JPH10268290A - Liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reflection type liquid crystal display device capable of making the brightness of a screen sufficiently high even though the device is the reflection type display device displaying the picture by utilizing outer lights as the liquid crystal display device provided with color filters. SOLUTION: In the reflection type liquid crystal display device provided with a reflection member 23 at the rear side of a liquid crystal panel, the brightness of the screen is raised by providing color filters 15R, 15G, 15B while making them correspond to respective pixel areas where pixel electrodes 3 and counter electrodes 18 are opposed and by making interpixel areas B areas B where incident lights from a device front surface are reflected to be emitted to the front surface and, moreover, by forming the counter electrodes 18 in such shapes that parts to which gate lines 10 are opposed in among parts corresponding to the interpixel areas B are omitted and by keeping luminances of outgoing lights of the interpixel areas B always high while making electric fields so as not act on liquid crystal of the interpixel areas B and by raising luminance of the whole of the screen with lights emitting from the interpixel areas B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reflection type liquid crystal display device having a color filter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are two types of liquid crystal display devices: a transmissive type that displays by using light from a backlight, and a reflective type that displays by using external light such as natural light or indoor illumination light. The reflection type liquid crystal display device has a reflector on the back side for reflecting external light incident from the front side of the device.

In general, a liquid crystal display device has a TN (Twisted Nematic) in which liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are twist-aligned at a predetermined twist angle between both substrates.
In the TN method, polarizing plates are arranged on the outer surface of the one substrate and the outer surface of the other substrate, respectively, with their transmission axes directed in a predetermined direction.

In a liquid crystal display device for displaying a color image, one of the inner surfaces of the pair of substrates is provided with a plurality of colors having an area covering the entire area of each of the pixel areas in correspondence with each of the pixel areas. Color filters, for example, three color filters of red, green and blue, or magenta,
The three color filters of yellow and cyan are alternately arranged so that the color filters of the respective colors correspond to adjacent pixel regions, respectively.
A light-shielding film called a black mask for preventing light leaking from between the pixels is provided corresponding to a portion between the pixel regions.

[0005]

However, a conventional liquid crystal display device having a color filter has a problem that its screen is dark. This is because the light that passes through each pixel region and is emitted is light that is colored in the color of the color filter by a color filter that absorbs light outside the specific wavelength band and transmits only light in the specific wavelength band. ,
This is because the intensity of the colored outgoing light with respect to the incident light becomes extremely weak, the luminance of the displayed color pixel is low, and the aperture ratio is low because the pixel areas are shielded from light by the black mask.

This problem can be alleviated to some extent by increasing the brightness of the backlight in the case of a transmissive display device. However, in the case of a reflective liquid crystal display device which displays using external light, Since the intensity of the incident external light is not always high, it is difficult to obtain a bright screen.

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device having a color filter, which is capable of sufficiently increasing the brightness of a screen, even if it is a reflective display device that displays by using external light. It is intended for that purpose.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a reflection type liquid crystal display device having a reflector on the back side, and has an inner surface of one of a pair of front and back substrates opposed to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. A plurality of pixel electrodes, a plurality of active elements respectively connected to the pixel electrodes, and a control signal supply line for supplying a control signal for controlling the on / off of the active elements, On the inner surface of the substrate, a counter electrode facing each pixel electrode is provided, and a color filter is provided corresponding to each pixel region in which each pixel electrode and the counter electrode face each other. The inter-pixel region between the pixel regions is a region that reflects incident light from the front surface of the device and emits the light to the front surface,
The counter electrode is formed in a shape in which at least a portion of the portion corresponding to the inter-pixel region facing the control signal supply line is missing.

According to the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, the light incident on the area between the pixel areas is reflected and emitted to the front. The light is high-color non-colored light that does not pass through a color filter provided corresponding to the pixel region.

Further, since the counter electrode is formed in a shape in which at least a portion of the portion corresponding to the inter-pixel region facing the control signal supply line is missing, a liquid crystal layer in the inter-pixel region is formed. Since the electric field that changes the alignment state of the molecules does not act on the light, the intensity of the light emitted from the inter-pixel region is always kept high.

Therefore, according to this liquid crystal display device,
The brightness of the entire screen can be raised by the light emitted from the area between the pixel areas, and the brightness of the screen can be sufficiently increased.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As described above, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention is provided with the color filters corresponding to the respective pixel regions, and the portion between the respective pixel regions is provided with the incident light from the front of the device. A region for reflection and emission to the front surface, and further, a control signal for controlling the on / off of at least an active element of a counter electrode facing each pixel electrode in a portion corresponding to the inter-pixel region. By forming the control signal supply line to be supplied into a shape in which the facing portion is missing, an electric field that changes the alignment state of the molecule does not act on the liquid crystal layer in the inter-pixel region, The intensity of the light emitted from the inter-pixel region is always kept high, and the brightness of the screen is increased.

The present invention is particularly effective for a so-called normally white mode liquid crystal display device in which a display in a state where no electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer is a bright display. Further, in the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, it is preferable that the area of the color filter provided corresponding to each pixel region is smaller than the area of the pixel region. If it is smaller, a color pixel can be displayed with high-luminance uncolored light that does not pass through a color filter and light that has been colored by the color filter to improve the brightness of the pixel, and can be transmitted through the pixel area. The probability that some or all of the light that is incident and transmitted through other pixel regions adjacent to it and emitted through both of the color filters in these pixel regions is reduced, is bright, and has high color purity and high quality. Can be displayed.

In this case, it is desirable that the color filter be provided in correspondence with an inner region excluding the peripheral portion of the pixel region. If such a color filter is provided, light transmitted through the peripheral portion of the pixel region can be reduced. Since it is not colored, the incident light transmitted through the pixel area is not absorbed by the color filters of the adjacent pixel areas, so that the amount of emitted light can be increased and the display element can be brightened, and the occurrence of color mixing can be reduced. Can be prevented.

[0015]

1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a part of a liquid crystal display device, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the shape of a counter electrode, and FIG. Is III- in Fig. 1.
1. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG.

The liquid crystal display device of this embodiment is of an active matrix type using a TFT (thin film transistor) as an active element, and a pair of substrates (a transparent substrate made of a glass plate or the like) facing each other with a liquid crystal layer LC interposed therebetween. ) 1,2
Among them, on the inner surface of the rear substrate 2, transparent pixel electrodes 3 are provided in a matrix, and a plurality of active elements (hereinafter, referred to as TFTs) 4 connected to the pixel electrodes 3 are provided. Is provided.

In FIG. 1, the electrode (R) is a pixel electrode for displaying a red pixel, the electrode (G) is a pixel electrode for displaying a green pixel, and the electrode (B) is a blue pixel. These pixel electrodes 3 are arranged alternately in the row direction (the horizontal direction of the screen) and are arranged in the column direction (the vertical direction of the screen) to display pixels of the same color. They are alternately shifted in the row direction by about 1.5 pitches and are arranged in zigzag.

The TFT 4 is formed on the back substrate 2, a gate electrode 5, a gate insulating film 6 covering the gate electrode 5, and formed on the gate insulating film 6 so as to face the gate electrode 5. And a source electrode 8 and a drain electrode 9 formed on both sides of the i-type semiconductor film 7 via an n-type semiconductor film (not shown).

On the back substrate 2, a control signal (hereinafter, referred to as a gate signal) for controlling the on / off of the TFTs 4 in each row is provided along one side of each pixel electrode row. A control signal supply line (hereinafter, referred to as a gate line) 10 to be supplied is wired, and a TFT of each row is provided.
Each of the four gate electrodes 5 is formed integrally with a gate line 10 corresponding to the row.

The gate insulating film (transparent film) 6 of the TFT 4 is formed over substantially the entire surface of the substrate 2, and the gate line 10 is covered with the gate insulating film 6 except for its terminal. .

On the gate insulating film 6, each TFT 4 of each column is arranged along one side of each pixel electrode column.
(A data signal supply line (hereinafter referred to as a data line) 11) is provided, and the drain electrode 9 of the TFT 4 in each column is connected to the data line 11 corresponding to the column. linked.

The data lines 11 are arranged in a meandering manner along each pixel electrode column (a zigzag pixel electrode column) for displaying pixels of the same color, and are arranged vertically along the side edges of the pixel electrodes 3 in each row. The horizontal wiring section connecting the wiring sections is wired in parallel with the gate line 10 between adjacent pixel electrode rows.

In this embodiment, the data line 11 is wired on the gate insulating film 6, and the drain electrodes 9 of the TFTs 4 in each column are connected to the data line 1 corresponding to the column.
1, but the data line 11 is
The TFT 4 may be covered with an insulating film and wired thereon, and may be connected to the drain electrode 9 of the TFT 4 at a contact hole provided in the insulating film.

The pixel electrode 3 is formed on the gate insulating film 6, and this pixel electrode 3 is connected to the source electrode 9 of the corresponding TFT 4 at one side edge.

Further, on the back substrate 2, a compensation capacitance forming electrode (hereinafter referred to as a capacitance) facing each pixel electrode 3 of the row with the gate insulating film 6 interposed corresponding to each pixel electrode row. 12 are provided.
The capacitance forming electrode 12, the pixel electrode 3, and the gate insulating film 6 between them constitute a compensation capacitor (storage capacitor) for compensating the fluctuation of the potential of the pixel electrode 3 during the non-selection period.
Are formed.

The pixel electrode 3 is a vertically long rectangular electrode having a slightly larger vertical width than its horizontal width. The capacitance forming electrode 12 is located on the opposite side of the pixel electrode 3 from the TFT connection side. The gate line 10 is formed in parallel with the gate line 10 so as to face a portion slightly offset from the edge to the inside of the pixel electrode.

The gate line 10, the capacitance forming electrode 12 and the gate line 11 are formed of a metal film having a low resistance and a high light reflectance, for example, an Al--Ti alloy or an Al--N
It is formed of an Al (aluminum) alloy film such as d alloy.

Further, the gate line 10 and the capacitance forming electrode 12 are formed on the pixel electrode 3 formed on the gate insulating film 6.
In order to increase the withstand voltage between the gate line 10 and the data line 11, the surface is anodized. Although not shown in the figure, the gate line 10 and the capacitance forming electrode 12 are formed by anodic oxidation. Covered with a transparent oxide film.

On the inner surface of the back substrate 2, there is provided a transparent overcoat insulating film 13 which covers the TFT 4, the data lines 11 and the peripheral portion of the pixel electrode 3, on which an alignment film 14 is formed. Have been.

On the other hand, on the inner surface of the substrate 1 on the front side, red, green,
The three blue color filters 15R, 15G, and 15B are provided alternately in the row direction and the column direction.
The TFTs 4 of the back substrate 2 are respectively associated with TFTs 4.
A light-shielding film 16 (see FIG. 1) having an area covering only the FT portion is provided.

The light-shielding film 16 is for shielding light of the external light from the front surface of the device, which is incident on the TFT portion, in order to prevent the TFT 4 from malfunctioning due to light. The light-shielding film 16 is colored black. In this embodiment, the light shielding film 16 is made of pure A.
The light shielding film 16 also serves as a reflection film that reflects incident light from the front surface of the device.

On the inner surface of the front substrate 1, the color filters 15R, 15G, 15B and the light shielding film 16 are provided.
A transparent protective film (insulating film) 17 is provided so as to cover the pixel electrodes 3. Are provided, and an alignment film 19 is formed thereon.

The color filters 15R, 15G, 15
B denotes a color filter having a size smaller than the area of the pixel region A in which the pixel electrode 3 and the counter electrode 18 face each other. In this embodiment, the color filters 15 of the respective colors are used.
R, 15G, and 15B are provided so as to correspond to the inner regions except for the peripheral portion of each pixel region A. FIG.
Although the shape of the color filters 15R, 15G, and 15B is rectangular in this embodiment, the shape of the color filters may be circular, elliptical, oval, or the like.

These color filters 15R, 15G,
15B is provided so as to face the region on the TFT connection side rather than the portion where the capacitance forming electrode 12 of the pixel electrode 3 formed in a vertically long rectangular shape faces, and therefore, the capacitance forming electrode 12 of the pixel region A is provided. The distance from the edge on the side (the upper edge in FIG. 1) to the color filters 15R, 15G, and 15B is greater than the distance from the other three edges of the pixel area A to the color filters 15R, 15G, and 15B. Is also big.

The counter electrode 18 is provided in each pixel area A
Of the portion corresponding to the pixel-to-pixel region B, the gate line 10 is formed in a shape in which at least a portion facing the gate line 10 is omitted. The counter electrode 18 is formed in a band shape for each pixel electrode row so as to face each pixel electrode 3 of the row, and the electrodes corresponding to each pixel electrode row are formed in a display area (screen area). They are connected to each other on the outside.

The reason why the counter electrode 18 is formed in such a shape is to prevent an electric field that changes the alignment state of the molecules from acting on the liquid crystal layer in the inter-pixel region B.

That is, the gate signal supplied to the gate line 10 is a signal having a waveform such that the potential of the gate line turns on the TFT 4 during the selection period of the corresponding pixel row, and the selection period is extremely short. Since the potential at this time is considerably high, if the gate line 10 and the counter electrode 18 face each other, the gate line 10
A high electric field corresponding to the potential difference between the
The alignment state is changed so that the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer where the data line of the gate line 10 is not formed rise up with respect to the substrates 1 and 2.

However, if the counter electrode 18 is formed in a shape in which the portion facing the gate line 10 is omitted as described above, the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules is changed in the region corresponding to the gate line 10. No electric field works.

In this embodiment, the gate line 10
A notch is formed in the portion of the opposing electrode 18 along the pixel electrode 3 so that the opposing electrode 18 does not oppose it. However, since the opposing electrode 18 opposes the vertical wiring portion along the side edge of the pixel electrode 3. The vertical wiring portion of the data line 11 and the counter electrode 18
An electric field is also generated between the two.

However, the data signal supplied to the data line 11 is a signal having a waveform whose potential changes in accordance with the display data, the potential is lower than the ON potential of the gate signal, and the data line 11 Since the overcoat insulating film 1 is covered with the coat insulating film 13,
3, the electric field generated between the counter electrode 18 and the data line 11 is small.

Therefore, even if the opposing electrode 18 is opposed to the vertical wiring portion of the data line 11, the change in the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules is small due to the electric field generated therebetween. It is sufficient that at least a portion of the portion to be opposed to the gate line 10 is omitted.

However, the counter electrode 18 may be formed in a shape in which a portion where both the gate line 10 and the data line 11 face each other is missing, and a portion of the counter electrode 18 where the data line 11 faces is also missing. If so, data line 1
The change in the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the region corresponding to 1 can be more reliably prevented.

The alignment films 14 and 19 provided on the inner surfaces of the pair of substrates 1 and 2 are each subjected to an alignment treatment by rubbing the film surfaces in a predetermined direction. The alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer LC in the vicinity of each of the substrates 1 and 2 is regulated by the alignment film 14 of the back substrate 2 and the alignment film 19 of the front substrate 1. Corner (for example, approximately 9
0 °).

Further, polarizing plates 21 and 22 are disposed on the outer surfaces of the pair of substrates 1 and 2, respectively, and these polarizing plates 21 and 22 have their transmission axes oriented in predetermined directions. It is provided in.

The liquid crystal display of this embodiment has a liquid crystal layer LC
Is a so-called normally white mode in which a display in a state where an electric field is not applied to the liquid crystal panel (a state in which liquid crystal molecules are aligned in an initial twist alignment state) is a bright display. The direction of the transmission axis is such that incident light is transmitted through the front-side polarizing plate 21, the liquid crystal layer LC, and the back-side polarizing plate 22, is reflected, and is sequentially transmitted through the back-side polarizing plate 22, the liquid crystal layer LC, and the front-side polarizing plate 21. When the light is emitted, or when the incident light is transmitted through and reflected by the front-side polarizing plate 21 and the liquid crystal layer LC, and is sequentially transmitted and emitted through the liquid-crystal layer LC and the front-side polarizing plate 21, the normally white mode display is performed. Is set to obtain.

Behind the rear polarizer 22, pure Al, an Al-based alloy, Ag is used as a reflector for reflecting light that has entered the liquid crystal display device from the front side and transmitted through the liquid crystal layer LC. Highly reflective reflector 2 made of a metal plate such as (silver)
3 are arranged. It is desirable that the reflection plate 23 is a scattering reflection plate whose reflection surface is roughened.

This liquid crystal display device performs a reflection type display using external light. Of the external light incident from the front surface, the light incident on each pixel region A passes through its transmission path as shown in FIG. As shown by the broken line arrow L1, the reflection plate 2 sequentially transmits through the front-side polarizing plate 21, the liquid crystal layer LC, and the back-side polarizing plate 22.
The light is then transmitted through the rear polarizer 22, the liquid crystal layer LC, and the front polarizer 21, and is emitted to the front.

Of the light incident on the pixel region A, the light incident on the compensation capacitance portion facing the capacitance forming electrode 12 is, as shown by the broken line arrow L2 in FIG. And the liquid crystal layer LC are sequentially transmitted and reflected on the surface of the capacitance forming electrode 12, sequentially transmitted through the liquid crystal layer LC and the front-side polarizing plate 21 and emitted to the front.

The inter-pixel area B between the pixel areas A
Is a region that reflects incident light from the front surface of the device and emits the light to the front surface. Of the light incident on the inter-pixel region B, a portion where the gate line 10 and the data line 11 are wired and a capacitor The light incident on the portion where the forming electrode 12 passes (hereinafter, these portions are collectively referred to as a wiring portion) has its transmission path indicated by a broken line arrow L3 in FIG. The light is sequentially transmitted through the layer LC, is reflected on one of the surfaces of the capacitance forming electrodes 12 of the gate line 10 and the data line 11, and is sequentially transmitted through the liquid crystal layer LC and the front polarizer 21 to be emitted to the front.

The light incident on the area other than the wiring section of the inter-pixel area B passes through the front polarizing plate 21, the liquid crystal layer LC, and the back polarizing plate 22 sequentially, though the transmission path is not shown. The light is reflected by the reflection plate 23, passes through the back-side polarizing plate 22, the liquid crystal layer LC, and the front-side polarizing plate 21, and is emitted to the front.

In FIG. 5, the light incident direction is a direction close to the direction perpendicular to the front of the device. However, the reflection type liquid crystal display device is obliquely above the screen, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the front of the device. It is common to select the screen orientation so that more external light enters from the direction inclined toward the upper edge of the screen.

That is, the transmission path of the incident light of the liquid crystal display device is different between a region other than the compensation capacitor portion in the pixel region A and a region other than the wiring portion in the inter-pixel region B.
This is the same as a reflection type liquid crystal display device of a two-panel polarizing plate type having polarizing plates on the front and back sides. In the compensation capacitance portion of the pixel region A and the wiring portion of the inter-pixel region B, a polarizing plate is provided only on the front side. This is the same as the reflection type liquid crystal display device of the single polarizing plate type provided.

According to this liquid crystal display device, the light incident on the inter-pixel region B between the pixel regions A is reflected and emitted to the front. The light is high-color non-colored light that does not pass through the color filters 15R, 15G, and 15B provided corresponding to the pixel region A.

In this liquid crystal display device, the counter electrode 1
8 is formed in a shape in which at least a portion of the portion corresponding to the inter-pixel region B facing the gate line 10 is omitted, the orientation state of the molecules is changed in the liquid crystal layer of the inter-pixel region B. Since the electric field does not act, the brightness of the light emitted from the inter-pixel region B is always kept high.

Therefore, according to this liquid crystal display device,
The brightness of the entire screen can be raised by light emitted from the area B between the pixel areas A, and the brightness of the screen can be sufficiently increased.

In this embodiment, the inter-pixel area B
The transmission path of the light incident on the wiring portion is the same as that of the single-polarizer type liquid crystal display device, and therefore, the amount of light absorbed by the polarizer in this portion is small, so that the inter-pixel region B Of the emitted light can be made higher. In this embodiment, each TF is provided on the inner surface of the front substrate 1.
Since the light-shielding films 16 provided corresponding to T4 also reflect the incident light from the front surface of the device, the inter-pixel region B can be made bright over the entire periphery of the pixel region A.

Moreover, in the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment,
Since the areas of the color filters 15R, 15G, and 15B provided corresponding to the respective pixel areas A are smaller than the areas of the pixel areas A, the color filters 15R, 15G of the light incident on the respective pixel areas A are included. , And 15B are absorbed by the color filter and colored by absorbing the light in the absorption wavelength range, and the light that is incident on the regions outside the color filters 15R, 15G, and 15B is not colored. .

That is, according to this liquid crystal display device, since the area of the color filters 15R, 15G, 15B is smaller than the area of the pixel area A, the color filters 15R, 15G, 15B of the light transmitted through the pixel area A are used. Only the light incident on the color filter absorbs the light in the absorption wavelength range and is colored by the color filter, and the other light is transmitted as it is with high brightness uncolored light without being absorbed by the color filter. And the colored light, the color pixel is displayed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing display pixels of the liquid crystal display device. Each pixel A is displayed in a bright background B 'by high-luminance uncolored light emitted from the inter-pixel region B.
The outer shape of the display pixel A 'is the same as that of the pixel area A, but only the central area is a colored area a of red, green, or blue colored with the color of the color filter, and the peripheral area is high. This is an uncolored area b of luminance. Note that this display pixel A '
Indicates to the human eye that the entire display pixel A 'is a single color pixel colored in the color of the colored region a.

Therefore, according to the above liquid crystal display device, the color pixels to be displayed are the color filters 15R, 15G,
It is a pixel that is colored 15B and has sufficient luminance.
Therefore, although it is a reflective liquid crystal display device, a sufficiently bright color image can be displayed, and the screen is further brightened by a synergistic effect with the increase in the screen brightness by the light emitted from the inter-pixel region B. be able to.

In this embodiment, the transmission path of the compensation capacitor in the pixel area A is the same as that of a reflection type liquid crystal display device of a single-polarizer type having a polarizer only on the front side. Since the decrease in the amount of light due to the absorption by the polarizing plate is small, the luminance of the light emitted from the pixel region A is made higher than that of the reflective liquid crystal display device of the entire two-pixel polarizing plate type. Can be.

Further, in this liquid crystal display device, since the area of the color filters 15R, 15G, 15B is smaller than the area of the pixel region A, the direction of incidence of external light is oblique to the direction perpendicular to the front of the device. Even if the incident light transmitted through the periphery of the pixel area A is transmitted through another adjacent pixel area A and emitted, the probability that the light passes through both of the color filters of these pixel areas A is small, Therefore, a high-quality color image can be displayed by increasing the amount of emitted light and reducing the occurrence of color mixing.

That is, in the reflection type liquid crystal display device, if the light incident from the front surface is the incident light obliquely inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the front surface of the device, it transmits through the peripheral portion of the pixel region. In the conventional reflective liquid crystal display device in which the color filter corresponds to the entire pixel region, the light reflected by the light enters the adjacent pixel region of another color. The light incident on the pixel area of another color that is adjacent to the color area is subjected to additive color mixture to perform color display, red,
In a liquid crystal display device having three color filters of green and blue, the three color filters of magenta, yellow, and cyan are not absorbed and emitted by the color filters of the two pixel regions, and perform color display by subtractive color mixture. In a liquid crystal display device having a color filter of a color, light obliquely incident on the peripheral portion of the above-described pixel region passes through the two color filters to cause color mixing. According to the device, such light absorption and color mixing hardly occur.

In this embodiment, the color filters 15R, 15G, and 15B are provided so as to correspond to the area inside the pixel area A except for the peripheral portion.
The light transmitted through the peripheral portion of the pixel region is not colored, and therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the loss of the output light and the occurrence of color mixing due to the incident light transmitted through the pixel region A being incident on another adjacent pixel region A. be able to.

Further, as described above, the reflection type liquid crystal display device is generally used by selecting the orientation of the screen so that more external light enters obliquely from above the screen. Most of the light transmitted through the periphery of A and transmitted through another adjacent pixel region A and transmitted through the vicinity of the lower edge of the pixel region A in a row above the pixel region A is incident. In this embodiment, the color filters 15R, 15G, and 15B are formed of light, and the color filters 15R, 15G, and 15B are formed of a vertically long rectangular shape.
Since the distance from the edge of the pixel area A on the side where the capacitance forming electrode 12 is provided to the color filters 15R, 15G, and 15B is increased by providing the area opposite to the area on the FT connection side, the screen area can be reduced. The space between the color filters in each pixel region A arranged in the vertical direction is large, and therefore,
Even if incident light transmitted near the lower edge of the pixel region A in the upper row passes through the pixel area A in the lower row and exits, the light does not pass through the color filters 15R, 15G, and 15B. Further, it is possible to more reliably eliminate the loss of the emitted light and the occurrence of color mixing.

In the above embodiment, the pixel electrodes are shifted by 1.5 pitches, the data lines are arranged in a zigzag manner between the pixels, and the data lines are formed so as to partially overlap the gate lines. Are most suitable for an active matrix type liquid crystal display device which is arranged without shifting the arrangement pitch of the pixel electrodes and is arranged so that gate lines and data lines intersect. In this case, since no data line is formed on the gate line except for the crossing part, between the gate electrode and the counter electrode,
Although a strong electric field is applied, the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer in the portion corresponding to the gate line can be substantially eliminated by removing the counter electrode in the portion corresponding to the gate line, The amount of light emitted from the liquid crystal display element can be increased by preventing the change in the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a part of a liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, each pixel electrode provided on the inner surface of the backside substrate 2 is a pixel electrode 3a which is also made of a metal film of high reflectivity such as pure Al, an Al-based alloy, Ag, etc., which also serves as a reflection film. The configuration of the first
This is the same as the embodiment.

In this liquid crystal display device, the pixel electrode 3a
Is a reflection film, of the external light incident from the front of the device, the light incident on each pixel region A sequentially passes through the front-side polarizing plate 21 and the liquid crystal layer LC, is reflected by the pixel electrode 3a, and is reflected by the liquid crystal. The light sequentially passes through the layer LC and the front polarizing plate 21 and is emitted to the front.

The transmission path of the light incident on the inter-pixel region B is the same as in the first embodiment, and the wiring portion (the gate line 10 and the data line 11
Incident on the portion where the wiring is formed and the portion where the capacitance forming electrode 12 passes), the light sequentially passes through the front side polarizing plate 21 and the liquid crystal layer LC, and passes through the gate line 10 and the data line 1.
1 and the surface of the capacitance forming electrode 12, and are sequentially transmitted through the liquid crystal layer LC and the front-side polarizing plate 21 and emitted to the front. The light incident on the area other than the wiring section in the inter-pixel area B sequentially passes through the front-side polarizing plate 21, the liquid crystal layer LC, and the back-side polarizing plate 22, is reflected by the reflecting plate 23, and is reflected by the back-side polarizing plate 22. , The liquid crystal layer LC, and the front-side polarizing plate 21 to sequentially transmit the light to the front surface.

That is, the transmission path of the incident light of the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment is a reflection type liquid crystal of a two-panel polarizing plate type having a polarizing plate on the front and back in a region other than the wiring portion in the inter-pixel region B. It is the same as the display device, but the wiring portion in the entire pixel region A and the inter-pixel region B is the same as a single-polarizer reflective liquid crystal display device having a polarizer only on the front side.

Therefore, according to this liquid crystal display device,
Since the decrease in the amount of light due to absorption by the polarizing plate can be reduced over the entire pixel region A, the brightness of the display pixels can be further increased as compared with the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a part of a liquid crystal display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a reflector that reflects incident light transmitted through each of the pixel regions A and the inter-pixel regions B is provided on the inner surface of the back substrate 2.

That is, the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment is
On the inner surface of the back substrate 2, there is provided a reflective film 24 made of a metal film having a high reflectivity, such as pure Al, an Al-based alloy, or Ag, and the reflective film 24 is covered with a transparent insulating film 25, and a gate is formed thereon. In this embodiment, a line 10, a TFT 4, a data line 11, and a transparent pixel electrode 3 are provided. In this embodiment, a polarizing plate 21 is provided only on the outer surface of the front substrate 1.

In this embodiment, the reflection film 24 also serves as a capacitance forming electrode, and the reflection film 24, the insulating film 25 covering the reflection film 24, the gate insulating film 6 thereon, and the pixel electrode 3 compensate. A capacitor is formed, and therefore, the capacitor forming electrode 1 provided in the first and second embodiments is provided.
There is no 2.

This liquid crystal display device is also of a normally white mode, and the direction of the transmission axis of the polarizing plate 21 is
The display is set to be a bright display in a state where no electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer LC (a state in which liquid crystal molecules are aligned in an initial twist alignment state). In this embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof will be omitted.

According to the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment, since the reflection film 24 is provided on the inner surface of the back substrate 2, the transmission paths of both the pixel region A and the inter-pixel region B have a polarizing plate only on the front side. This is the same as the reflection type liquid crystal display device of the single polarizing plate type provided, and therefore, in both the pixel region A and the inter-pixel region B, the decrease in the amount of light due to the absorption by the polarizing plate is reduced, and the brightness and the The screen brightness can be further increased.

In the third embodiment, the pixel electrode 3
Is a transparent electrode, but this pixel electrode may be an electrode also serving as a reflective film. In this case, the reflective film 24 is formed only in correspondence with the inter-pixel region B, and an insulating film 25 covering the reflective film 24 is formed. A capacitance forming electrode may be provided between the gate insulating film 6 and a part of each pixel electrode 3 to form a compensation capacitance.

The liquid crystal display device of each of the embodiments described above is of the active matrix type using the TFT 4 as an active element. However, the present invention relates to an active matrix using a two-terminal non-linear resistance element such as a MIM as an active element. In this case, each pixel electrode provided in a matrix on one substrate and a plurality of counter electrodes provided on the inner surface of the other substrate so as to face each pixel electrode row. A pixel-to-pixel region between the pixel regions facing each other is a region that reflects incident light from the front surface of the device and emits to the front surface, and the counter electrode is a portion of the portion corresponding to the pixel-to-pixel region. At least a portion of a control signal supply line for supplying a control signal for controlling ON / OFF of the MIM to the MIM is formed in a shape in which a portion facing the control signal supply line is omitted. Region and raised the brightness of the entire screen by light emitted, it is possible to sufficiently increase the screen brightness.

Also in the case of this liquid crystal display device, if the area of the color filter provided corresponding to each pixel region is made smaller than the area of the pixel region, as in the above embodiment, sufficient brightness can be obtained. Moreover, there is almost no color mixing,
A high-quality color image can be displayed.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the inter-pixel region B
The entire area is a region that reflects the incident light from the front surface of the device and emits the light to the front surface, but the region that reflects the incident light is
A part of the inter-pixel region B, for example, each pixel region A
Or only portions along both side edges or upper and lower edges.

[0081]

According to the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, a color filter is provided in correspondence with each pixel region, and an inter-pixel region between each pixel region is formed by reflecting incident light from the front surface of the device. A control signal for supplying a control signal for controlling on / off of at least an active element of a portion corresponding to the inter-pixel region, wherein the counter electrode facing the pixel electrode is a region emitting light to the front surface; The supply line is formed in a shape in which the opposing portion is omitted, so that an electric field that changes the alignment state of the molecules does not act on the liquid crystal layer in the inter-pixel region, and the inter-pixel region is prevented from acting. Since the brightness of the emitted light is always kept high, even in the case of a reflective display device that displays by using external light, the brightness of the entire screen is raised to enhance the brightness of the screen. It can be increased to.

In the liquid crystal display of the present invention,
If the area of the color filter is smaller than the area of the pixel region, a color pixel is displayed by high-luminance uncolored light that does not pass through the color filter and light colored by the color filter to improve the brightness of the pixel. In addition to the above, the light can be transmitted through the pixel area, enter the adjacent pixel areas of other colors, and be absorbed by both of the two color filters of these pixel areas. Is prevented, and a high-quality color image with good color purity can be displayed.

In this case, it is desirable that the color filter be provided in correspondence with an inner region excluding the peripheral portion of the pixel region. If such a color filter is provided, light transmitted through the peripheral portion of the pixel region is reduced. Since coloring is not performed, the probability that incident light transmitted through the pixel region enters another adjacent pixel region is reduced, and loss of emitted light and occurrence of color mixing can be more reliably prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a part of a liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a shape of a counter electrode of the liquid crystal display element.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing display pixels of the liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a part of a liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a part of a liquid crystal display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference numerals 1, 2 ... substrate 3 ... pixel electrode 3a ... pixel electrode also serving as a reflection film 4 ... TFT (active element) 10 ... gate line 11 ... data line 12 ... compensation capacitance forming electrode 15R, 15G, 15B ... color filter 16 ... light shielding film DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 17 ... Protective film 18 ... Counter electrode 21, 22 ... Polarizer 23 ... Reflector 24 ... Reflective film A ... Pixel area A '... Display pixel a ... Colored area b ... Uncolored area B ... Inter-pixel area B' ... Bright background

Claims (4)

[Claims] In a reflection type liquid crystal display device having a reflector on the back side, a plurality of pixel electrodes are formed on the inner surface of one of a pair of front and back substrates which face each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. A plurality of active elements respectively connected to the pixel electrodes, and a control signal supply line for supplying a control signal for controlling on / off of the active elements to the active elements are provided. A counter electrode facing the pixel electrode is provided, and a color filter is provided so as to correspond to each pixel region in which the pixel electrode and the counter electrode face each other, and an inter-pixel region between the pixel regions. Is a region that reflects incident light from the front surface of the device and emits the light to the front surface, and the counter electrode faces at least the control signal supply line in a portion corresponding to the inter-pixel region. The liquid crystal display device characterized by being formed into a separatory was missing shape. 2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a display in a state where no electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer is a bright display. 3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the color filter has an area smaller than an area of a pixel region. 4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein said color filter is provided corresponding to an inner region except for a peripheral portion of the pixel region.