JP5329701B2 - Display board - Google Patents

Abstract

A display substrate, a method of fabricating the same, and a liquid crystal display apparatus having the same. The display substrate includes a storage electrode extending over first and second areas formed on a substrate, a insulating layer pattern formed on the storage electrode, and first and second pixel electrodes formed on the insulating layer pattern. At least one of the first and second pixel electrodes has at least one recess. The insulating layer pattern has first and second openings formed in the first and second areas corresponding to the storage electrode. Accordingly, electric short circuits between the first and second pixel electrodes is prevented due to the recess or the openings during the manufacturing process for the first and second pixel electrodes.

Description

  The present invention relates to a display substrate, a manufacturing method thereof, and a liquid crystal display device having the same, and more specifically, a display substrate capable of preventing process errors and displaying high-quality images, and a manufacturing method thereof, and the same. The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device having

Generally, a display device that displays an image, such as a liquid crystal display device, a plasma display device, or an organic light emitting display device, includes a substrate. A plurality of pixel regions are defined on this substrate. The pixel area indicates a minimum unit for displaying an image, and each display device is defined such that a plurality of pixel areas are separated from each other.
Each pixel region has the same structure, and one pixel region includes a pixel electrode to which a voltage corresponding to a displayed image is applied. The pixel electrode is formed by depositing a transparent conductive film on the substrate and then patterning it. An intermediate film such as an insulating film can be interposed between the substrate and the pixel electrode, and when the intermediate film is not flat and a step is formed on the surface, the step was originally designed by this step. There is a possibility that a different one from the pixel electrode is formed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a display substrate that can prevent errors in the process.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing the display substrate. Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device capable of displaying a high-quality image using the above-described display substrate.

  A display substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a storage electrode, a transparent insulating film pattern, and first and second pixel electrodes. The storage electrode is formed over the first and second regions on a substrate having a first region and a second region. The transparent insulating film pattern is formed on the storage electrode so as to cover the substrate, and has an opening in a region where the storage electrode is formed. The first and second pixel electrodes are formed on the transparent insulating film pattern and are positioned in the first and second regions, respectively. At least one of the first and second pixel electrodes has at least one recess formed on a region where the storage electrode is formed. The opening and the recess are in positions corresponding to each other on the region where the storage electrode is formed.

  A display substrate according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a storage electrode, a transparent insulating film pattern, and first and second pixel electrodes. The storage electrode is formed over the first and second regions on a substrate having a first region and a second region. The transparent insulating film pattern is formed on the storage electrode, has a first opening on the storage electrode in the first region, and has a second opening on the storage electrode in the second region. The first and second pixel electrodes are formed on the transparent insulating film pattern and are positioned in the first and second regions, respectively.

  A method for manufacturing a display substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps. A storage electrode positioned over the first and second regions is formed on a substrate having a first region and a second region. A gate electrode is formed on the substrate so as to be separated from the storage electrode, and a source electrode and a drain electrode which are separated from each other are formed on the gate electrode. A transparent insulating film pattern having an opening is formed in the region where the storage electrode is formed on the source electrode and the drain electrode. A first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode are formed in the first and second regions on the transparent insulating film pattern, respectively. At least one of the first and second pixel electrodes has at least one recess formed on a region where the storage electrode is formed.

  A display substrate manufacturing method according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps. A storage electrode positioned over the first and second regions is formed on a substrate having a first region and a second region. A gate electrode is formed on the substrate so as to be separated from the storage electrode, and a source electrode and a drain electrode which are separated from each other are formed on the gate electrode. A transparent insulating film pattern having a first opening on the storage electrode in the first region and a second opening on the storage electrode in the second region is formed on the source electrode and the drain electrode. A first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode are formed in the first and second regions on the transparent insulating film pattern, respectively.

  A liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first substrate and a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a storage electrode, a transparent insulating film pattern, a pixel electrode, and a common electrode. The first and second substrates face each other. The liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first and second substrates, and the liquid crystal is arranged. The storage electrode is formed on the first substrate. The transparent insulating film pattern is formed on the storage electrode and opened in a region where the storage electrode is formed. The pixel electrode is formed on the transparent insulating film pattern. The common electrode is formed on the second substrate and has direction control means for controlling the alignment direction of the liquid crystal. The direction control means is located at the end of the storage electrode, is aligned with the length direction of the storage electrode, and consists of a pair symmetrical to each other.

  According to the present embodiment, pixel electrodes that are separated from each other are formed, and the operation characteristics of the display device are improved. Further, in the process of forming the separated pixel electrodes, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent these from being electrically short-circuited due to an error in the process.

It is a top view of the display board concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the I-I 'line of FIG. 1A. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the II-II 'line | wire of FIG. 1A. It is sectional drawing explaining the process of manufacturing the display substrate of FIG. 1C. It is sectional drawing explaining the process of manufacturing the display substrate of FIG. 1C. It is sectional drawing explaining the process of manufacturing the display substrate of FIG. 1C. It is sectional drawing explaining the process of manufacturing the display substrate of FIG. 1C. It is a top view of the display board concerning other embodiments of the present invention. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the III-III 'line | wire of FIG. 3A. It is sectional drawing explaining the manufacturing method of the display substrate of FIG. 3B. It is sectional drawing explaining the manufacturing method of the display substrate of FIG. 3B. It is sectional drawing explaining the manufacturing method of the display substrate of FIG. 3B. It is sectional drawing explaining the manufacturing method of the display substrate of FIG. 3B. It is sectional drawing explaining the manufacturing method of the display substrate of FIG. 3B. It is sectional drawing explaining the manufacturing method of the display substrate of FIG. 3B. It is sectional drawing explaining the manufacturing method of the display substrate of FIG. 3B. 1 is a block diagram of a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an equivalent circuit diagram for two sub-pixels of a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an equivalent circuit diagram for one pixel of a liquid crystal panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a layout view of a liquid crystal panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal panel assembly shown in FIG. 4 cut along lines IV-IV ′, V-V ′, and VI-VI ′. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal panel assembly shown in FIG. 4 cut along lines IV-IV ′, V-V ′, and VI-VI ′. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal panel assembly shown in FIG. 4 cut along lines IV-IV ′, V-V ′, and VI-VI ′. FIG. 5 is a layout view of pixel electrodes and common electrodes of the liquid crystal panel assembly shown in FIG. 4. It is a top view of the electrode piece used as the basis of each sub-pixel electrode shown in FIG. It is a top view of the electrode piece used as the basis of each sub-pixel electrode shown in FIG. It is a top view of the electrode piece used as the basis of each sub-pixel electrode shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a layout view illustrating a part of a liquid crystal panel assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a layout view illustrating a part of a liquid crystal panel assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, and can be applied and modified in various forms. The following embodiments are provided in order to clarify the technical idea disclosed by the present invention and to fully convey the technical idea of the present invention to those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. Is. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be construed as limited by the embodiments described below. In the drawings presented together with the embodiments, the sizes of phases and regions are simplified or exaggerated for emphasizing a clear description. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same components. .

FIG. 1A is a plan view of a display substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1A, a substrate 1 having a first area A1 and a second area A2 is prepared. A storage electrode 20 and a pixel electrode 60 are formed on the substrate 1. The storage electrode 20 is formed over the first region A1 and the second region A2.
The pixel electrode 60 is formed to be separated from each other, and includes a first pixel electrode 61 and a second pixel electrode 62 that are located in the first region A1 and the second region A2, respectively. The pixel electrode 60 corresponds to a pixel region which is the minimum unit for displaying an image. The first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 can be configured to belong to different pixel regions, and can be configured to belong to the same pixel region. When the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 belong to different pixel regions, different voltages corresponding to different video information are applied to the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62, respectively. When belonging to the same pixel region, different voltages are applied to the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 in order to compensate for each other in order to display high-quality video corresponding to the same video information.

  Assuming that the length direction of the storage electrode 20 is the first direction D1, the pixel electrode 60 has a predetermined inclination with respect to the first direction D1 and is symmetric with respect to the second and third directions D2 and D3. It is formed in a bent shape. At the boundary between the first area A1 and the second area A1, the first pixel electrode 61 has a convex side protruding in the first direction D1, and the second pixel electrode 62 is in the first direction so as to correspond to the convex side. It has a concave side that is recessed toward D1. A recess 70 that is recessed in the first direction D1 is formed on the recessed side of the second pixel electrode 62. The recesses 70 are formed in a pair so as to face each other at the end of the storage electrode 20.

  Here, contrary to the above, the first pixel electrode 61 may be formed so as to have a concave side where the concave portion 70 is formed, and the second pixel electrode 62 may be formed so as to have a convex side. In addition, at least one recess 70 may be formed on the storage electrode 20, and there is no limitation on the shape or the number thereof. However, when the display substrate of this embodiment is used in a liquid crystal display device, it is advantageous for liquid crystal alignment control that a pair of recesses 70 is formed at the end of the storage electrode 20. A detailed description thereof will be described later in an embodiment relating to a liquid crystal display device.

1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 1A.
As shown in FIG. 1B, an insulating film is formed on the storage electrode 20. The insulating film is formed of a double film, and the lower layer film is formed of a transparent inorganic film 25 that covers the storage electrode 20. The upper layer film is formed of a transparent organic film 45 patterned so as to have an opening 50 on the storage electrode 20. A pixel electrode 60 is formed on the organic film 45.

1C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II ′ of FIG. 1A.
The first pixel electrode 61 and the second pixel electrode 62 are formed on the storage electrode 20 so as to be spaced apart from each other, and the spacing is further increased by the recess 70. As described above, since the interval is increased by the recess 70, it is possible to prevent the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 from being electrically short-circuited to each other when the pixel electrode 60 is formed. This will be described later through a method for manufacturing a display substrate having the above-described structure.

2A to 2D are cross-sectional views illustrating a process of manufacturing the display substrate of FIG. 1C.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the storage electrode 20 is formed on the substrate 1. The storage electrode 20 is formed by depositing copper, aluminum, silver, chromium series metals, or alloys thereof to form a conductive film, and then etching the conductive film.
An inorganic film 25 is formed on the storage electrode 20. The inorganic film 25 is a silicon nitride film, for example, and is formed so as to cover the entire surface of the substrate 1 using a plasma chemical vapor deposition method. An organic film 45 is formed on the inorganic insulating film 25. The organic film 45 is formed so as to have the opening 50 by applying an acrylic resin, for example, and then patterning it.

As shown in FIG. 2B, a transparent conductive film 60 ′ is formed on the organic film 45. The transparent conductive film 60 ′ can be formed by depositing indium zinc oxide or indium oxide bead by sputtering. In this case, the transparent conductive film 60 ′ is formed with a uniform thickness, and the surface height is not constant due to the step in the region where the opening 50 is formed.
A photosensitive film 80 ′ is applied on the transparent conductive film 60 ′. The photosensitive film 80 ′ is applied by a spin coating method. In this case, the surface of the photosensitive film 80 ′ is generally flat regardless of the height of the transparent conductive film 60 ′, and the thickness of each region is not constant. .

  Exposure to the photosensitive film 80 'is performed. The case where the photosensitive film 80 ′ is a positive type will be described as an example. In the above-described exposure, the photosensitive film 80 ′ in the region corresponding to the portion removed by the transparent conductive film 60 ′ is exposed. In this exposed area, the intensity of light (indicated as an arrow) reaching the photosensitive film 80 ′ is constant, but the thickness of the photosensitive film 80 ′ in the area is not constant. Therefore, light may not reach the bottom surface of the photosensitive film 80 ′ in the exposed area where the thickness of the photosensitive film 80 ′ is thick.

For example, the path that the light must reach on the region where the organic film 45 is formed corresponds to “L1”, and the path that the light must reach on the region where the opening 50 is formed is based on “L1”. It becomes long 'L2'.
As shown in FIG. 2C, a photosensitive film pattern 80 is formed by removing the exposed portion of the photosensitive film 80 ′ by development. The photosensitive film pattern 80 exposes a part of the storage electrode 20 and the transparent conductive film 60 ′ formed adjacent thereto.

In FIG. 2C, what is indicated by a dotted line is a portion where the light does not reach during exposure and the photosensitive film 80 ′ may partially remain unlike the setting.
As shown in FIG. 2D, the transparent conductive film 60 ′ is etched using the photosensitive film pattern 80 as an etching mask, thereby forming a pixel electrode 60 including first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 spaced apart from each other. During this etching, a recess 70 is formed, and the distance between the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 is widened to form the recess 70.

  In FIG. 2D, what is displayed as a dotted line is that the light does not reach during exposure, and the photosensitive film 80 ′ is different from the setting, and part of the photosensitive film 80 ′ remains, so that the lower transparent conductive film 80 ′ remains. The good part is shown. This portion overlaps the region where the recess 70 is formed. Accordingly, when the recess 70 is not formed, the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 may be connected to each other to be electrically short-circuited. That is, when the pixel electrode 60 is formed, the recess 70 serves to prevent a process failure by blocking a short circuit between the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62.

FIG. 3A is a plan view of a display substrate according to another embodiment of the present invention.
The display substrate shown in FIG. 3A includes a substrate 1, a gate line 10, a data line 40, thin film transistors T1 and T2, and a pixel electrode 60. A plurality of gate lines 10 and data lines 40 are formed on the substrate 1 so as to cross each other. A plurality of pixel areas PA are defined while the plurality of gate lines 10 and the data lines 40 intersect. Since each of the plurality of pixel areas PA has the same structure, the following description will be made with reference to one pixel area PA.

  The pixel area PA is divided into a first area PA1 and a second area PA2, and the pixel electrode 60 includes a first pixel electrode 61 and a second pixel electrode 62 corresponding to the area division. The first pixel electrode 61 is located in the first area PA1, and the second pixel electrode 62 is arranged at a position separated from the first pixel electrode 61 in the second area PA2. A predetermined area of the first pixel electrode 61 is incised, and the pixel electrode 60 has an incised part pattern 65 as a spacing between the incised part and the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62. become.

A voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 60, and different voltages are applied to the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 in order to compensate for operating characteristics. For this purpose, a first thin film transistor T1 and a second thin film transistor T2 are provided so as to correspond to the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62, respectively.
The first thin film transistor T1 includes a first gate electrode 11g, a first source electrode 41s, and a first drain electrode 41d. The first gate electrode 11g is formed to be branched from the first gate line 11. The first source electrode 41 s is branched from the data line 40. The first drain electrode 41d is formed to be separated from the first source electrode 41s and is electrically connected to the first pixel electrode 61 through the first contact hole h1.

  The second thin film transistor T2 includes a second gate electrode 12g, a second source electrode 42s, and a second drain electrode 42d. The second gate electrode 12g is branched from the second gate line 12. The second source electrode 42 s is branched from the data line 40. The second drain electrode 42d is separated from the second source electrode 42s, and is electrically connected to the second pixel electrode 62 through the second contact hole h2.

  A storage electrode 20 is formed at the center of the pixel area PA. The storage electrode 20 is integrally formed over the first pixel area PA1 and the second pixel area PA2. A transparent insulating film pattern (see reference numeral 50 in FIG. 3B) is formed on the storage electrode 20 to cover the entire surface of the substrate 1. Openings 51 and 52 are formed in the transparent insulating film pattern. The openings 51 and 52 include a first opening 51 formed on the storage electrode 20 in the first area PA1 and a second opening 52 formed on the storage electrode 20 in the second area PA2. The transparent insulating film pattern covers the storage electrode 20 in a predetermined region including the boundary between the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 except for the region where the openings 51 and 52 are formed.

3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III ′ of FIG. 3A.
As shown in FIG. 3B, a first gate electrode 11g, a storage electrode 20, and a second gate electrode 12g are formed in predetermined regions on the substrate 1 so as to be separated from each other. A gate insulating film 21 is formed on the first gate electrode 11g, the storage electrode 20, and the second gate electrode 12g so as to cover the entire surface of the substrate 1.

  A first semiconductor pattern 31, a first source electrode 41s, and a first drain electrode 41d are formed on the gate insulating film 21 so as to cover the first gate electrode 11g, and a first thin film transistor T1 is formed therethrough. ing. The first semiconductor pattern 31 includes a first active pattern 31a and a first ohmic contact pattern 31b on the first active pattern 31a. The first ohmic contact pattern 31b extends along the first source electrode 41s and the first drain electrode 41d. So as to be separated from each other.

  A second semiconductor pattern 32, a second source electrode 42s, and a second drain electrode 42d are formed on the gate insulating film 21 so as to cover the second gate electrode 12g, and a second thin film transistor T2 is formed through these. Has been. The second semiconductor pattern 32 includes a second active pattern 32a and a second ohmic contact pattern 32b on the second active pattern 32a. The second ohmic contact pattern 32b is formed along the second source electrode 42s and the second drain electrode 42d. It is formed so as to be separated between them.

  A protective film 43 is formed on the first thin film transistor T <b> 1 and the second thin film transistor T <b> 2 so as to cover the entire surface of the substrate 1, and a transparent insulating film pattern 50 is formed on the protective film 43. The protective film 43 and the transparent insulating film pattern 50 have first and second contact holes h1 and h2. A predetermined region of the first drain electrode 41d is exposed through the first contact hole h1, and a predetermined region of the second drain electrode 42d is exposed through the second contact hole h2.

  A pixel electrode 60 is formed on the transparent insulating film pattern 50. The first pixel electrode 61 is formed in the first region PA1 and is electrically connected to the first thin film transistor T1. The second pixel electrode 62 is formed in the second region PA2 and is electrically connected to the second thin film transistor T2. The first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 form a boundary at a portion covered with the transparent insulating film pattern 50 on the storage electrode 20.

  A storage capacitor is formed by the storage electrode 20 and the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 and the gate insulating film 21 and the protective film 43 therebetween. The transparent insulating film pattern 50 is formed to be thick with a thickness of several micrometers, and the transparent insulating film pattern 50 is removed in a region where the openings 51 and 52 are formed, so that the storage electrode 20 and the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 are formed. The separation distance between is reduced. As a result, the capacitance of the storage capacitor is increased and the operating characteristics can be improved.

However, a portion of the storage electrode 20 is covered with the transparent insulating film pattern 50, which prevents the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 from being electrically short-circuited with each other. belongs to.
A detailed description thereof will be described below through a method for manufacturing a display substrate having the above structure.

4A to 4G are cross-sectional views illustrating a method for manufacturing the display substrate of FIG. 3B.
As shown in FIG. 4A, after forming a gate conductive film on the substrate 1, it is patterned to form a first gate electrode 11g, a storage electrode 20, and a second gate electrode 12g. The gate conductive film can be formed by vapor deposition of copper, aluminum, silver, chromium series metals, or alloys thereof, and the gate conductive film can be etched by a wet etching method using an etchant.

As shown in FIG. 4B, a gate insulating film 21 is formed on the first gate electrode 11g, the storage electrode 20, and the second gate electrode 12g. The gate insulating film 21 can be formed of an inorganic compound such as a silicon nitride film so as to cover the entire surface of the substrate 1 using a plasma chemical vapor deposition method.
Thereafter, a semiconductor film 30 ′ and a data conductive film 40 ′ are formed on the gate insulating film 21. The semiconductor film 30 ′ is an amorphous silicon film and can be formed so as to cover the entire surface of the substrate 1 by using plasma chemical vapor deposition. The semiconductor film 30 ′ includes an active film 30a ′ and an upper ohmic contact film 30b ′. The ohmic contact film 30b ′ contains impurity ions. The data conductive film 40 ′ can be formed by the same method as the gate conductive film.

A first photoresist pattern 91 is formed on the data conductive layer 40 '. The first photosensitive film pattern 91 may be formed by coating a photosensitive film of a photoresist component on the data conductive film 40 ′, and then exposing and developing the photoresist film.
The first photosensitive film pattern 91 has a different thickness depending on the position. The first photosensitive film pattern 91 has a first thickness t1 on the first and second gate electrodes 11g and 12g. The first photosensitive film pattern 91 has a first thickness in an end portion of the first and second gate electrodes 11g and 12g and a region in contact therewith. The second thickness t2 is greater than the thickness t1. The data conductive layer 40 ′ formed on the storage electrode 20 is exposed by the first photoresist pattern 91.

  As described above, a slit mask or a halftone mask is used as a photomask when exposing the photosensitive film so as to have different thicknesses for each region. The slit mask or the halftone mask has an intermediate projection area in addition to the projection area and the non-projection area. In the intermediate light projecting region, a part of the light is transmitted and the photosensitive film is exposed by adjusting a slit interval or using a material having an intermediate tone. When the photosensitive film is a positive type, a pattern having an intermediate thickness of the entire photosensitive film can be formed at a portion corresponding to the intermediate light projection region.

  Referring to FIG. 4C, the data conductive layer 40 ′ and the semiconductor layer 30 ′ are etched using the first photoresist pattern 91 as an etching mask. The data conductive film 40 ′ can be etched in the same way as the gate conductive film, resulting in the formation of the data conductive film pattern 40 ″. Next, the preliminary semiconductor film pattern 30 is formed by etching the semiconductor film 30 ′. ”. The spare semiconductor film pattern 30 ″ includes a spare active pattern 30a ″ and a spare ohmic contact pattern 30b ″. The spare semiconductor film pattern 30 ″ and the data conductive film pattern 40 ″ are formed in the same pattern and are mutually connected on a plane. Superimpose on.

The second photosensitive film pattern 92 is formed by uniformly removing the first photosensitive film pattern 91 by the first thickness t1. The second photosensitive film pattern 92 has a thickness corresponding to the difference between the second thickness t2 and the first thickness t1, and the data conductive film pattern 40 ″ covering the first and second gate electrodes 11g and 12g is formed. Exposed.
4D, the data conductive layer pattern 40 ″ is etched using the second photoresist layer pattern 92 as an etching mask. As a result, the first source electrode 41s and the first drain electrode 41d are formed on the first gate electrode 11g. The second source electrode 42s and the second drain electrode 42d are formed on the second gate electrode 12g. The spare semiconductor film pattern 30 ″ is etched again to form the first semiconductor pattern 31 and the second semiconductor pattern. 32. When the etching is performed again, a first ohmic contact pattern 31b separated from the first semiconductor pattern 31 into two parts is formed, and a second ohmic contact pattern 32b separated from the second semiconductor pattern 32 into two parts is formed. Is done.

  Thus, the first and second semiconductor patterns 31 and 32 are formed to complete the first thin film transistor T1 and the second thin film transistor T2, respectively. When the first and second thin film transistors T1 and T2 are completed, the first and second semiconductor patterns 31 and 32, the first and second source electrodes 41s and 42s, and the first and second drain electrodes 41d and 42d are the same. It can be formed using a photomask, resulting in a reduction in process procedures and resulting costs.

As shown in FIG. 4E, a protective film 43 and a transparent insulating film pattern 50 are formed on the first thin film transistor T1 and the second thin film transistor T2. The protective film 43 can be formed by the same method as the gate insulating film 21. The transparent insulating film pattern 50 can be formed by applying an organic film, for example, an acrylic resin, and then patterning it.
The protective film 43 and the transparent insulating film pattern 50 are patterned to have the first and second contact holes h1 and h2. The transparent insulating film pattern 50 is patterned on the storage electrode 20 so as to have the first and second openings 51 and 52.

  The protective film 43 and the transparent insulating film pattern 50 can be formed using the same photomask as follows. That is, after the protective film 43 and the organic film are applied, photolithography and development processes are performed, and transparent insulation is performed so that the protective film 43 is exposed in regions where the first and second contact holes h1 and h2 are formed. The entire thickness of the film is removed, and in the region where the first and second openings 51 and 52 on the storage electrode 20 are formed, the transparent insulating film remains at a predetermined thickness so that the protective film 43 is not exposed. Like that. Thereafter, when dry etching is performed, the exposed protective film 43 is removed, and the first and second contact holes h1 and h2 are formed. At the same time, openings 51 and 52 are formed by removing the transparent insulating film remaining on the storage electrode 20 with a predetermined thickness.

As shown in FIG. 4F, a transparent conductive film 60 ′ is formed on the transparent insulating film pattern 50. The transparent conductive film 60 ′ can be formed by vapor deposition by sputtering, and since the transparent conductive film 160 ′ is formed with a uniform thickness at the time of vapor deposition, the surface height is not constant.
A photosensitive film 93 ′ is applied on the transparent conductive film 60 ′. The photosensitive film 93 ′ can be applied by a spin coating method, and the photosensitive film 93 ′ can be formed almost flat regardless of the surface height of the transparent conductive film 60 ′. As a result, the thickness of the photosensitive film 93 ′ is not constant for each region.

  Exposure to the photosensitive film 93 'is performed. When the photosensitive film 93 ′ is a positive type, the photosensitive film 93 ′ corresponding to the portion removed by the transparent conductive film 60 ′ is exposed. In this exposed area, the intensity of light (indicated as an arrow) reaching the photosensitive film 93 ′ is constant, but the thickness of the photosensitive film 93 ′ in the corresponding area is not constant. Therefore, light can be prevented from reaching the bottom surface of the photosensitive film 93 ′ in an area where the photosensitive film 93 ′ is thick among the exposed areas.

For example, the light path in the region covered by the transparent insulating film pattern 50 on the storage electrode 20 reaches “L1”. If an opening is provided in the transparent insulating film pattern 50 in this region, it is necessary to reach a position where the light path increases by “L2”.
As shown in FIG. 4G, the exposed portion of the photosensitive film 93 ′ is removed by a development process, and the transparent conductive film 60 ′ is etched using the remaining portion as an etching mask to form the pixel electrode 60. The pixel electrode 60 includes first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62, and the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 form a boundary on the storage electrode 20 and are separated from each other.

  However, as shown in FIG. 4F, in the exposed region of the photosensitive film 93 ′, light does not reach the bottom surface of the photosensitive film 93 ′ in a thick region, and a part of the photosensitive film 93 ′ is exposed. May remain. Thus, in the region where the photosensitive film 93 ′ remains, the transparent conductive film 60 ′ below it remains. If the transparent insulating film pattern 50 on the storage electrode 20 is completely opened, the photosensitive film 93 ′ is not completely exposed in the corresponding region, and the transparent conductive film 60 ′ remains.

In the above case, the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 may be electrically short-circuited during etching. In the present embodiment, the storage electrode 20 covers the predetermined region corresponding to the boundary between the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 with the transparent insulating film pattern 50, whereby the first and second pixel electrodes 61 and 62 are formed. Prevents electrical short circuit between each other.
On the other hand, the size of the region where the transparent insulating film pattern 50 covers the storage electrode 20 can be further reduced within the range where the short circuit does not occur. In this case, the capacitance of the storage capacitor is further improved, and the operating characteristics can be improved. Specifically, the thickness of the transparent insulating film pattern 50 is slightly reduced in the region to be covered, or the transparent insulating film pattern 50 is inclined slowly along the first and second openings 51 and 52 in the corresponding region. There are various proposals to form, and these can be applied as appropriate.

In the following, a liquid crystal display device which is one of display devices using the display substrate as described above will be described from an exemplary viewpoint.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an equivalent circuit diagram for two subpixels of the liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 5, a liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid crystal panel assembly 700, a gate driver 400 and a data driver 500 connected thereto, and a data driver. A gray voltage generator 800 connected to the unit 500 and a signal controller 600 for controlling them are included.

In an equivalent circuit, the liquid crystal panel assembly 700 includes a plurality of signal lines (not shown) and a plurality of pixels PX connected to the signal lines and arranged in a matrix form. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 6, the liquid crystal panel assembly 700 includes lower and upper display panels 100 and 200 facing each other and a liquid crystal layer 300 in which liquid crystals interposed therebetween are arranged.
The signal line includes a plurality of gate lines (not shown) for transmitting gate signals (also referred to as “scanning signals”) and a plurality of data lines (not shown) for transmitting data signals. The gate lines extend in the row direction and are substantially parallel to each other, and the data lines extend in the column direction and are substantially parallel to each other.

Each pixel PX includes a pair of subpixels, and each subpixel includes liquid crystal capacitors Clca and Clcb. At least one of the two sub-pixels includes a switching element (not shown) connected to the gate line, the data line, and the liquid crystal capacitors Clca and Clcb.
The liquid crystal capacitor Clca / Clcb has the sub-pixel electrode PEa / PEb of the lower display panel 100 and the common electrode CE of the upper display panel 200 as two terminals, and the liquid crystal layer 300 between the sub-pixel electrode PEa / PEb and the common electrode CE is Functions as a dielectric. The pair of subpixel electrodes PEa and PEb are separated from each other and form one pixel electrode PE. The common electrode CE is formed on the entire surface of the upper display panel 200, and a common voltage Vcom is applied. The liquid crystal layer 300 has a negative dielectric anisotropy, and the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 300 are aligned so that the major axis is perpendicular to the surfaces of the lower and upper display panels 100 and 200 in the absence of an electric field. can do.

  On the other hand, in order to realize color display, each pixel PX displays a basic color alternately according to time, a spatial division method in which each pixel PX inherently displays one of the primary colors. A desired hue is recognized using a time division method or the like. As examples of basic colors, three primary colors of red, green, and blue light can be used. FIG. 6 shows a case where each pixel PX includes a color filter CF indicating one of the basic colors in the area of the upper display panel 200 as an example of space division. Unlike FIG. 6, the color filter CF may be formed on or below the sub-pixel electrodes PEa and PEb of the lower display panel 100.

Polarizers (not shown) may be attached to the outer surfaces of the display panels 100 and 200, respectively, so that the polarization axes of the two polarizers are orthogonal to each other. In this case, when an electric field is not formed, light incident on the liquid crystal layer 300 is not transmitted to the outside. In the case of a reflective liquid crystal display device, one of the two polarizers can be omitted.
As shown in FIG. 5, the gradation voltage generation unit 800 generates a plurality of gradation voltages (or reference gradation voltages) related to the transmittance of the pixel PX.

The gate driver 400 is connected to the gate line of the liquid crystal panel assembly 700 and applies a gate signal Vg, which is a combination of a gate-on voltage Von and a gate-off voltage Voff, to the gate line.
The data driver 500 is connected to the data line of the liquid crystal panel assembly 700, selects the gray voltage from the gray voltage generator 800, and applies it to the data line as a data signal. The gray voltage generator 800 does not provide voltages for all gray levels, but provides only a predetermined number of reference gray voltages, and the data driver 500 provides the reference gray level provided from the gray voltage generator 800. The voltage may be divided to generate gradation voltages for all gradations, and a data signal may be selected from these.

The signal controller 600 controls the gate driver 400 and the data driver 500.
Each of the driving devices 400, 500, 600, and 800 can be directly mounted on the liquid crystal panel assembly 700 in the form of at least one integrated circuit chip, and an FPC film (flexible printed circuit film) (illustrated). Can be attached to the liquid crystal panel assembly 700 in the form of a TCP (tape carrier package), or can be mounted on a separate printed circuit board (not shown). You can also In contrast, the driving devices 400, 500, 600, and 800 can be integrated in the liquid crystal panel assembly 700. Further, the driving devices 400, 500, 600, and 800 can be configured to be integrated on a single chip, and at least one of them or at least one circuit element that forms them is arranged outside the single chip. You can also

Next, a liquid crystal panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 to 13C and FIGS. 5 and 6 described above.
FIG. 7 is an equivalent circuit diagram for one pixel of the liquid crystal panel assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 7, in one pixel in this embodiment, a signal line including a plurality of pairs of gate lines GLa and GLb, a plurality of data lines DL and a plurality of storage lines SL, and a plurality of signal lines connected thereto are provided. A pixel PX is provided.

  Each pixel PX includes a pair of subpixels PXa and PXb, and each subpixel PXa and PXb is connected to switching elements Qa and Qb connected to the corresponding gate lines GLa and GLb and data lines DL, respectively. Liquid crystal capacitors Clca and Clcb, and switching elements Qa and Qb and storage capacitors Csta and Cstb connected to SL in the storage electrodes.

Each switching element Qa, Qb is a three-terminal element such as a thin film transistor provided on the lower display panel 100, its control terminal is connected to the gate lines GLa, GLb, and its input terminal is connected to the data line DL. The output terminals are connected to the liquid crystal capacitors Clca and Clcb and the storage capacitors Csta and Cstb.
The storage capacitors Csta and Cstb, which play an auxiliary role for the liquid crystal capacitors Clca and Clcb, are arranged such that the storage electrode line SL and the pixel electrode PE provided on the lower display panel 100 overlap with each other with an insulator therebetween. A predetermined voltage such as the common voltage Vcom is applied to the electrode line SL. However, the storage capacitors Csta and Cstb can be arranged so that the sub-pixel electrodes PEa and PEb overlap with the immediately preceding front-end gate line through an insulator.

Since the liquid crystal capacitors Clca, Clcb and the like have been described above, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
In the liquid crystal display device including such a liquid crystal panel assembly, the signal control unit 600 receives the input video signals R, G, and B for one pixel PX and outputs the output video signals DAT for the two subpixels PXa and PXb. It can be converted and sent to the data driver 500. In contrast, the gray voltage generator 800 separately generates a gray voltage set for the two sub-pixels PXa and PXb and supplies the gray voltage sets to the data driver 500 alternately, or the data driver 500 By selecting alternately, different voltages can be applied to the two subpixels PXa and PXb. However, at this time, it is preferable to correct the video signal so that the combined gamma curve of the two sub-pixels PXa and PXb is close to the reference gamma curve in the front, or to create a gradation voltage set. For example, the composite gamma curve at the front should match the reference gamma curve at the front determined to be optimal for the liquid crystal panel assembly, and the composite gamma curve at the side is the reference gamma curve at the front. Try to be the closest.

An example of the liquid crystal panel assembly shown in FIG. 7 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11 and FIG. 7 described above.
FIG. 8 is a layout view of a liquid crystal panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 9 to 11 illustrate the liquid crystal panel assembly shown in FIG. 8 as IV-IV ′, VV ′, and FIG. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along VI-VI 'line.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the liquid crystal panel assembly according to the present embodiment includes a lower display panel 100 and an upper display panel 200 facing each other, and a liquid crystal layer 300 interposed between the display panels 100 and 200. .
First, the lower display panel 100 will be described.
A plurality of pairs of first and second gate lines 121a and 121b and a plurality of storage electrode lines (storage) are formed on an insulating substrate 110 made of transparent glass or plastic.
A plurality of gate conductors including electrode lines 131 are formed.

The first and second gate lines 121a and 121b transmit a gate signal and extend mainly in the horizontal direction in the drawing, and are located on the upper side and the lower side of the pixel, respectively.
The first gate line 121a includes a plurality of first gate electrodes (gate) protruding downward in the drawing.
electrode) 124a and an end portion 129a having a wide width for connection to a different layer or gate driver 400. The second gate line 121b includes a plurality of second gate electrodes 124b protruding upward in the figure and an end portion 129b formed to have a wide width for connection to a different layer or gate driving unit 400. When the gate driver 400 is integrated on the substrate 110, the gate lines 121a and 121b can be extended and directly connected thereto.

  A predetermined voltage such as a common voltage Vcom is applied to the storage electrode line 131 and extends mainly in the horizontal direction in the figure. The storage electrode line 131 is located between the first gate line 121a and the second gate line 121b, respectively. Each storage electrode line 131 includes a plurality of storage electrodes 137 whose width is expanded in the vertical direction in the drawing. However, the shape and arrangement of the storage electrode line 131 including the storage electrode 137 can be modified into various forms.

  The gate conductors 121a, 121b, and 131 are aluminum series metals such as aluminum Al and aluminum alloys, silver series metals such as silver Ag and silver alloys, copper series metals such as copper Cu and copper alloys, molybdenum (Mo), molybdenum alloys, and the like. It can be formed of molybdenum series metals such as chromium (Cr), tantalum (Ta), titanium (Ti), and the like. However, they can also have a multi-layer structure including two conductive films (not shown) having different physical properties. Among these, one conductive film can be made of a metal having a low specific resistance so as to reduce signal delay and voltage drop, such as an aluminum series metal, a silver series metal, a copper series metal, or the like. In contrast, other conductive films have excellent physical, chemical and electrical contact properties with other materials, particularly zinc indium IZO and indium tin oxide ITO, such as molybdenum series metals, chromium, tantalum. It can be formed of titanium or the like. Examples of such combinations include a chromium lower film and an aluminum (alloy) upper film, and an aluminum (alloy) lower film and a molybdenum (alloy) upper film. However, the gate conductors 121a, 121b, and 131 can be formed of various other metals or conductors.

The side surfaces of the gate conductors 121a, 121b, and 131 are inclined with respect to the surface of the substrate 110, and the inclination angle is preferably about 30 ° to about 80 °.
A gate insulating layer 140 made of silicon nitride SiNx or silicon oxide SiOx is formed on the gate conductors 121a, 121b, and 131.

  A plurality of first and first layers made of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (hereinafter, abbreviated as a-Si) or polycrystalline silicon are formed on the gate insulating layer 140. Two-island semiconductors 154a and 154b are formed. The first and second island type semiconductors 154a and 154b are located on the first and second gate electrodes 124a and 124b, respectively.

  On the island-type semiconductors 154a and 154b, island-type resistive contact members 163a and 165a are formed. The resistive contact members 163a and 165a may be formed of a material such as n + hydrogenated amorphous silicon doped with an n-type impurity such as phosphorus at a high concentration, or may be formed of silicide. The first and second island-type resistive contact members 163a and 165a make a pair and are disposed on the island-type semiconductors 154a and 154b.

The side surfaces of the semiconductors 154a and 154b and the resistive contact members 163a and 165a are also inclined with respect to the surface of the substrate 110, and the gradient angle is about 30 ° to 80 °.
A data conductor including a plurality of data lines 171 and a plurality of pairs of first and second drain electrodes 175a and 175b is formed on the resistive contact members 163a and 165a and the gate insulating layer 140. ing.

The data line 171 transmits a data signal and normally extends in the vertical direction in the figure, and intersects the gate lines 121a and 121b and the storage electrode line 131. Each data line 171 is formed not to be a straight line but to be bent at least twice.
Each data line 171 has a plurality of pairs of first and second source electrodes 173a and 173b protruding toward the first and second gate electrodes 124a and 124b, respectively, and a different layer or data driver 500. And an end 179 with an expanded width for connection to the. When the data driver 500 is integrated on the substrate 110, the data line 171 can be extended and directly connected thereto.

The first and second drain electrodes 175a and 175b are separated from each other and are also separated from the data line 171.
The first and second drain electrodes 175a and 175b face the first and second source electrodes 173a and 173b around the first and second gate electrodes 124a and 124b, and the rod-shaped end portions are bent first and second. Partly surrounded by source electrodes 173a and 173b.

  The first and second gate electrodes 124a and 124b, the first and second source electrodes 173a and 173b, and the first and second drain electrodes 175a and 175b, together with the first and second semiconductors 154a and 154b, are first and second thin film transistors. thin film transistors (TFTs) Qa and Qb, and the channels of the first and second thin film transistors Qa and Qb are the first and second source electrodes 173a and 173b and the first and second drain electrodes 175a. , 175b between the first and second semiconductors 154a and 154b.

  The data conductors 171, 175a, and 175b are preferably formed of a refractory metal such as molybdenum, chromium, tantalum, and titanium, or an alloy thereof, and includes a refractory metal film (not shown) and a low-resistance conductive film (not shown). (Not shown). In the example of the multi-layer structure, a chromium or molybdenum (alloy) lower film and an aluminum (alloy) upper film double film, a molybdenum (alloy) lower film, an aluminum (alloy) intermediate film, and a molybdenum (alloy) upper film triple film It can be. However, the data conductors 171, 175a, 175b may be made of various other metals or conductors.

The side surfaces of the data conductors 171, 175 a, and 175 b are preferably inclined at a gradient angle of about 30 ° to 80 ° with respect to the surface of the substrate 110.
The resistive contact members 163a and 165a are present only between the semiconductors 154a and 154b below and the data conductors 171, 175a and 175b thereabove, and lower the contact resistance therebetween. The semiconductors 154a and 154b are exposed not only between the source electrode and the drain electrode but also not covered with the data conductors 171, 175a and 175b.

  A passivation layer 180 having a transparent insulating layer pattern is formed on the data conductors 171, 175 a and 175 b and the exposed portions of the semiconductors 154 a and 154 b. The protective film 180 is formed of an inorganic insulator or an organic insulator, and can have a flat surface. The organic insulating material preferably has a dielectric constant of 4.0 or less, and a material having photosensitivity can also be used. However, the protective film 180 exhibits an excellent insulating property of the organic film, and can have a double film structure of the lower inorganic film and the upper organic film so as not to adversely affect the exposed portions of the semiconductors 154a and 154b. .

  A plurality of contact holes 182, 185 a, and 185 b exposing the end portion 179 of the data line 171 and one of the first and second drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b are formed in the passivation layer 180. A plurality of contact holes 181a and 181b exposing the end portions 129a and 129b of the gate lines 121a and 121b are formed in the protective film 180 and the gate insulating film 140, respectively. The protective film 180 has an opening 186 formed on the storage electrode 137.

A plurality of pixel electrodes 191 and a plurality of contact assistants 981a, 981b, and 982 are formed on the passivation layer 180. These can be formed of a transparent conductive material or a reflective metal such as aluminum, silver, chromium, or an alloy thereof.
Each pixel electrode 191 includes a pair of first and second subpixel electrodes 191a and 191b which are separated from each other.

The first subpixel electrode 191a is connected to the first drain electrode 175a through the contact hole 185a, and the second subpixel electrode 191b is connected to the second drain electrode 175b through the contact hole 185b.
The pixel electrode 191 overlaps with the data line 171 with the protective film 180 interposed therebetween. One data line 171 entirely overlaps with the adjacent pixel electrode 191.

Next, referring to FIGS. 12, 13A, 13B, and 13C, a detailed structure of the pixel electrode of the liquid crystal panel assembly will be described.
FIG. 12 is a schematic layout diagram of one pixel electrode in a liquid crystal panel assembly according to various embodiments of the present invention, and FIGS. 13A to 13C are electrodes serving as the basis of each sub-pixel electrode shown in FIG. It is a top view of a piece.

  As shown in FIG. 12, each pixel electrode 191 of the liquid crystal panel assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of first and second sub-pixel electrodes 191a and 191b that are separated from each other. It is out. The first subpixel electrode 191a and the second subpixel electrode 191b are adjacent to each other in the row direction and have cutouts 991a and 991b. The common electrode 270 (see FIG. 6) has cutout portions 971a and 971b facing the first and second subpixel electrodes 191a and 191b.

  Each of the first and second subpixel electrodes 191a and 191b includes at least one of the parallelogram electrode pieces 196 shown in FIG. 13A and one of the parallelogram electrode pieces 197 shown in FIG. 13B. . If the electrode pieces 196 and 197 shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B are connected vertically, the basic electrode 198 shown in FIG. 13C is obtained, and the sub-pixel electrodes 191a and 191b have a structure based on the basic electrode 198. .

  As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, each of the electrode pieces 196 and 197 has a pair of oblique edges 196o and 197o and a pair of transverse edges 196t and 197t, and substantially parallel four sides. It is a shape. Each hypotenuse 196o, 197o forms an oblique angle with respect to the lateral sides 196t, 197t, and the magnitude of the bevel is preferably approximately 45 ° to 135 °. For convenience, the case where the horizontal sides 196t and 197t are divided by the direction inclined in the vertical state ("inclination direction") and inclined to the right side as shown in FIG. 13A is called "right inclination", as shown in FIG. 13B. The case of tilting left is called “left tilt”.

  In the electrode pieces 196, 197, the lengths of the lateral sides 196 t, 197 t, that is, the distance between the width W and the lateral sides 196 t, 197 t, that is, the height H can be freely set according to the size of the display panel assembly 700. I can decide. Further, in each electrode piece 196, 197, the lateral sides 196t, 197t may be deformed such as being folded or popped in consideration of the relationship with other parts, so that all such modifications are referred to as a parallelogram. .

  The common electrode 270 is formed with incisions 961 and 962 facing the electrode pieces 196 and 197. The electrode pieces 196 and 197 are divided into two sub-regions S1 and S2 with the incisions 961 and 962 as the center. The incisions 961, 962 have at least one notch. The incisions 961 and 962 are oblique lines 961o and 962o formed in parallel with the oblique sides 196o and 197o of the electrode pieces 196 and 197, and lateral sides 196t and 197t of the electrode pieces 196 and 197 while forming an obtuse angle with the oblique lines 961o and 962o. And horizontal portions 961t and 962t that overlap.

Each of the sub-regions S1 and S2 has two primary edges defined by the hatched portions 961o and 962o of the incisions 961 and 962 and the oblique sides 196t and 197t of the electrode pieces 196 and 197. The distance between the main sides, that is, the width of the sub-region is preferably about 25 to 40 μm.
The basic electrode 198 shown in FIG. 13C is configured by combining a right inclined electrode piece 196 and a left inclined electrode piece 197. It is desirable that the angle of the right inclined electrode piece 196 and the left inclined electrode piece 197 is substantially a right angle, and the two electrode pieces 196 and 197 are connected only by a part. The unconnected portion constitutes the incision 990 and is formed on the recessed side of the bent portion of the basic electrode 198. Such an incision 990 can be omitted.

The lateral sides 196t and 197t located on the outer side of the two connected electrode pieces 196 and 197 (located at the upper and lower ends in the figure) constitute the lateral side 198t of the basic electrode 198, and the two electrode pieces 196 and 197 The corresponding hypotenuses 196o, 197o are connected to each other to form the curved edges 198o1, 198o2 of the basic electrode 198.
The bent sides 198o1 and 198o2 are connected to a convex side (convex edge) 198o1 which forms an obtuse angle with the lateral side 198t, for example about 135 °, and a concave side which forms an acute angle, for example, about 45 ° with the side 198t. concavity edge) 198o2. The bent sides 198o1 and 198o2 are connected so that the pair of oblique sides 196o and 197o form a substantially right angle.

The incision 960 can be configured to extend from the concave vertex CV on the concave side 198o2 to the center of the basic electrode 198 toward the convex vertex VV on the convex side 198o1.
Further, the incisions 961 and 962 of the common electrode 270 are connected to each other to form one incision 960. At this time, the horizontal portions 961t and 962t that overlap at the incisions 961 and 962 integrally constitute one horizontal portion 960t1. This new form of incision 960 can be described as follows.

  The incision part 960 includes a bending part 960o having a bending point CP, a central horizontal part 960t1 connected to the bending point CP of the bending part 960o, and a pair of longitudinal horizontal parts 960t2 connected to both ends of the bending part 960o. . The bent portion 960o of the incision portion 960 includes a pair of oblique line portions that are connected at right angles, is substantially parallel to the bent sides 198o1 and 198o2 of the basic electrode 198, and bisects the basic electrode 198 into a left side portion and a right side portion. A central horizontal portion 960t1 of the incision portion 960 forms an obtuse angle with the bent portion 960o, for example, about 135 °, and extends substantially toward the convex vertex VV of the basic electrode 198. The vertical transverse portion 960t2 is aligned with the lateral side 198t of the basic electrode 198, and forms an obtuse angle, for example, about 135 ° with the bent portion 960o.

The basic electrode 198 and the incision 960 are substantially inversion symmetric with respect to a virtual straight line (referred to as a “lateral center line”) connecting the convex vertex VV and the concave vertex CV of the basic electrode 198.
In each pixel electrode 191 shown in FIG. 12, the size of the first subpixel electrode 191a is smaller than the size of the second subpixel electrode 191b. In particular, the height of the second subpixel electrode 191b (the vertical size in the figure: hereinafter referred to as height) is larger than the height of the first subpixel electrode 191a, and the width of both subpixel electrodes 191b (the pixel electrodes are The width of the electrode pieces in the left-right direction) is substantially the same. The number of electrode pieces of the second subpixel electrode 191b is larger than the number of electrode pieces of the first subpixel electrode 191b.

The first subpixel electrode 191a includes a left inclined electrode piece 197 and a right inclined electrode piece 196, and has substantially the same structure as the basic electrode 198 shown in FIG. 13C.
The second subpixel electrode 191b includes a combination of two or more left inclined electrode pieces 197 and two or more right inclined electrode pieces 196, and includes a basic electrode 198 shown in FIG. 13C and a left inclined and right inclined. Electrode pieces 196 and 197 are included.

  The second subpixel electrode 191b shown in FIG. 12 includes a total of six electrode pieces 191b1 to 191b6, and two electrode pieces 191b5 and 191b6 are disposed above and below the first subpixel electrode 191a. The pixel electrode 191b has a three-folded structure, and an image with a better image quality is displayed in the vertical direction than the one-diffracted structure. Further, at the positions where the electrode pieces 191a1 and 191a2 of the first subpixel electrode 191a and the electrode pieces 191b5 and 191b6 of the second subpixel electrode 191b are adjacent to each other, the horizontal portions 961t and 962t of the cutout portions 961 and 962 of the common electrode 270 are integrated. Since one horizontal portion is formed, the aperture ratio is further increased.

  The heights of the intermediate electrode pieces 191a1, 191a2, 191b1, 191b2 and the electrode pieces 191b3 to 191b6 arranged above and below are different from each other. For example, the height of the upper and lower electrode pieces 191b3 to 191b6 is about ½ of the intermediate electrode pieces 191a1, 191a2, 191b1, and 191b2, so that the area ratio of the first subpixel electrode 191a and the second subpixel electrode 191b is almost equal. 1: 2. Thus, a desired area ratio can be obtained by adjusting the height of the upper and lower electrode pieces 191b3 to 191b6.

In FIG. 12, it is possible to change the positional relationship and broken direction of the first and second subpixel electrodes 191a and 191b, and the pixel electrode 191 shown in FIG. Can be deformed.
As shown in FIGS. 8 to 13C, the first and second sub-pixel electrodes 191a and 191b and the common electrode 270 of the upper display panel 200 have first and second liquid crystal capacitors Clca and Clcb, respectively, together with the liquid crystal layer 300 portion therebetween. And the applied voltage is maintained even after the thin film transistors Qa and Qb are turned off.

  The first and second subpixel electrodes 191a and 191b are formed of first and second storage capacitors Csta and Cstb, respectively, overlapping with the storage electrode 137 with the gate insulating film 140 interposed therebetween, and the first and second storage capacitors Csta. , Cstb enhances the voltage maintaining capability of the first and second liquid crystal capacitors Clca, Clcb. At this time, since the opening 186 is formed in the protective film 180, only the gate insulating film 140 exists between the pixel electrode 191 and the storage electrode 137, and between the pixel electrode 191 and the storage electrode line 131. Since the distance is shortened, the voltage maintaining ability is improved.

  The contact assistants 981a, 981b, and 982 are connected to the end portions 129a and 129b of the gate lines 121a and 121b and the end portion 179 of the data line 171 through the contact holes 181a, 181b, and 182 respectively. The contact assistants 981a, 981b, and 982 reinforce the adhesion between the end portions 129a and 129b of the gate lines 121a and 121b and the end portion 179 of the data line 171 and the external device to protect them.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a cross-sectional structure of the upper display panel 200 will be described.
A light blocking member 220 is formed on an insulating substrate 210 made of transparent glass or plastic. The light shielding member 220 covers a portion corresponding to the boundary of the pixel electrode 191 and a portion corresponding to the thin film transistor, prevents light leakage between the pixel electrodes 191, and defines an opening region facing the pixel electrode 191.

A plurality of color filters 230 are further formed on the substrate 210 and the light shielding member 220. Most of the color filter 230 exists in a region surrounded by the light shielding member 220 and is extended along the column direction of the pixel electrodes 191. Each color filter 230 can display one of the three primary colors red, green and blue.
An overcoat 250 is formed on the color filter 230 and the light blocking member 220. The overcoat 250 can be formed of an (organic) insulator, which prevents the color filter 230 from being exposed and provides a flat surface. The overcoat 250 can be omitted.

A common electrode 270 is formed on the overcoat 250.
A plurality of incisions 971a and 971b are formed in the common electrode 270.
Alignment layers 911 and 921 are formed on the inner side surfaces of the display panels 100 and 200, which can be vertical alignment layers.
Polarizers 912 and 922 are provided on the outer surfaces of the display panels 100 and 200. The polarization axes of the polarizers 912 and 922 are orthogonal to each other, and one of the polarization axes is the gate lines 121a and 121b. It is preferable that it is parallel to. In the case of a reflective liquid crystal display device, one of the two polarizers 912 and 922 can be omitted.

The liquid crystal display device may include polarizers 912 and 922, a phase retardation film, display panels 100 and 200, and an illumination unit (backlight unit: not shown) that supplies light to the liquid crystal layer 300.
The liquid crystal layer 300 has a negative dielectric anisotropy, and the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 300 are aligned so that the major axis thereof is perpendicular to the surfaces of the two display panels 100 and 200 in the absence of an electric field. ing.

Hereinafter, the operation of such a liquid crystal display device will be described in detail.
The signal controller 600 receives input video signals R, G, and B and input control signals for controlling the display from an external graphic controller (not shown), processes them according to the operating conditions of the liquid crystal panel assembly 700, After generating the gate control signal CONT1, the data control signal CONT2, etc., they are sent to the gate driver 400 and the data driver 500, respectively.

The gate driver 400 applies a gate-on voltage Von to the gate line according to the gate control signal CONT1 from the signal controller 600, and turns on the switching element connected to the gate line. Accordingly, the data signal applied to the data line is applied to the corresponding pixel PX through the turned on switching element.
At this time, the first sub-pixel electrode 191a and the second sub-pixel electrode 191b constituting one pixel electrode 191 are connected to separate switching elements, and the two sub-pixels are connected through the same data line at different times. A separate data voltage is applied. Meanwhile, the first subpixel electrode 191a and the second subpixel electrode 191b are connected to separate switching elements, and different data voltages can be applied through different data lines at the same time. In addition, when the first subpixel electrode 191a is connected to a switching element (not shown) and the second subpixel electrode 191b is capacitively coupled to the first subpixel electrode 191a, the first subpixel electrode A data voltage is applied to only the sub-pixel including the electrode 191a through the switching element, and a voltage changing according to a voltage change of the first sub-pixel electrode 191a is applied to the sub-pixel including the second sub-pixel electrode 191b. it can. At this time, the voltage of the first subpixel electrode 191a having a relatively small area is set higher than the voltage of the second subpixel electrode 191b having a relatively large area.

  The difference between the voltage of the data signal applied to the pixel PX and the common voltage Vcom is shown as the charging voltage of the liquid crystal capacitor, that is, the pixel voltage. The arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules differs depending on the magnitude of the pixel voltage, and this changes the polarization of light passing through the liquid crystal layer 300. Such a change in polarization is indicated as a change in light transmittance by a polarizer attached to the display panel assembly 300, and through this, the pixel PX displays a luminance indicating the gradation of the video signal DAT.

  The tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules varies depending on the strength of the electric field, and the voltages of the two liquid crystal capacitors Clca and Clcb are different from each other. Therefore, the tilt angles of the liquid crystal molecules are different, which causes the brightness of the two subpixels to be different. Accordingly, if the voltage of the first liquid crystal capacitor Clca and the voltage of the second liquid crystal capacitor Clcb are appropriately adjusted, the image seen from the side and the image seen from the front can be most approximated, that is, the side gamma curve and the front gamma curve Can be forbidden most, and thereby the side visibility can be improved.

Further, if the area of the first subpixel electrode 191a to which a high voltage is applied is made smaller than the area of the second subpixel electrode 191b, the side gamma curve can be further approximated to the front gamma curve. In particular, when the area ratio of the first and second subpixel electrodes 191a and 191b is about 1: 2 to 1: 3, the side gamma curve is approximated by the front gamma curve, and the side visibility is improved.
The inclination direction of the liquid crystal molecules is primarily determined by a horizontal component formed by the sides of the cut portions 971a and 971b of the electric field generating electrodes 191 and 270 and the subpixel electrodes 191a and 191b distorting the main electric field. Such a horizontal component of the main electric field is substantially perpendicular to the sides of the incisions 971a and 971b and the sides of the subpixel electrodes 191a and 191b.

Most of the liquid crystal molecules on the sub-region divided by the cutouts 971a and 971b are inclined in the vertical direction with respect to the periphery, so that the inclination directions are almost four directions. Thus, by making the inclination directions of the liquid crystal molecules diverse, the reference viewing angle of the liquid crystal display device is increased.
When a protrusion is formed on the common electrode 270 instead of the incisions 971a and 971b in the same region where the incisions 971a and 971b are formed, these protrusions act in the same manner as the incisions 971a and 971b. That is, the electric field is distorted by the protrusion, and the reference viewing angle of the liquid crystal display device can be increased.

  On the other hand, the direction of the secondary electric field generated secondary by the voltage difference between the subpixel electrodes 191a and 191b is perpendicular to the main side of the subregion. Therefore, the direction of the sub electric field is matched with the direction of the horizontal component of the main electric field. As a result, a sub electric field between the sub pixel electrodes 191a and 191b is provided to determine the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules.

  As described above, the cut-out portion of the common electrode 270 includes the central lateral portion 960t1, the bent portion 960o, and the longitudinal lateral portion 960t2. As shown in FIG. 8, when the central lateral portion 960 t 1 is positioned so as to completely overlap the storage electrode 137, the corresponding central lateral portion 960 t 1 may be formed as a pair separated along the edge of the storage electrode 137. it can. The central lateral portion 960t1 is located at a point where a pair of symmetrical hatched portions constituting the bent portion 960o contact each other. At the point where the shaded portion is in contact, the liquid crystal molecules are affected by both the right slope portion and the left slope portion of the shaded portion, and the arrangement direction is disturbed. The central horizontal portion 960t1 functions as a means for preventing the development as described above and controlling the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules.

  However, as shown in FIG. 9, in the region where the storage electrode 137 is formed, the separation distance from the common electrode 270 to the region where the opening 186 is formed increases. Therefore, the control function with respect to the liquid crystal molecules in the corresponding region is weakened, and there is a possibility that the central horizontal portion 960t1 cannot function normally. In order to prevent such a point, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the central lateral portion 960 t 1 positioned so as to overlap the region where the storage electrode 137 is formed is paired with the edge portion of the storage electrode 137. Form.

A liquid crystal panel assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 14 is a layout view showing a part of a liquid crystal panel assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.
The liquid crystal display panel assembly according to the present embodiment also includes a lower display panel (not shown) and an upper display board (not shown) facing each other, and a liquid crystal layer (not shown) interposed between the two display boards.

The vertical structure of the liquid crystal panel assembly according to the present embodiment is substantially similar to the layered structure of the liquid crystal panel assembly shown in FIGS. 8 to 13C, and detailed description of common parts is omitted.
Referring to the lower display panel, a plurality of gate conductors including a plurality of gate lines (not shown) and storage electrode lines 131 are formed on an insulating substrate (not shown). The storage electrode line 131 includes a storage electrode 137. A gate insulating film (not shown) is formed on the gate conductor. An island type semiconductor (not shown) is formed on the gate insulating film, and a plurality of resistive contact members (not shown) are formed thereon. A data conductor including a plurality of data lines 171 is formed on the resistive contact member and the gate insulating film. A protective film (not shown) having an opening 186 is formed on the data conductor 171 and the exposed semiconductor portion, and a plurality of contact holes (not shown) and openings are formed in the protective film and the gate insulating film. 186 is formed. A plurality of pixel electrodes 191 and a plurality of contact assisting members (not shown) are formed on the protective film.

Referring to the upper display panel, a light shielding member (not shown), a plurality of color filters (not shown), an overcoat (not shown), a common electrode (not shown) on an insulating substrate (not shown). And an alignment film (not shown).
The pixel electrode 191 is divided into a first subpixel 191al having a concave side and a second subpixel 191br having a convex side, and at least one concave portion 193a, 193b is formed at a corner of the concave side. The two concave portions 193a and 193b of the first subpixel 191al are formed along the side surface of the opening 186. As a result, a sufficient interval between the adjacent first and second subpixels 191al and 191br can be secured to prevent an electrical short circuit between the first and second subpixels 191al and 191br. .

  It is sufficient that at least one of the recesses 193a and 193b is formed, and there is no limitation on the shape and number of the recesses. However, since the recesses 193a and 193b can be formed by cutting a predetermined portion of the pixel electrode 191, as the means for controlling the direction of the liquid crystal molecules as in the central horizontal portion 960t1 of the common electrode 280 in the above-described embodiment. Can be used. In this case, it is preferable that a pair of recesses 193 a and 193 b are formed at the edge of the storage electrode 20 in the region overlapping with the storage electrode 137 based on the same principle as the central lateral portion 960 t 1.

A liquid crystal panel assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 15 is a layout view showing a part of a liquid crystal panel assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.
The liquid crystal panel assembly according to the present embodiment also includes a lower display panel (not shown) and an upper display board (not shown) facing each other, and a liquid crystal layer (not shown) interposed between the two display boards.

The vertical structure of the liquid crystal panel assembly according to the present embodiment is substantially similar to the layered structure of the liquid crystal panel assembly shown in FIGS. 8 to 13C, and detailed description of common parts is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 15, the first subpixel electrode 191al of the pixel electrode 191 arranged on the left side and the second subpixel electrode 191br of the pixel electrode 191 arranged on the right side are arranged adjacent to each other in the row direction. Has been. The first and second subpixel electrodes 191al and 191br have convex sides 194a and 194b, respectively. The first and second subpixel electrodes 191al and 191br have two sides 195a1, 195a2, 195b1 and 195b2 and concave sides 195a and 195b composed of vertical sides 195a3 and 195b3 connecting the two sides.

  The storage electrode line 131 is formed so as to cross the central portion of the pixel electrode 191. That is, the pixel electrode 191 is vertically symmetrical about the storage electrode line 131. One storage electrode 137 partially overlaps two adjacent pixel electrodes 191. More specifically, the storage electrode 137 overlaps the first subpixel electrode 191al of the pixel electrode 191 located on the left side and the second subpixel electrode 191br of the pixel electrode 191 located on the right side. The storage electrode 137 includes a first portion 137a that overlaps the first subpixel electrode 191al and a second portion 137b that overlaps the second subpixel electrode 191br.

  A protective film is formed between the storage electrode 137 and the pixel electrode 191. The protective film has a first opening 187a and a second opening 187b. The first opening 187a exposes the first portion 137a of the storage electrode 137, and the second opening 187b exposes the second portion 137b of the storage electrode 137. The first and second openings 186 and 187 are separated by a portion overlapping with the first subpixel electrode 191al and the second subpixel electrode 191br. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a short circuit between the first and second subpixel electrodes 191al and 191br from occurring at the stepped portion of the first and second openings 187a and 187b.

Of the vertices of the second opening 187b, two vertices close to the convex side of the second subpixel electrode 191br are chamfered, and the oblique side chamfered is parallel to the convex side of the second subpixel electrode 191br. . As a result, the capacity of the storage capacitor can be prevented from decreasing.
In addition, the display substrate includes a storage electrode, an insulating film pattern, a first pixel electrode, and a second pixel electrode. The storage electrode is formed over the first and second regions on a substrate having a first region and a second region. The insulating film pattern is formed on the storage electrode, has a first opening on the storage electrode in the first region, and has a second opening on the storage electrode in the second region. The first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are formed on the insulating film pattern and are positioned in the first and second regions, respectively.
Furthermore, in the display substrate, the first and second regions belong to different pixel regions.
Further, in the display substrate, the first and second regions belong to the same pixel region, and different voltages are applied to each other.
Furthermore, in the display substrate, the first and second pixel electrodes are inclined with respect to the length direction of the storage electrode, are symmetrical with respect to the axis in the length direction of the storage electrode, and are bent as a whole. Have
Furthermore, in the display substrate, in the direction in which the insulating film pattern has at least one of the first and second openings chamfered at at least one vertex, and the chamfered sides are in the mutual symmetry. It is parallel to any one of.
Furthermore, in the display substrate, the insulating film pattern includes an organic insulating film.
Furthermore, in the display substrate, the organic insulating film defines the first and second openings in each pixel region.
The other display substrate includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a liquid crystal layer in which liquid crystals are arranged between the first and second substrates, and a storage electrode formed on the first substrate. An insulating film pattern formed on the storage electrode and opened in a region where the storage electrode is formed; a pixel electrode formed on the insulating film pattern; and an array of the liquid crystal formed on the second substrate. A common electrode having direction control means for controlling the direction. In this display substrate, the direction control means is a set located at the edge of the storage electrode, parallel to the length direction of the storage electrode and symmetrical to each other.
Further, in the display substrate, the direction control means and the edge of the storage electrode overlap each other when viewed on a plane.
Further, in the display substrate, the direction control means is an incision pattern obtained by removing a part of the common electrode.
Further, in the display substrate, the direction control means is a protrusion formed on the common electrode.
Further, in the display substrate, the first substrate has a first region and a second region having a boundary in a region where the storage electrode is formed, and the direction control means has a boundary between the first and second regions. It is located away from
Further, in the display substrate, the pixel electrode includes a first pixel electrode located in the first region and a second pixel electrode located in the second region.
Furthermore, in the display substrate, at least one of the first and second pixel electrodes has at least one recess formed on the region where the storage electrode is formed.
Furthermore, in the display substrate, the insulating film pattern has a first opening on the storage electrode in the first region and a second opening on the storage electrode in the second region.
Further, in the display substrate, the first and second pixel electrodes have an inclination with respect to the length direction of the storage electrode, are symmetric about an axis in the length direction of the storage electrode, As a bent shape.
Furthermore, in the display substrate, the insulating film pattern includes an organic insulating film.
Further, in the display substrate, the organic insulating film defines the opening in each pixel region.
As described above, several embodiments have been seen from an illustrative viewpoint, but those skilled in the art having ordinary knowledge in the technical field concerned do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention described in the claims. It will be understood that the present invention can be modified and changed in various ways.

Claims (6)

A storage electrode formed on the substrate having the first region and the second region over the first and second regions;
An insulating film pattern formed on the storage electrode so as to cover the substrate and having an opening in a region where the storage electrode is formed;
Two pixel electrodes formed on the insulating film pattern and positioned in the first and second regions, respectively , and spaced apart from each other on the storage electrode;
On the side facing the other pixel electrode of one pixel electrode, a recess is formed on the region of the storage electrode that is recessed in a direction away from the other pixel electrode along the extending direction of the storage electrode.
The display substrate , wherein the opening of the insulating film pattern is provided in a layer between the storage electrode and the pixel electrode, and is provided so as to overlap the recess .   The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein the first and second regions belong to the same pixel region, and different voltages corresponding to video information are applied thereto.   The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein the first and second pixel electrodes have a shape that is inclined with respect to a length direction of the storage electrode and is bent in a mutually symmetric direction. Said recess, said storage being formed along the edge of the length direction of the electrode, and the first recess and second recess symmetric pair with respect to the longitudinal direction of the center line of the storage electrode the display substrate of claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a.   The display substrate according to claim 1, wherein the insulating film pattern includes an organic insulating film. The display substrate according to claim 5 , wherein the organic insulating film defines the opening in each pixel region.

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