JPH11133462A - Liquid crystal device and electronic instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To arrange peripheral circuits such as a precharging circuit, a sampling circuit and an inspection circuit at high spetial efficiency and to increase an effective display area in an active matrix driving type liquid cystal(LC) panel based on the driving of thin film transistors(TFTs). SOLUTION: An LC device 200 is provided with an LC layer held between a pair of substrates, pixel electrodes 11 formed on a substrate like a matrix and TFTs 30 for controlling the electrodes 11. A precharging circuit 201 for supplying precharge signals to plural data lines 35 prior to image signals and a sampling circuit 301 for sampling picture signals and supplying the sampled picture signals to respective data lines are formed under a light shielding peripheral partition 53.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of an active matrix driving type liquid crystal device driven by a TFT (thin film transistor) and an electronic apparatus using the same.
In particular, the invention belongs to the technical field of a liquid crystal device in which a peripheral circuit including a thin film transistor such as a precharge circuit, a sampling circuit, and an inspection circuit is formed on a TFT array substrate, and an electronic device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a liquid crystal device of an active matrix driving system by TFT driving, a large number of scanning lines and data lines arranged vertically and horizontally and a large number of pixel electrodes corresponding to their intersections are provided on a TFT array substrate. It is provided above. In addition to these, various peripheral circuits including TFTs as components such as a scanning line driving circuit, a data line driving circuit, a precharge circuit, a sampling circuit, and an inspection circuit are provided on such a TFT array substrate. There are cases.

Among these peripheral circuits, a precharge circuit is used to improve a contrast ratio, stabilize a potential level of a data line, reduce line unevenness on a display screen, and the like.
By supplying a precharge signal (image auxiliary signal) to the data line at a timing preceding the image signal supplied from the data line driving circuit, a circuit for reducing the load when the image signal is written to the data line. is there. In particular, in a so-called 1H inversion driving method in which the voltage polarity of a data line, which is usually performed for AC driving of a liquid crystal, is inverted at a predetermined cycle, a precharge signal is previously written on the data line, and an image signal is converted into a data signal. The amount of electricity required to write a line can be significantly reduced. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-2955
Japanese Patent Publication No. 20 discloses an example of such a precharge circuit.

The sampling circuit is a circuit that samples an image signal in order to stably supply a high-frequency image signal to each data line at a predetermined timing in synchronization with a scanning signal. The inspection circuit is a circuit for inspecting the quality, defects, and the like of the liquid crystal device during manufacturing or shipping. In addition, various peripheral circuits using TFTs or the like can be provided on the TFT array substrate from the viewpoints of improving image quality in liquid crystal displays, reducing power consumption, reducing costs, and the like.

Here, if the size of the liquid crystal panel or the liquid crystal display module including peripheral circuits is the same, a screen display area defined by a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix, that is, on the liquid crystal panel. It is considered that the larger the area in which an image is actually displayed due to a change in the alignment state of the liquid crystal, the larger the basic requirement of the display device. Therefore, the peripheral circuit is generally provided in a narrow and narrow peripheral portion of the TFT array substrate located around the screen display area.

On the other hand, it is known that when a DC voltage is applied to liquid crystal sealed in a liquid crystal panel of a liquid crystal device of this type, the liquid crystal is deteriorated. Therefore, in general, the liquid crystal is not driven by a direct current, and the liquid crystal is driven by an alternating current by inverting a voltage polarity of a scanning signal and an image signal for each pixel at a predetermined period, for example, every one field. I have to. However, when peripheral circuits such as the data line driving circuit, the scanning line driving circuit, the sampling circuit, the precharge circuit, and the inspection circuit are provided on a substrate portion facing the liquid crystal, the direct current used for driving each peripheral circuit is reduced. As the voltage component becomes larger or smaller, the voltage component leaks and is applied to the liquid crystal, causing degradation of the liquid crystal as in the case of the above-described DC drive. Therefore, it is not common to provide these peripheral circuits on the substrate portion facing the liquid crystal. Providing the peripheral circuit on the substrate portion facing the liquid crystal is not common from the viewpoint of relatively reducing the effective display area.

[0007] These peripheral circuits are generally composed of semiconductor circuits such as TFTs, for example, a-type TFTs.
When light enters a channel formation region formed of a Si (amorphous silicon) film or a p-Si (polysilicon) film, a photocurrent is generated in this region due to a photoelectric conversion effect, and the transistor characteristics of the TFT deteriorate. I do. For this reason, the peripheral portion of the substrate, which is located around the screen display area and on which the peripheral circuits are formed, is usually housed inside a light-shielding case made of plastic or the like.

[0008]

However, if peripheral circuits such as a sampling circuit, a precharge circuit, an inspection circuit, etc., in addition to the scanning line driving circuit and the data line driving circuit, are also provided in the aforementioned narrow and elongated peripheral portion, a specific There is a problem that it becomes difficult to design these peripheral circuits so as to meet the specifications.

Providing a peripheral circuit on a portion of the substrate facing the liquid crystal in the screen display area causes a reduction in the effective display area, and a special configuration for preventing DC voltage from being applied to the liquid crystal from the peripheral circuit. In addition, there is a problem in that peripheral circuits must be shielded from light incident through the screen display area.

A seal member surrounding the liquid crystal by bonding both substrates around the screen display area has a width of about 1 mm. However, if a substrate portion facing the seal member is provided with a peripheral circuit element (for example, TFT) And the like), the element may be broken by spacers (for example, spherical fine particles) mixed into the seal member in order to keep the distance between the two substrates at a predetermined value. Furthermore, in order to generally light-cur a seal member made of a photo-curable adhesive, it is necessary to impart sufficient light transmittance to the first and second substrate portions facing the seal member. Providing a certain peripheral circuit element on a substrate portion facing such a sealing member has a problem that it is inconvenient from the viewpoint of the light curing step of the sealing member.

Furthermore, according to the basic requirements of the display device, it is not desirable at all to easily enlarge the substrate around the screen display area.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has peripheral circuits such as a precharge circuit, a sampling circuit, and an inspection circuit, which are arranged with good space efficiency, and can be compared with the size of a liquid crystal panel or a liquid crystal display module. It is another object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal device having a relatively large effective display area and an electronic device including the liquid crystal device.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal sandwiched between a pair of substrates, wherein one of the substrates has a matrix shape. A sealing member surrounding the liquid crystal by bonding the pair of substrates around a screen area defined by the plurality of pixel electrodes on the one substrate, and the sealing member; A light blocking part formed on the other substrate along a contour of the screen display region between the screen display region, and the one formed on the other substrate on the one substrate. A peripheral circuit composed of a thin film transistor is arranged at a position facing the peripheral parting.

According to the liquid crystal device of the first aspect, the light-shielding peripheral parting is formed on the other substrate along the contour of the screen display area between the seal member and the screen display area. Here, peripheral parting refers to a case where a pair of substrates after various elements, electrodes, and wirings are placed in a light-shielding case having an opening corresponding to a screen display area. 500 μm around the screen display area so that the screen display area is not hidden by the edge of the opening of the case due to a manufacturing error or the like, that is, for example, to allow a shift of about several hundred μm with respect to the case of the pair of substrates. ~ 1m
It is formed of a band-shaped light-shielding material having a width of about m. The peripheral circuit including the thin film transistor is provided on one substrate at a position facing the peripheral parting (hereinafter, referred to as “peripheral parting down”). By providing the peripheral circuits below the peripheral part, the space of one substrate can be effectively used, and it becomes easy to design these peripheral circuits so as to meet specific specifications. In addition, by providing the peripheral circuit under the peripheral partition which is a so-called dead space, the effective display area in the liquid crystal device is not reduced, and at the same time, particularly, the peripheral partition is light-shielding, so It is not necessary to shield the peripheral circuit from the light incident therethrough.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal device, a liquid crystal is sandwiched between a pair of substrates, and one of the pair of substrates has a plurality of scanning lines to which scanning signals are sequentially supplied; A plurality of data lines that intersect with the scanning lines and are supplied with image signals, a plurality of thin film transistors connected to the plurality of scanning lines and the data lines, a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the plurality of thin film transistors, A sealing member that surrounds the liquid crystal by bonding the pair of substrates around a screen area defined by the plurality of pixel electrodes on one substrate, and the screen between the sealing member and the screen display area. A light blocking part formed on the other substrate along the contour of the display area, and a position facing the peripheral part formed on the other substrate on the one substrate. A precharge circuit that supplies a precharge signal of a predetermined voltage level to each of the plurality of data lines prior to the image signal, and a sampling circuit that samples the image signal and supplies each of the plurality of data lines to the plurality of data lines It is characterized in that at least one peripheral circuit is arranged.

According to the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the light-shielding peripheral parting is formed on the other substrate along the contour of the screen display area between the seal member and the screen display area. Here, the precharge circuit and the sampling circuit are basically AC driven circuits. For this reason,
Even if the precharge circuit and the sampling circuit are provided on one substrate portion facing the liquid crystal surrounded by the seal member and sandwiched between the two substrates, the problem of deterioration of the liquid crystal due to the application of the DC voltage as described above does not occur. . And
By providing the precharge circuit and the sampling circuit under the peripheral parting in this way, for example, a scanning line driving circuit or a data line driving circuit can be formed with a margin in the peripheral portion of one of the narrow and elongated substrates, It becomes easier to design these peripheral circuits to meet specific specifications.
In addition, by providing a precharge circuit and a sampling circuit below the parting around which is a so-called dead space, the effective display area in the liquid crystal device is not reduced,
At the same time, since the peripheral parting is particularly light-blocking, it is not necessary to block light incident through the screen display area on the precharge circuit and the sampling circuit. In addition, since the precharge circuit and the sampling circuit are not formed on the substrate portion facing the seal member, the elements of these circuits are not destroyed by the spacer, and when the seal member is light-cured, these elements are not destroyed. Advantageously, the light-blocking layer of the circuit does not interfere.

A liquid crystal device according to a third aspect is the liquid crystal device according to the second aspect, wherein the periphery is the precharge circuit, and at least a part of the input / output wiring of the precharge circuit is the same as the liquid crystal device. It is provided on the one substrate at a position facing the peripheral parting.

According to the liquid crystal device of the third aspect, at least a part of the input / output wiring of the precharge circuit is provided below the periphery of one of the substrates. Here, since the precharge circuit is basically an AC drive circuit, even if such input / output wiring is provided on one of the substrate portions facing the liquid crystal, the problem of deterioration of the liquid crystal due to application of a DC voltage occurs. Absent. By providing the input / output wiring under the peripheral part, the effective display area in the liquid crystal device is not reduced.

A liquid crystal device according to a fourth aspect is the liquid crystal device according to the second or third aspect, wherein the peripheral circuit is the precharge circuit, and an input / output line of the precharge circuit transmits the precharge signal. A power supply precharge signal line for generating a precharge signal, and a precharge circuit drive signal line for a precharge circuit drive signal for driving the precharge circuit at a timing at which the precharge signal precedes the image signal. It is characterized by including.

According to the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the input / output wiring of the precharge circuit includes a precharge signal line and a precharge circuit drive signal line. Here, since the precharge circuit is basically an AC drive circuit, even if such a precharge signal line and a precharge circuit drive signal line are provided on one substrate portion facing the liquid crystal, the The problem of deterioration of the liquid crystal due to the application does not occur. If the input / output wirings of the two types of precharge circuits are provided below the periphery, the effective display area of the liquid crystal device is not reduced.

A liquid crystal device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the liquid crystal device according to the fourth aspect, wherein at least a part of the precharge signal line has a predetermined amount of capacitance with the scanning line. It is characterized by being made of a conductor of a predetermined width formed on the line via an insulating film.

According to the liquid crystal device of the present invention, at least a part of the precharge signal line is made of a conductor having a predetermined width, and the precharge signal line has a low resistance. at the same time,
Since the conductor is formed on the scanning line with a predetermined width via an insulating film so as to have a predetermined amount of capacitance between the scanning line and the conductor,
Wiring capacitance is given to the precharge signal line, and the precharge signal line has low impedance. For example, this conductor is formed as wide as possible within the width of the peripheral parting as long as it does not interfere with other circuits and wiring.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal device according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the plurality of scanning lines pass from both sides of the screen display area in the first direction to the peripheral parting. At least a portion of the precharge signal line is wired on the scanning line along one of the two sides via an insulating film at a position facing the peripheral parting, and At least a part of the charge circuit drive signal line is wired via an insulating film on the scanning line along the other of the two sides at a position facing the peripheral parting,
The difference between the area where the precharge signal line and the scan line overlap and the area where the precharge circuit drive signal line and the scan line overlap is less than a predetermined value based on the characteristics of the liquid crystal device. The scanning line, the precharge signal line, and the precharge circuit drive signal line are each configured.

According to the liquid crystal device of the sixth aspect, the plurality of scanning lines are respectively wired so as to pass from both sides of the screen display area to the peripheral partition, and a scanning signal is supplied from both sides of the screen display area. You. For this reason, switching control is performed in accordance with scanning signals from both sides. For example, a switching delay of a switching element such as a gate delay of a TFT element includes a precharge signal line and a scan which determine a wiring capacitance on one side of a screen display area. A difference occurs depending on the difference between the area where the lines overlap and the area where the precharge circuit drive signal lines and the scanning lines that determine the wiring capacitance on the other side of the screen display area overlap. Here, the difference between these areas is
The switching delay is set to be less than a predetermined value based on the characteristics of the liquid crystal device. For example, the switching delay is set to a value close to zero which makes the switching delay substantially equal in relation to the specifications and accuracy of the circuit. As a result, it is possible to adjust the switching delay of the scanning signals from both sides of the screen display area.

A liquid crystal device according to a seventh aspect is the liquid crystal device according to any one of the second to sixth aspects, wherein the precharge circuit is provided, and the plurality of data lines are connected to the data lines. The image signal is supplied from one side, and the precharge signal is supplied from the other side of the data line.

According to the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the plurality of data lines are supplied with an image signal from one side of the data lines and a precharge signal from the other side. Therefore, the precharge circuit can be provided on the opposite side of the screen display area from the data line driving circuit for supplying the image signal, the sampling circuit, and the like.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal device according to any one of the second to seventh aspects, the sampling circuit is provided, and the scanning signals are sequentially supplied to the plurality of scanning lines. Scanning line driving means is provided in a peripheral portion of the one substrate which is located closer to the periphery than the seal member, and data line driving means for driving the sampling circuit to generate the image signal is provided in the peripheral portion. It is characterized by being provided.

According to the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the scanning line driving means is provided on the peripheral portion of one of the substrates, and the data line driving means is similarly provided on the peripheral portion of the one substrate. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent a DC voltage component from a DC-driven data line driving unit or a scanning line driving unit from leaking and being applied to the liquid crystal sandwiched between the two substrates and surrounded by the seal member. it can.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, an inspection circuit including a thin film transistor for performing a predetermined inspection on the liquid crystal device includes the peripheral parting. And further provided on the one of the substrates at a position facing the first substrate.

According to the liquid crystal device of the ninth aspect, the inspection circuit is provided below the periphery of the one substrate, so that, for example, a scanning line driving circuit and a data line driving circuit are provided around the one substrate. It can be formed with a margin in the part,
Without inviting a decrease in the effective display area of the liquid crystal device,
At the same time, since the peripheral parting is particularly light-shielding, it is not necessary to shield the inspection circuit from light incident through the screen display area.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal device according to the second aspect, at least one of the precharge circuit and the sampling circuit is replaced with at least one of the precharge circuit and the sampling circuit.
An arbitrary AC voltage driven peripheral circuit for operating the liquid crystal device is provided on the first substrate at a position facing the peripheral parting.

According to the liquid crystal device of the tenth aspect, for example, improvement of image quality in a liquid crystal display, reduction of power consumption,
Since various peripheral circuits using TFTs and the like are provided below the periphery of the first substrate from the viewpoint of cost reduction and the like, for example, without reducing the effective display area in the liquid crystal device, Since the peripheral parting is light-shielding, it is not necessary to shield the peripheral circuit from light incident through the screen display area. Since the peripheral circuit is driven by an AC voltage, the problem of deterioration of the liquid crystal due to the application of the DC voltage does not occur.

The electronic device according to the eleventh aspect is the electronic device according to the first aspect.
The liquid crystal device according to any one of Items 1 to 10, is provided.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, an electronic apparatus includes the above-described liquid crystal device of the present invention,
Since the screen display area is larger than the size of the liquid crystal panel or the module, the screen display area is larger than the entire size of the electronic device, and a high-quality image can be displayed.

The operation and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the embodiments explained below.

[0036]

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

(Structure of Liquid Crystal Device) The structure of the embodiment of the liquid crystal device will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the overall structure of the liquid crystal device will be described with reference to FIG.
3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of various wirings, peripheral circuits, and the like provided on a TFT array substrate in the embodiment of the liquid crystal device.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the TFT array substrate together with components formed thereon viewed from the counter substrate side, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line HH ′ of FIG. 2 including the counter substrate.

In FIG. 1, a liquid crystal device 200 is a TFT array substrate 1 made of, for example, a quartz substrate, hard glass, or the like.
It has. On the TFT array substrate 1, a plurality of pixel electrodes 11 provided in a matrix and a plurality of data lines 35 arranged in the X direction and each extending in the Y direction.
(Source electrode lines) and a plurality of scanning lines 31 (gate electrode lines) arranged in the Y direction and each extending along the X direction.
And a switching element interposed between each data line 35 and the pixel electrode 11 and controlling the conduction state and the non-conduction state between the data lines 35 and the pixel electrode 11 in accordance with a scanning signal supplied via the scanning line 31. Multiple TFTs 3 as an example
0 is formed. On the TFT array substrate 1, a capacitance line 31 ′ (second storage capacitance electrode), which is a wiring for a storage capacitor (see FIG. 6) described later, is formed in parallel with the scanning line 31.

Further, on the TFT array substrate 1, a precharge circuit 201 for supplying a precharge signal of a predetermined voltage level to a plurality of data lines 35 in advance of an image signal, respectively.
And a sampling circuit 301 that samples an image signal and supplies the data signal to the plurality of data lines 35, a data line driving circuit 101, and a scanning line driving circuit 104.

The scanning line driving circuit 104 applies a scanning signal to the scanning line 31 (gate electrode line) in a pulse-wise line-sequential manner at a predetermined timing based on a power supply and a reference clock supplied from an external control circuit.

The data line driving circuit 101 controls the six image input signal lines VID1 to VID1 in accordance with the timing at which the scanning line driving circuit 104 applies a scanning signal based on a power supply and a reference clock supplied from an external control circuit. For each VID 6, a sampling circuit drive signal is supplied to the sampling circuit 301 for each data line 35 at a predetermined timing via the sampling circuit drive signal line 306.

The precharge circuit 201 includes a TFT 202
Is provided for each data line 35, the precharge signal line 204 is connected to the source electrode of the TFT 202,
The precharge circuit drive signal line 206 is connected to the gate electrode of the TFT 202. Then, power of a predetermined voltage required for writing a precharge signal is supplied from an external power supply via a precharge signal line 204, and each data line 35 is supplied via a precharge circuit drive signal line 206.
The precharge circuit drive signal is supplied from the external control circuit so that the precharge signal is written at a timing preceding the image signal. Precharge circuit 201
Supplies a precharge signal (image auxiliary signal) preferably corresponding to pixel data of an intermediate gradation level.

The sampling circuit 301 includes a TFT 302
Is provided for each data line 35, and the image input signal line VI
D1 to VID6 are connected to the source electrode of the TFT 302, and the sampling circuit drive signal line 306 is connected to the TFT3.
02 is connected to the gate electrode 02. When six parallel image signals are input via the image input signal lines VID1 to VID6, these image signals are sampled. When a sampling circuit drive signal is input from the data line drive circuit 101 via the sampling circuit drive signal line 306, the six image input signal lines VID
Image signals sampled for each of 1 to VID 6 are sequentially applied to each group of six adjacent data lines 35. That is, the data line driving circuit 101 and the sampling circuit 301 are connected to the input signal lines VID1 to VID6.
6 are developed by six parallel external ICs input from the CPU, and image signals are supplied to the data lines 35. In the present embodiment, a method has been described in which the sampling circuits 301 connected to the six adjacent data lines 35 are simultaneously selected and sequentially transferred for each group of the six data lines 35. .., 5 or 7 or more adjacent lines may be selected simultaneously. The number of phase expansions of the image signal supplied to the data line 35 is not limited to six, but may be five or less if the writing characteristics of the TFT 302 forming the sampling circuit 301 are good, or if the frequency of the image signal is high. , Seven or more phases. At this time, it goes without saying that image input signal lines are required at least for the number of phase expansions of the image signal.

In the present embodiment, in particular, the precharge circuit 201 and the sampling circuit 301 are provided with the light shielding property formed on the opposite substrate 2 as shown by the hatched area in FIG. 1 and as shown in FIGS. The data line drive circuit 101 and the scan line drive circuit 104 are provided on the narrow and elongated peripheral portion of the TFT array substrate 1 not facing the liquid crystal layer 50. Have been.

2 and 3, on the TFT array substrate 1, a screen display area defined by a plurality of pixel electrodes 11 (ie, a liquid crystal on which an image is actually displayed by a change in the orientation of the liquid crystal layer 50). A sealant 52 made of a photocurable resin as an example of a seal member that surrounds the liquid crystal layer 50 by bonding the two substrates together around the panel area)
It is provided along the screen display area. Further, a light-shielding peripheral partition 53 is provided between the screen display area on the counter substrate 2 and the sealant 52.

When the TFT array substrate 1 is later placed in a light-shielding case having an opening corresponding to the screen display area, the peripheral display 53 may cause the screen display area to open due to a manufacturing error or the like. Of a screen having a width of about 500 μm to about 1 mm around the screen display area so as not to be hidden by the edge of the TFT array substrate 1, for example, to allow a shift of about several hundred μm with respect to the case of the TFT array substrate 1. It is formed from a material. Such a light-shielding peripheral partition 53 is formed on the counter substrate 2 by sputtering, photolithography, and etching using a metal material such as Cr (chromium), Ni (nickel), or Al (aluminum). Alternatively, carbon or Ti
It is formed from a material such as resin black in which (titanium) is dispersed in a photoresist.

In a region outside the sealant 52, a data line driving circuit 101 and a mounting terminal 102 are provided along a lower side of the screen display region, and a scanning line driving circuit is provided along two right and left sides of the screen display region. Circuits 104 are provided on both sides of the screen display area. Further, a plurality of wirings 105 for connecting the scanning line driving circuits 104 provided on both sides of the screen display area are provided on an upper side of the screen display area. Also,
At four corners of the sealant 52, silver dots 106 made of a conductive agent for establishing electrical continuity between the TFT array substrate 1 and the counter substrate 2 are provided. The opposite substrate 2 having substantially the same contour as the sealing agent 52 is fixed to the TFT array substrate 1 by the sealing agent 52.

The precharge circuit 201 and the sampling circuit 301 are basically AC driven circuits. Therefore, even if the precharge circuit 201 and the sampling circuit 301 are provided in the portion of the TFT array substrate 1 facing the liquid crystal layer 50 surrounded by the sealant 52 and sandwiched between the two substrates, the liquid crystal layer 50 is not There is no problem of deterioration. On the other hand, the data line driving circuit 10
1 and the scanning line driving circuit 104 are provided on the periphery of the TFT array substrate 1 which does not face the liquid crystal layer 50. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a DC voltage component from the data line driving circuit 101 and the scanning line driving circuit 104, which are DC-driven in particular, from leaking and being applied to the liquid crystal layer 50 beforehand.

Then, as described below, under the peripheral parting 53,
By providing the precharge circuit 201 and the sampling circuit 301, the scanning line driving circuit 104 and the data line driving circuit 101 can be formed with a margin in the peripheral portion of the TFT array substrate 1 so as to meet specific specifications. It becomes easy to design these peripheral circuits. Further, by providing the precharge circuit 201 and the sampling circuit 301 below the peripheral partition 53 which is a so-called dead space, the effective display area in the liquid crystal device 200 is not reduced, and at the same time, particularly, the peripheral partition 53 has a light shielding property. Therefore, the light blocking of the light incident through the screen display area is performed by the precharge circuit 201 and the sampling circuit 301.
Does not need to be applied to the TFTs 202 and 302 constituting the.
In addition, since the precharge circuit 201 and the sampling circuit 301 are not formed on the portion of the TFT array substrate 1 facing the sealant 52, the TFs constituting these circuits are not formed.
There is no possibility that T202 and T302 are broken by the spacer mixed in the sealant 52. Further, since there is no need to provide a separate light-shielding layer for the TFTs 202 and 302 constituting these circuits, such a light-shielding layer can be used as the sealant 5.
The situation that hinders the light curing of item 2 can also be prevented. That is, since it is not necessary to provide a light-shielding layer at a position facing the sealant 52 on both substrates, light can be sufficiently radiated from both substrates in the step of photocuring the sealant 52, and good photocuring can be performed. . For this reason, it is not necessary to use a thermosetting resin that may cause deformation of the substrate as the sealant 52, which is advantageous.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the precharge signal line 204 and the precharge circuit drive signal line 206
It is provided on the FT array substrate 1. In this case, since the precharge circuit 201 is basically an AC drive circuit, such a precharge signal line 204 and a precharge circuit drive signal line 206 are provided on the TFT array substrate 1 facing the liquid crystal layer 50. Even if it is provided, the problem of deterioration of the liquid crystal due to application of a DC voltage does not occur. If two types of input / output wirings are provided below the peripheral partition 53, the effective display area of the liquid crystal device is not reduced.

A part of the precharge signal line 204 is made of a conductor having a predetermined width formed on the scanning line 31 via an insulating film so as to have a predetermined amount of capacitance with the scanning line 31.
Therefore, the precharge signal line 204 has a low resistance. Further, this conductor is formed so as to have a predetermined amount of capacitance with the scanning line 31. That is, since the precharge signal line 204 is provided with a wiring capacitance, the precharge signal line 204 Are low impedance. For example, the conductor is formed so as to have a width slightly smaller than the width of the peripheral partition 53, and is formed as wide as possible without interfering with other circuits and wiring.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Are wired from both sides of the screen display area to the peripheral partition 53, respectively. Then, along one side of the screen display area, a part of the precharge signal line 204 is wired on the scanning line 31 under the peripheral parting 53 via an insulating film. On the other hand, along the other side of the screen display area, a part of the precharge circuit drive signal line 206 is wired on the scanning line 31 via the insulating film below the peripheral partition 53. Here, the gate delay of the TFT 30 in each pixel that performs switching control according to the scanning signals from both sides is determined by the area where the precharge signal line 204 and the scan line 31 overlap and the amount of the precharge circuit drive signal line 206 and the scan line 31. It may occur depending on the difference from the overlapping area. However, in the present embodiment, this difference is set to a value close to zero to such an extent that the gate delay of the scanning signal from both sides is substantially equalized from the relationship with the specification, accuracy and the like of the circuit. Such a gate delay can be adjusted. In the case of the 1H inversion drive for inverting the polarity of the precharge signal for each scanning line, one precharge signal line 206 may be used. In the case of dot inversion drive in which the polarity of the data line 35 is inverted with respect to each other line by line,
For the precharge signal line 204, the odd-numbered data lines 3
Since it is necessary to apply precharge signals of opposite polarities to the group of 5 and the group of the data lines 35 in the even-numbered columns, at least two or more precharge signal lines 206 are required. Even in such a case, the precharge signal passing through one end of the screen display area and passing through one end of the screen display area and the area of two precharge signal lines 204 overlapping the scanning line 31 via the insulating film via the insulating film. It is preferable that the area of the circuit drive signal line 206 be substantially the same as that of the circuit drive signal line 206.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 5 denotes an image signal supplied from one end on the lower side of the screen display area, and a precharge signal supplied from the other end on the other side. Therefore, the precharge circuit 201 can be provided on the opposite side of the screen display area from the data line driving circuit 101 and the sampling circuit 301 for supplying the image signal, and the space below the peripheral parting 53 can be effectively balanced. Available to

Next, a specific circuit configuration of the TFTs 202 and 302 constituting the precharge circuit 201 and the sampling circuit 301 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively. FIG. 4 shows the TF of the precharge circuit 201.
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing various TFTs constituting T202;
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing various TFTs constituting the TFT 302 of the sampling circuit 301.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the TFT 202 (see FIG. 1) of the precharge circuit 201 may be constituted by an NMOS (N-channel) type TFT 202a,
As shown in FIG. 4B, a PMOS (P-channel) type T
FT 202b, or a CMOS (complementary MOS) type TFT 202c as shown in FIG.
May be configured. 4 (1) to FIG. 4 (3)
In FIG. 1, the precharge circuit drive signal line 2 shown in FIG.
Precharge circuit drive signal 20 input through
6a and 206b are each a TFT 202a as a gate voltage.
To 202c. n-channel type TFT 202
a and a precharge circuit drive signal 206a applied as a gate voltage to the p-channel TFT 202b.
Needless to say, 6b is an inverted signal. Accordingly, the precharge circuit 201 is connected to the CMOS type T
In the case of using the FT 202c, at least two or more precharge circuit drive signal lines 206 are required. When the number of the precharge circuit drive signal lines 206 is two or more, wiring may be concentrated on one side of the screen display area, or in combination with the precharge signal line 204,
The wiring may be performed from both sides of the screen display area. The precharge signal input via the precharge signal line 204 shown in FIG.
2c is applied to the data line 35 electrically connected to the drain side.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the TFT 302 (see FIG. 1) of the sampling circuit 301 may be constituted by an NMOS (N-channel) type TFT 302a,
As shown in FIG. 5B, a PMOS (P-channel) type T
It may be composed of the FT 302b, or may be composed of the CMOS type TFT 302c as shown in FIG. 5A to 5C, the image signal lines VIDn (for example, VID1 to VIDn) shown in FIG.
6) are input to the TFTs 302a to 302c as source voltages, and are also sampled from the data line driving circuit 101 shown in FIG. 1 via the sampling circuit driving signal line 306. The circuit drive signals 306a and 306b are input to each of the TFTs 302a to 302c as a gate voltage. In the sampling circuit 301, similarly to the case of the precharge circuit 201, the n-channel TFT 302a
Circuit driving signal 306a applied as a gate voltage to the sampling circuit driving signal 306a applied as a gate voltage to the p-channel TFT 302b.
b is a mutually inverted signal. Therefore, when the sampling circuit 301 is constituted by the CMOS type TFT 302c, the sampling circuit driving signals 306a and 306b
Two sampling circuit drive signal lines 306 are required. An image signal input via the image input signal lines VID1 to VID6 shown in FIG.
The signals are input to T302a to 302c and applied to the data line 35 electrically connected to the drain side.

(Structure of Liquid Crystal Panel) Next, the liquid crystal device 20
The specific configuration of the liquid crystal panel portion included in 0 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal panel, FIG. 7 is a plan view of various electrodes formed on the TFT array substrate shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a precharge signal line of the liquid crystal panel 10. 9 is a plan view of the precharge circuit 201, and FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of the inspection circuit. In FIGS. 6 and 8, the scale of each layer and each member is different so that each layer and each member have a size that can be recognized in the drawings.

The cross-sectional view of the TFT 30 in FIG. 6 corresponds to a cross-section along AA ′ in FIG.

In the sectional view of FIG.
Represents TF in the portion of the TFT 30 provided for each pixel.
T array substrate 1 and first interlayer insulating layer 41, semiconductor layer 32, gate insulating layer 33, scanning line 31 laminated thereon
(Gate electrode), second interlayer insulating layer 42, data line 35
(Source electrode), a third interlayer insulating layer 43, a pixel electrode 11, and an alignment film 12. The liquid crystal panel 10 also includes a counter substrate 2 made of, for example, a glass substrate, and a common electrode 21, an alignment film 22, and a black matrix 23 laminated thereon. The liquid crystal panel 10 further includes a liquid crystal layer 50 sandwiched between these two substrates.

First, of these layers, the TFT
The configuration of each layer except for 30 will be described in order.

First interlayer insulating layer 4 serving as a base of TFT 30
1 is NSG, PSG, BS with a thickness of about 10,000Å
G, BPSG or other silicate glass film, silicon nitride film, silicon oxide film, or the like. The first interlayer insulating layer 4
By performing an annealing process at about 900 ° C., contamination may be prevented and flattened. When the TFT array substrate 1 has been sufficiently polished and cleaned, the first interlayer insulating layer 41 may not be provided in order to reduce the number of steps. Also,
The second interlayer insulating layer 42 and the third interlayer insulating layer 43 are
NSG, PS with a thickness of about 000 to 15,000Å
It is made of a silicate glass film such as G, BSG, BPSG, etc., a silicon nitride film, a silicon oxide film or the like.

The pixel electrode 11 is made of, for example, a transparent conductive thin film such as an ITO film (indium tin oxide film). Such a pixel electrode 11 is formed by depositing an ITO film or the like to a thickness of about 500 to 2000 mm by a sputtering process or the like, and then performing a photolithography process, an etching process, or the like. The liquid crystal panel 1
When 0 is used in a reflection type liquid crystal device, the pixel electrode 11 may be formed from an opaque material having a high reflectance such as Al.

The alignment film 12 is made of, for example, an organic thin film such as a polyimide thin film. Such an alignment film 12 is formed, for example, by applying a polyimide-based coating solution and then performing a rubbing process in a predetermined direction so as to have a predetermined pretilt angle.

The common electrode 21 is formed over the entire surface of the counter substrate 2. Such a common electrode 21 is formed, for example, by sputtering an ITO film or the like by about 500 to 2
It is formed by performing a photolithography process, an etching process, and the like after depositing to a thickness of 000 mm.

The alignment film 22 is made of, for example, an organic thin film such as a polyimide thin film. Such an alignment film 22 is formed, for example, by applying a polyimide-based coating solution and then performing a rubbing process in a predetermined direction so as to have a predetermined pretilt angle.

The black matrix 23 is provided in a predetermined area facing the TFT 30. Such a black matrix 23 has a C
It is formed by sputtering, photolithography and etching using a metal material such as r or Ni, or formed from a material such as resin black in which carbon or Ti is dispersed in a photoresist. Black matrix 23
Has a function of improving contrast, preventing color mixture of color materials, and the like, in addition to shading the semiconductor (polysilicon film or the like) layer 32 of the TFT 30.

The liquid crystal layer 50 includes the pixel electrode 11 and the common electrode 2
Liquid crystal is sealed by vacuum suction or the like in a space surrounded by a sealant 52 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) between the TFT array substrate 1 and the opposing substrate 2 which are arranged so as to face each other. Formed by The liquid crystal layer 50 holds the alignment film 1 in a state where no electric field from the pixel electrode 11 is applied.
A predetermined orientation state is taken by 2 and 22. Liquid crystal layer 50
Is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal in which one or several kinds of nematic liquid crystals are mixed. The sealing agent 52 includes two substrates 1 and 2
Are bonded to each other at the periphery thereof, for example, an adhesive made of a photo-curable resin or a thermo-curable resin, and a spacer for mixing the distance between the two substrates to a predetermined value is mixed.

Next, the structure of each layer of the TFT 30 will be described in order.

The TFT 30 includes a scanning line 31 (gate electrode), a semiconductor layer 32 in which a channel is formed by an electric field from the scanning line 31, a gate insulating layer 33 that insulates the scanning line 31 from the semiconductor layer 32, and a semiconductor layer 32. It has a source region 34 formed, a data line 35 (source electrode), and a drain region 36 formed in the semiconductor layer 32. A corresponding one of the plurality of pixel electrodes 11 is connected to the drain region 36. As described later, the source region 34 and the drain region 36 are formed by doping the semiconductor layer 32 with a predetermined concentration of n-type or p-type dopant depending on whether an n-type or p-type channel is formed. Is formed. The TFT of the n-type channel has an advantage that the operation speed is high, and TF which is a pixel switching element is used.
Often used as T30.

The semiconductor layer 32 constituting the TFT 30 is formed, for example, by forming a-Si layer on the first interlayer insulating layer 41 as a base.
After the (amorphous silicon) film is formed, the film is formed by performing an annealing process and performing solid phase growth to a thickness of about 500 to 2000 °. At this time, the n-channel TFT 30
In the case of Sb (antimony), As (arsenic), P
Doping is performed by ion implantation using a dopant of a group V element such as (phosphorus). Also, a p-channel type TFT3
In the case of 0, B (boron), Ga (gallium), In
Doping is performed by ion implantation using a dopant of a group III element such as (indium). In particular, the TFT 30 is LD
When an n-channel TFT having a D (Lightly Doped Drain) structure is used, the semiconductor layer 32
Then, a lightly doped region is formed with a dopant of a group V element such as P in a part of the source region 34 and the drain region 36 adjacent to the channel side, respectively.
A heavily doped region is formed with a group element dopant. When a p-channel TFT 30 is to be formed, a source region 34 and a drain region 36 are formed in the semiconductor layer 32 by using a dopant of a group III element such as B. When the LDD structure is used as described above, an advantage that the short channel effect can be reduced can be obtained. The TFT 30 is an LDD
A TFT having an offset structure in which impurity ions are not implanted into the lightly doped region in the structure may be used, or a highly doped region (the source region 34 and the drain region 36) may be implanted by implanting a high concentration of impurity ions using the gate electrode as a mask. It may be formed to be a self-aligned TFT.

The gate insulating layer 33 has a thickness of about 9
By performing thermal oxidation at a temperature of 00 to 1300 ° C,
It is obtained by forming a relatively thin thermal oxide film having a thickness of about 300 to 1500 °.

The scanning line 31 (gate electrode) is a low pressure CVD
After a semiconductor film is deposited by a method or the like, it is formed by a photolithography process using a mask, an etching process, or the like. Alternatively, it may be formed from a metal film such as W or Mo or a metal silicide film. In this case, if the scanning line 31 (gate electrode) is arranged as a light-shielding film corresponding to part or all of the area covered by the black matrix 23, the light-shielding property of the metal film or the metal silicide film causes It is also possible to omit parts or all. In this case, in particular, there is an advantage that the pixel aperture ratio can be prevented from lowering due to misalignment between the opposing substrate 2 and the TFT array substrate 1.

The data line 35 (source electrode) may be formed of a transparent conductive thin film such as an ITO film as in the case of the pixel electrode 11. Alternatively, about 10
It may be formed of a low-resistance metal such as Al or a metal silicide deposited to a thickness of 00 to 5000 °.

In the second interlayer insulating layer 42, a contact hole 37 leading to the source region 34 and a contact hole 38 leading to the drain region 36 are respectively formed. The data line 35 (source electrode) is electrically connected to the source region 34 via a contact hole 37 to the source region 34. Further, a contact hole 38 to the drain region 36 is formed in the third interlayer insulating layer 43. Contact hole 38 to this drain region 36
, The pixel electrode 11 is electrically connected to the drain region 36. The above-described pixel electrode 11 is provided on the upper surface of the third interlayer insulating layer 43 configured as described above. Each contact hole is formed by, for example, dry etching such as reactive etching or reactive ion beam etching.

In general, when light enters the semiconductor layer 32 in which a channel is formed, a photocurrent is generated due to the photoelectric conversion effect of the polysilicon film, and the transistor characteristics of the TFT 30 are degraded. Since the black matrix 23 is formed on the counter substrate 2 at a position facing each TFT 30, incident light is prevented from entering at least the channel region of the semiconductor layer 32. Additionally or alternatively, if the data line 35 (source electrode) is formed of an opaque metal thin film such as Al so as to cover the gate electrode from above, at least the semiconductor layer 32 may be used together with the black matrix 23 or alone. Irradiation of incident light (that is, light from above in FIG. 6) to the channel region can be effectively prevented.

Here, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 7, the pixel electrodes 11 configured as described above are arranged in a matrix on the TFT array substrate 1, and the TFT 30 is arranged adjacent to each pixel electrode 11. The data line 35 (source electrode) and the scanning line 31 (gate electrode) are provided along the vertical and horizontal boundaries of the pixel electrode 11. Also,
A capacitor line 31 ′ (second storage capacitor electrode) is disposed in parallel along the scanning line 31, and is stored via a gate insulating film between the capacitor line 31 ′ and a first storage capacitor electrode 32 ′ extending from the semiconductor layer 32. Form capacitance. Constant potential wiring 501 made of a low-resistance aluminum film or the like formed in the same step as data line 35
Are drawn around the screen display area and are formed in the same step as the contact holes 37 that are opened to electrically connect the semiconductor layer 32 and the data lines 35.
At 02, the constant potential wiring 501 and the capacitance line 31 'are electrically connected. As the constant potential wiring 501, a dedicated wiring may be routed from an external IC via a mounting terminal.
A power source (a constant voltage power source on the high potential side or a constant voltage power source on the low potential side) supplied to the data line driving circuit 101 or the scanning line driving circuit 104 may be extended. Alternatively, a wiring for supplying a counter electrode potential to the counter substrate may be extended. With such a configuration, there is no need to form a dedicated mounting terminal or wiring, so that the peripheral area can be effectively used. Further, by providing the constant potential wiring 501 so as to pass under the peripheral partition 53 which has been a dead space in the past, the space can be effectively used. Similarly, the precharge signal line 204 (or the precharge circuit drive signal line 206) is formed below the peripheral partition 53 as shown in FIG. A sufficient area can be secured.

FIG. 7 shows the pixel electrode 11 for convenience of explanation.
The actual electrodes are wired between and above the interlayer insulating layers via contact holes and the like, and as shown in FIG. It has a complicated configuration. Further, the cross-sectional view of the TFT 30 in FIG. 6 corresponds to the cross section AA ′ in FIG.

Referring again to FIG. 6, the storage capacitor 70 is provided in each of the pixel electrodes 11 as described above. More specifically, the storage capacitor 70 includes a first storage capacitor electrode 32 ′ formed in the same step as the semiconductor layer 32, an insulating layer 33 ′ formed in the same step as the gate insulating layer 33, and a scanning line 31. The capacitance line 31 ′ (second storage capacitance electrode), the second and third interlayer insulating layers 42 and 4 formed by the same process
3, and a part of the pixel electrode 11 opposed to the capacitance line 31 ′ via the second and third interlayer insulating layers 42 and 43. Since the storage capacitor 70 is provided in this manner, high-definition display can be performed even when the duty ratio is small.

In FIG. 6, a TFT 202 (see FIG. 1) of a precharge circuit 201 is provided for each data line 35 on the liquid crystal panel 10. TFT2 shown in FIG.
02 is a cross-sectional view along BB 'in the plan view of FIG. More specifically, the TFT 202 includes a semiconductor layer 32 ″ formed in the same step as the semiconductor layer 32, a gate insulating layer 33 ″ formed in the same step as the gate insulating layer 33, and a scanning line 31 (gate electrode). A precharge circuit drive signal line 206 (gate electrode) formed by the same process is provided. In the semiconductor layer 32 ″, the TFT 30
The source region 34 ″, the channel formation region and the drain region 36 ″ are provided in the same manner as in the case of
2, a data line 35 is connected to the drain region 36 "and a precharge signal line 204 is connected to the source region 34" through the contact holes 37 "and 38" opened in FIG. TF having such a layer structure
T202 is provided on the TFT array substrate 1 at a position facing the light-shielding peripheral partition 53 provided on the counter substrate 2.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line CC 'of FIG. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 8, the precharge signal line 204 passes over the second interlayer insulating layer 42 on the plurality of scanning lines 31 at a position facing the peripheral partition 53. The precharge circuit drive signal line 206 also passes over the second interlayer insulating layer 42 on the scanning line 31 in the same manner. Most of these precharge signal lines 204 and precharge circuit drive signal lines 206 are low-resistance wirings formed of a metal thin film of Al or the like formed in the same process as the data lines 35.

As shown in the plan view of FIG. 9, in the precharge circuit 201, a precharge signal line 204, a precharge circuit drive signal line 206 and a data line 35 are arranged in parallel. The precharge signal line 204 is electrically connected to the source region of each TFT 202 via each contact hole 37 ", and the data line 35 is electrically connected to the drain region of each TFT 202 via each contact hole 38". ing. In addition, the precharge circuit drive signal line 206 is disposed as a gate electrode of the TFT 202 to face a channel portion connecting these source region and drain region via a gate insulating layer 33 ″.

Although not shown in FIG. 6, the TFT 302 (see FIG. 1) of the sampling circuit 301 has the same configuration as the TFT 202 of the precharge circuit 201, and is provided with a light shielding property provided on the opposite substrate 2. Is provided on the TFT array substrate 1 at a position facing the peripheral partition 53.

In the present embodiment, in particular, since the TFT 30 is a polysilicon type TFT, the sampling circuit 201, the precharge circuit 301, the data line drive circuit 101, the scan line drive circuit A peripheral circuit composed of TFTs 202 and 302 of the same polysilicon TFT type such as 104 can be formed, which is advantageous in manufacturing. For example, the data line driving circuit 101 and the scanning line driving circuit 104 include an n-channel polysilicon TFT and a n-channel polysilicon TFT as in the case of the precharge circuit 201 and the sampling circuit 301 shown in FIGS. A plurality of TFTs having a CMOS structure composed of p-channel polysilicon TFTs are formed in a peripheral portion on the TFT array substrate 1.

Although not shown in FIG. 6, for example, a TN (twisted nematic) mode may be provided on the side of the opposite substrate 2 on which the projected light is incident and on the side of the TFT array substrate 1 on which the projected light is emitted. Depending on operation modes such as STN (super TN) mode, D-STN (double-STN) mode, and normally white mode / normally black mode, a polarizing film, a retardation film,
A polarizing plate and the like are arranged in a predetermined direction.

Since the liquid crystal panel 10 described above is applied to a color liquid crystal projector, three liquid crystal panels 1 are used.
0 is used as a light valve for RGB, and light of each color separated via a dichroic mirror for RGB color separation is incident on each panel as incident light. Therefore, in each embodiment, the counter substrate 2
No color filter is provided. However, the liquid crystal panel 10 also has the black matrix 2
An RGB color filter may be formed on the opposing substrate 2 together with its protective film in a predetermined area facing the pixel electrode 11 where the pixel electrode 3 is not formed. By doing so, the liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment can be applied to a color liquid crystal device such as a direct-view or reflection type color liquid crystal television other than the liquid crystal projector. Further, a micro lens may be formed on the counter substrate 2 so as to correspond to one pixel. If you do this,
By improving the efficiency of collecting incident light, a bright liquid crystal panel can be realized. Furthermore, a dichroic filter that produces RGB colors using light interference may be formed by depositing many layers of interference layers having different refractive indices on the counter substrate 2. According to the counter substrate with a dichroic filter, a brighter color liquid crystal panel can be realized.

In the liquid crystal panel 10, in order to suppress poor alignment of liquid crystal molecules on the TFT array substrate 1 side,
A flattening film may be further applied on the third interlayer insulating layer 43 by spin coating or the like, or may be subjected to a CMP process.
Alternatively, the third interlayer insulating layer 43 may be formed of a flattening film.

The switching element of the liquid crystal panel 10 is a positive stagger type or coplanar type polysilicon TFT.
However, the present embodiment is effective for other types of TFTs such as an inverted stagger type TFT and an amorphous silicon TFT.

Further, in the liquid crystal panel 10, the liquid crystal layer 50 is made of, for example, a nematic liquid crystal. However, if a polymer dispersed liquid crystal in which the liquid crystal is dispersed as fine particles in a polymer is used, the alignment films 12 and 22 are formed. In addition, the above-described polarizing film, polarizing plate, and the like are not required, and the advantages of higher brightness and lower power consumption of the liquid crystal panel 10 due to an increase in light use efficiency can be obtained. Further, by forming the pixel electrode 11 from a metal film having a high reflectivity such as Al, the liquid crystal panel 10 is formed.
Is applied to a reflection type liquid crystal device, an SH (super homeotropic) type liquid crystal in which liquid crystal molecules are almost vertically aligned in a state where no voltage is applied may be used. Further, in the liquid crystal panel 10, the common electrode 21 is provided on the side of the counter substrate 2 so as to apply a vertical electric field (vertical electric field) to the liquid crystal layer 50. Each of the pixel electrodes 11 is composed of a pair of electrodes for generating a horizontal electric field so as to apply an electric field (i.e., without providing an electrode for generating a vertical electric field on the side of the counter substrate 2, the side of the TFT array substrate 1). It is also possible to provide an electrode for generating a horizontal electric field at the same time. The use of the horizontal electric field is advantageous in widening the viewing angle as compared with the case of using the vertical electric field. In addition, the present embodiment can be applied to various liquid crystal materials (liquid crystal phases), operation modes, liquid crystal alignment, a driving method, and the like.

(Operation of Liquid Crystal Device) Next, the operation of the liquid crystal device 200 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the scanning line driving circuit 104 applies a scanning signal to the scanning line 31 in a pulsed line-sequential manner at a predetermined timing.

In parallel with this, six image input signal lines V
Upon receiving six parallel image signals from ID1 to VID6, the sampling circuit 301 samples these image signals. The data line driving circuit 101 supplies a sampling circuit driving signal for each data line for each of the six image input signal lines VID1 to VID6 in accordance with the timing at which the scanning line driving circuit 104 applies a gate voltage, and performs sampling. The TFT 302 of the circuit 301 is turned on. As a result, the sampled image signals are sequentially applied to the sampling circuit 301 to the six adjacent data lines 35. That is, the data line driving circuit 101 and the sampling circuit 301 supply the parallel six-phase expanded image signals input from the image input signal lines VID1 to VID6 to the data line 35.

On the other hand, the precharge circuit 201 supplies a precharge signal to each data line 35 at a timing preceding each image signal. More specifically, the precharge circuit 201 receives a power supply for writing a precharge signal to the data line 35 from the precharge signal line 206 and receives a power supply through the precharge circuit drive signal line 206. TFT 202 according to the drive signal
Is turned on, and a precharge signal is written to the data line 35.

As described above, the TFT 30 to which both the scanning signal (gate voltage) and the image signal (source voltage) are applied.
In the first embodiment, the pixel electrode 11 is connected via the source region 34, the channel formed in the semiconductor layer 32, and the drain region 36.
Is applied with a voltage. Then, the voltage of the pixel electrode 11 is held by the storage capacitor 70 (see FIG. 6) for a time longer than the time when the source voltage is applied, for example, by three digits. In particular, in the present embodiment, the voltage polarity of the source voltage is inverted every predetermined period such as one field or one frame in order to drive the liquid crystal by AC, but before each image signal is supplied to the TFT 30 as described above. In addition, since a precharge signal preferably corresponding to pixel data of an intermediate gradation level is supplied to each data line 35, the load when writing an image signal is reduced, and the potential of the data line 35 is reduced. The level is stable regardless of the previously applied voltage level. Therefore, the current image signal can be supplied to each data line 35 (source electrode) at a stable potential.

As described above, when a voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 11, the alignment state of the liquid crystal in the portion of the liquid crystal layer 50 between the pixel electrode 11 and the common electrode 21 changes, and the normally white mode In this case, the incident light cannot pass through the liquid crystal portion according to the applied voltage, and in the normally black mode, the incident light can pass through the liquid crystal portion according to the applied voltage. As a whole, light having a contrast corresponding to the image signal is emitted from the liquid crystal panel 10. At this time, in this embodiment, in particular, since the image signal expanded in multiple phases by the external IC is sampled by the sampling circuit 301 and supplied to the data lines, the high-frequency image signal is stably applied to each data line at a predetermined timing. Can be supplied synchronously with the scanning signal.
Further, since the precharge signal is supplied from the precharge circuit 201 prior to the image signal, the contrast ratio is improved, the potential level of the data line is stabilized, the line unevenness on the display screen is reduced, and the like. In the screen display area of the panel 10, a high-quality image is displayed.

In the above-described embodiment, the precharge circuit 201 and the sampling circuit 301 are provided. However, instead of or in addition to the above, the quality of the liquid crystal device during manufacture or shipping may be provided below the peripheral partition 53. An inspection circuit for inspecting a defect or the like may be provided. FIG. 10 shows an example of such an inspection circuit.

In FIG. 10, the inspection circuit 401 has a plurality of TFTs 402. Drive signal lines 403a and 403b for supplying test circuit drive signals TX1 and TX2, respectively, are connected to the gate of the TFT 402. The inspection signals CX1 to CX are provided to the source of the TFT 402.
Test signal lines 404a to 404d for supplying
Is connected. The data line 35 is connected to the drain of the TFT 402. At the time of inspection, the TFT 402 is controlled by the inspection circuit drive signals TX1 and TX2.
Are selectively turned on and off, and a test signal CX1 having a predetermined voltage is provided.
To CX4, a precharge signal of a predetermined voltage and an image signal of a predetermined voltage are applied. Then, the inspection signal lines 404a to
The value of the current flowing through 404d is measured and compared with the current value of a defect-free product obtained empirically or theoretically in advance.
As a result, by applying these applied voltages in a predetermined combination and measuring the current, for example, inspection of disconnection between wirings, inspection of short-circuit (short circuit) between wirings, precharge circuit 201 and sampling circuit 301
Inspection of circuit leaks and the like can be performed relatively easily.

When the inspection circuit is provided below the peripheral parting line 53, the scanning line driving circuit 104 and the data line driving circuit 1
01 can be formed in the peripheral portion of the TFT array substrate 1 with a margin, and the effective display area in the liquid crystal device is not reduced. There is no need to block light incident through the TFT on the TFTs constituting the inspection circuit. Further, in place of or in addition to the precharge circuit 201 and the sampling circuit 301, the TFT or the like is provided under the peripheral partition 53 in order to operate the liquid crystal device, for example, from the viewpoint of improving image quality, reducing power consumption, reducing costs, and the like. Of the various peripheral circuits using, a circuit driven by an AC voltage may be provided. By providing peripheral circuits in this way,
Without inviting a decrease in the effective display area of the liquid crystal device,
At the same time, since the peripheral partition 53 is particularly light-shielding, it is not necessary to shield the TFT constituting the peripheral circuit from light incident through the screen display area. Since the peripheral circuit is driven by an AC voltage, the problem of deterioration of the liquid crystal layer 50 due to application of a DC voltage does not occur.

Further, instead of providing the data line driving circuit 101 and the scanning line driving circuit 104 on the TFT array substrate 1, for example, a driving LSI mounted on a TAB (tape automated bonding substrate) is mounted on the TFT array substrate. 1 may be electrically and mechanically connected via an anisotropic conductive film provided in a peripheral portion. Further, the sampling circuit 301 and the precharge circuit 201
And one of the test circuits is closed off 5
3 and the remaining portion is formed in a peripheral portion or the like on the TFT array substrate 1, the effect of effectively utilizing the dead space can be obtained to some extent.

Further, in the above embodiments, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 9-127497, 3-52611, 3-125123, and 8-17
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1101 and the like, a position facing the TFT 30 on the TFT array substrate 1 (that is,
A light-shielding layer made of, for example, a refractory metal may also be provided on the TFT 30). By providing the light shielding layer under the TFT 30 in this way, it is possible to prevent return light and the like from the TFT array substrate 1 from entering the TFT 30 beforehand, and to prevent leakage current due to the light of the TFT 30. Can be.

(Electronic Apparatus) Next, an embodiment of an electronic apparatus including the liquid crystal device 200 described in detail above will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, FIG. 11 shows a liquid crystal device 200
1 shows a schematic configuration of an electronic device provided with.

In FIG. 11, the electronic apparatus includes a display information output source 1000, a display information processing circuit 1002, a driving circuit 1004 including the above-described scanning line driving circuit 104 and data line driving circuit 101, and a peripheral parting down as described above. A liquid crystal panel 10 provided with a precharge circuit and a sampling circuit, a clock generation circuit 1008, and a power supply circuit 101
0. Display information output source 1000
Are ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Ac
cess memory), a memory such as an optical disk device, a tuning circuit, and the like, and outputs display information such as an image signal of a predetermined format to the display information processing circuit 1002 based on a clock signal from the clock generation circuit 1008. The display information processing circuit 1002 includes various well-known processing circuits such as an amplification / polarity inversion circuit, a phase expansion circuit, a rotation circuit, a gamma correction circuit, and a clamp circuit. A digital signal is sequentially generated from information, and a driving circuit 1 is generated together with a clock signal CLK.
004. The driving circuit 1004 drives the liquid crystal panel 10 by the above-described driving method using the scanning line driving circuit 104 and the data line driving circuit 101. Power supply circuit 10
Reference numeral 10 supplies a predetermined power to each of the above-described circuits. Note that the driving circuit 1004 may be mounted on the TFT array substrate constituting the liquid crystal panel 10, and in addition, the display information processing circuit 1002 may be mounted.

Next, FIG. 12 to FIG. 15 show specific examples of the electronic apparatus thus configured.

In FIG. 12, a liquid crystal projector 1100, which is an example of an electronic device, prepares three liquid crystal modules each including the liquid crystal panel 10 in which the above-described drive circuit 1004 is mounted on a TFT array substrate, and each of them has a light valve for RGB. It is configured as a projection type projector used as 10R, 10G and 10B. LCD projector 11
In 00, when the projection light is emitted from the lamp unit 1102 of the white light source, the light components R corresponding to the three primary colors of RGB are generated by the two dichroic mirrors 1108 through the plurality of mirrors 1106 inside the light guide 1104. , G, and B, and are led to light valves 10R, 10G, and 10B corresponding to each color, respectively. The light components corresponding to the three primary colors modulated by the light valves 10R, 10G, and 10B are combined again by the dichroic prism 1112, and then the projection lens 111
4, the image is projected as a color image on a screen or the like.

Referring to FIG. 13, a laptop personal computer 1200, which is another example of electronic equipment, has the above-described liquid crystal panel 10 provided in a top cover case, and further accommodates a CPU, a memory, a modem, and the like. A main body 1204 incorporating a keyboard 1202 is provided.

In FIG. 14, a pager 1300, which is another example of electronic equipment, includes a liquid crystal panel 10 having a driving circuit 1004 mounted on a TFT array substrate in a metal frame 1302 and forming a liquid crystal display module. Light guide 1306 including the circuit board 13
08, first and second shield plates 1310 and 131
It is housed together with two or two elastic conductors 1314 and 1316 and a film carrier tape 1318.
In the case of this example, the display information processing circuit 1002 (FIG.
1) may be mounted on the circuit board 1308 or on the TFT array substrate of the liquid crystal panel 10. Further, the above-described drive circuit 1004 can be mounted on a circuit board 1308.

Since the example shown in FIG. 14 is a pager, a circuit board 1308 and the like are provided. However, the driving circuit 1004 and further the display information processing circuit 1002
In the case of the liquid crystal panel 10 having a liquid crystal module mounted thereon, a liquid crystal device in which the liquid crystal panel 10 is fixed in a metal frame 1302 is used as a liquid crystal device, or in addition to this, a backlight type liquid crystal device in which a light guide 1306 is incorporated. It is also possible to produce, sell, use, etc.

Further, as shown in FIG.
In the case of the liquid crystal panel 10 on which the display circuit 4 and the display information processing circuit 1002 are not mounted, the driving circuit 1004 and the IC 1324 including the display information processing circuit 1002
TCP (Tape Carrier Package) 1 mounted on 2
320 can be physically, electrically connected via an anisotropic conductive film provided on the periphery of the TFT array substrate 1 to produce, sell, use, etc. as a liquid crystal device.

In addition to the electronic devices described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 15, a liquid crystal television, a viewfinder type or a monitor direct-view type video tape recorder, a car navigation device, an electronic organizer, a calculator, a word processor, a workstation , Mobile phones, videophones, POS terminals,
A device including a touch panel or the like is an example of the electronic apparatus illustrated in FIG.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to realize various electronic apparatuses including the liquid crystal device 200 having a relatively large screen display area and capable of displaying high-quality images.

[0112]

According to the liquid crystal device of the first and second aspects of the present invention, the effective use of a specific space on one of the substrates, which is a part of the periphery formed on the other substrate, is a problem of applying a DC voltage to the liquid crystal. By preventing the image from occurring, it is possible to display a high-quality image while increasing the screen display area relatively to the size of the liquid crystal panel or the module.

According to the liquid crystal device of the third aspect, since the input / output wiring of the precharge circuit is provided below the peripheral part, the space on one substrate can be more effectively used.

According to the liquid crystal device of the present invention, since the precharge signal line and the precharge circuit drive signal line are provided below the peripheral part, the space on one substrate can be more effectively used. .

According to the liquid crystal device of the fifth aspect, it is possible to supply power for generating a precharge signal to the precharge circuit via the low-resistance and low-impedance precharge signal line, thereby improving efficiency. The power can be supplied appropriately and quickly.

According to the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the switching delay of the scanning signals from both sides of the screen display area can be adjusted, so that the switching control can be performed with high accuracy in terms of time. A high-quality image corresponding to high-density pixels and high-frequency driving can be displayed.

According to the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the precharge circuit can be provided on the side opposite to the data line drive circuit for supplying the image signal, the sampling circuit, etc. across the screen display area. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the space below the peripheral parting well in a well-balanced manner.

According to the liquid crystal device of the present invention, since the DC voltage component from the scanning line driving means and the data line driving means can be prevented from being applied to the liquid crystal, the deterioration of the liquid crystal due to the application of the DC voltage can be effectively prevented. In addition, the narrow and elongated peripheral portion of one of the substrates around the screen display area can be effectively used as a peripheral circuit substrate.

According to the liquid crystal device of the ninth aspect, since the inspection circuit is provided below the peripheral part, the space on the first substrate can be more effectively used.

According to the liquid crystal device of the tenth aspect, the peripheral circuit driven by the AC voltage is provided below the peripheral part, so that the space on one substrate can be more effectively used.

According to the electronic device of the eleventh aspect, various types of devices such as a liquid crystal projector, a personal computer, and a pager, which have a large screen display area with respect to the entire size of the electronic device and can display high-quality images. Electronic devices can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of various wirings, peripheral circuits, and the like formed on a TFT array substrate in an embodiment of a liquid crystal device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an overall configuration of the liquid crystal device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an overall configuration of the liquid crystal device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a TFT constituting a precharge circuit provided in the liquid crystal device.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a TFT constituting a sampling circuit provided in a liquid crystal device.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal device.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a TFT array substrate constituting the liquid crystal panel of FIG.

8 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 6 along a precharge signal line.

9 is a plan view of a precharge circuit provided in the liquid crystal panel of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of an example of an inspection circuit.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a liquid crystal projector as an example of an electronic apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a personal computer as another example of the electronic apparatus.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a pager as an example of the electronic apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a liquid crystal device using TCP as an example of an electronic apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... TFT array substrate 2 ... Counter substrate 10 ... Liquid crystal panel 11 ... Pixel electrode 12 ... Alignment film 21 ... Common electrode 22 ... Alignment film 23 ... Black matrix 30 ... TFT 31 ... Scanning line (gate electrode) 32 ... Semiconductor layer 33 ... Gate insulating layer 34 Source region 35 Data line (source electrode) 36 Drain region 37, 38 Contact hole 41 First interlayer insulating layer 42 Second interlayer insulating layer 43 Third interlayer insulating layer 50 Liquid crystal layer 52: sealant 53: peripheral parting 70: storage capacitor 101: data line driving circuit 102: mounting terminal 104: scanning line driving circuit 200: liquid crystal device 201: precharge circuit 202: TFT 204: precharge signal line 206: precharge Circuit drive signal line 301: sampling circuit 302: TFT 401: inspection circuit 402: TFT

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal is sandwiched between a pair of substrates, wherein one of the pair of substrates is defined by pixel electrodes formed in a matrix and the plurality of pixel electrodes on the one substrate. A seal member that surrounds the liquid crystal by bonding the pair of substrates around a screen area to be formed, and the other substrate along the contour of the screen display area between the seal member and the screen display area. And a peripheral circuit formed of a thin film transistor is disposed on the one substrate at a position facing the peripheral partition formed on the other substrate. Liquid crystal device. 2. A liquid crystal is sandwiched between a pair of substrates. One of the pair of substrates has a plurality of scanning lines to which scanning signals are sequentially supplied, and the plurality of scanning lines intersect with the plurality of scanning lines. A plurality of data lines to which signals are supplied; a plurality of thin film transistors connected to the plurality of scan lines and the data lines; a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the plurality of thin film transistors; and a plurality of pixel electrodes on the one substrate. A sealing member that surrounds the liquid crystal by bonding the pair of substrates around a screen area defined by the pixel electrodes, and along a contour of the screen display area between the seal member and the screen display area. A light blocking part formed on the other substrate; and a plurality of the plurality of light shielding parts on the one substrate facing the peripheral part formed on the other substrate. A peripheral circuit comprising at least one of a precharge circuit for supplying a precharge signal of a predetermined voltage level to the data line prior to the image signal, and a sampling circuit for sampling the image signal and supplying the precharge signal to the plurality of data lines, respectively; A liquid crystal device in which a circuit is arranged. 3. The peripheral circuit is the precharge circuit, and at least a part of input / output wiring of the precharge circuit is provided on the first substrate at a position facing the peripheral parting. The liquid crystal device according to claim 2, wherein 4. The precharge circuit according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral circuit is the precharge circuit, and an input / output line of the precharge circuit includes a power supply precharge signal line for generating the precharge signal and the precharge signal. 4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 2, further comprising a precharge circuit drive signal line for a precharge circuit drive signal for driving the precharge circuit at a timing preceding the image signal. 5. At least a part of the precharge signal line is made of a conductor having a predetermined width formed on the scanning line via an insulating film so as to have a predetermined amount of capacitance with the scanning line. The liquid crystal device according to claim 4, wherein: 6. The plurality of scanning lines are respectively wired so as to pass through the peripheral partition from both sides of the screen display area in a direction in which the scanning lines extend, and at least a part of the precharge signal lines. Is arranged on the scanning line via an insulating film along one of the two sides at a position facing the peripheral parting, and at least a part of the precharge circuit drive signal line is
An area where the precharge signal line and the scan line overlap each other, and an area where the precharge signal line and the scan line overlap each other; The scan line, the precharge signal line, and the precharge circuit drive signal line such that a difference between an area where the signal line and the scan line overlap with each other is less than a predetermined value based on characteristics of the liquid crystal device. The liquid crystal device according to claim 4, wherein each of the liquid crystal devices is configured. 7. The precharge circuit, wherein the peripheral circuit is the precharge circuit, and the plurality of data lines are supplied with the image signal from one side of the data line and the precharge signal from the other side of the data line. The liquid crystal device according to claim 3, wherein the liquid crystal device is supplied. 8. A scanning line driving means for sequentially supplying the scanning signals to the plurality of scanning lines, wherein the sampling circuit is provided in a peripheral portion of the first substrate which is located closer to the periphery than the seal member. 7. The liquid crystal device according to claim 2, wherein a data line driving unit provided to drive the sampling circuit to generate the image signal is provided in the peripheral part. 9. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, further comprising an inspection circuit including a thin film transistor for performing a predetermined inspection on the one of the substrates at a position facing the peripheral parting. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1. 10. An AC voltage-driven peripheral circuit for operating the liquid crystal device, in place of at least one of the precharge circuit and the sampling circuit, at a position facing the peripheral parting. First
The liquid crystal device according to claim 2, wherein the liquid crystal device is provided on a substrate. 11. An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal device according to claim 1.