JPH1172792A - Liquid crystal display element and its production - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to stably manufacture a novel liquid crystal display element having a wide visual angle and high luminance with a good reproduciltlity and to improve the reliability on the use environment by exhibitting plural twist directions with one pixel and using an internal optical compensation effect by liquid crystal molecule alignment in the element. SOLUTION: An insulating layer in which grain size controllers to uniformly regulate an inter-substrate spacing in part on the whole region outside the pixel consists of the constitution satisfying the equation γ<A<=D/2. In equation, the width of the insulating material layer is defined as D, the radius of the grain size controllers or half the major axis thereof as γ and the shortest distance from the center of the grain size controllers to the end face (wall) of the insulating material layer as A. The bead spacers are fixed onto the light shielding layer outside the pixel in such a manner, by which the stable formation of the liquid crystal layer having at least >=2 twist directions varying in the rising direction within one pixel and having the specific orientation constituted of plural liquid crystal molecule orientation regions is made possible. The liquid crystal display element having a uniform display grade is created.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information terminal for a large number of people, a personal computer, a word processor, an amusement device, a television, etc., a flat display utilizing a wide viewing angle characteristic, and a display utilizing a shutter effect. The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display element that can be used as a plate or the like and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As the above-mentioned liquid crystal display elements, those utilizing various display modes have been practically used. A general structure of a liquid crystal display element has a liquid crystal layer 23 in which a liquid crystal material is sealed between a pair of opposed substrates 21 and 22, as shown in FIG.

In particular, in a TN mode using a twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal, which is a typical display mode, driven by a thin film transistor (TFT) or the like, the liquid crystal molecules 24 of the liquid crystal layer 23 are composed of two substrates 21. It is helically oriented so as to be continuously twisted by about 90 ° between the 22. In addition, the liquid crystal molecules 24 have a pretilt angle near the alignment film (not shown) formed on the substrates 21 and 22, and the alignment direction and the pretilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules are determined by the type of the alignment film and the alignment by rubbing or the like. It is controlled by the processing method.

[0004] In such a TN mode liquid crystal display element, since the luminance at the time of gradation display changes depending on the angle at which the screen is viewed, inversion of the gradation of the image and whitening of the display are confirmed. In addition, a change in display becomes noticeable in a high viewing angle direction in which the inclination from the screen normal direction is large.

This phenomenon depending on the viewing angle has a great relationship with the asymmetry of the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules 24 as shown in FIG. The reason will be described below.

The rising direction and the rising angle of the liquid crystal molecules 24 in the liquid crystal layer 23 depend on the magnitude of the pretilt angle and the applied voltage. The dynamic behavior of the liquid crystal molecules 24 according to the applied voltage is described with reference to the substrates 21 and 22.
The liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the alignment film (not shown) formed thereon have a small movement due to a strong influence of alignment control. On the other hand, the middle part of the liquid crystal cell responds to the applied voltage relatively easily because the restriction of the alignment control is small. As described above, the liquid crystal display element performs a halftone or black and white display by the rising behavior of the liquid crystal molecules that move differently in the thickness direction in the liquid crystal cell with respect to the substrate.

Therefore, in the conventional liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal panel looks white when viewed from the rising direction A of the liquid crystal molecules 24 and black when viewed from the opposite direction B during the halftone display shown in FIG. This causes the display to be whitened. Further, the change in the rising behavior may not follow the change in the applied potential, in which case, the grayscale inversion occurs.

In order to solve the influence of the viewing angle characteristics as described above, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. H5-210099 and H6-222.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 366 discloses a technique relating to a liquid crystal display element in which a unit liquid crystal region for each pixel is divided into two liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having different alignment directions, that is, a pixel is divided. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-210099 proposes a method of performing one-way rubbing in one region of a substrate portion corresponding to a liquid crystal molecule alignment region and performing rubbing in the other direction in the other region as a method of pixel division. doing. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-222366 proposes a method in which a minute region of an alignment film is selectively irradiated with ultraviolet light to divide the region into two liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having different alignments. By such a pixel division method, the viewing angle characteristics of each minute liquid crystal molecule alignment region are averaged, and the viewing angle characteristics can be improved as a whole.

However, when a plurality of minute liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having different rising directions of liquid crystal molecules are provided in this manner, the boundary between the liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having different rising directions of the liquid crystal molecules is referred to as disclination. An alignment defect occurs, for example, normally white (NW)
In the case of the mode, since the alignment defect becomes a bright line, a problem of a decrease in contrast occurs.

In order to prevent the display characteristics from deteriorating due to the disclination, it is necessary to control the position where the disclination occurs and to provide a light shielding layer to cover the disclination. For example, in the case of an active matrix type liquid crystal display device, the effects of the horizontal electric field generated between the signal lines such as the gate bus line and the source bus line and the pixel electrode, and the effects of the liquid crystal alignment processing are sufficiently controlled. It is necessary to control the disclination occurrence position and the like. In addition, when the wiring interval is reduced by miniaturizing the pixel electrode and the signal line with high definition, the influence of the horizontal electric field becomes a more serious problem, and it is necessary to secure a stable liquid crystal molecule orientation by dividing the pixel. It becomes more difficult to control the position of occurrence of disclination at the boundary between two liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having different alignment states for pixel division.

[0011]

As a new technique for solving the above-mentioned problem of deterioration of display characteristics caused by disclination, Euro Display has been proposed.
'4-Doma, p.159 (1996)
In CTN mode "has been proposed.

This proposed method, as shown in FIG. 13, comprises two liquid crystal molecule alignment regions (domain regions) having opposite twist directions and two liquid crystal molecule alignment regions (domain regions) having opposite rising directions. This is a method of realizing a wide viewing angle by an optical compensation effect in a pixel by controlling the liquid crystal molecule alignment in a total of four liquid crystal molecule alignment regions A, B, C, and D. The characteristic is that disclinations that occur at the boundaries between adjacent liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having different orientations are disclinations formed in liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having the same rising direction and different twist directions. In the case of the maritime white (NW) mode, since light does not pass through the boundary portion, no light-shielding layer is required, and high contrast display can be realized.

However, even in the liquid crystal display device of the proposed display mode, how to control the alignment characteristics and the like of minute liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having different alignments is described.
An important issue is how to achieve stable alignment with good reproducibility by fixing the alignment regulation.The disclosed technology alone cannot solve the problem, and the display characteristics during operation are not sufficient. Another challenge was that it was not possible to achieve a satisfactory level.

Further, the above problem can be solved by controlling the alignment characteristics and the like of the liquid crystal display element of the proposed display mode and other liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having different liquid crystal molecule alignments in pixel units with high accuracy. In a novel liquid crystal display device in which a plurality of molecular alignment regions exist in a pixel, LC is a granular particle size control material made of inorganic beads or organic material used as a substrate gap holding means for holding a substrate gap.
The D spacer is present in the pixel. In other words, the alignment gap of the liquid crystal and the alignment defect are partially recognized by the substrate gap holding means such as the beads and the LCD spacer, which is a major problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem of the related art, and a plurality of liquid crystal molecules in a pixel can be prevented from being disordered in alignment or caused by an alignment defect by a substrate gap holding means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display device provided with an alignment region and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0016]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display device in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between a pair of substrates, at least one of which is disposed so as to be opposed to each other, and each pixel has a rising edge of liquid crystal molecules. A plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having different directions and having at least two or more twist directions are formed on a light-shielding layer provided outside the pixels and provided to define the size of the pixels. A substrate gap holding means for holding a substrate gap is provided, thereby achieving the above object.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal display device, the substrate gap holding means is formed of an insulating layer patterned and formed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display device comprising:
A display medium comprising a liquid crystal material and a polymer is sandwiched, and each pixel is formed of a plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having different rising directions of liquid crystal molecules and having at least two or more twist directions. A substrate gap holding means for holding a substrate gap outside the pixel is provided, thereby achieving the above object.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal display element, a spacer is selectively provided on the light shielding layer provided outside the pixel, and the spacer forms the substrate gap holding means. Features.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the liquid crystal display device, wherein the substrate gap holding means is formed of a patterned insulating layer.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the liquid crystal display device, wherein the patterned insulating layer, which is the substrate gap holding means, comprises at least one layer.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the liquid crystal display device, wherein the substrate gap maintaining means provided outside the pixel is made of a particle size control material mixed in an insulating material. The width (D) of the layer made of an insulating material is defined as r, which is の of the length of the grain size control object in the width direction of the layer, and the layer is formed from the center of the grain size control object in the width direction of the layer. Where r <A ≦ D / 2, where A is the distance to the end of

In the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, the substrate gap holding means provided outside the pixel is made of a particle size control material mixed in an insulating material, and the particle size control material is fixed. The width (D ₁ ) of the layer made of the first insulating material and the width (D ₂ ) of the layer made of the second insulating material that covers the grain size control object are:
When 1/2 of the length of the controlled particle size in the width direction of the layer is defined as r, D ₁ + 4r <D ₂ is satisfied.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal display device according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the pixels are formed by opposing portions of the electrodes provided on each of the pair of substrates, and at least one of the pair of electrodes forming each pixel is provided. Is characterized by having an electrode opening without an electrode for dividing the liquid crystal molecule into a plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal display device, a pair of polarizing plates are disposed on both sides of the pair of substrates so that respective polarizing axes are orthogonal to each other. At least one retardation film having optically negative birefringence is provided between a pair of substrates.

The liquid crystal display device according to claim 11 of the present invention, the phase difference the refractive index in the in-plane direction n _x of the refractive index ellipsoid of the film, n _y, and the refractive index in the thickness direction is n _z, It is characterized by including a retardation film satisfying the expression _nx > _ny > _nz .

The liquid crystal display device according to claim 12 of the present invention, as the direction of n _x of the refractive index of the retardation film becomes substantially parallel to the transmission axis of the polarizing plate adjacent to the retardation film The retardation film is disposed.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal display device according to the thirteenth aspect, the retardation films are disposed one by one between the pair of polarizing plates and the pair of substrates. direction of n _x, characterized in that the retardation film to be substantially parallel to the transmission axis of the polarizing plate adjacent to the retardation film is arranged.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display device wherein the birefringence anisotropy of the liquid crystal molecules is Δn, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is d,
The thickness of the retardation film and d ', the in-plane retardation Rs of the retardation film _{{= (n x -n y)} ·
d ′｝ is smaller than the retardation value (Δn · d) of the liquid crystal layer.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display device wherein the retardation in the thickness direction of the retardation film is R ｛=
_{(N x -n z) · d} '} is characterized in that the smaller than the retardation value of the liquid crystal layer (Δn · d).

A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 16 of the present invention is the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a light-shielding element defining a pixel size on one of the pair of substrates. Patterning a layer and forming a substrate gap holding means using an insulating material mixed with a particle size controlling material; forming an alignment film on the substrate having the substrate gap holding means and the other substrate; and performing a rubbing treatment. And a step of arranging both substrates so that the rubbing directions are orthogonal to each other at 90 ° to obtain a liquid crystal cell, and a step of filling the liquid crystal cell with a liquid crystal material, whereby the object is achieved. You.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display element according to the second aspect, wherein one layer of the pair of substrates is provided outside a pixel on one of the substrates. A step of patterning and forming the insulating material layer to obtain a substrate gap holding unit, a step of forming an alignment film on the substrate having the substrate gap holding unit and the other substrate, and performing a rubbing process; Rubbing directions are 90
The method includes a step of obtaining a liquid crystal cell by arranging the liquid crystal cells at right angles to each other, and a step of filling the liquid crystal cell with a liquid crystal material, whereby the object is achieved.

The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 18 of the present invention is the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein an alignment film is formed on a pair of transparent substrates. A step of performing a rubbing process, a step of arranging the pair of substrates so that the rubbing directions are orthogonal to each other at 90 ° to obtain a liquid crystal cell, and, in the liquid crystal cell, a mixture containing a liquid crystal composition and a polymerizable material. After filling, a step of fixing the orientation of the liquid crystal layer through a polymerization process, whereby the object is achieved.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising the steps of: forming an alignment film on a pair of transparent substrates, and performing a rubbing process; Forming the substrate gap holding means in the upper region outside the pixel.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display element, in the step of forming the substrate gap holding means using the insulating material mixed with the grain size controlling material, the layer made of the insulating material is removed. The width (D) is defined as r, where １ ／ is the length of the particle size control object in the width direction of the layer, and A is the distance from the center of the particle size control object in the width direction of the layer to the end of the layer. , Where r <A ≦ D / 2 is satisfied.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display element according to the twenty-first aspect, in the step of fixing the grain size control object with a layer made of a patterned insulating material, The layer made of the first insulating material and the layer made of the second insulating material that cover the grain size controlling member are formed by the width (D ₁ ) of the layer made of the first insulating material and the layer made of the second insulating material. Is the length (D ₂ ) of the particle size control material in the width direction of the layer, where r is D ₁ + 4r <D ₂
Is formed so as to satisfy the following.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display element according to the ninth aspect, wherein at least one of a pair of electrodes constituting each pixel is provided. Forming an electrode opening without an electrode for dividing the liquid crystal molecule into a plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions, and forming the liquid crystal layer on a liquid crystal cell including a substrate having the electrode opening and another substrate. Forming a plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having different liquid crystal molecule alignments in the pixels by applying an electric field to the electrodes after the material is filled.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be described.

In the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, each pixel shows a plurality of twist directions and has an internal optical compensation effect due to liquid crystal molecular alignment. Therefore, a wide viewing angle not seen in the conventional liquid crystal display device,
A characteristic in which high luminance and the like are secured can be obtained. Further, a substrate gap holding means such as a bead spacer is provided on the light shielding layer outside the pixel. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the alignment disorder and the alignment defect of the liquid crystal from occurring.

Further, in the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, a small amount of a polymerizable material is added to the liquid crystal and the polymer is formed through the polymerization process in order to fix a unique liquid crystal molecular alignment in a pixel unit with good reproducibility. The effect of stabilizing the orientation is realized by the polymer. Thereby, the stability, reproducibility and reliability of the orientation can be greatly improved.

[0041]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The contents of the present invention will be specifically described below.

In the present invention, the following two methods are employed.

A liquid crystal cell structure in which a bead spacer as a substrate gap holding means is fixed to a light shielding layer outside a pixel,
Alternatively, a liquid crystal cell configuration in which an insulating material layer as a substrate gap holding means is selectively patterned and formed outside a pixel.
Thereby, it is possible to prevent the alignment disorder and the alignment defect of the liquid crystal of the divided pixel caused by the bead spacer existing in the pixel or the bead spacer existing at the boundary between the pixel and the light shielding layer.

Furthermore, by adding a small amount of a polymerizable material to the liquid crystal material, an effect of stabilizing the alignment by the polymer formed through the polymerization process can be obtained. As a result, a liquid crystal display device in which a plurality of complicated liquid crystal molecule alignment regions exist in a pixel can be produced with good reproducibility, a unique liquid crystal molecule alignment can be stably fixed, and the thermal stability of the alignment can be greatly improved. Therefore, the effect of improving the heat resistance of the display of the liquid crystal panel can be obtained.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail.

(Liquid Crystal Cell) In the liquid crystal cell in the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, a substrate gap holding means is provided outside the pixel. That is, in order to suppress the occurrence of the liquid crystal molecule alignment defect in the liquid crystal layer, the mixing of the spacer into the pixel is suppressed, and the liquid crystal cell has high contrast and excellent viewing angle characteristics. Further, it is preferable that the liquid crystal cell in the liquid crystal display device of the present invention is a liquid crystal cell which suppresses a change in display with respect to an external pressure, has excellent impact resistance, and is compatible with a large area.

As a liquid crystal cell which can satisfy these requirements,
A liquid crystal cell based on a method of uniformly maintaining a substrate gap by a layer made of an insulating material provided outside a pixel and a liquid crystal cell based on a method of patterning and fixing a bead spacer on a light-shielding layer outside a pixel are promising.

In the case of the liquid crystal cell according to the former method, it is practical to form a layer made of an insulating material by patterning on a signal line outside a pixel. As a method of patterning the insulating material layer, a method of patterning and forming the insulating material layer using a photo process of a photosensitive material outside the pixel shown below, or a method of forming the insulating material layer outside the pixel by a printing method in a predetermined manner. A method of forming a pattern with a thickness can be considered.

That is, as a specific patterning method of the insulating material layer, there is the following method.

The first method is to form a highly insulating organic film and the like on a substrate uniformly, and then apply and form a photoresist, and perform steps such as mask exposure, development, etching, and resist peeling. This is a method of patterning and forming an insulating material layer.

The second method is to form an insulating organic film having photosensitivity, for example, a negative type photoresist, a positive type photoresist alone, or a photosensitive polyimide uniformly on a substrate, and then perform mask exposure and development. Is a method of patterning and forming an insulating material layer through the steps of In the method, the first
There is an advantage that the steps of the method can be simplified.

The third method is to use a printing method such as letterpress printing, intaglio printing or screen printing alone or in combination to pattern an insulating material with a predetermined thickness on signal lines outside the pixels on the substrate. How to

By the way, in order to keep the substrate gap (cell gap) uniform over a large area without being affected by the operating temperature environment or the external pressure, an insulating material layer having a uniform thickness is formed by using an LCD spacer. Control the cell gap by mixing a particle size control material such as glass fiber, glass beads, and inorganic or organic substances into the insulating material layer having a uniformly controlled film thickness. Is extremely effective.

Further, it is also possible to pattern and form the substrate gap holding means by combining one kind or two or more kinds of insulating material layers. In particular, using a black resin in which a black raw material such as a black pigment or carbon black is dispersed in a photosensitive material, a black resin layer (functioning as a light-shielding layer) formed by patterning on signal lines outside the pixels is used alone as the LC.
A method of forming an LCD spacer as a D spacer or a method of forming a black resin layer as a first layer and further patterning and forming a different kind or the same kind of insulating material on the first layer is also promising from the following points. It is.

(I) The black resin layer is a light-shielding layer having a function as a black matrix (BM). By disposing the black resin layer on the signal line outside the pixel, the black resin layer can be compared with the conventional BM made of metal Cr. The surface reflectance can be reduced, and the reflection of the liquid crystal panel can be reduced. Further, a thin film transistor (T
In the case where a black resin layer is formed on the TFT substrate side on which the FT) is provided in an array, and this is used as an LCD spacer and a BM, a color filter provided opposite to the TFT substrate as in the related art is used. Compared to a liquid crystal panel in which the BM is arranged on the substrate side, there is also an advantage that the pixel aperture ratio can be improved.

(Ii) In the case where a different type or the same type of insulating material layer is further formed by patterning on the black resin layer as the first layer and these are used to form an LCD spacer,
When an insulating black resin layer is formed on the first layer and patterning is performed using a photosensitive resin on the second layer, the alignment can be performed using the light shielding layer of the first layer as a marker. Thus, the uniformity of a large-area liquid crystal panel can be improved.

In particular, in order to solve the problems such as the disorder of the alignment of the liquid crystal caused by the bead spacer existing in the pixel and the bead spacer existing on the boundary between the pixel and the light shielding layer,
A liquid crystal having a unique alignment composed of a plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having at least two or more torsional directions having different rising directions within one pixel by fixing a bead spacer on a light shielding layer outside the pixel. It is possible to form a layer more stably and to create a liquid crystal display element with uniform high display quality.

More specifically, in a liquid crystal display device having the above-described unique orientation in a pixel, an insulating material layer in which a particle size control material for uniformly defining a substrate gap is mixed in a part or the whole area outside the pixel. , Satisfying the following equation (1).

R <A ≦ D / 2 (1) Here, the width of the insulating material layer is D, the radius or the long diameter of the controlled particle size is r, and the insulating material layer is positioned from the center of the controlled particle size. A is defined as the shortest distance to the end surface (wall).

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a positional relationship between an insulating material layer and a grain size control object. When the shortest distance A from the center of the grain size control object to the wall of the insulating material layer shown in this figure is smaller than the radius r of the grain size control object, the grain size control object is located within the pixel from the wall of the insulating material layer. It will protrude. In that case, it causes a bad influence on the display characteristics such as an increase in the roughness due to the disorder of the alignment of the liquid crystal and the displacement of the alignment axis. Since the maximum value of the distance A is の of the width D of the insulating material layer, the above equation (1) is defined. Here, the case where the bead spacer is a true sphere is shown, but when a fiber spacer is used as the particle size controller, the length of half of the major diameter of the fiber spacer is set to r.
Equation (1) above can be applied.

Further, the insulating material layer provided outside the pixel in order to maintain the gap between the substrates may be formed by patterning through one or more kinds of materials and two or more steps. That is, as shown in FIG. 2 (plan view), the width of the first-stage insulating material layer 9a in which the grain size control substances are mixed is defined as D ₁ , and the width of the final-stage insulating material layer 9b is defined as D ₂ . At this time, the insulating material layers are configured to satisfy the following expression (2).

D ₁ + 4r <D ₂ (2) FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a positional relationship between the insulating material layer and the grain size control member when the multi-step insulating material layer is introduced. Here, between the width D ₂ of the insulating material layer having a width D ₁ and the final stage of the first stage of the insulating material layer, if D ₁ + 4r is equal to D _2, or greater than D ₂ are, FIG.
As shown in (a), the particle size control material protrudes into the pixel from the wall of the insulating material layer, which causes the above-described liquid crystal alignment disorder and misalignment of the alignment axis. From the above points, the above equation (2) is defined. When the expression (2) is satisfied, the particle size control material is buried in the insulating material layer as shown in FIG. It is to be noted that a light-shielding material is used for the insulating material layer in order to suppress the occurrence of alignment disorder and alignment defects caused by the substrate gap holding means such as a spacer.

On the other hand, when this method is applied to an active matrix type liquid crystal panel having a switching element such as a TFT, the difference in the distribution of the film thickness on the substrate due to the multilayer film lamination near the TFT, the gate signal line It is important to perform the multi-step patterning of the spacer by utilizing the difference between the width and the source signal line width in order to keep the thickness of the liquid crystal cell uniform.

Further, according to the present invention, when patterning an insulating material layer using a photo process such as exposure and development, it is extremely possible to expose a light-shielding layer or a signal line from the back of the substrate as a light-shielding portion of a photomask. Becomes effective. That is,
In this case, there is an advantage that a photomask manufacturing process and a strict photomask alignment process can be omitted. In particular, when applied to an active matrix type liquid crystal panel having a switching element such as a TFT, it is suitable for the purpose of simplifying the process and reducing the manufacturing cost.

The insulating material layer formed through the above steps is
By using it as a CD spacer, a particle size controlling material made of a granular substance such as an inorganic substance or an organic substance does not exist in the pixel, and the cell gap can be kept uniform.
It is possible to obtain a liquid crystal display element excellent in impact resistance in which a display change due to an external pressure is suppressed.

(Orientation and Orientation Control of Liquid Crystal Region) A liquid crystal layer having a unique orientation composed of a plurality of liquid crystal molecule orientation regions having at least two or more torsional directions having different rising directions within one pixel. In a liquid crystal display device, for example, in the case of a type in which one pixel is composed of four liquid crystal molecule alignment regions, it is assumed that the liquid crystal region in the pixel is formed of a total of four liquid crystal molecule alignment regions of two twist directions and two rising directions. Features. This configuration can be realized by using a liquid crystal cell composed of a rubbed substrate having a pretilt angle of zero or extremely low and a non-chiral liquid crystal material.

That is, when a liquid crystal cell is manufactured by disposing two substrates subjected to the rubbing treatment as described above with a shift of 90 °, when a non-chiral liquid crystal material is used, the twist directions are left and right. The two types are realized with equal probability, and a region in which the tilt generation direction is different appears, and is constituted by a plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having at least two or more twist directions in which the rising direction is different. A liquid crystal layer having a unique alignment can be created. In particular, when the liquid crystal domains in such different alignment states are controlled on a pixel-by-pixel basis, the above-described features are remarkably exhibited.

As described above, adjacent ones of the liquid crystal molecule alignment regions divided into a plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions on a pixel-by-pixel basis have the same rising direction and the opposite twisting direction. The liquid crystal molecule alignment at the boundary is largely influenced by the surface alignment regulating force near the substrate interface, and the liquid crystal layer takes an average liquid crystal molecule alignment in each adjacent region inside the liquid crystal layer. For this reason, when two polarizing plates composed of a polarizer (P) and an analyzer (A) are arranged orthogonally on both sides of the liquid crystal cell, the liquid crystal molecules do not continuously twist in the liquid crystal layer, and the NW In the mode, the incident light does not pass through the analyzer, the disclination line at the boundary between adjacent domains does not become a bright line, and the display is excellent in high-contrast display.

The following steps are an example of a method for controlling the alignment of a liquid crystal layer having a unique alignment composed of a plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions controlled on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the side of the second substrate 12 facing the first substrate 11 having the TFT, a transparent electrode for display corresponding to the rubbing direction in which the directors of the liquid crystal molecules 16 stand apart from each other. 13 electrode openings 1
5 are provided in the diagonal direction of the pixel. Then, the first substrate 11
And the two substrates 11 and 12 so that the
Are arranged to produce a liquid crystal cell. Reference numeral 14 in FIG. 3 denotes an alignment film.

Next, a non-chiral liquid crystal material is injected into the liquid crystal cell. Thereafter, the liquid crystal material is cooled from the isotropic temperature state to the liquid crystal phase temperature state, and liquid crystal droplets deposited in the pixels are grown. During this cooling process, an electric field higher than the threshold voltage of the liquid crystal material is applied between the upper and lower substrates. While growing, liquid crystal droplets are grown and fixed on the alignment films of both substrates. Thereby, it is possible to form a liquid crystal layer having a unique alignment composed of a plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions in which the alignment characteristics in a target pixel unit are controlled.

The electrode opening 1 of the display transparent electrode 13
The effect of 5 is that the electrodes 13, 13 of both substrates 11, 12
It is possible to fix the disclination generated at the boundary between the liquid crystal molecule alignment regions adjacent to the line of electric force acting between them, and to realize stable pixel division.

In addition to the steps shown here, stabilization of liquid crystal molecular alignment can be achieved through a polymerization step of a polymerizable material,
It is also very effective to control the orientation by applying temperature and external energy such as electric and magnetic fields.

In the case where a liquid crystal layer for performing unique pixel division described in the present invention is formed on a TFT liquid crystal panel,
By using a light-shielding layer, one pixel can be divided into a plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions to fix the alignment and improve the characteristics.

(Retardation Film) At least one optical compensator (retardation film) having optically negative birefringence is disposed between the two polarizing plates to improve the viewing angle characteristics. Can be.

As the retardation film having optically negative birefringence, a negative uniaxial retardation film having no optical anisotropy in the plane of the retardation film can be used. X-axis and Y-axis within the plane of the refractive index ellipsoid of the retardation film
When the axis is taken and the Z axis is taken in the thickness direction of the film, the refractive indices _nx , _ny , _{nz in} the respective axial directions of the film are in a relationship satisfying the equation _nx = _ny > _nz. . Assuming that the thickness of the retardation film is d ', the retardation R in the thickness direction of the retardation film is R
(= D ′ · Δn ′) is R = d ′ × ｛( _nx + _ny ) / 2.
−n _z }. In the present invention, in particular, 200
A retardation film having a retardation R of nm to 500 nm is preferable from the viewpoint of improving viewing angle characteristics. Further, it is preferable that the in-plane refractive index direction of the retardation film is arranged so as to match the rubbing direction.

As the retardation film having optically negative birefringence, the X-axis and the Y-axis are set in the plane of the refractive index ellipsoid of the retardation film, and the Z-axis is set in the thickness direction of the film. When the refractive index in each axial direction of the phase difference film n _x,
n _Y, n _z is, by using the phase difference film in a relationship satisfying the formula _{n x> n Y> n z} , it may further increase the effect of viewing angle improvement. When observed by changing the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display element of the present invention,
(I) the viewing angle dependence of the characteristics of the polarizing plate itself, and (i)
i) Due to the viewing angle dependence of the retardation of the liquid crystal layer, light leakage is observed and the contrast ratio decreases. Light entering the liquid crystal display element from the direction of the transmission axis of the polarizing plate, when crossing the refractive index ellipsoid of the liquid crystal layer, has only the component of ordinary light or extraordinary light, but is shifted by 45 ° from the polarizing axis of the polarizing plate. When light enters obliquely in the direction, when it crosses the refractive index ellipsoid of the liquid crystal layer, it has both components of ordinary light and extraordinary light. Corresponding to the state), and the light becomes elliptically polarized light, and light leakage becomes remarkable. At a viewing angle of 45 ° with respect to the absorption axis of the polarizing plate, the contrast is remarkably reduced at a certain viewing angle, for example, about 35 ° to 50 °, and the gradation characteristics are inverted.

By arranging a retardation film having a refractive index ellipsoid satisfying the relationship of the above formula, the viewing angle characteristics are improved. N _x which is the maximum refractive index direction of the retardation film
It is preferable that the direction (delay axis) and the transmission axis of the polarizing plate adjacent to the retardation film are arranged substantially in parallel. The thickness of the retardation film d 'When, retardation R in the thickness _{direction, R = (n x -n z} ) · d',
Plane retardation Rs _{is, Rs = (n x -n Y} ) · d '
It is represented by

Assuming that the birefringence anisotropy of the liquid crystal molecules is Δn and the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is d, the in-plane retardation Rs ｛=
_{(N x -n Y) · d} '} It is desirable the smaller than the retardation of the liquid crystal layer (Δn · d). Furthermore, the in-plane retardation _{Rs {= (n x -n Y} ) · d '} is, 3.5% of the retardation (Δn · d) of the liquid crystal layer to 1
It is desirable to be in the range of 5%. Also, the retardation R in the thickness direction of the retardation film {= (n _x -n _z)
D ′｝ is the retardation of the liquid crystal layer (Δn · d)
It is desirably smaller than the above. Further, the thickness direction retardation _{R {= (n x -n z} ) · d '} is desirably in a range of 30% to 80% of the retardation (Δn · d) of the liquid crystal layer. If it is about 30% or less, the effect of the retardation film is small, and if it is about 80% or more, coloring becomes large in a wide viewing angle direction, which is not preferable.

As the material of the retardation film, polyether sulfone (PES), polycarbonate (P
Polymers such as C), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) can be used. These materials may be blended or copolymerized in consideration of spectroscopic properties such as refractive index characteristics and wavelength dispersion characteristics. Further, a stretched film may be laminated. Further, the refractive index direction in the thickness direction may be inclined from the normal direction of the retardation film. The inclination angle from the normal direction of the retardation film in the refractive index direction in the thickness direction may be continuously changed in the thickness direction.

(Stabilization of Alignment by Polymerizable Material) In the present invention, a unique liquid crystal molecule alignment state of a liquid crystal layer in a pixel unit is stably fixed and the thermal stability of alignment is greatly improved. The use of a small amount of a polymerizable material and an additive such as a polymerization initiator for the purpose of improving the characteristics and reliability of the display of will greatly increase the effect of improvement.

The ratio of the polymerizable material added to the liquid crystal material is preferably 0.05% by weight to 1% with respect to the liquid crystal material.
The range is 0% by weight, and a particularly preferable range is about 0.05% to 5% by weight based on the liquid crystal material.

The polymerization initiator was added in an amount of about 1% by weight based on the amount of the polymerizable material mixed at the above-mentioned preferable ratio.
It is effective to mix in the range of 10 to 10% by weight.

In the limited range of the mixing ratio of the polymerizable material, when the amount of the polymerizable material is smaller than this range, there occurs a problem that the effect of stably fixing the liquid crystal molecule alignment state cannot be sufficiently exhibited. . When the amount of the polymerizable material is larger than this range, the display characteristics such as an increase in the driving voltage of the liquid crystal layer due to the effect of the polymer formed through the polymerization process in the liquid crystal are reduced, and the alignment of the liquid crystal is disturbed. The adverse effects become significant and are no longer suitable for the purposes described in the present invention. Therefore, the above-mentioned range limitation is effective.

As a polymerizable material that can be applied, for example, a polymerizable resin having a liquid crystal-like skeleton or a photocurable polymerizable resin as shown below can be used.

(Polymerizable resin having a liquid crystal-like skeleton) A polymerizable resin having a liquid crystal-like skeleton has a mesogen skeleton similar to a liquid crystal in a molecule as shown by the following chemical formula and the like, and is provided at a molecular terminal. It refers to a polymerizable resin having one or two polymerizable functional groups. In the present invention, these resin materials are collectively referred to as a liquid crystalline polymer material (it is not necessary to exhibit liquid crystallinity alone).

The liquid crystalline polymer material mentioned in the present invention is, for example, a compound represented by the chemical formula 1 or the like, and is a compound which does not easily disturb the liquid crystallinity of the liquid crystal material of the host.

(Chemical Formula 1) AB-LC A in Chemical Formula 1 is CH ₂ ＣＨCH—, CH ₂ ＣＨCH—CO
It represents a functional group having an unsaturated bond such as O—, CH _{2 ，} C (CH ₃ ) —COO—, epoxy, or a heterocyclic structure having a strain. B is a linking group connecting the polymerizable functional group and the mesogen skeleton, and specifically, an alkyl chain (-(CH
_{2) n} -), an ester bond (-COO-), ether bond (-O-), a polyethylene glycol chain (-CH ₂ CH ₂
O-), and a bonding group obtained by combining these bonding groups. LC indicates a mesogen skeleton similar to liquid crystal,
Examples include a compound represented by the following chemical formula 2, or a cholesterol ring and a derivative thereof.

(Chemical Formula 2) D-E G in Chemical Formula 2 is a polar group that develops dielectric anisotropy and the like, and is represented by —CN, —OCH ₃ , —F, —C1, and —OC.
Examples include a benzene ring, a cyclohexane ring, a diphenyl ring, and a phenylcyclohexane ring having a functional group such as F ₃ , —OCCl ₃ , —H, and —R (R: an alkyl group). Also, E
It is D, a linking functional group G, a single bond, -CH ₂ -, - CH ₂
CH ₂ —, —O—, —C≡C—, —CH ＝ CH— and the like. D is a functional group that binds to B in Chemical Formula 1,
It is a portion that determines the magnitude of the dielectric anisotropy and the refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal molecules, and specifically includes a paraphenyl ring, 1,10
-Diphenyl ring, 1,4-cyclohexane ring, 1,10
-A phenylcyclohexane ring and the like.

In the above examples, monofunctional materials are shown as liquid crystalline polymer materials. In addition to these, bifunctional liquid crystalline polymer materials having the above-mentioned polymerizable functional groups at both molecular terminals, branched materials, A bifunctional liquid crystal polymer material having a polymerizable functional group is effective as the liquid crystal polymer material of the present invention.

(Photopolymerizable Material) Examples of the photocurable polymerizable resin include acrylic acid esters and methacrylic acid esters having a long-chain alkyl group of C3 or more or a benzene ring, more specifically, isobutyl acrylate, acrylic Stearyl acid, lauryl acrylate, isoamyl acrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, n-lauryl methacrylate, tridecyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, n-stearyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, benzyl methacrylate, 2-phenoxyethyl methacrylate, isovol Nyl acrylate, isobornyl methacrylate, and the like. In particular, in order to increase the physical strength of the polymer, a bifunctional or higher functional polyfunctional resin such as bisphenol A
Diacrylate, 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, tetramethylolmethane tetraacrylate, neopentyl diacrylate,
R-684 and the like can also be used.

(Photopolymerization initiator) As the photopolymerization initiator,
Irgacure 651, Irgacure 184, I
rgacure907, Darocur1173, Da
Common photopolymerization initiators such as rocur1116 and Darocur2956 can be used. Further, in order to improve the voltage holding ratio, a polymerization initiator or a sensitizer capable of polymerizing with low energy visible light may be used.

(Driving Method) The manufactured liquid crystal cell can be driven by a driving method such as simple matrix driving or active driving using active elements such as TFTs and MIMs.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described.
However, the present invention is not limited to this.

(Embodiment 1) As a first substrate, a substrate having a 100-nm-thick transparent electrode made of ITO (compound of indium oxide and tin oxide) on a glass substrate (1.1 mm thick) was used. On this first substrate, a black pigment-dispersed negative black resist CFPR-BK510S
(Manufactured by Tokyo Ohkasha Co., Ltd.) was uniformly applied by a spin coating method and baked.

Thereafter, exposure was carried out using a photomask a shown in FIG. 4, followed by patterning through development, rinsing and post-baking steps to form a first insulating material layer made of a black resin.

Thereafter, a negative type transparent heat-resistant resist V-25 was used.
An insulating material in which plastic beads (micropearl; Sekisui Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.) having an average particle size of 4.5 μm are uniformly dispersed in 0.5 wt% in 9PA (manufactured by Nippon Steel Chemical Co., Ltd.), and this is spin-coated. It was applied uniformly and fired.

Thereafter, exposure was performed using a photomask b shown in FIG. 5, followed by patterning through development, rinsing, and post-baking, thereby forming a substrate gap holding means composed of a "pillar-shaped" second insulating material layer. .

Next, for example, AL-1054 (manufactured by Nippon Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd.) was applied as an alignment film by a printing method and baked.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, a one-way rubbing process (rubbing direction ri) was performed on the substrate 4a having undergone the above-described steps from a direction of approximately 45 °. Thus, a first substrate is manufactured.

The first substrate 4a manufactured as described above
After the transparent electrode of ITO is formed on the substrate, the second substrate 4b is disposed in parallel with the rubbing direction ri of the first substrate 4a through a photo process and an etching process. 6μ width corresponding to diagonal line of pixel
After forming the same electrode film as the first substrate 4a, a unidirectional rubbing treatment (rubbing direction ro) was performed on the alignment film. The second substrate 4b
May be manufactured before the first substrate 4a.

As shown in FIG. 6, the two substrates 4a and 4b were rubbed in a direction perpendicular to each other, and bonded together with a sealing material (Struct Bond XN-21S) therebetween to produce a liquid crystal cell. .

Next, a liquid crystal material ZL was added to the prepared liquid crystal cell.
I-4792 (Merck; non-chiral) was injected.

Next, after keeping the obtained liquid crystal panel at a temperature 5 ° C. higher than the isotropic temperature of the liquid crystal material, it is cooled to room temperature at a cooling rate of 0.5 ° C./min. A voltage for halftone driving was applied to the electrodes. When the liquid crystal panel manufactured through this alignment control step was observed under a polarizing microscope, a unique alignment liquid crystal layer composed of a plurality of alignment regions having at least two or more twist directions having different rising directions within one pixel. Was confirmed. Moreover, almost no alignment disturbance or alignment defect based on spacers or the like was observed in the pixel.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, a polarizing plate 1 (transmission axis P) and a polarizing plate 2 (transmission axis A) were provided on both sides of the liquid crystal panel at approximately 45 ° with respect to the rubbing directions ri and ro. And a liquid crystal display element was obtained.

Observation with a polarizing microscope while applying a voltage to the liquid crystal display device manufactured as described above shows that even when a voltage is applied, no disclination line as a bright line is generated, and the whole becomes black. Was observed.

Table 1 summarizes the evaluation of the electro-optical characteristics and the characteristics of the liquid crystal panel. In this measurement,
The measurement was performed by using two temporary polarization plates having polarization axes parallel to each other as blanks (transmittance: 100%).

Embodiment 2 As a first substrate, a glass substrate (1.1 mm thick) having a transparent electrode made of ITO (compound of indium oxide and tin oxide) with a thickness of 100 nm was used. On the first substrate, as in the first embodiment, an alignment film such as J
ALS-212 (manufactured by Nippon Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd.) was applied and fired.

Thereafter, a one-way rubbing process (rubbing direction ri) was performed from a direction of approximately 45 ° on the substrate. As a result, a first substrate was manufactured.

Next, the second substrate provided opposite to the first substrate
As for the substrate, an electrode opening was provided in the transparent electrode as in Embodiment 1, and the unidirectional rubbing treatment (rubbing direction ro) was performed on the alignment film. Note that the order of manufacturing the second substrate and the first substrate may be any order. This is the same in the following embodiments.

Then, through a process of spraying plastic beads (micropearl; Sekisui Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.) having an average particle size of 4.5 μm, as shown in FIG.
The liquid crystal cell was manufactured by affixing a and 4b such that the rubbing directions were orthogonal to each other, and bonding them together with a sealing material (Structbond XN-21S) therebetween.

Next, the following mixture was injected into the manufactured liquid crystal cell. The mixture is a liquid crystal composition ZLI-479.
9 (manufactured by Merck; non-chiral), 0.97% by weight of Compound 1 as a polymerizable material, and 0.03% by weight of Irgacure 651 photopolymerization initiator.

[0113]

Embedded image

Next, after controlling the orientation of the liquid crystal layer through the same temperature process and voltage application process as in the first embodiment,
Ultraviolet rays were irradiated for 5 minutes under a high-pressure mercury lamp {10 mW / cm ² (365 nm)} to polymerize the polymerizable material and fix the above orientation.

When the liquid crystal panel produced through this alignment fixing step was observed under a polarizing microscope, as in the first embodiment, a plurality of alignment regions having at least two or more twist directions having different rising directions within one pixel were obtained. It was confirmed that the liquid crystal layer had a unique alignment composed of However,
In a part of the region, a little alignment disturbance or alignment defect was observed near the spacer existing in the pixel.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, a polarizing plate 1 (transmission axis P) and a polarizing plate 2 (transmission axis A) are provided on both sides of the liquid crystal panel at an angle of approximately 45 ° with respect to the rubbing directions ri and ro. The liquid crystal display device was obtained by arranging them at an angle.

As in the first embodiment, when a voltage was applied to the manufactured liquid crystal display device and observed with a polarizing microscope, no disclination line, which was a bright line, was generated even when a voltage was applied, and the entire liquid crystal display device was blackened. It was also observed that it was getting worse. Table 1 summarizes the electro-optical characteristics and the evaluation of the characteristics of the liquid crystal panel.

At the same time, this liquid crystal panel was heated at 70 ° C. and 100 ° C.
After storage for a period of time, when the alignment state of the liquid crystal layer was observed with a polarizing microscope, it was confirmed that the initial alignment state was maintained as it was, and the effect of the alignment fixing step treated in the present embodiment was confirmed. Table 1 also shows the results of this storage test.

(Comparative Example 1) An alignment film AL455 was formed on two substrates with transparent electrodes made of ITO as in Embodiment 1.
2 (manufactured by Nippon Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd.), followed by a rubbing treatment. Then, an average particle size of 4.5 was formed on one substrate.
μm plastic beads (Micropearl; manufactured by Sekisui Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.) are evenly dispersed, and then both substrates are arranged so that their orientation directions are orthogonal to each other, and a sealing material (Stract Bond XN-21S, sintering temperature 170 ° C.) /
2h) to form a liquid crystal cell.

Next, the same liquid crystal material ZLI-4792 (manufactured by Merck; non-chiral) as in the first embodiment was injected into the manufactured liquid crystal cell, and subjected to the same temperature process and voltage application process as in the first embodiment. A liquid crystal panel was manufactured by controlling the orientation of the layers. According to the observation result of the liquid crystal panel under a polarizing microscope, the liquid crystal panel has a unique alignment composed of a plurality of alignment regions having at least two or more twist directions having different rising directions within one pixel as in the above embodiment. Was confirmed. However, in this liquid crystal panel, alignment disorder and alignment defects were observed in the vicinity of the spacers existing in the pixels in some regions.

Next, two polarizing plates were provided on the manufactured liquid crystal panel in the above arrangement to obtain a liquid crystal display device.

Evaluation of the voltage application characteristics of this liquid crystal panel and
Table 1 shows the results of the 0 ° C. heat storage test. In particular, after the heat storage test at 70 ° C., orientation disorder was observed, and a part of the properties was deteriorated.

(Embodiment 3) As in Embodiment 1, the IT
Photosensitive polyimide UR-3140 (manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) is uniformly applied to a first substrate with a transparent electrode made of O by a spin coat method and baked.
A predetermined exposure was performed using the photomask a shown in FIG. 4 used in the above, followed by development, rinsing, and post-baking cure steps, followed by patterning to a final film thickness of 5.1 μm to form a substrate gap holding means. .

After that, as in the first embodiment, for example, AL-1054 (manufactured by Nippon Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd.) is applied and baked as an alignment film by a printing method, and then the substrate is unidirectionally rubbed from a substantially 45 ° direction. The rubbing direction ri) was performed.

Next, the opposing second substrate is provided with an IT
After forming a transparent electrode made of O, an electrode opening 5 having a width of 6 μm, which is parallel to the rubbing direction ri of the first substrate and corresponds to a diagonal line of one pixel, is provided through a photo process and an etching process. Subsequently, the first substrate
After forming the same alignment film as the substrate, a unidirectional rubbing treatment (rubbing direction ro) was performed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the two substrates 4a and 4b are bonded so that the rubbing directions are perpendicular to each other, with a sealing material (Stract Bond XN-21S) interposed therebetween. Was prepared.

Next, a liquid crystal material ZL was added to the prepared liquid crystal cell.
I-4801-000 (Merck; non-chiral) was injected.

Next, the liquid crystal panel is kept at a temperature higher by 5 ° C. than the isotropic temperature of the liquid crystal material, and is then cooled to room temperature by 0.5 ° C.
The cooling was performed at a cooling rate of ° C./min, and a halftone driving voltage was applied to the electrodes on both the upper and lower substrates. When the liquid crystal panel manufactured through this alignment control step was observed under a polarizing microscope, a plurality of liquid crystals having at least two or more twist directions having different rising directions within one pixel as in Embodiment 1 and the like were obtained. It was confirmed that the liquid crystal layer had a peculiarly oriented liquid crystal layer composed of molecular orientation regions. Moreover, no alignment disorder or alignment defect was observed in the pixel.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14, a polarizing plate 1 (transmission axis P) and a polarizing plate 2 (transmission axis A) are arranged on both sides of the liquid crystal panel so as to coincide with the rubbing directions ri and ro. A liquid crystal display device was obtained. Also in this liquid crystal display element, it was confirmed that the liquid crystal display element has a wide viewing angle characteristic having an internal optical compensation effect due to the molecular orientation inside the liquid crystal layer, as in the first embodiment and the like. In particular, by matching the rubbing direction with the transmission axis of the polarizing plate, the viewing angle characteristics in the vertical direction are slightly lowered, but the brightness of the liquid crystal panel is slightly improved. As shown in this embodiment, it is possible to obtain a unique molecular orientation of the liquid crystal layer with good reproducibility by configuring a liquid crystal display element using a patterned insulating material layer as a substrate gap maintaining means. It could be confirmed.

(Embodiments 4 and 5) Similar to Embodiment 1,
A heat-resistant negative black resist V-259-BK (Nippon Steel) in which 2 wt% of plastic beads (micropearl; manufactured by Sekisui Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.) having an average particle size of 4.5 μm are mixed on a first substrate with a transparent electrode made of ITO. (Manufactured by Tekko Kagaku)
Was uniformly applied by a spin coating method and baked.

Thereafter, a predetermined exposure is performed using the photomask a shown in FIG. 4 used in the first embodiment, and then the first resin made of a black resin fixed with a bead spacer through development, rinsing and post-baking is applied. Was formed.

Thereafter, a negative transparent heat-resistant resist V-259PA (manufactured by Nippon Steel Chemical Co., Ltd.), which is a material for the second insulating material layer, is uniformly applied and baked. Exposure is performed using a thick photomask (not shown) having a line width of the light portion of 20 μm (10 μm on each side), followed by development, rinsing, and post-baking to form a first-stage insulating material layer, a bead spacer, and the like. Was completely shielded to form a second-stage insulating material layer. These two insulating material layers constitute a substrate gap holding means.

Next, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, for example, JALS-632 (manufactured by Nippon Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd.) is applied and baked as an alignment film by a printing method. (Rubbing direction ri).

Next, an opposing second substrate is provided on the substrate by ITO.
After forming a transparent electrode made of, a rubbing direction r of the first substrate is passed through a photo process and an etching process.
An electrode opening 5 having a width of 6 μm, which is parallel to i and corresponds to a diagonal line of one pixel, is provided. Subsequently, after forming the same alignment film as that of the first substrate on the second substrate, a one-way rubbing treatment (rubbing direction ro) was performed.

Next, as shown in FIG.
a, 4b, so that the rubbing directions are orthogonal to each other,
A liquid crystal cell was produced by bonding together with a sealant (Structbond XN-21S) therebetween.

Next, in Embodiment 4, a liquid crystal material ZLI-4801-000 (manufactured by Merck; non-chiral) was injected into the manufactured liquid crystal cell. In the fifth embodiment, 0.97% by weight of the following compound 2 as a polymerizable material was added to 99.0% by weight of a liquid crystal composition ZLI-4801-000 (manufactured by Merck; non-chiral), and a photopolymerization initiator Irgacur.
A material containing 0.03% by weight of e651 was injected.

[0137]

Embedded image

Next, after keeping the liquid crystal panel at a temperature 5 ° C. higher than the isotropic temperature of the liquid crystal, the liquid crystal panel is cooled to room temperature at a cooling rate of 0.5 ° C./min, and halftone driving is performed on the electrodes of the upper and lower substrates. The application voltage was applied to control the liquid crystal molecular alignment. Also,
In the fifth embodiment, in particular, after controlling the orientation of the liquid crystal layer, the polymerizable material is polymerized by irradiating ultraviolet rays for 5 minutes under a high-pressure mercury lamp {10 mW / cm ² (365 nm)} to fix the above orientation. Was.

When the liquid crystal panels produced through these alignment control steps were observed under a polarizing microscope, both liquid crystal panels of Embodiments 4 and 5 had at least two or more different rising directions within one pixel. It was confirmed that the liquid crystal layer had a unique orientation composed of a plurality of orientation regions having a twist direction. In addition, no alignment disturbance or alignment defect due to spacers or the like was observed in the pixel.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, a polarizing plate 1 (transmission axis P) and a polarizing plate 2 (transmission axis A) were provided on both sides of the liquid crystal panel at approximately 45 ° with respect to the rubbing directions ri and ro. And a liquid crystal display element was obtained.

Observation with a polarizing microscope while applying a voltage to the liquid crystal cell of the liquid crystal display element manufactured as described above shows that even when a voltage is applied, no disclination line which becomes a bright line is generated and the whole becomes black. Going was observed. Table 1 also shows the results of evaluating the characteristics of these liquid crystal panels.

In the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment, it was confirmed that the deterioration of the characteristics due to poor alignment or the like can be suppressed by completely eliminating the substrate gap holding means from the pixel region.

(Embodiment 6) After the substrate gap holding means is formed on the first substrate through the same steps as in Embodiment 4, an alignment film similar to that in Embodiment 1 is formed, and a rubbing process (rubbing direction ri) is performed. gave.

Next, also in the opposing second substrate, an electrode opening 5 is provided in the same manner as in Embodiment 4, and after forming the same alignment film,
A one-way rubbing treatment (rubbing direction ro) was performed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 15, the two substrates 4a and 4b are bonded so that the rubbing directions are orthogonal to each other, with a sealing material (Struct Bond XN-21S) therebetween. Was prepared.

Next, the liquid crystal material ZL was added to the prepared liquid crystal cell.
After injecting I-4801-000 (manufactured by Merck; non-chiral), a liquid crystal panel was obtained through the same alignment control process as in Embodiment 1.

As shown in FIG. 15, the polarizing plate 1 is provided outside the first substrate 4a, the polarizing plate 2 is provided outside the second substrate 4b, and the transmission axis of the polarizing plate 1 is provided outside the completed liquid crystal panel. P and the transmission axis A of the polarizing plate 2 are orthogonal to each other, and
The transmission axis A was arranged at an angle of about 45 ° with respect to the rubbing directions ri and ro. Further, the polarizing plate 2 and the second
The retardation film 3 having a negative uniaxial birefringence and a retardation R of 280 nm is disposed between the substrate 4b and the substrate 4b. The n _x direction in the in-plane refractive index of the retardation film were arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the rubbing direction ro of the second substrate 4b. Thus, a liquid crystal display device was obtained.

Observation with a polarizing microscope while applying a voltage to the liquid crystal cell of the liquid crystal display element manufactured in this way revealed that even when the voltage was applied, no disclination line as a bright line was generated, and the entire area became black. Going was observed. Table 1 shows the results of evaluating the characteristics of this liquid crystal panel.
Are also described.

[0149]

[Table 1]

In the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment, the viewing angle characteristic in a slightly weaker direction corresponding to the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules rise can be improved to the omnidirectional one by providing the retardation film.

In this embodiment, one retardation film 3 is provided between the polarizing plate 2 and the second substrate 4b. However, the retardation film 3 is provided between the polarizing plate 1 and the first substrate 4a. Is also good. Further, the light emitting device may be provided both between the polarizing plate 1 and the first substrate 4a and between the polarizing plate 2 and the second substrate 4b. Further, a plurality of sheets may be provided.

(Embodiment 7) A first substrate was manufactured as follows. That is, after forming a first-stage insulating material layer made of a black resin obtained by patterning a heat-resistant negative type black resist V-259-BK (manufactured by Nippon Steel Chemical Co., Ltd.) in a region outside the pixel according to the method of Embodiment 1, An insulating material obtained by mixing 1.2 wt% of plastic beads (micropearl; manufactured by Sekisui Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.) having an average particle size of 4.0 μm in black ink is patterned by a printing method using a screen plate f shown in FIG. After the fixing, baking was performed at 150 ° C. for 2 hours to form a second-stage insulating material layer. These two insulating material layers, in particular, the second-stage insulating material layer constitute the substrate gap holding means. Next, an alignment film was formed on the first substrate in the same manner as in Embodiment 1, and this was subjected to a one-way rubbing treatment.

Next, after the opposing second substrate is also prepared according to the method of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, these two substrates 4a and 4b are set so that the rubbing directions are orthogonal to each other, and a sealing material is interposed therebetween. (Structobond XN-21S) was attached to each other to produce a liquid crystal cell.

Next, a liquid crystal material ZLI was added to the manufactured liquid crystal cell.
-4792 (manufactured by Merck; non-chiral) was injected, and a liquid crystal panel was produced through the same liquid crystal molecular alignment control step.

In the liquid crystal panel obtained in the present embodiment, the orientation of the liquid crystal layer was substantially the same as that of the other embodiments by observation under a polarizing microscope. Although the pattern pitch accuracy is slightly inferior to that of the photosensitive resin in the liquid crystal cell having the above, it has been recognized that the liquid crystal cell can be easily applied to patterning of a large substrate by a simple process.

(Embodiment 8) This embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to an active matrix liquid crystal cell having a TFT element.

As shown in FIG. 8, the transparent glass substrate 101
a) A heat-resistant negative black resist V-259-BK (manufactured by Nippon Steel Chemical Co., Ltd.) is spin-coated on a TFT substrate 101 having a TFT element 103 and a pixel electrode 107 formed in a matrix on a. It was applied uniformly and fired. In FIG. 8, the insulating film 1 is formed on the glass substrate 101a.
01b is provided thereon, on which a channel region 102 sandwiched between source / drain regions 105 is provided. A gate electrode 104 is provided above the channel region 102 via a gate insulating film. The TFT element 103 is constituted by the source / drain region 105 and the gate electrode 104. A source electrode 108 which is a part of the source signal line 203 is electrically connected to the source region 105. On the TFT element 103, an interlayer insulating film 10
6 is formed, and the pixel electrode 107 provided on the interlayer insulating film 106 is electrically connected to the drain region 105 via the contact hole provided in the interlayer insulating film 106.
Further, a black matrix layer 110 is formed on the interlayer insulating film 106 above the TFT element 103, and an alignment film 101 c is formed to cover the black matrix layer 110 and the pixel electrode 107. In addition, 109 is a drain electrode, and 205 is a TFT element. Between the TFT substrate 101 thus configured and the counter substrate 114,
Both ends are fixedly contacted to the alignment films 101c and 114c provided on each of the substrates, and a substrate gap holding means 115 made of an insulating material is provided. Plastic beads 116 are provided inside the substrate gap holding means 115. A liquid crystal region 117 mainly made of a liquid crystal material and a polymer region 118 mainly made of a polymer such as a polymerizable material are provided in a portion sandwiched between the two substrates. The opposing substrate 114 includes a color filter 112, an opposing electrode 113, and the alignment film 114c on a glass substrate 111 serving as a base.
Are formed.

Next, predetermined exposure is performed using the negative pattern photomask c shown in FIG. 9, followed by development, rinsing,
After the post-baking, the black matrix layer 110 was formed. The negative pattern photomask c is formed on the metal wiring outside the pixel, such as on the gate signal line 202 and the source signal line 203, by using the black matrix layer 11 as a light-transmitting portion.
0 is formed.

After that, the second insulating material layer was patterned. That is, the heat-resistant negative photoresist material V
-259-PA (Nippon Steel Chemical Co., Ltd.) with an average particle size of 3.5
An insulating material in which 2 μm of plastic beads 116 (micropearl; manufactured by Sekisui Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.) are uniformly dispersed and mixed is applied by a spin coating method.
After baking, a negative pattern photomask d shown in FIG. 10 was designed to pattern a columnar insulating material layer at predetermined positions on the gate signal lines 202 and the source signal lines 203 on the black matrix layer 110. Then, patterning was performed through development, rinsing, and post-baking to form the substrate gap holding means 115 made of a “pillar-shaped” second insulating material layer.

Then, as an alignment film by a printing method, for example, A
After applying and firing L-1054 (manufactured by Nippon Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd.), a one-way rubbing treatment was performed from a direction substantially 45 ° from the pixel center.

On the other hand, a pigment dispersion type color filter (CF) 11
2. After forming the overcoat layer, the IT
A transparent electrode film of O was deposited to a thickness of 100 nm by a sputtering method to form a counter electrode 113. Thereafter, an electrode opening (non-electrode portion) having a width of 6 μm was provided in the counter electrode 113 with reference to a straight line parallel to the rubbing direction on the TFT substrate side and passing through the center of the pixel.

Subsequently, after forming the same alignment film as that on the TFT substrate side on the counter substrate, a one-way rubbing treatment was performed from a direction inclined by 90 ° with respect to the rubbing direction of the TFT substrate.

Next, both substrates were bonded together. In this step, the opposing substrate is provided with a sealing material (Structbond XN-21).
(S, baking temperature: 170 ° C./2 h), and after patterning by a printing method, the TFT substrate was bonded by pressing to form an active matrix liquid crystal cell.

Next, the same mixed material of a liquid crystal material and a polymerizable material as in Embodiment 5 was vacuum-injected into the manufactured active matrix liquid crystal cell under reduced pressure.

Next, after maintaining the liquid crystal panel at a temperature 5 ° C. higher than the isotropic temperature of the liquid crystal material, the liquid crystal panel is cooled to room temperature at a cooling rate of 0.5 ° C./min. Effective voltage 3 V: 60 Hz, DC 10 V for gate electrode
, The liquid crystal molecular alignment was controlled. After controlling the liquid crystal molecule alignment, a high-pressure mercury lamp of about 10 m
Ultraviolet rays were irradiated for 5 minutes under W / cm ² (365 nm)｝ to polymerize the polymerizable material to fix the orientation of the liquid crystal layer.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, a polarizing plate 1 (transmission axis P) and a polarizing plate 2 (transmission axis A) are provided on both sides of the liquid crystal panel in the rubbing directions of the TFT substrate 4a and the counter substrate 4b, respectively. The liquid crystal display device was obtained by arranging it at an angle of approximately 45 ° with respect to the liquid crystal display device.

Observation of this active matrix liquid crystal panel under a microscope revealed that a liquid crystal having a unique orientation composed of a plurality of liquid crystal molecule orientation regions having at least two or more twist directions having different rising directions within one pixel. It was confirmed to have a layer. In addition, in the pixels, alignment disorder or alignment defect of the liquid crystal due to the spacer or the like was hardly recognized. In addition, even when the voltage was applied, even when the voltage was applied, no disclination line as a bright line was generated, and it was observed that the entire area became black, which was observed in a conventional TN mode liquid crystal display device. Good display was obtained without inversion phenomenon or the like. Irregularities in transmittance could not be observed even by visual observation, and roughness was not observed when observed from a position 10 cm away from the liquid crystal cell.

(Embodiment 9) TFT similar to Embodiment 8
2 wt% of plastic beads (micropearl; manufactured by Sekisui Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.) having an average particle size of 4.5 μm were placed on the substrate
% Black Heat Resist V-259-BK
(Manufactured by Nippon Steel Chemical Co., Ltd.). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 11, exposure is performed using a negative pattern photomask e designed so that an insulating material layer containing spacer beads can be patterned on a relatively uniform portion of the gate signal line with a relatively high level difference. Then, the first-stage insulating material layer made of black resin, in which the bead spacers were dispersed and fixed only partially on the gate signal lines, was patterned.

Subsequently, a negative-type transparent heat-resistant resist V-259PA (manufactured by Nippon Steel Chemical Co., Ltd.), which is a material for the second insulating material layer, is formed to be 10 μm thicker to the left and right than the width of each signal line. Exposure was performed using a mask (not shown), followed by development, rinsing, and post-baking to form a substrate gap holding unit that completely shields the first-stage insulating material layer and the bead spacer. Next, in the same process as in Embodiment 8, an alignment film was formed and rubbing treatment was performed.

The opposite substrate was manufactured in the same process as in the eighth embodiment. The two substrates thus obtained were bonded to each other to produce an active matrix liquid crystal cell.

Next, the same liquid crystal material as in Embodiment 1 was vacuum-injected into the manufactured active matrix liquid crystal cell.
After maintaining the liquid crystal panel at a temperature 5 ° C. higher than the isotropic temperature of the liquid crystal material, the liquid crystal panel is cooled to room temperature at a cooling rate of 0.5 ° C./min, and an effective voltage of 2.5 V is applied to the source electrode of the liquid crystal cell.
V: The liquid crystal molecular alignment was controlled while applying a voltage of 60 Hz and a DC voltage of 10 V to the gate electrode.

The sixth embodiment is provided outside the completed liquid crystal panel.
Similarly to FIG. 15, the polarizing plate 1 is provided outside the first substrate 4a, the polarizing plate 2 is provided outside the second substrate 4b, the transmission axis P of the polarizing plate 1 and the transmission axis of the polarizing plate 2 as shown in FIG. A are orthogonal to each other, and the transmission axis P and the transmission axis A are in the rubbing directions ri, r.
It was arranged so as to be at an angle of approximately 45 ° to o. Further, a retardation film 3 having negative uniaxial birefringence and a retardation R of 300 nm was disposed between the polarizing plate 2 and the second substrate 4b. The n _x direction in the in-plane refractive index of the retardation film were arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the rubbing direction ro of the second substrate 4b. Thus, a liquid crystal display device was obtained.

Observation of this active matrix liquid crystal panel under a microscope reveals that the liquid crystal has a unique orientation composed of a plurality of liquid crystal molecule orientation regions having at least two or more torsional directions with different rising directions within one pixel. It was confirmed to have a layer. Moreover, no alignment disorder or alignment defect of the liquid crystal was observed in the pixel. In addition, even when the voltage was applied, even when the voltage was applied, no disclination line as a bright line was generated, and it was observed that the entire area became black. Good display characteristics were obtained.

(Embodiment 10) As shown in FIG. 16, the polarizing plate 1 is provided outside the first substrate 4a, and the outside of the second substrate 4b is provided outside the liquid crystal panel completed in the same manner as in Embodiment 9. And the transmission axis P of the polarization plate 1 and the transmission axis A of the polarization plate 2 are orthogonal to each other, and the transmission axis P and the transmission axis A have an angle of approximately 45 ° with respect to the rubbing directions ri and ro. It was arranged to become. Furthermore, between the polarizing plate 1 and the first substrate 4a and between the polarizing plate 2 and the second substrate 4b, the refractive index n _x ,
n _y, n _{z is, n x> n y> n} z retardation film 3a are in a relationship satisfying, 3b were disposed respectively. Of the in-plane refractive indices of the retardation film 3a, the _nx direction (the delay axis direction R
The a), so as to be substantially parallel to the rubbing direction ri of the first substrate 4a, n _x direction in the in-plane refractive index of the retardation film 3b (delay axis Rb), the second substrate 4b They were arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the rubbing direction ro. Thus, a liquid crystal display device was obtained.

[0175]

As described above in detail, in the case of the present invention, since one pixel indicates a plurality of twist directions and the internal optical compensation effect by liquid crystal molecule alignment is used, the conventional structure is employed. Thus, a novel liquid crystal display element having characteristics such as a wide viewing angle and high brightness, which cannot be seen in the liquid crystal display device described above, can be stably manufactured with good reproducibility, and the reliability in the use environment can be greatly improved. That is, in the present invention, in a novel liquid crystal display device in which a plurality of complicated liquid crystal molecule alignment regions exist in a pixel, a substrate gap holding means such as a bead spacer which is a major factor of alignment disorder and alignment defect is not provided inside the pixel. By forming a pattern on the signal line outside the pixel, a liquid crystal cell that maintains the substrate gap uniformly can be obtained.

Further, in order to fix a unique liquid crystal molecular alignment in a pixel unit with good reproducibility, a small amount of a polymerizable material is added to the liquid crystal to fix the alignment by a polymer formed through a polymerization process. , Stability, reproducibility and reliability can be greatly improved.

As described above, in the present invention, a novel liquid crystal display device exhibiting excellent display characteristics such as a wide viewing angle and high contrast, suppressing a change in display with respect to an external pressure, and improving impact resistance is stably provided. It was confirmed that it can be realized with good reproducibility.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a relationship between a grain size control object defined in the present invention and an insulating material layer containing the same.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a relationship between a controlled particle size defined by the present invention and an insulating material layer in which the controlled particle size is mixed, wherein FIG. () Is a diagram when the grain size control material is completely buried in the insulating material layer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view (cross-sectional view) showing a liquid crystal cell configuration when controlling the alignment of a liquid crystal layer in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a photomask used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a photomask used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing an example in which a substrate is arranged in the first embodiment and the like.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a screen printing plate used in a seventh embodiment.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic diagrams of an active matrix liquid crystal panel used in an eighth embodiment, where FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view thereof and FIG.
Is a front view thereof.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a photomask used in the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a photomask used in an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing a photomask used in a ninth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram (cross-sectional view) showing the viewing angle dependency of a TN-LCD.

FIG. 13 shows a conventional liquid crystal display device, in which one pixel is composed of four different liquid crystal molecule alignment regions.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram (front view) showing a main CTN mode.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing an example in which a substrate is arranged in the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing an example in which substrates are arranged in Embodiments 6 and 9.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing an example in which a substrate is arranged in the tenth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 ri Rubbing direction of first substrate ro Rubbing direction of second substrate a, b, c, d, e Photomask f Screen plate 1 Polarizer (transmission axis P) 2 Polarizer (transmission axis A) 3, 3a, 3b Phase difference film Ra Delay axis of phase difference film 3a Rb Delay axis of phase difference film 3b 4a, 11 First substrate 4b, 12 Second substrate 13 Transparent electrode 14 Alignment film 15 Electrode opening 16 Liquid crystal molecule 101 TFT substrate 101a Glass substrate 101b Insulating film 101c Alignment film 102 Channel region 103 TFT element 104 Gate electrode 105 Source / drain region 106 Insulating film 107 Pixel electrode 108 Source electrode 109 Drain electrode 110 BM layer 111 Glass substrate 112 Color filter 113 Counter electrode 114 Counter substrate 114c Alignment film 115 Substrate gap maintaining means 1 6 Plastic beads 117 crystal region 118 polymeric region 202 a gate signal line 203 a source signal line

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued from the front page (72) Inventor Shinichi Terashita 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Sharp Corporation

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal layer is interposed between a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent and opposed to each other. Each pixel has a different rising direction of liquid crystal molecules.
A substrate for holding a substrate gap on a light-shielding layer formed from a plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having one or more twist directions and provided outside the pixels and defining the size of the pixels. A liquid crystal display device provided with a gap holding means. 2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said substrate gap holding means comprises an insulating layer formed by patterning. 3. A display medium comprising a liquid crystal material and a polymer is sandwiched between a pair of substrates, at least one of which is disposed opposite to each other, and each pixel has a different rising direction of liquid crystal molecules. A liquid crystal display element formed of a plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having at least two or more torsional directions and provided with a substrate gap holding means for holding a substrate gap outside each pixel. 4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein a spacer is selectively provided on the light shielding layer provided outside the pixel, and the spacer forms the substrate gap holding means. 5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein said substrate gap holding means is formed of an insulating layer patterned and formed. 6. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 2, wherein the patterned insulating layer, which is the substrate gap holding means, is constituted by at least one layer. 7. The substrate gap holding means provided outside the pixel is made of a particle size control material mixed in an insulating material.
Width (D) of layer made of insulating material mixed with the particle size control material
Is 1 / the length of the particle size control material in the width direction of the layer.
2 as r, and the distance from the center of the grain size control material in the width direction of the layer to the end of the layer is A, r <A ≦ D / 2
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the following condition is satisfied. 8. The substrate gap holding means provided outside the pixel is made of a particle size control material mixed in an insulating material.
The width (D ₁ ) of the layer made of the first insulating material for fixing the particle size control object and the width (D ₂ ) of the layer made of the second insulating material covering the particle size control object are determined by the width of the layer. The liquid crystal display device according to claim ₁ , wherein D ₁ + 4r <D ₂ is satisfied, where r is の of the length of the controlled particle size in the direction. 9. The pixel is constituted by a portion of an electrode provided on each of the pair of substrates, and at least one of the pair of electrodes constituting each pixel is provided with a plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions. 9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, further comprising an electrode opening having no electrode for dividing the liquid crystal display into electrodes. 10. A pair of polarizing plates are disposed on both sides of the pair of substrates so that their respective polarization axes are orthogonal to each other, and an optically negative voltage is applied between the pair of polarizing plates and the pair of substrates. 10. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein at least one retardation film having birefringence is provided. Wherein said phase difference plane direction of the refractive index of the refractive index ellipsoid n _x of the film, n _y, the refractive index in the thickness direction n _z
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, comprising a retardation film satisfying the following formula: _nx > _ny > _nz . 12. The refractive index of the retardation film, n
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 11, wherein the retardation film is arranged such that the direction of _x is substantially parallel to a transmission axis of a polarizing plate adjacent to the retardation film. 13. are disposed one by one the retardation film, respectively between the pair of polarizing plates and the pair of substrates, the direction of n _x of the refractive index of the retardation film,
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 11, wherein the retardation film is disposed so as to be substantially parallel to a transmission axis of a polarizing plate adjacent to the retardation film. 14. The liquid crystal molecule has a birefringence anisotropy of Δn,
The thickness of the liquid crystal layer is d, the thickness of the retardation film is d ', and the in-plane retardation of the retardation film Rs ｛=
_{(N x -n y) · d} '} liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the smaller than the retardation value of the liquid crystal layer (Δn · d). 15. The method of claim, wherein the retardation R thickness direction of the retardation film _{{= (n x -n z)} · d '} is less than the retardation value of the liquid crystal layer (Δn · d) A liquid crystal display device according to any one of items 11 to 13. 16. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element according to claim 1, wherein a light-shielding layer for defining a size of a pixel is patterned on one of the pair of substrates, and an insulating material in which a particle size controller is mixed. A step of forming a substrate gap holding means using a material; a step of forming an alignment film on the substrate having the substrate gap holding means and the other substrate; and performing a rubbing treatment; A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element, comprising the steps of: obtaining a liquid crystal cell by arranging the liquid crystal cell at right angles; and filling the liquid crystal cell with a liquid crystal material. 17. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein one or more insulating material layers are formed by patterning outside pixels on one of the pair of substrates to maintain a gap between the substrates. Obtaining the means, forming an alignment film on the substrate having the substrate gap holding means and the other substrate, and performing a rubbing process; and disposing both substrates so that the rubbing directions are orthogonal to each other by 90 °. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element, comprising: obtaining a liquid crystal cell; and filling the liquid crystal cell with a liquid crystal material. 18. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the substrates is formed of an alignment film on a pair of transparent substrates, and a rubbing process is performed. A step of arranging the liquid crystal cells so that the rubbing directions are orthogonal to each other at 90 ° to obtain a liquid crystal cell; filling the liquid crystal cell with a mixture containing a liquid crystal composition and a polymerizable material; Fixing the liquid crystal display element. 19. A step of forming an alignment film on a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and performing a rubbing process; and forming a substrate gap holding means in a region outside a pixel on any one of the substrates. 19. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 18, further comprising the step of: 20. In the step of forming a substrate gap holding means using an insulating material mixed with a particle size controlling material, the layer made of the insulating material has a width (D) in the width direction of the layer. Assuming that r is 1/2 of the length dimension of the diameter control object and A is the distance from the center of the particle size control object to the edge of the layer in the width direction of the layer, r <A ≦ D / 2 is satisfied. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element according to claim 16, wherein the liquid crystal display element is formed so as to be formed. 21. A step of fixing the particle size control object with a layer made of a patterned insulating material, comprising: a first insulating material layer fixing the particle size control object;
The width of the layer made of the second insulating material (D ₁ ) and the width of the layer made of the second insulating material (D ₂ ) are defined by the following: When 1/2 of the length of the particle size control material in the width direction of the layer is r, D ₁ +
4r <claim 16, 18 formed so as to satisfy D ₂
21. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element according to 20. 22. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element according to claim 9, wherein at least one of a pair of electrodes constituting each pixel is divided into a plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions. ,
A step of forming an electrode opening having no electrode, and after filling a material for forming the liquid crystal layer into a liquid crystal cell including a substrate having the electrode opening and another substrate,
22. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: applying an electric field to the electrode to form a plurality of liquid crystal molecule alignment regions having different liquid crystal molecule alignments in the pixel.