JPH11311802A - Electrooptic panel and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an active matrix drive liquid crystal panel which adopts TFT(thin film transistor) driving, etc., from decreasing in process yield and pixel aperture rate even when the pixels are made fine. SOLUTION: On a TFT array substrate 10, pixel electrodes 9a are connected to data lines 6a through contact holes 5 and driven through the data lines 6a and scanning lines 3a by using TFTs 30. A contact hole 8 for connecting a TFT 30 and a pixel electrode 9a is bored almost in the center between the data line 6a of its stage and an adjacent data line 6a'.

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 electro-optical panel of an active matrix driving system by driving a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as a TFT: Thin Film Transistor) and an electronic apparatus using the same. The invention belongs to the technical field of an electro-optical panel which does not cause a reduction in process yield or a pixel aperture ratio even if the device is miniaturized, and an electronic device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electro-optical panel such as an active matrix driving type liquid crystal panel in which a plurality of pixel electrodes provided in a matrix are controlled by TFTs as switching elements, as shown in FIG. A large number of arranged scanning lines 3a and data lines 6a, and a large number of TFTs 30 'and T
A pixel electrode 9a electrically connected to the FT via a contact hole 8 is provided on the TFT array substrate.
The configuration of each TFT 30 ′ is such that a channel region 1 a ′ (hatched portion on the left in FIG. 16) of the semiconductor layer 1 a is controlled by a gate electrode 3 a ′ protruding from a scanning line 3 a, and a data line 6 a for supplying an image signal is connected to a contact hole 5. And the pixel electrode 9a is electrically connected to the source region of the semiconductor layer 1a through the drain region of the semiconductor layer 1a. In particular, the pixel electrode 9a is provided on various films constituting wiring such as the TFT 30 ', the data line 6a, and the scanning line 3a, and on an interlayer insulating film for insulating the pixel electrode 9a from each other. It is connected to the drain region of the TFT 30 'via a contact hole 8 opened in a film or the like.

[0003]

However, in the technical field of liquid crystal panels, there is an increasing demand for higher definition of pixels in order to obtain high resolution image quality, and the miniaturization of pixel pitch is being accelerated. ing. As shown in FIG. 16, when the pixel pitch L is narrowed and miniaturized as shown in FIG. 16 in order to increase the pixel density and display a high-definition image and to reduce the size of the liquid crystal panel, the non-opening The distance between the various wirings forming the area is reduced. Also, brightness is an important element of a liquid crystal panel, which can be realized by increasing the pixel aperture ratio, which is the ratio of the pixel opening area to the image display area.
Since the area of the wiring such as the data line 6a and the scanning line 3a and the area of the TFT 30 'which is a switching element is a non-opening area, there is a certain limit in increasing the pixel aperture ratio. Therefore, even if the pixels are miniaturized, the intervals between the contact holes 8 for connecting the pixel electrodes 9a and the TFTs 30 'and the data lines 6a or the scanning lines 3a are narrowed in order to increase the pixel aperture ratio. Therefore, the pixel electrode 9a and various wirings may be short-circuited, causing a fatal pixel defect.

[0004] In addition to not only reducing the width of the data lines 6a and the scanning lines 3a, etc.
It is also important to make T30 'finer, and the semiconductor layer 1a
Contact hole 5 between the source region and the data line 6a,
It is necessary to miniaturize the size of the contact hole 8 between the drain region and the pixel electrode 9a. FIG.
7 is a sectional view taken along line DD ′ of FIG.
A cross-sectional view of the FT 30 ′ is shown, and a contact hole 8 is shown.
The step of opening holes is shown. In FIG. 17A,
After forming the gate insulating film 2 and the interlayer insulating films 4 and 7 on the drain region 1e, as shown in FIG. 17B, the resist 302 is exposed through a photomask 303 to form a positive resist. In this case, the portion of the resist 302 irradiated with light is exposed, and the resist 302 is removed. However, the problem here is that the gate electrode 3a '
Is a step between the interlayer insulating films 4 and 7. TFT30 '
When the contact hole 8 is opened in the immediate vicinity of the gate electrode 3a 'in order to reduce the size of the gate electrode 3a', irregularities of light are generated by mask exposure due to this step, and the resist 302 Retreats. As a result, the portion of the photomask 303 where the light-shielding chromium film 304 is not provided, that is, the diameter of the pattern from which the resist 302 has been removed is larger than the diameter of the pattern for opening the contact holes. When the etching is performed as shown in FIG.
There is a problem that the diameter of the contact hole is larger than the diameter of the contact hole opening pattern formed thereon, and it is difficult to miniaturize the contact hole 8.

Furthermore, in the technical field of liquid crystal panels, in order to improve the quality of displayed images and save energy, it is necessary to improve the light use efficiency using a microlens or the like. Is defined by the second light-shielding film 22 formed on the counter substrate, and the area surrounded by the broken line is the area through which light is transmitted. When the light transmitting region is not line-symmetric with respect to the center of the pixel opening as in the above-described conventional example, the effect of the microlens cannot be maximized, and the incident light utilization efficiency is sufficiently obtained. Can not do.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and uses a relatively simple structure to provide an electro-optical panel which does not cause a reduction in process yield or a decrease in pixel aperture ratio even when pixels are miniaturized. It is an object to provide an electronic device including an electro-optical panel.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electro-optical panel comprising a plurality of data lines and a plurality of scanning lines intersecting the plurality of data lines on a substrate. A switching element connected to each of the data lines and each of the scanning lines; and a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the plurality of switching elements and arranged in a matrix. And the contact hole is opened at a substantially center position between a data line for supplying an image signal to the pixel electrode and a data line adjacent to the data line. It is characterized by being done.

According to the electro-optical panel of the present invention, the position of the contact hole to be opened in the interlayer insulating film for connecting the drain region of the TFT, which is a switching element, to the pixel electrode is determined by the corresponding pixel electrode. By opening a hole at a substantially central position between a data line for supplying an image signal to the data line and a data line adjacent to the data line, a short circuit between the data line and the pixel electrode can be prevented. Miniaturization does not cause a reduction in process yield or pixel aperture ratio.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electro-optical panel according to the first aspect, a capacitance line for providing a predetermined storage capacitance to the pixel electrode is provided on the substrate substantially in parallel with the scanning line. The contact holes are formed between adjacent capacitance lines and scanning lines.

According to the electro-optical panel of the second aspect,
The contact hole for connecting the TFT, which is a switching element, to the pixel electrode causes disclination of the liquid crystal due to the stepped shape. However, by providing the contact hole between the scanning line and the capacitance line, the contact hole between the pixel electrode can be formed. It is possible to match the area where the liquid crystal disclination occurs due to the directional electric field. This allows
The non-opening region, which had to be shielded from light because of the occurrence of liquid crystal disclination, can be minimized. In addition, by providing a capacitance line for forming a storage capacitor to be added to the pixel electrode to hold the writing charge of the pixel in the disclination generation region, a high-quality display without reducing the pixel aperture ratio. An optical panel can be realized. Further, since the contact hole is opened using the space between the adjacent capacitance lines and scanning lines without sandwiching the opening region, the contact holes are formed in the direction along the data lines by the capacitance lines and scanning lines. A line-symmetric opening region having a defined width can be widened in each pixel arranged in a matrix. Therefore, the light use efficiency is improved as compared with the conventional case where a contact hole is formed at a corner of each pixel.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electro-optical panel according to any one of the first and second aspects, at least a raised film is provided below the switching element and immediately below the contact hole. It is characterized by the following.

According to the electro-optical panel of the third aspect,
At a predetermined position where a contact hole for connecting a TFT which is a switching element and a pixel electrode is opened,
By laying a raised film under the semiconductor layer of the TFT,
Even when the contact hole is opened in the etching step, the contact hole can be prevented from becoming a pixel defect even if it penetrates the semiconductor layer of the TFT. Accordingly, the semiconductor layer can be thinned, and high-speed writing characteristics can be obtained, so that an electro-optical panel having a high contrast ratio can be realized.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electro-optical panel according to any one of the first to third aspects, the switching element comprises a thin film transistor, and a source region of the thin film transistor is connected to a data line. The drain region of the thin film transistor is electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and the raised film is electrically connected to the drain region and is a conductive film.

According to the electro-optical panel of the fourth aspect, the raised film is electrically connected to the drain region of the semiconductor layer of the TFT which is a switching element. As the material of the raised film, a polysilicon film, W (tungsten), Ti (titanium), Cr (chromium), Mo
By using a conductive film such as a high melting point metal film such as (molybdenum) or Ta (tantalum) or an alloy film thereof, when a contact hole is opened in an etching process, even if the contact hole penetrates through the semiconductor layer, it is electrically connected. , The pixel defect does not occur.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electro-optical panel according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the raised film is provided at a position that does not overlap with the scanning lines and the capacitance lines. It is characterized by being able to.

According to the electro-optical panel of the fifth aspect, the raised film provided below the drain region of the semiconductor layer of the TFT, and the scanning line and the capacitor line provided above the semiconductor layer via the gate insulating film. Laying so as not to overlap with. This means that the surface of the interlayer insulating film on the drain region of the semiconductor layer can be made substantially flat. Accordingly, a resist mask is formed in a region where the interlayer insulating film is not removed to form a contact hole in a predetermined region of the interlayer insulating film, but when exposing the resist mask in a photolithography process, If the surface of the interlayer insulating film is flattened, the reflection of light on the film surface can be suppressed, and the resist does not recede, so that a contact hole having almost the same dimensions as the mask can be formed. Therefore, since the size of the contact hole does not increase, the yield does not decrease due to pixel defects. In addition, since the size of the contact hole can be reduced, the size of the pixel can be reduced, and high definition and downsizing of the electro-optical panel can be realized.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the electro-optical panel according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the thickness of the raised film is equal to the thickness of the scanning line and the capacitance line. And is substantially the same as

According to the electro-optical panel of the present invention, the thickness of the raised film is formed to be substantially the same as the thickness of the scanning line or the capacitance line, so that the surface of the interlayer insulating film on the drain region of the TFT is formed. Can be further flattened. Thereby, the retreat of the resist mask can be further prevented,
The dimensions of the contact hole can be further reduced,
Further miniaturization of pixels becomes possible, which is advantageous for high definition and miniaturization of the electro-optical panel.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the electro-optical panel according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the opening region of each pixel is a plane which is line-symmetric with respect to the contact hole. It is characterized by having a shape.

According to the electro-optical panel of the present invention, the contact hole for electrically connecting the drain region of the TFT and the pixel electrode is opened at a position symmetrical with respect to the center line of the opening region of each pixel. Since the holes are formed, a line-symmetric opening region located near the center of each pixel arranged in a matrix and having a square planar shape can be widened.
Then, the step of the pixel electrode around the contact hole becomes line-symmetric with respect to the opening region. Therefore, the probability of occurrence of poor alignment of liquid crystal such as reverse tilt is almost the same regardless of whether clockwise or counterclockwise liquid crystal is used. That is, when one of the liquid crystals is used, it is possible to prevent a situation in which defective alignment is remarkably generated, and the liquid crystal of either one can be equally used, which is practically convenient. Further, the light use efficiency is improved as compared with the conventional example shown in FIG. 16 in which a contact hole is formed at a corner of each pixel and a non-symmetric light irradiation area is formed in an opening area which is not line-symmetric. Is done.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the electro-optical panel according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, each pixel has a lens center at a center line of the opening region. A microlens is provided at a position facing the electrode.

According to the electro-optical panel of the eighth aspect, the center point of the light irradiation area such as a circle formed by the microlens is adjusted to the center line of the opening area of the pixel, so that the light with respect to the opening area is adjusted. The proportion occupied by the irradiation area can be increased, and the light use efficiency can be improved. This allows
Even if the pixels are miniaturized, a bright electro-optical panel can be realized.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical panel according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the electronic apparatus includes the above-described electro-optical panel according to the present invention, and does not cause a reduction in yield even if the pixels are miniaturized. The electro-optical panel in which the light irradiation area is wide and the light use efficiency is improved enables bright and high-quality image display.

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

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a liquid crystal panel will be described as an example of the electro-optical panel.

(First Embodiment of Liquid Crystal Panel) The configuration of the first embodiment of the liquid crystal panel will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing a plurality of pixels formed in a matrix forming an image display area of a liquid crystal panel. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a plurality of adjacent pixel groups on a TFT array substrate constituting a liquid crystal panel. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ in FIG. Of the TFT shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the scale of each layer and each member is different for each layer and each member in order to make each layer and each member a size that can be recognized in the drawing.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of pixels formed in a matrix forming an image display area of the liquid crystal panel according to the present embodiment are composed of a pixel electrode 9a to a pixel electrode 9a.
A plurality of TFTs 30 for controlling a are formed in a matrix, and a data line 6a for supplying an image signal is electrically connected to a source of the TFT 30. The image signals to be written to the data lines 6a may be supplied line-sequentially in the order of S1, S2,..., Sn, or may be supplied to a plurality of adjacent data lines 6a for each group. The scanning line 3a is electrically connected to the gate of the TFT 30, and the scanning line 3a is provided at a predetermined timing.
1 is applied so as to apply a scanning signal in a pulse sequence in the order of G1, G2,... Gm. Pixel electrode 9a
Is electrically connected to the drain of the TFT 30,
The image signal supplied from the data line is written at a predetermined timing by closing the switch of the TFT 30 as a switching element for a predetermined period. Pixel electrode 9a
An image signal of a predetermined level written in the liquid crystal via the counter electrode (described later) formed on a counter substrate (described later)
Is maintained for a certain period of time. The liquid crystal modulates light by changing the orientation and order of a molecular group according to the applied voltage level, thereby enabling gray scale display. In the normally white mode, the incident light cannot pass through the liquid crystal portion according to the applied voltage. In the normally black mode, the incident light passes through the liquid crystal portion according to the applied voltage. The liquid crystal panel emits light having a contrast corresponding to the image signal as a whole. Here, in order to prevent the held image signal from leaking, a storage capacitor 70 is added in parallel with a liquid crystal capacitor formed between the pixel electrode 9a and the counter electrode. This allows
The holding characteristics are further improved, and a liquid crystal panel having a high contrast ratio can be realized. As a method of forming the storage capacitor 70, it goes without saying that the capacitor line 3b, which is a wiring for forming the capacitor, may be provided, or the capacitor may be formed between the storage line 70 and the preceding scanning line 3a. No.

Next, the configuration of the first embodiment of the liquid crystal panel will be described.

According to the first embodiment, the planar layout of the pixels constituting the image display area of the liquid crystal panel adopts the configuration shown in FIG. That is, a plurality of pixel electrodes 9a provided in a matrix, a plurality of data lines 6a arranged in the X direction, each extending along the Y direction, and a plurality of data lines 6a arranged in the Y direction, each extending along the X direction. Scanning line 3a is provided. Here, _{S X} th data line 6a
A channel region 1a 'of the semiconductor layer 1a forming the TFT 30 (a hatched portion rising to the left in FIG. 2) is formed at the intersection of the scanning line 3a and the source region of the TFT 30 by the contact hole 5 below the data line 6a. Make a connection. Further, the drain region of the semiconductor layer 1a is extended to the vicinity of the adjacent SX _{+ 1-} th data line 6a,
A first storage capacitor electrode 1f for adding a capacitor to a pixel is formed. The first storage capacitor electrode 1f is between the first storage capacitor electrode 1f and the capacitor line 3b.
A storage capacitor is formed using the gate insulating film as a dielectric. The capacitance line 3b extends in the X direction along the scanning line 3a to the outside of the image display area. Furthermore, if the first storage capacitor electrode 1f is formed under the data line 6a of the same stage so as to extend from the drain region of the semiconductor layer 1a in the same manner, in the non-light-transmitting region of the liquid crystal panel called the wiring forming portion. Since the storage capacitor can be efficiently added, the ability to hold the charge written to the pixel is improved, and a liquid crystal panel having a high contrast ratio can be realized. Note that, in FIG.
_X-th and S _{X + 1} th of the relationship is not any problem even reversed.

Here, a contact hole 8 for connecting the drain region of the semiconductor layer 1a and the pixel electrode 9a is provided between the scanning line 3a and the capacitance line 3b. This is because the area where the disclination of the liquid crystal occurs due to the step shape of the contact hole 8 is matched with the same area as the disclination due to the lateral electric field generated between the adjacent pixel electrodes 9a, so that the conventional light shielding has to be performed. The contact hole 8 can be effectively provided in a region where the contact hole 8 has not been obtained. Immediately below the contact hole 8, a portion surrounded by a thick line in FIG. 2 includes a polysilicon film serving as an etching stopper, W (tungsten), Ti (titanium), and Cr.
A conductive raised film 13a such as a high melting point metal film such as (chromium), Mo (molybdenum), or Ta (tantalum) or an alloy film thereof may be provided. This is the semiconductor layer 1a
This is to prevent a fatal pixel defect from penetrating through the semiconductor layer 1a when the contact hole 8 provided for electrically connecting the drain region and the pixel electrode 9a is formed in the etching step. This has the advantage that the semiconductor layer 1a can be made thinner, the transistor characteristics can be improved, and a semiconductor layer with less photoelectric effect on light can be formed. In this case, at least a part of the raised film 13a is formed so as to surround the region where the contact hole 8 is formed, and the scanning line 3a and the capacitance line 3b do not overlap with the raised film 13a. When the margin between the contact hole 8 and the scanning line 3a and the capacitance line 3b is small, as shown in FIG.
The scanning line 3a and the capacitance line 3b may be two-dimensionally (planarly) recessed along the region where the conductive film is provided so that at least one of them does not overlap the raised film 13a. Furthermore, by providing substantially centered between S _X th data line 6a and S _{X + 1} th data line 6a adjacent the contact hole 8, even if the pixel is miniaturized, the data line 6a and the pixel electrode 9a is shorted Can be prevented, and fatal defects such as point defects and line defects due to defective TFTs 30 can be greatly reduced.

Further, in the liquid crystal panel of the first embodiment, T
By forming at least the channel region 1a 'of the FT 30 and the junction between the channel region 1a' and the source region and the drain region below the data line 6a, the incident light is directly transmitted to the channel region 1a 'and the channel region 1a'.
And the junction between the source region and the drain region is not irradiated. Further, the TFT 30 is so irradiated as not to irradiate at least the channel region 1a 'and the junction between the channel region 1a' and the source region and the drain region.
Below 30, a high-melting point metal film such as W (tungsten), Ti (titanium), Cr (chromium), Mo (molybdenum), Ta (tantalum) or an alloy film thereof or a polysilicon film is also provided via an interlayer insulating film. The first light-shielding film 11a is provided (the shaded portion rising to the right in FIG. 2). With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent a leak current generated by irradiating the TFT 30 with light transmitted through the pixel opening reflected by the polarizing plate or the like. This means that leakage current due to the photoelectric effect of the semiconductor layer 1a can be prevented even if strong light is incident to enhance light use efficiency, and is particularly effective for a liquid crystal panel for a projector. The first light-shielding film 11a is preferably supplied with a constant potential such as a ground potential in order to prevent the transistor characteristics of the TFT 30 from deteriorating.
At this time, if a connection is made to a constant potential line such as a power supply supplied to a peripheral circuit provided outside the image display area, a dedicated external circuit connection terminal and a lead-out wiring are not required. Space can be effectively used.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG. 2, and shows the structure of the TFT 30 and the storage capacitor 70 three-dimensionally. The TFT 30 is an LDD (Lightly Doped D
scan line 3 with a gate electrode
a, a channel region 1a ′ of the semiconductor layer 1a in which a channel is formed by an electric field from the scanning line 3a, an insulating thin film 2 including a gate insulating film for insulating the scanning line 3a from the semiconductor layer 1a,
The semiconductor layer 1a includes a low-concentration source region (source-side LDD region) 1b and a low-concentration drain region (drain-side LDD region) 1c, and a high-concentration source region 1d and a high-concentration drain region 1e of the semiconductor layer 1a. The data line 6a is connected to the high-concentration source region 1d, and a corresponding one of the plurality of pixel electrodes 9a is connected to the high-concentration drain region 1e. The low-concentration source region 1b and the high-concentration source region 1d and the low-concentration drain region 1c and the high-concentration drain region 1e are predetermined depending on whether an n-type or p-type channel is formed in the semiconductor layer 1a, as described later. It is formed by doping a concentration of n-type or p-type impurity ions. The TFT of the n-type channel is
There is an advantage that the operation speed is high, and it is often used as the TFT 30 which is a switching element of a pixel. In this embodiment, in particular, the data line 6a is formed of a light-shielding conductive film such as a metal film of Al or an alloy film of metal silicide. Further, a contact hole 5 leading to the high-concentration source region 1d and a contact hole 8 leading to the high-concentration drain region 1e are formed on the scanning line 3a, the insulating thin film 2, and the first interlayer insulating film 12, respectively. An insulating film 4 is formed. The data line 6a is electrically connected to the high-concentration source region 1d via the contact hole 5 to the high-concentration source region 1d. Further, a third interlayer insulating film 7 having a contact hole 8 to the high-concentration drain region 1e is formed on the data line 6a and the second interlayer insulating film 4. This high concentration drain region 1e
The pixel electrode 9a is electrically connected to the high-concentration drain region 1e via the contact hole 8 to the pixel electrode 9a. The above-described pixel electrode 9a is provided on the upper surface of the third interlayer insulating film 7 configured as described above. Here, a high-concentration drain region 1e of the semiconductor layer 1a is provided immediately below the contact hole 8, and a conductive raised film 13a is provided below the high-concentration drain region 1e. As a result, even if the high-concentration drain region 1e of the semiconductor layer 1a penetrates through the etching at the time of opening the contact hole 8, it is electrically connected by the lower raised film 13a, and does not become a fatal defect. . Further, it is preferable that the region where the contact hole 8 is formed be flattened as much as possible.
It is better to make the film thicknesses of b and the raising film 13a uniform. Also,
As shown in FIG. 2, a raised film 13a is extended in a space between the scanning line 3a and the capacitance line 3b to form a region as flat as possible. With such a configuration, no step is formed on the surface of the interlayer insulating film under the pixel electrode 9a around the contact hole 8 and between the wiring of the scanning line 3a and the wiring of the capacitor line 3b. The region in which the occurrence of the image is reduced as much as possible. This makes it possible to further increase the pixel aperture ratio.

The TFT 30 preferably has the L
Although it has a DD structure, it may have an offset structure in which impurity ions are not implanted in the low-concentration source region 1b and the low-concentration drain region 1c, or may have a high-concentration using a gate electrode formed of a part of the scanning line 3a as a mask. A self-aligned TF for implanting impurity ions to form a high-concentration source region 1d and a high-concentration drain region 1e in a self-aligned manner.
It may be T.

In the structure of the TFT 30 shown in FIG. 3, two scanning lines to which the same scanning signal is supplied via the insulating thin film 2 between the high concentration source region 1d and the high concentration drain region 1e of the TFT 30. A gate having a dual gate (double gate) structure may be provided by providing a gate electrode composed of part of 3a so as to have a series resistance. Thereby, the leak current of the TFT 30 can be reduced.
Further, if the dual gate structure TFT has the above-described LDD structure or offset structure, the T
The leakage current of the FT 30 can be reduced, and a high contrast ratio can be realized. Further, with the dual gate structure, redundancy can be provided, and not only pixel defects can be significantly reduced, but also a high-contrast image quality can be realized due to a low leak current even at the time of high-temperature operation. The high-concentration source region 1d of the TFT 30
Needless to say, the number of gate electrodes provided between the gate electrode and the high-concentration drain region 1e may be three or more.

Here, generally, when light enters the channel region 1a ', the low-concentration source region 1b, the low-concentration drain region 1c, etc. of the semiconductor layer 1a, a current is generated due to the photoelectric conversion effect of polysilicon. Although the transistor characteristics of the TFT 30 are deteriorated, in the present embodiment, since the data line 6a is formed of a light-shielding metal film such as Al so as to cover the scanning line 3a from above, at least the channel region of the semiconductor layer 1a is formed. 1a 'and light incident on the lightly doped source region 1b and lightly doped drain region 1c (ie, FIG.
Thus, light from above can be effectively prevented. Further, as described above, since the first light shielding film 11a is provided below the TFT 30, at least the semiconductor layer 1a
Of the return light (that is, light from below in FIG. 3) to the channel region 1a ', the low-concentration source region 1b, and the low-concentration drain region 1c can be effectively prevented.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pixel electrodes 9a are provided with storage capacitors 70, respectively. This storage capacity 70
More specifically, the first storage capacitor electrode 1f extending from the high-concentration drain region 1e of the semiconductor layer 1a, the insulating thin film 2 as a dielectric film of the storage capacitor 70, and the scanning line 3a are formed in the same process. A second storage capacitor electrode, a second interlayer insulating film 4, a third interlayer insulating film 7,
In addition, the pixel electrode 9a is constituted by a part of the pixel electrode 9a facing the capacitor line 3b via the second interlayer insulating film 4 and the third interlayer insulating film 7. Thus, the first storage capacitor electrode 1f and the capacitor line 3
Since the storage capacitor 70 is provided between the second storage capacitor electrode b and the second storage capacitor electrode with the insulating thin film 2 interposed therebetween, a high-definition display is possible even if the duty ratio is small. As shown in FIG. 2, the capacitance line 3b is provided substantially parallel to the scanning line 3a. Further, as in the present embodiment,
By providing the first light-shielding film 11a under the first storage capacitor electrode 1f via the first interlayer insulating film 12, the first interlayer insulating film 12 functions as a dielectric film, and the storage capacitor 70 can be increased. it can. Thereby, a liquid crystal panel with higher image quality can be realized.

(Manufacturing Process of Liquid Crystal Panel) Next, a manufacturing process of the liquid crystal panel having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 show each layer on the TFT array substrate side in each step in FIG.
It is a process drawing shown corresponding to A 'section. FIG. 7 is a process diagram showing each layer on the TFT array substrate side corresponding to the cross section taken along the line BB 'of FIG. 2, and shows the process from (17) of FIG. In FIGS. 4 to 7, the scale of each layer and each member is different in order to make each layer and each member a size recognizable in the drawings.

First, referring to FIG. 4 to FIG.
A manufacturing process of a portion including the TFT 30 corresponding to the -A 'section will be described.

As shown in step (1) of FIG. 4, a TFT array substrate 10 such as a quartz substrate or hard glass is prepared. Here, annealing is preferably performed in an inert gas atmosphere such as N ₂ (nitrogen) and at a high temperature of about 900 to 1300 ° C., and a pre-treatment is performed so that distortion generated in the TFT array substrate 10 in a high-temperature process performed later is reduced. Keep it. That is, the TFT array substrate 10 is preliminarily heat-treated at the same temperature or higher in accordance with the highest processing temperature at the highest temperature in the manufacturing process.

The TFT array substrate 1 thus processed
0, Ti (titanium), Cr (chromium), W (tungsten), Ta (tantalum), Mo (molybdenum)
A light shielding film 11 having a thickness of about 100 to 500 nm, preferably about 200 nm is formed by sputtering a metal such as Pb (lead) or a metal alloy film such as a metal silicide. When the light-receiving film 11 is used for an application in which an amount of light that does not cause crosstalk is incident, the light-shielding film 11 may not be formed.

Subsequently, as shown in step (2), a mask corresponding to the pattern of the first light-shielding film 11a is formed on the formed light-shielding film 11 by photolithography, and the light-shielding film 11 is interposed via the mask. Is etched to form a first light-shielding film 11a. At this time, the first light shielding film 11a may be formed in an island shape, or may be formed in a stripe shape along the scanning line 3a or the data line 6a. Further, if formed in a lattice as shown in FIG. 2, the first light shielding film 11a
Resistance can be reduced.

Next, as shown in the step (3), a TEOS (tetra-ethyl-ortho-silicate) gas, a TEB (tetra-ethyl)・ Boat rate) Gas, T
NSG (silicate glass film containing no boron or phosphorus), PSG (silicate glass film containing phosphorus), BSG (silicate glass film containing boron) using MOP (tetramethyl oxyphosphate) gas or the like, B
A first interlayer insulating film 12 made of a silicate glass film such as a PSG (silicate glass film containing phosphorus and boron), a silicon nitride film, a silicon oxide film, or the like is formed. This first
The thickness of the interlayer insulating film 12 is, for example, about 800 to 1500.
nm.

Next, as shown in step (4), low pressure CVD
The conductive film 13 is formed by sputtering or sputtering. Conductive film 13
Is made of a polysilicon film, a high melting point metal such as W (tungsten), Ti (titanium), Cr (chromium), Mo (molybdenum), Ta (tantalum), or an alloy film thereof. Is preferably set to have the same thickness as a scanning line and a capacitor line formed in a later step. This advantage will be described later.

Next, as shown in a step (5), a photolithography step, an etching step, and the like are performed.
In a later step, the island-shaped raised film 13a is left immediately below the pixel electrode 9a and the drain region of the semiconductor layer 1a. The raised film 13a is provided so that a contact hole for electrically connecting the pixel electrode 9a and the drain region of the semiconductor layer does not become defective even if the contact hole penetrates the semiconductor layer during etching. There is no problem if it is laid immediately below the contact hole 5 for electrically connecting to the source region of the semiconductor layer.

Next, as shown in the step (6), the raised film 1
3a, about 450-550 ° C., preferably about 500 ° C.
Flow rate of about 400 to 600 cc /
An amorphous silicon film is formed by low-pressure CVD (for example, CVD at a pressure of about 20 to 40 Pa) using a monosilane gas, a disilane gas, or the like for min. Thereafter, in a nitrogen atmosphere at about 600 to 700 ° C. for about 1 to 10 hours,
Preferably, the polysilicon film 1 is formed to a thickness of about 50 to 200 nm by performing an annealing process for 4 to 6 hours.
Preferably, the solid phase is grown to a thickness of about 100 nm. At this time, when forming the n-channel type TFT 30, Sb (antimony), As (arsenic), P (phosphorus)
, Etc., may be slightly doped by ion implantation or the like. When the TFT 30 is a p-channel type, B (boron), Ga (gallium),
Impurity ions of a group III element such as In (indium) may be slightly doped by ion implantation or the like. The polysilicon film 1 may be directly formed by a low pressure CVD method or the like without passing through the amorphous silicon film. Alternatively, silicon ions are implanted into a polysilicon film deposited by a low-pressure CVD method or the like to make the polysilicon film once amorphous (amorphization).
Thereafter, the polysilicon film 1 may be formed by recrystallization by an annealing process or the like. Further, annealing may be performed by laser irradiation such as an excimer laser to grow silicon nuclei in a solid phase.

Next, as shown in step (7), an island-shaped semiconductor layer 1a having a predetermined pattern is formed by a photolithography step, an etching step, and the like. At this time, not only the channel region and the source / drain region serving as the switching element, but also the region of the first storage capacitor electrode 1f serving as one electrode of the storage capacitor electrode for adding a capacitor for improving the holding characteristics of the pixel. Are collectively formed.

Next, as shown in step (8), the semiconductor layer 1
a at a temperature of about 900-1300 ° C., preferably about 100
By thermal oxidation at a temperature of 0 ° C., about 10 to 50
A thermal oxide film having a relatively small thickness of nm is formed.
A high-temperature silicon oxide film (HTO film) or a silicon nitride film is deposited to a relatively small thickness of about 100 to 1000 angstroms by a VD method or the like to form an insulating thin film 2 having a multilayer structure. It goes without saying that the insulating thin film 2 functions as a gate insulating film of the TFT 30 and a dielectric film of the storage capacitor 70. As a result, the thickness of the semiconductor layer 1a is about 20 to 15
The thickness is 0 nm, preferably about 35 to 50 nm, and the thickness of the gate insulating film 2 is about 20 to 150 nm, preferably about 30 to 100 nm. By shortening the high-temperature thermal oxidation time in this way, warpage due to heat can be prevented particularly when a large substrate of about 8 inches is used. However, the insulating thin film 2 having a single-layer structure may be formed only by thermally oxidizing the polysilicon film 1. Alternatively, a silicon nitride film may be used to increase the withstand voltage of the insulating thin film 2.

Next, as shown in step (9) of FIG. 5, after depositing a polysilicon film 3 by a low pressure CVD method or the like,
(Phosphorus) is thermally diffused to make the polysilicon film 3 conductive.
Alternatively, a doped silicon film in which P ions are introduced simultaneously with the formation of the polysilicon film 3 may be used. Step (10)
As shown in FIG. 8, a scanning line 3a and a capacitor line 3b having a predetermined pattern as shown in FIG. 8 are formed by a photolithography process using a mask, an etching process and the like. The film thickness of the scanning line 3a is, for example, about 100 to 800 nm.
At this time, by making the film thickness almost the same as the film thickness of the raised film 13a, it is possible to prevent the opening shape of the contact hole from expanding.

However, the scanning line 3a may be formed of a refractory metal film such as W or Mo or a metal silicide film instead of the polysilicon film, or these metal films or the metal silicide film and the polysilicon film may be used. May be combined to form a multilayer. In this case, if the scanning line 3a is arranged as a light-shielding film corresponding to part or all of the area covered by the second light-shielding film 22 shown in FIG. 3, the second light-shielding property of the metal film or the metal silicide film causes Some or all of the film 22 can be omitted. In this case, in particular, the counter substrate 20
There is an advantage that it is possible to prevent a decrease in pixel aperture ratio due to misalignment between the TFT array substrate and the TFT array substrate 10.

Next, as shown in step (11), the TFT 3
In the case where 0 is an n-channel TFT having an LDD structure, in order to first form a low-concentration source region 1b and a low-concentration drain region 1c in the semiconductor layer 1a, the scanning line 3a is used as a diffusion mask, Group 3 impurity ion 3
00 at a low concentration (for example, 1 to 3 × 10 ¹³
/ Cm ² (dose amount). Thereby, the semiconductor layer 1a below the scanning line 3a becomes the channel region 1a '.
The semiconductor layer 1a below the capacitance line 3b becomes the first storage capacitance electrode 1f that forms the storage capacitance 70 using the insulating thin film 2 as a dielectric. The resistance may be reduced by previously implanting P ions or the like into the portion where the first storage capacitor electrode 1f is formed.

Next, as shown in step (12), in order to form the high concentration source region 1d and the high concentration drain region 1e, the resist layer 3 is formed with a mask wider than the scanning line 3a.
After forming 02 on the scanning line 3a, impurity ions 301 of a group V element such as P are also doped at a high concentration (for example, P ions at a dose of 1 to 3 × 10 ¹⁵ / cm ² ). When the TFT 30 is a p-channel type, n
The region of the channel type TFT 30 is covered and protected with a resist, and the steps (11) and (12) are repeated again. At this time, in order to form the low-concentration source region 1b and the low-concentration drain region 1c and the high-concentration source region 1d and the high-concentration drain region 1e in the semiconductor layer 1a, impurity ions of a group III element such as B (boron) are added. And dope. When the LDD structure is used as described above, an advantage that the short channel effect can be reduced can be obtained. It should be noted that, for example, without doping of low concentration impurity ions, the offset structure TF
T may be used, and a self-aligned TFT may be formed by an ion implantation technique using P ions, B ions, or the like, using a gate electrode including a part of the scanning line 3a as a mask.

In parallel with these steps, an n-channel type T
A peripheral drive circuit having a complementary structure composed of an FT and a p-channel TFT can be formed in a peripheral portion on the TFT array substrate 10. As described above, in the present embodiment, peripheral driving circuits such as a data line driving circuit and a scanning line driving circuit can be formed in the same step when the TFT 30 is formed, which is advantageous in manufacturing.

Next, as shown in step (13), scan line 3
a or normal pressure or reduced pressure C so as to cover
NSG, PSG, B using VD method or TEOS gas
A second interlayer insulating film 4 made of a silicate glass film such as SG or BPSG, a silicon nitride film, a silicon oxide film, or the like is formed. The thickness of the second interlayer insulating film 4 is preferably relatively large so as not to add capacitance between wirings, and is approximately 500 to 15
00 nm is preferred.

Next, as shown in step (14), after performing an annealing process at about 1000 ° C. for about 20 minutes to activate the semiconductor layer 1a, the contact hole 5 for the data line 6a is formed by reactive ion etching. , By dry etching such as reactive ion beam etching.
At this time, there is an advantage that opening the contact hole 5 by anisotropic etching such as reactive ion etching or reactive ion beam etching can make the opening shape almost the same as the mask shape. However, if the dry etching and the wet etching are performed in combination, the contact holes 5 can be formed in a tapered shape, so that there is an advantage that disconnection during wiring connection can be prevented. Also, a contact hole for connecting the scanning line 3a to a wiring (not shown) can be formed in the second interlayer insulating film 4 by the same process as the contact hole 5.

Next, as shown in step (15) of FIG. 6, the second interlayer insulating film 4 is formed on the second interlayer insulating film 4 by a sputtering process or the like.
As a metal-containing film 6 such as a light-shielding low-resistance metal such as Al or a metal silicide, a film having a thickness of about 100 to 800 nm, preferably about 300 nm is deposited.

Next, as shown in step (16), the data lines 6 are formed by a photolithography step, an etching step, and the like.
a is formed. If it is formed by dry etching such as reactive ion etching or reactive ion beam etching as an etching step, over-etching can be suppressed, and there is an advantage that patterning can be performed with high precision according to the mask dimensions.

Next, as shown in step (17), NSG, PSG, BSG, BSG are applied to cover the data lines 6a using, for example, normal pressure or reduced pressure CVD, TEOS gas, or the like.
A third interlayer insulating film 7 made of a silicate glass film such as PSG, a silicon nitride film, a silicon oxide film, or the like is formed.
The thickness of the third interlayer insulating film 7 is preferably relatively large so that no capacitance is added between the data line 6a and the pixel electrode 9a formed in a later step, and is preferably about 500 to 1500 nm. Also, the TFT 30 which is a wiring or a switching element
Since the disclination of the liquid crystal may occur due to the step, an organic film or SOG (spin-on glass) is spin-coated instead of or overlying the silicate glass film constituting the third interlayer insulating film 7, Or or CM
A flat film may be formed by performing a P (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) process. With such a configuration, it is possible to minimize the area where the disclination of the liquid crystal occurs, and it is possible to realize a high pixel aperture ratio even if the pixels are miniaturized.

Next, as shown in step (18), a contact hole 8 for electrically connecting the pixel electrode 9a and the high-concentration drain region 1e is formed by dry etching such as reactive ion etching or reactive ion beam etching. Form. In this case, the advantage that the contact hole 8 is opened by anisotropic etching such as reactive ion etching or reactive ion beam etching can be made almost the same as the mask shape. However, if the dry etching and the wet etching are performed in combination, the contact holes 8 can be tapered, so that there is an advantage that disconnection during wiring connection can be prevented. In addition, immediately below the opening region of the contact hole 8, not only the high-concentration drain region 1e of the semiconductor layer 1a but also the raised film 13a which is a conductive film is laid.
Even if it penetrates through the semiconductor layer 1a, it does not become a fatal defect. Further, by laying the raising film 13a, the channel region 1a 'of the semiconductor layer 1a can be made thinner, so that the characteristics of the element can be improved.

Next, as shown in a step (19), the ITO (Ind) is formed on the third interlayer insulating film 7 by sputtering or the like.
A transparent conductive thin film 9 such as an aluminum tin oxide film is
The pixel electrode 9a is deposited to a thickness of 00 nm, and a pixel electrode 9a is formed by a photolithography step, an etching step, and the like as shown in a step (20). When the liquid crystal panel is used in a reflection type liquid crystal device, the pixel electrode 9a may be formed from an opaque material having a high reflectance such as Al. In this case, when the third interlayer insulating film 7 is formed, it is necessary to flatten the surface by a CMP process or the like and to make the pixel electrode 9a a mirror surface.

Subsequently, a coating solution of a polyimide-based alignment film was applied on the pixel electrode 9a, and then rubbed in a predetermined direction so as to have a predetermined pretilt angle, as shown in FIG. An alignment film 23 is formed.

On the other hand, for the counter substrate 20 shown in FIG. 3, a glass substrate or the like is first prepared, and the second light shielding film 22 is
For example, it is formed through a photolithography process and an etching process after sputtering metal chromium. Also, the second
The light-shielding film 22 may be formed of a material such as black resin in which carbon or Ti is dispersed in a photoresist, in addition to a metal material such as Cr, Ni (nickel), or Al. In addition, TFT
If a light-shielding film is formed on the array substrate 10, an opening region is defined on the TFT array substrate 10, so that the second light-shielding film 22 on the opposing substrate is not required, and the TFT array substrate 1
The bonding accuracy between the substrate 0 and the counter substrate 20 can be neglected, and a liquid crystal panel having a uniform transmittance can be realized.

Thereafter, a transparent conductive thin film of ITO or the like is applied to the entire surface of
The counter electrode 21 is deposited to a thickness of 200 nm.
To form Further, an alignment film 23 is formed by applying a coating solution of a polyimide-based alignment film to the entire surface of the counter electrode 21 and then performing a rubbing process in a predetermined direction so as to have a predetermined pretilt angle.

Finally, the T on which each layer is formed as described above
The FT array substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20 are mixed with a predetermined amount of a gap material made of glass fiber, glass beads, or the like having a predetermined diameter (for example, a diameter of about 1 to 6 μm) so that the alignment film 23 faces each other. The liquid crystal formed by mixing a plurality of types of nematic liquid crystal or the like is sucked into a space between the two substrates by vacuum suction or the like, and a liquid crystal layer 50 having a predetermined thickness is formed.

Here, the manufacturing process for opening the contact hole 8 provided in the region between the scanning line 3a and the capacitance line 3b will be described. Incidentally, FIG.
In the cross-sectional view along the line -B ', the step (a) in FIG. 7 matches the above-described step (17) in FIG. FIG. 7 (a)
17 (a) to 17 (d) of a conventional example.
This will be described in comparison with (d).

As shown in step (a) of FIG. 7, in the liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment, the film thickness of the scanning lines 3a and the capacitance lines 3b and the film thickness of the raised film 13a are substantially equalized, so that the third interlayer insulating film 7 The region where the contact hole 8 is to be formed is made substantially flat.

Next, as shown in step (b) of FIG. 7, exposure is performed using a photomask 303 by a stepper device or the like. When the resist 302 is a positive type resist, a portion on the photomask 303 where the light-blocking chrome film 304 is not provided (that is, a portion through which light is transmitted) is removed. The resist 302 on the third interlayer insulating film 7 has a flat region where the contact hole 8 is opened, so that there is no irregular reflection or the like at the time of exposure, and there is no light-shielding chrome film 304 on the photomask 303, that is, the contact The resist 302 can be removed with the same size as the hole opening pattern diameter. Accordingly, since there is no receding of the resist 302 as shown in FIG. 17B which is a conventional example, a contact hole as designed can be formed. Accordingly, even if the pixels are miniaturized, the liquid crystal panel having a high pixel aperture ratio can be realized without lowering the yield.

Next, as shown in step (c) of FIG. 7, the contact hole 8 is formed by anisotropic dry etching such as reactive ion etching or reactive ion beam etching. The aperture size should be as small as possible. Even if wet etching is performed to form the side wall of the contact hole 8 into a tapered shape, the resist
Is not receded, so that the diameter of the opening does not increase and a fine contact hole can be formed.

Finally, as shown in step (d) of FIG.
If the pixel electrode 9a is provided, a pixel in an image display area of the TFT array substrate can be formed.

(Second Embodiment of Liquid Crystal Panel) A second embodiment of the liquid crystal panel according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 shows a TFT constituting a liquid crystal panel.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a plurality of adjacent pixel groups on the array substrate, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC ′ in FIG.
The structure of a TFT as a switching element of a pixel is shown. In FIG. 9, the scale of each layer and each member is different for each layer and each member in order to make the size recognizable in the drawing. 8 and 9, the same components as those in FIGS. 2 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the entire structure of the liquid crystal panel is almost the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and as shown in FIG.
Is not laid below. For example, in the case of a liquid crystal panel used for an application that does not require strong light to enter such as a direct-view type liquid crystal panel, it is not necessary to lay the first light-shielding film 11a.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
1a is not provided, and if the surface of the TFT array substrate 10 has no protrusion and has been sufficiently cleaned, the first
There is no need to form the interlayer insulating film 12. Thereby, the step of forming the first light-shielding film 11a and the step of depositing the first interlayer insulating film 12 can be reduced. That is, the steps (1) to (3) in FIG. 4 can be reduced, which is effective in terms of manufacturing yield and cost.

If the third interlayer insulating film 7 itself or a planarizing film such as an organic film is formed on the third interlayer insulating film as in the second embodiment, the contact hole 8 is opened. Since irregular reflection at the time of exposure in a photolithography step at the time of forming a hole can be prevented, a fine contact hole 8 can be realized. With such a configuration, the thickness of the raised film 13a does not need to be the same as the thickness of the scanning line 3a or the capacitance line 3b.

(Third Embodiment of Liquid Crystal Panel) A third embodiment of the liquid crystal panel according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a plurality of adjacent pixel groups on a TFT array substrate constituting a liquid crystal panel.

In the third embodiment, the overall configuration of the liquid crystal panel is almost the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and is an example in which the pixel pitch L in the X direction is narrow. This is one third of the pixel pitch L shown in the first embodiment, and is an embodiment of a liquid crystal panel in which a color filter is provided on a counter substrate to form one dot of data with three pixels. It can be used as a display of a single-panel type liquid crystal projector or a notebook computer using only one liquid crystal panel with a color filter.

As described above, when the pixel pitch L in the X direction is reduced, the distance between the data lines 6a is reduced, so that there is a high possibility that the pixel electrode 9a is short-circuited via the data line 6a and the contact hole 8. When the data line 6a is formed of an Al (aluminum) film, the height becomes remarkably high. this is,
This is because the third interlayer insulating film 7 cannot be formed in a porous shape by high-temperature treatment because the melting point of the Al film is low. Therefore, the etching rate when opening the contact hole 8 is increased. In particular, when wet etching is performed to make the side wall of the opening tapered, the opening diameter of the third interlayer insulating film 7 of the contact hole 8 tends to increase. Further, if the raised layer 13a as an etching stopper is not provided as in the related art, the dry etching alone has a low selectivity between the semiconductor layer 1a and the interlayer insulating film, so that there is a possibility that the semiconductor layer 1a may penetrate. However, it was difficult to form the hole with a small diameter.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the transition of the pixel pitch L and the defect rate when the contact hole 8 is designed to be 2 μm square and the data line 6a is designed to have a wiring width of 5 μm. FIG. 11A shows a liquid crystal panel manufactured by the conventional manufacturing process, and FIG. 11B shows a result of the liquid crystal panel manufactured by the manufacturing process of the present embodiment. According to this, in the conventional example of (a), when the pixel pitch becomes 20 μm or less, the defect rate due to pixel defects rapidly increases. However, in the present embodiment, when the pixel pitch does not become 10 μm or less, the defect rate due to pixel defects does not increase. Therefore, if the liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment is used, the data line 6a, the scanning line 3a or the capacitor line 3b and the pixel electrode 9 can be used even when the pixel size and the aperture ratio are increased.
a and the contact hole 8 between the drain region of the semiconductor layer 1a and the pixel electrode 9a does not penetrate, so that the yield does not decrease.

When the distance between the contact hole 8 and the data line 6a is extremely short as in the third embodiment, the thickness of the raised film 13a is set to be substantially equal to the thickness of the data line 6a. That is, the region where the interlayer insulating film on the data line 6a and the contact hole 8 are formed may be substantially flat. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to suppress an increase in the diameter of the contact hole 8,
In addition, since the step is reduced, disclination of the liquid crystal can be reduced.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the contact hole 8 is formed with the center line 9c of the opening region (FIGS. 2, 8, and 10).
(See FIG. 3), the step (see FIG. 3) of the pixel electrode 9a around the contact hole 8 becomes line-symmetric with respect to the opening region. This is particularly effective when a TN (Twisted Nematic) liquid crystal is used, and the liquid crystal layer 50 has poor alignment of the liquid crystal such as reverse tilt even when a clockwise liquid crystal or a counterclockwise liquid crystal is used. Are almost the same. In other words, when one of the liquid crystals is used, it is possible to prevent a situation in which poor alignment occurs remarkably, and the liquid crystal layer 50 is equally used for the clockwise liquid crystal and the counterclockwise liquid crystal. It is practically convenient.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the pixel electrode 9a is connected to the TF through the contact hole 8 formed at the corner of each pixel as in the conventional example shown in FIG.
The light use efficiency is improved as compared with the case where the light is connected to the drain of T. In particular, in the case of the present embodiment, since the opening region has a rectangular shape close to a square, that is, a rotationally symmetric planar shape, the ratio of the light irradiation region such as a circle to the opening region increases, and Usage efficiency is improved.
Needless to say, the opening area may have another rotationally symmetric shape such as a circle, a regular dodecagon, a regular octagon, a regular hexagon, and a square. Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the width of the opening region in the X direction is defined by two adjacent data lines 6a, and the width of the opening region in the Y direction is sandwiched by the opening region. The contact hole 8 is defined by the adjacent scanning line 3a and the capacitor line 3b, and is opened in a space between the adjacent scanning line 3a and the capacitor line 3b without sandwiching the opening area. The two-dimensional space of the display area can be used effectively. Therefore, the aperture region can be more efficiently widened, and the light use efficiency is greatly improved.

(Structure of Liquid Crystal Panel) A liquid crystal panel using this embodiment has a TFT 3 serving as a pixel switching element.
Since 0 is a polysilicon (p-Si) type TFT, a peripheral circuit for driving pixels can be formed on the TFT array substrate 10 in the same step when the TFT 30 is formed. The overall configuration of such a liquid crystal panel 100 with a built-in peripheral circuit will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the TFT array substrate together with the components formed thereon viewed from the counter substrate side, and FIG. 13 is a view including the counter substrate taken along line HH ′ in FIG.
It is sectional drawing.

In FIG. 12, on the TFT array substrate 10, a third light-shielding film 53 for defining an image display area is provided, and a sealing material 52 is provided in parallel outside the third light-shielding film 53. ing. The data line drive circuit 101 and the external circuit connection terminal 10 are provided outside the seal material 52.
2 are provided along one side of the TFT array substrate 10, and the scanning line drive circuit 104 is provided along two sides adjacent to the one side. Further, on the remaining one side of the TFT array substrate 10, a plurality of wirings 105 for connecting the scanning line driving circuits 104 provided on both sides of the image display area are provided. If the signal delay of the scanning line does not matter, the scanning line driving circuit 104 may be formed on only one side. Needless to say, the data line driving circuit 101 may be provided on both sides of the image display area. In at least one of the corners of the counter substrate 20,
An upper / lower conductive member 106 for electrically connecting the TFT array substrate 10 and the opposing substrate 20 is provided.
Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the opposite substrate 20 having substantially the same contour as the sealing material 52 shown in FIG. 12 is fixed to the TFT array substrate 10 by the sealing material 52.

The data line driving circuit 101 and the scanning line driving circuit 104 are connected to the data line 6a and the scanning line 3 via the relay wiring.
a are electrically connected to each other. Data line drive circuit 101
Includes a shift register circuit for sequentially transferring a start signal based on a clock signal. The shift register circuit controls a sampling circuit by drive signals sequentially output from the data line drive circuit 101, and displays display information (not shown). The image signal converted into a format that can be immediately displayed from the processing circuit is supplied to the data line 6a via the sampling circuit. The scanning line driving circuit 104 includes a shift register circuit for sequentially transferring a start signal based on a clock signal, and the scanning line driving circuit 104 scans the scanning line 3a in a pulsed manner.
The scanning signals are sequentially sent to In accordance with the scanning signal, the data line drive circuit 101 sends a signal voltage corresponding to the image signal to the data line 6a. Then, the data line 6a and the scanning line 3
The liquid crystal is controlled by the TFT 30 provided in each pixel portion corresponding to the intersection of a. The sampling circuit may be formed in the data line driving circuit 101 or the third light shielding film 5
3 may be formed. As described above, by forming the sampling circuit in the region of the third light-shielding film 53 which has been a dead space in the past, the space can be effectively used, and the data line driving circuit 101 can be reduced in size and improved in function. Can be.

In FIG. 13, the liquid crystal layer 50 is made of, for example, a liquid crystal in which one or several kinds of nematic liquid crystals are mixed. The sealing material 52 is an adhesive made of, for example, a photocurable resin or a thermosetting resin for bonding the TFT array substrate 10 and the opposing substrate 20 around them, and a distance between the two substrates (a gap between the substrates). Is set to a predetermined value, a gap material (spacer) such as glass fiber or glass beads is mixed. On the side of the opposing substrate 20 facing the liquid crystal layer 50, an opposing electrode 21 made of a second light-shielding film 22 and an ITO film as a transparent conductive film is provided. Although not shown in FIG. 13, for example, a TN mode, an ST mode, and a ST mode are provided on the side where the incident light from the opposite substrate 20 is incident and the side where the output light of the TFT array substrate 10 is emitted, respectively.
N (super TN) mode, D-STN (double-ST
A polarizing film, a retardation film, a polarizing plate, and the like are arranged in a predetermined direction according to an operation mode such as an N) mode or a normally white mode / normally black mode.

Further, in the liquid crystal panel 100, the liquid crystal layer 50 is constituted by a nematic liquid crystal as an example.
The use of a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal in which the liquid crystal is dispersed as fine particles in a polymer eliminates the need for the alignment film 23, the polarizing film, the polarizing plate, and the like, and increases the light use efficiency, thereby increasing the brightness of the liquid crystal panel And the advantage of low power consumption can be obtained. 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. As described above, in the liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment, the peripheral circuit for driving the image display area can be integrally formed on the TFT array substrate 10, and can be mounted on a tape or mounted on a CO.
Since there is no need to externally attach a peripheral circuit by the G mounting, an ultra-small liquid crystal panel can be realized. Further, the number of ICs for driving the liquid crystal panel can be greatly reduced, and a great advantage can be obtained in terms of cost.

(Liquid Crystal Panel Using Micro Lens) The micro lens 200 is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-19450.
It is formed by a manufacturing method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No.
FIG. 14 shows an example of such a case. After a film of a photosensitive material is formed on the opposing substrate 20, photo-patterning is performed so that a convex portion corresponding to each lens is left. An array pattern made of a photosensitive material having a smooth convex surface of each lens is formed on the counter substrate 20 by surface tension, and then the photosensitive material is dry-etched by using the array pattern of the photosensitive material as a mask. By engraving the array pattern on the opposing substrate 20, the microlens 20 having a smooth convex surface of each lens on the surface.
0 is formed. Alternatively, the microlenses 200 may be formed by a traditional so-called “thermal deformation method”.

A cover glass 202 is adhered to the entire surface of the microlens 200 with an adhesive 201, on which a second light-shielding film 22, a counter electrode 21 and an alignment film 23 are further formed in this order. In this case, the second light shielding film 2
2 are provided in a matrix along the boundary of each micro lens 200 such that the center of each opening overlaps the lens center 200a of each micro lens 200.

In FIG. 14, the counter electrode 21 is formed over the entire surface of the counter substrate 20. The counter electrode 21 is formed by depositing an ITO film or the like to a thickness of about 50 to 200 nm by, for example, sputtering, and then performing a photolithography process, an etching process, and the like. The alignment film 23 is made of, for example, an organic thin film such as a polyimide thin film. Such an alignment film 23 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 second light shielding film 22 is provided in a predetermined area facing the TFT 30. The second light-shielding film 22 is formed by a sputtering process using a metal material such as Cr or Ni, a photolithography process, and an etching process, or is formed from a material such as a black resin in which carbon or Ti is dispersed in a photoresist. Is done. The second light-shielding film 22 has a function of improving contrast, preventing color mixture of color materials, and the like, in addition to shielding the semiconductor layer 1a of the TFT 30 from light. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15, for example, a microlens 200 ′ configured by pasting a transparent plate (microlens array) on which a convex surface of each lens is formed in advance to the surface of the counter substrate 20 is provided on the counter substrate 20. It may be. Further, such a microlens may be attached on the surface of the opposite substrate 20 facing the liquid crystal layer 50.

In the present embodiment, in particular, FIGS.
As shown in (1), the opening region of the pixel electrode 9a has a shape that is line-symmetric with respect to a center line 9c that passes through substantially the center point 9b of the opening region. The contact hole 8 is opened at a position symmetrical with respect to the center line 9b of the opening region. Further, the micro lens 200 (or 200 ') is located at a position substantially opposite to the center point 9b.
0a ').

According to the present embodiment, when light enters from the side of the counter substrate 20, substantially the center point 9b (center of gravity) of the opening region is obtained.
The lens center 200a (or 200
a ′) having a microlens 200 (or 20)
0 ′), this incident light is substantially centered at the center point 9 of the opening area.
The light is focused on the pixel electrode 9a with the center at b. Therefore,
A circular (or substantially circular or elliptical) light irradiation region is formed in the opening region by the light condensed by the microlens 200 (or 200 ′). Here, the contact hole 8 is opened at a position symmetrical with respect to the center line 9c of the opening region. For this reason, it is possible to widen a line-symmetric opening region located near the center in each pixel. The opening area is substantially parallel to the center line 9 passing through the center point 9b.
Since it is line-symmetric with respect to c, the light irradiation area such as a circle is
It is formed at a line symmetric position in this line symmetric opening region (the center of a circle or the like substantially overlaps the center point 9b). Therefore, the ratio of the light irradiation area to the opening area increases, and the light use efficiency is improved. Note that the light condensing ability of the microlens is sufficient if the light irradiation area can be condensed just enough to fit in the opening area, and it is not necessary to make the light irradiation area smaller than necessary.

In this embodiment, the pixel electrode 9a is driven by using a TFT. However, an active matrix element other than the TFT, such as a TFD (Thin Film Diode), may be used. In addition, the liquid crystal panel can be configured as a passive matrix type liquid crystal panel. Even in such a case, as long as the configuration in which light is condensed on the pixel electrode by the microlens is adopted, the opening area described in the present embodiment is set to be line symmetric or rotationally symmetric, and the lens center is substantially equal to the aperture area. The configuration facing the center point is effective in improving the light use efficiency as in the case of the present embodiment.

(Electronic Apparatus) Next, an embodiment of an electronic apparatus including a liquid crystal panel according to the present embodiment described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, FIG. 18 shows a schematic configuration of an electronic apparatus provided with the liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 18, the electronic equipment includes a display information output source 1000, a display information processing circuit 1002, a drive circuit 1
004, liquid crystal panel 100, clock generation circuit 1008
And a power supply circuit 1010. The display information output source 1000 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory),
It includes a RAM (Random Access Memory), a memory such as an optical disk device, a tuning circuit for tuning and outputting an image signal, and displays display information such as an image signal in a predetermined format based on a clock signal from a clock generation circuit 1008. Output to the information processing circuit 1002. The display information processing circuit 1002 includes various known processing circuits such as an amplification / polarity inversion circuit, a serial / parallel conversion circuit, a rotation circuit, a gamma correction circuit, and a clamp circuit, and is input based on a clock signal. Digital signals are sequentially generated from the display information and output to the drive circuit 1004 together with the clock signal CLK. The drive circuit 1004 drives the liquid crystal panel 100. The power supply circuit 1010 supplies a predetermined power to each of the above-described circuits. The driving circuit 1004 may be mounted on the TFT array substrate constituting the liquid crystal panel 100. In addition, the display information processing circuit 1004
2 may be mounted.

Next, FIGS. 19 to 21 show specific examples of the electronic apparatus thus configured.

In FIG. 19, a liquid crystal projector 1100, which is an example of electronic equipment, prepares three liquid crystal modules each including the liquid crystal panel 100 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. The projector is used as 100R, 100G, and 100B. LCD projector 1
In 100, when projection light is emitted from a lamp unit 1102 of a white light source such as a metal halide lamp, three mirrors 1106 and two dichroic mirrors 110 are provided.
8, light components R, G, and R corresponding to the three primary colors of RGB.
B, the light valve 100R corresponding to each color,
100G and 100B respectively. At this time, in particular, the B light is applied to the incident lens 1 to prevent light loss due to a long optical path.
122, relay lens 1123 and emission lens 1124
And is guided through a relay lens system 1121 composed of Then, the light components corresponding to the three primary colors modulated by the light valves 100R, 100G, and 100B, respectively, are combined again by the dichroic prism 1112, and then projected as a color image on the screen 1120 via the projection lens 1114.

In this embodiment, if the light shielding film is provided below the TFT as described above, the liquid crystal panel 100
The reflected light from the projection optical system in the liquid crystal projector based on the projected light from the LCD panel, the reflected light from the surface of the TFT array substrate when the projected light passes, and exits from the dichroic prism 1112 after being emitted from another liquid crystal panel 100. Even if a part of the projection light (a part of the R light and the G light) enters from the side of the TFT array substrate as return light, sufficiently shield the channel region such as the TFT for switching the pixel electrode. Can be. Therefore, even if a prism suitable for miniaturization is used for the projection optical system, the TF
Since there is no need to attach an AR (Anti Reflection) film for preventing return light between the T-array substrate and the prism or to perform an AR coating process on the polarizing plate, the configuration is reduced in size and simplified. Above is very advantageous.

The three light valves 100R, 10R
By adjusting the clear viewing direction of each of the liquid crystal panels constituting 0G and 100B, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of color unevenness and a decrease in contrast ratio. Therefore, TN as the liquid crystal
When a liquid crystal is used, it is necessary that only the light valve 100G and the other light valves 100R and 100B and the clear viewing direction of the liquid crystal be reversed left and right with respect to the image display area. Here, if the light valve including the liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment is used, the opening shape of the pixel is substantially the same in the left and right directions even if the TN liquid crystal is clockwise or counterclockwise. Even if ligation occurs, it is recognized in the same way. Accordingly, when the light valves 100G, 100R, and 100B having different rotation directions of the liquid crystal are combined by a prism or the like, color unevenness or a decrease in contrast ratio is not caused in a display image, and thus a high-quality liquid crystal projector can be realized. .

Referring to FIG. 20, a laptop personal computer (PC) 1200 compatible with multimedia, which is another example of the electronic apparatus, has a liquid crystal panel 100 described above.
Is provided in the top cover case, and the CP
U, memory, modem, etc.
02 is incorporated in the main body 1204.

Further, as shown in FIG.
In the case of the liquid crystal panel 100 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
(Tape Carrier Package) implemented on 22
The liquid crystal device 1320 can be physically, electrically, and electrically connected to the TFT array substrate 1320 via an anisotropic conductive film provided on a peripheral portion of the TFT array substrate 10 to be produced, sold, used, and the like.

In addition to the electronic devices described above with reference to FIGS. 19 to 21, 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, an engineering machine, etc. A workstation (EWS), a mobile phone, a video phone, a POS terminal, a device including a touch panel, and the like are examples of the electronic device illustrated in FIG.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by using a relatively simple configuration, a liquid crystal panel and a liquid crystal panel which do not cause a reduction in the process yield or the pixel aperture ratio even when the pixels are miniaturized are reduced. Various types of electronic devices provided can be realized. Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been made using the liquid crystal panel. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applicable to an electro-luminescence panel or an electro-optical panel such as a plasma display.

[0103]

According to the liquid crystal panel of the present invention, the position of the contact hole to be opened in the interlayer insulating film for connecting the drain region of the TFT, which is a switching element, to the pixel electrode is set in the corresponding pixel electrode. By opening a hole at a substantially central position between a data line for supplying a signal and a data line adjacent to the data line, a short circuit between the data line and the pixel electrode can be prevented, and the pixel pitch can be reduced. This does not cause a decrease in process yield.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a pixel portion forming an image display area of a liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a plurality of adjacent pixel groups on the TFT array substrate in the first embodiment of the liquid crystal panel according to the present invention, as viewed from a counter substrate side.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 2 including a counter substrate.

FIG. 4 shows a manufacturing process of the embodiment of the liquid crystal panel in FIG.
Process chart showing the steps shown in (1)
It is.

FIG. 5 is a process diagram (part 2) showing the manufacturing process of the embodiment of the liquid crystal panel in order for the portion shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a process diagram (part 3) showing the manufacturing process of the embodiment of the liquid crystal panel in order for the portion shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB ′ of FIG. 2 showing the manufacturing process of the embodiment of the liquid crystal panel;
FIG. 3 is a process chart showing the process shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a plurality of adjacent pixel groups on a TFT array substrate in a liquid crystal panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from a counter substrate side.

9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC ′ of FIG. 8, including the counter substrate.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a plurality of adjacent pixel groups on a TFT array substrate viewed from a counter substrate side in a third embodiment of the liquid crystal panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing a pixel defect defect rate of the liquid crystal panel at a pixel pitch between the liquid crystal panel in the embodiment of the liquid crystal panel according to the present invention and a conventional liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an overall configuration of a liquid crystal panel according to the present invention.

13 is a sectional view taken along the line H-H 'of FIG.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a counter substrate in a pixel portion where an example of a microlens is formed.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a counter substrate in a pixel portion on which another example of a microlens is formed.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a plurality of adjacent pixel groups on a TFT array substrate in a conventional liquid crystal panel viewed from a counter substrate side.

FIG. 17 shows a conventional liquid crystal panel manufacturing process.
(17) to (2) in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a process chart showing the process shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a liquid crystal projector as an example of an electronic apparatus.

FIG. 20 is a front view illustrating a personal computer as another example of the electronic apparatus.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating a liquid crystal device using TCP as an example of an electronic apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a ... semiconductor layer 2 ... insulating thin film 3a ... scanning line 3a '... gate electrode 3b ... capacitance line 4 ... second interlayer insulating film 5 ... contact hole 6a ... data line 7 ... third interlayer insulating film 8 ... contact hole 9a ... pixel Electrode 10: TFT array substrate 11a: First light-shielding film 12: First interlayer insulating film 13a: Raised film 20: Counter substrate 21: Counter electrode 22: Second light-shielding film 23: Alignment film 30: TFT 50: Liquid crystal layer 52 ... Sealing material 53 Third light-shielding film 70 Storage capacitance 101 Data line driving circuit 104 Scanning line driving circuit 200, 200 'Microlens 200a, 200a' Lens center 201 Adhesive

Claims (9)

[Claims] A plurality of data lines, a plurality of scanning lines intersecting the plurality of data lines, a switching element connected to each of the data lines and each of the scanning lines, and a plurality of switching elements on a substrate. A plurality of pixel electrodes connected to an element and arranged in a matrix are provided, wherein the pixel electrode is connected to the switching element via a contact hole, and the contact hole is
A data line for supplying an image signal to the pixel electrode,
An electro-optical panel having an opening substantially at the center between the data line and an adjacent data line. 2. A capacitor line for providing a predetermined storage capacitance to each of the pixel electrodes is provided substantially in parallel with the scan line on the substrate, and the contact hole is provided between the adjacent capacitor line and the scan line. The electro-optical panel according to claim 1, wherein a hole is formed between the panels. 3. The electro-optical panel according to claim 1, wherein at least a raised film is provided immediately below the contact hole under the switching element. 4. The switching element comprises a thin film transistor, a source region of the thin film transistor is electrically connected to a data line, a drain region of the thin film transistor is connected to a pixel electrode, and the raised film is The electro-optical panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electro-optical panel is electrically connected to the region and is a conductive film. 5. The electro-optical panel according to claim 1, wherein the raising film is provided at a position that does not overlap with the scanning line and the capacitance line. 6. The electro-optical panel according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the raised film is substantially the same as the thickness of the scanning line and the capacitance line. . 7. The electro-optical panel according to claim 1, wherein the opening region of each pixel has a plane shape symmetrical with respect to the contact hole. 8. A micro lens is provided at a position facing each pixel electrode so as to have a lens center at a center point of an opening region of the pixel. An electro-optical panel according to the item. 9. An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical panel according to claim 1. Description: