WO2001069311A1

WO2001069311A1 - Liquid crystal display and method for manufacturing the same, and method for driving liquid crystal display

Info

Publication number: WO2001069311A1
Application number: PCT/JP2001/001748
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kenji Nakao; Katsuji Hattori; Shoichi Ishihara; Hirofumi Kubota; Shin-Ichiro Hatta; Katsumi Adachi; Yoshinori Tanaka; Mika Nakamura; Tsuyoshi Uemura
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2000-03-13
Filing date: 2001-03-06
Publication date: 2001-09-20

Abstract

A liquid crystal display of OCB made has means for creating liquid crystal regions in two spray alignment states in the liquid crystal layer during the initialization for changing the spray alignment to the bend alignment. The liquid crystal regions are created when a voltage for initialization is applied between the substrates. A disclination line is formed at the boundary between the liquid crystal regions, and transition nuclei are propagated along the disclination line. Thus transition to bend alignment is quickly and reliably effected.

Description

Description Liquid crystal display device, method of manufacturing the same, and driving method of the liquid crystal display device

The present invention provides a high-speed, wide-view, 0 CB mode liquid crystal display device for displaying a television image, a personal computer, and a multi-media image. And a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of driving a liquid crystal display device. Background technology

Conventionally, as a liquid crystal display device, for example, a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy is used as a liquid crystal display mode. Although a liquid crystal display device in the Dick (TN) mode has been put to practical use, it has disadvantages such as a slow response and a narrow viewing angle. In addition, there are display modes such as ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) and antiferroelectric liquid crystal, which have a quick response and a wide viewing angle, but they are subject to burn-in, shock resistance, and characteristics. There are major drawbacks such as temperature dependence. In addition, there is an in-plane switching (IPS) mode in which the viewing angle is extremely wide and the liquid crystal molecules are driven in a horizontal electric field in the plane, but the response is slow and the opening ratio is low. Brightness is low. To display a full-color movie on a large screen, a liquid crystal mode with a wide field of view, high brightness, and high-speed display performance is required. There is no practical liquid crystal display mode at present.

Conventionally, as a liquid crystal display device aiming at high brightness with at least a wide field of view, the above TN mode liquid crystal area is divided into two parts and the viewing angle is expanded vertically. Yes (SID92 DIGESTP 798-801). That is, a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy is used in each display pixel of the liquid crystal display device, and two liquid crystal regions in the TN mode and having different orientations of liquid crystal molecules are used. In other words, the viewing angle is expanded by the formation of the TN mode in which the orientation is divided into two.

Fig. 68 shows a conceptual diagram of the configuration of the conventional liquid crystal display device. In FIG. 68, 701, 702 are glass substrates, 703, 704 are electrodes, 705, 705 ', 706 , 706, are alignment films. The large and small size of the nematic liquid crystal molecules 707 and 707 'with a positive dielectric anisotropy slightly inclined from the upper and lower substrate interfaces opposite to each other in the alignment region A. A re-tilt angle is formed, and in the other orientation region B, the magnitude of the pre-tilt angle is set opposite to the orientation region A with respect to the upper and lower substrate interfaces facing each other. You Each of the large and small pre-tilt angles is set to make a difference by several degrees. As an example of a conventional manufacturing method for forming alignment regions having different pretilt angles on the upper and lower substrates as described above, a photoresist is applied to an alignment film, and a photo resist is applied. There are methods such as repeating the operation of masking with the so-graph technology and rubbing the desired alignment film surface in a predetermined direction. According to this method, as shown in Fig. 68, the orientations of the liquid crystal molecules in the central part of the liquid crystal layer in the alignment regions A and B are opposite to each other, and both the voltage and the voltage are applied. Since the liquid crystal molecules in each orientation region rise up conversely, the refractive index anisotropy is averaged with respect to the incident light for each pixel, and the viewing angle can be expanded. This will be. In the conventional orientation two-split TN mode described above, the viewing angle is larger than in the normal TN mode, and the vertical viewing angle is about ± 35 degrees at contrast 10 .

However, the response speed is about 50 ms, essentially unchanged from the TN mode. As described above, the viewing angle and the response are not sufficient in the above-mentioned conventional two-split TN mode. In addition, in a liquid crystal display mode using a so-called homeotropic alignment mode in which liquid crystal molecules are aligned almost vertically at the interface of the alignment film, a phase difference plate is used. There is a liquid crystal display device with a wide field of view and high-speed response by adding the orientation division technology. However, the response speed between the black and white binary values is about 25 ms. The response speed of the key interval is 50 to 8 Oms, which is slower than that of the human eye, which is called the visual perception speed of about 0.1 to 30 s. The moving image appears to flow.

In contrast, a bend that uses the refractive index change due to the change in the rising angle of each liquid crystal molecule in a state where the liquid crystal molecules between the substrates are aligned in a bend orientation. Directional liquid crystal display devices (OCB mode liquid crystal display devices) have been proposed. The alignment change speed between the on-state and off-state of each bend-oriented liquid crystal molecule is compared to the alignment change speed between the on-state and the off-state of the TN-type liquid crystal display device. Thus, a liquid crystal display device having a very high speed and a high response speed can be obtained. In addition, since the liquid crystal molecules of the above-described bend alignment type liquid crystal display are entirely aligned between the upper and lower substrates, self-compensation can be performed in an optical phase difference manner. Since the retardation is compensated by a film retarder, it has the potential to be a low-voltage, wide-field liquid crystal display.

At this point, the above-mentioned liquid crystal display device is usually manufactured by applying liquid crystal molecules in a spray orientation state between substrates under no voltage. In order to change the refractive index using the bend alignment, the entire display section must be uniformly changed from the above-mentioned spray alignment state to the bend alignment state before the use of the liquid crystal display device. It needs to be transferred. When a voltage is applied between the opposing display electrodes, the transition nuclei from the spray orientation to the bend orientation are not uniform, but are distributed around the dispersed spacers. Or, there are alignment unevenness and flaws at the alignment film interface. In addition, since the transition nucleus does not always occur from the above-mentioned fixed place, the transition occurs or the transition nucleus does not occur, so that a display defect easily occurs. Therefore, before starting to use, at least the entire display area It is extremely important to make the transition from the spray orientation to the bend orientation uniform.

However, in the past, even when a simple AC voltage was applied, the transition did not occur, or even when it occurred, the transition time was extremely long. Disclosure of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a moving image display with no display defects due to the almost complete occurrence of the bend alignment transition and the completion of the transition in an extremely short time. The present invention proposes an appropriate and wide-field, bend-aligned liquid crystal display device, a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of driving the liquid crystal display device.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a liquid crystal display device having a plurality of liquid crystal regions having different alignment states during an initialization period for alignment transition (especially at a central portion between a pair of upper and lower substrates). It is characterized in that two liquid crystal regions in which the tilt angle of liquid crystal molecules is opposite to the positive / negative state) can be expressed. As a result, a discrimination line can be formed at the boundary of the liquid crystal region, and the transition to the bend alignment can be achieved quickly and reliably. This is what you can do.

Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the present invention will be described.

The invention according to claim 1 includes a pair of upper and lower substrates, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and the liquid crystal layer is formed by applying a voltage between the substrates prior to driving a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display device performs an initialization process for transferring the initial alignment of the liquid crystal display to the bend alignment, and drives the liquid crystal display in the initialized pen alignment state. It is characterized in that it is provided with a means for causing a plurality of liquid crystal regions having different alignment states to appear in the liquid crystal layer during the initialization process for transitioning to the bend alignment state. As described above, when a plurality of liquid crystal regions having different alignment states are developed, a discrimination line can be formed at the boundary between the liquid crystal regions, and the liquid crystal region can be formed quickly. In addition, the transition to the bend orientation can be reliably achieved. Note that the initial state is not limited to the spray orientation, and for example, a vertical orientation may be expressed in a part of the spray orientation region.

In addition, a plurality of liquid crystal regions having different alignment states are not expressed in the initial alignment state, but may be generated during the initialization process. A plurality of liquid crystal regions having different alignment states have already been expressed in the initial alignment state, and may be expressed even during the initialization process. In short, it is only necessary that a plurality of liquid crystal regions having different alignment states are developed during the initialization process.

The invention according to claim 2 includes a pair of upper and lower substrates, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, wherein when no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal layer has a spray orientation. Prior to display driving, an initialization process is performed to transfer the orientation state of the liquid crystal layer from the spray orientation to the bend orientation by applying a voltage between the substrates. In a liquid crystal display device that drives a liquid crystal display in this initialized bend alignment state, during the initialization process of transitioning to the bend alignment state, two types of operations are performed. It is characterized in that it is provided with a means for expressing a liquid crystal region having a spray alignment state in the liquid crystal layer.

As described above, when a liquid crystal region having two types of spray alignment is developed, a discrimination line is formed at the boundary between the liquid crystal regions. As a result, the transition to the bend orientation can be achieved quickly and reliably. The invention according to claim 3 includes a pair of upper and lower substrates, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, wherein when no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal layer has a spray orientation. Prior to the crystal display driving, the orientation of the liquid crystal layer is changed from the spray orientation to the bend orientation by applying a voltage between the substrates. In the liquid crystal display device that performs the liquid crystal display drive in this initialized orientation of the bend, the voltage is not applied. It is characterized in that at least two liquid crystal regions in an alignment state in which the tilt angles of liquid crystal molecules at the center between a pair of upper and lower substrates are opposite to each other are formed.

In such an orientation state, the t-spray orientation and the b-spray orientation are likely to be developed.

The invention according to claim 4 includes a pair of upper and lower substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and prior to driving a liquid crystal display, applying a voltage between the substrates to form the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal display device, which performs an initialization process for transferring the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules to the bend alignment state and drives the liquid crystal display in the initialized bend alignment state. A discretion line forming means for forming a discretion line in the liquid crystal layer during an initialization process for transitioning to a bend alignment state; The invention is characterized in that a bend transition nucleus is not generated or expanded from the above-mentioned discrimination line.

As described above, when the discrimination line is formed by the discrimination line forming means, it is possible to quickly and surely shift to the bend orientation. Transfer can be achieved.

The invention according to claim 5 includes a pair of upper and lower substrates, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and prior to driving a liquid crystal display, applying a voltage between the substrates to form the liquid crystal layer. In the liquid crystal display device that performs an initialization process to transfer the orientation state of the liquid crystal display to the bend orientation, and drives the liquid crystal display in the initialized bend orientation state, A voltage lower than the voltage at which the liquid crystal layer in the spray orientation state transitions to the bend orientation state is impressed! In this case, a b-spray alignment region and a t-spray alignment region are developed in the liquid crystal layer. It is characterized by

As described above, if a b-spray alignment region and a t-spray alignment region are developed by applying a voltage lower than the transition voltage, a voltage higher than the transition voltage may be applied. If this is the case, a b-spray orientation region and a t-spray orientation region are always exhibited. Therefore, in the liquid crystal display device having such a configuration, it is possible to quickly and surely achieve the transition to the bend alignment by applying a voltage higher than the transition voltage. . When a voltage higher than the transition voltage is applied, the time required for the transition is extremely short, and the b-spray orientation region and the t-spray orientation region are observed. This is difficult. On the other hand, when a voltage lower than the transition voltage is applied as in the present invention, the b-spray alignment region and the t-spray alignment region are developed, and There is a merit that the orientation state can be observed although the transition does not occur in the metal.

The invention according to claim 6 includes a pair of upper and lower substrates, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and the liquid crystal layer is formed by applying a voltage between the substrates prior to driving a liquid crystal display. In the liquid crystal display device which performs an initialization process for transferring the orientation state of the liquid crystal molecules to the bend orientation, and drives the liquid crystal display in the initialized bend orientation state, When a voltage lower than the voltage at which the liquid crystal layer transitions to the bend alignment state is applied to the liquid crystal layer in the play alignment state, at least two types of alignment regions are developed, and the alignment direction is reduced. When observed from different directions, there is a characteristic in which there is a direction in which the magnitude relationship of the transmittance in the orientation region is different.

As described above, when a voltage lower than the transition voltage is applied, and at least two types of orientation regions are developed, the voltage applied to the transition voltage or higher can cause a loss of t-source. The play orientation region and the b-spray orientation region are more likely to be developed. As a result, the transition to the bend orientation becomes easy. In addition, It can be confirmed by observation that the presence of the azimuth where the magnitude relationship of the transmissivity of the directional areas is different and the existence of the area where the directional areas are different exist. There is a kit.

The invention according to claim 7, comprising: a pair of upper and lower substrates; and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and prior to driving a liquid crystal display, applying a voltage between the substrates to form the liquid crystal layer. In the liquid crystal display device which performs an initialization process for transferring the orientation state of the liquid crystal molecules to the bend orientation and drives the liquid crystal display in the initialized bend orientation state, When a voltage lower than the voltage at which transition to the bend alignment state is applied to the liquid crystal layer in the play alignment state, at least two types of alignment regions are developed, and the transmittance of the alignment region is large or small. The characteristic is that the relationship is opposite when observed from the orientation direction and when observed from a direction 180 degrees from the orientation direction.

According to the above configuration, it is confirmed that two types of regions having different alignment states, for example, b-spray alignment region and t-spray alignment region are expressed. And can be done.

The invention according to claim 8, comprising a pair of upper and lower substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and prior to driving a liquid crystal display, applying a voltage between the substrates to form the liquid crystal layer. In the liquid crystal display device, which performs an initialization process to transfer the orientation state of the liquid crystal molecules to the bend orientation, and drives the liquid crystal display in the initialized orientation of the bend, the voltage is increased. When no voltage is applied, the first liquid crystal layer has an angle formed by the long axis of liquid crystal molecules near one of the pair of substrates and the substrate normal, and the other substrate has a near angle. When the angle between the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal and the substrate normal is defined as the second angle, the first angle and the second angle are compared with each other in absolute value. Where the second angle is greater than the second angle and the second angle is greater than the first angle. Also said a call that has been formed in the even that the realm has come large. According to the above configuration, regions having different orientations can be obtained, and a discrimination line can be formed from a boundary portion of the different orientation regions by applying a voltage. Item 9 includes a pair of upper and lower substrates, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and prior to driving a liquid crystal display, applying a voltage between the substrates to form a liquid crystal layer on the liquid crystal layer. No voltage is applied to the liquid crystal display device, which performs an initialization process to transfer the alignment state to the bend alignment, and drives the liquid crystal display in the initialized bend alignment state. In some cases, the liquid crystal layer is formed with a plurality of regions having different inclination angles of liquid crystal molecules in a central portion in a cell thickness direction.

If a region where the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules is different at the center in the cell thickness direction is formed, the discrimination line from the boundary of the different region when voltage is applied Can be formed.

The invention according to claim 10 includes a pair of upper and lower substrates, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and prior to driving a liquid crystal display, applying a voltage between the substrates to form the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal display device, which performs an initialization process for transferring the orientation state of the liquid crystal display to the bend orientation and drives the liquid crystal display in the initialized bend orientation state, When a voltage lower than the voltage at which transition to the bend alignment state is applied to the liquid crystal layer in the spray alignment state, there are multiple regions where the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules at the center in the cell thickness direction is different. It is characterized by being formed.

In the invention according to claim 9 described above, when no voltage is applied, a region in which the tilt angles of the liquid crystal molecules are different has already been formed. However, according to claim 10 of the present invention, As in the invention of the present invention, the region where the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules is different is not formed when no voltage is applied, but even when a voltage equal to or lower than the transition voltage is applied, the region where the voltage is equal to or higher than the transition voltage is applied. The transition to the do orientation is possible.

The invention according to claim 11 is a liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein: It is characterized in that a plurality of liquid crystal regions having different alignment states are formed in each pixel.

A plurality of liquid crystal regions having different alignment states may be formed in each pixel, or may be formed in a plurality of pixel units as in the invention described in claim 12 described later. No. However, in order to ensure the transition of the bend orientation and to shorten the transit time, it is desirable to form them in each pixel. .

The invention according to claim 12 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, a plurality of liquid crystal regions having different alignment states are formed in a plurality of pixel units.

The invention according to claim 13 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, the discrimination line forming means is formed in each pixel. You

The disk line forming means may be formed in each pixel, or may be formed in units of a plurality of pixels as in the invention described in claim 14 described later. You can do it. However, in order to ensure the transition of the bend orientation and to shorten the transition time, it is desirable to form them in each pixel.

The invention according to claim 14 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, the discrimination line forming means is formed in a plurality of pixel units. .

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal display device of the first aspect, a transition voltage having a predetermined waveform that causes a bend transition is applied.

The invention according to claim 16 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a pair of substrates has a plurality of types of liquid crystal pretilt angles. It is characterized by

According to the above configuration, regions with different orientations can be obtained, and data can be obtained from the boundary. Screen lines can be formed.

The invention according to claim 17 is characterized in that in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the pretilt angle is 1 degree or more. .

As described above, if the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the pretilt angle is 1 degree or more, it is possible to surely generate the discretion line. .

The invention according to claim 18 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the pretilt angle is 2 degrees or more. .

As described above, if the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the pre-tilt angle is 2 degrees or more, the disk line is more reliably provided than the invention according to claim 17. Can generate short lines.

The invention according to claim 19 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, the minimum value of the pretilt angle is 1 degree or more. The invention according to claim 20 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, the minimum value of the pretilt angle is 3 degrees or more. The invention according to claim 21 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, a plurality of pretilt angles are obtained by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. And

The invention according to claim 22 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein a plurality of types of pre-tilt angles are obtained by the light directing process. It is characterized by

The invention according to claim 23, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein a plurality of types of liquid crystal pre-tilt angles exist on one of the pair of substrates, The other of the pair of substrates has a pre-tilt angle of not less than the minimum value and not more than the maximum value of the pre-tilt angle of the one substrate. It is characterized by the presence of a corner.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the invention, in the liquid crystal display device according to the sixteenth aspect, a pair of substrates each have a plurality of types of pretilt angles.

If a plurality of types of pre-tilt angles exist in each of a pair of substrates, more regions having different orientations can be formed, and the transition to the bend orientation can be achieved. It will be even easier.

The invention according to claim 25 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein each of the inner surfaces of the pair of substrates has an alignment treatment such that the alignment strength is distributed in the substrate plane. It is characterized in that

As described above, the alignment treatment is performed so that the alignment intensity has a distribution in the substrate plane, so that a plurality of types of alignments having different pre-tilt angles are provided. The orientation region is obtained.

The invention according to claim 26 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein the alignment treatment is a rubbing treatment.

According to the invention described in claim 27, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 26, the rubbing treatment is performed by using a rubbing cloth in which hairs of different stiffness are planted. It is characterized by:

In order to perform the rubbing treatment so that the orientation strength has a distribution in the substrate surface, the orientation treatment is performed using a rubbing cloth having a different stiffness and a flocking. Alternatively, the orientation treatment may be performed using a rubbing cloth having a distribution of the length of the bristle feet as described in claim 26 described later. .

The invention according to claim 28 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 26, wherein the rubbing treatment uses a rubbing cloth having a distribution of hair length. It is characterized by performing.

The invention according to claim 29 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 26. By the rubbing process, the rubbing is performed between the area on the downstream side in the rubbing direction of the peripheral area of the three-dimensional object provided on the substrate and the other area. It is characterized in that it is distributed in such a way that its strength differs.

There is a difference in the rubbing intensity between the area that becomes the shadow of the three-dimensional object and the other area. Therefore, by providing such a three-dimensional object and performing rubbing, a plurality of types of regions having different pre-tilt angles can be obtained.

The invention according to claim 30 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 29, the three-dimensional object is an electrode wire.

The invention according to claim 31 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 30, the rubbing direction is inclined more than the extending direction of the electrode wire.

According to the configuration described above, the shadowed area of the rubbing becomes larger as compared with the case where the rubbing is performed in parallel with the electrode wire. As a result, it is possible to increase the area where the orientation is different.

The invention according to claim 32 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 31, wherein the rubbing direction is inclined at least 10 degrees with respect to the extending direction of the electrode wire. Features.

The invention according to claim 33 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 29, the three-dimensional object is a columnar spacer.

The invention according to claim 34 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 33, characterized in that a columnar laser is formed in each pixel.

The invention according to claim 35 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a lateral electric field for transition excitation is provided near a disk line generated at a boundary between the plurality of regions. It is characterized in that forming means is provided.

The transition is promoted by the action of the transverse electric field by the transverse electric field forming means. The invention according to claim 36 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, A horizontal electric field forming means for transfer excitation is provided in the vicinity of the discrimination line formed by the discrimination formation means. This is the feature.

The transition is promoted by the action of the transverse electric field by the transverse electric field forming means. The invention according to claim 37 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 35, wherein the direction of the electric field of the horizontal electric field generated by the horizontal electric field forming means is substantially orthogonal to the orientation direction. And are characterized.

The ease of transition depends on the electric field direction and the orientation direction of the lateral electric field, and good transition is achieved when the electric field direction and the orientation direction are substantially orthogonal. According to the invention described in claim 35, the transfer is further promoted.

The invention according to claim 38 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 35, wherein one of the pair of substrates is an active matrix substrate, and By the electric field forming means, a horizontal electric field is generated between the pixel electrode and the source electrode line wired on the active matrix substrate, and the wiring direction and orientation of the source electrode line are generated. It is characterized in that the directions are substantially parallel.

If the wiring direction and the orientation direction of the source electrode line are substantially parallel, the discretion line is generated almost perpendicular to the source electrode line. At this time, the lateral electric field effect generated between the source electrode line and the pixel electrode is favorable for the transition.

The invention according to claim 39 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 35, wherein one of the pair of substrates is an active matrix substrate, and By the electric field forming means, a horizontal electric field is generated between the gate electrode line wired to the active matrix substrate and the pixel electrode, and the wiring direction and the direction of the gate electrode line are generated. Are substantially parallel to each other.

If the wiring direction and the orientation direction of the gate electrode wire are substantially parallel, the disk The lineation line is generated almost perpendicular to the gate electrode line. In this case, the lateral electric field effect generated between the gate electrode line and the pixel electrode is favorable for the transition.

The invention according to claim 40 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 35, wherein one of the pair of substrates is an active matrix substrate, and By the electric field forming means, between the gate electrode lines wired to the active matrix substrate and the pixel electrodes, and in addition to the active matrix substrate, the wires are wired to the active matrix substrate. A horizontal electric field is generated between the source electrode line and the pixel electrode, and the alignment direction is between the wiring direction of the gate electrode line and the wiring direction of the source electrode line. And are characterized.

If the orientation direction is oblique to the source electrode line (similarly to the gate electrode line), the alignment between the source electrode line and the pixel electrode, In addition, both lateral electric fields between the gate electrode line and the pixel electrode are effective for the transition.

The invention according to claim 41, comprising: a pair of upper and lower substrates; and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and prior to driving a liquid crystal display, applying a voltage between the substrates to form the liquid crystal layer. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, which performs an initialization process for changing the liquid crystal display from the spray orientation to the bend orientation and drives the liquid crystal display in the initialized bend orientation state. Therefore, in order to promote the transition to the bend orientation in the initialization process, at least one of the orientation films formed on the pair of substrates is formed. It is characterized in that it includes a pretilt change processing step of performing a process of changing the pretilt of a partial region of the film.

By the pretilt change processing step, a liquid crystal display device having regions having different alignment states can be manufactured.

The invention according to claim 42 is for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device according to claim 41. In the method, the pretilt change processing step includes spraying an alignment film material having a pretilt different from the orientation film formed on the substrate onto the partial region. Features.

In the invention according to claim 43, in the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 41, the pretilt change step includes leaving the substrate on which the alignment film is formed under high humidity conditions. It is characterized by

Here, “high humidity” means a humidity of 90% or more. The invention according to claim 44 is the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 41, wherein the pretilt change processing step includes a step of pretilting the alignment film formed on the substrate. It is characterized by spraying a processing solution that changes the pressure.

The invention according to claim 45 is the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 41, wherein the pretilt changing step is performed by subjecting the substrate on which the orientation film is formed to a solvent vapor atmosphere. It is characterized by being left alone.

The invention according to claim 46 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein an alignment film is formed on each of the pair of substrates, and at least one of the alignment films is formed. The feature is that there is a distribution in the thickness of one orientation film. As described above, if there is a distribution in the film thickness of the alignment film, it becomes possible to have a plurality of types of pretilt angles.

47. The invention according to claim 47, comprising a pair of upper and lower substrates, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and prior to driving a liquid crystal display, applying a voltage between the substrates to form the liquid crystal. Liquid crystal display device that performs an initialization process to shift the liquid crystal display from the spray orientation to the pen orientation, and drives the liquid crystal display in this initialized bend orientation state. In order to promote the transition to the bend orientation in the initialization, the pair of printing plates are formed by using a printing plate having a printing surface formed in an uneven shape. Of the alignment films formed on the substrate The invention according to claim 48, which comprises a printing step of printing at least one alignment film, is a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 47, wherein the method includes the steps of: It is characterized by including a printing step of printing an alignment film using a printing plate having a size of 100 / m or more.

The invention according to claim 49 is the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 47, wherein the printing step is performed a plurality of times.

The invention according to claim 50 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, at least one surface of at least one of the pair of substrates is formed with unevenness. .

By making the substrate surface concave and convex, it is possible to form regions having different orientation states.

51. The invention according to claim 51, comprising: a pair of upper and lower substrates; and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, wherein the liquid crystal is applied by applying a voltage between the substrates prior to driving a liquid crystal display. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, which performs an initialization process for changing a layer from a spray orientation to a bend orientation and drives a liquid crystal display in the initialized bend orientation state. Therefore, in order to promote the transition to the bend orientation in the initialization process, at least one of the pair of substrates has a concave-convex surface. The method is characterized by including a concave-convex shape forming step.

The invention according to claim 52 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 50, the concave and convex shapes are formed of a photo resist. .

The invention according to claim 53 is the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 51, further comprising a heat treatment step for smoothing the concave-convex shape formed in the concave-convex shape forming step. It is characterized by

If the concave / convex shape is smooth, the area with different pretilt angles will be better. Many can be formed.

The invention according to claim 54 is the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 51, wherein the step of forming the concave and convex shape is a step of forming a concave and convex shape using a printing method. It is characterized by

The invention according to claim 55 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 50, the uneven shape is made of a silicon nitride film.

The invention according to claim 56 is the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 51, wherein the step of forming the concave and convex shapes forms a concave and convex shape by roughening the surface of the substrate. It is characterized by the fact that

The invention according to claim 57 is the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 56, wherein the concave-convex shape forming step forms an uneven shape by performing an oxygen plasma treatment. It is characterized by the fact that it is a process.

The invention according to claim 58 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 50, wherein a transparent electrode is formed on at least an inner surface of at least one of the pair of substrates. It is characterized in that the crystal diameter of this transparent electrode is 50 nm or more.

The invention according to claim 59 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 50, the uneven shape is formed by dispersing small particles on a substrate. And

The invention according to claim 60 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 50, characterized in that the uneven shape is formed by press molding. .

The invention according to claim 61 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 50, wherein the uneven shape is a concave shape in which the shape of the pixel electrode is raised around. It is characterized by

The invention according to claim 62 is a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 51. In the method, the step of forming an uneven shape includes a step of forming a resin layer on at least one of the pair of substrates, and a step of forming an uneven shape by processing the resin layer. It is characterized by having

The invention according to claim 63 is obtained by the liquid crystal display device according to claim 50, wherein the concave and convex shape is such that a convex portion is formed at a central portion of a pixel electrode. It is characterized by being something.

The invention according to claim 64 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 50, wherein the uneven shape forms a convex portion extending in a diagonal direction of the pixel electrode. It is characterized by what has been obtained.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal display device according to the first aspect, by applying an electric field in a predetermined direction, a plurality of regions having different alignments according to the electric field are applied. Is formed.

The invention according to claim 66 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrodes formed on the pair of substrates is missing an electrode. It is characterized by the presence of a part.

According to the above configuration, the electric lines of force on both sides of the electrode missing portion are inclined in a direction in which the inclination angle is opposite to the positive or negative. As a result, a t-spray orientation is formed on one side of the electrode missing portion, and a b-spray orientation is formed on the other side of the electrode missing portion. Therefore, a bend transition occurs from the disk line at the boundary.

In the invention according to claim 67, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, among the electrodes formed on the pair of substrates, the electrodes on the counter substrate side are missing electrodes. It is characterized by the presence of a missing electrode part.

The invention according to claim 83 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein, of the electrodes formed on the pair of substrates, the electrodes on the array substrate side have electrodes. It is characterized by the presence of missing electrode missing parts. An invention according to claim 69 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 66, wherein the direction in which the electrode missing portion extends is generated at a boundary between the plurality of regions. It is characterized by the fact that it coincides with the short line.

If there is an electrode missing portion, a discretion line is generated in the extending direction of the electrode missing portion. Therefore, the discretion line generated only by the presence of a plurality of regions having different orientations in the absence of the electrode missing portion, and the electrode missing portion If the direction of generation is the same as the direction of the discrimination line caused by the existence of the disc, a more stable discrimination line will be generated. As a result, stable bend orientation transition is achieved. For this reason, the extending direction of the electrode missing portion is made to coincide with the disk line generated at the boundary between the regions having different orientations. It is a thing.

The invention according to claim 70 is, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 67, characterized in that the alignment direction and the extending direction of the electrode missing portion intersect. The direction of the discon- sion line generated depending on the orientation may be different. For example, in the case of rubbing orientation, rubbing up and down with respect to a pixel will cause the discretion line to move left and right with respect to the pixel. If it is rubbed left and right, the discretion line is formed upward and downward with respect to the pixel. Therefore, if the extending direction of the electrode missing portion matches the orientation direction, it becomes inappropriate for the generation of a discretion line. Therefore, it is desirable to make the extending direction of the electrode missing portion intersect with the orientation direction from the viewpoint of stably generating the discretion line. Of course, it is most desirable that the extending direction of the electrode missing portion is orthogonal to the orientation direction.

The invention according to claim 71 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display device is arranged between a pixel electrode formed on one of the pair of substrates. It is characterized by having a transverse electric field forming means for forming an electric field.

The invention according to claim 72 is that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 71, a lateral electric field is generated at both ends of the pixel electrode, and the directions of the lateral electric field are opposite to each other. Features.

As described above, since the directions of the horizontal electric fields are opposite to each other, anisotropy is generated in the alignment of the liquid crystal on the pixel electrode, and the b-spray alignment and the t-spray alignment are performed. Direction is likely to occur.

The invention according to claim 73 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 72, wherein one of the pair of substrates is an active matrix substrate, and The active matrix substrate has a source electrode line and a pixel electrode, and is characterized in that a lateral electric field is applied between the source electrode line and the pixel electrode.

The invention according to claim 74 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 73, wherein a distance between the pixel electrode and a source electrode line is as follows.

This is because if the distance between the pixel electrode and the source electrode line exceeds 5 zm, a transverse electric field large enough to affect the orientation of the liquid crystal is not generated. The invention according to Item 75 includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pixel electrode and a counter electrode, and the liquid crystal layer is formed by applying a voltage between the substrates prior to driving a liquid crystal display. Performs an initialization process to transition from the play orientation to the bend orientation, and drives the liquid crystal display in this initialized bend orientation state. In the driving method for shifting from the spray orientation to the bend orientation in a liquid crystal display device of the liquid crystal type, a period during which the pixel potential is maintained. During a certain period, the source voltage is changed so that the pixel electrode and the source voltage are changed. It is characterized by applying a transverse electric field between the poles. The invention according to claim 76 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 72, wherein one of the substrates is an active matrix substrate, and the active matrix substrate is provided. The trix substrate has a gate electrode line and a pixel electrode, and is characterized in that a lateral electric field is applied between the gate electrode line and the pixel electrode.

The invention according to claim 77 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 76, wherein the distance between the pixel electrode and the gate electrode line is 5 m or less.

If the distance between the pixel electrode and the gate electrode line exceeds 5 m, a lateral electric field large enough to affect the orientation of the liquid crystal will not be generated. The invention described in Item 78 is a method for driving a liquid crystal display device according to Item 72, wherein the gate voltage is set to a low level during a period in which the pixel potential is held, and the pixel electrode and the gate are connected to each other. It is characterized in that a horizontal electric field is applied between the electrode lines.

The invention according to claim 79 includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pixel electrode and a counter electrode, and the liquid crystal layer is formed by applying a voltage between the substrates prior to driving a liquid crystal display. Performs an initialization process to transition from the spray orientation to the bend orientation, and drives the liquid crystal display in this initialized bend orientation state. In a driving method for changing from the spray orientation to the bend orientation in a liquid crystal display device of the type, the gate potential is set to a potential higher than the pixel potential. It is characterized in that a horizontal electric field is applied between the pixel electrode and the gate electrode line by setting.

The invention according to claim 80 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 76, wherein the active matrix substrate has an auxiliary capacitance electrode, and the auxiliary capacitance electrode has It is characterized in that it does not exist on the gate electrode wire.

If the auxiliary capacitance electrode is present on the gate electrode line, it acts to block the lateral electric field generated between the gate electrode line and the pixel electrode. So, the supplement By forming the auxiliary capacitance electrode other than on the gate electrode line, it is possible to effectively generate a lateral electric field between the gate electrode line and the pixel electrode.

The invention according to claim 81 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 72, the horizontal electric field forming means has a shape of a protrusion formed on an electrode side portion.

The invention according to claim 82 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 81, the protrusion shape is formed on a pixel electrode.

The invention according to claim 83 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 81, the protrusion shape is formed on a gate electrode line. The invention according to claim 84 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 81, the protrusion shape is formed on a source electrode line.

The invention according to claim 85 is characterized in that, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 72, the direction in which the lateral electric field is generated substantially matches the orientation. The invention according to claim 86, comprising: a pair of upper and lower substrates; and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and prior to driving a liquid crystal display, applying a voltage between the substrates to form the liquid crystal layer. In the liquid crystal display device which performs an initialization process for transferring the initial alignment of the liquid crystal molecules to the bend alignment and drives the liquid crystal display in the initialized bend alignment state, It is characterized in that the display area in the plane has no spacer.

The presence of a spacer in the display area is an obstacle to metastasis. Therefore, if the spacer does not exist in the display area as in the present invention, the transition can be smoothly achieved.

The invention according to claim 87 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 86, wherein a spacer is formed in a non-display area other than the display area. .

The invention according to claim 88 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 87. Wherein the spacer is a columnar spacer.

In the invention according to claim 89, the pretilt angle of the liquid crystal at the upper and lower interfaces of the liquid crystal layer disposed between the array substrate having the pixel electrode and the opposite substrate having the common electrode is positive or negative. Conversely, it is a liquid crystal cell in a spray orientation that is aligned in parallel with each other, and when no voltage is applied, it is in a spray orientation, which is prior to driving the liquid crystal display. Then, the voltage is applied to perform an initialization process of transitioning from the spray orientation to the bend orientation, and the liquid crystal display is driven in the initialized bend orientation state. In an active matrix type liquid crystal display device, the pretilt angle of the liquid crystal in the alignment film formed on the inner surface side of the array substrate is a first angle. In addition to showing the pretilt angle, the liquid crystal in the alignment film formed on the inner surface side of the opposing substrate A first liquid crystal cell region having a second pretilt angle having a larger pretilt angle than the first pretilt angle, and the first liquid crystal cell region And the liquid crystal pre-tilt angle in the alignment film formed on the inner surface side of the array substrate indicates the third pre-tilt angle. The fourth pretilt angle, in which the liquid crystal pretilt angle in the alignment film formed on the inner surface side of the opposing opposing substrate is smaller than the third pretilt angle, And at least a second liquid crystal cell region shown in the same pixel, wherein the upper and lower alignment films extend from the first liquid crystal cell region to the second liquid crystal cell region. A liquid crystal cell that has been subjected to an alignment treatment, and a discretion line between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. A first voltage for forming a liquid crystal is applied, and a disk screen is formed near a boundary between the first liquid crystal cell region and the second liquid crystal cell region. A first voltage applying means for forming a scanning line; and a second voltage higher than the first voltage applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. And a second voltage applying means for generating a transition nucleus in the clean line and causing a transition from the spray orientation to the bend orientation. This is the feature.

With the above configuration, the first liquid crystal cell region and the second liquid crystal cell are applied by applying a first voltage between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. Between the region and the region, it is possible to form a disk line having a higher distortion energy than the surrounding area, and further, it is possible to form the pixel electrode and the common electrode with the pixel electrode and the common electrode. By applying a second voltage that is higher than the first voltage during this time, energy is further imparted to the discretion line. As a result, the liquid crystal transitions from the spray orientation to the bend orientation in the discrimination line.

Therefore, in the liquid crystal display device having the above-described structure, the spray-to-bend alignment transition can be surely performed at a certain position (displacement) within each pixel region where a large number of liquid crystal cells are formed. Clinic line), and can surely cause the orientation transition to occur quickly, resulting in display defects. In addition, it is possible to realize a liquid crystal display device with high image quality and excellent price.

The invention according to claim 90 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 89, wherein the first and fourth pretilt angles are 3 degrees or less and the second and fourth pre-tilt angles are 3 degrees or less. The third pre-tilt angle is not less than 4 degrees. With this configuration, the ratio between the second and fourth pretilt angles and the first and fourth pretilt angles can be increased. By increasing the ratio, the energy of distortion is higher than the surroundings, thereby forming a higher discrimination line. This makes it possible to further reduce the transition time from the spray orientation to the bend orientation.

In the invention according to claim 91, in the liquid crystal display device according to claim 89, the direction in which the upper and lower alignment films are subjected to the alignment treatment is along the pixel electrode. It is characterized by being perpendicular to the signal electrode line or the gate electrode line.

According to the above configuration, a horizontal electric field is applied in the direction of the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal molecules are subjected to the twisting force, and thus the transition nuclei are generated in the disk-shaped line, and the liquid crystal molecules are quickly shifted from the bend orientation to the bend. The transfer of the direction to the direction can be performed.

The invention according to claim 92 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 89, wherein the direction of the alignment treatment of the alignment film is a signal electrode line or a gate electrode line along the pixel electrode. It is characterized in that it is slightly deviated from the right angle direction.

The orientation processing direction of the orientation film is slightly deviated from a direction perpendicular to the signal electrode line or the gate electrode line, so that the disc is formed. Since the horizontal electric field from the signal electrode line or the gate electrode line is applied obliquely to the crys- nation line, the display is oriented in the spray orientation. Since a twisting force is applied to the liquid crystal molecules, the transition to the bend configuration is facilitated.

The invention according to claim 93 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 89, wherein the second voltage has a frequency in a range of 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz. And a duty ratio of the second voltage is in the range of 1: 1 to 10 ° 0: 1, and is characterized in that the voltage is a noisy voltage. By applying the pulse-like second voltage as described above and repeating the voltage application period and the period in which no voltage is applied alternately, the liquid crystal molecules are oscillated and transferred. Thus, the liquid crystal molecules in the splay alignment are transferred to the bend alignment. The frequency and duty ratio are controlled within the above ranges because the transition from the spray orientation to the bend orientation is performed. This is to expand the area.

The invention according to claim 94 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 89, wherein the gate electrode line formed on the array substrate has a small number of electrodes during the initialization process. It is characterized by a high state, most of the time.

The energy of the distortion is higher in the disk line area than in the surrounding area, and in this state, the gate is arranged beside the pixel electrode. Since a lateral electric field is also applied to the above-mentioned discretion line from the electrode wire, further energy is given and the spray orientation is changed. Rapid transition to bend orientation.

The invention according to claim 95 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 89, wherein at least one of the alignment films formed on the inner surface side of the pixel electrode and the common electrode is provided. By irradiating a partial area of one of the alignment films with ultraviolet light to change the pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal in the alignment film, it is possible to have a liquid crystal cell which is divided by alignment. Features.

By irradiating the partial region of the alignment film with ultraviolet light, the surface of the alignment film in the region irradiated with the ultraviolet light is modified, and the modified alignment film is formed. The pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal can be set to a small value. It is not clear at present that the pretilt angle of the liquid crystal in the alignment film is reduced by the irradiation of ultraviolet light, but it is not clear yet. It is thought that the side chain present in the nucleoside is cleaved by ultraviolet light. In this way, it is possible to easily form a directionally divided liquid crystal cell by irradiating ultraviolet rays.

The invention according to claim 96 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 89, wherein the pixel electrode and a part of the common electrode are irradiated with ultraviolet rays in an ozone atmosphere! ? Therefore, at least one of the pixel electrode and the common electrode is used. After partially planarizing one of the electrodes, an alignment film is applied and baked on the pixel electrode and the common electrode, and the liquid crystal pre-tilt angle in the alignment film is obtained. It is characterized by having a liquid crystal cell whose orientation is divided by changing the liquid crystal cell.

By irradiating the pixel electrode and a part of the common electrode with ultraviolet light in an ozone atmosphere, the surface of the pixel electrode and the common electrode can be flattened. Accordingly, by applying an alignment film on the pixel electrode and the common electrode, the tilt angle of the liquid crystal in the alignment film is changed to perform alignment division. It is easy to form a liquid crystal cell having a good shape.

The invention according to claim 97 is a liquid crystal layer having an upper and lower interface between a liquid crystal layer disposed between an array substrate having a pixel electrode and a counter substrate having a common electrode. The liquid crystal cell has a display orientation in which the liquid crystal cells are aligned in the opposite directions and are aligned in parallel with each other, and the liquid crystal cell is the first liquid crystal adjacent to each other in the same pixel. A cell region and a second liquid crystal cell region, wherein the first liquid crystal cell region is a first pretilt of a liquid crystal at an interface on the liquid crystal layer side of the array substrate. The second liquid crystal cell is subjected to an alignment treatment so that an angle is smaller than a second pretilt angle of a liquid crystal at an interface on the liquid crystal layer side of the counter substrate. In the region, the fourth pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal at the interface on the liquid crystal layer side of the counter substrate is the second pre-tilt angle. Orientation treatment so as to be smaller than the tilt angle and smaller than the third pretilt angle of the liquid crystal at the interface on the liquid crystal layer side of the array substrate. When no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal layer is in a spray orientation, and prior to driving the liquid crystal display, the liquid crystal layer is shifted from the spray orientation by applying a voltage. The liquid crystal display device performs an initializing process for transitioning to a liquid crystal display orientation and performs liquid crystal display driving in the initialized bend alignment state. To bend orientation A driving method for causing an alignment transition, wherein a first voltage is applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, whereby a liquid crystal is formed in the first liquid crystal cell region. The molecules are aligned in the b-spray orientation, and the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in the second liquid crystal cell region in the t-spray orientation, so that the first liquid crystal cell region and the second liquid crystal cell region are aligned. A disk line is formed near the boundary with the second liquid crystal cell region, and a second line higher than the first voltage is provided between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. And generating a transition nucleus at a disk line near a boundary between the first liquid crystal cell region and the second liquid crystal cell region. It is characterized by a transition from play orientation to bend orientation.

According to the above-mentioned method, in the liquid crystal display device, the spray-pending alignment transition can be surely performed at a certain position (in each pixel region where a large number of liquid crystal cells are formed). (In the vicinity of the disk line), and in the vicinity of the disk line, the distortion is higher than in the surrounding area. Because of the high energy, metastasis nuclei are reliably generated. Therefore, it is possible to surely cause the orientation transition to occur quickly, to prevent a display defect from occurring, and to realize a liquid crystal display with excellent image quality.

The invention according to claim 98 is characterized in that the tilt angle of the liquid crystal at the upper and lower interfaces of the liquid crystal layer disposed between the array substrate having the pixel electrode and the opposing substrate having the common electrode is reduced. The liquid crystal cell has a liquid crystal cell of a display orientation which is oriented in a direction opposite to that of the liquid crystal and is aligned in parallel with each other. When no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal layer has a display orientation of a liquid crystal display. Prior to this, an initialization process is performed to change from the spray orientation to the bend orientation by applying voltage, and the liquid crystal display is driven in this initialized bend orientation state. In a method of manufacturing an active matrix type liquid crystal display device, the method of manufacturing the active matrix type liquid crystal display device includes the steps of: Liquid crystal at the interface on the liquid crystal layer side The orientation treatment is performed so that the first pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal becomes smaller than the second pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal at the interface on the liquid crystal layer side of the counter substrate. A first liquid crystal cell region is formed, and a fourth pretilt angle of the liquid crystal at an interface on the liquid crystal layer side of the counter substrate is formed in another region within the one pixel. The second pretilt angle is smaller than the second pretilt angle, and is smaller than the third pretilt angle of the liquid crystal at the liquid crystal layer side interface of the array substrate. And a second liquid crystal cell region formed by performing an alignment process so as to form a second liquid crystal cell region.

According to the above-described method, a b-spray alignment region and a t-spray alignment region are formed in a pixel, and a disk region is formed at the boundary. The lines are clearly formed. As described above, since the distortion energy is higher in the vicinity of the disk-line as described above, a transition nucleus is surely generated. Therefore, it is possible to realize a liquid crystal display device capable of surely causing the alignment transition quickly.

The invention according to claim 99, according to the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 98, wherein the alignment treatment step comprises: forming a pixel electrode formed on the array substrate and the counter substrate. By irradiating a part of the region within one pixel of the alignment film formed on the inner surface side of the common electrode formed thereon with ultraviolet light to change the tilt angle of the liquid crystal, The method is characterized in that the step is a step of forming a first liquid crystal cell region and the second liquid crystal cell region.

By irradiating a part of the alignment film with ultraviolet light, the surface of the alignment film in the area irradiated with ultraviolet light is modified, and the liquid crystal in the modified alignment film is modified. The pre-tilt angle can be set to a small value.

The invention according to claim 100 is the manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device according to claim 98, wherein the alignment treatment step includes a step of forming a pixel electrode and a pixel electrode formed on the array substrate. A portion of the common electrode formed on the counter electrode; UV light is applied to a partial area of the element under an ozone atmosphere to planarize the pixel electrode and a partial area of the common electrode, and the pixel electrode and the common electrode are planarized. An alignment film is applied and baked on the alignment film to change the pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal in the alignment film, so that the first liquid crystal cell region and the second liquid crystal cell region are separated from each other. It is characterized in that it is a forming process. According to the above method, at least a part of one of the pixel electrode and the common electrode can be flattened. By coating an alignment film on the electrode and the common electrode, the liquid crystal cell in which the alignment angle is changed by changing the pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal in the alignment film is provided. It is possible to obtain the following liquid crystal display device.

The invention according to claim 101 is the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the means for causing the plurality of liquid crystal regions to be expressed in a liquid crystal layer is formed in a thin film transistor region. It is characterized by the fact that BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a liquid crystal display device provided with a bend-oriented 0CB cell.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal cell illustrating the transition from the spray orientation to the bend orientation.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a pixel unit by a driving method of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a voltage waveform diagram for orientation transition used in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the bias voltage and the transition time according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a driving method of the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a configuration in a pixel unit.

FIG. 7 is a voltage waveform diagram for the orientation transition used in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the bias voltage and the transition time according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of a pixel unit based on a driving method of a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a voltage waveform diagram for orientation transition used in Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the bias voltage and the transition time according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram of a configuration in a pixel unit by a driving method of a liquid crystal display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a normal drive voltage waveform diagram of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a voltage waveform diagram for orientation transition used in Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a voltage waveform diagram for orientation transition used in the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic sectional view of a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a schematic plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention. FIG. 19 (a) is a schematic sectional view of the liquid crystal display device, and FIG. 19 (b) is a schematic plan view of the liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 20 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention. FIG. 20 (a) is a schematic plan view of the liquid crystal display device. (b) is a schematic sectional view of the liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 21 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention.

FIG. 22 shows another example of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention. '

FIG. 23 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 10 of the present invention, and FIG. 23 (a) is a schematic plan view of the liquid crystal display device. 23 (b) is a schematic sectional view of the liquid crystal display device, FIG. 23 (c) is a schematic sectional view of another example of the liquid crystal display device, and FIG. 23 (d) is a schematic view of another example of the liquid crystal display device. It is a cross-sectional view.

FIG. 24 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 11 of the present invention. FIG. 24 (a) is a schematic plan view of the liquid crystal display device. 4 (b) is a schematic diagram showing the electric field distortion.

FIG. 25 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 12 of the present invention. FIG. 25 (a) is a schematic sectional view of the liquid crystal display device. 5 (b) is a schematic plan view.

FIG. 26 is a diagram conceptually showing a cross-sectional configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 13 of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a view for explaining a process of manufacturing a convex-shaped object formed on a glass substrate according to the embodiments 13 and 14 of the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention. It is a figure.

Figure 28 shows the process of manufacturing a convex object following Figure 27, which is related to the present invention. This is a diagram for explanation.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing the rubbing direction of the substrate used in Embodiment 13 of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a configuration external view of Embodiment 14 according to the present invention. FIG. 31 is a plan view of an embodiment 14 according to the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a configuration external view of a liquid crystal cell provided in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 15 of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a view illustrating a process for manufacturing a convex-shaped liquid crystal cell according to Embodiment 15 of the present invention.

FIG. 34 conceptually shows a sectional configuration of a liquid crystal cell provided in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 16 of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a diagram conceptually showing the concept of a transparent electrode used for a liquid crystal cell according to Embodiment 16 of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a liquid crystal cell provided in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 17 of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG.

FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part of a liquid crystal cell provided in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 18 of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of optical elements in a liquid crystal cell provided in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 18 of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating a voltage-transmittance characteristic of a liquid crystal cell provided in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 18 of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a schematic diagram (a) showing the Modianian orientation in FIG. 41 (a), and FIG. 41 (b) is a schematic diagram (b) showing the bend orientation in FIG.

FIG. 42 is a diagram showing the director of the liquid crystal layer.

Fig. 43 shows a CR equivalent circuit. Figure 44 shows the temporal change of the orientation angle j) of the liquid crystal under an external electric field that increases with time.

Figure 45 shows the relationship between the Spray elastic constant (kll) and the critical electric field (Ec).

Figure 46 shows the relationship between the absolute value of the pretilt angle and the critical electric field (Ec).

Figure 47 shows the relationship between the electric field inhomogeneity (E1 / E0) and the critical electric field (Ec).

FIG. 48 is a conceptual diagram showing an alignment state of the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment 201-11.

FIG. 49 is a perspective view of a substrate 511 having a step 510.

FIG. 50 is an enlarged view of the rubbing cloth 511a having distribution in the length of the rubbing fiber.

FIG. 51 is a conceptual diagram showing shadows of rubbing due to the array wiring in the present embodiment 20-3.

FIG. 52 is a diagram showing a coating device for the alignment film.

FIG. 53 is a partially enlarged plan view of the surface of the printing plate 530.

FIG. 54 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the surface of the printing plate 530.

FIG. 55 is a conceptual diagram showing the distribution of electric force lines and the orientation of the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 21-2. FIG. 55 (a) is a distribution diagram of electric force lines. FIG. 55 (b) shows the orientation of the liquid crystal.

FIG. 56 is a driving waveform diagram of the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment 21-1.

FIG. 57 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment 211, and FIG. 57 (a) is a diagram showing the pixel structure of the conventional example. 7 (a) is a diagram showing the concave and convex structure of the pixel, and FIG. 57 (b) is an image. FIG. 57 (c) is a diagram showing a modified example of the pixel concave-convex structure, and FIG. 57 (c) is a diagram showing a modified example of the pixel concave-convex structure. FIG. 57 (e) is a diagram showing another modification, and FIG. 57 (e) is a diagram showing another modification of the pixel concavo-convex structure, and FIG. 57 (f) is another diagram of the pixel concavo-convex structure. It is a figure which shows a modification.

FIG. 58 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 22.

FIG. 59 is a plan view of the vicinity of the pixel electrode of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 22.

FIG. 60 is a conceptual diagram showing the operation of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 23.

FIG. 61 is a conceptual diagram showing a transition voltage waveform of the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment 23-1.

FIG. 62 is a plan view showing the shape of the auxiliary electrode layer 571.

FIG. 63 is a plan view showing another shape of the auxiliary electrode layer 571.

FIG. 64 is a conceptual diagram showing a transition voltage waveform of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 23-2.

FIG. 65 is a conceptual diagram showing a transition voltage waveform of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 23-3.

FIG. 66 is a plan view of a board for explaining a spacer according to the embodiment 24, and FIG. 66 (a) is a view showing a conventional spacer. FIG. 66 (b) shows a spacer of the present invention.

FIG. 67 is a cross-sectional view of a substrate for describing a spacer according to Embodiment 24.

FIG. 68 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional example. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention focuses on a mechanism for transition from spray alignment to bend alignment described below in a liquid crystal display device having a bend alignment type 0 CB cell. It is the result of the above. Therefore, first, the transfer mechanism will be described in detail, and then the specific contents of the present invention will be described by using embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a liquid crystal display device provided with a bend alignment type 0 CB cell. Referring briefly to FIG. 1, the configuration of a liquid crystal display device having a bend-aligned OCB cell can be briefly described as follows: substrates 10 and 11 arranged in parallel with each other A liquid crystal layer 13 containing liquid crystal molecules 12 is inserted. Although not shown in the figure, the display electrodes for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer 13 and the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules are respectively provided on the opposing surfaces of the substrates 10 and 11. An alignment film has been formed to regulate the temperature. As shown in the figure, the orientation film pre-tilts the liquid crystal molecules 12 near the substrate interface by about 5 to 7 degrees, and the orientation directions in the substrate surface are the same as each other. That is, the alignment treatment is performed so as to be a parallel alignment. The liquid crystal molecules 12 gradually rise as they move away from the surfaces of the substrates 10 and 11, and the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules is almost at the center of the liquid crystal layer 13 in the thickness direction. The bend orientation becomes 90 degrees. Polarizing plates 15 and 16 and optical compensating plates 17 and 18 are arranged outside the substrates 10 and 11, respectively. The polarization axis and the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules are arranged at an angle of 45 degrees, and a high voltage is applied. By utilizing the difference in the refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer between the on state and the off state to which a low voltage is applied, the polarization state is changed through the polarizing plate and the optical compensator. The light transmittance is controlled and displayed. In the liquid crystal display device having the above-described bend alignment type 0 CB cell, since the liquid crystal layer is in a spray alignment before use, the voltage is set prior to driving the liquid crystal display. It is necessary to change the liquid crystal layer from the spray orientation state to the bend orientation state by the application.

The mechanism of the orientation transition from the splay orientation to the bend orientation of the liquid crystal layer when a high voltage higher than the transition critical voltage is applied due to the orientation transition. Figure 2 schematically shows this.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal cell schematically illustrating liquid crystal molecules and conceptually illustrating a liquid crystal molecule arrangement when two substrates are arranged in parallel alignment.

Figure 2 (a) shows the initial state of the spray arrangement. When no electric field is applied between the substrates, the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules 12 in the center of the liquid crystal layer 13 assumes a low energy-oriented spray alignment state in which the liquid crystal molecules 12 are almost parallel to the substrate surface. . Here, for convenience of explanation, liquid crystal molecules parallel to the substrate are denoted by reference numeral 12a.

Next, FIG. 2 (b) shows a liquid crystal molecule alignment state when a high voltage is started to be applied between electrodes (not shown) formed on the substrates 10 and 11. The liquid crystal molecules 12 in the center of the liquid crystal layer 13 begin to slightly tilt due to the electric field, and as a result, the liquid crystal molecules 12a oriented parallel to the substrate surface are on one substrate surface (in the figure, the substrate 1 Go to the 1) side.

Next, FIG. 2 (c) shows the state of the liquid crystal molecular arrangement when a further time has elapsed after the voltage was applied. The liquid crystal molecules 12 in the center of the liquid crystal layer 13 are further inclined with respect to the substrate surface, and the liquid crystal molecules 12 a which are oriented substantially parallel to the substrate surface are near the substrate interface. And receive strong regulatory power from the alignment film.

Next, Fig. 2 (d) shows the energy state after the transition to the bend orientation. Liquid crystal molecule alignment state is high. The liquid crystal molecules 12 at the center of the liquid crystal layer 13 are perpendicular to the substrate surface, and the liquid crystal molecules in contact with the alignment film (not shown) on the substrate 10 are stronger than the alignment film. In response to the regulation force, the liquid crystal molecules 12a are maintained in the inclined orientation state, and the liquid crystal molecules 12a oriented parallel to the substrate surface as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) to 2 (c) are almost eliminated. .

When the time further elapses than in FIG. 2 (d), the above-mentioned alignment state shifts between the substrates to the bend alignment state shown in FIG. 1 and the transfer is completed.

As described above, the situation where the transition from the spray orientation to the bend orientation occurs when a voltage is applied is considered as described above.

However, this does not usually occur all at once in the entire liquid crystal layer in the substrate plane, and the energy can easily move in a part of the alignment region. Generally, transition nuclei are generated in the peripheral portion of the spacer dispersed in the gap and in the orientation uneven portion, and the bend orientation region is expanded from there. Therefore, in order to perform the orientation transition in the OCB cell, it is necessary to generate transition nuclei in at least a part of the liquid crystal layer in the substrate plane and to make the transition from the outside. It is necessary to maintain the energy by giving energy to transition from the splay alignment state to the high energy bend alignment state.

As a result of considering such a mechanism of the orientation transition, the present inventors have found that a liquid crystal display device capable of reliably generating a transition nucleus and completing the transition in an extremely short time. A method for manufacturing the same and a method for driving a liquid crystal display device have been completed. Specific contents will be described based on the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)

FIG. 3 shows a conceptual diagram of a pixel unit by a driving method of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. First, the configuration of the liquid crystal display device related to the driving method according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment has a configuration excluding a driving circuit portion. Thus, it has the same configuration as a liquid crystal display device having a general 0 CB cell. That is, it has a pair of glass substrates 20 and 21 and a liquid crystal layer 26 sandwiched between the glass substrates 20 and 21. The glass substrates 20 and 21 are arranged facing each other at a fixed interval. A common electrode 22 composed of a transparent electrode of IT0 is formed on the inner surface of the glass substrate 20, and a transparent electrode of IT0 is formed on the inner surface of the glass substrate 21. A pixel electrode 23 is formed. On the common electrode 22 and the pixel electrode 23, alignment films 24 and 25 made of a polyimide film are formed, and the alignment films 24 and 25 are The orientation treatment is performed so that the orientation directions are parallel to each other. A liquid crystal layer 26 made of a P-type nematic liquid crystal is inserted between the alignment films 24 and 25. Also, the alignment film 24,

The pretilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules on 25 is set to about 5 degrees, and the critical voltage for transition from the spray configuration to the bend configuration is set to 2.5 V. It has been. The retardation of the optical compensator 29 is selected so as to display white or black when turned on. Note that, in FIG. 3, 27 and 28 are polarizing plates.

In the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a drive circuit for alignment transition, and reference numeral 31 denotes a drive circuit for liquid crystal display. Also, 32a and 32b are switch circuits, and

Reference numeral 33 denotes a switch control circuit for controlling switching of the switching modes of the switch circuits 32a and 32b. The switch circuit 32a is provided with two individual contacts PI, P2, and one common contact Q1, and the switch circuit 32b is provided with two switches. It has individual contacts P 3, P 4 and one common contact Q 2. The common contact Q1 is connected to any of the individual contacts PI and P2 in response to the switch switching signal S1 from the switch control circuit 33. Similarly, in response to the switch switching signal S 2 from the switch control circuit 33, the common contact Q 2 is connected to the individual contacts P 3, P It will be in the state of being connected to any of 4. When the common contact Q 1 is connected to the individual contact P 1 and the common contact Q 2 is connected to the individual contact P 3, the drive voltage from the orientation transition drive circuit 30 is applied to the electrodes 22, 2. 3 will be applied. When the common contact Q1 is connected to the individual contact P2 and the common contact Q2 is connected to the individual contact P4, the driving voltage from the liquid crystal display driving circuit 33 is applied to the electrodes. It will be applied to 22 and 23.

Next, a driving method according to the first embodiment will be described.

First, prior to driving a liquid crystal display based on an original image signal, an initialization process is performed for transition to bend alignment. First, when the power is turned on, the switch control circuit 33 outputs switch switching signals S l and S 2 to the switch circuits 32 a and 32 b, and the common contact Q 1 Is connected to the individual contact P 1 and the common contact Q 2 is connected to the individual contact P 3. As a result, the drive voltage shown in FIG. 4 is applied between the electrodes 22 and 23 from the orientation transition drive circuit 30. This drive voltage is an AC voltage in which the AC rectangular wave voltage A is superimposed on the bias voltage B as shown in Fig. 4, and the drive voltage value is still the spray orientation. It is set to a voltage value higher than the critical voltage, which is the minimum voltage required to generate a transition from bend orientation to bend orientation. By applying such a drive voltage, the transition time can be significantly shortened as compared with the conventional example in which a simple AC voltage is applied. The reason why the transfer time is shortened will be described later. In this way, the initialization process regarding the transition to the bend orientation is completed.

Next, when the transition time required for the entire surface of the electrode to completely transition to the bend orientation elapses, the switch control circuit 33 switches the common contact Q 1 to the individual contact P 2. The switching signal S 2 is output to the switch circuit 32 a and the common contact Q 2 is switched to the individual contact P 4, and the switching signal S 2 is switched. Output to switch circuit 32b. As a result, the common contact Q1 and the individual contact P2 are connected, and the common contact Q2 and the individual contact P4 are connected. These drive signal voltages are applied between the electrodes 22 and 23, and a desired image is displayed. At this time, the liquid crystal display drive circuit 31 maintains a bend-oriented state with a rectangular wave voltage of 2.7 V of 30 Hz, turns it off, and turns it off. The square wave voltage 7 V of z was turned on, and OCB No and Nell were displayed.

Next, the present inventor manufactured a liquid crystal display device having the above configuration, and performed an experiment of an initialization process using the above driving method. The results are described below. The experimental conditions are as follows.

The electrode area was 2 cm ² , the cell gap was about δΛίπι, the frequency of the AC square wave voltage Α was 30 Hz, and the amplitude was ± 4 V.

Under the above conditions, when the noise voltage B was set to four types of voltages of 0 V, 2 V, 4 V, and 5 V, the transition time of each was measured. Figure 5 shows the results. Here, the transition time means the time required for the orientation transition to be completed in the entire area of the electrode area.

As is clear from FIG. 5, when the bias voltage B was 0 V, the transition time required was 140 seconds. On the other hand, when the bias voltage B was 0 V, the bias voltage was zero. When B was set to 4 V, the transition time could be shortened to 8 seconds, because of the superposition of the bias voltage and the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer due to the bias voltage. As shown in Fig. 2 (d), the orientation is fluctuated and the substrates are shifted as shown in Fig. 2 (d), so that more transition nuclei are generated and the transition time is further increased by increasing the effective voltage. It is thought that it was gone.

As described above, by continuously applying the AC voltage with the bias superimposed thereon, the transition time can be reduced as compared with the case of applying the simple AC voltage. In the above experimental example, the AC square wave voltage signal was at a frequency of 30 Hz, ± 4 Although the value of V was used, the present invention is not limited to this, and any value such as 10 kHz may be used as long as it is a frequency at which the liquid crystal operates. Also, it is obvious that the transition time becomes faster if the amplitude of the AC voltage A is increased. At this time, the higher the bias voltage B is superimposed, the higher the speed. However, considering the reduction of the drive voltage, it is desirable to set the bias voltage to an optimal voltage level according to the desired transition time. Although a square wave is used as the waveform, an AC waveform with a different duty ratio may be used.

For reference, a driving method for applying an AC voltage is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Heisei 9-185032. However, in this prior art, an ordinary positive / negative symmetric AC voltage cannot be applied. On the other hand, in the present invention, the bias voltage is superimposed on the AC voltage to break the positive / negative symmetry of the AC voltage, an asymmetric waveform is applied to the liquid crystal layer, and the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is disturbed. It is characterized by promoting development and facilitating metastasis. In this prior art, since an AC voltage having positive and negative symmetry is applied, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules cannot be disturbed, and the change of the alignment state is stopped halfway. There is a possibility that nuclear does not occur. On the other hand, in the present invention, transposition nuclei are generated quickly and surely. Therefore, the present invention is essentially different from the prior art.

(Embodiment 2)

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of a pixel unit of the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, a step of applying an AC voltage on which a bias voltage is superimposed is applied between the substrates, and a step of electrically opening (opening) the substrates. Is alternately repeated to change the liquid crystal layer from the spray orientation to the bend orientation.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment, the first embodiment The same components as those of the liquid crystal display device according to the above are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In the second embodiment, instead of the orientation transition drive circuit 30, the switch circuit 32 a, and the switch control circuit 32 of the first embodiment, an orientation transition drive circuit 40, A switch circuit 42a and a switch control circuit 43 are used. The switch circuit 42a is a three-terminal switching circuit having an individual contact P5 in addition to the individual contacts P1 and P2. The switching of the switch circuit 42 a is controlled by a switch control circuit 43. In addition, the alignment transition drive circuit 40 applies the drive voltage shown in FIG. 7 between the substrates 22 and 23. As shown in FIG. 7, this drive voltage is an AC voltage in which an AC square wave 'voltage C is superimposed on a bias voltage D, and the drive voltage value is different from the spray orientation. The voltage is set to be higher than the critical voltage, which is the minimum voltage required to cause the transition to the bend orientation.

Note that the common contact Q1 of the switch circuit 42a is connected to the individual contacts Pl, P2, P2 by the switch switching signal S3 from the switch control circuit 42. It will be in the state of being connected to any of 5. When the common contact Q1 is connected to the individual contact P5, the electrodes 22 and 23 are in an open state in which they are separated from the orientation transition drive circuit 40. When the common contact Q 1 is connected to the individual contact P 1 and the common contact Q 2 is connected to the individual contact P 3, the drive voltage from the orientation transition drive circuit 40 is applied to the electrodes 22, 2. 3 will be applied. When the common contact Q1 is connected to the individual contact P2 and the common contact Q2 is connected to the individual contact P4, the drive voltage from the liquid crystal display drive circuit 31 is applied to the electrodes. It will be applied to 22 and 23.

Next, a driving method according to the second embodiment will be described.

First, prior to driving the liquid crystal display based on the original image signal, An initialization process is performed to transfer to the orientation. First, when the power is turned on, the switch control circuit 43 outputs the switch switching signal S 3 to the switch circuit 42 a and outputs the switch circuit 3 2. The switch switching signal S2 is output to 2b, the common contact Q1 and the individual contact P1 are connected, and the common contact Q2 and the individual contact P3 are connected. As a result, the drive voltage shown in FIG. 7 is applied between the electrodes 22 and 23 from the orientation transfer drive circuit 30. Then, when a certain period of time T2 has elapsed, the switch control circuit 43 outputs a switch switching signal S3 to the switch circuit 42a to connect the common contact Q1 with the switch Q1. The individual contact P5 is connected to. As a result, the electrodes 22 and 23 are separated from the alignment transition drive circuit 40 to be in an open state. Such an open state is maintained for a period W2, and during this open state period W2, the electrodes 22, 23 are in a charge holding state.

When the open state period W2 has elapsed, the switch control circuit 43 outputs a switch switching signal S3 to the switch circuit 42a, and the switch control circuit 43 outputs an individual switch signal S3 to the common contact Q1. The contacts P1 and are reconnected. Then, such a drive for the orientation transition and the open state are alternately repeated, and after a certain period of time from when the power is turned on, the entire surface of the electrode is completely oriented. Transfer to.

Then, after the elapse of this fixed period, the switch control circuit 43 outputs the switch switching signal S 3 to the switch circuit 42 a and simultaneously operates the switch circuit 42. A switch switching signal S2 is output to 32b, the common contact Q1 and the individual contact P2 are connected, and the common contact Q2 and the individual contact P are connected. As a result, the drive signal voltage from the liquid crystal display drive circuit 31 is applied between the electrodes 20 and 21 and a desired image is displayed. In this case, the liquid crystal display drive circuit 31 maintains the bend orientation state with a rectangular wave voltage of 2.7 V of 30 Hz, as in the first embodiment. In the off state, a 30 V square wave voltage of 7 V is turned on. The OCB cell is displayed as the status.

Next, the present inventor manufactured a liquid crystal display device having the above configuration, and performed an experiment of an initialization process using the above driving method. The results will be described. The experimental conditions are as follows.

The electrode area and 2 cm ^2, the cell Le formic turbocharger-up to about 6 〃 m, Bruno, - a I § scan voltage B and 2 V, frequency 3 0 the frequency and amplitude of the AC rectangular wave voltage D H z was ± 4 V, and the application time T 2 was fixed at 2 seconds.

Under the above conditions, the open state time W2 is changed to 0 seconds, 0.2 seconds, 2 seconds, and 3 seconds, and the voltage applied state and the open state are alternately repeated. The transition time at the time of return was measured, and the result is shown in FIG. Here, the transition time means the time required for the orientation transition to be completed in the entire area of the electrode area.

As is clear from Fig. 8, when the open state time W2 is 0 seconds, that is, when the AC voltage on which the noise voltage is superimposed is continuously applied, the transition time is 80 seconds. On the other hand, when the open state time W2 is set to 0.2 second and the switching is repeated alternately with the AC voltage superimposed on the bias, the transfer is performed. However, the time was reduced to 40 seconds, but if the open state time W 2 was set to 2 seconds, on the contrary, the transit time was increased to 42 0 seconds, and W 2 was further reduced. The transition could not be completed in three seconds.

When the transition time was measured under the same conditions as in the above experimental example except that the application time T 2 was set to 0.3 seconds and the open state period W 2 was set to 0.3 seconds, the transition time was 28%. It was seconds.

By the way, good results were obtained when T2 was fixed at 2 seconds and W2 was set between 0.1 and 0.5 seconds.

As described above, by switching between the biased AC voltage and the open state, the orientation is changed from the spray orientation to the bend orientation. State It is considered that the transition time became extremely short for the following reasons. Immediately, when the AC voltage with the bias is applied, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer fluctuates, causing a bias between the substrates as shown in Fig. 2 (d), which is disturbed. It is considered that transposition nuclei were generated by switching to the open state, and transposition time was shortened.

Before or after the step of applying the AC voltage with the bias superimposed above, it is possible to obtain the same effect even if another voltage signal is further applied, and the next open state is entered. Wear .

In addition, the bias voltage, the voltage value of the AC voltage, the application time and the time for maintaining the open state can be selected according to the required transition time. The frequency of the AC voltage may be a frequency at which the liquid crystal operates, and may be a value such as 10 kHz, for example. Although a square wave is used as the waveform, an AC waveform having a different duty ratio may be used.

(Embodiment 3)

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of a pixel unit of the liquid crystal display device according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, a step of applying an AC voltage with a bias voltage superimposed between the substrates and a step of applying a zero voltage or a low voltage between the substrates are alternately repeated. On the other hand, the liquid crystal layer is characterized in that the liquid crystal layer is changed from the spray orientation to the bend orientation.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the third embodiment, the same components as those of the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the third embodiment, instead of the switch circuit 32 b and the switch control circuit 43 of the second embodiment, a switch circuit 42 b and a switch circuit are used. The switch control circuit 53 is used. Further, in the third embodiment, in addition to the orientation transition drive circuit 40, an orientation transition drive circuit 50 for applying a low voltage between the electrodes 22 and 23 is provided. . The switch circuit 42b is a three-terminal switching circuit having an individual contact point # 6 in addition to the individual contacts P3 and # 4. The switch switching of the switch circuit 42 b is controlled by a switch control circuit 53. The common contact Q2 of the switch circuit 4 2b is connected to the individual contacts P3, P4, P4 by the switch switching signal S4 from the switch control circuit 53. It will be in the state of being connected to any of 6.

When the common contact Q 1 is connected to the individual contact P 1 and the common contact Q 2 is connected to the individual contact P 3, the driving voltage from the orientation transition driving circuit 40 is applied to the electrodes 22 2 , 23 will be applied. When the common contact Q 1 is connected to the individual contact P 5 and the common contact Q 2 is connected to the individual contact P 6, the drive voltage from the orientation transition drive circuit 50 is applied to the electrodes. It will be applied to 22 and 23. Further, when the common contact Q 1 is connected to the individual contact P 2 and the common contact Q 2 is connected to the individual contact P 4, the driving voltage from the liquid crystal display driving circuit 31 is applied to the electrode 2. 2 and 23 will be applied.

Next, a driving method according to the third embodiment will be described.

First, prior to driving the liquid crystal display based on the original image signal, an initialization process is performed for transition to the bend alignment. First, when the power is turned on, the switch control circuit 53 outputs the switch switching signal S 3 to the switch circuit 42 a and the switch circuit 42 b. Then, the switch signal S 4 is output to connect the common contact Q 1 and the individual contact P 1, and the common contact Q 2 and the individual contact P 3 are connected. As a result, the drive voltage shown in FIG. 10 is applied between the electrodes 22 and 23 from the direction transition drive circuit 40. Then, when a certain period of time T 3 has elapsed, the switch control circuit 53 outputs the switch switching signal S 3 to the switch circuit 42 a and simultaneously outputs the switch switching signal S 3 to the switch circuit 42 a. The switch switching signal S4 is output to the switch circuit 42b, and both switches are output. The communication contact Q1 and the individual contact P5 are connected, and the common contact Q2 and the individual contact P6 are connected. As a result, the low voltage shown in FIG. 10 is applied between the electrodes 22 and 23 from the driving circuit 50 for direction transition. Such a low voltage application is maintained for the period W3.

Next, when the low voltage application period W3 has elapsed, the switch control circuit 53 outputs the switch switching signal S3 to the switch circuit 42a, and switches the switch. A switch switching signal S4 is output to the circuit 42b, and the common contact Q1 and the individual contact P1 are again connected, and the common contact Q2 and the individual contact P3 are connected again. You Such an alternating voltage application process and a low voltage application process are alternately repeated, and after a certain period from power-on, the entire surface of the electrode is completely bent. Transfer.

Then, when this fixed period has elapsed, the switch control circuit 53 outputs the switch switching signal S3 to the switch circuit 42a, and switches the switch circuit 42. The switch switching signal S 4 is output to the circuit 4 2 b, the common contact Q 1 and the individual contact P 2 are connected, and the common contact Q 2 and the individual contact P 4 are connected. . As a result, the drive signal voltage from the liquid crystal display drive circuit 31 is applied between the electrodes 20 and 21, and a desired image is displayed. Here, the liquid crystal display drive circuit 31 sets the rectangular wave voltage of 30 Hz to 2.7 V in the same manner as in the first embodiment, while maintaining the bend orientation state. Turns off, 30V square wave voltage 7 V is turned on, and OCB channel is displayed.

The electrode area is 2 cm ² , the cell gap is about 6 m, the nodal voltage D is 2 V, and the frequency and amplitude of the AC square wave voltage C are 3 At 0 Hz, ± 4 V, the applied time T 3 was fixed at 1 second. In addition, the applied voltage during the low voltage application period W3 was a DC voltage of 12 V.

Under the above conditions, the transition time was measured when the low voltage application period W 3 was changed and the alternating voltage application state and the applied voltage application state were alternately repeated.The results were as follows. Is shown in Fig. 11.

As is clear from Fig. 11, the transition time was about 80 seconds when the low voltage application time was 0 seconds, that is, when the AC voltage with the bias voltage was applied continuously. On the other hand, if the low voltage application time W3 is set to 0.1 second and the voltage is alternately switched with the bias voltage, the transition time is 60 seconds. However, if the low-voltage application time W 3 is set to 1 second, the transition time becomes longer at 360 seconds, and if W 3 is set to 3 seconds, the transition time becomes longer. The transfer could not be completed.

In addition, the transition was completed within 50 seconds at the minimum by repeatedly switching between AC voltage ± 4 V with the bias voltage superimposed by 2 V and DC voltage 0 V. . In addition, the switching time between the AC voltage ± 4 V and the AC low voltage ± 2 V superimposed on the noise of 2 V was repeated, and a transition time of 50 seconds or less was obtained. .

By the way, good results were obtained when T3 was fixed at 1 second and W2 was set at 0.1 seconds or more and 0.5 seconds or less.

As described above, the application of the AC voltage and the application of the low voltage are repeated and switched as compared to the case where the AC voltage with the bias is simply applied continuously. As a result, the transition time from the spray orientation to the bend orientation is shortened. This is because when the AC voltage is superimposed on the noise, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer is fluctuated, causing a bias between the substrates as shown in FIG. It is considered that the transition nucleus was generated by switching to the next short low-voltage application state, and the transition time was shortened.

In addition, bias voltage and AC voltage, application time and low voltage, The application time and the like are not the above values and can be selected and changed according to the desired transition time. The frequency of the AC voltage may be a frequency at which the liquid crystal operates, for example, a value such as 10 kHz may be used. Although a square wave is used as the waveform, an AC waveform having a different duty ratio may be used.

In the above example, the low voltage of 12 V is applied during the low voltage application period W 3, but 0 V is applied even if the low voltage is applied. O

Next, the ratio of the AC voltage application period T 3 to the low voltage application period W 3 and the number of repetitions of the AC voltage application and the low voltage application per second will be described. Here, for convenience of explanation, the voltage during the low voltage application period W 3 is set to 0 V, and the alternating repetition of the AC voltage application and the 0 V application is indicated by a broken line L in FIG. 10. Think of it as one transition 'voltage. In this case, in order to shorten the transition time, the frequency of the transition voltage L should be in the range of 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz and the duty of the transition voltage L The ratio must be set in the range of 1: 1 to 1000: 1. Further, the frequency of the transition voltage L is in the range of 0.1 Hz to 10 Hz, and the duty ratio of the transition voltage L is 2: 1 to 100: 1. The desired range is the range. The reason is described in detail below.

A duty ratio range in which the duty ratio of the repetitive applied voltage is larger in the voltage application pause period than in the voltage application period (for example, in the case of the duty ratio). In the case of a ratio of 1: 1 to 1:10, the transition nucleus is generated by pulse width application, but it is relaxed by the pause of voltage application at the pulse interval after that. It is thought that the orientation returned to the spray orientation and the transition was not completed. Therefore, the duty ratio must be set so that the voltage application period is larger than the voltage application suspension period. In order to enlarge the transition region, the duty ratio must be such that the pulse width is wider than the pulse interval. The range is from 1: 1 to 1000: 1, preferably from 2: 1 to 100: 1. From 100: 0: 1 in DC continuation, pulse repetition is almost eliminated, so that the chance of generating transition nuclei decreases and the transition lengthens slightly. Conceivable .

The repetition frequency of the transition voltage application is from 100 to 100

Although it may be up to about Hz, it is desirable that the duty ratio should be 100 Hz or more for the expansion of the transition. 1 in

A pulse interval of about 10 ms or more can be obtained. The inventor applied a voltage to the liquid crystal cell by changing the repetition frequency and the duty ratio under alternating repetition conditions of DC 15 V and 0 V. The transition time was measured, and the results are shown in Table 1.

(Unit: seconds)

As can be seen from Table 1, the frequency is in the range of 0.1 Hz to 10 Hz and the duty ratio is in the range of 2: 1 to 100: 1. In this case, the transfer time is extremely small, the frequency is in the range of 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz, and the duty ratio is 1: 1 to 100: 1. Even in the case of the range, it is recognized that the transit time is sufficiently small. (Embodiment 4)

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram of a pixel unit of the liquid crystal display device according to the fourth embodiment. The fourth embodiment shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a driving method of an active matrix type liquid crystal display device.

First, the configuration of the liquid crystal display device related to the driving method according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The liquid crystal display device according to the fourth embodiment has an active matrix type liquid crystal display having a general OCB cell with respect to the configuration excluding the drive circuit section. It has the same configuration as the device. That is, it has a pair of glass substrates 60 and 61 and a liquid crystal layer 66 sandwiched between the glass substrates 60 and 61. The glass substrates 60 and 61 are opposed to each other with a certain interval. On the inner surface of the glass substrate 60, a common electrode 62 made of a transparent electrode of IT0 is formed, and on the inner surface of the glass substrate 61, pixel switching is performed. A thin film transistor (TFT) 70 as an element and a pixel electrode 63 made of an ITO transparent electrode connected to the TFT 70 are formed. On the common electrode 62 and the pixel electrode 63, orientation films 64 and 65 made of a polyimide film are formed, and these orientation films 64 and 65 are formed. Are oriented so that the orientation directions are parallel to each other. Then, a liquid crystal layer 66 made of a P-type nematic liquid crystal is inserted between the alignment films 64 and 65. In addition, the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules on the alignment films 64 and 65 is set to about 5 degrees, and the critical voltage at which the liquid crystal molecules transition from the spray alignment to the bend alignment is set. The pressure is set at 2.6 V. The retardation of the optical compensator 67 is selected so as to display white or black when turned on. In the figure, 68 and 69 are polarizing plates.

In the figure, reference numerals 71 and 72 denote alignment transition drive circuits. The orientation transition drive circuit 71 has a common electrode 62 shown in FIG. A drive voltage is applied as a reference, and an operation of applying 0 V to the pixel electrode 63 is performed. As another configuration, the alignment transition drive circuit 72 functions to apply 0 V to the common electrode 62 and the pixel electrode 63. Reference numeral 73 denotes a liquid crystal display drive circuit. The liquid crystal display drive circuit 73 applies a drive voltage having the voltage waveform shown in FIG. 13 to the common electrode 62 and the pixel electrode 63. Work. That is, the liquid crystal display driving circuit 73 applies the voltage indicated by reference numeral Ml in FIG. 13 to the pixel electrode 63, and applies the voltage indicated by reference numeral M2 in FIG. Apply to In the above configuration, 0 V is applied to the pixel electrode 63 during the orientation transition period, but instead, the pixel electrode 63 is applied during the orientation transition period. Alternatively, the pixel electrode voltage may be applied from the liquid crystal display drive circuit 73.

Reference numerals 74a and 74b denote switching circuits, and reference numeral 75 controls switching of the switching modes of the switching circuits 74a and 74b. It is a switch control circuit. The switch circuit 74a is provided with three individual contacts P7, P8, P9, and one common contact Q1. The switch circuit 74b Has three individual contacts P 10, 11, 12 and one common contact Q 2. When the common contact Q1 is connected to the individual contact P7 and the common contact Q2 is connected to the individual contact P10, the drive voltage from the orientation transition drive circuit 71 is applied to the electrodes 62. , 63. When the common contact Q 1 is connected to the individual contact P 11 and the common contact Q 2 is connected to the individual contact P 4, the driving voltage from the liquid crystal display driving circuit 73 is reduced. That is, the voltage is applied to the electrodes 62 and 63.

Next, a driving method according to the fourth embodiment will be described.

First, prior to driving a liquid crystal display based on an original image signal, an initialization process is performed for transition to bend alignment. First, by turning on the power, The switch control circuit 75 outputs the switch switching signal to the switch circuit 74a, and also outputs the switch switching signal to the switch circuit 74b. Then, the common contact Q1 and the individual contact P7 are connected, and the common contact Q2 and the individual contact P10 are connected. As a result, the drive voltage shown in FIG. 14 is applied to the common electrode 62 from the orientation transition drive circuit 71. That is, the AC voltage synchronized with the vertical synchronizing signal, on which the noise voltage of 1 GV is superimposed with respect to the center of the common electrode, is applied to the common electrode 62. Note that 0 V is applied to the pixel electrode. Then, the application of the AC voltage is maintained for a period T4.

Next, when the AC voltage application period T4 elapses, the switch control circuit 75 outputs a switch switching signal to the switch circuit 74a, and switches the switch control circuit 75a. A switch switching signal is output to the switch circuit 74b, the common contact Q1 and the individual contact P9 are connected, and the common contact Q2 and the individual contact P12 are connected. You As a result, 0 V is applied to the common electrode 62 and the pixel electrode 63 from the alignment transition drive circuit 72 as shown in FIG. Then, the application of the 0 V voltage is maintained for the period W4.

Next, when the 0 V voltage application period W 4 has elapsed, the switch control circuit 75 outputs a switch switching signal to the switch circuit 74 a and switches the switch. A switch switching signal is output to the switch circuit 74b, and the common contact Q1 and the individual contact P7 are again connected, and the common contact Q2 and the individual contact P10 are connected again. . The alternating voltage application process and the 0 V voltage application process are alternately repeated, and after a certain period of time from power-on, the entire electrode completely transitions to the bend orientation. You

Then, after the elapse of this predetermined period, the switch control circuit 75 outputs a switch switching signal to the switch circuit 74a, and switches the switch circuit 74a. The switch switching signal is output to the path 74b, and the common contact Q1 and the individual contact P 8 and are connected, and the common contact Q2 and the individual contact P11 are connected. As a result, the drive signal voltage from the liquid crystal display drive circuit 73 is applied to the electrodes 62 and 63, and a desired image is displayed. Here, the liquid crystal display drive circuit 73 sets the drive voltage 2.7 V, which maintains the state of the bend orientation between both electrodes, to a minimum and turns it off, and sets the upper limit voltage Is set to 7 V, this is turned on, and the 0 CB ^1- cell is displayed.

According to the above driving method, a 0 CB active matrix type liquid crystal display device having a wide field of view and a high-speed response and a bend alignment type has no alignment defects. High quality driving display was achieved.

The cell gap is about, the nodal voltage G is 16 V, the frequency and amplitude of the alternating rectangular wave voltage are 7.92 kHz, ± 10 V, The application time T 3 was set to 0.5 seconds. Further, the 0 V voltage application period W 4 was set to 0.5 seconds.

According to the above experimental results, the directional transition in all the pixels of the liquid crystal display device could be completed within approximately 2 seconds.

Note that when no bias voltage was superimposed, it took about 20 seconds to transfer the orientation of the entire display surface. Therefore, it is recognized that, in the fourth embodiment as well, driving by superimposing the noisy voltage can shorten the transition time.

(Embodiment 5)

The drive method for the orientation transition of the active matrix type liquid crystal display device in the OCB mode includes the drive voltage waveform shown in Fig. 14 above. Alternatively, the driving may be performed using the driving voltage waveform shown in FIG. That is, in the AC voltage application period T4, a DC voltage of −15 V is applied to the common electrode 62 with respect to the center of the common electrode for 0.5 seconds. Next, in the 0 V voltage application period W4, 0 V is applied for 0.2 seconds. Then, the application of DC voltage—15 V and 0 V is alternately repeated. Even in such a driving method, the transfer can be completed reliably and in an extremely short time.

Incidentally, when the present inventor conducted an experiment using the above driving method, a transition time of 2 seconds or less was obtained.

(Embodiment 6)

In the sixth embodiment, instead of the active matrix type liquid crystal display device used in the fourth and fifth embodiments, a flat surface is provided on the switching element. The driving method according to Embodiments 4 and 5 is applied to a liquid crystal display device having a so-called flattened film structure in which a passivation film is arranged and a pixel electrode is formed thereon. It is something. Specifically, the driving method is as follows. The voltage for orientation transition in which the noise is superimposed in Embodiment 4 described above is applied for 0.5 seconds, and then the open state is obtained. Was set to 0.5 seconds, and this was repeated alternately. According to this driving method, the transition time was less than 1 second, and the transition was smoother. This is because the pixel electrode spacing can be reduced by the planarization film configuration, and as a result, the smooth transition from the spray orientation to the bend orientation occurs. Conceivable .

(Other matters)

① In the above embodiment, the AC voltage with the bias voltage superimposed is applied, but the DC voltage may be applied. In this case, the driving circuit can be simplified because a unipolar voltage is sufficient.

(2) In the above embodiment, the AC voltage signal on which the bias voltage is superimposed is Although the bias voltage has been described as DC, an AC signal with a low frequency may be used to improve reliability.

(3) The optimum range of the repetition voltage frequency and the duty ratio is determined according to the embodiment.

It can be applied to other embodiments other than 3.

In the above embodiment, the method of driving the liquid crystal display device of the invention has been described with reference to the transmission type liquid crystal display device, but a reflection type liquid crystal display device may be used. In addition, these may be a full-color type liquid crystal display device using a color filter or a liquid crystal display device of a color filter.

(Embodiment 7)

FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a schematic plan view similarly. The liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 16 includes a polarizing plate 101, a polarizing plate 101, a phase compensating plate 103 for optical compensation arranged inside the polarizing plate 101, and the polarizing plate 1. And an active matrix liquid crystal cell 104 disposed between the electrodes 101 and 102. The liquid crystal cell 104 has an array substrate 106 made of glass or the like, and an opposing substrate 105 opposing the array substrate 106. A pixel electrode 108 as a transparent electrode is formed on the inner surface of the laser substrate 106, and a common electrode 107 is formed on the inner surface of the counter substrate 105. Further, an alignment film 110 is formed on the pixel electrode 108, and an alignment film 109 is formed on the common electrode 107.

Further, on the array substrate 106, a switching element 111 composed of, for example, an a-Si type TFT element is disposed, and the switch is provided. The finger element 111 is connected to the pixel electrode 108.

A spacer (not shown) having a diameter of 5 micron and a nematic having a positive dielectric anisotropy are provided between the alignment films 109 and 110. A liquid crystal layer 112 made of a liquid crystal material is arranged. In addition, the alignment film 1 0 9- 110 is parallel-oriented in one direction so that the pretilt angles of the liquid crystal molecules on the surface have opposite values and are almost parallel to each other. The liquid crystal layer 112 forms a so-called spray alignment in which no liquid crystal molecules are obliquely spread in a state where no voltage is applied. The film 110 has an orientation film 110a having a large pretilt angle B2 (third pretilt angle) and a small value pretilt angle A2 ( It is made of an orientation film 11 Ob having a first (pretilt angle). Further, the alignment film 109 has an alignment film 109 a having a small pre-tilt angle D 2 (fourth pre-tilt angle) and a large-value pre-tilt angle. The orientation film 109 b having a tilt angle C 2 (second pretilt angle), and the pretilt angle C 2 is disposed so as to face the pretilt angle A 2; The pretilt angle D2 is arranged to face the pretilt angle B2.

The alignment films 109 and 110 are almost parallel to the signal electrode lines 113 in the rubbing cross direction and in the same direction at right angles to the upper and lower substrates (from left to right in FIG. 16). In addition, parallel orientation treatment is performed.

Although not shown, the liquid crystal display device is provided with a driving circuit for orientation transition including first voltage applying means and second voltage applying means in addition to the liquid crystal display driving circuit. Yes. Then, a first voltage is applied between the pixel electrode 108 and the common electrode 107 by the first voltage applying means.A first liquid crystal cell region and the second liquid crystal are applied. A disk line is formed in the vicinity of the boundary with the cell region, and the second voltage applying means forms a gap between the pixel electrode 108 and the counter electrode 107 by the second voltage applying means. A second voltage, which is higher than the first voltage, is applied to generate a transition nucleus in the disk-shaped line, and the vane shifts from the spray orientation. The transition to the do-orientation is made.

Next, a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device will be described.

First, signal scanning lines 113 and switches are placed on the inner surface of the array substrate 106. A pixel element 111 and a pixel electrode 108 were formed.

Next, a third pretilt having a large value of about 5 degrees of a polyamic acid type manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd. is provided on the pixel electrode 108. A polyimide alignment film material having a pretilt angle B 2 as a corner was applied, dried, and baked to form an alignment film 110 a on the pixel electrode 108.

Next, ultraviolet light is irradiated on the left side of the orientation film 110a on the paper surface to reduce the pretilt angle A2 as the first pretilt angle by about 2 degrees. The orientation value was changed to the above value, and an orientation film 110b was formed.

A common electrode 107 was formed on the inner surface of the counter substrate 105.

Next, on the common electrode 107, a second pretilt having a large value of about 5 degrees of a polyamic acid type manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd. A polyimide alignment film material for imparting a pretilt angle C 2 as an angle to interfacial liquid crystal molecules is applied, dried and fired, and the alignment film is formed on the common electrode 107. b formed.

Next, ultraviolet light is applied to a region on one side of the alignment film 109b on the right side on the paper surface (a region facing the pretilt angle B2 having a large pretilt angle). By changing the pretilt angle D 2 as a pretilt angle of 4 to a small value of about 2 degrees, an alignment film 109 a was formed.

As described above, a large pre-tilt angle is opposed to a small pre-tilt angle A 2 (first pre-tilt angle) as shown in FIG. Arrange the angle C 2 (second pre-tilt angle) and set the small value opposite the pre-tilt angle B 2 (third pre-tilt angle). The pre-tilt angle D 2 (the fourth pre-tilt angle) could be set.

It is also possible to control the pre-tilt angle as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 18 (a), a—S is placed on the array substrate 106. An active matrix type switching element (not shown) consisting of an i-type TFT element and the like, and a pixel electrode 108 are formed by being connected to the active matrix type switching element (not shown). did .

Next, as shown in FIG. 18 (b), the left area of the pixel electrode 108 is irradiated with ultraviolet light in an ozone atmosphere, and compared with the right area of the pixel electrode 108. Then, a flattened region 108 a was formed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 18 (c), a polyimide type polyimid alignment material of JSR Co. is applied onto the pixel electrode 108 and dried or fired. Thus, an alignment film 110 was formed.

When formed in this way, the liquid crystal molecules 140 located on the flattened region 108 a of the pixel electrode 108 have a pretilt angle of the unflattened region 108 b. The value can be smaller than the pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecule 140 located at. Further, by performing the same processing for the common electrode, the first liquid crystal cell region and the second liquid crystal cell region are similarly formed as in FIG. A liquid crystal display device within the same pixel can be obtained.

Next, as shown in FIG. 16, the alignment film 109 and the surface of the alignment film 110 formed so as to give a large or small pretilt angle to each other are rubbed. By using a crossing technique, the upper and lower substrates are parallel-oriented in a direction perpendicular to the signal electrode wires 113 (from left to right in Fig. 16), and the positive nematic material is used. A liquid crystal layer 112 made of a liquid crystal material is disposed.

In the liquid crystal display device thus prepared, the orientation source of the pixel electrode 108 (upstream side in the rubbing direction) is small. The angle A 2 has a large pretilt angle C 2 on the opposite side, and is located in the (I) area (first liquid crystal cell area) of the pixel in FIG. Is 2.5 V as a first voltage between the common electrode 10 Ί and the pixel electrode 108. Is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a spray direction on the array substrate 106 side, and the b-spray orientation 120 is positioned in the (II) region of the pixel (the second liquid crystal). In the cell region), a t-spray orientation 122 in which liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a spray orientation on the counter substrate 105 side is easily formed.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the switching element 111 of the liquid crystal cell 104 passes between the common electrode 107 and the pixel electrode 108 through the switching element 111. When a first voltage of 2.5 V is applied to the pixel, the b-spray alignment region (first liquid crystal cell region) and the t-spray alignment region (first Liquid crystal cell region 2) is formed, and a disc line line 123 is formed at the boundary along the signal electrode line 113 and the gate electrode line 114. And the pixel electrode is formed clearly between the common electrode 107 and the pixel electrode 108 (the step of forming a disk line line). By repeatedly applying a pulse of 15 V as the second voltage, the discretion line 1 2 as shown in Fig. 17 is used. Metastasis nuclei from 3 As a result, the transfer orientation expanded to the bend orientation 124, and the entire TFT panel pixel was quickly transferred in about 3 seconds (direction transfer process).

This means that the energy of distortion is higher in the region of the disk line, which is the boundary between the b-spray alignment state and the t-spray alignment region, than in the surrounding area. In this state, a high voltage is applied between the upper and lower electrodes, so that more energy is given and the spray orientation is the bend orientation. It is considered that the metastasis has occurred.

(Embodiment 8)

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention.

During normal display, the gate electrode lines are turned on and scanned line-sequentially, but before normal display, the gate electrode lines are turned on sequentially and the common electrode 10 is turned on. By repeatedly applying a voltage of 15 V as a second voltage between the pixel electrode 108 and the pixel electrode 108, the pixel electrode 108 and the gate electrode line are applied. A transverse electric field due to the potential difference is generated at 1 of 114 and 114 ′. Then, due to the transverse electric field, as shown in FIG. 19, a transition nucleus is generated from the vicinity of the disk line 123 and the gate electrode lines 114, 114. Then, it was transferred and expanded to bend alignment, and the entire TFT panel pixel was further quickly expanded to bend alignment in about 1 second (alignment transfer process).

This is because the discrimination line region, which is the boundary between the b-spray orientation state and the t-spray orientation region, is more distorted than the surrounding area. In this state, a horizontal electric field is also applied to the above-mentioned discrimination line from the gate electrode line arranged horizontally. It is considered that more energy was given by this and the metastasis was quicker. After the transfer is completed, the gate electrode lines 114, 114 return to the normal scanning state.

Note that the second voltage applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode may be applied continuously. When a pulsed voltage is applied repeatedly, the frequency is in the range of 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz, and the duty of the second voltage is applied. The effect of accelerating the transition can be obtained at least in the range of 1: 1 to 10000: 1.

(Other matters)

In the seventh and eighth embodiments, the pretilt angle D 2 of the orientation destination region of the common electrode is set to a small value, but may be set to a large value. In addition, the pretilt angle B2 in the region where the pixel electrode is oriented is set to a large value, but the value is small because the horizontal field causes the t-spray orientation. The effect can also be obtained.

In addition, the pretilt angle C2 of the opposite side is set to 5 degrees with respect to the pretilt angle A2 of one substrate side of 2 degrees, but if the ratio is large, the transition occurs. time This has the effect of shortening and can further increase the transit time.

Further, in the above, the value of the smaller pretilt angle A 2 was set to 2 degrees, but the b-spray orientation was performed and the transition to the bend orientation was facilitated. For example, it is sufficient that the small values of the pre-tilt angles A 2 and D 2 are 3 degrees or less, and the pre-tilt angles B 2 and C 2 of the large teeth are It should be at least 4 degrees. In addition, although the orientation processing was performed in the same direction as the upper and lower substrates in a direction perpendicular to the signal electrode wires 113, the orientation was perpendicular to the gate electrode wires 114 (immediately). That is, the upper and lower substrates may be parallel-aligned in the same direction (perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 16). At that time, the location where the disk line is formed is different.

Further, if the direction of the parallel alignment processing is shifted from the direction perpendicular to the electrode line along the pixel electrode by, for example, about 2 degrees, a direction is formed in the pixel. Since a transverse electric field is applied obliquely from the electrodes to the displaced screen lines, a twisting force is applied to the liquid crystal molecules that are aligned in the display, and the bend alignment is applied. The transition to the liquid crystal display device is facilitated, and the liquid crystal display device is surely fast in the transition.

Note that the first voltage may be any voltage that is higher than the voltage that can form a disk line. Further, although the second voltage is applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, the second voltage may be applied to the common electrode.

In addition, although a polyimide material was used as the alignment film material, other materials such as a single molecular film material may be used.

In other liquid crystal display devices, for example, the substrate can be formed from a plastic substrate. Alternatively, one of the substrates may be formed from a reflective substrate, for example, made of silicon.

(Embodiment 9)

In the present embodiment, the signal electrode lines and the pixel electrodes, and the gate electrode lines and the pixel electrodes are formed with concave and convex shapes that are fitted to each other. FIGS. 20 and 21 conceptually show the main parts of the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment.

This figure shows the pixels of an active matrix type OCB mode liquid crystal display device viewed from above the display surface (user side).

In FIG. 20, reference numeral 206 denotes a signal electrode line (nosline).

Reference numeral 07 denotes a gate electrode line, and reference numeral 208 denotes a switching transistor (element).

In the figure, the signal electrode line 206 and the gate electrode line 207 cross each other, but both electrode lines are three-dimensionally arranged via an insulating film (not shown). It goes without saying.

A switching transistor 208 formed of TFT is connected to a pixel electrode 202a having a substantially square shape in the figure. The functions, operations, and functions of the signal electrode line 206, the gate electrode line 207, the switching transistor 208, and the pixel electrode 202a are the OBC mode. There is no difference from conventional liquid crystal display devices as well as the LCD.

In addition, since the liquid crystal molecules 211 are first aligned in a splay manner, the upper and lower alignment films 203a and 203b are formed by using a rubbing cross or the like. The same goes for the processing.

In addition to the action of the polarizing plates 204a and 204b, etc., a bend in which the liquid crystal molecules are brought into a bend alignment state between the opposing substrates from the spray alignment state in the pixel. The same is true for displaying light and dark by the action of transferring the entire liquid crystal molecules in the pixel to the alignment region.

However, as shown in FIG. 20 (a), the recesses 22 1a and the protrusions are provided at the approximate center of each side of the substantially square pixel electrode 202a. 2 2 a has been formed. On the other hand, the signal electrode wire 206 and the gate electrode wire 206 which are routed in close proximity to the above are formed by the concave portions 22 1 a and the convex portions. The wiring is deformed into a convex portion 26 1 · 27 1 and a concave portion 26 22. 72 2 so as to fit into 22 2 a. For this reason, a deformed lateral electric field application part for exciting the transition should be formed above and below the pixel electrode 202a and in the left and right positions (on the paper surface in Fig. 20 (a)). This is different from the conventional liquid crystal display device.

On the pixel electrode 202a surface including the horizontal electric field application part and the common electrode 202b surface, about 5 degrees of Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd. polyamic acid type Polyimide with a pre-tilt angle of large size is coated and dried and baked, and the alignment film is placed on the liquid crystal layer 210 side of each electrode surface. Formed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 20 (a), the surfaces of the alignment films 203 a and 203 b are almost perpendicular to the signal electrode lines 206 as shown in FIG. 20 (a). Orientation treatment.

Based on the above, a liquid crystal layer 210 was formed by vacuum-injecting a positive nematic liquid crystal material between the upper and lower substrates.

For this reason, although not shown, on the surfaces of the upper and lower alignment films 203 a and 203 b, the liquid crystal molecules 211 have opposite pretilt angles of the positive and negative angles. However, the molecules are oriented so that the directions of the axes are almost parallel to each other, and the liquid crystal layer 210 spreads obliquely with no voltage applied. It becomes a spray orientation.

Next, the operation of the liquid crystal display device for displaying will be described.

Based on the above, it is possible to repeatedly apply a relatively high pulse voltage of −15 V in the liquid crystal field between the common electrode 202 b and the pixel electrode 202 a. At the same time, the gate electrode line 207 is set to a normal scanning state or a state in which almost all the gate electrodes are turned on. As a result, the horizontal electric field Thus, a stronger horizontal electric field than the surrounding normal electric field is applied between the gate electrode line 207, the signal electrode line 206 and the pixel electrode 202a. As a result, when rubbing is performed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the signal electrode line 206 in the spray alignment region in the pixel region, the gate electrode line 207 and the pixel electrode 2 A transition nucleus to bend alignment is generated in the liquid crystal layer 29 9 from the horizontal electric field application portion between 0 2 a as a base point. In addition, as shown in FIG. 21, when rubbing is performed in a direction orthogonal to the gate electrode line 207, the signal electrode line 206 and the pixel electrode 202 are mainly A transition nucleus to bend alignment is generated in the liquid crystal layer 298 based on the horizontal electric field application portion between a.

Furthermore, the bend alignment region was expanded based on this transition nucleus, and as a result, the entire pixel region was able to complete the bend alignment in about 0.5 seconds. .

In addition, the entire TFT cell rapidly translocated in about 2 seconds.

In this mechanism, when a high voltage is applied between the upper and lower electrodes, the liquid crystal layer 210 enters the b-spray orientation state as shown in FIG. 20 (b). Then, the energy of the strain becomes higher than that of the surroundings, and a transverse electric field is applied almost perpendicularly (in the direction perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 20 (b)) from the transverse electric field application part to the liquid crystal molecule alignment state direction. Therefore, it is considered that the liquid crystal molecules on the lower substrate side in the b-spray orientation in FIG. 20 (b) receive the twisting force and the generation of transition nuclei occurs. available .

In the above description, the horizontal electric field applying portion is formed such that the pixel electrode portion deformed into a concave and concave portion and the concave and convex portions of both signal electrode wires are fitted to each other. However, as shown in FIG. 22, it is of course possible to form only the pixel electrode 202 a, the signal electrode wire 206, and the gate electrode wire 207 only. It is.

In other words, in this figure, the projections 2 63 of the signal electrode wire 206, the projections 2 73 of the gate electrode wire 2 07, and the projections 2 2 3 of the pixel electrode 202 a are shown. a. 2 24a is different from the one shown in Fig. 20 in that only one of them is provided and it is not a fitting type.

Further, the planar shape of the concave and convex portions is a shape other than the triangular shape and the square shape shown in FIGS. 20 to 22, for example, a trapezoidal shape, a semicircular shape, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, and the like. Of course, it is good.

Further, in FIGS. 20 to 22, the horizontal electric field application section is provided at a total of four powers at the top, bottom, left, and right of one pixel, but depending on the size of the pixel, etc. In addition, only one or only one electrode may be provided, and it goes without saying that concaves and convexes may be continuously formed along the electrode edge. Up to now, the rubbing direction has been assumed to be almost orthogonal to the signal electrode wire or the gate electrode wire, but even if the rubbing direction is oblique. Good. In this case, a transition occurs from the liquid crystal layer in the horizontal electric field applying portion between the signal and the gate electrode line and the pixel electrode to the bend alignment. In addition, at least one horizontal electric field application unit capable of applying a horizontal electric field in a direction substantially orthogonal to the rubbing direction is provided for each pixel. And are desirable.

Since FIGS. 20 to 22 are plan views, both electrode lines (signal electrode line 206 and gate electrode line 207) and pixel electrode 202a are the same. Although it appears to be on one plane, at least one of the electrode lines may be arranged at a different height from the pixel electrode on the array substrate.

As described above, the horizontal electric field applying portion consisting of the electrode deformed portion in which a part of the periphery of the pixel electrode is deformed concave and convex in a plane parallel to the substrate surface is 0.5 to 1 in plan view. The projections of the signal electrode lines or the gate electrode lines present on the side of the horizontal electric field application part are separated by about 0.5 to about 1 Ο ππ, so that the concave parts are recessed by about πι. Generates a transverse electric field.

(Embodiment 10)

In the present embodiment, an electrode wire for applying a horizontal electric field is provided. Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

(A) of this figure is a plan view seen from the upper surface of the substrate. (B) is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device in a plane parallel to the gate electrode line 2007.

In (a) and (b) of this figure, reference numeral 209 denotes an electric wire laid almost exclusively under the signal electrode wire 206 on the array substrate 20 la for exclusive application of a lateral electric field. . Reference numeral 212 denotes a transparent insulating film for insulating the horizontal electric field application line 209 from the signal electrode line 206, the gate electrode line 207, and the like. Therefore, when this pixel is viewed from above (in the direction of the user perpendicular to the display surface), as shown in Fig. 23 (a), the horizontal electric field is located at the left and right central parts of the pixel. The triangular projection 291 of the application wire 209 in a plan view protrudes to the side of the signal electrode wire 206. The signal electrode lines 206 and the pixel electrodes 202a are not different from those of the prior art.

The horizontal electric field applying line 209 is connected to a drive circuit to which the signal electrode line 206 or the gate electrode line 207 is connected. The line 209 is configured so as to be cut off from the drive circuit during normal liquid crystal display after the alignment transition.

Further, the horizontal electric field applying line 209 is used as an upper signal electrode line with respect to the signal electrode line 206, and is provided close to the pixel electrode via a transparent insulating film, and the horizontal electric field applying line 209 is provided. The effect may be increased and, at the same time, the connection may be made electrically by a contact hole (not shown) in the transparent insulating film. In this case, since there are two signal electrode wires, there is also an effect that the redundancy is increased and the electric resistance is reduced.

That is, as shown in FIG. 23 (c), the horizontal electric field applying wire 209a is provided directly above the signal electrode wire 206 via the transparent insulating film 213. . It is the same that there is a triangular convex portion 291a at the center of the pixel in plan view. FIG. 23D shows another example of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the horizontal electric field application wire 209b is covered with the flattened transparent insulating film 221b, and the signal electrode is placed under the dedicated line 209b. The line 206 is covered with the flattening transparent insulating film 211c, and the pixel electrode 202a is provided on the flattening transparent insulating film 211b. It is the same that there is a triangular convex portion 2991b at the center of the pixel.

Also, in the figure, the protruding part of this dedicated line for applying a horizontal electric field is triangular, but this is done by continuously providing protruding parts on all parts facing the pixel electrode. Needless to say, it may have a three-dimensional structure, such as having a convex portion projecting upward.

In addition, the dedicated line for applying the horizontal electric field may be provided directly below or directly above the gate electrode line instead of the signal electrode line. Further, it may be provided immediately below both electrode wires.

(Embodiment 11)

In the present embodiment, at least one notch is formed in the pixel electrode to form a defective portion.

FIG. 24 conceptually shows a plane and features of a pixel unit of the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the pixel electrode 202a made of an ITO film is, for example, a few m wide and is removed by etching to form a planar-shaped electrode in a crank shape. Defective part 225 is formed.

In addition, on the pixel electrode 202a including the electrode defective portion 225 and the common electrode surface (not shown), a polymixer manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd. is provided. A polyimide alignment film material having a pretilt angle of about 5 degrees of the citrate type is applied, dried and baked to form an alignment film (not shown), and further formed. These surfaces are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the gate electrode line 207 by rubbing cross, so that the pretilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules is positive. The same as in the ninth and tenth embodiments, they have negative values and are oriented in parallel in the same direction so that they are almost parallel to each other. is there . Therefore, the liquid crystal layer forms a so-called spray-aligned liquid crystal cell consisting of a so-called alignment region in which liquid crystal molecules spread obliquely under no voltage application. Is the same.

However, when a voltage of 15 V or a voltage of 15 V is repeatedly applied between the common electrode and the pixel electrode of the pixel before the display and the common electrode, a voltage of 15 V is applied repeatedly. When the gate electrode is in a normal scanning state or in a state in which almost all of the gate electrodes are turned on, an electrode defect part 22 25 exists in each pixel. ), An oblique horizontal electric field 280 with strong distortion is generated at the edge of the electrode defect portion 225.

For this reason, the splay alignment in the pixel region causes a transition nucleus to the bend alignment in the liquid crystal layer 299 of the electrode defect part 22 25, and further this bend alignment occurs. The alignment region expands and completes the entire pixel region to bend alignment in about 0.5 seconds. In addition, the entire TFT cell rapidly transitions in about 2 seconds.

This is because a strong horizontal electric field is applied to the horizontal electric field application part consisting of the electrode defect part 225, and the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of this are oriented horizontally on the substrate surface, so-called b-s. In the plane orientation state, the energy of the strain is higher than the surrounding area, and a high voltage is applied between the upper and lower electrodes in this state. It is considered that energy is given, and as a result, a transition nucleus is generated in the electrode defect portion 225, and the bend orientation region is expanded.

In FIG. 24, one electrode defect portion 225 having a crank shape in a plan view is formed. However, it is needless to say that two or more electrode defect portions may be formed.

The shape may be a straight line, a square, a circle, an ellipse, or even a square, as a matter of course.

Further, the electrode defective portion 225 may be formed on the common electrode side. Further, it goes without saying that it may be formed on both the pixel electrode and the common electrode.

(Embodiment 12)

In the present embodiment, a region having a different tilt angle is previously formed in the pixel plane in addition to the generation of the lateral electric field. .

FIG. 25 conceptually shows the configuration and features of the pixel unit of the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment. (A) of this figure is a cross-sectional view of a pixel in a direction parallel to the gate electrode line, and it is the same pixel. However, the left (I) and the right (II) show a tilt. The angle is different.

FIG. 25 (b) is a plan view of the pixel as viewed from above (user side), and has concave and convex portions 22 1a · 22 2a on the top, bottom, left and right of the pixel electrode 202a Are provided, and furthermore, at the corresponding positions of the signal electrode wire 206 and the gate electrode wire 207, the concave and convex portions 22 1 a and 22 2 a are fitted together. Concave and convex portions 26 1 · 2 6 2. · 27 1 · 27 2 are provided and, like Embodiment 7 described above, the first voltage of 2.5 V is applied. By applying the voltage, a discretion line 226 is formed at the boundary between (I) and (II) in FIG. 25 (a).

Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment will be described. On the opposing inner surface of the substrate of the active matrix type liquid crystal cell, an alignment film 203 am '203 bm is formed, respectively. 0 3 am · 203 bm is due to the fact that the liquid crystal layer 210 is treated to form a spray alignment in the absence of a voltage, and the pixel electrode 202 a and the like. The formation of a transverse electric field application part for transfer excitation on the gate electrode line 207 and the like wired close to each other is the same as in the first embodiment. However, the treatment of the alignment film is different. In other words, in FIG. 25 (a), the polyamic acid type manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd. is placed on the pixel electrode 202a including the horizontal electric field application section. A pretilt angle having a large value of about 5 degrees; a polyimide alignment film material of B 2 is applied, dried and fired to form an alignment film 203 am.

Next, only the left side region 203 ah of the alignment film 203 am, that is, only the one shown in (I) is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and the pretilt angle E 2 is about 2.degree. It changes to an alignment film with a small value.

On the other hand, on the opposite substrate 20 lb, a large pre-tilt angle of about 5 degrees of a polyamic acid type manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd. was used. A polyimide alignment film material for imparting F 2 to interfacial liquid crystal molecules is applied and dried and baked to form an alignment film 203 bh on the common electrode 202 b.

Next, only the side of the right side of the orientation film 203 bh of 2.03 bm, that is, only the side shown in (II) was irradiated with ultraviolet rays to obtain a pretilt angle D 2 of about 2 degrees. It changes to an alignment film with a small value.

In this way, as shown in (I) of FIG. 25 (a), the pretilt of the small value of the alignment film 203 ah on the left half of the array substrate 201a is performed. A pretilt angle F2 having a large value of the alignment film 203bh on the left half of the opposite substrate 201b on the opposite side of the angle E2 is arranged, as shown in (II). Array substrate side 21 1a Right-half alignment film 203 Opposite to large value of pretilt angle B2 of 203 am Counter substrate 201 1b Right-half alignment film 203b side Pletole angle D2 with small value of bm is arranged.

Furthermore, the surface of the orientation film thus formed, which gives a large and small pretilt angle to each other, is shown by a rubbing cross in Fig. 25 (b). Then, the upper and lower substrates were processed in parallel in the same direction in a direction substantially orthogonal to the signal electrode 6. It is then filled with a positive nematic liquid crystal material and The liquid crystal layer 210 was arranged.

Under the above, a small pre-tilt angle E 2 is opposed to the pre-tilt angle E 2 in the orientation source of the pixel electrode 202 a (toward the root of the rubbing). A large pre-tilt angle F2 is arranged on the side of the substrate, and the liquid crystal molecules are sprayed on the lower substrate side in the area indicated by (I) of the pixel in FIG. 25 (a). Oriented b-spray orientation 2 227 In the region indicated by (II) in the pixel, the t-spray orientation 2 in which the liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a spray orientation on the upper substrate side 27 t becomes easier to form.

Next, when a voltage of 2.5 V near the critical transition voltage is applied between the opposing electrodes through the switching transistor 208 of the liquid crystal cell, For this reason, a b-spray alignment region and a t-spray alignment region are formed in the same pixel, and a discretion line 22 6 is formed at the boundary between these regions. It was formed clearly along the electrode line 206 and over the gate electrode line 207.

A pulse of 15 V was repeatedly applied between the common electrode and the pixel electrode of this pixel. As a result, as shown in FIG. 25 (b), the transition nuclei are formed from the discretion line 22 and the liquid crystal layer 299 near the horizontal electric field application part. Then, the transition to the bend alignment region spread, and the entire TFT panel pixel rapidly transitioned in about 1 second.

This is because the delineation line 226, which is the boundary between the b-spray orientation state and the t-spray orientation area, has a more distorted energy than the surrounding area. The energy is high, and in addition to this condition, twisting occurs in the spray orientation due to the transverse electric field generated in the transverse electric field application part, and the transition is likely to occur. Therefore, it is considered that a high voltage was applied between the upper and lower electrodes, and energy was further applied to cause a band transition.

As described above, the present invention has been described based on some embodiments. Of course, the present invention is not limited to these. That is, for example, you can do the following.

1) The voltage applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode is continuous or intermittent.

2) When high voltage pulses are applied repeatedly, the frequency is 0.

The transition is in the range of 1 Hz to 100 Hz and the duty ratio of the second voltage is at least in the range of 1: 1 to 100: 1. Select a value that speeds up.

3) The substrate to be used is made of plastic, and an organic conductive film is used as the electrode.

4) One of the substrates is formed of a reflective substrate, for example, silicon, or a reflective substrate made of a reflective electrode such as aluminum. To form a reflection type liquid crystal display device.

5) A means such as providing a projection for generating a horizontal electric field on the pixel electrode and the common electrode is also used.

6) In place of spherical glass or silica that keeps both substrates constant, a projection is formed for that purpose, and the projection has a function of aligning liquid crystal molecules. And other means are also used.

7) The protrusion of 6) is also used as the protrusion for generating a lateral electric field.

8) The shape of the pixel electrode is not square but rectangular or triangular.

9) The pixels are divided into regions with different liquid crystal orientations, not two, but three or four.

10) In order to make the pretilt angle larger or smaller, a means such as changing the surface state of the transparent electrode with a 0.22 asher or the like and forming an alignment film on the transparent electrode is used. We have adopted it. (Embodiment 13)

FIG. 26 is an external view of a configuration of a liquid crystal cell used for the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 13; FIGS. 27 and 28 illustrate production of a convex-shaped object. Part of the manufacturing process to do so.

A PC-based resist material manufactured by JSR Corporation is applied on the glass substrate 308 to form a resist thin film having a thickness of 1 // m. Next, the resist thin film 320 is passed through a photomask 321, which is provided with an opening 322 of a rectangular pattern, and is irradiated with collimated ultraviolet light 323. Irradiation exposure. The resist thin film 320 exposed to parallel light was developed, rinsed, and prebaked at 90 ° C, and the cross section was convex as shown in Figure 28. The object 310 is formed.

Next, an ITO electrode 7 was formed into a film of 200 OA on the substrate according to a standard method, to obtain a glass substrate with electrodes 308. Then, a glass substrate 301 having a transparent electrode 302 and a glass substrate on which the above-mentioned convex object is formed are formed on an alignment film made by Nissan Chemical Industries. Paint SE-74942 is applied by the spin coating method, and cured in a thermostat at 180 ° C for 1 hour to form orientation films 303 and 306. After that, rubbing treatment is performed in the direction shown in Fig. 29 using a laying cloth made of Rayon, and the water is made by Sekisui Fine Chemical Co., Ltd. Using spacer 5 and Structo-Pond 352A (trade name of seal resin manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals Co., Ltd.), the distance between substrates was 6.5 m. The liquid crystal cell 309 (referred to as liquid crystal cell A) was created.

At this time, the rubbing treatment was performed so that the liquid crystal pretilt angle at the interface of the alignment film was about 5 degrees.

Next, the liquid crystal MJ964335 (refractive index anisotropy Δη = 0.138) was injected into the liquid crystal cell by the vacuum injection method to obtain a test cell A.

Next, the polarization axis of test cell A is changed to the direction of the rubbing treatment of the orientation film. And a polarizer so that their polarization axes are perpendicular to each other, and print a 7 V square wave! When the transition from the spray orientation to the bend orientation was observed, the entire electrode region transitioned from the spray orientation to the bend region in about 5 seconds. .

The liquid crystal layer thickness is smaller and the electric field strength is effectively larger in the region where the convex-shaped object 310 is formed than in the surrounding liquid crystal layer region. Is surely generated. The generated bend orientation quickly spreads to other regions.

In short, a reliable and fast spray-pend transition can be achieved.

It goes without saying that the convex shape may have a trapezoidal shape, a triangular shape, or a semi-circular shape in addition to the rectangular shape as in the present embodiment.

As a comparative example, a spray-aligned liquid crystal cell was formed in a similar process except that a glass substrate with a transparent electrode having no convex portion 310 was used. Test cell R was prepared by enclosing liquid crystal MJ964335. When a 7 V square wave was applied to this test cell R, the time required for all electrode regions to transition from the spray orientation to the pendent region was 42 seconds. Thus, the effect of the present invention is clear.

(Embodiment 14)

FIG. 30 is a configuration external view of a liquid crystal cell used for the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 14, and FIG. 31 is a plan view thereof. FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X 1 —X 1 of FIG. 31. Embodiment 14 is characterized in that the convex-shaped object 310 is provided on the transparent electrode 307a formed outside the display pixel region. Hereinafter, the manufacturing procedure will be described.

A glass substrate 301 having a transparent electrode 302 and a glass substrate 300 formed with a convex shape are coated with an alignment film paint SE—7 manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd. 492 is applied by a spin coating method, and is cured in an oven at 180 ° C. for 1 hour to form alignment films 303, 306, and 306 a. Then, using a Rayon rubbing cloth, rubbing treatment is performed in the direction shown in Fig. 29, and Sekisui Fine Chemical Co., Ltd. The distance between the substrates is 6.5 m by using the SA 5 and the Struct Pond 3 52 A (trade name of seal resin manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc.). Then, a liquid crystal cell (referred to as liquid crystal cell B) was created.

Next, a liquid crystal MJ964335 (refractive index anisotropy Δη = 0.138) was injected into the liquid crystal cell by a vacuum injection method.

Next, the liquid crystal cell is polarized so that its polarization axis forms an angle of 45 degrees with the rubbing direction of the alignment film, and the polarization axes of the liquid crystal cell and the liquid crystal cell are perpendicular to each other. When the plates were bonded together and a 7 V rectangular wave was applied to observe the transition from the spray orientation to the bend orientation, the entire electrode area was spray-arranged in about 7 seconds. It moved to the bend region from the opposite direction.

In the present embodiment, a convex portion is provided outside the display pixel area to cause generation of a bend transition nucleus outside the display pixel area. However, the generated bend orientation is different from that of the display pixel area. It was confirmed that it spread quickly into the display pixel area from the outside.

Between the display pixel area and the electrode area for bend nucleation, there is an area to which no electric field is applied (no electrode section), but if it is a small area, The bend orientation evolves beyond this region.

(Embodiment 15)

FIG. 32 is a structural external view of a liquid crystal cell used for the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 15, and FIGS. 27, 28, and 33 show convex shapes. It is part of the manufacturing process to explain the fabrication.

On a glass substrate 308, a PC-based resist material manufactured by JSR Corporation is applied to form a resist thin film having a thickness of l m. Next, the resist thin film 320 is passed through a photomask 321, which is provided with an opening 322 of a rectangular pattern, and is irradiated with collimated ultraviolet rays 323. Irradiation exposure. The resist thin film 20 exposed to parallel light is developed and rinsed, pre-baked at 90 ° C, and has a convex cross section as shown in Fig. 28. Next, the object 310 is formed. Then, a postbaking is performed at 150 ° C. or higher, which is equal to or higher than the glass transition point of the resist thin film material, so that the shoulder of the convex object 310 is formed. It is manufactured by a process of inclining it in the forward direction and forming its cross-sectional shape in a mountain shape as shown in FIG.

Next, an ITO electrode was formed to a thickness of 2000 A on the substrate according to a conventional method to form a glass substrate with electrodes 308. After that, the glass substrate 301 having the transparent electrode 302 and the glass substrate 300 formed with the above-mentioned convex-shaped object are formed on the Nissan Chemical Industries distribution film. Paint SE — 7492 is applied by the spin coating method, and it is cured at 180 ° C for 1 hour in a thermostatic oven to form orientation films 303 and 306. After that, rubbing treatment is performed in the direction shown in Fig. 29 using a laying cloth made of Rayon to make a product made by Sekisui Fine Chemical Co., Ltd. The distance between the substrates is 6.5 mm by using the spacer 305 and the Stroke Bond 352 A (trade name of seal resin manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc.). The liquid crystal cell 309 (let's call it liquid crystal cell C) was created.

At this time, a rubbing treatment was performed so that the liquid crystal pretilt angle at the interface of the alignment film was about 5 degrees.

Next, the liquid crystal MJ 964 335 (refractive index anisotropy Δη = 0.138) was injected into the liquid crystal cell C by a vacuum injection method to obtain a test cell C. Next, in the test cell c, the polarization axis forms an angle of 45 degrees with the rubbing direction of the alignment film, and the polarization axes of the test cells c are orthogonal to each other. When a 7 V square wave was applied and the transition from the spray orientation to the bend orientation was observed, the entire electrode area was sprayed in about 7 seconds. The orientation shifted to the bend region. .

In this test cell C, the electric field is concentrated at the above-mentioned triangular tip, and the bend orientation is generated from this portion. In addition, the upper part of the triangular object 60 has a rubbing part and a rubbing part by the rubbing treatment. As a result, the sign of the liquid crystal pretilt angle is as a result. The opposite area is created. Immediately in the vicinity of the above-mentioned convex portion, the liquid crystal director is horizontal to the substrate surface, and this also contributes to the high-speed spray-to-bend transition. It seems to be.

In the present embodiment, the electric field concentration portion is provided in the pixel region. However, the same effect was observed when the electric field concentration portion was provided outside the pixel region. Further, in this embodiment, the central portion of the electric field concentrator is provided only on one side of the substrate, but it is needless to say that it may be provided on both sides of the substrate.

(Embodiment 16)

FIG. 34 is an external view of the configuration of a liquid crystal cell used in the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 16, and FIG. 35 is a glass substrate 30 used in this embodiment. Electrode No. 2 indicates "turn."

On two glass substrates 301, 308 having a transparent electrode 302 having an opening 380 and a transparent electrode 307 having no opening. Was coated with Nissan Kagaku Kogyo coating film SE-74492 by the spin coating method, and cured in a thermostat at 180 ° C for 1 hour. To form 106. After that, using a Rayon rubbing cloth, rubbing treatment was performed in the direction shown in Fig. 29, and a spacer made by Sekisui Fine Chemical Co., Ltd. was used. 3 0 5, The substrate spacing was set to 6.5 mm using Strand Bond 352A (trade name of a sealing resin manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc.). By pasting together, a liquid crystal cell 309 (liquid crystal cell D) was created.

Next, the liquid crystal MJ964335 (refractive index anisotropy Δη = 0.138) was injected into the liquid crystal cell D by the vacuum injection method to obtain a test cell D.

Next, the polarizing plates are bonded so that the polarization axis forms an angle of 45 degrees with the rubbing direction of the alignment film, and the polarization axes of the polarizing plates are orthogonal to each other. The transition from the spray orientation to the bend orientation was observed while applying a voltage.

In this test cell D, 2 V, 30Η, square wave is applied to the glass substrate 8 side electrode, and 7 V, 30Η, square wave is applied to the glass substrate 1 side electrode. When applied, the time required for all electrode regions to transition from the spray orientation to the pendent region was 5 seconds, and extremely fast bend transition was realized. . In this embodiment, a voltage of 5 V (= 7 V-2 V) is applied to the liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the two electrodes, but the liquid crystal layer at the electrode opening is not applied. An effective voltage of 7 V (= 7 V-0 V) is applied, and therefore, the electric field strength in the liquid crystal layer at the electrode opening is reduced by the electric field strength of the surrounding liquid crystal layer. It is larger than the strength. As a result, bend alignment occurs in the liquid crystal layer area at the electrode opening, and this is used as a transition nucleus to propagate the bend transition area to all the electrode areas.

In the present embodiment, the shape of the opening is rectangular, but it goes without saying that other shapes such as a circle and a triangle may be used.

(Embodiment 17) ''

FIG. 36 shows a liquid crystal cell used for the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 17. FIG. 37 is an enlarged view of a part of the main part of the tool. In this liquid crystal cell, a pixel switching element 380, a signal electrode line 381, and a gate signal line (not shown) are formed on a glass substrate 308. A flattening film 382 is formed to cover the switching element 380, the signal electrode line 381, and the gate signal line. A display electrode 307 is formed on the flattening film 382, and the display electrode 307 and the switching element 380 are connected to the flattening film 380. It is electrically connected via a relay electrode 384 that passes through a contact hole 380 that opens to 822. As shown in FIG. 37, the relay electrode 384 has a concave portion 384 a at the upper opening side of the contact hole 383 as shown in FIG. An opening is formed in the display electrode 307 by such a concave portion 384 a, and electric field concentration occurs near the concave portion 384 a. It is possible to make it. Thus, the transit time can be shortened.

(Embodiment 18)

FIG. 38 is an external view of the configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment 18. The main axis of the test cell D created in the embodiment 16 is arranged in a hybrid array. Also, retarders 312 and 315 made of an optical medium having negative refractive index anisotropy, negative uniaxial retarders 311 and 314, positive uniaxial retarders 3 19, polarizing plates 313 and 316 were bonded together in the arrangement shown in FIG. 39 to complete a liquid crystal display device.

Retarder 3 1 2 At this time, 3 1 5 3 1 1 3 1 4 3 1 9 Li data De Shi Yo emission values are against the wavelength ₅ 5 0 nm light, its Resolution They were 26 nm, 26 nm, 350 nm, 350 nm, and 150 nm.

Figure 40 shows the voltage-transmittance characteristics at the front of the liquid crystal display device at 25 ° C. A 10 V square wave voltage was applied for 10 seconds to confirm the bend orientation. After that, the measurement was performed while the voltage was lowered. In this liquid crystal display device, the transition from the bend orientation to the spray orientation occurs at 2.2 IV, so it is necessary to display at a voltage of 2.2 V or more effectively. .

Next, the visual angle dependence of the contrast ratio when the white level voltage was 2.2 V and the black level voltage was 7.2 V was measured. A contrast ratio of 10: 1 or more has been achieved in the range of 26 degrees and the left and right directions of 160 degrees, and the direction of the liquid crystal director on the substrate-oriented film surface is defined as the circumference. It was confirmed that sufficient wide viewing angle characteristics were maintained even when some different parts were provided. In addition, no defective orientation and no poor display quality were observed by visual observation.

When the response time between 3 V and 5 V was measured, the rise time was 5 milliseconds and the fall time was 6 milliseconds.

As is clear from the above, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention has a high speed display without sacrificing the wide viewing angle characteristics and response characteristics of the conventional OCB mode. The orientational transition can be achieved, and its practical value is extremely large.

(Embodiment 19)

FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 19, in which a liquid crystal cell operated as a bend alignment type cell is composed of two parallel substrates. It is a so-called Sandwich cell in which a liquid crystal layer 402 is sealed between 00 and 401. Normally, a transparent electrode is formed on one substrate, and a pixel electrode provided with a thin film transistor is formed on the other substrate.

Figure 41 (a) is a schematic diagram showing the orientation in the initial state without applying an electric field. In the initial state, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned substantially in parallel and substantially uniformly, although the molecular axes of the liquid crystal molecules are slightly inclined with respect to the plane of the substrate 400 and 401. In other words, it is a holistic orientation. With board The liquid crystal molecules existing at the interface are inclined in the opposite directions to each other on the upper and lower substrates 400 and 401. That is, the orientation angles 0 1 and 2 (that is, the pre-tilt angles) of the liquid crystal molecules existing at the interface with the substrate are mutually different signs. It has been adjusted. In the following description, the orientation angle and the pretilt angle refer to the tilt of the molecular axis of the liquid crystal molecules with respect to a plane parallel to the substrate and the counterclockwise direction with respect to the plane parallel to the substrate. It is the angle expressed as positive around.

When an electric field with a strength exceeding a certain value in the direction perpendicular to the substrate plane is applied to the liquid crystal layer 402 in the state shown in FIG. 41 (a), the alignment state of the liquid crystal changes. As shown in FIG. 41 (b), the crystal transitions to the orientation shown in FIG.

The orientation shown in Fig. 41 (b) is called bend orientation, and near the surface of both substrates, the tilt of the molecular axis of the liquid crystal molecules with respect to the substrate plane, i.e., That is, the absolute value of the orientation angle is small, and the absolute value of the orientation angle of the liquid crystal molecules is large in the center of the liquid crystal layer 402. Further, it does not have a substantially twisted structure throughout the entire liquid crystal layer.

When such a transition from the homogenous orientation to the bend orientation is observed in detail, first, it is found that the core of the bend orientation is present in a part of the liquid crystal layer 402. This nucleus grows gradually while eating other regions of homogenous orientation, and eventually the entire liquid crystal layer becomes bend oriented. In other words, the transition of the liquid crystal layer to the bend orientation requires the generation of nuclei, that is, the transition from the homogenous orientation to the bend orientation in a minute region.

Thus, the inventors can solve the equation of motion of the unit vector of the liquid crystal molecular alignment (hereinafter, referred to as “director 1”) to obtain a small area. We analyzed the transition to bend orientation and found the conditions under which nuclei could easily be generated. The method is described below. The alignment state of the liquid crystal is described by a director. Note that the director n is a function represented by [Equation 1]. _{n6c) = (n x (x} , y, z), n y (x, y, z), n z (x, y, z))

… [Number l]

The free energy density of a liquid crystal can be expressed as a function of the directivity as shown in [Equation 2]. f = -J- {k22 (divn) ² + k ₂₂ (n X rotn) ² +

k ₃₃ (nXrotn) ^ ™ -A ε (E * n) ²

… [Number 2]

Here, k11, k22, and k33 are the elastic constants of Frank, and represent the elasticity of the spray, twist, and bend, respectively. Δε represents the difference between the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal in the direction of the molecular axis and the dielectric constant in the direction perpendicular thereto, that is, the dielectric anisotropy. E is an external electric field.

In [Equation 2], the first, second, and third terms respectively represent the elastic energy due to the spreading, twisting, and bending of the liquid crystal. The fourth term represents the electric energy due to the electric interaction between the external electric field and the liquid crystal. The electric energy is minimum when n is parallel to E if Δ £> (), and minimum when n is orthogonal to E if Δ <s <0. Become . Thus, when an electric field E exceeding a certain strength is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are oriented such that if Δ £> 0, the long axis of the molecule is parallel to the direction of the electric field. Orientation, and if £ <0, the molecule is oriented so that the long axis of the molecule is orthogonal to the direction of the electric field.

The total free energy F of a liquid crystal when its initial molecular orientation is deformed by an external electric field can be expressed as the volume integral of f. F = 5 f (n (x)) dx

···· [Number 3]

As shown in [Equation 3], the total free energy F is a function defined by using an unknown function n (x) representing a director as a variable (ie, a general function). Function). The liquid crystal orientation state that appears under the application of an external electric field is described by n (x) that minimizes the total free energy F under appropriate boundary conditions. That is, if n (X) that minimizes F is determined, the orientation state of the liquid crystal can be predicted. Furthermore, if it is possible to determine a director n (X, t) that takes into account the time variation such that F is minimized under appropriate boundary conditions. It can predict any behavior of devices such as optical constants. This is the principle of the minimum action that is typical in the physical sense, and is the mathematically small polarization problem with the boundary value in the mathematical sense.

Then, [Equation 3] is solved in principle. However, for example, analytic methods such as those using Euler's equation introduce complicated nonlinear equations, so that the function form of the directory Yuichi n (x) can be simplified. It is difficult to make a decision.

In its this, in order to Ku easily bought a [number 3], _c or not a you adopt the following Yo I Do method, you discretization Ri by the same method as the finite element method the integration space. That is, the entire integration space is divided into np elements, and [Equation 3] is expressed as the sum of the integration of each element.

F = S _u f (n (x)) dx = ∑ 5 f (n (x)) dx

'f = o ^Δν

… [Number 4]

Here, for a director η (χ) in the partial integration space AV, The following approximation is performed. Although nx, ny, and nz are originally functions of X, y, and z as shown in [Equation 2], it is assumed that they are constant in mmV. Also, it is approximated as dnx, j / dx = (nx, j + l-dnx, j) / Δx. Note that η X, j is η X in the j-th element, and as described above, is constant at ΔV but unknown. The approximation of η (X) in this partial integration space △ V is coarse, but it is covered by making the division of the integration space finer, and the approximation is made. Can be enhanced.

According to the above approximation, in [Equation 4], since ηX, j, ny, j, nz, j is a constant in one element, the integral itself can be easily calculated. Wear . However, even at this stage, the equation representing the total free energy F is a large number of unknowns n X, j, n, which are proportional to the number of divisions.

There are higher-order and non-linear terms of nz and j, which are still complicated. However, values such as nx, 0, ny, 0, nz, 0 can be easily given as boundary conditions.

According to the above approximation, the total free energy F is

F = F (r¾, ny,) (0≤j≤np-l)

···· [Number 5]

Is converted to the form That is, the total free energy F is a function of unknowns nx, j, ny, j, nz, j from a functional defined with unknowns n (x) as variables. Is converted to The unknowns nx, j, ny, j, nz, j are values that minimize the function F in a multidimensional parameter space.

As described above, the bend alignment of the liquid crystal has a structure having substantially no twist. Although the director n is originally a function of x, y, and z as described above, it can be expressed as a function of the directional angle. In this case, the director n in the bend orientation is n = (cos θ, 0, sin

… [Number 6]

It is represented by Here, 0 is the tilt of the liquid crystal molecules with respect to a plane parallel to the substrate, that is, the orientation angle. Θ depends only on the distance z of the liquid crystal molecules from the substrate. Fig. 42 is a schematic diagram showing this directory.

Substitute [Equation 6] into [Equation 4], divide it into np elements, perform discretization, and find Θ j that minimizes F for each element. That is, for each element,

+ (^ ₊ 1-^) (οο52 ^ -¾ ^)

+ (0 0j) (cos2 - 1 -) - ^ £ (E sin2 θ

J ^JJ k ₃₃ -k ₁₁ (k ₃₃ -k _n ) J

···· [Number 7]

Find 0 j that satisfies the following equation. Note that d is L / n p and L is the distance between the substrates.

However, it is not easy to solve a complex nonlinear equation such as [Equation 7] by combining n p simultaneous equations. Therefore, [Equation 7] is solved by performing the following circuit analogy. The equation of motion of the director is 1

dt άθ)

···· [Number 8]

It is represented by What? ? Is the viscosity of the liquid crystal. With regard to [Equation 8], the following circuit analogy is performed. 7? → C

[Number 9]

[Equation 8] is

… [Number 1 0]

Is converted to As shown in FIG. 43, the circuit corresponding to [Equation 10] is composed of np CR circuits. The second term in [Equation 10] represents the current flowing through the CR circuit. R j is a resistor for relaxing the discharge, and is a voltage control resistor that defines the current (i) flowing through the CR circuit as i = 3 F (V j ^ ZSV j) .

The current i (= 3FZ3Vj) converges to zero at a particular Vj. In other words, V j can be automatically obtained by obtaining the voltage at which the current flowing through the CR circuit becomes zero by using a circuit simulator. .

In this way, by replacing the equation of motion of the director with an equivalent circuit, the nonlinear simultaneous equations expressing the liquid crystal alignment phenomenon can be converted to a circuit simulator. By analyzing above, the relationship between the external electric field E and the orientation state (orientation angle S j) can be obtained.

In the above method, nonlinear equations expressing orientation phenomena are analyzed on a circuit simulator by replacing them with circuits by analogy with electric circuits. Therefore, only the equivalent circuit is set in the program, and the calculation process for solving the equation itself is not included. Thus, the program can be simplified and reduced.

Furthermore, based on the above method, if the change of the directional angle Θ j with the increase of the external electric field E is calculated, the external electric field Ε «ΐ when the directional angle Θ« ΐ suddenly changes can be calculated. As a result, the critical electric field E c of the liquid crystal transition can be obtained.

FIG. 44 shows an example of a calculation result based on the above method, and shows a change with time of S j when an external electric field E is added with time. Contact name results in FIG. 4. 4, the boundary condition 00 = + 0 1 rad, Θ np-1 = -.. 0 1 rad and to fixed, and, k ll = 6 xl 0 - . 7 dyn, k 33 = 1 2 x 1 0 - 7 dyn, Ru Ah with results calculated by the Δ ε = 1 0. As shown in Fig. 44, in the initial stage of the application of the electric field, the orientation angles Θj are all relatively small, and it can be seen that the orientation state of the liquid crystal is homogenous. . However, after a certain period of time, that is, when the external electric field E exceeds a certain value (E> Ec), the orientation angle suddenly changes and a transition occurs. The absolute value of the orientation angle after the transition increases from the vicinity of both substrates to the center of the liquid crystal layer, and the orientation state of the liquid crystal after the transition is a bend orientation. I understand that there is something.

The smaller the critical electric field E c, the faster the liquid crystal can be changed from a homogeneous orientation to a bend orientation. Therefore, based on the above method, the conditions for determining the orientation of the liquid crystal were variously changed, and the critical electric field E c under each condition was calculated. As a result, it was found that the critical electric field E c is affected by the elastic constant of the liquid crystal (Spray elastic constant) and the asymmetry of the tilt angle.

Figure 45 shows the result of determining the relationship between the Spray elastic constant k ll and the critical electric field E c. Incidentally, FIG. 4 5, the boundary conditions S 0 = + 0 l rad, θ ηρ-1 = -.. 0 and l rad, k 33 = 1 2 xl 0 one ⁷ dyn, and厶epsilon = 1 0 This is the result of the calculation. As shown in FIG. 45, the larger the spray property constant k11, the larger the critical electric field Ec. In particular, k 11> 1 0 X 1 0 - The ⁷ range dyn, with increasing k ll, E c is you increase sharply.

Therefore, to achieve a fast liquid crystal transition, the spray elasticity The number k 11, 1 0 x 1 0 - 7 less than dyn, is favored by rather, 8 x 1 0 - ⁷ and is Ru Oh effective this shall be the dyn below. Also, the lower limit of the Spray elastic constant k il is not particularly limited, but is preferably 6 x 10 — dyn or more. It is usually difficult to synthesize or prepare a liquid crystal material with k 11 <6 X 10 — ⁷ dyn.

Although the liquid crystal material having the above-mentioned Spray elastic constant k ll is not particularly limited, for example, a pyrimidine liquid crystal, Oxan-based liquid crystals, biphenyl-based liquid crystals and the like can be mentioned.

The asymmetry of the tilt angle can be expressed by the difference between the absolute values of the tilt angle between the upper and lower substrates. Also, as described above, since the pretilt angles 0 0 and 0 ηρ-1 have different signs, the difference between the absolute values of the pretilt angles is Δ0 = IS O + 0 np-1 |.

FIG. 46 shows the result of determining the relationship between the difference (Δ 0) of the absolute value of the pretilt angle between the upper and lower substrates and the critical electric field E c. A in FIG. 6, k 11 = '6 xl 0 - 7 dyn, k 33 = 1 2 x 1 0 one dyn, Ru Ah result of calculation as A e = 1 0. As shown in FIG. 46, the larger the difference Δ0 between the pretilt angles, the lower the critical electric field Ec. In particular, in the range of 0.0000 rad, E c sharply decreases as Δ 増大 increases.

Therefore, in order to realize a fast liquid crystal transition, the difference in the pretilt angle should be 0.02 rad or more, preferably 0.035 rad or more. Is effective. The upper limit of the difference in the pretilt angles is not particularly limited, but is usually less than 1.57 rad, preferably 0.78 rad. 5 rad or less.

The absolute values of the pretilt angles 0 0 and 0 np-1 are usually It is adjusted so as to be greater than Orad and less than 1.57 Rad, and preferably not less than 0.17 rad and not more than 0.785 rad. Adjustment of the pre-tilt angle is achieved by forming an appropriate liquid crystal alignment film on the substrate surface by a method such as the oblique evaporation method or the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method. Can be controlled by The liquid crystal alignment film is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include a polyimide resin, a polyvinyl alcohol, a polystyrene resin, and a polystyrene resin. Examples of the resin include cinnamate resin, polycarbonate resin, polypeptide resin, and high-molecular liquid crystal. In addition to selecting the material for the liquid crystal oriented film, if the oblique deposition method is used, the LB method is adopted by adjusting the inclination of the film to the substrate surface in the direction of deposition. In this case, the pre-tilt angle can be controlled by adjusting conditions such as the substrate pull-up speed.

In addition, the critical electric field E c is affected by the non-uniformity of the electric field in the liquid crystal layer. This is because the electric field distortion generated in the liquid crystal layer affects the stability of the orientation state of the liquid crystal molecules. The non-uniformity of the electric field is determined by the ratio (E 1 / E 0) between the main electric field E 0 applied substantially uniformly to the liquid crystal layer and the auxiliary electric field E 1 applied non-uniformly. Can be represented by E 1 is the maximum value of the applied sub-field.

The relationship between the inhomogeneity E 1 / E 0 of the electric field and the critical electric field E c can be examined as follows based on the above-mentioned method. In other words, the main electric field E 0, which is a uniform electric field, and the sub electric field E 1, which is a non-uniform electric field, are applied to the liquid crystal layer in a superimposed manner. Under these conditions, the change in the orientation angle with the increase in the main electric field E 0 is calculated. At this time, the auxiliary electric field E 1 is increased so that E 1 / E 0 becomes constant at a predetermined value as the main electric field E 0 increases. From the obtained calculation results, the critical electric field of the liquid crystal transition is defined as the main electric field E 0 when the orientation angle 0;) ′ suddenly changes. A field E c is required.

FIG. 47 is an example of a calculation result obtained by calculating the critical electric field E c under various conditions by varying the value of E 1 / E 0 based on the above method. Na us, the results of FIG. 4 7, the boundary conditions 00 = + 0 2 6 rad, θ np-1 = -.. 0 2 5 as a r ad fixed, k ll = 6 xl 0 - 7 dyn, k 33 = 1 2 x 1 0 - 7 dyn, Ru Ah with results calculated by the delta £ = 1 0. As shown in FIG. 47, as Ε 1 / Ε 0 is larger, that is, as the electric field is more inhomogeneous, the critical electric field E c is reduced, and Ε 1 / Ε 0 = 1 In the vicinity, E c becomes infinitesimal. This is because when the electric field of the liquid crystal layer has a distortion, the homogeneous orientation becomes unstable as compared with the case where the electric field is uniform, and as a result, the orientation to the bend orientation is reduced. This is thought to be due to the rapid onset of metastasis.

Accordingly, in order to achieve a rapid liquid crystal transition, a spatially non-uniform electric field E 1 is applied to the liquid crystal layer together with a substantially uniform main electric field Ε0. This is effective. In particular, it is effective to set 0.01 to E1 / E0 to 1. In the range of E lZ EO ^ O .01, it is difficult to sufficiently obtain the effect of promoting the liquid crystal transition by applying a non-uniform electric field, and in the range of E 1 / E 0≥1. This is because there is a problem that the applied voltage becomes too large to be suitable for actual use. Furthermore, it is preferred that 0.5 ^ E 1Z E 0 ≤ 1.

The non-uniform electric field E 1 is obtained by using the voltage applied between the source electrode (or gate electrode) of the thin-film transistor and the transparent electrode, and the liquid crystal layer is formed. Can be applied in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. In addition, it is preferable that the non-uniform electric field E 1 is an AC electric field having a frequency of 100 kHz or lower, and more preferably, the amplitude is attenuated over time. Yes.

The conditions that lower the critical electric field E c are the spray elastic constant (k ll), the asymmetry of the tilt angle (（Θ), and the non-uniformity of the electric field (E 1 / E 0) Of the three conditions, it is preferable to satisfy by combining two or three conditions. By combining these conditions, the critical electric field E c can be further reduced more reliably than when only one of the conditions is satisfied. This is because it is possible.

For example, FIG. 47 shows the results calculated under the same conditions as in FIG. 46 except that a non-uniform electric field E 1 is applied together with a substantially uniform external electric field E 0. It is a fruit. FIG. 47 shows the result obtained when E 1 / E O −0.03. As can be seen from the comparison between Fig. 46 and Fig. 47, it can be seen that the asymmetry of the pretilt angle and the non-uniformity of the electric field can be satisfied in combination. As a result, the critical electric field Ec can be further reduced, and a more rapid liquid crystal transition can be realized.

(Embodiment 20)

In the present embodiment 20, a first liquid crystal cell region and a second liquid crystal cell region are formed in the same manner as in the seventh embodiment, and a discretion region at the boundary is formed. The feature is that the bend transition is easily generated with the line as the nucleus. However, in the seventh embodiment, a method is used in which a pair of upper and lower substrates are irradiated with ultraviolet rays to locally change the pretilt angle. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Whether the substrate to be processed is both substrates or one substrate, it is possible to form the first and second liquid crystal cell regions, and the The method of changing the angle is not limited to UV irradiation. Hereinafter, specific contents will be described with reference to Embodiment 20-1 to Embodiment 20-5.

(Embodiment 20-1)

FIG. 48 is a conceptual diagram showing an alignment state of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 20-1. The present embodiment 20 — 1 is one of a pair of upper and lower substrates. Only one of them is an example of V irradiation. Specifically, ϋV irradiation was performed only on array substrate 500 in the same manner as in the seventh embodiment. As a result, the fifth and second degree tilt regions were formed on the array substrate 500 as in the seventh embodiment. A pretilt angle of 5 degrees corresponds to Β2 in Fig. 16, and a pretilt angle of 2 degrees corresponds to Α2 in Fig. 16. On the inner surface of the counter substrate 501 and the inner surface of the array-side substrate 500, an alignment film made of the same material is formed, respectively. By increasing the rubbing strength on the opposing substrate 501 side rather than the 0 side, the opposing substrate 501 has two types of pretilt angles of the array substrate 500. With a neutral pre-tilt angle. In this embodiment, it was three times. As described above, in the present embodiment, the opposite substrate 501 has a pleated angle between the two types of array substrate 509. -It is a feature of 1. When no electric field is applied, two regions HI and H 2 appear in the liquid crystal layer 502 as shown in FIG. 48 (a). Here, the pretilt of the array side substrate 500 is 2 degrees in the right region H2 and 5 degrees in the left region H1, and the pretilt of the opposing substrate 500 is the right side. The region H2 and the left region H.1 both have a third degree.

In general, when no electric field is applied, the direction of the liquid crystal molecules near the center of the liquid crystal panel in the thickness direction (cell thickness direction) is the average value of the upper and lower pre-tilt angles. become . Note that, in FIG. 48, the liquid crystal molecules are indicated by reference numeral 503. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 48 (a), in the left region H1 where the pretilt of the array side substrate 500 is higher than the pretilt of the counter substrate 501, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the liquid crystal 503 near the center is in an upper right corner in the figure. Conversely, in the right side region H2 where the pretilt of the layer side substrate 50 ° is smaller than the pretilt of the opposing substrate 501, the liquid crystal 503 near the center is shown in the figure. The state will be lower right. In this way, the array substrate 500 By providing a distribution of tilt, the counter substrate 501 side has an intermediate pre-tilt, so that there are two types of liquid crystal at the center in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal panel. Can be realized. It should be noted that even if the counter substrate 501 has a distribution of the pretilt, the array substrate 500 side may have an intermediate pretilt. Good. ,

Next, when an electric field equal to or less than the electric field that transfers to the bend alignment is applied to the liquid crystal panel, the alignment becomes as shown in Fig. 48 (b). Since the original transition voltage is extremely high, the transition to bend orientation takes less than 1 second when such a high voltage is applied. The orientation as shown in Fig. 48 (b) was confirmed at the beginning of the transition when the original transition voltage was applied, but it took less than 0.1 second. .

Therefore, in order to observe the orientation state in detail, a voltage lower than the transition voltage was applied. The alignment state when a voltage is applied is affected by the alignment state of the liquid crystal at the center in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal panel when no voltage is applied. That is, in the left region HI where the liquid crystal molecules in the center are in the upper right state when no voltage is applied, there is a spray deformation portion near the counter substrate 501. When no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules in the central portion of the liquid crystal molecules in the right upper region H2 near the array substrate 500 near the array substrate 500 when no voltage is applied. B—Spray orientation with a spray deformed part is formed. At the boundary between the t-spray orientation and the b-spray orientation, a discrimination occurs, and this discrimination line is drawn. It was found that a bend transition occurs in the nucleus. This phenomenon is the same as in Embodiment 7 in which both sides are irradiated with UV.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 48 (b), the left side area H1 is observed when observation is made from the rafting side (from the right side of FIG. 48 (b)). Is relatively dark, the right side area H 2 looks whitish, and When observed from the opposite direction (observed from the left side of Fig. 48 (b)), the left area H1 appeared relatively whitish and the right area H2 appeared relatively black. From this, it was determined that the left region H1 was in the t-spray state, and the right region H2 was in the b-spray state. This is because the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the central part of the liquid crystal layer in the cell thickness direction is asymmetric in the left region H1 and the right region H2, for example, when observed from the left side, In the right region H 2, the liquid crystal molecules are observed from the long axis direction, so the liquid crystal has little birefringence and seems to be relatively dark.

When the transition waveforms described in Embodiments 1 to 6 are applied to this liquid crystal panel, the bend alignment grows with the disc-line lines as nuclei. Was confirmed.

In order to speed up the transition, it is important to reliably form the nucleus of the bend transition. In the present embodiment, the UV irradiation is performed for each pixel. By forming a t-spray orientation and a b-spray orientation in each pixel and generating a discretion line, the transition speed can be increased. <In the example described above, the array substrate side was irradiated with ultraviolet rays to form a region having a different pretilt, but the present invention is not limited to this. The opposite substrate may be irradiated with ultraviolet rays to form regions having different pre-tilts.

Although the present embodiment is divided into two regions having different pre-tilts, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least the pre-tilt is formed by the upper and lower substrates. It suffices if there is an area in which the magnitude relation of g is reversed. Further, in the present invention, a region having a different plot is formed for each pixel, but the region may be formed for a plurality of pixels. Also, there may be many areas in the pixel. However, in regions where pixel electrodes are not connected, such as gate lines, it is desirable that a transition nucleus be formed for each pixel. Further, in the present embodiment, the pretilt of 5, 5, and 2 degrees is used, but the present invention is not limited to this. However, in order to generate stable disk screening, it is necessary to make the difference between the smallest dog and the smallest dog on the board at least 1 degree. Yes, and more preferably more than once. For stable bend alignment, the minimum value of the plot is ideally 1 degree or more, and more preferably 2 degrees or more.

(Embodiment 20-2)

In Embodiment 20-2, the pre-tilt angle has a distribution by giving the in-plane distribution to the rubbing intensity.

Generally, a rubbing process is performed for the alignment process of the liquid crystal. In this method, the orientation of the liquid crystal is controlled by rubbing the substrate surface with a fiber of uniform length. It is generally known that the higher the rubbing strength, the lower the pretilt. In Embodiment 20-2, the length of the fiber used for rubbing is made non-uniform, so that the distribution of the rubbing strength is distributed, and the pleiling is intended. The target was made uneven.

In order to change the length of the fiber, in the present embodiment, a substrate 511 having a small step 510 having a width of 50 m and a height of 100 m shown in FIG. 49 is used. For example, rubbing was performed 100 times or more on the substrate 511 with a rubbing cloth 511 having fibers of a uniform length. The rubbing cloth 5 12 is heavily worn in the high part of the step 5 10, and as a result, as shown in Fig. 50, the distribution of the rubbing fiber length is distributed. The loving cloth 511 a held was obtained.

When this rubbing cloth 51a was used, a distribution was generated in the pretilt angle, and a region where the pretilt was from 2 to 5 degrees occurred randomly. The upper and lower substrates were also processed to have a pretilt distribution. When these two substrates are combined, various pretilt combination areas are formed.

9S It is done. However, these regions are roughly divided in the absence of voltage application, in which the liquid crystal molecules in the central part in the cell thickness direction face diagonally upward. There are two types of regions: an orientation region similar to the orientation, and an orientation region similar to the t-spray orientation, in which the liquid crystal molecules at the center in the cell thickness direction face diagonally downward. Divided. In this embodiment, since the distribution of the pretilt occurred in a region smaller than the pixel, it is possible to form these two types of regions in each pixel. Came .

When a voltage is applied to a liquid crystal display panel having such a configuration, two types of orientation regions, b-spray orientation and t-spray orientation, are formed, and the two types of orientation regions are formed. A disk line was generated at the boundary, and bend transition was confirmed using this as a nucleus.

In the present embodiment 20-12, the distribution of the fiber length is formed in order to form the distribution of the rubbing strength, but the present invention is not limited to this. . The distribution of the rubbing strength could be formed by mixing the fibers of the rubbing cloth with cotton and rayon. In this case, we have realized a loving cloth that braids flexible cotton and rigid rayon fibers independently. (Embodiment 20-3)

Figure 51 is a conceptual diagram showing the shadow of the rubbing due to the array wiring. In the present embodiment 20-3, the metal wiring (source electrode line 520, gate electrode line 521) formed on the array substrate 500 is used. Using the shadow of the rubbing, a region with a weak rubbing intensity was formed locally. On the counter substrate 501 side, a normal rubbing process having a uniform rubbing strength was performed. The rubbing direction on the array substrate 500 was inclined by 20 degrees from the direction in which the source electrode wire 52 0 extended. At this time, since the gate electrode line 52 1 and the source electrode line 52 0 are higher than the pixel electrode portion, the gate electrode line 5 21 and the source electrode line 5 20 Electrode wire 5 2 1 and source The edge portion 52 of the electrode wire 52 has a weaker rubbing intensity at the edge portion 522, and the pretilt has become higher than the other portions 523 of the pixel region. In the above example, the rubbing direction was tilted 20 degrees from the direction in which the source electrode wire 52 0 extends. It was enough to form a region with low rubbing intensity.

Here, the pre-tilt angle of the counter substrate 501 was set to a neutral value between the above-mentioned two pre-tilts. By such a rubbing treatment, the liquid crystal molecules in the central part in the cell thickness direction are directed obliquely upward in the region 522 when no voltage is applied. An alignment similar to the spray alignment is formed, and in the region 523, the liquid crystal molecules at the central part in the cell thickness direction are similar to the t-spray alignment in which the liquid crystal molecules face obliquely downward. An orientation was formed. Thus, when a voltage is applied in the same manner as in the above embodiment, a b-spray orientation is formed in the region 522 and a t-spray orientation is formed in the region 522. It was formed, and a discrimination line was generated at the boundary between these two types of orientation regions. Using this as a nucleus, a bend transition was confirmed.

In this case, the pixel electrodes in Embodiments 20 to 3 have a vertically long shape. In the case of such a vertically long pixel electrode, when the pixel is vertically rubbed, the area of the region with a high pitch is small in each pixel. On the other hand, when rubbing left and right, the area of the region with high pretilt was widened. Also, as in the example described above, the area of the region with high pretilt was obtained to the maximum when rubbing diagonally. From this result, it was found that the method of performing rubbing at an angle with respect to the source electrode wire 520 is sufficient for the region where the pellets are different from each other. Thus, the bend transition can be efficiently realized.

In the case where a horizontal electric field is generated between the source electrode line and the pixel electrode, and between the gate electrode line and the pixel electrode, the following will be described. Thus, the direction in which the lateral electric field is generated and the direction in which rubbing affects the ease of transition. Immediately, when rubbing upwards and downwards, the discretion line is generated in the horizontal direction. At this time, if a lateral electric field was generated between the source electrode line and the pixel electrode, the transition was good due to the lateral electric field effect. In addition, when rubbing left and right, the discon- sion line is generated in the vertical direction. At this time, the transition was good if a lateral electric field was generated between the gate electrode line and the pixel electrode. Also, if you are rubbing diagonally, the disk line will run from the upper left to the lower right of the pixel in the figure, and in this case the source Both the horizontal electric field between the gate electrode line and the pixel electrode and the horizontal electric field between the gate electrode line and the pixel electrode were effective.

As described above, the horizontal electric field between the source electrode line and the pixel electrode has an effect in the vertical rubbing, and the gate electrode line and the pixel in the horizontal rubbing. The horizontal electric field between the electrodes is effective, and in oblique rubbing, the horizontal electric field between the source and the pixel is effective. Therefore, if it is desired to be effective by the transverse electric field, it is necessary to determine the rubbing direction in consideration of the direction of the transverse electric field.

In Embodiments 20-3, the shadow of the metal electrode wiring is used, but the present invention is not limited to this. A columnar spacer as described in an embodiment 24 described later may be a projection as described in the embodiments 13 and 14.

(Embodiment 20-4)

In the present Embodiment 20-4, the distribution is given to the film by giving the distribution to the film thickness of the alignment film. Generally, printing of an alignment film is performed using a printing plate 530 shown in FIG. Here, a general method for printing an alignment film will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 52.The coating liquid for the alignment film is rotated from the dispenser 531. Doctor roll 5 3 2 It is supplied dropwise between the two ports ヅ X-roll 533. This coating solution is kneaded between the two rolls 532, 533, and is held as a liquid thin film on the surface of the anilox roll 533. It is transferred from the anirock roll 533 to the printing plate 5330 on the plate cylinder 534. Then, when the substrate 536 fixed on the table 535 passes just below the plate cylinder 534, the coating liquid is transferred from the printing plate 5300 to the substrate 536. It is transferred and applied to At this point, the printing plate 530 used in such a coating process of the orientation film generally has a uniform fineness due to a demand for keeping the thickness of the orientation film constant. New mesh is formed. In the present embodiment, contrary to the above requirement, it is required to have a distribution in the thickness of the alignment film, and therefore, as shown in FIG. 53 and FIG. A printing plate 530 with a larger size L was used. As a result, non-uniform printing was produced, and a directionally oriented film having a distribution in film thickness was formed. The orientation film formed in this manner has a low pre-tilt value in a region where the film thickness is small, and tends to develop b-distal orientation in this region. there were . In the region where the thickness of the alignment film was large, the value of the tilt was high, and there was a tendency that the t-dist orientation was easily developed. As described above, even in the present embodiment 20-4, a thin region and a thick region of the alignment film are formed relatively randomly, so that the embodiment 20-2 is different from the embodiment 20-2. Similarly, two regions could be formed, and a bend transition nucleus could be effectively formed.

When the mesh size L was set to 100 m or more, it was possible to provide the oriented film with a sufficient film thickness distribution. Incidentally, for reference, the normal mesh size L is about 50 m.

Further, in the above example, a printing plate having a large mesh size L was used in order to provide the alignment film with a film thickness distribution. It is possible to use a printing plate with a non-uniform size L. Also, make sure that the surface has You can also use a printed version of the printer.

(Embodiment 20-5)

In the present Embodiment 20-5, the distribution of the tilt angle is provided by the surface treatment of the substrate or the like. Specifically, after the orientation film is uniformly printed on the substrate and cured, the substrate on which the orientation film is formed is placed in a high humidity atmosphere at 45 ° C and 90%. Left inside. At this time, the inherently imparted pretilt angle of the orientation film was locally reduced by the surface treatment with humidity. Next, by performing the rubbing treatment on the surface of the alignment film in the same manner as before, it was possible to realize a distribution of the pretilt angle of 3 to 5 degrees on the substrate. In the above example, the substrate on which the alignment film was formed was left in a high-humidity atmosphere to have a distribution of the pretilt angle, but the substrate was passed through the solvent spray vapor and the solvent was removed. This can also be achieved by spraying the alignment film.

Further, it can also be realized by spraying another type of alignment film on the alignment film. For example, this has been achieved by spraying an orientation film with a pretilt angle of 3 degrees on an orientation film with a pretilt angle of 5 degrees.

(Embodiment 21)

The present embodiment 21 is characterized in that the substrate surface is formed in a concave-convex shape, so that the bend transition is efficiently realized. That is, by forming a concave-convex surface on the substrate and applying a strong electric field locally, the effect of the formation of the t-spray orientation and b-spray orientation regions is improved. The feature is that the bend transfer nuclei are favorably generated due to both the effect of the application of a strong electric field at the projections. The specific configuration will be described in the following Embodiment 21-1 to Embodiment 21-4.

(Embodiment 2 1 — 1) Embodiment 13 described above is a method in which a convex portion is formed and a region with a strong electric field is formed on the convex portion, and the region with a strong electric field is used as a nucleus of the transition. It was. Even when this method is used, the t-spray orientation and the b-spray orientation are formed as in the case of Embodiment 20, and are generated at the boundary between these different orientations. Metastasis takes place in the nucleus of the discretion. Hereinafter, the details will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 55, reference numeral 535 denotes a line of electric force, 536 denotes a projection, 537 denotes a pixel electrode, and 538 denotes a counter electrode. The electric lines of force 5 35 in the case of Embodiment 13 are as shown in FIG. 55 (a). The electric field at the convex portion 536 is strong, and this electric field further spreads at the counter electrode side 538. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 55 (b), a lateral electric field component is generated on both sides of the convex portion 536. As a result, on the left side of the figure, the electric field is directed to the upper left, and the liquid crystal molecules are directed to this direction. Therefore, as shown in the figure, b-spray An orientation is formed. On the right side of the figure, the t-spray configuration is formed because the lines of electric force are directed upward and to the right. Therefore, the bend transition occurs at the nucleus of the disk displacement generated at the boundary between the b-spray orientation and the t-spray orientation. 56 is a driving waveform diagram of the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment 21-1. This drive waveform is characterized in that a low voltage (0 V) and a high voltage (125 V) are alternately applied during the initialization process to bend transition. It is. By applying the driving voltage having such a voltage waveform, the transition can be surely realized.

If the metastasis is uncertain, the following process is considered to have occurred. Immediately, the voltage application causes two spray orientation states, t-spray orientation and b-spray orientation, and these two orientations occur in most pixel regions. Bend orientation occurs from the boundary of orientation. However, before aligning the bend for any reason, one spray alignment is required. If the pixel is in the orientation state, the transition is unlikely to occur, and no transition occurs in this pixel.

The characteristic of this waveform is that by applying a low voltage, the orientation of the liquid crystal is returned to the initial state once, and by applying a transition waveform again, the next transition is ensured. It is. Therefore, the minimum requirement is that this low voltage be the voltage returning to the spray configuration, preferably 1 V or less in absolute value, and more preferably 0. V is good.

It is desirable to apply this low voltage period early, so that a reliable transition is realized no matter what noise comes in at the beginning. By the way, I wanted the lus width to be between 0.1 and 10 seconds.

(Embodiment 2 1-2)

In the present Embodiment 21-2, a concave-convex shape is formed in each pixel. FIG. 57 is a diagram conceptually illustrating the formation of the uneven shape, and FIG. 57 (a) shows a conventional pixel structure. In this case, each pixel has a metal wiring 540 ( Gate electrode wire or source electrode wire). On this metal wiring 540, an insulating film 541 made of silicon nitride or the like is formed. However, the insulating film 51 is not generally formed on the pixel electrode 542.

FIG. 57 (b) is a cross-sectional view showing the present embodiment 21-2, in which an island-shaped photo resist is formed on the pixel electrode 542 at the center of the pixel electrode 542. Convex portions 543 made of resin are formed. The convex portions 543 are to leave the photoresist resin film applied on the pixel electrodes 542 partially by the photolithography. It was formed by The height of the convex portion 543 was l〃m, and the width was 20 m. At this time, the width of the pixel was 50 m. When the uneven shape is formed in this way, b- ヅ and t ー-ヅ areas are formed on both the left and right sides of the convex portion (or concave portion). Good bend transition was realized.

As a modified example of the convex portion 543, the convex portion 543 is formed above the pixel electrode 542 in FIG. 572 (b), but is formed below the pixel electrode 542. You may do it. Further, as another modified example of the convex portion 543, it may be a longitudinally formed convex portion extending diagonally of the pixel electrode 542.

Further, the shape of the convex portion 543 is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 57 (b), and may be a mountain shape shown in FIG. 57 (c). The convex portion 543 of the mountain shape shown in FIG. 57 (c) is formed by, for example, melting the resin portion partially left by photolithography by heat treatment. Then, it can be made with any shape. In particular, the convex portion 543 having the shape shown in FIG. 57 (c) was able to realize good bend transition. Since this is inclined due to the lack of its cross-sectional shape, this inclination angle is added to the liquid crystal pretilt. Therefore, it is considered that the same effect as in the case where the pretilt has a distribution as in Embodiment 20 is obtained. Even with a steep shape as shown in Fig. 57 (b), the orientation of the liquid crystal changes continuously and gently, and the same effect as in Fig. 57 (c) was obtained. I think.

Further, when the pixel electrode 542 was formed on the projection 543, the shape shown in FIG. 52 (d) could be formed. In such a modification, since the pixel electrode 542 is formed on the convex portion 543, an effect of increasing the electric field strength of the convex portion 543 is added. The transfer was even better achieved.

Further, as another modified example of the convex portion, as shown in FIG. 57 (e), the convex portion 5 made of silicon nitride is provided on the array substrate 545. 4 3 has been formed. The projections 543 were obtained by partially leaving the produced silicon film formed on the metal wiring 540 to form the uneven shape. It is a thing. In this method, there is a merit that the production process does not increase. In addition, the step of the convex portion 543 can be realized at about lm. Further, as another modified example of the projection, a transparent resin layer 546 is formed on the surface of the array substrate 500, and an ITO electrode is formed on the transparent resin layer 546. We also used the technique of Fig. 57 (f) shows the configuration in this case. In this configuration, since the transparent resin layer 546 on the metal wiring 540 is raised, the pixel electrode 542 formed on the transparent resin layer 546 is not formed. It has a concave structure. The two paste regions were formed by the inclination of the concave structure. Further, the transparent resin layer 546 may be turned, and an uneven structure may be formed in this layer.

(Embodiment 2 1 — 3)

In Embodiments 21 to 13, concaves and convexes are densely formed on the substrate.

According to the present invention, an uneven shape is formed on a substrate, thereby forming a b-spray and a pea-spray region. Thus, the uneven shape may be scattered in each pixel as in Embodiment Mode 13, may be formed in plural in the pixel, or may be formed densely in the pixel.

In the present embodiment, a process of roughening the surface of the substrate is performed in order to form the substrate densely on the substrate. The surface of the transparent electrode (aluminum layer) of the substrate was treated with a 0.22 atm to make the concave / convex shape a maximum of 0.2 m deep. When the depth of the concavities and convexities of the substrate was 0.1 m or more, it was effective in improving the transition.

Further, the present invention is not limited to this method, and it is preferable that a concave-convex shape can be formed. For example, it was possible to form concaves and convexes on the surface of the ITO by increasing the deposition conditions of the ITO and increasing the film thickness. In this case, the crystal grain boundary of ITO is 5 O nm, and a sufficient unevenness is obtained as compared with the case where the crystal grain boundary of normal ITO is 10 nm or less. Is understood.

The concave-convex pattern may be formed by using a printing plate having a gradation by halftone dots, or by press-forming the substrate. You can do it O

(Embodiment 2 1 — 4)

Another simple method is to disperse small particles with a size less than the cell thickness in or on a normal alignment film to form an uneven structure on the substrate surface. You may.

(Embodiment 22)

FIG. 58 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 22. FIG. 59 is a plan view of the vicinity of the pixel electrode of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 22. This embodiment is characterized in that at least one of the pixel electrode and the counter electrode is provided with an electrode missing portion as in the case of Embodiment 11 described above. . However, the present embodiment is characterized in that the direction of forming the electrode missing portion is determined in consideration of the rubbing direction. Here, in FIG. 58, 550 indicates a pixel electrode, 551 indicates a counter electrode, 552 indicates an array substrate, and 553 indicates a counter electrode. The substrate is shown, 55 4 indicates an electrode missing portion, 55 5 indicates electric lines of force, and 55 6 indicates liquid crystal molecules. The operation and effect of the electrode missing portion 55 2 in the present embodiment 22 are the same as those in the above-described embodiment 11; however, they will be described again here. To The distribution of electric lines of force at the location with the electrode missing part 5 5 4 is as shown in Fig. 58 (a), and the liquid crystal array at this time is t-as shown in Fig. 58 (b). A spray orientation and a b-spray orientation t are formed, and a bend transition occurs from the discrimination line at the boundary. Therefore, by forming the electrode missing portion 554 in each pixel, the bend transition can be facilitated. The missing portion 554 may be formed not only in the pixel electrode but also in the counter electrode, or may be formed in both the pixel electrode and the counter electrode. The state of formation of the transverse electric field can be similarly obtained. Here, the relationship between the forming direction of the electrode missing portion 5554 and the rubbing direction will be considered. The direction in which the electrode missing portions 5 5 4 are formed matches the direction in which the desk line lines are generated. Therefore, it is necessary to form a notch at the location of the discretion line that occurs when there is no notch. Was important.

In other words, if there is an electrode missing portion, a disk line is generated in the extending direction of the electrode missing portion. Therefore, the disc line lines generated only by the presence of a plurality of regions having different orientations in the absence of the electrode missing portion, and the presence of the electrode missing portion If the direction of generation is the same as that of the disc line, the more stable disc line will be generated. As a result, stable bend orientation transition is achieved. For this reason, the extending direction of the electrode missing portion is made to coincide with the disk line which occurs at the boundary between the regions having different orientations. It is.

For example, as described in Embodiment 20-3, the direction of the discretion line generated by the rubbing direction may be different. . Thus, there is a correlation between the rubbing direction and the direction of forming the optimal notch 5554.

When rubbing upwards and downwards, the discretion line is formed in the left and right direction, so the missing portion 554 is formed in the left and right direction of the pixel. This is what you want. In the left-right rubbing, the discretion line is formed upward and downward, so it is desirable to form the missing portion 554 in the vertical direction of the pixel. It is better. In the case of rubbing in an oblique direction, it was desired that the missing portion 554 be formed in an oblique direction of the pixel.

In the present embodiment, the number of missing portions is one, but a plurality of missing portions may be formed. In addition, the missing part is made by opening a rectangular slit as shown in Fig. 59 (a). Also, a notch may be formed around the pixel as shown in Fig. 59 (b). In FIG. 59 (a) and FIG. 59 (b), reference numeral 558 denotes a gate electrode line, and reference numeral 559 denotes a source electrode line.

(Embodiment 23)

In the present embodiment, by forming a transverse electric field, a b-spray and a t-spray are formed, and the bend transition is ensured. Referring to FIG. 60, the pixel electrode 560 is sandwiched between metal electrode wires 561 (source electrode wire or gate electrode wire). . Here, when the potential of the pixel electrode 560 is lower than the potential of the metal electrode line 561, a horizontal electric field is generated as shown by an arrow 562. Due to this effect, anisotropy occurs in the orientation of the liquid crystal 5'63, and b-spray orientation and t-spray orientation occur as shown in FIG.

Here, the characteristic is that this lateral electric field is applied from both sides of the pixel electrode 560, and since the direction is reversed, an asymmetric spray orientation is generated. . It is desirable that the direction of the rubbing and the direction of the transverse electric field are substantially the same from the viewpoint of promoting the transfer. In addition, it is desirable that the distance between the pixel electrode and the metal electrode wire 561 (source electrode wire or gate electrode wire) be 5 m or less. If it is larger than 5 μm, a transverse electric field large enough to affect the orientation of the liquid crystal is not generated.

Hereinafter, specific driving for forming a horizontal electric field will be described with reference to Embodiments 23-1 to 23-13. Form 2 3 1 1)

In Embodiment 23-1, the rubbing direction is set to be upward and downward (the left-right direction in FIG. 60), and the horizontal electric field is applied between the gate electrode line and one pixel electrode. did . Figure 61 shows a conceptual diagram of the driving waveform. The potential level includes a high gate level (GH) and a low gate level (G L), a high source level (SH) and a low source level (SL). The gate level can be selected from two types from the above-mentioned levels, and the source level can be a potential between the SH level and the SL level. There is another counter potential for applying the transition waveform. A voltage lower than the source level is applied to the opposing electrode, thereby applying a transition waveform between the pixel electrode and the opposing electrode. This transition waveform is the same as that described in Embodiments 1 to 6.

Here, in the present embodiment, the voltage of the source electrode line is set to a low level (SL), and the voltage of the gate electrode line is set to a high level G H. Since the gate electrode line is at the level GH, the pixel transistor becomes conductive. As a result, the pixel electrode has the same potential as the source electrode line. At this time, since the voltage of the gate electrode line is higher than that of the pixel electrode, a lateral electric field corresponding to the voltage V1 is applied between the pixel electrode and the gate electrode line. The direction of the electric field between the gate electrode line above the pixel (the right metal electrode line in FIG. 60) and the lower gate electrode line (the right metal electrode line in FIG. 60) is mutually different. In this embodiment, a horizontal electric field is generated in the opposite direction, so that in the present embodiment, the b-spray direction is in the upper part (the right part in FIG. 60) and the t-spray is in the lower part. Ray orientation was formed. As a result, the bend transfer was successfully performed.

In the case of a structure having an auxiliary electrode layer, the structure shown in FIG. 62 or FIG. 63 is better to improve the effect of the lateral electric field. Normally, as shown in FIG. 62, an auxiliary electrode layer 571 is provided on the gate electrode line 570, and this auxiliary electrode layer 571 forms an auxiliary capacitance. In this configuration, since the auxiliary electrode layer 571 has an effect of shielding the gate electric field, a horizontal electric field is effectively generated between the gate electrode line 570 and the pixel electrode 580. In order to achieve this, the size of the conventional example in which the auxiliary electrode layer 571 is shown by a virtual line is Therefore, the effect of the transverse electric field was higher when the size was reduced as shown by the broken line, or when it was formed in the center of the pixel as shown in Fig. 63. .

(Embodiment 2 3 — 2)

In the present Embodiment 23-2, a horizontal electric field is applied between one pixel of the gate similarly to the above-mentioned Embodiment 23-1, but realized by lowering the gate level. Figure 64 shows a conceptual diagram of the drive waveform. The potential level is basically the same as that of the embodiment 23-1. However, although the voltage of the gate electrode line remains at the high level GH in the above-described embodiment 23-11, in the embodiment 23-2, the gate electrode line is kept. The voltage was set to a high level GH during the pixel charging period, and set to a low level GL during periods other than the pixel charging period (period during which the pixel potential was held). In other words, the source electrode line is set to the level SH during a period in which the voltage is applied to the counter electrode and charging is sufficient, but after the charging period, the source electrode line is set to the level SL. And. As a result, a lateral electric field corresponding to the voltage V 2 (> V 1) could be applied between the pixel electrode and the gate electrode. In this embodiment, since the gate electrode voltage is lower than that of the pixel electrode, the alignment state is opposite to that of Embodiment 23-1, ie, the upper part (see FIG. 60). The t-spray was formed at the lower part (left part in Fig. 60), and the b-spray was formed at the lower part (left part in Fig. 60).

(Embodiment 2 3 — 3)

Embodiment 23-3 is characterized in that a horizontal electric field is applied between one source and one pixel. Figure 65 shows a conceptual diagram of the drive waveform. In this embodiment, the gate electrode wire is connected to the pixel transistor during the charging period of the pixel until the potential of the counter electrode changes and the charging is completed. The high level GH is set, and the gate electrode line is set to the low level GL during the other periods (period during which the pixel potential is held). When the gate electrode line was at level GL, the source electrode line and the pixel electrode were not conducting. Therefore, the source electrode line and the pixel electrode can be maintained at different potentials. Therefore, while maintaining the pixel electrode at a high potential, the source electrode line is set to level SL when the gate electrode line reaches level GL, so that the A lateral electric field corresponding to the voltage V 3 was applied between the source electrode line and the pixel electrode. As a result, a lateral electric field was applied between the pixel and the source to form two spray alignment states, and the bend transition was successfully performed. In Embodiment 23-3, it was more effective to set the rubbing direction to the horizontal direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper of FIG. 60). Further, in the above example, the source electrode line is set to the level SL during the entire period in which the pixel potential is held, but the period in which the pixel potential is held The source electrode line may be set to level SL only during a part of the period.

The essence of the present invention is to form two spray orientation states. In order to achieve this, (1) forming a region with different pretilt, (2) forming a concave-convex shape, (3) generating a transverse electric field, One method was exemplified. The present invention is not limited to this.

For example, the mechanisms (1) to (3) may be formed in a thin film transistor (TFT) portion. In this case, a step may be provided in the TFT section, a mechanism for generating a transverse electric field in the TFT section may be provided, and a drive method suitable for the mechanism may be used.

In addition, the concave-convex shape is effective even if there is only a step. Even if there is a step-like step, the slope will form a t-spray or b-spray. In the present invention, it is described as a concave-convex shape including a step structure.

(Embodiment 24)

The twenty-fourth embodiment is characterized in that good bend transition is achieved by forming no spacer in the pixel region. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 66 (a), a spherical bead 590 is divided into a pixel area 591, as shown in FIG. The distance between the substrates was maintained by scattering.

In the behavior of the bend transition, we have found that the bead 590 inhibits the bend transition. Therefore, in the present embodiment, good transition is realized by eliminating the beads 590 in the pixel area 591 which is a display section.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 66 (b) and 67, a non-display area 592 other than the display section is formed to a thickness of 5 m using a photolithography process. A spacer pillar 593 was formed and used in place of the spacer bead. With such a configuration, the metastasis was successfully performed without inhibiting the metastasis of the bend. In FIG. 66, reference numeral 594 denotes a gate electrode wire, and reference numeral 595 denotes a source electrode wire. Further, the arrangement of the spacer pillars 593 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 66 (b), but may be formed in a non-display area.

• Industrial applicability

As described above, according to the configuration of the present invention, a plurality of liquid crystal regions having different alignment states are developed during the initialization period. A screen line can be formed. As a result, the transition to the bend orientation can be achieved quickly and reliably. In addition, since the transition to the bend alignment can be reliably achieved as described above, the display quality of the 0 CB display mode with high speed response and wide field of view and high image quality can be improved even if there are no display defects. It is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. Includes a pair of upper and lower substrates, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and prior to driving a liquid crystal display, the initial alignment of the liquid crystal layer is bent by applying a voltage between the substrates. In a liquid crystal display device that performs an initialization process for transitioning to a liquid crystal orientation and drives a liquid crystal display in this initialized bend orientation state,

A liquid crystal display device comprising: means for causing a plurality of liquid crystal regions having different alignment states to appear in a liquid crystal layer during an initialization process for transitioning to the bend alignment state. .

2. Includes a pair of upper and lower substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and when no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal layer is in a spray orientation, and prior to driving the liquid crystal display. Accordingly, an initialization process for changing the orientation state of the liquid crystal layer from the spray orientation to the bend orientation by applying a voltage between the substrates is performed, and this initialization is performed. In a liquid crystal display device that drives the liquid crystal display in the bent alignment state,

Means for causing a liquid crystal region having two types of spray alignment states to be expressed in the liquid crystal layer during the initialization process for transitioning to the pen alignment state. A liquid crystal display device.

3. Includes a pair of upper and lower substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and when no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal layer is in a spray orientation and is driven prior to driving the liquid crystal display. Then, an initialization process for changing the orientation state of the liquid crystal layer from the spray orientation to the bend orientation by applying a voltage between the substrates is performed, and the initialization is performed. LCD drive in bend alignment state In the display device,

In the state where no voltage is applied, at least two liquid crystal regions in an alignment state where the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules at the center between the pair of upper and lower substrates is opposite to each other are formed. A liquid crystal display device characterized by the following features.

4. Including a pair of upper and lower substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, prior to driving the liquid crystal display, the alignment state of the liquid crystal layer is adjusted by applying a voltage between the substrates. In the liquid crystal display device that performs an initialization process for transitioning to a liquid crystal display orientation and drives the liquid crystal display in this initialized bend orientation state,

During the initialization process for transitioning to the pen-aligned state, a disk-line forming line for forming a disk-line in the liquid crystal layer is formed. With the means,

A liquid crystal display device characterized in that a bend transition nucleus does not occur or expands from the discretion line.

5. Including a pair of upper and lower substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, prior to driving the liquid crystal display, the orientation of the liquid crystal layer is determined by applying a voltage between the substrates. In the liquid crystal display device which performs an initialization process for transitioning to a liquid crystal orientation and drives the liquid crystal display in this initialized bend orientation state,

When a voltage lower than the voltage at which transition to the bend alignment state is applied to the liquid crystal layer in the spray alignment state, the b-spray alignment region and the t-spray alignment are formed in the liquid crystal layer. A liquid crystal display device characterized in that an alignment region is expressed.

6. Including a pair of upper and lower substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, prior to the liquid crystal display driving, the orientation state of the liquid crystal layer is bent by applying a voltage between the substrates. In a liquid crystal display device that performs an initialization process for transitioning to a liquid crystal orientation and drives a liquid crystal display in this initialized bend orientation state,

When a voltage lower than the voltage at which transition to the bend alignment state is applied to the liquid crystal layer in the splay alignment state, at least two types of alignment regions are developed and different in the alignment direction. A liquid crystal display device characterized in that, when observed from different directions, there are directions in which the magnitude relationship of the transmittance of the alignment region is different.

7. Including a pair of upper and lower substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, prior to the liquid crystal display driving, the alignment state of the liquid crystal layer is bent by applying a voltage between the substrates. In a liquid crystal display device that performs an initialization process for transitioning to a liquid crystal orientation and drives a liquid crystal display in this initialized orientation of the bend,

When a voltage lower than the voltage at which transition to the bend alignment state is applied to the liquid crystal layer in the spray alignment state, at least two types of alignment regions are developed, and the transmission of the alignment region is performed. A liquid crystal display device characterized in that the magnitude relationship between the ratios is opposite between when observed from the orientation direction and when observed from a direction 180 degrees from the orientation direction.

8. Including a pair of upper and lower substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, prior to driving the liquid crystal display, the orientation of the liquid crystal layer is bent by applying a voltage between the substrates. The liquid crystal display device performs an initialization process for transitioning to a liquid crystal display and drives the liquid crystal display in this initialized bend alignment state. And

When no voltage is applied, the first liquid crystal layer has an angle formed by a long axis of liquid crystal molecules near one of the pair of substrates and a normal to the substrate, and the other of the pair of substrates. When the angle between the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules near the substrate and the substrate normal is defined as the second angle, when the first angle and the second angle are compared in absolute value. A region in which the first angle is larger than the second angle and a region in which the second angle is larger than the first angle are both formed. Liquid crystal display device. 9. Including a pair of upper and lower substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, prior to driving the liquid crystal display, the orientation of the liquid crystal layer is adjusted by applying a voltage between the substrates. In a liquid crystal display device that performs an initialization process for transitioning to a liquid crystal orientation and drives a liquid crystal display in this initialized bend orientation state,

When no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal layer is characterized in that a plurality of regions having different inclination angles of liquid crystal molecules in the central part in the cell thickness direction are formed in the liquid crystal layer. apparatus.

10. A pair of upper and lower substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and prior to driving the liquid crystal display, the alignment state of the liquid crystal layer is adjusted by applying a voltage between the substrates. In the liquid crystal display device, which performs an initialization process for transitioning to a liquid crystal orientation, and drives the liquid crystal display in this initialized bend orientation state,

When a voltage equal to or lower than the voltage at which transition to the bend alignment state is applied to the liquid crystal layer in the spray alignment state, a plurality of regions having different tilt angles of liquid crystal molecules in the center in the cell thickness direction are formed. A liquid crystal display device characterized by this.

11. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of regions are formed in each pixel.12. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of regions are formed in units of a plurality of pixels. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, which is a feature.

13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein said disk-shaped line forming means is formed in each pixel.

14. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein said disk line forming means is formed in a plurality of pixel units.

15. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a transition voltage having a predetermined waveform that causes a bend transition is applied.

16. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the pair of substrates has a plurality of liquid crystal pretilt angles on one substrate. .

17. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the pretilt angle is 1 degree or more.

18. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the pretilt angle is 2 degrees or more.

19. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein a minimum value of the pretilt angle is 1 degree or more.

20. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein a minimum value of the pretilt angle is 3 degrees or more.

21. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of pretilt angles are obtained by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. 22. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of types of pretilt angles are obtained by optical alignment treatment.

23. There are a plurality of types of liquid crystal pretilt angles on one of the pair of substrates, and the other of the pair of substrates has 17. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein there is a pretilt angle that is greater than or equal to a minimum value and less than or equal to a maximum value of the pretilt angle.

24. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein each of the pair of substrates has a plurality of pretilt angles.

25. The inner surface of each of the pair of substrates is subjected to a distribution process so that an orientation strength has distribution in the substrate surfaces. The liquid crystal display device as described in the above.

26. The claim characterized in that the alignment treatment is a rubbing treatment. Item 25. A liquid crystal display device according to item 25.

27. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 26, wherein the rubbing treatment is performed using a rubbing cloth on which hairs of different stiffness are planted.

28. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 26, wherein the rubbing treatment is performed using a rubbing cloth having a distribution of hair length.

29. By the above-described rubbing process, the area on the downstream side in the rubbing direction of the peripheral area of the three-dimensional object provided on the substrate and the other area are separated. 27. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 26, wherein the liquid crystal display device is in a distribution state in which the intensity of the ring is different.

30. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 29, wherein the three-dimensional object is an electrode wire.

31. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 30, wherein the rubbing direction is more inclined than the extending direction of the electrode wire. 32. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 31, wherein the rubbing direction is inclined at least 10 degrees from the extending direction of the electrode wire.

33. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 29, wherein the three-dimensional object is a columnar spacer.

34. The above-mentioned column-shaped laser is formed in each pixel. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 33.

35. A transverse electric field forming means for transfer excitation is provided in the vicinity of the discretion line generated at the boundary of the plurality of regions. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1.

36. A transverse electric field forming means for transfer excitation is provided in the vicinity of the discrimination line formed by the discrimination formation means. 5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the liquid crystal display device is provided.

37. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 35, wherein an electric field direction of the horizontal electric field generated by the horizontal electric field forming means is substantially orthogonal to the alignment direction.

38. One of the pair of substrates is an active matrix substrate, and the active matrix substrate is formed by the lateral electric field forming means. A lateral electric field is generated between the source electrode line and the pixel electrode, and the wiring direction and the orientation direction of the source electrode line are substantially parallel. 35. The liquid crystal display device according to item 5.

39. One of the pair of substrates is an active matrix substrate, and the active matrix substrate is formed by the lateral electric field forming means. 35. A lateral electric field is generated between the gate electrode line and the pixel electrode, and the wiring direction and the orientation direction of the gate electrode line are substantially parallel. The liquid crystal display device as described in the above.

40. One of the pair of substrates is an active matrix substrate, and the active matrix substrate is provided by the lateral electric field forming means. A horizontal electric field is generated between the gate electrode line and the pixel electrode wired to the active matrix substrate and between the source electrode line and the pixel electrode wired to the active matrix substrate. 36. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 35, wherein the orientation direction is between the wiring direction of the gate electrode line and the wiring direction of the source electrode line.

4 1. Includes a pair of upper and lower substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and prior to driving a liquid crystal display, applying a voltage between the substrates causes the liquid crystal layer to be spray-aligned. The liquid crystal display device is driven to perform a liquid crystal display drive in the initialized bend alignment state.

In order to promote the transition to the bend orientation in the initialization treatment, at least a part of at least one of the orientation films formed on the pair of substrates is formed. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising: a pretilt change processing step of performing a process of changing the pretilt of the liquid crystal display device.

42. The pretilt change processing step is to spray an alignment film material having a pretrite different from the alignment film formed on the substrate onto the partial region. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 41.

43. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 41, wherein the pretilt change processing step comprises leaving the substrate on which the alignment film is formed under high humidity conditions.

44. The pretilt change processing step is to spray a processing liquid for changing the pretilt onto the orientation film formed on the substrate. 2. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to 1. 45. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 41, wherein the pretilt change processing step is to leave the substrate on which the alignment film is formed in a solvent vapor atmosphere.

46. A direction film is formed on each of the pair of substrates, and at least one of the direction films has a distribution in the film thickness. 16. The liquid crystal display device according to item 16.

47. Including a pair of upper and lower substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, prior to driving the liquid crystal display, the liquid crystal is aligned in a spray orientation by applying a voltage between the substrates. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, which performs an initialization process for transferring the liquid crystal display to a bend orientation and drives the liquid crystal display in the initialized bend orientation state.

In order to promote the transition to the bend orientation in the initialization process, the pair of substrates are formed on a pair of substrates using a printing plate having a printing surface having a concave-convex shape. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising a printing step of printing at least one of the alignment films.

48. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 47, wherein the printing step of printing the alignment film using a printing plate having a mesh size of 100 m or more. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device characterized by including:

49. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 47, wherein the printing step is performed a plurality of times. 50. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein at least one surface of at least one of the pair of substrates is formed in a concave and convex shape.

5 1. A pair of upper and lower substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and prior to driving the liquid crystal display, the liquid crystal layer is spray-aligned by applying a voltage between the substrates. This is a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device that performs an initialization process for transferring the liquid crystal display to a bend alignment and drives the liquid crystal display in the initialized bend alignment state.

In order to promote the transition to the bend orientation in the initialization process, a concave / convex shape forming step of forming at least one of the pair of substrates in a concave / convex shape is performed. Manufacturing method of liquid crystal display device characterized by including

52. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 50, wherein the concave-convex shape is formed of a photo resist. 53. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 51, further comprising a heat treatment step for smoothing the concave and convex shapes formed in the concave and convex shape forming step.

54. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 51, wherein the concave-convex shape forming step is a step of forming a concave-convex shape using a printing method.

55. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 50, wherein the concave-convex shape is made of a silicon nitride film. 56. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 51, wherein the concave-convex shape forming step is a step of forming a concave-convex shape by roughening the surface of the substrate. Production method.

57. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 56, wherein the concave / convex shape forming step is a step of forming a concave / convex shape by performing an oxygen plasma treatment. Production method.

58. A transparent electrode is formed on the inner surface of at least one of the pair of substrates, and the crystal diameter of the transparent electrode is 5 O nm or more. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 50, wherein:

59. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 50, wherein the concave-convex shape is formed by dispersing small particles on a substrate.

60. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 50, wherein the concave and convex shapes are formed by press molding.

61. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 50, wherein the concave-convex shape is a concave shape in which a shape of a pixel electrode is raised around.

6 2. The step of forming the concave and convex shapes includes the step of forming at least one of the pair of substrates. 52. The liquid crystal according to claim 51, further comprising: a step of forming a resin layer on one of the substrates; and a step of processing the resin layer to form a concave-convex shape. A method for manufacturing a display device. 63. The liquid crystal according to claim 50, wherein the concave-convex shape is obtained by forming a convex portion at a central portion of a pixel electrode. Display device.

64. The concave and convex shape is obtained by forming a convex portion extending in a diagonal direction of the pixel electrode. The liquid crystal display device as described in the above.

65. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein by applying an electric field in a predetermined direction, a plurality of regions having different orientations are formed according to the applied electric field. apparatus.

6 6. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrodes formed on the pair of substrates has an electrode missing portion in which the electrode is missing. Liquid crystal display device.

67. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein, of the electrodes formed on the pair of substrates, the electrode on the counter substrate side has an electrode missing portion where the electrode is missing. Liquid crystal display device.

6 8. Among the electrodes formed on the pair of substrates, the electrode on the array substrate side has an electrode missing portion where the electrode is missing. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1.

69. The method according to claim 66, wherein the extending direction of the electrode missing portion coincides with a discretion line generated at a boundary between the plurality of regions. Liquid crystal display.

70. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 67, wherein the alignment direction and the direction of the electrode missing portion intersect. 71. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a horizontal electric field forming means for forming a horizontal electric field between a pixel electrode formed on one of the pair of substrates. Liquid crystal display.

72. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 71, wherein a horizontal electric field is generated at both ends of the pixel electrode, and the directions of the horizontal electric field are opposite to each other.

7 3. One of the pair of substrates is an active matrix substrate, and the active matrix substrate is a source electrode line and a pixel electrode. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 72, wherein a horizontal electric field is applied between the source electrode line and the pixel electrode.

74. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 73, wherein a distance between the pixel electrode and the source electrode line is 5 m or less. 75. A liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pixel electrode and a counter electrode, and prior to liquid crystal display driving, the liquid crystal layer is formed by applying a voltage between the substrates. An active matrix that performs an initialization process to make a transition from the spray orientation to the bend orientation and drives the liquid crystal display in this initialized bend orientation state. In a driving method for making a transition from the spray orientation to the bend orientation in a liquid crystal display device of a trix type,

The source voltage is changed during the period during which the pixel potential is held or a part of the period, and a horizontal electric field is applied between the pixel electrode and the source electrode line. The driving method of the liquid crystal display device.

7 6. One of the substrates is an active matrix substrate, and the active matrix a plate has a gate electrode line and a pixel electrode. Claims: A lateral electric field is applied between an electrode line and a pixel electrode.

7. The liquid crystal display device according to 2.

77. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 76, wherein the distance between the pixel electrode and the gate electrode line is 5 m or less.

78. The driving method of a liquid crystal display device according to claim 72, wherein the gate voltage is set to a low level during a period in which the pixel potential is held, and the pixel electrode and the gate electrode line are connected to each other. A method for driving a liquid crystal display device, characterized by applying a lateral electric field.

79. Including a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pixel electrode and a counter electrode, prior to liquid crystal display driving, whether the liquid crystal layer is spray-aligned by applying a voltage between the substrates. The liquid crystal of the active matrix type performs an initialization process for transferring the liquid crystal display to the bend alignment, and drives the liquid crystal display in the initialized bend alignment state. From the spray orientation to the bend arrangement in the display device In the driving method for causing the transfer in the

A method of driving a liquid crystal display device, characterized by setting a gate potential higher than a pixel potential and applying a horizontal electric field between a pixel electrode and a gate electrode line.

80. The claim 76, wherein the active matrix substrate has an auxiliary capacitance electrode, and the auxiliary capacitance electrode does not exist on the gate electrode line. The liquid crystal display device as described in the above. 81. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 72, wherein the horizontal electric field forming means has a projection shape formed on the side of the electrode.

82. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 81, wherein the protrusion shape is formed on a pixel electrode.

83. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 81, wherein the protrusion shape is formed on a gate electrode wire.

84. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 81, wherein the protrusion shape is formed on a source electrode wire.

85. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 72, wherein a direction in which the lateral electric field is generated and an orientation direction substantially match. 8 6. A liquid crystal layer including a pair of upper and lower substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates, and by applying a voltage between the substrates before driving the liquid crystal display, In a liquid crystal display device which performs an initialization process for transferring an initial orientation of a layer to a bend orientation and drives a liquid crystal display in the initialized bend orientation state,

A liquid crystal display device characterized in that the display area in the surface of the substrate has no spacer.

87. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 86, wherein a spacer is formed in a non-display area other than the display area. 88. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 87, wherein said spacer is a columnar spacer.

8 9. The pretilt angles of the liquid crystal at the upper and lower interfaces of the liquid crystal layer arranged between the array substrate having the pixel electrode and the counter substrate having the common electrode are opposite to each other and parallel to each other. This is a liquid crystal cell with a spray orientation that has been subjected to orientation processing. When no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal cell is in a spray orientation.Before driving the liquid crystal display, the voltage is applied by applying a voltage. The liquid crystal display is driven in an initialized state in which the transition from the liquid crystal orientation to the bend orientation is performed, and the liquid crystal display is driven in the initialized bend orientation state. In a matrix type liquid crystal display device,

The pretilt angle of the liquid crystal in the alignment film formed on the inner surface side of the array substrate indicates the first pretilt angle, and the liquid crystal is formed on the inner surface side of the counter substrate. A first liquid crystal cell region having a second pretilt angle in which the liquid crystal pretilt angle in the alignment film is larger than the first pretilt angle; The pretilt angle of the liquid crystal in the alignment film disposed adjacent to the first liquid crystal cell region and formed on the inner surface of the array substrate is the third pretilt angle. And the alignment film formed on the inner surface of the opposing substrate. The second liquid crystal cell region showing the fourth pretilt angle where the liquid crystal pretilt angle is smaller than the third pretilt angle is the same pixel. A liquid crystal cell which has been subjected to an alignment treatment from the first liquid crystal cell region to the second liquid crystal cell region. ,

A first voltage for forming a disk line is applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, and the first liquid crystal cell region and the second liquid crystal region are applied. First voltage applying means for forming a discrimination line near the boundary with the liquid crystal cell region of

By applying a second voltage higher than the first voltage between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, a transition occurs on the disk line. Second voltage applying means for generating a nucleus and causing a transition from a spray orientation to a bend orientation;

A liquid crystal display device characterized by having a liquid crystal display. 90. The first and fourth pretilt angles are not more than 3 degrees, and the second and third pretilt angles are not less than 4 degrees. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 89, wherein:

9 1. The direction in which the upper and lower alignment films are oriented is perpendicular to a signal electrode line or a gate electrode line along the pixel electrode. Item 89. The liquid crystal display device according to Item 89.

9 2. The direction in which the alignment film is oriented is slightly deviated from a direction perpendicular to a signal electrode line or a gate electrode line along the pixel electrode. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 89, wherein:

9 3. The second voltage has a frequency in the range of 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz, and the duty ratio of the second voltage is 1: 1. 1

129. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 89, wherein the voltage is in the form of a positive, negative voltage in the range of 00: 0: 1.

9 4. The gate electrode wire formed on the array substrate is in a high state for at least most of the time during the initialization process. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 89, wherein:

95. At least a part of one of the alignment films formed on the inner surface side of the pixel electrode and the common electrode is irradiated with ultraviolet light to perform the alignment. 90. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 89, characterized in that the liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal cell which is divided by changing the tilt angle of the liquid crystal in the film.

9 6. Irradiate ultraviolet rays to the pixel electrode and a part of the common electrode under an ozone atmosphere, and at least one of the pixel electrode and the common electrode is irradiated with ultraviolet light. After flattening a part of the electrode, an alignment film is applied and baked on the pixel electrode and the common electrode to change the reticle angle of the liquid crystal in the alignment film. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 89, characterized in that the liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal cell that has undergone orientation division.

9 7. The pretilt angles of the liquid crystals at the upper and lower interfaces of the liquid crystal layer arranged between the array substrate having the pixel electrodes and the opposite substrate having the common electrode are opposite to each other. The liquid crystal cell has a liquid crystal cell of a spray orientation which is aligned in parallel, and the liquid crystal cell is a first liquid crystal cell adjacent to each other in the same pixel. And a second liquid crystal cell region. The first liquid crystal cell region has a first pretilt angle of the liquid crystal at an interface on the liquid crystal layer side of the array substrate. The liquid crystal at the interface of the opposing substrate on the liquid crystal layer side is subjected to an alignment treatment so as to be smaller than a second pretilt angle of the liquid crystal. The fourth pretilt angle of the liquid crystal at the interface on the liquid crystal layer side of the substrate is smaller than the second pretilt angle, and the liquid crystal layer of the array substrate The liquid crystal is aligned so as to be smaller than the third pretilt angle of the liquid crystal at the interface on the side, and the liquid crystal layer is sprayed when no voltage is applied. Prior to driving the liquid crystal display, the liquid crystal is oriented from spray orientation to bend orientation by applying voltage. The liquid crystal display is driven in the initialized bend alignment state by performing an initialization process for transition. In the liquid crystal display device, the bend orientation is changed from the spray orientation. This is a driving method for changing the orientation to

By applying a first voltage between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, the liquid crystal molecules are b-spray aligned in the first liquid crystal cell region. Then, in the second liquid crystal cell region, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a t-spray orientation, and the liquid crystal molecules are positioned near the boundary between the first liquid crystal cell region and the second liquid crystal cell region. Forming a disk line,

A second voltage higher than the first voltage is applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, and a second voltage near the boundary between the first liquid crystal cell region and the second liquid crystal cell region is applied. A liquid crystal display device characterized in that a transition nucleus is generated in a disc line and the transition from a spray orientation to a bend orientation occurs. Drive method. 9 8. The pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal at the upper and lower interfaces of the liquid crystal layer arranged between the array substrate having the pixel electrode and the opposing substrate having the common electrode is opposite. It has a liquid crystal cell in a spray orientation oriented parallel to each other, and when no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal layer is in a spray orientation, and the liquid crystal display is driven. Prior to this, an initialization process is performed to change the state from the spray orientation to the bend orientation by applying a voltage, and the liquid crystal is maintained in the initialized bend orientation state. In a method of manufacturing an active matrix type liquid crystal display device for performing display driving,

In a partial area of one pixel of the liquid crystal cell, the first pretilt angle of the liquid crystal at the interface on the liquid crystal layer side of the array substrate is equal to the liquid crystal layer of the counter substrate. The first liquid crystal cell region is formed by performing an alignment treatment so as to be smaller than the second pretilt angle of the liquid crystal at the interface on the side, and the first liquid crystal cell region is formed. In another region, the fourth pretilt angle of the liquid crystal at the interface on the liquid crystal layer side of the counter substrate is smaller than the second pretilt angle, and The second liquid crystal cell region is formed by performing an alignment process so that the liquid crystal at the interface between the liquid crystal layer side of the substrate and the liquid crystal layer becomes smaller than the third pretilt angle of the liquid crystal. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, characterized by including an alignment treatment step.

9. 9. The alignment processing step includes the steps of: aligning the pixel electrode formed on the array substrate and the alignment film formed on the inner surface of the common electrode formed on the counter substrate; By irradiating a partial region within one pixel with ultraviolet light to change the pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal, the first liquid crystal cell region and the second liquid crystal cell region are formed. The method for producing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 98, wherein the method is a step. 100. The direction processing step includes:

A pixel electrode formed on the array substrate and the counter electrode. By irradiating a part of the formed common electrode within one pixel with ultraviolet light under an ozone atmosphere, the pixel electrode and a part of the common electrode are flattened,

An alignment film is applied and baked on the pixel electrode and the common electrode to change a pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal in the alignment film, so that the first liquid crystal cell region and the The method for producing a liquid crystal display device according to claim 98, wherein the step is a step of forming the liquid crystal cell region of (2).

10. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the means for developing the plurality of liquid crystal regions in a liquid crystal layer is formed in a thin film transistor portion.