduction / non-conduction between the pixel electrode and the source line according to a drive signal supplied via the gate line; the other of the pair of substrates, according to claim 1, which is a counter substrate having a counter electrode opposed to the array substrate, according to claim 3, or
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 5 . 13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 12, further comprising a storage capacitor electrode overlapping the pixel electrode, wherein the first electrode is the storage capacitor electrode, and wherein the second electrode is the pixel electrode. 14. The liquid crystal display according to claim 12, wherein the first electrode is a gate line, and the second electrode is the pixel electrode. 15. The color filter according to claim 15, wherein the insulator is a color filter.
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, claim 3, or claim 5 . 16. The insulator of claim is planarized layer
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, 3, or 5 . 17. The Between the body and the end portion of the second electrode, according to claim 1, the intermediate portion width is smaller than the width of said body and said end portion is formed, claims 3, ma
A liquid crystal display device according to claim 5 . 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is formed of a conductive light-shielding film, and the second electrode is the counter electrode.
3. The liquid crystal display device according to 2. 19. The potential difference is 15V or more 32V or less, the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1,請 Motomeko 3 or claim 5. 20. The method according to claim 1, wherein voltages of different polarities are applied to adjacent pixel electrodes.
6. The liquid crystal display device according to 5 . 21. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the alignment state in the non-display state is a splay alignment, and the alignment state in the display state is a bend alignment.