JPH10153773A - Liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display device with a stereoscopic image display function, which has a low power consumption and is thin and lightweight. SOLUTION: On a counter substrate 102, a light reflecting layer 124 is formed and on the inside surface of an active matrix substrate 101, polarizing layers 106 and 107 with a polarized light selecting function and a phase difference layer 108 with a phase difference giving function are formed. The polarizing layers 106 and 107 and phase difference layer 108 function as an inter-layer insulating film, which electrically insulates a gate signal wire 104, etc., and a pixel electrode 112. The axes of polarization of the polarizing layers 106 and 107 cross each other at right angles, and then correspond to pixels for the right eye and pixels for the left eye, respectively. The phase difference layer 108 includes an area 109 which does not have a phase difference giving function and an area 110, which has the phase difference giving function, and those are arranged corresponding to the polarizing layers 106 and 107 respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a television device, a game machine, a personal computer, a CAD, and the like.
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device capable of displaying a three-dimensional image having a three-dimensional effect used in devices, medical monitor devices, portable information terminals, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Attempts to reproduce a three-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image have been made for a long time. There are various types of methods for achieving this, including methods using laser holograms and the like. Among them, the following two systems are available as a high-quality stereoscopic image display system capable of displaying a moving image in three primary colors. Both methods are based on the principle of displaying images for the right eye and the left eye individually, and using the binocular parallax based on the left-right image shift to remind the observer of the sense of depth. is there.

[0003] The first method is a method in which images for the left and right eyes are made into linearly polarized light whose polarization directions are at an angle of 90 ° to each other, and observed through polarized glasses, so that a viewer can perceive a stereoscopic image. It is a method. In this scheme,
When performing the projection display, the right-eye image and the left-eye image are superimposed on the screen using two polarization projectors. In the case of direct-view display, images from two display devices are combined by a half mirror or a polarizing mirror.

The second method is to display images for both the left and right eyes in a time-division manner on a single display device, and to open and close glasses having an electric shutter function alternately in synchronization with the displayed image. This is a shutter glasses system for displaying a stereoscopic image. This method can be applied to both projection display and direct-view display.

[0005] In each of the above-described methods, the right-eye image and the left-eye image are both presented as two-dimensional images. As a means for displaying a two-dimensional image, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT), a plasma display, or the like is used depending on the application.

[0006] Among them, the polarizing glasses method requires two display devices and a projection device in order to always simultaneously project two images having different polarization axes, so that it is expensive and the size of the whole device becomes large. Therefore, it was not suitable for home use.

In order to solve such a problem of the polarized glasses system, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-184929 proposes a method of displaying a three-dimensional image using a single display device. In this method, a mosaic polarizing layer in which the polarization axes are orthogonal between adjacent pixels is brought into close contact with the outside of one display device (CRT or LCD), and an observer can display both left and right images presented by the display device. The two-dimensional image for the eye is observed through polarized glasses. Thereby, the observer can perceive the stereoscopic image. However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-184929 discloses an LC display as a display device.
When D is used, the position where the mosaic polarizing layer is provided is not specified at all. Therefore, a method described in JP-A-58-184929 will be described below assuming that the polarizing layer is provided on the outer surface of the liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of a liquid crystal display device having a three-dimensional display function proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-184929.

The display device main body 701 has a right-eye pixel 706 and a left-eye pixel 707 for displaying a right-eye image and a left-eye image, respectively. Pixels 706 and 707
The display screen is constituted by two types of polarizing layers 703 whose polarization axes are orthogonal to each other on the front surface of the display screen.
704 are arranged alternately. That is, the polarizing layer 70
Reference numerals 3 and 704 denote a right-eye pixel 706 and a left-eye pixel 70
7, and separates the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye. When observing the stereoscopic image, the observer operates the polarizing layer 703 disposed in front of the right-eye pixel 706.
Polarizing glasses 712 having a polarizing plate 712b for the right eye whose polarization axis coincides with that of the right eye, and a polarizing plate 712a for the left eye whose polarization axis coincides with the polarizing layer 704 disposed in front of the pixel 707 for the left eye. Thereby, the right and left eyes of the observer can observe only the corresponding images, and can see a three-dimensional image having a three-dimensional effect.

The display device main body 701 has a pair of glass substrates 702a and 702b arranged with a liquid crystal layer 705 interposed therebetween. One (left side in FIG. 6) glass substrate 702
The right-eye pixel 706 and the left-eye pixel 707 are formed on the liquid crystal layer 705 side of a, and an alignment film 710a is formed thereon. A polarizing plate 708 is provided on a side of the glass substrate 702a opposite to the liquid crystal layer 705. The liquid crystal layer 7 on the other glass substrate 702b
On the 05 side, a transparent electrode 709b and an alignment film 710b are formed in this order. Note that the periphery of the liquid crystal layer 705 is sealed with a seal member 711.

However, the conventional display device having such a configuration has the following problems.

As shown in FIG. 7, a glass substrate 702b is provided between the right-eye pixel 706 and the left-eye pixel 707 of the display device main body 701 and the right-eye polarization layer 703 and the left-eye polarization layer 704. Is interposed. For this reason, when the observer observes the display screen from the front direction, as shown by a dashed line in FIG. 7, a normal stereoscopic image can be observed. Moves up and down from the front direction, the right-eye pixel 706 may be observed through the left-eye polarizing layer 704 and the left-eye pixel 707 may be observed through the right-eye polarizing layer 703. In this case, a phenomenon (crosstalk) in which the images for the left and right eyes are mixed with the opposite eyes occurs, and a normal stereoscopic image cannot be obtained. In FIG. 7, for simplicity,
Some of the components of the display device main body 701 in FIG. 6 are omitted.

In order to solve the problem of crosstalk, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-135810 discloses a display device using a single transmissive liquid crystal display device, in which a glass substrate constituting the transmissive liquid crystal display device is used. It is proposed that a polarizing layer having a partially different polarization direction is provided on the inside. In this display device, the right-eye pixel and the left-eye pixel of the transmissive liquid crystal display element are adjacent to the right-eye polarization layer and the left-eye polarization layer, respectively. Therefore, even if the direction in which the observer observes the display screen moves up and down from the front direction of the display screen, the above-described crosstalk does not occur.
Therefore, the range in which a stereoscopic image can be viewed is not limited, and a display device capable of displaying a stereoscopic image with a wide viewing angle can be obtained.

[0014]

However, in a liquid crystal display device having a stereoscopic display function of a polarized glasses system, since a transmission type liquid crystal display element has been conventionally used, a light source (backlight) for illuminating the liquid crystal display element is used. Is required,
Power consumption increases. For this reason, for example, in a field of use of a battery such as a portable information terminal, there is a problem that the time that can be used by one charge is limited. In addition, since a transmissive liquid crystal display element requires an illumination light source, there is a problem in that the manufacturing cost of the display device increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and has as its object to provide a thin and lightweight liquid crystal display device which does not require an illumination light source, has low power consumption, and has a three-dimensional display function which can be used for a long time. A liquid crystal display device which can be manufactured at low cost, eliminates crosstalk occurring when displaying a three-dimensional image, and achieves good display at a wide viewing angle, thereby expanding the field of use. It is to provide.

[0016]

A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is a liquid crystal display device having a display screen comprising a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels including a right-eye pixel and a left-eye pixel. The device comprises an element-side substrate having a switching element and a wiring, an interlayer insulating film provided thereon, a pixel electrode provided on the interlayer insulating film, a counter electrode and a light reflecting layer. And a counter substrate disposed such that the counter electrode faces the pixel electrode of the element-side substrate, and the interlayer insulating film corresponds to the right-eye pixel. And a second region disposed so as to correspond to the left-eye pixel. In the first region, the first polarized light is selectively emitted. And a second polarization different from the first polarization in the second region. There is selectively permeable, to achieve the above object by its.

In one embodiment, the interlayer insulating film includes a polarizing layer and a retardation layer, and the polarizing layer selectively transmits the first polarized light in the first region, The second region selectively transmits the second polarized light, and the retardation layer gives a phase difference only in the first region. The liquid crystal display device further includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the element-side substrate and the counter substrate, wherein the first polarized light transmitted through the polarizing layer is subjected to the retardation by the retardation layer. And converted into the second polarized light, whereby the second polarized light may enter the liquid crystal layer over the entire display screen.

In another embodiment, the liquid crystal display device further includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the element-side substrate and the counter substrate, and the liquid crystal layer is provided on the right-eye pixel. A first liquid crystal layer region corresponding to the first liquid crystal layer region and a second liquid crystal layer region corresponding to the left-eye pixel;
The liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer region are oriented so as to selectively modulate the first polarized light, and the liquid crystal molecules in the second liquid crystal layer region selectively modulate the second polarized light. It is oriented to modulate.

In still another embodiment, the liquid crystal display device further includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the element-side substrate and the counter substrate, wherein the interlayer insulating film includes a retardation layer, And a polarizing layer disposed closer to the liquid crystal layer than the retardation layer, and the retardation layer includes a first region from the polarizing layer in the first region.
Is converted into a first circularly polarized light, and in the second region, the second linearly polarized light from the polarizing layer is converted into a second circularly polarized light different from the first circularly polarized light.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display device having a display screen including a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels include a right-eye pixel and a left-eye pixel. A device-side substrate having a switching element and a wiring, an interlayer insulating film provided thereon, a pixel electrode provided on the interlayer insulating film, and a counter electrode. And a light reflection layer, a counter substrate disposed so that the counter electrode faces the pixel electrode of the element side substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the element side substrate and the counter substrate. Wherein the interlayer insulating film has a first region disposed so as to correspond to the right-eye pixel, and a second region disposed so as to correspond to the left-eye pixel. And a first polarized light in the first region. In the second region, a second polarized light different from the first polarized light is selectively transmitted, and the liquid crystal layer is incident on the liquid crystal layer from the interlayer insulating film. The transmission amount of at least one of the first polarized light and the second polarized light is modulated, thereby achieving the above object.

Preferably, the plurality of pixels are divided into a plurality of pixel groups each including at least one pixel for displaying the same image, and the plurality of pixel groups are pixels for a right eye. And the group of left-eye pixels are arranged adjacent to each other. The plurality of pixels may be arranged in a matrix, and each of the pixel groups may include one row of pixels arranged in a horizontal direction or one column of pixels arranged in a vertical direction. .

Hereinafter, the operation of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention will be described.

Conventionally, of a pair of substrates constituting a liquid crystal display device, forming a polarizing layer inside a substrate (active matrix substrate) on a side where a switching element such as a TFT is formed is a process at the time of manufacturing a TFT. This was not possible due to the lack of polarization-selective materials that could withstand temperature. In contrast, in the present invention, by providing a polarization selection function to the interlayer insulating film provided on the inner surface of the active matrix substrate, it becomes possible to form a polarizing layer inside the active matrix substrate after TFT production. ing. This eliminates the loss of the polarization selection function of the polarizing layer, and also eliminates the crosstalk that has conventionally occurred when displaying a three-dimensional image. Therefore, an image having a wide viewing angle can be obtained, and the display quality can be improved.

Further, since only the function of selecting polarization is added to the interlayer insulating film, there is no need to separately form a polarizing layer inside the active matrix substrate, and the manufacturing process can be shortened.

Furthermore, since a three-dimensional image can be displayed on a display device using a reflective liquid crystal display device, an illumination light source is not required as compared with a case using a transmissive liquid crystal display device, and the device is thin and thin. Lighter weight and lower power consumption can be achieved. Therefore, the field of use of a display device capable of displaying a stereoscopic image can be expanded.

[0026]

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

(Embodiment 1) In Embodiment 1, a light reflecting layer is provided on the outer surface of a counter substrate of a pair of substrates constituting a liquid crystal display device, and a polarizing layer and a polarizing layer are provided on an inner surface of an active matrix substrate. A reflection type liquid crystal display device is provided with a retardation layer, and light having different polarization states corresponding to the right-eye pixel and the left-eye pixel is emitted from the active matrix substrate side. Here, the pixels of the liquid crystal display device are divided into a plurality of groups including at least one pixel.
Pixels belonging to the same group display the same image.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a reflection type liquid crystal display device 100 according to the present embodiment.

The reflection type liquid crystal display device 100 has an active matrix substrate 101, a counter substrate 102, and a liquid crystal layer 103 interposed therebetween. The active matrix substrate 101 has a transparent insulating substrate 101a, and on its inner surface, that is, on the surface adjacent to the liquid crystal layer 103, as shown in FIG.
4 and a gate insulating film 105 are provided. On the gate insulating film 105, a TFT as a switching element
And a signal wiring (both not shown) are formed thereon, and a polarizing layer 10 which also functions as an interlayer insulating film is formed thereon.
6, 107 and a retardation layer 108 are provided.

The polarizing layers 106 and 107 have polarization axes 106a and 107a, respectively, which are orthogonal to each other, and are arranged such that one corresponds to the right-eye pixel group and the other corresponds to the left-eye pixel group. In the present embodiment, each pixel group includes one row of pixels extending in the horizontal direction (pixels corresponding to the same gate signal wiring), and each pixel row includes one pixel for the right eye and one pixel for the left eye. Have assigned. Therefore, the polarizing layers 106 and 107 are also alternately arranged for each pixel row. The phase difference layer 108 includes a region 109 that does not provide a phase difference to the incident light and a region 110 that has a function of providing a phase difference, as shown in FIG.
9 is arranged so as to correspond to the polarizing layer 106, and the region 110 is arranged so as to correspond to the polarizing layer 107. Thus, region 109,
110 are also arranged alternately for each row of pixels. Further, the region 110 having a phase difference providing function is
45 ° with respect to the polarization axis 107a of the corresponding polarization layer 107
It has a shifted optical axis and gives a phase difference of half a wavelength.

On the retardation layer 108, a plurality of transparent electrodes 112 as pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix, and the alignment film 1 for controlling the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 103.
13a is provided.

On the other hand, the counter substrate 102 has a color filter 1 on its inner surface (the surface adjacent to the liquid crystal layer 103).
20, a transparent electrode 102a provided with a counter electrode 122 and an alignment film 113b in this order. As the color filter 120, a color filter composed of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) pixels, cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y A) A color filter or the like composed of pixels can be used depending on the application.

Further, the opposing substrate 102 includes a substrate 102a
Has a light reflection layer 124 formed of a metal such as Al or Ag. The active matrix substrate 101 includes an antireflection layer 111 provided on the outer surface of the substrate 101a for preventing the reflection of ambient light.
And Therefore, in the reflection type liquid crystal display device 100 of the present embodiment, light enters from the active matrix substrate 101 side, passes through the liquid crystal layer 103, and faces the opposite substrate 1.
After being reflected by the light reflecting layer 124 on the outer surface of the substrate 02, the light passes through the liquid crystal layer 103 again and exits from the active matrix substrate 101.

The liquid crystal layer 103 is of a guest-host mode, and is formed by mixing a black p-type dye as a dichroic dye and a nematic liquid crystal material having a positive dielectric anisotropy. I have. Here, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules and the dichroic dye molecules is determined by the light absorption axis of the dichroic dye molecules when the liquid crystal molecules and the dichroic dye molecules are aligned. It is set so as to be parallel to the polarization direction. Thereby, TFT (not shown)
Is off, that is, when no electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer 103, the polarized light incident on the liquid crystal layer 103 is absorbed by the dichroic dye molecules, so that black display is performed. On the other hand, when the TFT is on, that is, when an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer 103, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules and dichroic dye molecules changes due to the electric field, and
Is transmitted through the liquid crystal layer 103 without being absorbed by the dichroic dye molecules.

Next, an example of a method for manufacturing the active matrix substrate 101 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the active matrix substrate 101, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA 'of FIG. 2 and 3 show only a region corresponding to one pixel of the active matrix substrate for simplification.

First, a metal film such as Ta or Al used as the gate signal wiring 104 is deposited on the transparent insulating substrate 101a by, for example, sputtering, and is patterned to form the gate signal wiring 104.
As shown in FIG. 2, the gate signal wiring 104 has a branch portion used as a gate electrode of the TFT of each pixel. In addition, together with the gate signal wiring 104, an electrode 117 for an additional capacitor disposed in parallel with the gate signal wiring 104 may be formed. Next, the substrate 10 is covered with the gate signal wiring 104.
A gate insulating film 105 is formed on the entire surface on 1a. As the gate insulating film 105, a SiN or SiO ₂ film can be used.

Subsequently, after forming the semiconductor layer 130 on the gate insulating film 105 and patterning it into a predetermined shape, a channel protection layer 131 is formed from, for example, SiN on the semiconductor layer 130 above the gate electrode. Then, n ⁺ Si
The source electrode 132 is formed by forming a layer, covering both ends of the channel protection layer 131 and a part of the semiconductor layer 130, and patterning the channel protection layer 45 so as to be divided on the channel protection layer 45.
a and the drain electrode 132b are formed.

Next, a source signal wiring 116 is formed.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the source signal wiring 116 is a lower wiring 11 made of a transparent conductive film such as ITO.
6a and an upper wiring 116b made of a metal material such as Ta or Al.
Part of 16 is in contact with the end of the source electrode 132a. At the same time as the formation of the source signal wiring 116, the transparent conductive film 118a and the metal film 118b are formed so that a part thereof is in contact with the end of the drain electrode 132b. Of these, the transparent conductive film 118a is extended to extend the drain electrode 132b and the pixel electrode 11 as shown in FIGS.
2 and one electrode 119 of the additional capacitance.
It has become.

The polarizing layer 10 is placed on the substrate 101a in this state.
6, 107 and the retardation layer 108 are formed. Polarizing layer 1
06 and 107 differ only in the direction of the polarization axis, and can be manufactured by the same process. A material obtained by mixing a dye or iodide of a dichroic dye with a photo-alignable organic material is applied on the substrate 101a to a predetermined thickness. Subsequently, a linearly polarized light is provided in a state in which a mask in which openings corresponding to one row of pixels according to the pixel shape and light-shielding portions corresponding to one row of pixels are alternately arranged on the mask. Ultraviolet (UV) light is applied to the portion exposed through the opening to form a polarizing layer having a polarization axis along the polarization axis of the irradiated UV light. Next, a mask is arranged so that a portion that has not been irradiated with UV light is exposed through the opening, and UV light containing linearly polarized light having a polarization axis different from that of the previously irradiated UV light is irradiated. Thus, a polarizing layer having a different polarization axis from the previously formed polarizing layer is formed. To manufacture this polarizing layer, a polymer material (for example, a polymer having azobenzene as a side chain) that undergoes a photoisomerization reaction and a dichroic dye as disclosed in JP-A-7-261024 are used. Can be used.

The phase difference layer 108 and the polarizing layers 106 and 107 are manufactured in substantially the same procedure. That is, first, the material of the retardation layer 108, for example, a photopolymerizable liquid crystal material is
6 and 107 are coated on the substrate 101a, and the mask as described above is superimposed thereon, so that U
V light is partially irradiated. Thus, the region irradiated with the UV light becomes a region 110 having an optical axis along the polarization axis of the irradiated linearly polarized light and giving a phase difference of a half wavelength. For the production of this retardation layer, an ultraviolet curable liquid crystal material exhibiting a nematic phase at room temperature, which is disclosed in JP-A-8-29618, can be used.

The polarizing layer 106 thus formed,
107 and the retardation layer 108 also function as an interlayer insulating film. These polarizing layers 106 and 107 and retardation layer 1
At 08, as shown in FIG. 3, a contact hole 134 reaching the connection electrode 118 is formed by, for example, photolithography.

Subsequently, a pixel electrode 112 made of a transparent conductive film is formed on the retardation layer 108. As described above, since the polarizing layers 106 and 107 and the retardation layer 108 function as interlayer insulating films, the pixel electrode 112 can be provided above the gate signal wiring 104, the source signal wiring 116, the TFT 114, and the like. The pixel electrode 112 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the contact hole 13 is formed in the connection electrode 118 connected to the drain electrode 132b of the TFT 114.
4 are connected.

Finally, the orientation film 1 covering the pixel electrode 112
13a is formed, and the pixel electrode 112 on the substrate 101a is further formed.
As shown in FIG. 1, an anti-reflection layer 111 is formed from a single-layer film or a multi-layer film using a dielectric material such as MgF ₂ on the surface opposite to the surface on which the The substrate 101 is completed. The active matrix substrate 101 thus obtained is provided with an alignment film 113a.
And the alignment film 113b on the counter substrate 102 are attached to the counter substrate 102 so as to face each other. These substrates 1
Between 01 and 102, a liquid crystal material of a guest / host mode is injected to form a liquid crystal layer 103.

The reflection type liquid crystal display device 10 according to the first embodiment.
0, light from the surroundings is
1 and the polarizing layers 10 alternately arranged for each row of pixels.
The light is converted into two types of linearly polarized light whose polarization axes are orthogonal to each other by 6, 107. Thereafter, by passing through the retardation layer 108, the polarization axes are all in the same direction, and reach the liquid crystal layer 103 in that state. Therefore, by controlling the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules and dichroic dye molecules included in the liquid crystal layer 103, the amount of transmitted light can be adjusted over the entire screen. Specifically, when the TFT 114 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is in an off state, light is absorbed and black display is performed. On the other hand, when the TFT 114 is on, light passes through the liquid crystal layer 103, the counter electrode 122 of the counter substrate 102, and the color filter 120 in order, and
The light reaches the light reflection layer 124.

The light reflected by the light reflecting layer 124 follows the opposite optical path while maintaining the polarization direction, and again enters the retardation layer 108. Here, the light incident on the region 110 having the phase difference providing function of the phase difference layer 108 is given a phase difference of a half wavelength and becomes light whose polarization direction is rotated by 90 °. Accordingly, linearly polarized light having orthogonal polarization axes is alternately emitted from the retardation layer 108 for each row of pixels, and the polarization layers 106 and 107 have polarization axes that match the respective polarization axes. Light enters. In this way, the light corresponding to the image for the right eye and the light corresponding to the image for the left eye are emitted from the active matrix substrate 101 as light having polarization axes orthogonal to each other.

As described above, also in the reflection type liquid crystal display device 100 of the first embodiment, the right-eye image light and the left-eye image light can be emitted alternately for each row of pixels. . In such a liquid crystal display device 100, when the observer wears polarizing glasses (not shown) made of polarizing plates each having a polarizing axis corresponding to the polarizing axis of the polarizing layer 106, 107, the active matrix substrate 101 side Can observe a three-dimensional image. When the observer does not wear polarized glasses, the observer observes a two-dimensional image.

The display device 100 according to the first embodiment
Is a reflection type using ambient light, so that it is not necessary to use an illumination light source (backlight), and as a result, a stereoscopic image display device with low power consumption can be realized. Therefore, the applicable range of the three-dimensional image display device can be expanded to, for example, devices using a battery. Further, in the display device 100 according to the first embodiment, the polarization selection function and the phase difference are formed on the signal wiring and the interlayer insulating film for insulating the TFT and the like from the pixel electrode formed on the inner surface of the active matrix substrate 101. It has at least one of the imparting functions. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of steps and the number of components when considering the entire manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 2, the light reflection layer is provided on the inner surface of the counter substrate, and the polarizing layer is provided on the inner surface of the active matrix substrate. Hereinafter, the reflective liquid crystal display device 200 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the reflection type liquid crystal display device 200.

The reflection type liquid crystal display device 200 has an active matrix substrate 201, a counter substrate 202, and a liquid crystal layer 203 interposed therebetween. The active matrix substrate 201 has a transparent insulating substrate 101a, and on its inner surface, that is, on the surface adjacent to the liquid crystal layer 203, as shown in FIG.
4 and a gate insulating film 105 are provided. On the gate insulating film 105, a TFT as a switching element
And a signal wiring (both not shown) are formed thereon, and a polarizing layer 10 which also functions as an interlayer insulating film is formed thereon.
6, 107 are provided. Polarizing layers 106 and 107
Have polarization axes 106a and 107a orthogonal to each other, one of which corresponds to the right-eye pixel group, and the other corresponds to the left-eye pixel group. In the present embodiment,
Each pixel group is composed of one row of pixels (pixels corresponding to the same gate signal wiring) arranged in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the polarizing layers 106 and 107 are alternately arranged for each pixel row. A plurality of transparent electrodes 112 as pixel electrodes are provided on the polarizing layers 106 and 107. The polarizing layers 106 and 107 are formed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

Further, an alignment film 213 is provided thereon. The alignment film 213 includes the region 213a and the region 2
13b, which are alternately arranged for each pixel row as shown in FIG. Regions 213a, 213
In b, the alignment process is performed so that the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules in contact with the alignment film 213 is different by 90 ° between the region 213a and the region 213b. Note that an antireflection film 111 can be formed on the outer surface of the active matrix substrate 201 as in the first embodiment.

On the other hand, the opposing substrate 202 has a transparent insulating substrate 102a having a light reflection layer 224, a color filter 120, and an opposing electrode 122 provided in this order on the inner surface (the surface adjacent to the liquid crystal layer 203). I have. Light reflection layer 2
24 is formed from a metal such as Al or Ag. As the color filter 120, a color filter composed of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) pixels, cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y A) A color filter or the like composed of pixels can be used depending on the application.

Further, on the counter electrode 122, an alignment film 214 having regions 214a and 214b subjected to different alignment processes is provided. Regions 214a, 214
b has been subjected to an alignment process so that the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules in contact with the alignment film 214 is different by 90 ° between the region 214a and the region 214b. As shown in FIG. Alternately, the region 214a is arranged to face the region 213a, and the region 214b is arranged to face the region 213b.

As the liquid crystal layer 203, the first embodiment is used.
Similarly to the above, a guest-host mode liquid crystal material is used, and here, a mixture of a black p-type dye as a dichroic dye and a nematic liquid crystal material having a positive dielectric anisotropy is used. . Here, the liquid crystal layer 2 sandwiched between the region 213a of the alignment film 213 and the region 214a of the alignment film 214
The orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules 203a in the region 213
And the region 214a, the region 213b and the region 21
4b and the liquid crystal molecules 203 in the liquid crystal layer 203 sandwiched between
The orientation direction of b is regulated by the region 213b and the region 214b. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules 203a and the liquid crystal molecules 20
3b, the orientation directions are orthogonal to each other, and regions of the liquid crystal layer having orthogonal orientation directions are alternately formed for each row of pixels on the entire display screen. Thereby, the liquid crystal layer 203
When no light is applied to the active matrix substrate, the polarization axis of light that enters the active matrix substrate 201 and passes through the polarizing layers 106 and 107 is parallel to the absorption axis of dichroic dye molecules over the entire display screen. . Therefore, TFT
When the TFT (not shown) is off, black display is performed. When the TFT is on, the liquid crystal layer 20 is removed from the polarizing layers 106 and 107.
The light incident on 3 can pass through the liquid crystal layer 203 without being absorbed by the dichroic dye molecules.

As an alignment treatment method for the alignment films 213 and 214, a photo-alignment method was used. As an alignment material, for example, a photosensitive resin polyvinyl cinnamate is applied on the substrate 101a of the active matrix substrate 201 and the substrate 102a of the counter substrate 202 so as to have a predetermined thickness, and an opening is provided for each pixel row according to the pixel shape. The mask in which the parts and the light-shielding parts are alternately arranged is superimposed on the applied alignment material, and ultraviolet (UV) light having linearly polarized light is irradiated vertically or obliquely to the polarization axis of the irradiated light. Region 2 with alignment direction along
13a, 213b, 214a and 214b were formed.

In the reflection type liquid crystal display device 200 having such a configuration, the light from the surroundings incident from the active matrix substrate 201 passes through the polarizing layers 106 and 107 to alternately change the polarization axis for each pixel row. The light is converted into orthogonal linearly polarized light, passes through the alignment film 213 and passes through the liquid crystal layer 2.
03. Since the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 203 is alternately orthogonal to each pixel row so as to correspond to the polarization axis of the polarizing layers 106 and 107, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules and the dichroic dye molecules is adjusted. By doing so, the amount of light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer 203 can be adjusted over the entire screen. Specifically, when the TFT is off, light is absorbed and black display is performed. On the other hand, when the TFT is in the ON state, light is emitted from the liquid crystal layer 203,
The light sequentially passes through the counter electrode 122 and the color filter 120 and reaches the light reflection layer 224.

The light reflected by the light reflection layer 224 follows the reverse optical path while maintaining the polarization direction, and again enters the polarization layers 106 and 107. Therefore, the polarizing layer 10
The polarization axes of 6 and 107 coincide with the polarization directions of the light incident thereon, and the polarizing layers 106 and 107 transmit the incident light and emit the light from the active matrix substrate 201. In this way, the light corresponding to the image for the right eye and the light corresponding to the image for the left eye are emitted as light having polarization axes orthogonal to each other.

In such a liquid crystal display device 200, the observer wears polarizing glasses (not shown) made of polarizing plates each having a polarizing axis corresponding to the polarizing axis of the polarizing layers 106 and 107.
Is attached, a three-dimensional image can be observed from the active matrix substrate 201 side. When the observer does not wear polarized glasses, the observer observes a two-dimensional image.

The display device 200 according to the second embodiment
Is a reflection type using ambient light, so that it is not necessary to use an illumination light source (backlight), and as a result, a stereoscopic image display device with low power consumption can be realized. Therefore, the applicable range of the three-dimensional image display device can be expanded to, for example, devices using a battery. Further, in the display device 200 according to the second embodiment, the opposing substrate 2
The light reflection layer 224 is formed on the inner surface of the substrate 02. Therefore, blurring of the pixel outline due to the shadow of the pixel due to the thickness of the transparent insulating substrate 102a does not occur, and good display quality can be obtained.

In the first and second embodiments, the reflection type liquid crystal display device for displaying a color image has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a reflective liquid crystal display device that performs black and white display. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, on the inner surface, an Al that doubles as a light reflection layer and a counter electrode is formed.
The transparent insulating substrate 102 a on which the light reflection layer 324 made of a metal material such as the above is formed can be used as the counter electrode 302. In this figure, the alignment film is omitted.

The display mode of the liquid crystal layer is not limited to the guest / host mode. For example, R-OCB (Refl
ective-Optically Compensated Bend) mode and STN
The present invention can be applied to a liquid crystal display device of a reflective display mode using a polarizing plate such as a TN mode or a TN mode.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration in which the polarizing layer or the polarizing layer and the retardation layer are arranged on the element-side substrate. For example, when the above-mentioned STN mode is used, two sheets are required. In order to realize the reflection mode using a polarizing plate, a polarizing layer is formed on the opposite substrate together with the element side substrate,
An element configuration in which light transmitted through the two polarizing layers is reflected by the light reflecting layer can be employed.

Further, in the first and second embodiments,
Each pixel group is composed of one row of pixels arranged in the horizontal direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. The above-described effect can be obtained even when one pixel group is configured by pixels of one column arranged in the vertical direction (that is, pixels connected to one source signal line). In this case, the polarizing layers 106 and 107 and the retardation layer 1
08, the region 109 having no phase difference providing function and the region 110 having the phase difference providing function, or the alignment films 213, 21
Four regions 213a, 213b, 214a and 214b are also arranged alternately for each pixel column. Alternatively, each pixel group may be composed of only one pixel, and the right-eye pixels and the left-eye pixels may be arranged in a checkered pattern (checkered flag shape) in which the pixels for the right and the left are distributed for each pixel in the vertical and horizontal directions. Alternatively, each pixel group may be composed of a plurality of rows of pixels or a plurality of columns of pixels. In this case, the resolution is reduced as compared with the case where each pixel group is constituted by one row of pixels or one column of pixels.

In the first and second embodiments, the active matrix substrate emits linearly polarized light having different polarization directions from the right-eye pixel and the left-eye pixel. However, circularly polarized light may be emitted instead of linearly polarized light. In this case, the retardation layer provided on the inner surface of the active matrix substrate is arranged on the light incident side of the polarizing layer also provided on the inner surface. More specifically, a phase difference layer including a region corresponding to a right-eye pixel (hereinafter, referred to as a right-eye region) and a region corresponding to a left-eye pixel (hereinafter, referred to as a left-eye region) Are arranged on the light incident side of the polarizing layer such that the region for the right eye corresponds to the polarizing layer for the right eye, and the region for the left eye corresponds to the polarizing layer for the left eye. At this time, the slow axis in the right-eye region of the retardation layer is arranged at an angle of 45 ° in a predetermined direction with respect to the polarization axis of the right-eye polarizing layer, and the slow axis in the left-eye region is It is arranged at an angle of 45 ° in a direction opposite to the above-mentioned predetermined direction with respect to the polarization axis of the ophthalmic polarizing layer. Therefore, the retardation layer has the same slow axis in the right-eye region and the left-eye region. The phase difference between the right eye area and the left eye area is １ ／
It is adjusted to be equal to the wavelength.

In the reflection type liquid crystal display device having such a configuration, the light is reflected by the light reflection layer provided on the opposite substrate, passes through the liquid crystal layer, and is emitted from the right-eye polarization layer and the left-eye polarization layer. The light is linearly polarized light whose polarization directions are orthogonal. This light is incident on the retardation layer, and is converted into circularly polarized light having opposite rotation directions in the right eye region and the left eye region. In this way, for example, right circularly polarized light is emitted from the right eye region and left circularly polarized light is emitted from the left eye region, and a circularly polarizing plate corresponding to the polarization state of each of these regions is provided. By attaching the polarized glasses to the left and right eyes, the left eye of the observer can enter only the image for the left eye, and the right eye can enter only the image for the right eye. In this case, even when the observer moves the head up and down or tilts, the images corresponding to both eyes enter. As a result, there is no crosstalk in which the image looks double,
A viewer can perceive a stereoscopic image with better display quality.

The reflection type liquid crystal display device of the present invention is not limited to a direct-viewing use such as a portable information terminal, but may be used for a projection use such as a projector and an OHP. However, when the reflective liquid crystal display device of the present invention is used, for example, as a display unit of a portable information terminal, it is very advantageous in that confidentiality of displayed information can be enhanced.
This is because information that requires confidentiality cannot be viewed by anyone other than the observer wearing polarized glasses if displayed as a stereoscopic image. The stereoscopic image appears to the observer's eyes who do not wear polarizing glasses only as a double blurred image.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By providing the interlayer insulating film with a polarization selecting function, crosstalk can be eliminated when displaying a three-dimensional image, and an image with a wide viewing angle can be obtained. As a result, display quality can be improved. Further, since a polarization selecting function is added to the interlayer insulating film, the manufacturing process can be shortened and cost can be reduced as compared with a case where a polarizing layer is separately formed.

Further, by providing a light reflection layer on the opposite substrate of the liquid crystal display device, a three-dimensional image display using the reflection type liquid crystal display device is realized. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide an illumination light source, and it is possible to reduce the power consumption while being thin and lightweight. Therefore, the field of use of the display device capable of displaying a three-dimensional image can be expanded.

In the liquid crystal display of the present invention,
The interlayer insulating film includes a plurality of regions each having at least one pixel and having a polarization selecting function, and these regions are arranged so that adjacent regions have different polarization axis directions.

The liquid crystal display device of the present invention can be used for a reflection type three-dimensional projector. In other words, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention can be used for both direct viewing and projection applications. In direct viewing applications, the active matrix substrate side is arranged so as to be positioned on the observer side.
It is arranged to be located on the light source side. As described above, according to the present invention, the field of use of a liquid crystal display device having a stereoscopic image display function can be further expanded.

Further, by forming the interlayer insulating film from a retardation layer having a function of giving a phase difference and a polarizing layer having a polarization selecting function, the light emitted from the liquid crystal display device is converted into circularly polarized light. be able to. For this reason, even when the observer wearing the polarizing glasses tilts his / her head, crosstalk does not occur. Therefore, the display quality when displaying a three-dimensional image can be further improved.

Furthermore, the reflection type liquid crystal display device of the present invention
Since the number of observers can be limited by wearing polarized glasses, it is suitable for displaying an image corresponding to information requiring confidentiality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a reflective liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of one pixel of an active matrix substrate in the reflection type liquid crystal display device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the active matrix substrate of FIG.
It is sectional drawing along the line.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a reflective liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another configuration of the counter substrate of the reflective liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of a conventional liquid crystal display device having a stereoscopic display function using polarized glasses.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating how crosstalk occurs in the liquid crystal display device of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100, 200 Reflective liquid crystal display device 101, 201 Active matrix substrate 102, 202, 302 Opposite substrate 101a, 102a Transparent insulating substrate 103, 203 Liquid crystal layer 104 Gate signal wiring 105 Gate insulating film 106, 107 Polarizing layer 108 Phase difference layer 111 Antireflection layer 112 Pixel electrode 113a, 113b, 213, 214 Alignment film 120 Color filter 122 Counter electrode 124, 224, 324 Light reflection layer

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal display device having a display screen including a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels include a right-eye pixel and a left-eye pixel, and the device includes a switching element and a wiring. An element-side substrate having an interlayer insulating film provided thereon, a pixel electrode provided on the interlayer insulating film, a counter electrode and a light reflection layer, wherein the counter electrode is A counter substrate disposed so as to face the pixel electrode of the side substrate, wherein the interlayer insulating film includes a first region disposed so as to correspond to the right-eye pixel; A second region arranged to correspond to the pixel for the left eye, wherein the first region selectively transmits the first polarized light, and the second region includes the second region. A liquid crystal display device, wherein a second polarized light different from the first polarized light is selectively transmitted. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interlayer insulating film includes a polarizing layer and a retardation layer, the polarizing layer selectively transmitting the first polarized light in the first region, and The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the second polarized light is selectively transmitted in a region, and the retardation layer provides a phase difference only in the first region. 3. The liquid crystal display device further includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the element-side substrate and the counter substrate, wherein the first polarized light transmitted through the polarizing layer is the phase difference. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein the phase difference is given by a layer and converted into the second polarized light, whereby the second polarized light is incident on the liquid crystal layer over the entire display screen. 4. The liquid crystal display device further includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the element-side substrate and the counter substrate, wherein the liquid crystal layer is a first liquid crystal layer corresponding to the right-eye pixel. A liquid crystal layer region and a second liquid crystal layer region corresponding to the pixel for the left eye, wherein liquid crystal molecules of the first liquid crystal layer region selectively modulate the first polarized light. 2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal molecules in the second liquid crystal layer region are oriented so as to selectively modulate the second polarized light. 5. A liquid crystal display device having a display screen including a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels include a right-eye pixel and a left-eye pixel, and the device includes a switching element and a wiring. An element-side substrate having an interlayer insulating film provided thereon, a pixel electrode provided on the interlayer insulating film, a counter electrode and a light reflection layer, wherein the counter electrode is A counter substrate disposed so as to face the pixel electrode of the side substrate; and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the element side substrate and the counter substrate. And a second area arranged to correspond to the left-eye pixel, and a first area in the first area arranged to correspond to the left-eye pixel. Is selectively transmitted, and in the second region, the first polarized light is The second polarized light is selectively transmitted, and the liquid crystal layer modulates a transmission amount of at least one of the first polarized light and the second polarized light incident on the liquid crystal layer from the interlayer insulating film. Liquid crystal display. 6. The plurality of pixels are divided into a plurality of pixel groups each including at least one pixel displaying the same image, and the plurality of pixel groups are divided into right-eye pixels. The group and the group of left-eye pixels are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other.
The liquid crystal display device according to any one of the above. 7. The plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix, and each of the pixel groups includes one row of pixels arranged in a horizontal direction or one column of pixels arranged in a vertical direction. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6, wherein: 8. The liquid crystal display device further includes a liquid crystal layer interposed between the element-side substrate and the counter substrate, wherein the interlayer insulating film includes a retardation layer, and a liquid crystal layer. Also comprises a polarizing layer disposed on the side closer to the liquid crystal layer, and the retardation layer converts the first linearly polarized light from the polarizing layer into a first circularly polarized light in the first region. 2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the second linearly polarized light from the polarizing layer is converted into a second circularly polarized light different from the first circularly polarized light in the second region.