JP4940954B2 - Liquid crystal device and electronic device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device and an electronic apparatus having a viewing angle control function for switching between a wide viewing angle viewing state and a narrow viewing angle viewing state.

  Currently, liquid crystal devices are widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, portable information terminals, computer displays, and the like. For example, a liquid crystal device is used to display various types of information regarding electronic devices as images. For this liquid crystal device, a wide viewing angle characteristic may be required, or a narrow viewing angle characteristic may be required.

  Wide viewing angle characteristics are required when many people view the display of a liquid crystal device from multiple directions. On the other hand, a narrow viewing angle characteristic is required when one user is looking at the display and does not want to be looked at by others, for example, when viewing the display on a mobile phone while there are many people. In order to meet this demand, conventionally, a liquid crystal device that can be used by switching between a wide viewing angle and a narrow viewing angle has been proposed.

  For example, a liquid crystal device in which a viewing angle control element formed of a liquid crystal panel is additionally provided on a display element such as a liquid crystal device is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1 to Patent Document 5). In these liquid crystal devices, narrow viewing angle is achieved by darkening the display when the viewing angle control element is viewed from an inclined direction (that is, a direction having a large polar angle). In addition, as a technique for switching between a wide viewing angle and a narrow viewing angle, conventionally, two types of light sources having different light diffusibility or light directivity are provided in the backlight, and the wide viewing angle and the narrow viewing angle are changed by switching these light sources. What is switched is known.

  Furthermore, recently, the display pixel of a liquid crystal panel of a liquid crystal device having a horizontal electric field type operation mode represented by an IPS (In-Plain Switching) mode and an FFS (Fringe Field Switching) mode is driven by a vertical electric field. A liquid crystal device having a configuration incorporating a viewing angle control pixel has been proposed (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-361917 (pages 8-9, FIG. 10) JP 2005-275342 A (pages 10 to 11, FIG. 12) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-066482 (pages 10 to 11, FIG. 1) JP 2006-072239 A (pages 10 to 11, FIG. 1) JP 2006-106439 A (7th to 8th pages, FIG. 1) H.S. Jin et al. “Novel Viewing-Angle Controllable TFT-LCD”, SID (Society for Information Display) 06 DIGEST P-139

  In the liquid crystal device disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, image display performed in the lateral electric field mode is limited to a narrow viewing angle or displayed with a wide viewing angle by switching the viewing angle control pixel between an on state and an off state. The viewing angle control is performed. This viewing angle control has an advantage in that it is not necessary to add a viewing angle compensation liquid crystal panel in addition to the display liquid crystal panel, and the viewing angle compensation can be performed with only one liquid crystal panel. However, in the above Non-Patent Document 1, only the theory of image display and viewing angle control is conceptually disclosed, and a specific panel structure is not shown. Therefore, it is difficult to realize viewing angle control. there were.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and compensates the image display performed based on the horizontal electric field mode by the display of the viewing angle control pixels operating based on the vertical electric field mode. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to reliably and precisely realize the viewing angle control of a liquid crystal device and an electronic apparatus configured to switch between wide viewing angle display and narrow viewing angle display.

The liquid crystal device according to the present invention includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a planar region of the first substrate and the second substrate. A plurality of display pixels arranged to form a display region, and a plurality of viewing angle control pixels provided between the plurality of display pixels in the display region, and the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are in an initial alignment state Arranged in a predetermined direction in the plane of the first substrate and the second substrate, a colored film of a predetermined color is provided in the display pixel, and the common electrode that generates an electric field between the electrodes is insulated from the pixel electrode A first electrode is provided on the first substrate in the viewing angle control pixel, and an electric field is generated between the first electrode and the second substrate. An electrode is provided, and the same color as the colored film in the display pixel adjacent to the viewing angle control pixel. Degrees less colored film of is provided.

  In this liquid crystal device, when the liquid crystal molecules in the viewing angle control pixel are in a horizontal alignment state, the viewing angle control pixel is tilted even when viewed from the front (that is, polar angle = 0 ° or its vicinity). Even when viewed from the larger direction, the display is black. In this state, if an image display based on the lateral electric field control is performed on the display pixel, the display can be seen both in the front and in the tilted direction (that is, in the wide-angle region). Thereby, wide viewing angle display can be realized.

  On the other hand, when the liquid crystal molecules change to a vertical alignment based on the vertical electric field control in the viewing angle control pixel, the viewing angle control pixel is black when viewed from the front, but when viewed from the side tilted sideways. The transmitted light transmitted through the viewing angle control pixel can be visually recognized. In this state, if an image display based on the lateral electric field control is performed on the display pixel, the image display can be seen as it is in the front. On the other hand, when viewed from the side inclined side, the light from the display pixel does not change, but the light from the viewing angle control pixel becomes strong and the contrast of the light from the display pixel becomes small. From the light (that is, the image display) becomes invisible. Thereby, a narrow viewing angle display can be realized.

  In the conventional liquid crystal device that has decided to perform the viewing angle control using an additional viewing angle compensation panel in addition to the image display panel, the overall thickness of the liquid crystal device becomes thick, and the component cost and manufacturing cost increase. There was a problem to do. On the other hand, according to the present invention, since the viewing angle can be controlled with only one liquid crystal panel, the entire liquid crystal device can be thinned, and the component cost and manufacturing cost can be kept low.

Next, in the liquid crystal device according to the present invention, a plurality of display pixels constitute one set by a collection of sub-pixels of a plurality of colors, and a plurality of the sets are arranged to form a display area, thereby constituting a set. When the direction in which the sub-pixels are arranged is the row direction, one viewing angle control pixel may be provided adjacent to each other in the column direction of the sub-pixels.

Next, in the liquid crystal device according to the present invention, the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the viewing angle control pixel may be larger than the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the display pixel. In general, the Δnd value in the transverse electric field mode is preferably about 0.3 to 0.4. On the other hand, when the brightness of the transmitted light is controlled by controlling the liquid crystal molecules arranged in the horizontal direction (substrate horizontal direction) by the vertical electric field, Δnd = 0.4 to 0.7 in order to maintain the brightness up to a high angle. Preferably, it is approximately 0.5. Considering these facts, in order to perform high-quality wide-angle display and to enable viewing angle control in a wide angle range, the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the viewing angle control pixel is set to It is desirable to set it larger than the layer thickness.

Next, in the liquid crystal device according to the present invention, a switching element is connected to the pixel electrode in the display pixel, and an electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer in the display pixel is generated when the switching element is turned on or off. The on-state or the off-state is applied, and an on-voltage or an off-voltage is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode in the viewing angle control pixel without passing through the switching element, and an electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer in the viewing angle control pixel The on state or the off state may be set in accordance with the on voltage or the off voltage, respectively.

  In this configuration, the display pixel is ON / OFF controlled by a switching element such as a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) or TFD (Thin Film Diode), and the viewing angle control pixel is statically driven without using the switching element. It is. According to this configuration, the drive circuit can be simplified and the aperture ratio can be increased.

Then, engagement Ru liquid crystal device of the present invention includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, the first substrate及beauty second includes a plurality of display pixels constituting the display region are arranged in a planar area of the substrate, and a plurality of viewing angle control pixels provided between the display pixels of the multiple in Table示領region, in the liquid crystal layer the liquid crystal molecules are arranged in a predetermined direction of the first substrate及beauty the plane of the second substrate as the initial alignment state, Table示画Motonai, colored film having a predetermined color is provided, further mutual electrodes the common electrode and the pixel electrode to generate an electric field is provided on the first substrate by an insulating film interposed, in the viewing angle control in the pixel, the first electrode disposed on the first substrate, the second substrate and a second electrode provided to generate an electric field between the first electrode, and further colored film table示画Motonai you adjacent to the viewing angle control pixels Flip portion a colored film properties colored film having a non-colored region is provided, and can be.

Next, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention, that having a liquid crystal device having the configuration described above. Since the liquid crystal device according to the present invention can perform viewing angle control between wide viewing angle display and narrow viewing angle display, the viewing angle control can be performed by one liquid crystal panel without overlapping a plurality of liquid crystal panels. The overall thickness of the liquid crystal device can be kept thin. Therefore, the electronic device of the present invention configured using this liquid crystal device can also have a function of viewing angle control without increasing the thickness of the electronic device.

(First Embodiment of Liquid Crystal Device)
Hereinafter, as an example of a liquid crystal device, an embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking as an example a case where the present invention is applied to an active matrix liquid crystal device capable of color display. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a liquid crystal device using a channel-etched type single-gate polysilicon TFT element as a switching element. In the liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment, an FFS (Fringe Field Switching) mode, which is one of the transverse electric field type operation modes, is employed. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In the drawings used in the following description, the dimensions of a plurality of constituent elements may be shown in different ratios from actual ones in order to easily show the characteristic portions.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a liquid crystal device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the liquid crystal device 1 includes a liquid crystal panel 2 and a lighting device 3. Regarding the liquid crystal device 1, the side on which the arrow A is drawn is the observation side, and the illumination device 3 is disposed on the opposite side to the observation side with respect to the liquid crystal panel 2 and functions as a backlight. The illuminating device 3 includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 4 as a light source and a light guide 5 formed of a translucent resin. The light emitted from the LED 4 is taken into the light guide 5 from the light incident surface 5a of the light guide 5, and is supplied to the liquid crystal panel 2 as planar light from the light output surface 5b. The lighting device 3 may not be a point light source such as the LED 4 but may be a line light source such as a cold cathode tube.

  The liquid crystal panel 2 includes a first substrate 8 and a second substrate 9 that are bonded to each other by a sealing material 7 that is rectangular or square when viewed from the direction of the arrow A (that is, a frame shape). The first substrate 8 is an element substrate on which switching elements are formed. The second substrate 9 is a color filter substrate on which a color filter is formed. In this embodiment, the color filter substrate 9 is disposed on the observation side, and the element substrate 8 is disposed on the back as viewed from the observation side. The sealing material 7 is formed of, for example, a thermosetting or ultraviolet curable resin, such as an epoxy resin, and is formed in a desired annular shape by, for example, screen printing.

  A plurality of parallel scanning lines 11 are provided extending in the row direction X in a region surrounded by the sealing material 7 inside the liquid crystal panel 2. A plurality of parallel signal lines 12 are provided extending in the column direction Y. A plurality of dot-shaped (that is, island-shaped) regions surrounded by the plurality of scanning lines 11 and the plurality of signal lines 12 are arranged in a matrix (so-called matrix) as viewed from the direction of the arrow A. A subpixel P is provided in each of these regions. A display region V is formed by arranging these sub-pixels P in a matrix. In FIG. 1, the sub-pixel P is schematically shown in an enlarged manner than the actual one. The row direction X and the column direction Y are directions that become the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, respectively, when the observer views the image display on the liquid crystal panel 2.

  The sub-pixel P is an area that becomes a switching unit of bright display (white display) and dark display (black display), and one pixel (hereinafter referred to as a pixel set or a set) that becomes a unit of display by collecting a plurality of sub-pixels P. May be formed). For example, subpixels P are formed corresponding to each of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), and three subpixels P corresponding to R, G, and B3 colors are gathered. One pixel is formed. In addition, subpixels P of four colors obtained by adding one color (for example, blue green) to the three colors R, G, and B may be collected to form one pixel. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that one pixel is formed by R, G, and B subpixels.

  In the present embodiment, a desired image is displayed by a pixel set composed of a collection of sub-pixels P corresponding to each color of R, G, and B, and another sub-pixel P is provided along with the pixel set. The viewing angle is controlled by the associated sub-pixel P. In this specification, the three sub-pixels P constituting the pixel set are individually referred to as “display pixels Pa”, and the additional sub-pixels P for performing viewing angle control are referred to as “viewing angle control pixels Pb”. The viewing angle control is a wide viewing angle (a wide viewing angle state) when the liquid crystal panel 2 (see FIG. 1) is viewed from the front, and a narrow viewing angle (when the liquid crystal panel 2 is viewed from a slanting direction). This is a control for realizing a state in which the viewing angle is narrow.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which the planar structure near one pixel (pixel set) on the element substrate 8 of FIG. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the planar structure in the vicinity of one pixel set of the color filter substrate 9 shown in FIG. 1 is viewed from the direction of the arrow A. FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional structure of one sub-pixel P (particularly the display pixel Pa) according to the Z4-Z4 line in FIGS. FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional structure of one sub-pixel P (particularly the viewing angle control pixel Pb) according to the Z5-Z5 line in FIGS. FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional structure along the row direction X of one pixel set and one viewing angle control pixel according to the Z6-Z6 line in FIGS.

  In FIG. 1, a gap having a predetermined thickness, that is, a so-called cell gap is formed between the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9. The thickness of the cell gap is maintained by a gap material included in the sealing material 7 and a spacer (not shown) placed on the surface of the element substrate 8 or the color filter substrate 9. The spacer may be formed by dispersing spherical members on the substrate 8 or 9 or may be formed on the substrate 8 or 9 by photolithography. The cell gap formed in this way is indicated by the symbol G in FIG. Liquid crystal is injected into the cell gap G to form a liquid crystal layer 14. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that nematic liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy (Δε <0) is used as the liquid crystal. Reference numeral 14a schematically shows liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal. In the present embodiment, the initial alignment of the liquid crystal molecules 14 a is set parallel to the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9. Here, the term “parallel” includes the case where the liquid crystal molecules have a predetermined pretilt angle with respect to the substrate.

  The element substrate 8 includes a first light-transmitting substrate 15 that is rectangular or square when viewed from the direction of arrow A. The first translucent substrate 15 is made of translucent glass, translucent plastic, or the like, for example. A first polarizing plate 16 (see FIG. 1) is attached to the outer surface of the first light transmissive substrate 15. On the other hand, the color filter substrate 9 includes a second light-transmitting substrate 17 that is rectangular or square when viewed from the direction of arrow A. The second translucent substrate 17 is formed of, for example, translucent glass, translucent plastic, or the like. A second polarizing plate 18 (see FIG. 1) is attached to the outer surface of the second light transmissive substrate 17.

  Next, the film elements formed on the inner surfaces (the liquid crystal side surfaces) of the first light-transmissive substrate 15 and the second light-transmissive substrate 17 will be described. In this embodiment, the film structure is shown in FIG. The display pixel Pa and the viewing angle control pixel Pb in FIG. 3 are different. Hereinafter, the film element will be described for each of the sub-pixels.

(Configuration on the element substrate 8 in the display pixel Pa)
First, the film configuration on the first light-transmissive substrate 15 in the display pixel Pa related to the element substrate 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 4, and 6. In FIG. 4, the gate line 20 and the common line 21 are provided on the inner surface (that is, the liquid crystal side surface) of the first translucent substrate 15. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of gate lines 20 are formed extending in the row direction X in parallel with each other. A plurality of common lines 21 are formed extending in the row direction X in parallel with the gate lines 20. The gate line 20 functions as the scanning line 11 in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a substantially rectangular and planar (so-called solid) common electrode 22 is provided for each display pixel Pa on the substrate 15 between the gate lines 20 adjacent to each other. . As shown in FIG. 4, the common electrode 22 is formed so that a part of the common electrode 22 overlaps the common line 21. As a result, each common electrode 22 and the common line 21 are electrically connected. Yes.

  On the gate line 20, the common line 21, and the common electrode 22, a gate insulating film 23 which is a planar resin film covering these is formed, and a source line 24 is formed on the gate insulating film 23 so as to extend in the column direction Y. Yes. The source line 24 functions as the signal line 12 in FIG. In FIG. 2, a rectangular region surrounded by the gate line 20 and the source line 24 is a region of the display pixel Pa as the sub-pixel P. In the present embodiment, color display is performed with three colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), and the display pixel Pa is a unit pixel corresponding to each color, and is arranged in the row direction. A group of three display pixels Pa corresponding to the three colors constitutes one pixel (pixel set) as a display unit. In FIG. 2, symbols (R), (G), and (B) indicate that the red display pixel Pa, the green display pixel Pa, and the blue display pixel Pa are arranged in a line in the column direction.

  In FIG. 2, a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) element 26 which is an active element functioning as a switching element is provided in the vicinity of the intersection of the gate line 20 and the source line 24. The TFT element 26 is formed as a channel etch type polysilicon TFT having a bottom gate structure and a single gate structure. In FIG. 4, the TFT element 26 includes a gate electrode 20 a which is a part of the gate line 20, a gate insulating film 23, a semiconductor film 27 formed using polysilicon, a source electrode 28, and a drain electrode 29. And have. The source electrode 28 and the drain electrode 29 are electrode terminals of the TFT element 26 that is a switching element. The source electrode 28 is formed to branch from the source line 24 as shown in FIG. Although the TFT element 26 of this embodiment has a bottom gate structure, it can also be a top gate structure.

  In FIG. 4, a passivation film (protective film) 30 that is a planar resin film for covering the TFT element 26 and the source line 24 is provided on the gate insulating film 23. The passivation film 30 is made of, for example, a photosensitive resin. A pixel electrode 31 is provided on the passivation film 30, and an alignment film 32 is provided thereon. In FIG. 2, the alignment film 32 is not shown. In FIG. 4, a through hole 33 is formed in the passivation film 30 in the upper region of the drain electrode 29 of the TFT element 26, and the pixel electrode 31 and the drain electrode 29 are conductively connected through the through hole 33.

  In the present embodiment, the source line 24 in FIG. 7 is a signal line, the source electrode 28 of the TFT element 26 extends from the signal line, and the drain electrode 29 of the TFT element 26 is connected to the pixel electrode 31. It has become. Alternatively, the electrode connected to the signal line 24 may be the drain electrode 28, and the electrode connected to the pixel electrode 31 may be the source electrode 29.

In FIG. 4, the common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 31 are formed of a light-transmitting metal oxide such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide). The passivation film 30 and the gate insulating film 23 each function as an interlayer insulating film provided between the common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 31 and as an overcoat layer that is a resin film for covering other elements. Function. The passivation film 30 and the gate insulating film 23 are made of, for example, acrylic resin, SiN (silicon nitride), or SiO ₂ (silicon oxide). The alignment film 32 is made of, for example, polyimide.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the pixel electrode 31 is formed in a rectangular planar shape corresponding to the display pixel Pa, which is the sub-pixel P, and has a plurality of slanted slits, that is, gaps 35 formed therein. Have. The gap 35 is a groove-like opening that penetrates the pixel electrode 31, and the passivation film 30 that is the lower layer of the pixel electrode 31 can be seen through the gap 35. In addition, the plurality of gaps 35 are provided in parallel with a space between each other along the column direction Y in a state where the upper end is inclined to the right side along the row direction X. Between these gaps 35, strip-shaped electrode linear portions 31a are formed. The gap 35 and the electrode linear portion 31a shown in the drawings of the present specification are schematically drawn, and the actual numbers thereof may be different from those shown in the drawings.

  The gap 35 and the electrode linear portion 31a extend in the column direction Y. Therefore, the gap 35 and the electrode linear portion 31a and the column direction Y (that is, the vertical direction of the display area, the vertical direction, or the source line 24). The formed angle is in the range of 0 ° to ± 45 °.

  In the present embodiment, both short sides of the gap 35 are closed, but one of both short sides of the gap 35 can be open. In the open state, each of the plurality of electrode linear portions 31a is in a cantilever state, and is generally comb-shaped. Also, both short sides of the gap 35 can be opened. As described above, in the present embodiment, in the display pixel Pa, both the common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 31 that are a pair of electrodes are provided on the element substrate 8 that is one substrate, and a predetermined electrode is provided between the two electrodes. By applying a voltage, an electric field parallel to the surface of the element substrate 8, a so-called lateral electric field, is formed, and the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 14 a in the liquid crystal layer 14 is controlled in the lateral plane by this lateral electric field.

  FIGS. 8A and 8B show a modification of the electrode structure including the pixel electrode 31 and the common electrode 22 shown in FIG. In the present embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the common electrode 22 is formed as a planar electrode. However, in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the common electrode 22 and the electrode linear portion 22 a are similar to the pixel electrode 31. A combination with the gap 35 is formed in a stripe shape extending in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface (that is, the column direction Y). In both of the modifications shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the electrode linear portion 22a of the common electrode 22 is provided between the electrode linear portions 31a of the pixel electrode 31 in plan view from the arrow A direction. In particular, in FIG. 8A, both electrode linear portions 31a and 22a are provided at a distance D0, and in FIG. 8B, the interval D0 between both electrode linear portions 31a and 22a is D0 = 0. (Zero). In the case of this embodiment shown in FIG. 6, since the common electrode 22 is a planar electrode and overlaps (ie, overlaps) the pixel electrode 31 in plan view, the electrode interval D0 = 0 (zero) as a result. ).

Although it is known that there are IPS and FFS modes as the lateral electric field type operation mode, in the present invention, a lateral oblique electric field (that is, a parabolic electric field) for realizing the FFS mode can be formed. electrode spacing _{D 0} shown in FIG. 8 (a) is smaller than the thickness _{D 1} of the liquid crystal layer 14, i.e.
D ₁ > D ₀
Set to In particular, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the common electrode 22 is provided in a planar shape (so-called solid shape) in the subpixel P (display pixel Pa) region on the substrate 15, so that D ₀ = The state is 0 (zero). In FIG. 8A, the electrode interval D0 is larger than the liquid crystal layer thickness D1, that is,
D ₁ <D ₀
IPS mode can be realized instead of the FFS mode.

  Next, the configuration of the pixel electrode including the gap 35 and the electrode linear portion 31a in FIG. 7 is not limited to the illustrated configuration. For example, the inclination direction of each gap 35 is set to the short direction of the sub-pixel P (that is, the row). It is also possible to arrange them symmetrically in the row direction X with the center in the direction X) as a boundary. That is, the upper half of the left half in the sub-pixel P can be inclined to the right, and the upper half can be inclined to the left in the right half.

(Configuration on the color filter substrate 9 in the display pixel Pa)
Next, the film configuration on the second light-transmissive substrate 17 in the display pixel Pa related to the color filter substrate 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 6. In FIG. 6, a colored film 36 constituting a color filter is formed on the inner surface (that is, the liquid crystal side surface) of the second light transmissive substrate 17, and a light shielding film 37 is formed around the colored film 36. Each colored film 36 is formed in a rectangular or square dot shape (that is, an island shape) corresponding to the display pixel Pa (subpixel P) as shown in FIG. A plurality of the colored films 36 are arranged in a matrix in the row direction X and the column direction Y. The light shielding film 37 is formed in a lattice shape surrounding the colored films 36.

  Each of the colored films 36 is set to an optical characteristic that allows one of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) to pass therethrough. The colored films 36 of R, G, and B are arranged in a stripe arrangement. Yes. In this specification, the reference numerals (R), (G), and (B) attached to the reference numeral 36 indicate that the colors of the colored films are red, green, and blue, respectively. The stripe arrangement is an arrangement in which the same colors R, G, and B are arranged in the column direction Y, and R, G, and B are alternately arranged one by one in the row direction X one by one. Instead of the stripe arrangement, the colored films 36 of the respective colors can be arranged in another arrangement, for example, a mosaic arrangement or a delta arrangement. The optical characteristics of the colored film 36 are not limited to the three colors of R, G, and B, but may be three colors of C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow), or other It can also be four or more colors. The light shielding film 37 is formed as a resin film by overlapping two or three colors of different colored films 36. However, the light shielding film 37 can also be formed of a metal film such as Cr.

  4 and 6, an overcoat layer 38 is formed on the colored film 36 and the light shielding film 37, and an alignment film 39 is formed thereon. The overcoat layer 38 is a layer that covers the colored film 36 and the light shielding film 37 and is provided in a planar shape (solid shape). The colored film 36 is formed, for example, by mixing a pigment or a dye with a photosensitive resin material. The overcoat layer 38 is made of, for example, an acrylic resin. The alignment film 39 is made of polyimide. The overcoat layer 38 functions as a protective film that prevents the constituent material of the color filter from being mixed into the liquid crystal and a flattening film that flattens the surface of the color filter.

  In FIG. 6, the rubbing direction applied to the alignment film 39 on the color filter substrate 9 side and the alignment film 32 on the element substrate 8 side is an antiparallel (that is, antiparallel) direction parallel to the column direction Y. The transmission axes of the first polarizing plate 16 on the element substrate 8 side (observation back side) and the second polarizing plate 18 on the color filter substrate 9 side (observation side) are perpendicular to each other, and the second polarizing plate on the observation side. The transmission axis 18 is parallel to the rubbing direction of the alignment films 39 and 32, and the transmission axis of the first polarizing plate 16 on the observation back side is orthogonal to the rubbing direction.

(Operation of display pixel Pa)
Since the configuration in the display pixel Pa is as described above, when planar light is supplied from the illumination device 3 to the liquid crystal panel 2 in FIG. 1, light is supplied to the display pixel Pa from the back side in FIG. The When an off voltage is applied between the common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 31 in the display pixel Pa, the polarized light that has passed through the liquid crystal layer 14 is prevented from being absorbed by the second polarizing plate 18 on the observation side and going outside. As a result, black display is performed. When an on-voltage is applied between the common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 31, the polarized light that has passed through the liquid crystal layer 14 passes through the second polarizing plate 18 on the observation side and is emitted to the outside, so that white display is performed.

  An image is displayed in the display region V by controlling the black display and the white display in each of the plurality of sub-pixels P (particularly the display pixel Pa) in the display region V of FIG. At this time, a desired full-color image can be displayed by appropriately controlling the transmitted light intensities of R, G, and B in one pixel set. In the present embodiment, since the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 14a is controlled in the horizontal plane of the substrate according to the horizontal electric field when controlling the black display and the white display, in the case of the vertical electric field system represented by the TN (Twisted Nematic) type. A wider viewing angle characteristic can be realized as compared with the case where the orientation of liquid crystal molecules is controlled in the vertical plane of the substrate. That is, in the case where the image is viewed from the front of the display area V in FIG. 1 (that is, the polar angle = 0 ° or the vicinity thereof), the image is viewed from the lateral direction (a direction in which the polar angle is large) inclined greatly from the front. The image can be recognized normally.

(Configuration on the element substrate 8 in the viewing angle control pixel Pb)
Next, the film configuration on the first translucent substrate 15 in the viewing angle control pixel Pb related to the element substrate 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 5, and 6. In FIG. 5, the configuration relating to the gate line 20, the common line 21, and the TFT element 26 in the viewing angle control pixel Pb is the same as those in the display pixel Pa shown in FIG.

  4, both the common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 31 for forming a lateral electric field are provided on the first light-transmitting substrate 15 so as to face each other with the insulating films 23 and 30 interposed therebetween. It was. On the other hand, regarding the viewing angle control pixel Pb in FIG. 5, a vertical electric field is formed instead of a horizontal electric field. For this reason, on the 1st translucent board | substrate 15, the 1st electrode 41 which is an electrode by the side of the element substrate 8 is provided on the passivation film 30. FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the first electrode 41 is a planar (so-called solid), rectangular, and dot-like electrode having no gap (that is, a slit). As shown in FIG. 5, the first electrode 41 is connected to the drain electrode 29 of the TFT element 26 through a through hole 33 formed in the passivation film 30.

(Configuration on the color filter substrate 9 in the viewing angle control pixel Pb)
Next, the film configuration on the second translucent substrate 17 in the viewing angle control pixel Pb related to the color filter substrate 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, and 6. As described above, for the display pixel Pa, the colored film 36 is formed on the second light transmissive substrate 17, and the overcoat layer 38 and the alignment film 39 are formed thereon. On the other hand, with respect to the viewing angle control pixel Pb, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the overcoat layer 38 is formed directly on the substrate 17 without forming the colored film 36, and the second electrode 42 is formed thereon. Form. As shown in FIG. 3, the second electrode 42 is formed of a light-transmitting conductive material, for example, a metal oxide such as ITO, into a rectangular shape in the form of a plane. The second electrodes 42 in the plurality of viewing angle control pixels Pb arranged in the column direction Y are connected by a common line (not shown). Alternatively, the second electrode 42 may be a strip electrode instead of a dot.

(Operation of viewing angle control pixel Pb)
As described above, in the viewing angle control pixel Pb, since the counter electrode is formed by the first electrode 41 and the second electrode 42 between the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9, a predetermined electrode is provided between these electrodes. By applying a voltage, a vertical electric field can be formed between the substrate 8 and the substrate 9 in the direction perpendicular to the substrate. When a predetermined off voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the viewing angle control pixel Pb, the liquid crystal molecules maintain the horizontal alignment state that is the initial state, and the viewing angle control pixel Pb is in front (polar angle = 0 ° or Even when viewed from the vicinity thereof, the display is black even when viewed from an inclined direction (a direction in which the polar angle is large). In this state, if the image display based on the lateral electric field control is performed on the display pixel Pa, the display can be seen both in the front direction and in the tilted direction (that is, the wide-angle region). Thereby, wide viewing angle display can be realized.

  On the other hand, when a predetermined ON voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the viewing angle control pixel Pb, the alignment of liquid crystal molecules changes in the vertical alignment direction in the vertical direction of the substrate based on the vertical electric field control, and the viewing angle control pixel Pb. When viewed from the front, the display is black without changing, but when viewed from the side inclined, the transmitted light transmitted through the viewing angle control pixel Pb can be viewed brightly. In this state, if the image display based on the lateral electric field control is performed in the display pixel Pa, the display can be seen in the front. On the other hand, when viewed from the side inclined side, the light from the display pixel Pa itself does not change, but the light from the viewing angle control pixel Pb becomes strong and the contrast of the light from the display pixel Pa is lowered. The light (that is, image display) from the display pixel Pa cannot be visually recognized. Thereby, a narrow viewing angle display can be realized.

  Conventionally, it has been known to perform viewing angle control using an additional viewing angle compensation panel in addition to an image display panel. However, in this conventional liquid crystal device, the entire thickness of the liquid crystal device is increased, There has been a problem that costs and manufacturing costs are increased. On the other hand, according to the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, since the viewing angle control can be performed only by performing the voltage control on the viewing angle control pixel Pb in one liquid crystal panel 2, the entire liquid crystal device 1 can be thinned. In addition, component costs and manufacturing costs can be kept low. Particularly in recent years, there has been a strong demand for reducing the thickness of electronic devices, as represented by mobile phones. The ability to perform viewing angle control with a single liquid crystal panel greatly contributes to such a demand for thinning.

  This embodiment is a technique that makes it difficult to see the display when viewed from an oblique direction as compared to the display when viewed from the front, so that the display from the oblique direction can be seen by eliminating or reducing the contrast of the image display. It is a technology that makes it difficult. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, one viewing angle control pixel Pb is provided for three display pixels Pa of R, G, and B, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 described later. Thus, compared with the structure in which the viewing angle control pixel Pb is provided for each display pixel Pa, it is conceivable that the performance is deteriorated in terms of eliminating contrast. However, according to the present embodiment, compared to the structure in which the viewing angle control pixel Pb is provided for each display pixel Pa, there is an advantage that the wiring is simple and the aperture ratio can be maintained high.

(Modification)
In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the colored film 36 is provided in the display pixel Pa, and the film member that is the same layer as the colored film 36 is not provided in the viewing angle control pixel Pb. Instead of this configuration, a film member that transmits light of all wavelengths, that is, a so-called total transmission film may be provided in the viewing angle control element Pb with the same film thickness as the colored film 36.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, one viewing angle control pixel Pb is provided for R, G, B three display pixels Pa (that is, one pixel set). However, when the brightness of the display pixel Pa decreases due to an increase in NTSC ratio or a high resolution, the total area of the viewing angle control pixels Pb can be reduced. In such a case, one viewing angle control pixel Pb is not provided for one R, G, B pixel set, but two or more R, G, B pixel sets. However, a sufficient viewing angle control effect can be obtained by providing only one viewing angle control pixel Pb. In this case, the aperture ratio can be increased by reducing the area of the viewing angle control pixel Pb, and a bright display can be obtained in the wide-angle display.

(Second Embodiment of Liquid Crystal Device)
9 and 10 show a second embodiment of the liquid crystal device according to the present invention. FIG. 9 is a plan view of an element substrate corresponding to FIG. 2 in the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the color filter substrate corresponding to FIG. 3 in the first embodiment. The overall configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The sectional structure along the column direction Y of one sub-pixel P (particularly the display pixel Pa) according to the Z4-Z4 line in FIG. 9 is the same as the sectional structure shown in FIG. 4 in the first embodiment. The sectional structure along the column direction Y of one sub-pixel (particularly the viewing angle control pixel Pb) according to the Z5-Z5 line in FIG. 9 is the same as the sectional structure shown in FIG. 5 in the first embodiment. However, the lengths in both the row direction X and the column direction Y of the display pixel Pa and the viewing angle control pixel Pb in FIG. 9 are the lengths in the row direction X and the column direction Y of the display pixel Pa and the viewing angle control pixel Pb in FIG. On the other hand, it is different as needed.

  The cross-sectional structure along the row direction X of the three display pixels Pa (that is, one pixel set) according to the Z61-Z61 line in FIG. 9 is the cross-sectional structure shown in FIG. 6 in the first embodiment. The cross-sectional structure of the three display pixels Pa is the same. The sectional structure along the row direction X of the viewing angle control pixel Pb according to the Z62-Z62 line in FIG. 9 is the same as the sectional structure of the viewing angle control element Pb in the sectional structure shown in FIG. 6 in the first embodiment. is there.

  In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, as shown in FIG. 3, the viewing angle control pixel Pb is provided adjacent to the row direction X (that is, the horizontal direction) of the display pixel Pa. Further, one viewing angle control pixel Pb is provided for each of the R, G, and B display pixels P (that is, one pixel set). On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the viewing angle control pixel P (b) is provided adjacent to the column direction Y (that is, the vertical direction) of the display pixel Pa. One viewing angle control pixel P (b) is provided for each display pixel Pa.

(Operation of display pixel Pa)
Also in this embodiment, when planar light is supplied from the illumination device 3 to the liquid crystal panel 2 in FIG. 1, light is supplied from the back side of the paper surface to the display pixel Pa in FIG. When an off voltage is applied between the common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 31 in the display pixel Pa, the polarized light that has passed through the liquid crystal layer 14 is prevented from being absorbed by the second polarizing plate 18 on the observation side and going outside. As a result, black display is performed. When an on-voltage is applied between the common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 31, the polarized light that has passed through the liquid crystal layer 14 passes through the second polarizing plate 18 on the observation side and is emitted to the outside, so that white display is performed.

  An image is displayed in the display region V by controlling the black display and the white display in each of the plurality of sub-pixels P (particularly the display pixel Pa) in the display region V of FIG. At this time, a desired full-color image can be displayed by appropriately controlling the transmitted light intensities of R, G, and B in one pixel set. In the present embodiment, when controlling black display and white display, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 14a is controlled in the horizontal plane of the substrate in accordance with the horizontal electric field. Therefore, in the case of the vertical electric field system represented by the TN type, the liquid crystal molecules Compared with the case where the orientation is controlled in the vertical plane, a wider viewing angle characteristic can be realized. That is, the image can be normally recognized not only when the image is viewed from the front of the display area V in FIG. 1 but also when the image is viewed from the lateral direction inclined greatly from the front. In this way, wide angle control is realized.

(Operation of viewing angle control pixel Pb)
Also in the present embodiment, in the viewing angle control pixel Pb, the counter electrode is formed between the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9 by the first electrode 41 (FIG. 9) and the second electrode 42 (FIG. 10). Therefore, a vertical electric field can be formed in the direction perpendicular to the substrate between the substrate 8 and the substrate 9 by applying a predetermined voltage between these electrodes. When a predetermined off voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the viewing angle control pixel Pb, the liquid crystal molecules maintain the horizontal alignment state that is the initial state, and the viewing angle control pixel Pb is tilted even when viewed from the front. Even when viewed from the direction, the display is black. In this state, if display based on the lateral electric field control is performed on the display pixel Pa, the display can be viewed both in the front and in the tilted direction (that is, in the wide-angle region). Thereby, wide viewing angle display can be realized.

  On the other hand, when a predetermined ON voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the viewing angle control pixel Pb, the alignment of liquid crystal molecules changes in the vertical alignment direction in the vertical direction of the substrate based on the vertical electric field control, and the viewing angle control pixel Pb. When viewed from the front, the display is black without changing, but when viewed from the side inclined, the transmitted light transmitted through the viewing angle control pixel Pb can be viewed brightly. In this state, if the image display based on the lateral electric field control is performed in the display pixel Pa, the display can be seen in the front. On the other hand, when viewed from the side inclined side, the light from the display pixel Pa itself does not change, but the light from the viewing angle control pixel Pb becomes strong and the contrast of the light from the display pixel Pa is lowered. The light (that is, image display) from the display pixel Pa cannot be visually recognized. Thereby, a narrow viewing angle display can be realized.

  Conventionally, it has been known to perform viewing angle control using an additional viewing angle compensation panel in addition to an image display panel. However, in this conventional liquid crystal device, the entire thickness of the liquid crystal device is increased, There has been a problem that costs and manufacturing costs are increased. On the other hand, according to the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, since the viewing angle control can be performed only by performing the voltage control on the viewing angle control pixel Pb in one liquid crystal panel 2, the entire liquid crystal device 1 can be thinned. In addition, component costs and manufacturing costs can be kept low. Particularly in recent years, there has been a strong demand for reducing the thickness of electronic devices, as represented by mobile phones. The ability to perform viewing angle control with a single liquid crystal panel greatly contributes to such a demand for thinning.

  This embodiment is a technique that makes it difficult to see the display when viewed from an oblique direction as compared to the display when viewed from the front, so that the display from the oblique direction can be seen by eliminating or reducing the contrast of the image display. It is a technology that makes it difficult. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, since the viewing angle control pixel Pb is provided for each display pixel Pa, it has a high capability for eliminating contrast.

(Third embodiment of liquid crystal device)
FIG. 11 shows a color filter substrate which is a main part of the third embodiment of the liquid crystal device according to the present invention. The third embodiment shown here is a modified example obtained by modifying the second embodiment shown in FIGS. FIG. 11 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 10 in the second embodiment, and therefore is a plan view of the color filter substrate 9 corresponding to FIG. 3 in the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. . The element substrate used in this embodiment is the same as the element substrate 8 shown in FIG. 9 used in the second embodiment.

  FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional structure along the column direction Y of the viewing angle control pixel Pb according to the Z12-Z12 line of FIG. FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional structure along the row direction X of three display pixels Pa (that is, one pixel set) according to the Z13-Z13 line of FIG. FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional structure along the row direction X of the three viewing angle control pixels Pb according to the Z14-Z14 line of FIG. The overall configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 10, with respect to the viewing angle control pixel Pb adjacent in the column direction Y of each display pixel Pa, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the colored film 36 is formed on the color filter substrate 9. It was set as the structure which does not provide. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the colored films 36 (R), 36 (G), and 36 (B) of the colors R, G, and B are provided for the display pixel Pa. Of course, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, the colored films 36 (R ′), 36 (G ′), and 36 (B ′) are also provided in the viewing angle control pixel Pb on the color filter substrate 9.

  The colored film 36 (R ′) is an R (red) colored film similar to the colored film 36 (R) in the display pixel Pa, but is lighter in color than the colored film 36 (R) (and therefore has a stronger intensity). Is a colored film. The colored film 36 (G ′) is a G (green) colored film similar to the colored film 36 (G) in the display pixel Pa, but is lighter in color than the colored film 36 (G) (and therefore has a stronger intensity). Is a colored film. Further, the colored film 36 (B ′) is a colored film of B (blue) like the colored film 36 (B) in the display pixel Pa, but is lighter in color than the colored film 36 (B) (thus having a higher intensity). It is a colored film that transmits strong light. The color density of the colored film can be adjusted by appropriately selecting a color material for forming the color film.

(Operation of display pixel Pa)
Also in this embodiment, when planar light is supplied from the illumination device 3 to the liquid crystal panel 2 in FIG. 1, light is supplied to the display pixel Pa from the back side in FIG. In FIG. 9, when an off-voltage is applied between the common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 31 in the display pixel Pa, the polarized light that has passed through the liquid crystal layer 14 is absorbed by the second polarizing plate 18 on the observation side and is emitted to the outside. Exiting is blocked and black display is performed. When an on-voltage is applied between the common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 31, the polarized light that has passed through the liquid crystal layer 14 passes through the second polarizing plate 18 on the observation side and is emitted to the outside, so that white display is performed.

  An image is displayed in the display region V by controlling the black display and the white display in each of the plurality of sub-pixels P (particularly the display pixel Pa) in the display region V of FIG. At this time, a desired full-color image can be displayed by appropriately controlling the transmitted light intensities of R, G, and B in one pixel set. In the present embodiment, when controlling black display and white display, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 14a is controlled in the horizontal plane of the substrate in accordance with the horizontal electric field. Therefore, in the case of the vertical electric field system represented by the TN type, the liquid crystal molecules Compared with the case where the orientation is controlled in the vertical plane, a wider viewing angle characteristic can be realized. That is, the image can be normally recognized not only when the image is viewed from the front of the display area V in FIG. 1 but also when the image is viewed from the lateral direction inclined greatly from the front. In this way, wide angle control is realized.

(Operation of viewing angle control pixel Pb)
Also in this embodiment, since the counter electrode is formed by the first electrode 41 and the second electrode 42 between the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9 in the viewing angle control pixel Pb, a predetermined amount is provided between these electrodes. By applying this voltage, a vertical electric field can be formed between the substrate 8 and the substrate 9 in the direction perpendicular to the substrate. When a predetermined off voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the viewing angle control pixel Pb, the liquid crystal molecules maintain the horizontal alignment state that is the initial state, and the viewing angle control pixel Pb is tilted even when viewed from the front. Even when viewed from the direction, the display is black. In this state, if display based on the lateral electric field control is performed on the display pixel Pa, the display can be viewed both in the front and in the tilted direction (that is, in the wide-angle region). Thereby, wide viewing angle display can be realized.

  On the other hand, when a predetermined ON voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the viewing angle control pixel Pb, the alignment of liquid crystal molecules changes in the vertical alignment direction in the vertical direction of the substrate based on the vertical electric field control, and the viewing angle control pixel Pb. When viewed from the front, the display is black without changing, but when viewed from the side inclined, the transmitted light transmitted through the viewing angle control pixel Pb can be viewed brightly. In this state, if the image display based on the lateral electric field control is performed in the display pixel Pa, the display can be seen in the front. On the other hand, when viewed from the side inclined side, the light from the display pixel Pa itself does not change, but the light from the viewing angle control pixel Pb becomes strong and the contrast of the light from the display pixel Pa is lowered. The light (that is, image display) from the display pixel Pa cannot be visually recognized. Thereby, a narrow viewing angle display can be realized.

  Conventionally, it has been known to perform viewing angle control using an additional viewing angle compensation panel in addition to an image display panel. However, in this conventional liquid crystal device, the entire thickness of the liquid crystal device is increased, There has been a problem that costs and manufacturing costs are increased. On the other hand, according to the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, since the viewing angle control can be performed only by performing the voltage control on the viewing angle control pixel Pb in one liquid crystal panel 2, the entire liquid crystal device 1 can be thinned. In addition, component costs and manufacturing costs can be kept low. Particularly in recent years, there has been a strong demand for reducing the thickness of electronic devices, as represented by mobile phones. The ability to perform viewing angle control with a single liquid crystal panel greatly contributes to such a demand for thinning.

(Modification)
In the above embodiment, in FIG. 11, the viewing angle control pixel Pb is provided with a colored film having a low color density. Instead of providing a color film having a low color density in the viewing angle control pixel Pb in this way, the color density itself is the same as the color film in the display pixel Pa, but a part of the non-colored region transmits light. It is also possible to provide a colored film that can reduce the color density. The non-colored region can be realized by forming a region without a colored film in the colored film. The planar shape of the region without the colored film can be a circular shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, or any other shape that fits within the viewing angle control pixel Pb. Such a region without a colored film can be formed by photolithography.

(Fourth Embodiment of Liquid Crystal Device)
15 and 16 show a fourth embodiment of the liquid crystal device according to the present invention. This embodiment is a modified example obtained by modifying the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 15 is a plan view of an element substrate corresponding to FIG. 2 in the first embodiment. FIG. 16 is a plan view of a color filter substrate corresponding to FIG. 3 in the first embodiment. The overall configuration of the liquid crystal device according to the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The sectional structure along the column direction of one sub-pixel P (particularly the display pixel Pa) according to the Z4-Z4 line in FIG. 15 is the same as the sectional structure shown in FIG. 4 in the first embodiment. The sectional structure along the column direction of one sub-pixel (particularly the viewing angle control pixel Pb) according to the Z5-Z5 line in FIG. 15 is the same as the sectional structure shown in FIG. 5 in the first embodiment. However, the length in the row direction X and the length in the column direction Y of the display pixel Pa and the viewing angle control pixel Pb in FIG. 15 are the lengths in the row direction X and the column direction Y of the display pixel Pa and the viewing angle control pixel Pb in FIG. On the other hand, it is different as needed.

  The cross-sectional structure along the row direction X of the two display pixels Pa according to the ZD3-ZD3 line in FIG. 15 is R, within the range indicated by the symbol D3 in the cross-sectional structure shown in FIG. 6 in the first embodiment. G is a cross-sectional structure in which the cross-sectional structures of the two display pixels Pa are continuous. The cross-sectional structure along the row direction X of the two sub-pixels P according to the ZD4-ZD4 line in FIG. 15 is the display pixel Pa within the range indicated by reference numeral D4 in the cross-sectional structure shown in FIG. And the cross-sectional structure of the two pixels P of the viewing angle control pixel Pb are continuous.

  In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, as shown in FIG. 3, the viewing angle control pixel Pb is provided adjacent to the row direction X (that is, the horizontal direction) of the display pixel Pa. Further, one viewing angle control pixel Pb is provided for each of the R, G, and B display pixels P (that is, one pixel set). On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the pixels 36 (R) and 36 (G) of two colors “R” and “G” out of the three colors R, G, and B are the length of the display pixel 36. Direction (row direction X) arranged adjacent to each other, and the remaining one color “B” pixel 36 (B) is orthogonal to the “R” pixel 36 (R) in the longitudinal direction (column direction) Y), and the viewing angle control pixel Pb is arranged adjacent to the “B” pixel 36B in the longitudinal direction (row direction X). 1 is arranged in a matrix in the row direction X and the column direction Y, thereby forming the display region V in FIG. Yes. Note that R, G, and B may be appropriately replaced in the arrangement state of FIG.

  Also in the present embodiment, in the display pixel Pa, as shown in FIG. 4, the lateral electric field type electrode structures 22 and 31 are provided on the element substrate 8, and the color film 36 constituting the color filter on the color filter substrate 9. Is provided. On the other hand, in the viewing angle control pixel Pb, as shown in FIG. 5, vertical electric field type electrode structures 41 and 42 are provided between the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9, and a colored film is formed on the color filter substrate 9. Not provided.

(Operation of display pixel Pa)
Also in this embodiment, when planar light is supplied from the illumination device 3 to the liquid crystal panel 2 in FIG. 1, light is supplied to the display pixel Pa from the back side in FIG. When an off-voltage is applied between the common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 31 in the display pixel Pa, the polarized light that has passed through the liquid crystal layer 14 (see FIG. 4) is absorbed by the second polarizing plate 18 on the observation side and externally applied. It is blocked from going out and black display is performed. When an on-voltage is applied between the common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 31, the polarized light that has passed through the liquid crystal layer 14 passes through the second polarizing plate 18 on the observation side and is emitted to the outside, so that white display is performed.

  An image is displayed in the display region V by controlling the black display and the white display in each of the plurality of sub-pixels P (particularly the display pixel Pa) in the display region V of FIG. At this time, a desired full-color image can be displayed by appropriately controlling the transmitted light intensities of R, G, and B in one pixel set. In the present embodiment, when controlling black display and white display, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 14a is controlled in the horizontal plane of the substrate in accordance with the horizontal electric field. Therefore, in the case of the vertical electric field system represented by the TN type, the liquid crystal molecules Compared with the case where the orientation is controlled in the vertical plane, a wider viewing angle characteristic can be realized. That is, the image can be normally recognized not only when the image is viewed from the front of the display area V in FIG. 1 but also when the image is viewed from the lateral direction inclined greatly from the front. In this way, wide angle control is realized.

(Operation of viewing angle control pixel Pb)
Also in the present embodiment, in the viewing angle control pixel Pb, the counter electrode is formed between the element substrate 8 and the color filter substrate 9 by the first electrode 41 (FIG. 15) and the second electrode 42 (FIG. 16). Therefore, a vertical electric field can be formed in the direction perpendicular to the substrate between the substrate 8 and the substrate 9 by applying a predetermined voltage between these electrodes. When a predetermined off voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the viewing angle control pixel Pb, the liquid crystal molecules maintain the horizontal alignment state that is the initial state, and the viewing angle control pixel Pb is tilted even when viewed from the front. Even when viewed from the direction, the display is black. In this state, if display based on the lateral electric field control is performed in the display pixel Pa, the display can be seen both in the front and in the tilted direction (that is, in the wide angle region). Thereby, wide viewing angle display can be realized.

  On the other hand, when a predetermined ON voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 14 in the viewing angle control pixel Pb, the alignment of liquid crystal molecules changes in the vertical alignment direction in the vertical direction of the substrate based on the vertical electric field control, and the viewing angle control pixel Pb. When viewed from the front, the display is black without changing, but when viewed from the side inclined, the transmitted light transmitted through the viewing angle control pixel Pb can be viewed brightly. In this state, if the image display based on the lateral electric field control is performed in the display pixel Pa, the display can be seen in the front. On the other hand, when viewed from the side inclined side, the light from the display pixel Pa itself does not change, but the light from the viewing angle control pixel Pb becomes strong and the contrast of the light from the display pixel Pa is lowered. The light (that is, image display) from the display pixel Pa cannot be visually recognized. Thereby, a narrow viewing angle display can be realized.

  Conventionally, it has been known to perform viewing angle control using an additional viewing angle compensation panel in addition to an image display panel. However, in this conventional liquid crystal device, the entire thickness of the liquid crystal device is increased, There has been a problem that costs and manufacturing costs are increased. On the other hand, according to the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, since the viewing angle control can be performed only by performing the voltage control on the viewing angle control pixel Pb in one liquid crystal panel 2, the entire liquid crystal device 1 can be thinned. In addition, component costs and manufacturing costs can be kept low. Particularly in recent years, there has been a strong demand for reducing the thickness of electronic devices, as represented by mobile phones. The ability to perform viewing angle control with a single liquid crystal panel greatly contributes to such a demand for thinning.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims.

  For example, in each of the above embodiments, the FFS mode is exemplified as the operation mode of the liquid crystal panel, but the IPS mode may be set as the operation mode. In the IPS mode, the electrode linear portion of the common electrode and the electrode linear portion of the pixel electrode are provided at a relatively wide interval (for example, an interval wider than the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer) along the substrate surface. This is a mode having an electrode structure in which an electric field is hardly formed in the region immediately above. On the other hand, in the FFS mode, the common electrode and the pixel electrode are provided at a relatively narrow interval (for example, an interval narrower than the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer) along the substrate surface. Is a mode having an electrode structure.

  The entire structure of the liquid crystal device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is merely an example of the liquid crystal device. FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration in which the element substrate 8 has one projecting side from the color filter substrate 9 and the driving IC 44 is directly mounted on the projecting side, that is, a so-called COG (Chip On Glass) mounting structure. did. However, the liquid crystal device may have a configuration having a plurality of overhanging sides, and a driving IC may be mounted on each of the overhanging sides. Further, a configuration in which a driving IC is connected to the liquid crystal panel by an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) substrate instead of the COG method may be employed.

(Embodiment of electronic device)
FIG. 17 shows a mobile phone which is an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention. The mobile phone 61 includes an operation unit 62 and a display unit 63 provided on the mobile unit 61 so as to be opened and closed. The operation unit 62 is provided with a plurality of operation buttons 64 and a transmission unit 65. The display unit 63 is provided with a display device 66 and a receiver unit 67.

  The display device 66 is configured using, for example, the liquid crystal device 1 shown in FIG. When the display device 66 performs black display by applying an off voltage to the viewing angle control pixel, the display device 66 performs display control of the display pixel in the FFS mode so that the polar angle R centered on the front surface (R = 0 degree) is wide. Display (so-called wide viewing angle display). On the other hand, when white display is performed by applying an ON voltage to the viewing angle control pixel, there is no change in the image display viewed from the front, but the contrast of the image display viewed from the wide angle region where the polar angle R is large. Is lowered or eliminated by the light from the viewing angle control pixel, so that the image display cannot be visually recognized. Thus, narrow viewing angle display is realized.

  The liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment does not perform viewing angle control with two or more liquid crystal panels, but performs viewing angle control with one liquid crystal panel, so that the thickness of the entire liquid crystal device can be kept thin. Therefore, the thickness of the mobile phone 61 does not increase.

(Other embodiments)
The electronic device of the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims. For example, the present invention is not limited to a mobile phone, but a personal computer, a liquid crystal television, a viewfinder type or a monitor direct-view type video tape recorder, a car navigation device, a pager, an electronic notebook, a calculator, a word processor, a workstation, a videophone device, Various electronic devices such as a POS terminal, a digital still camera, and an electronic book are conceivable. In any electronic device, viewing angle display control can be performed between wide viewing angle display and narrow viewing angle display by a display device having a very thin structure.

  FIG. 18 shows a retardation Δnd value (where Δn is the degree of refractive index anisotropy), with a liquid crystal layer in which liquid crystal molecules are arranged in the initial state in the horizontal direction (substrate horizontal direction) interposed between the substrates of the vertical electric field structure. “D” represents the thickness of the liquid crystal layer), and shows the brightness distribution as a result of simulating the change in the brightness of transmitted light with respect to the viewing angle direction (polar angle) when the liquid crystal layer is variously changed. The horizontal axis of this distribution chart indicates the polar angle in the viewing direction, and the vertical axis indicates the brightness of the transmitted light.

  In this simulation, the brightness was calculated by changing the Δnd value from 0.05 to 0.8 at 0.05 intervals. The following can be seen from this distribution chart. The control amount of the viewing angle control pixel depends on the Δnd value of the control part. The brightest is when Δnd = 0.6, but Δnd = 0.5 is optimal for maintaining the brightness up to a high angle. Therefore, it is desirable to adjust the Δnd value in the viewing angle control pixel to about 0.4 to 0.7. The Δnd value is adjusted by adjusting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer, for example.

On the other hand, the Δnd value of the transverse electric field mode is desirably 0.3 to 0.4 empirically and theoretically. Therefore, when the Δnd value of the viewing angle control pixel unit is Δnd (control pixel) and the Δnd value of the display pixel unit is Δnd (display pixel),
Δnd (control pixel) ≧ Δnd (display pixel)
It can be seen that it is desirable to set to.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram in which the FFS method white viewing angle characteristic is superimposed on the distribution diagram of FIG. 18 described above. The viewing angle characteristic of FFS is the brightness of R, G, B3 dots of a typical structure, and in the case of FIG. 19, it is the simulated brightness when the resolution is 50% of NTSC ratio of 182 ppi. In FIG. 19, for example, when the Δnd value of the viewing angle control pixel is viewed from a polar angle of 40 degrees or more, the brightness is equal to or higher than that of the FFS white display. Therefore, when viewed from an angle of 40 degrees or more, the image display itself remains unchanged, but the contrast is 1: 2 or less, and a sufficient visual restriction effect is obtained. For this reason, by adopting the liquid crystal panel having the distribution characteristics of FIG. 19, by providing one-dot viewing angle control pixels for the R, G, and B pixel sets, a sufficient viewing angle limiting effect can be obtained. Understood.

1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a liquid crystal device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the vicinity of one pixel set on one substrate constituting the liquid crystal device of FIG. 1. It is a top view which shows the vicinity of one pixel set on the other board | substrate which comprises the liquid crystal device of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the column direction in the display pixel according to the Z4-Z4 line | wire of FIG.2 and FIG.3. It is sectional drawing along the column direction in the viewing angle control pixel according to the Z5-Z5 line of FIG.2 and FIG.3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the row direction in the vicinity of one pixel set according to the Z6-Z6 line of FIGS. 2 and 3. It is a top view which expands and shows one sub pixel P in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the electrode structure of the liquid crystal device which concerns on this invention, (a) is a case where the electrode space | interval D0 is not zero, (b) is a case where the electrode space | interval D0 is zero. It is a figure which shows the principal part of other embodiment of the liquid crystal device which concerns on this invention, Comprising: It is a top view which shows especially one pixel set vicinity on one board | substrate. It is a top view which shows the board | substrate facing the board | substrate of FIG. It is a figure which shows the principal part of further another embodiment of the liquid crystal device which concerns on this invention, Comprising: It is a top view which shows especially one pixel set vicinity on one board | substrate. It is sectional drawing along the column direction in the viewing angle control pixel according to the Z12-Z12 line | wire of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the row direction in the display pixel according to the Z13-Z13 line | wire of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the row direction in the viewing angle control pixel according to the Z14-Z14 line | wire of FIG. It is a figure which shows the principal part of further another embodiment of the liquid crystal device which concerns on this invention, Comprising: It is a top view which shows especially one pixel set vicinity on one board | substrate. It is a top view which shows the board | substrate facing the board | substrate of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the mobile telephone which is one Embodiment of the electronic device which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the characteristic of the brightness distribution of the viewing angle control pixel in the liquid crystal device which concerns on this invention. FIG. 19 is a diagram in which the viewing angle characteristics of display pixels are superimposed on the distribution diagram of FIG. 18.

Explanation of symbols

1. 1. liquid crystal device 2. Liquid crystal panel 3. lighting device; LED, 5. Light guide,
7). Seal material, 8. 8. element substrate (first substrate); Color filter substrate (second substrate),
11. 11. scanning line; Signal line; 14. A liquid crystal layer, 14a. Liquid crystal molecules,
15. First translucent substrate, 16. First polarizing plate, 17. A second translucent substrate,
18. Second polarizing plate, 20. A gate line, 20a. Gate electrode, 21. Common line,
22. Common electrode, 23. Gate insulating film, 24. Source line, 26. TFT element,
27. Semiconductor film, 28. Source electrode, 29. Drain electrode,
30. Passivation film 31. Pixel electrode, 31a. Electrode linear part,
32. Alignment film, 33. Through hole, 35. Gap, 36. Colored film,
37. Light shielding film, 38. Overcoat layer, 39. Alignment film, 41. A first electrode,
42. Second electrode, 44. Driving IC, 61. Mobile phones (electronic devices),
D0. Electrode spacing, D1. Liquid crystal layer thickness; Cell gap, P.I. Sub-pixel,
Pa. Display pixels, Pb. Viewing angle control pixel; Polar angle, X. Row direction, Y. Column direction,
V. Indicated Area

Claims (6)

A first substrate and a second substrate facing each other;
A liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate;
A plurality of display pixels arranged in a planar region of the first substrate and the second substrate to constitute a display region;
A plurality of viewing angle control pixels provided between the plurality of display pixels in the display region;
The liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are arranged in a predetermined direction in the plane of the first substrate and the second substrate as an initial alignment state,
A colored film of a predetermined color is provided in the display pixel, and a common electrode and a pixel electrode that generate an electric field between the electrodes are provided on the first substrate with an insulating film interposed therebetween,
In the viewing angle control pixel, a first electrode is provided on the first substrate, and a second electrode for generating an electric field with the first electrode is provided on the second substrate. A colored film having the same color and low density as the colored film in the display pixel adjacent to the viewing angle control pixel is provided.
Liquid crystal device. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1.
The plurality of display pixels constitute one set by a collection of sub-pixels of a plurality of colors, and the display region is configured by arranging a plurality of the sets.
When the direction in which the sub-pixels constituting the set are arranged is a row direction, the viewing angle control pixel is adjacent to the column direction of the sub-pixel, and one liquid crystal is provided for each of the sub-pixels. apparatus. 3. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein a layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the viewing angle control pixel is larger than a layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the display pixel. The liquid crystal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A switching element is connected to the pixel electrode in the display pixel, and the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer in the display pixel is turned on or off by turning the switching element on or off.
An on voltage or an off voltage is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode in the viewing angle control pixel without passing through a switching element, and an electric field applied to a liquid crystal layer in the viewing angle control pixel becomes the on voltage or the off voltage. Depending on the on or off state respectively
Liquid crystal device. A first substrate and a second substrate facing each other;
A liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate;
A plurality of display pixels arranged in a planar region of the first substrate and the second substrate to constitute a display region;
A plurality of viewing angle control pixels provided between the plurality of display pixels in the display region;
The liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are arranged in a predetermined direction in the plane of the first substrate and the second substrate as an initial alignment state,
A colored film of a predetermined color is provided in the display pixel, and a common electrode and a pixel electrode that generate an electric field between the electrodes are provided on the first substrate with an insulating film interposed therebetween,
In the viewing angle control pixel, a first electrode is provided on the first substrate, and a second electrode for generating an electric field with the first electrode is provided on the second substrate. A colored film having the same characteristics as the colored film in the display pixel adjacent to the viewing angle control pixel and having a non-colored region in part is provided.
Liquid crystal device. An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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