JP6884839B2 - Liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a display device, and particularly relates to a liquid crystal display device having a small decrease in transmittance and few pixel defects even on a high-definition screen.

In a liquid crystal display device, a TFT substrate in which pixels having pixel electrodes and thin film transistors (TFTs) are formed in a matrix is opposed to a TFT substrate in which a color filter is formed at a position corresponding to the pixel electrodes of the TFT substrate. The substrate is arranged, and the liquid crystal is sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the facing substrate. An image is formed by controlling the light transmittance of the liquid crystal molecules for each pixel. The pixels are surrounded by scanning lines extending in the first direction and arranging in the second direction, and video signal lines extending in the second direction and arranging in the first direction. Area.

Since liquid crystal display devices are flat and lightweight, their applications are expanding in various fields. Small liquid crystal display devices are widely used in mobile phones, DSCs (Digital Still Cameras), and the like. The viewing angle characteristic is a problem in the liquid crystal display device. The viewing angle characteristic is a phenomenon in which the brightness changes or the chromaticity changes when the screen is viewed from the front and when viewed from an oblique direction. As for the viewing angle characteristic, the IPS (In Plane Switching) method in which the liquid crystal molecules are operated by an electric field in the horizontal direction has excellent characteristics.

There are various IPS methods. For example, a common electrode is formed of a solid flat surface, a pixel electrode having a slit is arranged on the common electrode, and a liquid crystal is formed by an electric field generated between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. The method of rotating the molecule can increase the transmittance, so it is currently the mainstream. The common electrode and the interlayer insulating film are formed on an organic passivation film that also serves as a flattening film.

On the other hand, in a liquid crystal display device, when the pixel size is reduced as a high-definition screen, the proportion of the diameter of the through hole connecting the pixel electrode and the source electrode of the TFT becomes large.

In order to reduce the diameter of the through hole as the pixel becomes smaller in a high-definition screen, the taper angle of the wall portion of the through hole (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the taper angle of the through hole) must be increased. On the other hand, an alignment film is used for initial alignment of the liquid crystal, and the alignment film material is initially (before coating) in a liquid state and is coated by flexographic printing or inkjet.

When the taper angle of the through hole is increased, when the alignment film material is applied, a phenomenon occurs in which the alignment film material does not enter the through hole due to surface tension. Then, since the state of the liquid crystal is different in the portion where the alignment film is thickly formed, light leaks from this portion and the display unevenness occurs.

"Patent Document 1" describes a configuration in which the alignment film easily flows into the through hole by changing the height around the large hole on the upper side of the through hole. The method of changing the height around the large hole on the upper side of the through hole in "Patent Document 1" is a configuration in which a step provided on the lower layer film is reflected around the large hole on the upper side of the through hole.

"Patent Document 2" solves the problem that the photoresist for forming the pixel electrode pattern does not enter the recess of the through hole, the pixel electrode is etched in the through hole, and the pixel electrode cannot be electrically connected. Therefore, a configuration is described in which a step is provided around the large hole on the upper side of the through hole to facilitate the photoresist from entering the through hole. It is also described that the same problem occurs in the application of the alignment film. The method of changing the height around the large hole on the upper side of the through hole in "Patent Document 2" is also configured to reflect the step provided on the lower layer film around the large hole on the upper side of the through hole.

"Patent Document 3" describes a configuration in which an inner wall of a through hole is also used as a region for image formation by using a photoalignment treatment on an alignment film in an IPS liquid crystal display device. For this reason, "Patent Document 3" describes a configuration in which a slit of a pixel electrode is formed even on an inner wall of a through hole.

JP-A-2007-322563 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-275879 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-140386

Recently, even in a small liquid crystal display device, a high-definition screen such as VGA (Video Graphics Array, 640 × 480 dots) is required. Here, since the dot is a set of three pixels of red pixel, green pixel, and blue pixel, the number of pixels is 1920 × 480. To enable VGA on a 3-inch screen, the pixel minority would be as small as 32 μm.

In order to maintain a predetermined transmittance even if the pixel becomes small, it is necessary to arrange the TFT, the through hole, etc. in a small area and make the ratio occupied by the pixel electrode area as large as possible. If the area occupied by the through holes is reduced, the taper angle of the through holes becomes large, the alignment film material is less likely to flow into the through holes, and sesame-like pixel defects occur.

Since the configuration of Patent Document 1 or 2 is to provide a step in the lower layer film and reflect this step around the large hole on the upper side of the through hole, an attempt is made to provide a height difference around the upper part of the through hole. Then, the so-called organic passivation film cannot be used. This is because the organic passivation film is formed as thick as 2 to 4 μm, so that the surface becomes flat and it becomes difficult to form a height difference around the through hole.

On the other hand, depending on the type of liquid crystal display device, it is necessary to use an organic passivation film in order to keep the thickness of the liquid crystal layer constant. Further, since the organic passivation film is formed as thick as 2 to 4 μm, if through holes are formed in the organic passivation film, the problem that the area occupied by the through holes becomes larger becomes more serious.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the above-mentioned problems in the IPS type liquid crystal display device. In FIG. 14, a gate electrode 101 is formed on the TFT substrate 100, and a gate insulating film 102 is formed over the gate electrode 101. A semiconductor layer 103 is formed on the gate insulating film 102 at a location corresponding to the gate electrode 101. A drain electrode 104 and a source electrode 105 are laminated on the semiconductor layer 103. An inorganic passivation film 106 is formed to cover the semiconductor layer 103, the drain electrode 104, the source electrode 105, and the like to protect the TFT (thin film transistor). An organic passivation film 107 that also serves as a flattening film is formed on the inorganic passivation film 106. The organic passivation film 107 is formed as thick as 2 to 4 μm.

A counter electrode 108 to which a common voltage is applied is formed on the organic passivation film 107. An interlayer insulating film 109 formed by SiN is formed so as to cover the counter electrode (also referred to as a common electrode) 108. A pixel electrode 110 having a slit (not shown) is formed on the interlayer insulating film 109. The pixel electrode 110 is connected to the source electrode 105 extending from the TFT via the through hole 111 formed in the interlayer insulating film 109, the organic passivation film 107, and the inorganic passivation film 106.

The alignment film 120 is coated on the pixel electrode 110 by flexographic printing, an inkjet method, or the like. However, when the diameter of the through hole 111 becomes small, the taper angle of the through hole 111 becomes large, and a phenomenon occurs in which the alignment film material, which is initially liquid, does not enter the through hole. Then, as shown in FIG. 14, a phenomenon occurs in which the alignment film 120 is thickly formed around the through hole 111.

As described above, when the alignment film 120 has uneven film thickness, the state of the liquid crystal is different from that of other regions, so that uneven display occurs. Such a phenomenon that the film thickness of the alignment film 120 increases around the through hole 111 because the alignment film material does not enter the through hole 111 does not occur only in one pixel 10, but is shown in FIG. As shown in the hatched portion, it often occurs in a plurality of pixels 10. The uneven display becomes more noticeable by that amount.

In FIG. 15, pixels 10 having pixel electrodes 110 are formed in a matrix. The pixel electrode 110 has a slit 1101 and is connected to a TFT source electrode (not shown) via a through hole 111. The through hole 111 penetrates the interlayer insulating film, the organic passivation film, and the inorganic passivation film. The pixel electrode 110 covers the entire through hole 111.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a part of the pixel. In FIG. 16, a pixel electrode 110 formed by ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) and having a slit 1101 is formed on an interlayer insulating film 109 formed of SiN. The pixel electrode 110 covers the entire through hole 111. The alignment film material is applied on the pixel electrode 110, but when the diameter of the through hole 111 becomes smaller, the alignment film material does not enter the through hole 111, and the alignment film 120 is formed around the through hole as shown in FIG. It causes the phenomenon that it is formed thick.

An object of the present invention is to make it easier for the alignment film material to flow into the through hole even when the pixel size is reduced and the through hole diameter is also reduced in a high-definition screen, and the thickness of the alignment film is reduced. It is to prevent unevenness and realize a liquid crystal display device having a high-quality screen.

The present invention overcomes the above problems, and specific means are as follows.

(1) A common electrode is formed on the organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed over the common electrode, and a pixel electrode having a slit whose end is closed is formed on the interlayer insulating film. , A TFT substrate having pixels having a configuration in which a source electrode of a TFT and a pixel electrode conduct with each other through a through hole formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, and a facing portion having a color filter in a portion corresponding to the pixel. A liquid crystal display device having a substrate and a liquid crystal sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the opposing substrate, the through hole includes a large hole on the upper side, a small hole on the lower side connecting the source electrode, and the like. It has an inner wall connecting the large hole and the small hole, and the pixel electrode covers the through hole in the inner direction of the pixel of the through hole, and covers the periphery of the large hole of the through hole in the outer direction of the pixel. A liquid crystal display device characterized by not being used.

(2) A common electrode is formed on the organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed over the common electrode, and a pixel electrode having a slit whose end is closed is formed on the interlayer insulating film. , A TFT substrate having pixels having a configuration in which a source electrode of a TFT and a pixel electrode conduct with each other through a through hole formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, and a facing portion having a color filter in a portion corresponding to the pixel. A liquid crystal display device having a substrate and a liquid crystal sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the opposing substrate, the through hole includes a large hole on the upper side, a small hole on the lower side connecting the source electrode, and the like. It has an inner wall connecting the large hole and the small hole, the planar shape of the large hole has a major axis and a minor axis, the pixel is rectangular, and the major axis of the large hole of the through hole is in the major axis direction of the pixel. A liquid crystal display device, wherein the slit extends to the inner wall of the through hole.

(3) A common electrode is formed on the organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed over the common electrode, and a pixel electrode having a slit whose end is closed is formed on the interlayer insulating film. , A TFT substrate having pixels having a configuration in which a source electrode of a TFT and a pixel electrode conduct with each other through a through hole formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, and a facing portion having a color filter in a portion corresponding to the pixel. A liquid crystal display device having a substrate and a liquid crystal sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the opposing substrate, the through hole includes a large hole on the upper side, a small hole on the lower side connecting the source electrode, and the like. It has an inner wall connecting the large hole and the small hole, the planar shape of the large hole has a major axis and a minor axis, and the pixel electrode has a gap between the main pixel electrode having the slit and the main pixel electrode. It has an arranged sub-pixel electrode, the pixel is rectangular, the major axis of the large hole of the through hole is the minor axis direction of the pixel, and in the gap portion, the periphery of the large hole of the through hole is a pixel. A liquid crystal display device characterized in that it is not covered by electrodes.

(4) A common electrode is formed on the organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed over the common electrode, and a pixel electrode having a slit whose end is closed is formed on the interlayer insulating film. A TFT substrate having pixels having a structure in which the source electrode and the pixel electrode of the TFT are conducted through the through holes formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film.
A liquid crystal display device having a facing substrate having a color filter in a portion corresponding to the pixel, and a liquid crystal sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the facing substrate, the through hole is a large hole on the upper side. A liquid crystal display device having a small hole on the lower side to which the source electrode is connected and an inner wall connecting the large hole and the small hole, and the small hole of the through hole is eccentric with respect to the large hole.

(5) A common electrode is formed on the organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed over the common electrode, and a pixel electrode having a slit whose end is closed is formed on the interlayer insulating film. , A TFT substrate having pixels having a structure in which a source electrode of a TFT and a pixel electrode conduct with each other through a through hole formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, and a facing portion having a color filter in a portion corresponding to the pixels. A liquid crystal display device having a substrate and having a liquid crystal sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the opposing substrate.
The distance between the TFT substrate and the facing substrate is defined by a columnar spacer formed on the facing substrate, and the through holes are a large hole on the upper side, a small hole on the lower side connecting the source electrode, and the large hole and the small hole. A liquid crystal display device having an inner wall connecting the two, and the small hole of the through hole is eccentric to the side of the columnar spacer closest to the through hole with respect to the large hole.

According to the present invention, the liquid crystal display device has a high-definition screen, a small pixel area, and an organic passivation film used for the TFT substrate, and the liquid crystal alignment film material is stable even if the through-hole diameter is reduced. , Can be formed in the through hole. Therefore, it is possible to prevent display unevenness due to the absence of the alignment film in the through hole or due to the film thickness unevenness of the alignment film around the through hole.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of pixels of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment. It is a perspective view of the pixel of the liquid crystal display device according to Example 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the through hole in the pixel of the liquid crystal display device according to Example 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of pixels of the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a plan view of pixels of the liquid crystal display device according to the third embodiment. It is a perspective view and sectional view of the through hole according to Example 4. FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of pixels and a cross-sectional view of through holes according to another embodiment of the fourth embodiment. It is a top view of the pixel by still another form of Example 4. It is a top view of the pixel by another form of Example 4. FIG. It is a top view of the pixel by another form of Example 4. FIG. It is a top view of the pixel by another form of Example 4. FIG. It is a top view of the pixel by another form of Example 4. FIG. It is a figure which defines the cross-sectional shape of a through hole. It is sectional drawing of the through hole which shows the problem of the prior art. It is a top view of the display area which shows the problem of the prior art. It is a perspective view which shows the pixel structure of the conventional example.

The contents of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a pixel 10 according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a pixel electrode 110 having a slit 1101 is formed on an interlayer insulating film 109 formed of SiN. An counter electrode (not shown) is formed under the interlayer insulating film 109, and when a signal voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 110, electric lines of electric force are directed toward the lower counter electrode through the slit 1101 of the pixel electrode 110. As a result, a transverse electric field is formed in the liquid crystal layer, and the transverse electric field causes the liquid crystal molecules to rotate. As a result, the transmittance of the liquid crystal is controlled for each pixel 10 to form an image.

The pixel electrode 110 is connected to the source electrode of the TFT via the through hole 111, but the feature of the present invention is that the pixel electrode 110 does not cover the entire through hole 111, and in the outer direction of the pixel, the pixel electrode is near the through hole 111. 110 does not exist. FIG. 2 shows this situation using a perspective view. In FIG. 2, a pixel electrode 110 having a slit 1101 is formed on the interlayer insulating film 109, but the pixel electrode 110 is formed only in the inner direction of the pixel 10 on the upper side of the through hole 111, and is outside. It is not formed in the direction.

As a result, a step is generated around the upper side of the through hole 111 by the thickness of ITO. If a step is formed on the upper side of the through hole 111, the liquid alignment film material tends to flow into the through hole 111 starting from this step. Further, the alignment film material is more easily spread and spread on the SiN constituting the interlayer insulating film 109 than on the ITO constituting the pixel electrode. Therefore, the alignment film material tends to flow into the through hole 111 from the side without the ITO film, that is, from the outside of the pixel 10. Due to these two phenomena, in the present invention, the alignment film material easily flows into the through hole 111.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a pixel including the TFT and the through hole 111 in this embodiment. In FIG. 3, the configuration until the interlayer insulating film 109 is formed is the same as that in FIG. 14, and the description thereof will be omitted. The feature of the present invention is that the pixel electrode 110 formed on the interlayer insulating film 109 is formed only on one side of the through hole 111, and the pixel electrode 110 is not formed on the opposite side of the through hole 111. It is a point.

In FIG. 3, the left side of the figure in which the TFT is formed corresponds to the outer direction of the pixel, and the right side of the figure corresponds to the inner direction of the pixel. In FIG. 3, the pixel electrode 110 is formed in the through hole 111 in the inner direction of the pixel and is connected to the source electrode 105. The pixel electrode 110 is not formed near the inner wall and the upper side of the through hole 111 in the outer direction of the pixel in FIG. 3, and the interlayer insulating film 109 is exposed. Since the alignment film material is more easily spread and spread on the SiN constituting the interlayer insulating film 109 than on the ITO constituting the pixel electrode 110, the alignment film material flows into the through hole 111 from the outside direction of the pixel. Therefore, uneven film thickness of the alignment film can be suppressed.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of pixels showing a second embodiment of the present invention. The through hole 111 has a large hole 1112 and a small hole 1111. The feature of FIG. 4 is that the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 is an ellipse having a major axis in the longitudinal direction of the pixel. Therefore, in the cross-sectional shape of the through hole 111, the taper angle of the cross section of the pixel in the major axis direction is smaller than the taper angle of the cross section of the pixel in the minor axis direction.

Further, a feature of FIG. 4 is that the slit 1101 of the pixel electrode 110 extends to the inner wall of the through hole 111. Therefore, a step is formed around the upper side of the through hole 111 due to the presence of the slit 1101 of the pixel electrode 110. Starting from this step, the alignment film material easily flows into the through hole.

Further, the taper angle of the through hole 111 on the side where the slit 1101 of the pixel electrode 110 is formed is small. The smaller the taper angle, the easier it is for the alignment film material to flow into the through hole 111. That is, in this embodiment, the upper side of the through hole 111, that is, the large hole 1112 is made an ellipse, and the slit 1101 extends to the inner wall of the through hole 111. The film material is made easy to flow into the through hole 111. This makes it possible to prevent display unevenness due to uneven film thickness of the alignment film.

In the configuration of this embodiment, the shape of the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 is not limited to an ellipse, and the same effect can be obtained by making the major axis rectangular in the major axis direction of the pixel. That is, if the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 has a major axis and a minor axis and the major axis is in the major axis direction of the pixel, the same effect can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the slit 1101 of the pixel electrode 110 is formed up to the inner wall of the through hole 111. In this case, by using so-called photo-alignment, the alignment process can be performed on the alignment film formed in the through hole 111. The photo-alignment is, for example, an orientation process in which the alignment film is irradiated with polarized ultraviolet rays to give uniaxial anisotropy to the alignment film. Therefore, since the inside of the through hole 111 can also be used as an area for image formation, the transmittance of the pixels can be improved.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a third embodiment of the present invention. The feature of this embodiment is that the through hole 111 is an ellipse having a major axis in the minor axis direction of the pixel, and the pixel electrode 110 has a main pixel electrode having a slit 1101 and a sub pixel electrode formed in the outer direction of the pixel. It is a point that is separated into. There is a gap 112 between the main pixel electrode and the sub pixel electrode.

On the major axis side of the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111, the taper angle of the inner wall of the through hole 111 is small. Further, on the major axis side of the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111, the ITO constituting the pixel electrode 110 does not exist, and the SiN constituting the interlayer insulating film 109 is exposed. Further, in the gap portion 112 in which ITO does not exist, a step due to ITO is formed.

That is, in this embodiment, in the vicinity of the major axis of the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111, the taper angle of the through hole 111 is small, the SiN constituting the interlayer insulating film 109 is exposed, and a step is formed by ITO. The structure is such that the alignment film material easily flows into the through hole 111 for three reasons. Therefore, it is possible to prevent screen unevenness due to film thickness unevenness of the alignment film material around the through hole.

In the configuration of this embodiment, the shape of the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 is not limited to an ellipse, and the same effect can be obtained by making the major axis rectangular in the minor axis direction of the pixel. More generally, the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 in this embodiment has a major axis and a minor axis in the plan view, and the major hole 1112 of the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 coincides with the minor axis direction of the pixel.

Further, in this embodiment, the gap 112 in FIG. 5 can also be used as a slit for image formation. Thereby, the transmittance of the pixel can be improved.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the taper angle of the inner wall of the through hole is reduced in one cross section of the through hole 111 by shifting the center of the large hole 1112 which is the upper bottom and the center of the small hole 1111 which is the lower bottom of the through hole 111. It is a thing.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the through hole 111 showing the features of this embodiment. In FIG. 6A, the centers of the large hole 1112 and the small hole 1111 of the through hole 111 are eccentric by d. As a result, the taper angle on the left side of the through hole in FIG. 6A is smaller than the taper angle on the right side of the through hole. Since the alignment film material tends to flow into the through hole when the taper angle of the through hole 111 is small, the alignment film material flows into the through hole 111 from the left side of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of a through-hole portion according to this embodiment. In FIG. 6B, since the center of the small hole 1111 of the through hole 111 is eccentric to the right with respect to the center of the large hole 1112, the taper angle α on the left side of the through hole 111 is larger than the taper angle β on the right side. It's getting smaller. Therefore, the alignment film material easily flows into the through hole 111 from the left side in FIG. 6B.

In this way, by forming a portion around the through hole 111 where the alignment film material easily flows, it is possible to prevent the phenomenon that the alignment film material does not flow into the through hole 111.

Since the organic passivation film 107 is as thick as 2 to 4 μm, the shape of the through holes 111 is dominated by the shape of the through holes formed in the organic passivation film 107. In order to form a through hole 111 in which the large hole 1112 and the small hole 1111 are eccentric as shown in FIGS. 6A or 6B, the large hole and the small hole are eccentric when the through hole is formed in the organic passivation film 107. Just let me do it.

In order to eccentric the centers of the large holes and small holes of the through holes formed in the organic passivation film 107, when the organic passivation film 107 is exposed, the side where the taper angle of the through holes is to be reduced is exposed by half exposure. It can be formed by doing. That is, assuming that the organic passivation film 107 is a positive photosensitive resin, the portion irradiated with light dissolves in the developing solution. Therefore, by controlling the exposure amount on the side where the taper angle is reduced in the through hole by half exposure, the amount of the photosensitive resin dissolved in the developing solution can be controlled in the depth direction.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which the eccentric directions of the large hole 1112 and the small hole 1111 in the through hole 111 are defined. FIG. 7A is a plan view. In FIG. 7A, the pixel electrode 110 is formed on one side of the through hole 111, that is, in the inner direction of the pixel, and the pixel electrode 110 is not formed on the other side, that is, in the outer direction of the pixel. In FIG. 7A, the center of the small hole 1111 of the through hole 111 is eccentric to the center of the large hole 1112 on the side of the pixel electrode 110, in other words, toward the inside of the pixel. As a result, the taper angle of the through hole 111 is smaller in the outer direction of the pixel than in the inner direction of the pixel. Therefore, the alignment film material tends to flow into the through hole 111 from the outside direction of the pixel.

7 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 7 (a). In FIG. 7B, the laminated structure up to the interlayer insulating film 109 is the same as that described in FIG. In the through hole 111 of FIG. 7B, the taper angle α on the left side of the drawing, that is, the outer side of the pixel is smaller than the taper angle β on the right side of the drawing, that is, the inner side of the pixel. Then, inside the pixel in the through hole 111, the pixel electrode 110 extends to the inner wall and the bottom of the through hole 111. However, the pixel electrode 110 does not exist in the outer direction of the pixel in the through hole 111. That is, as described in FIG. 6A, the taper angle α of the through hole 111 is small in the outer direction of the pixel, and the interlayer insulating film 109 formed of SiN is exposed, so that the pixel The alignment film material can easily flow in from the outside of the.

In the liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between the TFT substrate 100 and the opposing substrate, but in order to maintain the distance between the TFT substrate 100 and the opposing substrate at a predetermined value, for example, on the opposing substrate side. A columnar spacer 150 is formed in the liquid crystal. If the columnar spacer 150 exists in the portion where the through hole 111 is formed, the distance between the TFT substrate 100 and the opposing substrate cannot be controlled.

Therefore, in design, the columnar spacer 150 formed on the facing substrate is arranged so as to avoid the position of the through hole 111 formed on the TFT substrate 100. However, when a pressing force is applied to the opposing substrate, the tip of the columnar spacer 150 may move and the columnar spacer 150 may fall into the through hole 111. In order to eliminate such a possibility as much as possible, it is desirable to keep a predetermined distance between the position of the columnar spacer 150 and the position of the through hole 111.

In the through hole 111 in which the centers of the large hole 1112 and the small hole 1111 are eccentric, the small hole 1111 of the through hole 111 must always come into contact with the pixel electrode 110. FIG. 8 shows a configuration in which the space s between the columnar spacer 150 and the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 is made as large as possible when the position of the small hole 1111 is used as a reference. That is, the center of the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 is eccentric in the inner direction of the pixel as compared with the center of the small hole 1111.

In other words, it can be said that the center of the small hole 1111 of the through hole 111 is eccentric to the side of the columnar spacer 150 with respect to the center of the large hole 1112. With such a configuration, the space s between the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 and the columnar spacer 150 can be increased, so that the probability that the columnar spacer 150 falls into the through hole 111 can be reduced. Further, since the through hole 111 can form a region having a small taper angle, it is possible to facilitate the flow of the alignment film material and suppress the occurrence of display unevenness.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a case where the columnar spacer 150 is formed at a different position. Also in FIG. 9, the center of the small hole 1111 of the through hole 111 is eccentric with respect to the center of the large hole 1112 in the direction in which the columnar spacer 150 exists. Also in FIG. 9, since the space s between the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 and the columnar spacer 150 can be made large, the probability that the columnar spacer 150 falls into the through hole 111 can be reduced. Further, since the through hole 111 can form a region having a small taper angle, it is possible to facilitate the flow of the alignment film material and suppress the occurrence of display unevenness.

A large number of columnar spacers are formed in the display region. The columnar spacer 150 in FIGS. 8 and 9 refers to the columnar spacer 150 closest to the target through hole 111. Summarizing the contents shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, it can be said that the small hole 1111 of the through hole 111 is eccentric to the side of the columnar spacer 150 with respect to the large hole 1112.

In the examples of FIGS. 6 to 9, both the large hole 1112 and the small hole 1111 of the through hole 111 have been described as being circular, but the shape of the large hole 1112 or the small hole 1112 of the through hole 111 is not limited to a circle, and may be rectangular. It may be hexagonal.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a pixel portion showing an example in which the large hole 1112 is an ellipse and the small hole 1111 is a circle in the through hole 111. In FIG. 10, the center of the small hole 1111 of the through hole 111 is eccentric in the inner direction of the pixel with respect to the center of the large hole 1112 which is an ellipse. With this configuration, the taper angle of the through hole 111 can be made smaller in the outer direction of the pixels of the through hole 111. Therefore, the through-hole shape shown in FIG. 10 makes it easier for the alignment film material to flow into the through-hole than in the case of the through-hole shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 shows an example in which the plan shape of the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 is not an ellipse but a rectangle. At this time, the small holes 1111 of the through holes 111 are square. In the example of FIG. 11, the center of the small hole 1112 of the through hole 111 is eccentric in the inner direction of the pixel with respect to the center of the large hole 1111. In this example as well, as described with reference to FIG. 10, the flow of the alignment film material into the through hole 111 can be facilitated.

The shape of the through hole 111 is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 10 or FIG. 11, and can be similarly applied to other shapes. That is, in the planar shape of the through hole 111 formed in the rectangular pixel, the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 has a major axis and a minor axis that coincide with the major axis direction of the pixel, and the center of the small hole 1111 of the through hole 111 is If the configuration is eccentric in the inner direction of the pixel from the center of the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111, the same effect as in FIG. 10 or FIG. 11 can be obtained.

FIG. 12 shows an example in which the planar shape of the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 when the position of the columnar spacer 150 is taken into consideration is an ellipse. In the through hole 111 of FIG. 12, the center of the small hole 1111 is eccentric to the side of the columnar spacer 150 with respect to the center of the large hole 1112 which is an ellipse. With this configuration, the taper angle of the inner wall of the through hole 111 opposite to the columnar spacer 150 can be reduced, so that the flow of the alignment film material can be facilitated. Further, according to the configuration of FIG. 12, since the distance s between the columnar spacer 150 and the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 can be increased, the probability that the columnar spacer 150 falls into the through hole 111 can be reduced.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 12, by making the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 elliptical, the alignment film easily flows into the through hole 111 and the probability that the columnar spacer 150 falls into the through hole 111 is reduced. The effect of can be improved as compared with the configuration shown in FIG.

In FIG. 12, the shape of the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 is elliptical, but the shape of the large hole 1112 is not limited to this, and the shape of the large hole 1112 may be rectangular or another shape. That is, in the planar shape of the through hole 111, the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111 has a major axis and a minor axis, and the center of the small hole 1111 of the through hole 111 is closer to the columnar spacer 150 than the center of the large hole 1112 of the through hole 111. It is a configuration that is eccentric to. The major axis of the large hole 1112 is the direction of the line connecting the center of the large hole and the columnar spacer. With such a configuration, the same effect as in FIG. 12 can be obtained. The columnar spacer 150 in this case also refers to the columnar spacer 150 closest to the target through hole 111.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional shape of the through hole formed in the organic passivation film 107 in the through hole 111. Since the organic passivation film 107 is as thick as 2 to 4 μm, it can be considered that the cross-sectional shape of the through hole 111 is dominated by the cross-sectional shape of the through hole of the organic passivation film 107. Therefore, the depth of the through hole 111, the taper angle of the through hole 111, and the like may be defined by the depth of the through hole formed in the organic passivation film 107, the taper angle, and the like.

In FIG. 13, the depth of the through hole of the organic passivation film 107 is D. In this case, the diameter of the large hole of the through hole is measured with reference to the position x where the line connecting the upper surfaces of the organic passivation film and the cross section of the through hole of the organic passivation film are in contact with each other. Further, the diameter of the small hole of the through hole is measured with reference to the portion y where the organic passivation film is cut.

The taper angle α of the through hole refers to an angle α formed by a tangent line of the inner wall of the through hole at a position of D / 3 from the upper surface of the organic passivation film 107 to a line connecting the upper surface of the through hole. That is, it can be said that the smaller the angle α, the easier it is for the alignment film material to flow into the through hole.

In the present specification, the interlayer insulating film is provided on the counter electrode and the pixel electrode is provided on the interlayer insulating film, but the structure may be such that the positional relationship between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode is inverted. In this case, the counter electrode may be connected to another electrode or wiring via a through hole. Even with such a structure, the present invention can be applied to the counter electrode in order to facilitate the flow of the alignment film into the through hole. Further, although the present specification discloses a TFT having a bottom gate configuration in which a gate insulating film is provided on the gate electrode and a semiconductor layer is provided on the gate insulating film, the arrangement of the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer is reversed. It may be a TFT having a top gate structure. Further, although the problem is the through hole formed in the organic passivation film, the same problem may occur even if the inorganic insulating film has a steep taper angle. In that case, the present invention is used. It can be applied to through holes of an inorganic insulating film. Further, in the configuration of FIG. 3, the interlayer insulating film 109 remains at the portion where the ITO is removed, but the tapered portion of the through hole and / or the interlayer insulating film of the peripheral portion of the through hole is removed. The structure may be such that

10 ... Pixels, 100 ... TFT substrate, 101 ... Gate electrode, 102 ... Gate insulating film, 103 ... Semiconductor layer, 104 ... Drain electrode, 105 ... Source electrode, 106 ... Inorganic passivation film, 107 ... Organic passivation film, 108 ... Opposite Electrode (common electrode), 109 ... interlayer insulating film, 110 ... pixel electrode, 111 ... through hole, 112 ... gap, 120 ... alignment film, 150 ... columnar spacer, 1101 ... slit, 1111 ... through hole small hole, 1112 ... through hole Large hole

Claims (4)

A liquid crystal comprising a TFT substrate, a facing substrate facing the TFT substrate, a liquid crystal sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the facing substrate, and a spacer defining a distance between the TFT substrate and the facing substrate. It is a display device
The TFT substrate is
With organic membrane
With the common electrode formed on the organic film,
An insulating film formed so as to cover the common electrode and
A pixel electrode formed on the insulating film and having a slit,
With a TFT having an electrode connected to the pixel electrode,
The organic film has through holes corresponding to the electrodes.
The common electrode has an opening at a position corresponding to the through hole.
The electrode and the pixel electrode are connected via the through hole and the opening.
The slit is formed along the longitudinal direction of the pixel electrode.
One end of the pixel electrode formed along the lateral direction of the pixel electrode is superimposed on the opening.
The through hole and the opening have a region in which the pixel electrode is not provided.
The spacer is arranged so as not to overlap the through hole and the opening in a plan view.
The through hole has a first opening, an inner wall, and a second opening.
The second opening is formed so as to expose the electrode.
The first opening is located in the direction of the facing substrate with respect to the second opening in a cross-sectional view.
In a plan view, the center of the first opening is located at a position different from the center of the second opening, and is located between one end of the pixel electrode and the slit.
The inner wall connects the first opening and the second opening, and is inclined at a first side surface that is inclined at a first angle with respect to the TFT substrate and a second angle that is different from the first angle. It has a second side surface formed at a position closer to the slit than the first side surface, and has.
The second angle is smaller than the first angle,
A liquid crystal display device, characterized in that, in a plan view, the distance between the spacer and the center of the first opening is larger than the distance between the spacer and the center of the second opening. Further, it has an alignment film formed between the pixel electrode and the liquid crystal.
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the alignment film is also formed in the through hole. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein the alignment film is a photoalignment film. The liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electrode is a source electrode of the TFT.

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